Zhuang Huchen got an unexpected revelation because of the outdated gentleman of Prime Minister Yamen Zhangjing Wang Yuxuan in Rong Bao Zhai.

That morning, Wang Yuxuan came to the shop to buy stationery supplies, and when he left, he forgot a booklet he brought with him on the counter. After Zhuang Huchen found out, he immediately sent Dezi to catch up, and Dezi caught up with him out of breath, but Wang Yuxuan smiled at him apologetically, saying that this was an outdated gentleman, and he didn't plan to ask for it, so he had to deal with it. Dezi felt that it was a pity to throw away this booklet, and it could still be used as straw paper, so he took it back.

Zhuang Huchen saw that he was back with the booklet, and asked suspiciously: "Didn't catch up?" ”

"I caught up, but Lord Wang said that this booklet was outdated, and he didn't want it."

"What pamphlet, and the word obsolete?" Zhuang Huchen took it from Dezi's hand and looked at it with interest.

It was getting late, there were no more customers in the shop, and Zhuang Huchen was still thinking about the booklet.

Dezi leaned over: "Shopkeeper, have you seen it twenty times?" What's there to see about this? ”

Zhuang Huchen raised his head: "What is there to see?" Tell you, it's famous! ”

Dezi muttered: "I don't want the king anymore, what else is there to be famous?" ”

"Lord Wang, don't because it's useless to Lord Wang, but it's different for us, let me tell you, let's get it, Rong Bao Zhai's turnaround is on this gentleman." Zhuang Huchen said it meaningfully, and Dezi listened to it and was suspicious: "Just this old booklet? ”

"It's called a gentleman." Zhuang Huchen accentuated his tone, "Gentleman, understand?" ”

Dezi shook his head: "Shopkeeper, I don't understand, this is not very good." ”

"It doesn't matter how well it is printed, the things in this book are simply too important to those who are officials." Zhuang Huchen is like a number of treasures, "There is a list of large and small officials of the imperial court, six yamen and seven grades or more, from the official position, name to place of origin are all remembered clearly, as well as the official rank, top service, meeting ceremony, and additional records...... There's a lot of stuff! ”

"But what's the use of us?"

"It's useless for ordinary people to take it, but officials need this, think about it." Zhuang Huchen inspired Dezi, Dezi thought about it, and blinked his eyes: "Shopkeeper, I still don't understand." Zhuang Huchen was impatient: "You are really an elm head, then let's talk about it tomorrow." With that, he stood up and walked away with the gentleman.

As soon as the red sun rose in the east, Dezi took Zhang Youlin to get busy, removing the window panels, sweeping the floor, cleaning up the counters, and placing stationery supplies...... After a while, Zhang Youlin was sweating profusely. Dezi was afraid that the young owner would be tired, so he said: "Senior brother, you rest for a while, the shopkeeper is coming over soon, I will go to the back to carry the pot of boiling water and make the tea first." ”

"Senior brother, I'll go!" Zhang Youlin wiped the sweat on his face, and waved his hand again and again: "Okay, okay, this morning is enough to see, you are a young master after all." ”

Zhang Youlin straightened his face: "Senior brother, you're here again, didn't we say okay?" You are my senior brother, I am your junior brother, there are only guys here, no young owners. ”

"Okay, listen to you, I'm always a little awkward anyway." Dezi was walking towards the back door, Zhang Youlin inadvertently glanced out, and suddenly felt shocked: "Oh no, my uncle is here, senior brother, I'll hide in the back for a while, you can take him away." With that, an arrow stepped out of the back door.

After a while, Zhang Shanlin walked in with two bird cages, and Dezi greeted him: "Boss, you are here!" ”

Zhang Shanlin looked around: "Dezi, where is the shopkeeper Zhuang?" ”

"Haven't come here yet, are you okay?"

Zhang Shanlin sat down: "It's nothing, I'm passing by here, Jinyunxuan Teahouse has now become a yellow bird seat, good guys, the masters of raising yellow birds in Sijiu City have gone, yesterday a master got a dirty mouth Bailing ran there to coax, and as a result, the shopkeeper of Guyuezhai Li fell to death in anger." ”

"That's not right, why did Shopkeeper Li drop other people's birds? Well, isn't that master in a hurry with him now? Dezi picked up a rag and wiped the dust off the table.

"How dare he? That's the Yellow Bird Seat, you have broken the rules with a lark, and it's still a lark with a dirty mouth, isn't it uncomfortable? It was light to drop his bird, which angered everyone, and even smashed his bird cage together...... "The more Zhang Shanlin talked, the more addicted he became, and it seemed that he had no intention of leaving, so Dezi reminded him: "Dongjia, aren't you going to the teahouse?" Why did you get here? ”

"Hey! Didn't I come to say hello, you show me a little time, after a while, the yellow bird seat is gone, I come over and drink tea, you estimate that I am coming soon, so I will make tea first. ”

Dezi was very surprised: "Owner, didn't you go to the teahouse, you haven't drunk enough when you get there, why do you come back and drink?" ”

"Where did this go? Let's put it this way, drinking tea is the same as watering flowers, if you don't water it thoroughly, the flowers will wilt, and the same is true for drinking tea, if you don't drink this tea thoroughly, you won't have energy for a day. Zhang Shanlin took out his pocket watch and looked at it, "Remember!" Tea will be brewed two hours later, and there will still be Biluochun before the Ming Dynasty, right? Just brew it. Zhang Shanlin picked up the bird cage and left, but Dezi stood there and was stunned.

Zhang Youlin probed his head back to the front hall: "Senior brother, is my uncle gone?" ”

"Let's go, but he said it, and I'll be back for tea later."

