Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 445: The two met late
In the wine shop,

The waiter immediately replied,
"Here you go, gentlemen, you are invited."

When the waiter and the cook came together, they first served six plates of cold dishes, paired with the unique aged vinegar, fennel and peanuts, which is the most delicious dish for Mr. Lian, and then four plates of crispy pork prepared in different ways. Finally, there was a large area of ​​​​empty space in the middle, and several wooden boards were placed on it.

Jia Lian was quite puzzled. He looked at the gap in the middle and asked,

"Xiaoer, why is this? Why is there still an empty space?"

Just as the waiter was about to answer, he was pushed away by Xue Pan.

"You go back and keep an eye on it first. As soon as it's stewed, bring it up immediately."

After finishing speaking, he poured a glass of wine for Brother Lian and said with a smile,

"Brother Lian, don't worry, there are good things here, let's touch one first."

After speaking, he picked up the wine cup and stretched his hand forward.

Jia Lian looked at Xue Pan's mysterious look and it was funny. He had been eating in this wine shop for more than ten years. How could he not know what good things there were? It was just a change of taste. He came out today to relax. Yes, things were comfortable here, so he picked up the wine cup, reached over and touched it with Xue Pan, and then they drank it all in one gulp.

"You, why do you imitate other people's lies? This wine shop is not my second brother's fault. This is the place where I have been eating for more than ten years. I don't know what is here, which is to deceive you into being a wealthy foreigner."

Seeing that Brother Lian didn't believe it, Xue Pan was a little hesitant for a moment, but then he thought about it, and it wasn't right. Although there was a lot of venison in the North, it was not often available, let alone in this small wine shop, so he picked up the wine Jia Lian and his own wine cups were filled, then he picked up the chopsticks and handed them over.

"Brother Lian, don't be anxious. Let's eat some vegetables first to warm up. I told my second brother that this boss had trimmed a fat deer somewhere, then skinned it and washed it. He said he used their special sauce. The sauce for the meat was stewed over a slow fire. Today is a feast for the eyes. Second brother, don’t laugh. My younger brother is in Jinling. Although he has eaten sauced meat, the cooking was average. He ate a lot of various kinds of fish. The shopkeeper said that This is such a good thing, I’m so hungry that I can’t bear it anymore.”

Jia Lian took the chopsticks handed over by Wen Long and didn't eat the big meat. Instead, he picked up the fennel with one chopstick and ate it. The taste was still the same.

"That's a good thing. Venison is rare. I guess the hunters have traveled a long way, and almost all the people around the capital have been killed. Thanks to Wenlong's luck, my second brother is here tonight. I feel very happy. , come on, do one."

"Okay, second brother, let's do it."

The two drank it all in one gulp, and Xue Pan even closer to him, calling his second brother directly, and then continued to pick up the wine bottle and fill it up. Seeing that Jia Lian's face looked much better, he asked carefully,

"Second brother is angry. As soon as he walked in, he looked ugly. Is there anyone else in the house who is angry with me?"

Jia Lian didn't want to say it at first, but now he was unhappy and said with a serious expression,
"This matter is not a big deal. It's just that the expenses at home are too much nowadays, and the second brother doesn't have a living, so money becomes a problem. As you know, in the military camp, there are many things that can't be done without money. "

Xue Pan didn't believe it at all. This was true. Such a big government palace couldn't be short of silver. Besides, every time the slaves came in and out, they were buying big and small bags. Where did the money come from? He shook his head. replied,

"Second brother, you are trying to trick me. The Rongguo Mansion is so big. As a legitimate grandson, if nothing else, I know the property and income of the manor. 10 taels of silver a year is a lot. It's just a flower that can be used. How many can be used? Besides, I think Sister Feng is very powerful outside. The slaves, big and small, don't even dare to fart in front of her. The second brother has no money, why don't you ask Sister Feng for it? ,"

Jia Lian thought for a moment, and Xue Wenlong was right, but outsiders couldn't tell what was going on inside. It could be said that the female housekeeper didn't have a tael of money, or that the second wife had taken away all the property. Qi Shun However, he picked up the wine cup and drank.

at this time,

The waiter greeted two people and carried a wooden bucket. The sauced meat in it was steaming, and was carried to the table.

"Gentlemen, the venison is ready. The whole hind leg has been served. Please use it slowly."

Jia Lian, who had no idea at all, smelled the aroma of the meat and was impatient. He picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth.

“It’s delicious. It’s truly delicious.”

"Second brother, my God, I didn't expect venison to be so delicious. I'm a little ignorant in Jiangnan,"

The two of them didn't say anything and just ate there. As for the people at the three tables inside, they all smelled the aroma of meat and ate the food on the table like wax. Jia Qiang wanted to go there shamelessly, but looked at Uncle Lian. I'm in a bad mood and don't have the courage.

I can only lower my head and eat the dishes on the table.

While the restaurant was busy eating, a boy came to the door of the restaurant. Qing'er, who was also serving in the courtyard, hurriedly walked in, looked for Jia Lian, and said,
"The young man paid his respects to the second master, and the second grandma asked when the second master would return home."

Hearing that a boy standing at the table was so questioning, Jia Lian's anger flashed away, and Xue Pan looked at the boy in front of him in disbelief.
"Go back after eating. Didn't you see that the meat has just been served?"

"Yes, Second Master, but Second Grandma told me that Second Master should hurry up, as if someone from the palace is going to deliver the message, it is for Miss Lin."

