Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 255 Taoyuan
A few days ago, when He Maocai came back from Changping, he had already mentioned to Cao Yong that after autumn this year, some people began to inquire about the land price in Xiaotangshan area, and the land price there also rose rapidly.Cao Yong just told him to wait, don't let go easily, and wait another year or so, when there is a price but no market.

Speaking of Changping Zhuangzi, people began to pay attention to it last winter.Now Li Guangdi, an old and honored bachelor, lives in the Changping courtyard of the Li family.

This well-known academician in the government and the public has reached the age of seventy. He fell ill during the epidemic last year. He even wrote his will and survived the accident.In the autumn of last year, he went to another hospital in Changping to recuperate. After several months of recuperation, his body and bones improved a lot.

In addition to Li Guangdi, there is also the Zhuangzi that the sixteenth brother got from Cao Yong. The other royal families know about it, so they will inevitably inquire about it.But when everyone noticed the hot spring, it was already a year later, and the weather was getting warmer, so many people forgot about it.

Now, it has entered November, and the weather is getting colder by the ninth day. Many people think of the hot springs in Xiaotangshan.There used to be an imperial hot spring palace left by the former Ming imperial family, but it has been idle and not used.There was another news from the Ministry of Internal Affairs that the abandoned hot spring palace will be rebuilt in the past two years.Therefore, there are not many people who are thinking about buying land and Zhuangzi first.

When Cao Yong ordered He Maocai to buy the land, he had already asked him to avoid the land around the hot spring palace.In addition to the House of Internal Affairs, those lands will also be used by various palaces in the future. It will be too conspicuous for people to find out that these lands are in the hands of the Cao family.

Besides, those palaces have always taken advantage of their actions, so which one is willing to suffer?If Cao Yong wanted to earn their money, what else would he have to add?
It was also a helpless move for Brother Seventeen to find Cao Yong, because the land around the hot spring palace, as Cao Yong expected, had already been occupied by the major palaces in the capital.Even if there were leftovers, he lost interest in buying land by exploring the left and right boundaries.

On the other hand, Zhuangzi on the sixteenth elder brother's side is surrounded by peach forests on the mountains. Not only can you soak in hot springs in autumn and winter, but also in spring and summer, the scenery is also good.

Not to mention anything else, Cao Yong and Brother Shiqi can be regarded as classmates.Now, it is he who has a big happy event, so naturally another congratulation is inevitable.

Seventeenth elder brother just smiled when he mentioned the marriage, he wasn't very happy.

Cao Yong was a little bit embarrassed when he thought about the noble people that his brother-in-law had mentioned before.Hearing that Elder Seventeen wanted to buy a piece of land and become a neighbor with Elder Sixteen, he smiled and said, "It's a big deal, Lord Seventeen can order someone to tell you!"

Elder Seventeen hesitated and said, "This...Fu Ruo, I'm really ashamed to say it. Although I have some savings here, I'm not as rich as Brother Sixteen! If it's convenient, can the land price be lower?"

This is probably the first time Seventeen Elder Brother has bargained in his life, his face is almost bleeding, he is already embarrassed to look up at Cao Yong.

Cao Yong glanced at Elder Sixteen, saw him nodding his head, understood, and said with a smile: "Master Seventeen is heretic! It's just a barren hill over there, how can it be regarded as a serious place? When I bought it, The prices are extremely low. It turned out that I sold the land left by my grandmother a few years ago. I felt that it was inappropriate. When I wanted to buy more land, the land price was higher, so I bought the surrounding slopes. These slopes , it’s just planting some fruit trees, and it doesn’t produce anything, so I still want to use it to make money?”

The seventeenth elder brother is not a person who takes advantage. Hearing what Cao Yong said, he quickly shook his head and said, "Furuo, you are not in Beijing. I don't know that the land price in Changping has risen so much. Especially if there are springs on the land boundary, the price It has increased several times!"

Although Cao Yong knew it in his heart, he was very surprised on his face, and said: "How many times more? There is such a thing, what is the reason? Even if there are more springs, it won't happen?"

Elder brother Sixteen looked at Cao Yong with a smile and didn't answer.Elder Seventeen smiled wryly and said: "It's all about following the example, we already have a letter of approval, next spring the House of Internal Affairs will send people to repair the palace there!"

Cao Yong was blushed by the sixteenth brother, so he stopped putting on airs and said to the seventeenth brother: "Even so, I don't have the intention to calculate the money of the seventeenth master, and I will send someone to find the money at my house tomorrow." Just take care of things, it’s nothing more than a few barren hills in that piece, if you want that piece of land, the Seventeenth Lord will choose it yourself! If you don’t have a lot of money, just use it; The price is good!"

Elder Seventeen had a smile on his face, and said: "Who wants to take your money for nothing? I have already asked someone to prepare the money. It doesn't take much land, just find a spring around Brother Sixteen's Zhuangzi!"

Cao Yong knew that although these princes and elder brothers were kind, they were also arrogant, so they didn't talk to him too much, and nodded in agreement.

After saying a few more words, Cao Yong mentioned that he wanted to leave Beijing today, but he was pulled by Brother Sixteen.

