Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 282
In the north of Yizhou City, Baoquan Temple is a little quieter, except for the first day, the fifteenth day of the lunar new year, and the Buddha's birthday, there are not many pilgrims coming and going.

Today, the third day of February, just after the two-day Dafa ceremony on the first and second day of February, the pilgrims here have dispersed one after another, only some individual visitors.

However, the fact that there are not many guests does not mean that the little novice monks are easygoing. There are guests in the guest room who will make a fuss.The Zhike monk got the news and hurried over, but before he reached the door, he heard a loud voice from inside: "Mother Xipi, you heart-broken monkey boy, my lord gave you 50 taels of silver for a meal, how dare you?" To fool grandpa, don’t you ask for a beating?”

Then there was the little monk's screams and low voices of dissuasion, and the Zhike monk hurried outside the door, chanting the Buddha's name: "Little monk, Benhai, please see Benefactor Liu!"

"Get out of here, I just want to settle accounts with you, a bald donkey!" Someone shouted harshly from inside.

While talking, someone came and opened the door, and let Ben Hai in. There were two middle-aged men in their thirties sitting by the Eight Immortals table in the room, with ugly faces.Looking at the clothes, they are decent, like landlords and squires, and there are a few housekeepers and guardians standing beside them.

One of the little novice novice serving guests covered his face and the other his buttocks, both of them weeping.Seeing Ben Hai come in, he wanted to sue, but seeing the vicious looks in the room, he was too frightened to make a sound.

Of the two people sitting, one was thinner, frowning, with a look of thin anger; the other was tall, with bull eyes staring, with a bit of toughness.

This thin one is what Ben Hai called "Benefactor Liu". Because he wrote "Mengyin Liu" on the donation booklet, Ben Hai called him that.

Although monks should refrain from anger, but seeing his two little apprentices being beaten so embarrassingly, Ben Hai was also a little annoyed. He held back his anger and asked, "Benefactor Liu, this is?"

Before the surname Liu could answer, he heard the strong man sitting next to him shouting loudly: "You bald donkey, you don't know anything! I didn't look for you, but you came here instead?" While talking, he had already stood up. , pointed to the vegetarian food on the table, and asked: "Come and see for yourself, see if the master has wronged you for fooling people?"

Ben Hai thought that he was on the wrong vegetarian table, so he looked closer. ", "Laugh fried box" and so on, are the top-quality noodles. These ten or so dishes are worth two taels of silver. How can you fool people?
Just when he was puzzled, he heard the strong man say again: "I can't do it if I'm a mountain product? Chicken, fish, I also eat it when I see it, why didn't I know that it still tastes like beans?"

He actually met mixed people, even if they don't respect gods and Buddhas, they should be able to understand what is a vegetarian meal. If it is really a big fish and meat, it is not a sin of Buddhism.

Ben Hai clasped his hands together, and just as he was about to act in the defense, he heard the benefactor surnamed Liu next to him say angrily: "Third brother, don't mess around!"

The strong man still wanted to speak, but he seemed to be quite scrupulous, and sat down muttering.

That Liu Shizhu got up from his seat, took out an ingot ingot from his sleeve, put it in front of Ben Hai, and said: "My brother just had a misunderstanding and accidentally hurt those two little masters. I really hope Haihan, these things Add incense to your temple with silver!"

Ben Hai saw that the ingot was worth twelve taels, the original anger in his heart was gone, he accepted it with a smile, clasped his hands together and thanked, before taking the two little novice monks down.

This benefactor surnamed Liu is Liu Quantai, the second head of Guimeng Village in Yimeng Mountain. He received a message from Wang Lusheng on the 21st of the first lunar month. He knew that the other party was willing to see them, and he was secretly happy.

Qin Boss and Zhang Laosan came back from Jinan Mansion on the 27th of the first month, and they also used money to entrust someone to go to the governor's yamen. Unexpectedly, they were deceived by others, and the money was spent in vain. Fold to Jinan Fuzhong.

Boss Qin is alright, he just thinks he is a man of his size, but Youngest Zhang doesn't believe in those so-called "people in the government" anymore, saying that if the officers and soldiers come to encircle and suppress, he will take his brothers to the mountains, and if it doesn't work, he will fight , and nothing terrible.

Liu Guotai, on the other hand, strongly advocated joining the Cao family line. He had read a lot of books, and he worked as a teacher in an official family in his early years, and he had heard of some officialdom.

Passing through the Wang family and defecting to Cao's family, the future is really limitless, and it is indeed much better than being a bandit.