Qing'er was still minding her own business.

Jia Lian threw his chopsticks down and cursed,

"I know, just reply to her. I don't have time. Besides, giving her orders has nothing to do with me. Go back." "This is, Second Master."

When the boy saw the second master getting angry, he rolled back aggrievedly, and his good mood disappeared.

Xue Pan was in disbelief when he saw someone running away, and asked deliberately,
"Second brother, what's going on? Which family's master dares to talk to you like this?"

"The master is the servant in the yard."

Jia Lian sighed and replied.

"What, second brother, isn't this a rebellion? You actually spoke to second brother in such a tone. If you hadn't understood it clearly, I would have slapped him on the head just now. Second brother, it's not me who said that the people in your courtyard should be kind to you." Take care of it.”

Xue Pan was filled with righteous indignation and fought for Jia Lian. He was so angry that he wanted to chase him out and beat him up.

But as soon as Jia Lian opened his mouth,
"This person is the person close to Feng Yatou, and he can be regarded as a confidant. He has helped her a lot in these years, so I won't talk about it."

When he heard that it was Wang Xifeng's person, Xue Pan immediately became silent and did not dare to answer the question at all. After all, everyone in the Rongguo Mansion's housekeeper knew that the second brother did not dare to move. If he stood out, he would not provoke his mother and sister. Right and wrong, finally settled down.

So he immediately stopped mentioning the matter, continued to fill the wine cup, and let Jia Lian eat the food, as if nothing happened.

"Second brother, let's not dwell on these troublesome things anymore. Eat quickly, don't let it get cold."

The two of them naturally knew it well, and instead felt a sympathy for each other. They picked up the wine cups and started drinking. They changed the topic and talked about the difference between the brothel girls in the capital and Jiangnan. This was talking about their innermost feelings. Inside, there was laughter from time to time.

"Second brother, it's not that my younger brother is telling you that we are just looking for trouble and causing trouble for ourselves. If we worry about it every day, let alone anything else, even I, brother, can't bear it."

Xue Pan didn't know whether he drank too much or spoke smoothly. He also imitated Jia Lian and started eating the fennel beans with his hands. He took a sip of wine from time to time and continued,

"As the saying goes, if something goes wrong, someone taller will take care of it. If we do our part well, we may not be worse than them. As for visiting a brothel, the second brother naturally has his own interests. In this way, the second brother doesn't have to worry about money. , when you have free time, don’t let Sister Feng know about it, let’s work together and have fun.”

Jia Lian didn't know whether he was really hungry, or the venison was delicious, or he was just thinking about it. He kept his mouth busy, eating meat and drinking wine, and replied,

"Wen Long is right, it is indeed the case, but it will cost you money. How can the second brother feel so embarrassed!"

Although Jia Lian agreed in his heart, he felt sorry for asking Xue Pan to pay for it, so he still said it.

But Xue Pan couldn't wait to do this, so he packed him up in a big way.
"The second brother said this because he is not a foreigner. When the brother comes to the capital, he is here to join the second brother. Everything in the future still needs the second brother to take care of him. These expenses are what he should have. Otherwise, the younger brother and everyone My dear, how can you have the nerve to live in the Duke's Mansion? Don't you know the etiquette?"

"You just want to know that second brother knows that when you settle down, second brother will take you to the capital to recognize the people of each family. Oh, it's really not possible. If one family doesn't talk to each other, what can we do if you come to the capital?" A colleague."

Jia Lian thought that Wang Jieshuai was Xue Pan's biological uncle, and arranging a seat was just a matter of words. If this was the case, being with Wang Ren would also be a matter of care.

But how can Xue Pan endure such hardship? Soldiers, whether they are soldiers or generals, are really unlucky. For some reason, in a matter of seconds, they directly fed the bastard and lost their lives. I don't think it's better to come to this colorful world. If you haven’t had enough fun, you might as well start a business at home.

"Second brother, you think highly of me, brother. I am really not a soldier. If something happens on the battlefield, it will be a serious crime."

"That's true, but this..."

Jia Lian suddenly felt the same. Everything was fine in the capital camp, but as Xue Pan said, if there was any war, it would be unlucky that day. Suddenly, his life would be gone, and everything would be gone. The things at home would be put aside, and this would happen again. It became a concern.

Then I thought again,

The Beijing camp has not left the capital for many years. In the early years, it was the time when the White Lotus Sect was annihilated. After leaving the capital, I knew that this incident had not happened for more than ten years. I thought it was such a coincidence, so I was relieved!
Since they are inseparable from the capital, the higher the general position, the better. It is a good thing in the capital, but generals cannot be awarded without military merit, so Jia Lian and Wang Ren's current military positions in the capital camp are considered to be the pinnacle.

"Hey, Wenlong, I want to ask you something. What happened to your sister? Why did I hear that she came to the capital just for the purpose of being selected? I thought it was coming soon."

"Second brother, don't mention this matter. Never talk about it again."

Xue Pan quickly made a gesture of silence, and Jia Lian became interested.

"What's going on? I can't talk about this anymore. I still need to ask someone to deliver a message."

Xue Pan shook his head, came over and whispered,
"Second brother, I really can't bring this up. My sister Baochai promised the Marquis to be his equal wife, and she exchanged marriage certificates with the Marquis' old lady. It's true!"

"what!"

(End of this chapter)