Chapter 171: Do your best

When Gu Banniang said this, Lingbao couldn't help but sniff and looked at Gu Banniang, who picked up the scroll again and read it with a peaceful face.

She was in a trance and returned to the wind and snow of that day, cold and helpless, and a pair of hands reached out in front of her eyes, and gently pulled them, making their brother and sister jump out of the quagmire.

At the beginning, I just wanted to sell myself as a slave to pay for the grace of saving my life, but in fact, when I think about it, the grace of saving my life was not only unpaid, but I have always been protected by these hands.

She lowered her head and gently wiped the corners of her eyes, and watched Gu Eighteen Niang concentrate on reading, so she turned around and went out lightly.

At this time, in the prison of the Criminal Department, the sunlight and spring breeze will never penetrate in, only dark and damp, cobwebs are all over, rats are rampant on the ground, swaggering, obviously here they are more imposing than people.

There was neither the cry of the prisoner nor the groans of the prisoner, and it was as quiet as death, and this silence was terrifying.

The silence was broken by the sound of footsteps.

"People?" The jailer shouted vigilantly, his gaze cast to the end of the long corridor, and soon a figure appeared in the sight that had already adapted to the darkness.

"It's the second young master." A smile immediately appeared on the jailer's face, and he took it respectfully, "You're here?" If you have something, you can just give me a command. ”

Lingyuan, who was wrapped in a black cloak, hummed indifferently, and slowly walked inward without stopping.

"My lord...."The jailer called carefully, but saw Ling Yuan raise the waist card in his hand that belonged to the Shangshu of the Criminal Department, and hurriedly lowered his head and did not dare to speak.

Ling Yuan walked all the way to the innermost, looking at the narrow cell that would never see the light of day, and lost his mind for a moment.

At this time last year, he also stood here, looking at the young man who was tortured and sleeping, full of worry, sadness and anxiety, he thought it was just an accident, and he would never stand in the prison in such a state of mind in the future, he Lingyuan had no father, no mother, no relatives and no friends, except for Gu Hai's family in this world, no one could make him emotional.

But what's going on now?

"Little brother, it's you...," an old voice came from within.

Ling Yuan didn't know what to say for a while, and with the sound of Si Xi Suosuo, he slowly moved a person from the corner of the wall.

I haven't seen him for a few months, Yang Taisheng, who was escorted back by him personally, has completely changed as a person, his body is thin and only a handful of bones remain, his hair is messy, and his eyes are stuck in eye sockets, in the end, he still did not escape Zhu Chunming's hands, and fell into the prison of the criminal department where he should come.

"I also said that it was early to deliver the food today....it turned out to be a little brother...."He laughed.

He reached out and brushed the long hair in front of his forehead, and glanced at Ling Yuan standing outside the prison.

"What's the matter with the little brother?" He asked with a smile.

His voice was calm, and the prison and torture did not seem to leave any mark on him.

"My lord..."Ling Yuan said, with a hint of apprehension in his voice, "This is the book you wanted..."

His hand reached out from under his cloak and handed in a baggage.

Yang Taisheng was obviously surprised, last time, it was this young man who escorted him from the Yamen of the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses, he casually said that he wanted to read a few books, but after a month, no one sent them in, presumably his students had no way in.

It didn't seem to be comfortable with Yang Taisheng's eyes looking at him like this, Ling Yuan threw the burden into it, and turned around to leave.

"Little brother, thank you." Yang Taisheng said with a smile.

Ling Yuan's footsteps paused slightly, "Don't dare, it's not a white gang." ”

"Thank you for your mercy." Yang Tiansheng whispered in the back.

Ling Yuan's body stiffened, and he understood that this was the stabbed shot in the broken temple at the beginning.

"Little brother, take these books, I don't need them..."Yang Taisheng continued.

Ling Yuan turned around and swept his gaze over the old man's eyes, "Your eyes..."

"I'm old, I don't use these eyes," he said, still smiling peacefully, reaching out to brush his cloudy eyes.

There are various punishments in the prison of the penal department, one of which is smoking, which makes people feel like they are about to die, and this punishment is very harmful to the throat and eyes.

Ling Yuan unconsciously felt that his throat was astringent.

"I... I don't need to—" he whispered, "I can't read these books either..."

