Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 725 Retiring (asking for a monthly ticket)

Cao Yin and his son stayed in Xiaotangshan for only six days, and then returned to the city together.Cao Yong's vacation has come, and Cao Yin has received the mourning letter from A Ling'a.

Tomorrow is the "first seven" of Ah Ling'a, and both Cao Yin and Cao Yong have to come to the house to pay homage.

Because Cao Yin had to go back to Hot Spring Zhuangzi for a short stay in two days, so Mrs. Li did not go back to the mansion, only Chu Yu came back with Tianhui.

The day after Cao Yuan was dismissed as the manager and Hu Cheng was sent to the officials for justice, Cao Fu, the old housekeeper who had been honored, hurried to Zhuangzi to plead guilty.It was Cao Yin who comforted him again and again before persuading him to go back to the city.

Along with Cao Fu, there was also Hu Cheng's grandmother Hu Nai.When I brought my son and daughter-in-law over, I kowtowed to plead guilty, and wept and begged for grace.

Li respected her as an old man who was used by the old matriarch before his death, and he spoke politely.However, sending Hu Cheng to an official is a matter for the husband and son to decide, and Li's side will certainly not cause any complications.

If it is said to be greedy for a little money, it is still a trivial matter; this prostitute woman is not only forbidden by the law, but also outrageous.

It's fine if Mrs. Li doesn't know, since she knows, she can only blame Hu Cheng in her heart.Mother Hu's tearful begging was useless, and she had to beg her daughter again after returning to the city.

Her daughter Hu is Cao Yuan's wife and Zheng Hu's mother-in-law.Because of her natal nephew's crime, she has already been scolded twice by her husband and father-in-law, so she doesn't talk too much.

Inevitably, she had to persuade her mother to dote on Hu Cheng like this, and he was not tall.Or, take this opportunity to let him suffer a little bit, and he will know whether it is good or bad in the future.

The Hu family is an old man of the Cao family, and it is true that they are somewhat respectable, but don't forget your own stature and identity.Don't say that this grandson got into trouble and was sent to the official, even if he was beaten to death according to the family rules, he can still complain...

*
The Forbidden City, the Yamen of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

After getting up early and following his father to go to Aling's mansion to hang sacrifices, Cao Yong went back to the mansion to change clothes and went to the Yamen.

After not seeing him for several days, Yi Duli raised his eyebrows and circled around Cao Yong twice.

Cao Yong saw it funny and said, "Could it be that I have three heads and six arms, and it's so rare for adults to see it?"

Yi Duli shook his head, and said: "It's not this, I'm just thinking about whether my lord left to memorize words, and whether I should find a temple to worship! This year, it's rare to take a few days of vacation, and encounter a slave to commit murder again."

This is about Hu Cheng.

Good things don't go out, bad things spread thousands of miles.The story of the Cao family being a slave and evil servant has been spread all over the capital in the past few days.

There are the most boring people in this world, and it's easier to attract people's mouths if they touch "women" in everything.In private, you can say anything.Mostly it is said that the Cao family and his son are treated leniently.

There are also many servants who are in charge of affairs. After hearing about Hu Cheng's affairs, apart from being envious, they also praised this kid for being sensible.

This can also be regarded as "sex has its own way", after all, those who raped were all young daughter-in-laws, and they didn't offend the big girls, otherwise it would be a crime for the villain to be chaste.In addition, the girl has no penis, so if she encounters someone who is really violent and swallows rat poison by rubbing her neck, she may be charged with a life lawsuit.

Some of the rural women in the mountains knew about "Confucius and Mencius", even if there was one who hanged himself, he was saved.The crimes of rape in other places are even lighter.There is no capital offense, at most it is a crime.

Some also began to ponder whether they would also seek to be in charge of the Waizhuang and pick wild flowers in the mountains.

What they didn't expect was that their master was influenced by the Cao family and his son, so he became more on guard, and was also afraid that his reputation would be ruined by the upper half, a slave who betrayed his master.

"Fortunately, nothing major happened at last. Don't dare to be careless in the future. There are too many servants in the family, and there will be mixed good and bad." Cao Yong said after listening to Yi Duli's words.

"Your Excellency, you don't know. My mother was deeply moved when she heard this, and she specially ordered me to have two people go to the Zhuangzi at home to check. The old man said that she eats fast and chant Buddha all day long, just for the sake of her children and grandchildren." To accumulate blessings, we must not let those evil slaves do anything wrong and make the Bodhisattva blame them. In that case, let alone accumulating blessings, I am afraid that it will be a disaster." Yi Duli looked at Cao Yong and said thoughtfully.

