On the street of Shuixiu Town, Xiangxiang County, Hunan, a group of rice flowers surrounded three big men who were clamoring. "Hey! You stand up, you take sides. A few of you report the age! The rest is none of your business! "A big man is picking people in the middle of a group of rice flowers, and the curious people around are watching, and the three big men in the shape of a man and a group of people called Hanako are together, which naturally arouses the curiosity of passers-by.

These three men in strong suits are none other than Bai Sheng, Leng Yifei, and Zhang Mancang who went south to Hunan. At this time, Bai Sheng stood on the side with his arms and observed coldly, Zhang Mancang maintained the order, "Stand far away, stand far away!" Leng Yifei caged the selected half-grown children together and said, "Boys, you understand, I have meat buns here." After a while, I will come up with a question, and whoever answers correctly will be rewarded with a bun. Dozens of half-grown children, seemingly uninterested in his exam questions, all eyes focused on the buns in the cage drawer on the ground.

The exam questions were given by Deng Zixuan, which is naturally a cliché. As soon as Leng Yifei's words fell, the group of half-grown children shouted one after another: "There are still four birds left!" "There are four birds left!" Suddenly fried into a ball. One of the children shouted, "I got it right first!" "No, I got it right first!" "That's not right! You didn't get it right, think again? "Leng Yifei has lost his patience." There are three birds left! "There are two birds left・・・・・・ The noise was loud again.

Leng Yifei said angrily: "The buns belong to you!" The half-grown children rushed up and began to coax the buns, and Zuihou actually fought. The crowd of onlookers talked a lot, and everyone thought that these three big men were idle people, just asking for food and flowers to have fun. "! It's been more than a month, and none of them have answered the question correctly, which is really unlucky! Leng Yifei said angrily. That's it, how can you not answer such a simple question, it's stupid! "Zhang Mancang urn sounded urn." also said that, didn't you be able to answer the question when Deng Gongzi asked the question? When you're as old as Hanako, I'm afraid you're not as good as them! Leng Yifei sneered. You laugh at me when I speak, Brother Bai, you see that he is too disrespectful! Zhang Manchu hurriedly complained with a white face.

"That's it! Let's go! Bai Sheng looked depressed. A young man about seventeen or eighteen years old, picking grass, stepped forward and said worriedly: "Brothers, if I can answer the question correctly, can you give me buns?" Everyone looked back and saw the young junior standing in front of him with a load of firewood and grass, especially a pair of big eyes flickering. Bai Sheng smiled curiously: "If you answer correctly, I'll give you a copper coin!" ”

"Big brothers, aren't fooling me!" Hou Sheng's eyes widened in surprise. "Do you think we look like fools?" After Bai Sheng finished speaking, he took out a copper coin. Hou Sheng said the standard answer without thinking, and also analyzed the mystery. Bai Sheng gave the copper coin to the descendant, and the descendant bowed and left happily. Bai Sheng was thoughtful, and suddenly his eyes lit up and said, "Young man, go slowly!" ”

Hou Sheng's face changed drastically: "Could it be that you regret it, you lie to others?" Bai Sheng smiled: "You think wrong, I want to ask if you are literate?" Hou Sheng was puzzled: "I have been in a private school for two years, why are you asking this?" "What's your name?" Where do you live? Bai Sheng asked. My name is He Meng, and I live in Xiushui Town! "Who else is in your house?" "Mother and sister!" A look of fear appeared in the eyes of the descendant.

Bai Sheng said kindly: "Young man, you don't have to be afraid, the three of us want to stay in Xiushui Town for a few days, can we borrow it at your house?" You don't have to worry about us paying for the room and food! He Meng looked at the three of them carefully, and Zuihou nodded. Turning a street, a small courtyard appeared in front of me, and when I entered the courtyard, I found two women washing clothes, one woman was about thirty years old and her face was a little haggard, and the other woman was about fifteen or sixteen years old.

