Zhang Muke was worried about Xu Wei's loss of the draft letter, and when Governor Lin was talking to Zeng Yu, he went to the guest room of the house to inquire, Xu Wei and the two sergeants had searched the room, and the books and papers on the desk had been cleaned, but the scratch paper just couldn't be found, and it was gone-

If the draft of an ordinary letter is lost, it will be lost, it doesn't matter, but this is a letter to Hu Zongxian, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, if any secrets are leaked, who can afford this responsibility!

So Zhang Muke hurried to report to Governor Lin, and Governor Lin hurriedly asked Zhang Muke: "What did Mr. Xu say?" ”

Zhang Muke said: "Mr. Xu didn't say anything, but looking at his anxious appearance, he must have to find that draft." ”

Governor Lin frowned and said, "Go and see." After leaving the back hall of the South Ya, he commanded: "Gather all the officials and servants who were on duty in the house last night, and not one of them shall be missed, and if there is any summons that cannot be summoned, they will be arrested immediately." ”

Zeng Yu quietly followed Governor Lin to the guest room of the house, and saw Xu Wei dusting off the robe on the eaves corridor, and raised his eyes to see Governor Lin coming over, so he stepped forward and said: "Some little things have alarmed the Governor's Mansion, sins and crimes, a letter draft, if you lose it, you will lose it, as long as it doesn't spread, it doesn't matter." ”

When Governor Lin heard Xu Wei say this, his heart tightened even more, and said, "Mr. Xu, don't worry, there are such people who come and go in this house, and that letter manuscript will definitely be found." ”

Xu Wei said: "If you can find the best, it doesn't matter if you can't find it, don't make people panic." ”

The five chief servants of the government all arrived, first verified the servants and servants on duty last night, and gathered all these people for questioning, the prefect of Lin looked fierce, the five chief servants were in danger, and the servants below all had a look of horror on their faces-

Zeng Yu and Xu Wei stood on the corridor with their hands in their hands and watched, Zeng Yu said in a low voice: "This matter is a bit big." ”

Xu Wei said with a smile: "It's okay, the government has been peaceful for a long time, and it is inevitable that some people will be lazy and slack, which can be regarded as an early warning exercise for finding loopholes." ”

After a long time of questioning, there was still no news on the missing manuscript paper, and the prefect Lin was impatient, so he ordered to put all the twelve servants and sixteen servants who were on duty and waiting in the house last night into prison, and even used sticks for several of the servants who were waiting in the guest rooms of the house.

Zeng Yu sighed lightly: "Can this stick be used casually, these two ruthless trees in ancient times don't know how many good people have died, Xia Chaofeng's son's calf bones have been flattened by the stick, and he is not a fierce and stoic Jiangyang thief, who can withstand this kind of torture, even a bear will be beaten to the point that he thinks he is a rabbit, I dare to say that these servants and servants will admit that they stole the scratch paper as soon as they use the stick, as for what they stole it, there are many reasons, but to find that scratch paper, hey, how is it possible!" ”

Xu Wei shook his head and smiled, and said: "The bear will think that he is a rabbit, this is a good fight, and now this play is almost done, and the innocent can't be punished, my old Xu is going to appear on the stage, brother, do you continue to watch the play?" ”

Zeng Yu smiled: "Look at Brother Xu's acting skills." ”

Xu Wei coughed, walked over to Lin Zhifu and said: "Fuzun, don't torture these people, after all, it's just a piece of draft paper, I only remembered it below, after finishing the draft last night, I was afraid that the paper would be blown away, so I put a piece of onion candy and pressed it on it, and when I got up in the morning, I found that the first manuscript paper and onion candy were gone, could it be that the hungry rats stole the candy to eat, and dragged the draft away by the way?" ”

Zhang Muke's eyes lit up on the side, and he hurriedly said: "Mr. Xu is right, there are a lot of rats in this house, and when the rats stole the candy, because the sugar stuck to the paper, they dragged it away, as long as they searched the rat hole, they would definitely be able to find Mr. Xu's scratch paper." ”

Governor Lin ordered these servants to search for rat dens in this row of guest rooms, and dig three feet into the ground to find Mr. Xu's scratch paper.