This is what Cao Yong didn't expect, and he didn't expect that his unintentional move could affect others.

"The old lady is right." Cao Yong nodded, and said: "For us, dozens of hectares of land, or a hundred or so hectares of land, is just a piece of real estate, and there are some carelessness. For tenants It is said that renting the land is a major matter related to supporting the family, and if there are really disadvantages in it, it is not uncommon to kill people."

After listening to Cao Yong's words, Yi Duli's face was cloudy and uncertain, hesitating again and again, Fang whispered: "My lord, speaking of it, I also encountered bad things on my side a few days ago because of the tenant's rent. It's just that I don't have the help of an adult." Have the courage to shake things out." As he spoke, he told Cao Yong what happened a few days ago.

It turned out that his family had a Zhuangzi in Daxing, with a piece of sunny hillside land, which had been tenanted to a family surnamed Zhu to grow watermelons.The tenant surnamed Zhu sells melons for a living, and there are regulations on the annual rent.As for June and July, the first crop of watermelons to honor the host's family is not counted in the rent.

This year, there was severe drought and little rain, and the sunny land was even more fatal, and the [-] mu of melon fields failed to be harvested.I only planted some Chinese cabbage in June, which is considered to be a little harvest in a year.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, rent collection began.The tenant responded in every possible way and delayed the rent payment for two months.

Seeing that it couldn't be dragged on any longer, the tenant gritted his teeth and sold his 12-year-old daughter for rent.In a fit of rage, his wife swallowed rat poison and died, leaving behind a three-year-old son.

A big man, how can he look after children.In the winter moon, the child caught wind and cold and died young.

In the past few months, the tenant's family has been ruined and his temperament has changed drastically.Holding a melon-cutter knife, he blocked several stewards who came down to press for the rent, hacked three to death and injured two.Maybe he looked enough, and wiped his neck with his own height.

The story is not complicated, but Cao Yong broke into a cold sweat when he heard it.

The death of four or five people is considered a major event, Yi Duli talked about it, but he was only annoyed.What he cared about was only troublesome things, how could he care about those few human lives?
Is every dignitary an executioner?
The big ones are heavily stained with blood, and the small ones are also burdened with various sins.

"I am me, I am me!" These words appeared in Cao Yong's mind.

Still harboring fear, taking human life seriously.Otherwise, what is the difference between him being alive and a walking dead?
Seeing that Cao Yong didn't speak for a long time, Yi Duli thought he was frightened, and said: "I heard about it at the beginning, and I was taken aback. I'm afraid my mother will know, otherwise, I will kneel in the ancestral hall."

"There is a severe drought in Gyeonggi. There are no money to pay the rent. It is not one or two households. Dogs jump over the wall when they are in a hurry, let alone people?" Cao Yong said in his mouth, feeling deeply in his heart.

The rich and powerful in the capital, or those who passed down the land from their ancestors, or those who bought it later, all regard Zhuangzi as a cash cow.

Even if the drought is here, no one wants to reduce the rent...

As the New Year's Eve is approaching, tributes from all over the country are being transported to the capital unknowingly. Cao Yong also read a batch of relevant inventory and storage documents all morning.Among them, Northeast game is the main one.

In addition to entering the treasury of the Ministry of Internal Affairs according to the quantity, there is also a bonus, which is still in accordance with the usual practice, to honor the adults of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.Cao Yong has both real power and influence. Apart from sixteen elder brothers, he was given the heaviest filial piety.

For this practice of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Cao Yong can only let nature take its course.Even if you want to show your nobleness, you won't use this statement.In that case, everyone in the Ministry of Internal Affairs will be offended.Cao Yong was too lazy to do such a thankless task.

According to the rules of previous years, the Cao family also sent a purchasing manager to the northeast to purchase mountain products for the New Year.It seems that this year, it will be expensive to buy, but it is also good, and it will be affordable to send gifts everywhere.

After the Shengjia sacrificed to the mausoleum, he had to go to Rehe.Counting the days, it will be around a year before returning to Beijing.

On Cao Yong's side, I really miss Brother Sixteen.

In the next noon, at the time of falling into the Yamen, Cao Yong and Yi Duli rode out together. Before they reached the Xidan archway, they heard someone calling from behind: "Cao Erfu, Cao Erfu, stay a step!"

Cao Yong reined in his horse, turned around, and saw a man riding a horse.But he is an acquaintance, the steward of the Thirteenth Prince's house.He caught up with Cao Yong, got off his horse, and slapped him a thousand times: "Consort Cao, our lord sent a servant here, saying that there is an urgent matter to discuss with Concubine Cao, please move Concubine Cao."

