Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 109
On the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Cao Yin took Cao Yi back to Jiangning.

In the past two days, Ning Chun was busy with the preparations before his marriage, so he never had time to visit Cao Yin. On this day, he specially took Yong Qing to see Cao Yin off.

After seeing off Cao's father and daughter, Ning Chun brought Cao Yong and Yongqing to his private house in the city for a gathering.Since the wedding was coming soon, he wanted to take them to find out the door, so that he could entrust Qiuniang to them.

The private house Ning Chun bought this time is in the eggplant alley in the southwest of the capital. It is a very ordinary two-entry courtyard. The flowers, trees, mountains and rocks in the courtyard are also very simple, not as elegant as Xingmei's courtyard.However, the tables and chairs in the room are very different. From the materials to the workmanship, they are all extremely fine, elegant and practical.

Yong Qing praised him a lot, but Ning Chun smiled and patted Cao Yong: "But I have the same thoughts as Xiao Cao, I don't want people to notice and I want to be comfortable."

The second monk Yongqingzhang couldn't figure it out, but Cao Yong knew that he was talking about his very low-key appearance and cunning Zhuangzi, so he couldn't help laughing "haha".

This time Ning Chun didn't invite singing girls, and most of the food was cooked by Qiu Niang, more like a family feast.Because Ningchun will go back to the manor to continue preparations for the wedding soon, everyone didn't open up to drink, and had a few drinks, chatting all over the world, but they were also full of interest.

The three finished their drinks and left the house, Ning Chun said to Cao Yong and Yong Qing: "I will entrust this place to my two brothers. The [-]nd is my official day, and the wedding invitations will be sent to the house in these two days. "

Both Cao Yong and Yongqing said: "There are us outside, don't worry about it."

The three parted ways, while Cao Yong rode his horse, thinking about the hectic days these days, Ning Chun's wedding gift has not been prepared yet, so he has to discuss with Zijing quickly when he goes back, and get ready as soon as possible.

Cao Yong was thinking about the congratulatory gift for Ning Chun all the way, when he walked to the door of his house, he suddenly saw a blue-curtained carriage parked beside him, the driver was sitting on the shaft of the carriage in an orderly manner, but his eyes were looking at the people coming and going at the gate of Cao's mansion.

Cao Yong couldn't help being stunned for a moment, it stands to reason that if someone came to visit, if the owner's house was not there, the concierge would persuade them to go back, but it was rare to see people waiting at the door, and it was even rarer to be followed so impolitely.

Cao Yong got off his horse in front of the door, and asked the boy who came up to take the reins who it was.

The servant replied: "She claimed to be an official matchmaker. She wanted to see the master. We said that the masters were not at home, so she said she was waiting in front of the door. Forgive me, sir. It's true that the younger ones can't drive them away. So rough..."

Cao Yong nodded.At this time, the coachman over there has noticed that the master Cao Yong has returned, and he probably said something to the car. He picked up a little girl with a double bun from the curtain of the car, then put down the small bench, and helped a middle-aged woman out. .

The woman went to Cao Yong's side to salute and say hello, saying that she was an official matchmaker, and she came to the mansion to propose marriage.

The woman who claimed to be an official matchmaker subverted Cao Yong's perception of matchmakers.Influenced by previous film and television works, when Cao Yong heard the word "matchmaker", the image of an old woman with heavy make-up, eloquence, big red flowers on her head, and a smoking pot in her hand first appeared in Cao Yong's mind.And the woman in front of her is about forty years old, with elegant makeup, decent clothes, and polite speech, she looks like the head mother of a respectable family.

Cao Yong was a little allergic to the word "propose marriage", so he immediately told the official media that his parents were not here, and he could not decide everything, so he asked her to go back.

The official media said: "I am entrusted by others, and I must do my best. How can I return without success? Although the master of the Cao family is not in the capital, it is the same if the eldest son is here. Let's first see what the old man brought. Red post, whether it is successful or not, the eldest son will make a decision, okay?"

Cao Yong thought that she had been waiting for a long time, she was considered professional, and it was not easy to talk to a matchmaker at the gate, so he ordered the boy to invite her to the side hall.

Cao Yong went back to the yard first and changed his clothes, then ordered Zijing to go to the side hall together, and if the situation was not good, he would help out a few words.He really doesn't have a good impression of the matchmaker, although he thinks the matchmaker looks pretty good, but if the other party gets entangled, he is a man, and he definitely doesn't want to be reduced to the point of arguing with a matchmaker, and he really can't afford to lose that person.

Going back to the side hall and taking a seat, the official media took out a red note, handed it over respectfully, and said with a smile: "I was entrusted by Mrs. Zhenghuang Qijueluo to propose marriage to the third lady of your mansion."

