Jiaxing old customer Yuan Zhong's silk shop and the dead daughter-in-law Zhao Yuwu's silk shop is only separated by a few shops, Sixi and Laifu found this Soviet-style silk shop, but the shopkeeper said that Yuan Zhong and his son went to thank the prince for a gift, Sixi thought: "Yuan Laoke's grace is not my young master, yesterday sent a box of silver, my young master did not accept it, how to go to prepare a gift to thank the grace of the father, is Yuan Laoke in addition to my young master has other graces?" ”

This Soviet-style silk shop has a prosperous business, and the shopkeeper replied to Sixi with a word and was busy with other things, Sixi and Laifu waited in front of the door for two moments and did not see Yuan Zhong and his son come back, and a large group of people under the big tree to see the excitement dispersed at this time, Zhao Yuwu and Xia Yangpi did not see a trace, I don't know if they went to the government to complain?

There is nothing to do left and right, and the two people wandered from the square in front of the city god temple to the examination shed behind the Fuxue Palace, the huge examination shed dragon gate was closed, quietly, there was no one in front of the door, they all knew that the road would be after noon before the examination shed would open the door to let the candidates come out, Sixi and Laifu wandered around for a while and then went back first, out of the north gate there was a carriage going to the city and the two staggered past, the person in the car suddenly lifted the curtain and greeted: "Isn't this Laifu?" ”

Laifu was very surprised, thinking that who would recognize me in this place, turned his head to see who the person in the carriage was, Sixi had already shouted: "It's Old Guest Yuan!" Old guest Yuan, my young master is looking for you. ”

The old guest Yuan Zhong hurriedly got out of the car and asked Sixi: "Little brother, what is the matter with Zeng Gongzi looking for old decay?" The old man just came out of the house, I didn't hear that Zeng Gongzi was looking for me, didn't Zeng Gongzi go to the exam? ”

Sixi said: "Before my young master entered the examination room, he told the little one that if he saw Yuan Laoke, he must ask Yuan Laoke to postpone his return to his hometown for half a day, saying that he would discuss things with Yuan Laoke after the exam." ”

Yuan Zhong nodded again and again: "The old man originally planned to leave for Jiaxing this afternoon, since Zeng Gongzi had an order, the old man waited, and said slowly for half a day, three days, two days old decay waited, anyway, it was impossible to rush back to his hometown before the year." He asked Sixi again: "When will Zeng Gongzi finish the exam?" ”

Sixi said: "The examination shed will not open until after noon. ”

Yuan Zhong said: "Okay, the old man will go back to eat first, and after dinner, he will go to wait outside the examination shed." ”

Sixi asked: "Why doesn't Yuan Laoke eat in our house?" ”

Yuan Zhong said with a smile: "Zeng Gongzi is not in the house, so the old man will not bother, and the two little brothers will see you later." ”

Sixi a little manservant of course is not good at hospitality guests, watching Yuan Zhong's carriage drive away, then he and Laifu stepped on the muddy snow back to the house, knocked on the door for a long time, but it was the kitchen lady Yu came to open the door, the kitchen lady Yu saw that the thieves had retreated, and came over in the morning, according to the agreement, she had to be a maid in the Zeng house until the month of the new year before she could go back to her home for the New Year.

Sixi saw that the hall was empty, and he didn't hear a few little girls chattering, so he asked, "Aunt Yu, what about my brother-in-law?" ”

Cook Yu said: "Brother-in-law Zhu saw me coming, so he was busy urging Miss Ruolan to go back to Zhu's house, and as soon as they left, an old courtier surnamed Yuan came——"

Sixi interjected: "I know, I just met at the city gate, and that old guest Yuan had already been here yesterday. ”

The cook Yu pointed to the hall: "But what about these two big boxes, they are left by the old court, as well as fish and geese, and a sheep, and the sheep are led to the kitchen, so as not to in the hall." ”

Sixi and Laifu walked up to the hall and saw that there were two large wooden boxes, and there were two big white geese tied to the pillars next to the boxes. A wicker wide-mouthed basket full of fish, it turned out to be a live fish, and a grass carp jumped out of the basket, more than a foot long, twisted on the ground, "popping" sound.

