Three sets of duck, squirrel fish, steamed lotus root, steamed anchovies...... A series of Suzhou's local specialties were served to the table like a stream, and Chu Xiangyu and several brothers and nephews even took wine glasses to Lu Zhen and Yao Gan and others to toast the wine in the glass, and after a while, the atmosphere in this banquet became extremely harmonious and warm.

Lu Zhen also knew that this was his father-in-law's family's efforts to bring the relationship between the two sides closer, so he didn't give in, opened his mind, and ate and drank for a good time. In the blink of an eye, there were no less than five or six cups of eighteen-year-old daughters who were red, and their whole face became red.

Although the popular rice wine in the Jiangnan area is softer than the spirits in the north, it has a lot more stamina, even though Lu Zhen still has a little bit of alcohol, he still feels a little upset after drinking several glasses suddenly, and his movements have slowed down.

Fortunately, his identity was here, even those Chu family disciples didn't dare to force it too hard, and when they saw that he was drinking, they stopped for a while. At this time, Yao Gan held the wine in the yellow and clear cup and said a little strangely: "Outside of Chu Yuan, I have also drunk this daughter's red in the capital, and I have heard people mention the origin of my daughter's red. It was made in the house of the newborn daughter, and then buried deep in the ground, and was not taken out for hospitality until the daughter was eighteen years old. But today, we have prepared several altars here, plus the daughter red who was transported to other places, is there so many girls in the Jiangnan area to be in the boudoir? ”

When they heard this, they laughed. Even Lu Zhen almost squirted out a mouthful of wine that was drinking in his mouth, and quickly swallowed before saying: "You are right, but you don't know that there is another wine in Jiangnan called Zhuangyuanhong." It was buried when the family was happy, and it was only drunk after the boy's high school imperial examination. If you mean it, how many people can't drink it. ”

Yao Gan sighed a little embarrassed: "Is there such a thing?" ”

"Whether the daughter is red or the champion is red, it's just an auspicious statement for us parents." Chu Xiangyu patiently explained to him: "As for how this wine will be used in the end, that is a matter for the future." ”

"But I've only drunk my daughter's red in the capital, and I've never heard of Champion Red."

"That's natural. As for the champion red, unless you really participated in the imperial examination, who would deliberately ask for this lottery? Lu Zhen explained with a smile: "Actually, these two wines are the same, but the names are different. ”

"I see." Yao Gan nodded understandingly. And after he interrupted like this, after everyone talked and laughed, the atmosphere at the banquet became more and more intimate, and the children and nephews of the Chu family slowly let go and began to talk and laugh with Lu Jin.

Just when the wine was half-drunk and everyone was telling jokes, suddenly there was a noisy noise outside, although the movement was not very loud, but it still disturbed everyone's interest. This made several members of the Chu family frown, and Chu Xiangyu was even more puzzled: "I'm not a short distance from the gate here, even if there is noise outside, it won't come in, what's going on?" Thinking about it, he handed a look to the butler who was serving on the side, and asked him to hurry out and ask about the situation.

The butler nodded knowingly, and hurried out. In this regard, although Lu Zhen noticed it, he had no intention of asking. Although this is his father-in-law's house, he is not the owner of this place after all, and even if something happens, it is not easy for him to come forward as a guest, right?

But the butler went out, and then he turned back and came back, but there was a man behind him. Seeing this, Chu Xiangyu said a little impatiently: "Chu Fu, what's going on outside, why are you arguing endlessly?" ”

The slave who came back with the housekeeper was also an old man of the Chu family, and as soon as he heard the old man's inquiry, he hurriedly replied: "Master, someone suddenly came to the door of our mansion, saying that he was looking for a murderer who killed people...... When he said this, his eyes secretly glanced at Lu Jin's side.

Chu Xiangyu and the others didn't notice his move, and immediately said angrily: "Who dares to mess around like this? My Chu family has always been law-abiding, and I have never done anything hurtful! If someone comes to the door to ask for money, quickly drive people away, don't disturb our banquet. ”

"Master, that's the ...... It's a member of the Lu family. After a moment of hesitation, Chu Fu still replied honestly: "They said that someone saw the murderer enter our house with their own eyes......"

