Tang Mansion, Zhixingyuan.

Tang Shouli, the head of the previous generation of the Tang Sect in Shuzhong, is ninety-nine years old this year, and he will soon be 100 years old.

He was lying in his easy chair at the moment, his eyes narrowed slightly, as if he had fallen asleep. Although the position of the head of the family was passed to Tang Zhengfeng twenty years ago, Tang Shouli had long since retreated to the second line, but when it came to major events in the clan, he still made the decision.

The core members of the Tang family gathered together, and the second and third generations of the "flourishing and basic training" clansmen sat in the conference hall in order of priority and discussed the matter of tonight's banquet. As for Tang Mo, Tang Jiao, and Tang Ao among the three generations of disciples, they were all far away from the core layer and were not qualified to attend this meeting.

Tang Zhengfeng has been in charge of the Tang Sect for more than 20 years, diligent, cautious, no great merit, no major fault, the Tang family's status in the rivers and lakes as always, unabated. After tonight, the head of the Tang family is about to pass on the throne to the eldest son Tang Zhengfeng, which is also the meaning of the old lady, but the core secret of the Tang Sect, the Rainstorm Pear Flower Needle Atlas, will be handed over to the second young master Tang Ji for safekeeping.

Tang Ji is a steady person and a man of achievement. Tang Ji is good at strategy and ambition, over the years, the clan's Heavenly Maiden scattered flowers, amber green dragons and other hidden weapons, under the leadership of Tang Ji, have completed several major upgrades, quite popular in the rivers and lakes, but also brought a lot of silver to the Tang family.

Everyone has always been puzzled, why the old man would arrange it like this, for a family, this kind of decentralization of power will leave hidden dangers for the future. But the old man's status in the Tang family does not allow them to question it.

After Tang Zhengfeng arranged the details of the night banquet, the chief steward Tang Yuanbing walked in and said in a low voice, "Xu Jiangshan is dead." ”

"Xu Jiangshan?" Tang Zhengfeng didn't seem to remember this person.

"It's the East Batian in the city, Xu Jiangshan, the master of the Qin and Han Hall. ”

"How did you die?"

"I heard that it hurts my heart. ”

"Good death!" The second old man Tang Zhenghua said: "That guy who eats inside and out, listen to the fourth brother, this guy has been with Qingcheng recently, if he doesn't die, when this matter is over, I still want to settle accounts with him! ”

The territory in the east of the city is a piece of fat, which has been controlled by Tang Zhengmao and Tang Ao's father and son, as soon as Xu Jiangshan dies, Tang Zhenghua will make up his mind.

Tang Zhengmao's face was gloomy, "Second brother, the business here has always been taken care of by me, and I am more familiar with it, Xu Jiangshan is dead, and I will arrange his funeral." ”

The two were still arguing, and Old Lady Tang, who had been silent, suddenly opened his eyes, "But Xu Er, who owed a lot of gambling debts back then?"

"It's him. ”

Old lady Tang sighed, "I also contributed to the Tang family back then, and on the day of the funeral, I also sent a white affair to the past." ”

Tang Yuan bowed slightly and accepted it.

The old lady spoke, Tang Zhenghua and Tang Zhengmao did not dare to argue in the council hall, and the battle behind was inevitable.

The old lady got up slowly, Tang Zhengfeng went up to help, and he was a little displeased, "Although I am old, I am not so bad that I can't walk." ”

He stood up and came to everyone, "In the past five hundred years, what has the Tang family relied on to get to where it is today? First, the ancestors have blessed it, and second, the people of our clan are sincere and united, what do you see now?

He said to Tang Zhengfeng, "Boss, I will hand over the position of the head of the Tang family to you, over the years, look at what you have done?

Tang Zhengfeng hurriedly lowered his head.

The old lady walked in front of Tang Zhenghua again, and the dragon head crutch hit the ground, every time it was terrifying, "Don't think I don't know the little abacus in the hearts of your father and son, it's a good thing to be smart, but it should also be used on the right path, this time I will hand over the map to you, while I can live for three or five years, if you don't make progress, go back to the old house in the west of the city!"

Tang Zhenghua was so frightened that his face was expressionless, "Dad, you have a strong body and a long life!"

