late Qing Dynasty arrest

Li Jinglue is in his thirties, with a thin body. He has been fighting with others for many years, and his back is a bit rickety. He was born in a remote family, and he has no status in his hometown, and he has no money. Come to ask for a living, under the big tree of the fellow countrymen's association, I can live a nourishing life.The hometown also built a solid earthen building, which is already a well-known figure in Hefei.

Li Guolou knew where Li Jinglue's money came from, and he kept running here and there every year. Of course, the money he asked for had a certain percentage of commission, and it justifiably fell into his own pocket.Businessmen are talking about rules, without rules, nothing can be achieved, and with rules, people will have motivation.

The social atmosphere at this time is that fellow countrymen and party members form groups, and one person is followed by chickens and dogs, just like five "poor students" who always stay together. As long as one of them wins the exam, the others may do it Errands like master and staff.The people around every high official are people like this who gather together to make a fortune together and have a common ideal.

After exchanging pleasantries, Li Jinglue stared at Li Guolou and said, "Xiaolou, I sent a telegram to Shanghai, and your brother was very angry. He made you look like a fool in the capital, and it cost the family a lot of money. In the end, you got nothing. A team leader at the top level, it’s embarrassing to say that.”

Li Guolou laughed, and said: "Uncle Li, you all misunderstood. In fact, I have no interest in being an official. Now I wear a tiger skin just to meet some friends. Fortunately, the capital can go around. Now I have started In business, I actually invested in that Baozhi House, people depend on food, and it is my dream to be a high-end restaurant, Uncle Li, you must help me."

Li Guolou began to portray a bright future, saying that the capital is full of gold, and he will be able to get a pot full of gold and silver, of course he cannot do without the help of the fellow countrymen.

Li Jing slightly sighed, every family has scriptures that are difficult to recite, and he also knows everything about Li Guolou's family.Li Guolou's elder brother, Li Guoyun, was gifted and intelligent since he was a child, but he fell off a horse when he was a child, broke one leg and became a lame man.In the Qing Dynasty, people with physical disabilities were not allowed to be officials. Li Guoyun could only go into business. Originally, the family put their ideals on Li Guolou, but they didn't expect this kid to have a different brain from ordinary people. The scriptures make people puzzled, and there is a "fox spirit" sitting beside them, making people wonder what to say.

Li Jing glanced at the face and said: "Xiaolou, as long as you don't go too far, I will help. However, I don't see the future of a restaurant. Since you have found someone to manage it, you should go back to Shanghai. There is a need for People who understand foreign language."

Nabazi stood up, laughed, and interjected: "Uncle Li, actually, Xiaolou has lofty ideals. We want to do business with the palace. Now I have worshiped under Mr. An, and Mr. An accepted me as the fourteenth son." , I brought you a piece of Su Dongpo's Fu on the Red Cliff written by Zhao Mengfu, which is definitely a treasure after being appraised by Zhenbaoxuan."

Li Jinglue stood up and unfolded the long scroll to look at it. Five fellow villagers from Hefei also gathered to look at it and studied it word by word on the desk.

The result of some research is of course a treasure. Fatty Fan Dahui also has a calligraphy and painting by Zhao Mengfu in his family. It is handed down from his ancestors. The brushwork, paper and seal are exactly the same.

A Zhao Mengfu calligraphy and painting can be exchanged for a courtyard house. Now that the domestic war is coming to an end, the prices of antiques and treasures have started to rise again.

Li Jinglue was already grinning from ear to ear, and never mentioned the matter of letting Li Guolou return to Shanghai. The group entered the West Flower Hall together, drinking and chatting.Getting a relationship with the palace is of course a lucrative thing. Li Jinglue and the five students have already worshiped Nabazi very much, and Nabazi was always speaking at the banquet.

Cao Kexing, Zhu Dinghe, Fan Dahui, Wei Hanyu, and Xu Lan began to sigh, telling about the hardships of life in the capital, accompanied by oil lamps every day, and they no longer know the taste of meat.The fellow countrymen stayed together to help each other, but it was a drop in the bucket, and it was almost impossible to sustain.They all owe some money to the fellow countrymen association, and they don't know when they can repay it.

Li Guolou looked suspiciously at Li Jinglue, but saw Li Jinglue nodded slightly and sighed.

Li Guolou's chest felt tight, and after just over a month, these five "poor students" started to owe money again. It seemed that they were determined to eat from their fellow countrymen.Some scholars of this kind will repay their debts, and some will repay them twice.In the yamen, shopkeepers often sue such scholars for not repaying their debts, but the government always speaks for the students, exempting them if they can, and paying less to the shopkeepers if they can’t.As for the romantic tent, it doesn't matter, young students are in a foreign land, how can they have no love life.

But Li Guolou was thinking about another thing. In the future, he would hang a few calligraphy and paintings of Zhao Mengfu in the living room of his home. If people were interested, they could give them away at any time.This idea is quite good, Li Guolou smiled and looked at several fellow villagers, and he promised each of them to give each of them twelve taels of ice charcoal fee in winter, so that these five students can also have charcoal stoves to keep warm in the winter.Friends are forever, and the most hopeful thing in my heart is that these five "poor fellow students" can study hard. As long as they have a high school (not a juren bought with money), they will not be empty-handed.

