Delong

Chapter 158 Floating Horse Walk (5)

Sima Zheng's short visit made Zhang Xing feel a strange emotion. He clearly sensed the man's struggle and helplessness, and this kind of struggle and helplessness probably meant that this dragon among men was still willing to help some people from childhood to adulthood. Stick to some positions along with his ideas... This inevitably made Zhang Xing's last point of persuasion pale.

Zhang Xing is very sorry for him, but at the same time, it also makes Zhang Laosan further realize how much family background and childhood education experience can affect a person... To put it bluntly, everyone's life history is completely different , everyone's decisions may not be understood.

Sima Zheng is like this, Li Ding is like this, Bai Yousi is like this, Qin Bao is like this, Yueniang is like this, Yueniang's father is like this, He Ruohuaibao is like this, Cao Huangshu and Master Zhang are like this, and Zhang Xing is like this.

Even, the emperor was like this, the king of Qi was like this, and Sima Changying was like this.

But the corresponding key point is that everyone should also give others a decent or dignified choice. Relying on their own identity, violence, and authority, they are unwilling to give others the dignity of choice. Strategies... As for making a choice and bearing the corresponding result, that's another matter.

Thinking of this, Zhang Xing couldn't help feeling like a child, but he was determined to wait for his future to find a rough result before talking to Qin Bao and Yueniang.

Only Qin Baoneixiu and Yueniang are not easy to get along with, and I'm afraid they won't be able to hide it from them.

But that's fine, let nature take its course may be a better way of expression.

Looking back, that night, Zhang Xing did not wait for other guests. Instead, he ate and drank his fill early, went to the bed in the snow, and read "The Legend of the Heroine Li Yue" which he hadn't read for a long time...but unexpectedly The last volume of the book, reread it in its entirety.

This last volume is about Qian Yi, the "Youlong" in the past and today's Prime Minister of Eastern Chu, who joined forces with Li Yue, the heroine of Eastern Chu, and Dragon and Phoenix, determined to reform, reorganized the army, and finally fought back in the eastern border. The ancestors forced the ancestors to throw their swords at Yanshan, cut the north and south of the mountains, and kept the Eastern Chu state.

Unexpectedly, because of reforms, the dissatisfaction of the inner Yaozu aristocrats has already reached the extreme.

Therefore, with the death of the ancestor emperor and the reduction of external threats, the internal conflicts in Eastern Chu broke out... The second island of the southern demon tribe suddenly rebelled. When he was in the shallows of Yida Island, he was attacked and killed by many monster nobles who had been prepared for a long time.

And this is the name of Luolongtan.

After this incident, the Yao clan nobles took off Qian Yi's head again, cut off the hair, nose, tongue, ears, and eyes, put them in a dung pocket and gave them to Li Yue who was still in the east.The heroine Li Yue saw her beloved end up in such a way and collapsed on the spot, so she committed suicide in the temple of the Red Emperor as the orthodox body of the monster clan, sacrificed her blood to the Red Emperor, and cursed the future of the monster clan.

With this move, the passionate Empress Chidi manifested her sanctity in person, resurrected the two, and ascended them as dragons with the flesh and blood of the Supreme.

But in the end, after this incident, Eastern Chu lost all of its territory in the Central Plains, and Dongyi Dadao and Yaozu Southern Second Island became independent.Moreover, unlike the human race, which is destined to make a comeback, the general trend has been established, and the monster race has completely withdrawn from the center of the world.

It was so clean and white.

It can only be said that it is worthy of being a masterpiece of realistic themes. Although I have read it several times, but this night, Zhang Xing was still full of emotion and sighed, wishing to copy a few poems.

However, as the outside of the window turned white, and the snow on the eaves suddenly fell, Zhang Sanlang recovered from the immersion, and then suddenly became tired, and turned over and fell asleep.

When I woke up again, it was already after noon.

Besides, Zhang Xing, as the deputy regular inspector, set a three-day leave for himself and Qin Bao, so naturally he didn't have to go to work.But even so, unlike someone else, Qin Bao couldn't rest at all. He had already swept the yard clean, and then swept along the door to the alley. What about the stove.

Yueniang also left Zhang Xing a meal in the small stove early, and at this time she was sorting out some groceries in the main room...these are the cheapest tea, needles and threads, caramel...they are going to be distributed to the poor families in the surrounding neighborhood.

When Zhang Xing and Qin Bao were there, they were more sensitive to this kind of thing because of the incident in Nancheng Waifang, so whenever it rained or snowed, there would basically be such a short time...the two were not there before, and Yueniang was a daughter. It is said that the child's home has never been broken, and now that the two are back, it is the same as before.

"The firewood is almost gone..." Yueniang glanced at the listless Zhang Xing and blurted out.

Zhang Xing actually yawned while eating: "It's gone, it's gone."

