"Later, there was no news of Cui Jinzhu, and when I first arrived in Changsha County, I was busy with errands, so I forgot about it. I didn't expect to hear her news again after many years......" Speaking of this, Ma Junfang remembered that Cao Hao mentioned "daughter" or something in Fang Cai's words, and couldn't help but be surprised: "Could it be that if you meet Cui's family?" She has daughters...... She said it was my ......."

Seeing him like this, Cao Hao couldn't help laughing, shook his head and said, "What I met was not Cui's, it was Cui's daughter." According to her own words, she has been dependent on her mother for as long as she can remember. Her mother named her Cheng Yuan, and told her that her father was an official in the capital and was called Ma Jun. When she was ten years old, her mother was seriously ill, and she sold herself to buy medicine for her mother. As a result, her mother didn't last long, and she was gone. ”

When Ma Jun heard this, he couldn't help but be dumbfounded, and said, "How can this be?" ”

Cao Hao had already restrained his smile and said, "Although she is not your flesh and blood, in this girl's heart, she is your father." grew up in that kind of dirty place, but the surname is quite resolute, and he never forgets to go to Beijing to find his father. is also a smart one, he has only been in Beijing for a few months, and he has not only found out about your family, but also found out which of your friends and friends are. I didn't dare to let her go outside, so I asked for a deed and placed her in the empty house where my son was married. Speaking of this, he took out the deed of the fair lady from his sleeve and pushed it to Ma Jun.

Ma Jun took it and read it, it said that he sold himself and adopted his daughter because he was poor, and at the end there was a somewhat immature signature and drawing.

Ma Junhuan has been up and down in the sea for more than ten years, and of course he knows what Cao Hao means by "don't dare".

He stared at the body deed for a while, and said: "Since you know how to sell yourself to save your mother, it can be seen that you are a filial person." Although I don't know why her mother lied to her, but since she found it, she always has to help. ”

He said it easily, but a lonely woman, how could she be so good at establishing the world, where to help.

Cao Hao saw that he was soft-hearted, and said: "If it's cheap, it's better for you to make it clear to her earlier, she thinks you don't recognize your bloodline, and she has resentment in her heart." ”

Ma Jun nodded and said with a wry smile: "That's right." ”

The left and right maidens have settled down, and the rest is bothered by Ma Jun, and Cao Hao left lightly without incident.

Ma Jun sat on the chair for a long time, he was soft-hearted for a while, and said to Cui Shi that he couldn't go on and came to find him sincerely, after all, he was a friend of his sister, and he almost became his wife's girl.

Unexpectedly, after 18 years, I waited for Cui's daughter ......* Hubu, Zhongtang.

Cao Hao handed the written sea trade bidding document to the thirteenth elder brother.

After the year, there will be bidding, from sea ships to goods, all kinds of things. If it goes well, the household department will be able to hold up the fleet without paying a penny. In addition to the silver tendered by merchants, when the fleet returns to the sea, it can also pay 30% of the transaction tax.

Given the size of the current budget, that's by no means a small number.

The thirteenth elder brother saw it and said with a smile: "I thought I would have to wait for Yuzi to come out, but I didn't expect it to be so soon." ”

Cao Hao said: "If the bidding is in February, it is a little tight, and the bidding documents will be sent to all provinces before the year, and the time will be more relaxed." ”

The thirteenth elder brother nodded, deeply convinced.

After saying this, Cao Hao told Heshan and others that they wanted to meddle in the sea trade because of their financial constraints.

When the thirteenth elder brother heard this, he was silent for a while, and said: "Although the rise of 'raising honest silver' in the past two years can only benefit foreign officials, the Beijing officials are still mainly 'encouraged' and 'double wealth'. The civil officials still have both ice and charcoal, and the military attaches can only rely on empty salaries. Now that the emperor is rectifying the rule of officials, they know to be careful, and it is good to think that they want to find another plan. ”

Mentioning this, Cao Hao had to add: "Thirteenth Master, not only the military attache in the capital complained about Yulu, but even the military attache outside was also unhappy. ”

It was the first time for the thirteenth elder brother to hear such words, and he couldn't help but wonder: "Why is this?" The incorruptible silver of other provinces is not divided between civil and military officials. ”

Temporarily mentioning this topic, Cao Hao is not familiar with the situation in other provinces, so he took the distribution of honest silver in Zhili as an example: "Although civil and military officials all have honest silver, the number is very different. Let's just say that Zhili, the governor and the deputy are the same two products, the governor raises 15,000 taels of silver per year, and the deputy is unified 1,000 taels per year, a difference of 15 times; The governor and the lieutenant general are both from the second grade, the former raises 9,000 taels of silver per year, and the latter only 900 taels, a difference of ten times. Even if they are both military positions, there is a difference between the garrison of the Eight Banners and the local green battalion, the same is the third grade, and the city guards belonging to the garrison of the Eight Banners are only two hundred taels of incorruptible silver, but the generals of the local green battalion are six hundred taels. ”

When the thirteenth elder brother heard this, he was silent.

