Yaerjiang'a, the prince of Heshuo Jian, who must be avenged, can't be offended, and Cui Defu, who burns the pot Zhuangzi, is not blind, so he came directly to the Daotai Mansion to "say goodbye" to Cao Hao a few days later.

Cao Hao had no choice, so he said a few words of greeting very sincerely, and then accepted the deed sent by Cui Defu with a little "gratitude" and the deed of the fans, Cui sisters and several subordinates on the side of the house.

Seeing Cui Defu's face smiling like a flower, Cao Hao knew that this gesture was effective. It is estimated that Cui Defu will be able to explain when he goes back.

After receiving the gift, Cao Hao had to say some words of "admiration" for Yarjianga, and prepared a decent return gift, and asked Cui Defu to reply to his master Yarjianga, he had to boast that he had done a good job.

Cao Hao is not short of silver now, and he has never thought about making money in foreign office, although the gift from Jian Wangfu is not a bribe, it is just the so-called "human favor" in normal interpersonal communication, but he was still depressed for a while. He really admires the style of those "clean officials" in his heart, and it is terrible that only a scholar from a poor family can have no scruples, always adhere to his position, not afraid of life and death, and only seek to leave a name in history and be famous for centuries.

Regarding the trouble that can't be pushed away, what Mr. Zhuang said before is that "recognize it under the knee and marry the place" is just a joke, not to mention that the reputation will be damaged because of the spread of the word, just say that it is a clan relative, and it is only applicable to the kind of officials who are not in the flag on Jiangning Road. ——Since the beginning of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, the Cao family has been in the banner, and the population in the family has long been recorded, where can two nieces of the same clan come out casually?

It can be regarded as a blessing for the two sisters to meet themselves, at least they no longer have to be picked and sent back and forth like goods. It's just that Cao Hao is a lazy person, and now his family, friends, and yamen need to worry about it everywhere, where will he bear the fate and joys and sorrows of others? Besides, he is not a hard-hearted person, if he really makes the two little girls miserable for the rest of their lives because of his improper arrangement, it will inevitably blame themselves for this.

Whether it is to be a concubine for an official eunuch, or a wife for a small commoner, or if you have other plans, let the two sisters choose their own lives. Cao Hao's current concern is the renovation of the Nancheng house.

This house has a large garden and is close to the water, which is much cooler than the Daotai Yamen. It's just that the path paved with bluestone slabs is naturally all pried up and replaced with pebbles. The pontoon bridge leading from the promenade to the pavilion on the lotus pond is a little old, and in some places there is already moss, and it has been replaced with new ones.

Cao Hao was looking for deficiencies everywhere, and Cao Yanxiao, Cao Yanwei, and Wu Mao led people to repair in shifts. After only four or five days, the whole house has been completely renewed.

Along with this house, there are two rooms and two little maids. The two little maids were waiting for the Pink Butterfly sisters, and the people in the two rooms were originally looking at the house, and I heard that they were left by the previous owner.

There was no shortage of manpower on the Cao family's side, and Cao Hao couldn't trust outsiders, so he gave the two people in the house the identity deed and sent them away. The two little maids had just been bought back from the Yizhou market, and they still stayed on an errand with the Pink Butterfly sisters.

Pink butterflies and green butterflies are placed in the west courtyard. The two sisters knew how to obey the rules, and stayed in the house without a command, and when they were really bored, they just walked around their own yard.

Cui Die is simple-minded, sometimes through the courtyard gate, looking at the ground breaking outside, full of curiosity, can't help but go back to the house and ask her sister: "Good ground, why do you re-pave it?" The pontoon bridge is the same, and the chains are added on both sides, what is the reason, Cao Ye is really strange! ”

Pink Butterfly sat at the round table, listened to her chirping, and said with a light smile: "Presumably this Cao Ye is a child of a big family, and he is used to being exquisite!" ”

Cui Die sat opposite her sister, held her chin, thoughtfully, and said after a while: "Since you have cleaned up this house, you want to come to Cao Ye and come here, if so, in addition to playing the piano and flute, chanting poems and painting...... Speaking of this, her face turned red, and she said in a low voice: "Is it ...... I still have to wait for Cao Ye...... That one? ”

When Pink Butterfly heard this, she was stunned at first, and then understood what her sister was referring to, and her cheeks couldn't help but be covered with red glow. Seeing that there was a faint hope in her sister's eyes, she couldn't bear to be sad later, so she mentioned: "Maybe Cao Ye cleaned up the house, but also to be like Cui Ye, in order to give away!" ”

Cui Die's face showed a little disappointment, but then it was fine, and she smiled: "It would be nice if the new master was as interesting as Cao Ye!" ”

Pink Butterfly touched the strings with her hand, silent. Although the hands are itchy, in order not to leave outsiders with a frivolous bad feeling, the strings cannot be plucked at will.

