Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 217
Yizhou, Daotai Mansion, West Courtyard, Wing Room.

Jade Spider looked at the sky outside, and it was already time to hold the lamp.Facing the bronze mirror, she carefully applied her makeup.

Recalling what happened at noon, she blushed so badly.But I am already seventeen, thinking about the happiness of Xiqiu and Lianqiu now, thinking about how Chuyu, Zijing and others treat Yulong differently, the four who are dowry have already done it. She patted her face, her expression became more and more determined.

The eight people who entered the mansion together three years ago, in terms of appearance, Jade Spider is not bad.It's just that when she was a child, her family was poor and she didn't eat well. Her body developed late and she looked a bit inferior.

Now, it has been raised in Cao's family for three years, the skin is tender and the meat is extremely juicy.Even if there is no event at noon today, there will be noon the next day, or the next noon.In this regard, Yuzhu is very confident, so when she saw the half-palm-sized porcelain vase by the bronze mirror, she couldn't help frowning in disgust, reached out to pick it up, and wanted to throw it into the trash bin at the door.

Holding her hand in mid-air, Jade Spider thought about it for a while, and then gently put the porcelain bottle back.Then, Yuzhu took a veil and wet it, wiped off the rouge on her face, opened the powder box, and covered the tenderness on her cheeks with powder.She frowned, and looked at the mirror, the face of the person in the mirror was slightly pale, revealing a pitiful and delicate expression.She suddenly felt depressed, turned the mirror upside down, bit her lip, and didn't know what to think.

After a while, Jade Spider sighed, opened the porcelain bottle anyway, poured some daffodil juice into the palm of her hand, and gently patted it on her neck and arms.Immediately, the room was filled with a faint fragrance of narcissus.

"Sister Spider!" Yulong stood at the door and called softly.

After hearing this, Jade Spider got up, covered the porcelain bottle, held a piece of handkerchief next to it in her hand, wiped her eyes lightly, opened the door behind her, and said in a low voice, "Sister Dragon!"

Hearing her crying, Yulong couldn't bear it, and said with a smile: "Sister, what are you doing? My sister always loves my sister the most. Go to the room quickly, I'm still waiting!"

Jade Spider grabbed the door frame, raised her head, bit her lip and said, "I'm not, Lord...I..." The more anxious she became, the more she couldn't speak clearly, tears were already falling down.

Seeing her pale face, Yuqin sighed in her heart when she remembered what happened to her back then, a little ashamed of her suspicions.That's right, the Lord is the master, whoever he wants, will he discuss it with others?Isn't she the same as the jade spider of today? What's the difference?
Yulong took Yuzhu's hand, wiped her tears with a handkerchief, and comforted her: "Sister, don't be sad, Master is a good person, and will not treat us badly in the future! We two sisters, take good care of Master!"

Yuzhu still looked uneasy, looking at the upper room with a somewhat fearful expression.

Yulong smiled and said: "Sister, don't be afraid, it's just the first time..." At this point, she couldn't help blushing, pushed her and said, "Sister, wash and freshen up, go to the room, I just asked Already!"

Seeing that the jade spider was just looking at him, he didn't respond.Yuqin rubbed her arms and said, "I'm a bit tired of sewing this afternoon, so I'll trouble my elder sister, my younger sister has to go to rest first!"

Yu Spider looked at Yu Qin carefully, and seeing that she really didn't seem to be annoyed, she nodded helplessly.

Watching Yulong go back to the room, Yuzhu went back to the room, did not re-wash, but wiped her eyes with a handkerchief before going to the room.

Cao Song was lying on the bed, not knowing what to think, when he saw the jade spider walking in with his head lowered, recalling the noon's love, he lifted his spirits, waved his hand and said, "Come here quickly, where did you come?"

Yuzhu walked to the bed and called out "Master" timidly. Cao Song's heart trembled, and he pulled her to his body, closed his eyes and hugged her for a long time, then said: "Master misses you, you Do you miss me?"

Seeing no response from the jade spider, Cao Song opened his eyes and looked at her. Seeing her red eyes and frightened face, he felt distressed, and asked, "What's the matter? That girl Yulong..."

Yuzhu quickly shook her head: "No, no, Yulong is very kind to slaves, why would she give them face just because the Lord lifts them up?"

After hearing this, Cao Song smiled and said, "I think so, too. With her temperament, she doesn't seem to be able to bully others. If she doesn't get bullied, it will be great!"

Yu Zhu's expression froze when he heard this, with a bit of grievance on his face: "You're right!"

