Zhuo County, Zhuo County, Liu Yan, who had been waiting at home for several days, finally waited for his famous nephew to take the initiative to come to the door today.

In the past few days, he has scolded in his heart many times that this nephew of his own family does not know the rules.

Now that he is also the patriarch of the Liu clan in Zhuo County, he naturally has no reason to take the initiative to visit a junior.

Even if he pulls down his face, it can be spread out, but the Liu family of Zhuo County can't afford to lose this face.

Some rules, whether right or wrong, good or bad, have long been established in the hearts of the world.

For example, at the wine table, needless to say, the high-ranking people always have to sit at the top and drink freely, while the lowly people often have to bend down and get drunk.

For example, when a man and a woman marry, they must be the right person.

And so on and so forth.

Therefore, at this time, Liu Yan was "teaching" his nephew who was sitting in front of him.

"Xuande, you are now famous, you are famous as a young man, and you are in full spirit, but the most taboo thing is to be complacent."

"You are famous, and I am not as good as you in terms of prestige and other things, but I am still your uncle, so even if you don't like to hear it, I still have to mention a few words about you."

Liu Bei said respectfully when he heard this: "What my uncle said is that I can have today, thanks to my uncle's help back then. ”

When Liu Bei was in Zhuo County, he was indeed quite difficult for a while, and the mother and son also relied on Liu Yuanqi's help.

Although those difficult days were not long, the charcoal in the snow in the midst of the hardship was different from the icing on the cake in the prosperous time, and it was indeed something worth remembering in his heart.

He has always believed that all people should not forget their grievances and hatreds.

Hatred can be delayed, but grace cannot be delayed.

Liu Yan saw his demeanor and nodded with satisfaction, now it seems that his nephew still respects him quite a lot.

Sometimes the elders in the family don't necessarily want the younger generations in the family to be, just to show that they still have the prestige of their family.

"It's been a long time since you came back from Takayanagi, and it's not a big deal if you don't come here. It's just that I've heard that you've been hanging out with those rangers and light men in the market all these days? Xuande, I reprimanded you for this incident back then, and now that you have achieved something, don't blame your uncle for saying more. ”

Liu Bei was silent, but listened attentively.

"You can come to this day by yourself, your heart and wrist are not bad, and now you have already gone through it in Luoyang, and you should have seen the world. Don't blame your uncle for saying it. Although the world is big, if you want to really mix up some fame, you can't put your mind on those rangers and light heroes in the market. ”

He paused, glanced at Liu Bei, and then slowly spoke, "Now is not the way of the world at the end of Qin." Even if there can be Xiao He and Zhang Liang in the market, if he has no background, he is nothing more than a ruthless Huaiyin Marquis. ”

This middle-aged man who has never seen him leave Zhuo County suddenly looked out of the door, and outside the house is a bluestone path, with flowers and trees on both sides, and many are pruned.

"Although you and I are relatives of the Han family, we have to admit it. Now in the world, the fame of the Han clan is no longer comparable to those big families. He sighed. Although I don't want to admit it, now the Han family is indeed in decline.

Liu Bei nodded, he was not surprised that Liu Yan could see through this matter.

Nowadays, the family is famous, among which the swagger is such as Runan Yuan's, known as the protégé and the old officials all over the world, and the scholars do not look up, and among them, there are also Hongnong Yang's, which is important to the times, not less than Yuan's.

As for other wealthy families, they are innumerable, with many side branches, entrenched in counties and counties, and entrenched in the countryside.

And the only one who can fight against it is now trusted by Emperor Ling above the court, and he can be regarded as a eunuch who leans towards the government and the opposition.

Now that the power of the family is getting stronger and stronger, Emperor Ling has set up Hongdu under the sect, which may not have the intention of restricting the family.

It is not difficult for famous people to see that the general trend is like today.

We all know that climbing the family and eunuchs is a shortcut to fame, but not everyone has the opportunity to climb up.

Climbing, but also have the cost of climbing.