"How is this possible? It's my uncle and others who came to my house today, how could he hurt people at will! Chu Xiangyu subconsciously said. But as soon as he finished speaking, Lu Zhen spoke: "Father-in-law, it seems that the other party is not looking for the wrong person, we did teach a few domineering evil young men and their house slaves on the street when we entered the city!" ”

"Ah......" The people of the Chu family suddenly showed a look of astonishment, and looked at Lu Jin in disbelief, as if a flower suddenly bloomed on his face. Lu Zhen explained again: "It's really that they deceive people too much, because they keep whipping innocent passers-by because of a trivial matter, and the son-in-law can't see it for a while, so he let his brothers teach them a lesson." I didn't expect these guys to have the courage to come to the door. By the way, what is the number of people with the same surname as me in this city? ”

"This ......" Chu Xiangyu and the others showed strange looks on their faces again, and in the end, it was Chu Yuntian who said: "Uncle, in fact, the Lu family is your clan and clan, and it is your father's clan." ”

"Huh?" When Lu Zhen heard this, he was a little strange: "You mean, they are from Lujiagou in the past?" ”

"Exactly. However, as early as a few years ago, the Lu family moved into the city from Lujiagou, and by participating in the sea trade, they also earned a lot of family business. And ......Speaking of this, Chu Yuntian suddenly had a pause, and seemed to have some concerns.

Lu Zhen immediately asked: "And what?" ”

Chu Xiangyu glanced at Lu Zhen and added: "And because they are virtuous sons-in-law of your clan, the officials in this city have to sell their face, not only making their business bigger and bigger, but also becoming more and more unscrupulous." The common people really dare not offend them. ”

"I see. No wonder the people around them did not dare to interfere when they had seen them whipping and ramming their horses in the streets. Lu Jin said, his face sank: "This Lu Renjia is too presumptuous, is he so indulgent to his family?" ”

"No, it's not Lu Renjia!" Chu Yuntian hurriedly spoke: "His group has moved to Shandong a few years ago, and now in Suzhou, it is the original Lujiagou people led by Lu Tang. Obviously, as a business rival, he still knows a lot about the situation of the Lu family.

"Lu Tang......" Lu Zhen was slightly stunned, but soon, some old events were recalled by him. Lu Tang, isn't it the so-called brother in the clan who colluded with people outside to deal with him after he was dismissed and returned to his hometown?

How can they still show off their power in this Suzhou city under their own name? He had already drawn a line with these people of the Lu family many years ago, why did they dare to be so unscrupulous and deceitful?

Lu Jin's heart suddenly gave birth to a wave of anger: "Father-in-law, is the Lu family really the one who pesters them?" ”

Chu Xiangyu nodded: "Because of your relationship, even the current prefect has to be polite to them, so they are arrogant." I think that today you led people to hurt their people in public, so they refused to give up. ”

"Hmph, that's ridiculous! Isn't there anyone in this city who remembers that I had drawn a line with the people of Lujiagou at the beginning, and there was no longer anything to do with it? How can they still borrow my name? Lu Zhen immediately said with a gloomy expression.

"And that matter?" When Chu Yuntian heard this, his expression changed, and he hurriedly looked at Chu Xiangyu. And the latter said a little strangely: "The old man has indeed heard this matter mentioned before, but you only said such things because of a moment of anger, so you shouldn't really make such a decision that is easy to criticize, right?" ”

After seeing Lu Jin's determined eyes, Chu Xiangyu seemed to understand something: "Could it be that you really haven't had anything to do with the Lu family for a long time?" That Lu Renjia's previous cooperation with the old man ......"

"I did cooperate with Lu Renjia, but the Lu family in Lujiagou has long since severed all relations." Lu Zhen told the truth of the matter without hesitation, and at the same time he was annoyed in his heart, he had no relationship with him for a long time, but they were good, they still dared to use their own names to go out to deceive, really think that they would never know what they did?

In fact, in the final analysis, this is still caused by the universal values of the world today. Because no one believed that a court official like Lu Zhen would dare to do something that turned against the entire family and broke off the relationship. This is quite a rebellious practice, and even forgetting one's ancestors, if it is known, even its reputation and career will be greatly affected. After all, this is a Ming Dynasty that emphasizes filial piety and pays attention to patriarchal law over national law.

Therefore, as long as the Lu family insists on their relationship with Lu Zhen and does not bring up the previous matter again, both the people and officials in the city will automatically think that Lu Jin will definitely make decisions for them, which leads to the domineering situation that the Lu family is now lawless in Suzhou City, and everyone has to back down three points.

In addition, although Lu Zhen proved to the imperial court a few years ago that he had severed relations with the Lu family, this matter was only known in the capital and was not reported back to Suzhou at all. Obviously, the communication of this age is far from being compared with that of later generations, and such trivial matters are hardly ever disseminated.

As a result, the two parties, who had nothing to do with each other many years ago, actually let the Lu family rely on them, and the note that the two sides broke off their relationship was taken to the capital again, so there was no evidence to prove that they had nothing to do with Lu Jin, and things became what they are now......