Zhang Youlin was anxious for a while: "Come back, he's not finished yet?" ”

"Your uncle speaks, drinking tea is the same as watering flowers, you have to drink thoroughly." Dezi pondered, "I said junior brother, your uncle has used this place as a teahouse, and you have to hide for the past two days." ”

Zhang Youlin sighed: "Alas, isn't this a shadowless thing?" Senior brother, you tell Master and ask him to find a way to take my uncle away, otherwise I will have to hide from old age. ”

Zhang Youlin returned to Qiuyue's house in frustration, and it didn't take long for Yang Xianji to come. This was the first time Zhang Youlin saw Yang Xianji, and he bowed politely: "Lord Yang, I have wanted to see you for a long time, can I talk to you alone?" ”

Qiu Yue was quite surprised: "Young Lin, what do you want to talk to Lord Yang?" Why didn't you mention it to me? ”

"That's between us men, and of course I won't mention it to you." Zhang Youlin's expression was solemn, Yang Xianji felt a little ridiculous, he looked Zhang Youlin up and down: "You are sixteen or seventeen years old, right?" Count yourself a man, okay, let's talk. ”

The two walked towards the living room, and Qiu Yue stood in place: "Youlin, you have a lot of ideas, you want to talk to Lord Yang, and you don't want me to listen to it?" Do you still have my sister in your heart? Zhang Youlin stopped: "Of course there is, didn't I say it?" It's a matter between our men, and it's not appropriate for you to listen. Entering the living room, the two sat opposite each other, and Zhang Youlin went straight in: "Lord Yang, why don't you marry my Sister Qiuyue?" ”

Yang Xianji was stunned: "Little brother, is this what you should ask?" ”

"Of course, my family and Qiuyue's family are world friends, Qiuyue is my sister, her parents are gone, and there are no other brothers, so, if my sister has anything bad to say, it should be done by me, who is a younger brother, you will treat me as Qiuyue's mother's family." Zhang Youlin said it seriously, and Yang Xianji couldn't help but smile dumbly: "Okay, even if you are Qiuyue's mother's family, what about me, let's be the one who wants to be your son-in-law, you ask me to answer." ”

Zhang Youlin cleared his throat: "I know that you have redeemed my sister Qiuyue, but good things should be done to the end, since you brought her to Beijing, you should marry her, Confucius said: 'If the name is not right, the word will not be good, and if the word is not good, the thing will not be done, and it will be right." 'My sister Qiuyue lives here with a bad name, and you should be responsible for it. ”

Yang Xianji was embarrassed by these words, and his face was embarrassed: "Youlin, I didn't say that I wouldn't marry her, you have to let me arrange it, some things are in a hurry." ”

"I'm afraid Lord Yang's words are a pretext, in my opinion, in the final analysis, it was Mrs. who was the obstruction, and Lord Yang was a little afraid of guilt, am I right?" Zhang Youlin ignored Yang Xianji's embarrassment, and directly pierced this layer of window paper, and Yang Xianji was speechless for a while: "This ...... I'll have to talk to my wife, after all...... It's not a trivial matter. ”

"What if Madame doesn't agree? My Sister Qiuyue has lived a life like this? Zhang Youlin looked directly at Yang Xianji, "Lord Yang has read the book of sages, Confucius said: 'Do not do to others what you do not want to be done to yourself.'" This is a truth that everyone understands. In my opinion, 'Do not do unto others as you would have them do unto you' as forgiveness, and 'Do unto others as you would not have them do unto you' is benevolence. Forgiveness is humane, and benevolence is the way of heaven. One can achieve forgiveness through hard work, but one cannot attain benevolence, because one can do not intentionally do to others what one does not want, but one can also unintentionally do what one does not want to do to others. If Lord Yang can be like the 70-year-old Confucius, he can 'do what he wants and not exceed the rules', so that he can do what he does not want to others, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the key is to 'not exceed the rules', everything has rules, and Lord Yang should abide by the rules. May I ask Lord Yang, is my Sister Qiuyue's situation at this time intentional or unintentional? ”

Obviously, Zhang Youlin came prepared, Yang Xianji smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Youlin, your mouth is very powerful, I really can't argue with you, but I really admire Qiuyue, otherwise I wouldn't spend most of my family property to redeem her." Little brother, you have a point, I may have hurt Qiu Yue unintentionally, now you tell me, what can I do to meet the 'rules' you say? ”

"This is very simple, my sister Qiuyue is also from a big family, according to her identity, she should be married to the media, and raising an outer room is not a gentleman." After speaking, Zhang Youlin's eyes turned to the window, and in the courtyard, Qiu Yue stood under the begonia tree nervously, constantly looking this way.

"You really look like Qiuyue's mother's family." Yang Xianji stood up and paced in the living room with his hands behind his back, "Youlin, is this matter important to you?" ”

"Of course it's important, I'm talking to you about it solemnly."

Yang Xianji stopped: "What if I don't agree?" Zhang Youlin also stood up: "That's great, if you don't want to marry Sister Qiuyue, then I tell you, I'll marry!" Lord Yang, my words count. Yang Xianji was stunned for a moment, he hadn't come back to his senses, Zhang Youlin had already strode out of the living room.

In the courtyard, Qiu Yue walked over to greet Zhang Youlin: "Youlin, what did you talk about with Lord Yang?" Zhang Youlin pretended not to care: "It's nothing, I'm talking to Lord Yang about the sage book, sister, I'll go out for a walk." ”

Qiu Yue chose a thread on Zhang Youlin's clothes: "It's okay, just don't go far, come back for dinner later." ”

"Sister, leave me alone, I don't want to stay here...... With Lord Yang here, I will become a superfluous person, so let's talk. ”

"And where are you going?" Qiu Yue asked.

