"Coral trees?" Xun Bao sneered and said, "Don't talk nonsense if you don't understand, I've seen coral, but how can there be such a tall coral tree with such sparse branches and such bright colors?" ”

"Not really!" Xiahoumen also said, "Not to mention anything else, the crown worn by the emperor at major ceremonies has twelve beads hanging from the front and back, which is the real white jade or coral beads used, and even the jade is not ranked." You think, even a small coral bead can be compared to jewelry, if it is such a big coral tree, then it will have it? ”

Biyu finally said coldly: "Several sons of the family still dare not conclude this treasure, what do you pretend to understand here as a poor boy from a poor family?" ”

Even Xiao Mo, who has always supported Shu Yan, was at a loss, and she asked in a low voice: "Brother Shu, do you really know or pretend to understand?" ”

Shu Yan was silent. At this time, Wang Kai saw everyone's surprised expressions, very complacent, he squinted arrogantly and glanced at Shi Chong again, meaning: How is it? I used to be richer than you, but I couldn't compare to you, but today I finally made you obedient, right? This is a coral tree given by the emperor, a treasure from the bottom of the sea, the world has never heard of it, and even if your Shi family has it, it is never so tall.

Unexpectedly, Shi Chong swept the coral tree with his eyes, a trace of disdain flashed on his face, and he snorted contemptuously, then got up, picked up the iron ruyi in his hand and struck hard, and with a "snap", this rare coral tree in the world shattered.

"What are you doing?! Wow, yaaaa Wang Kai was greatly shocked by Shi Chong's actions, thinking that the other party was jealous of his baby, so he became angry, and then smashed it. He jumped like thunder and roared angrily, "Shi Jilun, do you know that this is a coral tree given by the emperor, a unique treasure, you dare to break it?!" ”

Shi Chong smiled contemptuously: "It's just a coral tree, what is it worth!" Just give you one back. After saying that, he commanded to the left and right: "Take all my coral trees, and let the queen's army choose." ”

After a while, many servants brought Shi Chong's coral trees one after another and filled the house. These coral trees are crystal clear and radiant. Wang Kaihao was blinded, and what surprised him even more was that Shi Chong's coral trees were not only numerous, but also very huge, with six or seven trees three or four feet high, like the two-foot ones that he had broken just now. Wang Kai's arrogance and anger were all gone all of a sudden, he was stunned, where did he have the face to claim?

This time the fight for wealth still ended with Wang Kai's defeat and Shi Chong's complete victory. Shi Chong's behavior once again shocked the world. Today's occasion really opened the eyes of several young people. However, compared with seeing so many cherished coral trees, what surprised the three sons even more was that Shu Yan, as a humble family, why was he able to distinguish this thing? Although they were impressed with Shu Yan in their hearts, they still disdained him on the surface.

Xiao Mo admired Shu Yan very much, and the moment Wang Kai announced that this treasure was a coral tree, she was happy and surprised. Peeked at the three sons again, and they all showed embarrassed expressions.

Out of Jingu Garden, remembering their cynicism at Brother Shu just now, Xiao Mo stopped them and said in a mocking tone: "Yo, three, you are all sons of a family whose ancestors were officials in the court, there are countless treasures in the family, and you have seen the world, don't be in a hurry to leave, we people from poor families have not seen much of the world, and we are about to ask you for advice on treasures!" ”

Biyu and the three of them were embarrassed when they heard these mocking words, they all knew that Xiao Mo had a powerful mouth, so they didn't dare to reply. Xiao Mo made a disdainful expression at them, and then couldn't wait to ask, "Brother Shu, how did you know that it was a coral tree?" Have you ever seen it? ”

"This kind of treasure is rare in the world, how can I have seen it?"

"And how did you recognize it?"

"For I see that the treasure is as hard as jade, and has a delicate luster, but judging by its tall appearance and many bright and delicate branches, it is not an artificially carved gem, and it must have grown naturally, and there is nothing else in nature that has these characteristics except coral."

Biyu listened to Shu Yan's words, although it was irrefutable, but he was still not convinced: "Listening to your tone, it seems that you know a lot about jewelry!" ”

Shu Yan didn't reply to him, but asked the three sons: "You are all wealthy families, you must have a lot of treasures hidden in your family, right?" ”

"Absolutely."

"What's the treasure?"

When the three sons heard the question, they all told the treasures of the family to show off: some said that there were golden hairpins, jade pendants, agate plates, and pearls at home; Some say that there are silver horses, jade bracelets, rhinoceros horns, and amber at home; Some say that there are copper tripods, coral beads, and ivory towers at home......

Xiao Mo's grandfather, as the chief, naturally has no shortage of treasures at home. But she was also a little surprised when she heard the three sons say so many treasures: "You said so much, whether it's true or not, show it to me another day, otherwise it's all nonsense." ”

Shu Yan smiled casually: "It doesn't matter if you blow it or not, but although there are a lot of these treasures they have, they are nothing more than the following categories: first, metals, such as gold, silver, copper, etc.; the second is the genus Stone, such as jade, jade, agate, etc.; The third is the genus of mammals, such as ivory, rhinoceros horn, etc., ......"

