Li Mao made up for sleep, and when he woke up at noon and was drinking tea, he suddenly got the news that Li Xu, the son of heaven, had suffered another stroke and was in critical condition.

Li Mao sighed in his heart, Li Yu is a national fortune, if he has three long and two short, Chang'an City will see a torrent undercurrent, and whether he can make the trip will add many variables.

Li Mao waited restlessly for a day and a night, and in the afternoon of the next day, Qingmo inquired about the news, saying that the Son of Heaven had turned the corner, but he was still a little uneasy to speak.

Li Mao put his mind at ease, the Son of Heaven was not very sharp in speaking.

Considering that the night is long and there are many dreams, Li Mao decided to leave for Ziqing immediately.

Li Mao and his entourage were as many as 100 people, and in the twenty-first year of Zhenyuan, they left Chang'an City in spring and March.

As the assassin of Liaocheng Prefecture and the strategic envoy of Liaodong, Li Mao has the text of the military department, and he can use the post station along the way, and can enjoy first-class supplies. Most of the people who went to Dengzhou with their luggage were not affected, and those like Xie Biao who had families did not bring their families.

From Chang'an to Luoyang all the way unimpeded, although hard, but no twists and turns, passing through Zhengzhou, Li Mao went to visit Hu Yuchun, Meng Yingchun brothers and sisters and Yizi Qian Duoduo.

Soon after Li Mao left Zhengzhou last time, Hu Yuchun went to Huazhou to pick up his wife, Mrs. Hu was pregnant soon after returning home, and gave birth to a son to Hu Yuchun a year ago.

Hearing that Li Mao was the envoy of Liaodong, the Li family was overjoyed, but more happy than his son becoming an official, after a joy, she asked Li Mao where Liaodong was, and Li Mao patiently explained to her where Liaodong was.

Li patted Li Mao's hand and said: "How can a child who has left home not miss his mother, you have to go to Liaodong quickly, take back the place, and let the child who left home return to his hometown as soon as possible." Li Mao left the table, solemnly bowed to the Li family, and said: "Madame's instructions, Li Mao dares not to obey." The old lady hurriedly called Hu Yuchun to help Li Mao up, but said: "What do you say, you are now the economic envoy of the Tang Dynasty, how can there be officials kneeling to the people." ”

Li Mao said with a smile: "In front of the old lady, there is only a late life, how can there be any official or unofficial." Li Shixi said: "This is a good thing, our mother and daughter are destined, I will recognize you as a son, and I am afraid that I will climb you." Li Mao said repeatedly: "It's me who has climbed the old lady." Li said: "Okay, you don't mind, our mother's name will be there, the old lady is discussing something with you, and I am afraid that you are an official, so I dare not speak, now that you are my son, I will be blunt." ”

Li Mao smiled: "Godmother's orders." ”

In fact, Li didn't say it, Li Mao also knew very well in her heart that she took a fancy to Qian Duoduo's child and didn't want to let go. Li Mao didn't want this child to be frightened by him at a young age. He pushed the boat down the river and met Lee's requirements. Lee Lee laughed like a child.

Hu Yuchun heard that Li Mao was going to recover Liaodong, so he said: "There are many delicacies and delicacies there, and the sales in Liangjing are excellent, if there is, just bring them to me, my Hu family shops are all over Liangjing, Heluo and Taiyuan, and have friends in Chengdu, Yangzhou, Jiangling, Guangzhou and other places, as long as it is a good thing, the market is not a problem, and the price is easy to say." ”

Li Mao was overjoyed when he heard this, when he was in Chang'an, Su Qing wrote to him, saying that Liaodong treasures were difficult to sell in Ziqing, and questioned whether Li Mao's overseas business was correct, Li Mao had thought about using Hu Yuchun's relationship to open up the Heluo and Beijing markets, but later the situation changed sharply, he was trapped in Chang'an and could not get out, and Su Qing was placed under house arrest by Li Shigu in Ziqing and could not leave, so the matter was shelved.

At this moment, Hu Yuchun took the initiative to bring it up, and Li Mao suggested that Hu Yuchun send someone to be stationed in Dengzhou to facilitate the docking business, which is obviously beneficial to both parties, Li Mao can use Hu Yuchun's huge marketing network in the heart of Heluo, and Hu Yuchun can use Li Mao's power to gain a foothold in Dengzhou and get the most fair goods.

Meng Yingchun heard that Li Mao and Hu Yuchun cooperated to set up a business inn in Dengzhou, so he found Li Mao and asked him to help persuade Hu Yuchun to send her to Dengzhou. ”

Meng Yingchun said: "Everything is good here, that is, the old lady is worried about marrying me all day long, I am only fifteen years old, so I don't want to marry so early." Li Mao smiled and said: "You really don't know the blessing in the blessing, the man should get married and the woman should get married, what is there to say, the old lady is now for you, you pick and choose, you will be sixteen or seventeen years old, it is a good time to get married." ”

Meng Yingchun said: "I heard that your wife was detained by Yun Shuai as a hostage in Yunzhou, and your favorite concubine stayed in Chang'an to take care of a group of sisters and sisters for you, and I can't go to Liaodong with you this time." How can I do it without a woman around to take care of me, how about I go to Liaodong with you, and when I grow up in two years, I will simply be a concubine for you. ”

Li Mao wiped the sweat from his forehead and shouted: "Don't talk nonsense, you know what a concubine is, being a lowly person who insults your ancestors." Meng Yingchun chuckled: "How do people compare with each other, I think it's better to be a concubine for you than to be a wife for others, you just accept me, and I am willing to be a cow and a horse." ”

Li Mao flicked his finger on her forehead and shouted, "Is the ghost on his body, saying these crazy things?" Meng Yingchun rubbed his forehead and pouted, still smiling gently.

Li Mao said: "I think it's fake that you don't want to marry, and it's also fake to shout for me to be a concubine, do you want to set up another door?" Meng Yingchun replied: "Yes, can't you?" If you want to start a business here, it is easy and not easy, if you are not ruthless, I am afraid that my family will only be able to be a buddy for the rest of my life, and I will die if I eat and wait for death. ”

Li Mao said: "You are very restless and have a big heart, if a man is not sure, he can make a big career." But have you ever thought about Yuanba's feelings, he may not have a big heart like you, you have worked hard to set up the family business and hand it over to him, he may not be happy. Meng Yingchun's eyes showed a melancholy that was not commensurate with her age.

She blinked, pouted and thought for a while, and said, "I've thought about this too, he really can't stand up, so I'll return this family business to my eldest brother, and I should repay my kindness." Only good for him. Just like Duoduo, you have deposited 100,000 yuan here, and you treat him like a guest up and down, but you are not so polite to us, no matter how good you do, you will eat leisurely. ”

Yingchun is described as petite, and her facial features are not exquisite, but they have a unique charm when they get together, although the Hu family treats her well, she knows how to advance and retreat, and she dresses up to be on par with the middle and lower housekeepers, ordinary and unnoticeable.

Li Mao only admired the little woman's simplicity and wit before, and the rest was not too impressed. (Dissertation College)