When it was close to noon that day, in the living room of Zhang Shanlin's house, the employee was pouring tea for him, Zhang Shanlin was holding a gourd with a gourd in his hand and listening to it with relish, Lin Manjiang hurriedly walked into the courtyard, and before he stepped into the threshold, the voice arrived first: "Shopkeeper, the matter is finally clear!" ”

"What's the matter?" Zhang Shanlin's ears did not leave the gourd.

"As for the exam paper, we can't let people rob it, I don't know who did it, right?"

Zhang Shanlin's mind was still on the grasshopper, and he asked without a match: "Who did it?" ”

Lin Manjiang looked at the employing person, stepped forward, and whispered in Zhang Shanlin's ear, Zhang Shanlin waved his hand and asked the employing person to retreat.

"Man Jiang, the shopkeeper of Maoyuan Zhai seems to be surnamed Chen, right? Who is this Zhuang Huchen? Zhang Shanlin was familiar with "Zhuang Huchen", but he really couldn't remember what he was doing.

"Ouch, I said shopkeeper, where is there anyone in Liulichang who doesn't know Zhuang Huchen? Although he is only a big buddy of Maoyuanzhai on the surface, but in fact, the management of Maoyuanzhai depends on him, so to speak, without the support of Zhuang Huchen, ten Maoyuanzhai also collapsed, this Chen shopkeeper, that is, an ornament. ”

Zhang Shanlin put down the gourd, and he walked around the room with his hands behind his back: "It's really evil, a calligraphy post will put Prince Gong on the table, whose words do you say?" ”

"Tang Dynasty Huaisu's "Self-Narrative Post", but it is not a genuine copy, it is a copy of the Song Dynasty, Huaisu's true work does not exist much, so it is very precious to have a copy of the Song Dynasty, I heard that the prince is good for this, the people in Prince Gong's mansion said, the prince also said that if there is a true work of Huaisu, he would rather use the entire Gongwang Mansion to change." Zhang Shanlin stopped suddenly: "Is that really what the prince said?" ”

"An uncle and brother of mine is a cook in Prince Gong's Mansion, he heard it, and he can't be wrong to think about it." Lin Manjiang replied in the affirmative.

Zhang Shanlin smiled: "God has eyes, God has eyes, we have Huaisu's true works!" ”

"Really?" Lin Manjiang was stunned, then woke up, and for the first time there was a smile on his face that had been gloomy for several days, "That's great, Songzhu Zhai is saved!" ”

"What do you mean......"

"Aren't we going to pay tribute too? As long as the prince sends a sentence, the trading of exam paper must be our exclusive operation. ”

Zhang Shanlin smiled: "I said Manjiang, your head is simply an elm pimple, if there is a palace of Prince Gong, then what do we want Songzhu Zhai to do?" ”

Lin Manjiang scratched his scalp and looked at Zhang Shanlin: "This is also true, but it's ......"

Zhang Shanlin didn't have time to listen, he shouted outside the door: "Prepare a car for me!" So he picked up the gourd and walked out.

Lin Manjiang followed: "Shopkeeper, you want to go out?" ”

"It's no big deal, I'll talk to Youlin about it, I'll go to Hongxing Building for dinner at noon, that's it." Zhang Shanlin got into the car and left.

In the private room "Jinfeng Pavilion" in Hongxing Building, Yang Xianji and several colleagues were dining, and Liu Guangdi was sitting next to him. Yang Xianji and Liu Guangdi have worked together in Sichuan, although Yang Xianji is much higher than Liu Guangdi in the official position, but Yang Xianji admires Liu Guangdi's upright and upright personality, and the two have a very good personal relationship, which can be regarded as old friends. Liu Guangdi is an honest official, and usually does not participate in this kind of eating, drinking, and socializing, and he came here on this day at the invitation of Yang Xianji. They were catching up when they heard a commotion in the private room opposite.

In the private room opposite, a middle-aged fat man wearing a gold-trimmed robe with an oily face pushed the plate and said angrily: "Where is this duck soup simmered, it's purely a matter of deception!" ”

The shopkeeper of Hongxing Building was busy compensating for it: "Master Peng, don't worry, I'll let the cook redo it for you, according to your taste, the taste is a little stronger!" So saying, the shopkeeper bent down and leaned into the fat man's ear and said:

"You are really an expert, today a chef has a serious cold, can't get up from the kang, the apprentice is top, the craft is not at home, you take care of it, take care of it, take care of it......"

The Peng Ye raised his face and looked at the shopkeeper with a little smugness: "I said it was a meng, right?" ”

"Master Peng, don't be so loud." The shopkeeper looked out cautiously.

"And how do you count this silver?" Peng Ye has never been ambiguous in silver.

"You see, you see, you give."

That's all there is to it. Peng Ye looked up at the shopkeeper again, and instructed slowly: "Chef Ming'er, make it for me, the southern tofu has to be made by your Hongxing Building, don't use the southern tofu from the tofu shop to deal with it, Peng Ye, I can taste it." ”

"You can rest assured, rest assured." The shopkeeper said in his heart, I dare not fool you.

"Duck soup has to be simmered for enough hours, so let's put it this way, the soup that simmers in an hour or two is not called soup, you know what it is called? That's called brushing pot water. ”

"Yes, yes, that's called brushing pot water." The shopkeeper replied, and added, "I'll simmer for ten hours in the morning." "I thought, I should be satisfied now, right?

I didn't know that Peng Ye was not finished yet, and continued to put up the requirements: "The southern tofu should be put on the Jinhua ham, the knife skills should be fine, chop a little, don't forget to put good shiitake mushrooms." ”

"I will do so, and I will send you a letter in advance when the chef is ready."

"If I'm not at home, I'll send it directly to the yamen."

The shopkeeper smiled flatteringly: "I guarantee that this dish will still be hot in your mouth......"

Yang Xianji looked stupid and asked Liu Guangdi: "Who is this, why is it so big?" ”

"The people of our criminal department, your subordinates, are under your left squire who are on errands." Liu Guangdi's face was full of disdain.

