In the north of Yizhou City, Baoquan Temple, because this side is a little secluded, except for the first day of the new year, the fifteenth day, and the Buddha's birthday, there are not many pilgrims.

Today, on the third day of February, I just experienced the first and second days of February, and the pilgrims here have dispersed one after another, and there are only some individual visitors.

However, there are not many guests, which does not mean that the little novices are light, and there are guests in the guest room who make trouble. The monk got the news, hurriedly hurried over, and before he reached the door, he heard a loud voice coming from inside: "Niang Xipi, the monkey cub with a bad heart, the master made fifty taels of silver for a meal, and you still dare to fool grandpa, but you are not begging for a beating?" ”

Then there was the scream of the little monk, the voice of low dissuasion, the monk was busy outside the door, and the Buddha said: "Little monk Benhai, please see Lord Liu!" ”

"Hurry up and get in here, just to settle accounts with you, a bald donkey!" I heard someone inside shouting and reprimanding.

As he spoke, someone came over and opened the door, let Benhai in, and at the table of the Eight Immortals in the room, there were two middle-aged men in their thirties, whose faces were not good-looking. looked dressed and decent, like a landlord and squire, and there were a few five big and three thick housekeepers standing next to him.

The little novice who served the guest here covered his face and his buttocks, and they all cried and mourned. When he saw Benhai coming in, he wanted to sue, but when he saw the fierce and vicious appearances in the house, he was so frightened that he didn't dare to say anything.

The two who sat there, one thinner, frowned, and his face was slightly angry; The other was tall, staring at the bull's eyes, with a bit of a fierce air.

This thin one is what Benhai calls "Liu Shizhu" in Benhaikou, because he wrote "Mengyin Liu" in the charity booklet, so Benhai called him like this.

Although the monks should abstain from resentment, seeing that his two little apprentices were beaten so embarrassed, Benhai was also a little annoyed, endured his anger, and asked, "Master Liu, what is this?" ”

Before the surnamed Liu could answer, he heard the strong man sitting next to him say in a loud voice: "You bald donkey, you don't know anything!" I didn't look for you, but you came to the door? As he spoke, he stood up, pointed to the meal on the table, and asked, "Come and see for yourself whether the master has wronged you and fooled people?" ”

Benhai only thought that he was on the wrong vegetarian table, and he also looked at it closely, "vegetarian ham", "grilled vegetarian chicken", "vegetarian assortment", "mushroom gluten", "vegetarian shrimp", "toon fish", "small pine meat", "fried box", etc., it is the best seat, these ten or so dishes, worth two taels of silver, where to fool people?

was puzzled, so I heard the strong man say again: "When the master is a mountain goods, can't you?" Chickens and fish, I also eat them when I see the sky, why don't I know that they can still taste like beans? ”

actually met a mixed person, even if you don't worship God and Buddha, you should be able to understand what fasting is, if it is really big fish and big meat, it is not a Buddhist sin.

Benhai clasped his palms, and just wanted to appear in the defense, when he heard the benefactor surnamed Liu next to him say angrily: "Third brother, don't mess around!" ”

The strong man still wanted to speak, as if he had some scruples, and muttered and sat down.

That Liu Shi got up from his seat, took out the ingot ingot from his sleeve, presented it to Benhai, and said: "My brother just had a misunderstanding, and accidentally injured those two little masters, I really hope Haihan, these silver will add incense to your temple!" ”

Benhai saw that there were ten taels of ingots, and the original anger in his heart was not at all, so he took it with a smile, folded his hands and thanked him, and took the two little novices down.

This benefactor surnamed Liu is Liu Quantai, the second master of Guimeng Village in Yimeng Mountain, he received a message from Wang Lusheng on the twenty-first day of the first month, and knew that the other party was willing to see them, and he was secretly happy.

Qin Boss and Zhang Laosan came back from Jinan Mansion on the 27th day of the first month, and they also made silver money and asked someone to go to the relationship between the governor's yamen, but they were blinded by others, and they spent the silver money in vain, not to mention, so they were not folded into Jinan Mansion.

Boss Qin is okay, he only thinks that he is not a person, but Zhang Laosan no longer believes in those so-called "people in the government", saying that if the officers and soldiers come to encircle and suppress, they will take their brothers to the mountains, and if they can't do it, they will fight, and it is not terrible.

Liu Guotai strongly advocated taking the line of the Cao family, he read more books, and in his early years, he worked as a western seat in the official eunuch's house, and heard of some officialdom.

Through the Wang family, he defected to the Cao family, and his future is unlimited, and he is much stronger than being a mountain bandit.

