Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 266 old acquaintance

Mengyin County Government Office, inner house.

Cao Yong was lying on the bed, muttering in his mouth: "Yangjiaopan, Qingshuijian, Bajia Boss!" There was a hint of excitement on his face.This was reported by Wei Heilai in the afternoon, and Du Xiong was convicted of "bandit gangsterism".However, Cao Yong was not for that joy, but was thinking that if he could ask Du Xiong about the details of the Yimeng Mountain Bandits and know himself and the enemy, he would have a solution.

He was not keen on being promoted, and he was not very interested in using other people's blood to dye the red cap, only for the old man Qiu's case.

The homicides encountered by these unlucky small households have no money to take care of them. Usually, the Yamen will look into them deliberately, and let them go if they can't find any traces.Where would Cao Yong do that?It was something he had heard with his own ears, and it was also his first official business in Shou Dao. Whether it was for the so-called "justice" or "sincerity of duty", he wanted to find out the truth of this matter.

Originally, I was thinking of making a special trip to Mengyin County to investigate in a few days, but I didn't expect to encounter such an innocent disaster and lead out the "Yimeng Mountain Bandit", which is considered a small gain.

I heard the news from the front yard just now, it is said that the Du brothers are all arrested, and Mr. Zhuang is cooperating with the county magistrate Liang to interrogate at the front.Thinking of this, Cao Yong looked at his legs, finally showing some frustration.Obviously he has already put someone on a splint, as long as someone supports him, sitting is fine, but unexpectedly he can't be moved by anyone.

He wanted to follow Mr. Zhuang to the front office, but who would help him up?Seeing everyone's nervous appearance, even he himself was a little bit uncertain, and he didn't dare to force it, because he was afraid that in case of bad luck, there would be some problems with his legs and feet.Therefore, he had no choice but to stop and stay in the house.

It was about to enter March [-]th, which was the coldest time of the year. Although there were two pots of silver charcoal in the room, and Cao Yong moved from the bed to the kang, he still felt that there was not enough heat.

The twilight outside the window was getting darker, and Chu Yu lit candles with Xiyun and Xicai.

Cao Yong took the pocket watch from the pillow, and it was not until Youshi (five o'clock in the afternoon), because he asked, "Is it cloudy? Why is it getting dark so fast?"

Chu Yu smiled and said, "That's right, the sky is terribly heavy, it looks like it's going to snow heavily!"

Under the flickering lights, Cao Yong saw Chuyu's face inadvertently showing a lack of color, thinking that she must have worked hard these days, he was very distressed, and he was not in the mood to think about the Yimeng bandits, so he said: "You are busy. Half a day, inside and out, rest on the kang, settle down early!"

Because of Xiyun and Xicai, Chuyu was a little embarrassed.When the two of them smiled and leaned over and retreated, she sat down beside the kang. First, she replaced the hand stove under Cao Yong's quilt with new charcoal, and then asked, "My son-in-law, what will I eat next afternoon?" Rare, do you want to eat something to satisfy your hunger? The pastries are all prepared and warmed on the small stove outside!"

Speaking of which, it has been almost a month since Cao Yong got the news of Cao Yi and went to Jinan Mansion. How has the husband and wife been separated for such a long time?Seeing Chuyu's worried face, Cao Yong couldn't help holding her hand, and said, "After drinking two bowls of porridge, my stomach is still full. Don't worry too much. Didn't the doctor say it was only a few months? It's not in the way!" While speaking, he rubbed Chuyu's hand vigorously: "Why is it so cold? Don't go to the kitchen tomorrow!"

Chu Yu nodded lightly, but her smile was a bit forced. Cao Yong was thinking about the affairs of the capital, wondering if there was any joy, and told Chu Yu to dissipate her worries; Showing a plump figure, and thinking that the two of them haven't performed the "Rite of Zhou Gong" for more than half a year.

But the filial piety period is not over yet, and his legs are like this again, Cao Yong was feeling depressed, so Chu Yu murmured: "My son-in-law, God bless, I don't know what's wrong?"

