The sky was about to be twilight, and a wisp of light gold slanting sun afterglow fell on a pair of stone lions guarding the entrance of Zhouzhuang.

These two stone lions, one female and one male, were carved by the craftsmen in recognition of the ancestors of the Shen family when the Ming Dynasty had just established the country, Emperor Zhu Chongba.

Two stone lions, the left is male, the cornerstone under it, the book has a military attache dismounting, behind, there are twelve tethered horse piles, the right is the female, the cornerstone under it, there is a civil official under the sedan chair, behind, there are two young lions rolling and playing, half hidden in the shallow grass, vivid.

In the early years, from this pair of stone lions to the inside, even the low mountain, was the land of the Shen family, and the Shen family spent several generations of painstaking efforts to build river embankments, and built hundreds of houses along the river.

About 20 years ago, when the Jingjiang dam burst and the victims were displaced, the Shen family relied on the "seven rushes and three slows" river and did not suffer the slightest loss.

At that time, in order to avoid the post-disaster epidemic, the local government refused to open the city gates and kept the victims out of the city walls waiting for death.

The old man Shen was kind-hearted, ordered people to fall off the suspension bridge, released 378 victims, entered Shen's house, and made the family medicine practitioner treat the wounded for him, and after these people recovered from their injuries, provided them with a way to make a living.

Most of these people, who have some strengths, have opened workshops in the Shen family's land with the support of the old man Shen, and all of them are handed over to the Shen family's caravan to go out for sale, and most of them are arranged by the old man Shen to work as domestic servants in various workshops, and some of the servants who lost their support in the flood and cannot make a living in the workshop were placed in the Shen family to do some chores.

Those who were able to open a workshop, after having savings, did not want to leave the Shen family's land, so they pleaded with the old man Shen to build a house and settle here, and the old man Shen did not refuse, only stipulated that the houses built should be built according to the inherent system, and the river should not be blocked, so he pointed to the vacant land located in the northwest corner of the village and gave them to use.

Twenty years, one generation.

Most of those who were also affected by the floods have restarted their families and have their own homes.

Only Yan Niang, the woman who refused to show her love from everyone, is still waiting to reunite with her husband.

"Twenty years, mother."

It was a slender man with a pale complexion, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness.

There was a creepy "hiss" in his voice, as if he would die of suffocation in the next moment.

"Even if he is still alive, I am afraid that he will find a new love."

As he spoke, the man looked at Yan Niang, his eyes were full of regret and worthlessness.

For his father, his concept is limited to the back of his sleepy eyes.

When he went out early, he had not yet woken up, and when he returned late, he had already fallen asleep, although occasionally some small gadgets made of scraps would appear next to his pillow, but after a short period of joy, there was still loneliness and confusion without his father's company.

"My son has grown up and can support you."

"You're so old, let's stop doing things in the Shen family, okay?"

Speaking of this, the man paused slightly, pushed a plate of osmanthus cake on the table in front of Yan Niang.

"This is Young Master Hongmo, who sent it to me."

"You made him a snack yesterday afternoon."

"I didn't think of salt as sugar, but I also added double servings."

"Young Master Hongmo is generous, he doesn't care about us, and he doesn't tell anyone, but, mother, the Shen family is our benefactor, our master, let, can we do this!"

"This is the third time this month!"

After that, the man coughed suddenly, and his chest, as if it had been crushed by a boulder, was so muffled that it made people's hair stand on end.

Like most children who survived the floods, he became a slave to this "chronic disease", and after a little effort or emotion, he would cough incessantly, and he would fall ill in bed when he was exposed to a little cold and dampness.

Lang Zhong, who served the Shen family, was also somewhat famous in ten miles and eight townships, but he studied hard for several years, but he failed to come up with a good way to cure the six children, including him, who survived floods and hunger, and did not lose their lives by fever.

"Qiao'er, my mother promised you that in the future, there will never be such a thing again, okay?"

The man's full name is Li Qiao, but when only the two of them are there, Yan Niang will only call him by his name.

"Mother, these days, I always dream of your father these days."

"In the dream, he said that he had been looking for us and that he would find us soon, soon."

"You ......"

Speaking of her husband, Yan Niang's wrinkled face suddenly became bright.

It's like, just thinking about that person will make her younger.

"The Shen family has rules, don't go out in the New Year."

"I thought, I thought about taking this opportunity to move around more with a few caravan stewards."

"In this way, when the New Year is out, they will lead the caravan out, and they will be sincere and help us inquire about your father's whereabouts, you say, is it so reasonable?"