When those servants heard that they were going to be imprisoned and punished, they were so frightened that their souls were not possessed, and at this time, how could anyone not work hard, and one by one they searched carefully in the corners of the walls, and did not have time to find hooks and other tools, so they directly took them out with their hands—

Here, Governor Lin and Xu Wei hadn't spoken a few words, when they heard a servant shouting: "Master, master, I found it, I found it." Immediately, a soap-clothed official flew over, with one leg down, holding a paper ball in both hands and presenting it, as if he was jubilantly offering treasures.

Zhang Muke took the paper ball, unfolded it slightly, brushed the crumbs on it, and then handed it to Xu Weidao: "Mr. Xu, see if it's this paper?" "Zhang Mu has been traveling for many years, and he is very cautious, Xu Wei attaches so much importance to this draft paper, of course it is inconvenient for him to look at it.

Xu Wei glanced at it, recited a few words aloud, and said with a smile: "It's this one, it was really dragged away by the mouse, this mouse should be on the stick, Ha Luha." ”

The tense atmosphere in the house suddenly relaxed, Lin Governor's Mansion, Zhang Muke and others were all smiling, Xu Wei said: "This is to blame for my own carelessness, not only disturbed the mansion, but also almost let the innocent be punished, guilty of sin." ”

Zhang Muke played a round and said: "It's good to find it, everyone is happy." ”

Zeng Yu said goodbye to Governor Lin, who was in a good mood and said, "Let's have two drinks with Mr. Xu in the house." ”

Zeng Yu said: "The student has asked Mr. Xu to drink at night, and at noon he will talk to the two family members of the Yan Mansion. ”

Lin Zhifu said: "That's okay, the Yan family has worked hard from afar, and they want to be entertained, which is the expenses of the government - Huang Lao, lead Zeng Xiucai to the household room to withdraw five taels of silver." ”

Huang Lao is the yellow head soldier, the yellow head soldier stepped forward in response, nodded and said: "Zeng Xianggong, the little one took Zeng Xianggong to the household room." ”

Xu Wei took a few steps and said in a low voice: "Great, eat and drink at official expense." Ha Lu Ha Da Lu smiled, turned around and went back to the guest room.

Huang Toufu followed Zeng Yu's side, and said with a flattering face: "Fan Mazi and the two offended Zeng Xianggong, and the villain has not had time to report to the lord of the mansion, Zeng Xianggong said how to punish the two of them?" ”

Zeng Yu said: "No need, tell the two of them to be more restrained, and don't do these things to blackmail good people." ”

"Yes, yes, yes." Huang Touzhi nodded like a chicken pecking rice: "But this time I still want to let them learn a lesson, and if they dare to lie to Zeng Xianggong's head, wouldn't it be death." He also said: "Xia Guiyu, the son of Zeng Xianggong's fellow villager, the villain has instructed the officials of the torture hall to take care of it, and he will never be guilty." ”

Zeng Yu said: "Thank you Huang Bantou, just act according to the law, neither follow selfishness, nor bend the law." ”

Huang Tou was a "yes yes yes" again, led Zeng Yu to the household room to withdraw five taels of silver, respectfully sent Zeng Yu out, Sixi and the two Yan family members waited by the Yimen, and returned to the house outside the north gate together, Yan Jian actually brought a gift to Zeng Yu's mother, a mink fur jacket, a pair of silver and gold inlaid jewelry, and a number of miscellaneous gifts, all of which are convenient to carry over long distances and are not easy to break-

Yan Jian said: "The eldest young master and Grandma Cao instructed the younger one to see that Mr. Zeng was safe and sound in Shangrao, and they should also go to the house to kowtow to Grandma Zeng and then go back." ”

Fan Huyuan said: "The two of us will leave for Fenyi in the afternoon, and the eldest young master has been waiting for news from the two of us." ”

Zeng Yu said: "The two of you have traveled a long distance and worked hard, why do you have to rest overnight and then leave, so I live in the cold house, and after I go back, I said to Shaoqing Gongzi that I insisted on keeping you two, Shaoqing Gongzi will not complain about you, and I will write a long letter to Mr. Yan Er and Shaoqing Gongzi respectively, where can I leave in the afternoon." ”

Yan Jian and Fan Huyuan were very happy, they also wanted to rest overnight and then go on the road, but Young Master Shaoqing instructed them to return as soon as there was news of Mr. Zeng's safety, and they didn't dare to delay, but now it's okay, with Mr. Zeng's words, Young Master Shaoqing will definitely not blame the two of them, so he happily came to Zeng's house outside the north gate to kowtow to Zeng Yu's mother.

