I go to the ancient imperial examinations

Chapter 180

He Nuan brought the breakfast to the room, and He Sheng came with him, "Miss, Seventh Lord, I just went to the stables to check, the carriage is fine, but our horses have been replaced."

Zhan Feiyu, who picked up the chopsticks, was surprised for a moment, and finally understood the reason for the trouble last night, "They will do everything for money."

He Sheng went to the stables to check as long as he was in case they tampered with the carriage for revenge, but he didn't expect these people to go for the horse.

"There is still a bit of vision, our three horses are good horses in the army." Zhongguang took a bite of the sauced meat buns, and the rich sauce flavor made Chongguang's eyes brighten, "Fat girl, forget about the horses, eat quickly, This bun is authentic."

"Eat first." Yin Wuyan's deep phoenix eyes were doting, and seeing Zhan Feiyu eating breakfast obediently, he said to He Sheng: "Go and watch, don't let them sell the horse .”

"Yes." He Sheng agreed, the three good horses naturally couldn't be harmed by a few villains, they were army horses, they dared to stretch out their hands, they were looking for their own death.

After Zhan Feiyu and Yin Wuyan set off for Koujia Village, the two rogues who were watching at the door of the inn looked at each other, "You stay and keep watching, I'll tell the third son."

"Okay, bring me two big meat buns when you come back." The rascal who stayed behind told me, and continued to crouch in the corner and stare at the door of the inn.

In the room on the second floor, Chong Guang, who was idle and bored, stood at the window and looked at the little gangster who left in a hurry, "Ah Nuan, do you think these people have muddled minds? If it wasn't for Qiye's mercy before, Zhao San Their lives are gone, yet they dared to get two scoundrels to follow them."

He Nuan is making clothes, and Zhan Feiyu has to post and practice calligraphy every day, so except for a few sets of go-out dresses, the other clothes are made of narrow-sleeved styles, which is more convenient when holding a pen and writing.

"Wealth touches people's hearts. They are used to being domineering in Huai County, and they have forgotten that the Daqing Dynasty still has laws." Cut off the thread with scissors, and He Nuan's seemingly gentle face was full of sarcasm and coldness. Miss Qi studied so hard to find a way out, and people like Zhao San relied on their status to make money, so it was naturally easy and convenient.

……

Zhao San drank the medicine in the morning, and finally his throat was not so swollen and sore. Now he is discussing with Cao Butou how to deal with the three good horses. I can't find it anywhere."

Zhao Sand was married, and the county magistrate Zhao paid half of the money for this house. In addition, the house was sold by a merchant, and it was almost half sold and half given away. He only charged 100 taels of silver, and the house was fully furnished. The oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar in the room are all ready.

On weekdays, Zhao San lived in the house behind the county government office, which represented his identity, but every time he wanted to make a fool of himself, Zhao San would go back to the house, and the three horses were indeed safe with him.

"Third Young Master, why don't we make a move after they leave Huai County?" Cao Butou said in a low voice, "I will go to Fucheng at that time, and I will definitely be able to sell the price."

Zhao San nodded, "What did the county captain say? How much is this horse worth?"

One of Zhao San and Cao Tutou is a dandy and the other is a rough man. They only know that the three horses are good horses, but they don't know where they are good, let alone the price.

Zhao San didn't like the reticent Hou Xianwei, but he and Cao Butou combined were not as capable as Hou Xianwei. Fortunately, Hou Xianwei didn't interfere with their affairs very much on weekdays, as long as Cao Butou was filial. For Yin Zi, the county lieutenant Hou opened his eyes and closed them.

Catcher Cao was in awe when he mentioned Hou Xianwei, his immediate superior, "Hou Xianwei said at least 500 taels, which is one of the best horses in a hundred. If you meet an expert who understands horses, the price can be even higher."

Huai County is not bad for people with money, but they are absolutely reluctant to buy a horse for 700 taels, but Fucheng is different. Merchants come and go, if this horse is sent there, it may be snatched up.

"It's been worth a few years for one ticket." Zhao San's voice trembled with excitement, and he knew that three horses were worth a lot before, but the county captain Hou didn't see the horses and wasn't sure about the exact price.

In total, Zhao San, Hou Xianwei, and Wang Xiancheng took the big head, and each of them could get at least 500 taels, and Cao Butou and other fast-moving government servants could get at least 20 taels.

Zhao San swallowed his saliva, ignoring the pain in his throat, grabbed Cao Butou's arm and said eagerly: "They also brought a carriage of luggage!"

Cao Butou, who was as tall and burly as a bear, was stunned for a moment. The money he shared was not as good as that of Zhao San and Wang Xiancheng, but it was several times faster than ordinary catches. Three horses can be sold for 2000 taels, and I may be able to share 200 taels.

