Xiao Zhi began to study seriously, practiced martial arts with his master, learned more about this era, and slowly learned the people and things of this era.

But the times will not stop because of the appearance of Xiao Zhen.

It's time to come or to come back.

In the fifteenth year of Xiao Li's reign in the state of Qi, and the third year of Xiao Zhi's return to the world, a large-scale famine occurred, and many refugees were displaced.

Just after the first lunar month, the weather has not warmed up, and groups of people calling flowers have begun to beg along the street as if they have come out of the ground. Under the eaves of the shops in the capital of Qi, the dilapidated temple was crowded with these people. Families have set up simple thatched huts at the base of the city wall, which seems to have the meaning of staying for a long time. The streets were crowded with homeless people, wearing ragged jackets, a straw rope around their waists, wearing shabby straw sandals, and carrying broken bowls to beg for food.

"Uncle and aunt, son, accumulate virtue and do good, let's take a bite of leftovers. I fled from the countryside, old and young, I can't help it. ”

"Amitabha! Sin yo! Where did the disaster come from in the winter, running such a long way? A richly dressed boy said.

A coachman who was feeding the horses heard the conversation between the two, stopped what he was doing, and sneered, "You are from the royal capital, how do you know these things." This summer, there was already a severe drought, and there was no way to grow food, and the imperial court did not reduce taxes, and officials occupied land indiscriminately. How can they live if they don't want food? ”

It turned out that there was a famine this year, but because King Qi was seriously ill, he did not resettle the disaster area. When the price of grain rose sharply, many gentry bought the land in the hands of the peasants at low prices, and at the end of the year, the corrupt officials took back the peasants' fields on the grounds that they could not pay taxes, but in fact they filled their own pockets. Homeless, these displaced people had to go to the city capital and live on begging.

The coachman tugged at the collar of his son, as if he was still arguing. But there was a sound in the carriage.

"Okay, it's useless to argue with him, it's getting late, let's go."

The voice spoke to the begging victims

"This brother, I heard that there is an inn called Jiyilou on the other side of West Street, and sometimes some grain and rice are distributed, you can go there to try your luck."

Before he could say a word of thanks, the coachman had already driven the cart, and with a whip, the carriage was gone, and in a few moments there was no shadow to be seen.

Jiyilou is on the side of the west street of the royal capital, the palace city is very close, the façade is very large, it is one of the best inns in the capital. The name is probably taken from "the spring breeze is proud, and once you see all the Chang'an flowers." The meaning of auspiciousness, auspiciousness, also has the meaning of auspiciousness, and the name is very pleasing. Many scholars who studied for scientific research and those who went to the capital to seek positions lived here, hoping to get a good fortune. Many feudal officials also lived here in the capital to ask for good luck.

Although there are many homeless people outside, the inn is still as lively as ever, the scattered seats are full, and the guys are running back and forth with wine and food, and they can't be idle for a moment. There was a burst of music on the stage, the dancing girls danced, and the people eating in the audience all talked loudly, so lively, as long as they sat down and listened, they would know all the big and small things in the capital.

A little farther away from the backyard of the inn has also opened up a bamboo forest, built a pool, built a few houses, and the environment is quiet, specially prepared for distinguished guests.

Today, there were several distinguished guests in the bamboo forest, and Lu Qixiang, the shopkeeper, personally received them and waited aside.

"This year's income is not bad, and the business outside is also good, Uncle Lu, you have worked hard." A man said as he flipped through the ledger.

"Everywhere, you only come here because of your reputation." Lu Qixiang said with a smile: "The imperial examination is going to be held in the spring, and many candidates have entered the city early to make some way. Business has just changed for the better. ”

It turns out that this Jiyi Building is one of the strongholds of Rashomon in the capital of Qi State, Rashomon is a famous merchant on the mainland, business all over the five countries, the masters in the door are like clouds, there are many people who have attained the Tao, Rashomon does all kinds of business, from small inns and restaurants to weapons and intelligence. Only you can't afford to pay the price, there is nothing that Rashomon doesn't have.

Looking through the account book is Shen Lian, the current owner of Rashomon, who is only twenty-six or seventeen years old this year, but he has been doing business on the road with the old master since he was a child, and he just took over a few years ago. Although he is not very old, he is resolute and resolute, and his means are powerful, and he always smiles on weekdays, which makes people wonder through. Therefore, even an old fritter like Lu Qixiang did not dare to brush his head in front of him.

"I saw on the way here that there are a lot of displaced people in the city, and the situation is not very stable. Good business is inseparable from Uncle Lu's hard work. Shen Lian smiled and said, "Since the beginning of this year, Uncle Lu's year has risen from one-tenth to two-tenths, which can be regarded as compensating for Uncle Lu's hard work." ”

"Eh, this is the business in the door, and I'm just nominally helping to take care of it." Lu Qixiang was a little flattered: "My subordinates have thanked the master." ”

"Is there any news in the palace lately?"

"It's been quiet in the palace recently, but I heard that the health of King Xiao Li's Qi is getting worse, and I'm afraid I won't be able to last this year."

"That's right." Shen Lian took a sip of tea, "Then even if I didn't come in vain, the more chaotic it is, the more business opportunities there are." ”

While the two were talking, the guys outside hurriedly ran in and reported, "Shopkeeper, it's not good, someone has fainted in the soup kitchen." ”

Lu Qixiang hurriedly put on his shoes and ran outside the door, picking up the bustling refugees in the soup kitchen, only to see a young man, about twenty years old, lying on the ground, dirty, his hair was scattered and long, he hadn't cut it for two months, and he didn't have any warm clothes on his body, only a torn quilt around him. Look at his face, yellow and purple like ginger, his eyes are closed, and he is already frozen.