At this moment, Zhang Youlin didn't know where he was going, he just wanted to leave here as soon as possible, so he left without looking back.

The next morning, Dezi came out of Lin Manjiang's residence, and saw Zhang Shanlin coming from a distance, so he ran to the shop, and almost bumped into Zhuang Huchen at the door. Dezi didn't bother to apologize to Zhuang Huchen, and shouted inside: "Senior brother, hide quickly, your uncle is here!" ”

"He's so punctual." Zhang Youlin hurriedly stuffed the rice paper into the counter, stood up and was about to slip away, Zhuang Huchen sank his face: "What are you hiding, is that called an apprentice?" Young forest, if you want to learn, learn steadily, don't look ahead, your mother will know about your apprenticeship sooner or later, it's better to take the initiative to say it first. Zhuang Huchen asked Dezi again: "How is the second shopkeeper?" ”

"I don't look very good, my face is sallow, I can't even get up from the kang from yesterday noon to now."

"Have you hired a doctor?"

Dezi shook his head: "No, Lin Er's shopkeeper said, first stand up, if you can get through, you will save the doctor's money." ”

"Where's this?" Zhuang Huchen frowned, "You stare at the shop, I'll go over and take a look." Zhang Shanlin shook the cages of the two birds and walked over: "Huchen, where are you going?" ”

"Man Jiang is sick, I'll go over and take a look."

"That's right, I'm fine, I'll go with you." Zhang Shanlin followed Zhuang Huchen away.

The shop was cleaned up, and before the Venerable Master was ready, Zhang Youlin leaned on the counter to catch his breath, and Qiu Yue and Xiaoyu came in. Seeing Zhang Youlin in the shop, Qiu Yue's heart was put down. Xiao Yu said dissatisfiedly: "Young Master Youlin, you are really good, if you don't come back at night, you won't say hello, so Miss didn't close her eyes all night, just waiting for you to come back." ”

Qiu Yue stopped Xiaoyu with her eyes, and then looked at Zhang Youlin tiredly: "It's a trivial matter not to sleep, if you have three long and two short, how can I explain to your mother?" Zhang Youlin was a little embarrassed: "Sister, I live in the shop, I'm not a child anymore, what can happen?" ”

"Youlin, you have to promise me one thing, no matter where you go in the future, you will say hello to me, don't let me worry about you, okay?"

"Then you have to promise me one thing......

Qiu Yue interrupted him: "You answer my request first. ”

Zhang Youlin stubbornly shook his head: "No, I'll say my request first." He pulled Qiu Yue into a corner, "I want you to promise me, if Lord Yang can't take you to the house in the open media, then I will marry you." Qiu Yue smiled, she touched Zhang Youlin's head: "Youlin, how old are you?" Why do you have so many strange thoughts in your head? I can't promise you this, I'm your sister, how can my sister marry my brother? ”

"Why can't that? Poor families raise children and daughters-in-law, which is not a woman is older than a man, why can't I marry a sister? ”

Qiu Yue was angry: "Nonsense! Am I a child bride? Anyway, I'm telling you, as long as you stay with me for a day, you have to listen to me, and you have to greet me wherever you go, don't you call me sister? You have to listen to that sister's care, otherwise you won't call me sister. Qiuyue turned around and walked out, and Zhang Youlin hurriedly caught up: "Sister, don't be angry, I promise you that it won't be ......."

Dezi came in through the back door with a brewed tea: "Hey, how did you go?" ”

Coming out of Lin Manjiang's residence, Zhang Shanlin went directly to his sister-in-law's house.

In the bedroom, Zhang Li is half lying on the bed, and there is a toy that Zhang Youlin played with when he was a child, "Ringing Gourd", which is fired with colored glass, with exquisite workmanship, shaped like a gourd, and can play various sounds when held in the mouth. Zhang Li had a wet towel on his forehead, and Li's mother handed over a bowl of herbs to the side, and when she heard the sound in the courtyard, Zhang Li put down the medicine bowl.

"Sister-in-law, are you feeling better?" Zhang Shanlin asked when he entered the house.

"I'm still dizzy, I can't eat, I'm sick, it's fine."

Zhang Shanlin sat down opposite Zhang Li's family: "Is there any news from Youlin?" ”

"Don't mention him, he falls in love with wherever he goes, anyway, I don't have this son." Zhang Li twisted his face into the corner.

Zhang Shanlin took the "ringing gourd" next to Zhang Li's pillow and looked at it, remembering that he bought it for his nephew at the Changdian temple fair, sighed, and put it down: "Sister-in-law, why are you suffering?" Youlin is a big mistake, he is also a child of the Zhang family, where can he say don't want it? You first dissipate your breath and recuperate, and I will send someone to look for it tomorrow." ”

Mother Li hurriedly gave Zhang Shanlin a look and signaled him not to mention it again, but it was too late, and Zhang Li's tears couldn't stop flowing: "Shanlin, you persuade me, I have been lying in bed for the past two days and thinking about it, the more I think about it, the more I feel sorry for our old man, I didn't do what the old man entrusted to me before he died, how can I have the face to see the old man in the future?" Alas, blame me for this, I raised such an unfilial thing, I am ashamed of my ancestors and ancestors. Although she said so, where is there a mother who doesn't care about her son? Since she left home, Zhang Li has not slept a night, she put her son's childhood toys next to the pillow, touch it, I don't know how many tears shed.

