Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 679 Guest Arrivals

When Cao Yong entered the orchid courtyard and went to the room, he just heard what Li Shi said.For a while, I didn't understand who was gone.

Seeing Cao Yong coming in, Li Nai hurriedly got up from his seat.Cao Yong walked two steps quickly, and said politely: "Long time no see, I greet my cousin."

Li Nai hurriedly returned the gift, saying: "I haven't seen you for a few years, my cousin has a good official career, and he looks more and more noble."

Mrs. Li was at the side, seeing his nephew and son being polite, he said with a smile: "They are not outsiders, what are you doing with these vain rituals. It's hot, sit down and talk."

Gao Taijun's expression was also relieved, he looked at Cao Yong and said: "It's only been a few days of rest, and he leaves early and returns late, how can he take good care of his body?"

"Cousin seems to be looking a little lighter, is he sick?" Li Nai asked, "Father was very worried when I heard about my cousin in the past five months, why is my cousin also involved?"

"It's just that I'm a little busy in the spring, I don't sleep well, it doesn't bother me." Cao Yong replied with a smile.

Mrs. Li looked at Li Nai and said, "Did you come here directly?"

Li Nai nodded, and said, "I thought of saying hello to my uncle and aunt first, so I came here directly."

After hearing this, Mrs. Li told Cao Yong: "Take your cousin to the guest room to freshen up, and you also change your clothes. I'll ask someone to prepare a table, and I will clean up your cousin later."

Cao Yong agreed, took Li Nai out, sent him to the guest room, and returned to Wutong Court to change his clothes after he was settled properly.

Chu Yu was sitting by the edge of the kang and writing, which was the recipe compiled earlier.

"Why do you think of this again?" Cao Yong picked it up and looked at it, and asked curiously, "I haven't seen you studying this recently."

"My aunt asked my eldest cousin to bring a lot of seafood and some cooking recipes, so I took a chance and copied them down." Chu Yu replied with a smile.

"Just now I seem to hear that someone is gone, and I haven't seen my eldest cousin being filial. What's the reason?" Cao Yong asked.

"It's the second cousin's concubine, and Xiangyu's biological mother is gone. The old matriarch over there sent the first cousin here, and besides picking up his grandmother, he also wanted to pick up Xiangyu to keep his filial piety." At this point, Chu Yu couldn't help but sigh. Tone: "Poor Xiangyu, a little bit older, losing his father and mother, what a fate."

Because it is related to Li Ding, Cao Yong still feels a little awkward, and feels uncomfortable every time he sees Xiangyu.Although the little girl looks beautiful, Cao Yong can't get close to her.

"Grandmother wants to go back, it seems that people have to prepare a gift. These few days, I'm afraid I will have to work hard for you again." Cao Yong said after a little thought.

"Others are fine. The pills that Xiangyu was given last month haven't been prepared yet. It seems that they will be sent back later." Chu Yu said.

The husband and wife talked for a while, and Mrs. Li had already sent someone to invite them over.

On the side of the Lanyuan, the little heads are slipping away, God bless they have come back from school, and they are here to say hello to their uncle.

On Li Nai's side, everyone had to prepare a meeting ceremony.Tianyou, Hang Seng, Zuo Cheng, and Zuo Zhu all have shares, and Tianhui, as the only cousin and niece, has two shares in the meeting gift.

After lunch, Li Nai and Cao Yong went to the front yard to have tea after accompanying Gao Taijun and Li Shi for a few words.

Li Nai's eyes flickered, his face was hesitant, and there seemed to be something unspeakable hidden.Cao Yong watched coldly, feeling a little surprised.

Although Li Xu was reprimanded for being close to Kari two years ago, the chief secretary of Jiangning also moved his handprint from Suzhou to Sun Wencheng in Hangzhou Weaving Mansion.But as Li Xu went to Beijing to celebrate his birthday and took up the title of servant, the Li family still stood tall in the south of the Yangtze River.

Li Nai hesitated again and again, and finally opened his mouth, saying: "Cousin, this time I go to Beijing, besides picking up my uncle and grandma and Xiangyu, I also need to ask my cousin."