Seeing Liu Guotai's proposition, Boss Qin sent him to Yizhou to meet with the "official master". Zhao Laosan was a little uneasy, afraid that the second brother would calculate something behind his back and his eldest brother, so he ignored his wife who was sick at home, and took two people to catch up with Liu Guotai and come to Yizhou.

He has always said that he loves the scoop, and most of the month is spent in the Jiyuan at the foot of the mountain, although he is a rough man, he also has a little knowledge, how can he not know what the food looks like, but it is just a deliberate fuss.

After Benhai went out, Liu Guotai said with a straight face: "Third brother, now that the main master has not arrived, it's okay for you to be so lazy; If you are still like this for a while, and it is a big deal, then don't blame my brother for turning his face! ”

Zhang Laosan also had a bullish temper, and immediately sneered and said: "Second brother doesn't need to scare me, brother has to warn brother, don't treat others as fools!" I naturally want to come, or who knows if the second brother will use the surname of the eldest brother and me for a future? No wonder the second brother wants to run to Yuezhao, Wang Qiye is righteous and thin, but he is kind enough to feed the white-eyed wolf. ”

Liu Guotai's face turned blue, he was so annoyed that he couldn't do it, and said angrily: "What are you talking about? It's not good to talk about it. Over the years, I've bothered to plan, where can I not live for you? is so decent, but he has to be so suspicious of his brother, it seems that he still wants the eldest brother to say it well, don't say that I wronged you and disrespected my brother. ”

Although Zhang Laosan has always been a little dissatisfied with Liu Guotai's pretending to be serious, but after all, there is no real evidence, and when he heard that he was going to make trouble in front of Boss Qin, he calmed down a lot, looked at the sky outside, and said wistfully: "That bird official, why haven't you come yet?" Booked such a bird place, if it was in the city, wouldn't it be better to drink in the flower building? ”

* Cao Hao has already arrived, just in the next room, listening to the "brother fight" next door.

There are also Mr. Zhuang, Wei Hei, and Zheng Hu in the room, and there are a total of eight people from the other party, so there are not too many people arranged here. Only Zhang Yi and Zhao Tong brought a dozen or so guards to stand by in the courtyard next door.

The guest rooms in this temple are just for preparing meals to entertain guests, the wall panels are very thin, although the next door can not hear all the words clearly, but Zhang Laosan scolded the monk and the brother to argue with these few words but let Cao Hao they listen to it clearly.

Cao Hao tugged at the corners of his mouth, complaining that everyone said that there were many bandits in Shandong, and they were too arrogant. Now that I'm out of the mountains, I don't know how to be more restrained, and I should have heard the phrase "the wall has ears".

The one surnamed Liu, according to Zheng Hu's previous description, should be the second leader of the show in Guimeng Village. The third brother in his mouth should be the "Third Master Zhang", but for some reason, the big boss "Qin Huzi" did not show up in person, is it to leave a way back and save being served by Qi Guo?

Cao Hao took out his pocket watch, looked at the hour, and when it was the appointed time, he asked Zheng Hu to go next door to invite someone.

In his heart, this meeting was for negotiations, and his side was just for less killing, and there was no bottom line and no expectations. Everything, you must understand the other party's bottom line, and then make plans.

Negotiations, naturally, the "home" side is better, so that the other party has pressure in their hearts and does not dare to raise the price arbitrarily.

* Liu Guotai saw that Zhang Laosan was still greasy and crooked, and he looked down on him, but thinking that he had put on an oily green hat for him, his heart was also a lot more comfortable. Thinking of Guan's flesh and skin, but it was extremely slippery, not inferior to Xiuxiu, I felt a little dry mouth.

He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and looked at Zhang Laosan more and more unpleasantly.

At this time, I heard someone outside the door: "Second Master Liu, Third Master Zhang, my grandfather invited the two of you to come over and talk." ”

Liu Guotai took his thoughts, and before he could think about how the other party knew that it was the two of them, he was a little uneasy, and said to Zhang Laosan: "Since the eldest brother has explained the matter to me, it is natural that I will deal with this matter. ”

Zhang Laosan muttered: "'Shen Yan' is a bird, the second brother actually made these crepes, and directly told the brother to shut up." ”

Liu Guotai couldn't cry or laugh, but he didn't have an idea, and briefly explained to the few people who came with him, and then opened the door himself, and said with a smile: "Dare to ask this person who is Qu Ye, Qu Ye is an old man......"