Sixi asked, "What's in the box?" ”

The cook Yu said: "How dare I flip around, grandma ordered, don't move, wait for the young master to come back and deal with it." ”

Sixi caught the fish back in the wicker basket, went into the inner courtyard and talked back to his great-mother Zhou, and told Xia Chaofeng's son about going to prison, and his great-mother Zhou sighed and said: "I don't know if there are any grievances, if there are grievances, try to help Xia Chaofeng, and I will talk to him when the fish comes back." ”

After lunch, Sixi and Laifu went into the city to wait outside the gate of the examination shed, and the family members of the candidates came to wait, but before the time came, the dragon gate of the examination shed was closed, and Sixi and Laifu were crowded in the front, and as long as the dragon gate was opened, they could see who came out-

Just as he was looking forward to it, someone suddenly patted Sixi on the shoulder and shouted, "This little brother-"

Sixi turned his head and saw that it was Yuan Sanli, the son of Yuan Laoke, and said busily: "It's Young Master Yuan, my young master will be out of the examination room soon." ”

Yuan Sanli nodded and pointed to a carriage lane parked not far away: "My father is in the car, so I don't know if Zeng Gongzi has anything to discuss with his father?" Yuan Sanli was worried that Zeng Yu would have trouble finding his father, and the passenger ship back to Jiaxing had already anchored at the dock, although it was impossible to rush back in the thirtieth year of the Chinese New Year's Eve, it was always good to return home one day earlier.

Sixi said: "I don't know the way either. ”

Yuan Sanli didn't ask anything more, waited with Sixi and Laifu, and waited for about a moment, he heard that the dragon gate was "rolling" open, and the recording exam was not as grand as the college exam. ”

"It's out, it's out." Laifu shouted and ran to meet him.

When Sixi fixed his eyes, he only saw Zheng Shi, but he didn't see his own young master, Laifu had already stepped forward to take the test basket in Zheng Shi's hand, Sixi hurriedly stepped forward and asked: "Young Master Zheng, why didn't my young master come out?" ”

Zheng Shi rubbed his frozen hands and said with a smile: "Grandmaster left Jiuli to speak, their teacher-student friendship is deep, and I can't wait to come out first." Seeing that Yuan Laoke's son was on the side, he arched his hand and said, "Why is Brother Yuan here?" Oh, Jiu Li has something to discuss with Ling Zun, wait a minute, he should come out. ”

Yuan Sanli went back to the carriage to show his father, waited for a long time, saw Zeng Yu coming out, talking to Zheng Shi, and then raised his eyes to look at the carriage, beckoned from afar, and walked over.

Yuan Zhong stayed in the carriage because of a sprained leg, and when he heard his son say that Zeng Gongzi was coming, he wanted to get out of the car to meet him.

Yuan Sanli said: "Daddy's leg injury hasn't healed, just sit in the car." ”

Yuan Zhong insisted on getting out of the car, and reprimanded his son: "How can I sit in a big way when Engong comes-don't put on this disapproving face, how do you know that your father is in danger of being trapped in a thief's cave, do you wish your father died early?" ”

Yuan Sanli was taken aback, and hurriedly said: "How can my son be so ****, my father wronged my son." Hurry up and hug the old father, not daring to say another word.

The old guest Yuan Zhong didn't wait for Zeng Yu to approach and bowed down, and said with a smile on his face: "Zeng Gongzi's eyebrows are shining with color prints, presumably the essay in the field is very proud, next year's township exam, the meeting exam, and the title of the gold list are like bowls and saucers - you can't run, ha, ha." Seeing Zheng Shi following Zeng Yu at a glance, he hurriedly said: "Zheng Gongzi is also a must." ”

"Old guest Yuan doesn't need to be flattered." Zheng Shi shook his head and smiled bitterly: "I was shivering and shrunken in the field just now, and I was confused when transcribing, and I am not qualified to go to the township test next year." ”

Zeng Yu smiled: "It's really cold, and there are only a few cold snacks for lunch, and it's not the brother of Shi who has a cold numb hand and can't hold the pen firmly, the grandmaster will understand, after all, this is not a college exam, it's not so strict, the main thing is to look at the quality of the article." He bowed his hand to Yuan Zhong's father and son: "There are Lao Xian's father and son who have been waiting for a long time, and there is something to discuss with Uncle Yuan, but I forgot to say it yesterday." ”