Elder Sixteen frowned, with a bit of annoyance on his face, and said: "How long have you only been in Beijing? Even today, I only saw you twice, and I haven't found a free time to chat with you before leaving Beijing. How can this be done? No, the Lord is in charge, stay for two more days!"

The seventeenth elder brother was beside him, just recovering from his usual cleverness, he also yelled to ask Cao Yong to stay for another two days.

Cao Yong was a little helpless, and said: "Master Sixteen, I'm okay here, the errands are over, two days earlier and two days later will be fine, but you are busy, how can you have time to accompany me?"

Elder Sixteen smiled smugly, and said, "Why are you not free? I just packed everything together today, and I just want you to take a bath in the hot spring village! Not only today, but also tomorrow's vacation, my lord. Please, please! If there is nothing wrong, let’s go now!” Speaking of this, he looked at Cao Yong and shook his head: “Tsk tsk, you don’t know, this summer the peach trees in Zhuangzi bear fruit, and they made peach wine. Don’t be in a hurry, you boy, you are forbidden to drink during the filial piety! If you want to drink, you have to wait until the next year!”

Seeing his complacent look, Cao Yong couldn't help being a little angry. Whether it's hot spring village or Taoyuan peach wine, he figured it out, but now he didn't enjoy it at all, which is cheaper than this little sixteen.He was also born to be cheap and good-looking, and he was really very angry.

Elder Seventeen heard this, but quit, and said to Elder Sixteen: "I can't blame Brother Sixteen for keeping my younger brother waiting for a long time. It turned out that it was to arrange these things. Why didn't you want to take younger brother with you? No, you can't." Immediately go, always think of a way, and take my younger brother, or my younger brother will not follow me!"

Elder Sixteen thought about it for a while, then sighed, and said: "Okay, okay, you can send someone back to clean up and change clothes! I'll find a way here, and talk to the guards!"

The seventeenth elder brother was full of joy, and finally showed some childish appearance, and said happily: "Thank you sixteenth brother!" He greeted Cao Yong again, and sent the personal eunuch back to elder brother's place to change and wash clothes.

*
Jiangning, where Bai Dexi lives.

Because he was not the eldest son, Bai Dexi bought a house outside after he got married.With the help of the Baiyang family, the house here is also very decent.Not only is the house huge, but also hired famous craftsmen to decorate the garden, but the owner has limited taste, and the lake stones and flowers he bought are at high prices, which really highlights wealth, but it is also unbearably vulgar.

Although Li Ding is not a very elegant person, but he was born in a family of officials and officials, and he has some knowledge. After looking at this garden, he knows a thing or two about the owner's heart and mind. After entering the flower hall, he understands even more. Decoration, the air of wealth and honor soars to the sky.

Li Ding sneered in his heart, this is a fat sheep sent to his door for no reason, even if he couldn't get the pearl formula, he also dropped some passing money.If God doesn't take it, you will be blamed instead, why should you be polite to him?
Logically speaking, filial piety should be taboo, but Bai Dexi doesn't care about this at all, there are no taboos in filial piety.The food and wine are served extravagantly.

Although Li Ding was a little uncomfortable, but the master brought out the wine, if he pretended to be serious, wouldn't he be too ignorant?
There was no one else in the hall, and there were six maidservants of thirteen or fourteen who were left to wait on them. With flattering smiles, they came over to toast in turn.Although they were all smiling and speechless, their eyes were hooked countless times, and they greeted Li Ding directly.

Li Ding's father is used to socializing these days, where has he never seen him?Right now, these are nothing.If he hadn't been a little angry when he saw the new governor personally visit Cao's house, and he was a little bit worried about Pearl Fangzi, and he was also a little moved by that filial woman, how could he have the patience to socialize with the son of a businessman like Bai Dexi?
It was so vulgar, he had a bit of contempt in his heart, he only drank a glass occasionally, chatted with Bai Dexi, and didn't pay much attention to those little maids who wanted to be tender.There were two who came to his side specially, but he avoided them calmly, like a gentleman.

Bai Dexi was a little anxious, just now he clearly saw that the Second Young Master Li was a beautiful person, and he had a reputation in the court of romance before, how can he be so disciplined now?

He deliberately picked out the best girl in the family to serve him. Although he didn't point to using this ability to dismiss Li Ding, he somehow wanted to open up the atmosphere so that we could talk further, and he wanted to use him to connect with the Cao family. , be considered safe.

Although the Yang family has no clan members, no one said anything about his son-in-law taking over Bihelou.But there is Zheng Hu over there, who is the son-in-law of the big housekeeper of the Cao family and the son-in-law of the Yang family.

Although people have asked people to inquire carefully, Zheng Hu is not in Jiangning now, but if he comes back someday, he will take back his father's property, not to mention that it is only natural for a son to inherit his father's business.It's just that they want to make some moves. There is Cao's family behind them, but can their Bai family handle it?
Unexpectedly, Second Young Master Li's side was a bit difficult to get started, and the atmosphere was a little stiff instead.