In the hall, Wu Chunze and Zheng Shi were talking about tea on the fire, and when they saw Zeng Yu, Wu Chunze said loudly: "Brother Jiu Carp asked me to find it easy, I came to you two to drink after the exam yesterday, and the shadow was gone, I came here this morning, and I waited for a long time." ”

Zeng Yu smiled: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, you poured me three cups at noon." ”

Zheng Shi said: "Brother Wu, you and I can't compare the amount of wine in Jiuli, at noon, the two of us will drink one glass, and he will have three cups, so that we can fight." ”

Zeng Yu instructed Sixi and Laifu to buy a jar of good wine, Shangrao's special dishes balsamic vinegar chicken and sauce fragrant goose are good, buy one each, and buy the rest of the mutton and live fish for Chef Yu to cook.

After the order, he was about to lead Yan Jian and the others into the inner courtyard, but Sixi said: "Young master, yesterday Yuan Laoke sent a basket of fish, two big white geese, a goat, and two boxes, I don't know what kind of gift Lu Dao is." ”

Zeng Yu was surprised: "Sent yesterday? How do I not know the way? ”

Sixi said: "Sent in the morning, wasn't the young master taking the exam at that time, the young master came back late from the banquet in the mansion last night, and went to Xia Chaofeng early this morning, and never told the young master." ”

Zeng Yu shook his head, the passenger ship of Yuan Zhong and his son had already gone far away, these gifts were not returned, fresh fish, live sheep, and big white goose were just that, those two boxes did not know what to do, it was not good if they were too valuable, and said: "Then buy a jar of good wine, and it is better to eat fresh goose and fresh fish." ”

Yan Jian and the two went in with Zeng Yu and kowtowed to his great-mother Zhou, and then withdrew, Zeng Yu asked him about Yan Shaoqing's situation after leaving Fenyi, and he also got some news about Lu Miaoxiang and Ying Zi, Yan Shaofang wanted to enter the family tree into the family tree, but Lu Miaoxiang objected, saying that it was not too late to wait for the family matter to be decided and then go to the family tree, Yan Shaofang had to let her.

The cook Yu Shi was quite quick to do things, and after a while, she had already killed a goose and asked Sixi to help pluck the feathers, but Sixi supported Laifu to pluck the goose feathers, saying that he was going to buy wine.

In the past, the kitchen was busy, and the great-mother Zhou would come to help, but today because there were foreign guests, it was not good to show up, as soon as Zeng Yu came back, there were many guests, and he felt that there were not enough people in the house, which was not commensurate with the decent people with meritorious reputation.

Laifu loyalty, was made by the kitchen lady Yu's branch to turn around, serving dishes and delivering dishes, like a restaurant guy, at the beginning of noon, some appetizers were served first, divided into two tables, Zeng Yu, Zheng Shi and Wu Chunze a table, Laifu, Sixi, Yan Jian, Fan Huyuan and a servant of Wu Chunze's table, great-mother Zhou's and Niuniu's meals were brought into the inner courtyard by the chef Yu to eat together, great-mother Zhou's ate relatively light, pork and mutton basically did not eat, only ate some fish balls and small meat-

Zeng Yu and Zheng Shi and Wu Chunze fought for wine, with one enemy and two, after three rounds of drinking, Zheng Shi and Wu Chunze were half drunk, Zeng Yu was not drunk except for blushing, at this time he heard someone knocking on the door, Zeng Yu said: "Isn't it Mr. Xu Wei Xu who smelled the wine and came to the door?" I went to open the door, but I saw that it was a mother-in-law in her fifties, and when she looked at her face, she asked: "Who is my mother-in-law looking for, this is Zeng's house." ”

The mother-in-law smiled, looked Zeng Yu up and down, and asked without answering: "You are Grandma Zeng's talented son?" ”

Sixi ran over, Sixi also drank two cups, his face was full of red light, and his mouth was full of oil when he ate the fat goose, and said: "Young master, this is Liu Erma, who often comes to the house to walk around, saying that she wants to be a matchmaker for the young master." ”

Mother-in-law Liu Erma smiled: "The old body is still a little eye-catching, when I saw the young master of the Zeng family, I knew that it was extraordinary at first sight, the young master Zeng was full of heaven, the earth pavilion was round, the eyebrows were colorful, the eyes were delicate, he was eight buckets high, and he was rich in five cars——"

"Okay, okay." Zeng Yu hurriedly interrupted the mother-in-law's words: "Second Mother Liu, please come in, my mother is in the inner courtyard, you talk, I have to accompany a few friends." "Arch your hand, and go back.