Yuan Zhong hurriedly said: "Zeng Gongzi has something to order. ”

Zeng Yu said: "It's better to go to a nearby restaurant to have a cup of hot wine, and slowly explain how to do it, and make the east in the next." ”

Yuan Zhong said: "How can this be reasonable, of course it is the old decay as the east, Zheng Gongzi, go together." ”

Zeng Yu ordered Sixi and Laifu to go back first, he and Zheng Shi followed Yuan Zhong and his son to a restaurant on Fuqian Street, Zeng Yu asked for a pot of Xinzhou rice wine, a bowl of bighead carp head tofu, a bowl of vermicelli stewed mutton, a plate of fried bacon with quinoa, and a plate of green vegetables and radish Wannian tribute rice rice cakes, the liquor was warmed with copper wine, poured in the cup, the wine was curling, and the aroma of wine was overflowing——

"A few simple local dishes, a pot of Xinzhou rice wine, Shizhi's cousin is half the master, I won't persuade the wine, pour it yourself, Yuan Lao Kexian father and son must have a few drinks." Zeng Yu raised his glass and drank it all first.

Zheng Shi said with a smile: "The amount of nine carp is very good, don't be drunk by him." ”

Yuan Zhong said with a smile: "One drunk party rests, one drunk party rests." But he asked: "I don't know what Zeng Gongzi wants to tell the old man, please explain it first, otherwise the old man has no intention of drinking, for fear of living up to the son's trust." ”

Zeng Yu said solemnly: "There is indeed something to ask Yuan Laoke. At the moment, he told his mother Zhou in detail about the abduction of her mother when she was a child, and asked Yuan Zhong to go back to Jiaxing to help inquire about forty-two years ago, that is, in the winter of the thirteenth year of Zhengde of Ming Wuzong, which family in Jiaxing had a four- or five-year-old daughter who was abducted and never recovered-

Yuan Zhong twisted his white beard to listen, and then asked: "What is the name of the town in the south of Jiaxing near the canal that Ling Zu bought from the kidnapper?" ”

Zeng Yu said: "My grandfather went to Nanjing for the residence of the Duke of Wei, and on the way back, he passed through that town, and I don't know what the name of the road is, but I know that it is close to the canal. ”

Yuan Zhong said: "There are seven counties in Jiaxing Prefecture, and the two counties of Tongxiang and Shimen are the canals in the south, and the towns of Chongfu, Hemp, and Zhicun are all on the edge of the canal, so I don't know which one?" ”

Zheng Shi also heard Zeng Yu talk about his mother's past for the first time, and said: "The Grand Canal is very busy with merchants, and the abduction is for the convenience of selling people, and it is not necessarily that Aunt Zeng is from the small town by the canal. ”

Yuan Zhong nodded again and again: "Those abductors and abductors are generally taken to other counties to sell, so Zeng Gongzi's mother is not necessarily from the south of Jiaxing, it is possible in seven counties of Jiaxing, and the surname of the parents is not clear, only a milk name, and it was more than forty years ago, this is tantamount to looking for a needle in a haystack." ”

Zeng Yu said: "I also know that it is extremely difficult to find the road, because Yuan Laoke is from Jiaxing, so please pay attention, the virtuous father and son collect silkworm cocoons and sell silk in the counties of Jiaxing Prefecture, please inquire by the way, this matter is not in a hurry, it doesn't matter for three or five years, as long as you have a heart." ”

Yuan Zhong said angrily: "Zeng Gongzi rest assured, the old man does not dare to guarantee that he will be able to find Lingtang's hometown and relatives, but the old man must do his best to search, the old man lives in Pinghu, in Xiushui, Jiashan, Tongxiang there are mulberry fields, weavers or shops, I let those people help inquire, other counties I will also send people to post a search notice, entrust relatives and friends to search on behalf of the people, although the area is wide, time, but the child is abducted after all is a big deal, as long as there is a heart, a year, two years, three years and five years, you should always be able to inquire, unless the family moves to other places." ”

