In the next two days, Chen Xin helped arrange the funeral, and also kept a night with Lao Cai to see the monks who were invited. Chen Xin said very euphemistically that he might do sea trade, Lao Cai knew how much Chen Xin and they had made a lot of money this time, and his demeanor immediately changed to a subordinate, put down Mr. Shelf, and poured tea for Chen Xin twice.

On the afternoon of the third day, the ashes were finally buried, and Mrs. Zhao cried to death, while Miss Zhao's appearance was very strong, allowing Chen Xin to see another side of her. Since then, the shop has continued to open, Mrs. Zhao no longer likes this shop, this time the bought goods and knives have to be sold, Chen Xin also goes to the store every day, but no longer sits until work. Miss Zhao came to the store once a day to talk to Chen Xin. Lao Cai and the others also seemed to be aware of it and never bothered the two.

The goods in the store are all disposed of at a low price, and the merchants who come to buy goods from Jingshi buy in large quantities, and they are almost done, Mrs. Zhao has no intention of continuing to operate, and Lu You also plans to go to work in Chen Xin's clothing store in a while.

The only thing that disappointed Chen Xin was that Song Wenxian canceled the Qinglou banquet that day, because Lord Qian was about to be transferred to the Fifth Military Camp as a deputy general, and Song Wenxian, as a believer in pragmatism, no longer spent the unjust money, but just found a sailor to solve the problem of berthing the ship, and then Song Wenxian resigned and returned to Dengzhou.

At the end of July, Liu Minyou bought a shop on Zhenhaimen Street for 80 taels, which was specially used as a clothing store, and the living environment in the courtyard was still much better. The business of the clothing store slowly began to decrease, less than 100 pieces in a month, although Deng Keshan tried his best to suppress the small clothing store, but some clothing stores he couldn't afford to provoke, all of them are making dresses, it has become a price war, Liu Min has a lot of headaches all day, and the famous brand effect in his dream has not been produced after all.

The days passed like this plain like water, until after the Mid-Autumn Festival in August, Chen Xin was talking to Lu Donkey and Qin Lufang in the courtyard on this day.

"Chuanzong, you and the law party bring two hundred taels of silver, go to the capital to buy an inconspicuous courtyard, there are three or five rooms, a few dozen taels are enough, and you are low-key on weekdays, after you buy the sect, you come back first, and the law party will stay in the capital for the time being, and help me find out the addresses of some people."

Qin Lufang has been living here, he has a lot of money, originally planned to buy a yard, but later heard that Chen Xin was about to go to Weihaiwei, so he dispelled this idea, at this time he listened to Chen Xin's words and asked: "Brother Chen, are we going to Beijing to do business?" Whose address is it to inquire about? ”

Chen Xin smiled: "It's business, but it's not selling clothes, tell you when you set off to investigate, you will leave tomorrow, bring a knife, and be careful all the way." ”

Chen Xin said as he took out a bag of silver, and Lu Donkey said, "Brother Chen, I still have silver." ”

"That's yours, how can you use your private money for this business? By the way, did you bring back the money to your family? ”

"Bring it, I will give five hundred taels to Brother Dai, he will go back to Yanggu tomorrow and bring back the silver."

"Then you ask him to come back soon, I will go to Jingshi in a while, and I want to invite him to come along."

Lu Donkey agreed: "Got it, Brother Chen." ”

After Chen Xin finished explaining, he just walked out of the door, and one person blocked the way, and when he looked up, it turned out to be Song Wenxian.

"Mr. Song, you're here, you want to kill your little brother." Chen Xin had been waiting for him for a month, and finally looked forward to this cheeky scholar, and hurriedly invited him in in surprise.

After sitting down, Song Wenxian smiled, he brought Chen Xin's long-awaited 100 households, military household registration and two sets of 100 household official uniforms, because Governor Sun said at that time, even the word "test" went, and actually gave Weihaiwei Zuo 100 households. Chen Xin took it in his hand and looked through it, the hundred-household official uniforms were embroidered with some small miscellaneous flowers one inch in size, and there was a cloud-shaped biao-shaped complement on his chest, but Chen Xin looked at the animal called "Biao" with spots all over his body, as if he was a money leopard, he picked it up and tried it on his body and thanked him again and again.