"Sin! This is also a common thing, so let's send it to the out-of-town human field. Wow, it's really bad luck today. Lu Qixiang sighed and said.

The guys looked for a mat to roll up the dead man, and were about to make a board to carry the person away, when they saw Shen Lian come over, looked at the young man, and said, "Slow." ”

"This is a poor Xiucai who froze to death in the porridge shed, and Shen Ye doesn't need to bother." Lu Qixiang said with a smile.

"We'll see if I'm dead or not." Shen Lian said as he stepped forward and squatted down, tried it under the young man's nose with his hand, and took his hand to touch the pulse. "People are not dead! Boil a bowl of ginger soup and get some hot wine. ”

The guys looked at each other, stood still, didn't seem to react, Lu Qixiang hurriedly said, "Master Shen has already ordered, don't do it quickly." ”

Shen Lian turned his head again and ordered, "Weimiao, Weiqiao, you hurry up and carry people into the store." ”

The two brothers are Shen Lian's guards, and this time they followed Shen Lian to the capital. Both of them were enlightened beings, and they were very tall, ten feet tall, and they had great strength to smash boulders with one punch. Wei Qiao is petite and good at light skills and hidden weapons. Although the two are very different, they are indeed a good pair.

Wei Qiao jumped down from Wei Miao's shoulder, and with a mention of Wei Miao's hand, he carried the scholar who was about to freeze to death into the store, poured a bowl of hot rice wine, and in about a moment, the young man's eyes opened slightly and closed again. Shen Lian looked at it, sighed and said, "Clean up a room in the bamboo forest, let him lie down, and raise it for a few days." ”

Lu Qixiang couldn't help but hesitate, "The master of the door is also troublesome, he saves people, and he has to feed people, so what does he do?" ”

Shen Lian saw Lu Qixiang hesitating, and said, "Save someone's life, and win a seventh-level floating slaughter." What's more, he is not an ordinary person. ”

Lu Qixiang hurriedly said: "Listen to the master." ”

In the middle of the night, the young man finally woke up. It was about two large bowls of steaming chicken soup noodles that worked, his face was a little red, but he was still a little dizzy, and when he saw Shen Lian sitting on the side, he struggled to get up.

Viciously holding him down, Shen Lian said, "Don't move, you better lie down." ”

The young man bent up and kowtowed on the pillow repeatedly, "Benefactor, you saved my life!" The green mountains do not change, the water flows for a long time, the great grace is not grateful, and I will not hesitate to repay it. As he spoke, a string of tears fell from his delicate face.

Shen Lian pulled a chair next to him and sat down and asked, "What's your name?" Why come to Qidu City? How did it get to this point? ”

The young man half-leaned on the pillow, sighed and said, "Engong, I can't hide it, my name is Guo Zhang, my ancestor once followed the first king to fight the country, and he can be regarded as a little squire." This time, I was supposed to bring my servants to the capital for a scientific expedition, but I didn't expect to meet robbers on the road, everything was robbed, and the servants were killed by random arrows when they fled. He wiped away a handful of tears, choked up again, and said, "I followed the displaced people to the capital for nine lives, penniless, hungry, and wanted to eat porridge in the porridge shed to go to relatives, but who knew that I would ......."

The more Guo Zhang spoke, the more sad he became, and he simply cried loudly, "Engong, you are my reborn parents, and when I get better, I will thank you for your great kindness." ”

"Your surname is Guo, but is it Yingcheng Guo?" Shen Lian asked.

"Exactly." Guo Zhang replied.

Lu Qixiang was shocked, the Yingcheng Guo clan is a famous family, and there have been many strategists in the ancestors, both in the court and in the local area.

The door master really saved a nobleman, thinking of this, Lu Qixiang couldn't help but admire the door master's vision.

"Do you have any relatives in the capital?" Shen Lian asked.

"My uncle is an official in the court, and my cousin is a guard in the palace, so they can all take refuge. It's just that it's really hard to meet them now. Guo Zhang said.

Shen Lian pondered for a while, and said, "You can live here now to recuperate, and it's not too late to go to your relatives when you are well cultivated." ”

"That's the best way to do it." Guo Zhang couldn't care about the pain at the moment, struggled to get up from the bed, and kowtowed three times on the ground, "Guo Zhangduo thanks the benefactor for taking him in, but he doesn't know the name of the benefactor yet, so he will repay him in the future." ”

"My name is Li Zhi, I am a businessman, I have been doing business in the capital recently, and I live here because I am good friends with the shopkeeper here." Shen Lian deliberately concealed his identity, and pointed to the vivid behind him, "These two are my buddies, vivid, beautiful." ”

After Guo Zhang saluted everyone one by one, in order not to disturb his rest, Shen Lian left with the others.

On the way, Lu Qixiang was puzzled and asked, "Why didn't the owner of the door tell Guo Zhang his true identity?" This Guo Zhang is worth dating? ”

Shen Lian explained in a low voice, "Now the capital is very chaotic, the situation is unclear, the Yingcheng Guo clan is a big family today, and tomorrow it may be a prisoner, so it's better to keep a distance." Shen Lian thought for a while, and then ordered, "No matter who comes in the future, call me Li Zhi, don't reveal my true identity, and don't mention my coming to the capital." ”

"Yes."

"But Guo Zhang's identity can provide us with a lot of convenience." Shen Lian smiled slightly: "Today is really rewarding." ”