Aspirations

Chapter 95 Guiding the maze
Xia Xiang felt a little lost in his heart. Although she had helped him a lot since she met Lian Ruohan, and she often fought wits with him, he really enjoyed the trick of him and her testing each other.She thought she would hang around for some time in Zhending, and she didn't want to leave tomorrow, so she felt a little reluctant to give up.

"In this way, I wish Sister Ruohan all the best." Xia Xiang wanted to ask a few more questions, but suddenly felt that he could not ask.

"Thank you County Lord Xia." Seeing Xia Xiang's indifferent expression, Lian Ruohan showed no reluctance or concern, and couldn't help but feel greatly disappointed.Could it be that she has no weight in his heart, she went north to the capital, at least half a month, at most several months, he didn't even ask about the return date, what a heartless and ungrateful gentleman!

"Cough cough..." Xia Xiang pretended to cough a few times, trying to hide the reluctance in his heart, so that his voice sounded calm without ups and downs, "I wonder when Sister Ruohan will return to the real decision?"

Lian Ruohan was suddenly overjoyed, he still cares about me and is asking when I return?Her face suddenly became cloudy, and she hurriedly replied: "If it goes well, it will be back in half a month. If something is delayed, it won't last longer than a month."

After thinking about it again, I can't be too happy and angry, so I was busy and kept my face straight, and said softly: "If there is something wrong in Zhending County, Xia Xianzun just instructs Lu Langjun, he will stay in Zhending."

"I understand." Xia Xiang replied lightly, his face did not waver, but his heart was secretly happy, Lian Ruohan was a child of a noble family, and a lady, after all, she was also a woman, and the surprise just now revealed her inner expectations. .

In all fairness, Xia Xiang really didn't want Lian Ruohan to leave at this time, but he couldn't show it in person.

Lu Dongdong reported outside the door: "Xiaxian Zun, Xu Wangshan Xu Yuanwai and Ma Qingyuan Ma Yuanwai are visiting."

"Let them in." Xia Xiang was overjoyed, Lian Ruohan happened to be here, and the granary and grain cultivation could be finalized.

Lian Ruohan was a little angry, she wanted to leave, but then she thought, no, Xia Xiang can't be too proud.She hasn't fallen in love with him yet, and only thinks that he is one of the collaborators who can help her and her family expand the territory. Why bother with him about whether he is affectionate and righteous to her?Whoever gets serious first is the loser.

After thinking about this, Lian Ruohan calmed down again, and sat down calmly. When Xu Wangshan and Ma Qingyuan stepped in, she slowly got up to greet him.

Xia Xiang introduced each other to several people in turn. Huanhuan and Liuer competed to serve tea for the guests, which made Xu Wangshan and Ma Qingyuan's eyes straight.

Xu Wangshan laughed: "I originally wanted to find a decent maid for Xia Xianzun, but it seems that there is no need. Xia Xianzun already has someone around. Xia Xianzun's vision is much better than mine."

How could Xia Xiang fail to hear the teasing meaning in Xu Wangshan's words, and also laughed: "Liu'er is the servant girl that Ruohan's sister gave me..."

Xu Wangshan took a peek at Lian Ruohan and laughed: "Xia Xianzun and Lian Niangzilang are talented and beautiful, and they are born to make a pair. Xia Xianzun hasn't married yet, and even his wife hasn't married yet, right?"

Lian Ruohan smiled generously: "I haven't got married yet, but I already have a crush, so I won't worry about Xu."

Xu Wangshan patted his head: "Okay, this is easy to handle. I was also worried that even the lady likes Xia Xianzun, it turns out not, I want to have a chance to be a matchmaker for Xia Xianzun. Xia Xianzun, I have a younger sister who is still waiting for her , she is well-informed, proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and looks dignified..."

"Is it Xu's sister?" Lian Ruohan asked with a smile.

"That's natural. If it wasn't my own sister, how could I have the nerve to introduce it to Xia Xianzun?" Xu Wangshan looked surprised, as if he didn't understand why Lian Ruohan would ask such a question.

Lian Ruohan giggled: "Since you are a compatriot, I think your sister looks a bit like you. With Xu Yuanwai's appearance, I believe that Lingmei's appearance can't be said to be dignified anyway..."

"You..." Xu Wangshan laughed angrily and wanted to refute a few words. He turned his eyes and understood something, he smiled, "If even the lady likes Xia Xianzun, she will clearly say that I will not steal the beauty of others."