Another colleague picked up and said, "His surname is Wang, his name is Wang Jinpeng, and he is a scribe. ”

Yang Xianji was puzzled: "At least all of you here are officials above the fifth grade, how dare he, a little scribe, be so presumptuous, didn't he see us?" ”

"He didn't break the law, so we can't help him." Liu Guangdi shook his head helplessly.

"Why does this guy look like a rich businessman? Compared with this scribe, I, the left servant of the criminal department, really look shabby. ”

"Brother Yang may still have something to know," Liu Guangdi put down his chopsticks, "This little official in the capital is extraordinary, didn't someone say, 'Beijing, the court officials are so poor that they can't survive on their own, and the officials have accumulated hundreds of millions of dollars, and they enjoy food and clothing, like kings', so that transgressions and violations of the system occur from time to time." ”

"Yes...... What do the little scribes in the yamen rely on to accumulate money? Yang Xianji looked at Liu Guangdi and was still surprised.

"Although the scribe is small, but he has real power in his hands, usually the case is handled in the yamen, the court official is handed over to the judge, and the official is handed over to the scribe, and the clerk reviews the case, and submits it back to the judge, and the judge polishes it a little and then submits it to the court official, at this time, if the court official does not reject it, the case is settled."

Yang Xianji suddenly realized: "I see! They relied on their familiarity with the official affairs of the cases, held the court officials and officials hostage, and let go of the treacherous and bribery acts. ”

"Brother Yang's quick thinking, not less than back then!" Liu Guangdi nodded approvingly, "That's right, the six yamen have to handle a lot of official business every day, and the case documents are piled up." ”

Another colleague present then said: "Lord Yang, there are many laws and regulations in the Qing Dynasty, especially in the Criminal Department, which not only has the "Great Qing Law", but also is familiar with the "examples" of various names, such as 'Losing the key to the East City Gate is handled by losing the seal', there are also 2,000 such examples. If you can't remember, don't you have to find these officials? ”

Yang Xianji sighed: "So the scribe is enforcing the law to control the officials, what a strange thing!" ”

"Alas! In today's imperial court, it is not enough to govern corruption by officials, but in my opinion, the immutable law is not enough to cure its roots! Liu Guangdi became excited and slammed his fist on the dining table.

Zhang Shanlin and Zhang Youlin walked into Hongxing Building, and the cousin waiting at the door took them straight to the pre-booked seats.

The uncle and nephew sat down, and the cousin sent the menu, Zhang Shanlin didn't even look at it, and threw it on the table casually, he instructed the cousin: "Steamed duck, simmered winter bamboo shoots with ham, steamed duck liver, braised preserved abalone, these four hot dishes are enough, and you can just look at the cold meat with a few things." Zhang Shanlin asked his nephew: "Young Lin, what kind of wine are you drinking?" ”

"The old rule is still 'lotus white'." Zhang Youlin replied without thinking, and added, "Man, bring me another crystal shrimp cake and two bowls of sweet soup walnut cheese, hurry up." ”

"You two wait, just talk." The cousin trotted away like a smoke.

Zhang Shanlin praised Zhang Youlin: "Hey! Youlin, you can do it, look at your order, it's a bit of a master, that's right, what is a master? Knowing how to eat and play is the master. ”

Zhang Youlin frowned: "Uncle, if you want to talk about eating, drinking and having fun, my nephew is still far away, alas, there is no way, the silver in my pocket can't keep up, if I am like you, the silver on the counter can be spent casually, I have to eat all the famous restaurants in the capital!" ”

"Yo ho, my nephew still has a little ambition, it's not difficult to eat all over the capital, but you can't eat everything, you have to taste the specialty dishes of each famous restaurant one by one, let's put it this way, you have to know what kind of dishes are good here, how to order a method, you can't order a full banquet as soon as you open your mouth, that's not called a master, that's called a big wrong, the cost of silver is small, but we can't afford to plant the face." Zhang Shanlin dragged the stool back and lifted Erlang's legs.

"Alas, uncle, there is a lot of knowledge here, you have to teach me time, and if you don't say anything else, just say this dish, the water here is deep."

Zhang Shanlin came to the spirit: "That is, you don't have twenty or thirty years of work, do you want to be the master in the capital?" There are no doors either! When it comes to ordering food, it's not just for eating, but also for the meaning of identity. For example, when you arrive at Zhengyang Building, you have to order steamed crab and crab crispy; When you arrive at Zhimei Zhai, you have to open your mouth to be a four-made fish, what is a four-made fish? Braised fish head, sweet and sour tiles, middle of sauce, smash fish fillet......"

Zhang Youlin took over: "When you arrive at Houdefu, you have to order iron pot eggs, thick pieces of fish, walnut waist ......."

"Hey! Nephew, you can do it, it's the right way. ”

"No, no, I'm still far behind you!" Zhang Youlin looked modest and studious.

The cousin served the food, and the uncle and nephew buried their heads in eating. Not far behind them, Zhuang Huchen was having dinner with Pan Zhang, a long-time collaborator and supplier of the original Songzhu Zhai South Paper Shop, and a few other guests. I saw Zhuang Huchen holding a wine glass and said: "Shopkeeper Pan, I am so happy today, you promised to cooperate with Maoyuanzhai for a long time, it is really a face for the small shop, I represent our shopkeeper Chen, a glass of shopkeeper Pan, I will do it first!" Zhuang Huchen drank it all.

"Mr. Zhuang, I won't tell you, today I have a ...... in my heart It's really a bit of a panic......" Shopkeeper Pan held the wine glass in his hand, but he didn't drink it.

Zhuang Huchen seemed very understanding, and he said while distributing vegetables to the shopkeeper Pan: "I know, the shopkeeper Pan is still worried about the affairs of Songzhuzhai." ”

"Yes, our Pan family and Songzhuzhai have cooperated for several lifetimes, who would have thought that today we have reached the point of breaking up, this is really no way, Zhang Shanlin, this master is good, but he can't do business, again and again, he owes money and doesn't pay, I can't always follow the compensation." Shopkeeper Pan said what was in his heart.

"That is, friendship is friendship, trading is trading, these are two different things, Shopkeeper Pan is tolerant enough in the friendship of the old generation, if you change someone, I'm afraid I won't do it a few years ago, still wait until now?" Zhuang Huchen is telling the truth.

