There was an unhurried knock at the side door of the Daimyo's Mansion.

With a squeak, the side door opened, and a rough maid held a lantern and shone it outward: "Is it my uncle?" ”

Outside the door, a thin man in a green shirt said, "It's me, your wife has confessed, right?" ”

"Yes, uncle, Madame has been waiting for a long time."

The man walked inside: "Where are you adults?" ”

"The adults are still in the study, I don't know that my uncle is coming, and my wife said that I don't need to tell my lord."

The man frowned slightly, didn't say much, and went inside with Yahuan.

When I came to the inner hall, I saw that in the candlelight and firelight, a beautiful figure was sitting in front of the desk, not knowing what to write.

At the right time, Yahuan shouted: "Madam, my uncle is here." ”

The woman raised her head, revealing a gentle and beautiful face, and smiled: "Big brother." ”

The man walked in without saying a word, and looked his sister up and down in front of the candlelight, she was only wearing ordinary plain and homely clothes, her black hair was loosely tied in a bun, no fat powder, no hairpin rings, extremely plain and elegant.

The man frowned and said: "Wanzhen, you are also a prefect's wife, how can you dress up, so shabby, there are no precious furnishings in the inner hall, there is not even a ring in the room to serve tea and pour water, he Lu Dongli treats you so slowly." ”

Su Wanzhen got up, stretched out her hand to invite her brother to take a seat, and said softly at the same time: "Big brother, Dongli is an upright gentleman, but he lives on a meager income. Where there is so much extra money, there are only a few underground people in this mansion who do heavy work. ”

Su Ling was stunned and asked, "No." I heard that ......" He looked around, and saw that there were no idlers, so he lowered his voice and said, "I heard that my brother-in-law is not the kind of gentleman, and he has never received less money than he should collect." ”

Su Wanzhen smiled: "Let's say a person begs him to do something." And this thing is not illegal, nor does it damage the public, he does it if people don't give gifts, and if he gives gifts, he will still do it with all his heart. Contrarily. If someone asks him for an errand and a clearing, but if that person is not qualified, or if the matter violates the laws and disciplines of the country and harms the well-being of the people, he will not do it with any amount of money. Therefore, he did not have much silver. ”

Su Ling said stupidly: "Having said that, when he is the head of a government, even if he never does anything to bend the law. According to the customary gift of favor, the gift of the New Year's festival. That's a lot of money. ”

However, he also has to entertain the officials. Make good friends. During the drought half a year ago, if he hadn't had good relations with all the officials, it would have been so easy to open a warehouse and release grain. Last month, the four counties of Jiangdong levied the land affairs, if he hadn't worked hard, the Daimyo's Mansion wouldn't know how many strong men would be taken away, and there would be ......"

"Anyway, there's no money, right?" Su Ling felt a little angry, "No wonder you said, I don't need to tell him about my coming." ”

Su Wanzhen smiled and shook her head, picked up her jewelry box from the side and handed it over: "My father-in-law." It's true that there is no money, even if there is. He will not approve of you going to buy officials with money, you are my brother, you have traveled hundreds of miles to come here, and I can't ask you to go for nothing. I inquired about these jewelry, sent them to the capital, and found a jewelry store in the land, which can also be sold for a few thousand taels, you can take it. ”

Su Ling took the jewelry box, opened it, his eyes were bright, and he was surprised in his heart: "Isn't he a Qing official?" How could I have bought you such a good jewelry? ”

Su Wanzhen said with a smile: "He naturally can't afford it, he has a close friend in his life, his surname is Feng, his name is Jinjie, and he is said to be a big businessman who is rich and rivals the country." When we got married, these were all gifts from the Wind Festival. Speaking of which, the prime minister is an official and has received countless gifts, but the value is valuable, and he is willing to keep it for his own use, only the things given by the wind festival. However, even if it was the Wind Festival, if it wasn't for the fact that Xiang Gong had asked him for disaster relief money, he would not have received such a heavy gift. Since then, the Wind Festival has been traveling all over the country, and everywhere it goes, it will send gifts and letters, but there are no more such excessively valuable. ”