It's a pity that Cao Song was closing his eyes, smelling the fragrance of flowers on the jade spider, so he couldn't pay attention to her emotions.Putting down the tent, it is naturally a lingering...

When the room was completely silent, Yu Zhu asked softly: "I heard that the uncle will go out tomorrow morning, do you get up early? Do you want the slaves to get up earlier to wait on you?"

Cao Song hugged her to his chest, closed his eyes and replied, "You don't need to get up early, I won't go anywhere tomorrow!" At the end of the speech, his voice gradually died down, and soon the snoring gradually started.

Jade Spider only felt a little cold, and tightened the quilt behind her tightly, but she still couldn't close her eyes for a long time, and she fell asleep in a drowsy sleep at dawn.

*
Or because it is located on the main north-south road, Daxing Town in Tancheng County is very prosperous.The whole town is scattered left and right along both sides of the official road.There are shops and restaurants on both sides of the official road, and there are [-] shops as far as the eye can see.Travelers who come and go to the top, merchants and hawkers who carry burdens, and fellow villagers who come from ten miles and eight villages to sell mountain goods, have gathered a picture of the market.

Listening to all kinds of yelling, Cao Yong really felt like seeing a prosperous age.Because he was thinking about the increase in food prices, he paid special attention to the beggars and others in the streets and alleys.Although his clothes were tattered and his face was dirty, he didn't fall to the ground hungry.In the imagination, the situation of buying rice and selling children and selling daughters because of no money did not appear, and Cao Yong was relieved in his heart.

Looking back at Mr. Zhuang, Cao Yong felt a little regretful. After all, he was getting old, so why did he pull him out?Sensing Cao Yong's eyes, Mr. Zhuang said slightly annoyed: "Why, is your dislike holding you back?"

Cao Yong hurriedly said: "Where, where, I'm just afraid that the husband will be tired!"

Mr. Zhuang stroked his beard, and said leisurely: "It's only seventy miles, what's the point? Have you forgotten the idioms Furuo is strong when you are old, and strong when you are old? The old man is still in good health. It should be okay to watch Niuniu get married and have children. question!"

Cao Yong saw that although he looked a little tired, but he was full of energy, he said with a smile: "You will grow stronger when you are old, or you will become stronger when you are old. Did you forget an idiom?"

Mr. Zhuang believed in the rein, looked at the guests in front of a rice shop not far away, and asked casually, "Oh, what is it?"

"Old but not ashamed!" Cao Yong smiled.Mr. Zhuang turned his head and glanced at him, then turned around and smiled himself.

This time, besides Wei Hei and Xiao Man, there are Wu Sheng, the second child of the Wu brothers, and seven long followers.Wu Sheng's elder brother is now married, and he is married to the hairpin who worked as a messenger by Cao Yong's side. The two got married at the end of last month.Cao Yong saw that although he was young, he was prudent and proper in handling things, so he made him the head of the courtyard, so he didn't follow.

A total of 12 people were counted. Mr. Zhuang felt that there were too many people, so he divided them into two groups.Xiaoman and the other two young men followed Cao Yong and him, Wei Hei and Wu Sheng took the other five people.Everyone stood in front of each other, looking completely different from each other.

On Cao Yong's side, there is a young master from a rich family with a butler boy; on Wei Hei's side, they are all strong men, looking at them with a bit of a tough look, even in the border of Shandong where Wufeng is very strong, looking at them It also makes people have a heart of retreating three feet.Especially Wei Hei, not to mention tall and burly, with one eye covered and a face full of fierce flesh.

Cao Yong followed Mr. Zhuang's line of sight, and he also saw that the rice shop was full of people, and the business was really booming.

The two looked at each other, a little puzzled, why the situation in Daxing and Yizhou was so different.In Yizhou, many rice shops have no food in stock; even those that are still open for business, because the prices are too high, there are not so many customers.

There was a strong aroma of wine in the air. Cao Yong and the others came out early in the morning, and they couldn't help but feel a little hungry.

Coincidentally, right across from Mihang, it is a two-storey restaurant. Cao Yong pointed to the signboard and said to Mr. Zhuang, "Sir, let's go and have dinner!" good.

After entering the restaurant, Cao Yong looked at a table of guests sitting next to the window, and motioned to the young man behind Xiaoman to ask questions.

The young man's surname is Ren and his name is Ji Yong. He is the fourth son of Hu, the director of Yizhou Tiger's Mighty Martial Art Museum.Huwei Martial Arts Hall is the place Cao Song must go to every day now, and it is the largest martial arts hall in Yizhou City.

