The second phase of the Folding Wing Canal was completed.

When Diao County Chengxing rushed into the lobby to inform him of the news, Ouyang Rong was burying his head in writing an important letter.

"Done today?" Ouyang Rong stopped writing in a daze, rubbed his eyebrows and raised his head, slightly surprised.

He subconsciously glanced out the window, it was a sunny morning.

Since the rainy season and the summer solstice, Longcheng County has been sunny every day.

Not long ago, the collapse crisis of Yunmengze's water level rose as if it had never happened.

Ouyang Rong's eyes were also a little dazed, he put down his pen and said:

"These days, it's really hard to start and stop, let's go, let's take a look."

Ouyang Rong didn't move immediately, lowered his head and silently put away the almost similar stationery written on the table, and only after cleaning it up did he get up and leave his seat.

Diao Xiancheng didn't care about these small details, the Ming Mansion really liked to stay in the county hall to write letters recently, and asked Liu Ashan to send them frequently, probably to repair the book and contact friends in the same year.

Diao Xiancheng understands it.

If he is also like Ouyang Rong, who has meritorious and famous water control, he will also contact and move around, and strive to be promoted to a better official position, and it is best to be directly transferred back to the capital to be a Qinggui Beijing official, and appreciate the prosperity of Luodu, which is known as the heart of the empire.

Ouyang Rong smiled gently, was in a good mood, and left the county government with Diao Xiancheng......

It was not until the evening that the two of them, surrounded by a group of scribes, happily returned to Luming Street.

"Mingfu, this canal is really magnificent! The old man has only seen such a magnificent scene in his life. ”

On the road, in the carriage, Diao Xiancheng had a smile on his face and a relishful aftertaste.

It seems that the picture of the canal "coming naturally" in the afternoon still shocked him a little.

Ouyang Rong nodded, and also breathed a sigh of relief.

Diao Xiancheng said again: "This is a matter of merit in the present and benefit in the future, let's go to the book and report it to the Jiangzhou government and the court?" ”

Ouyang Rong turned his head and asked curiously, "Didn't you tell me before?" ”

"Lord Mingfu, you don't understand, you have the merit of governing the place, you can't keep talking about it, even if you have already talked about it, talk about it a few more times, and focus on describing how important it is to do it, so that the people above can remember your merits, otherwise the nobles will forget more things, and they will forget it when they turn their heads, won't it be in vain?

Diao County stroked his beard, and his head came over:

"We can go and give Wang Assassin Shi Xiu another letter, and ask him to ask us for more credit, after all, this is under his rule, and it is also his credit, of course, the Ming Mansion has the greatest credit, and the lower officials are also the second assistants......"

Ouyang Rong turned his head to look at the old county man who was gushing about his experience, and the latter had a radiant look on his face.

Ouyang Rong was surprisingly not annoyed and angry today, he nodded and waved his hand casually:

"Okay, leave this matter to Master Diao, just don't blow it up."

After a pause, he turned his head again and said:

"By the way, what the official said yesterday may be a little offensive, don't worry too much about Lord Diao, it's still quite safe to come to Lord Diao to do things, and it's really a bit condescending to stay in this small county.

"But these days, I am very happy to be able to govern the county government with Lord Diao."

The young county commander smiled sincerely, opened the curtain with his fingers, looked at the dusk street outside, and said in his mouth.

Diao Xiancheng was stunned at first, "What words?" Oh, my lord meant what he said at the dock yesterday, and the officials forgot about it......"

The old county man smiled and waved his hand.

I don't take anything to heart.

Ouyang Rong smiled, suddenly put down the curtain, and said without replying:

"By the way, Master Diao, I forgot to say that this official may take a leave of absence the day after tomorrow, return to his hometown to worship his ancestors, and report this matter to Jiangzhou together...... At that time, the affairs in the county will be handed over to Lord Diao for the time being. ”

"Ming Mansion wants to go back to his hometown to worship his ancestors?"

Diao Xiancheng asked curiously, and immediately reacted, and said in a trance:

"No wonder Xia Guan saw Liu Ahan handling the matter of leasing the official ship the day before yesterday, it turned out to be for this matter.