Zheng Shi asked, "Isn't it Mr. Xu?" ”

Zeng Yu looked at Mrs. Liu from the corridor into the inner courtyard, and said with a smile: "It's a matchmaker, and when you meet, you will come to the heavens to be full, learn to be rich and have five cars or something, and laugh to death." ”

Wu Chunze had six or seven points of alcohol, and said with a smile: "It's that Second Mother Liu, the No. 1 matchmaker in the North Gate area, and one mouth can turn beauty and ugliness upside down." ”

Zheng Shi said with a smile: "I don't know whose lady is who loves our Jiu Lixian brother, we must inquire clearly first, don't marry Dong Shi back." ”

Zeng Yu said: "Don't talk about that, let's drink, Brother Wu, you still owe a glass of wine, drink." ”

After drinking for a while, Zheng Shi and Wu Chunze were drunk and lay down, Zheng Shi helped him to sleep in the wing room, Wu Chunze's servant went to the city gate to hire a rope to take Wu Chunze back to Wu Village, Zeng Yu did it himself, made a pot of tea, and drank it slowly, at this time Niuniu came out, opened her eyes and said: "Brother, are your friends gone, my mother asked you to go in and talk." ”

Zeng Yu brushed Niuniu's forehead and asked, "Did Second Aunt Liu come to tell me about the matchmaker?" ”

Niuniu nodded and smiled: "Yes, I've been here more than a dozen times, as if I want my mother to agree to come down immediately." ”

Zeng Yu said: "Whose daughter, let my Niuniu go to see it first, Niuniu guards the first pass, Niuniu doesn't see it, resolutely don't - so many matchmakers come to say kiss, we have to be selective, right?" ”

Niuniu "Gege" smiled, her little head kept nodding, and she suddenly said softly: "Brother, Niuniu actually likes the little fairy girl who came to our house the day before yesterday——"

Zeng Yu burped and said, "Little fairy girl, my brother can't marry." ”

Niuniu blinked and asked, "What are you for?" ”

Zeng Yu said: "Because, because the little fairy aunt will not marry, she wants to cultivate into a real immortal." ”

Niuniu said "oh", looking very sorry, and said after a while: "Brother go in, my mother and Chen's second mother are waiting." ”

Zeng Yu picked up the teacup and drank it all, and was about to follow Niuniu into the inner courtyard, and heard someone knocking on the door, Sixi went over to open the door, Zeng Yu walked to the hall and saw that it was a matchmaker, so he said to Niuniu: "I won't go in first, Niuniu took this mother-in-law in to talk to her mother." The heart said: "The matchmaker sees the matchmaker, see who can speak." ”

Zeng Yu sat down and continued to drink tea, gossiping with Yan Jian and Fan Huyuan, but when he heard someone knocking on the door, Zeng Yu shook his head and said, "It won't be the matchmaker again, right?" ”

Yan Jian said with a smile: "A handsome and talented person like Mr. Zeng is still unmarried, it is really rare, and the matchmakers are naturally going to fight for it." ”

Sixi went to open the door, and the one who came in was really a matchmaker, these matchmakers came in the morning, and heard that Zeng Yu would be at home in the afternoon, so he came again, ready to persuade Zeng Yu to marry a certain daughter in person.

Not long after the third matchmaker entered, someone knocked on the door again, and Zeng Yu said helplessly: "Sixi, don't close the door at all, just go in and out." ”

I heard a Shaoxing accent laugh loudly: "Is my brother so hospitable, the house is open to people in and out." ”

Zeng Yu hurriedly got up and walked out of the hall, and saw Xu Wei walking in alone, and said with a smile: "It turned out to be Brother Xu, why did Brother Xu come here alone?" ”

Xu Wei said: "I'm a second look at the thatched house, uh, gaffe, I am a good citizen of the Ming Dynasty, and I will never divide the heart of the world, of course my brother has the talent of a martial artist." As he spoke, he smiled, and he was really crazy.

Sixi was still talking to people in front of the door, but it was the two swordsmen with swords, Xu Wei told the two to go back first, and come back to pick him up tomorrow morning, he wanted to drink with Zeng Xiucai, discuss calligraphy and painting, and fall asleep.

