Cao Yin's father and son only stayed in Xiaotangshan for six days, and then returned to the city together. Cao Hao's vacation has arrived, and Cao Yin has received a letter of mourning from Alinga.

Ming said that it was the "first seven" of Aling'a, and Cao Yin and Cao Hao had to come to the door to hang their offerings.

Because Cao Yin had to go back to the hot spring Zhuangzi to live in two days, the Li family did not follow him back to the house, and only Chu Yu came back with Tianhui.

After Cao Yuan was dismissed as the chief manager, Hu Cheng sent the official to the court and said that Cao Fu, the old housekeeper who had been honored, rushed to Zhuangzi to ask for guilt. It was Cao Yin who was relieved again and again before persuading him to return to the city.

followed Cao Fu before and after, as well as Hu Cheng's grandmother Mama Hu. Bringing his son and daughter-in-law over, in addition to kowtowing and asking for sin, is to cry and wipe tears and ask for grace.

Li Shizun is an old man who was used by Lao Taijun during his lifetime, and she is also polite when she speaks. However, sending Hu Cheng to the official is a matter for the husband and son to decide, and the Li family will not make any extraneous complications.

If it is said that it is greedy for a little silver, it is a trivial matter; This forced annihilation of the people's women is not only intolerable by the law, but also a matter that hurts nature and reason.

If the Li family didn't know, if he knew, he could only complain about Hu Cheng in his heart. Mama Hu's tears and begging were useless, and she had to go back to the city and beg her daughter again.

Her daughter Hu is Cao Yuan's wife and Zheng Hu's mother-in-law. Because of her nephew's crime, she has been scolded twice by her husband and father-in-law, where is she still talking.

She had to persuade her mother a few words, she spoiled Hu Cheng like this, and she didn't have a head. It's better to take this opportunity to let him suffer some hardships, and he will know what to do in the future.

The Hu family is the old man of the Cao family, and it is true that he is a little decent, but don't forget his identity. Don't say that this grandson is in trouble and sent to the official, even if he is beaten to death with a board according to the family rules, he can still complain about it...... * Forbidden City, the yamen of the Internal Affairs Office.

After getting up early and following his father to the Aling's Mansion to pay tribute, Cao Hao went back to the house to change his clothes and went to the Yamen.

After a few days, Yi Duli raised his eyebrows and circled Cao Hao twice.

Cao Hao was amused when he saw it, and said, "Could it be that I have three heads and six arms, and adults look at it so rare?" ”

Yi Duli shook his head and said, "It's not this, it's to think about whether the Lord has gone to memorize the words, do you want to find a temple to worship!" At the end of the year, it was rare to take a few days off, and I encountered Diao Nu committing murder again. ”

This is talking about Hu Cheng.

Good things don't go out, but bad things spread thousands of miles. The Cao family has a slave and evil servant, and these days have spread all over the capital.

There are the most boring people in this world, and if everything is stained with "women", it is easier to attract people's mouths. Privately, there is everything. It is mostly said that the father and son of the Cao family will stay in a wide range of clouds.

There are also many subordinates in charge of affairs, and after listening to Hu Cheng's affairs, in addition to envy, there are also those who praise this kid for being sensible.

This can also be regarded as "lust also has a way", after all, they are all little daughters-in-law, and they did not provoke the big girl with yellow flowers, otherwise it is also a sin for bad people to be chaste. In addition, the girl has not budded, if she meets someone surnamed Zhenlie, wiping her neck and swallowing rat medicine, she may have to bear a life lawsuit.

There are a few women in this mountain village who know "Confucius and Mencius", and even if one hangs herself, she has been rescued. In the other places, the charges are even lighter. There is no capital crime, at most it is just a stream.

Some also began to wonder if they were also seeking to be in charge of the village and picking wildflowers in the mountains.

What they didn't expect was that their master was influenced by the Cao family's father and son, so they became vigilant, and they were also afraid that they would betray their own reputation by betraying their master.

"Fortunately, nothing happened in the end. Don't dare to be careless in the future, there are many people in the family, and there will be a lot of good and bad. Cao Hao listened to Yi Duli's words and said.

"My lord, you don't know, my mother was deeply touched when she heard this, and specially instructed me to send two people to the Zhuangzi at home to investigate. The old man said that she ate fasting and recited the Buddha all day, which was nothing more than accumulating blessings for her children and grandchildren, and she must not let those evil slaves do anything wrong and make the Bodhisattva blame. In that case, not to mention the accumulation of blessings, I am afraid that it will lead to disaster. Yi Duli looked at Cao Hao and said thoughtfully.

This was something Cao Hao didn't expect, he didn't expect that his unintentional actions could affect others.