Zheng Hu replied: "My grandfather is waiting for the two of you next door, please come with me." ”

When Liu Guotai thought about Fang Lai coming in, he obviously deliberately asked people to look at the left and right rooms, but he didn't see anyone, why did he run out of people now?

His face was a little stiff, and he smiled and followed Zheng Hu over.

It's just a few steps away, Zheng Hu and Liu Guotai stopped, Zhang Laosan was impatient and wanted to push the door, but Zheng Hu stretched out his hand to stop him.

Although Zhang Laosan is stout and mighty, Zheng Hu is also burly and tall. These two people, one is the leader of the mountain bandits, the master of business on the blade; A teenager started in the Cao family, and he also served as the guardian of the Taihu Zhuchang side, and he also taught those peeping ruffians and hooligans a lesson, and later practiced his hands and feet better and better in Guangzhou.

The two confronted each other, and they were a little comparable, and when Liu Guotai scolded in a low voice, Zhang Laosan withdrew his hand.

Zheng Hu glanced at him, clenched his fists and said to the closed door: "Master, guests are invited." ”

I heard someone in the room: "Well, please come in!" ”

After listening to the words of the people in the house, Zheng Hu pushed the door and made a gesture of please, letting Liu Guotai and Zhang Laosan go in.

Cao Hao was dressed in a gorgeous costume and sat with a smile, this was Mr. Zhuang's idea, since the other party was looking for the Daotai Mansion, maybe it was his rich and noble status. If he is too elegant, maybe the mountain bandits will feel that Tou Cheng has not run away.

It's just for the love of money, if they are still poor as officials, then they would rather be a free bandit.

Sure enough, Liu Guotai and Zhang Laosan entered the room, and their eyes straightened.

Cao Hao was dressed in a gorgeous, indescribable robe and horse coat, his hat and hands were lined with gems the size of pigeon eggs, and the buttons on his body were also jewels. Sitting there, smiling and groaning, like a god of wealth. The old man sitting next to him, and the one-eyed guard standing behind him, were not wearing ordinary products.

Even though he had seen a lot of landlords and wealthy businessmen in the courtyard, Zhang Laosan still saw the difference between the person in front of him and those people. The taste, I can't say, it's like a small god seeing a big god, and this one in front of me is obviously a big god with more money.

Although Liu Guotai had long heard that this Daotai master was the son-in-law of the Cao family in Jiangnan, a young man, he didn't expect it to be this young law. When he woke up, he knew that he was a little rude, and hugged his fists and said: "Villain Liu Guotai, I've seen Master Cao!" ”

Zhang Laosan next to him heard this, and also followed: "I am Zhang Laosan, you are the bird...... What dojo? Speaking of this, he looked at Cao Hao with a slight suspicion, and frowned: "It can't be a Mengren, right?" How young is this? I know that Daotai is not a small official. ”

When he said this, even Liu Guotai had a little suspicion, but then he knew that it should be right, if he wasn't an official, he wouldn't have such a bearing. When he saw the door with the third child, the other party just glanced at it slightly, as if he had some understanding, and it seemed that he was also a person with a clear mind.

Cao Hao listened to Zhang Laosan's questioning, but smiled silently, just glanced at Liu Guotai with the meaning of inquiry. Like, who is this frizzy guy? Why did you bring such a reckless man here?

Liu Guotai is very ironing in his heart, in the end, he is a child of a family, he knows people, and he knows that he is the one who speaks, and the third child is just a straw bag. Therefore, he kept a straight face and whispered to Zhang Laosan: "Don't be rude, I haven't seen Master Cao soon!" ”

Zhang Laosan was trying to try the person in front of him to see how he could deal with it, but he didn't expect Liu Guotai to dismantle his own platform, and he was very angry in his heart.

Cao Hao just smiled, didn't get up, and took it with a big smile.

After Liu Guotai and Zhang Laosan gave Cao Hao a salute, Fang found that there were only two chairs on the table, Cao Hao sat on one, the old man sat on the other, and there was nothing else.

Liu Guotai was a little disappointed, it seems that this Lord Cao is quite sloppy, and he doesn't know "Corporal Lixian"; Zhang Laosan was annoyed, knowing that the other party didn't take his two brothers seriously, and wanted to have a seizure, but seeing that the other party was calm and relaxed, he also muttered in his heart, after all, they only brought six people, if they gave each other a reason, maybe they would have to fold here today.

If it were someone else, Cao Hao might put on the set of "Corporal Lixian", but since the other party is the "Liu Er's master", he really looks down on him in his heart.

