Chenjiawu earth and stone ramming, up and down three floors, the bottom floor is as high as eight zhang, about four meters high in later generations, and the second floor also has two zhang high, so the slab ladder between the connecting floors is quite high, especially for the frail elderly like Chen's mother Li, it is very hard to go up and down the stairs.

Chen Caozhi obtained his mother's consent to clean up two rooms on the second floor, he lived next to his mother and Yinggu, so that his mother could climb one less staircase when she walked downstairs, Chen Caozhi wanted to live with his mother on the ground floor, but considering that the ground floor was damp and the sunshine was short, he compromised and chose the second floor.

Chen's mother Li felt her son's filial piety and was very happy, and every evening, accompanied by her son and the old maid Huanying, she went to the willow forest outside Wubao for a walk, talking about some old things, and her attitude was peaceful.

At the end of May and the beginning of June, it was the time to mow wheat, and the whole Chenjiawu was busy, and the father and son of Laifu got up early to find out in the dark, and they had no time to be idle when they were tenants.

The Chen family in the west building has more than 2,000 acres of land, there are 1,500 acres of wheat planted, 23 tenant farmers, at this time are in full swing, women, children eat pot pulp to the field, let the husband, father, uncle, brother eat, the red sun is scorching, sweat drops hot soil, hard work is indeed hard, but because the main family is kind, the rent per mu of wheat is less than the general market is 20 liters, in case of famine, disease, the master will also reduce the rent as appropriate, so the tenant farmers feel that the days are rushing, full of food and clothing, after paying the rent and taxes, there can be some surplus, The nearby farmers were all envious of the Chen tenants, saying that they had met a good master's family.

Wheat mowing, drying, wheat milling, wheat raising, renting, and returning to the warehouse are all busy until the end of June, and the tenant farmers still have to rush to plant rice, when the yield of rice is low, but the price is more expensive than wheat.

At noon on June 21, Laifu came back from the side of the Jade Emperor Mountain, went up to the second floor to report to Chen's mother Li about this year's wheat harvest, this year's harvest is better than last year's, all the tenants are happy, day and night to harvest, now the basic harvest is up, is grinding wheat, raising wheat-

"Dad, mother, Xiao Langjun, I'm back!"

Wearing a bamboo hat and wearing grass shoes, Laide strode in, came to the shade under the eaves, took off the bamboo hat to fan the wind, wiped the sweat with his sleeves, his mother Zeng Yuhuan saw her son sweating back, overjoyed, Laide has been going for more than a month this time, alone outside, it is really worrying, quickly bring water and let her son wash his face first-

Chen Caozhi walked out of the room on the second floor and said by the railing: "I'm back from Laide, I've worked hard, has Mr. Yang invited me?" ”

Laide raised his head and said: "Doctor Yang has arrived, almost three miles away from the pine forest, I will rush back first to report the news-" and asked softly: "Xiao Langjun, is the old master mother still well?" ”

Chen Caozhi said: "It's okay, you come to Germany with me to greet Imperial Doctor Yang." ”

Ran Sheng was being watched by Run'er to learn the characters, and when he heard that Laide was back, he finally had a reason, so he jumped downstairs quickly, and pulled Laide to ask this and that.

Lai De saw Chen Cao go downstairs and said, "Xiao Langjun, then Liu Langjun is also here this time." ”

"Is it worth it?" Chen Caozhi was very happy, so he said to his mother that he wanted to greet him, and Chen's mother Li said: "Ugly, where did you invite the divine doctor, isn't my mother's health okay?" ”

Chen Caozhi said: "Mother, this Doctor Yang is from Yangzhou, and he knows Liu Shangwei, presumably because he heard from Laide this time that your old man's body is not in harmony, and Shangshi invited Doctor Yang to visit together." ”

Chen's mother Li nodded and said, "Well, go and greet the ugly child, people come from afar, don't be rude." On the one hand, he ordered Zeng Yuhuan and his eldest daughter-in-law Zhao to hurry up and prepare a few more dishes.