"Oh..."Yang Taisheng nodded, and said with a slight hesitation, "Then the little brother is willing to listen to the old man tell you about it?" ”

Ling Yuan was stunned.

"Before the old man became an official, he worked as a private school teacher for ten years..."Yang Taisheng stroked his dirty beard, and a trace of reminiscing about the past appeared on his face, "I have been lost for so many years, I don't know if I can still explain it..."

Lingyuan stood silent, neither answering nor refusing.

Yang Taisheng laughed, "Look, I'm talking crazy, isn't it... Little brother, you go. ”

"I can't save you..."Ling Yuan interrupted him and said lightly.

Yang Taisheng laughed even louder, but the jailer at the outermost point only threw a glance, and even turned around, as if he was blind to everything.

"Since the old man dared to come in, he didn't plan to get out alive." He smiled and patted his stump leg, "There are so many people who want to save the old and decayed, and it's not that they can't be saved...."

Lingyuan was silent.

"Second Young Master, let's go." The jailer heard the sound of footsteps behind him, and hurriedly bowed his head respectfully, and the black cloak that blended with the darkness rolled in front of him, and the cell fell into dead silence again.

Xinjia, in the newly purchased mansion in the capital, four or five stewards hurried out, passing by Xin Chaoling and the other three with a hangover, just nodding and saying hello.

"Look at these people, do they still treat us as masters?" One said indignantly.

"Come on, we are human beings, we know it in our own hearts, and we know it in our hearts" Xin Chaoling patted his brother's shoulder with a folding fan, yawned and said, "Go, go, go and tell the eldest young master, let's find out the news, so that we are not useless..."

There are only two pretty maids in the study standing with a smile, sorting out the four treasures of the book and the study.

"Done?" Xin Chaoling only thought that his ears had heard it wrong, and asked again.

"I'm going to go in the spring." The pretty girl replied with a smile.

"Did I hear me right? There are not many words," Xin Chaoling turned his head and asked the two brothers beside him.

The two brothers shook their heads.

"Big brother stepping into spring?" Xin Chaoling shook his head and smiled, "Big brother isn't the most tired of this excitement..."

At this time, in the suburbs, Lingbao stretched out his hand to tear off the kite string, and watched the beautiful kite swaying in the sky with Gu Bainiang.

"The eldest young master wants to let go of bad luck?" Gu Bainiang turned her head and smiled at Xin Chaoyang, who was sitting on the ground under the weeping willows on the side.

"Am I unlucky?" No mistakes, no word skipping. Xin Chaoyang smiled slightly.

"That's not the same..."Lingbao said slightly sourly, her eyes couldn't help but cast her eyes on the side of the road, her brother didn't come after all...

Gu Bainiang smiled, took the brocade and wiped the fine sweat on her forehead, and took the tea handed by Xin Chaoyang.

"The eldest young master still has the leisure to come to the spring?" She laughed.

She has given Baohetang enough money as working capital, at this time Baohetang is no longer as panicked as before, if they can hold on this time, the joint run on Baohetang's medicine shed will lose a lot.

Xin Chaoyang smiled, "Thank you Gu Niangzi for worrying about me...."As he spoke, he raised his chin slightly, "But your bad luck is coming...."

Gu Bainiang was slightly flustered when she heard this, turned her head to look, and saw a carriage parked on the side of the road, the third master of the Wang family jumped out of the carriage, and when she saw the two people sitting opposite each other, a trace of anger suddenly flashed.

When Gu Bainiang walked into the Wang family's mansion with Lingbao, the people in the house had obviously been there for a long time, and when they saw her coming in, the buzzing discussion suddenly subsided, and all eyes fell on her.

"How's the shopkeeper Wang?" She looked at Wang Hongbin and asked in a low voice.

"Thank you Gu Niangzi for your concern, it's okay for the time being." Master Wang San took over the words and snorted coldly.

The unkindness in his tone, Gu Banniang just didn't hear it, and sat down on the side.

Wang Hongbin's face was slightly embarrassed.

"I don't know what happened to me today?" Gu Bainiang asked.

The people in the hall glanced at each other, and their eyes all looked at Wang Hongbin.

"That's the case...."Wang Hongbin coughed, a little uncomfortable, and his eyes did not look directly at Gu Bainiang.

"That's the case, the money is not enough, we want to borrow some more from Gu Niangzi." Master Wang San said directly.

