The inner courtyard of the Yang Mansion was full of people, and there were many smiles on the faces of the maids and servants. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 infoThe New Year's season is not as good as usual, and the reward given by the main family is much richer than usual, and there are additional sub-rules. In addition, the eating degree should also be much more casual.

Red lanterns were hung in the corridors, and two cannon poles were erected early outside the gates. Every year, Xu has to order people to set off tens of thousands of firecrackers, one is to be lively, and the other is to dispel the bad luck of previous years and make next year better.

Xu, who had already made plans, was very happy and invited many family members with joy. In the entire inner courtyard of the Yang Mansion, more than 30 tables were set up for banquets of all sizes. Of course, the guests who came here, in addition to the Xu family, also had some partners and friends who had a deep relationship.

This year's situation is different from previous years. The marriage of the Xu family was valued by the elders of the family, so many people from the clan also came to the banquet. Suddenly, the inner courtyard of the Yang Mansion, which had always been deserted, became lively.

The feast, of course, was placed in the outer hall. It was still early before the dinner time, and the Xu family was dressed up and accompanied the two brothers to drink tea and chat in the inner hall.

Xu Jingkang and Xu Jingye are brothers, and they are also representatives sent by the Xu family. Especially Xu Jingkang, in his early years, the relationship was very close to the Xu family. For this brother who does things steadily and takes care of himself, the Xu family has always been grateful and respectful.

Listening to the faint sound of firecrackers on the street outside, Xu Jingkang was very emotional. He looked at the red sun that was gradually sinking in the west, and sighed: "When I was a child, my favorite thing was the New Year. There are new clothes to wear, and there are artillery battles to play. By the way, cousin, you liked to eat Suzi candy at that time, but your aunt didn't allow you to eat more, saying that it would rot your teeth, so let me look at you. It turned out well. You dragged me into sneaking in and grabbed a handful, and it was all yours. The next day, my tooth hurt badly, and my aunt asked me if I couldn't lie, so the two of us were cleaned up by the adults, and neither of us could get a good result. ”

Saying that, Xu Jingkang laughed "haha".

Xu's face was full of memories of the past. She stood up. bowed to Xu Jingkang, and said with a smile: "When I was a child, I was not sensible, and my eldest cousin was there to help." After the New Year, the little sister went to the government to do the paperwork. When the time comes, I hope that my eldest cousin will help me more. ”

"Where, it's all family, why do you have to do that?"

Xu Jingkang waved his hand and walked to the chair and sat down. Picked up the teacup, took a sip, and was about to put it down. Suddenly remembered something, and his expression became slightly solemn: "Cousin, you have had a bad life over the years, and the elders of the clan also know about it. Speaking of which, it was my aunt who saw the wrong person back then, and felt that the hussar general Yang Jing was a good match with you, so she made the decision to marry her cousin to him. Who knew that Yang Jing died in the border pass, and the title of Yiyong was also resigned by Yang Tianhong. Otherwise, cousin, you're at least a lady now. ”

Xu's face was a little gloomy. Xu Jingkang's words are not false. Although she is Yang Jing's wife. However, Yang Jing's wife died of bleeding during childbirth, and her identity and status also changed. If Yang Jing is still alive. The title of destiny definitely falls on him. However, when Yang Jing died in battle, Yang Tianhong was still young, and Emperor Shunming was sympathetic to the ministers, so the matter of the decree was postponed. originally wanted to let Yang Liansheng's father and son kill Yang Tianhong, and his son would naturally inherit the position of Yi Yonghou, but at that time, the title and the decree were there. It's just who would have thought. Yang Tianhong was so ruthless, resigned from the title, and gave up everything.

Thinking of this, a trace of extremely deep resentment appeared on Xu's pretty face: "It's all that little beast." I knew it was so. He should have been suffocated in a basin of water back then, and it would have been a disaster now. ”

Xu Jingye, who was sitting at the table next to him, suddenly raised his head, stared at Xu Shi with a stern and cold gaze, and lowered his voice very nervously: "Cousin, there are some things that can be said, and some things that should not be said." Now that the events of that year have passed, it is best not to mention them again. Although Yang Tianhong resigned as the lord of Yiyong, he regained the reward for his merits in Anzhou. Not only that, but he was also favored by His Majesty and was named the envoy of the Anzhou Festival. Either way, you're his titular mother. Just like that, it's okay to talk about it between you and my cousins. If it spreads, it will inevitably cause an uproar. Be careful!

