When Liu Dongxing received a message from his family, hurriedly ended the work at hand, and returned to his home in Yangliver Hutong, Nie Heng had been waiting in the study for more than two hours.

I saw Nie Heng sitting on a circle chair in front of the window, holding a volume of "Chapters and Sentences of the Mean" in his hand, which had been turned over most of it, and there was still a small half of the residual tea in the tea cup on the small table at hand, which had already cooled, and he was still closing his eyes slightly, silently reciting the words and sentences in the book.

Liu Dongxing felt a little uneasy in his heart. Nie Heng won the lifting last fall, he knew it, and he also knew that the other party was likely to go to Beijing this spring to take the exam. However, Nie Heng has only arrived in the capital now, and there is only about half a month before the examination period, and it is time to step up the study of books. Looking at his current posture, Liu Dongxing could also guess that he attached great importance to this subject, but Rao was like this, he still came to visit him, and he waited for such a long time, he would rather study in his own study than come back one day, which shows his eagerness.

Liu Dongxing remembered his marriage contract with Wen Yi, and he felt a little empty. He still remembered that when he was studying at Cannes Academy, Nie Heng was not close to him, at most he was good friends with Luo Mingmin. However, Wen Yi has great respect for this cousin, in case she offends Nie Heng, wouldn't it embarrass her fiancée?

Liu Dongxing handed the cloak to the little servant, and after ordering another hot tea and snacks to be served, he tried his best to squeeze out a friendly smile and walked into the study: "Brother Lao Nie has been waiting for a long time to arrive in Beijing sooner or later?" Why didn't you send the letter earlier? Unfortunately, I went out, but I was so tired that Brother Nie waited for a long time, and I asked for forgiveness" bowed again, and bowed again, and it was the first time that I whispered so low in front of the other party.

Nie Heng opened his eyes, glanced up at him, put the scroll on his sleeve, stood up, and replied with a smile: "I don't dare to be, it's a certain abruptness, I didn't inform him in advance, so I came to visit, and it was rude." It's just that there are some things I want to ask Brother Liu, but I can't wait, it's rude, and I can't take care of it. The same courtesy was so thoughtful that Liu Dongxing was speechless for a while, and he didn't know how to react.

Fortunately, he has always been unpredictable, and he was only stunned for a moment, and then immediately laughed: "Brother Nie and I are classmates and friends, and the affection is no better than others, and now we want to be relatives again, so there is no need to be rigid about these vulgar etiquette." Please sit down, why are the little guys so lazy? I don't send a few more charcoal basins up, this cold day, this house is ventilated, if Brother Nie is infected with wind and cold, wouldn't it be a sin to travel east? Why don't you go to the house inside? It was much warmer there, and there were no outsiders. ”

Nie Heng frowned slightly, and felt more and more that he had nothing to do and was a gentleman, so he still responded with that smiling face: "How can this be done?" I have never heard of hospitality to go to the inner court. Besides, this house is very good, and the smell of books is overflowing, isn't it better than other vulgar places? Also, although he and Brother Liu are classmates, they haven't been in contact for many years, and the words of the relatives are even more unsuccessful. Brother Liu's words still have to think twice. ”

Liu Dongxing's face stiffened, he slowly smiled, his mind flashed, and his eyes showed a sincere gaze: "Look at me, I haven't seen my old friend for many years, but I am in a hurry, I don't know how to entertain my friends, and I don't even know how to speak...... Please don't blame Brother Nie. It's just that you are now preparing for the exam, and there is half a month to be the period of the scientific examination. When the time comes, don't say that my old classmate has no face to see you, even your family will be worried and sad, even if it is...... Cousin Ling will inevitably blame me too. Even if Brother Nie doesn't look down on the eastward journey, he should only take care of his relatives in his hometown, take care of his body" After that, he hugged his fists and solemnly saluted Nie Heng.

Seeing this, Nie Heng dispelled the dissatisfaction in his heart by a point or two. Of course, he knew that his physical foundation was not good, and after raising it for a few years, he was just like an ordinary person, so he dared to sit in front of the window for so long, and it was also because his clothes were warm enough, and the window was never opened, if he really stayed in a cold and windy room for half a day, once he was sick, missed the preparation for the exam, or even missed the imperial examination, not to mention his family and cousin, even he himself could not pass this hurdle.