Although Ren Hu is a martial artist, he is a true official fan.Because he had never read a book since he was a child and could not read a few big characters, he put all his hopes on his four sons.These boys who were born by accident not only inherited their father's good skills, but also inherited their father's sloppy brain. They have studied for several years, but they only know "Hundred Surnames" and "Thousand Characters".

In order to force his sons to study and improve, Ren Hu often used the whip to "tighten the leather" and "long lessons" for the sons.But after beating the eldest child, beating the second child, beating the second child, beating the third child, until the fourth child is [-] years old, I can't see any improvement in them, and in the end, I can only stop the idea of ​​letting my sons get a job.

However, the arrival of Cao Song made Ren Hu feel like "surviving a desperate situation".

The old saying is good, "the prime minister's concierge is a seventh-rank official", although Mr. Cao's family is just a daoist, far from the prime minister, but this is not sure.Even if he can't be promoted to the prime minister, it shouldn't be a problem to be promoted to the third and second ranks after a few years.In that case, it is not far from a first-rank prime minister, even if the concierge is not a seventh-rank, there should be an eighth-rank or ninth-rank.

Thinking of this, Ren Hu was extremely flattering to Cao Song, and wanted to send the two unmarried boys, the third and the youngest, to Cao's house as concierges.

Although it wasn't a big deal, Cao Song didn't respond casually. He only said that he brought his two brothers to introduce him. As for whether he wanted someone or not, he couldn't make up his mind.

Because Cao Yong's entourage is either from the capital or from Jiangning, he wants to hire a few local long-term entourages to go for a stroll and pretend to be locals.

The arrival of the two brothers Ren Shuyong and Ren Jiyong was exactly what he wanted.Moreover, it was Cao Song who led them here, who knew the roots and the bottom line. After asking a few words casually, Cao Yong nodded and told them to stay.

It was the first time for Ren Shuyong and Ren Jiyong to see an official as big as Daotai. At first, they thought that even if they were young, they should be in their 40s, so Cao Song respected him like an elder.Unexpectedly, it turned out to be such a young official.

If it wasn't for the Daotai yamen, and heard a few pawns who came to him respectfully call him "Master", Ren Shuyong and Ren Jiyong would suspect that Cao Song had someone pretend to be Daotai to tease their brothers.

When Cao Song couldn't be bothered by the surprise of the two, he proudly told the glorious history of his elder brother as an imperial guard, and the eyes of the two brothers changed immediately.The imperial bodyguards are legendary masters. The two of them admired Cao Yong so much that they secretly made up their minds to follow Cao Yong and pretend to be alone!

*
Seeing a few people unfamiliar, Xiaoer thought that the top-notch guests in the past were still thinking about how to butcher a meal, so he heard the boy say in a local accent: "Xiaoer, is there a private room upstairs by the window? My young master Find a clean place to eat!"

Xiao Er immediately stopped thinking, smiled and said: "We have just arrived at the restaurant, and the upper floor is still empty, please come upstairs!" While speaking, he led them to the second floor.

Wei Hei has also arrived, watching the backs of Cao Yong and the others going upstairs, he threw a piece of silver into the arms of another Xiao Er who came over, and said: "Find a private room for the master, and buy some wine and vegetables!"

Seeing that the silver was half a tael, Xiao Er was so happy that his face was about to bloom, and pointed to the stairs, "there are many private rooms on the second floor, sir, please come to the second floor!"

Standing in front of the window, Cao Yong sniffed his nose hard. The smell of the wine seemed to be stronger than before. He couldn't help but wonder, what happened?Could it be that there is a burning pot nearby, which makes the aroma of wine overflow?
Mr. Zhuang stared at the door of the rice store, seeing that most of the customers coming and going were carrying big bags, which seemed to be carried on their shoulders, and the business was booming.

A middle-aged man with a slightly thin build came out of the rice shop with a bag of things. Because he wanted to avoid a speeding carriage, he fell on the side of the road. The things in his pockets were scattered on the ground, and he looked very embarrassed.

Looking at the strange pieces, Cao Yong couldn't help asking, "|What kind of food is this?" Nowadays, most local people eat millet and sorghum as staple food, and richer people eat rice and white noodles.But right now, I don't know if this counts as food.

Mr. Zhuang saw that the middle-aged man put all the local things into his pockets, and said with a serious tone: "That's not food, it's wine lees!"

There is no famine in the prosperous age, but the distiller's grains that are only used to feed pigs have become the rations of the people! ——
(End of this chapter)