Zheng Shi heard Zeng Yu coming back, flashed out of the wing room on the left side of the hall, and laughed in a low voice: "The matchmaker is fierce, and she is still dizzy when she closes the door, I have drunk wine with a few Guixi Xiucai and come back at the end of the hour, these mothers-in-law are already waiting in the hall, surrounding me and gossiping, not that I think I am you, I am in my early thirties, the so-called sixtieth is half-open, how can I compare with a beautiful boy like Brother Xian, hehe, these matchmakers may be so idle that they will talk non-stop when they catch me, which means that I want me to speak well in front of you." ”

Zeng Yu smiled: "Great, Brother Shi is kind of words." ”

Zheng Shi was about to speak, the five matchmakers in the hall had already gone down the steps and surrounded Zeng Yutuan, the matchmakers relied on the old and sold the old, not caring about what men and women gave or not, in order to let Zeng Yu listen to himself first, he actually grabbed Zeng Yu's robe sleeves and belt, you dragged me, and they wanted to rob the family.

Zeng Yu raised his hands and said: "Grandmothers, if you have something to say, you have something to say, say it one by one, don't use your mouth." ”

Zheng Shi laughed on the side.

A big-faced woman said enthusiastically: "I'll say it first, I'll say it first-"

The big-faced mother-in-law's voice was high-pitched, and the sound was cracking, suppressing the voices of the other four mothers-in-law, and continued: "Zeng Xianggong, the matchmaker that the old body told you is really a good match, the third lady of Jiang Wu Jiang Dashanren, eighteen years old, two years younger than Zeng Xianggong, was born like a flower and jade, extremely beautiful, and even more literate and literate, knowledgeable and courteous, Jiang Dashan's family background is extremely solid, if Zeng Xianggong marries the third lady of the Jiang family, it will be like leaning on the granary, eating and drinking without worry, Jiang Dashan said——"

Such a high-pitched voice is not easy to maintain, and when it comes to it, the voice is lowered, and the other four mothers-in-law immediately counterattacked, and one mother-in-law pouted: "What a beauty, the face is short and the nose is collapsed, and there are many pockmarked spots." ”

Another mother-in-law said: "The five daughters of the Jiang family, if each daughter's dowry has a granary and rice warehouse, won't they marry all their belongings to poverty." ”

The big-faced woman said angrily: "I'd rather demolish ten temples than destroy a marriage, you will go to hell after you make trouble like this." ”

The big-faced mother-in-law said viciously, and several other mothers-in-law were annoyed, and said one after another: "Understand that people don't say dark words, we haven't seen Jiang Sangu, is she short-faced and has a collapsed nose?" Does she have pockmarks on her face, as long as she is not blind, she can see the Tao, and also, is it wrong that the Jiang family has five daughters? ”

Another mother-in-law revealed: "Where does Jiang Sangu know what words, when embroidering shoes, she will embroider the word 'Fushou', and I also recognize the word Fushou. ”

The four hip-hop women teased the big-faced mother-in-law, and the matchmakers went to the east house to enter the west house, and knew everything about the girls of the right age to be married in Sixiang and Bawu, saying that Jiang Sangu's words were basically true, and the big-faced basin mother-in-law was invincible to four mouths, and she couldn't refute it, and said angrily: "Okay, then you say, you say, I want to hear how you talk nonsense." ”

The other four mothers-in-law winked at each other and said in unison: "It's almost dark, we'll come back tomorrow." Then he asked Zeng Yu: "Zeng Xianggong, you won't go out tomorrow, right?" ”

Zeng Yu said: "It's hard to say, I'm very busy." ”

The mother-in-law said: "It doesn't matter, we are idle anyway, we go to your house every day, drink a cup of tea, and don't spend anything on the princess." ”

The four mothers-in-law also had to go into the inner courtyard to say goodbye to Zeng Yu's mother, and the big-faced mother-in-law also followed, and after a while, they all came out, and went out with a smile.

