On February 15, the holy driver returned to Changchun Garden, and Cao Hao returned to the yamen to finish his errand and return home. On the Cao Mansion side, there are already people waiting.

The visitor is Mr. Zhuang's old friend, Cheng Mengxing, the Jishi of Hanlin Academy. Cao Hao hadn't seen him for a while, so when he heard that he was coming, he didn't care about changing out of his official uniform first, and went directly to the living room to meet him.

Mr. Zhuang was accompanying him here, and the two were gossiping.

Seeing Cao Hao coming in, Cheng Mengxing hurriedly stood up and said with a smile: "Yesterday, I heard that the holy car can return to Luan today, so I thought that Fu Ruo should also come back, but today I am here!" ”

Cao Hao looked at Cheng Mengxing's leisurely appearance, and couldn't help but envy: "Brother Wu Qiao is still noble and comfortable, and the Hanlin Academy is said to be with words and books, saving worry and effort, and the little brother is red-eyed!" ”

Cheng Mengxing shook his head, sighed, and said: "If Fu Ruo is ridiculous, although this errand is idle, it may not be worry-free and effort-saving, and personnel dumping is indispensable." The more serious the errands, the more effort there is to put one's mind on the fight, which makes people annoying. ”

When Cao Hao saw him say this, he remembered a sentence he heard in his previous life, "Hooligans are not scary, but they are afraid that hooligans are educated."

Those who can enter the Hanlin Academy are all serious majors, and they are the best in the top three in each subject. These people started from the Jishi, and then edited and repaired, and stayed up to read and speak, and they were promoted very quickly. Stay up to a long enough time, send it to the local government for a few terms, and then return to the capital to be the official of the six departments.

Although it is easy for them to be promoted compared to the officials outside, but inside the Hanlin Academy, if they want to climb up, they are also trampled on.

Cheng Mengxing can't compare to those poor scholars, and he is eager for fame. He was born into a wealthy family, and he was famous. The errand of the Hanlin Academy was just the icing on the cake for him.

Since the two have met, it is rude for Cao Hao to wear this dress to entertain guests again, so he invited Cheng Mengxing to sit for a while, and he went into the inner courtyard to change clothes.

In Wutong Garden, Chu Yu had already received a letter from Cao Hao and was waiting. Cao Hao entered the room and deliberately took a look at Chu Yu's stomach, but because he was wearing loose clothes, he couldn't see it for the time being.

It's just that Chu Yu looks a little plumper than last month, her face is smooth and ruddy, and she looks extremely attractive.

Cao Hao changed out of his official uniform and asked Chu Yu: "It's okay in the mansion for most of the month, and the second wife's side is still peaceful, right?" How are all the people in each house? ”

Chu Yu nodded and said with a smile: "It's all good, it's just that at the beginning of May, I was a little infected with wind and cold, and I coughed for a few days, so I asked the imperial doctor to prescribe a few medicines, and I have done my best." ”

Cao Hao looked at the jacket on Chu Yu's body and said: "Although the adults have changed their clothes, but the children are still young, we don't pay much attention to these, and the phrase 'spring covers autumn freezing' is an old reason." ”

Chu Yu hesitated for a moment and said, "I used to say the same, but the second wife is now very attentive to the fourth sister and the fifth sister, saying that when you are young, you must be strictly disciplined according to the rules." also discussed with me, wanting Aunt Meng and Aunt Chang to be the two of them's discipline and start learning the rules. The fourth sister is okay, her body is stronger; Wu'er's body is a little weak, so he has a cold! ”

The fifth child is four years old, and the fourth sister is only five years old, what rules do such young children learn? Cao Hao frowned slightly and asked, "Why did the second wife think of this?" Isn't there really nothing going on over there? ”

Chu Yu said: "Seeing that the second wife is quite busy, I sent someone to look outside Beijing, and I heard that I wanted to buy another small Zhuangzi." ”

Cao Hao nodded and said, "It's good to be busy, Wu'er is ...... over there" Speaking of this, he was a little embarrassed.

Although there is Zhaojia's family, it is not their turn to be the brother and sister-in-law, but that little bit of a villain can't afford to toss.

"Wu'er take a look again, if it really doesn't work, I'll talk to the second wife!" Cao Hao said.

Chu Yu said: "Don't worry, I have privately instructed someone to add clothes to Wu'er." It is added closely, and it can't be seen from the outside, and it won't wipe the second wife's face. ”

Because there were still guests in the front yard, Cao Hao didn't have much to do, and said to Chu Yu: "Cheng Mengxing is here, I will order someone to go to the kitchen to prepare the table for a while, and I will leave him to eat and drink in the evening." Not to mention our yard, it is our garden in Haidian, and it was a lot of trouble for him last year. Always find an opportunity to thank others well, and it's not easy to owe favors. ”

Chu Yu responded, and Cao Hao picked up the curtain and went out. Chu Yu was sent to the porch, looked at Cao Hao's back and sighed.

