Chapter 49 Kissing

Xicheng, the gate of Caofu.

Several large carts swung along the wall along the gate, and Cao Zhong and Cao Fang commanded people to carry things from the carts. Cao Fang, how did Cao Fang get to the capital? Cao Hao was a little surprised.

Seeing Cao Hao coming back, Cao Zhong hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Uncle, come into the yard, my wife is here!" ”

When Cao Hao heard this, he hurriedly turned over and dismounted, didn't bother to talk to Cao Fang, and strode inside. Although he didn't deliberately advance the changes that happened in the capital, and he didn't want to hide it from Cao Yin's ears and eyes, he really didn't want to let the Li family know about it, and he didn't want her to worry about it. Mother is the person who loves him the most in the world.

When he entered the main hall of the front yard, he didn't see the Li family, and after asking the maid mother-in-law, Cao Hao knew that the Li family went to the side courtyard where he lived.

Walking into the courtyard, there were two women at the door who looked familiar with their figures, and they were dressed as Huixin and Dark Fragrance who had waited for Cao Hao for several years.

"The uncle is back, the slave and maid greet the uncle!" Hui Xin and Dark Fragrance leaned down and saluted.

"Huixin, Dark Fragrance, you came with your mother?" Cao Hao asked.

"Is Hao'er back?" Li heard Cao Hao's voice in the room and walked out of the room. Amethyst followed behind, with tears on her face.

The mother and son have not seen each other for a month and a half, but Li's sideburns have more white hair, and his face is thin and haggard, and it is difficult to hide the fatigue of the journey. Cao Hao felt guilty in his heart, it seemed that Li was worried because of the news that he was seriously ill. Amethyst, it won't be scolded by yourself, right?

"Hao'er!" The moment he saw Cao Hao, Li immediately had red eyes.

"The child has seen his mother!" Cao Hao bowed his head and saluted.

Li Shi took his son's arm, looked Cao Hao up and down, and saw that there was a scar on Cao Hao's brow that was more than half an inch long, and knew that it must have been left by the beating, so he couldn't stop crying: "My Hao'er! ”

Cao Hao watched his mother's gaze fall on his face, reached out and touched the scar, and comforted: "Mother, don't worry, the imperial doctor said that this scar will fade in two or three months, and it won't be visible in two years. ”

Li pulled Cao Hao to sit down in the small hall: "Although our family is an ordinary family, but since you landed, where have you been beaten by half a finger, and now you have just arrived in Beijing, you have been bullied like this, how can you pay it back like this?" ”

"Mother, it's just a teenager's mouthpiece, where can we talk about bullying or not bullying. The mother has been in good health for the past two years, how can she afford to travel thousands of miles, doesn't it make her son more worried! Cao Hao couldn't help but be very worried when he thought of the hard work of the Li family's journey.

Li Shi wiped his tears with a handkerchief: "Don't say it's thousands of miles, for your own children, what are thousands of miles and thousands of miles." If it weren't for the fact that we couldn't leave the house, I really wanted to stay in the capital and take care of you. ”

"Are my father and third sister okay?" Cao Hao couldn't help but miss his life in Jiangning.

Li nodded: "Knowing about you, your father didn't say anything, he must be in a hurry, and he didn't sleep well for several nights." Yi'er also cried a lot, and wanted to go to Beijing with me to see you, but there must always be someone to take care of you in the mansion over there. ”

When Cao Hao heard this, his heart warmed, this is his family, and he cares about his family all the time. In order for these family members not to suffer from illness and raids, what is it to suffer a little bit of white eyes in the capital?

The mother and son were talking, and Cui'er came over and replied: "Mrs., uncle, Mr. Zhuang has settled in the east courtyard, I heard that the uncle is back, I want to see him!" ”

Cao Hao Daqi: "Mr. Zhuang, which Mr. Zhuang?" ”

Li explained: "Your father was afraid that you would delay your studies because of your young age, so he wanted to invite Master Song to Beijing, but Master Song was unwilling to stay away from his homeland. I couldn't help it, so I invited the current Mr. Zhuang again, who is a member of Mr. Zhuang Chang's clan in our house, and I heard that the knowledge is also excellent! As he spoke, he took out a letter from his sleeve: "This is written to you by your father, and this gentleman should be mentioned." ”

The knowledge is excellent, and the image of an old gentleman like Song Fuzi appeared in front of Cao Hao's eyes. Since it is an invited Xixi, it is natural that you should treat each other politely, and it would be a bit rude to come back to see your mother first and then meet a foreign guest like yourself.

Cao Hao took the letter from his mother, opened it and read it, Cao Yin didn't say much, but half of it was the gentleman who said it, saying that his name was Zhuang Xi, the word Xia Qing, was Zhuang Chang's brother, and he had been on an errand in the palace of the capital, and he was a knowledgeable person.

"Mother, my son will go to visit Mr. first, and then talk to his mother when he comes back!" Cao Hao put away the letter and said to his mother.

"Well, go ahead, I still have something to say to Amethyst!" Li looked at his son and was in a good mood.