"Alas, that's what I said, but when did I really meet Zhang Shanlin," the shopkeeper Pan shook his head, "My face ...... It's really a bit hard to pull it down, Mr. Zhang Yangshan and my father were friends who talked about everything, who knew that we, the descendants, would come to this point today! ”

Zhuang Huchen sighed: "Shopkeeper Pan is a person who values feelings and stresses righteousness, but the rules in the business field are ironclad, no one can break them, and everyone can't do anything......

Zhang Shanlin overheard something, he turned around, saw Zhuang Huchen and Pan shopkeeper, and immediately put down the wine glass with a gloomy face.

"What's wrong, uncle?" Zhang Youlin asked curiously.

Zhang Shanlin replied angrily: "I said that something is wrong with the Pan family recently, it turns out that he and Maoyuanzhai have put on a pair of pants, okay, if you have milk, you are a mother, seeing that our Songzhu Zhai has recently gone to the back word, so we have changed the court." ”

Zhang Youlin stood up: "Uncle, let's go over and talk to the shopkeeper Pan, I think he is embarrassed and embarrassed." ”

"Looking for him? Uncle doesn't give him this face! I saw Zhang Shanlin pull his nephew to the side, and with a strain of both hands, he overturned the table full of wine and food, "Boom! The dishes and bowls shattered, the soup splashed, and the attention of the whole restaurant was attracted.

The faces of shopkeeper Pan and Zhuang Huchen showed a look of surprise, and the shopkeeper ran over nervously: "Ouch, what did you say?" Who recruited us Zhang Ye to be unhappy? ”

Zhang Shanlin stood up, shook his braids, shook his horse coat, stared at Shopkeeper Pan and Zhuang Huchen with squinted eyes, and said loudly:

"It's okay, uncle, I'm happy today, I just want to listen to a sound, shake off the bad luck, let those unkind and unrighteous people see, uncle, I live a nourishing life, man, these dishes and pans are counted in my account, isn't it just a few silver, young forest, let's go!"

The uncle and nephew swaggered towards the door in full view of everyone, and when they reached the door, Zhang Youlin stopped, and he pointed to the table of Pan's shopkeeper: "Man, the guests at that table are our Zhang family's family friends, and their meal money is recorded in my account, and this meal is mine!" Zhang Shanlin laughed: "Okay, eldest nephew, I didn't see it, you kid is really a master!" ”

The uncle and nephew walked away, and Yang Xianji stood at the door of the private room of "Jinfeng Pavilion", and saw Zhang Youlin in this way for the first time.

It was a warm and cold day in March, the sun was shining, and Ivan was wearing a Chinese robe and a melon skin hat to hang out in the glaze factory. He loves the atmosphere, the shops, and even thinks that Liulichang is simply a microcosm of ancient Chinese culture.

Ivan's enlightenment of Chinese culture benefited from the French missionary Father Maurice Bichaux, which has to start with Ivan's father. His father was supposed to inherit the title of duke, but when he was a student at St. Petersburg University, he was influenced by popular populist thinkers of the time, such as Bakunin, Kropotkin, Pavlov, etc., and joined the famous "Tchaikovsky Group" of St. Petersburg University and became a member of the "Narodniks". "Narodnik" means "a man who fights for the interests of the people", and Ivan's father and many other young aristocratic intellectuals from the same background consciously gave up their superior material life and took the initiative to go to the vast and backward countryside of Russia to help their peasant brothers out of misery. Their outrageous behavior angered the Tsar and led to his arrest. After his release from prison, Ivan's father participated in the assassination of Tsar Alexander II in the Winter Palace on March 1, 1881, narrowly escaped from pursuit and escaped from St. Petersburg with the eleven-year-old Ivan.

After a wandering and wandering life in Europe with his father, Ivan fell seriously ill and died in a small hotel on the lower Garonne River in southwestern France. In this small hotel, Ivan met Father Maurice Bichaux, a warm-hearted and kind old man who had just returned from a mission in distant China, who helped Ivan bury his father and took him in, brought him to the diocese of Bordeaux, and introduced Ivan to Chinese culture. A few days later, the hunt had passed, and Ivan's relatives approached him and told him to return to St. Petersburg to inherit the title and family property. By this time, Ivan had developed a strong interest in Chinese culture, and he returned to his homeland after an eight-year absence, received higher education, and took care of his household affairs, and then came to China alone.

At this time, Ivan came to the gate of Songzhuzhai, he looked up and carefully pondered the rectangular black-on-gold plaque hanging high on the eaves, and read with words in his mouth: "Song, bamboo, Zhai!" ”

In Songzhu Zhai, Lin Manjiang was sorting out the rice paper on the shelves, and when he saw Ivan, he hurriedly greeted him: "Yo, Mr. Ivan, why are you so idle today?" ”

"I'll rest today, look at the good weather, come out and walk around."

"Hey! Your Beijing dialect is getting more and more authentic, if you don't look at the appearance and only listen to the voice, you really don't know that you are a foreigner, please inside. Lin Manjiang let in Ivan.

Ivan walked around the shop, sat on a chair, Lin Manjiang poured tea for Ivan, and the two chatted.

Ivan picked up the tea bowl: "Lin Da guy, the names of these shops in your Liulichang are quite interesting, what 'Hanwen Zhai', 'Lai Xun Pavilion', 'Bogu Zhai' ......"

"Mr. Ivan, that's called a font number." Lin Manjiang corrected.

"Font size?" Ivan pondered for a moment, took out the small notebook and a pen he carried with him, "Mr. Lin, tell me what 'font size' is." ”

"Yes, you're here again, the last time you took this little book, I said a word and you remembered, I told you for two hours, and I delayed how much. You really heard the sweetness, and I can't talk about it in vain this time. Lin Manjiang shook his head and said.

"Catch up with Ming'er, I invite you to eat in Tongheju." Ivan sincerely invited.