"The old lady is right." Cao Hao nodded and said, "Dozens of hectares of land, or hundreds of hectares of land, for us, is just a piece of real estate, and there are some carelessness." For tenants, the rent of the land harvest is a major matter related to the support of the family, and if there are really drawbacks in it, it is not uncommon to force people to die. ”

Listening to Cao Hao's words, Yi Duli's face was cloudy, and he hesitated again and again, and Fang said in a low voice: "My lord, speaking of which, because of the tenant rent, I also encountered a bad thing a few days ago. It's just that I don't have the courage of an adult to shake things out. As he spoke, he told Cao Hao what he had encountered a few days ago.

It turned out that his family had a Zhuangzi in Daxing, with a sunny hillside, and had been planting watermelons for people surnamed Zhu. The tenant surnamed Zhu sells melons for a living, and there are regulations for renting every year. As for June and July, the first watermelon is honored to the Lord's family, and it is not counted in the tenant rent.

This year's drought and lack of rain have caused a lot of rain in the sunny land, and the 20 acres of melon land have been harvested. I only planted some Chinese cabbage in June, which is considered a little harvest in a year.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, rent collection began. The tenant complied with every request and delayed the payment of rent for two months.

Seeing that it really couldn't be dragged on, the tenant gritted his teeth and sold his twelve-year-old daughter to pay rent. In a fit of rage, his daughter-in-law swallowed the mouse pill and died, leaving behind a three-year-old son.

A big man, where will take care of the children. In the winter moon, the child contracted the wind cold and died.

In the past few months, the tenant family has been ruined, and the surname has changed greatly. With a melon cutting knife, he blocked a few stewards who came down to collect rent, hacked three to death, and injured two. Xu was that he saw that he had enough, and wiped his neck.

The story is not complicated, but Cao Hao broke out in a cold sweat when he heard it.

The death of four or five people is also a big deal, and Iduli told about it, but there was only chagrin. What he cares about is just trouble, where does he care about those lives?

Is every powerful person an executioner?

The big ones are stained with blood, and the small ones are burdened with all kinds of sins.

"I am me, I am me!" These words appeared in Cao Hao's mind.

is still fearful, and takes human life seriously. Otherwise, what is the difference between him being alive and the walking dead?

Seeing that Cao Hao didn't speak for a long time, Yi Duli thought he was scared, and said, "I started to hear about it, and I was also frightened." I'm afraid that Eniang will know, otherwise, I will kneel in the ancestral hall. ”

"There is a great drought in Gyeonggi, and there is no money to pay the rent, not one household or two households. The dog jumps over the wall when he is in a hurry, let alone the person? Cao Hao said with emotion in his heart.

The magnates in the capital, whether they were handed down by their ancestors or purchased later, all regarded Zhuangzi as a cash cow.

Even if the drought has reached this point, no one has said that they want to reduce rent...... The New Year is approaching, and the tributes from all over the country are unconsciously transported to the capital, and Cao Hao will also see the relevant inventory and warehousing documents in the morning. Among them, the Northeast game is the mainstay.

In addition to entering the treasury of the Ministry of Internal Affairs according to the number, there is also a bonus, and it is still according to the usual practice to honor the lords of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Cao Hao has both real power and power, and in addition to the sixteenth elder brother, he has been honored the heaviest part.

For this kind of practice of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Cao Hao can only go with the flow. Even if you want to show nobility, you won't use this term. In that case, the entire interior government will be offended. Such a thankless task, Cao Hao was too lazy to do it.

According to the rules of previous years, the Cao family also sent a purchasing manager to the Northeast to buy New Year's mountain goods. This year, it seems that it is going to be heavy, but it is also good, and it is affordable to send Boxing gifts everywhere when the time comes.

After the holy driving to worship the mausoleum, we have to go to Rehe. Calculate the number, and you will not be able to return to Beijing until around the New Year.

Cao Hao's side, I really miss the sixteenth elder brother.

At the end of the day, when the government fell, Cao Hao and Yi Duli rode out together, and before they arrived at the Xidan archway, they heard someone behind them calling: "Cao E, Cao Elu stay!" ”

Cao Hao grabbed the reins of his horse, turned around, and saw a man riding a horse. But he is an acquaintance, the steward of the Thirteenth Elder Brother's Mansion. He caught up with Cao Hao, turned over and dismounted, and said a thousand times: "Cao E, our master sent a servant over, saying that there is an urgent matter to discuss with Cao E, please move Cao Efu." ”

Over the years, the number of times the thirteenth elder brother has taken the initiative to find him has been counted.