"It's okay, it's okay, it's a common thing to worship ancestors on the Midyear Festival, the Jiangzhou government above will not refute the fake, although the Ming Mansion packs up his things and returns to his hometown, the affairs of the county government are on the shoulders of the lower officials! The decree of the Ming government is arranged, and everything is as before. ”

Diao Xiancheng only had the slashed chest of the ribs slapping to the sky.

Ouyang Rong nodded lightly.

"That's right."

The smiling Diao Xiancheng seemed to remember something and asked:

"Didn't Liu Zi'an propose to hold a ceremony to celebrate the passage of the canal on the fifteenth day of this month, and invite some businessmen to come and make the Zheyi Canal famous in Jiangzhou's water transport territory, so that the new canal can be lively and open to trade as soon as possible, what does the Ming Mansion think?"

"Is Liu Zi'an's proposal ......?"

Ouyang Rong's eyes flashed in front of Ouyang Rong's figure, who was on the side of the Folding Wing Canal not long ago, and he was respectfully accompanying him, hesitated slightly, and nodded slightly:

"This time, I was able to build the Folding Wing Canal as soon as possible, and Liu Zi'an and the Liu family did contribute a lot...... That's okay, just do what he wants, but all these expenses are paid by him Liu Zi'an, and the county government just comes forward to make a scene.

"Anyway, their Liu family also has some shares in the new ferry port of Xinqu, and the new ferry port will be lively as soon as possible, which will be beneficial to him."

Before Ouyang Rong decided to leave, he would carry forward another wave of diligence and thrift, squeezing and squeezing the Liu family, a big unjust family.

Thinking of this, he smiled embarrassedly.

I don't know if it was repaired by the dismemberment of the Liu family at the beginning, so far, Liu Zi'an is indeed much more honest than Liu Ziwen, Ouyang Rong's face is quite satisfied, this is the law-abiding and good people, other local tyrants and inferior gentry learn more, even if it is a forbearance, they will honestly be a ninja turtle for this official.

Although these things that Liu Zi'an did reached the ears of the dead man Liu Ziwen, the latter's coffin board would definitely not be able to suppress it.

"Xiaguan understands."

Diao Xiancheng nodded, and asked seriously:

"By the way, Liu Zi'an wants to invite you to the Ming Mansion, and he will also come on the fifteenth day to give a speech on the stage, so that everyone can pay tribute to the kindness of the parents and officials in the city."

"Three...... Four...... Five...... Do you have to wait five days? ”

When Ouyang Rong heard this, he shook his head directly and said:

"Diao County Cheng will take the stage to speak for the official, the official will return to his hometown tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, and he won't be able to wait for fifteen."

Bai had a chance to make a majestic appearance, and Diao Xiancheng suddenly showed joy and readily agreed.

After a while, the carriage arrived at the county office, and the two got off one after another and went back to the government to work.

Ouyang Rong walked into the public court, dismissed everyone, took out the unfinished letter left for the little junior sister, and wrote it while the sun had not completely set.

Maybe it's the success of the wings, and I'm in a good mood.

Maybe it's because I've been writing intermittently for the past two days, and my melancholy mood has been interrupted repeatedly, but it's a lot lighter.

Ouyang Rong silently filled in the payment, stamped the seal, and put the letter paper into the envelope.

He glanced at the sky, put the envelope in his arms, and got up to go home.

Back at Merlot Garden, Ouyang Rong first returned to the study, took out a bronze beast face from the box, put it in his sleeve, and then left the courtyard straight and walked towards a certain courtyard in Merlot Garden.

When he knocked on the door and walked into the compound where Liu Ashan's family lived.

Liu Mu, Liu Ashan, and Ah Qing, who had not seen each other for a long time, were eating dinner around the table.

When the family saw Ouyang Rong, they hurriedly got up and saluted to greet them.

Ouyang Rong waved his hand, pressed them back to the stool, and while laughing, he went to the back kitchen to draw a pair of dishes and chopsticks and returned, he rolled up his sleeves and sat down with A Qing's family to eat together.

Liu Ahsan was a little cramped, got up and went to light a few more oil lamps.

The East House was a little brighter.