Zeng Yu said gratefully: "I feel so grateful to Yuan Laoke, please Yuan Laoke to find relatives, I didn't say it to Jiaci, I'm afraid that I can't find it to make her happy and sad, in case one day I pity it, Yuan Laoke has good news coming, and then I will be clear to Jiaci." ”

Yuan Zhong sighed: "This is a piece of filial piety of Zeng Gongzi, Zeng Gongzi saved hundreds of hostages from the thieves this time, and his merits are immeasurable, God will bless Lingtang to reunite with his relatives." ”

The four of them warmed wine and ate food, laughed and talked, looked at the twilight and went upstairs, and then got up to say goodbye, Yuan Zhong said that his father and son were going to return to their hometown by boat overnight, and in the future, Shangrao's Soviet-style shop would be delivered by his son Yuan Sanli every year to deliver and check the accounts, he was old, and he was afraid that he could not travel far.

It is quite far from the wharf here, Yuan Zhong did not let the fish send him off, and the father and son broke up with Zeng Yu and Zheng Shi at the bottom of the restaurant, got into the carriage and left.

The twilight has just shrouded down, that is, it is dispersed by the rising cold moon and the lights of the world, the snow on the roof reflects the moonlight and lights, and the snow swept out of the street is piled up on both sides of the road, like two short white walls, the whole Shangrao City has a sense of exquisiteness and clarity, far and near, there are sheng songs sounding, after the thieves, more know the value of timely fun.

Zeng Yu and Zheng Shi strolled to the north gate, talking about the composition in the field, reciting each other's small questions and eight strands in the scientific examination, Zheng Shi said: "Jiuli Wenyi is clearer than me, this time I will definitely be able to take the first class, and it is not a problem to obtain the qualification for the township examination." ”

Zeng Yu said: "Cousin, this article is also very good, and we can go together for the township test next year." ”

Zheng Shi said with a smile: "I hope so, I hope that the grandmaster will raise his noble hand and let me pass." ”

The two returned to the house outside the north gate, but there were two government officials waiting for Zeng Yu, and a fat government official shouted bitterly: "Zeng Gongzi, the villains are waiting for you so hard, the mansion invites the master of the Taoist to the banquet, and invites Zeng Gongzi to accompany you, but I can't see you everywhere, although it is a little late at this time, I can finally catch up with the end of the banquet, Zeng Gongzi hurry up with the two of us, so that I can make a difference." ”

Zeng Yu didn't want to go to this kind of entertainment, he had already talked about the teacher-student relationship with Huang Tixue in the examination hall before, there was really nothing to say at the banquet, and now it was too late to go, there was leftover wine, so boring, but these two servants were stubbornly pestering him to go, so he had to say: "Let me talk to my mother, and I will go with the two." ”

The officials are accustomed to eating and taking cards on weekdays, and they want to find someone on this cold day, but there is no oil and water benefit, of course they are not happy, and they are especially dissatisfied with it, which Xiucai heard that the county and the government are not running away, what an honor it is, but this Zeng Xiucai wants to make a tone and let them find it for a long time, and then they have to show their mother, it is really verbose, but they are only slandered, and they dare not look at it, this Zeng Xiucai is the person who is highly valued by the government, otherwise, how can a Xiucai be invited to accompany the banquet, They can't afford to offend this show, and they have to accompany the smiling face.

Zeng Yu entered the inner courtyard to explain the situation to his mother, and was about to exit, when his great-mother Zhou stopped and said, "Wait a minute-"

Zeng Yu stood and said, "What else does my mother command?" ”

Great-mother Zhou said: "At noon, I heard Sixi say that I saw Xia Chaofeng, who had let our family take a boat, in the Chenghuang Temple market, and said that Xia Chaofeng's son had an adulterous affair with his neighbor, and he died, Xia Chaofeng's son went to prison, and my mother asked you to visit Xia Chaofeng, and asked what was going on, if there was a grievance, you would help his father and son, if the crime deserved, you should also try to comfort Xia Chaofeng and want to open some." ”

Zeng Yu frowned and said, "There are such things, why didn't Sixi tell me!" ”