Although Cao Hao didn't know what was going on, he still nodded and responded: "Let's take care of things, I know, let's go." ”

While speaking, he said goodbye to Yi Duli, explained to Jiang Jian twice, and then rode his horse and went with Steward Qu.

One time less, I arrived at the Thirteenth Elder Brother's Mansion.

There was already an attendant looking at the door, and when he saw Cao Hao arrived, he bowed down to greet him and said, "Master Cao, our master is looking at it, it's been waiting in the living room for a long time." ”

While speaking, the chamberlain welcomed Cao Hao into the living room.

The eighth elder brother has already gone to the funeral, and the thirteenth elder brother went to Bai Xiao, wearing a blue plain robe, and pacing around the hall.

"Thirteenth Master, please." Cao Hao entered the hall, picked the placket, and bowed.

The thirteenth elder brother pulled him, didn't care about greetings, and said, "I'm finally looking forward to you coming, come and take a look at this!" With that, he pulled him aside and pointed to something on the small table.

There were a few pieces of rice paper resting on the small table, and on them were silver pockets the size of half a palm. The pocket mouth is loose, and half of the contents are scattered, which is tobacco leaves.

It is said to be a tobacco leaf, but it is different from ordinary tobacco leaves, the color is red and black, and it is not as yellow as other tobacco leaves.

Cao Hao picked up a tobacco leaf, put it under his nose and sniffed it. Although he doesn't usually eat cigarettes, he knows what tobacco tastes like. This tobacco leaf doesn't smell too unusual.

The surface of the tobacco leaf is not as smooth as it looks.

"It's ...... Mixed with opium......" Cao Hao looked at the tobacco leaves in his hand and asked.

The sixteenth elder brother's face was a little dark, nodded, and said, "This is what I found out by accident when I went out for a walk." Ordinary tobacco leaves, a pound of high-grade tobacco is only one or two silver, and some of the worse ones are also dozens of dollars. This tobacco leaf, soaked in opium water and then dried, costs five coins of silver for one tael. Rao is expensive, and there is still an endless stream of people buying. ”

When Cao Hao heard this, he was shocked.

I thought that the harm of opium was still far away, but I didn't expect it to flow to the people in this way. Whether it is the powerful or the common people, they all regard opium as medicine, and except for the occasional addict, no one will think of taking the initiative to touch the medicine.

This tobacco is different, and it is widely popularized among the people.

He suddenly remembered the sixteenth elder brother who had tested the poison himself, and hurriedly raised his head, looked at the thirteenth elder brother and said, "Thirteenth elder brother, you ...... You ......"

If even the thirteenth elder brother "tested the poison", then the East Window incident, Cao Hao would not have any credit for the ban on smoking, and he didn't know what to do.

"I'm fine, but Cao Hao, you should worry about it." The thirteenth elder brother patted him on the shoulder and said.

"Is it non-smoking? Although it is said that he can write excerpts to the front of the emperor, whether he can attract the attention of the emperor has to be reconsidered. Cao Hao said.

The thirteenth elder brother shook his head and said, "That's not what I'm talking about, I have inquired about it, this tobacco has a limited number of products on the market, and the first to sell this in the shop was your uncle's shop." ”

When Cao Hao heard this, he couldn't help but be stunned: "How come?" My uncle's family owns a dumpling shop. ”

"No, this bag of cigarettes was bought by me from the shop on the other side of the Drum Tower. If you ask clearly, it's your uncle's business. The thirteenth elder brother said: "I originally wanted to call Cao Song over and ask clearly, but I happened to hear that you were back in the city, so I didn't toss him." I don't know who he was deceived into doing this. This is unacceptable, so I should quickly call him off. Otherwise, if you investigate it in the future, you will have to bear the burden. ”

What is this called?

He said that he should be sympathetic to the tenants and not let the people on the ground of Cao's house freeze to death and starve to death, and as a result, he did something nonsense; I wanted to do something good for future generations, and I made the harm of opium clear to the two future rulers of the thirteenth elder brother and the sixteenth elder brother as soon as possible, and as a result, the relatives began to sell this opium cigarette.

Until he came out of the Thirteenth Elder Brother's Mansion, Cao Hao still felt funny.

It's foggy and it's going to snow. Seeing that it is about to enter the 39th day, the north wind is strong.

The pedestrians on the road were thinning, and Cao Hao was riding on a horse, only to feel a chill coming out of his bones.

After a while, when he arrived at the door of the house, Cao Hao turned over and dismounted, turned around and instructed Xiao Mandao: "Go to Dongfu and ask, is the second master here?" If you're at home, call him to come to me. ”

Xiao Man responded, and before he turned to leave, he saw Wu Sheng step forward and replied: "Uncle, the second master and the fifth master are talking to the master in the study." ”

Cao Hao nodded and entered the courtyard.

