Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 21
It was night, so Cao Yong let go of his worries and fell asleep.Cao Yin was tossing and turning, unable to close his eyes no matter what, he let out a long sigh from time to time.Seeing her husband like this, Mrs. Li couldn't fall asleep, so she put on her clothes and sat up: "What's the matter, my husband? Is it because the pick-up money can't be opened? Do you need to send a letter to the elder brother!" The elder brother she said , refers to the cousin Suzhou weaving Li Xu.

"I'm worried about Yong'er!" Cao Yin said slowly.

"Yong'er, what's the matter?" Hearing the mention of Aizi, Li's voice could not help but be a little anxious.

Cao Yin had a worried expression on his face: "Jong'er is young and intelligent, he can read and recite, and he is good at riding and shooting. He is very similar to Nalan Rongruo back then."

"Adept at riding and archery?" Mrs. Li knew that his son was a good reader, and his body had been trained a lot in the past few years, but it was the first time he heard that he was good at riding and archery.

Cao Yin nodded. Four years ago, Cao Yong moved to Qiuji, and said he wanted to practice martial arts, riding and archery. He thought he was a child and taught him how to archery in the school yard.In the next few years, Cao Yong shot hundreds of arrows every day without any supervision.Archery targets range from dead targets to live targets.This live target is not a cat or rabbit used by ordinary people's children, but a target that can be moved back and forth, left and right, controlled by a slider.

"Nalan Rongruo is a well-known figure in the country. If our son can be as promising as he is, it will be a blessing to our Cao family. Why do you worry about your husband!" Mrs. Li was puzzled.

"Gao Tian is jealous, I'm afraid it's a loss of good fortune!" Cao Yin replied helplessly.

Hearing what Cao Yin said was unlucky, Mrs. Li evaded it, frowned slightly and said, "That's all there is to it, there are many young men with both civil and military skills, how could I expect Yong'er to be like this."

Cao Yin shook his head: "That's not the way to say it, how can a boy from an ordinary family compare with Yong'er." Having said that, he detailed what happened in the study room at night.

When Mrs. Li heard that the Cao family was in crisis, she was terrified and speechless for a long time.

Cao Yindao: "Jong'er's knowledge is something that an ordinary 11-year-old child can have. He usually lives a simple life, and he meets countless people every day. If it is not for his extraordinary talent, how can he know these people? .” There is one more thing he didn’t say, that is, the treasury tax silver mentioned in Cao Yong’s story is almost the same as the current annual tax silver.Jiangnan bears a quarter of the world's taxes. Cao Yong estimated the number of state treasuries based on the news from the Political Department.Cao Yong is just a naive child with a yellow mouth, but he can tell the general idea, so why not shock Cao Yin.

Mrs. Li murmured, "What about the Cao family? What about Yong'er?"

Cao Yin sighed: "So what can I do? It's only right and proper to pay back the debts. If I risk my old life, I will always make up for these shortfalls in my lifetime, and I will definitely not leave a disaster to my descendants."

Mrs. Li couldn't stop crying: "Then what should I do, if it is true what my husband said, let alone the old lady can't bear it, even I won't have to live!"

"Pretend you don't know, don't show your traces in front of the old lady. The old lady loves Yong'er the most, and she can't leave him for a day. After the old lady is a hundred years old, send Yong'er to the temple to stay for a few years , with the blessings of the Buddhist family, things may turn around." Cao Yin replied.

Li's wife is a family, she has no idea, listens to her husband's opinion, and feels at ease, but thinking of the impermanence of life, she can't help but start to worry about her son again, and tears flow down.

Cao Yong is begging himself to sleep soundly. If he knew that Cao Yin decided to send him to a monastery to practice because of his advice, he would be dumbfounded.

A few days later, it was March 25, the day when Cao Yan entertained guests.

Because Cao Yan celebrated her birthday ahead of schedule, Cao Yong went to Yunyongzhai before going to school.Cao Yan's master and servant got up early, thinking about what clothes to wear and what jewelry to wear.

Seeing Cao Yong coming in, Cao Yan smiled and said: "Your sister Lin Xiazhai has been famous for a long time, and I can finally meet you today. You have to make all the arrangements. If something goes wrong and ruins the prosperity of our Jizhu Society, I will No!"

"Don't worry, my lord, Cao Fang has been preparing for a few days!" Seeing that Cao Yan was happy, Cao Yong's mood became much brighter, and the anxiety caused by waiting these days seemed to be much less.He was really puzzled. According to the way of thinking, after Cao Yin understood the situation of Cao's family, he should discuss countermeasures with his son. Why did he wait for several days without any movement.He doesn't treat himself as a child, but thinks that others are the same. This is a fan of the authorities.

