In the Chen Mansion, the housekeeper Chen Zhuzheng commanded a group of subordinates to put the rewards sent from the palace and the gifts sent by Chen Ruoping's friends in the court into the warehouse. From time to time, he went to the kitchen to check on the progress of the cooks, and then went to the gate to take a look.

The Chen Mansion was busy, except for three people.

Mo Xiao, Mo Cong, and Mo Min, as soon as the three of them came, they were arranged to rest in the guest room. There were all kinds of fruit snacks on the table in the guest room, and Chen Zhu asked the three of them not to be polite, just as if they were in their own homes, and also ordered the people to wait outside, ready to pour tea and water for the three of them at any time.

When the three of them saw him so enthusiastic, they didn't restrain themselves. Mo Min sat and rested for a while, then stood at the door and watched curiously as a group of maid servants came and went in the courtyard. Mo Cong smiled at Mo who didn't speak, and talked with each other, guessing Chen Ruoping's identity and background, and talking about his next step.

A crisp sound of horses' hooves stopped outside the gate. Chen Ruoping led the horse in from outside, and Chen Zhu hurriedly went up to take the reins of the horse.

"What about the three guests?" asked Chen Ruoping as he walked.

"I'm resting in the West Cross Courtyard. I heard that Xiao Er say that he was your honored guest, so I didn't dare to slack off. ”

"Well, that's good. You prepare more water for the black cloud, and it is tired after a day of running. Chen Ruoping patted the war horse's cheek. "By the way, feed less forage, and I'll go out after dinner. ”

He gave him a few words, and then turned around and walked across the courtyard to the west.

"Oops, you're finally back. Mo Min saw Chen Ruoping coming from a distance, so he jumped over and grabbed his arm.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting. Chen Ruoping didn't care, and the two walked in side by side.

"You haven't told me yet, we're not from Shangdu, what's so strange?" Mo Min asked as he walked.

"Hehe, are you still thinking about this?"

"Yes, if you don't understand, you have to ask. ”

"To tell you the truth, I'm not from Shangdu. Chen Ruoping smiled slyly, with a teasing expression. He stepped into the room, greeted Mo Xiao and Mo Cong, and continued: "And strictly speaking, I am not from Rui at all. ”

"Hmph, lie!" Mo Min let go of his arm and pouted, "I already asked your little maid just now, they said that you are the general of the Rui Kingdom, how can you not be from the Rui Kingdom?"

Mo Cong Mo smiled and looked at Chen Ruoping curiously, expecting him to give the answer.

"Ahem, that's a long story. Chen Ruoping sat down on the chair, took a sip of a glass of water, and said, "I am from the country of Chen in the southwest. Because Chen Guo and Rui Guo have always been good friends and are like a family, I came to Shangdu by chance when I was twelve years old, and I entered the Central Army by chance, and then mixed up to the present by chance. ”

"And then you ran into us by chance, didn't you?" said Mo Min, learning his tone. "Why the hell is so strange that you haven't said it yet?" she was still dwelling on the question.

"A few of you may not know. Chen Ruoping looked around at the three of them and said, "The accent of Shangdu sounds very simple, but the subtleties are extremely difficult to learn. As soon as an outsider speaks, a few words will be revealed. I heard you speak with a pure accent, so I mistakenly thought that you were from Shangdu, or someone like me who had been in Shangdu for at least a few years. ”

"Oh, maybe our master was originally from Shangdu or stayed in Shangdu, anyway, the three of us have been talking like this since childhood. Mo Min nodded as if he didn't understand.

"Brother Chen, you're not very old now, are you? It's amazing to be a general so quickly. Mo Cong said.

"Well, I'm twenty years old, not yet twenty to be exact. But the general or something, it's just luck, and there's nothing great about it. Chen Ruoping said modestly.

"Yes, I'm still a few months away from turning twenty, so we were born in the same year?" Mo Cong said in surprise.

The two then compared the months to see who was bigger, and the results showed that even the months were the same. But there is no way to compare it here, because Mo Cong is an orphan, he only knows his approximate birth month, but he doesn't know the specific date of birth.

"It's not comparable, it's not comparable, anyway, your status is high and the credit is great, if I call you Brother Chen, it will definitely not be wrong. Mo Cong said.