"Okay, okay, let's get down to business." Ma Qingyuan hurriedly came forward to smooth things out, "Xiaxian Zun, today I came here with Xu Yuanwai, and I wanted to make a settlement with the government about the granary and the grain growing business."

Xia Xiang couldn't help but laugh. Xu Wangshan had a straightforward temperament and said whatever came to his mind. It seemed careless, but it was actually rough.Lian Ruohan and Xu Wangshan secretly made a move when they first met, thinking that Lian Ruohan is really a woman who refuses to show weakness in everything.

Xu Wangshan and Ma Qingyuan's granary and grain growing business were run by the two of them on behalf of the government. Since they were going to change hands, there were still many accounts that needed to be sorted out.Xia Xiang nodded and said, "It just so happens that Sister Ruohan is also there. She wants to run a granary and a grain growing business with you. This official also agrees, so she will deliver the goods on behalf of this official."

"If it's someone else, I have to think about it. But even the lady... I and the horsemen can't ask for anything." Xu Wangshan cupped his hands, "Please ask Xia Xianzun to make a room for us, and the delivery can be completed in two hours."

"Come here, please ask the county magistrate Xu." Xia Xiang ordered. As the county magistrate, Xu Heguang is in charge of the documents and warehouses of a county, so he should be the one to come forward in this matter.

Not long after, Xu Heguang arrived, and after learning what was to be done, he took people to the county chief's house in Ertang to settle the accounts.

A few people just left, Xiao Wu and Ling'er led Lian Cheng back.

Liancheng is over 40 years old, with a loyal face, low eyebrows and pleasing eyes, and he is cautious in every move.Xia Xiang felt that it was all right, so he asked him and Man Tuo to accompany Ma Zhanguo and Dong Duan to set off for Shile immediately.

Xia Xiang also repaired a book and asked Ma Zhanguo to bring it to Pei Shuozhang.Zhending county magistrate went to Lexian County to handle the case, and informed Lexian County of the city, it was a proper rule.In the letter, Xia Xiang politely complimented Pei Shuozhang, and said that Dong Xian's murder case has been clearly tried by Zhending County and will not be transferred to Shile County. He only hopes that Shile County can provide relevant assistance.

Although his words were sincere, he also secretly informed Pei Shuozhang that if he neither wanted to hear the case nor provided assistance within his ability, then Xia Xiang also had a way to implicate the case in Shile County, and Pei Shuozhang would not be able to come forward if he wanted to.Since then, it is hard to say whether the matter will eventually affect Pei Shuozhang's future.

Therefore, Xia Xiang believes that with Pei Shuozhang's intelligence, he can clearly understand which is more important, and he will not embarrass Dong Duan in assisting Dong Duan to take over Dong's firm.At the same time, when Ma Zhanguo arrested Yan Sun and Dong Li's return to the truth, he would not block it.

Yes, Xia Xiang secretly instructed Ma Zhanguo that after escorting Dong Duan back, when Dong Duan took over Dong's business, he would escort Yan Sun and Dong Li back to Zhending for trial.Mantuo accompanied him, firstly to protect Dong Duan, secondly to investigate Zhuang Feihan secretly, and thirdly to protect Yan Sun and Dong Li from being safely escorted back to Zhending.

Of course, the premise for Pei Shuozhang not to block him is that there is no more serious situation affecting his future.If so, things will develop out of control.Xia Xiang didn't think too much about it. After all, he still had no idea who Fu Ke would be involved in.

Ma Zhanguo, Mantuo, Liancheng and Dong Duan led the way.

Just as they left, someone came to report that Liu Changting and Xie Huagai were visiting.

Fortunately, things have come together, Xia Xiang cheered up, cut through the mess quickly, sorted out many chores as soon as possible, and quickly got on the right track, which is also a good thing.

Xia Xiang didn't go out to greet him, and when Liu Xie and the two entered the door, he got up to not welcome him.

Liu Changting, as his name suggests, is as tall as a willow, as elegant as a pavilion, dressed as a scholar, wearing a square scarf on his head, with thin eyebrows and narrow eyes, high cheekbones, and deep eyelids.He holds a fan in his hand, the fan bone is as white as jade, and there is a jade pendant, its red as blood.

Xie Huagai is very rich, not to mention fat, but his face is red. He is about [-] years old, with a fat head and big ears, and his face is like a full moon.The long beard under the jaw flutters, the body is made of silk and satin, and the long sleeves flutter when walking, like a whirlwind.He wears jade around his waist and wraps a string of boxwood beads around his wrist.

