Han Shizu

Chapter 842 The old friendship
Not long after the Shangyuan Festival, there are still a large number of lanterns and ribbons hanging in the market, streets, and archways, waiting to be dismantled.As a southerner, the cold spring in Tokyo is still not so pleasant for Zhong Mo, but fortunately there is still a warm spring.Strolling through the streets and enjoying the bustling scenery of Tokyo, Zhong Mo looked at ease, almost immersed in it.

Zhong Mo was very interested, and searched all over Nanshi, hoping to find the place where he set up a stall and wrote articles to make a living, but unfortunately things have changed, and he can no longer find it, even a little bit of the situation in the past is hard to find.

Due to some fate, he met the stall owner who gave him steamed stuffed buns back then.The original small stall owner already had his own shop, just above the Nanshi Wine Street. The shop is not big, but the business is very good. Because of the good taste, it is famous in the street, and got the nickname of "Sun Baozi".

When old friends meet, they will naturally feel happy and talk cordially. "Sun Baozi" is a philistine and shrewd person. When he sees Zhong Mo, who is well-dressed and has an extraordinary bearing, he treats him warmly and shares his past friendship.Naturally, he complimented Zhong Mo constantly, but when he drifted away, he seemed to lack self-knowledge, talking about Zhong Mo's downfall at the beginning, and bragging to the acquaintances present how he saw Zhong Mo's extraordinaryness back then, and how he generously gave food. kindness
Zhong Mosu didn't feel ashamed of the down and out experience back then, and instead encouraged himself.However, the former benefactor used the old friendship as a talk, maybe there was no malice, it was just the vanity of the petty bourgeoisie, and Zhong Mo still had some strange emotions in his heart.

With a smile on his mouth, he was magnanimous and expressed his gratitude repeatedly.When he was leaving, Zhong Mo left another piece of silver ingot, and then took people away without hesitation.

"Shang Shu, those mediocre people, vulgar and vulgar, without self-knowledge, dare to talk to you in such a rude manner." The follower who followed couldn't help but muttered to Zhong Mo, his tone was full of contempt .

Zhong Mo had a relaxed attitude: "You said it too, the market peddler doesn't know etiquette, so why should I care about it. Besides, when I was down and out, he was indeed kind to me, even though it was only a few meat buns. But he relieved my hunger, and I should also accept his kindness. If I blame him because he said a few more words, then I am not too narrow-minded."

After wandering around in Nanshi for nearly two hours, I found a wine shop and drank some wine. Near dusk, the coachman and boy came back excitedly, with a shrewd smile: "Officer, the place you are looking for , I found the young one for you, and I also asked, it is indeed a family with the surname Zhang. The capital has undergone major changes, and most of the neighbors have changed their names and numbers. If ordinary people can’t find it, even the young one took a lot of trouble.”

Listening to his words and watching his attitude, Zhong Mo didn't understand what he meant, so he sent a message to his followers: "You have worked hard, reward!"

"Thank you, little one!" The coachman immediately smiled.

"Lead the way!"

"Yes!"

In the evening, when the light was dark and the wind was cold, Zhong Mo put on a robe and went out of Denan City. The surrounding rich families had already lit candles. As the night fell, the decoration of thousands of lights made the huge Tokyo city more vivid. Governance weather.

Feeling the sights in the city, Zhong Mo secretly decided that for the rest of his stay in Tokyo, he would go up and down, inside and out, and then write another "Tokyo Travel Notes".

When he lived in Kaifeng, he once wrote a copy of "Tokyo Experience". After returning to Jinling, he presented it to Li Jing and praised it for the beauty of his diction and the truth of his knowledge.Later, it was circulated and copied among Jinling literati. Not long after Huainan was defeated, the entire Tang court succumbed to the power of the Northern Han Dynasty. Under the background of the growing influence of the Han court, many people learned about Kaifeng through that record. , understand the big man.

What Zhong Mo was looking for was naturally the Zhang family where he was boarding back then. When it comes to kindness, that is what Zhong Mo will remember, shelter, food and clothing.

The overhaul of Tokyo has a great impression on ordinary citizens. Zhang's house was originally located at the southern end of Kaifeng, close to the city gate. After expansion, it is almost in the center of the city.

"It's changed a lot!" Standing in front of the quiet house, Zhong Mo couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

The house is still an ordinary small house, but it has obviously been renovated, and the design of the portal is consistent with that of the houses on the whole street. Zhong Mo knew that it was the government's requirement at that time.However, one can feel that the life of the Zhang family should be pretty good.

The servant stepped forward to call for the door, but without waiting for a moment, the door opened wide, with half of his body stretched out. It was a young man with a childish face, looking at Zhong Mo and the others, curious: "Who are you?"

"Are you Zhang Guangyao?" Zhong Mo stepped forward and asked.

The boy nodded: "Yes! Who are you?"

"Guangyao, I haven't seen you for many years, don't you know me?" Zhong Mo smiled.

Zhang's family name is Da, and his character is Guangyao, which was the character Zhong Mo gave him before returning to the south.The young man was surprised when he heard the words, rubbed his eyes, and when he saw Zhong Mo's appearance, he was overjoyed: "You are Mr. Zhong?"

Although the words were doubtful, but the tone was very certain, and he turned his head and shouted in: "Father! Mother! Mr. Zhang is back!"