The old lady was so angry that she hit him with a cane, "You kid want to curse me to death, don't you? I'm fucking over 100 years old in half a year." ”

Although Tang Zhenghua's martial arts are high, he does not dare to dodge at all. In fact, he was very happy in his heart, this time the head of the family handed over, although there was no matter of the second room, but anyway, the old lady handed over the rainstorm pear flower needle atlas to Tang Ji, if it was really made, they were still young, and there was an opportunity to replace the head of the family in the future.

The old lady was angry, looked behind Tang Zhenghua, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart, Originally, there should still be a person standing here, the third young master of the Tang Sect in Shuzhong, the young generation of talented Tang Zhengzheng.

Among the four sons in the prime of life, whether it is martial arts cultivation or resourcefulness, Tang Zhengzheng is far away from the other three people. In that year, he led people to develop the rainstorm pear flower needle and made a breakthrough, however, just when the rainstorm pear flower needle was about to be completed, Tang Zhengzheng brought back a woman, a woman who was pregnant with the ordinary people of Liujia.

At that time, Tang Shouli was still the head of the family, and he had already set a family affair for Tang Zhengzheng, the young lady of the Cui family in Henan. Tang Zhengzheng refused to obey the family arrangement, and even withdrew from the Tang Sect, which made the old lady lose face.

At the time of his 80th birthday banquet, Tang Zhengzheng took a woman with a girl in his arms and came to celebrate his birthday, and it was that night that Tang Zhengzheng and the woman died tragically at the birthday banquet, leaving only a more than one-year-old girl, that is, Tang Xiqiu, the third lady of the Tang family.

Tang Zhengmao saw his father full of sadness, knowing that he thought of Tang Zhengzheng, he couldn't help but say, "Dad, it's been so many years, your body is important, your body is important!"

Syllable!

The old lady slapped him, "If it wasn't for your instigation back then, the third child would not have died in vain!"

Tang Zhengmao covered his face and cursed in his heart, you are an old immortal, what do you mean by our instigation, if it weren't for your old and pretty, secretly instructed, we would have put the third child to death?

Although he was slanderous in his heart, he was respectful on his face, without the slightest resentment.

Old Lady Tang's face was full of anger, his chest rose and fell, and it took a long time for his mood to calm down, and with the support of the chief steward, he returned to the room to rest.

As soon as the old lady left, everyone dispersed.

Tang Zhenghua's father and son were about to leave, but Tang Zhengmao suddenly called out to him, "Second brother, stay here, the younger brother has something to discuss." ”

Tang Zhenghua glanced at him, a little unhappy in his heart, "What's the matter, still thinking about the land in the east of the city?"

Tang Zhengmao said, "Don't you remember who Xu Jiangshan is?"

"Who?"

Tang Zhengmao took a step forward, leaned into his ear and whispered, "It's the puffer who sent medicine to the Tang Mansion back then." ”

Tang Zhenghua was shocked when he heard this, but his face was silent, "I don't have any impression, fourth, I originally wanted Xiang Jiu to accept it, but since you have a heart, I won't interfere." ”

Tang Zhengmao said, "That Xu Jiangshan has always been in good health, why did he suddenly suffer from heartache, I think it's a little strange." ”

Tang Zhenghua waved his hand, "It's all dead, it's just a dog of the Tang family." With that, he left the council hall with his son Tang Ji.

As soon as he went out, Tang Zhenghua said to his son, "You go and investigate, the cause of Xu Jiangshan's death." ”

The second young master of the Tang Sect has a somewhat feminine face, is decisive and ruthless, and hides it well in front of the clansmen, but his means are not inferior to Tang Ji at all, and he is more ambitious than Tang Ji.

Although there is a ban in the martial arts, it is strictly forbidden for the Tang Sect to develop pear flower needles, but he doesn't care about these, as long as it is beneficial to the Tang family, as long as it is beneficial to himself, he doesn't care about those bans, not to mention, the so-called ban is meant to be broken, and the old lady took a fancy to this, so he handed him the map of the rainstorm pear flower needle.

Xu Jiangshan's death involves the grievances of the older generation, although he doesn't know what happened back then, but from the conversation with his father, he also noticed a lot, this Xu Jiangshan will not die for no reason.