Lin Manjiang waved his hand: "That's not necessary, you just bring a few more foreign guests." Lin Manjiang took a sip of tea from the tea bowl and told Ivan, "The shop of Liulichang sells the four treasures of the study, sells calligraphy and paintings, sells antiques, and deals with literati and people with status, so this brand name has to be elegant and catchy, you listen, how loud this pine, bamboo, and fasting scream!" ”

"Pine, bamboo, and fast......," Ivan pondered, "but...... True to its name, this shop doesn't sell pine trees or bamboo. ”

Lin Manjiang put down the tea bowl: "Hey! I can't say this in a sentence or two. ”

"Mr. Lin, I haven't figured it out, it's obviously a stationery seller, not a stationery store, why do you want to call it a South Paper Shop?" Ivan seemed to come with endless questions, so Lin Manjiang explained to him that because rice paper, Hui ink, lake pen, Duan inkstone, etc. are all produced in the south, so everyone is used to calling the shop that operates this kind of stationery supplies Nan Paper Shop, of course, in addition to selling the four treasures of the study, the South Paper Shop also sells others, such as Xishou Pinglian, Jinshi Seal Carving or something. As for why the name of this shop is called Songzhu Zhai, it is because the owner is a southerner, like the green bamboo in the south, and after coming to the capital, he became interested in the pine and cypress in the north.

Ivan and Lin Manjiang were chatting inside, and Zhang Youlin came to the gate untidy and yawning. The apprentice who was standing at the door to greet the guest looked him up and down: "Young Master Youlin, you have just gotten up, right?" ”

"Not really." Zhang Youlin stretched his waist, "Last night, the Zhao family held a church meeting for the old man's birthday, and invited the most famous opera troupes in the capital, my uncle took me and Jilin to listen to the play, get a son, guess what kind of play was played yesterday?" ”

"Young master, you really asked the right person, let me guess? Let me tell you this, I haven't heard of a play when I'm so old, and I don't know which way the gate of the opera garden opens. Deko looked to the left and right, ready to greet guests who were going to enter the shop.

"Haven't even heard of a play? So what are you doing? Zhang Youlin said regretfully, "I tell you, you can not eat the meal, but you can't not listen to the drama, I wondered, if there is no Peking Opera in this world, I am afraid that more than half of the people will not be able to live, what is the strength of life?" I didn't even listen to the play, so I might as well plunge into the moat and drown. Hey! Yesterday, Tan Xinpei and Yang Xiaolou co-starred in "Lianying Village", which is called authentic, my uncle called Hao'er so loud that his voice was hoarse, do you see? I can't even get up today. ”

"Then why are you here?"

"I'm running out of paper to practice calligraphy, so I'll get some paper." With that, Zhang Youlin walked into the shop.

Seeing Zhang Youlin, Lin Manjiang stood up and greeted him: "Young nephew, here, this is Mr. Ivan, an old acquaintance, the manager of the Bank of Russia." ”

Zhang Youlin recognized Ivan: "Ouch, why did you come here?" ”

"Just take a look, Songzhu Zhai has been making trouble for a long time, and it was opened by your family?" Ivan also recognized Zhang Youlin.

"That's right, my family opened it, why are you staring at it with such big eyes? Songzhuzhai did not open yesterday, it has been open for more than 200 years. ”

Ivan jumped up in shock: "What, more than two hundred years? ”

"That is, Kangxi opened in the eleventh year, do you calculate, is it more than 200 years?" Zhang Youlin thought to himself, why has this foreigner never seen the world so much, and he has been scared for more than 200 years?

Ivan did the math and muttered: "God, Peter the Great was not born at that time!" ”

Lin Manjiang handed the Yuan book paper to Zhang Youlin: "Young nephew, you have taken it." Zhang Youlin took the paper, turned around and was about to leave, but seemed to remember something: "Mr. Ivan, my sister Qiuyue...... Is she okay? ”

"Autumn Moon? I'm sorry, I haven't seen her in a long time. ”

Zhang Youlin was a little disappointed: "Where did she go?" ”

Ivan shrugged: "I don't know, I'm just a banker, not a detective." ”

"What does a banker do?" Zhang Youlin further asked, Lin Manjiang told him that he lent money to people, and the bank is a business that lends money to people, for example, if you want to open a shop and have no capital, the bank can lend it to you first, and then return it to others with interest when you make money.

Zhang Youlin was happy: "That's great, Mr. Ivan, you can lend me twenty taels of silver first, I just fell in love with a pair of red sons, and the silver didn't ......come together for a while," Ivan interrupted him: "That's not what it means, bank loans have strict procedures, mainly for large-scale investments, if you only need twenty taels of silver, then you can only consider borrowing from private individuals, for example, borrowing from your mother." ”

"My mother? Pull it down, it would be nice if she didn't give me twenty ear scrapers, and I don't even think about it. Come on, stay here, I'll go. Zhang Youlin left, Ivan looked at his back, and said with a smile: "It's really interesting, he plans to borrow twenty taels of silver from the bank." ”

The speaker was unintentional, the listener was intentional, and Lin Manjiang suddenly opened his mouth: Yes, how did I forget this stubble! Aren't banks just borrowing money?

In Zhangjiatang's house, Zhang Li was wiping the Buddhist shrine with a cloth and carefully placing the offerings on the case, Zhang Shanlin was thinking about the house in Prince Gong's mansion, he sat on the side and looked at Zhang Li expectantly: "Sister-in-law, you have to think about it, this is a once-in-a-century opportunity to make a fortune, and there will be no such store in this village." ”

"I don't have to think about it, no matter how good the prince's house is, I don't have this blessing in my life, I will lose my life if I live in it, besides, those two paintings and calligraphy were entrusted to me by our father for safekeeping, and they are the heirlooms of the Zhang family, not to mention a house, even if I am given a mountain of gold, I can't change it." Zhang Li said firmly.

Zhang Shanlin was a little angry: "I said sister-in-law, you are also dead-hearted, those two paintings and calligraphy are heirlooms of the Zhang family, aren't Songzhu Zhai?" It's been more than 200 years, and now I can't open it anymore, and the exam paper is our business. But Maoyuanzhai only used a calligraphy post to rob our business, and you saw the Zhang family's family business of more than 200 years ruined in our hands? ”

"Mountains and forests, the reason why Songzhuzhai has come to this day is because we are not doing well, it is our generation that is incompetent, and we can't complain about others, if we don't find a way from the root, even if we get back the business of exam paper, it is difficult to say whether Songzhuzhai will collapse or not." Zhang Li glanced at Zhang Shanlin, and Zhang Shanlin became angry: "Sister-in-law, I understand, even if I wear out all the skin of my mouth, you are also a word, no!" Otherwise, let's discuss it now and divide the family. ”

Zhang Li was shocked, and tears came down his face: "What did you say? Mountains and forests, you say it again! ”

Zhang Shanlin did not show weakness: "Sister-in-law, since we can't talk about going together, it is better to divide the family, after dividing the family, you take your Yangguan Road, I take my single-plank bridge, the two paintings and calligraphy left by our father, I only need the words of Monk Huaisu......"