After yelling a few times, he opened the door of the house, knelt down towards Zhong Mo directly by the door, and kowtowed his head three times while Zhong Mo was in a daze.Zhong Mo was very moved by this great gift and treated each other with respect.Immediately helped him up, saying that there is no need to perform such a grand ceremony, the young man replied seriously, he should treat each other as a teacher.

Back then, as a teacher, he taught Zhang's brothers and sisters for a period of time. Before he left, he left him a copy of "The Analects of Confucius" and told him to study hard.

Zhong Mo's arrival made the quiet courtyard of the Zhang family lively, and the Zhang couple heard the movement and came out together to welcome them.Zhong Mo immediately ordered someone to present the purchased gifts, and then observed the couple.

Old man Zhang has aged a lot, but his body is not considered majestic, but he still looks so strong, he is very respectful to Zhong Mo, and still has a simple and unsophisticated image.Zhang's wife's appearance has not changed much compared to back then, she is still a strong folk woman, but there are a lot more white strands in her hair.

Inside the house, it has obviously been renovated. The kitchen and chicken coops are still in the same places, and the houses are still the same.Seeing this scene, Zhong Mo couldn't help feeling emotional.

Because of Zhong Mo's visit, three brand new candles were specially added to illuminate the room much brighter.

"If we knew that Mr. Zhong was coming, we would definitely prepare some delicious food. Please forgive me for neglecting Mr.!" As the head of the family, old man Zhang seemed a little embarrassed.

It was meal time, and there was food on the table, but it was obviously leftovers from lunch.The old man Zhang immediately ordered to his wife: "Take out the meat at home, and cook a few more dishes!"

"Okay! Sir, wait a moment!" Mrs. Zhang replied.

"No need sister-in-law!" Zhong Mo stopped her, and said with a smile: "When I was down and down, a full meal was still enough. Brother's family food, Zhong can still eat now! Please add a pair of bowls and chopsticks! "

"How can this be done? Mister is both a noble person and a benefactor, how can we entertain you with these leftovers!" said the young Zhang Da who was standing beside him.

As for Zhong Mo's status, the Zhang family didn't know much about him, but they also knew that he was extraordinary.Now, just by looking at his clothes and the servants waiting in front of the door, one can know what his condition is.Therefore, between words and deeds, he was obviously careful and did not dare to be presumptuous, but the enthusiasm was also true.

Under Zhong Mo's insistence, the Zhang family had no choice but to ask his old wife to bring out a jar of wine stored at home, but Zhong Mo did not refuse.Zhong Mo picked up a chopsticks of leftovers first, then planed two mouthfuls of leftovers, eating with relish, the Zhang family felt relieved.The wife and son had to stand, and Zhong Mo called them to eat at the same table.

Sitting down, eating food, drinking wine, some greetings are unavoidable.

"There seems to be someone missing in the family! Where's your little lady?" Zhong Mo asked.

Mrs. Zhang said, "I got married last year!"

"Oh? I think it should be a good match, a simple family!" Zhong Mo laughed.

The old man Zhang replied: "We were supposed to get married this year, but the other party's father is a chief of the imperial army, and he is going to fight in Sichuan and Sichuan with him. The husband also knows that swords and swords have no eyes on the battlefield, so it is a pity. Do it first!"

Noticing that old man Zhang's left hand was missing two fingers, he couldn't help asking why.Mrs. Zhang sighed, and said, "The year before last in the meat shop, there was a fight, and I accidentally cut off my finger!"

Old man Zhang subconsciously wanted to hide his left hand, Zhong Mo asked, "Then what do you do for a living now?"

Smiling, the old man Zhang said: "I found a job as a watchman in the street. Although I walk a lot at night, I am very happy!"

Slightly nodding his head, Zhong Mo looked around and sighed: "Brother Zhang, forgive me for asking. Before I left, I gave money as a gift. Why are I still so poor and poor now?"

Back then, Liu Chengyou rewarded Zhong Mo with a hundred taels of silver, and he stubbornly gave half of it to the Zhang family. The purchasing power of 50 taels in Dahan is astonishing, even in Tokyo.With the frugality of the Zhang family, even if they can't have a lot of fish and meat all year round, there is no problem in improving their food and clothing and living a more nourishing life.

Upon hearing the question, Zhang Da took the initiative to answer: "Most of the money that Mr. gave was used for my education! Later, the government ordered the house to be refurbished, and it took some money to rebuild the doors and walls. Last year, when my daughter got married, I bought some dowry."

After saying that, Zhang Da stood up, and solemnly said to Zhong Mo: "Sir, I will remember the great kindness you have done to my family in this life. In the future, I will repay you ten times!"

Hearing what he said, Zhong Mo smiled, shook his head and said: "I should always remember the kindness that your family has shown me!"

"How is your reading?" Zhong Mo asked suddenly.

"The "Thousand-Character Essay" and "The Analects of Confucius" taught by the master can now be memorized!" Zhang Daqian laughed.

"If I have time, then I will test you!" Zhong Mo stroked his beard and said, "What are your plans for the future?"

"My brother-in-law's family offered me a job as a county swordsman, but I declined!" Zhang Daying said, "I want to take the imperial examination when I have completed my studies!"

"Ambition" Zhong Mo laughed.

(End of this chapter)