Seeing that her sister was silent, Cui Die lost her interest in talking, lying on the table and playing with the skein bracelet in her hand.

When I was bored, I saw an eleven or two-year-old little girl with a little childish spirit come in and reply: "Two girls, Master Cao is here, send someone to spread the word, and invite the girls to the front hall!" ”

This little maid is called Lotus Leaf, and another one who evokes the lotus heart, and waits beside the two sisters.

The two sisters glanced at each other, both with a little puzzlement and apprehension, but they didn't dare to delay, they checked each other's hair and clothes, and when they saw that they were all in order, they came out with the lotus leaves.

Cao Hao sat in the hall, depressed, and cleaned up the yard in such a hurry, just to bring Chu Yu to live here earlier, so as to save the stuffiness of Daotai Mansion. I don't want to, the governor Yamen came down to write, and Gan Guobi, the envoy of Jiangsu, was promoted to the political envoy of Shandong, and arrived at Jinan Mansion on June 20, and people like Cao Hao who were directly subordinate to the Daoist had to rush to Jinan Mansion to greet Shangguan before that.

Now, it is the ninth day of the first month, and there are still ten days left, and there are still a few days of delay on the road, and then it is necessary to meet the governor or other colleagues in advance for entertainment, and after a few days, he will have to leave.

Although the garden here is large, but there are not many houses, just three entrances, except for the main courtyard on the middle road, there are two small courtyards on the left and right, and there are not too many people.

If he is not there, Chu Yu is on the side of Daotai Mansion, and there are also Lianqiu, Xiqiu, Master Han, and Master Lu, and they will not be too boring to talk to each other.

Cao Hao thought about it, and when he came back from Jinan Mansion, he would bring Chu Yu here to escape the summer. Now, however, the two sisters must be settled first.

The two sisters came in, stood down a few steps away, and greeted Cao Hao with a salute.

Cao Hao did not occupy the upper position, but sat on the chair on one side, pointed to the seat opposite, and asked the two of them to sit down.

Pink Butterfly and Emerald Butterfly hesitated slightly, leaned over slightly, and sat down next to the chair behind them.

* Dotai House, living room.

Mr. Zhuang's face was full of joy, and he said: "I heard the news from the capital in April, and I knew that Wu Qiao was taking the test, and I thought about going to a letter to congratulate me, but I was just catching up with some chores here, so I was delayed!" I thought I would see you again when I went back to Beijing, but I didn't expect to be able to gather here and now, which is really 'unpleasant'! ”

Sitting opposite him, wearing a cyan silk coat and a smile on his face, it was Mr. Zhuang's old friend Cheng Mengxing.

Although he is famous in Jiangnan, Cheng Mengxing really did not take the imperial examination to heart, and went to the capital to take the exam, but after the death of his wife, he was afraid of touching the scene; At the same time, his mother and the elders of the clan forced his relatives to be tight, so under the guise of the imperial examination, he stayed in the capital. This time, he inadvertently tried it, and was selected to stay in the Hanlin Academy to study, but this was exactly what he wanted.

The decree for the selection of the Shuji was on the 19th day of the fourth month, and according to the custom, starting at the beginning of the following month, these new monks had a four-month holiday. Most people take this opportunity to return to their hometowns,—— if they are married, they will also get married at this time, and then return to Beijing with their families.

Cheng Mengxing knew that it would be difficult to shirk this time, and he was originally in the name of "studying", and he wanted to marry after winning the Jinshi, so he didn't pay much attention to entering the examination room, but he didn't admit that he was in the second class.

In the capital reluctantly dragged on for a month, Yangzhou has sent several people, and finally the old lady gave an ultimatum to her son, telling him that if he doesn't come back, he will directly set a daughter-in-law.