Xu instinctively wanted to refute, but after thinking about it carefully, what Xu Jingye said was right. What's more, the Xu family, that is, Xu Jingkang and Xu Jingye's brothers have the closest relationship with themselves, and they have also taken care of them over the years. said that he didn't look at the face of the monk and looked at the face of the Buddha, even if Xu was unwilling, he could only grit his teeth and hold back, sullen, and sit on the chair with his face sideways and shut up. The originally delicate face gradually showed a little wrinkles caused by anger.

She is no longer young, after all, she is also a woman who has given birth to two children.

The atmosphere was a little awkward, Xu Jingkang coughed twice, and broke the deadlock with a smile: "Cousin, last time you said that you liked the pearls over there in the East China Sea very much, and my father asked people to collect a few from there." I've brought it to you by the way. Well, you see, the condition should be pretty good. ”

As he spoke, Xu Jingkang took out a small and exquisite brocade box from his side. When I opened it, I saw two pearls the size of an adult's thumb on the surface of the golden satin backing. It is white and round, and it is full of brilliance, so that people can't help but want to reach out and touch it.

Women belong to the category of animals that naturally love jewelry. Xu is no exception. The pearl in front of her immediately attracted all her eyes and attention, and her previous troubles were forgotten. She took out the pearl, played with it lovingly, and praised it: "Sure enough, it is a good walking bead." The size matches, and if it is made into earrings, it must be good. ”

The pearl was reluctant to put it down when he held it in his hand, Xu raised his head and asked Xu Jingkang with a smile: "Haven't you asked the eldest cousin, how much is this pair of pearls worth?" ”

Xu Jingkang waved his hand generously, deliberately making an annoyed look: "Between you and me, what kind of money are you talking about? This bead was originally given to my cousin, since I like it, take it." If you want to talk about money, won't it hurt the brother-sister relationship between you and me?"

Xu was full of joy and was about to accept the pearl, but Xu Jingye next to him interjected: "My eldest brother is bold, and my cousin doesn't want to see outside." It's just that I have to say some things, as for whether I can listen to it, I ask my cousin to think about it herself. ”

Xu raised his head. His eyes moved away from the pearl and looked at Xu Jingye, the expression on his face was a little puzzled.

Xu Jingkang coughed a few more times and said with a smile: "Recently, some interesting things have happened in the capital, I don't know if my cousin has heard of it?"

Xu asked calmly, "What's the matter?"

Xu Jingkang said slowly: "The master of the Lu family and our Xu family are business partners. A large part of the Lu family's business. are all related to our Xu family. And it's not just about collaboration. horses, furs, iron, salt, and cloth from the north, grain, spices, timber, and silk from the south, dried fruits, slaves, and curiosities from the west sea...... The business has become bigger, and there are more places to be done. The stuck points on the road, the cost of going out of the city and entering the city, the officials searching back and forth on the canal, and the officials who passed through every place along the way, all stared at us with red eyes, eager to gnaw a few pieces of meat from us. Sister, you know, our ancestors started with half-hanging copper coins back then. From a peddler selling steamed buns step by step to today's point. For several generations, our generation of brothers and nephews alone has lost more than a dozen people in business. Some were cut off by strongmen, some were taken away by big insects and jackals to eat, and some died unexplained, and there is no explanation until now. ”