Seeing He Meng leading three big men in, the mother and daughter were startled. He Meng explained his intention to his mother, Bai Sheng took out a tael of silver and said, "Sister-in-law, we want to bother in your house for a few days, I don't know if it's okay?" He Shi's demeanor recovered and said very refreshingly: "A few guest officers, it doesn't hurt to stay for a few days, but you don't need this extra silver tael." "Sister-in-law! Maybe we'll have to stay a little longer, and if you want to take care of the food, take it! ”

He Meng was clever and saw that his mother was hesitant, so he took the silver and said, "Brothers, I accepted it for my mother!" He and his daughter cleaned up the ear room, and the three brothers lived in it. The dinner was very hearty and there was wine, and He repeatedly apologized politely. During the banquet, Bai Sheng asked: "Sister-in-law!" Look, your life is very difficult, what is the father of the child? A shadow appeared on He's face and said, "The child's father is no longer alive!" ”

He Meng said indignantly: "My father is a Hunan army, and he died in battle with the Taiping army. After the disbandment of the Hunan army, no one cared about us, my father died fighting for the imperial court, and Lord Zeng died, and our life was even more difficult. He sighed and said: "How many orphans and widows have been left behind in this hundred miles radius of our family!" Bai Sheng sighed for a while, and had an idea in his heart.

"Brother Bai, what do you think, He Meng, this kid is definitely standard, but he can't go with us!" Leng Yifei said confusedly. "But He Meng's sister is quite Peugeot, and she is a little beauty!" Zhang Mancang's mind is not in this regard. Bai Sheng glanced at him and said: "We have walked a few places in more than a month, and those who ask for food have grown to fifteen or sixteen years old, and there are a few clever ones left, and I am afraid that those with active brains will not want to eat for a long time." Sister-in-law Fang Cai said that there are many orphans and widows in the Hunan army, and the men died in battle, and now the court doesn't care about them at all, can they not be angry in their hearts? ”

"That's right! I heard that the Hunan army was disbanded that year, and many people still made trouble with Zeng Guofan, so it's good to pay attention to this. But they are all orphans and widows, can these children go with us? Leng Yifei questioned. Bai Sheng said confidently: "Money can make ghosts grind, let's make the silver to send them to Shanghai, and we can't help them." Deng Gongzi gave 5,000 taels of silver, and I calculated for a while, each family gave 10 taels of silver, and we could recruit 500 people! ”

"Brother Bai! I didn't expect you to grow a lot now, no wonder Deng Gongzi values you! That's a good idea! "Leng Yifei is overjoyed." Wouldn't it be easy for us to use this as a base! Zhang Mancang took the opportunity to suggest. I said big guy, are you worried about other people's little ladies! Leng Yifei began to laugh again. I'm just worried about what, do you care about this? "Zhang Mancang is right." Come on! The two of you have no opinion, so it's decided! ”

At dinner early the next morning, Bai Sheng lied: "Sister-in-law! To tell you the truth, we came to Hunan from Shanghai to recruit people. Our husband has a lot of money, and it was the Hunan army that protected his family wealth. In order to be grateful to Mr. who always wants to repay, for this reason Mr. set up a school to recruit the children of the Hunan army who died in battle for free, and the tuition fee is free of charge, including food and accommodation. Sister-in-law! Your son is smart and qualified, can you let him run for a future? ”

How can there be such a haode thing in the world, He Mengwen's face was excited, and his eyes were aimed at his mother. He sighed and said: "This gentleman is really a good man, my son is the pillar of the family, what will happen to this family after he leaves?" The hearts of the three brothers were received by the slave family. Bai Sheng said: "Sister-in-law! If you see if this will work, I will give you 10 taels of silver, and 10 taels of silver every year until your son graduates! ”

He Shi's eyes widened and he was confused, the few people in front of him would not be liars! , He Mengwen knelt on the ground and said, "Mother! You just say yes! When the children are finished, they will definitely let you live a good life! Bai Sheng continued: "Sister-in-law! If you don't believe me, I can prepay three years of silver taels! Then he took out thirty taels of silver and put it on the table. Ho still doesn't believe it's true.