"Shanlin, you can't be like this, this family can't be divided, your brother died early, if it weren't for this family, if it weren't for our father and you as brothers, I wouldn't be able to live today with your nephew alone, it's not easy...... Your nephew is also older, and you want to split up, and ...... in the future How can I have the face to see our father......" Zhang Li burst into tears. When things came to this point, Zhang Shanlin had no choice but to take a step back: "It's okay if you don't split up, or you take out the "Xiling Holy Mother Post"; Either you find a way not to let Songzhuzhai collapse, sister-in-law, you choose one of these two ways, I will go back first, and within ten days, you give me a letter. Zhang Shanlin shook his sleeves and left without looking back, leaving Zhang Li alone to continue to hide his face and cry in the house.

That night, Zhang Youlin and Zhang Jilin sat on a canopy boat on the lake of Jishuitan, Zhang Jilin stood at the bow of the boat to enjoy the night view of the lake, Zhang Youlin took out the gourd containing the crickets from his arms, and put it in his ears to enjoy the crickets' calls.

"Brother, listen, my cricket is the famous insect 'Purple Head and Golden Wing' in Suzhou." Zhang Youlin moved the gourd to Zhang Jilin's ear, "Just such a cricket, guess how much silver is it worth?" Zhang Jilin was perfunctory: "You don't need a tael of silver, right?" ”

Zhang Youlin almost jumped up: "What, a tael of silver?" You really dare to open your teeth, at most one or two pieces of silver is for you to take a look, let me tell you the truth, I spent twenty taels of silver to get this cricket from Xing Lao Liu's hand. ”

"Just such a broken worm is worth twenty taels of silver? It's incredible, Young Forest, I think you're ridiculous enough. I ask you, where did you get so much silver? Zhang Jilin Zhengse asked.

"I have ten taels myself, and your father gave me another ten taels, so I made it up."

"You and my dad are really ...... played together, or how to say that it was an uncle and nephew. ”

Zhang Youlin heard it, and his cousin had something to say, so he quibbled: "Brother, this is your fault, you are a person who has read the books of sages and sages, the ancients said, the king called the minister to die, and the minister is not dead and disloyal; The Father tells the Son to die, but the Son does not die and is not filial. How do you talk about your father like that? Let's put it this way, your father is just playing with a bird and raising a worm, and you are dissatisfied, and you haven't been told to die, I think your sage book is in vain. ”

Zhang Jilin knew that this was purely a crookedness, but he couldn't find a rebuttal for a while, so he had to be silent.

At this time, there was a burst of music on the lake in the distance, Zhang Youlin tilted his neck and listened, it was the guzheng song "Spring River Flower Moon Night", the kite player was a master, this song was simply superb, he wondered in his heart, who would this be?

Zhang Jilin also admired: "Yes, it's really 'noisy and miscellaneous, big beads and small beads fall on the jade plate'." Zhang Youlin smiled: "You just talk nonsense, that's what Bai Juyi described as a pipa, this is a guzheng." ”

Zhang Youlin continued to listen, and a woman's beautiful singing voice came from the wind: "The tide of the Spring River is even with the sea, the bright moon on the sea is born together, and the waves are thousands of miles, where is the Spring River without the moon and the bright ......"

"Singing so well, the artistic conception and charm are there, I don't know which lady it is......" Zhang Youlin suddenly shook, as if he had been struck by lightning, "This voice is familiar, I know her, let's go, go over and take a look!" ”

Zhang Jilin saw that it was getting late and wanted to go home, so the boat first sent him ashore, and then rowed away to follow the song and docked at a brightly lit painting boat.

Qiuyue wore light makeup, and she sat on the bow of the boat while playing and singing: "...... Who first saw the moon on the riverside? When did Jiang Yue shine at the beginning of the year? Life has been infinite from generation to generation, and Jiang Yue looks similar every year. I don't know who Jiang Yue treats, but I see the Yangtze River sending water. The white clouds are gone, and the green maple is overwhelmed......"

Zhang Youlin jumped on the painting boat and stood aside and listened quietly. After a song, Qiu Yue raised her head, and Zhang Youlin stepped forward: "Sister Qiu Yue, what a "Spring River Flower Moonlight Night", you sing so well, you ...... Remember me? Qiu Yue was in a trance, and Zhang Youlin added: "My name is Zhang Youlin, we are ......" Qiu Yue smiled: "Remember." The two chatted.

Qiuyue looked at the lake and said: "I have been in Jiangnan for a long time, and I always want to come out for a walk, but I really left Jiangnan, but I miss the days of Jiangnan. ”

"Where does Sister Qiuyue come from, where is she going, and where she lives, can you tell me?"

Qiu Yue thought about it, and her answer made Zhang Youlin incredulous: "Come from where you come from, go where you go, as for anything else, don't ask, if there is fate, you will know in the future." Zhang Youlin was also very interested, he said: "Okay, then I won't ask, I just need to know that you are my sister Qiuyue, nothing else matters." Let's play another song, Sister Qiuyue, I just want to hear you play the piano and sing. ”

Qiuyue sat down, and Fuqin chanted and sang in a low voice: "A piece of spring sorrow is waiting for the wine to be poured, the boat on the river is shaking, and the curtain upstairs is ......"

The singing echoed on the dark and dreary lake, and Zhang Youlin was stunned.

The young man didn't know what it was like to be sad, and when Zhang Youlin was playing in Jishuitan, his mother was waiting for Lin Manjiang with a blank eye.

After Lin Manjiang dealt with the things in the shop, he hurriedly came to Zhang's house, and he also had something to discuss with the owner.