The cook Yu came over to Zeng Yu at this time and said: "Young master, grandma Fang Cai also said that she wanted to keep these five mothers-in-law for dinner, and I said that I couldn't keep them, not that I was afraid of being tired, but that these mothers-in-law couldn't be provoked, so if they stayed once, then they would have to stay in the future." ”

Zeng Yu nodded and said: "Mother Yu is right, these mothers-in-law are disgusting, and they are used to talking about cheating and abduction, so I will go and tell my mother that these people will not be allowed to enter the door in the future." ”

Zheng Shi said with a smile: "With the talent and reputation of Jiu Li, I am afraid that I will not be able to marry everyone's ladies, why do I need these mothers-in-law to make noise, and I will be stunned when I wait for the next one, and I will hire one indiscriminately, and it will be a lifetime mistake." ”

Zeng Yu is annoyed, every time he goes home, he sees a group of mothers-in-law making noise, and he can't be at peace, and the three aunts and six mothers-in-law often come to the door is a taboo for serious people, these people are used to instigating trouble, and they immediately went into the inner courtyard to see their mother and say this.

Great-mother Zhou is putting away the needlework and velvet at hand, she is embroidering, in Ishida she often embroiders quilts, shoe uppers, pillow bags, you can get some meager money in return, to help line her son in Dongyan Academy's study, and now move to Shangrao, although the family is no longer poor, but still idle, embroidery every day, even the seven-year-old Niuniu began to follow her mother to learn the girl red-

"Mother, it's so cold in Layue, it's dark again, you just stop, what if your eyes are broken, this embroidery is the most eye-consuming."

Zeng Yu complained, dragged a dwarf pestle and sat down in front of his mother, touched his mother's hand, it was really cold, although there was a small brazier at his feet, but he couldn't keep his hands open when embroidering.

Great-mother Zhou smiled: "My mother is not a daughter, she is not so delicate, what is embroidery, how many women are more bitter and tired, but I have seen a lot." ”

Zeng Yu said helplessly: "Mother, there is no way to suffer and suffer for life, but we don't want to suffer from it, my mother loves embroidery to be a female red, and when the light is good during the day, it will be enough to do it for half an hour and an hour, is it possible that my son now has to rely on my mother's ten fingers to eat, my mother is almost fifty years old, and the body is the most important, which is what my son is most concerned about." ”

Seeing her son's solemn tone, Zhou's great-mother hurriedly said: "Okay, okay, my mother knows that my son is a child, and he eats rice and grain from the government, and his mother is happy-Liu Erma's people in the front hall are gone, right?" ”

Zeng Yu said: "It's already gone, these mothers-in-law are too noisy, if you come again tomorrow, don't open the door for them." ”

Niuniu lit the lamp and put it on the small table, and laughed quietly: "Second Mother Liu, they don't care, they will bang on the door." Niuniu is also a little tired of these matchmakers, she comes every day, although she doesn't eat in the house, she almost eats all the dim sum and cakes.

Zeng Yu said: "If I am at home, I will drive them away; Don't open the door when I'm not at home, it's made of a big green bark oak tree, it's very strong, let them shoot it,"

Niu Niu "Gege" laughed.

"How can there be such an unkind." Great-mother Zhou smiled and said: "Mother is not for your marriage, how can I let these mothers-in-law come to the door when I am free." ”

Zeng Yu said: "Mother, don't worry, now that my son is famous, there are many people who want to tell my son about matchmaking, and my son himself is slowly paying attention, my mother doesn't listen to the rhetoric of those matchmakers, and then I will be stunned by my mother-in-law, which is not good." ”

Great-mother Zhou said: "Xiaoyu is afraid that my mother will pick and choose a broken lamp for you." This is a common saying that Ishida people often say, which means picking and picking and picking the worst.

Zeng Yu smiled and said: "Don't be in a hurry, my son is a strange thing." ”

At this time, the cook Yu came in with a food box, and Zeng Yu said: "I'll accompany my mother to eat inside, I've been back for a few days, and I haven't eaten with my mother and Niuniu." ”

Great-mother Zhou smiled: "Your cousin Zheng is still outside, what are you saying about hanging the guests, go out quickly." ”

Cook Yu Shi smiled: "The amount of dishes in it is also small, and it is not enough for Young Master Zeng to eat alone." ”

Zeng Yu touched his stomach and said, "Yes, I'm a big-bellied man-mother, then I'm out of the woods." ”

Great-mother Zhou told him to drink less, Zeng Yu agreed, returned to the hall and drank two glasses with Zheng Shi, went to the study to read a book after dinner, made an eight-share article, and then rested.