Over the years, the number of times Thirteenth Brother took the initiative to find him is countless.

Although Cao Yong didn't know what was going on, he still nodded and said, "Guan Qu, let's get started. I understand. Let's go."

While speaking, he said goodbye to Yi Duli, and explained to Jiang Jian twice, and then he rode his horse and went with Qu Guanshi.

After a while, I arrived at the Thirteenth Prince's Mansion.

There was already a waiter looking at the door. Seeing Cao Yong's arrival, he bowed to meet him and said, "Master Cao, our master has been watching for a while. He has been waiting in the living room for a long time."

While speaking, the servant welcomed Cao Yong into the living room.

The eighth elder brother has already gone to the funeral, and the thirteenth elder brother went to Bai Xiao, wearing a blue plain robe, pacing up and down in the hall.

"May the thirteenth Lord be safe." Cao Yong entered the hall, picked up his front skirt, and bowed.

Elder Brother Thirteen pulled him away, without bothering to greet him, and said: "Finally I was looking forward to your coming, come and have a look at this!" Saying this, he pulled him aside and pointed at the things on the small table.

There are a few sheets of rice paper on the small table, and a silver pocket half the size of a palm is placed on it.The mouth of the pocket was loose, and half of the contents inside spilled out, it was tobacco leaves.

It is said to be tobacco leaves, but it is different from ordinary tobacco leaves. It is reddish and black in color, not yellow like other tobacco leaves.

Cao Yong picked up a piece of tobacco leaf, put it under his nose and sniffed it.Although he never smoked, he knew what tobacco smelled like.There is nothing unusual about this tobacco leaf.

The surface of the tobacco leaf is not as smooth as it looks.

"This is... mixed with opium..." Cao Yong looked at the tobacco leaves in his hand and asked.

Elder Sixteen's face was a little dark, he nodded, and said, "I found this by accident when I went out for a walk. Ordinary tobacco leaves and high-quality shredded tobacco are only one tael of silver per catty, and there are dozens of pennies for the difference. This Tobacco leaves soaked in opium water and then dried in the sun cost five renminbi a tael. Even though the price is high, there are still many people who buy it.”

Cao Yong was shocked when he heard this.

I thought that the harm of opium was still far away, but I didn't expect that it would flow to the people in this way.Whether it is the powerful or the common people, they all regard opium as medicine. Except for those who occasionally become addicted, no one would think of taking the initiative to use opium.

This tobacco is different, and it is very popular among the people.

He suddenly thought of Elder Sixteen who was testing poison with himself, he quickly raised his head, looked at Elder Thirteen and said, "Elder Thirteen, you...you..."

If even the thirteenth elder brother "tested the poison with his own body", Cao Yong wouldn't have any credit for the smoking ban, and he didn't know what to do with it.

"I'm fine, but Cao Yong, you should worry about it." Elder Brother Thirteen patted him on the shoulder and said.

"Smoking ban? Although it is possible to write an excerpt to the imperial court, whether it can attract the attention of the emperor has to be reconsidered." Cao Yong said.

Elder Brother Thirteen shook his head and said: "That's not what I'm talking about. I've asked people to find out. This tobacco has only a limited number of days in the market. The first shop to sell this is your uncle's shop."

When Cao Yong heard this, he couldn't help being stunned: "How could it be? My uncle's house is a pastry shop."

"I can't be wrong, I ordered someone to buy this bag of cigarettes from the shop on the other side of the Drum Tower. I asked clearly, it is your uncle's business." Brother Thirteen said: "I originally wanted to call Cao Song over , Ask clearly, I happened to hear that you went back to the city, so I didn’t bother him. I don’t know who he was bewitched to make people run this business. Get up and take care of yourself."

What is this called?
I said that I should be sympathetic to the tenants, and don't let the people on the ground of the Cao family freeze to death or starve to death. Elder Brother and Sixteenth Elder Brother, the two future princes in power, talked about it for nothing, and as a result, the relatives began to sell the opium.

Cao Yong still felt funny until he got out of Thirteenth Prince's House.

The sky is foggy and it's going to snow.It was about to enter for three or nine days, and the north wind was blowing hard.

Pedestrians on the road gradually thinned out. Cao Yong rode on the horse and felt a chill coming from his bones.

After a while, when he reached the gate of the house, Cao Yong got off his horse, turned back and told Xiao Man, "Go to the East Mansion and ask, is the second master here? If he is at home, call him to come and see me."