"Mother!"

Yan Niang's words made Li Qiao raise her voice angrily.

"The Shen family's caravan, big and small, which one hasn't been talked about by you?"

"People are going out to do business, not to help you find someone!"

"Those old stewards who have been nagged by you for 20 years, think of us pitiful, and help us inquire every time we settle down, but, but you don't want to think about it, people, there are also other people's things to do, follow the caravan, walk all day, people, I don't know how to rest than jumping up and down comfortably!"

Due to his weak health, Li Qiao was arranged by Mr. Shen's side since he was a child, doing some chores such as serving tea, pouring water, washing pens and grinding ink.

Later, he felt that he was diligent and studious, so the old man Shen sent him to the courtyard of his eldest son, Shen Wenfeng, to learn the way of doing business from Shen Wenfeng.

Later, Shen Hongxue, the grandson of the Shen family, was born, and Shen Wenfeng was busy entertaining, so he handed over some small accounts to him to deal with.

After the entertainment was over, looking through the small accounts, Shen Wenfeng felt that he had a clear mind, a rigorous accounting, and a talent that could be created, so he sent him to the caravan as an apprentice.

He had a poor physical foundation, followed the caravan walking, and often vomited and diarrhea due to unaccustomed water and soil, and a high fever did not go away.

Fortunately, the old steward who accepted him as an apprentice did not return him to Shen Wenfeng because he delayed the caravan's trip, just like that, after tossing for a few years, he barely got used to the water and soil on the caravan's walking route, but the people were thinner than before.

"A few days ago, I heard from the old steward that there is a place called Celestial Gate in the market."

"As long as you give them enough money, they will help find someone."

complained to Yan Niang, and Li Qiao's guilt because of Shen Hongmo was slightly alleviated.

Blood is thicker than water.

Although he doesn't have much memory of his father, psychologically, he still hopes to be reunited with him after all.

"If there are no bones left, you can also inquire about what happened to him during his lifetime."

The heart is longing, but the words come out, but the meaning has changed again.

Li Qiao pursed his lips and turned his gaze to the window.

"I'm going to save some money and hire them to help find someone."

"If he is still alive and still thinking of us, he can be reunited, if he ......"

Li Qiao paused slightly.

It's not that he doesn't want to believe in people's hearts, but that there was no invitation in the disaster year, when he fled with them and entered Zhouzhuang alive, the people who settled here have all remarried, continued the strings, and found new love.

His mother was stupid and insisted on waiting for his father, but his father ...... Isn't it, it's going to be as stupid as his mother?

"He won't."

Yan Niang's words are categorical.

She believed in her husband as if she believed in herself.

……

Shen Hongxue took Li Erdao and traveled all the way to Shen's house in Zhouzhuang.

Although the two have their own thoughts, they are eager to reach a point, but they are the same.

Therefore, along the way, they didn't eat, and every time they arrived at the merchant post opened by the Shen family, they just changed the horses and continued on the road, and they were reluctant to delay even the tea work.

"Ahead, it's the Shen family."

Le Ma stopped in front of the stone lion outside Zhouzhuang, and Shen Hongxue turned over and dismounted.

Outside, he is a person who is "not afraid of heaven and earth", but in the Shen family, he does not dare to be presumptuous.

"According to the rules, after entering, you can only wait in the house on the right side of the door, and I will report to my grandfather and get his permission before I can let you go deeper."

Shen Hongxue said as she turned around, looked at Li Erdao, who was trembling with excitement, and patiently explained to him what he should do and what he could do after entering Zhouzhuang.

"Yan Niang is working in the Shen family's old house, if my grandfather agrees, when I come out to pick you up, I can bring her over."

"According to the usual practice, today and tomorrow are the days when the Shen family's stewards report last year's old accounts and this year's plans with my father."

"Your son, Li Qiao, should also be in the Shen family's old mansion at this time."

has a good impression of Li Qiao and Shen Hongxue.

Although he was physically weak and often delayed the caravan's journey, he was stubborn and could often make up for the caravan's delays and losses with careful calculations.

Moreover, in terms of opening up new business categories, he is a good hand.

When Shen Hongxue was young, he often heard Shen Wenfeng praise Li Qiao, and later, he led the caravan to travel, and he also got the topographic map provided by Li Qiao, which was clearly marked and reminded of the thoroughness.

"Thank you, Young Master Shen."