The next day, that is, the nineteenth day of the lunar month, Zeng Yu thought that he could be idle, and was ready to go to Guangjiao Temple and Lu Yuquan with Wu Chunze to accompany his cousin Zheng Shi and those Guixi Xiucai to play for half a day, but someone knocked on the door while still having breakfast, and thought it was an enthusiastic matchmaker, Sixi went to open the door but saw that it was Huang Lao, the head of the government office, accompanied by two soap subordinates, and said with a smile that he asked to see Zeng Xianggong, Sixi recognized the two soap subordinates, which were the two bad soap subordinates who falsely accused the young master of blackmailing them in front of the Xia Chaofeng store that day-

Sixi asked if the eldest master of the mansion had summoned his young master to have something, and the yellow head servant said that these two soaps came to apologize to Zeng Xianggong, and Sixi asked the three of them to wait outside the door, closed the door, and asked the young master if he wanted to see these three people?

Zeng Yu didn't want to see the two soaps, but for the sake of the yellow head's face, he said, "Let them in." ”

The yellow head servant led the two soap subordinates in, Zeng Yu said hello, "Huang Bantou is early", but he ignored the two soap subordinates, and the yellow head servant smiled and said: "The villain didn't dare to disturb Zeng Xianggong, but Xiao Fan and Hu Yao begged me to bring the two of them to apologize to Zeng Xianggong, and they didn't dare to come." ”

Zeng Yu said: "What is there to make amends, it will be very admitted, don't accuse me of blackmail next time." ”

The two soaps knelt down and said: "Zeng Xianggong has a large number of people, spare the villain this time, the villain has eyes and no beads, and the crime deserves death." While saying that, he slapped himself, yesterday when the Xia and Zhao families tried the adultery case, the two of them saw Zeng Yu sitting behind Fu Zun, and the case was turned over in the court Xia Guiyu was acquitted, isn't this Zeng Yu plotted from it, Fu Zun would listen to the words of a Xiucai, which made the two of them shocked and afraid, if Zeng Yu wanted to deal with the two of them, he just had to say a word to Fu Zun, and the two of them did not say that their jobs were not guaranteed, and it was difficult to say that they were beaten and punished, so they hurriedly begged Huang Bantou to take the two of them to the door to make amends, and slapped himself to express remorse.

Zeng Yu can't see this kind of cheapness, this kind of person can be cheap himself, so once he gains power, he will be even more ruthless to others, and he said: "Huang Bantou, hurry up and take these two people out, I can't hear the sound of the palm, and this is not the lobby of the torture hall." ”

Huang Bantou is an old oilman of the Yamen, and some people don't eat this set, and said with a smile: "Zeng Xianggong, Zeng Xianggong, the two of them know that they are wrong, and I hope that Zeng Xianggong will spare them this time, and the two of them also pooled a few money to invite Zeng Xianggong to drink wine to dissipate their anger." So saying, he took a mina of silver from the bottom of his sleeve, ten taels and one ingots.

Zeng Yu brushed his sleeves and said: "Huang Bantou, I let the two of you come in because of your face, but what do you mean by giving me money on their behalf, to humiliate me?" ”

The yellow head soldier hurriedly said: "How dare the villain, how dare the villain." "Huang Tou Gong got the two taels of silver wine money from Soap Li Xiaofan and Hu Yao, so he promised to bring the two to Zeng Yu to make amends, I thought that ten taels of silver would be handed over, Zeng Yu would definitely laugh at it, he has seen a lot of such a talented squire, but he didn't expect Zeng Yu to refuse so violently, is it too little?