Thinking about the luggage of Zhan Feiyu's carriage, the daughter of a wealthy family from Fucheng is really different from those rich ladies in Huai County. They didn't put their heads full of jewelry, but the horses that pull the carriage are worth five or six hundred taels of silver, so they must be carried with them. There are many valuable items in the salute.

As a catcher, Cao catcher is very clear, although these golden hairpins are dazzling, they are really not as good as a jade pendant. A year ago, a nobleman from Zhongzhou Prefecture returned to his hometown in Huai County to visit relatives. At that time, he lost a piece of jade pendant. , the reward is a full 100 taels of silver!

Later, Cao Tutou asked the owner of the jewelry shop and found out that it was a jade pendant made of suet white jade, which cost thousands of taels of silver.

"Those two guards are Lianjiazi." Cao Butou touched the scarred wound on his neck. Although the skin was only cut, he knew Chongguang's skill, ten of them could not beat him.

Zhao San was already blinded by the money, and said with a smirk: "There are six of them, just two guards, a little girl and a servant girl. We have a total of one or two hundred people, and one mouthful of saliva is enough for each of us. Drown them!"

Huai County, like Shangsi County, is a medium-sized county. There are more than 20 arresters, and more than 100 yamen servants and minzhuang combined. , Detainment, etc.

The so-called minzhuang are actually young and strong laborers drawn from the villages below. They work at home on weekdays, and when the county government needs people, they are called up to serve as servants.

"Third Young Master, I'll go and ask Hou Xianwei and Wang Xian Cheng." Catcher Cao was also moved, but he knew that he and the third young master were brainless. Swapping horses secretly is one thing, but blocking roads and robbing is another thing. Another matter, it is up to Hou Xianwei and Wang Xiancheng to make a decision.

Zhao San had a sore throat just after talking on the phone, so he waved his hand and asked Cao Butou to go to Hou Xianwei and Wang Xiancheng.

……

Koujia Village is a big village, and one-third of the people in the village have the surname Kou. During this period, the most talked about in the village is Kou Yuanxing, who died tragically in the government prison. .

"I thought the Kou family was going to produce a talented master, but I didn't expect Yuan Xing to leave like this, he was still a child." Under the shade of the tree, the aunt who took the soles couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

The woman sitting on the side glanced around, and then said in a low voice: "If you want me to say, Yuan Xing was forced to death by his mother. The family has more than 20 acres of fertile land, but Yuan Xing is skinny and skinny. The second child’s family is so poor that it’s almost impossible to get rid of it, but the third child also has more meat than Yuan Xing.”

"Forcing Yuan Xing to study day and night, he wakes up earlier than a chicken and goes to bed later than a dog. My Xiaohao said that Yuan Xing often reads all night. The 13-year-old child has not yet grown strong. You said that there are so many private schools. Scholars, who is as thin as Yuan Xing?"

Thinking of Kou Yuanxing's emaciated body and gloomy eyes, four or five women in the shade shook their heads.

"Xiaohao said that last year Yuan Xingyue failed to get the first grade because of illness, and his left hand was swollen by his mother. It was a cold day, and my Xiaohao secretly told Mr. Xiao about the swollen hand. Xiao Fuzi took Yuan Xing to the medical center, otherwise his hand would probably be disabled."

It is said that Kou Yuanxing lost his father when he was young. Even if Kou's mother is stricter, especially when she is strict in schoolwork, the villagers will not say much, but Kou's mother's strictness has reached the level of insanity. Kou Yuanxing was allowed to study at twelve o'clock.

Other children can relax a bit during the private school holidays, but Kou Yuanxing still has to study. Even during the Chinese New Year, Kou Yuanxing will visit relatives to visit the New Year, and he cannot go to temple fairs in the county town.

Since the Enlightenment, no one in the village has seen Kou Yuanxing come out to play, and a boy who was detained by Kou's mother is doing nothing but reading.

The road in the village was not wide enough for the carriage to enter. Zhan Feiyu got out of the carriage and walked for a while. What the women said was filled with anger and their voices were a little louder. Zhan Feiyu happened to hear them all.

"No wonder he cares about Wang Linlang." Zhan Feiyu understood a little bit, Wang Linlang's appearance was probably the only happiness and light in Kou Yuanxing's boring study life.

And because Wang Linlang was born in Wangji, the county town, Mother Kou forbade the children in the village, including the younger generations of the Kou family, to play with Kou Yuanxing, and did not want these children to disturb Kou Yuanxing's study.

"Let's go." Yin Wuyan patted Zhan Feiyu's shoulder.

For many years in the Forbidden Dragon Guard, Yin Wuyan has seen a more vicious and selfish mother, and the people in the Zhan family's old house are not too lenient, but the little girl is tough, and she is not as obedient to Kou's mother as Kou Yuanxing is. Yin Wuyan's eyes are indifferent and ruthless In the final analysis, it was Kou Yuanxing himself.