Mother Liu silently went to the back kitchen to get some pickled radishes and mustard jars, and put them on the table not far from Ouyang Rong's hand.

Ouyang Rong was a little embarrassed, and hurriedly grabbed them, and at the dinner table, asked about Liu's mother's physical condition and recent life with a concerned face.

Ah Qing next to her, when eating, frequently turned her head to look at Ouyang Rong's gentle face when she was talking to her mother.

The little girl's big eyes were as clear as a clear spring, brighter than the candle next to her.

There is a secret light hidden inside.

Ah Qing even forgot to clip the vegetables, and went to the rice stupidly.

It was her brother's pair of chopsticks next to her who stretched out and gave her a bite of food, and the little girl reacted.

Bumped into his brother Liu Ahan with a calm and inquiring gaze, Ah Qing buried his small face in the bowl, and the white rice was more diligent.

Seeing this, Ouyang Rong also followed Ah Shan, took a few bites of food for Ah Qing, turned his head and continued to chat with Liu Mu and Ah Shan with a smile.

The little girl's ears seemed to be red, but it was not obvious in the orange candlelight.

Anyway, Ouyang Rong's sudden visit to eat, she should be quite happy.

At the back of dinner, Ah Qing took the initiative to jump off the stool and go to serve hot rice to Ouyang Rong, who was empty in the bowl.

Of course, there is also Brother Liu Ashan's empty bowl, and she didn't forget to take it.

"A-Qing is so good."

Ouyang Rong glanced at the back of Ah Qing's small body in the back kitchen, turned his head to Liu Mu and Ah Shan and asked with a smile:

"In other words, Ah Qing should be as old as Wei Lai, and the people here should not be too young, old lady, Ah Shan, when will you find a good match for her? Do you want the official to help Zhang Luo? ”

After a pause, Ouyang Rong asked in a trance:

"By the way, someone should have come to propose marriage, right?"

Liu Ashan has always been by Ouyang Rong's side, even if he does not have the status of master and servant, he is already a well-known figure in the county government.

These days, he has helped Ouyang Rong with things, and he has a wide range of contacts by the way, plus he is a native of Longcheng County, so naturally many local officials and wealthy families take the initiative to make friends, and some people have the idea of marriage, which is naturally a matter of course.

After all, Liu Ashan's family has a young sister who is waiting to be married, even if the word "Yue" is tattooed on her forehead, it is not much of an obstacle, and it is not disfigured, in Ouyang Rong's words, it should still be a hot commodity in the wedding market in a small county town in the south of the Yangtze River.

Sure enough, Liu Ashan and Liu Mu glanced at each other, and the latter bowed his head slightly, but then sighed, squeezed out some smiles and said:

"Don't hide it from the master, there are pure and good families with a solid family who came to hint at the proposal, but it didn't work out."

Why is that? Are they still picking on Ah Qing? Ah Qing is a good girl, it is a blessing to be able to marry back, and she is the face of a prosperous husband. Ouyang Rong frowned slightly.

"It's Ah Mei who doesn't like it." Liu Ahsan suddenly said in a muffled voice.

Ouyang Rong was stunned: "A-Qing is picking?" That, that's right, don't like it......" His face stopped talking, and the instant change before and after seemed a little bit of a double standard.

"It's not that I don't like it, they're all honest and good boys." Liu Ashan hesitated, looked at Ouyang Rong and said, "But Ah Mei said that she doesn't want to marry yet." ”

Ouyang Rong shook his head with a smile, didn't think much about it, and said directly:

"That's the little girl's love family, you have to take the lead as a brother, marry her a sister-in-law as soon as possible, and when she sees your little two happy, she will know that she is anxious and understands that she is an 'outsider' in the family."

His half-joking tone.

The wooden man in front of him didn't smile, maybe he was used to the stuffy gourd, he stared at Ouyang Rong for a while with the expression on his face.

Liu Ashan's eyes were a little hesitant.

Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes: "Then how is your situation, Ashan, I heard last time that your aunt gave you a girl from a good family, how is it doing?" ”

Liu Ahan came back to his senses, and when he heard Ouyang Rong mention it, a very rare smile appeared on his thin face:

"Thank you for your concern, I ...... I like her, and she loves me! ”

Halfway through speaking, he hurriedly picked up the wine jug, raised his head and poured three sips of rice wine in a row, almost choking his face red.

Ouyang Rong blinked: "Doesn't this talk to me?" ”

Liu Ahsan was stunned, "Master likes to listen to this?" ”

Ouyang Rong was calm: "What I ask is this, can I be different from ordinary people?" ”

Liu Ahan blurted out curiously: "I still thought that the master didn't like the relationship between men and women, and only concentrated on official business, like Master Xie......"

At this time, A-Qing's figure appeared outside the door, and the man's mouth stopped.

I saw the little girl trotting back with two large bowls of hot rice, and she handed it to Ouyang Rong and Ah Shan dexterously and lightly.

"Huhu...... What are you talking about? Ah Qing sat back on the wooden stool, and asked in a low voice while blowing on his somewhat red fingers.

"Nothing." Liu Ahsan shook his head.

Ouyang Rong laughed: "Let's talk about marriage." ”

Ah Qing's movements suddenly stopped, and his small body tensed.

Fortunately, Ouyang Rong's words did not pause, and the voice came again:

"Your brother is still a little embarrassed to mention this."

"Uh-oh."

Ah Qing chick nodded like a peck of rice, she patted the smooth forehead tattooed with the word "Yue", and looked away.

In the depths of my clear eyes, I don't know if I am relieved or lost.

After half a burnt incense, dinner ends.

"Ahsan, come out and go down."

Ouyang Rong stood in the courtyard, called out, and waited quietly.

Liu Mu tacitly went to the back kitchen to wash the dishes, and Liu Ashan, who cleaned up the table with Ah Mei, put down the work in her hand, walked out of the door, and gathered with Ouyang Rong, who seemed to have something to say, and silently walked to the pavilion under the shade of the trees not far away.

But at this time, Ah Qing ran out of the door with a small green cloth bag in both hands, caught up with the two, and said timidly:

"Master, there is something in the slave family."

"What?" Ouyang Rong immediately stopped and asked, "Someone bullied you?" ”

"No, it's not."

Ah Qing's face also showed doubts, and he handed over the green cloth burden in his arms:

"During the day, someone from the sword shop came to me, it was Sister Cheng, who used to open a morning stall and had been taking care of the slave family, and gave it to the slave family.

"She said that it was the old craftsman who liked to drink rice wine and had a bad temper who asked her to send it to the slave family."

Ouyang Rong frowned slightly: "It's good, what about giving gifts?" ”

Ah Qing recalled and repeated: "It seems that the old gentleman said that this is a return gift to repay the slave family for his drunkenness, and he wants the slave family to put it away." ”

"What is it that you give? If it's too valuable, return it."

Ah Qing lowered his head and opened the baggage, reached in with his small hand, directly took out an object, and handed it to Ouyang Rong with both hands.

She raised her little face and said:

"The old gentleman said that this gift is famous, and it is called 'Craftsman', what do you say...... The old man has nothing, so he gives a craftsman's work...... And let the slave family not forget this name.

"Well, by the way, the old gentleman also said that in the future, there may be strange women who come to the slave family to ask for this thing, and then the slave family can decide for themselves whether to hand over this gift called 'craftsman' in exchange for some other conditions and benefits."

Ouyang Rong was stunned when he heard this.

When I looked closely, there was a blue butterfly flower folded by paper folding quietly on the small hand of the delicate girl Bai Shengsheng in front of me.

It's very familiar.

Ouyang Rong frowned slightly and said:

"Last time, I raided and searched the sword shop, and the old gentleman was about to return it, but I refused it for you, why did you send it again, and take a strange name......

"Craftsman?"

Ouyang Rong showed some curiosity on his face, and muttered:

"Craftsmanship...... In addition to the title of ordinary craftsmen, in Cihai, this word seems to refer to the old-fashioned works made by ordinary craftsmen, full of craftsmanship and lacking spirituality......

"Is this old gentleman playing a fool's joke with Ah Qing? Possess a childlike innocence? ”

(End of chapter)