Lin Fanghe came to visit Long Zaitian, and only took Tang Yu with him. The two rode across the bluestone bridge where the weeping willows were clinging, and they saw that the lotus leaves in the pond over there had already erected arrow-like branches.

The group turned west and followed the river to a clearing in the southwest of the city.

Long Zaitian's private residence in Chuzhou is located on top of this vacant lot, with several houses with blue tiles and white walls, surrounded by bamboo fences. Wild trumpet flowers snake their way up and bloom purple and red flowers on the top. As soon as you come here from the noisy and lively city, it is refreshing, relaxed physically and mentally, and feels a simple but not clumsy and unadorned idyllic scenery.

Seeing that the guests arrived, the family hurriedly opened two wooden doors and flashed aside, bowed and invited Lin Fanghe and the others to enter the hospital directly.

Before Lin Fanghe got off the horse, someone outside the living room had already descended to greet him. This person is a burly man, with a red face and purple hair, a lion nose and a wide mouth, thick black eyebrows, and a pair of giant eyes that are burning and shining. He walked up to Lin Fanghe and waved his head head-on: "Which one is my way, it turned out to be Lord Lin, the left attendant of the Criminal Department, and today he moved to Huilin House, and the old man was really uneasy." And please have tea in the hall—"

Long Zaitian led Lin Fanghe and others up the steps, entered the living room, and invited the guests to sit down.

Lin Fanghe looked around and saw that all kinds of furnishings in the hall were carved from rosewood, which was antique. The family offered fragrant tea, and Lin Fanghe said: "The chief dart master Delong is prestigious, famous at home, and in the past he was a hero in the DPRK and China, a pillar of the country, and he was admired in the future. You have walked the rivers and lakes for decades, your family is rich, and you can't imagine that you live in such a simple place in your later years, which is really admirable......"

Long Zaitian's face was calm when he heard this, and he was not shocked, and said: "The old man is old, he has long since lost his competitive heart, he is famous and profitable, he works hard, he doesn't bring it in life, he doesn't bring it in death, why bother to come? In the past two years, even the affairs in the dart game have gradually become less careless, and I have left it to those young people to take care of. In his spare time, he only reads poetry and Buddhist scriptures. ”

Lin Fanghe rubbed his hands and smiled slightly: "The old gentleman's martial arts are wonderful, his skills are overwhelming the martial arts, and in the past, a pair of iron palms crisscrossed the rivers and lakes, coming and going freely. I didn't expect to be able to dabble in literature and ink, and I was contaminated with Zhang Hua......"

"Recently, I was reading Su Shi's text. When Long Zaitian heard this, he smiled and said: "This Su Zizhan is talented and capable, but he is also very stubborn and has always competed with others. As soon as he competed, he was demoted and sent to a place far away from the capital. He was demoted again and again, and he was recalled again and again. So people, sometimes you can't compete, and you have to compromise when you should bow your head. ”

"It's wonderful. Mr. Long is not only able to read, but also has profound insights. ”

"No, I was watching his "Xing Xiangzi" when you came, and what he said fits the old man's state of mind. Haha, what a wonderful thing to say! And Tao Tao, happy and innocent. When will I return, and be an idler? To a piano, a pot of wine, a stream of clouds. ”

"I also heard my husband explain this poem when I was in a private school, and I still remember it. Lin Fanghe picked up the teacup, took a sip of fragrant tea, and the conversation changed suddenly, "But Mr. Long doesn't know, although this Su Shi likes to be hidden and admires Tao Qian all his life, he has never left the officialdom. In particular, he is jealous and hateful by nature, distinguishes right from wrong, and never tolerates those traitorous villains and shameless people in the DPRK and China......"

"Hehehe. ”

Long Zaitian lifted his beard and laughed: "In this way, Lord Lin is also a man of temperament. In fact, it is ashamed to say that the old man is a person who is in the army, and he can't read a liter of big characters. There is no ink on his chest, and he actually came to burn the ointment and burn the sundial, grinding through the iron inkstone, Lord Lin should laugh shamefully!"

"What is this talking about, old sir? You are studious in your twilight years, and you can be a model for the world. If you are still envious and envious, how dare you laugh shamefully?" Lin Fanghe put down the teacup and bowed.

Long Zaitian's eyes swept away, and he was shining: "Speaking of these, it reminds me of an old incident. In the eighteenth year of Hongwu, you were still a small inspector in the Criminal Department, because of the death of Zhang Tianfang's father, he had to return to his hometown and keep filial piety for three years. Someone recommended you Lin Fanghe, saying that although this person is a small official, he has outstanding talents and clear thinking. To tell you the truth, everyone also appreciates you very much, but the trouble is that you are the son of Zhang Dingbian, the first general under Chen Youliang of the Han Kingdom......"

"Well, I see. ”

Lin Fanghe's heart was surging.

Long Zaitian stopped talking, picked up the teacup and took two sips, and put it down again. continued: "Back then, the emperor suddenly remembered the old love, summoned me to the palace, and rewarded me with wine and meat. Talking about this during the banquet, he frowned and sighed. I saw that the emperor attached great importance to talents and paid attention to you, so I dared to tell him the story of Jin Pinggong and Qi Huangyang during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period......"

"Internal actions do not avoid relatives, and external actions do not avoid hatred. Lin Fanghe interjected.

"Your Excellency is right. The country's selection of talents, such as a woman's search for a wishful husband, is related to the rise and fall of a century, and it must not be sloppy. Long Zaitian said again, "After I finished speaking that day, I didn't take it to heart, and a few days after I left the palace, the ministry issued an edict of appointment to you. This matter, if it weren't for the old man's credit, if it weren't for my words in front of the emperor and vigorously maneuvering, I'm afraid it would have taken a lot of time. ”

Lin Fanghe got up and left his seat, and clasped his fists again: "I can't imagine that there is such a story behind the scenes, please forgive Lin for being stupid and failing to thank him in time." Since I became an official, although I dare not say that I have done my best and died, I can be regarded as diligent in the king's affairs, honest and honest, and I want to live up to the old man's recommendation. ”

Speaking of this, Tang Yu was idle on the side, drank a few cups of tea, and suddenly felt anxious. He stood up and apologized, saying, "I'm sorry, I want to go and relieve myself." ”

Long Zaitian stopped talking, waved his hand, summoned a man in green clothes, and took Tang Yu out.

Jia Ding led the way in front, and led Tang Yu through the winding corridor to a small courtyard, and behind it was the latrine. That family had probably drunk wine in the morning and ate a lot of garlic, and the strange smell of the mixture made Tang Yu's stomach churn.

So he said to the family, "Go back first, you don't need to accompany me here." ”

Jia Ding smiled, grinned, and showed a mouth full of yellow teeth: "Does the son know the way? Although this place is small, there are many forks in the road, don't you want to go wrong?"

The smell of garlic came over for a while, Tang Yu hurriedly covered his nose and said, "Don't bother you, I know the way." "Turn around and go to the toilet.

After convenience, Tang Yu went out, turned out of the small courtyard, and walked back along the corridor where he came. Suddenly, he saw a moon cave door in front of him, and he walked out of this round door. Ahead was a low house, surrounded by a tall wooden fence with no exit. He looked around and realized that he was on the wrong path.

Tang Yu was just about to turn around, when suddenly an old woman wearing a cloth skirt and gray hair ran out, ran across the courtyard, and lay on the wooden fence. With a whining in his mouth, he beckoned to him again and again!