"Since you understand this truth, why don't you return to your hometown for many days but don't visit the deceased family? I heard that I only went to Gao's once before, and there was some turmoil. Now it's still connected with those rangers in the market? Liu Yan was furious and sighed, "Now that you are famous, it is a good time to make friends with the local wealthy families." If you miss this time, you may not have such an opportunity in the future. ”

"Uncle really thinks that if he takes refuge in the family, he will be able to rise to the top?" Liu Bei, who had been silent, suddenly opened his mouth and smiled.

】

Liu Yan smiled bitterly, he had been in Zhuo County for so many years, looking forward to reviving the glory of his ancestors, what kind of face the Haoqiang family was, he was naturally clear in his heart.

"It's always an opportunity. Your uncle has survived for so many years, and as for success or failure, he always has to give it a try, otherwise when he goes to Jiuquan, what face will he have to meet your father and the ancestors in the family. ”

Liu Bei stood up, like Liu Yan before, raised his eyes and looked outside the house, "Uncle, to this day, others are untrustworthy, and it is better to ask for others than for yourself." ”

Liu Yan glanced at him, he could still guess how much this nephew was thinking at the beginning, but now he can't guess it at all.

After Liu Bei finished speaking, he didn't talk about it anymore, but turned around and sat down, and said with a smile: "Bei came this time to actually report the safety of Ah Cheng and his uncle." Now that Ah Cheng is studying under Lu Shimen, Lu Shi often praises him, and he will definitely be able to take over the mantle of Lu Shi in the future and become a world-famous Confucian. ”

"Ah Quan has written to me several times in the past two years, talking about a lot of things about studying on the mountain. In the letters, he often mentions that he can't help you, and he feels quite guilty. ”

Liu Yan smiled, "I'm going to ask you something, could it be that Ah Cheng is really so unbearable, and he can't help you at all?" Brothers, although you are not brothers, you have grown up together since childhood, and your relationship may not be worse than that of brothers. ”

Liu Bei shook his head and said with a smile: "Ah Cheng is smart, but in Yu Bei's opinion, Ah Quan's talent is slightly above literature." If he wants me to help me do these little things, it is really a bit overkill. ”

Although Liu Yan has always been strict with Liu Quan, but now when he heard Liu Bei's words, he couldn't help but smile.

Where in the world are there parents who don't like to hear their children praised?

"Even if what Xuande said is not bad, Ah Quanguo has some literary talent. But as the son of the Liu family, he should put the interests of the family first. As far as Liu is concerned, it is more practical to hope that he can become a world-famous Confucian in the future, and it is better to ask him to become an official now, and it is more practical to be an official who can help you one or two. Liu Yan was silent for a moment before speaking.

How did he not know that such a choice would be a little unfair to Liu Quan, but what could he do besides doing so?

These people didn't come over like this.

For a family to rise, there must always be generation after generation as a pedal for the younger generations to jump up.

Liu Bei smiled: "Uncle doesn't need to worry, he knows himself. On top of foreign affairs, it is better to be prepared, but to act with more intention, and there are often times when personal feelings are greater than justice. Therefore, when it comes to talking about square words, dealing with things fairly, and doing things at home, it is better to be neat. ”

Liu Yan is a smart person, and he knows the elegance when he hears the string songs, and said with a smile: "My age is not too young, and I can't do this patriarch for a few years." Now among the younger generation, you and Ah Cheng are the most promising, and most of the patriarchal positions will also fall to the two of you, and I originally wanted to entrust it to you. ”

"It's just that after listening to what Xuande said, there is some truth in it, and you are now famous. In the future, he will definitely embark on a career and go out. It's okay if you don't take the official career, just to help you guard the family portal and rectify the discipline. ”

"What my uncle said is that there is Ah Cheng at home, and he is ready to go out, so he is naturally carefree." Liu Bei also said with a smile.

Although the Liu family in Zhuoxian County is a little lonely, far less than when it was in its heyday, the rules in the family are still strict, and the things in the clan have always been based on seniority, even if Liu Yan sat in the position of the patriarch at the beginning, it was also due to the sudden rise of Liu Bei and Liu Quan, which made them have more capital to participate in it.

Although Liu Bei doesn't have any thoughts about the patriarch of the Liu clan in Zhuo County, he can give it to others, so it is naturally better to give it to his own family.

