Zhao Ming was very happy when he saw Qiao Kui, firstly, because he saw that his life was not as hard as before, for some reason, his heart seemed to be soothed, and secondly, he was naturally happy to see a different man like Qiao Kui again.

Zhao Mingben invited Qiao Kui to have a meal in the most famous restaurant on Chang'an Street, but Qiao Kui declined, Qiao Kui said: "Brother Zhao's good intentions Qiao has a heart, but he still has a wife and children in the next family, so I can't accompany Brother Zhao to have a few drinks." ”

Zhao Ming is not the kind of person who is difficult for a strong man, not only did he not blame Qiao Kui for not appreciating it and not giving him face, but when he saw Qiao Kui taking care of his family so much, he felt very admired. Zhao Ming said: "Since Brother Qiao is inconvenient today, and I blame my brother for not seeing it at the right time, I won't force your ......" Zhao Ming wanted to say, "Then I'll talk about it later." But I couldn't say when it would be, maybe in a month.

Qiao Kui naturally didn't want to say goodbye to Zhao Ming like this, so he said, "If Brother Zhao doesn't mind, let's go to the cold house for a while, how about it?"

Zhao Ming said goodbye, and the two walked out of the flowery Chang'an Avenue together in response to the sunset, getting farther and farther away from the hustle and bustle of Chang'an Street.

The three children were reading books, and the so-called books were just thrown away by the rich children and picked up by Qiao Kui to show them.

Qiao Kui himself did not give his own martial arts to his sons, he wanted his three sons to go to the official career, and he didn't want them to learn a martial arts after they could not help themselves in the rivers and lakes and go with the flow.

The eldest Qiao Xun, ten years old, looks bright and bright, full of heroism, the third Qiao Wen is only five years old, lively and lovely, innocent, but always likes to pretend that he is an adult, the seven-year-old second Qiao Lin is the eldest brother and third brother, is a very shrewd child, has the ability to never forget, extremely talented, sensible and studious, Qiao Kui often sighs, why such an excellent child should live such a poor life by his side? Yun Mengyi didn't think so, she felt that having these children was a blessing in her previous life, just looking at them was full of happiness.

Qiao Kui and Zhao Ming approached the small courtyard, and his youngest son Qiao Wen saw it from a distance, wearing two little braids, and jumped up to open the fence door for Qiao Kui, Qiao Kui came in and picked him up, and said to him: "This is your Uncle Zhao." ”

Qiao Wen was a little scared, and his little face flushed and said, "Uncle Zhao." ”

Zhao Ming also likes children very much, and when he saw Qiao Wen so cute, he wanted to reach out and touch his face, Qiao Wen was a little scared, but after seeing Zhao Ming's square face, he also felt like him, so he let him touch it.

Zhao Ming smiled: "Good boy, good boy." ”

At this time, Qiao Xun and Qiao Lin had also come over, bowing and greeting Zhao Ming, Zhao Ming continued to praise the three children for their politeness and thoughtfulness, and at the same time secretly surprised that Qiao Kui could teach his son like this, which really impressed him. How did he know that these were all the credit of Yun Mengyi.

Qiao Kui said: "Brother Zhao hasn't seen my insider, please wait a while, I'll call her." ”

Zhao Ming nodded, and Qiao Kui instructed the three children to take care of Zhao Ming, and walked into the hut by himself. Zhao Ming thought to himself: "I didn't expect that in this poor and remote place, there is such an unusual family in the thatched hut and humble house, the children are not only polite, but Brother Qiao even has to go into the house to call his wife in person, which shows that the two of them have a deep affection and respect for each other." ”

"Uncle Zhao, please use tea. Qiao Xun said to him with a cup with a notch.

Zhao Ming nodded, took the cup, and asked with a smile, "What's your name?"

Qiao Xun said: "My name is Qiao Xun is ten years old, this is my second brother Qiao Lin, he is seven years old, and that is my third brother Qiao Wen, who is only five years old." Qiao Xun said as he pointed to Qiao Wen, who was drawing on the ground with a small wooden stick.

Zhao Ming said: "It's really a good boy, have you ever studied?" Zhao Ming regretted it a little as soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly thought that Qiao Kui's family background was not very good, how could he provide a few children with education?

But Qiao Lin said: "Reading, we have been reading." ”

Zhao Ming didn't know whether he was happy or surprised, so he said to Qiao Lin, a handsome young man standing next to Qiao Xun, "Where are you studying?"

