Before Qiao Xuan could answer, Mrs. Wei had already stepped forward, bowed deeply to Liu Xin, and said, "Lord Hui, we are here to visit relatives." ”

Liu Xin was surprised: "Oh, you still have relatives in Xiangyang?" Last time Liu was in Lujiang, I didn't hear you talk about it. ”

Mrs. Wei said with a smile: "Lord Liu is really a noble person who forgets things, and our relative is you." ”

Liu Xin frowned and said, "Your relative is me?" ”

Mrs. Wei nodded very affirmatively and said, "Lord Liu, you don't remember, your wife recognized the little girl as a righteous daughter." ”

Liu Xin suddenly realized: "Not bad, not bad." Outside Qiao, according to this, you and I are really relatives. Chan'er, let's see, who's coming. ”

Qiao Xuan's family came all the way from Lujiang, and there were three carriages in total, in addition to the one they rode on, there was probably one for the next person. And Liu Xin's family went out, and the scale was much larger. A lady alone had a special and elaborate carriage, which was a whole seven, and with the maids and the various utensils, it was a huge convoy.

The carriages in which Liu Xin's wives ride are specially designed, and they can clearly see the scenery outside when they sit in the car. Therefore, Minchan saw Qiao Xuan and his wife waiting outside the mansion in the car, but due to etiquette, without Liu Xin's summons, she really didn't dare to show up in front of people casually. Hearing Liu Xin shouting at her, Minchan immediately jumped out of the carriage, she has been practicing dance since she was a child, her body is flexible, and it is effortless to do these movements.

Minchan walked closer, took Mrs. Qiao's hand, and said, "It turned out that my mother-in-law came, what about the two little girls?" It's been almost a year, and I still miss them. ”

Mrs. Qiao turned around and shouted, "Liang'er, Wan'er, don't come and see your godmother soon." ”

The two pretty little girls got out of the carriage and said goodbye to Minchan. Minchan pulled one in one hand, looked left and right, and praised repeatedly: "I can't imagine that I haven't seen you for a year, you two little guys are more beautiful than before." ”

Qiao Xuan couldn't interject beside him, and couldn't help coughing dryly.

"Since it's a relative, don't stand outside the door and talk, let's go into the house together." Liu Xin knew that Qiao Xuan's temper was a little strange, and it was absolutely impossible for him to come here to visit relatives, so he couldn't help but smile and let their family into the house, and suddenly said, "Qiao Yuanwai, you came today, you won't just visit relatives." Do you still want to fulfill your duties? ”

At this time, Liu Xin had already remembered that Qiao Xuan was not only a wealthy gentry in Lujiang, but also a civil supervisor appointed by him personally, with the responsibility of supervising officials at all levels.

Qiao Xuan perked up and was about to speak, but he saw Mrs. Qiao looking at him and preemptively said, "Lord Liu is laughing, we are really here to visit relatives." ”

Liu Xin had already seen that there was something wrong here, and couldn't help laughing: "It turns out that I really came to visit relatives." In this case, Chan'er, you take Mrs. Qiao and the children to play in the back, and I will accompany Qiao to talk. ”

Female dependents have their own female dependents, this is the rule of going to relatives, Qiao Xuan is not only upright, but also rigid, these rules naturally have to be followed. Mrs. Qiao couldn't stay still in the living room, so she had to get up and follow Minchan to the back, and she couldn't stop glancing at Qiao Xuan when she left.

Qiao Xuan turned a blind eye to his wife's small movements, and when only he and Liu Xin were left in the living room, his face suddenly changed, and he said: "Lord Liu, when you hired Qiao as a civil supervisor last year, you once said that Qiao has the right to supervise officials at all levels, I don't know if this counts?" ”

"Of course it counts, how can it not count. Come and watch the tea. Liu Xin smiled, pointed to the tea bowl that the little maid had just served, and said, "Come, sit down and talk while drinking, this is this year's new tea." ”

Tea is now popular in the upper class, and when he was in Lujiang last year, Liu Xin once gave Qiao Xuan half a catty of good tea. After drinking it once, Qiao Xuan became addicted, but he could no longer buy such good tea on the market, and even ordinary tea was in great demand. This year's new tea is even more rich and has no place to buy it, and Qiao Xuan hasn't smelled the fragrance of tea for half a year.

Picking up the tea bowl, Qiao Xuan took a deep breath and exclaimed: "It's really good tea, but it's a pity that Qiao is just a common person, and he can't bear it." ”

Liu Xin heard what he said, and couldn't help but say: "Last year's tea production was limited, and it was naturally difficult for ordinary people to buy it. However, Jiangnan has opened up many new tea farms, and this year's tea production will triple from last year, and people with slightly better conditions will be able to drink tea. Of course, tea as a commodity is not something that anyone will like, nor can anyone afford to consume. Take Xiangyang as an example, Liu has been operating here for many years, and now there are still many families who can't eat meat a few times a year. The Chinese people have always suffered from inequality, which is a big mistake in Liu's view. ”

Qiao Xuan pointed to the turquoise and clear tea in the bowl and said, "But like this kind of top-quality tea, even if you have money, you can't buy it!" ”

These tea leaves were harvested from a few wild tea trees in Huiji Mountain before the Qingming Festival, and the annual output will not exceed two catties. These wild tea trees are now key protection objects, and there is a team of soldiers guarding them day and night, and all the new tea they picked is also sent to Xiangyang, and outsiders naturally have no money and no place to buy it. The tea leaves that Liu Xin usually drinks by himself are just Ming Qian tea produced in ordinary tea farms, and these teas will only be taken out when entertaining distinguished guests. If it weren't for Minchan recognizing Er Qiao as her goddaughter, Qiao Xuan probably wouldn't have been able to drink such good tea in his life.