Zhang Shanlin had no choice but to stand up: "Sister-in-law, you can recuperate with peace of mind, I'll go first." Zhang Li wiped his tears:

"Shanlin, is there something wrong with you? If you have something, just say it. ”

"Sister-in-law, Lin Manjiang is sick, just now Zhuang Huchen invited Li Deli, a famous doctor from Tai Hospital, to diagnose the disease, and Tai Doctor Li passed the pulse, so he told the truth, Lin Manjiang has an incurable disease, and his days are numbered."

Zhang Li sat up suddenly: "Oh my God, how can this be? Her tears welled up again. After being silent for a long time, Zhang Li calmed down: "Lin Manjiang has been with us for more than 40 years, and he is loyal to the Zhang family, and now that he is sick, we have to treat others well." ”

Zhang Shanlin frowned: "I was about to discuss with you, Lin Manjiang asked to go back to his hometown in Zhangjiawan, Tongzhou, I hope we can agree." I think, Lin Manjiang has worked in our family all his life, and now that he is leaving, he can't let his family leave empty-handed, right? But at present, Rong Bao Zhai's business has not turned around, and I have ...... on hand It's not rich, sister-in-law, you see ......"

"Even if you smash the pot and sell iron, you can't let people leave empty-handed, and I will pay for the money."

Zhang Shanlin sighed: "Alas, sister-in-law, I know that for the sake of Youlin's lawsuit, you sold all the property for the marriage, and you don't have a lot of money." ”

"You don't care about this, I'll figure it out, no matter what, our Zhang family can't let others poke the backbone and say that we are unkind and unjust to the old guy." Zhang Li ripped off the towel on his forehead, "Mama Li, bring my jewelry box to ......"

At that time, Rong Bao Zhai had not yet turned around, Zhang Li sold his jewelry and scraped together enough money for Lin Manjiang, and according to his wishes, Dezi escorted him back to his hometown in Tongzhou. When it was time to say goodbye at the end, Lin Manjiang struggled to sit up from the carriage and greet Zhang Li, he was in tears, and he couldn't say anything for a while.

Zhang Li held his hand, and the tears of the two were intertwined and dripped on the clenched hands, and it took a long time to separate. "Brother Manjiang, take good care of your illness!" Zhuang Huchen helped Lin Manjiang to lie down and tucked the quilt for him.

The carriage faded away, watched by Zhang Li and Zhuang Huchen until it disappeared on the eastern horizon. In the history of Songzhu Zhai and even Rong Bao Zhai, Lin Manjiang is a person who cannot be forgotten, and he never came back.

On the way back, Zhang Li Shiqiang cheered up: "Huchen, Manjiang is leaving, Rong Bao Zhai is all up to you!" Zhang Li's words were full of trust, but also with a certain apprehension.

"As long as you can trust it, things will be easy to do." Zhuang Huchen seems to be confident.

"Huchen, what do you say?"

"I came up with an idea to make Rong Bao Zhai stand on his feet, that is...... It costs money. Zhuang Huchen told Zhang Li in detail about his thoughts, and Zhang Li pondered for a while: "Huchen, if you think about it, do it, I can trust you." ”

Zhuang Huchen didn't expect Zhang Li to agree so quickly, he seemed a little excited: "Thank you, I'll find someone to help you contact you." ”

After breaking up with Zhang Li, Zhuang Huchen went directly to Baoyun Pavilion. Zhou Mingren smoked a cigarette and listened to Zhuang Huchen's words, he asked, "Have you discussed this matter with the owner?" ”

"Mr. Li, the owner of Rong Bao Zhai, is named, and the real owner is still the Zhang family, I discussed it with the Zhang family." Zhuang Huchen told the truth.

"I said, no wonder Ivan, this kid chased and beat hard, and there was almost a death in the yamen."

"If you don't steal the beams and change the pillars like this, the ancestral business of the Zhang family will have to be kept." Zhuang Huchen's face was helpless, and Zhou Mingren knocked the cigarette bag pot: "Okay, Huchen, the eldest brother didn't mistake you!" ”

Zhuang Huchen stood up and wanted to fill Zhou Mingren with tobacco, Zhou Mingren waved his hand: "Don't smoke first, you continue." ”

Zhuang Huchen sat down again: "Zhang Li agreed to this." ”

"The Zhang family is her master?" Zhou Mingren's eyes lit up, and Zhuang Huchen nodded: "Well, thanks to her being in charge, otherwise, I'm afraid I won't be able to do anything." ”

Zhou Mingren stretched out his thumb: "Zhang Li's is this, don't look at it as a female streamer," Zhou Mingren pointed at Zhuang Huchen, and then pointed at himself, "On the street of Liulichang, I am worse than you and me!" ”

"Yes, otherwise, why did I agree as soon as she asked me to come out?"

Zhou Mingren exclaimed: "Brother, this move is not bad!" ”

Zhuang Huchen looked at Zhou Mingren with hope: "The next step is all up to you, big brother." ”

"Don't worry, let me talk to Eunuch Zhang in the palace."

Zhuang Huchen knelt down to Zhou Mingren with a "plop": "Big brother, I will kowtow to you for my host and Rong Bao Zhai, one day Rong Bao Zhai will start, brother, I will never forget your great kindness and virtue......"

Zhou Mingren hurriedly went over to help: "Brother, what are you doing here?" Your business is my business, and if you say that, you'll be out of sight......"

