Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 254 Pictured

Jiangning, weaving mansion, diagonally across from the tea house.

Li Ding was sitting in a private room by the window on the second floor, holding a cup of tea, looking at the gate of Zhizao Mansion not far away.He was ordered by his father to come to Jiangning to deliver a letter to Cao Yin, and by the way, to greet his aunt Li.

When I got off the boat today and was about to arrive at Zhizao Mansion, Li Dingfang found that he was not dressed properly.Because I came in a hurry and didn't bring plain clothes, it was impolite to come to the door like this.

He wanted to find a tailor shop to change into plain clothes, and just in time he saw an official sedan chair coming to Zhizao Mansion, looking at the word "supervisor" on the chest of the soldiers accompanying him, he was a little curious, so he went to the teahouse here to wait and see.

Seeing the middle-aged man wearing white crane patched clothes getting up and down the eight-carriage sedan chair, Li Ding narrowed his eyes slightly. Is the newly appointed Governor of Liangjiang Heshou?Speaking of which, he had seen it before. He Shou had been an official in Jiangnan for two years, and he had previously served as the Governor of Water Transport.

The yamen of the Governor of Water Transport is located in Huai'an Mansion, more than 300 miles away from Jiangning and more than 600 miles away from Suzhou. In the past two years, Heshou was ordered to try the case of Gali and Zhang Boxing, and he often traveled between the two places.Even the year before last, when the Li family was in the limelight, he often went to the Zhizao Mansion in Suzhou, and had a personal relationship with Li Xu.It was only later that Li Xu was reprimanded by the emperor, and He Shou sought advantages and avoided disadvantages, so the relationship with the Li family faded.

As Cao Yin came out to greet him in person, He Shou greeted with a smile, and the two entered the Weaving Mansion together.Seeing that Li Ding was disturbed, he snorted coldly, called Xiao Er, settled the money, and took the young servant to find a tailor shop.

Just after turning a street, I heard someone calling, "But Mr. Li?"

Li Ding looked up, and saw a man in mourning clothes got off his horse and came towards him. He looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn't remember which one it was.

Not only was this man wearing mourning clothes, but he was followed by a carriage, through the half-opened curtain, half of his body in full filial piety was exposed.

"If you want to be pretty, be filial" is really good.Just looking at the half sheet of noodles with pear blossoms and rain makes people's hearts flutter.

Although Li Ding is not married, he is 24 this year. How can he be a young boy who doesn't understand the style?Although she is very serious in front of people, she is considered a veteran in the field of love and moon. At a glance, she can see that although the woman is from a good family, she is somewhat watery.

He didn't show anything on his face, Li Ding only looked at the man who came up with a little kindness.The man approached, cupped his fists and saluted, and said: "Bai Dexi has met Mr. Li! In the early summer of last year, I had the honor to drink with you on the Qinhuai River and listen to Rongniang's beautiful voice. I don't want to see you again. It's really a blessing!"

After hearing this, Li Ding had a little impression that he had come to Jiangning to give the governor's mansion a birthday present during the handover of spring and summer the year before last.Gandu once invited him to have flower wine on the Qinhuai River, and there were several sons of officials and wealthy businessmen at the same table.The reason why they bring these dandies is just for someone to pay for them, this person in front of him is one of them, Bai Dexi, the second young master of the Bai family in "Zhenbao Pavilion", is also the son-in-law of the Yang family in Bihelou.

That Rong Niang was still a young lady at that time, she had a clear and good voice, and she was really good at singing ditties.Li Ding was heartbroken when he heard that, even though he was still the future son-in-law of the Governor's Mansion at that time, he didn't pretend to be serious in the party.In the end, it was up to everyone to redeem Miss Rong and send Li Ding to warm her bed.

It's okay to be happy outside, but there are many rules at home, where can I arrange for prostitutes?Catch up with Li Dingzheng's eagerness to build a tea garden and earn some money with jasmine tea, and he sees a mountainous land outside Suzhou city, which is suitable for planting flowers.

It was the real estate of a Yangzhou salt merchant, who deliberately curry favor with the Li family, and wanted to give it to Li Ding for free without asking for money.At that time, Li Xu was concurrently in charge of the Lianghuai Salt Administration. Li Ding knew that some favors could not be received in vain, so he thought about what to do in return.Later, while eating wine, Rongniang was ordered to present a song. The salt merchant saw that he was a little interested, so Li Ding sent Rongniang to him.

Thinking about it now, the little lady in the carriage with a filial piety is more graceful than Rong Niang.Because Li Ding wants to cherish his reputation, although he has hired a few maids in his family, he has no wives and concubines. Now he is working as a messenger for his father in Jiangning, and he is bored. Seeing such a beautiful woman, he can't help feeling a little warm.