Although the incorruptible silver in other provinces is determined by the Ministry of Households, it is in accordance with the proportion of Henan Province. The thirteenth elder brother only knew that there was a difference between civil officials and military attaches before, but he didn't expect that there was such a difference.

After Cao Hao said this, he didn't ramble anymore. How to appease the capital and local military attachés and make the reform of the government run smoothly naturally has the heart of the emperor and the thirteen elder brothers.

Because there are a lot of official documents in the case, this busyness has passed in a short time.

By the time Cao Hao finished the matter at hand, it was already time to fall.

Outside the yamen, there was a carriage of the sixteenth elder brother waiting.

Seeing Cao Hao coming out, someone had already greeted him and asked Cao Hao to come over.

In the carriage, the sixteenth elder brother's eyes were bright, and he was holding a silver wine jug in his hand, and he was eating wine "snorting" and "swishing".

Seeing that he was full of joy, Cao Hao's mood couldn't help but improve, and said, "But the holy decree of marriage has been ......."

The sixteenth elder brother nodded, "haha" laughed twice, and said: "Finally, I look forward to this day, and now the Ministry of Internal Affairs can prepare for the princess's marriage." ”

Although this family matter has already been released, after all, there is no will, and it is understandable that the sixteenth elder brother suffers from gains and losses.

I heard the sixteenth elder brother continue: "It's cheaper than Hengsheng...... That kid Munch, if he dares to treat the third princess badly, he won't look at your face and indulge him......"

Cao Hao smiled and said: "Sixteenth master, don't worry, that kid has a good heart and is a solid-hearted child." As long as the young couple votes for the deed, they will definitely be married and beautiful......"

The sixteenth elder brother listened to Cao Hao's words, half of which was left behind, and he glanced at him very dissatisfied, and said: "But the master looked at your face, so he looked at that kid, if there is anything wrong with him, it is naturally that you are not well-educated, and when the time comes, the master will have to settle accounts with you!" ”

This "quasi-father-in-law" mentality of suffering from gains and losses made Cao Hao cry and laugh: "Okay, okay, okay, it's all up to the ...... of the sixteenth master"

In the end, the sixteenth elder brother said a few words to Cao Hao, and then returned home with a smile.

Seeing the carriage of the sixteenth elder brother leave, the smile on Cao Hao's face was staring.

He himself is a person with a daughter, so of course he can understand the fatherly heart of the sixteenth elder brother. Tianhui is the same year as the third princess, even if she wants to stay for a few more years, how long can she stay?

As early as a few years ago, the sixteenth elder brother set his eyes on Hengsheng and looked at all these years; It seems that it is time for me to keep my eyes open and touch the son-in-law candidate everywhere...... Back at the door of Cao's mansion, a porter stepped forward to pay tribute, and Ma Jun came and waited in the living room.

Cao Hao nodded, turned over and dismounted, entered the courtyard, and went directly to the living room.

Ma Jun sat there quietly, frowning tightly, not knowing what he was thinking.

Cao Hao's footsteps were heavy, and Ma Jun came to his senses.

"Fu Ruo......" Ma Jun got up and said.

Cao Hao waved his hand, invited him to sit down, and said, "Tiancheng, have you been to Qingfeng Hutong?" ”

"Hmm." Ma Jun rubbed his eyebrows and said, "Although this girl is not a mother, she resembles Mrs. Cui Fucheng, and she should be the daughter of the Cui family." ”

"Since she is the daughter of the deceased, what does Tiancheng think?" Cao Hao saw that he was annoyed and asked.

Ma Jun spread his hands and said, "Which turn is my turn?" When the girl saw me, she began to weep until she fainted...... Over the years, she has really suffered a lot...... If it weren't for the idea of finding her father, I'm afraid she wouldn't have survived......"

Cao Hao was not surprised by this result.

Among the friends of Yongqing and Ma Jun, Ma Jun is the softest.

If it weren't for the fact that he was the only child in the family and was stopped by his parents, he would have given up writing and practicing medicine a long time ago.

"It's not good to be so vague, even if you want to take care of her, you always have to make it clear." Cao Hao said.

Ma Jun nodded and said, "I think so too, and I plan to make a personal trip to Hunan." I remember clearly that the two relatives of the Cui family were going to take her to Xiangtan, and since they were married and had a daughter, they could always find out something. As long as I find my fair mother's relatives, she will not misunderstand that I am her biological father, and I will have something to rely on for the rest of my life. ”

Cao Hao waved his hand and said: "If you go to Xiangtan to inquire about the news, you don't have to make a special trip to make a special trip, Zhao Tong was promoted to the general judgment of Hengyang Mansion a few days ago." Hengyang and Xiangtan are next to each other, and I sent a letter to him to ask someone to inquire. ”

When Ma Jun heard this, he hurriedly thanked him, and then said: "Regardless of whether she can find her relatives or not, she has to stay in the capital for a while, and she is not good at bothering the county lord." My family also has an empty house, but in Nancheng, it has been idle for too many years, and it takes a few days to clean up before people can live in it, and after a few days of cleaning up, I will make someone pick up people. ”

Cao Hao had no objection, but then Ma Jun took out a few silver tickets to supply Cao Hao.