In the Shengchang grocery store, the shopkeeper was planning a plate behind the counter, Zhang Youlin walked in, and the shopkeeper quickly got up to greet him: "Yo, Master Youlin, you sit, you sit, man, tea!" ”

Zhang Youlin waved his hand: "Don't be busy, I can't stay, I'll leave immediately, I just want to ask, how is Uncle Huo's case?" ”

The shopkeeper gushed endlessly: "Hey, I have to send you the silver, otherwise Huo Ye will be in big trouble this time, and if you don't make a good scene, you will be sentenced to prison and beheaded, the crime of the bandit is not small, and you have to peel off the skin if you don't die." You can rest assured, the silver has been sent to the person in charge, the yamen of the criminal department has also opened, the presiding judge took our silver, of course he has to speak for Huo Ye, plus several witnesses invited by Xiang Wenchuan did not match the preamble, the presiding judge determined on the spot that the evidence in this case was insufficient and had to be retried. ”

"Since you know that the evidence is insufficient, why don't you let Uncle Huo go?"

"Where is it so easy? This is not up to one person, you have to use all the money up and down. ”

"Then when will Uncle Huo come out?" Seeing that the day of redemption was getting closer and closer, Zhang Youlin began to feel anxious.

The shopkeeper thought for a while: "It's hard to say, if it's fast, maybe it's just these two days; If it's slow, it will be it for another two or three months, Young Master Youlin, this matter is not in a hurry. ”

"Okay, I'll go back first." Zhang Youlin turned around and walked out, and the shopkeeper followed and sent out: "Don't worry, as soon as Huo Ye has news, I will immediately send someone to the house to inform you." Zhang Youlin immediately stopped: "Shopkeeper, don't come to my house to look for me, I've been ...... recently I didn't live at home, if anything happened, come to Langfang No. 2 and 3 to find me. ”

The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment: "Young Master Youlin, you ...... Is something going on in the house? How do you move out? ”

"It's okay, don't ask." Zhang Youlin left without looking back.

Not many days later, Zhou Mingren made an appointment with the chief eunuch Zhang Gonggong in the palace, and invited Zhang Gonggong to dinner in Hongxing Building with Zhuang Huchen.

Father-in-law Zhang is already sixty years away, his face is full of wrinkles, his body is bloated, and he looks old, but his brain is still very clear. Father-in-law Zhang sat down, looked at a table of food, and sighed: "This Hongxing Building, I haven't been here for a long time, and I can't come out for a while." ”

Zhou Mingren asked with concern: "Father-in-law Zhang, what are you busy with?" ”

"Hey, Sensei, Li Hongzhang and Master Li are in Japan, didn't you sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki?"

Zhou Mingren pretended not to know: "Yes? Zhuang Huchen interjected: "I heard that the emperor asked him to sign it." ”

Gonggong Zhang glanced at Zhuang Huchen: "If the emperor doesn't speak, he, Lord Li, will also dare!" ”

Zhou Mingren nodded hurriedly: "This is not over." ”

Father-in-law Zhang raised his eyelids: "What's the knot?" cut the land again, and lost the silver, the emperor felt uncomfortable, and his master, Lord Weng, the two of them were in the emperor's house, and they were buzzing and crying. Father-in-law Zhang looked sad.

"That's, 20,000 taels of silver, who doesn't feel distressed?" Zhou Mingren poured wine for Father-in-law Zhang, and Father-in-law Zhang was immersed in it: "I advise the emperor, our Great Qing Kingdom, the place has it, and there is silver, and there is no shortage of this, he Japanese are chasing after our buttocks without skin and face, so reward him a little, for this little thing, if the emperor cries and breaks the dragon body, how worthless you say!" ”

"That's it, I have to persuade the emperor to open a little, who is not a reward?" Zhou Mingren agreed.

Zhuang Huchen diligently picked a piece of big fat meat and put it in Grandpa Zhang's bowl: "Don't just chat, you have to come out today and eat more." ”

"Well, I'll do it myself." Gonggong Zhang picked up the chopsticks and put the piece of fat meat into his mouth, chewed it carefully, glanced at Zhuang Huchen, and asked Zhou Mingren in a suspicious tone: "This is your brother?" ”

"My brother, my youngest brother." Zhou Mingren replied as if it were true, and Zhuang Huchen twisted his head to the side to steal fun.

A piece of minced meat was stuffed between Zhang's father-in-law's teeth, and Zhuang Huchen hurriedly handed over the toothpick: "You slow down, don't break it." ”

Father-in-law Zhang took the toothpick: "I'm an old man, I eat a piece of meat, and I stuff my teeth." ”

"It's not your fault that you have bad teeth, it's that they don't stew badly." Zhuang Huchen greeted the cousin, and the cousin arrived.

Zhuang Huchen instructed: "Tell the cook, the dishes in the back are stewed, and Father-in-law Zhang's mouth is not good." ”

"Okay, stew it a little bit, and it will melt in your mouth." The cousin turned around and was just about to leave, but was stopped by Gonggong Zhang: "Don't pay the price, it's too bad to feel the taste." ”

Zhuang Huchen pondered: "What do you mean by being old, just moderate?" Father-in-law Zhang nodded and praised casually: "Look at your younger brother, he can quite know people's minds." ”

Zhou Mingren took the opportunity to say: "That is, my younger brother, his head is good, or how to ask you for help, donate an official, and usually go to the palace to walk around, you can also see here, my little brother is so good at coming to things, in case I meet the emperor one day and entrust him with a big responsibility, this is not even your helper in the future." ”

Father-in-law Zhang was concentrating on the dishes and disagreed with Zhou Mingren's words. Zhuang Huchen was a little breathless, Zhou Mingren remained silent, he took out a pair of jade birds from his coat and put them in front of Gonggong Zhang. This pair of jade birds are snow-white, crystal clear, and cute. Father-in-law Zhang's attention immediately shifted to the pair of jade birds, his mouth was half open, and his eyes were straight.