Su Ling heard that someone was so rich and generous, so he couldn't help but be interested: "What does he give?" ”

Su Wanzhen smiled again, and there was more interest in her eyes: "It's funny, every time he goes, he must collect local wine and send it to Xianggong, Xianggong said, this person is a person who is not happy with alcohol, so everyone in the world is a drunkard, and now in the house, he has sent forty or fifty jars of wine that have not been drunk, and now Xianggong has been harmed by him, and he must bring the wine he sent every day and drink a few glasses, otherwise he can't sleep in bad habits." In addition, he will also collect some worthless, but delicate and interesting handicrafts, gold stones, and seals from all over the world. It's worth a gift to me. ”

"And a gift for you?"

"Yes, whenever he goes to a place, he will buy the best fabrics on the market, ask people to draw the most fashionable local clothes and hairstyles, and send them with the best rouge gouache, in addition, sometimes he will send a vanity mirror, sometimes he will send a sachet, but he also knows the measure, every time he just gives it to Xianggong, and Xianggong will give these to me, and I only think that Xianggong's things are. He also attached a note from time to time, and the smiling prince must be a wood who does not understand gentleness and does not know how to treat his wife well, so he will do something for him if he has nothing to do. Su Wanzhen smiled, "You see, I dress plainly at home, just for convenience." If it's really a banquet and a game, my clothes, hairstyle, and jewelry are all the best, and it's always the most fashionable place in the big city, and I don't know how many officials and wives envy me. ”

Su Ling said coldly: "You are Lu Dongli's wife, but your clothes, jewelry, and even mirrors and rouge were purchased by another person, and Lu Dongli didn't know how to be shy." ”

Su Wanzhen's face changed slightly: "Big brother, my husband is an upright gentleman, I respect him, even you, and you can't insult him in front of me, he is a confidant with Feng Jinjie, open-minded and free-spirited, and has the style of a famous person. ”

Su Ling sneered: "I didn't mean that, it's just that you're not worth it, you should be a noble lady......"

"What's wrong with your lady?" Su Wanzhen said coldly: "Are there still few noble ladies up and down this famous mansion?" Which husband is not three wives and four concubines, and which one must not abide by the rules of everyone at all levels. My husband never went to the Qin Mansion Chu Pavilion, and never said that he would take a concubine and marry a maid. is to see a beautiful woman like a cloud, I want to be there, he only looks at me, I am not there, he only looks at the ground, such a husband, where to find. Whether I go out, feast or travel, make friends, he is free to me, and he will not be restrained, I see that those noble ladies envy me is true. ”

sue

?? "Okay, okay, I admit my mistake, I shouldn't have said that your husband doesn't say a word, the little sister of the family teaches you a lesson, okay?" ”

Su Wanzhen didn't have much to say about him, so she had to say: "Big brother, I also want to persuade you a few words, although the imperial court allows ordinary people to buy fame with money, but after all, it is a false position, and you really don't have to be so camp-serving, our scholarly family, can we learn from our chests, is it not good to have a doctorate in the imperial examination?" Even Dong Jue has won the exam......"

"To be able to pass the exam, who wants to spend so much silver. Don't you know that your brother and I have had a headache when I saw a book since I was a child, and there is no other way to go except to donate a fame? Su Ling replied disapprerovingly, his eyes inadvertently swept around, and stopped on the white paper in front of the bookcase, where a few lines had just been written: "Hey, you write a letter to Feng Jinjie." ”

