When Cao Hao entered the upper room of the Lan Courtyard, he happened to hear what Li said. I didn't understand for a while, who was gone.

Seeing Cao Hao coming in, Li Nai hurriedly got up from his seat. Cao Hao took two steps quickly, and said, "I haven't seen you for a long time, I have asked my eldest cousin to say goodbye." ”

Li Nai hurriedly returned the salute and said, "I haven't seen you for a few years, my cousin has a good career, and he looks more and more noble." ”

Li was beside him, and when he saw his nephew and son politely coming and going, he said with a smile: "It's not an outsider, what are you doing with these false courtesies." On a hot day, sit down and talk. ”

Gao Taijun's expression was also soothed, and he looked at Cao Hao and said, "It's only been a few days since I rested, and I went out early and returned late, how can I take care of my body." ”

"Cousin looks a little clear, is this sick?" Li Nai opened his mouth and asked: "I heard about my cousin and sister in the first five months, and my father was so worried, why is my cousin also implicated?" ”

"It's just that I'm a little busy in the spring, and I don't sleep well, so it's not in the way." Cao Hao replied with a smile.

Li Shi looked at Li Nai and said, "This is coming here directly?" ”

Li Nai nodded and said, "I thought I would say hello to my uncle and aunt first, so I came here directly." ”

When Li heard this, he instructed Cao Hao: "Take your cousin to the guest room to freshen up, and you also change your clothes, I will ask someone to prepare a table, and give your eldest cousin a while to pick up the wind and wash the dust." ”

Cao Hao responded, took Li Nai out, sent him to the guest room, and after being properly settled, he returned to Wutong Garden to change clothes.

Chu Yu was sitting in front of the kang and writing, which was the recipe that had been sorted out before.

"Why do you think of this again?" Cao Hao picked it up and looked at it, and asked with some curiosity: "I haven't seen you study this recently." ”

"My cousin asked my eldest cousin to bring a lot of fresh food and some cooking recipes, so I took advantage of it. Transcribe it. Chu Yu replied with a smile.

"I just seem to have heard that no one is gone, and I haven't seen my eldest cousin have filial piety, what is the reason?" Cao Hao asked.

"It's the second cousin's concubine and Xiangyu's biological mother is gone. The old lady over there sent her eldest cousin, in addition to taking her grandmother back, that is, to take Xiangyu back to keep filial piety. Speaking of this, Chu Yu couldn't help sighing: "Poor Xiangyu, at a little older age, losing her father and mother, it's really fateful." ”

Because it is related to Li Ding, Cao Hao is still a little awkward in his heart, and every time he sees Xiangyu, he also feels uncomfortable. Although the little girl looks pink, Cao Hao can't get close.

"My grandmother is going back, and it seems that she has to prepare for the ceremony. These days, I'm afraid I'm going to work hard for you again. Cao Hao thought for a moment and said.

"Anything else is okay, the pill that was prepared for Xiangyu last month hasn't been prepared yet, it seems that it will be brought back later." Chu Yu said.

The husband and wife had been talking for a while, and the Li family had already sent someone to invite them over.

Here in the Lanyuan, with a slippery little head, God bless them have come back from school to ask their cousin for peace.

On Li Nai's side, everyone has prepared a meeting gift. Tianyou, Hengsheng, Zuo Cheng, and Zuo Zhu all have shares, and Tianhui, as the only cousin and niece, has a double gift.

After waiting for the next dinner, after accompanying Gao Taijun and Li to say a few words, Li Nai and Cao Hao went to the front yard for tea.

Li Nai's eyes flickered, and his face was hesitant, as if there was something unspeakable. Cao Hao watched coldly, a little puzzled in his heart.

Although Li Xu was reprimanded two years ago for his closeness to the Kali, the palm print of Jiangning Buzheng was also moved from Suzhou to Sun Wencheng, the weaving mansion in Hangzhou. But with Li Xu going to Beijing to celebrate his birthday and making up for the title of squire, the Li family is still standing in the south of the Yangtze River.

Li Nai hesitated again and again, and finally spoke, "Cousin, this time I went to Beijing, in addition to picking up my uncle and grandmother and Xiangyu, I also had to ask my cousin. ”

This sentence is becoming more and more strange, the Cao family now has Cao Yin on the top and the Li family in the inner house, what is there to make a special trip to Cao Hao?