Next to him, Xu Jingye also shook his head and sighed: "Business is difficult! Sister, you live in a deep mansion compound and don't know the hardships of the outside world." The second son of the third aunt's family followed Uncle Meng on Henan Road last year. I got a sudden illness on the way, and I couldn't even find a Langzhong. I clutched my stomach in the field and howled for a long time. Painful to death. You have seen the nephew of the sixth uncle's family, the one who called you your aunt in the early years, and was thrown down by a strongman on a canal boat the year before last. We suffered heavy losses on that trip, sixty percent of the entire cargo was lost, and the child's body was found downstream half a month later. When I fished it up, my whole body was swollen and unrecognizable. Like a pig that has blown its breath...... Sister, don't blame my cousin for my ugly words, it's not my cousin that I deliberately want to say these tragic things to toss you. It's really not easy to get every penny of money in this family. Children only know that candy is delicious, and a candy man sells a copper plate at a street corner stall, but he doesn't know how difficult it is to get this penny. ”

Xu Jingkang nodded again and again: "Speaking of which." Back then, sister, this marriage between you and the hussar general, our family still owes you a little. We all know that you like the boss of your cousin's family, but no one dares to mention it in front of your ancestors. In fact, even if no one speaks, the ancestor knows everything about you. But there is no way! There are so many people in our family for generations, and none of them have entered the court to be officials, and no one has made great achievements in literature and Taoism. When my cousin and I were about to go out this morning, my great-grandmother was still sighing, saying that this God must have given our Xu family a pair of businessmen's exquisite heart, but he took away all the Xu family's ability to improve in poetry and literature. The ancestors have been dreaming that our Xu family can become an official, but they have not been able to fulfill this wish. ”

Xu sat on the side of the table and bowed his head in contemplation, silent.

The things that the two brothers Xu Jingkang and Xu Jingye said were not a secret within the Xu family. Not only the state of Chu, but any country in the world has the habit of emphasizing literature over military force. In contrast, the status of a merchant is much lower than that of a warrior. That's right, the Xu family is rich, and the world knows how much wealth has accumulated over the generations, and the Xu family is not very clear. But what is certain is that it is an extremely large number.

has money, but no noble identity, this is the biggest problem in front of the Xu family.

The ancestor is a smart man, and the Xu family also started from his generation and really set out to change the noble and lowly character of the Xu family. At the expense of inviting a famous gentleman, the children of the clan entered private schools one after another. Even in the township, the Xu family has sponsored hundreds of poor students. Over time, Xu Jiabo became a "good person", and several students from poor families who were sponsored back then also came to visit with gifts to express their gratitude. I had seen a lot of similar things when the Xu family was not married. However, none of those people meant it. It is true that people's hearts are constantly changing with the environment and treatment. People who are so poor that they can't even eat, but still have to hold books and study hard, are also worthy of admiration. The ancestors of the Xu family took out money to support them before, and the poor students were all moved to tears. Later, when he became a jinshi, his identity vision changed. The reason why **** is grateful, to put it bluntly, is just the words "take people short". The literati paid the most attention to the clear name. If you have received favor before, you will repay it in the future. However, the word "repay" is just lip service for them. Although the phrase "the grace of a drop of water should be reciprocated by a spring", although it came from the mouth of the literati, it was regarded as a fart by almost all literati in the world. Back then, you borrowed a tael of silver from me in the cold kiln. Ten years later, the title of my gold list turned around and returned it a hundred times, but it was just a story used to deceive the audience in the play. Xu knows very well that this kind of thing does happen, but the probability of it happening is pitifully low. If there are hundreds of millions of literati in the world, those who can really do this are literati with a conscience. No more than a hundred.

Those **** new science and technology scholars, at most, responded in front of the ancestors of the Xu family, and opened their mouths to say goodbye after saying a few words. It's just a gesture, an action that makes outsiders seem to show that they haven't forgotten their previous favor. When I was a poor ghost in the past, I had to avoid the rich people like the Xu family on the road, and my eyes were full of envy. Once in high school, he immediately felt that he was noble, and when he stepped out of the door of the Xu family with his front foot, he immediately became cut off from the Xu family. There is no longer the slightest concern.