Gonggong Zhang looked at it for a long time before he spoke: "How do I seem to have seen it in the palace, Shopkeeper Zhou, to be honest, where did you get it?" ”

Zhou Mingren gushed endlessly: "You probably have seen a lot of good things in the palace, so you will remember the strings, this pair of jade birds is a thing in the palace, but it is not from the Qing Dynasty, you see, the color of this jade, serious Hetian mutton fat white jade, and then look at the carving of this craftsman, it is definitely a master, tell you, this pair of jade birds is the beloved thing of Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty, and later let Emperor Chongzhen reward Ningyuan General Soldier Zu Dashou......"

Gonggong Zhang interrupted Zhou Mingren's words: "Zu Dashou, I know, didn't this person later return to the Great Qing Kingdom?" ”

"That's right, you are so knowledgeable, Zu Dashou was captured in the Songjin War, and he was submissive to the first emperor Taiji, and he was able to die well, this pair of jade birds was after Zu Dashou died, and his descendants were short of silver for a while, so they sent it to the pawnshop for emergency, and then they had no ability to redeem it, which spread to the people." Zhou Mingren pushed the jade bird in front of Gonggong Zhang: "This is filial piety to you." ”

Father-in-law Zhang picked up the jade bird and played with it in his hand: "Good thing, it's rare for you to have a piece of filial piety." ”

Zhou Mingren pointed at Zhuang Huchen: "Gonggong Zhang, this pair of jade birds is not mine, it is he who honors you." ”

Gonggong Zhang took a closer look at Zhuang Huchen: "Unexpectedly, you still have this filial piety?" Zhuang Huchen hurriedly took over: "Isn't this what it should be?" In the future, if you see any good things, as long as you like it, just say it. ”

"Well, with your words, it's done." Father-in-law Zhang put away the jade bird, and Zhou Mingren stared at it: "Father-in-law Zhang, that matter ......"

"I'll try to do it, you listen to it, if it can't be done, don't blame me."

Zhuang Huchen picked up a piece of golden meat for Gonggong Zhang: "Where can it, if it can't be done, we appreciate it the same, come, Gonggong Zhang, you are eating......"

After eating, Zhou Mingren and Zhuang Huchen sent Gonggong Zhang to the gate of Hongxing Building, Gonggong Zhang got on the sedan chair, and poked his head out of the sedan chair and said to Zhou Mingren: "Bring someone in the future, don't say it's your brother anymore, I'm tired of hearing this story." ”

Zhou Mingren smiled awkwardly: "Okay, I listen to you, in the future, we will only talk about what to do, and not mention people." ”

The sedan chair walked away, and Zhou Mingren excitedly gave a punch to Zhuang Huchen's shoulder: "Huchen, there is a door!" ”

After seeing Gonggong Zhang, Zhuang Huchen's heart not only did not relax, but became heavy. He pondered for two days, and then went to find Zhang Li's again.

In the living room of Zhang's house, Zhuang Huchen wanted to speak and stopped, Zhang Li saw that he had something unspeakable, so he handed over a bowl of tea: "Huchen, if you have anything to say, just say it." Zhuang Huchen took the tea bowl and put it aside: "The owner, my eldest brother took me to meet with Eunuch Zhang, but there is one thing, that is, it is a little more expensive, and it costs almost five hundred taels to donate a seven-grade official." ”

"So much?" Zhang Li's eyes widened in surprise.

"I didn't expect that the rules for donating officials are like this, you have to spend a hundred and ten taels of silver to buy a 'donation supervision license', which is issued by the Guozijian and is also a stepping stone for the licensee to enter the official career. However, with the 'donation supervision license', you only have the qualification to be an official, and to be an official, you must also have a 'household license' issued by the Ministry of Households. It costs 200 taels to take down this 'household license', and then you have to honor 200 taels of Zhang's father-in-law, so it costs almost 500 taels. Zhuang Huchen came one by one, and after finishing speaking, Zhang Li was silent.

After a while, Zhuang Huchen continued: "I know that it is not easy for you, when Rong Bao Zhai opened, Songzhu Zhai's goods were only poured out of five hundred taels, you made up all the time, plus your own private money, and took out a thousand taels, this thousand five hundred taels of silver to support a new shop, it is not easy!" ”

"Alas, I won't hide it from you about my family, and I'm really tight on money now." Zhang Li's brows tightened.

"The new shop has only been open for half a year, the income and expenditure are basically flat, and I haven't made much money, a few days ago, Manjiang was sick, please ask the doctor, even to Manjiang's family, and I didn't spend less money, I know, it's difficult for you here! Owner, I've thought about it over and over again, and you have to take this big idea. Zhuang Huchen stood up.

Zhang Li motioned for him to sit down: "Huchen, let me think about it." ”

Zhang Li lowered his head and pondered, the wall clock on the wall rang "tick, tick", and there was silence all around. After a long time, Zhang Li raised his head: "Huchen, I have thought about it, you can do it!" Zhang Li stood up, took out a deed from the drawer and handed it to Zhuang Huchen.

Zhuang Huchen took the deed and was taken aback: "Want to sell the house?" ”

"When I got married, my mother's family gave me two properties as a dowry, and a few days ago I sold one for the lawsuit against Youlin, this is the last one, you look for the shopkeeper Zhou, and ask him to help exchange the silver." Zhang Li's tone was very calm, and Zhuang Huchen hesitated unconsciously: "This ...... The last property is up, you ...... Willing? ”

"Huchen, as long as you do things, these things can come back sooner or later." Zhang Li looked at Zhuang Huchen hopefully, Zhuang Huchen's eyes were moist, and he bowed deeply to Zhang Li: "Boss, don't worry, I will do it well even if I risk my life, and I will never let you down." ”

"Huchen, I can trust you." Zhang Li's eyes were also moist.