Knowing that he would soon be able to reunite with his family who had been separated for 20 years, Li Erdao was already nervous, and even when he spoke, he brought out a trill.

Cautiously, he climbed down from the horse and gave Shen Hongxue a deep look.

"You're welcome!"

"This is also due to the fact that you and Yan Niang are really moving!"

Corporal Lixian is the Shen family's initial teaching to all children and grandchildren.

As a businessman, if you can't be kind to others, you can't appoint people on the basis of merit, and there will always be a day when you will die in business.

It is important to know that it is easy to put the icing on the cake, but it is difficult to send charcoal in the snow.

In the most difficult time of a person, the most unfortunate thing is to make friends with him, but that person has fallen all his life, and there is no benefit or harm to himself, if that person can come out, the day that person comes out is the time to benefit.

In this world, people who have no conscience say too much, and say a lot less.

But there is one thing...... No fool will turn away his benefactor when it is in his own favor!

The capital is that businessmen are profitable.

But looking at the past few generations, how many people really regard money as dung?

With that, Shen Hongxue approached the stone lion and shook the huge copper bell on the lion's neck.

Hearing the ringing of the copper bell, across the water from the stone lion, in a single-story house with blue tiles, a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy poked his head out.

New Year's Month is not a business.

New Year's Day is not a hospitality.

This is the rule that the Shen family has continued for generations.

But just yesterday, a team of cars full of bride price entered Zhouzhuang, shocking thousands of people in Zhuangzi.

Marriage.

Today's holy edict let Zhu Lingjun, the third prince who is now hot, marry Miss Shen Jiayan.

Although, he is not known at the moment, who is this blessed Miss Shen family, but as the most suitable age among the descendants of the Shen family, he can also have great hopes of being selected to be a dowry boy for this young lady!

If you want to be selected, you naturally have to behave well and not fall into the trap for others.

Therefore, since yesterday, this little guy has been particularly awake, even in the middle of the night, when he hears the bell, he will hurriedly get dressed and get up, and come out to find out.

"Young Master Xue?"

Before, Shen Hongxue took a car of "New Year's money" out of the house, and this little guy knew it.

Although he couldn't understand why Old Man Shen suddenly sent Shen Hongxue, his grandson, out of the New Year's Day, as a competent subordinate, he did not hesitate to erase his curiosity.

What the master wants his subordinates to know, he will naturally tell his subordinates, and what the master does not say, the current people must not ask.

This was told to him a long time ago by his father, who was a gardener in the Shen family.

Seeing that it was Shen Hongxue, the little guy hurriedly trotted out and lowered the suspension bridge for him.

"The rules of the Shen family, Young Master Xue knows."

"I hope that Young Master Xue, don't embarrass us who are in the moment."

Li Erdao is a fresh face.

Even if it was Shen Hongxue who brought him here, the little guy didn't dare to break the rules, and he didn't allow the book, so he let him go deep into Zhouzhuang.

He looked Li Erdao up and down three times before taking half a step back, making a gesture of "please", and with a respectful attitude, he sent him an invitation.

"Sir, please rest here."

"When the letter of approval is delivered, someone will lead the way for Mr."

When you don't know the identity of a person, the best way to call it is sir.

The little guy didn't know Li Erdao's identity, and when he saw Shen Hongxue standing side by side with him, he instinctively treated him a little more respectfully.

"Uncle Dao wait, Hongxue will go and ask for a letter for Uncle Dao."

In terms of age, it is not an exaggeration for Shen Hongxue to call Li Erdao "Uncle Dao".

But Li Erdao's wife, Yan Niang, is a descendant of the Shen family, and Li Erdao's son, Li Qiao, is the little steward of the Shen family.

In terms of identity, Shen Hongxue, the grandson of the Shen family, is naturally more than a step higher than Li Erdao.

At this time, Shen Hongxue called Li Erdao with the title of "Uncle Dao", obviously, not just to be polite to him.

Liwei.

In other words, for Li Erdao, he labeled him as a "friend of Shen Hongxue", so that the other Shen family members did not dare to embarrass him, nor did they dare to ponder, buy him, and take him for their own use.

"There's Young Master Lao Xue."

Li Erdao is not a stupid person, how could he not hear what Shen Hongxue's intentions are?

He leaned over politely, saluted Shen Hongxue, and stopped making a sound.

The Shen family is a big family.

To gain a foothold here, it is the most basic ability to observe words and colors.

Shen Hongxue is the eldest grandson of the Shen family, and it is beneficial and harmless to be friends with him.