Chen Xin said happily: "Mr. Song, when did the reward come down?" ”

Song Wenxian said proudly: "In just these few days, I have already received your official uniform." ”

Chen Xin touched the official uniform and asked, "The imperial court has rewarded a lot of people this time." ”

Song Wenxian nodded: "Ning Jin's great victory, thanks to the loyalty of the factory ministers and the country, has already made the first contribution, the minister of the military department, Lord Wang, and the son of Yin Jinyiwei commanded the affairs. He lowered his voice: "The governor of Liaodong has resigned due to illness, and only the officials have added him the title of the right capital of the Imperial History of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and nothing else, and I don't know why." ”

Chen Xin knows some reasons, the direct reason for Yuan Chonghuan's resignation is that when he was in Jiannu to attack North Korea and Jinzhou, he refused to rescue, and was considered to be difficult to drum, so he was asked to go to work with illness, and some people complained about him, saying that he should be rewarded according to the old practice, and the approval of the Emperor of the Apocalypse was Yuan Chonghuan's private negotiation, and Lao Tzu didn't clean him up, and he was embarrassed to be rewarded according to the old practice. (Note 1) It can be seen that Tianqi is actually most dissatisfied with Yuan Chonghuan is the matter of private negotiations.

Song Wenxian is just a staff member, of course he doesn't know this, he continued: "Brother Chen, I have asked about the situation of Weihaiwei, different from the general guard, there are only three thousand households, more than 3,000 people, there are many escapes, it is difficult to gather the Jizhen squad every year, it is really a poor place, the commander surnamed Yang, there is no background, when I go with you, I will always divide a dungeon by the sea, forgive the surname Yang and dare not listen." ”

"Then I'm going to trouble Brother Song, but I still want to be promoted to a level here, to be a thousand households, at least to be a deputy thousand households, and Brother Song has asked me about the acceptance level."

"I've asked, at the moment, Weihaiwei's Na-level documents have helped you out, but the Na-level matter has to go to the Guò Shandong Metropolitan Mansion, and then you can go to the Beijing Division to pay the silver, and finally you can go to the Military Department to choose the Na level."

"Wu Xuan Division? Isn't the position determined by the department? ”

"Don't care which division, the matter of accepting the level has always been in charge of the Wuxuan Division, it stopped during the Wanli period, and then there were some slowly, and the hundred households in Wanli were only three hundred taels, and now I am afraid it will be more expensive." Song Wenxian continued: "Brother Chen has not yet arrived, so he is thinking about accepting the rank, is it a little wait, anyway, the official position of the guard is not valuable, with Lord Zhong taking care of it, it will be slowly promoted in the future, why spend so much silver." Besides, the word 'Na level' in front of the thousand households is not easy to remove, and it is not actually taught after all. ”

Chen Xin touched his nose and said, "It's always a big one." ”

Song Wenxian complained: "When I asked you to go to the standard camp, you didn't go, you were a management team there, and then there was a big victory like Ning Jin, and it was not easier to be promoted to a thousand households." ”

"Mr. Song, now that the wood is in the boat, I'll still mix in the guard."

Song Wenxian looked at him angrily, and Chen Xin asked him with a smile: "Mr. Song has a firm foothold in the governor's yamen?" ”

"The silver is sent away, and there is a bit of affection if you are not familiar. It's still thanks to a trip to the Wa Kingdom, otherwise how could there be so much money in hand. I also hung a visit with Master Zhong, so it will be more convenient for the ship to use the official flag of Dengzhou Haiphong Road in the future. ”

When Chen Xin heard him talk about the Wa Kingdom, he remembered that after Vice General Qian left, he had less share, and said to Song Wenxian tentatively: "Mr. Song, the members of the Wa Kingdom, do you have any new meaning on the side of Lord Zhong and Sun Futai?" ”

Song Wenxian stroked his beard, squinted his eyes and said: "Lord Futai doesn't know the original share, but Lord Zhong is Menqing, when he gave me this farewell, he hinted that his share should be according to the last number, and Lord Futai's side is also according to the last number." As for Tianjin, he doesn't care. ”

Lord Zhong's heart is black enough, he divided part of the original Li Song, and gave the rest to Sun Futai, and even if Sun Futai knew, he would only think that Chen Xin and Song Wenxian swallowed it, but Sun Futai should be satisfied with such a windfall. In this way, Chen Xin, a member of Lord Qian in Tianjin, can swallow it, and at most give a little more to Song Wenxian.

Chen Xin nodded and said, "So we can have some more shares, how many days can Mr. Song come to Tianjin?" ”

"I think a few days are a few days, and my staff is neither participating nor following, and I am only familiar with my staff."

"In this way, can Mr. Song help me with the matter of accepting the level, I have a black eye on the Shandong Metropolitan Mansion, and I really don't know where to start."

Song Wenxian knew that if he wanted to get more shares, he had to run more errands for others, so he agreed.