"No, Brother Shu, did you lose the pearls, coral, and amber? They must belong to the genus Stone, right? ”

"No, no, no." Shu Yan smiled, "Although they have a hard appearance, they are not stone, but belong to another category. I can't say what they are, they are not natural like stones, nor are they parts taken from beasts. Although these treasures are not living creatures, they are generated from living creatures. Pearls, for example, are taken from the body of a mussel but do not belong to any part of the mussel; Amber, which is formed by coating the body of a small insect with pine resin; Finally, there's the coral, which is transformed from seabed creatures. ”

"Hmph." Biyu expressed his indignation, "Why do you say that coral is not a stone, but a transformation of underwater creatures?" How to prove it? Have you ever been to the bottom of the sea? ”

"I can't prove it. I've never been to the bottom of the sea, not even the sea. ”

Biyu laughed and mocked with a scripture: "I haven't even seen the sea, so I dare to say how much I know about corals?" Confucius has a cloud: 'Knowing is knowing, not knowing is not knowing, and knowing is knowing'. You're the kind of person who doesn't know what to do, right? ”

Xiao Mo knew that what Biyu said was not a good thing, but he didn't understand it, so he asked Shu Yan: "What did Shi De mean?" ”

"He said I didn't know how to pretend to understand."

"Ah, you boy." Xiao Mo raised his eyebrows, "You three sanctimonious ignorant boys don't know how to pretend to understand." If you really understand, tell me! ”

Biyu and the three were dumbfounded by Xiao Mo's question.

Shu Yan also followed and said tooth for tooth: "According to your statement, you shouldn't know coral if you haven't been to the bottom of the sea, so if you want to understand the Analects, you must first meet Confucius?" ”

Biyu was so frightened that he blushed and spoke, and Shu Yan quoted Confucius's words again: "Hear more, choose the good one and follow it, people are not born to know it, but they can be sensitive to it." I haven't seen much of the world, but I can learn more and make up for it. ”

"That's right. I don't have any of the treasures you just said, but I'm afraid that Brother Shu has read more books than the three of you combined. ”

Seeing that Shu Yan and Xiao Mo sang and harmonized, the three sons were flawless, so they could only hurriedly get on the calf cart and leave in disgrace.

"It's been a great day. Although I didn't have a good time visiting the famous Golden Valley Garden, I saw rare treasures, and I also taught those three arrogant people a lesson, it's really worth the trip, right, Brother Shu? ”

Shu Yan nodded in agreement, and then drove Xiao Mo back in the calf car.

Xiao Mo returned to the palace, met Zhixin, and told him about Shi Chong and Wang Kai Doubao. Xiao Mo had been curious about a question, so he asked Zhixin: "Although I have heard for a long time that your Shi family is rich, I didn't expect to be rich to this extent, and even the tall coral tree that the emperor regards as a treasure is not a rare thing in the Shi family!" How did your family get so rich? Is it because your family is after the founding of the country? ”

Zhixin smiled faintly: "The ancestor was indeed the founder of the Great Jin Dynasty, the so-called 'Eight Princes Tongchen': Dazai, Taifu, Taibao, Da Sima, Great General, Taiwei, Situ, Sikong, the ancestor is one of them, ranked in the position of Great Sima, and was even named the county duke, it can be said that he is a very human minister, because of his outstanding military achievements, he was also rewarded by the emperor very richly. ”

"Oh, I can't complain, it turns out that your family is blessed by your ancestors!"

"No, no, no." Zhixin shook her head, "You're wrong to think so. All of my Aweng's wealth and wealth were obtained by himself, and he did not inherit the legacy of his ancestors at all. ”

"All self-earned? How is this possible? ”

"According to my mother, my father was very shrewd and intelligent since he was a child, and his ancestors had six sons, and I, Ah Weng, was the youngest. When the grandfather was dying, he gave his sons a lot of property, and the rest of the sons gave a lot of property, except for the youngest son. The grandmother was worried about the little son and wanted to get a little for him, so she questioned the grandfather about it. The grandfather said confidently: Don't look at this son as the youngest, but he has a great ability to get rich in the future. It's not that I don't give it to him, it's that my little wealth may be nothing in his eyes in the future. Later, it turned out that, as my grandfather expected, my Aweng's wealth really exceeded that of my ancestors I don't know how many times. ”

"Ah, why? Shi Shizhong is just a Marquis of Anyang, and he is far from your ancestor in terms of official position and title, how did he get so much wealth? ”

Xiao Mo thought that Zhixin would be happy because her father won the fight for wealth, but she didn't expect Zhixin to be not happy when she heard the whole process, but seemed to add a layer of melancholy. Zhixin smiled stiffly and did not answer Xiao Mo. She did add a layer of melancholy to her heart: the two-foot-tall coral tree, which even the royal family regarded as a treasure, was actually only ordinary in the Shi family. I can't complain that my mother is often worried, my father is so high-profile to show off his wealth, and he is so indulgent, even the treasures given by the emperor dare to be broken. The current Shi family is very powerful in the court, and the emperor is kind and generous, thinking of the old feelings of the heroes. But officialdom is unpredictable, and if one day passes, the consequences will be unpredictable......

Some people died, but not completely......