Just when Mr. Qi was tossing and turning, Meng Hao was also full of worries. Although Mr. Qi once told him about his son Meng Ran's face, he didn't care about it at the time, until today, Mr. Qi told his son Meng Ran so solemnly, which made Meng Hao's heart feel very strong.

Meng Hao, who watched his son eat heavily, was filled with haze in his heart.

Seeing her husband's worried face and poor appetite, Mrs. Meng said with concern: "Master, what's wrong with you?

Meng Hao reluctantly pulled the corners of his mouth and said perfunctorily: "It's nothing, I'm just a little worried about Brother Qi." You eat more, I don't have much appetite. ”

Mrs. Meng didn't persuade Meng Hao again, but just put a lot of dishes in Meng Ran's bowl.

Meng Ran had a mouth full of rice and muttered vaguely: "It's too much, I can't finish it." ”

Mrs. Meng stopped her chopsticks and patted her son's shoulder: "You can do it, eat slowly, eat it all." ”

Meng Ran had no choice but to continue to pull the food in the bowl.

After dinner, Meng Hao took Meng Ran to the West Courtyard. Halfway down, Meng Hao suddenly stopped, and Meng Ran behind him was caught off guard and hit Meng Hao's waist headfirst.

Meng Ran rubbed his nose and said with a little dissatisfaction: "Father, what are you doing? My nose is about to fall off." ”

Meng Hao was amused by his son and said, "Who told you to walk without looking, there is someone in front of you and you still bump up, who is to blame?"

Meng Ran quickly rolled his eyes: "Father, you are arguing, obviously you stopped suddenly, why do you still rely on me." I'm going to tell my mother. ”

After speaking, Meng Ran made a look of turning around to leave, Meng Hao grabbed him, bent over and squatted, his eyes aligned with Meng Ran's eyes, and said gently: "Okay, it's my father's fault, it's all my fault, I shouldn't stop suddenly." ”

Meng Ran snorted twice, and he stopped entanglement.

Looking at his father who was looking at him in a daze, Meng Ran was a little panicked, "Father, what's wrong with you?"

Before the words fell, Meng Hao suddenly hugged Meng Ran into his arms and hugged him tightly.

Meng Ran was hugged and almost out of breath. At this time, I suddenly heard my father's voice in my ear, "Ran'er, whether you can hear Mr. Qi's words or not, everything is up to you." Besides, their Taoist sects often say that the face is born from the heart, as long as you are kind-hearted, where can you come from the calamity?"

"I know, father. As Mr. said, for history books, it is credible, but it cannot be trusted. I just have to listen to my husband, believe it or not is my business. ”

"My son is really smart. ”

"Of course. Meng Ran, who was praised, looked proud.

Slowly letting go of Meng Ran, Meng Hao touched his son's head and said, "Let's go, let's go see Mr. Qi." ”

In the quiet courtyard, two figures, one large and one small, gradually drifted apart.

When I arrived at the west courtyard, when I opened the door, the candles in the room moved with the wind and swayed non-stop.

The Meng father and son walked to the bed and looked at Mr. Qi, who was full of worries.

Mr. Qi looked sideways at the visitor, full of joy.

The three chatted for a while, and Meng Hao motioned for Meng Ran to go back to sleep first, and he had something to talk to Mr. Qi.

Meng Ran obediently left.

Mr. Qi squinted slightly: "Brother, what do you have to tell me, why do you have to drive Ran'er away?"

"Brother Qi, you really shouldn't tell the child about his face. Ran'er, this kid has a lot of thoughts, he says it's okay, and he will definitely have his own thoughts in his heart. Meng Hao was a little bored.

"Actually, when I said it, I already regretted it. But there was no turning back from the bow, so I could only tell the truth. Mr. Qi was very annoyed, "Phases are born from the heart, as long as Ran'er is dedicated to goodness, he will change his face, and there will be no calamity." I just hope that he can maintain a pure heart in the future. ”

"Hey, in this world, good people spend their lives, and bad people are prosperous and rich. It's too hard to keep a sincere heart in this world. Meng Hao said faintly.

"Hey..."

There was a sigh in the room.

"Brother, what are you going to let Ran'er do in the future?" Mr. Qi asked casually.