Chen Caozhi took Laifu, Laide and Ran Sheng out of the dock fort to the north to welcome more than half a mile of road, and saw two ox carts coming under the scorching sun, and there were two walking attendants on the side of the car, the ox cart in front stopped first, and down was the tall and sturdy Liu Shangwei, as well as his personal maid Gillian.

Liu Shangzhi made a gesture to Chen Caozhi from afar, and then said something to Yang Quan in the car behind, Yang Quan, a famous doctor in Guangling, also got out of the car, with a round face, slightly fat, a flat nose, long eyebrows, almost covering his eyes, and he was in his fifties.

Chen Caozhi hurriedly greeted him, and after a few zhang he took a deep look at Yang Quan, took a few steps closer, and arched his hand: "On such a summer day, Imperial Doctor Yang has come thousands of miles away, and I am very grateful, Mr., please get in the car and sit, our house is still half a mile away." ”

Yang Quan returned the salute to Chen Caozhi, and looked at this famous beautiful young man with a smile, Shi Yuxi in Yangzhou was angry and seriously ill because of this young man, this son can be said to be a household name in Wu County, Yangzhou, Jiankang have this son anecdotes circulating, scattered cavalry Chang Shi Quanli, Da Sima joined the army Huan Yi, Wu County Taishou Lu Na are very appreciative of this Chen Caozhi, and it is recently rumored that Xi Chao and this Chen Cao are like old friends, and they talk at night-

Famous doctors are also like celebrities, but also to accumulate prestige, those cramped in the township, the reputation of the county among the doctors are also quite skilled in medicine, why no name, is not good at raising hope, Yang Quan is very understanding of this, he was the imperial doctor of the drug supervision, because of the discord with the imperial doctor, resigned and returned to Guangling, has always only been for the noble family to treat diseases, for a poor old woman to travel more than a thousand miles, he Yang Quan asked himself not such a noble medical virtue, if it is not for Lu Taishou's face, Chen Caozhi alone or please not move him, but at this time when they meet, Yang Quan secretly praised in his heart, he wandered in the door of the scholar clan, read many people, it is rare to see a beautiful young man with such a demeanor, only Wang Xianzhi, the seventh son of Wang Youjun, can be comparable to this Chen Caozhi.

After a few greetings, Yang Quan sat back in the car, the sun was really vicious, and it pierced straight down like a golden needle, and he couldn't catch it.

Chen Caozhi and Liu Shangzhi walked, Liu Shangzhi first asked Chen Caozhi's mother about her physical condition, and when she learned that she was safe, she revealed her playful nature in the past, and talked and laughed with Chen Caozhi easily, and said: "Zizhong, your six-grade exemption has been received, and I also received it on behalf of Ding Chunqiu, and I brought it back this time, and last night was the night of resting in Ding's villa, and I rushed over early in the morning." ”

When Chen Caozhi learned that he had finally ordered the product, he only felt faint joy, which could make his mother happy, and asked, "Is it worth it to have a good business trip in the county government?" ”

Liu Shangzhi said: "Shang Ke, Lu Yuanjun takes more care of me, although he is a small official, but it is not too turbid, my father also sent two family members to send a lot of money to Wu County after you reported the news, for my use, that meager amount of money is enough for me to spend - my return to my hometown this time is also a business trip, Lu Yuanjun sent me to accompany Imperial Doctor Yang to Qiantang, and after curing Lingtang's illness, I will accompany Imperial Doctor Yang back to Wu County,." ”

While talking, when he arrived at Chenjiawu, Chen's mother Li personally greeted him, Yang Quan got out of the car, and hurriedly asked Chen Caozhi to help his mother in, so as not to suffer from heat stroke.

Chen Caozhi invited Yang Quan and Liu Shangwei to sit in the main hall on the ground floor, served tea, talked for a while, and Laifu came to invite Xiao Langjun and distinguished guests to dinner.