In the first month, Wei Hei asked Wei Hei to send a letter to Wangjiazhuang, which also meant to find the reason with Wang Lusheng. "Know yourself and know your opponent", after all, it is better to know more about that side. In addition to the situation on the bandits' side, he also asked Wang Lusheng why he was Chinese.

Although Wang Lusheng has some scruples, he is not as smart as Wei Hei, and he asks the reason.

I heard that before Cao Hao arrived in Yizhou, Wang Lusheng used money to deal with these mountain bandits, just for the sake of local peace and prosperous official fortune during his three years of office.

Cao Hao was very moved in his heart, although these words were just said by Wang Lusheng, and there was nothing to verify, but he never had any doubts in his heart. Therefore, I really don't have a good impression of these mountain bandits who flaunt the banner of "righteousness" but go back on their word and coerce the Wang family.

However, he is not a righteous person, although he has no good feelings, he will not act arbitrarily, and this kind of response is just to give the other party a disadvantage, so that the other party does not dare to be too arrogant.

Seeing that they had met the courtesy, Cao Hao took the teacup, took a sip, and said, "I heard that you asked to see this official, why?" As he spoke, he looked at Liu Guotai and Zhang Laosan, and his eyes showed a bit sharpness.

Maybe it's because he has been in the officialdom for a long time, Cao Hao is quite official, looking at the past, Liu Guotai "chuckled" in his heart, thinking about whether the conditions he had thought about before had passed, and if he said it like this, would it offend this adult.

Zhang Laosan saw that the other party's shelf was so big, not as enthusiastic as the one in Jinan Mansion, but he was a little honest in his heart. Yes, only liars will smile and be courteous to them as ordinary people, and the real official lord does not care whether you live or die, and his eyes are like this.

Liu Guotai thought about it for a while, and looked at Wei Hei, Zheng Hu and others with a hesitant face, not knowing whether it was good to talk in front of everyone. Cao Hao didn't see it, took the teacup, and took two sips, his face was already a little impatient.

Liu Guotai gritted his teeth and said: "Lord Cao, the villain is in charge of our house, and I came to talk to the adult for the sake of going out of the mountain." ”

Cao Hao raised his eyebrows and said, "Oh, out of the mountain? The specific charter, let's listen to it. ”

* When Cao Hao met Liu Guotai and Zhang Laosan in Baoquan Temple, the four brothers led by Cao Song went to Qingliang Temple with Li and Zhaojia to practice business. Cao Yin was originally going to come with him, but someone from the Governor's Mansion couldn't get out, so he didn't come.

Today, it is Cao Quan's longevity, and he sent incense and silver here a few days ago.

Zhao Jiashi looked at the tablet of her deceased husband, and naturally had to cry again.

Cao Song's eyes were sour, but he didn't want to be a child, so he endured it. A few small ones, but they couldn't restrain themselves, their eyes were red, and Cao Shuo and Cao Xiang cried.

Cao Fu followed his mother and aunt, and after doing the rituals, he took a rest in the guest room of the temple. Thinking of the lively scene at home when his father was there, he was also uncomfortable, his little face tightened, tears rolled in his eyes, and he sighed in his heart.

Li Shi watched from the sidelines, and he was distressed, so he hugged him in his arms and comforted him with warm words.

Zhao Jiashi saw his youngest son lying in Li's arms, and the two were so close, he couldn't help but feel a little surprised, nodded his son's head, and said with a smile: "Look at your laipi appearance, since you like your aunt so much, hurry up to give your eldest aunt a son?" ”

Cao Fu was ashamed, and said in a coquettish tone: "Mother! ”

Li touched Cao Fu's head and said with a smile: "That's good, I'm just desperate!" It's also the fate of our mother, just looking at him closely, not like a nephew, more like a younger son. Hao'er has not been by my side since she was a child, and she is like an adult when she is older and smaller, but she has never been as close to me as Fu'er. ”

Zhao Jia's family has seen it in the past two years, and the rise and fall of the Cao family will point to the nephew of the long house in the future. Therefore, listening to Li's words, he said with a smile: "The eldest is the eldest son of the long house, and his identity is heavy, and he is promising, where can he be so naughty as his younger brothers." ”

Li couldn't help but sigh when he thought of his son. Although the son is already a weak crown year, he is still a child in the eyes of his parents, and the family has been gathering less and leaving more in recent years. I added my grandson first, but I can't be in front of me, and I feel a little bit in my heart.

If you marry a daughter-in-law from someone else's family, most of the daughters-in-law and grandchildren have to stay in Jiangning to wait for their in-laws; Bisheng is a royal noblewoman, the master of the Cao family, although she is married into the Cao family, but it is not good to let the little couple separate and come here to set rules.