Cao Yong was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but smile a little more in his eyes. Someone proposed marriage to Ping'er, which really made him, an older brother, feel proud of "there is a young girl in my family".Only later did he realize which prefecture this "Zhenghuangqijueluo Family" was.Sure enough, he took the red note, on which was clearly written the name, flag, age and even the names of three generations, native place and official rank of Seishtu.

Cao Yong pinched this post and thought it was a pity that his father was only leaving today, if one day in the morning...Of course, he had to ask Pinger what he meant.After thinking about it, he said to the official media: "I just told my mother that my parents are not here, and I, as an elder brother, can't make the decision. I left your red post, please call Jueluo's family, Wait until I come back to write a letter to discuss with my parents, and then write back there."

The official media didn't bother, seeing that the other party had accepted the post, and she was considered "not disgraceful", so she got up and left.

Zijing had seen Seishtu before, and she often heard Cao Yi mentioning Mrs. Jueluo. After thinking about it carefully, she also felt that this was a good marriage.Although Cao Yong has a good impression of Seishtu, but after all, it is a lifelong event for his sister, so he is cautious and prudent.Although he can't be independent in his own marriage, the girl still hopes to find someone her sister likes.Therefore, he immediately wrote and revised the book, and wrote one to Cao Yi, mentioning the matter of Jueluo's marriage proposal, and asking her opinion; one to his parents, detailing Seshitu's character and family background, and finally mentioned that he hoped that the two elders would marry each other. Ask Pinger for her opinion, if she is satisfied with the Luo family, she can consider getting married.

Cao Yong just finished writing the letter, and Cao Song came back.Today, he didn't play with his cousins ​​like he did in the past few days, but went back to the mansion after school, without changing his clothes outside, just wandering around Cao Yong, gossiping without a word, the expression on his face There is some awkwardness in it, which is quite different from the usual crispness.

Cao Yong looked at the strangeness, what's wrong with this younger brother, is it because the money is not enough to spend?I have already told the accountant that Cao Song's monthly bill is 30 taels.This money is not too much, but for a boy of fourteen or five years old, it is definitely not too little.Thinking of this, Cao Yong felt a little guilty. He was busy with his father going out of Beijing and returning to Beijing for the past half month, and he seemed to be a little negligent towards this younger brother.

After waiting for a while, seeing that Cao Song was still hesitating and refusing to talk about the topic, Cao Yong waited a little impatiently, and said with a smile: "Okay, okay, don't go around in circles, what did you come to me for?"

When Cao Song heard his brother's question, he laughed foolishly, touched the back of his head, and blushed even more on his face.

Seeing Cao Yong was very surprised, what could make this child shy?Could it be a cousin or cousin in Zhaojia Mansion?What Cao Song said surprised Cao Yong.He even asked his elder brother for 600 taels of silver in order to redeem the life of a singing girl named Xiangqin in Miaoxiufang.

"Miaoxiufang, Geisha?" Cao Yong frowned slightly, and asked, "Did you go drinking flower wine? Whose idea?" Although Cao Song looked strong, he was still a child after all, and went to that kind of The unclean place really made him worry.

Cao Song saw that his brother's expression was not right, so he also suppressed his smile, and hurriedly argued: "It's just a few older classmates who took us to see the world and listened to a few ditties!"

"Just seeing the world and listening to ditties? Who is Xiangqin?" Cao Yong naturally didn't believe Cao Song's words.

Cao Song's face was flushed with embarrassment, but he was not as shy as he was just now. He turned his head slightly and said in a naive voice: "Xiangqin is Xiangqin, and she will be my woman from now on! I don't want her to continue singing in the brothel." , I want to redeem her back. If my brother doesn’t give me money, I’ll pawn things!”

Cao Yong didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and patted the back of his head vigorously: "Good boy, you are right! Tell my brother carefully, who is that Xiangqin, and see if my brother is fascinated!"

When mentioning Xiangqin, Cao Song felt a little uncomfortable: "Xiangqin sings well, looks good, and treats people well!" As he spoke, he rummaged through his purse, as if looking for something.

After searching for a long time, but couldn't find it, Cao Song realized that he was afraid of losing it with him, so he put it on the Baibaoge in the bedroom.

Cao Yong has no prejudice against prostitutes, but he doesn't have any good impressions, but he heard that the other party is a singing prostitute, and he still hopes that his brother can meet a better one.Wanting to ask the other party's specific situation, unexpectedly, this silly brother only said three "yes".Cao Yong recalled the Tang Jiaojiao whom he met last month. It is common for prostitutes who are full of calculations and want to get away with a rich man.If Xiangqin is like that, he doesn't want his brother to be coaxed away.Considering these, Cao Yong thought of something, looking at his brother's eyes a little strange.

Cao Song's heart was frightened by his brother, and he shook his neck uncomfortably: "What do you see me doing?"