The wine is Qiantang Guizi wine, and the dishes have four meats, four vegetables and one soup, the four meat are boiled mutton, braised white silver goose, fried mandarin fish and steamed smoked meat, the four vegetables are cucumber, cowpea, red amaranth and lettuce, and the soup is river shell broad bean soup.

These simple, fresh dishes are delicious and delicious, and Yang Quan and Liu Shangxin are all large pieces of food.

After the meal, Chen Caozhi arranged a guest room for Yang Quan to rest, Yang Quan was very particular about treating people, saying that the doctor himself could not be tired, could not eat and drink, such as "six treatments and six no treatments" -

Liu Shangwei took out a brocade box from the car and said to Chen Caozhi: "This is your six-grade exemption, if I don't give it to you now, I will hand it over to Aunt Chen." "Go up to the second floor with Chen Cao to Chen's mother Li's room, finish the ceremony, open the brocade box, take out the silk exemption, and present it to Chen's mother Li.

Chen's mother Li looked at her son's name written on it steadily, with the cinnabar seal of Da Situ Sima Yu, the seal of Yangzhou Dazhong Zheng Yuxi, and the seal of Wujun Zhongzheng Quanli.

Chen's mother Li looked at the six products, and then looked at the Zhilan Yushu-like son in front of her, and her heart was as happy as she could imagine, so she turned to Yinggu and said, "A-Ying, open the nanmu box at the head of the bed, there is a small box inside, take it." ”

Yinggu took the small box, and Chen's mother Li opened the wooden box, but what she took out was Chen Qingzhi's seven-grade exemption back then, the silk was slightly yellowed, but the cinnabar mark was bright red with time.

Chen's mother Li said to Chen Cao: "My mother still clearly remembers the scene when Brother Ru presented this exemption to my mother, and it has been eleven years. ”

Liu Shangwei was afraid that Chen's mother Li would be sad when he saw things and people, so he smiled and said: "Zizhong is famous, and he is the first talent in Wu County. ”

Zong Zhi on the side said in awe: "So, Uncle Ugly is now a big official?" ”

Run'er said: "Of course. ”

Xiaochan, Qingzhi, Yinggu, and Chen's mother Li all laughed.

At this time, there were constantly Chen clansmen and their dependents who came to see Chen Caozhi's exemption, and they were all sincerely happy, this was the honor of the Qian Tang Chen family, and everyone in the Chen clan felt that their faces were bright.

Liu Shangzhi wanted to rush back to Liujiabao to see his father, and said that he would come over early tomorrow morning, and he was ordered by Lu Taishou to accompany Imperial Doctor Yang throughout the whole process, and he could not be derelict in his duties.

Chen Caozhi sent Liu Shangzhi away, and when he came back, he saw that Imperial Doctor Yang had woken up from a nap, and after washing his face and hands, a small servant carried a medicine bag on his back to diagnose and treat Chen's mother Li, and after taking the pulse, he looked at Chen's mother Li's lips and tongue, asked about the daily diet and daily life, nodded, and comforted Chen's mother Li a few words, and then came to the study on the third floor with Chen Caozhi to sit down, and Xiaochan brought tea.

Yang Quan asked, "Chen Langjun, what medicine has Ling Tang taken recently?" ”

Chen Caozhi told Ge Hong and last month about his mother's diagnosis and treatment one by one, and Yang Quan said lightly: "It turns out that Mr. Zhichuan and Du Gong have both treated Lingtang, so isn't Yang coming for nothing." ”

It is said that literati are light, and doctors are even more jealous, where Yang Quan has a strong heart, and he is a little unhappy at the moment.