Although Liu Dongxing was gloomy, what Fang just said was really for his sake. Nie Heng remembered that the marriage between his cousin Wen Yi and Liu Dongxing had been decided, so he only looked at his cousin's face, and his face softened a little: "You bothered to remind me, I am not cold, if you are not at ease, just add a brazier." I won't go to the inner courtyard, and it's more convenient to talk in the study. ”

Liu Dongxing knew that he was still not used to being close to him, and he didn't force it, so he only ordered his subordinates to send two more charcoal basins, added hot tea and snacks, and asked Nie Heng to change to a sheltered seat. Nie Heng saw that he was busy with his thoughts, and he was unprecedentedly meticulous, but he was a little impressed: "I didn't expect Brother Liu to be a careful person, I couldn't see it at all in the academy before." ”

Liu Dongxing smiled and said nothing, and when he was done, he sat down opposite him, poured tea diligently, and then took the initiative to speak: "In the years in the academy, I was still young and ignorant, because I was a little angry at home, and no one was restrained outside, so I became cynical, and I didn't like anyone, and only Brother Luo had a good temperament and was the most patient, so he was willing to associate with me, and changed to someone else, and was driven away by my stinky face." Afterward...... There were some changes in my family, and I felt that I had no hope for a future, so I gave up on myself more and more, and not only failed the teachings of the gentlemen of the college, but also did my homework to you...... There are also many offenses. Thanks to the fact that you are all honest gentlemen, you don't like what I do, and you are all considerate of my life experience, and you don't have the same knowledge as me. I didn't know what to do at the time, I didn't take it to heart, but now that I think about it, I am very ashamed, I only hate that I didn't jump into the Dongjiang River back then, and I don't have to be self-righteous to be embarrassed there......"

Nie Heng listened to his words, remembering his miserable life experience rumored back then, and the suppression of him by the patriarch of the Liu clan, he also understood a little, so he said gently: "You don't have to depreciate yourself to this point. Although you were not very gregarious back then, you were still thoughtful in treating your husband and classmates. Although we don't have much contact with you, we also know that you are outstanding in learning, but you are bound by your clansmen, so you can't show your talents, and you have been unhappy in private. Now although you can't be promoted from the imperial examination, but you have turned to the martial arts examination, and you are about to participate in the examination with me, the title of the gold list is just around the corner, it can be seen that Saion lost his horse, how do you know if it is a blessing? ”

Liu Dongxing said with a smile: "That's true, when I took the children's exam, I wanted to go one step further, but I was stopped by a letter from home, at that time I was also complaining, now looking back, if it wasn't for the heart of the imperial examination at that time, change to martial arts, with my idea to learn, today may not be able to have the blessing to participate in the examination with Brother Nie and others." In the past two years, I feel that I am more talented in martial arts, but I have responded to Brother Nie's words. After a pause, "Speaking of which, after I left Cannes, I went to Pingyin with Brother Luo to learn art, and I stayed on Taiping Mountain." The days on the mountain are hard, if it weren't for Brother Nie's family to buy medicine from the family teacher, and there is a lot of help on weekdays, I'm afraid that I won't be able to endure it a long time ago, I didn't have time at that time, but today I want to solemnly thank Brother Nie. ”

Nie Heng raised his eyebrows, and said with a smile: "Sure enough." I was suspicious back then, Brother Luo's family is in Guihai, and Brother Liu's family is in Heng'an, why do they often appear in Pingyin County? I wanted to ask you clearly, but every time I missed it, I never thought that Brother Liu and Brother Nie actually worshipped Dr. Xiao as their teacher. It's just that I don't know something, since Brother Liu is determined to learn martial arts, why did he worship Dr. Xiao as his teacher? You need to know that he is a famous doctor in the Taiping Shan area."