Mama Ye originally took a few maids to avoid needlework in the East House, and also made room for them to talk. Seeing Cao Hao leaving, Chu Yu sighed, and Mama Ye asked with some concern, "Gege, what's wrong?" But where do you feel uncomfortable? ”

Chu Yu said with a bit of amazement: "I have to be busy with errands outside, and I have to worry about the house, all because I am not a good family." ”

Mama Ye was afraid that she would think too much about hurting herself, so she hurriedly persuaded: "Gege is pregnant with a child, don't think about this." The second wife is an elder, and the seniority is pressed there, and Gege doesn't say much. ”

* Front yard, living room.

Mr. Zhuang saw that Cheng Mengxing wanted to stop talking between words, which was different from Su Yue's cheerfulness, he couldn't help but feel puzzled and asked, "What's wrong?" Could it be that Wu Qiao encountered something difficult and wanted to speak to Fu Ruo? ”

Cheng Mengxing smiled bitterly: "It's really Mr. Jean who said it, but he came to the door today, but he begged Fu Ruo for something." ”

Cheng Mengxing entered the Hanlin Academy in the summer of the year before last as a Shujishi, and he had to study for three years, and he could only take the exam after the expiration of next year, and then he would be an official in the sixth department or awarded the Hanlin Academy to edit.

If it is said that it is for next year's shortage, it is too early. What's more, with Cheng Mengxing's backbone, he should be disgusted with these people's officialdom.

Mr. Zhuang was puzzled, so he heard Cheng Mengxing say: "Mengxing has taken leave in the Hanlin Academy and wants to return to his hometown to serve the sick." My mother is already old, and Mengxing can't be filial piety in front of the bed, which really shouldn't be. ”

Hearing him talk about "taking leave", Mr. Zhuang remembered what he had just heard.

A few days ago, I heard that there were many officials in the Hanlin Academy who were "on leave", and I was very annoyed. The decree was issued, in addition to Ding Wei's final recuperation, "the Hanlin Academy's revision, editing, review, Shu Jishi, teaching and training Jinshi, and those who have returned home from illness will be ordered to rest." Later, I didn't know how to think of the Kedao officials, and they were also the same as these officials of the Hanlin Academy, and those who arbitrarily "took leave to return home" were also ordered to take leave.

Cheng Mengxing is a member of the Hanlin Academy, if he is a scholar, according to the example of "Seven Grades of Knowing County".

It's just that the will over there has come down, and Cheng Mengxing is like this...... Thinking of this, Mr. Zhuang looked at Cheng Mengxing with a little suspicion and said, "Wu Qiao is like this, aren't you tired of the prosperity of the capital?" ”

Cheng Mengxing listened and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter if you're tired or not, it's just that Mengxing entered Beijing for forty-seven years, and now he has been in the capital for six or seven years, which can be regarded as an increase in knowledge and acquaintances." Entering the Hanlin Academy, it is enough to fulfill the wish of my mother. If you stay, you will be intrigued all day, and you will not have a good time, so you might as well go back! ”

Cheng Mengxing's freedom and ease really impressed Mr. Zhuang and praised: "People in the world either seek fame or profit, and there are very few people like Wu Qiao who really regard fame and fortune as floating clouds." Wu Qiao can have such a state of mind, and if he wants to come to the literary world, he will finally have a place. ”

Cheng Mengxing was a little embarrassed to hear him praise like this. said: "It's just a mess, I don't deserve Mr. to praise ......" Speaking of this, he glanced at Mr. Zhuang and muttered: "It's sir, it's been some years since I arrived at the Cao family, Wu Qiao looks a little impermeable, could it be that the two families are really related?" With the talent of a gentleman, if you want to be a leader, it is just an easy thing; If he wanted to be a staff member, Mengxing looked at Fu Ruo and didn't look like a person with scheming and scheming. ”

While the two were talking, Cao Hao had already come over, entered the hall with a smile, and said, "Brother Wu Qiao, the younger brother has asked Neizi to order him to go down, but today I want to leave Brother Wu Qiao to drink two cups!" ”

Cheng Mengxing said with a smile: "Since that's the case, then it's going to be bothered!" ”

Cao Hao found a chair opposite Cheng Mengxing and sat down, and asked, "A few days ago, the Long Live Lord made a will, which was directed at your Hanlin Academy. I'm still thinking about Brother Wu Qiao. Brother Wu Qiao's surname is like to travel, half of the year in the mountains and rivers, visiting relatives and friends, said that the son is very leisurely, I am afraid that I will not be able to in the future! ”