"I don't have an idea yet, after all, I'm still young. It's just that I don't plan to let him enter the imperial examination, although this officialdom still takes care of some face, but the yin and selfishness behind the scenes are too inferior, and my Meng family is scarce, so I won't go to this troubled water. Meng Hao said with some indignation: "Now although I am the honor of the government, but only for the people of this side, if he has a new order from the imperial court, I will naturally resign from the seal." ”

"Just brother, you dare to say these rebellious words, if you change someone else, you can't wait to drill into it. Mr. Qi teased slightly, "It's just that your Meng ancestor still has some property, even if you resign, you won't starve your family." ”

Meng Hao glanced at Mr. Qi angrily, and said: "It's not that I look down on those people who are crazy and tend to be powerful, as long as they do some real things for the people, be greedy and get power, in fact, there is nothing." What is hateful is that they only know how to take the people's money, and then go to honor the officials or spend extravagantly, regardless of the life and death of the people, such people, I can't look down on such people in any way. ”

Mr. Qi said solemnly: "Yes, people's hearts are flesh and blood. Most of you who are officials have studied hard for ten years, participated in various exams, and finally the carp jumped over the dragon gate, and if you are lucky, it is not easy to make up for a real shortage. As long as they can do things for the people, they can naturally tolerate corruption if they exercise power appropriately. I'm just afraid, those people have a black heart, and they have studied hard for ten years just so that one day they can enjoy happiness and power and harm the people. ”

Meng Hao shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Now, there are too many people like this." ”

Mr. Qi pursed his lips: "It's your group of scholars who have the worst heart, no wonder there is a folk proverb 'Whenever you slaughter dogs, unscrupulous are the most readers', brother, can you agree?"

Meng Hao snorted heavily, and said angrily: "Brother, this is scolding me too." ”

Mr. Qi couldn't help laughing: "Okay, okay, it's me who lost my words." ”

The two had a tacit understanding and laughed.

On the other hand, after Meng Ran returned to his bedroom, he sat sullenly at the table with an unhappy face.

Xiaolian put down the female red in her hand, walked up to Meng Ran and asked softly, "Young Master, what's wrong with you?"

Meng Ran said in a sullen voice: "Sister Xiaolian, am I particularly ignorant." Why didn't my father and my husband tell me something? Is it because I was a child? ”

Xiaolian smiled, "Young Master, you were originally a child." It's normal for Master and Mr. Qi not to tell you anything important, after all, you are still young, you don't understand their affairs, and you can't help and solve the problem. ”

Meng Ran was even more depressed, "Sister Xiaolian, won't you be comforting? If you talk like this, you will be angry to death." ”

Xiaolian stretched out her index finger and scraped her face, and smiled mischievously: "Young master, are you ashamed." ”

Meng Ran blushed, and then became angry: "Hmph, I'm not a child. ”

Xiaolian nodded again and again, and said seriously: "Yes, yes, the young master is an adult, and he doesn't like to listen to the truth." ”

Meng Ran was angry, reached out to tickle Xiaolian's itch, and made Xiaolian giggle.

The two had a fight, and Meng Ran forgot about what his father and husband had driven him away just now, and regained his mood.

In the guest room of the West Courtyard, the candles on the candle stand burned very vigorously, illuminating the room very brightly. It's just that the two people in the room have been silent, and their faces are a little solemn.

After a while, Meng Hao opened his mouth and asked, "Brother Qi, have you really decided?"

Mr. Qi nodded and said, "I've already decided." I've been in your house for a long time, and I can't end up dying in your house. It's not good, it's not good. ”

Meng Hao was a little angry, "What's wrong? We have been best friends for many years, and now you are terminally ill and you are leaving, have you ever thought about my feelings?"

"That's why I'm leaving. Mr. Qi said in a faint tone, "I died of illness in your house, what should you do? Let Ran'er wear linen and filial piety for me and carry the coffin to collect the funeral? Aren't you afraid that others will laugh at you? Since you are the respect of the house, you naturally have to take care of things, and you can't just rely on feelings." ”

"I don't care what outsiders think. ”

"I don't care. But I'm afraid that outsiders' opinions will hurt Ran'er. Mr. Qi said earnestly, "Ran'er is still young, good and evil, right and wrong can't be clearly distinguished, do you want him to be pointed at in the future?"

"But..."

"No, but. "It is the best choice for me to leave, this is my choice, it has nothing to do with you, and there is no need to feel guilty." ”

Meng Hao frowned, but he was helpless, so he had to say sullenly: "Then brother, where are you going?" I'll send you there. ”

"I'm going to go to Jiankang, hoping to see my old friend before I die, and talk and drink tea with him. As for how to go, I don't need you to send me, you should be busy with your official business. All you have to do is go to the carriage and call me a carriage. ”

Meng Hao no longer insisted, but just asked: "Are you sure you don't say hello to Ran'er? Aren't you afraid that he won't see you crying? Aren't you afraid that he will resent you in his heart?"

Mr. Qi waved his hand, his face flushed, and said, "No need." Ahem..."Before he could finish speaking, he coughed violently.

Meng Hao hurriedly stroked Mr. Qi's back, and after his breath calmed down, he said, "If you leave like this." When he looks back, he will be very sad. ”

Mr. Qi was stunned for a moment, and said to himself: "I didn't plan to say goodbye to him in the first place, I don't want him to face life and death at such a young age." I'll just leave him a note when I get back. When he went to see it for himself, he told him that I had left beforehand. ”

Meng Hao was silent.

Early the next morning, as soon as the city gates were opened, an inconspicuous carriage slowly left the city. I only heard that in the carriage, there was a violent coughing sound, and the sound was painful.