Chapter 710: Fighting for the Tiger is Heartbreaking

Late at night. Xujia Inn in the southwest of Huangpu Town.

Due to its poor location, business here is much worse than other inns in town, but this night a red lantern was hung out for the first time to indicate that it was full. The door panels in the inn have all been lowered, and the shopkeeper has hidden back in the house early under the "orders" of the guests, and only a few old and young men are still busy working everywhere according to the instructions. There were more than a dozen or twenty sturdy and capable guards standing in the lobby and across the courtyard, and under the dim flames of a few oil lamps, they could see the waist knives they were carrying on their left waists.

In the main room of the East Cross Courtyard, the eight-petal lotus-shaped copper leaky pot is now loyal to its duties, and drops of clear water fall into the copper plate, causing a circle of ripples. The original simple and simple furnishings have now been replaced with a new set of clothes, and the furniture made of ordinary cedar wood is covered with all kinds of gorgeous cloth and silk covers, which looks clean and tidy. Behind the crimson curtain, Qin Huaijin was leaning on the Taishi chair half-asleep with one hand on his head, and suddenly asked without raising his head.

"Why hasn't anyone come back yet?"

Although there were two people waiting next to him, no one dared to squeak. Just as Qin Huai opened his eyes cautiously and wanted to reprimand people, the door was pushed open suddenly, and a young man dressed in a rose and purple flower silk shirt walked in quickly. When he got closer, he hurriedly saluted, and then whispered, "Father, everything has been taken care of!" ”

Qin Huaijin breathed a long sigh of relief, and waved his hand to order the two little guys to retreat. When the gate was completely covered, he sat up straight and asked solemnly, "Are you sure you have checked it carefully, and there is no mistake?" ”

"Father, you can rest assured, is it the first time for me to do things for you, which time is not appropriate?" Qin Huaijin's adopted son, Qin Yi, stepped forward to stand beside him, bowed down and lowered his voice and said, "This annual Dragon Boat Festival dragon boat race is a major event in Guangzhou Prefecture, and this folk gambling scene is even more lively. For this, I also deliberately placed a heavy bet on thousands of green worms, and if I won, this is 5,000 yuan. This kind of gossip spreads very quickly, and everyone will think that you want to take advantage of it. ”

Hearing this, Qin Huaijin immediately frowned. The adopted son's strategy took advantage of his reputation for loving money as his life, and he was naturally a little unhappy, but compared to his own safety, this mere amount of money was naturally not important. Therefore, he finally nodded: "Okay, spend more money to eliminate the disaster, as long as things can be done properly." By the way, what is going on with those Li people? ”

"It's just a few small characters used to send death, and my father doesn't have to take it to heart."

Qin Yi prevaricated, and said that tomorrow was a critical juncture, and persuaded Qin Huaijin to go to bed early. When he made the bed and put the quilt on the bed, he lowered the curtain, walked out of the door quickly, and asked the two little servants to go in and serve. When he returned to his own room in the West Cross Courtyard, he sent the dozing boy at the door and entered the house alone. Closing the door with his backhand and slowly taking a few steps forward, he took a deep breath and grinned triumphantly.

"Fifth Young Master."

Qin Yi, who was immersed in infinite fantasy, heard this familiar and unfamiliar name, suddenly opened his eyes, and saw a man who looked like a guy flashing on the side of the bed, he couldn't help but sink his face and reprimanded: "Lao An, in the middle of the night, who allowed you to come to see me casually?" ”

"There are too many guards outside, and the little ones are afraid of alarming them, so they can only hide here by pretending to be a buddy, and they have no choice but to ask the fifth young master to forgive their sins." Lao An saw that Qin Yi lit the lamp by himself, but he didn't look at him, so he had to bend his knees and kowtow, "Fifth young master, the head of the family sent the little one to question." The fifth young master has been under Qin Huaijin for many years, and now that the new monarch has ascended the throne, he is afraid that there will be any changes above, so please ask the fifth young master to plan more, and don't forget his own identity. ”

Qin Yi walked to the side of the bed with the candlestick in one hand, and her face suddenly changed when she heard the last sentence. Turning his head to look at Lao An, he saw that he was kneeling on the ground and did not raise his head, so he turned around and put down the candlestick first, and stretched lazily: "I know about this, you go back and tell the second uncle, and say that I will do my best." After waiting for so many years, he didn't care about this time and a half, he had to be patient. Qin Huaijin is an old fox, I never dared to mention these things over the years, but now that I have done a lot of things for him, after some time, I will be sure to move him to the palace. The ministers in the palace have changed, but he has also worked hard for his position. ”

