Cao Thief

Chapter 180 First Heard of Dongcheng Lu Family
Speaking of it, it was more than a year in the last year of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and Cao Peng came into contact with not too few women.

Aside from mother Zhang and sister Cao Nan, from Huang Yueying in Jiyang, to sister rabbit in Xudu, to Lu Lan in Xuzhou, and Guo Huan who is beside her now.The four women can be said to have their own merits.And the woman in front of her was not inferior in appearance to the first three.

She is not tall, but she has the delicate beauty of a Huainan woman.

When the girl walked out of the room, she saw Cao Peng and others riding on horses outside the courtyard wall.

"Who are you looking for?"

She asked suspiciously, a look of alertness flashed in her eyes.

"Xiao Luan?"

Hearing that voice, Bu Zhi opened his mouth in surprise.

The girl was taken aback, then stepped forward and opened the door.

"you are?"

When she saw Bu Zhi, she was obviously puzzled.

Bu Zhi looked the girl up and down, and suddenly pointed, "You are Xiaoluan, right? I am Shitou, remember? Brother Shitou from Huaiyin."

"what!"

The girl couldn't help but took a few steps back, covered Tan's mouth with her hand, surprise flashed in her eyes.

"Mother, mother...Brother Shitou is here!"

She suddenly turned around and ran into the house, shouting while running, staggering and stumbling, looking very embarrassed.

Bu Zhi hurriedly followed in.

After Cao Peng and Chen Qun looked at each other, they got off their horses.

"I never thought that Zishan was calm, but he lost his composure today."

As Chen Qun said, he handed the reins to his followers.

Cao Peng, on the other hand, stood at the door, carefully looked at the slightly deserted house, and then shook his head slightly.It seems that Bu Zhi's aunt is not having an easy life.At this moment, an old woman's cry came from the hut, which seemed very excited.

Guo Huan wanted to go in, but was stopped by Cao Peng.

"Xiao Huan is so reckless, she finally met and was about to tell her heart. It's a bit inappropriate for us to go in at this time."

Guo Huan nodded, and said softly, "Master is really understanding."

In fact, Cao Peng was not too disgusted with Guo Huan's verbal pandering.

Growing up in the environment of Tongda Hou's family, it is inevitable to know how to figure out people's minds.It's just that Cao Peng doesn't like her affectation!If Guo Huan could be more natural, Cao Peng might be more receptive.It is precisely because of Guo Huan's pretentiousness that Cao Peng always feels that she is a bit fake...

After a while, Bu Zhi and the girl walked out of the hut with the help of an old woman.

"Zi just lost his composure, but he was so tired that the young master waited outside the door for a long time, and he hoped that the young master will forgive his sin."

"Buluan didn't know that a distinguished guest came to the door, but he still looked forward to Mr. Haihan."

The girl's name is Bu Luan, and while supporting the old woman, she bowed to Cao Peng and gave a little blessing.

Cao Peng said with a smile: "Mr. Zishan can see his relatives. Even if he loses his composure, he still shows his true feelings. How can he forgive him?" .”

Unexpectedly, the old woman's mouth was polite, but her eyes were fixed, completely ignoring it.

Bu Zhi gestured towards Cao Peng, meaning: The old lady is blind.

When Cao Peng saw it, he took two steps forward, took the old woman's hand, and saluted again. Only then did the old woman realize that she quickly returned the courtesy.

"This is my sister, named Buluan."

"There are birds and phoenixes, and people live up to their names."

Chen Qun looked at the girl and couldn't help but praise, but Bu Luan blushed suddenly, lowered his head, and dared not look at Cao Peng and others again.

"Go and sit inside."

As Bu Zhi spoke, he helped the old lady walk into the main hall.

The main hall is also a thatched hut, it can be said to be empty inside, only a few simple straw mats are placed in the room.

Buluan hurriedly cleaned it up, and said softly: "I haven't had any visitors for a long time, so I'm a bit neglected...Please take a seat, my lord, I'll go and prepare drinks."

"Well, don't be so busy!"

When Cao Peng saw the situation in this family, he knew that life in Buluan's family was very difficult.

He winked at Guo Huan, Guo Huan immediately understood, walked to the gate of the courtyard, beckoned for a follower, handed out the bag around his waist, and told the follower to buy some wine and food.Bu Luan could see clearly, his face turned even redder, and he hurriedly wanted to go forward to stop him.

Unexpectedly, Cao Peng stopped her, "Sister, don't misunderstand, it's all Mr. Zishan's salary."

"what?"

Bu Luan was startled, and turned to look at Bu Zhi.

But Bu Zhi waved his hand at him, signaling her not to ask.