"Since the beginning of the summer, my father's health has not been very good, and he is also worried about the deficit of the household." Li Nai continued: "Debt-free and light, not to mention that the household is in deficit and cannot be lacking. My father originally wanted to save some money in the past few years, pay back some of it first, and then slowly expand it. Who would have thought that last year's Suzhou flood, Zhuangzi reduced the harvest, and there was not much silver money in the account. At the beginning of this year, seeing that the wind and rain were smooth, I was still looking forward to getting better. By mid-May, it was raining again. Before I went north, I made a special trip to Zhuangzi to see it. All the wheat to be harvested has been soaked in the rain, and this year's crop has been ruined. There are also a few Zhuangzi in Gyeonggi, but along the way, the news of the Gyeonggi drought is also familiar, and I am afraid that there will be no progress. ”

If you have the intention to make up for the shortfall, why wait until today?

Now this panic should not be for the lack of the household, but because I am afraid that I will be frightened by the "sick leave" of Ah Ling'a and Xu, and I am worried that Kangxi will find an opportunity, so I want to fill this hole and show my loyalty.

"Cousin, my father's hair is gray, but it's not easy to open up to my uncle. In the early years, my uncle persuaded my father many times, but my father didn't listen to it, and because of this, my father didn't say anything, but looking at what he meant, he regretted it. In the end, Li Nai looked at Cao Hao, with a bit of pleading on his face, and said: "I know that my cousin is in charge now, and for the sake of the affection of my closest relatives, I also beg my cousin to pull it." ”

"If the eldest cousin uses silver, even if he opens his mouth, he can't guarantee that if he says more, the younger brother can still accept it. Although there are a lot of expenses in Beijing, thanks to the grace of God, the Zhuangzi given in the early years can still have some income every year. Your cousin's shop can also get some fat and silver every month. Cao Hao thought for a moment and replied.

"Cousin, if there is only a difference of ten thousand or eight thousand taels of silver, why would my father be so worried. In the early years, the holy driver went to the south of the Yangtze River six times, and we also took over the driving side twice, and paid the silver from the treasury several times. Although there are many expenses on the Jiangning side, they are also spent like flowing water, and the current accounts are more than 500,000 taels. Li Naisheng blushed and said: "When the second brother was alive, he also wanted to share his father's worries and pay off the shortfall. I didn't want to, but I lost my surname without knowing it, leaving me, a mediocre person, who could only sit on the sidelines and not be able to do anything at all. ”

Although Li Nai said it with emotion, Cao Hao did not mean to agree.

Today, it's no longer the same as it used to be.

If the Cao family was in Jiangnan, Cao Hao didn't make some noise before the errand, and he could still be quiet and not attract attention.

Now, there are more people staring at Cao Hao, waiting for him to raise money.

Who knows if Li Xu really remembers his surname, in case he and the eighth elder brother still have a head and tail, then the Cao family is close to him, and I am afraid that he will be suspicious.

"Don't worry, cousin, my uncle has been out for many years, maybe he already has a proper idea in his heart." Cao Hao opened his mouth to persuade.

Seeing that Cao Hao didn't nod, Li Nai had already stood up, turned to Cao Hao, shook his hands, and bowed to the end.

When Cao Hao saw it, he hurriedly got up and dodged away, without receiving his salute, and said, "What is my cousin doing, get up quickly!" ”

"My surname is dull, and I can help my father very little. When the second brother was alive, most of the second brothers assisted their father in the yamen. Among them, there are some places that I can't live with my cousin, and I have heard about them here. Speaking of which, I really have no shame to talk to my cousin, but it's just such a large amount, except for my cousin, there is really no one to ask for. Li Nai's face was full of pleading.

Do you really think you are a good money boy? Cao Hao smiled bitterly in his heart.

The Internal Affairs Mansion and the Zongren Mansion are still waiting for silver, if Cao Hao really raises money for the Li family, I am afraid that he will be defeated.

Cao Hao's surname is already cold, but now that he has a burden on his body, he is helpless, where would he be willing to take over the big burden of the Li family.

After all, they are relatives, and they have to take care of Li's face, and they can't tear their faces, so Cao Hao has no way but to use a "procrastination".

"The words of the outside are mostly false rumors, and they cannot be trusted." Speaking of this, after a pause, Cao Hao said: "Wait for me to repair the book to my father, and see what his old man's idea is...... * Lanyuan and go to the room."

Since Xiangyu landed, he gave his father Li Ding filial piety, and now he has not yet been filial, and now, he has added his mother's filial piety and replaced it with a white head rope.

She is still young, and she doesn't know the pain of parting.

Tianyou, on the other hand, was already shaking his little head, learning from the appearance of an adult, and sighed twice, and said, "My cousin is leaving......"

"Are you going with your cousin?" Hengsheng was next to him, still confused.