Seeing that Lao An moved his legs and stood up, but still had no intention of leaving, he said angrily: "What are you doing there?" Hurry up, if people see it, how will you let me play this future play? ”

Compared with Qin Yi, who was dressed in a body of clothes, Lao An was dressed in coarse cloth clothes, and there was a clean soft towel hanging on his hand, with the sad look on his face, he looked like an old guy who was used to running the hall. At this moment, seeing that Qin Yi didn't turn his head and ignore himself again, a trace of hesitation flashed on his face, and finally he still asked with his heart turned his heart sideways: "Fifth Young Master, little dare to ask, what did you ask us to send a few Li people with all the hard work?" ”

"When is it your turn to take care of my affairs!"

Qin Yi was suddenly furious, turned around and strode over, and actually gave Lao An a mouthful with a split, and then said viciously: "You remember for me, I am in charge of the affairs here, you are just a subordinate in the family, and it is not your turn to point fingers!" If you still want to do things for your second uncle, if you still want your family to continue to live in peace, then keep your mouth shut! It won't be such a slap next time you do it again, you remember it for me! ”

Holding his cheeks in severe pain, Lao An didn't dare to say anything more, and hurriedly withdrew after saluting. Seeing him leave, Qin Yi couldn't help but sneer, and when he returned to the bedside, he fell down directly. Looking at the gauze tent on the top with his hands on his pillow, he gradually remembered the days of these years. In order to send himself to this old eunuch slave as an adopted son, the family can be said to have used their brains, and he, who has no roots and no foundation, spares no effort to tie up with the old guy, in order not to go back to suffer. When he knew that Qin Huaijin was about to fall inevitably, he didn't think about any family at all, he only thought about himself.

He definitely didn't want to go back to live that miserable life where he couldn't move an inch, as long as he could help Qin Huaijin pass this level, he would be able to completely remove the shackles on his body. Stay in the future...... Maybe you don't have to wait for the future, the adoptive father's things are not his?

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but smile coldly: "If people don't do it for themselves, the heavens and the earth will be destroyed!" ”

Since there was no curfew, even though it was the fourth watch, there were still people walking around the streets of Huangpu Town, but most of them were in a hurry. Lao An, who left the Xu Family Inn, was faltering, a day's hard work was secondary, but the most important thing was tired, and when he reached the corner of the street, he couldn't help but reach out and support the wall of the house next to him, and stopped to gasp for breath.

Looking at the fifth young master like this, it seems that there is some kind of plan, just don't ruin the family's plans for many years in the end!

"Ann...... Uncle? ”

Hearing this hesitant voice, Lao An suddenly woke up and quickly stood up straight. Seeing that there was a girl with a somewhat familiar face in front of him, he blinked vigorously, and it took a while to recognize the person, and he couldn't help but say with surprise and joy: "Jiu Niang? How did you end up here...... You are too, even if you are dissatisfied with your uncle and aunt calling the shots for you, you can't run out without a sound! ”

Jiu Niang held a big food box in both hands, tilted her head and looked Lao An up and down for a while, then blinked and smiled: "Instead of marrying a bad old man, it is better to go out and break through." Although it is harder for me to be alone now, life is better than living there, and although there is danger, it has passed now......" She hesitated, but still did not say the noble man who had helped her, and only asked, "Uncle An, how did you come here?" ”

Lao An couldn't answer this rhetorical question, so he had to casually break up a reason to confuse the past. Seeing her carrying a food box, he immediately understood that Jiuniang inherited the craft from his mother, and felt pity in his heart, but he knew that the things in the family were still unclear, and he couldn't help her at all, so he had to say a few words. Seeing that she nodded obediently, he was about to leave, but at this moment, a carriage on the road suddenly stopped next to the two.

"Isn't this the girl who sells snacks?"

A fat man poked his head out of the car and greeted Jiu Niang with a smile. Seeing that the person who came was gorgeously dressed, not like a random street person, although Jiu Niang didn't know her, she still nodded. And Lao An quietly hid behind Jiu Niang, and his eyes were staring at each other tightly. Only for a moment, he already recognized the other party as Chu Fatzi, who specialized in jewelry trading. Although I am not sure whether the other party is sure of me, it is right to be careful.