In my heart, I am extremely grateful to Cao Peng.Although he has been working in Haixi for two months, his salary is actually not much.The position of county chief bookkeeper is a salary of more than one hundred stones.Calculated on a monthly basis, it is around sixteen dendrobium.Bu Zhi eats a lot and likes to drink, so he can't save much money on him.The only consistent copper coin was given to him by Deng Ji as a reward at the end of the year.

Cao Peng's move can be said to have given him enough face.

Chen Qun didn't care about the simplicity of the hut, and knelt down with Cao Peng.

"Xiao Luan, go and boil some water."

"it is good!"

Just as Bu Luan was about to leave, Cao Peng said, "Xiaohuan, help her."

"Here!"

Guo Huan agreed and went over to help.

Bu Luan shook his head again and again, and said in his mouth: "How can you work when you have a distinguished guest?"

However, she obviously couldn't stop Guo Huan, and finally Bu Zhi spoke up, and then took Guo Huan to boil water in the hut next door.

When the old woman spoke, she had a strong Huainan accent.

Coupled with excitement, the speed of speech also seemed a little fast, and it was a little vague.

Anyway, Cao Peng didn't quite understand, he just watched the old woman crying and laughing for a while, while Bu Zhi was beside her, holding her hand tightly, and was also very excited.

"Can you understand the old lady?"

Cao Peng noticed that Chen Qun smiled and nodded leisurely.

"I can understand...she is speaking Xuyi dialect, I can't understand clearly at all."

"Then you still listen with relish?"

Chen Qun glared at Cao Peng, and said in a low voice, "Brother, this is called etiquette. Could it be that I turn around and go out? Zishan will explain it to us."

"Uh!"

Cao Peng gave Chen Qun a supercilious look.

What kind of courtesy is this for you?You are just pretending!
"My son, Changwen, Shimu was a little excited just now, so I neglected you two."

Shimu is also a kind of address in terms of etiquette, which roughly means aunt, aunt.

"The eyes of the old lady..."

Cao Peng couldn't help asking.

Because on the way to Xuyi, Bu Zhi once mentioned his aunt to Cao Peng.

Because Bu Zhi's family was poor, he was often bullied by his tribe when he was a child.It was his aunt who had always protected him and made him grow up.Later, Bu Zhi left the suspicion and went to Guangling to discuss life.When he left his hometown, his aunt didn't seem to be blind yet.

"Oh, my father died of illness, and my aunt couldn't bear the bullying from her clan, so she went back to her hometown.

But the situation in Xuyi's hometown is not very good... My aunt's brother and sister-in-law passed away, and the children refused to accept her, and even took over the aunt's property.When my aunt got angry, her eyes... well, it's all my fault. If I knew about it earlier, I definitely wouldn't let my aunt suffer this humiliation. "

What Bu Zhi said was a little vague, but generally, Chen Qun and Cao Peng could understand it.

It must have been a dispute over the family property.In Huaiyin, his family property was taken away by the Bu clan. He thought that he would have a property to wait for when he returned to his hometown.Unexpectedly, the father and brother died, and the nephew was unwilling to accept it.The old lady must also be a person with a high spirit, and she was blinded by anger all of a sudden.

"Then how did the old lady come here all these years?"

"Xiaoluan is sensible, and has been taking care of her aunt. She usually sews and mends, washes and rinses, barely enough for the family's ears."

"Oh I got it!"

Cao Peng nodded and looked at Chen Qun.

"Mr. Zishan, since the situation in Xuyi is not good, why don't you let the old lady move to Haixi? At least in Haixi, you can have a caretaker, right?"

"Well... I'll discuss it with Shimu."

Bu Zhi talked to the old lady, while Cao Peng and Chen Qun whispered to each other.

After a while, I came back with wine, food and grain.

"Zishan, it's noon today, let's eat first, let's talk about other things after we're full."

Bu Zhi nodded in agreement, and hurriedly greeted Bu Luan to work.

The wine and food are all ready-made, and Bu Luan only needs to cook the grain and rice.The eight attendants sat on the porch to eat, while Bu Luan and Guo Huan placed a small stool at the entrance of the living room, and ate carefully.And Bu Zhi has been sitting beside the old lady, serving the old lady to eat.

It can be seen that the mother and daughter of Buluan probably haven't touched meat for a long time, so the food is very sweet.

"By the way, Xiaoluan, have you heard of Yunshan Mixing?"

While eating, Cao Peng pretended not to care and asked a question.

Bu Luan covered his mouth with one hand, swallowed a mouthful of food slowly, and nodded, "Yes, it's at the east end of the city, the biggest one is."

"Is Yunshan rice okay?"