When passing by Huayu, he glanced inside, Tang Xiqiu was pruning flowers and plants in the courtyard, and there was a fiery and arrogant look in his eyes, and he couldn't help but snort coldly, "Compete to recruit relatives, hum." ”

At the same time, Tang Zhengfeng also sent a wave of men to the Qin Han Hall in the east of the city to secretly investigate Xu Jiangshan's death.

seems to be the death of an inconspicuous figure, but it is very likely to uncover a public case twenty years ago, Tang Zhengfeng does not leak anything, and at this juncture, naturally there is no room for any mistakes.

Flower Language Temple.

Tang Xiqiu is pruning flower branches.

She is a person who loves flowers, in the flower language courtyard, there is an acre of size flower garden, which is full of all kinds of flowers, most of which are precious and rare varieties, and many flowers bloom against the season, with the Tang family's financial resources and pharmacology, it is not difficult to take care of such a flower garden.

Every day, Tang Xiqiu will soak in the flower garden for a period of time, and only in the flower garden can she enjoy a moment of tranquility.

She is the third lady of the Tang family, and she is also the only woman in this generation, she was born and the country is captivating, and she has been loved by thousands of people at home, however, only she knows that behind the seemingly scenery, in the past 20 years, since she was sensible, she has lived on thin ice in the Tang family, and she has been working hard step by step.

Although the second aunt was kind on the surface, she listened to the maids, but secretly called her a scourge and a goblin, and when she mentioned her, she wanted to eat her alive.

Several elders and peers, although they hide it well, but the eyes that look at her are disgusting.

It is this kind of environment that has allowed Tang Xiqiu to learn to observe words and colors since he was a child, learn to disguise, and learn to hide his true thoughts.

She is the first beauty in Shu, originally, she also hopes to enjoy the popularity of thousands of people like other wealthy ladies, find a lover, and never separate. However, at the age when she should have bloomed and enjoyed her cardamom years, she endured too many things that she shouldn't have endured.

I only hate to be born in the house of the tiger wolf!

Tang Xiqiu thought so.

She didn't want to leave the family all the time, and finally survived to the end of her life. At first, the family did not agree, thinking that it would damage the court, but for some reason, the clan later agreed to this proposal, and also posted widely on the rivers and lakes.

However, Tang Xiqiu didn't want to leave so plainly, she had one more thing to do before leaving.

She thought of Tang Dabao, the new family, she didn't expect Tang Dabao to do anything, she just hoped to create an opportunity.

In her world, people are just using and being used, or using each other.

Tang Xiqiu remembered Tang Dabao's eyes.

When he looked at Tang Xiqiu, his eyes were not as obscene and dirty as others, but a little bright and clear.

Although it is somewhat cynical, it is not annoying.

She has read countless people, and it can be seen that Xiao Jinyan is just a temporary downfall, and the temperament he exudes is different from that of other family members.

It's just that Tang Dabao's greedy appearance made her a little unhappy.

Thinking of letting him be a scapegoat, she also felt a little guilty in her heart, if he could survive, give him some silver, it would be regarded as compensation.

......

When Xiao Jinyan and the three of them returned to the Tang Mansion, the family members of the Miscellaneous Servant House were all sent to the banquet building to help, and tonight the Tang Mansion invited all the major factions on the rivers and lakes, and it is said that the people who came were all people with heads and faces, and the reception specifications were naturally very high.

Most of the miscellaneous offices, kitchens, and guards came to help, cleaning, washing and picking vegetables, setting up banquets, and so on. Seeing that there was nothing to do, the three of them slept in the courtyard all afternoon.

In the evening, Tang Xie hurried over, "You three hurry up and come with me." Tonight, the banquet hall has a treat, and the chief steward has designated the three of you to come over to help, and the three of you are lucky!"

"Lucky?" Xiao Jinyan wondered.

"Isn't it?" Tang Xie looked envious, "The people who came to the banquet this time are all famous and decent people on the rivers and lakes, and these young heroes are very generous." ”

Xiao Jinyan glanced at Zhao Lanjiang and Li Chengcheng, and said, "That's not necessarily, the few heroes I know seem to be more picky." ”

Tang Xie said disdainfully, "The one you know can be compared to today's come, besides, even if you usually pick the door, you will definitely not pick the door today!"