This sentence is even more strange, the Cao family now has Cao Yin at the top, and Li family in the inner house, what is there to ask Cao Yong for a special trip?
"Since the beginning of summer, my father's health has not been very good, and he has been worried about the deficit of the household department." Li Nai went on to say, "Without debts, let alone the deficit of the household department, it is indispensable. My father originally planned to save some money in the past few years, and pay back some of it first, and then slowly collect the rest. Who would have thought that last year, due to the flood in Suzhou, Zhuangzi’s harvest was reduced, and there was not much money in the account. At the beginning of this year, seeing the weather is good, I was hoping to get better. In mid-May, it was raining again. I went north and made a special trip to see Zhuangzi. The wheat that was about to be harvested was soaked by the rain, and this year’s crops were ruined. There are a few villages, but all the way here, I am familiar with the news of the severe drought in Gyeonggi, and I am afraid that there will be no income."

If you wanted to make up for the shortfall, why wait until today?
The current panic should not be due to the shortfall of the household department, but probably because of the "sick leave" of A Ling'a and Kui Xu, who was frightened, and worried that Kangxi would find an opportunity to attack, so he wanted to fill the hole and show his loyalty.

"Cousin, my father's hair is graying, but it's not easy to talk to my uncle. In the early years, my uncle persuaded my father to suffer, but my father didn't listen, and because of this, there was a rift. Now, although my father didn't say anything, but look I have already regretted what he meant." In the end, Li Nai looked at Cao Yong with a pleading look on his face, and said: "I know that my cousin is now the head of the family, because of the love of my flesh and blood. , and begged my cousin to give me a hand."

"If big cousin wants to use silver, just open your mouth. If you say more, you can't guarantee it. If it's ten thousand or eight thousand, the younger brother can still agree. Although it costs a lot in Beijing, but thanks to the grace of the saints, the Zhuangzi bestowed in the early years can still have some money every year." Proceeds. Your cousin’s shop can also buy some cosmetics and silver every month.” Cao Yong thought for a while and replied.

"Cousin, if the difference is only 8000 or 50 taels of silver, why is my father so worried? In the early years, the holy driver went to the south of the Yangtze River six times, and we also took over the driver twice, and received a few silver from the treasury. There is a lot of expenses over there, and they are spent like running water, and the current account is more than [-] taels short." Li Nai blushed and said: "When the second brother was alive, he also wanted to share his father's worries, so he paid it back. Lost. I didn’t want to but lost my life for no reason, leaving me, a mediocre person, who can only stand by and watch, unable to do anything.”

Although Li Nai spoke with eloquence and emotion, Cao Yong didn't mean to agree.

Today, it is no longer what it used to be.

If the Cao family was in the south of the Yangtze River, if Cao Yong hadn't been on duty and made some disturbances, he could still be quiet and unobtrusive.

Now, there are many people staring at Cao Yong, waiting for him to raise money.

Who knows if Li Xu has a really long memory, if he and the eighth elder brother are still the same, then the Cao family will get close to him, and I'm afraid it will cause suspicion.

"Cousin, don't worry, my uncle has been an official for many years, maybe he has a proper idea in his heart." Cao Yong persuaded.

Seeing that Cao Yong didn't nod his head, Li Nai had already stood up, turned to Cao Yong, made a bow with both hands, and bowed to the end.

When Cao Yong saw him, he quickly got up and walked away, without accepting his gift, he said: "What is my cousin doing, get up!"

"I am dull-tempered, and I can't help my father's affairs. When the second brother was alive, it was mostly the second brother who assisted the father in the yamen. Among them, I have heard of some things that I have done wrong to my cousin. Speaking of it, Shi Wuyan talked to my cousin, but it's just such a large sum that no one can ask for it except my cousin." Li Nai prayed with his face full.

Do you really think you are a boy of good fortune?Cao Yong smiled bitterly in his heart.

The House of Internal Affairs and the Clan House are still waiting to use the money. If Cao Yong really raises money for the Li family, he is afraid that he will be crusaded.

Cao Yong's temperament was originally cold, but now he has a burden on his body, he is helpless, how can he be willing to take over the burden of the Li family.

After all, they are relatives, and Li's face must be taken into account, so Cao Yong has no choice but to use a "delay".

"What's said outside is mostly based on rumors, so don't believe it." Speaking of this, he paused, and Cao Yong said: "Wait for me to revise the book for my father, and see what the old man thinks...

*
Lanyuan, go to the room.

Since Xiangyu landed, she has kept filial piety for her father, Li Ding, but now she has not given filial piety, but now, she has added filial piety to her mother, and replaced it with a white-headed rope.

After all, she is still young and does not know the pain of parting.

On Tianyou's side, he was already shaking his little head, imitating adults, sighed a few times, and said, "Cousin is leaving..."

"Are you going with my uncle?" Hang Seng was beside him, still confused.

"Cousin, can Yu'er come back tomorrow?" Xiangyu sensed that the atmosphere was not right, and she was a little silly, she pulled Tianyou's arm and said.