Liu Dongxing said with a smile: "Although Master Xiao is a doctor, he has been in the army for many years when he was young, not only is he excellent in martial arts, but he is also familiar with military affairs. I also listened to Mr. College's suggestion and came to the door. However, Xiao Shi has been practicing medicine for a long time, and he doesn't want to mention the past, so there are very few people who know that he has served in the army. Sometimes when Brother Luo and I mentioned it in front of him, he would scold us for talking too much. ”

Nie Heng's expression did not move: "I see...... Strange waySometimes Dr. Xiao came to see me, and I looked at his words, not like a country doctor, but a little like a general in the army, but to be calmer, and he had many legs and feet, much stronger than other older old people, and really not like an ordinary person. I didn't expect him to really join the army in his early years - presumably when Dr. Xiao was in the army, he was not an ordinary person, right? If you were just a general, the gentleman of the academy would not let you and Brother Luo go to apprenticeship. ”

Liu Dongxing was secretly shocked in his heart, and said with a smile: "This is not clear, I only know that Xiao Shi once joined the army when he was young and made a lot of contributions, but his old man never mentioned it to us, and the gentleman of the academy never said it explicitly, so I didn't ask again." After all, it's a thing of the past, I just need to respect my teacher, so why bother to get to the bottom of it? When he raised his eyes, he saw Nie Heng raise his eyebrows, and seemed to say something more, so he hurriedly smiled and persuaded him to drink tea, and said as if he had no intention: "This tea was also brought by me from Pingyin, specially made with herbs, and I drank it in winter, which is the most warm and cold." Presumably Cousin Ling also gave it to Brother Nie? ”

Nie Heng did drink this tea at home, but when he heard this, he couldn't help but think of Liu Dongxing's sneaky behavior of hiding in Taiping Mountain to learn art. Doctor Xiao was recommended to him by his cousin Wen Yi, since Liu Dongxing is Doctor Xiao's apprentice, wouldn't he often have the opportunity to meet his cousin? I also persuaded my cousin back then, Liu Dongxing has a gloomy temperament, he is not a generous gentleman, and he has a heavy heart for fame, it is best not to have more dealings with him, but I didn't expect that now the two are not only in contact, Liu Dongxing also made a marriage contract with his cousin......

Thinking of this, he was a little angry. How old is my cousin? is also a well-behaved and considerate character, acts on weekdays, has always been polite, and will never take the initiative to get close to Liu Dongxing after he gave a warning. On the contrary, Liu Dongxing is older and has also learned about personnel, according to the news he inquired from Gu Wenliang, it was indeed the wife of the Liu family who first proposed to Mrs. Lu in the sixth room of the Gu family, it can be seen that Liu Dongxing first thought of his good cousin, how could he be so easy to cheapen Liu Dongxing?

So his face sank, and he asked straight to the point: "Speaking of cousin, Nie has something I want to ask Brother Liu." I heard that it was the elders of Brother Liu's family who first opened their mouths to propose marriage, but they didn't mention it again later, which hindered my cousin's marriage. Everyone said that the Liu family had rebelled, and I originally intended to seek justice from Brother Liu, but I didn't expect to believe that Brother Liu's marriage with his cousin had been decided. It's just that this change is too child's play, right? I don't know what Brother Liu thinks in his heart, although my cousin of the Gu family has no parents, she is also the daughter of a famous family, how can she suffer such humiliation after the eunuch is scholarly? Even if the marriage has been decided, I still have to ask for an explanation for her, her family is not easy to speak, but I, the cousin of my uncle's family, can't sit idly by."

Liu Dongxing was relieved at first that he no longer asked about the origin of Dr. Xiao, but he immediately became nervous again. The change in the marriage of the Liu Gu family is indeed the fault of the Liu family, but although he has a heart, he is powerless to control it, so he can only do his best to achieve his goal. However, these words involve family secrets, and he can tell Wen Yi frankly, but he doesn't want to say too much in front of Nie Heng, so he can only say sincerely: "This matter is indeed the fault of my second aunt, because she is the daughter of the Gu family, and the Gu family is unwilling to stand up for my cousin, and my second uncle has the heart to find another marriage for me, not to climb the dragon and attach the phoenix, but to cut off my future, so that I will not be able to get out for the rest of my life." Cousin Ling is the daughter of a wang family, and in my second uncle's heart, the family is a little too high, so he will go back on his word. But I am bent on marrying my cousin, how can I sit back and watch the marriage change? Fortunately, God obeys people's wishes, and I finally let this matter be settled, and it will be too late for my second uncle to change his hexagram in the future. But things will come to this point, also because I was negligent, it was my fault, and I ask my eldest cousin to forgive me. ”

With his words, he changed "Brother Nie" to "Big Cousin", but brought his relationship with Nie Heng a little closer. Nie Heng was angry at first, but later, he knew that he had done a lot of work for this marriage, and he didn't want to blame him more, but he was still worried: "Since the elders in your family don't approve of this marriage, you are so forceful, and in the future, your cousin will enter the door, and you will also be embarrassed by the elders, right?" Although you have good intentions, you are a problem to your cousin. The cousin of the Gu family has a gentle temperament, where can she stand such anger? Forget it, you can hire another good wife. "His cousin deserves a better husband.