"If it's gone, you won't be able to eat hot meals, and people will freeze to death in the house." Yueniang lowered her head and packed her things as usual. "Mr. Zhang is not afraid of freezing. Start with Mr. Zhang and save firewood."

Zhang Xing thought for a while, then took his chopsticks and asked earnestly, "Are you worried that the old man who delivered the firewood won't be able to come because of the snow?"

"He hasn't come for a month." Yueniang raised her head slightly. "It's normal to be old, sick, or dead."

Zhang Xing was stunned for a moment, then nodded... This is the truth... However, he immediately remembered something: "How do I remember that you said that he still has a son or nephew?"

"Son... I was a servant before, and I came back after a while... I also sent it off twice." Yue Niang blurted out. "I've always had a problem with that."

"The military service disappeared, and it took a while to come back. Basically, I escaped... But no matter what, if there is no accident at home, this snowy day is not easy." Zhang Xing blurted out. "So what do you want Mr. Zhang to do?"

"Go to the firewood shop on Cross Street to order a car of firewood, and ask them to deliver it quickly within two days." Yueniang blurted out. "But it's a bit more expensive, and it may not be as neat as the previous firewood."

Zhang Xing nodded.

In this way, the two chatted one after another. After the meal, Vice Changjian Zhang went back to the house and put on thick clothes, a machete, and a seal ribbon, then condescendingly, walked out slowly, I went to order firewood in Cross Street myself.Not only that, after ordering the firewood, the man didn't turn back, but directly turned out of the gate and walked slowly towards the copper camel workshop.

It's not surprising that the business here in Tongtuofang in the afternoon is also particularly prosperous.

Especially after Zhang Xing casually walked into a few unfamiliar shops, he was even more sure of his judgment—the middle and low-level consumer goods such as pens, inks, papers and inkstones were selling well, which was related to the consumption stimulus in the entire Eastern Capital, but Another layer of business in Tongtuofang, that is, the business of calligraphy, painting and antiques, has obviously not yet emerged from the previous gold and silver recruitment incident.

However, there are still differences.

There are obviously more calligraphy and painting stocks on the market now, and the prices are also very low... all-round low, not only gold and silver, which are in short supply, but also copper coins and silk, which are also much cheaper than the previous two years, but the transaction volume rare.

This means that artworks as a whole become worthless in front of currency and other products.

In other words, people on the whole are unwilling to collect artworks. People who could afford calligraphy and painting in the past are trying to replace gold, silver, copper and silk with more portable or practical things.

The market price is rare, Zhang Xing found two calligraphy and paintings, asked the store to wrap them up and send them to his residence to get money, then continued to go to Beishi alone, and then found Yan Qing in the northeast of Beishi.

"Third brother, don't worry, although business is difficult, you have not been made things difficult." On the counter of his cattle and horse shop, Yan Qing, who grew a little beard, offered Zhang Xing a cup of tea with his own hands, and then spoke simply. "Third brother's name is quite useful. Jin Wuwei, Luoyang county government officials, and Beishi city officials all have no extra oppression."

"I'm here to talk about this." Zhang Xing took it seriously, revealing a bit of his plan earlier than Qin Bao and Yueniang. "I'm afraid I won't be able to cover you in the future, the Bai family's tiger skin should be pulled up as soon as it is needed..."

Yan Qing nodded.

Zhang Xing picked up the tea and took a sip, then suddenly realized: "You are not surprised?"

"Third Brother is already at the sixth rank, and he is so capable. Sooner or later, he will have to be hired by a foreigner, as I said before." Yan Qing laughed. "Besides, the current situation is not good. Everyone is afraid that they will be on errands in the capital again. It is common for the third brother to want to leave Dongdu early and avoid it somewhere else..."

Zhang Xing nodded, and asked again: "The Saint's Tongtian Pagoda has collapsed, do you know?"

Yan Qing stood with his hands together, and smiled even more wryly: "Since it's the third brother who came to ask, how dare you say that you don't know? But since I found out about it from a shopping place in the palace that day, I really didn't spread it to the outside world, and no one said it again. ...The bosses here in Beishi all have something to say, and probably know about it, but no one mentioned it to each other."

Zhang Xing nodded his head too late, this kind of message stays at this level, and it will come to an end.

"Are you still preparing for the imperial examination?" Zhang Xing thought for a while before continuing to ask. "I see that you have gradually taken up the family business now..."

Yan Qing finally fell silent, and it took a long time before he opened his mouth: "This time the saint's tour made such a big fuss, even in our Beishi city, because of the sudden disappearance of Princess Dachang's family, half of the city was ruined." It is impossible not to think about it, and my father is getting older... However, it only takes two or three months to start the department every three years, and I have been preparing for so long, but I am still not reconciled."