Great-mother Zhou said: "I told him that I would tell you personally. ”

Zeng Yu went to the front yard to ask carefully about the Sixi City God's Temple and Xia Yangpi, and the two officials were as anxious as ants on a hot pot, and said in a loud voice: "Zeng Gongzi, Zeng Lao, let's go, there is something to say on the way." ”

Sixi had already had dinner, Zeng Yu asked Sixi to go to the government with him, Sixi said as he walked and said that he saw Xia Chaofeng begging the silk merchant surnamed Zhao to let his son go, and then the fat official interjected: "I know about this case, but I don't know if Zeng Gongzi has a relationship with a businessman surnamed Xia or a businessman surnamed Zhao?" ”

Zeng Yu said: "Xia Chaofeng is my fellow villager, I was helped by him when I was down, and I know the facts of the case, please tell me in detail." ”

This fat servant knew Zeng Yu's status in the minds of the lord of the mansion, so he naturally wanted to flatter, and said: "The villain will listen to Zeng Gongzi in detail - the paper merchant Xia Rongpi and the silk merchant Zhao Yuwu's shop are only separated by a wall, both in the area of the Chenghuang Temple at the east gate, and the leather paper shop opened by Xia Guiyu is probably managed by his son Xia Guiyu, Xia Guiyu is in his twenties, has not yet married, and is honest in business on weekdays, without the vice of eating, drinking, prostituting and gambling, in addition to doing business, he reads some poetry and books or something. But one day, the neighbors found that Xia Guiyu had a Canaan incense fan pendant that looked like Zhao Yuwu's usual elegant fan pendant, and the neighbor informed Zhao Yuwu, Zhao Yuwu went to see Xia Guiyu's Canaan incense fan pendant, and concluded that it was his Zhao family's thing, which was used by Zhao Yuwu himself earlier, and later because his daughter-in-law He loved it, he handed it over to his daughter-in-law He along with a piece of Hanyu fan pendant, you say that Zhao Yuwu is angry or not, but his daughter-in-law He's fan pendant is in Xia Guiyu's hands, if there is no adultery, who believes it? Zhao Yuwu looked for a lawyer, a complaint to sue Xia Guiyu, this matter made a fuss, Zhao Yuwu's daughter-in-law He committed suicide by hanging the beam, the little one heard that Zhao Yuwu and his daughter-in-law He were a little unclear, in our Guangxin Mansion is to pick up ashes, but He is dead, the sin naturally fell on Xia Guiyu's head, the Lord of the Mansion hates immorality the most, and all adultery is severely punished, not to mention the big case of human life. ”

Zeng Yuxin said: "The word adultery can't be said nonsense, do Xia Guiyu and ordinary people dare to call adultery?" Xia Guiyu is in his twenties, unmarried, honest in business on weekdays, no vice of eating, drinking, prostituting and gambling, in addition to doing business, he reads some poetry or something, but one day the neighbors found that Xia Guiyu had a Canaan incense fan pendant that looked like Zhao Yuwu usually dressed up elegantly and broadly with a fan pendant, and the neighbor informed Zhao Yuwu, Zhao Yuwu went to see Xia Guiyu's Canaan incense fan pendant, and concluded that it was his Zhao family's thing, which was used by Zhao Yuwu himself earlier, and later because his daughter-in-law He loved it, Together with a piece of Hanyu fan pendant, it was handed over to his daughter-in-law He, you say that Zhao Yuwu is angry or not, but his daughter-in-law He's fan pendant is in the hands of Xia Guiyu, if there is no adultery, who believes it? Zhao Yuwu looked for a lawyer, a complaint to sue Xia Guiyu, this matter made a fuss, Zhao Yuwu's daughter-in-law He committed suicide by hanging the beam, the little one heard that Zhao Yuwu and his daughter-in-law He were a little unclear, in our Guangxin Mansion is to pick up ashes, but He is dead, the sin naturally fell on Xia Guiyu's head, the Lord of the Mansion hates immorality the most, and all adultery is severely punished, not to mention the big case of human life. ”

Zeng Yuxin said: "The word adultery can't be said nonsense, do Xia Guiyu and ordinary people dare to call adultery?" ”