Absolutely can't you go wrong?

Chen Ruoping smiled bitterly.

She is actually a girl, originally called Chen Ruoping, just to make it easier to show up, she changed her name to Chen Ruoping after coming to Ruiguo, and always kept dressing as a man. However, there are only three people in the entire Rui Kingdom who know this secret. One is the late Ruiguo Emperor Hang Lu, the other is the current Ruiguo Emperor Hang Xiao, and the other is Chen Zhu, the housekeeper Chen Ruoping brought from Chen Guo. Even Yan Tao, the commander of the intelligence department with his hands and eyes in the sky, didn't know this secret, and when he saw Chen Ruoping, he shouted nonsense.

Brother Chen, Brother Chen, Chen Ruoping thought. She's used to it anyway.

"Young master, the meal is ready. While a few people were talking, Chen Zhu came over and stood at the door in an orderly manner and called out.

The four of them moved to the dining room together, only to see a table full of dishes, and the room was full of fragrance.

Chen Ruoping drove Chen Zhu and all the maids who came to serve to other rooms to eat, and she personally poured wine and cloth dishes for the three brothers and sisters of the Mo family.

"Three, what happened at noon today is really offended. Chen Ruoping's lack of strict management of the army caused his subordinates to play tricks on the street, and if there was a collision, he would also look at the three Haihans. I'm punishing myself with a drink here, and I'm not going to accompany the three of them on their behalf. Chen Ruoping said and picked up the wine and punished himself.

"No, no, Brother Chen governs the army strictly and fairly, and everyone sees it. Mo Cong hurriedly said.

"By the way, Brother Chen, how could those dozen or so people not bring any money today, and they still want you to settle the bill for them?" Mo Min asked suspiciously.

"Well, it's not that they don't have any money, but they don't have any money at all. Chen Ruoping sighed. "Speaking of which, those people are also very pitiful, they fight for the Swiss country all day long, and fight for the people, but they have not received a penny of military pay for several years. More than a dozen of them were penniless, so they were in a situation like noon today, and they couldn't even afford to pay for a few bowls of noodles. ”

"Oh, no wonder they wouldn't pay anyway, I see. Mo Min suddenly realized. "But they don't have any money on them, so they should make it clear to others. If they explain it like this, maybe they won't take the money. ”

"Hehe, explain?" Chen Ruoping smiled bitterly, "If they don't explain like that, they just lose their own face." If it is really explained, it will be a loss of the face of the court and the face of the country. ”

When the three brothers and sisters heard her say this, they immediately understood the difficulties and hardships of those sergeants at that time.

"Brother Chen, is our country very poor, how can we not pay military salaries for several years?" asked Mo Cong.

"Poverty is not poverty. Chen Ruoping said, "In recent years, the wind and rain in Ruiguo have been relatively smooth, and there have been no disasters in the local area, so the harvest of grain products is not bad." However, in the past two or three years, the treasury of the Swiss country has not known what is going on, and it has been in deficit every year, and then it has been so short that it has not even been able to pay military salaries. We living people are fine, although we can't receive military salaries, but the army naturally takes care of food and clothing. The most pitiful thing is those comrades-in-arms who sacrificed their lives for the country, they have been dead for several years, but their families have not even received pensions. ”

"It's really hard for you to say that. Brother Chen, the three of us toast you and all your comrades-in-arms, and thank you for your contributions to the people of Sweden over the years. Mo Cong raised his wine glass as he spoke, Mo Xiao Mo Min also raised his wine glass, they all touched the glass with Chen Ruoping, and the four of them all raised their heads and drank the wine in their glasses. The previous misunderstandings disappeared with this glass of wine.

"But we all suffer, but a group of like-minded people get together, and sometimes there is a lot of fun. Chen Ruoping poured the wine for the three of them, and then told the three of them about some things in the army while eating. She has rich experience, and she is eloquent and pleasant, and when she talks about some things in the army, the three brothers and sisters of the Mo family listen to it with relish.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors, Chen Ruoping changed his words and said, "Three, forgive me for taking the liberty of it." What kind of person is your master? Tell me, I'll ask my friend to help you find it. ”

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