But I heard Zeng Yu say again: "I will never accept this kind of silver, and I am not a person who will repay me, you go back to the yamen on an errand, I still have something to do." ”

Seeing Zeng Yu's resolute words, the yellow head servant understood that Zeng Yu would not accept the money, so he scolded the two soap subordinates and hurried away, and said: "What kind of person is Zeng Xianggong, how can he deal with you like an ant-like person." ”

Zeng Yu smiled and said in his heart: "This kind of ant is poisonous, maybe it will bite you one day." ”

Zheng Shi saw that the three messengers were leaving, and said: "Jiu Li, why don't you preach to them too, such as don't do those things that hurt heaven and reason in the future, and be good at practicing in the public door." ”

Zeng Yu said with a smile: "Is it useful to preach like this, I once heard an old servant say, the heart is soft-hearted, and the soap should first eat a heart-washing soup, wash away the conscience, and then burn a piece of paper to tell the heavens, and resign the heavens, this is the soap li, I can make them change their hearts and minds to become public Bodhisattvas, isn't it a joke." ”

Zheng Shi sighed: "If you say this, there is no place for the yamen to be reasonable!" ”

Zeng Yu said: "Of course, there is a place to reason, the plaintiff and the defendant have no money, so reason; If one party has money and the other has no money, then talk about money; Both sides have money, so it is up to who has the most money and who is willing to make the money. ”

After saying these words, Zeng Yu's heart suddenly sank, and he thought: "This is very Yan Shifan's taste, am I influenced by Yan Shifan?" After thinking about it, he was relieved: "Yan Shifan is unscrupulous after seeing through, but I am not, I still have a pure heart." ”

Someone knocked on the door again, and Zheng Shi smiled: "This time it's the matchmaker who is here." ”

Zeng Yu said: "Listening to this knock on the door, it shouldn't be those mothers-in-law." He got up and said, "It must be the father and son of the Xia family." ”

Zheng Shi followed Zeng Yu out of the hall, and sure enough, he saw that Sixi opened the door and invited in Xia Qipi, Xia Guiyu and his son, Xia Guiyu was also held by a servant, Xia Qipi waved to Zeng Yu and Zheng Shi, and said: "I just met Huang Bantou and those two soap subordinates by the city gate, and said a lot of good things to my father and son. ”

Zeng Yu said with a smile: "Those two soaps sent me silver to make amends, Xia Chaofeng said that I can accept that kind of person's silver?" ”

Xia Rongpi said: "The silver money of Soap Li is dirty, how can Zeng Gongzi want that kind of money, but these thin gifts of my Xia Rongpi Zeng Gongzi must be accepted, they are all our Yongfeng native products, Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu, let them pick them in." ”

In the sound of "baba", "quack" and "blea", the guy Xiao Wu came in with a sharp-horned goat, followed by a porter, carrying a basket, in front of a basket are two big male geese, stretching their long necks and "baba", another basket has two white ducks, and there are two yellow-eared geldings tied to the rope in the hoop, the porter takes out the goose and duck and puts it on the edge of the patio, and the trick is generally to take out a basket of eggs, a can of rice wine and two large grass carp at the bottom of the basket -

The guy Xiao Wu was still carrying a package on his shoulder, Xia Rongpi took the package, and said to Zeng Yu: "Zeng Xianggong, this is a few knives of leather paper, it is the best paper in our store, these chickens, ducks, geese, sheep, fish and eggs are all local products of Yongfeng Dongyan Farm, and rice wine is home-brewed, this point Zeng Xianggong must accept it." ”

Zeng Yu said: "Okay, thank you very much, Xia Chaofeng, Xia Gongzi, sit in the hall - four joys, tea." ”

Sitting and talking for a while, Zeng Yu asked the Zhao family how the case ended in the end, Xia Yupi said: "Zhao Yuwu and those neighbors each received ten rods, and the case was closed in this way, the Zhao family's daughter-in-law He died resentfully, but this kind of thing in the boudoir, and the person is dead, the government can't pursue it anymore, only the blame rat kills people." "Xia Rongpi is a kind person, those neighbors all say that Zhao Yuwu picks up ashes, but Xia Rongpi does not guess the ugly things of the Zhao family.