Chen Caozhi explained: "Mr. Zhichuan is my teacher, I have been to Luofu Mountain in September last year, last month Jiaci's body was not in harmony, I was very anxious, so I immediately sent someone to ask Imperial Doctor Yang to treat my mother, and a few days later, Huiji Anshi invited me to Dongshan Yaji, I resigned that my mother's illness could not attend the meeting, Master Zhidu was suitable for Dongshan Xie's villa, so accompanied by Xie Youdu, came to this for my mother's diagnosis and treatment——"

Yang Quan smiled and said: "Chen Langjun's filial piety is commendable, Yang has come from afar, and it is worth the trip to get acquainted with Qian Tang and Chen Zizhong." ”

Chen Caozhi hurriedly said: "Panic." ”

Yang Quan said: "Mr. Ge Zhichuan and Master Zhi Du are both famous doctors in the world, his two prescriptions are very good, I can't have more good prescriptions, just according to Du Gong's prescription, in addition to not tired, eat more attention to diet, do not eat cured meat, salted fish, do not drink more water, do not be thirsty, hawthorn will be cooked, but more than ten hawthorns can be eaten, the most important thing is to try not to catch a cold." ”

Chen Caozhi kept it in mind, and said: "Dare to ask Imperial Doctor Yang, if there is no accident, can Jiaci enjoy a long life?" ”

Yang Quan said: "In today's world, if you are over fifty years old, you will have a long life. He added: "Chen Langjun don't think too much, just serve Lingtang with a good life, and his heart is wide and natural." ”

Chen Caozhi nodded yes, and then didn't ask more, and took care of his mother wholeheartedly in the future, and now he finally understands the reason why Master Ge asked him not to go out after May this year, that is because his old and frail mother needs to be taken care of, and his mother only has such a son as him, if he is not by his side to serve in his old age at this time, what is the purpose of raising a son?

At dusk, Chen Caozhi accompanied Yang Quan to chat in the study, Yang Quan is familiar with the allusions of the family, and his speech is quite funny, talking about Chen Jun Xie's family, Yang Quan said: "The world says that Xie Anshi is very elegant, but I don't know that his brother Xie Wanshi also has elegance, in the early years of Yonghe, the famous monk Zhidaolin returned to Yan County, and the famous people of Jiankang all gathered in the Zhengyu Pavilion to see off Zhidaolin, Uncle Cai Zi arrived first, sat on the side of Zhidaolin, and listened to Zhidaolin say "The Theory of Instant Travel", Xie Wanshi came later, Zhidaolin was already full of people, he couldn't listen to Zhidaolin's wonderful theory, At this time, Uncle Cai Zi got up with something, Xie Wanshi moved the cushion to occupy Uncle Cai's position, listened to the branch Daolin talk about Xuan, and was greatly admired, at this time Uncle Cai Zi came back, saw Xie Wanshi occupy his place, was furious, rushed up and pulled Xie Wanshi's cushion, Xie Wanshi even brought the cushion to the ground, he himself occupied the original position, Xie Wanshi fell so that the thorn and turban fell off, everyone thought that Xie Wanshi would be angry, but did not think that Xie Wanshi was dressed properly, sat calmly, and continued to listen to the branch Daolin talk about Xuan, when people sighed Xie Wanshi has elegance, Da Situ Sima Yu appreciated it very much, and since then the official fortune has been prosperous, if the northern expedition can make contributions, maybe he will be able to open the palace with the three divisions, and Huan Da Sima will be juxtaposed. ”

Chen Caozhi said: "Xie Wan is suitable for being in the court, not for commanding troops, I don't know if Brother Yingtai has relayed my words to her uncle Xie An, it is estimated that Xie Wan's failure is inevitable." ”

At this moment, I suddenly heard Laide shouting from the gate of Wubao: "Cao Zhi Xiao Langjun, there is a guest coming, it is Ding's Langjun." ”

Chen Caoyi listened, why did Ding Chunqiu come? So he invited Yang Quan to sit down, he walked downstairs quickly, Zong Zhi and Run'er followed him, Run'er said, "Could it be that my mother is here?" Chen Caozhi didn't answer, looking forward to it faintly.

Chen Caozhi took his nephew and niece down to the courtyard, the three ox carts of Ding's mansion had already driven into the gate of Wubao, Ding Chunqiu took the lead in getting out of the car, saw Chen Caozhi at a glance, walked over quickly, and said very seriously: "Zizhong, my third sister is here." ”