Seeing Liu Guotai's claim, Boss Qin sent him to Yizhou to meet the "official master".Zhao Laosan was a little worried, fearing that the second son would plot something behind his back with his eldest brother, so he ignored his sick wife and brought the two of them to Yizhou to catch up with Liu Guotai.

He loves whoring on a daily basis, and spent more than half of January in the brothel at the foot of the mountain. Although he is a rough man, he has some knowledge, so how could he not know what vegetarian food looks like, but it was just making a fuss on purpose.

After Benhai left, Liu Guotai said with a straight face: "Third brother, it's okay for you to be so negligent since the rightful lord has not arrived yet; if you continue like this for a while and ruin a big event, then don't blame brother for turning his face!"

Zhang Laosan also has a bad temper, immediately sneered, and said: "Second brother don't need to scare me, brother must warn elder brother, don't treat others as fools! Of course I will come, or who knows if second brother will come?" Trade the lives of my elder brother and mine for another future? No wonder the second elder brother wants to run to Rizhao, Wang Qiye is so righteous, but his kindness feeds the white-eyed wolf."

Liu Guotai's face turned blue, and he was so annoyed that he said angrily, "What are you talking about? It's not good to just say it with empty teeth. Over the years, I have worked hard to plan, why can't I not be able to help you? It's so good, but I have to be treated like this by my brother. So suspicious, it seems that elder brother should talk about it carefully, don't say that I wronged you for disrespecting elder brother."

Although Zhang Laosan has always been somewhat dissatisfied with Liu Guotai's seriousness, after all, there is no real evidence. Hearing that he is going to make trouble in front of Boss Qin, he calmed down a lot. Still not coming? I booked such a bird place, if it’s in the city, wouldn’t it be better to drink in Hualou?”

*
Cao Yong has arrived, and he is in the room next door, listening to the "Brothers Fight" next door.

There are also Mr. Zhuang, Wei Hei, and Zheng Hu in the room. Because of careful inspection, there are a total of eight people here, so there are not too many people here.Only let Zhang Yi, Zhao Tong and the others bring a dozen or so chief guards to stand by in the courtyard next door.

The guest rooms in this temple are just for preparing meals and entertaining guests. The walls are very thin, and although the conversation next door cannot be heard clearly, Cao Yong and the others listened to Zhang Laosan scolding the monk and his brother for arguing. clear.

Cao Yong pulled the corners of his mouth, complaining that everyone said that there were many bandits in Shandong, and they were too arrogant.Now that I'm out of the mountains, I don't know how to restrain myself. You must have heard the saying "a wall has ears".

The one surnamed Liu, according to Zheng Hu's previous description, should be the scholar's second head in Guimeng Village.The third younger brother he was talking about should be the "Third Master Zhang", but for some reason, the head of the family "Qin Huzi" didn't show up in person. Could it be that he wanted to stay behind so as not to be taken over by the whole family?
Cao Yong took out his pocket watch, looked at the time, and when the appointed time came, he asked Zheng Hu to invite someone next door.

In his heart, he regarded this meeting as a negotiation, and he just wanted to reduce the number of killings, and he didn't have any bottom line or expectations.For everything, you must understand the other party's bottom line before making plans.

Negotiation? Naturally, the "home field" side should be better off, so that the other party will feel pressured and dare not wantonly raise the price.

*
Liu Guotai looked down on Zhang Laosan when he saw that he was still greasy and crooked, but he felt a lot more at ease when he thought that he had put on a greasy green hat for him.Thinking of Guan's skin and flesh, but it is extremely smooth, not inferior to Xiuxiu at all, and feels a little dry mouth.

He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and looked at Zhang Laosan more and more unpleasant.

At this time, someone said outside the door: "Second Master Liu, Third Master Zhang, my master invites you two to come over and talk."

Liu Guotai calmed down, before he could think about how the other party knew that it was the two of them who came, he was a little worried, and said to Zhang Laosan: "Since the elder brother has given me the matter, I will naturally deal with it. The lives of hundreds of people in the village, the youngest should remember to speak carefully."

Zhang Laosan murmured: "'Speak carefully' is a bird, the second brother actually makes such polite words, just tell the brother to shut up."

Liu Guotai didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but he didn't know what to do with him. He briefly explained to the few people who came with him, and then he opened the door himself, and said with a smile: "Dare to ask this person is Master Qu, Master Qu..."

Zheng Hu replied: "My grandfather is waiting for you two next door, please come with me."

