Zhou Qingfeng and the others returned to the city after the funeral, and they were followed by the Ximen family who went out of the city.

Master Simon died violently last night, and a group of filial sons and grandsons were in a hurry to burn the corpse to ashes, collect a few residual bones and put them in the urn. This is the end of the funeral. At this moment, as the eldest son and eldest grandson, Young Master Ximen Ai is holding his grandfather's tablet home, but his eyes are staring at the crowd in front of him, especially Wang Kunpeng.

"When did this decrepit man with the surname King become so imposing?" Young Master Ximen and Wang Kunpeng used to be classmates in Mengxue, and the two were even friends when they were young. But this friendship was one day ended by the newly dead Master Simon - how can the poor sour surnamed Wang be worthy of befriending our Simon family?

Wang Kunpeng's family background is not good, but his brain is quite smart. But he didn't get into Xiucai, and he didn't even get the qualification for being a child. Master Simon was very satisfied with this result. He always remembered what his grandfather had said, "This kid surnamed Wang is only worthy of being a helper in our family." ”

But in front of him, Wang Kunpeng trembled. Not only did Wang Kunpeng become head high, but even the bitter haha around him were all like this. For these broken households, Young Master Ximen didn't even give them a straight eye in the past, and he was angry at them to appreciate his face. Now they're all in a state of majesty, and that's worth it?

When he returned home, Master Simon impatiently took off his mourning clothes. He paced back and forth in his study, and after a while called the servant to ask, "What is the origin of the group of people who went out of the city with us for the funeral this time, have you inquired about it?" ”

How could a servant not inquire about such a conspicuous matter?

"Young master, the momentum of that group of people is amazing, and the people all over the street are bluffed when they see it. Now everyone in the city is asking, the little one has already inquired, it is the subordinate of Master Han Guihan of Xicheng. ”

Young Master Ximen frowned, "Wang Kunpeng's decrepit man took refuge in Han Gui?" ”

The servant said again: "I'm afraid that things are not so simple, the young master has been studying hard recently, and I don't know the changes in the city. A few days ago, news came out in the west of the city, saying that Zhou Qingfeng, who made a big fuss in the horse market half a year ago, came back. is now hooking up with Master Han. ”

"Is that the eight-year-old?" Young Master Ximen was also surprised.

Zhou Qingfeng's ransacking of the horse market caused a storm in Fushun, and many people knew his name. It's just that he left Hetuara and there was no movement, and people just thought that he would not come back. Who knew that as soon as he appeared today, he began to disturb the peace in the city.

Ximen Ai asked again: "This kid should have a grudge against our Fushun Master Li, right?" Even if Master Li let him go, Wang Kai had suffered a big loss in his hands, so could he spare him? ”

The servant shook his head and said, "Young master, you don't know, this week Qingfeng's ability is not small. Just the day before yesterday, someone saw the butler outside the king's staff personally carrying fifty stone of miscellaneous grain to the west of the city. Nothing, free of charge. The reason for this is intriguing. ”

Ah......, Simon couldn't help but exclaim. The world of the Ming Dynasty is the world of the gentry, and it is actually difficult for the people at the bottom to contact the official master, and all they can see are big local families. For example, Simon's family was a local servant, and he had a bad reputation but was also a rich and decent person. Master Wang Kai donated his idle position, which is even more of a gentleman.

How can this gentleman mix with ordinary poor ghosts and muddy legs right now? Grain was also given away for free.

In the current cold winter season, the price of grain is expensive. Although it is a miscellaneous grain, fifty stone is really a lot. Wang Kai, the profiteer, has always been a slammer, and it is really rare to send grain.

"What's the indication on the west side of the city?"

"I don't say anything, it's said to be too little."

"Hey...... too little?"