Bai Dexi tried to avoid the serious matter twice, but Li Ding cleverly avoided them.He was really in a hurry, he wanted to make Li Ding half confused, and then call his wife out to continue pouring the ecstasy soup, but now it seems that he has to call his wife out first.Not to mention anything else, just his wife's appearance, which can be shown anywhere.

Bai Dexi excused himself, pleaded guilty, left the flower hall, and ran back to the wing room in the side courtyard.His married wife, Yang Shi Ruixue, was arranged by him to wait here.

Yang Ruixue sat at the small table by the window, on which rouge and jewelry were spread out, covering the small table.These are all sent by the servant girl to the room just now.

She rested her chin in one hand, stretched out a finger in the other hand, and unconsciously slid and lingered among the hairpin ring, rouge jar and rhombic mirror.Whether it was plain silver hairpins, ceramic pots, or wrought copper mirrors, they were all icy cold, and the chill spread from her fingertips to her heart, making her feel as if she would be frozen.

When she just entered the house, she had just changed out of her big clothes when Bai Dexi, who was waiting for guests outside, came in suddenly, hugging her sweetly and coaxingly.

After being married for several years, she was used to her husband's face, and only when he wanted to do that. Although it was a filial piety, she knew very well what kind of man he was, so without further ado, she went to him. With a tilt in his arms, just let him go.

But Bai Dexi didn't take off his clothes as she imagined. Instead, he talked to the guest, Li Ding, the young cousin of Cao's family in Weaving Mansion. The son's favor, and then bluntly asked her to go out and drink with her!

What does he think he is! ?At that moment, Yang Ruixue felt the blood flow from her whole body, and she really wanted to pounce on him and tear him apart. He can neglect his wife, but he can't be so contemptuous of her!Today is the day of her father's funeral!But it happened that she was as if she had been poured with lead, her whole body was heavy and she couldn't move at all.

Bai Dexi was surprised to see that his daughter-in-law didn't cry, he was a little surprised, then he coaxed and lied, and finally he didn't hesitate to intimidate her, asking her to promise to accompany her for a drink later.

Bai Dexi was satisfied, and told her to go to the side courtyard next to the flower hall to wait for Xin'er, and then happily went to entertain the guests.

Yang Ruixue seemed to have been drained of all strength from her whole body, her body that was stiff just now suddenly collapsed, and she slumped on the ground, not even having the strength to cry.

Now, she is sitting here, not knowing what is waiting for her.What crime did she do to meet such a husband.Step by step, she didn't know what else he could force her to do in the end.Sin, what a sin!However, thinking about the young man I saw on the carriage just now...

"Didn't I tell you to put on makeup? What are you in a daze for!" Bai Dexi's angry words came from behind, Yang Ruixue jumped, her hands shook, a hairpin placed by the table was brought down to the ground, and she let out a cold expression. the sound of.

Yang Ruixue lowered her head, and said coldly: "Xiaozhong, it's not suitable to wear makeup, I have to find something decent!"

Bai Dexi wanted to stab her a few words, but then he thought that she would have to come to entertain her later, so don't lose too much because of a small mistake, so he quickly turned his smile: "My aunt, how can I make things difficult for you? Just put a hairpin in it and you will be a fairy. Hurry up Well, Second Young Master Li is waiting over there!"

Yang Ruixue stared at the silver hairpin on the ground for a long while, then leaned over to pick it up, picked up a little bit of rose red rouge with the hairpin tip, painted it on her lips, then pinned the hairpin to her head, stood up and stretched her skirt, saying : "That's all right, let's go!"

Bai Dexi was taken aback for a moment, originally he wanted her to dress up beautifully, but who knew that she would take time to dress up, it was too late to dress up now, there was no reason to keep the guests waiting, fortunately the daughter-in-law is very good-looking, so nothing.He didn't think about it anymore, he took his wife's arm and walked out.

Li Ding saw that Bai Dexi had gone away and didn't come back for a long time, and he didn't know what he was up to, so he turned his mind a few times, and thought about a few thoughtful words, preparing to ask Bai Dexi later.

Just after drinking the wine handed over by a little girl, when Li Ding looked up, he saw Bai Dexi coming in from the outside.

Li Ding had a smile on his face, and just as he was about to make a joke, he saw Bai Dexi flashing over, with a figure behind him.

That pretty one is dressed in plain clothes, but she has a slim figure; she only has a plain silver hairpin on her head, but she has the good hair of a crow; her face is completely devoid of makeup, and her red lips are dripping red, which makes her skin white and tender. .

She walked over lightly and lightly, accepted a blessing, and said in a soft voice: "My concubine, Ruixue, has seen Second Master Li!"

After changing people, it was different in the end, but the atmosphere at the next banquet gradually became lively.

Bai Dexi originally wanted to get Li Ding drunk, but in the end he was poured to the ground by Li Ding and his wife, paralyzed into a ball like a dead dog, unable to move.

……

Yang Ruixue's body was supposed to be hot, and it was hot to the touch, but she just felt cold, with cold air coming from her chest.So she kept getting close to the man in front of her, her mind was in a mess, but there was a voice that kept saying - warm up, warm up, warm up by him...
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(End of this chapter)