Cheng Mengxing had no choice but to set off to return to his hometown, and when he passed through Tancheng County, he remembered that Mr. Zhuang was in Cao Hao's office, and the Yamen station was Yizhou, which is adjacent to Tancheng County, so he turned north and came to visit this old friend.

"It's still mine, Mr. didn't catch up with the joy of adding a new woman, two congratulatory gifts, but it can't be delayed any longer!" After Cheng Mengxing finished speaking, he called the accompanying little guy to offer gifts.

Three sandalwood boxes, two slightly larger and one slightly smaller. Although he didn't know what was inside, Mr. Zhuang knew that Cheng Mengxing was not a formal person, so he didn't refuse to accept that set again, and thanked him with a smile on behalf of his concubine's daughter.

After the two gossiped, they talked about current affairs in the capital. Like what kind of powerful things like "Tuohe Gathering for Drink", where will a literati with a surname like Cheng Mengxing pay attention to, the most concerned is Dai Mingshi's "Nanshan Collection Case".

Most of the people involved are the leaders of Jiangnan Shilin, and many of them have personal relationships. Although Kangxi forgave the Fang clan who were implicated, his handling of the culprit of "Dai Mingshi" did not mean to be lighter at all.

Maybe by the time of this autumn and autumn decision, Dai Mingshi, the great Confucian of the world, will be in a different place.

Mr. Zhuang and Cheng Mengxing are both literati, and they also sincerely admire Dai Mingshi, thinking that he has been famous all over the world for 20 years, and he ended up like this, I can't help but sigh again.

I lost interest for a while, and even mentioned Enke next year, but I just said a few words casually. When the two sighed in unison, Fang glanced at each other and turned away from the topic of Shilin with a smile. Even if you feel emotional, it's just a greasy taste, do you still have to complain all the time, so that you don't want to be a Han person?

When talking about Mr. Zhuang's old daughter, Cheng Mengxing couldn't help but feel moved and said, "Sir, why don't we get married?" Mr. also knows that the two children left by the deceased wife of the star, the youngest daughter is the older, and the younger child is five years old this year, although she is older than Ling Yan, she is also a good match! ”

Cheng Mengxing is a celebrity, and he is his best friend, Mr. Zhuang can't help but be moved, but when he thinks of the Cheng family's wealthy family, he hesitates, and says with a smile: "Wu Qiao, in vain, you are always called a self-proclaimed gentleman, laughing at others old-fashioned, these two children are only a little bit older, who knows what the surname will be in the future." If we are elders, on a whim, we will set their lives, this is too much child's play! ”

Cheng Mengxing patted his forehead and said with a smile: "Mr. Mo strange, Mr. Mo strange, isn't it confused to look at the stars?" Why did he hide in the capital, he seemed to have forgotten, and unknowingly had the habit of rotting Confucianism! Speaking of this, the marriage event, the flag man is more transparent than us! ”

Cheng Mengxing is not a dull person, so he naturally understands that Mr. Zhuang has concerns, which is just a polite refusal, but he is also considerate of his fatherly heart.

I don't know why, I didn't think about it yet, but since I entered Yizhou, Cheng Mengxing remembered the woman who talked about Lan with him. After entering the Daotai Yamen for a while, he also remembered two or three times, so he asked: "Sir, when you were in charge of the Amethyst girl in your mansion, but you went out of Beijing with Lord Cao and his wife?" ”

Mr. Zhuang knew that he had helped Cao Hao repair the garden the year before last and knew Amethyst, and when he heard him ask, he didn't think much about it, and nodded: "The inner house is all managed by Amethyst, so naturally it follows here!" ”

Cheng Mengxing thought about it for a while, and said with a smile: "Don't hide it, I didn't know it yet, but I knew that this amethyst girl and Xing were still relatives." If it's convenient, Xing also wants to meet her this time and talk about the old things! ”

The year before last, when Cao Hao sent people south to check on Amethyst's relatives, it was arranged by Mr. Zhuang. Mr. Zhuang knew that Amethyst had an aunt who married into the Hu family, and the Hu family and the Cheng family were also relatives. Speaking of which, Amethyst and Cheng Mengxing can also be regarded as in-laws.