Cao Yong originally wanted to ask his brother if he had a brothel to stay overnight, and he also wanted to show his brother's score to reprimand him a few words.However, after thinking about it, this society is different from what it will be 300 years later.It's common for the son of the house door to put two people in the house at the age of thirteen or fourteen.It was me, after returning home from Qingliang Temple last year, my mother specially picked Zhu'er and Cui'er to come up.It's just because I'm still a gentleman, and I really can't do anything to the little girls who are thirteen or fourteen, that everyone is so innocent.

Therefore, Cao Yong didn't talk too much, but just asked a few serious questions: how old is Xiangqin, why did she end up in a brothel, does she know Cao Song's identity, did she ask Cao Song to raise money to redeem herself, and so on.

Although Cao Song was a little bit late, he also heard what his brother meant. He was afraid that he would regard Xiangqin as a bad woman who used words to coax him, so he quickly defended her: "Xiangqin didn't ask me to raise money, but I took the initiative. She said she wanted to help her redeem her body, but she also advised me not to mess around, saying that I would stop going to those places to play in the future, and that what I said in the entertainment field should not be taken seriously."

Cao Yong nodded, just listening to these few words, it can be seen that Xiangqin is a transparent woman, not as sweet talk as Tang Jiaojiao.

After Cao Song finished his argument, he answered his elder brother's question: "Xiangqin Shiba was originally the daughter of a good family, but her father died of illness, and her mother had to drag her two little brothers. She only knows that my surname is Cao, which is the second in line, and she doesn't know whose family it is."

Cao Song was hot-tempered for a while, but Cao Yong was very calm.Redempting the life of a prostitute can be regarded as saving people from suffering. He has no objection in his heart, but it is related to his brother and the life of the woman, so he should be more cautious.He seriously asked Cao Song if he ever thought about the future.Cao Song nodded his head like pounding garlic, and repeatedly said that he really likes Xiangqin, and he is willing to take her as a concubine after getting married.

A "concubine" is just a concubine. Being a concubine in the Cao family is better than welcoming and sending her off in a brothel.When Cao Yong saw that Cao Song had made up his mind, he stopped persuading him. He asked someone to call Zijing, took some silver notes from her, and took Cao Song to Miaoxiufang.

*
Miaoxiufang is located in the Yanzhi Hutong on the north side of Xizhu Street. Because it is still bright, it looks a bit deserted until the guests come to the door.

Cao Yong and Cao Song got off the horse, and seeing his younger brother's face full of joy, Cao Yong felt a little uncomfortable. He was still a virgin, and this kid went to a brothel.It seems that he was too loosely disciplined before, and it is better to be "strict" in the future.

Nine out of ten unsatisfactory things in the world are true.Cao Song came late, Xiangqin was redeemed by a foreign businessman two days ago.Cao Songchu thought the old bustard was coaxing her, but he still didn't believe it, because he had been here four days ago.It's just that in the past few days, because the uncle was in the mansion, he didn't dare to do whatever he wanted, so he didn't come here.

Cao Song clamored to redeem Xiangqin, not once or twice.The bustard also knew him.Seeing that he brought a refined son, and the two of them looked similar, she guessed that he had invited her brother to redeem Xiangqin, she couldn't help regretting it.

At Cao Song's place, the old bustard offered 1000 taels of silver, and even if those young masters helped to bargain later, they still agreed on 800 taels of silver.The merchant who redeemed Xiangqin only gave 550 taels.Originally, Cao Song was just a boy when he rested in Xiangqin's house, and the young man was enthusiastic for a while, but he didn't take it to heart.Although I don't know which prefecture it is from, but judging by the clothes, it is not an ordinary home.It's not uncommon for your young master to go whoring, but how many of you help prostitutes redeem themselves?Parents and family members have to be disciplined.

But if you regret it, you regret it, the old bustard still greeted her politely, and wanted to introduce the girl to the two brothers.Cao Song pulled his face, he didn't have the patience to deal with her, he only asked about Xiangqin's whereabouts, he wanted to chase her and snatch her back.

The old bustard was very worried, the one who redeemed Xiangqin was a merchant, who knows where he went.

Cao Song saw that he couldn't ask anything, so he went out bitterly.Cao Yong knew that there was no way to persuade him about this matter, his younger brother had just tasted love, and his heart for Xiangqin was warm, and it would be better to wait for a few days to cool off.

When he got back to the mansion, Cao Song was still so depressed that he didn't have anything for dinner, so he went to drink with Wei Bai.Wei Bai fell in love with Fang Cha a few days ago and wanted to marry her as a wife, but because Cao Yi went back to the south, Fang Cha followed him.Wei Bai also wanted to ask Cao Yin directly, but was stopped by his brother Wei Hei.After some persuasion, he finally let go, but today he drank for half a day.

(End of this chapter)