Mr. Zhuang said on the side: "Fu Ruobai is worried, I'm afraid this is more and more worthy of his heart!" ”

"Oh!" Cao Hao was a little surprised, and then thought of the reason, and asked, "Could it be that Brother Wu Qiao wants to take advantage of this opportunity to pay tribute?" ”

Cheng Mengxing nodded and said, "I originally had this intention, and I received the letter a few days ago, and I knew that my mother was sick, so I wanted to return to my hometown." When I came today, I also meant to say goodbye. If it is properly settled, after three or two days, Mengxing will leave Beijing and return to Yangzhou! ”

Hearing Cheng Mengxing say this, Cao Hao was a little reluctant, and said: "Filial piety is the supreme thing, even if this is the case, the younger brother can't say anything to save it." There are not many people in Jingli who can speak, and Brother Wu Qiao is gone, and there will be even fewer people who can drink together in the future! ”

Cheng Mengxing hesitated for a moment and said, "Fu Ruo, don't hide it, in addition to resignation, Mengxing also has something to trust." ”

Seeing his appearance of wanting to speak and stopping, Cao Hao glanced at Mr. Zhuang, and saw that Mr. Zhuang's face was also puzzled.

Although he wanted to find an opportunity to repay Cheng Mengxing, he didn't know what the other party was talking about, and it was not easy to respond indiscriminately. Otherwise, if you can't do it, you will be breaking your word.

"Brother Wu Qiao, if you need a little brother, please make it clear. If the younger brother can accept it, he has nothing to say. After thinking about it for a while, Cao Hao said.

Cheng Mengxing showed a wry smile on his face: "I have a niece who is Fu Ruo's fellow villager, and Fu Ruo also knows it." After she got her sister's ashes last year, she went south to arrange a funeral. Because she was forced by the clansmen, before the first month, she entered Beijing again and defected to us.

Her mother went early, and it was right for me to be my uncle's caretaker of her. She is so strong in her surname, she is unwilling to be in the deep boudoir, and wants to re-establish an industry in the capital. I persuaded her a few times, but she was a paranoid surname, as if she had eaten the scales and had an iron heart.

Now, I have returned to the south on an errand from the Hanlin Academy, but I can't rest assured that this niece is gone. She is still young, and she has already completed three years of filial piety for her husband, and I was going to find a proper family for her, but she was unwilling to look up to others. If you see, I really have no one to trust, so I have to be cheeky to take care of her. In the end, he had already stood up and said solemnly.

The niece in his words is Han Jiang's family, Cao Hao heard that she went back to Jiangning for a funeral a year ago, and when she thought of Wen Xiu, her heart was heavy. It seems that in the future, I will have to find an opportunity to ask where the cemetery of Han Jiang's Wenxiu is located, and when I return to Jiangning, I will go to pay tribute to a glass of water and wine.

Although that woman was pitiful in life, she was also remembered after death. In addition to Cao Hao herself, there is also the little slave girl Wuen she raised.

Although Xiao Wuen only asked once, every time he saw Cao Hao after that, he had a little bit of a pleading question. Wen Xiu's ashes were placed in her place, she had thought about guarding Wen Xiu's grave earlier, and she knew that Wen Xiu had found her relatives, so she put out this thought. But for the burial of the bones, I still want to ask clearly.

Not to mention that Cheng Mengxing is so solemnly trusted, even for the sake of the embroidery, Cao Hao is also willing to take care of Han Jiang's family.

It's just that the capital is mixed with powerful people, and it is not easy for a woman to want to do business. Besides, he has dealt with Han Jiang several times, and Cao Hao also knows a little about his surname, although he is a woman with great self-esteem, he is a little inflexible.

Although in business, at the negotiation table, the baht must be more correct. But at this time, the merchants are all backed by the powerful.

Han Jiang's family is in Jiangning, guarding his parents' property, and he relies on many old favors. Because she is an orphan and widow, even if there are officials who want to seize her property, they have many scruples in their hearts for the sake of the Cheng family's face.

In the capital, the palace of the prince who was short of money went to the sea. If Han Jiang's little fish doesn't make money, it's okay, it won't be eye-catching; If you make money, I am afraid that you will be remembered as fat. When the time comes, let alone a shop, she is a person, I am afraid that she will have to ask someone to serve the pot.

Although it is said that having a relationship with the Cao Mansion can also protect the Han Jiang family, Cao Hao thinks about his hidden enemy, and he is afraid that she will be burdened by the pond fish, what kind of way to find it......

(To be continued)