At this time, Qiao Wen, who had just been drawing on the side, ran over and said, "...... at home"

After listening to Qiao Wen's answer, he regretted that he shouldn't have asked this, and he sighed in his heart: "Hey, if these three children can afford to read, they will do something in the future." As he was sighing, his head lit up, and he suddenly thought: "Wouldn't it be nice if I could help his family?" Help, how should I help? Although I work for a high-ranking official in the palace, I am pitiful in my monthly allowance, how can I help him with such a little money? Besides, even if I am willing to give, with Brother Qiao's character, I will definitely not want to ask for it. ”

While he was thinking hard, Qiao Kui and Yun Mengyi walked out of the house. When Zhao Ming saw it, he stood up and said to Yun Mengyi respectfully, "Sister-in-law." ”

Yun Meng smiled and said, "Brother Zhao is too uplifting the slave family. ”

Qiao Kui said: "My wife and I have not seen outsiders for a long time since I moved here, so I said that if I brought a friend back, she would dress up. Let Brother Zhao wait for a long time, I hope you don't be surprised, has the dog ever greeted Brother Zhao well?"

Zhao Ming said with a smile: "Brother Qiao, you are so polite, sister-in-law is dignified and elegant, seeing that I need to dress up as a rough person, you must be exaggerating." The nephews are also sensible and well-behaved, and I was just thinking about Brother Qiao, you can ask for advice on how to teach your son!"

Qiao Kui smiled: "Where can I teach children, this is all the credit of my wife." She works hard every day and pays a lot for this family, and I, ah, really don't have much to offer......"

Yun Mengyi suddenly interrupted him: "If you keep talking, we will talk hungry." ”

Qiao Kui suddenly slapped his head: "Oh! I forgot, I just want to come back, but I forgot to buy some vegetables, and now the vegetable market is afraid that the stalls have been closed, what should I do? There are no vegetables at home?"

Yun Meng pursed his lips one by one and shook his head, Qiao Kui frowned, and said to Zhao Ming: "Brother Zhao, I'm really sorry, you are waiting for a while, I can't make you hungry if you say anything, I'll go buy some food!"

Zhao Ming said: "Brother Qiao, what are these words, but I, an uninvited person, have caused a lot of inconvenience to Brother Qiao and sister-in-law, so let's prepare today's dinner." ”

Qiao Kui shook his hand and said: "No, no, no, you are the guest and I am the master, where can I let the guest prepare dinner? Or I go, I have fast feet." ”

Zhao Ming said with a smile: "I naturally know Brother Qiao's foot strength, but my foot strength is not slow, I think, let's go together, sister-in-law and nephews just wait at home." ”

Seeing that he insisted on going, Qiao Kui didn't stop him, smiled apologetically at Yun Mengyi and turned around and said, "Okay, let's go together." ”

After the two left, Qiao Wen asked Yun Mengyi: "Mother, why is Daddy arguing with that Uncle Zhao?"

Yun Meng smiled, twisted Qiao Wen's little nose slightly, and said, "They are not arguing, it is just a conversation between adults." ”

Qiao Lin couldn't help but ask, "Do adults want to be like that when they speak?"

Yun Mengyi smiled, looked at the three children lovingly, and said, "Maybe, maybe not." Do you want to talk like that in the future?"

Qiao Wen and Qiao Xun said in unison without thinking: "I don't want to!"

Only Qiao Lin thought for a while, and then said slowly: "Maybe it will or maybe not." ”

Yun Mengyi suddenly stopped laughing, but it was not very obvious, the three children went to read again, Qiao Wen kept pestering Qiao Lin and Qiao Xun to tell him to read, Qiao Lin and Qiao Xun also took the trouble to teach him, Qiao Lin could even choose words and sentences to teach his younger brother vividly and vividly, so that his younger brother could remember it at once.

Yun Mengyi looked at Qiao Lin with some concern, what is there to worry about such an excellent child? But it is the woman's intuition and mother's love that are at work, Yun Mengyi always feels that although Qiao Lin is the smartest of the three children, he is also the most fragile, can he bear the pressure brought to him by life in the future?

Qiao Kui and Zhao Ming rushed back before dark, and naturally both of them had some cooked food and some vegetables in their hands, plus a jar of wine.

Qiao Kui's family rarely spoke when they were eating, and Zhao Ming was surprised - even the three children were like this. Although Zhao Ming has been socializing in the officialdom all the year round, he has also read Confucian books, so he naturally integrated into the family, only eating and drinking, and not saying a word otherwise

After dinner, Qiao Kui's family still finished dinner according to the old habit and sat in the courtyard chatting, but tonight, there was no wind.

Yun Mengyi didn't snuggle up in Qiao Kui's arms, she was cleaning up the dishes and saucers on the table, the only thing was the same as before, only three children were playing in the yard, what were they playing? Adults couldn't understand it, not only couldn't they understand it, but they couldn't imagine that if they could imagine it, they would live happily.