Seeing that Cao Yong was holding a blue bundle in his hand, Cao Yan was a little curious: "What is this? Could it be that the birthday gift has arrived!"

Cao Yong nodded: "Exactly, since my sister wants to celebrate her birthday today, my younger brother will congratulate Fangchen in advance!"

Cao Yan stood up to thank her. Cao Yong saw that Cao Yan's face was like a spring flower, amiable and lovely. Thinking that she was going to get married next year, he couldn't help but reached out and stroked her hair: "For 20 years, durian flowers bloom to illuminate the palace."

Cao Yan was taken aback when he heard the words, and when he came to his senses, Cao Yong had already disappeared.Cao Yan said with a smile: "Boy, there is no big or small!" But he was thinking about Cao Yong's words just now, but he just didn't understand.

Cao Yan opened the furoshiki herself, and inside was an ebony box. After opening, a copy of "Shan Hai Jing" appeared in front of her.Cao Yan gently picked up the book. It was the wooden movable type plate handed down during the Qingli period of the Northern Song Dynasty. Her eyes were reddened. This was mentioned in a gossip on her birthday last year. She never thought that this younger brother would take it to heart.

In the blink of an eye, half a day passed, and Cao Yong, Cao Song and Gu Na left school.Wei Xin waited at the door with the book boy and servant.After his vacation was over, he began to work as a long-term follower honestly.

Hearing that Cao Yong said that he wanted to go back to the mansion directly, Wei Xin was so anxious that he reined in his horse and went to Cao Yong's side and whispered: "Don't go back to the mansion, my lord, there will be a gathering of young ladies today!"

"Quanfanghui?" Cao Yong looked at Wei Xin with a strange look, this kid, isn't he going to take him to the brothel?

Seeing Cao Yong looking at him, Wei Xin was showing off a little: "Yes, Qunfanghui, all the ladies and gentlemen in the city will be here."

Only then did Cao Yong know that he was thinking left, and his heart moved. He has been in this world for several years, except for his sisters and maidservants, he has never seen any outstanding women outside.Gu Na is young and has read a lot of books about wit and beauty, and after listening to Wei Xin's words, he can imagine.Only Cao Song, who didn't know what to do, nagged: "Mao girl has nothing to see, she might as well go out for a horse race." As a result, two to one, Cao Song had to reluctantly follow behind Cao Yong.

With Wei Xin leading the way, Cao Yong began the act of peeking at jade for the first time in another world, but the more he walked, the more confused he became. This is obviously the way to Linxiazhai.Cao Yong reined in his horse, turned around and asked, "Where is this group of Fanghui gathered?"

Wei Xin replied: "Of course it's not a vulgar place, or it's in the famous Linxiazhai!"

While speaking, everyone had arrived near Linxiazhai. In front of the teahouse opposite Linxiazhai, Wei Xin got off his horse and said with a smile, "Young Master, Second Master, Gu Ye, the younger one has booked a private room on the second floor here, and the location is just right. .”

Seeing Wei Xin's lewd smile, Cao Yong began to feel uncomfortable. This so-called "Quanfanghui" is the "Jizhu Society". It seems that he is familiar with the business, and it is definitely not the first time he has done this kind of spying.Thinking that there were several sisters of the Cao family among them, Cao Yong felt that the boy deserved to be beaten.Thinking of this, I woke up again in my heart, what happened to me, to adapt to this society like this, and become a little antique.Not to mention looking at them from a distance, in the society in the previous life, it was not uncommon for men and women to be classmates and work together all day long.

Going up to the private room on the second floor, it really is a good location, diagonally facing the entrance of Linxia Zhai, you can see the figure carefully.

At the gate of Linxiazhai, a carriage stopped.Except for a few coachmen who were squatting or sitting, there was no shadow of a half-beautiful woman.

When Wei Xin saw it, he realized that he had arrived early, and quickly said: "They gather at Chen Shi, and they will leave at Shen Shi!"

Cao Yong nodded, and sent the book boys and boys back to the house to report the news, saying that they had dinner with their classmates, and then called the man and sent him to the restaurant next door to order a table of food and wine.

After more than half an hour, two pots of tea have been drunk before the food and drinks from the next door are delivered.Cao Yong and the others were so hungry that they couldn't be bothered to be picky about the taste of the food, so they ate their fill in two or three bites.Wei Xin was also here, except for calling him "Young Master" and "Little One", he didn't have the slightest sense of being a long-term follower.Where would Cao Yong care about this, just as an extra companion.

After eating and rinsing his mouth, Cao Yong looked at his pocket watch, it was [-]:[-] in the afternoon, and it would be more than a quarter of an hour until Shen Shi.

The man brought green tea, Cao Yong took a sip, and asked Wei Xin: "How do you know the time of their meeting so clearly, there are sisters in your family coming to the meeting?"