God bless?Cao Yong was looking at Chuyu, dreaming, when he heard her mention someone's name so "affectionately", he was startled for a moment, the name was so familiar, he remembered his son.Immediately, I was extremely ashamed, how could I forget that little guy?
Chu Yu didn't notice Cao Yong's strangeness, and said with a smile: "There are Sister Zijing and Nanny Ye, I think it's safe to come to God Bless, but I haven't seen him for two days, so I feel a little empty."

When Cao Yong saw Chu Yu say this, he couldn't help blaming himself a bit. Being a father is not as good as being a mother after all. Thinking about the days when he was away from home, the number of times he missed his son was obviously not as much as that of his daughter-in-law.

*
Yizhou, Daotai Mansion, the inner house, the upper house in the main courtyard.

Xiao Tianyou's condition is not good, and he is crying loudly.Nanny Ye and Zijing were in a hurry, they didn't know what to do.Before Chuyu left the day before yesterday, Tianyou was still well.

After hearing the news of Cao Yong's accident, Chuyu went to Mengyin, intending to take Tianyou with her, but was stopped by Ye Momo.God Bless has only been around for more than two months, and this is the season of freezing weather, how can a family with children withstand such tossing?

Chu Yu knew that Ye Momo was right, so she entrusted her son to Zijing and Ye Momo, and went to Mengyin by herself.

There are cows and cows in the mansion. At first everyone thought that as long as they took good care of Tianyou, everything would be fine.Who would have thought that for breastfeeding, Tianyou would vomit after drinking it; for cow's milk, after drinking it, he would still have diarrhea yesterday.

In addition to asking the doctor to come and see, Zijing and Ye Momo told Tian Shi to change her breasts for another, so that they can nurse Tianyou.

Tianyou is willing to breastfeed, but he still has diarrhea today.The child is only two months old, and after two days of tossing, his little face has lost weight.

Zijing was so anxious that she was about to burst into tears.The two masters are not here, and the little master is like this, no matter how calm she is usually, she is at a loss now.

After all, Nanny Ye is old, older, and calmer than Amethyst. Apart from asking the doctor to come and see her again, she also sent someone to Mengyin to deliver a letter, and asked Cao Fang to go out and look for her.He found two pregnant women, but Tianyou vomited after drinking.

While coaxing Tianyou, Zijing said to Nanny Ye: "Mommy, why don't you go to the west courtyard, please ask Grandma Tian for help!"

Mother Ye remembered that Tian Shi, who had just given birth in the mansion, could also breastfeed, so she patted her thighs a few times and said, "Oh, look at me being so stupid, I never thought that wives and grandmas can also breastfeed their children." Yes, I'm desperately counting on **!"

Tian was still in confinement and couldn't go out of the house, Madam Ye and Zijing surrounded Tianyou tightly and carried them to the west courtyard.

Although he didn't go out of the house, but with the little walnuts there, Tian also knew that something happened in the house, and that the main courtyard was anxious about Tianyou not drinking milk.Seeing Ye Momo and Zijing coming over with Tianyou in their arms, she also saved the two of them from worrying about it, so naturally they had nothing to say.

Maybe Tianyou was tired from crying, and he squeaked his mouth in Tian's arms, looking very pitiful.Tian Shi had just become a mother, seeing his small appearance, her heart ached, she unbuttoned her clothes, and nursed Xiao Tianyou.

Nanny Ye and Zijing watched eagerly, hoping for a turnaround.But Xiao Tianyou didn't show face, tilted his head, "wow", and cried again.

This time, even Nanny Ye had no idea, and said with a crying voice: "How can I say this, I don't know what to do with my son-in-law, and the little master is like this, where do I go to find a suitable one?" go?"

Tian still bowed her head to coax little Tianyou, but Tianyou was hoarse and cried more and more.

In the end, it was Zijing who made up her mind and said: "You can't go on like this anymore, let someone set up a car and send the young master to the princess and uncle!"