Seeing this, Cao Hao hurriedly said: "Don't give me this set, it's boring." ”

When Ma Jun heard this, he was not reluctant, but said: "Although the fair lady is not my daughter, if Fu Ruo's various arrangements show his feelings for me, I will bear it." ”

It was rare for him to come over, and it was time for dinner, and Cao Hao kept himself to keep guests.

Ma Jun wanted to talk to Cao Hao because he had something on his mind, so he was not in a hurry to leave.

It was bitterly cold in Sanjiu, and Cao Hao really wanted to eat wine, so he asked people to go back to Wutong Garden to ask for wine and food.

The hot sauerkraut mutton pot and the warm osmanthus white make people have a great appetite.

Ma Jun ate one cup after another, and when Cao Hao saw this, he guessed very unkindly, if he really had something to do with Cui's family, otherwise how could he be so distressed.

For them, the appearance of a girl who calls themselves "father" is a troublesome thing. But that was in full view, when someone with a heart spread the news, like now, the fair lady was already in their hands, and there was nothing to worry about.

Sure enough, after three rounds of drinking, Ma Jun couldn't help but talk about the old things: "Speaking of which, the Cui family's questioning is still the handiwork of my father." At that time, for the sake of the failure of the family, the two families were at odds, the Cui family was unwilling, and they had a backer in the governor's yamen, so they wanted to calculate their father. When his father got the news, he took the lead and acted first, so that he had the Cui family's ...... to ask for the guilt" In the end, Ma Jun was already blushing and said: "Who is cleaner than whom......"

It was the first time Cao Hao heard the inside story of this matter, and suddenly understood why Ma Jun was uneasy.

Jiangning was originally a rich land, and Ma Jun's father served two terms in the Jiangning prefect for six years, which can be seen that it is not simple. If it weren't for the understanding of the upper and lower dredging, even if he relied on his brother who was a squire in the court, he might not be able to gain a foothold in the complex Jiangnan officialdom.

The fate of the Cui family was certainly self-inflicted, and it was also due to the Ma family's encouragement.

The Cui family is sure to calculate the Ma family, and the Ma family can't be clean.

Ma Jun has the innocence and uprightness of the literati in his bones, and it is normal to feel guilty and embarrassed for the sake of old things.

"The fate of the Cui family is mostly caused by Cui Fucheng, don't think about it too much. If I remember correctly, he was not only involved in corruption of ink, but also committed other lawsuits, otherwise he would not have been convicted of capital crimes, affecting his wife and daughter. Cao Hao comforted.

Ma Jun sighed and said, "I only regret that I didn't help Cui Jinzhu back then." Because he knows his own family affairs, he is a little weak-hearted, and he can't deceive his conscience. ”

Looking at his old friend, Cao Hao was a little powerless.

It's hard for him, and when he is about to stand, he still retains a pure heart.

Ma Jun said that he would eat wine, his face was flushed, he was already drunk, he slapped the wine cup on the table, and said: "Cause and effect are in order, one drink and one peck, there is a fixed number, God is really long-eyed." If there are no relatives in the family, I will recognize this girl......"

But this was not like this, Cao Hao couldn't help frowning.

He remembered that when Ma Jun was a teenager, he was extremely disgusted with the career of Bagu, and even if he was admitted to the Jinshi and became a member of the ranks, he was not as happy as others.

It seems that the two families of Jiangning and Ma Cui competed with each other back then, and there was another insider.

In officialdom, unless a fatal blow is blown, there is rarely a time to tear your face.

The Cui family was defeated, the family was ruined, and it seemed that they were torn apart with the Ma family.

Huan Hai is dangerous, if he hadn't crossed over, the Cao family's fate might not be a few points better than the Cui family...... Unconsciously, Cao Hao ate a lot of wine.

Ma Jun was also drunk, and the frost was heavy in the middle of the night, and Cao Hao didn't dare to ask someone to toss him, so he asked someone to help him to settle in the guest room, and asked someone to send a letter to Ma's house.

After settling Ma Jun, Cao Hao returned to the inner house.

It was nothing, but when the wind blew, his steps swayed a little.

The upper room of the Orchid Courtyard was already pitch black, and only the west wing of the ear room where the maid on duty was still lit.

Cao Hao held on to the door of the Orchid Courtyard, looked at it a few times, and then returned to Wutong Garden.

Seeing that Cao Hao was drunk and drunk, and drank more than he had when he went out as a guest yesterday, Chu Yu was startled: "This is to accompany Uncle Ma?" ”

Cao Hao nodded, wiped his face forcefully, and lay on the kang with wide clothes...''

(To be continued)