West of the city, Cao Mansion, outside the gate.

Far away at the corner of the alley, stood a middle-aged man, in his thirties, leaning against the base of the wall, as if basking in the sun. If you look closely, you will find that his gaze always falls in the direction of the entrance of Cao's mansion.

"The world is changing, and Zhu Yan is old in the dust for half a life; It's not too early to get dressed, and watch the puppets make trouble. Weeping and destitute, and laughing again. It's all gone, the jade pot Qiong Island, there are few people in the ages. With a babbling whisper, an old man in his fifties rode a green mule, very leisurely, and in front of him was a thirteen or fourteen boy holding the reins.

When passing by the middle-aged man, the old man looked over there seemingly unintentionally, squinted his eyes and continued to hum: "Look at his two parts, don't drop the autumn waves." Thanks to my peach blossom fan, I will not be allowed to spit out soft silk by myself. ”

After a while, I saw a weak-crowned young man walking out of the gate of Cao's house, his face was a little pale. After coming out, he turned his head, looked at the gate of Cao's Mansion, stomped his feet vigorously, and left reluctantly, just in the direction from which the old man came, and almost bumped into the little mule leader.

The little guy saw that someone was so reckless, and wanted to disobey, but he was a discerning person, and when he saw that the other party was wearing Qingsu brocade, he came out of the front house, so it was obvious that he had an identity, so he just held the reins and wanted to avoid it.

It wasn't until he heard the nasal voice of the mule that the young man came to his senses, stepped back to the side, his face was a little more apologetic, and he hurriedly said, "I'm really sorry!" ”

The old man first swept the corner with the corner of his eye, and then nodded and said, "It's okay, it's okay, little brother is polite!" ”

*

Cao Mansion, antechamber.

Cao Hao took a sip of warm tea, eighteen years old is still a big child, and it is really heavy to carry these things.

Gu Na came over, not to ask for peace, after all, in the eyes of outsiders, he "betrayed" the Cao family, and it would be strange if they still walked around each other. In March, because he hadn't seen Cao Hao for a few years, he came to the door under the banner of "wooing" the Cao family for Brother Jiu. Right now, this time, it's the one who came to deliver the silver. He was born thrifty, and his hobby is only reading and writing, whether it is given by Cao Hao or Brother Jiu over the years, he has saved some money.

In the past two years, there has been a lot of uproar about the household department's recovery of the deficit, and Gu Na naturally knows everything under the hands of Brother Jiu. Today, the Cao family is one of the largest debtors, and it is not a secret that the Cao family's sister-in-law sold land and sent slaves in the capital.

Gu Na has already decided to let go of foreign affairs, either to Shandong or Anhui, and he will be able to come down in a few days. He knew that although his little cousin was not a person surnamed luxury, he had really not suffered since he was a child, and he didn't want him to be wronged in Beijing, so he exchanged his savings for several years for silver tickets and sent them over.

Although Cao Hao was a little tight on the money at the moment, he still didn't accept these silver tickets. Since Brother Jiu is willing to let Gu Na go out to be an official, the purpose is nothing more than two, in order to make money or develop local forces. Gu Na has been square since he was a child, and he lacks flexibility, so he is afraid that he is not suitable for such an errand. When the time comes, it will be bad if it causes dissatisfaction from the above, and when the time comes, you can take some money to pay respects, and you can also spend money to buy a comfort.

Although Gu Na is a few years older on the surface, how can he be reasonable? In the end, he had to reluctantly put it away and leave in a state of loss.

*

Although Xiaoman was arranged to rest, he was willing to be quiet, and after changing into clean clothes, he followed a few people in the house who were about the same age to talk about what he had seen and heard about the grassland.

Seeing someone knocking on the door and coming in, Xiao Man looked over curiously, and someone next to him whispered: "Mr. Zhuang went to drink tea and listen to the play again, I have never seen such a quiet Xixi in our house!" ”

Xiao Man Su said that he was loyal to Cao Hao, and he had slandered this Mr. Zhuang in his heart, and still whispered on his face: "Mouthy, Mr. was specially invited by the master to the uncle, how can he be assigned at will?" Although the uncle is generous to his subordinates, he can't tolerate these! After speaking, he got up and greeted him, and made a thousand: "Xiaoman greets Mr., I haven't seen you for a few months, I see that Mr. looks better than before, and it is not in vain that our uncle is worried!" ”

Zhuang Xi nodded: "It's okay for you, you're taller, and you're more polite than in the past, it seems that this outside is a good place to train people!" ”

When Xiao Man heard the compliment, he straightened his small chest, and said with a little pride: "Mr. is right, although Xiao Man has a humble status, he can't lose the face of the Cao family when he goes out." The people who come and go around the uncle are either the prince's brother or the county king Baylor, Xiaoman has indeed grown a lot of knowledge! ”

Zhuang Xi smiled and instructed the little guy behind him: "Send the food you just bought outside Zhengyang Gate to the kitchen, and carefully instruct it, cut it thinly, and put the rest away, don't waste it!" ”

Xiao Man saw that Zhuang Xi said solemnly, and looked like a paper bag in the little guy's hand: "Sir, this is?" ”

Zhuang Xi said: "Last month, a new Fushun Zhai was opened outside Zhengyang Gate, and this is his family's signature sauce beef!" ”

Xiaoman heard that it was beef, and lost interest, in the past few months outside the plug, the beef and mutton were disgusted, and he couldn't wait to eat porridge and side dishes.