Li Guolou didn't drink with his fellow countrymen because he had to run a business in the afternoon.Several fellow villagers did not express gratitude to Li Guolou, as if it was only natural to take a few small money, and fellow villagers were there to help each other.This is the advantage of staying in the fellow countrymen's guild hall. You have the opportunity to meet rich fellow countrymen at any time.

Li Guolou couldn't hold back, and said: "Everyone, don't go to the Qinlou Chu Pavilion, study honestly, it's the last winter, don't make trouble again."

Fan Dahui was dissatisfied and said: "Fake foreign devils, which eye did you see that we have been to that kind of place? Why did you run into the yamen? You look at people like you look at prisoners. We stayed up all night and studied hard." Just take the oily hoof in your hand and start fighting with the food.

Cao Kexing said: "Fake foreign devil, the woman is next to you. Why are you so unreasonable? You have seen me once and you are talking about it now. Then I would like to ask you why you go to that kind of place."

Li Guolou was furious, and shouted: "Okay, Cao Kexing, you were detained, and I was the one who broke into the dragon's lake and tiger's den alone, and rescued you, why don't you beat me up."

Cao Kexing said indifferently: "Fake foreign devils, Ming people don't do secret things, how could that old bust know you. Tell me!"

Li Guolou lowered his head in shame, and never dared to talk about this topic with the five "poor students". Everyone has a dark past.

Chen Xiangfang pinched Li Guolou's thigh viciously, but he remained unmoved, and the expression on his face returned to the original one.He even squeezed Chen Xiangfang's jade hand, taking advantage of it.

Zhu Dinghe hurriedly smoothed things over, laughed, and said, "Come on, let's have a drink, don't talk about such unspeakable things, fake foreign devils, you still have to help us, and at the last moment of spring, you have to do your best, understand? ?”

Li Guolou couldn't understand, ten taels of silver per person was enough for them to live in peace, and they didn't buy people, this is impossible, these five people don't have such great strength, they can only walk on a single-plank bridge, relying on their real skills Entrance examination Jinshi.

Li Guolou asked: "I've had the spring test, and I'm waiting for the results to be released. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Zhu Dinghe coughed, and said: "Fake foreign devils, we have already made up our minds. With the abilities of the few of us, someone will pass high school. Of course, if they fail, there will be a next time. What I am telling you now is that if one of us Someone won the Juren, and then you have to help."

Li Guolou said: "If any of you are in high school, I will give you a big gift, so what's the point?"

Zhu Dinghe snorted and said without hesitation: "Fake foreign devils, there will be a lot of people giving gifts by then, but it's just money for happiness, not enough to fill the gaps between the teeth. At that time, I will worship the teacher. Which teacher will choose you?" , I have to worship under which teacher. The money for the teacher, you first put it on the back, I have checked, the examiner must pay at least 1000 taels of silver, and the worst teacher also needs 400 taels of silver. "

Li Guolou was a little reluctant, and said, "Isn't this money borrowed from the bank? Why do you ask me to lend it?"

Zhu Dinghe yelled: "Fake foreign devils, this is to think highly of you. We will be a family in the future. The money borrowed by the bank does not require interest."

Li Guolou pointed at Zhu Dinghe's nose and said angrily, "Old Zhu, you are too stingy. You can't get 1000 taels of silver when you become an official, and you need to save interest."

Zhu Dinghe sighed, and said: "Fake foreign devils, the world has changed now, and those who have military merits, don't take up positions. The fat and vacancies have been reduced by half compared to the past. It is not certain when they will be able to live a good life. So you can save money." Forget it, there will still be a period of time to tighten your belt.”

Na Bazi nodded and said: "Yes! Fake foreign devils now know that the officialdom is not easy. I didn't lie to you. You are not short of money, so you should help your fellow countrymen."

Li Guolou was heartbroken, and he gritted his teeth and said, "1000 taels of silver, where can I find it?"

The five "poor students" laughed together. They were not afraid of Li Guolou's tricks, they had already been put on this boat, and Li Guolou would have to pay for any more money.Of course, the return is not the principal and interest, but their future prospects.

Because Li Guolou still had something to do, the banquet ended without fun.When Baozhi House opened, Li Guolou would invite people from the Anhui Association for dinner, and the guests were all bigwigs, but the five "poor students from the same hometown" would never forget it.The poor and the humble stay together, the rich and the noble are on the same boat, and the people in the hometown are always tied together. This is the requirement of an era, and it is by no means that one of them is kind and never forgets his roots.After exchanging a few words of encouragement, Li Guolou bid farewell to his fellow villagers and left the Anhui fellow village hall.

When Chen Xiangfang heard that Li Guolou was going out of the city, she followed Li Guolou back to Hongchang Hutong and packed his bags for him.This made Li Guolou a little worried, afraid that Chen Xiangfang would still ask him for interrogation about what happened just now.In fact, it's not a big deal. If you invite someone to drink flower wine in a place like Qin Lou Chu Pavilion, it's a must for a man to play on every occasion.

Li Guolou cheered for himself, and only had one woman in his eyes, Chen Xiangfang, who was reluctant to let go of her hand in the carriage, as if parting from life and death, and never seeing him again.