Zhao Lanjiang Qi said, "Why?"

Li Tingcheng didn't have a good breath and said, "I still need to ask, tomorrow is the day of the third lady's martial arts competition, come to the mansion in advance today to eat, in order to leave a good impression on the mansion, can you be stingy?"

Xiao Jinyan had an idea and asked, "Miscellaneous Chief, what is the third lady's favorite favorite?"

Tang Xie said, "Of course it's flowers." ”

"What flowers?"

"Miss San likes all kinds of flowers, and her favorite is the three-color mandala flower. ”

"What's her favorite thing to eat?"

"Spicy fried fat sausage. ”

"What is her birthday?"

"February 30. ”

Tang Xie frowned, "Why are you asking so much? You kid won't be interesting to the third miss, right? Boy, it's not me talking about you, although there is no limit to the identity of the martial arts competition, but the people who come to fight are all really capable, and they all sign a life and death certificate, life and death aside, you die of this heart." ”

Xiao Jinyan raised his head and said when I said that I was going to participate in the martial arts competition to recruit relatives, I was just doing some investigation.

Xiao Jinyan asked more than a dozen questions about Tang Xiqiu in one breath, tried to figure out her preferences, tastes, etc., and only after sorting it out did he exhale deeply.

Zhao Lanjiang was also curious, "What are you doing all this?"

Xiao Jinyan smiled, "Our plan to make a fortune tonight depends on this information." It's a pity, if there is more private news about the third lady, such as the color of the belly pocket and the size of the dirty clothes, maybe she can make a fortune!"

Li Qingcheng said, "As long as you can fool the money, even if you make it up, we don't know, and they don't know." ”

Xiao Jinyan's eyes lit up.

Zhao Lanjiang said that I can do this kind of murder and arson, and I can't make this kind of money. Xiao Jinyan said that it was all money, so why couldn't he make it.

Tang Xie's eyes widened, "You won't really do this, three big brothers, if something happens to the basket, I can't afford to blame it." ”

Xiao Jinyan said that I earn our silver, what does it have to do with you, don't worry, I won't betray you.

The three of them followed Tang Xie to the banquet building.

It is worthy of being the first family in Shuzhong, this banquet building is built antique, small bridges and flowing water, rockery gallery, in the meantime, the sound of silk and bamboo, melodious and pleasant, people enter the banquet building, they can't help but lower their voices, for fear of destroying this elegant atmosphere.

There was still some time before dark, and the three of them came to the Wanji Hall to find the chief steward as instructed, and the chief steward and the second steward, the third steward and several internal affairs leaders in the palace held a preparatory meeting for tomorrow's martial arts competition.

The bookkeeper held a stack of bills, this time the competition recruited relatives, he was responsible for cost control, but before the official start of the results, he had already overspent.

He said with a sad face, "The chief steward, this time the competition recruits relatives, from the plan, the selection of the venue, the issuance of invitations, plus the flowing water banquet, it has exceeded the budget of 80,000 taels of silver, although the master said that he didn't care about the silver taels, but he didn't give a approval, I am also very embarrassed." ”

Tang Yuanbing frowned, "Why is it so much?"

"Some items are added temporarily, the banquet standard has also been increased by three percent, and the venue furnishings have exceeded two thousand taels, you look at this purchase bill, a ridiculously high item, just take this one just received, thirty catties of Pixian Douban, it costs more than thirty taels of silver, which is more expensive than beef. ”

When the three of them heard this, they were terrified, but fortunately, they were just the handlers, and the specific assignments were handled by Tang Xie, with his signature on them.

"Isn't it all the cost of the competition to sign and approve? Who signed the letter and paid the money?"

"The second steward is in charge. ”

The second steward scolded, "Yao Dazhuang, what do you mean, a martial arts competition to recruit relatives to spend more than 100,000 taels of silver, you don't care, you have to stare at this kind of list of twenty or thirty taels, you sincerely find fault, right?"