"Well, my Xiao Qi received the post and was very happy for several days, and was so annoyed that my old man said 'the world is going down', but he didn't dare to stop him." Wei Xin replied: "These little aunts and grandmas are either rich or expensive, and they all It’s the daughter of a rich family, so the post didn’t just come back as soon as I said it!”

Cao Yong didn't speak, Cao Song asked: "Brother, since it's Qunfanghui, then the elder sister, second elder sister, and third elder sister of our family have not received the post? Why are you so dazed that you seem to have heard the elder sister mention it to your mother?"

Cao Yong couldn't help laughing: "It's right to hear it, the person who posted this post is the second sister, the eldest sister and the third sister are here."

Wei Xin was dumbfounded, only then did he realize that he was abrupt, seeing that Cao Yong didn't intend to offend, he scratched his head and said with a smile: "The few daughters in the family must be of extraordinary appearance, and they should be selected for this group of Fanghui."

The good Jizhu Club was actually called "Quanfanghui" by the crazy bees and butterflies outside. Cao Yong really complained for Cao Yan and her friends.Alas, so what, although girls like to recite poems and paint pictures, and are willing to form boudoir confidants, in the eyes of their parents and families, they are just another kind of social entertainment.

Just thinking about it, Wei Xin shouted excitedly: "Come out! They're out!"

All of a sudden, several teenagers gathered in front of the window and looked towards the gate of Lin Xia Zhai.

The first to come out were the two ladies walking side by side, followed by a few maidservants.One of the two ladies was wearing red and the other was wearing purple. The red one was slightly taller, as if someone was peeping, she looked around, and finally her eyes fell on the side of the teahouse, which made Cao Yong feel guilty.It wasn't until the one in purple pulled her sleeves that she lowered her head, and the two of them got into a carriage decorated with glazed curtains together.

"That's the carriage of the Yang family in Bihelou!" Wei Xin said coquettishly, "The Bai family gave it to the granddaughter. It was designed by the old master of Bai's Jewelry. This is the only one in Jiangning."

It's Zheng Woxue's younger sister, and she looks like a lady from a family of officials. How can she tell that she is from a family of merchants?

Just as Cao Yong was thinking, he heard Wei Daoxin: "The one in purple is the eldest lady of Bihelou. She and my seventh son are handkerchiefs. They met each other two years ago. I really can't imagine that her ungrateful old man can She gave birth to such a delicate girl. Rumor has it that the newly-appointed General Soldier of Jiang Ning has a good relationship with the Yang family, so it is estimated that the girl in red is his family’s daughter, no wonder she is different from our Han family girl, with the sassyness of a banner woman!”

Then, another young lady came out one after another. Wei Xin looked at the carriage and the family members following him, and introduced with some guesswork: "This should be the young lady of Cui Fucheng's family. How to dress up, no, the outside of the car curtain is covered with gold leaf, it's a pity for his daughter."

He said again: "That is the second lady of Liuhe Bank, a wealthy family, she is extraordinary, the carriage looks plain, but it is made of high-quality nanmu."

Combining the rumors in the market and the parents' gossip, Wei Xin actually told all about the identities of these women. If he hadn't said "should be" and closed "it seems to be", Cao Yong would have thought he had seen these people.

Cao Yong felt that Wei Xin was talking too much, but Wei Xin stopped talking and stared at the door of Lin Xiazhai with bright eyes.Cao Yong looked along his line of sight, a petite figure wearing a gauze hat appeared at the door, supported by several maidservants, and moved to the carriage step by step.I don't know why, but no matter how you look at it, it makes people feel awkward.

When the young lady got into the carriage, Wei Xin let out a breath, and said with bright eyes: "Everyone can see clearly, that is the daughter of the prefect Ma's family, but a real three-inch golden lotus, I don't know which one will be lucky enough to marry in the future! "

Only then did Cao Yong understand why he felt awkward when he saw the young lady walking just now. It turned out that she had a small foot.Ma's family, Ma's family, Cao Yong thought of a chill, as if he vaguely remembered that the wife Cao Yong married in history was surnamed Ma, so it shouldn't be the little-footed woman in front of him.Thinking of the deformed little feet, Cao Yong suddenly lost the interest of peeking at the jade.

The carriages and horses at the gate of Linxiazhai gradually dispersed, leaving only two or three carriages, two of which were green cloth carriages, and the front one was covered with green cloth, which was much larger than ordinary carriages.Cao Yong recognized that this was Cao Yan's carriage, and it seemed that the three sisters of the Cao family came together.Wei Xin was still watching eagerly, Cao Yong stretched out his hand and patted his head: "Let's go!"

(End of this chapter)