Thinking about the Bihe building again, it cost more than [-] taels of silver to buy the recipe for raising pearls from the Cao family.Thinking of asking people to inquire about the news, the Cao family has made a lot of money selling pearls in Guangzhou in the past two years. Li Ding has been jealous for a long time, but he couldn't bear to ask the Cao family.If he could obtain the prescription from the Yang family, the trip to Jiangning would not be in vain.

Thinking of this, Li Ding turned politely towards Bai Dexi, cupped his hands and said, "So it's Mr. Bai, this is your relative..." Having said this, he pointed to the filial piety on his body, with a bit of concern on his face.

Bai Dexi's face was full of joy before, but when he heard Li Ding say this, Fang showed a bit of sadness, and said: "Hey, my father-in-law has been ill for a long time, and passed away a few days ago. Today, my younger brother and my wife are going to see his father-in-law for his funeral!"

Li Ding couldn't help but sigh again, and said a few words of condolences.However, Bai Dexi was a little disappointed. He originally wanted to meet the young master Biao of the Weaving Mansion, treat him to a feast of wine, and build up a relationship, so that the Cao family would stand out for the brothers and sisters of the Zheng family in the future, and the Bihelou would not fall into his hands.But thinking of Xiaozhong, let alone a flower shop, even eating wine is unreasonable.

While feeling depressed, Bai Dexi accidentally saw Li Ding looking towards the carriage.They are all veterans in the entertainment scene, although Li Ding still has a dignified appearance, but in Bai Dexi's eyes, what is there that he doesn't understand?

Immediately, he felt all kinds of feelings in his heart. He was a little annoyed at first, and then he was slightly happy. Knowing what Li Ding likes, it's easy to handle. Later, he asked his wife to come out to toast and drink some ecstasy soup. It doesn't matter anything, if you can hook this Second Young Master Li, it will be beneficial in the future.

He really didn't care much about his cousin and daughter-in-law, even though he was the one at home, and she didn't dare to care about sleeping flowers and sleeping willows, but every time something trivial happened, she would cry and wipe away her tears, so she never got tired of it.He treats her like a waste, and now this waste is still useful, which is a pleasant surprise.

The two had their own ghosts, and when they spoke again, they became more and more polite.This one insisted on inviting the other to come to his door as a gesture of friendship as the landlord; the other declined repeatedly, but in the end the kindness was too great, so he couldn't refuse, so he followed.

*
Weaving Mansion, living room.

Cao Yin and He Shou were exchanging pleasantries, one was an old minister and the other was a new rich man, they were both cautious people, they were polite and polite, but they were quite lively.

Although in terms of official position, He Shou, the first-rank governor, is much higher than Cao Yin; but in terms of title, Cao Yin, the uncle, is much taller than Cao Yin.

Unknowingly, a delicate balance has been reached.Although He Shou had visited several times before, this was the first visit as the governor. Although the two only chatted casually about two cups of tea, they were both satisfied with each other.

How could the two of them bring up the important affairs of the government and the opposition, and the previous lawsuits?It's nothing more than next year's Long Live Lord Jiazi Shengshou, the birthday celebration arrangement on the Jiangnan side, and the request to go to Beijing to celebrate the birthday, and so on.

When He Shou was sent away, Cao Yin felt a little heavy.Zhang Boxing's retention and Gali's dismissal are in line with public opinion, but for the Li family and the Sun family, they are afraid that they will be left behind.

As early as when Li Xu took over as Chief Secretary of Jiangnan, Cao Yin had repeatedly reminded him not to get too close to Gali, lest he would be implicated, but the effect was minimal.

When Li Xu was reprimanded and Sun Wenqi gathered around the stall, Cao Yin also politely persuaded him.Sun Wenqi is different from Li Xu in temperament. He is a master who "does not seek merit, but seeks no faults". Unlike Cao Yin and Li Xu, who have accompanied him since childhood, sometimes he is a little too cautious.

For example, in the matter of mutual participation between Garli and Zhang Boxing, Sun Wenqi originally had something to do with him, but because Garley framed Zhang Boxing, there was a "Han officials form a party". In order to avoid suspicion, he refused to speak for Zhang Boxing. On the side of Zhugari, Zhang Boxing's "criminal evidence" is listed.

Although it is not easy to guess the mind of the person above, it is not difficult to know his temperament.Cao Yin has been with his monarch and ministers for fifty years, and he knows how much he knows, and he is afraid that he will be annoyed.

Although Sun Wenqi wanted to avoid suspicion, he forgot that his duty was to act as the eyes and ears of the emperor.To act in this way, being cautious is to be cautious, and it will also cover the eyes and ears of the emperor.

Although this Long Live Lord who governs the country with "benevolence and filial piety" is more lenient, it will take time.

