Not much to say, in the blink of an eye, it is winter to spring, and the Shangyuan Festival. Xu Yao and Jiang Wenlun went into the city to see the lights, after the two looked at the lights, they found a restaurant on the spot and started chatting, the two of them were all talking, they went down the building, and bumped into Geng Xian head-on, this Geng Xian saw the two of them go downstairs together, and suddenly they were happy, and they were going to leave the two of them to eat tea at home.

Xu Yao smiled and shook his head, "It's dark, there's no need to drink tea, now that the Shangyuan Festival has passed, you are about to go to the county town in the near future, it is better to go home and prepare early, tomorrow I plan to leave for Suzhou, you go back and talk to your mother." ”

His teacher personally opened his mouth, Geng Xian agreed again and again, and after saying goodbye to the two, he went straight home and told his mother about it. Geng immediately negotiated with his father, and while packing his bags, he sent a message to Xu Yao and made an appointment for tomorrow as the departure date. The next day, Xu Yao said goodbye to Jiang Wenlun and went straight to Geng's house next door.

After pulling Xu Yao outside to greet him again, he finally handed over the vouchers and dialed a maid to Xu Yao. This servant's name is Tiger Skin, because he was born tall and strong, and when his deceased master goes out, he always takes this servant with him.

The accounts left by the deceased master before were also the most clear to Hupi'er, so Pu Yuanwai sent him to pick up luggage for Xu Yao and accompany him. After seeing off the wine and eating, Pu Yuanwai and others sent Xu Yao and the others out of the door and said goodbye.

At this time, it is the beginning of February, the weather is fine, the spring breeze is warm, and the flowers are blooming. Every time the two of them traveled until the evening, they would go to the cooked store to sleep, and then move on the fifth watch the next day. Hungry and thirsty all the way, staying at night, acting cautiously, it has arrived at the boundary of Suzhou Prefecture.

The two entered Suzhou City and came directly to Lu's house. The shopkeeper Lu asked about the intention, but he was also quite happy, welcomed the two into the guest seat with good wine and food, and then cleaned a clean room, and after taking the two to settle down, he personally accompanied the two of them to the city of Suzhou, which can be described as treating each other with hospitality.

In the blink of an eye, it was already the second day, the Lu shopkeeper prepared a table of wine feast, let Xu Yao sit in the guest seat, and then invited a group of relatives and friends to accompany him, the wine was half drunk, and the Lu shopkeeper took a box and put it on the table, and said to Xu Yao, "Back then, Geng Jun sold satin and small shop goods on credit, but he didn't expect to die suddenly after returning to Shangyong, and I was quite lamented when I heard the news." ”

"The old man died, and he should have gone to mourn, but the business of the store was sluggish, and there was no money to return, so he naturally had no face to meet the mother of the Geng family. Thanks to the support of customers from all over the world, the business of the store has gradually improved. Your Excellency patronized it, and it should have been offered with the interest, but it was the early spring at this time, and the customers were not gathered, and it was the time when the business in the store was the most sluggish. ”

Speaking of this, the shopkeeper Lu paused, pointed to the box in his hand, and then continued, "Yesterday."

Under the efforts of the heavens, he only got 500 taels of silver, and some miscellaneous goods such as coarse satin, cloth, cotton and linen, totaling more than 100 taels, as interest, and begged to accept it. ”

"The rest still owes two hundred taels of silver, and I will make another coupon contract, and I will send someone to deliver it on time at the end of the winter, and I hope that Mr. will say a few kind words for me in front of the Geng family's housewife, and I am very grateful."

After the shopkeeper finished speaking, he took a day's flat, opened the box, and in front of everyone, he cashed the full amount, and after stacking a ingot, he called the shopkeeper to hold the satin groceries, and after weighing the amount, he handed them over to Xu Yao in person.

Xu Yao called Tiger Pi'er, ordered him to count and accept it, and turned around and talked and laughed with Lu Yuanwai again. The tiger skin staggered forward, glanced at the shopkeeper Lu, and suddenly said, "Xu Xianggong is slow, when my master was still there, he had a very good relationship with this elder surnamed Lu, and he had the longest contact, so he entrusted these goods to sell in the store." ”

"After my master died, it has been ten years now, and even the principal should be repaid more than a thousand taels of silver. Today, the shopkeeper Lu just repaid these, the principal is insufficient, and the interest is thin, so how can the villain reply to the master's mother?"