"Yes, he travels all over the country, everywhere he goes, he will send a few letters, he writes letters strangely, that is, he does not write the name of the prime minister on the top, nor does he sign his own name below, sometimes sprinkle wine, talk about the customs and customs along the way, the scenery and water, and even snacks from all over the country, as well as ...... "Su Wanzhen's face is red" and the local beauty and prostitutes, sometimes, it is one or two sentences without a beginning or end, completely irrelevant. If you are in a bad mood, or you are very happy, or you see a beautiful woman today, and you have a good dish today, just mention it, and it will be regarded as a letter. For so long, there has never been anything important in his letters, and he has never greeted his husband in his letters. ”

His letters were so complicated that they were sometimes read by the public. It's also funny and angry. often scolded him for two sentences, then put it aside, the husband was busy with business, often he came to a dozen letters, only to hastily reply to a letter, I think this person is so long-term, not too contemptuous. Although he didn't say or ask, he thought that he was very concerned about the common land. So I wrote a reply letter for Xiang Gong, and briefly described the affairs and daily joys of Xiang Gong. The husband is also up to me, and he never stops. ”

Su Ling's eyes moved: "You wrote the letter on his behalf, can your brother-in-law read it?" ”

"Sometimes look. Sometimes I don't look at it. Su Wanzhen said.

Su Ling rubbed his hands together and asked, "Then can you borrow a sum of money from him in the letter......

Before the words fell, Su Wanzhen's face had changed greatly: "Big brother, how can you ......?"

"Isn't there anything I can't help it? Sister, with your jewelry, the money I got will buy an empty name at most, and it is impossible to put it in real demand, I was expecting my brother-in-law to try to arrange an errand for me. But according to what you say, my brother-in-law is actually a meticulous Qing official. Surely it won't help me, even if this man is so rich. I borrowed a sum from him again, and I did my activities to make a real shortage, and within two years, I could return all the money to him. ”

Su Wanzhen's soft and graceful face showed a look of anger: "Although I am a woman, I also know shame. How can they take advantage of their gentlemanly friendship to do this ghost realm? ”

"I'm just ......"

"Brother. It's late at night, though you and I are brothers. It's also inconvenient to keep guests, if you want to have something else, please come early tomorrow and discuss it directly with the prime minister. Su Wanzhen shouted: "Send off." ”

The rough envoy who had been guarding outside hurriedly came to the door and called, "Uncle please." ”

Su Ling's face was blue and white for a while, and he stood for a while before he stomped his foot heavily, hugged the box of jewelry, and walked away quickly.

Su Wanzhen stood stunned for a while, thinking of her brother being so uncompromising, and feeling even more sad. But he had to lift his spirits and take the pen again to continue writing the unfinished letter. After writing the engraving, she looked at the night outside, thought about it, took a slightly thicker robe from the box, carried the letter, and went to the study with the candle in her hand.

It was very late at night, and there was a little candlelight in the study. Gently pushing open the door, the man in front of the case was still sitting on the desk as he had been for countless years.

In the shadow of the lamp, there was no trace of tiredness between his eyebrows, under the light, she smiled softly, got closer, put down the candlestick, shook off the long clothes, slowly draped it on the shoulders of her beloved, and said softly: "Even if you are busy with business, you should take care of your body." ”

Lu Dongli smiled back, stretched out his hand gently, held her and pressed her on his shoulder, the warm candle flame shone into his eyes, and he saw a warm softness: "I'm busy here, I haven't had a day or night, how many times have I said it, you don't have to wait for me, just sleep by yourself." ”

Getting so close, the candlelight was so bright, Su Wanzhen could see the faint silver light and white shadow in Lu Dongli's black hair, her husband was in his youth, and he was already in bloom.

The sorrow in my heart is only a few moments, and there is more tenderness and pride. On the shoulders of the scribes, how many people's lives were picked, and how many people lived and worked in peace and contentment in this busy public business.

Even if it is amorous, what a regret and a sigh.