Although boxwood is not a particularly precious wood, it is loved by many celebrities in Daxia.Lianche highly respects boxwood, and once said that "boxwood grows one inch a year, and retreats three inches when it is intercalated", so it is called "thousand-year-short".

The two of Liu and Xie stepped forward and crossed their hands to salute Xia Xiang: "Liu and Xie have met Xia Xianzun."

Xia Xiang bowed back and smiled: "Member Liu and Member Xie don't need to be more polite, please take a seat."

The two took their seats, Liu Changting looked at Xia Xiang secretly, and the contempt in his eyes became stronger and stronger.Xie Huagai was okay, although there was a look of disdain, it was not obvious.

Xia Xiang had a panoramic view of the two's every move, and asked calmly, "You two have something to call for this official?"

Liu Changting held the fan in his right hand, tapped the palm of his left hand lightly, and looked at Xia Xiang squintingly: "Xia Xianzun took up the post of Zhending County magistrate, and is Liu's parental official. Liu and Xie came to visit Xia Xianzun. inside."

His tone showed disdain and ridicule.

Xia Xiang smiled calmly: "Liu Yuanwai is very polite, this official is in charge of the government, and he rules more than [-] people. If they all come to visit this official on the basis of their duty, this official does not need to govern the truth. It's fixed, I'll be too busy to open the door every day to welcome guests."

Xie Huagai's eyes flashed, Xia Xiangmian hid the needle, and returned it neither softly nor hard, he is young, but he is so experienced in handling things, he chuckled: "What Xia Xianzun said is very true, it was Xie and Liu Yuanwai who took the liberty Yes. But Xie and Liu Yuanwai are indeed sincere, and they have brought their hearts to Xia Xianzun. Come, present it."

The two servants came in with two jars. The two jars were about half the height of a person.

"This is the Meishou wine produced by Fenglelou in Tokyo. After brewing, the jar has never been opened. It has been ten years. But it is an authentic ashless wine." Xie Huagai got up and circled the jar. " I don't know what Xie said just now, does Xia Xianzun understand?"

It turned out that he wanted to test him. If he couldn't answer, he would be ridiculed for ignorance by Xie Huagai. Xia Xiang smiled lightly: "Steam the rice, let it cool, mix it with wine koji, and let it ferment. Fermentation. To a certain extent, the rice has turned into wine lees, which is filtered out with a wine sieve, put into a jar and sealed, which can be as little as three months or as many as ten years. After opening, it is the finished wine. If you add lime, it can prevent Liquor is too acidic. But lime tends to produce phlegm, so if you want to use it medicinally, it must be ash-free.”

Xie Huagai borrowed wine today to make Xia Xiang embarrassed.He thought that Xia Xiang, as a scholar, knew everything, but he definitely didn't know anything about brewing and other unpopular things. Because he wanted to use wine as the topic, Xia Xiang was speechless. , so as to press Xia Xiang's head in the momentum, so as to create a preconceived strength.

Unexpectedly, Xia Xiang came at his fingertips, but he was an expert, but Xie Huagai was stunned for a while.

"Recite the Meishou chapter, and judge the future of the king. The prime minister of Huanghuang is the prime minister, and it is advisable to attack the Hou. The black head goes to Yunyuan, and the gray hair comes. How thick is the king's power and position, who is willing to cultivate..." Xia Xiangyin After reciting a poem by Liu Kezhuang, he smiled and said, "Although Meishou is good, it is wine after all. Wine can make you happy, but it can also hurt your health. The only way to drink is to stop in moderation. Thank you for your kindness, and this official will accept it. already."

Xie Huagai smiled and cupped his hands.

Okay, isn't it over yet for Hsieh Huagai?Xia Xiang was not annoyed, and smiled lightly: "I can't talk about advice."

Xie Huagai coughed lightly, cleared his throat and said, "I don't know if Master Xia has ever been to the Great Buddha Temple?"

"Not yet."

"So Xia Xianzun has read Buddhist scriptures?" Xie Huagai shook the boxwood beads on his wrist intentionally or unintentionally.

"Not many, I've only read a few." Xia Xiang answered questions and answered them in a calm manner.

Liu Changting watched his words and thoughts, and thought to himself that although Xia Xiang was young, he was very wealthy. He was pressed by Xie Huagai step by step, but he did not show any impatience. It seemed that it was not as Xu Heguang said. down, you have to be careful.

However, he is confident that Xia Xiang will be convinced by his and Xie Huagai's methods.In today's first battle, it is possible to win but not to lose.