Zhang Li said that Zhang Shanlin wanted to exchange the "Xiling Holy Mother Post" for Gong Wangfu, otherwise she would say about the separation, she asked Lin Manjiang: "You say, even if I give the "Xiling Holy Mother Post" to Prince Gong, can Songzhu Zhai keep it?" ”

Lin Manjiang shook his head: "I don't think so, take a step back and say, even if Prince Gong changes his words, we just snatch back one of Songzhuzhai's previous businesses, but Songzhuzhai's recession ...... Alas! ”

Zhang Li looked at him: "I know, his uncle is not a businessman, and now Songzhu Zhai is in this position, but I will point to you to help me." Zhang Li's eyes turned red.

Lin Manjiang comforted a few words, and said that he wanted to borrow money from the bank and pay for Songzhuzhai's daily expenses first. Obviously, if there is no silver turnover, I am afraid that Songzhuzhai will have to close next month.

What Zhang Li is most afraid of is that Songzhu Zhai Guan Zhang is closed, maybe he will not be able to get up again after lying down. But she never thought about borrowing money, who could lend a helping hand in times of crisis?

Lin Manjiang told Zhang Li that the Sino-Russian Daosheng Bank and the foreigner Ivan were all big deals in the Qing Dynasty, investing in railways and mines, and collecting customs duties and salt taxes...... Compared with these, the bit of silver that Songzhuzhai wants to borrow is this-Lin Manjiang stretched out his little thumb and drew it.

Zhang Li pondered: "I borrowed the silver, if Songzhuzhai has not turned around by then, this amount of interest will be big, let me think about it." ”

The wall clock on the wall was ticking, ticking.

After a while, Zhang Li raised his head: "Let's do it!" You go and tell Shanlin about borrowing money from the bank, and I agree. Also, Manjiang, we have also discussed, from now on, you are the shopkeeper of Songzhu Zhai, and his Uncle Shanlin is happy to push out this stall, and in the future, Songzhu Zhai will rely on you to support. Zhang Li looked at Lin Manjiang expectantly, and Lin Manjiang also looked very excited: "Madam, thank you for looking down on me, I, Lin Manjiang, have gone out for Songzhu Zhai!" ”

The matter of borrowing silver was decided in this way, and Lin Manjiang quickly reached an agreement with Ivan: Songzhu Zhai borrowed 10,000 taels of silver from the Sino-Russian Daosheng Bank for a period of three years, with an annual interest of 15 percent, and the principal and interest were paid off at maturity, and the collateral was Songzhu Zhai's shop. If it is unable to repay when due, Shochikusai will be taken into the possession of the bank. Ivan is still sure of this loan, and with his valuation of Songzhuzhai's property, even if Songzhuzhai is unable to repay it when it expires, it should not be a problem for this two-hundred-year-old shop to be auctioned for 10,000 taels of silver along with its goods.

The money has been borrowed, but will it not be repaid when the time comes? Lin Manjiang didn't dare to be the slightest slack, he first paid off the arrears of each family, and he was careful to calculate everywhere, saving as much as he could, these days he was not busy with anything else, racking his brains from morning to night to do it with the abacus. But save the hole and wait, even if Lin Manjiang is tired and vomits blood, the speed at which Songzhuzhai makes money cannot catch up with the speed at which Zhang Shanlin's uncle and nephew spend money.

Zhang Youlin came again, he entered the shop and went to Lin Manjiang: "Shopkeeper Lin, give me some silver." ”

Lin Manjiang frowned: "Young Master, didn't you just pay it two days ago?" ”

"Hey, there's a new chiming bell in the foreign goods store in Dashilar, guess what, it looks like a bird cage, and there is a red child standing in it, just like the real thing, the parts are hidden in the red child's belly, and the winding up walks, the red man's eyes are flashing, and there is still light in the night." Zhang Youlin has obviously fallen in love with this baby.

"Isn't it cheap?"

"It's not expensive, it's only thirty taels of silver."

"Only thirty taels of silver? Young master, why are you more angry than opening a bank, a self-striking bell is thirty taels of silver, and it is not expensive? ”

Zhang Youlin believes that it is made in England, how far away is England? Is it easy to bring the goods over? If you count it this way, thirty taels of silver is really not expensive. Lin Manjiang said disdainfully, what's so good about foreign goods? Zhang Youlin said that foreign goods are of course good, look at the foreigners, know that our Qing Dynasty from the gentry and rich families, down to the naughty children and poor people love to carry cages and birds, so I pondered such a thing, bought it home and hung it at the door of the hall, golden, how spirited and how spirited...... Zhang Youlin said that the heavens were gone, and Lin Manjiang was in one sentence: There is no surplus silver at the moment.

Zhang Youlin was annoyed and shouted: "Why not? I said shopkeeper Lin, why did you become a shopkeeper more slashing? Didn't you borrow it from the bank? I'll do it first! ”

"Young master, that's for turnover, and you have to pay it back with interest when it expires!" Lin Manjiang did not show weakness.

Zhang Shanlin came in with a bird cage in one hand, and pointed at Lin Manjiang impatiently: "Give it to him, give it to him, isn't it just a little silver?" What's the noise? I've heard it all outside, and it's not cold! ”

Lin Manjiang reluctantly walked to the account cabinet and took out a silver ticket, Zhang Youlin grabbed it, and squeezed his eyes at Zhang Shanlin: "Uncle, look at me to get a good thing!" Zhang Youlin ran away like a smoke.

Zhang Shanlin sat down: "Man Jiang, he still has me when his business is over, I don't want much, let's take two hundred taels first." ”

Lin Manjiang's eyes widened: "Shopkeeper, ...... are you?"

"What eyes? If you want to take it, you can take it, where is so much nonsense! Zhang Shanlin was impatient, and Lin Manjiang obediently went to get the silver ticket. Waiting for the silver ticket, Zhang Shanlin saw Zhuang Huchen on the opposite side enter Maoyuan Zhai, Zhang Shanlin took the silver ticket, stood up and went to Maoyuan Zhai.

In the front hall of Maoyuanzhai, the shopkeeper Chen was holding the account book, Zhuang Huchen was talking to him about something, Zhang Shanlin was carrying a bird cage in one hand, his hands kept flicking, humming the drama in his mouth, and pacing in slowly.