Wang Hongbin glared at him, with a bit of reproach, how could anyone borrow money like this? It's like a debt collector

Gu Banniang's expression was still faint, "No." ”

"Ha" Master Wang San sneered, looked around at everyone, and said with a smile, "Did you hear that, what I told me was right?" No mistakes, not a lot of words"

The eyes of the people in the hall who looked at Gu Bainiang were a little strange.

"That's right?" Gu Bainiang raised her eyes to look at him and asked lightly.

"Gu Niangzi has any difficulties, but please make it clear, if you can help, you can help, and if you can't help us, Baohetang won't blame you, just face to face and back to the ground, then it's not good...."Wang San said coldly.

Before his words fell, Gu Bainiang slammed the teacup in her hand on the table, making a crisp sound.

When she looked at it, Master Wang San couldn't help but feel cold in his heart, this is a kind of look, indifferent, cold, how can a daughter in the world have such eyes?

Wang Hongbin on the side had seen it, just that year Jiankang, when they Baohetang pointed to Gu Bainiang and asked her to make it clear, the girl had this kind of look, and he couldn't help but stand up.

He has personal experience of this girl's ruthlessness.

Just when he wanted to resolve this embarrassing atmosphere, Gu Bainiang's eyes drooped.

"I'll go see the shopkeeper Wang." She stood up and said.

The voice is flat and unwavering, and there is no emotion in it.

Wang Hongbin breathed a sigh of relief, stopped the third master Wang who was still talking, and hurriedly sent someone to lead Gu Bainiang to the back hall.

“… Am I wrong? Who doesn't know that Da Yousheng is bent on caging her, Lang has a concubine who is intended, and believes that she will help us with all her heart? Dreaming, right? No mistakes, a lot of words, who let us not have a good son"

The door of the house was covered, blocking the indignant voice of the third master.

"How is this person" Ling Bao gritted his teeth angrily, turned around and was about to go back.

Gu Bainiang stretched out her hand and grabbed her, "There are some people in this world who are never unreasonable, they will only believe what they think, you say that they will not listen, there is no need to talk to them in vain." ”

"It's obviously their own fault, it's useless for themselves, Miss borrowed so much money from them, they are good, not only do they not remember their gratitude, but they have a grudge that is too hateful" Lingbao said indignantly.

"What about holding grudges? Am I afraid of him? Gu Banniang smiled, pulled her, and followed the guide into Wang Yizhang's house.

The maids in the house gave their salutes one after another.

"How's the old gentleman?" Gu Bainiang asked in a low voice.

Wang Yizhang's wife wiped away her tears gently, "It's only been a few days..."

"Old lady, the old lady asked if Gu Niangzi came? Please speak. A maid turned out and whispered.

Gu Bainiang nodded, turned into the inner room, and unexpectedly saw that Wang Jinyi was also there, they hadn't seen each other since they splashed tea at the big medicine meeting.

Seeing Gu Bainiang coming in, Wang Jinyi stood up, stepped back, and lowered his head.

"Gu Niangzi..."Wang Yizhang called in a weak voice.

Gu Bainiang looked at this old man with mixed feelings in her heart.

"Gu Niangzi, we are clear...."Wang Yizhang smiled weakly and said something without a beginning or an end.

Wang Jinyi couldn't help but look up.

Gu Bainiang nodded, reached out and held Wang Yizhang's thin hand, "Mr. Wang, I will keep the name of Baohetang...."After a slight pause, with a wry smile, "Please also ask Mr. Wang to understand, I am also a person who fights for my life, and I can only do so much...."

"That's enough...."Wang Yizhang said weakly, shaking Gu Banniang's hand, "Thank you...."

"Thank you too...."Gu Banniang's nose was slightly sour.

Three days later, Wang Yizhang, the third generation of the head of the Baohetang, passed away, at the same time, Baohetang did not accept Gu Bainiang's suggestion, and acted slowly, but once again bought a large number of cinnamon branches in the market, two months later, under the huge pressure of all the medicine sheds in the capital shouting out that this year will not repair the cinnamon branches, in June, Baohetang sold the cinnamon branches, lost one million taels of silver, became insolvent, and had to sell Baohetang.

As Wang Yizhang instructed in advance, anyone who came to buy Baohetang asked for the Baohetang brand to be purchased together, but fortunately, before the large-scale sale of the debt, someone had already bought the Baohetang's brand at a high price.