Seeing that the young master was surprised, the servant continued. "Young Master, it has been rumored recently that there has been a plague in the city. Today, several big families are busy mourning, but I'm afraid it's not groundless. The old lady of our family also passed away, and this matter has something to do with the west side of the city. ”

'Xiuchun Building' Hua Niang made trouble, the officials in the west of the city saw through it on the spot, Zhou Qingfeng appeared in public, and then the epidemic spread throughout the city. The servant told him everything from beginning to end, and Master Simon's face was even more ugly. He asked, "This matter is too strange, does Master Li know?" A few respected monks in the city didn't take action to clean up the epidemic? ”

The servant also sighed, "It is said that Lord Li already knows about this, and he also wants to ask a few masters in the city who have advanced cultivation to help." But it is very unfortunate that more than two months ago, it was rumored that there was a phoenix in the north, and all the monks in Liaodong who were a little capable went to find an opportunity. Master Li was also helpless for this, so he could only quietly send his family to Shenyang to avoid trouble, and he closed the mansion and no longer showed up easily. ”

"No, I can't. Now that there is chaos in the city, we who have read poetry and books cannot sit idly by. I'm going to contact a few of my classmates and friends to make a statement to Master Li together. "Young Master Ximen felt uncomfortable when he saw that Wang Kunpeng and other poor ghosts had developed, and now he hates the house and Wu, and even Zhou Qingfeng hates it. He hurriedly went out, only to find that in just half a day, the atmosphere in Fushun City was very different.

A few days ago, Zhou Qingfeng sent people to preach that the typhoid plague was about to occur in Fushun, and the people in the city were frightened. But everyone panicked into panic, and they didn't easily respond until they saw the dead. After all, now that the snow is falling and the weather is freezing, where can you go if you don't stay in the city?

But only two or three days later, there was a sharp increase in the number of people seeking medical treatment and medicine in the city, and the number of funerals increased dramatically. Although it is common for people to die in winter, in the past, it was the poor people who died on the street who had no food or clothing, but now it is the big family masters who die.

When Young Master Ximen took his servants out to take a look, he found that the pedestrians in the market were in a hurry, and they were extremely depressed. He went to find a few classmates and friends, but they didn't open the door, saying that they were afraid of the epidemic and refused to visit. He asked the servants to inquire carefully, and it turned out that many of the sick people in the city who died were officials with heads and faces on weekdays. It's exactly the same as his family.

"Wrong, wrong, why are there so many accidents in the city?" In the winter, Young Master Ximen was sweating profusely, as if a catastrophe was coming. He subconsciously walked quickly to the official office of the Thousand Households, thinking that today he would have to make a plea to Lord Li Yongfang, a guerrilla in Fushun, who managed this place.

But while walking on the road, I suddenly saw a literary store still open. Young Master Ximen hesitated a little when he passed by, and then stepped in. The shopkeeper was settling accounts inside, and when he saw the young master Ximen, he bowed his hand to greet him, knowing that a relative in his family had passed away, and said 'festival mourning and change'.

Young Master Ximen said straight to the point: "Shopkeeper Ye, now that the plague is epidemic in the city, do you know about this?" ”

The shopkeeper immediately changed color and nodded slightly.

Young Master Simon lowered his voice again and said, "I suspect that this plague is only afraid that someone will deliberately spread it and want to harm the people of this city. ”

The shopkeeper was even more shocked and asked, "Why did Master Ximen say this?" ”

Ximen Ai was actually a blind guess, but he processed the news he heard from his servants, and pointed the finger at Zhou Qingfeng in the west of the city. After adding fuel and vinegar, he said: "Now that the powerful people in the city are not there, with your Ye family's prestige in Liaodong, you can't sit idly by." Why don't you join me in making a plea to Master Li and find out about it? ”

When the shopkeeper heard this, he suddenly laughed and said, "You mean Young Master Zhou Qingfeng Zhou in the west of the city, that's really a strange person." A few days ago, he came to my store to order 50,000 sheets of yellow list paper, and asked me to find some people to help him print books. I think he is young, but he is a decent person, how can he do this? Besides, the plague happened over the years, and it was not strange, not strange. ”