The chief steward waved his hand to stop the second steward from going berserk, and said to the accounting room, "Go on." ”

The bookkeeper said, "I'm just giving you an example." There is also a more serious overrun is the travel expenses, this time we sent an invitation letter half a year in advance, each sect is a group of two, such as Shaolin, Wudang these sects are far away, most of them are later than the prescribed return time ten to one or two months later, this expenditure alone, overspend 10,000 taels. ”

Tang Yuanbing pondered for a while, "If you don't return at the specified time, let them bear the extra costs." ”

"There's still a gap of 50,000 taels. ”

Tang Yuanbing thought about it, at that time, he had suggested to the head of the family to find some sponsorship in the ring, Tang Zhengfeng said that the scenery that the Tang family wants to do when marrying a daughter is pure, and there can be no commercial things in it.

"Where's the thug we're looking for?

"According to the instructions of the chief steward, I found a total of three people who knew the Xuan Realm, and three people who knew the Xuan Realm. ”

"Where's the Elephant Realm?"

"The one in Qingyang Palace originally negotiated 5,000 taels of silver, but when he went to deliver the letter today, he temporarily raised the price, and he was willing to make a move if he wanted 10,000 taels. ”

Tang Yuanbing's eyebrows are almost screwed together, this time the competition recruits relatives, the Tang family has set a budget of 200,000 taels of silver, from making a plan, making a budget, choosing a venue to sending invitations, setting up banquets, no matter how big or small, he has handled it single-handedly, but in the end, there is still a gap between the silver and the silver.

If it is normal, 200,000 taels of silver is enough, but these people in the Tang family are like leeches, every link and every subtlety, they can't wait to interject and suck a mouthful, and in the end, it is he Tang Yuanbing who is unlucky to be scolded.

Although the head of the family said that this competition must be open, fair and transparent, how can it really be implemented when it is really implemented?

There are as many as hundreds of people who have signed up, and among these people, Jiang Yang thieves and those with unclear net worth will naturally be kicked out, and those who have improper doors and wrong households will not be kicked out, but when arranging the battle, they have already invited a number of thugs to exclude these people as soon as possible.

It is necessary not only to ensure that it is done well, but also to control the cost, which is not something that ordinary people can do.

Tang Yuanbing carefully reviewed the list of 100 people selected for the martial arts competition, and asked Li Dadao, "How is Zhuang Xiaoxian, the son of Zhuang Xiande, the richest man in Nanchong?"

"In the middle of the realm. ”

"You go talk to him, five thousand taels, and get him in the top thirty. ”

Next, Tang Yuanbing asked a few more people, set prices for entering the top 30, top 20, and top 10, and then asked the account room, "How?"

The account office knocked on the abacus and said happily, "If this thing is done, not only will we not overspend, but we can also save 30,000 taels!"

The chief steward asked Li Datong again, "How feasible is this?"

Li Dadao, "The people we invited are all above the Xuan Realm, and they are in order to prevent someone from making trouble or encountering someone who picks the door, and the emergency plan is made, if you add these, our thugs are a little insufficient." ”

Tang Yuanbing glanced at the three of them and said, "Come here." ”

The three of them stood there and waited for a long time, when they heard Tang Yubing shouting, "What do you have to say about the chief steward?"

"Do you know martial arts?"

Xiao Jinyan said, "My two brothers have good martial arts, and I will also order them, but they are a little worse." ”

Li Datong smiled, "Brother Dabao, be humble. ”

The chief steward asked, "If you are allowed to participate in the competition to recruit relatives, do you have confidence?"

"Nope. ”

"Good. What I want is your faithless spirit!"

The three of them were confused, and they listened a little stupidly.

The chief steward said to Li Dadao, "Write the three of them into it, modify the competition system, and ensure that we have ten places for the top 32 knockout rounds." As for the master of the Elephant Realm, it seems that he can only ask the head of the family for instructions. ”

He said to Xiao Jinyan and the others, "Tomorrow's martial arts competition, the three of you will also go together, and then it will all be arranged by Li Huyuan." ”

"We don't have to win. ”

The chief steward said, "Let you win, you can't win, but when the time comes, let you lose, you have to lose seriously for me, and you must not let them see that we are cheating, understand?"

The three of them said: "I seem to understand!"

"The guests are almost here, I originally asked the three of you to go with me to welcome the guests, in this way, let Chase change your identity for you, and you go to the banquet, you should be familiar with the opponent!"

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