The little girl looked at it and said, "Big brothers, I can work if you can't recruit women!" Zhang Mancang said urgently: "Let's go back and discuss with my husband, his factory uses female workers, there must be no problem!" Leng Yifei saw that Mancang's purpose was impure and said: "Sister-in-law! That's right, we need hundreds of people not just for your son. You're well-connected, so help us broadcast the news. As long as they are selected, each family will be given 10 taels of silver! After Leng Yifei finished speaking, he took out a few silver tickets from his arms. Zuihou Bai Sheng added that the recruitment targets are mainly the descendants of the Hunan army, which is explained by Mr. Seeing this scene, He was convinced.

Half a month later. "You two go back and wait for news! We'll let you know when there's news! Leng Yifei sent away the two young juniors and stretched his waist. Bai Sheng came out of the house and said, "Brother Leng, it's only been half a month, and more than 100 applicants have come, and it seems that we can achieve our goal by the end of the year." ”“haha！ Sitting at home recruiting, our province has been running around, and now we have recruited 15 people, I really didn't expect it! Leng Yifei said happily.

"My sister asked me to come!" "Big brother, this can't be helped!" I saw Zhang Mancang rushing to pour water, without any scruples to offer hospitality, He Meng's sister-in-law He Xiugu was at a loss and a little panicked. Bai Sheng and Leng Yifei looked at each other and smiled. "It seems that this kid really likes Aunt Xiu!" Bai Sheng said with a smile. "Deng Gongzi promised to be a matchmaker for us, is it a little inappropriate for this kid to make his own claims!" Bai Sheng groaned and said: "If this kid goes mad, it's really not easy to do, look at his courteous appearance, I'm afraid I can't persuade you, Zhang Mancang, come here!" Zhang Mancang heard the shouting, said hello to Xiu Gu, who was flushed, and ran over.

"What are you doing all day long, what are you doing around other girls?" Leng Yifei scoffed. "I know that your dog can't spit out ivory in his mouth, and he is a weak woman, so I'll help you take care of it! Besides, Xiugu is not a little girl! Zhang Mancang Zhenzhen has words and doesn't care. Bai Sheng said: "Mancang, you tell the truth, do you fancy Aunt Xiu?" ”。“ Two brothers, I can't hide it, I like Aunt Xiu! Zhang Mancang didn't hide it.

"But this matter must be agreed by Deng Gongzi!" Bai Sheng said, "After I go back to this matter, I will personally tell Deng Gongzi that Deng Gongzi has always been generous, and I believe he will agree." Zhang Mancang's attitude is very resolute, and he must have gone mad. Bai Sheng groaned: "It seems that you are iron-hearted, I think you should simply make it clear to your sister-in-law and mobilize their family to Shanghai!" "Brother Bai! Thank you so much, please tell your sister-in-law now. "Zhang Mancang is in a hurry.

He and He Mengniang were in charge of broadcasting news, and they used acquaintances to inform each other, so more and more people came to apply. When He came back in the evening, Bai Sheng told her about Zhang Mancang's fancy to Xiugu. After the meal, He looked at his daughter and said, "Aunt Xiu! You're not young, you're old enough to get married. I think that I can be trusted for life with sincerity and honesty, I don't know if you like it?" Xiu Gu lowered her head and said shyly: "It's all up to my mother!" ”

The three brothers did not expect that there were more and more applicants, and more and more were selected, and as of October, they had recruited more than 400 people. Due to the failure of the bank, the recruitment had to be stopped. But there is still an endless stream of people in the back, and there is no way to tell and wait for next year to recruit again. Ho's homeland is hard to leave and is reluctant to leave. Bai Sheng decided that Xiushui Town would be used as a stronghold, and recruiting people in the future would save a lot of trouble.