Wang Hongbin stood in the courtyard, the servants in the family have basically been sold, and several others have left the capital and returned to their hometown, this house was originally going to be sold, but he gritted his teeth and stayed, at the cost of selling the land he belonged to, no shops, no land, how difficult it is to imagine the future days, especially when they were born to grow up in fine clothes and food, the crying of women and children came from the house, which made the atmosphere even more sad.

"Master, master...."An old family ran in panting.

"What? Someone is coming to collect debts? Wang Hongbin asked without turning his head, "Let them come in, pick them yourself, take them when they should take them..."

"No, master, Gu Niangzi sent this...."The old family said hurriedly.

Wang Hongbin turned around violently, looking at the black, bright and old plaque with the words Baohetang written on it in his hand in his hometown, the three-foot man, Wang Hongbin, who did not shed tears in the face of such a big change, couldn't help but blush slightly.

He walked a few steps, as if he wanted to rush out to meet Gu Banniang, but in the end he still stopped his feet, some things don't need to be said, it is enough in his heart.

He stretched out his hand to take the plaque, and then he understood the meaning of Wang Yizhang taking the risk of introducing King Wenjun for Gu Bainiang despite the opposition of the whole family.....

It's all because these juniors are useless, they are used to enjoying the blessings left by their ancestors, but they have not developed the ability to continue the glory.

"Second uncle, I must revive Baohetang" Wang Hongbin knelt down and kowtowed heavily in the direction of the ancestral house.

Sitting in the carriage, Lingbao remembered the defeated Wang family, and couldn't help but stroke his chest, "It's really dangerous to do business, so rich, but it's also a defeat...."

"Don't just do business," Gu Banniang said with a smile, "It's those princes and generals, and it's just a blink of an eye to say defeat..."

Princely generals... Lingbao naturally thought of Zhu Chunming and his brother, and his expression couldn't help but be gloomy.

"It's not easy for people to live, if they are defeated, they will be defeated, as long as the person is still there, everything will start again, it's no big deal..."Gu Banniang smiled and comforted her.

"Gu Niangzi" accompanied by the sound of horses' hooves, someone called behind, "Please wait." ”

Gu Bainiang lifted the curtain and saw that it was Wang Jinyi.

Most of the people in the Wang family have already left the capital, especially those who have a face and a high status in the family, and as a result, they have no face to mix in the capital, leaving behind some insignificant little people, and they don't care about their faces and others make fun of them, but they can support themselves by staying in the capital.

Wang Jinyi is the young master of the Wang family, and he didn't even leave?

"He wants to make trouble?" Lingbao looked vigilant, these people were simply white-eyed wolves who couldn't be fed

Wang Jinyi did not approach, but dismounted not far away, suddenly bent over her and bowed three times, and then without saying a word, got on the horse and left.

"What does this mean? Deliberately made ugly? Lingbao glared and said, this person has never given a good face when he saw them, let alone give a gift, and suddenly came to such a show, especially after being splashed with water in public, and did not help them Baohetang, Lingbao felt that this gift was not a big gift.

Gu Banniang smiled and let Ah Si continue to move forward.

"Everybody can figure it out and start all over again," she leaned back on the frame, sighed softly, and said abruptly, "I'm so stupid... I lived all those years in vain, but I was a fool... I don't understand until I'm dead... No, I don't understand when I'm dead... If it's not a restart...."

"Miss stupid?" Lingbao shouted a little exaggeratedly, "Then there are not many smart people in the world... How can Miss be stupid, Miss guessed it, and she did what she said and did right..."

That didn't come easily, Gu Bainiang smiled, and didn't say anything about it anymore, it's all over, I don't want to think about it.

After the contract with Da Yousheng expired, Gu Bainiang did not renew the contract, although countless medicine shops and medicine sheds came to visit every day, but she did not sign a contract with anyone.

"Now she doesn't need to use this to boost her confidence..."Xin Chaoyang shook the folding fan lightly and said, "She is really stronger on the inside now..."

"If you can't take her in when the eagle is young, then you don't have to think about it when the eagle spreads its wings." The older man said with some regret.

"Then let her fly." Xin Chaoyang smiled and looked at the blue sky in August.

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I want to finish this paragraph in one go, I wrote more, and I had to be late, everyone has been waiting for a long time, hehe~~

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