It's just that Amethyst is named Cao's maidservant, and she actually has a sister and brother friendship with Cao Hao, how can Mr. Zhuang call the shots? Cheng Mengxing is not an outsider, and Mr. Zhuang does not hide it from him, and says honestly: "Although the Amethyst girl had a rough and bumpy childhood, she lived freely in the Cao family. Her business, let alone being decrepit, is afraid that even if it is the son's side, she will not be self-sufficient. Now, the old man can only promise to help Wu Qiao convey it, as for whether the Amethyst girl is willing to gossip with Wu Qiao about old things, this depends on her own idea! ”

When Cheng Mengxing helped Cao Mansion in the capital to repair the garden, he also knew some things about Cao Mansion, and knew that Cao Hao was very kind to Amethyst, and at first he really had speculation, thinking that Cao Hao had the intention of accepting Amethyst as Hu Jiren said, but he was just the son of a family, he did not marry a wife or take a concubine, and his reputation was not good, and his wife was a member of the royal family.

Cao Hao is humble and polite, Amethyst is generous and demure, although the age difference between the two is a little, but it doesn't look obvious. Now, thinking about it, Cheng Mengxing is ashamed of his villain's heart. Thinking in my heart, I have been hypocritical, why did I be blinded by lard and believe my cousin's nonsense? Although in front of that guy, he said hard in his mouth, in fact, he already saw Amethyst and Cao Hao together in his heart, and even had a little envy for Cao Hao.

While the two were talking, Cao Hao had already come back with a letter, and he didn't have time to change his clothes, so he came directly to see Cheng Mengxing.

Among the people who came into contact with this life, Cao Hao thought that he rarely owed anything, and even if he received favor and help, he would return it wholeheartedly. There are only two of them, the fourth elder brother and Cheng Mengxing, one is a life-saving grace, and the other is a help because of the rise, no matter how big or small this favor is, but there is no chance of reciprocation so far. Not to mention Cheng Mengxing's freewheeling surname and lazy style, which made Cao Hao envious. Since he became acquainted with Cheng Mengxing and learned a little about his behavior, Cao Hao sighed several times. Even if he wants to be reborn in another world, why not let him be reborn in the Cheng family and be a relaxed and happy man?

The Cheng family has ancestors who have a lingering shadow, and no matter who becomes the emperor, they all treat their family well; If you have a lot of property, you can choose to enter the office, or you can choose to do business, or you may be a free and easy landlord. Where do you need to be like him, obviously a lazy surname, the most tired of using his brain, but he can only finish this, worry about that, want to do whatever he wants, but there are constant troubles to take care of.

"Mr. Cheng, Cao Hao is late to come back, and I ask Brother Wu Qiao to forgive me!" Cao Hao greeted with a smile.

Cheng Mengxing was a little flattered, but he didn't panic, he got up and said, "Mengxing has seen Master Cao!" ”

Cao Hao was stunned for a moment, and then said with a smile: "Mr. Cheng, what is this for?" If you follow the courtesy, Brother Wu Qiao and Mr. are equals, don't you want to force Cao Hao to perform the junior ceremony? ”

Cheng Mengxing also heard about Cao Hao's first month from Jiangning to the north. I thought that although Cao Hao was young, he was in a place where he was out, and his status was precious, and the grade of the fourth grade was not low, so he must not be as modest as in the past. Unexpectedly, between these words, it was much more open than in the capital, which was quite unexpected.

Cheng Mengxing smiled and said, "If Fu Ruo says this, then Xing is not polite!" ”

Cao Hao listened to Mr. Zhuang talk about the first thing in the process of dreaming of stars and spring, and in the greetings, he couldn't help but congratulate him. I was also happy for him when I learned that he had chosen Shu Jishi and entered the Hanlin Academy to study.

Although Hanlin has no rights, it is noble and leisurely. Cao Hao thought that he had studied hard for nearly ten years, but he didn't even enter the gate of the imperial examination, which was really embarrassing.

When he was a child, when he was studying in the clan study with Gu Na and Cao Song, Cao Hao still thought about trying to try the imperial examination. When he was older, after Gu Na won the lift, he realized that he and his younger brother Cao Song were both admitted to the prison when they were young, and they were considered meritorious people. It's so simple, but I don't have the interest to take the test.

After a few words of gossip, Cao Hao asked Mr. Zhuang to accompany him first, chatted first, and went to the inner courtyard to change his clothes and come back. In the evening, everyone drank together to wash the dust for Cheng Mengxing.

(To be continued)