"Cousin, can Yu'er come back tomorrow?" Xiangyu sensed that the atmosphere was wrong, and she was a little stupid, so she pulled Tianyou's arm and said.

"Why not? If you want to come back, I'll ask Mama Gong to make you an ice bowl. Tianyou took Xiangyu's little hand and said.

Xiangyu nodded vigorously and asked in a low voice, "What about today's beans, they are delicious." ”

Tianyou listened, turned his head, looked at Li's and said, "Grandmother, my cousin loves to eat ice bowls, let Mama Gong do it today, right?" If you do it again tomorrow, you can eat it twice. ”

As soon as Tianyou said this, everyone else also looked at the Li family.

The ice bowl that Tianyou said is to chisel the ice, and then add some honey beans or something on it, which is a common snack after summer.

Seeing that the children wanted to eat, Li was soft-hearted, and said to Chu Yu: "Since the children want it, let people make some, so that these little gluttonous cats don't have to worry about this." ”

Chu Yu smiled and responded, and turned around to send a message to the kitchen.

Gao Taijun was sitting on the kang, thinking about his thoughts, and when he heard the children chattering, he felt a little noisy and couldn't help frowning.

When Li saw it, he waved his hand and asked Chu Yu to take the children to the east house to play, and he stayed in the house to talk to Gao Taijun.

When the room was quiet, Gao Taijun sighed, looked at Li and said, "If it weren't for your eldest aunt's call, the old woman wouldn't like to go back." God is pitiful, fortunately, your side is still living a peaceful and beautiful life. Although the son-in-law is older, he also knows how to hurt people; Sons and daughters-in-law are sensible children who know the way of filial piety; Your grandchildren are getting older, so you can relax and have a good time in the future. ”

Hearing this, Li's eyes were already red, and he said: "My mother has been in Beijing for a year, and there are many things in the house here, and I, as a daughter, have little time to take care of my mother's knees." The mother will go back this time to stay for a few months, and her daughter will send someone to pick her up in the spring of next year. Even with the eldest aunt, I came out for a stroll. ”

When Gao Taijun heard this, he shook his head and said, "You have this filial piety, and I, as a mother, will be content." It's just that your eldest aunt is over eighty, and she is old, and she can't bear to travel long distances. After a few years, after giving your aunt a pension, maybe I have nowhere to go, so I will continue to eat my uncle's food......"

* Prince Jane's Mansion, the inner hall is warm.

It is said to be a warm pavilion, but it is actually the landlord's house, which was originally the residence of Liuge Zhen'er. As early as the beginning of the year, after Yarjianga was "drunk", Prince Jian Fujin Wanyan Yongjia moved from the main bedroom to live here with his daughter.

Today, there is a "rare guest", that is, Yarjiang, who has rarely entered the inner house in recent months.

Zhen'er hugged her father's neck, pouted, and complained: "Ama lied, last time I said that I wanted to take Zhen'er to listen to the play, but I didn't listen." ”

Yarjianga kissed her daughter's face, and said with a smile: "Don't lie to Zhen'er, if Zhen'er wants to listen, Ming'er Ama will take you over." ”

Zhen'er listened, then turned around and smiled, turned around, looked at Yongjia, and said with a smile: "Eniang, let's go ...... together"

Yongjia is still in the filial piety period, wearing a moon-white cheongsam and an ivory-white armor, which is more and more lined with a clear appearance.

When Yarjianga saw this, he couldn't help frowning, and asked, "Have you eaten the blood swallow I sent every day?" I've asked the doctor, and it's the most nourishing. You look in the mirror and see how thin they are. You know that the death of your father-in-law will cause you to be sad, but you must also think about the living, and don't let us worry about it. ”

Listening to these words, people's hearts are ironed.

Looking at the man in front of him, Yongjia's previous disgust was a little less, but a little more envious.

It would be nice if he could live as carefree as he did.

Such a gentle expression made Yarjianga a little at a loss, looking at Yongjia, his eyes didn't know where to go.

Thinking of being a husband and wife for the past few years, it seems that they have passed in the cold, what are I tossing.

Yongjia picked the corners of her mouth, giving birth to a little self-deprecation.

Yarjiang's eyes moved away from Yongjia's mouth and said, "I'm thirsty, remember that you have the body tea given by King Ping's Fujin here, so make someone make a pot." ”

"Winter tea? Amma? Zhen'er listened, tilted his little head and said, "The green tea with Daoxiang Village is the best." ”

Yaerjianga took two steps forward, sat on the edge of the kang, pinched Zhen'er's little face, and said, "Our Liugege is still a little gluttonous cat, and we know how to eat well all day." It's all a little ball of meat. In the future, I will eat delicious food, and I advise you to eat two more bites. ”

"yes, I see." Zhen'er clicked on the little brain melon, and at the same time grabbed the jade pendant tied to Yaerjiang's belt and played with it, and said, "It's so slippery......"