Zeng Yu said: "Those neighbors really should be beaten, if they hadn't fanned the flames and instigated Zhao Yuwu to complain, where would there be such a thing." ”

Xia Rongpi said: "Although the dog has suffered some hardships, he has also learned a lesson, ill-gotten gains, things of unknown origin must not be wanted, and they cannot be chosen. ”

Xia Guiyu was still resentful, and said: "Dad, this kind of lesson is also miserable, if it weren't for Zeng Xianggong to find his son's innocence, his son might have to serve in the army and serve hard labor, and it is difficult to say whether he can come back to honor his father." ”

Xia Yangpi said: "This matter has passed, there is nothing to say, just remember this lesson." Xiang Zeng Yu arched his hand and said: "Zeng Gongzi, the father and son are here to thank Zeng Gongzi today, and they will take a boat back to Dongyan next. ”

Xia Guiyu said: "Zeng Gongzi, I want to kowtow to Aunt Zeng, I don't know if it's okay?" ”

Zeng Yu nodded and said: "My mother is also worried about your case, and told me to help, Xia Gongzi sat and didn't move, I went to ask my mother to come out." ”

Great-mother Zhou and Niuniu went out to the front hall, Xia's father and son knelt down together to thank them, and great-mother Zhou hurriedly said: "Fish, fish, help up, help up." ”

Zeng Yu picked up Xia Rongpi, Xia Guiyu let him kowtow a few times, and then sat and talked, Zeng's mother Zhou was grateful for the boat ride that day, Xia Rongpi was ashamed, saying that Zeng Gongzi was benevolent and righteous, and the grace of dripping water was reciprocated.

After talking for a while, Zeng's mother Zhou led Niuniu in, Xia's father and son got up to say goodbye, Zeng Yutuo Xia Pi brought a box of lake pens to Mr. Liangfeng of Dongyan College, which was given to him by Yan Shaoqing.

Zeng Yu was about to send Xia's father and son out, and someone knocked on the door again, this time it was really those matchmakers, as soon as they entered the door, they were happy, saying that Zeng Gongzi didn't go out, and it was very good, only the big-faced mother-in-law had a straight face, she said that the matchmaker's Jiang Sangu was stirred up by other mothers-in-law yesterday, and today she is here to take revenge on other matchmakers.

Zeng Yu quietly told Sixi a few words, and then said to the mother-in-law: "Mother-in-law, sit first, and I will send this Xia Dynasty to send the father and son out." ”

A mother-in-law asked, "When will Zeng Xianggong come back?" ”

Zeng Yu said: "Maybe this is going to come back in the evening." After that, he went out with the Xia father and son and Zheng Shi and hung the group of matchmakers there.

Xia's father and son want to go back to the store to clean up and go back to their hometown, Zeng Yu and Zheng Shi first went to make an appointment with Wu Chunze, and then went into the city to find those Guixi Xiucai, together with the Guangjiao Temple to rejoice, and then to the Great Compassion Hall to find Lu Yuquan, talking and laughing, the monk led a person to hurry over, but this person is Xu Wei, Xu Wei smiled and said to Zeng Yu: "Brother let me find it easy, follow me, more than 100 hostages rescued from the bandits last time sent them back to the mouth of the lead mountain with an official boat today, these hostages said that they would kowtow to their benefactor Zeng Xiucai before leaving, Come with me, there are horses waiting in front of the temple gate. ”

Zeng Yu smiled: "It's ridiculous to go and kowtow on purpose, my brother will resign for me." ”

Xu Wei dragged Zeng Yu away, and said to Zheng Shi and the others: "Friends, just feel free, Brother Zeng, I robbed him, haluha." ”

Zeng Yu had no choice but to say, "Everyone, I'm sorry, I'm sorry—"

Zheng Shi said with a smile: "Jiu Carp is not idle, and there is still a group of matchmakers waiting for him in the house." ”

The talents laughed.

Zeng Yu followed Xu Wei out of the mountain gate of Guangjiao Temple, a sergeant led the horse and waited, the two got on the horse and galloped towards the Sanjiangkou wharf, on the way Xu Wei asked Zeng Yu what property he lost when he was intercepted by the bandits?