"Then please Mr. Song for a hard trip, tomorrow I have a helper to Linqing, Mr. can take the boat with him, and he will escort you all the way." When the Shandong Metropolitan Government is done, I plan to go to the Jingshi Na level by myself, if Mr. Song is fine, he can go with me, and he can ask Mr. Song for more advice on the way. ”

Song Wenxian laughed and said: "Let's go together, what else do you and I talk about?" He rolled his eyes and asked Chen Xin: "Lord Zhong once asked when Brother Chen would get married, and he will also show a little affection at that time." ”

Chen Xin knew that Master Zhong was going to ask when he would send his family members to be hostages, so he leaned back on the back of the chair and said lightly: "It's coming, it's coming." ”

Song Wenxian's face showed a look of surprise: "Miss Zhao is not disciplined. ”

"I never said that I was marrying Miss Zhao, but Mr. Song said it."

Song Wenxian hissed, "It turns out that Brother Chen has other celebrities. ”

Chen Xin looked unfathomable, and said with a smile: "Mr. Song will know when he arrives." ”

After that, he stood up and said to Song Wenxian: "I have to go to the shop today, Mr. Song can rest at my place for a while, and I will invite Mr. Song to drink at Fulai Restaurant in the evening." ”

Song Wenxian shook his hand: "You don't care about the evening affairs, you know where I like to go." If you want to be free, come to me. ”

Chen Xin knew that he was in Qunfang Building every night after he had money, and he had been here for several months, and he had never touched a woman, so he was really panicked. However, he had a lot of ideas of his own, and although he had a lot of money, he didn't dare to spend it indiscriminately, so he immediately bowed his hand and went in the direction of the store.

Passing by the gate of Deng Keshan Courtyard, Chen Xin went up and patted at the courtyard gate for a while.

"It's coming, it's coming, who's knocking on the door?" Deng Keshan's voice came from inside, and when he opened the door, he saw that it was Chen Xin, and he nodded hurriedly and said, "It turns out to be a hundred households, please come inside." Deng Keshan has heard that Chen Xin may be a hundred households, and he has called Chen Xin that way recently.

Chen Xin arched his hand and walked into the courtyard, this Deng Keshan's family lived in three households, he lived in one by himself, and there was not even a main hall, the two had to stand in the courtyard, Chen Xin asked Deng Keshan in a low voice: "How is the matter going?" ”

"Brother Chen rest assured, how many people can afford the money in two or two months, and several craftsmen have agreed, and they are all looking forward to leaving as soon as possible. It's just that they asked to meet the adults before leaving. ”

"See, they just want to feel at ease, but you have to ask clearly, don't make a bird gun or a weapon before. It's better to have someone who can make armor. ”

Deng Keshan nodded and said: "Don't worry, Lord Baihu, I have inquired clearly, there is a Tang Zuoxiang in it, which is specialized in making bird guns, and there is also a summer or something, and the nail piece has been made, anyway, it is not wrong for the adult." ”

Chen Xin accepted this hundred households calmly, although he was a military household, but he was also a six-grade person, he nodded and approved: "Brother Deng, you are doing a good job, are you still doing things in the clothing store now?" ”

Deng Keshan looked helpless: "I went less, now every clothing store is making dresses, I heard that Jingshi and Linqing have it, and many women don't want to sell it, so they go back to sell rouge pollen." So, hey. ”

Chen Xin knew that his income had plummeted, and said with a smile: "What is this clothes, there will be business in the future, Brother Deng will work hard, I can't treat you badly, I will receive three or two months of money from me every month in the future, and other clothing stores will receive commissions." ”

"Ah, thank you Brother Chen, no, Lord Baihu." Deng Keshan was happy, his voice was also high, his income often plummeted, he used money lavishly on weekdays, and it was common for his family to run out of cooking.

"Noisy, noisy, noisy, noisy every day." Shen Lou's voice came from inside the Shen family's house, Deng Keshan's face was angry, and he was about to scold back, Chen Xin grabbed him and shook his head gently.

"Brother Deng doesn't need to pay attention to him, take care of the affairs of the craftsman's household, and it's okay to find a few more. I still have something to do, so I'll go first. ”

Deng Keshan diligently sent Chen Xin out of the door, and did not go back until Chen Xin turned the corner.

Chen Xin went straight to the shop, and as soon as Lao Cai saw Chen Xin coming in, he rushed over, "Mr. Chen is here." ”

Lao Cai is also a very shrewd person, recently Miss Zhao came to the store almost every day to talk to Chen Xin, he and Lu You both guessed that Chen Xin was interesting, he saw that the store could not be opened, if Chen Xin and Miss Zhao got married, the Zhao family's property would have to be surnamed Chen in the future, with Chen Xin's ability to open a clothing store, maybe he could do bigger, so now he didn't dare to be Mr. Chen Xin anymore, but called Mr. Chen Xin.

