In early autumn, Li Mao walked out of the forest and grassland and returned to the bustling city of Liaozhou, where a few months of ascetic-like life made him lose weight, his skin was dark, more lean and firm, and his black and resolute face and tattered clothes made him look more like a merchant who had traveled from afar, and no one could recognize him, the lord of Liaodong. net

Liaozhou City's security is very strict, the guards check everyone's road guide one by one, Hu Sijin lied that his road guide was lost, so that a little money tried to fool the pass, and was arrested by the Security Bureau, Han Zhenzhi spent money to "fish people", and also arrested, the Security Bureau is not right about people, and does not accept bribes privately, but it is a little rough when enforcing the law, Li Mao is quite satisfied with this performance.

Liaodong City has four markets in the east, south, west and north, the four markets have different division of labor, all funded by the local state and county, and the annual tax alone can earn tens of thousands of yuan, and this revenue and expenditure will be returned to the local state and county according to a certain proportion to improve the welfare of officials and enhance their enthusiasm.

Hu Sijin pretended to be a merchant and went to the city office with Han Zhenzhi, and came back to tell Li Mao that there was no spare storefront room in the market, but if you were willing to make some money, you could still get it, and the bigger the money, the sooner you could get it.

Shi Kong's face darkened and said: "This is an abuse of power for personal gain, and it should be severely punished." Li Mao shook his head, and said that if the water is clear, there is no fish, and the entrepreneurial period should not be too dead, but fortunately, it is only a hint of bribery, if it is a blatant bribery, it must be severely punished, Shi Kong smiled: "Implying bribery and blatant bribery is only one step apart, and it is easy to cross this step." ”

Li Mao said: "So we must strengthen supervision, I'm afraid that one day our regulators will also be gone, and it will be rotten to the end." Han Zhen knows: "So I often say that you can't let too smart people be officials, smart people have to play with their hearts when they get together, and when the time comes, there is really no way to deceive the superiors and subordinates, let the big boss be an official, play a little clever, you can see through it at a glance, and you can pinch his handle with one hand." Han Zhen knew: "A fool is an official, how to govern the people, you still have to be smart, but people are too smart and easy to do tricks, it's really a dilemma." ”

Shi Kong raised his leg and kicked each of the two of them, and scolded: "There are only two smart people left in the world, who have learned since ancient times, and the wisdom of the saint is not as good as the two of you two knives." ”

Li Mao visited the east, south, west, and north four markets, and walked around several prosperous commercial markets, what he saw and heard made him feel a little gratified, the creativity of the people is huge, just half a year, everything seems to have eased up, showing a thriving scene.

I didn't do anything for most of the year, but I just managed to reach out to the people. In addition, the prosperity of the Liaodong market today is also related to the opening of the trade route to the Central Plains, but any businessman with a little vision will see the huge business opportunities contained in the "political and harmonious" Liaodong.

On a street not far from the Assassin's Mansion, a long ragged homeless man sat on his knees, begging from passers-by.

Hu Sijin said: "Where did you come from so many people who ask for food, ruin the image, and make people think that I am called Huazi in Liaodong." ”

Han Zhen knew: "Now the state and county governments are in vain, there are too few officials, too little power, and they don't care about what they can do. ”

Shi Kong shouted: "What's the matter, I don't have anything to eat at home, and I have to take care of it when I come to the city to beg for food." You have not suffered, until the day comes."

Han Zhenzhi spat on the ground fiercely, and said, "Uncle Shi doesn't say this, how can we and Brother Dingmao be reduced to having no food to eat, what is your intention in saying this?"

Shi Kong was stunned for a moment, his face turned red, and he silently raised his big fist, and Han Zhenzhi hurriedly laughed and begged for mercy.

In front of Wicker Lane, everyone restrained their smiles, since Xue Qingbao and Xue Dingding's father and daughter were suspected of rioting, the Xue family's mansion in Wicker Lane was crowded, Xue Qingbao was placed under house arrest at home, and was interrogated by the Security Bureau, and there was no conclusion so far, so the relatives and friends of the old department of the Xue family who were related to this layer were hiding far away, and no one was willing to lean on to ask for bad luck.