The last sentence is the root, Zhang Xing nodded immediately after hearing it: "If this is the case, I will try my best to recommend you to the White House no matter what... But even if you are the British Duke, no one dares to say that you are still in office at that time. , let alone me...so, this statement is only half a guarantee."

Yan Qing laughed again: "Third brother always doesn't like to guarantee the ticket, but he can always help. I said this once last time. Now that the situation has collapsed, I have to say it again... Then I can only Respond again, it is enough to have the words of the third brother on this matter, in fact, not to mention this, no one knows whether the imperial examination will be held on time or not."

Zhang Xing nodded again and again: "The point is, who would have thought that you thought the situation was over, but it could always go down again? I don't even know if it's still the worst."

Yan Qing could only smile wryly.

In this way, after explaining to Yan Qing, Zhang Xing wanted to go to Li Ding again... But for some reason, it may be that he had seen him too many times on the patrol road before, but he was not interested at this time, especially when he was a husband and wife. Add to the heartache.

So, Zhang Xing went to visit Beishi first, then went out of the south gate of Beishi, and turned back along Luoshui... After walking a few squares, he arrived at the south gate of Chengfufang. At this time, he wanted to go home , but his eyes swept over the Xinzhong Bridge on one side, but his heart moved slightly, and then turned south with the knife in his waist as if by accident, and passed Luoshui.

And returned to Xiuyefang where he used to live.

He didn't know the official of the square, he didn't know the Jingjiehu who passed by on the road, and even the layout of the square had changed-the former Luling Zhang's mansion has been cut into several pieces, the largest one It is the residence of a servant. Obviously, after the death of Zhang Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment that day, although he died in the line of duty on the surface, the saint also gave him great honor, but it will not delay the complete loss of the second-rate family in the south like the Zhang family in Luling. Based in Dongdu.

Of course, looking back now, it might have been a blessing in disguise.

In addition, the northern half of Xiuyefang, which was famous for its cleanliness and order in the past, has become obviously chaotic and sloppy.

Along the way Zhang Xing traveled, there were often groups of idlers coming and going, the snow on the ground was not heavy, but it was also messy and unattended, most of them just cleaned the front of their own houses, unlike the Fangshi north of Luoshui, How many can connect the lanes.

Before he reached the intersection, Zhang Sanlang completely lost the motivation to move on, and just as he was about to turn back, suddenly, a gap was opened at the street door beside him, and an obviously woman's hand reached out. He came out and hung a peace talisman from the Qingdi Temple on the door knocker.Then, the hand retracted immediately as if afraid of the cold, but it didn't close the door again, instead leaving a gap, maintaining a concealed posture.

Zhang Xing stared at the door for a long time before realizing what it meant.

In other words, he actually realized what it meant from the very beginning, but he couldn’t believe it—in the past, it was barely regarded as a Xiuyefang for middle-class families, and it was the most authentic northern half, and it was still a place facing the street. A secret door appeared.

Back then, when I first came to Xiuye, I heard my colleagues from Jingjiehu analyze why Xiuyefang had less private prostitution business and why it could only be set up next to the corner.

Zhang Xing stood in front of this door for a long time, attracting the attention of many men and women passing by. If it wasn't for the scimitar on his waist and a black ribbon hanging on his waist, someone would have pointed at him and laughed secretly at him for being lustful but not courageous. Yes, but also delay people's business.

In this way, Zhang Xing looked at it for a long time, and finally ended today's journey here, chose to turn back, and then returned home before evening.

And waited until Bai Yousi after dinner.

"Did you tell Sima Erlong?" Bai Yousi suddenly appeared in the courtyard with the long sword in his arms, and spoke directly into the room.

"Say it." Zhang Xing, who was admiring today's calligraphy and painting on the table in his room, answered calmly, without even raising his head. "There is hot tea in the room, Chang Jian pours it by himself."

"Do you know what I've been doing since I came back?" Bai Yousi entered the room, put down his long sword, and poured himself a cup of tea.

"It's nothing more than a public or private matter, or something both public and private." Zhang Xing saw the right moment and stamped the small seal he made before on the blank space of the painting in front of him without hesitation. He didn't know who to learn from. fault. "Anyway, you have to do things... Unlike me, you can only think about things gradually, and people become more and more lazy."

Bai Yousi held the teacup and shook his head slightly: "Then can you think of what I'm going to do?"

Zhang Xing thought about it for a while, and finally asked seriously: "Let's not talk about business matters, private things... Is there any trouble for the old people in Duzhong or elsewhere, for example, the few people in Rouroufang? Or the senior brother in Nanyang ? Or is Taibai Peak’s mentor calling?”

Bai Yousi tilted his head and looked at the other party: "I can probably guess what you can think of, but you guessed everything right."