"Why not? Come back, I'll ask Nanny Gong to make you an ice bowl." Tianyou held Xiangyu's little hand and said.

Xiangyu tapped the melon seeds vigorously, and asked in a low voice: "What about today's beans, delicious."

After hearing this, Tianyou turned his head, looked at Li Shi and said, "Grandmother, my cousin likes to eat ice bowls, let Nanny Gong make them today? Then I can make them twice tomorrow."

When Tianyou said this, the others also looked at Mrs. Li eagerly.

The ice bowl mentioned by Tianyou is to crush the ice, and then add some candied beans and dried fruit on top, which is a common snack in summer.

Seeing that the children wanted to eat, Mrs. Li softened her heart, and said to Chu Yu: "Since the children want it, let someone make some, so that these little greedy cats won't be thinking about it all the time."

Chu Yu responded with a smile, and turned around to send someone to the kitchen to pass the message.

Gao Taijun was sitting on the kang, thinking about something on his mind, when he heard the children chattering, he felt a little noisy and couldn't help frowning.

When Mrs. Li saw her, she waved her hand, and asked Chuyu to take the children to play in the east room, and stay in the room by herself, talking with Mrs. Gao.

The room became quiet, and Taijun Gao sighed, looked at Li Shi and said, "If it wasn't for your aunt calling, the old woman would not like to go back. God is sorry, but fortunately your life here is still beautiful. Although the son-in-law is old They know how to love others; sons and daughters-in-law are sensible children and know the way of filial piety; grandchildren are getting older, so you can relax and live a good life in the future.”

Hearing this, Mrs. Li's eyes were already red, and she said: "My mother has been in Beijing for a year, and there are many things in the mansion here. As a daughter, I don't have a few days to be free to be with my mother. When my mother goes back this time, Stay for a few months and see, next spring my daughter will send someone over to pick her up. Even with my aunt, I will go out for a walk together."

Gao Taijun shook his head when he heard the words, and said: "You have this kind of filial piety, and I am content as a mother. It's just that your uncle is over 80, and she is getting old, and she can't bear to travel long distances. After a few years, give After your auntie retires, maybe I have no place to go, so I will continue to eat food from my uncle's house..."

*
Prince Jane's Mansion, the warm pavilion in the inner hall.

It is said to be the Nuan Pavilion, but it is actually the landlord's house, which used to be the residence of Liugegezhener.As early as the beginning of the year, after Yaerjiang was "drunk", Prince Jian Fujin Wanyan Yongjia moved here to live with his daughter from his lying position.

Today, a "rare guest" came, that is, Yaerjiang who rarely entered the inner house in recent months.

Zhen'er put his arms around his father's neck, pursed his mouth, and complained: "Ama lied, last time I said that I wanted to take Zhen'er to the theater, but I didn't listen."

Yaerjiang kissed her daughter's cheek, and said with a smile: "I'm not lying to Zhen'er, if Zhen'er wants to hear it, Ama will take you there tomorrow."

After hearing this, Zhen'er changed his smile, turned around, looked at Yongjia, and said with a smile: "Emiang, let's go together..."

Yongjia was still in the filial piety period, wearing a moon-white cheongsam and an ivory white bijia, which made her look more and more clear.

When Yaerjiang saw this, he couldn't help frowning, and asked, "Have you eaten the blood swallow that I sent over every day? I asked the imperial doctor, and it is the most nourishing. Look in the mirror, you are thinner." What happened. Knowing that the death of your father-in-law has made you sad, but you have to think about the living, don't make us worry about it."

These words are ironic in people's hearts.

Looking at the man in front of him, Yongjia's previous disdain decreased a little, but a little more envy.

It would be great if they could live without any scruples like him.

Such a gentle expression made Yaerjiang a little at a loss, looking at Yongjia, his eyes didn't know where to put them.

Thinking of the past few years of being a husband and wife, it seems that they have passed in the cold, what the hell are I tossing about.

Yongjia twitched the corner of her mouth, feeling a bit self-deprecating.

Yaerjiang looked away from Yongjia's mouth, and said: "I'm thirsty, remember that you have Tiji tea from Ping Wang Fujin, let someone make a pot."

"Winter tea? Ama?" Zhen'er listened, tilted her head and said, "The green tea with Daoxiang Village is the best."

Yaerjiang took two steps forward, sat on the edge of the kang, pinched Zhen'er's little cheek, and said, "Our Liu Gege is still a greedy cat, and we know how to eat well all day long. They have become little meatballs." .In the future, I will eat delicious food, and I advise you, my mother, to eat two more bites."