Liu Guotai was thinking that when Fang Lai came in, he obviously asked people to look around the room, but he couldn't see him, why did he come out now?
His face was a little stiff, and he followed Zheng Hu with a smile.

After a few steps, both Zheng Hu and Liu Guotai stopped. Zhang Laosan was impatient and wanted to push the door, but Zheng Hu stretched out his hand to stop him.

Although Zhang Laosan was strong and mighty, Zheng Hu was also tall and big.These two people, one is the leader of the bandits, the owner of the business on a sharp edge; the other started as a teenager in Cao's house, and also served as the guardian of the Taihu Pearl Farm, and he often took action to teach those peeping local hooligans. Later, I practiced my hands and feet in Guangzhou even better.

The two confronted each other, and they felt that they were evenly matched. When Liu Guotai reprimanded him in a low voice, Zhang Laosan stopped.

Zheng Hu glanced at him, and said to the closed door with fists folded, "Master, guests are welcome."

Then someone in the room said: "Well, please come in, both of you!"

Hearing what the people in the room said, Zheng Hu pushed the door open, made a gesture of invitation, and let Liu Guotai and Zhang Laosan go in.

Cao Yong was wearing Chinese clothes and sitting with a smile. This was Mr. Zhuang's idea. Since the other party was desperately looking for Daotai Mansion, maybe it was his wealth and status that he was climbing.If he made it too simple and elegant, maybe the bandits would feel that there is no point in surrendering.

It's just for the love of money. If they are still poor when they are officials, they would rather be free bandits.

Sure enough, when Liu Guotai and Zhang Laosan entered the room, their eyes became straight.

Cao Yong was dressed in a gorgeous gown made of indistinct material, not to mention the mandarin jacket. His hat and hands were lined with gemstones the size of pigeon eggs, and the buttons on his body were also made of gemstones.Sitting there, smiling, like a god of wealth.The old man sitting next to him, and the one-eyed guard standing behind him were not ordinary.

Even though he saw a lot of rich landlords and wealthy businessmen in the brothel, Zhang Laosan still saw the difference between this person and those people.The taste is indescribable, like a small god meeting a great god, and the one in front of him is obviously a richer god.

Although Liu Guotai had heard that this Daotai master was the son of the Cao family in Jiangnan and a young and respected person, he did not expect it to be this young Fa.After waking up, he realized that he was being rude, and clasped his fists together and said, "Little man Liu Guotai, I have met Mr. Cao!"

Zhang Laosan next to him heard this, and followed suit: "I am Zhang Laosan, you are that bird... what kind of platform?" At this point, he looked at Cao Yong suspiciously, frowned and said: "No Is it a fool? Such a young age? I know that Daotai is not a young official."

When he said this, even Liu Guotai felt a little bit suspicious, but then he realized that he should be right, if he wasn't an official, he wouldn't have such a magnanimity.When I met the third child, the other party only glanced slightly, as if he had some understanding, and he seemed to be a person with a clear mind.

Cao Yong listened to Zhang Laosan's questioning, but he smiled and said nothing, just looked at Liu Guotai with the intention of asking.Means like, who is this frizzy guy?Why did you bring such a reckless man here?

Liu Guotai was very upset in his heart, after all, he is a son of aristocratic family, with discerning eyes, he knows that he is the one who speaks, and the third child is just an idiot.Therefore, with a stern face, he whispered to Zhang Laosan: "Don't be rude, and meet Mr. Cao soon!"

Zhang Laosan was about to try this man in front of him to see how he would deal with it, but he didn't expect that Liu Guotai would demolish him, and he was very angry, because he couldn't turn his face in front of outsiders, so he had to endure it and hugged him Hold your fists together, you've seen it.

Cao Yong just smiled, but didn't get up, and took it savagely.

After Liu Guotai and Zhang Laosan met Cao Yong, Fang found that there were only two chairs beside the table. Cao Yong sat on one, the old man sat on one, and there was nothing else.

Liu Guotai was a little disappointed, it seemed that Mr. Cao was quite a dandy, and he didn't know how to be a "corporate of courtesy and virtuousness"; Zhang Laosan was annoyed, knowing that the other party didn't take his brothers seriously, and wanted to explode, but seeing the other party's anger While calming down, I kept muttering in my heart, after all, they only brought six people here, if they gave the other party a reason, maybe they would be here today.

If it were someone else, Cao Yong might put on the "little corporal" routine, but since the other party came from this "Second Master Liu", he really looked down on him in his heart.