Zeng Yu said: "I didn't lose any property, I was bluffed by one of my 'thousand-character essays' - oh, I lost ten taels of silver, because I was afraid that the thieves would search for it, so I hurriedly stepped into the snow on the side of the road, and I was thinking about getting out and looking for it, but now I'm afraid I won't be able to find it." ”

Xu Wei said: "You just say that you lost five hundred taels." ”

Zeng Yu was shocked and asked, "Why is this?" ”

Xu Wei lifted his lips and smiled: "You said that you lost five hundred taels, General Qi will compensate you for five hundred taels, this time to chase down the bandit Wu Ping, and a lot of money and goods were seized." ”

Zeng Yu frowned and said: "Those money and goods were all robbed by thieves from various counties, and the hundreds of hostages kidnapped at the mouth of the river alone got more than 20,000 taels of ransom silver, and these silver should be returned to those hostages." ”

Xu Wei sneered: "How can the money and goods seized by the officers and soldiers from the bandits be returned to the people, and there is no evidence, it is impossible for General Qi to send people to the prefectures and counties that the bandits have looted to find the sufferers one by one to return the money and goods; If the seized property is left to the local government yamen to slowly visit the bitter master, with the current rule of officials, I dare to say that less than one of the money and goods that are really returned to the bitter lord is not one, and it has been embezzled and exploited by the rats, so it is better to use it as military funds and reward officers and soldiers. ”

Xu Wei has been in the curtain for many years, and he knows a lot about the darkness of officialdom, Zeng Yu also knows that Xu Wei is telling the truth, and sighed and said: "Then as a reward for the officers and soldiers, I can't falsely report the loss of five hundred taels of silver, Brother Xu is deliberately tricking me." ”

Xu Wei said with a smile: "Forgive my brother for ill-gotten gains, and I won't ask for it." ”

Talking to the Sanjiang wharf, several passenger boats moored on the riverside, this is the government hired to prepare to send those hostages back to the estuary of the boat, more than 100 hostages high and low standing on the bank of the river, most of them know Zeng Yu, earlier they also hated Zeng Yu, thinking that Xiucai also surrendered to the thief, and raised the ransom silver so high, and later learned that Zeng Yu saved them, the bandit leader Wu Ping was originally going to kill all these hostages who did not pay the ransom silver at the foot of Hengfeng Zheting Mountain, it was Zeng Yu who persuaded Wu Ping to let these hostages act as porters, so that these hostages were finally rescued, So at this time, when they saw Zeng Yu coming, they knelt down together to thank Zeng Yu for saving his life-

So many people knelt down, which made Zeng Yu at a loss, and he also knelt down and returned the salute, and then comforted the hostages a few words, sent them on the boat, and watched the passenger ship sail away before he and Xu Wei got on the horse and walked slowly to the city.

Xu Wei said: "Brother Zeng, I will return to Zhejiang with the army tomorrow, there is something I want to tell you——"

Zeng Yu saw that Xu Wei's tone was rarely solemn, so he said, "Brother, please speak, brother, listen." ”

Xu Wei said: "Hu Butang already knows the reputation and deeds of the elder brother of Lu Dao, yesterday he sent a message to the military camp and asked me to invite you into his shogunate, what does the elder brother think?" ”

Zeng Yu didn't look flattered, but what he thought in his heart: "Why are some big people who are in the waning mountains value me and drag me into the water." said: "Brother, you also know that I haven't quit the companion of the Yan family, so how can I be hired by Hu Butang." ”

Xu Wei smiled and said: "I don't expect Hu Butang to know that you are the west seat of Yan Mansion, otherwise you will not compete with Yan Mansion for talents, and you will go to the township next year to take the test, of course you will not be hired by Hu Butang, okay, I will reply to Hu Butang like this." He also said: "I haven't read my brother's eight-strand text, it must be excellent, but the field is often not a paper, if the old brother fails to pass the township test next year, then you can consider entering the Hubutang shogunate, while making a living, while studying for the exam in three years." ”

Zeng Yu nodded and said, "What the elder brother said is very true, and the younger brother has been taught." ”

Xu Wei was in high spirits and said with a smile: "The beautiful scenery of Hangzhou is the best in the world, if the elder brother comes to Hangzhou, the foolish brother will drink with you on the boat on the West Lake and talk about calligraphy and painting, which is a happy thing in life." ”

Zeng Yu also smiled: "As the proverb goes, 'Heaven in the sky, Suzhou and Hangzhou in the underground', I will come to Hangzhou, and my brother will wait for the couch." ”