No matter how the Liu family in Zhuoxian County is declining now, it still bears the name of a Han clan in the end.

Liu Cheng has been close to him since he was a child, and he is the son of Liu Yan, so it is not difficult to succeed the patriarch in the future, even if the people in those families are stubborn, most of them will give them this face.

The purpose of his coming here today was to settle the matter, and now that the matter has been agreed, he has no intention of staying here for long.

He stood up and was about to leave, but he had already walked to the door, but he suddenly remembered something, turned his head and smiled: "Uncle, there is one more thing." Although the Liu family of Zhuoxian County is now famous, don't forget the story of the three caves of the cunning rabbit. ”

……………………

Liu Bei's stay in Zhuo County was not short, and now that the arrangements for all things in the county have been decided, he said goodbye to Liu's mother and Zhang Fei and others, and took Guan Yu to embark on the road back to Luoyang again.

The dust was everywhere, and the people went away.

If you go back to the old path, your journey will naturally be much faster than last time.

On this day they returned to the shore of the easy water.

It was still sunset, and they only came by rowing, but instead of the old man who carried them across the river and then sang and left, he became a sturdy man with a bare upper body and an oar.

At this time, the man was standing on the boat, his head was covered with sweat stains, his face showed some innocent looks, and he said with a smile: "The two Lang Jun are going to cross the river?" ”

Liu Bei nodded and smiled: "I waited for the last time I crossed the river to ferry, but I still ferried an old man, I don't know where that old man is now?" ”

Hearing Liu Bei mention the old man, the man wiped the sweat from his head and sighed, "It turns out that you know Uncle Zhou." He was too old, and it was not an easy task to cross the river by boat, so he suffered an injury and contracted a cold last year, and finally did not survive. ”

"There can't be no ferryman on this river, so that's why they came to me."

Liu Bei nodded, didn't say anything more, just paid the money and stepped on the ferry.

When the boat arrived at the center of the river, he suddenly remembered that the old man was singing here that day, shouting Fengxi and leaving.

"I wonder how the old man's future affairs settled?" Liu Bei asked.

The man said casually: "Uncle Zhou is not our local person, he came to us alone, we saw that he was old and alone, so we found this job for him to cross the river by boat." He never revealed his name, and it was hard to say whether the surname was real. We had no choice but to find a random place and bury him. ”

"That's right."

Liu Bei looked at the flowing water rolling east in front of him and stopped talking.

……………………

The two followed the old road that they entered Luoyang last time, detoured to Changshan, and then came to the court.

At this time, he and Guan Yu were leading the horse on the avenue of Chaoge.

There were many pedestrians on the road, and the voices were noisy, but at this time, Liu Bei's mind was quite depressed.

On this trip, they first learned that the old man who carried them across the river last time was dead, and then detoured to Changshan, but they never saw Zhao Yun as expected.

According to his brother, Zhao Yun traveled with his master.

Later, when he came to Chaoge, he learned that Sima Zhi had gone out to visit friends, and he didn't know when he would return.

Again and again, I can't ask for anything.

Even if Liu Bei didn't believe in ghosts and gods in his heart, he couldn't help but feel that most of the things that happened during this trip to Luoyang were afraid that something would happen.

At this time, his mind was not belonging, and he only cared about leading the horse forward.

There is a place in front of it that is quite lively, and many pedestrians gather in one place, but at this time they have no intention of doing anything else, but they have never come forward to see the excitement.

"Brother." Guan Yu suddenly shouted, "That person seems to be coming towards us." ”

Liu Bei followed his gaze, and it turned out that the originally crowded crowd in front of him had already separated the road by itself at this time, and someone rode out of it on a donkey, and it was Guan Yu and the others who walked towards it.

From a distance, the clothes of the man on the donkey's back were covered with dirt, and his beard was messy and untrimmed.

And those who were originally onlookers followed him step by step.

The donkey rider passed by them, and did not even turn his head to look at them, but the man was still reciting the words in his mouth, and when he listened carefully, he was reciting the Book of Filial Piety.

The two men led their horses to the side, and looked at the rather grotesque scene until the men faded away.