Hearing the footsteps behind him, several women who spoke looked over in surprise.

Yin Wuyan still has an ordinary appearance after changing her appearance, but Zhan Feiyu is obviously different from the little girl in the village. She has a fair bun face, black and moist eyes, and her buns are fixed with pearl cicada pattern hairpins.

Especially the bookish, indescribably gentle and quiet beauty, which made several women secretly startled. This must be the daughter of a rich family.

"Hi, aunts, I'm Kou Yuanxing's same year..." Zhan Feiyu said hello and explained the purpose of his visit.

Hearing that they were here to pay homage to Kou Yuanxing, the enthusiastic aunt quickly showed them the way, "Kou's ancestral grave is on the Dongshan Mountain at the end of the road. When you go up the mountain, go east. There are two green cypress trees at the intersection. The tomb that was raised is."

"Thank you, auntie." Zhan Feiyu thanked, and continued walking along the dirt road with Yin Wuyan, who was carrying a basket.

After watching the two figures go away, the guiding aunt said in a low voice, "You really have a heart, I think there are three animals in the basket."

For family worship, the three sacrifices are cattle, sheep, and pigs, while ordinary people worship, and those who pay attention to rules will use pigs, fish, and chickens as sacrifices.

"Look at the hairpin on that little girl's head, it's as big and round as a pearl." The woman who answered thought of her daughter, who was already at the age of Jiji to marry, but didn't even have any decent jewelry.

"Then why didn't the little girl go to Kou's house?" The oldest aunt muttered puzzledly. It stands to reason that one should go to Kou's house first to pay homage to Kou Yuanxing, and let the Kou family take her to the grave.

Thinking of the greed of the Kou clan and Kou's mother's sharp and strong temper, the women looked at each other, but they all knew it. They probably didn't want to deal with the Kou family, so they went to worship alone.

Kou Yuanxing's tomb is at the far right corner of Kou's tomb. The newly raised tomb is very simple. Even the tombstone is replaced by bluestone slabs pried from the mountain. There are no sacrifices in front of the tomb. Those who don't know it think this is a simple small tomb. Bao buried an orphan who had no father, no mother, and no clan.

"It's people taking tea to cool down." Zhan Feiyu laughed mockingly, and placed the sacrifices one by one in front of the tomb.

Even if Kou Yuanxing died young, no matter how talented he is in reading, it is of no value to the Kou family. A thin coffin and this tomb are Kou's greatest gift to Kou Yuanxing.

"He suffers when he is alive, but he is clean when he is gone." Yin Wuyan has never met Kou Yuanxing, but there is such a selfish, strong and mean mother. live.

Piece after note and yellow paper were ignited, and a faint blue smoke came out. Zhan Feiyu looked at the cold tombstone, and only hoped that Kou Yuanxing could live unrestrained and free in the next life.

……

On the other side, the Kou family in the middle of the village.

Mother Kou sat in the main room with a sullen face, sewing her clothes with a needle in her hand, the light in the room was dim, which made her mean and thin face even more sinister and mean.

Kou's father left 23 acres of fertile land after his death, but now that Kou Yuanxing is also dead, Kou's mother had to hand over [-] acres of fertile land to the clan in order to give herself a place to live.

As for the remaining ten acres, Kou's mother rented out all of them, and the rent was enough for her to eat and drink.

In order for someone to take care of her, Kou’s mother adopted a child from Kou’s family, who is one year younger than Kou Yuanxing. This year, when he was twelve or five years old, his parents were buried in the river when they were caught in a storm on a boat. Then, another uncle took care of him and grew up.

Now that Kou's mother has adopted him, the dowry for his wife will naturally come from Kou's mother in the future. After a hundred years from Kou's mother, the ten acres of land will be returned to the clan, and the remaining five acres will be given to her stepson.

Although life has settled down, Kou's mother hates it more and more, her face is grim and distorted, "That useless thing just died like this! I wasted so much money to study!"

Reading consumes money, Shuxiu needs 20 taels of silver a year, not to mention the expenses of pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and as a scholar, Kou Yuanxing's clothes can't be too bad, and he has to eat at a private school at noon. not enough.

The rent of more than 20 acres of fertile land was spent on Kou Yuanxing's study, and Kou's mother didn't save any of it. Now that the person is dead, Kou's mother just feels that the bamboo basket is empty. to come back.

"Auntie, my father asked me to tell you that a little girl went to Dongshan to pay homage to her cousin." The fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl who came in from the courtyard gate told the story while standing at the door of the main room.

"My father asked me to ask if my cousin met me when I was studying. Since people have come to our Koujia Village, we can't be rude. My father asked my aunt to go to Dongshan to have a look."

little girl?Mother Kou was taken aback, the needle stuck her finger, and she hissed in pain, resenting Kou Yuanxing even more for refusing to let herself live in peace after death!

(End of this chapter)