Xu Wei smiled: "Of course, as long as Hu Butang is still in Hangzhou, there will be a place for the elder brother in the scene." ”

Zeng Yu smiled, didn't say anything, the two said goodbye by the moat, Xu Wei still has some official business, he can't drink with Zeng Yu today, he will leave for Zhejiang tomorrow, and meet in Hangzhou on another day. I'm going to ask my mother to come out. ”

Great-mother Zhou and Niuniu went out to the front hall, Xia's father and son knelt down together to thank them, and great-mother Zhou hurriedly said: "Fish, fish, help up, help up." ”

Zeng Yu picked up Xia Rongpi, Xia Guiyu let him kowtow a few times, and then sat and talked, Zeng's mother Zhou was grateful for the boat ride that day, Xia Rongpi was ashamed, saying that Zeng Gongzi was benevolent and righteous, and the grace of dripping water was reciprocated.

After talking for a while, Zeng's mother Zhou led Niuniu in, Xia's father and son got up to say goodbye, Zeng Yutuo Xia Pi brought a box of lake pens to Mr. Liangfeng of Dongyan College, which was given to him by Yan Shaoqing.

Zeng Yu was about to send Xia's father and son out, and someone knocked on the door again, this time it was really those matchmakers, as soon as they entered the door, they were happy, saying that Zeng Gongzi didn't go out, and it was very good, only the big-faced mother-in-law had a straight face, she said that the matchmaker's Jiang Sangu was stirred up by other mothers-in-law yesterday, and today she is here to take revenge on other matchmakers.

Zeng Yu quietly told Sixi a few words, and then said to the mother-in-law: "Mother-in-law, sit first, and I will send this Xia Dynasty to send the father and son out." ”

A mother-in-law asked, "When will Zeng Xianggong come back?" ”

Zeng Yu said: "Maybe this is going to come back in the evening." After that, he went out with the Xia father and son and Zheng Shi and hung the group of matchmakers there.

Xia's father and son want to go back to the store to clean up and go back to their hometown, Zeng Yu and Zheng Shi first went to make an appointment with Wu Chunze, and then went into the city to find those Guixi Xiucai, together with the Guangjiao Temple to rejoice, and then to the Great Compassion Hall to find Lu Yuquan, talking and laughing, the monk led a person to hurry over, but this person is Xu Wei, Xu Wei smiled and said to Zeng Yu: "Brother let me find it easy, follow me, more than 100 hostages rescued from the bandits last time sent them back to the mouth of the lead mountain with an official boat today, these hostages said that they would kowtow to their benefactor Zeng Xiucai before leaving, Come with me, there are horses waiting in front of the temple gate. ”

Zeng Yu smiled: "It's ridiculous to go and kowtow on purpose, my brother will resign for me." ”

Xu Wei dragged Zeng Yu away, and said to Zheng Shi and the others: "Friends, just feel free, Brother Zeng, I robbed him, haluha." ”

Zeng Yu had no choice but to say, "Everyone, I'm sorry, I'm sorry—"

Zheng Shi said with a smile: "Jiu Carp is not idle, and there is still a group of matchmakers waiting for him in the house." ”

The talents laughed.

Zeng Yu followed Xu Wei out of the mountain gate of Guangjiao Temple, a sergeant led the horse and waited, the two got on the horse and galloped towards the Sanjiangkou wharf, on the way Xu Wei asked Zeng Yu what property he lost when he was intercepted by the bandits?

Zeng Yu said: "I didn't lose any property, I was bluffed by one of my 'thousand-character essays' - oh, I lost ten taels of silver, because I was afraid that the thieves would search for it, so I hurriedly stepped into the snow on the side of the road, and I was thinking about getting out and looking for it, but now I'm afraid I won't be able to find it." ”

Xu Wei said: "You just say that you lost five hundred taels." ”

Zeng Yu was shocked and asked, "Why is this?" ”

Xu Wei lifted his lips and smiled: "You said that you lost five hundred taels, General Qi will compensate you for five hundred taels, this time to chase down the bandit Wu Ping, and a lot of money and goods were seized." ”