In the first month, Wei Hei was asked to send a letter to Rizhao Wangjiazhuang, and he also wanted to find out the reason with Wang Lusheng. "Know yourself and know the enemy"? After all, it is better to have a clear understanding of that side.In addition to the situation with the bandits, he also asked Wang Lusheng why he was a middleman.

Although Wang Lusheng had some scruples, he was not as quick-witted as Wei Hei, and he finally asked why.

It is said that before Cao Yong arrived in Yizhou, Wang Lusheng used money to deal with these bandits, just for the sake of peace and prosperity in the three years of his tenure.

Cao Yong was very moved, although these words were just what Wang Lusheng said, and there was nothing to prove, but he never had any doubts in his heart.Therefore, I really don't have a good impression of these bandits who use the banner of "loyalty" but go back on their promises and act intimidatingly towards the Wang family.

However, he is not a loyal person, even though he does not like him, he will not act arbitrarily. This kind of response is just to give the other party a blow, so that the other party does not dare to be too arrogant.

Seeing that they met the ceremony, Cao Yong took a cup of tea, took a sip, and said, "I heard that you asked to see me, why?" sharp.

Perhaps because of staying in the officialdom for a long time, Cao Yong is quite official. Looking at the past, Liu Guotai felt a "thump" in his heart, thinking whether the several conditions he had thought before had passed. If he said it like this, Will he offend this lord?

Zhang Laosan saw that the other party was so airy and not as enthusiastic as the one in Jinan Mansion, so he felt a little calm in his heart.That's right, only liars would be courteous to ordinary people like them with a smile. The real officials care about whether you live or die, and they always have their eyes on the top of their heads like this.

Liu Guotai thought about it for a while, and looked at Wei Hei, Zheng Hu and others with hesitation, wondering if it was better to speak in front of everyone.Cao Yong just pretended not to see him, took the teacup, and drank two more sips, his face showed a bit of impatience.

Liu Guotai gritted his teeth, and said: "Master Cao, the villain is in charge of our house, and I came to talk to you, just to get out of the mountain."

Cao Yong raised his eyebrows and said, "Oh, going out of the mountain? Let me tell you about the specific regulations."

*
Just when Cao Yong met Liu Guotai and Zhang Laosan in Baoquan Temple, the four brothers led by Cao Song followed Li Shi and Zhao Jia Shi to Qingliang Temple to perform ceremonies in Jiangning.Cao Yin originally wanted to come with him, but the people from the governor's mansion couldn't get away, so he didn't come.

Today is Cao Quan's Mingshou, who sent incense money here a few days ago.

Looking at the memorial tablet of her late husband, Zhao Jia naturally had to cry again.

Cao Song's eyes were sour, but he didn't want to act like a child, so he endured it.The younger ones couldn't help it, their eyes were red, and Cao Shuo and Cao Xiang cried a lot.

Cao Fu followed his mother and aunt, and took a nap in the guest room in the temple after finishing the ritual.Thinking of the lively scene at home when his father was there, he also felt very uncomfortable, his little face was clenched into a ball, tears rolled in his eyes, and he sighed endlessly in his heart.

Mrs. Li watched from the sidelines, feeling so distressed, hugged her in her arms, and comforted her gently.

Seeing her youngest son lying in Li's arms, Mrs. Zhao Jia couldn't help feeling a little apprehensive when they were so close. She nodded her son's forehead and said with a smile, "Look at your rambunctious appearance. Since you like your aunt so much, Catch Ming to be your eldest aunt's son?"

Cao Fu was very ashamed, and said in a coquettish tone: "Mother!"

Mrs. Li touched Cao Fu's head and said with a smile: "That's good, I'm really looking forward to it! It's also the fate of our mother and daughter, just watching him get close, not like a nephew, but more like a young son Well. Yong'er has not been by my side since I was a child, and he has grown up like an adult, but he has never been so close to me like Fu'er."

In the past two years, Mrs. Zhao Jia has understood that the rise and fall of the Cao family will mostly depend on the eldest nephew.Therefore, listening to Li Shi's words, he smiled and said: "The eldest is the eldest son of the eldest son, and he has a heavy status. He has been promising since he was a child. How can he be so mischievous as the younger brothers."

Thinking of her son, Mrs. Li couldn't help sighing.Although the son is already in a weak year, he is still a child in the eyes of his parents. In recent years, the family has gathered less and separated more.I have a grandson first, and I can't see it in front of my eyes. I feel a little bit emotional in my heart.