In the courtyard of Qiu Yue's house, a sandbag hangs from a locust tree in the southeast corner, and Zhang Youlin is practicing kicking the sandbag with his feet. I saw him kick the sandbag with a high kick, the sandbag came over, Zhang Youlin deftly dodged, and then turned around and swung his leg and kicked the sandbag fiercely, the sandbag swung violently under his blow, and Zhang Youlin flexibly dodged it......

Qiu Yue came over with a set of exquisite purple sand tea sets: "Young forest, rest for a while, drink tea." Qiu Yue put the tea set on the stone table: "Young Forest, how long is the current issue of "Willow Bird Picture"? ”

As soon as he heard this, Zhang Youlin sat heavily on the stone bench, and the thought of tasting tea was immediately gone: "I'm also worried about this, I also looked at the pawn ticket this morning, there are still three days before the deadline, but now...... The money for the ransom has not yet been settled. ”

"In other words, if we don't redeem it within three days, the "Willow Bird Picture" will belong to the pawnshop?" Autumn Moon scalded the teapot, tea bowl and smelling cup with boiling water.

Zhang Youlin nodded: "Yes, I see that the pawnshop shopkeeper is wishing that we have no money to redeem it, and two thousand taels of silver will get the "Willow Bird Picture", which is too worthwhile." ”

"Youlin, we have to think of a way, if the "Willow Bird Picture" can't be taken back from now on, your mother won't be able to live, she regards these two calligraphy and paintings as important as her life." Autumn Moon stopped fiddling with the tea set.

Zhang Youlin sighed: "Alas! I've thought of all the ways I need to think of, and my head hurts when I think about it, two thousand taels of silver is not a decimal number, who will help me? ”

"Young forest, don't worry, let me think about it......"

Zhang Youlin poured Tieguanyin into the purple clay pot, and after washing the tea, he rushed into the boiling water: "Sister Qiuyue, don't think about it, what can you do?" Lord Yang almost went bankrupt in order to redeem you, and his original wife was not a woman to mess with, so Lord Yang was afraid that there was nothing he could do. ”

Qiu Yue pondered: "Yes, even if Lord Yang has money, I can't open this mouth, it's hard enough for him, it's better not to let him know about this matter." ”

"If it really doesn't work, I have to forget it, it's a big deal that I won't go home in my life."

"How's that going to work? Your mother is just your son, and she knows in her heart that a son is far more important than a painting. Qiu Yue stood up, "Youlin, I'll figure out a way to do this, don't think about it anymore, okay?" ”

Zhang Youlin looked at Qiuyue suspiciously and nodded.

Qiu Yue affectionately pointed at Zhang Youlin's forehead with her finger: "You are a big man, and you keep saying that you want to marry me, this one thing makes it difficult for you to be like this?" Guy who didn't make a living......"

At the west entrance of Dongjiaomin Lane in Beijing, there is a "St. Petersburg" café owned by a Russian, which serves diplomats and businessmen from embassies in China. In the café, candlelit and polite waiters silently walk between tables with trays, a Russian violinist plays Tchaikovsky's Melancholy Serenade affectionately.

Ivan, who was dressed in evening dresses, and Qiu Yue, who was dressed in a radiant dress, sat at a table by the window, and Ivan looked at Qiu Yue with affection: "Miss Qiu Yue, today is really an unusual day, you took the initiative to ask me to meet, which really flattered me." ”

Qiu Yue smiled: "Mr. Ivan, you are too polite, we are friends, I still clearly remember the scene of our first meeting, it was a starry night in a month, in a painting boat on the Qinhuai River...... "Qiu Yue seemed to sink into memory, Ivan took over: "That day, Miss Qiu Yue played an ancient Chinese piece with the pipa, called ...... By the way, it's called "Autumn Moon in the Han Palace", right? To be honest, I was really stunned at the time, and I couldn't get rid of the artistic conception of the music for a long time, Miss Qiuyue's beauty, character and knowledge are first-class, I really want to worship you as a teacher and learn Chinese culture. ”

The smile on Qiu Yue's face was gone: "Mr. Ivan, please don't exaggerate, I'm just a good Qin Huai Kabuki, where did I get any character and knowledge?" ”

Ivan hurriedly changed the subject: "Miss Qiuyue, let's get down to business, you came to me today, why?" ”

"Mr. Ivan is a banker, and the conversation is always conducted in a straightforward manner." Qiu Yue casually praised a few words.

Ivan cleared his throat: "To correct me, I have resigned from my position in the Sino-Russian Daosheng Bank, and now I am a diplomat at the Russian Embassy, because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China believes that I have been in China for many years and am familiar with Chinese culture and customs, so it recruited me into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." Okay, let's not talk about that, Miss Qiuyue will talk about her intentions. ”

"Okay, then I'll be blunt, Mr. Ivan, I urgently need a sum of money now, can you help me?" Akizuki's gaze looked directly at Ivan. Ivan did not dodge: "How much is needed?" Also, how long does it take? What is it used for? ”

"Two thousand taels, about two months, you don't have to ask about the purpose, you just need to tell me, to borrow, or not to borrow." Qiu Yue's words were very crisp. Ivan was a little surprised: "Two thousand taels? It's not a small amount, of course, it's not a problem, the key is whether Miss Qiuyue has collateral or not. ”

Qiu Yue pointed to herself: "Yes, the collateral is myself." ”

Ivan didn't react for a while: "How do you say this?" ”

"Don't you understand? In other words, once I can't pay this money, I'm yours, and now I need you to give me an appraisal, am I worth two thousand taels of silver? ”

Ivan smiled: "I can tell you right away that you are worth far more than two thousand taels of silver." ”

"Oh, then I'm driving my price low. Mr. Ivan, can we make a deal? ”

"Yes, sign it today, and you can get the silver ticket in a week." Ivan happily agreed.