Zeng Yu frowned and said: "Those money and goods were all robbed by thieves from various counties, and the hundreds of hostages kidnapped at the mouth of the river alone got more than 20,000 taels of ransom silver, and these silver should be returned to those hostages." ”

Xu Wei sneered: "How can the money and goods seized by the officers and soldiers from the bandits be returned to the people, and there is no evidence, it is impossible for General Qi to send people to the prefectures and counties that the bandits have looted to find the sufferers one by one to return the money and goods; If the seized property is left to the local government yamen to slowly visit the bitter master, with the current rule of officials, I dare to say that less than one of the money and goods that are really returned to the bitter lord is not one, and it has been embezzled and exploited by the rats, so it is better to use it as military funds and reward officers and soldiers. ”

Xu Wei has been in the curtain for many years, and he knows a lot about the darkness of officialdom, Zeng Yu also knows that Xu Wei is telling the truth, and sighed and said: "Then as a reward for the officers and soldiers, I can't falsely report the loss of five hundred taels of silver, Brother Xu is deliberately tricking me." ”

Xu Wei said with a smile: "Forgive my brother for ill-gotten gains, and I won't ask for it." ”

Talking to the Sanjiang wharf, several passenger boats moored on the riverside, this is the government hired to prepare to send those hostages back to the estuary of the boat, more than 100 hostages high and low standing on the bank of the river, most of them know Zeng Yu, earlier they also hated Zeng Yu, thinking that Xiucai also surrendered to the thief, and raised the ransom silver so high, and later learned that Zeng Yu saved them, the bandit leader Wu Ping was originally going to kill all these hostages who did not pay the ransom silver at the foot of Hengfeng Zheting Mountain, it was Zeng Yu who persuaded Wu Ping to let these hostages act as porters, so that these hostages were finally rescued, So at this time, when they saw Zeng Yu coming, they knelt down together to thank Zeng Yu for saving his life-

So many people knelt down, which made Zeng Yu at a loss, and he also knelt down and returned the salute, and then comforted the hostages a few words, sent them on the boat, and watched the passenger ship sail away before he and Xu Wei got on the horse and walked slowly to the city.

Xu Wei said: "Brother Zeng, I will return to Zhejiang with the army tomorrow, there is something I want to tell you——"

Zeng Yu saw that Xu Wei's tone was rarely solemn, so he said, "Brother, please speak, brother, listen." ”

Xu Wei said: "Hu Butang already knows the reputation and deeds of the elder brother of Lu Dao, yesterday he sent a message to the military camp and asked me to invite you into his shogunate, what does the elder brother think?" ”

Zeng Yu didn't look flattered, but what he thought in his heart: "Why are some big people who are in the waning mountains value me and drag me into the water." said: "Brother, you also know that I haven't quit the companion of the Yan family, so how can I be hired by Hu Butang." ”

Xu Wei smiled and said: "I don't expect Hu Butang to know that you are the west seat of Yan Mansion, otherwise you will not compete with Yan Mansion for talents, and you will go to the township next year to take the test, of course you will not be hired by Hu Butang, okay, I will reply to Hu Butang like this." He also said: "I haven't read my brother's eight-strand text, it must be excellent, but the field is often not a paper, if the old brother fails to pass the township test next year, then you can consider entering the Hubutang shogunate, while making a living, while studying for the exam in three years." ”

Zeng Yu nodded and said, "What the elder brother said is very true, and the younger brother has been taught." ”

Xu Wei was in high spirits and said with a smile: "The beautiful scenery of Hangzhou is the best in the world, if the elder brother comes to Hangzhou, the foolish brother will drink with you on the boat on the West Lake and talk about calligraphy and painting, which is a happy thing in life." ”

Zeng Yu also smiled: "As the proverb goes, 'Heaven in the sky, Suzhou and Hangzhou in the underground', I will come to Hangzhou, and my brother will wait for the couch." ”

Xu Wei smiled: "Of course, as long as Hu Butang is still in Hangzhou, there will be a place for the elder brother in the scene." ”

Zeng Yu smiled, didn't say anything, the two said goodbye by the moat, Xu Wei still has some official business, he can't drink with Zeng Yu today, he will leave for Zhejiang tomorrow, and meet in Hangzhou on another day.