Of course, Liu Xin couldn't explain the reason to Qiao Xuan in detail, so he couldn't help but snort and said, "Outside Qiao, let's put aside the tea matter for the time being, let's talk about the problems you want to reflect." Is there something about Lujiang Taishou who is a traitor? ”

Qiao Xuan said in a deep voice: "Lujiang is too conservative and follows the rules, what Qiao wants to talk about is your Lord Liu's problem." Not to mention anything else, just talking about tea, you alone have occupied the best tea in the entire Han Dynasty, is this a problem? ”

He kindly took out the best tea to entertain Qiao Xuan, but he didn't expect to cause an accident, Liu Xin couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Qiao is wrong to blame Liu." The tea that Liu drinks daily is no different from what is sold on the market, and it is bought by Liu with his own money. This kind of good tea is only used for important official receptions, such as the envoys of Fanbang to the court, and for example, the Han civil supervisors like you, which is an important part of the purging of officials, so I am fortunate to be able to taste this kind of good tea. ”

Qiao Xuan listened to what Liu Xin said, but he couldn't find any reason to refute it for a while, so he had to cough dryly and said, "Yes, Qiao Mou came here this time to perform his duties." The person Qiao Xuan wants to talk about is you, Lord Liu! ”

Qiao Xuan mentioned the issue of tea just now, Liu Xin thought that he was just borrowing the matter of tea to test whether he really let his civil supervisor speak freely, but he didn't expect that he really came to provoke himself, so he was stunned, and immediately stood up, bowed to Qiao Xuan, and said: "People are not sages, who can be without fault?" It's just that the world can't see its own mistakes, so it needs to be pointed out by others. Liu is also a layman, naturally there can be no exception, if there is anything wrong, please ask Qiao to say it clearly. Liu must change it if he has it, and encourage him if he doesn't. ”

Qiao Xuan didn't expect Liu Xin to speak so well, so he was stunned for a moment, and hesitated for a while before saying, "Don't hide it, my lord, Qiao came this time with the intention of dying." Your Excellency has just admitted that you and I are related. If there is anything wrong with Qiao's words that annoys the adult, I hope that the adult will spare the cheap and the two young daughters for the sake of the relatives, and Qiao will be grateful. ”

Liu Xin couldn't help frowning, and said sharply: "What are you talking about outside Qiao!" Even if there is no such relationship between you and me, Liu will not do anything unfavorable to you. Even if you say something wrong, it's a big deal that Liu exempts you from being a civil supervisor, so why worry about your life? Qiao Xuan, what are you here for today? If you have such an idea, Liu will not welcome you. ”

Qiao Xuan felt that he was spending the belly of a gentleman with the heart of a villain, and he was suddenly ashamed, and arched his hand and said, "Lord Hui, that's the case." Qiao heard rumors in Lujiang that the war between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao in the north was deliberately provoked by adults. The purpose of the adults is to let them fight and lose both, so that the adults can sit and reap the benefits of the fishermen. ”

Liu Xin's face couldn't help but become solemn, and he asked in a deep voice: "Is there anything wrong with Liu doing this?" ”

Qiao Xuan's heart sank, and he gritted his teeth and said: "But have you ever thought that the war in the north is protracted, and hundreds of people die every day. As the governor of the four states, the adult temporarily regents the government, but he only cares about his voice in Xiangyang, happy and happy, but he doesn't care about the people in the world. Dare to ask your lordship, is such an act guilty or innocent? ”

Liu Xin didn't speak, but stared at Qiao Xuan tightly, and that sharp look made Qiao Xuan's heart furious, and a trace of cold sweat was already oozing from his forehead.

Suddenly, Liu Xin smiled and said, "I'm afraid this is not Qiao Yuanwai's own thoughts, right?" I don't know who instructed Qiao Yuanwai, and I asked Qiao Yuanwai to tell the truth. ”

In fact, even if Qiao Xuan didn't say it, Liu Xin had already guessed who it was. Because these words are exactly the same as those fallacies that You Heng spread in Xiangyang a few days ago.

Because the influence of Dahan Express in Xiangyang is much greater than that in other places, and over the years, Liu Xin's actions in Xiangyang have brought a lot of benefits to the local people. Therefore, Liu Xin is the most loved by the people in Xiangyang, and You Heng's words do not have much market in Xiangyang at all, and in the end he was called "crazy" and was forced to leave Xiangyang in disgrace.

But You Heng also has some insight. Xiangyang is Liu Xin's "base area", which doesn't work here, so he naturally has to go to other places to sell his thoughts.