Ximen Wai opened his mouth and wanted to refute, but the shopkeeper continued: "But it is really inappropriate to let the epidemic spread, I went to the official office a few days ago to state this matter to Lord Li. Master Li also ordered someone to start a thorough investigation. ”

It sounded like good news, but Young Master Simon asked, "What will Master Li do about it?" ”

"Probably just close the gate and settle down, so that all the streets in the city can be less moving. Isn't this the only way to contain the epidemic? The shopkeeper was stunned, "I'm just a businessman, how can I ask too much?" If there are other means, presumably the adults in the city must have their considerations. I don't want to interfere more. ”

These words did not satisfy Young Master Ximen, he still did not give up after leaving the Wendian, and gritted his teeth and continued to run towards the Fushun official office. He has a reputation for showing off his talents, and after the report, he sat in the official hall and waited. But after a while, Master Li didn't come out, but his master came out with his beard to meet him.

Ximen lamented that he was a student, and told his worries and speculations again, instigating the master to inform the Shangguan that he was leading troops to investigate the strange affairs in the west of the city. The master is also old, and he agreed with righteousness and solemnity, "Simon is really a virtuous talent, and he thinks a lot for the country and the people." I will definitely report to Lord Li and quickly find out whether there are really bandits in the west of the city who are deliberately harming the people. ”

was praised by the teacher, and Simon was overjoyed. He said, "The students are a little worried, but the adults are sad." Waiting for the master to bring tea to the guests, he came out happily from the official office, still thinking in his heart: "That kid Wang Kunpeng should be unlucky for the rest of his life." Whoever wants to promote him should also be unlucky. ”

Just waited for Ximen to leave, Han Guihan's figure appeared in the side hall, and he scolded with hatred and hatred: "This kid from the Ximen family is really troublesome, and he even dares to come to make trouble for Lao Tzu." ”

The master smiled and said in a low voice: "The old man of his family died today, so naturally he can't see others doing well." Random biting is also a common occurrence. ”

"Yes, yes, this is like a mad dog climbing and biting." Han Gui hurriedly gave Ximen Ai's behavior a given, and he lowered his head and smiled at the master and asked, "The blue Xiaoyao Pill the day before yesterday, can the master use it well?" ”

As soon as he said 'Blue Xiaoyao Pill', the teacher's gray beard began to shake constantly. He grinned and said, "You said that Zhou Qingfeng was good at alchemy, and this 'Xiaoyao Pill' is really free." My old cow has been weak for many years, but the night before yesterday I had ploughed the fields of my wife and concubine several times. Comfortable, comfortable! ”

"Master is brave, brave!" Han Gui gave a thumbs up. After praising it, he lowered his tone and said: "This Xiaoyao Pill can prolong life and rejuvenate the elderly, and the mere sexual affairs are just incidental effects." However, this medicine is good, but it is not easy to refine, otherwise you will have to pay more filial piety to the master. ”

The master suddenly hahaha, knowing that Han Gui was making a request. However, for an elderly person like him, any good words are not as comfortable as the words 'prolong life and rejuvenation'. At the moment, he didn't ask for gold or silver, he just wanted to get a few more blue 'Xiaoyao Pills'.

"If Brother Han has the Xiaoyao Pill, even if he brings it, can the old man not let Master Zhou ruin his fun? Now that the plague in the city is quite noisy, there are not only those who come to show affection. It's just that they all let the old decay block it back. What Master Li knows now is just the bitter cold in the city, and a few old and infirm people have not survived. ”

The master also worked hard for Xiaoyao Maru.

However, Han Gui was not satisfied, and continued to smile and asked, "The duty of inspection still needs a lot of attention from the master. After the matter is completed, Young Master Zhou will definitely have something to pay off. ”

"Inspection?" The master looked embarrassed. But when Han Gui took out a small porcelain vase from his pocket, he immediately said happily: "Okay, okay, Brother Han wants to go further, and the old man will definitely not let your heart fall short." ”

The small porcelain vase fell into the master's hand, and both of them laughed and were happy.