"No" Liu Dongxing shouted loudly, which startled Nie Heng. The former also knew that he had made a mistake, so he calmed down his anger slightly, but his tone was still a little impulsive: "This marriage can't be changed, since I have already identified her, how can I watch her marry someone else?" As for what happens after marriage, Brother Nie doesn't have to worry, I have now split up and become independent, and my uncles and aunts will only meet during the New Year's Day, usually we live a small life behind closed doors, I am the head of the family, and my wife is the housewife, how can she be angry? ”

Nie Heng glared at him, he didn't know what he was thinking, and said coldly for a long time: "Elders are elders, although you can live your own small life behind closed doors on weekdays, but in front of the elders, you still have to keep the etiquette." The elders of your family can stop you from taking the imperial examination, and they can find you a marriage that does not match, and in the future, when your cousin passes the door, they will be able to give up? Even if you have the heart to maintain it, and you are not at home all day long, if you go out, the elders want her to set rules and make her angry, what can she do? ”

Liu Dongxing was angry, and simply glared at him: "Then I will be admitted to the Wujinshi, seek a shortage in the field, and leave here far away with her, and no longer meet with the second room, that is, they are not my parents, can you still ask me to leave my wife and give them filial piety?" ”

Nie Heng sneered: "This idea is certainly good, but it may not work out." You need to know that Uncle Ling is already a scholar, with a high position, and you are not even a martial artist, that is, if you are really high school next month, if you want to seek a vacancy, you have to work hard in the Ministry of Officials. If Uncle Ling insists on blocking your future, how can you bear him? He is an elder and a patriarch, is it possible that you can still openly turn your face with him? ”

Liu Dongxing frowned, pondered for a moment, and then his heart was crossed: "If it was in the past, maybe it would really be like this." But now the military situation in northern Xinjiang is urgent......"

Nie Heng interrupted in a cold voice: "Could it be that you still want to go north to join the army?" How can you guarantee that you will return safely? My cousin didn't marry you to be widowed."

Liu Dongxing glanced at him and tried to calm down: "I'm not going north to join the army, it's not up to me to decide who the imperial court wants to send north." However, the military situation in northern Xinjiang is urgent, and if there is really a big war, whether it is the military headquarters or elsewhere, the deployment of troops and military supplies will all need manpower. I just need to find an opportunity to get involved, and when the court wins, I will also make a contribution. When the time comes, if I want to find a vacancy, how can a Ministry of Rites Shangshu stop it? ”

Nie Heng forced him to ask, "Are you sure you can get an errand?" Aren't you afraid that Uncle Ling will obstruct it? ”

"Although he is in a high position, he is not omnipotent. I know several famous generals in the army, I want to ask for an errand, it is by no means a problem, I am not a person who eats a vegetarian meal, as long as I do it with my heart, why worry about not getting the blue eyes of nobles? ”

When Liu Dongxing said these words categorically, he stared at Nie Heng, wanting to express his determination again, but unexpectedly, the other party's eyebrows suddenly relaxed, and he showed a gentle smile: "Since you are already confident, you have to plan well, not only for your own future, but also for my cousin's good life." I'm going to say ugly things ahead, if you dare to let my cousin suffer the slightest grievance in the future, I'm going to knock on the door."

Liu Dongxing was stunned for a while, and couldn't react for a while: "Nie ...... Brother Nie? ”

"What's your name, Brother Nie?" Nie Heng smiled kindly, "Didn't you already change your name to call me eldest cousin?" If you want to be a relative, why stick to vulgar etiquette? ”

Liu Dongxing blinked, and then he was ecstatic, stood up suddenly, could no longer hide the corners of his grinning mouth, and solemnly bowed to Nie Heng with his fists: "Dongxing has seen the eldest cousin"