"Well, I got it." Zhen'er nodded her head in response, while grabbing the jade pendant on Yaerjiang's belt to play with, saying: "It's so slippery..."

Yongjia's eyes fell on the jade pendant.

It was a suet jade pendant with flowers and birds engraved on it, it looked extremely delicate.The shape is a half moon, and it seems to be one of a pair of jade pendants.

For a moment, Yongjia felt a bit of curiosity, wanting to know who the beauty who was "hidden in the golden house" was, who could be so fascinated that Yaerjiang finally changed his temper and abandoned the man.

It's just that the relationship between her and Yaerjiang'a is not a "confidential" relationship, and such topics are not easy to mention casually.

Thinking of it this way, Yongjia sighed inwardly, a little disappointed.

Seeing Yongjia's changing expression, Yaerjiang'a became confused and couldn't figure out what his wife was thinking.

Yongjia had already got up and asked the maid to bring hot water.She brewed a pot of tea with her own hands, poured one for Yaerjiang, put it on the kang table, and said, "My lord, please use it." As she spoke, she said to her daughter, "You are so good. Get up and down."

Zhen'er responded, put down the jade pendant in his hand, obediently climbed onto the kang, supported the kang table with his chin, and said, "My mother, where is the green tea cake?"

Yong Jia had already brought a plate over, and said: "There is no more in that mansion, and I will get someone to buy it for you tomorrow. Let's eat two pieces of mung bean cake first, this is your favorite food before."

Zhen'er couldn't hide his disappointment, he looked at the mung bean cake, but he didn't want to eat it.

Yaerjiang hurt the girl and said strangely: "Since Zhen'er wants to eat it, I can send my slaves to buy it. It's not a precious thing, and it makes Zhen'er unhappy."

"It's time for dinner, it's time for everyone to have dinner. You can't torment people just because a child is greedy." Yongjia replied.

Hearing "meal time", Yarjan took out his pocket watch and glanced at it. It was already Shenzheng (four o'clock in the afternoon).

When he got up early and went to the yamen, Yang Zimo told him with great interest that he was filial to a few live fish yesterday, and today he was going to cook a whole fish feast, and asked Yaerjiang to go back early.

Thinking of this, Yarjan stood up, and just about to say that he was going out first, he felt something was wrong, as if he had forgotten why he came here today.

"By the way, in the early years, I heard it vaguely mentioned that Cao Yong was smart when he was a child, and he started a restaurant when he was a teenager. At that time, his father-in-law was also in Jiangning, and you and Cao Yong's sisters were good friends in the boudoir. Say something." Thinking of his original intention, Yarjan asked.

Yongjia didn't know Yaerjiang's original intention, and for a while, he didn't know how to respond.

"Haven't you heard of it? His reputation as a benevolent boy must not be groundless, right? But if, as the rumors say, a boy in his teens knows how to open restaurants and tea gardens, wouldn't he be so wise?" Yu Yao?" Yaerjiang seemed to be asking, but also seemed to be talking to himself.

After a while, Yongjia's mind turned a few times, and he replied lightly: "Taurant? I remember this. That year, on the birthday of King Fujin of Pingjun, it was just in time for the weaving mansion to pick him up, and the dinner was held at Cao's house. I don’t know if it was created by Concubine Cao, but I only know that it is run by the butlers of the Cao family, who are the two royal chefs from the capital, and their dishes are extremely delicious, and they have a small reputation in Jiangning City.”

Yaerjiang heard this, nodded with a smile, and said: "Fujin is on point. Jiangning is rich, but it is also far away from the capital. The brand of the royal chef is enough to attract those country bumpkins to spend their money hard. It's not a big deal. Strange. Let me just say, Cao Yong's fame is all touted by everyone. If he is really a reincarnated fairy boy, he will also be punished by God, otherwise he wouldn't be so unlucky and suffer those crimes..."

*
In the study, Li Nai had already bid farewell and left. Cao Yong spread out the pen and paper, and wrote a letter to Cao Yin, explaining Li Nai's intentions.

Li Nai has a simple and honest face, but in his speech, he already has a bit of officialdom's tact and sophistication.

Whether the "prayer" performed today was because he wanted to share his father's worries and fulfill his filial piety, or because Li Xu didn't want to speak up directly, so that his son would try Cao's family first, but it is unknown...

Cao Yong has no interest in sending charcoal in the snow or adding trouble to others.

He just wanted to figure out what step Li Xu planned to take, and what was in his mind for him...

(End of this chapter)