Before leaving the room, Cao Hao remembered something and turned around and asked Li: "Does Mother know an adult named E Fei?" ”

"Lord Efei?" Li looked confused: "Is it a relative of our family in Beijing?" I don't recognize it. ”

Cao Hao was a little reluctant: "Mother has never heard of this name, and I have never heard my father or uncle mention it?" ”

Li shook his head: "No, this is the first time I've heard of this name today." ”

Cao Hao thought about E Fei's surprise when he saw him, if there was nothing in it, who would believe it? However, looking at his mother's appearance, it seems that he really doesn't know this Efei, what the hell is going on?

*

Northeast of Cao Mansion, Banyan Courtyard.

This is the guest room of Caofu, because there is a hundred-year-old banyan tree at the entrance of the courtyard, so it is also called the banyan courtyard.

When Cao Hao arrived, Zhuang Xi was commanding the two little servants, taking out books from the bookcase and placing them on the shelves in the study.

If Zhuang Xi gives people the impression, it is that it is not good-looking. Not tall, not short, not fat, not thin, in his fifties, with a sparse beard.

Cao Hao is not a person who judges people by his appearance, since Cao Yin was able to invite him, he also deliberately explained in the letter, which has its own deep meaning.

"Cao Hao has seen Mr." Cao Hao took a junior gift.

Zhuang Xi took half a step back, looked at Cao Hao and asked, "Before entering Beijing, Ling Zun mentioned that you have studied all the four books and five classics, and now you can still practice and read?" ”

Cao Hao listened, his face was sad, he had been in Beijing for more than a month, and his body was better, but he rarely read and wrote.

Zhuang Xi saw Cao Hao's expression, and his face fell: "Studying knowledge is like sailing against the current, and if you don't advance, you will retreat." Isn't Childe Mo dazzled by the prosperity of the capital and neglected his studies? Are you willing to be a busy person? ”

Cao Hao is ashamed, this Mr. Zhuang is more like a strict teacher than Master Song. Although he was not interested in reading, Cao Hao still did not want to offend this gentleman. What can be valued by Cao Yin will never be a simple old master. Since Cao Yin specifically mentioned that he was on an errand in the palace of the capital, there must be more things to teach Cao Hao.

Cao Hao has two advantages, he is more studious, and the other is respect for the elderly. Therefore, he humbly accepted Zhuang Xi's criticism, and very seriously reviewed his lack of diligence in learning, and showed that he was willing to work hard under the guidance of his husband. The ones that were used to deal with teachers in the previous life are still applicable at this time.

Zhuang Xi saw Cao Hao's deferential attitude and nodded with satisfaction. I heard that Cao Yin, the sister-in-law, was pampered by his grandmother since he was a child, and he was afraid that he would have the arrogance and rudeness of everyone's son, but now it seems that he is too worried.

Zhuang Xi has a full identity and taught a few lessons. Cao Hao didn't care if he heard it or not, but he looked serious on his face.

The study was messy, Zhuang Xi looked a little uncomfortable, waved his hand and said, "You accompany Lingtang to talk first, and we will talk later!" ”

Cao Hao responded, and saw that Zhuang Xi's clothes were a little wrinkled, although he was very energetic, his face was still a little tired. After taking the boat for more than ten days, the fatigue of the journey is inevitable: "Sir, I will ask the servant to bring water, Mr. will take a bath to relieve his fatigue, I will arrange the kitchen to prepare wine and food, and give Mr. the wind!" ”

In this era, people do not live as long as later generations, and after fifty they can call themselves "old", which is considered an old man.

Even if Zhuang Xi's surname is a little strange, after all, it is for Cao Hao to travel thousands of miles.

*

Out of the Banyan Courtyard, Cao Fang was already waiting in the back of the courtyard.

Cao Fang, the second son of Cao Fu, the chief housekeeper of the Cao family in Jiangning, once served as Cao Hao's long-term attendant and was responsible for transporting Cao Hao to and from school. Later, because of Cao Hao's kidnapping, he was punished by the family law of the big housekeeper and punished to do miscellaneous labor. When Cao Hao was ten years old and Zhang Luolin was fasting, he asked Cao Fang to come forward to be the shopkeeper.

Two years ago, Brother Jiu sent people to Jiangning to poach the two directors of Lin Xia Zhai, and Lin Xia Zhai was closed. Cao Hao suggested to Cao Yin that Cao Fang be a steward in the Cao family's tea business. Cao Fang's son Xiaoman is now on an errand by Cao Hao's side.

For his little master, Cao Fang was both grateful and convinced, and saluted: "The uncle's matter has been transmitted to Jiangning, but it has scared the slave to death, and now it seems to be very good, what a blessing!" ”

"Sending my mother and Mr. Zhuang to Beijing safely, I'm tired of you!" Cao Hao smiled and said: "Where can you use these false gifts, what is the business of the tea house, why did your father make you out?" ”

"Originally, the slave's father wanted the slave's brother to come, but the slave couldn't worry about the uncle, so he took the initiative to come, and it happened that the tea merchant in Beijing had a few silver coins to collect." Cao Fangdao.

If someone else said this, Cao Hao would have to consider the moisture in it, but when Cao Fang said it, he believed it.