Ye Momo couldn't think of anything else, and was about to say yes when she heard Little Walnut whispering next to Sister Yang: "Sister-in-law Xu on the East Street has no children, so she just happens to be a prostitute for the young master!"

Sister-in-law Yang saw that Little Walnut was talking too much, and was about to scold in a low voice, when she heard Zijing ask, "Which sister-in-law Xu? But the one you and Wu En brought someone to deliver rice to her house a few days ago?"

"Yeah! That's the one!" Little Walnut nodded and said, "It's poor, it was fine a few days ago, and I saw her come out yesterday, so I knew her child was gone!"

Zijing and Ye Momo glanced at each other, it's going to Mengyin, not to mention more than a hundred miles, and now it's getting dark again, even if they rush out of the city, the road at night is not safe after all.

Thinking this way, after the two discussed it, they called the two wives in charge and asked them to follow Little Walnut to invite Mrs. Xu over.

After giving instructions, Zijing was a little worried, and said to Nanny Ye: "Mommy, I'd better go! If the other party doesn't like to come, let's see if I can persuade her!"

Although Ye Momo felt that it was not necessary to hire a prostitute, but after all the situation is different now, it is really not easy to procrastinate, so she took Tianyou back to the main courtyard and waited.

It was cloudy outside, and snowflakes were falling from the sky. Amethyst was wearing a cloak, and she brought Little Walnut and her two daughters-in-law to the front yard.I have already asked someone to go to the second gate and let the front yard set up the car.

As soon as she arrived at the front yard, Zijing saw Cao Fang striding over, accompanied by a long entourage.Cao Fang said to Zijing with a happy face: "I am going to look for a girl, I have a letter from the uncle, I am fine, I will be back in a few days!"

"Amitabha!" Zijing couldn't help clasping her hands together after hearing this, and said, "It's really wonderful, God has eyes!"

Cao Fang only heard that the inner house would prepare a carriage, but he didn't know it was for Zijing. Seeing Zijing going out to dress up, he was a little surprised and asked, "Miss Zijing, this is it?"

"There's a woman on the East Street, maybe you can invite her to be my mistress, I'll go and ask!" Zijing replied.

Cao Fang only heard that the little master was a little unhappy these two days, he didn't see it, he didn't know that Tianyou was struggling to nurse, so he persuaded him, saying:
"It's snowing, just send someone over to invite, why bother the girl to go?"

Zijing said: "It's not far away, I'll be back in a while!" In fact, she was worried that Mrs. Xu would not enter Zhizao Mansion as a prostitute. Willing to enter the mansion as a servant.

These words did not make sense to Cao Fang.Although Cao Fang is the son of the Cao family, he has been well-clothed and well-fed since he was a child, and he looks down on the people's livelihood outside.In his heart, he was afraid that it would be a blessing to be able to enter Cao's house as a servant.

After passing through Yimen Gate and getting into the carriage, Zijing asked Little Walnut, "Who else is in Xu's family? How old is she? Besides this son, are there any other children?"

A few days ago, Little Walnut followed Wu En and brought people to Xu's family to deliver some rice grains, and knew a little about the situation of Xu's family, and said: "In addition to the dead child, there is also a sick man in her family, how old is he? It’s hard to say, she looks like eighteen or nine years old, and she looks like she’s no older than our grandma when she talks! Her man, who was originally a rice store clerk, got beaten up by someone who didn’t know where he was last month , is still raised at home.”

Amethyst hesitated in her heart.In the past two days, following Madam Ye's employment of prostitutes, I learned a little more, knowing that the best prostitutes are those who have given birth to two or three.If you hire prostitutes for boys, you have to choose those who give birth to daughters;

This Xu's age is young, and his experience may not be appropriate.But right now, I haven't been able to find a suitable person, so it's better to take a closer look here.As long as the young master is safe and sound, he will not care about those cumbersome rules.

Xu's home, in a small alley on East Street, is just a small yard with adobe walls half a person's height.In the two slightly low earthen houses, there was a bean-sized light.