After thinking about it, I am too pedantic, if my daughter-in-law is not by my son's side, who will take care of my son's life? It's not good to let the daughter-in-law take care of the children and serve the in-laws here in order to fulfill her filial piety, and the son will accept a newcomer over there. Not to mention her son, even she, as a mother-in-law, can't get used to acting like that.

Thinking that when he entered Beijing with his husband, he would reunite with his son and daughter-in-law, and the discomfort in Li's heart was reduced a little. Because she remembered the matter of entering Beijing, she asked Zhao Jia's family: "I will set off with my master on the tenth day of the first month, and what gifts do my younger brothers and sisters need to prepare for their parents' house, and these days should also be purchased." ”

When Zhao Jiashi heard this, he remembered a matter on his mind, thought about it for a while, and said, "Sister-in-law, when it comes to entering Beijing, there is just something to find your sister-in-law to get an idea!" ”

Li smiled: "This is strange, my brother and sister have always been clever, even if I don't add up to you, why do you still want me to take an idea?" ”

Zhao Jia's family glanced at the youngest son beside the Li family, this is the youngest one, they are all twelve, not to mention that Cao Song is already nineteen, Cao Shuo is fifteen, and Cao Xiang is thirteen.

"Sister-in-law, I want to take the children back to live in the capital. The left and right are just filial piety, and there is no difference between that side and this side. can also take advantage of the past two years to pick some good people, and when they discuss their relatives after filial piety, they will not be blind. Zhao Jiashi said: "I have nothing to look forward to, I just hope that their brothers will get married and have children, and they will spread out for our Cao family, and I will be able to feel at ease if I am completely entrusted by the master." ”

Li remembered that Zhao Jia's maiden brother Ding Wei a few years ago, it seemed that he had risen a few years ago, and he was the Beijing official who was Ren. Therefore, he asked, "But what does my uncle mean by letting my younger brother and sister live in Beijing with their children?" ”

Zhao Jiashi nodded and replied: "Well, a letter from my mother's brother a few years ago, saying that the children are getting older, and they will go to Beijing in the future, why don't you go to the capital to keep filial piety, it's all the same." I thought about it for two months, but I still couldn't make up my mind, I really couldn't bear my sister-in-law, and the children also needed to be disciplined by their uncle. I am afraid that something inappropriate will be inappropriate when I enter Beijing like this. Our mothers are now living on the silver coins of the public school, although Song'er attacked his father's title, it is only one hundred and ten taels of silver all year round, and it is not useful. When I arrived in the capital, I was afraid that the cost would be large, and I would not be able to chew it when the time came. ”

Li said: "In the end, it is for the future of the children, listening to the meaning of the uncle, this can be regarded as a method." What ideas can I have on my side? If you think it's a master, you won't stop it. Chewing this piece, the younger siblings don't have to worry, although the ancestral properties are almost sold, but there are still two or three Zhuangzi under the name of Hao'er! ”

Zhao Jiashi hurriedly said: "How is that good?" The Zhuangzi in the capital, I also know, was left by the old lady, and the other two places were also given by the emperor and given by Brother under the guise. We, a big family, failed to make money for the kilometer, not to mention eating my brother and sister-in-law's, do we still have to eat my nephews and daughters-in-law? I don't have that face, and I'm ashamed to die! If you really enter Beijing, when you don't have to chew it, you can beg your sister-in-law. ”

Listening to Zhaojia's words, Li thought that there was no property in the second room, and it was okay to live together, but it was a little inconvenient after entering Beijing.

After thinking about it carefully, she said: "If my younger brother and sister really want to live in the capital, I will discuss with the master to see if I can re-establish a property in the capital with input, just for your mother to spend money over there, and it will be inconvenient to save money." It's just that the public money only paid off the deficit two years ago, and there may not be many rich people now. But I'm not afraid, it's really not good, I still have some private houses over there, so I will buy two small Zhuangzi first. ”

Zhao Jiashi was moved when he heard this, his eyes were red, and he tried his tears with a handkerchief and said: "Although I know that my sister-in-law loves me, I don't dare to work so hard. The 20,000 taels left by the old lady are all on my side. Anyway, they still need to keep filial piety, and they won't be able to use this money for a while, if the eldest brother and sister-in-law allow us to enter Beijing, it is good to use this money to buy the next property first. It's just that in this case, when their brothers get married, they will have to beg the eldest brother and sister-in-law! ”

(To be continued)