"Seven days later?" Qiu Yue shook her head, "No, it's too late, two days, I have to get the silver ticket within two days, otherwise this transaction won't make any sense." ”

Ivan shrugged his shoulders: "Oh my God, you probably think of me as a god, two thousand taels of silver, and you will get it in two days?" I'm sorry, I'm afraid ......"

Qiuyue stood up: "Okay, then even if we don't talk about anything, goodbye, Mr. Ivan." ”

"Wait...... Alright then, I'll give it a try. ”

Qiu Yue sat down again: "It's not a try, it's a must, I said it, otherwise this deal won't make any sense." ”

After getting the silver ticket, Qiu Yue and Zhang Youlin went directly to Hengtai Pawnshop. As soon as he walked into the door of the pawnshop, Sun Bonian, the shopkeeper standing behind the high counter, recognized Zhang Youlin at a glance, and he pretended not to know: "The two of you are here, what should you do today?" ”

Zhang Youlin approached the high counter: "Shopkeeper, you don't know me?" ”

Sun Bonian pretended to be stupid: "I'm sorry, this young master, I'm old, and my memory is not very good, besides, how can I remember all the people coming and going in the shop every day?" ”

"It doesn't matter if you can't remember people, you always remember this pawn ticket, right? I have come to redeem it, and I have brought the silver ticket. Zhang Youlin slapped the pawn ticket on the counter.

Sun Bonian picked up the pawn ticket and looked at it carefully, Zhang Youlin waited impatiently: "Hurry up, this pawn ticket is written by you yourself, you can't and don't know each other, right?" ”

Sun Bonian pushed out the pawn ticket: "I'm sorry for you, this pawn ticket has expired, and you are late." ”

"What do you mean? Expired? Today is the fifth day of the fifth month of the fifth month, the last day of my redemption, and it is clearly written on the ticket. Zhang Youlin pointed out the date of redemption to Sun Bonian, Sun Bonian glanced at Zhang Youlin: "That's right, today is the fifth day of the fifth month of May, but you can take a closer look at this pawn ticket, this is two months ago, that is, the fifth day of the third month, at 11 o'clock at noon, do you see?" It's written here, but what time is it? It's almost there, that is, two hours have passed since the redemption period, and your pawn is now owned by the pawnshop. ”

Zhang Youlin's face immediately turned red: "No, you didn't explain to me at that time, you must redeem before eleven o'clock." ”

"This young master, why didn't I say it? This is the rule of our industry, it is not enough to say it clearly, when the ticket must be written clearly in black and white, so let's say it, I said what should be said, I also wrote what should be written, if you are not satisfied, then we have to go to the yamen to reason. ”

Sun Bonian's words angered Zhang Youlin, and he yelled: "You are a liar, I think you just want to swallow my "Willow Bird Picture", today you honestly take out the painting for me, we will stop everything, otherwise, I will smash your bullshit pawnshop!" ”

Sun Bonian's face changed suddenly: "If you want to say this, it's unreasonable, if you want to smash the shop, you can do it, I'll just report to the official, let's talk to you like this, with this black and white ticket, I will accompany this lawsuit to the end." ”

Qiu Yue hurriedly stepped forward: "Shopkeeper, you dissipate your anger, my brother is young and ignorant, I will compensate you for him, don't be like him." ”

"Or this young lady is reasonable, you can say something well, we should be reasonable, we should be reasonable, but you can't open your mouth to scold people, my shop has been open for decades, our businessman pays attention to the word integrity, and the neighborhood is also well-known, okay, this young master opened his mouth and said that I was a liar, did you talk like this?" Sun Bonian avoided the topic.

Qiu Yue saw that Sun Bonian was not going to take out the "Willow Bird Picture", she wanted to try again, so she said sincerely: "Shopkeeper, this "Willow Bird Picture" is our family's heirloom, it is very important to us, if it flows out of our hands, I am really sorry for the ancestors, and I am sorry for the descendants, you see, let's discuss this matter again?" ”

"Miss, it's not that I refute your face, this matter is really not discussed, this is the rule of the industry, I just want to help you without a problem." Sun Bonian made a gesture of helplessness.

Zhang Youlin was angry, he turned around and picked up a Taishi chair, raised it high and rushed towards the counter: "I smashed your foolish pawnshop......"

Qiu Yue hugged him: "Youlin, don't ......" Zhang Youlin threw Qiu Yue out with a slam of his hand, he was about to smash the counter with a chair, Qiu Yue struggled to stand up on the ground: "Youlin, my legs ...... Come and help me......"

Zhang Youlin suddenly woke up, he threw away the chair and leaned over to help Qiu Yue: "Sister Qiu Yue, what's wrong with your leg?" ”

Qiu Yue's face showed a painful expression: "It hurts, maybe it's a sprain." ”

"Sister Qiuyue, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

"Youlin, hold me, let's go!" Qiuyue endured the pain and stood up, Zhang Youlin hesitated: "But ...... "Willow Bird Picture" hasn't come back yet......"

"Go back first, and then think about it in the long run, you can't solve the problem by making trouble like this."

Zhang Youlin turned around and pointed at Sun Bonian: "You wait, this matter is not over!" After saying that, he helped Qiu Yue limp out of the pawnshop.