At this time, Qiao Kui frowned, and Zhao Ming, who was sitting next to him, did not speak, because he had already told Qiao Kui what he should say.

It turned out that when the two were buying cooked food on the street, Zhao Ming suddenly saw more than a dozen mule carts moving on the street one after another, each cart pulling a lot of goods, each car was tightly covered by a large black cloth, and it was fixed on the car with a rope.

In front of the mule team, there are two people carrying pennants, the side of the flag is embroidered with gold wire, and the flag is also embroidered with four golden characters - "Ping An Dart Bureau", and the bottom of the second flag is dark red, and the four big black characters on it are also eye-catching - "Wind Dart Bureau". There was a man every few steps on either side of the mule team, all with shining blades. At the end of the mule team, there was a magnificent carriage, on which were sitting some dignitaries, and there were two people riding horses on both sides of the carriage, looking alert.

Zhao Ming said: "It's the joint bodyguard of the two dart bureaus, and what is transported in this mule cart is definitely not a priceless treasure or official money." ”

Qiao Kui said: "I think it should be official money, if any rich businessman wants to find a dart bureau to dart, how can he act in such a high-profile manner?"

Zhao Ming saw that Qiao Kui seemed to know about the dart, so he asked casually, "Brother Qiao has also walked through darts before?"

Qiao Kui was suddenly speechless, with a sad look on his face, which was indescribable. Zhao Ming didn't expect that he accidentally poked Qiao Kui's heart, so he apologized again and again, Qiao Kui sighed: "Brother Zhao thinks too much, I just ...... Alas, forget it, it's passed, more than ten years. ”

The more Qiao Kui said this, the more Zhao Ming didn't want to go, Zhao Ming thought to himself, just let Qiao Kui say it, and he was happy, so he said: "Brother Qiao, why don't you tell me to listen to it? ”

Qiao Kui hesitated for a while, and then told all the things he had done in the dart business, how he had run it in a dismal manner, and how he finally sold the dart store with a lot of debts.

After saying it, Qiao Kui also seemed much happier, he hadn't even told Yun Meng in the past ten years, one forbearance was ten years! If he hadn't seen the dart game today, if he hadn't met Zhao Ming today, how long would he be able to hold back this secret?

Qiao Kui sighed: "Ten years ago, it was not easy to do darts, just because everyone was selfish and refused to give their net worth to others, and those rich businessmen were the most untrustworthy to others." And now, everyone can do darts, and the competition is fierce, alas. ”

Zhao Ming saw that he was still thinking about the dart line in his heart, so he had a plan and said, "Since Brother Qiao can't let go of the dart, why not revive the dart game?"

Qiao Kui was stunned, he hadn't thought about it, but as time passed, this idea became more and more impossible to realize. The reason for this is that he also has a wife and children. The dart walker is doing a living by licking blood on the knife, maybe one day he will be able to put his life into it, how can he be so selfish, ignoring his wife and children?

Zhao Ming seemed to understand his thoughts, so he said again: "Brother Qiao, I have seen your skills with my own eyes, if you intend to do darts, I am willing to do something for you." I understand that Brother Qiao is worried about his sister-in-law and nephews, but please think about it, if you continue to live like this, you will not worry about wasting all your efforts in vain, and when will you be able to make your sister-in-law and nephews live a good life.

"Brother Qiao, you might as well give it a try, don't hide it from you, the younger brother has a lot of connections in the official mansion, if Brother Qiao really wants to rebuild the dart line, it will be much easier than you back then. Brother Qiao......"

Zhao Ming wanted to continue, but Qiao Kui interrupted: "I understand Brother Zhao's intentions, but this matter is not for me to decide alone. I can't bring my wife and children into this dangerous life, back then I was just a person in the rivers and lakes, I was a rotten life, and it was not a pity to die, but now it is different, people's hearts are more sinister, and the brains of the robbers have become brighter, and it is not easy for the famous dart game to pass their mountains. So, it's easier said than done to revive the game. ”

Zhao Ming was already convinced that Qiao Kui intended to regain the dart game, and thought that it would be counterproductive to persuade him to continue, so he didn't say more, and the two walked back to Qiao Kui's house.

It was getting late, Zhao Ming had already said goodbye, and the three children had already gone to bed.

Qiao Kui tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.

"What's wrong?" Yun Mengyi whispered in his ear.

Qiao Kui turned around and lay down in front of Yun Mengyi, and said softly, "Why haven't you slept yet?"

"You can't fall asleep tossing and turning, how can I fall asleep?"

"Alas. ”

"Have you sighed a little too much today? Have you encountered any difficulties? If it is work, I can weave more cloth. ”

Qiao Kui lightly shook Yun Mengyi's hand and said, "I have something I want to tell you......"