Little Walnut jumped out of the carriage, leaned on the wooden door and called out, "Sister-in-law Xu! Is sister-in-law Xu here?"

Hearing the sound of the door being pushed, someone came out of the room.

In the haze, I saw a figure at the door, the person couldn't see clearly, he hesitated and asked: "Dare to ask..."

Little Walnut stood on tiptoe outside the door and said with a smile: "Sister-in-law Xu, it's me, Little Walnut from Daotai Mansion! Sister Zijing from our mansion is here to visit sister-in-law, open the door!"

Mrs. Xu received porridge for a few days at the porridge shed in Daotai Mansion, and later got the rice grains sent there. She was very grateful and remembered the enthusiastic little walnut.Therefore, although they didn't know why they were looking for him, they still took two steps forward, pulled out the latch of the gate, and invited them to come into the yard and let them into the house.

The room is two small rooms with a partition in the middle. It seems to be a bedroom, and there is a big kang outside.

Although Zijing and the two daughters-in-law were dressed in plain clothes, in Xu's eyes, they were already unusually dressed.Mrs. Xu looked for a cup and wanted to pour water for a few people, but she was afraid that they would dislike the dirty house, so she clutched her apron and was speechless.

Zijing looked around inadvertently, although the room was small, it looked clean; she also looked at Xu's body, although the clothes were made of coarse cloth, they were well tidied up.If it is not really too thin, it can be regarded as a neat woman.

Zijing didn't speak, so the two daughter-in-laws naturally stood with their hands down, and they didn't say anything.

Seeing that Little Walnut didn't respond twice, he couldn't help feeling a little anxious.The little girl was soft-hearted, seeing how pitiful this Mrs. Xu was, she thought that if she could work as an errand in Daotai Mansion, she would have a way out.Others don't know, but they do know that she waits by Tian's side. The few prostitutes in Cao's mansion are not as good as the few masters in their monthly supply of chicken and fish, but they are naturally much better than the people outside.

At this time, I heard a man's voice from the back room, saying: "Qing Niang, what guest?"

This accent is a little strange, although it has a bit of southern accent, but it is authentic Mandarin, with a hint of Beijing flavor.Zijing was a little surprised, such a remote place, could it be someone from the capital?
After hearing the question inside, Qingniang first said to Zijing and others: "It's my husband who asked!" After finishing speaking, Fang replied through the wall: "Master, it's the girl from Daotai Mansion who came here a few days ago." The Daotai Mansion that sent rice to our family!"

The people inside were silent for a while, and Fang said: "Daotai Mansion? Is it Cao Yongcao's family?"

Zijing was even more surprised when she heard this, if it was an ordinary person, how would she know her lord's name?Who is it in here?Is it because of the old man that we can't make friends?
On her face, she was calm, she raised her voice slightly and replied: "Your honor is right, may I ask if your honor is old with my lord?"

Hearing Xi Suosuo's voice, followed by slightly heavy footsteps, Qing Niang heard this, hurried into the room, and half supported a man to come out.

It was clearly a young man just now, but now what everyone sees is a "little old man" who is restrained.Gray hair, left cheek is covered with scars, but right cheek is fine.

One half is extremely handsome, the other half is extremely ugly, and the whole face is very weird.

"Ah!" Little Walnut yelled in surprise after all, being so young, took a step back and hid behind the two wives.

The man held Qingniang's arm, sat on the chair, saw Zijing's attire, and looked pretty good, and asked: "Thank you for your care of my wife, how dare I ask this girl and How do you call Master Cao..."

Seeing that he was polite and courteous in his conversation, Zijing was a bit undecided when he was called "Master Cao" by everyone in the capital, and replied: "It's just a servant girl of Cao's mansion. May I ask this master?" First name, how do you address it? See what this master means, does he know my uncle?"

"My surname is Gao!" The man said with a wry smile: "My surname is Liu Mingheng. I lived in the capital in the early years and had a relationship with Master Cao on several occasions.
Speaking of it, it can be regarded as an old acquaintance of Master Cao! "
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(End of this chapter)