Yongjia's gaze fell on the jade pendant.

It was a piece of mutton fat jade pendant, with flowers and birds carved on it, and it looked very exquisite. The shape is half-moon shaped, and it appears to be one of a pair of jade pendants.

For a moment, Yongjia was a little curious, wondering who the beauty who was "hidden by the golden house" was who could be so fascinated that Yaerjianga finally changed his surname and abandoned the man.

It's just that the relationship between her and Yarjianga is not a "heart-to-heart" relationship, and this kind of topic is not easy to mention casually.

Thinking about it this way, Yongjia sighed in her heart, a little disappointed.

Yarjianga looked at Yongjia's expression changing, and his heart was confused, and he really couldn't guess his wife's thoughts.

Yongjia had already gotten up and asked the maid to bring hot water. She made a pot of tea with her own hands, poured one for Yaerjiang, sent it to the kang table, and said, "Lord Wang, please use it." As he spoke, he said to his daughter, "Zhen'er, get off your Amma's lap." ”

Zhen'er responded, put down the jade pendant in her hand, obediently climbed onto the kang, supported the kang table with her chin, and said, "Eniang, where is the green tea?" ”

Yongjia had already brought the plate over and said, "There is no more in that house, Ming'er will ask someone to buy it for you." Eat two mung bean cakes first, this is also your favorite before. ”

Zhen'er couldn't hide her disappointment, and looked at the mung bean cake, which she didn't mean to eat.

Yaerjiang hurt the girl, and said strangely: "Since you really want to eat, send a slave to buy it." It's not a precious thing, and it makes Zhen'er unhappy. ”

"It's time for dinner, it's time for the big guys to have dinner. You can't toss people just because children are greedy. Yongjia replied.

Hearing "meal time", Yarjianga took out his pocket watch and glanced twice, it was already Shen Zheng (four o'clock in the afternoon).

When he got up early and went to Yamen, Yang Zimo told him with great interest that he was filial to a few live fish outside yesterday, and today he was going to cook, make a whole fish banquet on the table, and ask Yaerjianga to go back early.

Thinking of this, Yarjianga stood up, and just as he wanted to say that he had gone out first, he felt that something was wrong, and he seemed to have forgotten the reason why he had come here today.

"By the way, in the early years, I heard people mention that Cao Hao was smart when he was a child, and he started a restaurant when he was a teenager. At that time, my father-in-law was also in Jiangning, and you and Cao Hao's sisters were friends in the boudoir, so did you hear anything. Thinking of his original intentions, Yarjana asked.

Yongjia didn't know Yarjiang's original intention, and for a while, he didn't know how to respond.

"Haven't you heard of it? His reputation as a good money boy can't be groundless, right? It's just that if, as the rumors say, a teenager knows how to open a restaurant and build a tea garden, wouldn't he be more intelligent than a demon? Yarjana seemed to be asking, and it was as if he was talking to himself.

After a moment, Yongjia's mind had already turned a few times, and he replied lightly: "Restaurant? I remember that. That year, on the birthday of Wang Fujin of Pingjun, he was just in time to take over the weaving house, and the dinner was set up in the Cao family's restaurant. I don't know if it's Cao Eyu's trick, but I know that it is taken care of by the housekeeper of the Cao family, who are the two imperial chefs in the past in the capital, and the dishes are extremely delicious, and they also have a small reputation in Jiangning City. ”

Hearing this, Yarjianga nodded with a smile and said, "Fujin is on the point, Jiangning is rich, but it is also far away from Gyeonggi. This imperial kitchen's brand is enough to attract those hillbillies to smash the silver hard, which is not unusual. I'll just say, Cao Hao's fame is touted by everyone. If he was really a reincarnated fairy, he would have been punished by God, otherwise he wouldn't have been so unlucky and suffered from those crimes......"

* In the study, Li Nai's resignation and departure, Cao Hao spread out the pen and paper and wrote a letter to Cao Yin, explaining Li Nai's intentions.

Li Nai's face is honest, but between his words, he already has a bit of officialdom sleek and sophisticated.

The "prayer" staged today, whether he wanted to share his father's worries and filial piety, or Li Xu's difficulty in speaking directly and making his son test the Cao family first, is unknown...... Whether it is sending charcoal in the snow or falling into the well, Cao Hao is not interested.

He just wanted to figure out where Li Xu planned to go, and what he was thinking about himself......

(To be continued)