The ancestor's original idea was very beautiful, and he felt that everyone in the world had a grateful heart. The Xu family's qualifications today will definitely be exchanged for the help of poor students who have become officials in the DPRK and China in the future. In fact, to put it bluntly, this kind of thing is also normal, no matter what state capital in the world is an official, the support of rich businessmen is indispensable. However, except for the high-ranking officials of the DPRK and the Central People's Republic of China who are really discerning, none of the new science and technology scholars would have thought of this. Speaking of which, this is probably the vision of the poor ghost. When you're hungry, as long as you have a glutinous rice ball, it's good to have a good stomach. When it's cold, just have a slightly thicker piece of clothing. They did a very decisive job of thanking them, and then went to the state capital as officials. I really feel that it is still inseparable from the financial support of the Xu family. It's just that the evil consequences have been planted, and even if you want to turn back, you really have to let go of your son and identity.

When he was young, Xu never understood why the imperial court chose literati as officials? Those who said that they were good-sounding were jinshi, and if they were ugly, they were a bunch of pigs who didn't understand anything. Those who are full of mouths are also, and the sage's articles are recited backwards. Guys with a little interest can play the piano, play chess, and are their favorites, but when it comes to real needs, such as people's livelihood. build bridges and roads, and control drought and floods...... The literati became ignorant and helpless.

The Xu family needs a few people who are officials in the imperial court, but it is unfortunate that the Xu family has not been able to have a similar relationship. Over the years, millions of dollars of silver have been spilled, but there is no nobleman who can really help the Xu family in the officialdom.

The two brothers, Xu Jingkang and Xu Jingye, have been friends with the Xu family since childhood and have a close relationship. By now, Xu had also figured out the true intentions of the two cousins who came over.

Emaciated camels are bigger than horses. Although the hussar general Yang Jing died in the battle at the border pass, his title and identity are there. Despite the bad relationship between herself and Yang Tianhong, she is still his nominal mother. In any case, the ancestors will not give up this line easily. If you can get the edict through Yang Tianhong, it will be the most ideal result.

Xu Jingkang picked up a peanut from the melon and fruit bowl on the table, slowly peeled it in his hand, and quietly noticed the change in Xu's expression: "Sister, when you were asked to marry a hussar general, our Xu family really owed you." This time it was the ancestor who personally sent the words, from now on, as long as it is your request, the Xu family will never shirk it. In fact, you should also be considerate of the difficulties of your ancestors. The affairs of the Lu family hit the ancestor very hard. Haven't you seen the miserable Lu family! Hundreds of people from the whole clan were beheaded all over the house, and their heads were piled up on the execution ground. There was so much blood on the ground that I stood there, and I was drowning in my toes. The old man of the Lu family was also a very beautiful figure back then, and with a shout on the southeast, northwest, and northwest trade roads, the mountains and the north and the south sea had to give some face. The Lu family is rich enough, and I heard that the Praetorian Guards in charge of the raid dug up millions of taels of silver and more than 100,000 taels of gold from the Lu family's house. Pearls, agate, jadeite, and other treasures are innumerable. When it moved into the royal treasury, it had to temporarily vacate five warehouses to accommodate it. Sister, think about it, what is our Xu family compared to the Lu family......? It's not even a thatched house!"

Xu's heart was cold and full of disappointment, but he had to admit that what Xu Jingkang said was the truth. At this moment, Xu really wanted to cry, but suddenly found that he didn't even have the qualifications to cry. If there is no support from the Xu family, my fate may be even more miserable than that of the beheaded daughters of the Lu family. If he didn't have money from the Xu family to maintain it, and was swept out of the house by the Xu family, he was afraid that he would not have any guests if he was leaning on the door to laugh.

After all, I'm old, I'm old, and I don't have the beautiful colors of my youth.

The key to the matter still lies with Yang Tianhong.

As for the thoughts of the ancestors in the clan, the Xu family can more or less guess some.

He was a discerning and ruthless character. When you get older, you will be unscrupulous when you start doing things. Back then, ignoring Yang Liansheng's father and son to torture Yang Tianhong and asking the Xu family to watch coldly, it was the idea of the ancestors. If the plan is smooth and stable, the Xu family will be able to obtain a well-known marquis position without much effort. It's just that people are not as good as heaven, who would have thought that Yang Tianhong would be ruined, willing to give up everything, and follow the immortal master to Guiyuan Sect. (To be continued.) )