"Compare your heart to your heart, plus it's just a coincidence." Zhang Xing looked at his painting, speaking casually. "When I returned to the capital, my first reaction was that I was worried that the people I knew would suddenly disappear, or that something would happen to me...how should I put it? Among the people I know and care about, except for the regular inspections of you, everyone else You are a poor and lowly person, or you simply avoided the incident, or you may not even be able to find the trace... But among your old acquaintances, there are quite a few who can pull out some troubles."

"For example, how many people in Ruanroufang know it?"

"For example, everyone in Ruanroufang knows... It looks like it's making money every day, but it's just rain hitting the weeds. If you want to let go, you want to get out of your body, unless there is a noble person like you who is nosy Intervene, otherwise they can only be beaten to the bone and sucked out...Once they leave the fun, a local hooligan or even a servant can pinch them."

"Your words are like seeing it with your own eyes... Yes, Erniang An and Lin Xiaolin both knew they wanted to leave, but Erniang An sold the building in front of her, and her back was stolen overnight in Ruanroufang." Jing; Dalin knew that he would go to Xidu with the money first, and planned to go home in Guanxi, but he encountered robbers on Tongguan Road and died on the spot... Xiaolin was very careful, and he didn't even dare to say anything. He waited until I came back, I just secretly sent someone to leave a letter for me. I went to check it myself and found out that it was her servant who had evil intentions on the way, but her servant took the money away and was discovered by the Tongguan defenders. What's going on, I just killed them all to show the public, but I can't get any money back." I don't know if it is the trait of Cheng Danqi, but Bai Yousi's tone is very flat. "I killed a leading money-grubbing officer, and when I came back, I killed a gang leader in Wenroufang. I got some money for Xiao Lin, and let her go to Kansai with my family's convoy."

"What about the Nanyang Wu brothers?" Zhang Xing was silent for a moment, then changed the subject directly.

"After hearing about the siege of Yunnei, they publicly raised the flag to rebel, and even played the banner of Zhuhunjun." Bai Yousi's eyelids twitched slightly. "Wu Jingfeng told me that he feels that since he wants to do something, there must be something aboveboard, and he can't always rely on opportunism."

Zhang Xing shook his head, and he didn't know who poured the chicken soup for this guy, anyway, it's none of his business.

"As for the teacher..." Bai Yousi sighed. "You should know what he wanted to say to me, right?"

"Of course I can guess it. The tower has collapsed, so why can't I guess it?" Zhang Xing said disapprovingly, but suddenly raised his head while leaning on the table. "It's no wonder Chang Jian is so busy... One more thing, is your father going to stay in Taiyuan as soon as the big golden pillar is finished?"

Bai Yousi had no doubts at all: "I knew I couldn't hide it from you... As soon as I came back, I told my father about the experience on the way, and my father said that Dongdu couldn't stay anymore, so I should find a place to stay in Xijing... Fortunately, Da Jinzhu returned. It went well."

"He thinks well." Zhang Xing didn't give the British prince any face. "It is impossible for the Bai family to be left behind in Xijing, that is to say, Taiyuan is in a mess now, and it is possible to clean up the mess with a big man with a martial name and enough family background... Your father wanted to be left behind in Taiyuan from the beginning."

Bai Yousi nodded slowly, then took a sip of hot tea, and then slowly asked, "Are you implying something?"

"Yes...but there is no proof." Zhang Xing put away his calligraphy and painting, and answered calmly. "I also thought of it after Sima Erlong came to find me... The princes of the Nanya government are in charge of the state affairs, and they are not insignificant. Among them, all the newcomers to the party do not have a good reputation. Instead, they are a group of old ministers, that is, the old guard. The party has always had some reputation, but it has gradually become useless or lost until recently... But how did they lose it? We have seen it with our own eyes. Isn’t it forced by this saint like Sima Xianggong? So think about it the other way around, so the so-called new Nine out of ten, the Jinyi Party knows the temper of the saint, so they were unwilling to suffer bad luck early on, and came here to cater to the temper of the saint, which is why they have a bad reputation..."

"You mean that my father followed the saint in his early years, so he should have known the temperament of the saint long ago, so he had expected some things...even fueled the flames, right?" Bai Yousi took the initiative to speak for Zhang Xing.

"No." Zhang Xing put the calligraphy and painting in the wooden box, and asked in a low voice. "I'm just curious, who was your father playing chess with in front of the Sanhui Jinzhu in your house? With the sky? Up to now, have you ever won against the son-in-law? But if you win the son-in-law, what did you do?" Where are the chess pieces?"

Bai Yousi's face suddenly changed.

"It's just a guess." Zhang Xing suddenly laughed. "Chang Jian doesn't need to care about it... By the way, I have discussed with Li Silang, and I will go to the government when I come back... Does Chang Jian think that I can be a sheriff and impress your father?"

Bai Yousi turned serious, but he seemed a little annoyed: "It's a good idea!"

(End of this chapter)