The shopkeeper Lu was not annoyed when he heard this, and continued with a smile: "This housekeeper also has some truth, but the business of the store in the early spring is weak, and he can't pull out for a while, so he has to make this decision as a last resort. The silver taels owed to your house will be repaid only at the end of the year, and you will never miss the appointment, and you hope that the housekeeper will return home and ask the master for convenience. If it comes to interest, this consignment is sold in the store, and there are also personal contacts, so it is better to talk about how much. ”

Xu Yao also took over the conversation at this time, "Uncle Lu is a pure and honest elder, and he had a great friendship with your master back then, so now you might as well come and receive the rest of the silver taels in winter." ”

Hu Pi'er's eyes suddenly widened when he heard this, and then he didn't follow: "My eldest minister, you are talking about the words of a scholar, who doesn't know how to do this kind of favor? The villain eats the Geng family's food, wears the Geng family's clothes, and receives the strict orders of the Geng family's housewife, this amount of silver is insufficient, and it is impossible for me to go back! Otherwise, how can I get this morning and evening suffering? This 1,352 taels of silver, that is not a penny!"

When Xu Yao heard this, he suddenly showed a smile on his face, and took over the tiger's words: "Your housewife is the most virtuous, if you are afraid, I will go home and say, I promise not to let you, the big housekeeper, be angry." ”

Hu Pi'er didn't know what he had done at this time, Xu Yao was already persuaded by good words, but he still didn't give up, and shouted as soon as he opened his mouth, "My Xu Xianggong, you go home to see my mistress, say a few words, and go by yourself, but I was sold as a slave in the Geng family since I was a child, and I want to live in the Geng family for a lifetime."

Seeing that this person is still going to talk back, Xu Yao

He also smiled on his face, and said indifferently, "You haven't drunk much, why are you drunk like this, even your grandmother is current, and she doesn't dare to talk to me like this, or do you think that without you picking up silver and goods for me, I won't be able to return to mediocrity."

Seeing that Xu Yao's tone gradually turned stern, Hu Pi'er remembered that Xu Yao didn't seem to be a fuel-efficient lamp, not one of those stupid and stupid scholars, and couldn't help but shrink his neck, but he didn't admit defeat in his mouth, and he was still chattering there.

Seeing that the scene was getting more and more unseemly, the Lu shopkeeper and the guests persuaded together, "Steward Geng drank a few more glasses just now, and now he is inevitably speaking with a little bit of alcohol, which is only abrupt for a while, Xu Xianggong doesn't have to mind." ”

Seeing that Xu Yao was persuaded by a group of people, Hupi'er suddenly became bolder, opened his eyes and said, "I got drunk after eating a few glasses of wine from you?"

Xu Yao wanted to speak out again when he heard this, but he was stopped by the shopkeeper Lu, who stopped Xu Yao, turned around and said with a smile, "In a hurry, I prepared some thin wine here, if there is any inconsiderate hospitality, the old man will punish himself with three glasses, and he will order someone to send some good wine and food to the housekeeper's room later, so don't be annoyed by this." ”

Seeing that the shopkeeper Lu was soft, Hupi'er became more and more proud, "Wouldn't it be good to do this earlier, let me waste so many lips and tongues in vain, I don't eat this wine at your house, I don't bother to take advantage of this little cheapness, when I was at home, I was all in wine to live, which day was not drunk?"

"Old man Lu, don't underestimate people, although I am just a subordinate, but when I came to Suzhou City, I led this Xu Xianggong all the way. Xu Xianggong wants to be a good person, then he will go by himself, and I will be the master of everything, and this money cannot be missing, but if the old man gives me a little idea of thinking about it, then I will follow Xu Xianggong in this matter, and I will not ask again"

When Hu Pi'er said this, it was clear that he wanted the shopkeeper Lu to secretly buy him. As soon as these words came out, except for Xu Yao and Lu Yuan, the rest of the guests were all angry, and Qi Qi said to the tiger skin, "If you don't pay back enough silver, what are you going to do with this dog slave?

Hupi'er was also scolded at this time, and said with a stiff neck, "Yes, yes, yes, it's true that I'm a slave, but I'm also a slave of the Geng family, and I haven't sold myself to you, Old Man Lu, you made a special trip to pick up this group of people to scold me, I'm afraid you don't want to design my Geng family's money, right? This is 1,352 taels of silver, and if I lose a penny, I won't want to go out of your store!"