Xie Huagai laughed: "Xie is not talented, he has read many Buddhist scriptures, worshipped the great Buddha under Master Shanlai, and followed Master Shanlai to learn Buddhism. Xie is ignorant of learning, and knows that he is stupid. Are you willing to give pointers on the maze?"

Xia Xiang said half-jokingly and half-seriously: "You are not Zilu, and I am not a long-term or obsessed official. How can you give me some advice?"

"..." Xie Huagai was stunned. He didn't understand what Xia Xiang was referring to. He opened his eyes and opened his mouth wide, "Is Zi Lu a disciple of Confucius? Who are Chang Ju and Jie Ye?"

Liu Changting's face blushed slightly. The two of them still wanted to take Xia Xiang's entrance exam. They didn't want Xia Xiang to quote an uncommon allusion, which exposed Xie Huagai's lack of reading.He hurriedly stepped forward and helped Xie Huagai out of the siege: "Why did Xie Yuanwai forget the allusion to Zilu's inquiry? Last time I had dinner with Cui Fuzun, Cui Fuzun also told us this allusion."

Xie Huagai was stunned for a while, but when he remembered it, he patted his head and laughed: "Xie Mougui taught Cui Fuzun, but he forgot the allusion of Zilu's inquiry, Xia Xianzun, the story of Zilu's inquiry is..."

Xia Xiang smiled without saying a word, and pretended not to hear what Cui Fuzun said to the two of them intentionally. He just smiled and listened to Xie Huagai patiently.

…Confucius and his party were on their way to the state of Chu to carry a letter. Seeing that their destination was about to arrive, there was a river in front of them blocking the way.The river is not very wide, and the river is winding from a distance, but the river is crystal clear when viewed from a distance, and it meets another river here.Confucius and his disciples couldn't find a ferry, and without a ferry, they couldn't cross the river.

In a field not far away, two old men were hoeing with their heads bowed. These two old men were Gao Shichang, Ju and Jie, who were living in seclusion at that time.So, Confucius sent his eldest disciple Zilu to ask the two hermits for the location of the ferry.

Before Zilu could explain his intention, Chang Ju pointed to Confucius' car in the distance and asked Zilu, "Who is the person sitting in the car?"

Zilu replied, "He is my teacher, Confucius."

Chang Ju asked in a mocking tone, "Is that Confucius of Lu?"

"Exactly. The teacher asked me to ask about the location of the ferry."

"Isn't he born to know it? Then he should know where the ferry is without asking him, and why do you ask us farmers?"

Zilu had no interest in begging, and then turned to ask another hermit about Jieyu.Jie Yu stopped his hoe and asked, "Who are you?"

"I'm Zhongyu."

"Are you a disciple of Confucius of Lu State?"

"Yes."

"Tell you, the world is in chaos like a surging flood. Who can change such a world? Instead of traveling around with the person who always avoids bad people, it's better to follow us who avoid troubled times and be a hermit. At least the hermit can still be the world's turbid and I am alone." After Jie Yi finished speaking, he was busy hoeing the ground again, and ignored Zi Lu again.

Zilu had no choice but to tell Confucius what the two hermits, Changju and Jieyu, had said.

After Confucius heard this, he felt very uncomfortable, sad and sad, and also mixed with a sense of loneliness.After a while, Confucius thoughtfully told his disciples: "Man cannot be in the company of birds and beasts. Birds fly and can fly freely in the sky; beasts are in the mountains and forests and can be carefree. Walking. Everyone has their own aspirations, and only each has his own way. However, we are not dealing with people in the world, and who should we deal with? If the world is peaceful and in line with the right path, I don't need to work so hard to travel around the countries trying to change this troubled world. It's gone!"

Later, under the guidance of a farmer, Confucius and his disciples finally found the ferry when the sun was about to set, crossed the river, and arrived at Chenghan smoothly.In order to commemorate Confucius and his disciples passing by here, the river "Wenjin" in Zilu is called Zilu River, the town where "Wenjin" is located is called Zilu Town, another village is named Zilu Village, and a street is named Zilu Street.Zilu Town, Zilu Village, Zilu Street and Zilu River are all named after the allusion of "Zilu Wenjin".

And what Confucius said to Zilu was extended to point to the maze.

"Xia Xianzun, I don't know what Xie Xian said about the allusions of Zilu's interest, is there any mistake?" Xie Huagai asked Liu Changting to remind him, and then he remembered the story of the allusions, and hurriedly told it, "Next Xie will ask Xia Xianzun for guidance. I'm lost, and I hope Xia Xianzun will give me some advice."

(End of this chapter)