"Yun Chang still remembers when we first met Sui Gao, he once mentioned a person? Is it a deceitful way, and a wild invitation to the name? Liu Bei smiled suddenly.

Guan Yu nodded, "Brother is saying that this person is that Xiang Xu?" ”

Liu Bei shook his head and led the horse, thinking of the old man he met on the bank of Yishui, and thinking of this Xiang Xu.

Talented people are not used for time, and incompetent people deceive invitations.

In such a world, sooner or later it will be chaotic.

Sooner or later, it's just that.

There was some emotion between his words, "Yun Chang, there are many heroes in this life, not only because of the sensitivity of Zhong in this world, but also because there are too many mediocre people in this world." The two phases reflect each other, and Haojie is Haojie. ”

……………………

Out of the song and run to the pasture, there are temples that are dilapidated as before.

It was here that they met Gao Shun and Li Ping, who were sheltering from the rain here, and many things happened later.

As it happened, when they came to the temple today, the clouds suddenly closed in the air, and it seemed that another heavy rain was coming.

The two tied their horses under the eaves and walked into the temple.

It was only when they entered the temple that they found that someone in the temple had already come before them.

There were only two people in the temple, and a fire was being lit and squatting there to roast their hands.

The top is a middle-aged man with fair skin, who looks quite thin and has long hair, and at first glance looks like a scholar.

Squatting on the side of this person is a big black man, five big and three thick, with a messy beard covering his face, some like a cropper who has just walked out of the field, and some like a strong beam on the mountain, this person's face is black but Liu Bei's life is the only one.

The two people in the temple were not surprised to see Liu Bei and the others, and the scribe-like man smiled: "Meeting is fate, isn't it better for the two to sit?" ”

Liu Bei responded with a smile.

Four people sat around the fire.

The man who looked like a scribe was also a good talker, and his name was Chen He, and the big black man beside him was named Wu Yue.

"It turns out that Liu Jun is in person." Chen He said with a smile, "When I was in Luoyang, I often heard of Liu Jun's name. ”

"Chen Jun is from Luoyang?" Liu Bei stretched out his hand to bake the fire and asked with a smile.

Chen He nodded, "It is true that I came from Luoyang, and I was rude and rude before, and I committed some laws. Fortunately, now that it is time for amnesty, it is lucky to get out of prison. ”

Liu Bei never took this person's words to heart, and there have been many amnesties in the court in the past few years, and there are actually many people who have been released from prison because of this.

Now that the government is like this, those who are arrested and imprisoned are not necessarily wicked. And there are not necessarily fewer wicked people outside of prison than there are in prison.

Even those outside prison are the real "extremely vicious" people.

At this time, the thunder fell suddenly, and the rain poured down.

"I think Liu Jun is going back to Luoyang." Chen He plucked the fire in front of him with a wooden branch in his hand, making a series of crackling sounds.

Liu Bei nodded, "Preparing to go west, what does Chen Jun want to do?" ”

Chen He said with a smile: "Liu Jun will go west, and he will return to the east." After being away from my hometown for many days, many people who want to come to my hometown remember me. ”

At this time, the big black man beside Chen He was staring at Guan Yu beside Liu Bei, with a rather strange look in his eyes.

"Liu Jun Haojie, when I was in Luoyang, I heard that Liu Jun had a lot of things to promote the prestige of my Han family." Chen He said with a smile, "Liu Jun is such a heroic figure, and his career will definitely be smooth in the future, but there is something unclear, and I ask Liu Jun to solve my confusion a little." ”

Liu Bei was roasting the fire, listening to the sound of rain outside the temple, and was thinking about things next to him at this time, when he heard the words, he just smiled and said: "Chen Jun said bluntly." ”

Chen He threw the branch in his hand into the fire, looked at Liu Bei, and said with a smile: "Liu Jun thinks that if it is raging today, who is to blame?" ”

Hearing this, Liu Bei raised his head and looked at the middle-aged scribe with a smile on his face.

At this time, thunder roared outside the temple, accompanied by rain, and fell on the temple.

Liu Bei laughed softly: "I don't know who Chen Jun thinks is wrong?" ”