If you marry a daughter-in-law from another family, the daughter-in-law and grandson will stay in Jiangning to serve your parents-in-law; if you are born as a noble daughter of the royal family, the master of the Cao family, even though you marry into the Cao family, it is not easy for the young couple to separate. Rules here.

After thinking about it, I am too pedantic. If the wife is not with the son, who will take care of the son's life?In order to show filial piety, it is not good to let the daughter-in-law come here to take care of the children and serve the parents-in-law, and the son will accept new people there.Let alone her son, even a mother-in-law like her can't bear to behave like that.

Thinking about reuniting with her son and daughter-in-law when she and her husband went to Beijing, Li Shi felt less uncomfortable.Thinking of going to Beijing, she asked Zhao Jia, "My master and I set off on the tenth day of the Lunar New Year. What kind of gifts do my younger siblings need to prepare for their natal home? It's time to do it in the next few days."

After hearing this, Mrs. Zhao Jia thought of something on her mind, thought about it for a while, and said, "Sister-in-law, when I mentioned going to Beijing, I just have something to ask my sister-in-law for advice!"

Mrs. Li said with a smile: "That's strange. My brother and sister are always smart. I can't match you even if I put them together. Why do you still want me to make up my mind?"

Mrs. Zhao Jia glanced at the youngest son next to Mrs. Li. This is the youngest son, who is already twelve, not to mention that Cao Song is nineteen, Cao Shuo is fifteen, and Cao Xiang is thirteen.

"Sister-in-law, I want to take the children back to live in the capital. The left and right are just keeping filial piety, and there is no difference from this side. I can also take advantage of these two years to pick some good families, and wait for them to discuss their relatives after they are filial piety." I will not be caught blind." Zhao Jia said: "I have nothing to look forward to, I just hope that their brothers will all get married and have children, spread branches and leaves for our Cao family, and completely entrusted by the master, then I can feel at ease."

Mrs. Li thought of Mrs. Zhaojia's natal brother Ding You a few years ago, and it seemed that he had been rehabilitated years ago, and he was the official of the capital.Therefore, he asked: "But what does my uncle mean, that I want my younger siblings to live in Beijing with their children?"

Mrs. Zhao Jia nodded, and replied: "Well, the letter from my natal brother a few years ago said that the children were growing up and would go to the capital in the future. Why don't they go to the capital mansion to keep their filial piety? It's the same. I've been thinking about it for two months, but I still can't make up my mind. I really can't bear to part with my sister-in-law, and the children also need to be disciplined by my uncle. I'm afraid there is something wrong with going to Beijing so rashly. My mother and I are all relying on the company Even though Song'er has inherited his father's title, it only costs a hundred taels of silver throughout the year, so it's useless. I'm afraid it will cost a lot when I arrive in the capital, so I won't be able to use it."

Mrs. Li said: "After all, it is for the future of the children. Listening to my uncle, this is also a solution. What can I do here? I think it is the master, and I won't stop it. Chew and use this, brother and sister Don't worry, although all the properties of the ancestors have been sold off, there are still two or three Zhuangzi under Yong'er's name!"

Mrs. Zhao Jia hurriedly said: "How good is that? I also know the Zhuangzi in the capital. It was left by the old lady, and the other two were also gifted by the emperor under the guise of my elder brother. As a big family, we couldn't do it for the kilometers. To make money, don’t you just eat what your elder brother and sister-in-law eat, but you still want to eat what your nephew and daughter-in-law have? I don’t have that skin, and I’m ashamed to death! If I really go to Beijing, I’ll just ask my sister-in-law when it’s time for chewing. "

Listening to Zhao Jia's words, Mrs. Li thought that the second room didn't have a property, and it was okay to live together, but it was a bit inconvenient after they came to Beijing.

After thinking about it carefully, she said: "If my siblings really want to live in the capital, I will discuss it with the master to see if I can re-establish some profitable properties in the capital, just for your mothers to live there." It’s inconvenient to save money while spending. It’s just that the public’s money has only been repaid in the past two years. Now there may not be many rich people. But don’t be afraid, it’s really not possible. I still have some private houses over there. Two small villages."

Zhao Jia was moved when she heard this, her eyes were red, she tried her tears with a handkerchief and said, "Although I know my sister-in-law loves me, I don't dare to bother me like this. What about the money for the wedding. I keep the 2 taels left by the old lady. Anyway, they still need to keep their filial piety, and they won’t be able to use this money for a while. It is also good to buy a property first with a small amount of money. But if this is the case, when the brothers and sisters get married, they will have to beg the eldest brother and sister-in-law!"
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(End of this chapter)