"kindness!"

Buluan said: "Yunshan Rice Shop is the largest rice shop in the local area. It was originally opened by the Mei family in Lujiang. In the past two years, people said that Lujiang was not stable, so last year, the rice shop was transferred to Lujiang. Home. Now Yunshan Rice Shop has been renamed Dongcheng Rice Shop.”

"Is it out?"

"Yes."

Cao Peng was a little confused.

Lujiang, Mei family?The plate was given to... the Lu family?
"Youxue, what's wrong with you?" Chen Qun couldn't help asking curiously: "I've only heard you talk about this cloud mountain rice trip along the way?"

Cao Peng hesitated, smiled wryly and shook his head.

"Brother, it's a long story to talk about this matter."

So, he told him and Deng Ji about leaving Xudu and destroying Lei Xu in Chenliu.

Then he took out the white silk from his bosom and handed it to Chen Qun.

"On this white silk, Yunshan rice line was mentioned, so I became interested. Before that, I always thought that the inscription on the white silk was Wang Cheng. But then I felt something was wrong! Wang Chengcheng is Xuezhou, and I also met Lei Xu, and the inscription should be in 'state' instead of 'cheng'. In fact, this matter is not too important... But, I always feel that there is something wrong with it."

Yunshan Rice Shop, Lujiang Mei Family...

A flash of light suddenly flashed in Cao Peng's mind.

"Yunshan rice line, when will it be sold out?"

Bu Luan tilted her head, thought carefully and said, "It seems to be August or September last year? I don't remember the exact time.

Yunshan Rice Shop only sells polished rice and millet, and I have never bought anything there.So I don't know much about what he said.Anyway, it was very sudden... The Lu family suddenly took over the business of Yunshan Mihang, but most of the people who used it were old people from Mihang... The Mei family was very powerful here before, but they all withdrew all at once.No one from the Mei family has ever appeared again! "

Cao Peng fell into deep thought.

Bu Zhi suddenly said: "My lord, maybe I heard wrong?"

"Misheard?"

"Didn't you say that when we were in Chenliu, a horse thief mentioned a man named Lu Mei?"

"Oh, there is such a person."

"You also said that when that person heard this name, the other person was drunk. Is there such a possibility that the drunk person can't speak clearly, and he ambiguously said 'Lujiang Meishi', so that As for the other person, did you hear it as 'Lu Mei'?"

"This, it is possible."

Cao Peng couldn't help laughing!
He found that Bu Zhi seemed to have learned a trick.

It's his 'bold assumption' trick.

If a person is drunk, it is indeed possible to slur their speech, and if another person is also drunk, it is very likely that he will miss a word or two.

Thus, the Lujiang Mei family became Lumei!
Well, this explanation seems reasonable...

As for how to argue?

Cao Peng didn't think about it.

Because of this matter, it seems that it has nothing to do with him.

The Lujiang Mei family has already sold out the rice line, so it is naturally impossible to investigate again.Besides, what does the matter of Lujiang have to do with him?
Thinking of this, Cao Peng breathed a sigh of relief.

But immediately another question popped up in my mind.

"Then why can't it be the Lu family? The Lu family accepted Yunshan Mixing, and Lu Mei is a child of the Lu family. Isn't it also reasonable?"

"Impossible!"

Bu Zhi repeatedly shook his head.

"My son's time in Xuzhou was short after all, so it's understandable that I haven't heard of the Lu family in Dongcheng."

"Oh? I haven't asked for advice yet."

"The Lu family in Dongcheng is also the noble family of Xiapi. Dongcheng and Xuyi were originally owned by Linhuai County. Later, Xiapi Kingdom was established, and both Dongcheng and Xuyi were placed under the rule of Xiapi Kingdom. He is located in the southwest of Xuyi, also known as Xiapi A county magistrate in the southernmost part of the country, adjacent to Jiujiang County."

Bu Zhi cautiously added chopsticks to the old lady, and then took another sip of the wine.

"However, due to the wars in Xuzhou these years, although Marquis Lu Wen has occupied Xiapi, he has actually given up the governance of Dongcheng County. Since Yuan Shu occupied Huainan, Dongcheng has actually become Yuan Shu's territory... What about the Lu family? The wealthy merchants in Xiapi Kingdom can also be said to be the largest grain merchants in Huainan area. The reputation of the Lu family is very good, and it is by no means comparable to the local tyrants and bullies.

If it were someone else, I might believe it.

But if it is said that the Lu family is in collusion with the Yellow Turban bandits, I absolutely cannot believe it.

There is another most important reason for this. I think that when the Taipingdao uprising caused the eight states to oscillate, both Xuzhou and Yangzhou were affected.

