It was rainy. Du Zhongxiao and Han Yueniang sat in the small shop, watching the raindrops dripping from the eaves and smiling at each other.

Du Zhongxiao sighed slightly: "Back then, it was this small shop, you sold wine in it, and I sent sheep's feet here." A few years have passed, but now it seems like yesterday. Life's chances are truly magical. ”

Han Yueniang nodded, did not speak, and looked at the rain outside.

The small shop has been sold to other families, and it is two strangers with two children, busy inside and out. The wine sold was bought on credit from Du Zhongxiao's restaurant, and two large jars stood in front of the counter.

After drinking a bowl of wine, Du Zhongxiao said to Han Yueniang: "Let's go, let's go out for a walk." In a few days, I will be on my way to the state before August. The road to Hedong is long, and I dare not delay the time limit of Xia Xianggong, so I must start early. ”

Han Yueniang nodded, went to the door with Du Zhongxiao, and opened an oil-paper umbrella. Tao Qiqi took out a few coins and went to the counter to count the wine money. Thirteen Lang took a hat, put on a robe, and walked in front.

Walking through the familiar streets and looking at the few pedestrians in the rain, it is like a world away. A few years ago, Du Zhongxiao didn't know how much he had walked on this path, and at that time he couldn't stop at all in order to run around for life, and the surrounding scenery was familiar and unfamiliar.

Lin Ying is still the same as it was back then, the small city is not big, and it is not long to go to the drunken fairy building.

A few people entered the restaurant, and Director Song, who was on duty, hurriedly came over and saluted: "I don't know that the official and the lady are here, and they can't welcome them from afar, forgive your sins!" ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "We have nothing to do, go to the city for a walk, you can go and busy yourself." - By the way, bring two bottles of wine, cut two plates of meat, and find a quiet pavilion upstairs, and we will eat and talk. ”

Director Song promised and gave his own orders.

A few people entered the pavilion on the second floor, Du Zhongxiao and Han Yueniang picked up a window seat and sat down, and Tao Seventeen and Thirteen Lang sat outside.

After a while, the wine and meat came up, Thirteen Lang and Tao Seventeen sat opposite each other to enjoy it, and Du Zhongxiao and his wife only cared about the scenery.

Look at the entry into June, Du Zhongxiao must leave, otherwise once he can't arrive in August, he is afraid that Xia Zhu will be unhappy. Before leaving, Du Zhongxiao took Han Yueniang to the county town to revisit.

Looking at the people hurrying in the rain on the street, Du Zhongxiao said: "I want to leave, and I suddenly feel a little reluctant in my heart." I really want to live quietly in such a small city and live my life with my family. ”

Han Yueniang was full of sorrow, and when she heard this, she couldn't help but laugh and said, "What did Da Lang say?" We are only old enough to have this mindset. When you say that in a few decades, I will be left to you. Now it's a young man, and it's time to conquer the world—"

After saying that, he shook his head with a smile.

Du Zhongxiao also smiled and didn't say anything. I don't know what's going on, this time I left my hometown to take up my post, Du Zhongxiao was not as ambitious as last time, and I only felt that I was happy. Maybe it's because in the past three years in Yongcheng, the days have been too dull, and in the end, if it weren't for Xia Zhu's appreciation, the future would be very slim. When I was a jinshi, I still felt that once I became an official, relying on my thousand-year-old memory, I would inevitably do something amazing.

It turns out that officialdom is not so easy to mix. If you are full of knowledge, even if your political achievements are outstanding, no one appreciates them, and that's it. Du Zhongxiao ranked first in Yongcheng's performance appraisal every year, and did a lot of good things for the locality, but in the end, if it wasn't for Xia Zhu's promotion, he wouldn't even be able to get promoted, and I don't know what year and month he would be able to climb out of the deep pit of the shogunate.

For a small family, there is no one to help in the officialdom, and if there is no appreciation from important ministers, it will not be easy to get through. One term for three years, plus running on the road, the capital is vacant, and one or two decades have passed in a blink of an eye, and only two or three substantive positions have been done, and the youth has been wasted. Just like the previous general sentence Su Shunqin, he was born in a wealthy family, and he was still a local petty official for more than ten years, not to mention Du Zhongxiao's background.

Thinking of these, Du Zhongxiao became more and more grateful to Xia Zhu. Without the opportunity he gave this time, Du Zhongxiao didn't know how many years he would have to waste before he could have the opportunity to be on his own. With the increase in the number of Jinshi in recent years, there are many officials and few officials, the term of office of officials is getting shorter and shorter, the time of vacancy is getting longer and longer, and it is becoming more and more difficult to be promoted.

Han Yueniang looked out the window and said in a low voice: "Da Lang, bring Bingzhou, write letters to my family from time to time, don't let me and my family worry about it." It is located in the borderland, not as good as the Central Plains, you should be careful in everything. ”

Du Zhongxiao said with a smile: "Even if you put it down, Bingzhou is a big city in Hedong, no worse than the Central Plains." Now that peace is being negotiated in the northwest, there is no war in the north, and there is nothing in the border areas. You are at ease at home, and I will take you with me when I am done. ”

Han Yueniang smiled and did not speak.

On the fourth day of the sixth lunar month, Du Zhongxiao took Tao Seventeen, Thirteen Lang and Chen Qin and others to bid farewell to Han Yueniang and her parents and family, and went out of Linying all the way to the north. Luo Jing and Qu Wuniang wanted to help the family build the newly bought Zhuangzi and stayed in Linying.

Jingjing and Xiaoqing separated, and the two slept together last night and said the same thing. When it was time to leave, his eyes were still red, and he was extremely reluctant. Tao Seventeen, Thirteen Lang and the others saw it and couldn't stop laughing.

A good man is ambitious in all directions, Du Zhongxiao arrived at Hedong Road, the official was promoted, his status changed, he was on the border, and there was an opportunity to make contributions. Tao Seventeen, Thirteen Lang and others are full of yearning, and with Du Zhongxiao as their backer, they may be able to fight for their background.

Du Xun and his wife took Du Zhongxiao's hand and repeatedly told them to do everything from officialdom to diet and daily life. Han Yueniang, who was on the side, had a calm face, holding the child and looking at Du Zhongxiao. In the past few days, the husband and wife have seen all the scenery around them, and what they should say has already been said. Han Yueniang is no longer the little girl who sells wine on the side, Du Zhongxiao went out as an official, and she wants to support a huge family.

Sent straight out of the Ten Mile Pavilion, everyone was reluctant to say goodbye. Du Zhongxiao turned over and got on his horse, gritted his teeth and galloped forward.

Tao Qiqi glanced back at the vague county seat in the distance, and sighed for no reason: "Hey, I have to leave before I think this place is very good." If it weren't for the officials, I really wanted to live here without having to run around, how much better! ”

Thirteen Lang said with a smile: "Seventeen, Bingzhou is a border land, and I don't know how many military exploits. The two of us are here to go hand in hand, earn some credit, and fight for an official body, so that this life is worthwhile. Why is it that now, you are your mother-in-law and mother-in-law? ”

Tao Seventeen said: "You don't know, my father and mother were killed by adulterers when I was a child and became a beggar. In those days, there was nothing, there was food to eat, money to spend, and only thought about revenge, feeling that life was nothing more than that. It wasn't until a few years later that I realized how pitiful I was at that time. In this life, I don't want to live that kind of life again, how good it is to live in peace. ”

Thirteen Lang laughed, whipped Tao Seventeen's horse, and ran forward together.