Xu Wei is a master of calligraphy and painting who influenced the later generations for 500 years, Zeng Yu did not let go of this good opportunity to learn, he also has a calligraphy and painting room in the wing room of the front yard, which is to talk about calligraphy and painting when friends visit, after all, it is inconvenient for outsiders to enter the study room of the small building in the inner courtyard.

Zeng Yu asked Sixi to carry dozens of his past drawings to the calligraphy and painting room in the front yard, and asked Xu Wei for guidance one by one, Xu Wei looked at a few ink paintings, and exclaimed: "Brother, you don't want to ask me for advice, you are showing off." ”

Zeng Yu said sincerely: "Brother may have some whimsical ideas, but the heart and hand can't correspond, the painting is often plausible, the brother also saw it, this ink is very immature, please give me advice from the bottom of my heart." ”

Xu Weihu asked: "How can my brother be good at painting?" ”

Zeng Yu said: "The ten talents of Yuezhong, although the younger brother is lonely and unheard, how can he not know the name of the elder brother." ”

Xu Wei was flattered and very happy, but he sighed: "No matter how good the calligraphy and painting are, it is not enough to make a living, since the calligraphy and painting need an official position to help, if I am now a Jinshi, Hanlin, then I must ask for my calligraphy and painting, but I am just a small showman, trapped in the field house for 20 years, a few years ago when I was very depressed, I also sold paintings to make a living, a painting only sells for 100 Wen, my Xu Wei's paintings are worth 100 Wen?" ”

This last rhetorical question shows Xu Wei's loneliness and pride, Xu Wei is a tragic genius like Van Gogh, his talent is rarely appreciated during his lifetime, he is poor, but he has been glorious for hundreds of years after his death, Zheng Banqiao, Qi Baishi and other masters are willing to be slaves and lackeys for their subordinates, what a praise!

Zeng Yu said: "Brother's talent is like spring and snow, you don't have to be praised by the laity, there are three or five friends to appreciate it, my generation learned to learn to paint, not to sell money, but really love this way, don't let me write, don't let me paint, feel uncomfortable." ”

"That's right." Xu Wei smiled, stroked Zeng Yu's shoulder and sighed: "Those who know me, Brother Zeng is also." ”

The two talked about poetry and painting, the more they talked, the more speculative they became, the conversation was warm, Niuniu came to the outdoor to spy twice, and couldn't interject at all, so she had to go back and tell her mother that her brother was not available to see the matchmaker with the guests, and the four matchmakers (Xu Wei came after another) saw that it was dark, so she had to say goodbye and go back, saying that she would come back tomorrow. Said sincerely: "My brother may have some strange ideas, but his heart and hand can't correspond, and the painting is often plausible, and the brother has also seen it, this ink is very immature, please give me advice from the bottom of my heart." ”

Xu Weihu asked: "How can my brother be good at painting?" ”

Zeng Yu said: "The ten talents of Yuezhong, although the younger brother is lonely and unheard, how can he not know the name of the elder brother." ”

Xu Wei was flattered and very happy, but he sighed: "No matter how good the calligraphy and painting are, it is not enough to make a living, since the calligraphy and painting need an official position to help, if I am now a Jinshi, Hanlin, then I must ask for my calligraphy and painting, but I am just a small showman, trapped in the field house for 20 years, a few years ago when I was very depressed, I also sold paintings to make a living, a painting only sells for 100 Wen, my Xu Wei's paintings are worth 100 Wen?" ”

This last rhetorical question shows Xu Wei's loneliness and pride, Xu Wei is a tragic genius like Van Gogh, his talent is rarely appreciated during his lifetime, he is poor, but he has been glorious for hundreds of years after his death, Zheng Banqiao, Qi Baishi and other masters are willing to be slaves and lackeys for their subordinates, what a praise!

Zeng Yu said: "Brother's talent is like spring and snow, you don't have to be praised by the laity, there are three or five friends to appreciate it, my generation learned to learn to paint, not to sell money, but really love this way, don't let me write, don't let me paint, feel uncomfortable." ”

"That's right." Xu Wei smiled, stroked Zeng Yu's shoulder and sighed: "Those who know me, Brother Zeng is also." ”

The two talked about poetry and painting, the more they talked, the more speculative they became, the conversation was warm, Niuniu came to the outdoor to spy twice, and couldn't interject at all, so she had to go back and tell her mother that her brother was not available to see the matchmaker with the guests, and the four matchmakers (Xu Wei came after another) saw that it was dark, so she had to say goodbye and go back, saying that she would come back tomorrow.