*

Cao Hao was in the front hall, and he had already received the letter from Mr. Zhuang to return home, and got up to greet him.

In the face of Cao Hao's greeting ceremony, Zhuang Xi's face was still faint, and when he entered the room and sat down, he briefly asked a few words, among which he was particularly concerned about the Cao family's flag-raising.

"There is an old man in the family, if there is a treasure", Cao Hao never dared to underestimate the wisdom of the elders, seeing Zhuang Xi frowning and pondering, he asked: "Mr. feels that something is wrong with the matter of raising the flag!" ”

Zhuang Xi nodded, looked at the door, and did not speak.

Cao Hao saw that Zhuang Xi was worried, so he sent the little maid serving tea in the hall to go out to guard, and no one was allowed to come in. Afterwards, the two went to the small study in the antechamber to talk.

*

"What is the gentleman worried about, is he afraid that the Cao family will lose their reputation and lose the protection above?" After the two of them sat down, Cao Hao asked.

Zhuang Xi shook his head: "Today's kindness to the Cao family, as we all know, I will not be contemptuous for the sake of fame!" ”

"What is the gentleman worried about?" Cao Hao was a little puzzled.

Zhuang Xi's expression was a little solemn: "I have lived most of my life, and I am a little transparent about the world, but I really can't figure out that person's mind!" As he spoke, he pointed to it with his finger, and then continued: "This flag-raising thing is also in this dynasty, most of them have military merits or women are nobles, and the whole family or the whole clan carries the flag. Like the Cao family, it is the first time that the flag has been carried because of the child's birthday, but I don't know what that person is thinking! ”

Cao Hao thought of his sister: "It was said that it was because my sister became the king of the county, Fujin, but it was only because my father refused a few years ago that this matter dragged on!" ”

Zhuang Xi tapped the table with his fingers: "It's just a rhetoric, don't believe it!" Since I received your letter in mid-July, I know about the flag-raising, I have privately inquired about the origins of the princes in the capital, and it is not for nothing that there are people who marry into the clan to carry the flag, but there are few mothers who follow to receive grace. Most of them are like King Fujin of Ping, who raised the flag after marriage and raised his identity to prepare for marriage. ”

Cao Hao knew this for the first time, paused for a while, and said, "If it weren't for my sister's light, it should be regarded as the compensation for the Cao family!" The Cao family has been busy for all these years, and it can be regarded as fulfilling the duty of a courtier, and now it is a big hole! ”

"I want to come and go, and this is the only reason left! Although he did not enter the court as an official, I heard that the one who values friendship the most, the Cao family is counted as the uncle, but the three generations of grandparents and grandchildren have served in this dynasty! After Zhuang Xi finished speaking, his face was heavy: "Even so, the Cao family is still not out of danger at the moment!" ”

Cao Hao's heart sank, he bothered to arrange these years, and the deficit was repaid by nearly half, if it continues like this, it should be able to pay off the accounts in three or five years, why not stop?

"Hao'er, do you know that at present, in the teahouses in the capital, eight out of ten families use the tea of the Cao family; In the major tea estates, the mid-to-high-end tea is almost monopolized by the tea of the Cao family. The benefits of tea are abundant, and there are definitely more than one or two families with hot eyes, if it weren't for the fact that the holy car was not in Beijing, I am afraid that someone would have been unable to help but take action. Now, it won't be long before the Holy Driver returns, and someone should be tempted! Zhuang Xi said.

It turned out to be this matter, Cao Hao's heart was relieved: "If you have no desire, you are strong, after abundant food and clothing, gold and silver are just numbers." The Cao family developed these tea gardens in order to repay the debts, and when the accounts are cleared, they will be handed over to the Ministry of Internal Affairs! ”

Zhuang Xi listened to what Cao Hao said freely, and couldn't help but high-five: "A good one is just if he has no desire!" The Cao family has a son like this, which is really a blessing for the family! ”

It turned out that Cao Yin had this worry in his heart since the profits of tea in the past two years, and he was afraid that the Cao family would bury other disasters when repaying the debt, so he had the idea of handing over the tea house. However, after all, it was Cao Hao's idea to develop these tea gardens, and he didn't know what his son thought, so he didn't make up his mind for a long time.

Mr. Zhuang Chang was afraid that because of the tea house, the father and son would be estranged, so he mentioned the matter in a letter to his cousin.

Cao Hao listened to Zhuang Xi's praise, and only then did he want to be funny for the sake of it, what is there to be greedy for this kind of floating wealth on the table, you must know that in addition to the tea garden and pearls, there is also Wei Xin's side. Wei Xin went to Guangzhou for more than three years, learned business at the Thirteen Banks, and now occasionally makes a small fuss in the city, and begins to make progress.

After Mr. Zhuang let go of a worry, he thought of the sneaky person he saw when he came back just now: "Hao'er, if you want the Cao family to be safe for a while, you can have that person to take care of it, if you take a long-term view, I'm afraid you still have to make an idea early!" ”