She smiled in the candlelight: "I didn't wait for you on purpose, but I just finished writing the letter to Feng Gongzi and brought it to you to see." ”

Lu Dongli said with a smile: "He was a willful and reckless character, and it is a shame that you are willing to bother to entertain him like this." Once you've written it and sent it, you don't have to show it to me. ”

Su Wanzhen didn't smile either, her husband was a humble gentleman, he never talked about right and wrong behind his back, and spoke ill of people, only when he had something to do, he would scold twice with a smile like this.

"By the way, he has been running all over the country these days, and the last time he wrote a letter saying that he was going back to his hometown, you should send this letter to Jixian County." Lu Dongli thought of this and hurriedly confessed again.

Su Wanzhen nodded: "Even if he has traveled all the country, he is still idle if he wants to come, so it is better to invite him as a guest." You should also get together for such friendships. With this thought, even she was a little fascinated, what kind of person is that Feng Jinjie?

Wind Festival, Wind Festival, since she married Lu Dongli, it seems that there will always be the shadow of this person in her life.

He gave her jewelry, and her clothes were made of the cloth he had given them, and they were made according to the style he had given them. The mirror of her makeup, and the grease powder she adorned, were all sent from afar by him.

Every few days, I can receive a letter from that person, and the west of Sichuan today, the east of Hedong tomorrow, the ends of the world, and the customs of heaven and earth are all in that letter.

Flower candles in the cave room, a glass of wine is a good wine he sent, occasionally leisure, husband and wife enjoy the bright moon and see the falling flowers, it will be indispensable, and the wine he gave will help the fun.

Occasionally, when she heard the jokes of the princess, she couldn't help but be fascinated when she talked about how graceful, how graceful, and how good that person was. Friends are as light as water, and only by occasional correspondence is already fun, she

?? Some longing is over.

What kind of character is that Wind Festival.

Lu Dongli listened to this suggestion, but he was only stunned for a moment, and then smiled: "That guy is the most arrogant and profligate, but he is just the wealth of money." He doesn't do things lightly or seriously, he only relies on his own pleasure, he is really coming, and he is afraid that he will not anger you to death. ”

Su Wanzhen laughed horrifiedly: "If that's the case, then it's even more important to see it." ”

Lu Dongli stared at her for a while, then smiled, and said warmly: "He is the freest person in this world, if he wants to come, we should treat him well, if he doesn't come, there is no need to deliberately call." ”

Su Wanzhen also looked at him for a while, and then nodded; "Okay."

Lu Dongli was under the lamp, seeing his wife's gentle and graceful smile, and he lost his mind for a moment, at this time, where is Feng Jinjie and what is he doing? But he was still in the arms of the beauty, laughing and drinking, but he got a wine-stained rouge stain.

He couldn't help but smile, shook his head, and immediately left Feng Jinjie behind again.

His friendship with Feng Jinjie is really as light as water, whether this is a gentleman's friendship or not, even he himself can't tell. When I saw him, I was quite happy, and talking to him was like a spring breeze. However, no matter how long I don't see him, I won't miss it too much. Seeing his letters, his gifts, or laughing or sighing, but I don't want to deliberately reply, but no matter what, no matter how far away the time is, the memory of him is still as vivid as yesterday.

Lightly dispel this rare moment of amazement. He lowered his head again and continued to review the official documents.

Su Wanzhen sat down beside him, silently accompanied. With a faint smile in his eyes, he watched the warm candle flame reflect his focused expression.

This is her husband, her beloved, and her lifelong dependence.

Half a month later, an incomparably luxurious carriage stopped outside the exquisite garden of the Jixian Fengjin Festival, and Fu Bo took all his subordinates to welcome him out of the garden. The old and faithful housekeeper was so excited that he burst into tears again: "Son, you are back." ”

To everyone's surprise, Feng Jinjie was not drunk and smoked and was helped out of the carriage by a group of beautiful women.

He jumped out of the carriage cleanly and neatly by himself. He smiled and glanced at everyone.

Everyone couldn't help but sniff violently, hey, I really can't smell any alcohol at all. I haven't seen you for most of the year. Their son-in-law has changed his temper.