"Shopkeeper Cai, can you be busy in the store today?" Chen Xin also changed his name in a timely manner, so as not to be polite to Lao Cai.

"What's so busy in the store, the goods and the high-grade Japanese knives are almost sold, only some Japanese fans and poor Japanese knives are left, Mr. Chen, you know everything, how many people can buy that thing."

Chen Xin agreed: "Indeed. ”

The shopkeeper Cai said: "Madame has just come, this store has been opened in August, and it will not be opened next month, hey, she told me that my father and son can leave one as a housekeeper." ”

Lao Cai said this to see if Chen Xin could provide any position, Chen Xin has a gratitude to Lao Cai, although this person is a bit of a philistine, but he is really good to himself, and he is still very serious about doing things, the previous Zhao Dong family can trust him, which means that he is still reliable, and everyone is familiar with each other. Then Cai Shenju will forget it, people who are not diligent in everything can't do anything.

He thought about it and said to Lao Cai: "Shopkeeper Cai, if you don't dislike it, you can go to my clothing store to make an account first, and as for the housekeeper here, you can let Cai Shenju do it, so that neither side will be left behind." ”

Lao Cai bowed down and said gratefully: "In the future, I will have to rely on Mr. Chen more." ”

"If it weren't for Mr. Cai's help that day, I wouldn't know where I would have been, Mr. Cai should never be like this." Chen Xin still has some feelings for this Lao Cai, and he has made others strained, and he feels a little guilty, so he should return him a favor.

When the matter was decided, Lao Cai changed the court, and he told Chen Xin: "Miss Fang Cai came to the store, saw that you were not there, and went back." ”

Chen Xin found a place to sit by himself, there were not many things on the shelves in the middle of the shop, the fishy smell of the original seafood was much lighter, and a few knives were hung scattered on the wall, Chen Xin had been sitting here for only two months, and he couldn't talk about deep feelings, but looking at the deserted appearance in front of him, he was still a little embarrassed.

After sitting for a while, there was a knock on the door of the second entrance, and Lao Wang came out and saw Chen Xin in the store, and came over and said, "Mr. Chen, Mrs., please go and talk." After Lao Wang and Chen Xin went to sea, they also admired Chen Xin's cousin, and their relationship was much closer, and they also called Chen Xin Mr.

"Madame, please?" Chen Xin was slightly stunned, Mrs. Zhao had not shown up since the funeral, and she heard Miss Zhao say that she was crying every day, and she didn't know how to ask herself to talk. He immediately said, "Please ask Brother Wang to lead the way." ”

When he arrived in Sanjin, Chen Xin came for the first time, there was a small pond in Sanjin, a small garden in the middle, and some flowers and trees were planted, which was more interesting than the second entry. He quietly glanced at the west chamber, it was Miss Zhao's boudoir, he followed Lao Wang to the door of the hall, and when he saw Mrs. Zhao, he could hardly recognize it.

Mrs. Zhao originally only had a little gray hair, but she didn't see her for a month, she was already gray, her face was full of wrinkles, her eyes were red and bloodshot, and she looked at the roof blankly, and she didn't even notice the two of them coming in.

After Chen Xin secretly said that he had done evil, he saluted Mrs. Zhao. Lao Wang said softly on the side: "Madam, Mr. Chen has arrived." ”

Lao Wang shouted twice, Mrs. Zhao shook slightly, her eyes converged and then fell on Chen Xin, she said in a sand voice: "It turns out that Mr. Chen has arrived, please take a seat." ”

After Chen Xin sat down, she waved her hand again and asked Lao Wang to step down.

After half a ring, she spoke: "Mr. Chen, the old man has something to ask, and I hope Mr. Chen will not be surprised." ”

Chen Xin said with a stern face: "Mrs. Zhao, please speak." ”

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Note 1: Volume 87 of the "Records of Xizong": The Deployment of the Ministry of Troops, the Right Deputy of the Imperial Palace, Huo Weihua: Fuchen Yuan Chonghuan was in danger of Xinjiang for six years, and his wife was entrusted with a desperate effort and high merit, which should be recorded as usual...... Purpose: Yuan Chonghuan talked about the section of money, the mistake was not small, I did not condemn it, he still wrote a narrative, he clearly thought about it for a long time in the dangerous territory, and the envoy was in the right ear, and the grace came from the imperial court.