"When I passed by the evening market before, I happened to buy a few of your dim sum, and I just invited someone to use it, and they all said that it tasted good. Guangzhou Mansion is so big, there are really not many people who can do the northern point. If you want, you can go to the Caiyun Tower in the east of the town to try it in the future, just say that it was recommended by my Chu fat man, and they will always buy me a face. ”

If a rich and noble family wants to find a cook, Jiuniang will hesitate and hesitate, but when she heard that someone recommended the famous Caiyun Building in Huangpu Town, she was overjoyed and hurriedly thanked and agreed. When the carriage passed by, she couldn't help but turn around and smile at Lao An: "Uncle An, it's really good luck to meet you tonight, I'll definitely try it tomorrow." ”

Lao An smiled uncomfortably, comforted Jiuniang a few more words and parted ways with her. Halfway down the road, his heart was full of doubts. Chu Fatzi's reputation among businessmen is not bad, but he is by no means an impulsive person, and it sounds really strange to do such a favor for a good snack. But Jiuniang has nothing to do with the family, so it shouldn't be so calculating...... Thinking about it, he put this matter behind him, thinking about Qin Yi's words and deeds just now.

The fifth young master is away all the year round, and he is followed by such a rich and powerful old eunuch, if he is not really planning for the family, wouldn't the old people of the family master's generation be in vain in the end? In the six or seven years since the head of the family was in power, the family has been planning to be able to break away from Hainan, but although the nobles have funded it, they should not do anything else, and the head of the family has no choice but to put his mind on the eunuchs in the palace, and has sent countless money one after another, but he still does not dare to reveal the true details. Now, Liu Yongcheng, the eunuch of the imperial horse eunuch, is already a little unwilling, if Qin Huaijin has any mistakes here, the family may even be cut off.

After walking through several avenues and along a dark alley for a long time, Lao An stopped in front of an inconspicuous courtyard. He knocked on the door and entered, and went straight to the house due north. As soon as he stepped into the threshold with the bamboo curtain up, he saw an old man dozing off on the Taishi chair, and hurriedly stepped forward.

"Second master."

"Hmm......" The old man on the seat suddenly woke up, and saw that it was Lao An standing in front of him, he immediately lifted his spirits and asked in a deep voice, "What did Chang Xin say there?" ”

In front of the old man, Lao An didn't dare to mention Qin Yi's stiff and arrogant attitude before, so he could only choose a nice explanation. However, although he lowered his head, the old man still saw half of his red and swollen cheeks, and suddenly hammered on the armrest, and interrupted Lao An's words sharply: "Don't hide it, what kind of attitude is he, you tell me the truth!" ”

Seeing the old man staring at him, although Lao An didn't want to say it, he couldn't stand the blazing gaze after all, so he had to tell the previous situation in 1510. Seeing that the old man was really trembling with anger, he hurriedly persuaded again: "Second master, the fifth young master may have been angry with the old eunuch, so he is a little unconcerned about the affairs of the family, but after all, he will not forget what his surname is......"

"I think he forgot what his surname was, he thought his real surname was Qin!"

The old man picked up a teacup on the high table next to him, and wanted to smash it, but after raising it high, he slowly put it down, unaware that the water overflowing from the teacup had wet his sleeves along his hands. After a long time, he sighed deeply, and his old face was full of hatred and hatred.

"Since the family suffered a catastrophe overnight, not only the sky fell, but even the glory and wealth that was easy to get were in vain, and the whole family was even moved to the ends of the earth at once. For this, the eldest brother ignored the opposition and quietly went to do business, groveling to those Cantonese businessmen, and it was easy to get a piece of the pie; After I took over, I used the money I had accumulated over the years to contact Zhonggui. However, none of these younger generations are angry! Changtian said he was dead, but he didn't actually run out? Changxin is the same, obviously he doesn't want to take responsibility anymore, and the other small ones are also cowardly and incompetent...... The huge Qiu family can't find a responsible person! ”

Seeing that the old man fell on the Taishi's chair, Lao An couldn't say a word, so he could only sigh with him. The servants of his generation can still be loyal, but who else in the next generation is willing to serve a declining family?