Li Mao looked at the dark gate and the majestic guards, and frowned: Some things can be handled coldly, use time to kill memories and enthusiasm, and slowly drag them over, but some things are destined to be unavoidable, such as the Xue family, which cannot be bypassed after all.

After coming back after a few months, the most excited self-owned Lan'er, but this time Li Mao didn't give her a chance, and suddenly appeared in front of everyone without a sound. Lan'er was excited, her mouth was pouting again, her eyes could spew fire, and she couldn't wait to eat Li Mao alive.

Li Mao endured and endured, but finally couldn't endure it until the evening, and took an opportunity to drag Lan'er into the study and heartily satisfy his hunger.

Seeing that the man was as powerful and majestic as ever, Lan'er was completely relieved, it seemed that this trip was really for the purpose of pure heart cultivation, not to see any red bead girl, although the man was not a fuel-efficient lamp, but he would not like Qin Mo to pick up meat in the bowl and eat it to anyone.

After settling Lan'er, Li Mao went to a matter of concern. When the two walked hand in hand to the outside of the plum garden wall, Li Mao deliberately slowed down, Lan'er realized something smartly, coughed, and said: "She was also confused for a while, and did such a stupid thing, but she has repented afterwards and begged us to intercede for her." You, if you want to forgive her, forgive her, it's a family anyway, and she's still a child. ”

Li Mao held Lan'er's hand: "It's rare that you can be so reasonable." Lan'er said: "What's the matter, I'm messing around on weekdays, even if I'm messing around on weekdays, it's idle and nothing to do, when I encounter serious things, when will I mess around, you really forced her to a dead end, and I won't feel good, give her a chance to reform herself." ”

Li Mao said: "If she succeeded, did you say she would let you go?"

Lan'er thought about it seriously: "No, this child is a little withdrawn and impatient, but her nature is not bad, not only will she not embarrass us, but she will also try her best to protect us, I dare to pack a ticket." ”

Li Mao was silent for a while, and his expression softened. Lan'er pulled her hand out and gave her an encouraging look.

Although it was only early autumn, there was a bleak scene in the plum garden, there were four guards and four servants inside and outside the door, and when they saw Li Mao, they bowed and saluted, Li Mao nodded at them and said, "You don't have to come over tomorrow." ”

Everyone was stunned for a moment, understood, bowed down, and then withdrew.

Li Mao bypassed the shadow wall and used the same words to take away the other two servants. Yang Er had already greeted her, saluted respectfully, Li Mao held her hand and said, "It's much thinner than before, it's hard for you." ”

Yang Er had something to say, gritted her teeth, swallowed the words to her lips, and led the way in front with a lantern.

When he got to the door, he closed the door and let Li Mao go upstairs alone.

Xue Dingding is touching the piano by the window, she loves vocal music, but her piano skills are average, there is no good luthier in Liaodong, even if she is smart, the height she can achieve is limited, her piano skills are not even as good as Lan'er, but Lan'er has an impetuous temperament and has no heart to stroke the piano.

As soon as Li Mao came up, she noticed it, but she didn't stop. Li Mao didn't disturb her, just stood and listened quietly, and at the end of the song, Xue Dingding pressed the strings, and huge tears rolled down.

She turned around, bowed to Li Mao, and said with tears in her eyes: "My father is innocent, and I am alone in all my crimes."

Li Mao helped her up, wiped away her tears with his thick fingers, helped her sit down, Yang Er brought the tea just right, Li Mao took the tea tray, the two looked at each other, and Yang Er retreated lightly.