Zhuang Huchen hurriedly greeted him: "Yo, isn't this the shopkeeper?" How did you get time to come to me? Sit down, man, and serve tea to Shopkeeper Zhang! ”

Shopkeeper Chen nodded at Zhang Shanlin: "You sit." ”

Zhang Shanlin continued to shake the bird cage, walked back and forth in the hall, and asked in a non-yin and non-yang manner: "Shopkeeper Zhuang, has the business been good recently?" ”

"Ouch, shopkeeper Zhang, don't call me that, I'm Maoyuanzhai and my guys, this is our shopkeeper."

Zhuang Huchen pointed to the shopkeeper Chen.

Zhang Shanlin deliberately made a fuss: "What, buddy? No, Mr. Zhuang is so capable, I think that all those who are shopkeepers are Qu Cai, how can they be a guy? ”

"Smack!" Shopkeeper Chen slammed the ledger on the table with a gloomy face.

Zhuang Huchen looked at Shopkeeper Chen, and the expression on his face gradually became cold: "Shopkeeper Zhang, it seems that you have something to say today, okay, Zhuang Mou listened, what is the advice of Shopkeeper Zhang?" ”

"Don't dare, don't dare, how dare I have any advice? I'm here to learn from the shopkeeper of the village. Zhang Shanlin put down the bird cage and sat on the chair.

"Wait! I repeat, I'm not the shopkeeper, our shopkeeper's surname is Chen, you go on! ”

Zhang Shanlin glanced at Zhuang Huchen: "You have made such a great contribution to Maoyuan Zhai, why are you still a buddy?" Your hosts are really good...... Yes, let's not mention this, I just want to be the shopkeeper with Zhuang...... No, big dealer...... It's not appropriate, oh, Mr. Zhuang, I want to learn the ability to dig the foot of the wall with Mr. Zhuang. ”

Zhuang Huchen calmed down: "How do you say this?" ”

Zhang Shanlin spread his hands: "Isn't this unclear?" Songzhuzhai and the Pan family have done business for several lifetimes, that is a hundred years of friendship, it stands to reason that the relationship between the two families is like two people, iron enough, Songzhuzhai is like a husband, the Pan family is like a wife, let's put it this way, the two are not happy, the wife is at most to go back to her parents' house to live for a few days, one day the husband gives a good face, and the bumpy one is back, but Mr. Zhuang made a move, yes, the wife's courage suddenly strengthened, and gave her husband a letter of resignation, I want to ask Mr. Zhuang, according to reason, It is not easy to convince a person to be treacherous, what means did Mr. Zhuang use to make this result? ”

"Finished? Let me answer, okay, first of all, Shopkeeper Zhang compares Songzhuzhai to her husband and Pan family to her wife, I think this comparison is problematic. Everyone knows that honesty is necessary to do business, and integrity must be based on a fair relationship. You spoke, the two of them were not happy, the wife at most went back to her parents' house for a few days, one day the husband gave a good face, and the upside down came back, I understand what you mean, you want to say, even if the two don't want to live anymore, the husband has to hand over the letter of resignation first, how can the wife bring it up first? ”

Zhang Shanlin nodded: "That's right, if this is the case, where will my husband's face go?" Isn't that against her? ”

Zhuang Huchen felt that Zhang Shanlin's idea was ridiculous, and he took a sip of tea: "Shopkeeper Zhang, you compare the relationship between Songzhuzhai and the Pan family to the relationship between a husband and a wife, which is inappropriate in itself. As far as I know, the ancestors of the Zhang family and the Pan family are friends and brothers, and the relationship between the two families is equal, which is the century-old friendship. As I said, the first thing to do business is to be fair and honest, followed by mutual benefit, if there is always a profit, a loss, then the business can not be done. ”

Zhang Shanlin stood up: "Zhuang Huchen, you don't come to this set, I, Zhang Shanlin, am also in my forties, what don't you understand?" Do I need you to be my husband? Please tell the Pan family, since he doesn't care about the friendship of several lifetimes, then don't blame me for turning my face and not recognizing people, in the future, there is him without me in the glass factory, there is me without him, don't let me catch the loop, I will destroy him if I catch the loop. ”

Zhuang Huchen replied coldly: "Shopkeeper Zhang, you are a little excessive, even if the two break up, they can't turn against each other, not to mention who is afraid of whom in Liuli Factory?" ”

Zhang Shanlin picked up the bird cage: "Hehe! I said Zhuang Huchen, then let's ride a donkey and read the record book - let's see! Zhang Shanlin turned around and left.

Zhuang Huchen said loudly: "Shopkeeper Zhang, you go slowly!" Come over for tea another day. ”

Shopkeeper Chen, who pretended to be reading the account book, coughed: "Hmph! What the hell! ”

Zhang Shanlin let out a bad breath and came to his sister-in-law's house happily.

He took the apple that Zhang Li had peeled, and said while eating: "Sister-in-law, don't say it, I'm really happy today, anyway, what kind of relief is something to say, one after another scolded with rolls, give Zhuang Huchen a big nest neck, don't you like to listen?" Hey! Just make do with it, I just can't make the Pan family happy. ”

When Zhang Li listened, he couldn't cry or laugh: "Shanlin, didn't I say you, is this useful?" When you go to Maoyuan Zhai to scold like this, how much of a joke does it spread? ”

"I can't control so much, if someone makes me unhappy, I will make him unhappy for the rest of his life."