Fu Bo greeted him with surprise and joy: "Childe." ”

Feng Jinjie smiled and waved his hand, stopping his bunch of chattering that was about to exit: "Let's go in first." As he walked briskly inward, he casually asked, "Is there anything that has happened in the days I have been gone?" ”

"Nothing big happens, everything has been arranged, and we just do things according to the charter. By the way...... not long before "Fu Bo Dao", the Daimyo's Mansion sent a letter to Gongzidi. ”

Feng Jin nodded: "He calculated that it was time for me to go home, so he sent it directly here." ”

Fu Bo said happily: "Childe and Lord Lu are really gentlemen's friends, and Childe treats Lord Lu so affectionately and kindly, no wonder Lord Lu misses him." ”

Feng Jinjie tugged at the corners of his lips slightly. Suddenly showed a slightly weird and eerie smile: "He treats me well, I ...... him"

His eyes slowly cooled. In the end, he said lightly, "It's just a use?" ”

"Ah......" Fauber's eyes widened, thinking to himself. Did I mishear something?

Feng Jinjie didn't say much more, he had already entered the hall at this time, the banquet for him had already been arranged, and the beautiful girl who had arranged to serve him had already given a salute in front of him.

His eyes were slightly cold, and he waved his hand gently: "Don't be so extravagant, I'm tired, you all go down." ”

Your eyes are glaring at me, oh my God. The sun has really come out of the west, and our father-in-law has really changed.

The sky is big. The master is the biggest, the master spoke, and everyone didn't dare to stay if they had any doubts in their hearts, and they retreated one after another.

Only Fauber was left staring at his master in a daze.

Feng Jinjie smiled, pulled out a pile of paper from his sleeve and handed it to him.

Fu Bo took it and saw that they were all land deeds and land deeds, all with his name written on them.

Fu Bo looked up in confusion: "Childe, this is ......"

"Fauber, I know you have a lot of savings, but for so many years, you have been following me and taking care of me, which is what you deserve." Wind Festival smiles.

Fu Bo didn't know why: "Childe, I don't understand. ”

Feng Jinjie looked at him quietly: "Fu Bo, you are the first person to follow me, when I was a child, you took care of me, everyone didn't believe that I was capable, only you supported me." Do you remember, you once asked me, why do you work so hard to make so much money, is it enough money? How I answered at the time. ”

"You said, you are actually very unfree in this life, you must follow the route demarcated by fate, you are desperate to make money, but you want to redeem yourself for a few years, in your destined life, fight for yourself for a few years of freedom, you have to have enough money, can support you to be free, do whatever you want, can let you try all kinds of life wantonly." Fauber muttered.

Feng Jinjie smiled: "Then, after I am rich and rival the country, there are often people who persuade me to find a way to donate officials, get a reputation for myself, and improve a status, I remember that you also persuaded me, saying that there is a false title on the head, and it is much more convenient to do things, especially after being wronged by Liu Ming, you have persuaded me many times, you always feel that if you have an official hat, you will not be bullied and framed like this." What did I say to you at the time? ”

Fu Bo felt more and more ominous, and replied blankly: "You said at the time that in this life, you are actually destined to be an official, not only to be, but also destined to do your best, tired and tired, maybe there will not be a good end." So now is a day of freedom, and a day of freedom, why bother to send yourself to the sea of suffering in advance. ”

Feng Jinjie smiled: "Yes, so I was unscrupulous, so I was unscrupulous, so at the last time, I set out to travel around the country, see all the beautiful scenery in the world, meet all the beauties in the world, taste all the food, drink all the wine......"

"Childe, Childe......" Fauber interrupted him in a panic, "I don't understand, I'm old, I don't understand, what do you mean?" ”

"I mean......" Feng Jinjie looked at him, smiling, with a gentle look in his eyes and a calm expression, "the days of freedom are over. ”