During that turmoil, the Lu family suffered extremely heavy losses.It is said that the patriarch of the Lu family died at the hands of Taipingdao. His family's two fortresses in the east city were breached by Taipingdao. There were countless children of the Lu family who died at the hands of Taipingdao. There was great hatred among them. . "

In fact, that's what Cao Peng asked.

After the Lu family took over Yunshan Rice Company, it changed its name to Dongcheng Rice Company, which has already explained the problem.

He took over last September, and Lei Xu was still in Chenliu at that time... If the Lu family really colluded with Lei Xu, it would be impossible to change the name.

However, after hearing what Bu Zhi said, Cao Peng became interested in the Lu family.

He squinted his eyes and rubbed his nose subconsciously, "Then why did the Lu family buy Xuyi rice shop?"

"This one……"

Bu Zhi scratched his head, unable to answer.

"Why don't we go to Dongcheng rice shop after dinner?"

Cao Peng said to Chen Qun.

Chen Qun thought for a while, "It's all right."

At this moment, there was a sudden sound of chaotic footsteps in the yard.

Immediately afterwards, someone shouted: "Old beggar, you have money to buy wine and meat, but you don't know how to pay back the money. What are you doing?"

Bu Luan's face suddenly turned pale, like a frightened little rabbit, shrank behind the window.The old lady's face showed a look of anger, and she stood up abruptly.

A series of syllables came out in a hurry, which sounded like cursing.

Cao Peng frowned, stood up, and walked outside the house.

I saw more than a dozen burly men rushing into the courtyard, yelling curses.

"Wait, who is it!"

Chen Qun came out of the room and asked in a deep voice.

Don't look at his usual playful smile with Cao Peng, but when he lowered his face, the majesty of the son of the aristocratic family was immediately revealed to the fullest.

"Who are you?"

The burly man who took the lead scolded loudly: "I have nothing to do with collecting debts."

His articulation is fairly clear, although there is a dialect in it, Cao Peng can understand it.

A look of anger suddenly appeared on Chen Qun's face. He stepped out, but was stopped by Cao Peng.At this time, Bu Zhi had rushed out of the hut.

"You bastards who have no conscience, not to mention robbing my aunt's property, and coming to make trouble today, you are deceiving people too much."

"who are you?"

"A certain Buzhi family is the master bookkeeper of Haixi."

After the big man glanced at each other, he suddenly sneered and said, "Your master of Haixi County came to Xuyi to make trouble, do you think I have no one in Xuyi?"

Cao Peng walked down the porch and boarded the shoes.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"Do nothing, collect debts."

"What debt do you want?"

"The old beggar borrowed a lot of money from us when she was ill.

We thought she was pitiful before, so we never asked for it.But the old beggar didn't pay back the money, but hid at home in exchange for food and wine.Let me tell you, she has to pay back the money today.If you don't pay back the money, you can use the little girl to pay off the debt, which is also a matter of course in the yamen. "

Bu Luan hid in the house, not daring to show his head.

Bu Zhi was so angry that he wanted to rush over to teach these people a good lesson, but Chen Qun stretched out his hand to stop him.

At this time, Cao Peng generally understood the reason of the matter.These people should be Aunt Bu Zhi's tribe, or even nephews.Before, they occupied Aunt Buzhi's property, and later Aunt Buzhi fell ill, so Buluan went to ask them to borrow money...

In general, that should be the case.

But Cao Peng felt that this matter should not be as simple as it seems.

He stared at the big man in the lead, "I can ask them to pay back the money. But I want to ask you something, who asked you to come?"

The big man froze for a moment, seeming to hesitate.

After a while, he said, "No one asked us to come, so what's wrong with us asking for debts?"

"Hehe, it's only natural to pay off debts. How much do they owe you?"

"Young master, don't..."

Bu Zhi hurriedly shouted, but Cao Peng raised his hand to signal him not to speak.

"This..." The big man hesitated for a moment, then stretched out a finger, "It's always money."

"You're talking nonsense, you only gave me fifty dollars, why did it become consistent?"

"After such a long time, the fifty coins have become consistent, so what's so strange...Buluan, I have your written evidence here, so you don't want to renege on it."

Bu Luan blushed, and wanted to argue.

But I heard Cao Peng ask quietly: "Is there any money? No problem... But, the money is with me, do you dare to come and get it?"

While talking, Cao Peng stretched out his hand, Guo Huan quickly took out a copper coin from his body, ran to Cao Peng's side, and put it in Cao Peng's hand.

On one finger, hangs a string of money.

Cao Peng shook his head and shook his head towards the big man, "Here, the money is here, you can get it."

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(End of this chapter)