Next March, Jiazi Shengshou!Cao Yin was pondering, thinking about whether to discuss with Li Xu, hand over the paperwork to the capital, and ask to go to the capital to celebrate his birthday.

Wearing a heavy official uniform, Cao Yin returned to the inner courtyard.

Kaiyang Courtyard, the main house.

Mrs. Li is asking the woman in charge to take all kinds of clothes and materials, carefully select them, and prepare a hundred-day gift for her grandson.Seeing Cao Yin coming back, he got up to greet him, and waited on Cao Yin to change his official uniform.

Cao Yin saw that the clothes were made of expensive materials, and some of them were made by the palace, so he frowned slightly, feeling that something was inappropriate, and persuaded him: "I know you love your grandson, but God bless you are still young, so you have to cherish your blessings!"

After hearing this, Mrs. Li said with a smile: "Master misunderstood, these few horses are not for God, but for my daughter-in-law! Yizhou is a bit remote, let alone cloth, even rice, and there are few high-quality ones." In the mansion over there, the capital sends rice there. There is no one in charge in the capital mansion, so it is not convenient to buy these clothes and materials. In our mansion, there are only so many of them, and it is useless to keep them. Pack it up and send it to your daughter-in-law!"

Cao Yin thought that the marriages of his children in this room were settled, and there were six nephews and nieces in the second room, so he said to Li: "If you have time to check the warehouse these few days, pay more attention. You don’t have to worry about your son and daughter-in-law! When the second brother is filial piety, the two nieces are not in a hurry. Xiang’er and Fu’er can wait for another two years, but the two brothers Song’er and Shuo’er are old enough to get married at that time I need some good things too!"

Mrs. Li was silent for a while, and asked: "Master, these young ones, except for the fourth sister and the fifth son, all the other old ladies have left their wedding money! It is the fourth sister and the fifth son, let's make up That’s right! It’s just the money on the family’s account, most of it is the money sent back by Yong’er’s envoys, this...how much should I prepare for Brother Song’er?”

Cao Yin thought that he had almost sold all the surplus funds of his ancestors. Although he now has titles and official positions, it is not enough for the expenses of the mansion, and he still has to rely on his son to send money to subsidize.Thinking about this, I remembered that I had spent two years in my youth, relying on my son's filial piety to support me, I couldn't help being a little ashamed.

Thinking of this, Cao Yin sighed, and said to Li Shi: "Look at the savings in the family account! If you have spare money, prepare some for Song'er and Shuo'er brothers. When the filial piety period is over, apart from marrying a wife, the two of them It’s time to find an errand, and you’ll need money then!”

Although Mrs. Li felt sorry for her son's hard work, she was not a petty and rude person.If Cao Quan, the second housewife, was still alive, it would be fine, it would not be their turn to worry about these things; now that the younger brother-in-law is gone, the remaining nephews and nieces are not dependent on the long house, who else can they rely on?Although he had nothing else to say, he finally lost interest in picking things, and sighed along with her husband.

*
Although Cao Yong wanted to leave Beijing as soon as possible, he was dragged back in the end.

The Han servant in the household department is a sensible person, and he got the words of the minister, and he happily approved the accounts in the Shandong Department newspaper.When we arrived at Shangshu's side, naturally there was no delay at all, and it was done properly on the same day.

Cao Yong received the receipt from the household department, and he was considered to have completed the errand, but he was blocked by the sixteenth elder brother and the seventeenth elder brother.

It turned out that the sixteenth elder brother had shown off his hot spring village to the seventeenth elder brother before, and the two went to see it specially.Although in the future when the two of them opened the mansion, the Ministry of Internal Affairs would inevitably call Huangzhuang down, but who knows when and what month it will be.You must know that the twelfth elder brother and the thirteenth elder brother are two, but Kangxi only opened the mansion 50 years ago, and both of them are in their twenties.

Although Elder Seventeen doesn't have a foreign pet, he thinks that after getting married, if he gets tired of living in the palace, he can take his wife to live in Zhuangzi, wouldn't it be more satisfying?Besides, he secretly had other hopes in his heart.

It's not that he is unfilial, looking forward to the early death of the emperor's father, but thinking that he is an old man after all, no one can tell... If it really comes to the day when the new emperor ascends the throne, the concubines in the harem will follow his son.If it is possible to set up a hot spring village in Changping and give Eniang a place to recuperate, it will save her suffering from rumors in the capital.

It's okay if you don't inquire, but it's really shocking to inquire about it. Although those springs are in the mountains, they are all mountainous areas, so they are not worth a few dollars, but they have been bought by people in recent years, and they are bought by the Cao family.

There was really no other way, so Elder Seventeen had to beg Elder Sixteen to buy land from Cao Yong with the audacity.

(End of this chapter)