Xiao Man responded, and before turning around to leave, Wu Sheng stepped forward and said: "Master, Second Master and Fifth Master are talking with Master in the study."

Cao Yong nodded and entered the yard.

Walking down the corridor, before Cao Yong lifted the curtain, he heard Cao Song's loud voice, followed by Cao Fu's laughter.

In the study, all the uncles and nephews had a happy conversation.

After all, Cao Fu is just a big boy. Hearing that Zhuangzi has a greenhouse and a hot spring where you can take a bath, he can't help but yearn for it, and said with great interest: "Uncle, my nephew has never seen these two things. Uncle again If you go, can you take your nephew with you?"

Cao Yin waved his hand and said, "Schoolwork is important. Next year is the year of the provincial examination. Besides, you will marry a wife next month. There are so many things to do, so where is the time?"

When Cao Fu heard the words, he couldn't hide his disappointment, bowed his head, and replied weakly: "Yes."

Seeing this, Cao Yin couldn't bear it, and said: "Before the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, your aunt will come back from Zhuangzi. Then you can take a day off and go pick us up."

Cao Fu was already beaming with joy, nodded vigorously, and responded with a smile.

Seeing Cao Yong come in, both Cao Song and Cao Fu got up from their chairs and said hello to their cousin with their hands down.

"Okay. How are the second and fifth brothers? Is the second aunt okay?" Cao Yong waved his hand, motioning for the two to sit down and meet with their father, then sat opposite Cao Song and said.

"Mother is fine, but it's cold and doesn't like to move. I'm still talking about my aunt today. I hope my aunt will come back soon so we can play cards together." Cao Song replied with a smile.

Cao Song was wearing a bodyguard uniform, and it seemed that he came to pay his respects when he came back from a job in the palace just now; Cao Fu was also wearing a go-out outfit.

It turned out that the two brothers almost got home together.Seeing Cao Yin's carriage at the door, he knew that his uncle was coming back, so he came to pay his respects together.

Cao Yin glanced at his son, and said to his two nephews: "Go back and change your clothes first, and come over for a drink later."

Cao Song and Cao bowed up to agree, and retreated.

In the room, only Cao Yin, father and son Cao Yong were left.Cao Yin knocked on the table with his fingers, pondered for a while, and then asked, "Why is Lord Thirteen looking for you?"

This is not something to hide, Cao Yong roughly told the thirteen brother and his party just now.

Hearing that it was related to Dong Mansion, Cao Yin couldn't help frowning, and said, "It's my father's fault."

While speaking, he couldn't hide his exhaustion, and he sighed heavily.

"Father..." Cao Yin is not the only one who has regrets in his heart. Cao Yong also feels in his heart: "If it is not for the sake of sympathy for the son, the father will not agree to separate the family. It is because the son has short-sightedness. A pure heart can reduce right and wrong, but it is nothing but self-deception."

"It's because I'm not strict in family management, and I'm not good at disciplining my nephews." At this point, Cao Yin paused, and said: "Someone in Yushitai has already drafted a son, and I want to impeach him as a father."

When sending Hu Cheng to meet the official, Cao Yong thought that it would attract the censor to make noise, but he didn't expect it to be so fast and so direct.

"It's all the son's fault. Father has believed in his son in recent years and ignored these trivial matters." Cao Yong murmured.

Cao Yin smiled slightly, but he didn't see any annoyance.He got up from the kang, walked to the desk, took out a letter from under a book on the desk, and handed it to Cao Yong.

When Cao Yong saw it, he couldn't help being stunned: "What does father mean?"

"Today I went to Aling's mansion to hang myself for my father, and returned to the Yamen to think about it for a long time. It is true that the emperor takes care of the old minister, and this old minister is also a veteran. The emperor transferred me back to Beijing the year before last, and the Minister of Rites is just an honorary post. , I should also abdicate to let the virtuous."

"Father is not yet sixty..." Cao Yong held his resignation letter in his hand, feeling heavy in his heart.

In the past two years, the personnel of the six ministries have changed, and everyone would think that because of the emperor's favor for the Cao family and Cao Yin's qualifications, even if he was not born in the Imperial Academy, he could not be the minister of the Ministry of Rites, and he would be promoted to other ministers.

Unexpectedly, after two years, Cao Yin is still a nominal left servant of the Ministry of Rites.

Cao Yong originally thought that his father didn't care, but now it seems that it is not the case at all.He had been loyal to the emperor all his life, and his father also had the dream of a famous minister in his heart, but because of his birth, he was a slave of the emperor all his life.

After finally arriving in Beijing, Rong Yang is really just "Rong Yang"...

(End of this chapter)