Li Mao took a bowl of tea and handed it to Xue Dingding, Xue Dingding hurriedly got up to catch it, Li Mao didn't sit and she didn't sit, Li Mao sat down and took the tea bowl and pressed his hand, motioned for Xue Dingding to sit down, and then said: "I have figured out the ins and outs of the matter, Xue City Lord is innocent, you were bewitched by Zhu Song, Han Jiangyue, and Ouyang San, these three people are Jiangyang thieves, they were arrested by the Security Bureau in the past and locked up in Dongzhou Prison, Ma Hedong released them, they want to repay the favor, so they come to coax you." You are young and shallow in the world, and I don't blame you for eating them. ”

Xue Dingding raised his head, looked at each other with teary eyes, bowed down again, and said, "I have to eat people and coax, I am guilty." ”

Li Mao bent down to help her up, held her hand and comforted her with a smile: "Ma and Dong pulled the flag to rebel, there were tens of thousands of responders, I killed some people, but most of them were pardoned, they opposed me because they were desperate or felt that there was no way out." As the lord of Liaodong, I make so many people feel that they have no head, they are overwhelmed, and the sin lies with me. As for you, you didn't want to be my concubine, I know that. I shouldn't have acted domineeringly and forcibly married you, you have a relationship with Generalissimo Jin Tiyong, he died suddenly, you doubt me and hate me, I don't blame you, is it normal for people, this can also show that you are a person who values love and righteousness. ”

Xue Dingding gritted his teeth, wanting to ask what was the secret of Jin Tiyong's death, but he didn't dare to ask.

"You are a smart and backbone person, seeing such an opportunity, it is very reasonable to stand up against me, this is the real you. But if you sit still and watch, then it frightens me: because your scheming is too deep. I've been going smoothly for more than ten years, and naturally I can't help but rely on deception, and I'm tired of being physically and mentally exhausted, I don't want to go home and play with you, how tired. I love you, not only for your beautiful face, intelligence, and versatility, but also for your innocent character who dares to love and hate, and has no scruples. You say that if you win and be a man, if you lose and become a ghost, you just don't want to be a dog, how ambitious this is, how many men with eyebrows can't say it. ”

Xue Dingding's cheeks were blushing, and he lowered his eyebrows and said, "That's my disobedience to my father's words, and he was so angry that he was seriously ill." ”

Li Mao smiled: "Isn't this the will of heaven, if you don't get angry with him, can you and I still meet today?"

Xue Dingding was still full of melancholy, she said solemnly: "But I still brought someone here, I hated you to death at that time, and I really wanted to go against you, if I treat you like this, will you forgive me?"

Li Mao held Xue Dingding, stared at her eyes, and comforted her softly: "I can tolerate and forgive everything you do, but please don't take it as an example, I really don't want to sleep and keep my eyes open." ”

Tears fell silently, and Xue Dingding wiped it away by himself: "He, how did he die?"

Li Mao's face became solemn, and the brilliance in Xue Dingding's eyes also dimmed.

"It's complicated, you can give me a moment. But believe me that his death was not my intention. ”

Xue Dingding burst into tears, she threw herself into Li Mao's arms like a bird, and kissed him on the cheek passionately. Li Mao hesitated, hugged her tightly, and picked her up

In the dead of night, Xue Dingding slipped out of bed, changed into plain clothes, and cooked a bowl of fragrant tea for Li Mao. She has a habit of staying up late, and the deeper the night, the more energetic she becomes.

Li Mao slept comfortably, and when he woke up, he felt a little strange in front of him, and then he laughed. He jumped up, walked behind Xue Dingding, and held her shoulder, Xue Dingding glanced up at him, and continued to be busy with herself, she was very dedicated to her work, but the skill of cooking tea was obviously not clever, and the color of the tea was also very average.

Xue Dingding made tea, changed out of plain white clothes, dressed in full costumes, re-combed her makeup, and gave Li Mao a big gift of tea, after she became Li Mao's concubine, she insisted on not changing her old makeup, and she was still wearing the clothes she wore when she was a girl inside and out, and she was not willing to completely change until this night.

Li Mao accepted her offer of tea, took a sip, and was about to help her up, but Xue Dingding shook his head lightly with a smile, and presented a stack of snow-white handkerchiefs dotted with red. Li Mao laughed, helped her up and said: "On the wedding night, I was completely unprepared, it was really rude, what do you want, as long as I can agree, I will definitely agree." ”

Xue Ding Ding Yingying bowed again and said: "Please spare the third uncle from dying, Ding Ding will serve you as a cow and a horse for the rest of your life." ”

Li Mao hesitated for a moment, but still stretched out his hands, helped her up, and said, "If you get up, I will promise you." ”

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