Walking to the porch, before Cao Hao lifted the curtain, he heard Cao Song's loud voice, followed by Cao Fu's laughter.

In the study, the uncles and nephews talked happily.

Cao Fu is just a big child after all, and when he heard that there is a warm house in Zhuangzi over there, and he can also take a bath, he can't help but yearn for it, and said with great interest: "Uncle, my nephew hasn't seen these two things yet." If the uncle goes again, can he bring his nephew with him? ”

Cao Yin waved his hand and said, "Schoolwork is important, next year will be the year of the township exam." Besides, you're going to marry a daughter-in-law next month, and you have a lot of things to do, so where can you be free? ”

When Cao Fu heard this, he couldn't hide his disappointment, drooped his head, and replied weakly: "Yes." ”

When Cao Yin saw it, he couldn't bear it, and said: "Before the eighth day of the lunar month, your aunt will come back from Zhuangzi." When the time comes, you can take a leave of absence and come and pick us up. ”

Cao Fu was already dancing with his eyebrows, nodded vigorously, and responded with a smile.

Seeing Cao Hao come in, Cao Song and Cao Fu both got up from their chairs and lowered their hands to say hello to their cousin.

"Good. How are the second and fifth brothers doing? Is the second aunt okay? Cao Hao waved his hand, motioned for the two to sit down, met his father, and then sat opposite Cao Song and said.

"Mother is okay, but she doesn't like to move when it's cold, and I'm still talking about my aunt today, looking forward to my aunt coming back soon, so I can play cards together." Cao Song replied with a smile.

Cao Song was wearing a guard uniform, and it seemed that he had come back from an errand in the palace just now, so he came to say goodbye; Cao Fu is also wearing outgoing clothes.

It turned out that the two brothers had almost returned home together. When he saw Cao Yin's carriage at the door, he knew that his uncle was back, so he came over to say goodbye.

Cao Yin glanced at his son and said to his two nephews, "You go back to change your clothes first, and then come over for dinner and wine later." ”

Cao Song and Cao Fu got up and answered, and retreated.

In the house, only Cao Yin and Cao Hao, father and son, remained. Cao Yin tapped the table with his fingers, pondered for a while, and asked, "What is the Thirteenth Master looking for you?" ”

This is not something to hide, Cao Hao told Fang Cai Thirteen Elder Brother and his party in general.

Hearing that it was related to Dongfu, Cao Yin couldn't help frowning and said, "It's my father's mistake." ”

As he spoke, he couldn't hide his exhaustion and sighed heavily.

"Father ......" has remorse in his heart, not only Cao Yin, but also Cao Hao has more than a taste in his heart: "If it weren't for the compassion for his son, my father would not agree to split the family." It's all because the son has a short vision, and he thought that he couldn't see out of sight and his heart was pure enough to reduce some right and wrong, but he was just deceiving himself. ”

"It's because I don't govern my family strictly, and I neglect to discipline my nephews last." Speaking of this, Cao Yin paused and said, "There are already people in the Yushitai who are planning to impeach their father." ”

When sending Hu Cheng to the official, Cao Hao thought that it would attract the noise of the imperial history, but he didn't expect it to be so fast and so direct.

"It's all the son's fault, the father has ignored these trivial matters because he has believed in his son in the past few years." Cao Hao muttered.

Cao Yin smiled slightly, not seeing any annoyance. He got up from the kang, walked behind the bookcase, took out a letter from under a book on the desk, and handed it to Cao Hao. ”

"Today, after going to Aling's Mansion to hang his father, he returned to the yamen and thought about it for a long time. It is true that the emperor takes care of the old minister, and this old minister is also an old minister who knows each other. The year before last, the emperor transferred me back to Beijing, and this waiter of the Ministry of Rites is just a position of honor, and I should also abdicate and make way for Xian. ”

"Father is less than sixty ......" Cao Hao held the resignation letter in his hand, and only felt that his heart was heavy.

In the past two years, the personnel of the six departments have changed, and everyone will think that with the emperor's favor for the Cao family, coupled with Cao Yin's qualifications, even if he is not from Hanlin, he should not be the secretary of the Ministry of Etiquette, and he will be promoted to other scholars.

Unexpectedly, two years later, Cao Yin is still a nominal left waiter of the Ministry of Rites.

Cao Hao originally thought that his father didn't care, but now it seems that it is not that at all. He was loyal to the emperor all his life, and his father also had the dream of being a famous minister in his heart, but because of his background, he was a slave of the Son of Heaven for a lifetime.

finally arrived in Beijing, and Rongyang was really just "Rongyang......

(To be continued)