"But have you thought about it, why didn't the Pan family do it with us? Aren't we responsible? Not to mention anything else, it's the old arrears of people's goods, which one can accommodate you? Mountains and forests, we can't always blame others, we also have to think about what we did wrong. ”

Zhang Shanlin didn't feel that Songzhuzhai was sorry for the Pan family, isn't it that the money has been tight recently, and he has been in arrears for several times? This is a common thing in trading, could it be that in the past 100 years, the Pan family has never owed the Zhang family any silver? Zhang Shanlin was thinking about it, but Zhang Li interrupted his train of thought: "Songzhuzhai has reached the point where it is today, it is not caused by Zhuang Huchen and the Pan family, the responsibility lies with us." ”

Zhang Shanlin was furious: "Sister-in-law, I don't like to hear you say that, Songzhu Zhai has been there for more than 200 years, isn't it always like this?" The Zhang family is still the Zhang family, Songzhu Zhai is still Songzhu Zhai, nothing has changed, what has changed is the Pan family. ”

"No," Zhang Li also hardened, "The Zhang family is not the Zhang family of the past, over the years, you have spent a lot more time on birds and insects than on trading, sister-in-law is right?" ”

Speaking of this, Zhang Shanlin's grievances came: "Sister-in-law, what's so good about being the shopkeeper?" I don't talk about it all day long, and I still complain...... By the way, I said sister-in-law, have you thought about the matter of "Our Lady of Xiling"? I've been waiting for your message. ”

Zhang Li's tone calmed down: "Shanlin, I have been thinking about it for a few days, and I still feel that I can't give away the "Our Lady of Xiling", first, I was entrusted by our old man's deathbed, and these two family heirlooms of calligraphy and painting can not be sold at any time. As the saying goes, entrusted by people, loyal to people, not to mention that this is our old man's deathbed entrustment, I promised the old man in front of the whole family, this is a lifetime thing, I want to take away these two calligraphy and paintings, unless I close my eyes. ”

"Well, it's one, and what about two?" Zhang Shanlin asked patiently.

"The second is that I pondered, even if we give the "Xiling Pastoral Post" to Prince Gong and get back the right to operate the exam paper, we may not be able to guarantee once and for all that Songzhuzhai will not collapse, and the reason why Songzhuzhai is in a recession is not only because of a certain business, but because there are problems in our operation."

Zhang Shanlin became angry: "Sister-in-law, didn't I say it, the "Xiling Holy Lady Post" is in your hands, if you don't take it out, I won't have a problem." I know, in this family, I never count when I speak, when my father and brother are there, I listen to them, they are gone, I have to listen to my sister-in-law, I Zhang Shanlin is in my forties, and I don't know when to be a leader on this kind of day. Sister-in-law, I will tell you today, either take the "Xiling Lady Post", or today we will talk about the separation of the family, since I don't count what I say in the Zhang family, then let's go our separate ways? ”

When it came to separating the Zhang Li family, she had no idea, she said in a low voice: "Shanlin, our Zhang family has a small population, you are the only uncle of Youlin, if you split the family, you and Youlin will really become orphans and widows, if it really comes to this point, our old man will not live in peace under Jiuquan." Mountains and forests, don't force me, okay? ”

"No, sister-in-law, I haven't been my own master for most of my life, and today I want to be my own master, let's split up."

Zhang Li's voice burst into tears: "Shanlin, don't divide the family, I beg you, for the sake of our old man and your dead brother, I beg you, I will kneel down for you......" Zhang Li knelt in front of Zhang Shanlin with a "plop".

Zhang Shanlin panicked: "Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, what are you doing here?" Get up, get up! ”

"If you don't promise me, I won't get up today!"

Zhang Shanlin was out of options, so his tone had to soften: "Sister-in-law, there is something to discuss, can you get up first?" ”

"Shanlin, you promised, promised not to separate?" Zhang Li looked at Zhang Shanlin stubbornly, but still didn't stand up.

"Okay, since my sister-in-law is unwilling to split up, I won't mention the matter of splitting up the family anymore, so let's do it, haven't you already let Lin Manjiang be the shopkeeper, I'm just a nominal shopkeeper, come on, I'll quit completely, even my name will be gone, anyway, don't miss my share of dividends." After Zhang Shanlin finished saying this, he walked straight out, Zhang Li stood up and asked loudly at his back: "This is what you said, is it from your heart?" ”

Zhang Shanlin stopped, turned around and looked at his sister-in-law: "That's right, I said it, the eldest husband has said everything, and the horse is difficult to chase!" Then he stepped out of the threshold, and his figure disappeared behind the shadow wall.

Zhang Li sighed, thinking that this is fine, let him go.

In the front hall of Maoyuan Zhai, the young man walked in, he looked at Zhuang Huchen, and then at the shopkeeper Chen, hesitated for a moment, came to the side of the shopkeeper Chen and said softly: "The shopkeeper, the shopkeeper Zhao from Jing County, Anhui Province is here, he brought a batch of rice paper, saying that he wanted to ask Master Zhuang to come over to inspect the goods." ”

"Shopkeeper Zhuang, can you take the time to take a look?" Shopkeeper Chen raised his head and looked at Zhuang Huchen in a strange manner.

"Shopkeeper Chen, don't say that, I can't afford it, the shopkeeper of Maoyuanzhai will always be you, and I, Zhuang Huchen, am a guy." Zhuang Huchen looked quite embarrassed.

"Isn't that right? Even Zhang Shanlin came to Maoyuan Zhaixing to ask the sin to find the shopkeeper of Zhuang, and my shopkeeper, no one took a look. See? The shopkeeper of Anhui Zhao came, and he also asked you to inspect the goods, where else is there anything to do with me? "Shopkeeper Chen was very disappointed.

Zhuang Huchen almost pleaded: "Shopkeeper, I beg you, don't keep playing cymbals with me?" I've been in Maoyuanzhai for a year or two, others don't know me, you don't understand? ”

"Huchen, after so many years, I still don't know you? You are a capable person, your brain is lively, you do things, and you also have a face, don't say it's me, it's the shop in the Liulichang area, who doesn't know what you can do? But there is one thing, you, you are too fine, so fine that people can't figure it out. ”

"Shopkeeper, are you praising me or scolding me?"

Shopkeeper Chen said with a smile: "Huchen, you have to figure this out for yourself." ”

Zhuang Huchen threw down a sentence: "I can't figure it out, I just feel awkward." ”

Another young man walked into the front hall with an invitation in his hand: "Master Zhuang, Lord Wang Jinpeng of the Yamen of the Criminal Department sent someone to send you an invitation, saying that there will be a church meeting in Hanjiatan tomorrow, please come over and gather." ”

Zhuang Huchen took the invitation: "Okay, I know." ”

Shopkeeper Chen squinted his eyes: "Have you seen it?" You are hand-eyed, even the officials in the yamen take care of you, you are staying in Maoyuanzhai, you are really a little condescending. ”

Zhuang Huchen stopped saying a word, turned his head and left.