Cao Nai said: "It's bothering your old man to be a guarantee, and there is no hurry to make a contract, you can talk about it after a month." ”

In this regard, there is also a probationary period, and there is also a two-way choice, because Cao Nai is willing to sell himself into slavery, if he dislikes the master's stinginess, or the master's family dislikes his laziness and slippery, they often get acquainted with each other for a period of time, and if they don't like it, they can break up in two.

But the mother-in-law is unwilling, and if she doesn't make a contract on the spot, isn't there no guarantee money to collect? Then he shook his head and said: "No, if you are half-hearted and don't say goodbye, once the Xu family says that you have abducted your property and sued me, where will I look for you?" ”

Cao Nai understood, looked at no one on the left and right, took out five coins of silver, and said: "Mom, I am no better than a person who has no background, in the end, I am a scholar, that is, I can write a deed, I am good at all etiquette and so on, and the value of ordinary people is different, but only thirty taels of silver." Besides, if you make a contract, you have to take responsibility, if I want to leave, you can blame his family for wronging me, and there is nothing to blame without a contract. Thank you for these five coins of silver, as long as you lead me in, I will be rewarded heavily after the success. ”

When the mother-in-law saw the money, she smiled and said, "Seeing that you are an honest man, how can you collect the silver?" ”

"The right to be the tea money, thank you behind." Cao Nai also smiled.

The husband of the mother-in-law came back from selling tofu, and he was very happy when he heard about it, after all, the Xu family is a foreigner, so what will happen to him if he takes the silver? was about to lead Cao Nai over immediately, and the mother-in-law said, "You can't speak, so I'll go by myself." ”

When she came here like this, the mother-in-law went into the inner house to ask to see Yuan, and came out after half a ring, and said, "Grandma is very happy, call you in." ”

It turned out that the Yuan family wanted to buy a scholar, just to be literate, preferably with some talent, and the appearance had to be clean, so there were many people who came. But none of them met the conditions.

I heard that Cao Nai was born as a scholar, so he was sent in to see him on the spot. Cao Nai followed her mother-in-law in the inner house and walked to the main compound.

When he entered the outer hall, he saw four or five maids standing on both sides, among whom there was a fifteen or sixteen-year-old maid, whose face was very beautiful, staring at him intently.

Cao Nai's head was a romantic love story, thinking that this sister could be a matchmaker, and at this time, Yuan's back room came out, and he hurriedly gave a deep salute. If you make a gesture, you have to kowtow.

Yuan said with a smile: "Excuse me, our family doesn't want to kowtow, and we don't have to kneel in the future, even if we are scholars, we can't be manly without bones." ”

This Xu family has some meaning, Cao Nai couldn't help but secretly admire it while being relieved, and said respectfully: "Yes." ”

Yuan was very satisfied with his appearance and bearing, and asked, "Where are you from?" Why did you sell yourself into slavery, and how old are you? How much silver? ”

The mother-in-law stepped forward to explain it in detail. When Yuan heard that he was an orphan who had lost his parents, he couldn't help but feel pity, and saw that Cao Nai was not in a hurry to sign a deed to get the silver, but hoped to have a wife. said: "Since you want to start a family, you have a character like you, and you have any kind of beauty you want." He smiled and pointed at the maid, "This is the one who is very proud of my girl's side." If you do a good job, you can match her with you in the future. ”

The maid immediately blushed, turned her head and walked inside. Cao Nai said, "Thank you grandma. "Because I didn't see the young lady of the Xu family. deliberately asked: "The little one has just arrived, and I don't know how many young ladies there are in the house, so I have to pay a visit." ”

Yuan said: "The son is young, far away in Jinling, there is a girl by his side, and there is no need for people in the boudoir." If you can return to Beijing with you, you will see you then. ”

Cao Nai nodded and said, "Please give the name to the lady, the old name under me does not dare to insult the ancestors." ”

"Hmm." Seeing his elegant words, Yuan became more and more happy, "Since you are new, let's call a new word, surname!" Whether you change to Xu or the surname of your ancestors, it's up to you to choose. ”

"Go ahead. I heard you have a friend who wants to have a meal before leaving. Yuan said in his heart that such a person can let him be a scholar in the study for a period of time, accompany his son to study, and wait for the future to be a steward, or a doorman, if he fights for himself, and also give him a deed of sale to participate in the imperial examination, which is also considered a good deed for me.

Cao Nai came out with a housekeeper's daughter-in-law, went to the study of the outer compartment, and hurriedly asked, "Sister-in-law's surname?" ”

"The husband's surname is Zhu, and the slave family is in charge of the wine in the lady's room." The housekeeper's daughter-in-law saw that Yuan was very kind to see him, and her tone was very kind.

Cao Nai said: "I am a child of the north, no parents and relatives, you are my sister-in-law, and I will rely on my sister-in-law to take care of me in the future." ”

When the housekeeper's daughter-in-law saw that he could speak, she was also very happy in her heart, and said with a smile: "That's natural." ”

As he was talking, he saw the big girl who was pointed out by Yuan's walked in and said, "Sister-in-law Yuan, Mrs. told you to call Steward Xu to accompany your new brother to have a drink." ”

"Yo, that's what you're calling my brother?" Sister-in-law Yuan quipped.

Cao Nai hurriedly stepped forward to speak, but he didn't look back, and went in. It turned out that she was a second-class girl next to Xu Xiangyue, even if she knew that Yuan was joking, but as long as she nodded herself, it would naturally come true, so she was a little shy.

Yuan sent her out, she had to come, the girl's mind was complicated, and she also had the heart to look at Cao Nai again, and when she saw someone, she immediately turned around and left without pretense.

Sister-in-law Yuan said with a smile: "That sister just now, her name is Qian'er, she is the daughter of the Xu family, and she has been working by her grandmother's side since she was a child. Last year, the young master saw that she was getting more and more beautiful, and planned to take her as a concubine, but grandma refused and sent her to the eldest girl. Sue sù you, not only a good needlework, but also very smart, and literate and able to read, if you really promise to be married, really your creation, and so the young lady of the idle eunuch family can not compare to her, you also follow us to call her Sister Xian. ”

"Mentoring."

Cao Nai remembered it in her heart, and when her mother-in-law brought the Qing book, a woman came in, holding six dishes in her hand, and a little girl carrying two pots of wine.

Sister-in-law Yuan introduced: "This is Aunt Li, an old man in the Xu family for many years, in charge of the kitchen. That's Sister Mu Lan, Aunt Li's daughter. ”

Cao Nai greeted one by one, Qingshu habitually took over the wine and food, skillfully placed it on the table, the three women said slowly, and left together, and the mother-in-law stayed to eat with a smile.

The mother-in-law quickly ate enough, said goodbye and left, taking this opportunity Cao Nai said: "You will call me Brother Cao in the future, be careful in your words, and don't show your feet." ”

Qingshu said: "I know, it's just that I come to visit you every day, or is it better not to come?" ”

Cao Nai muttered: "You don't use it for two or three days, wait for four or five days, go to the nearby Qiuzi Temple, and come once in the morning and afternoon." If I want to see you, I will draw a black circle on the powder wall on the right, and you will come to Xu Mansion to find me. ”

As soon as he finished speaking, Steward Zhu, the husband of Yuan's sister-in-law, came, and the three of them sat together to eat wine and chat some gossip.

At night, Xu Xiangyue accompanied Xu Hao to eat, Mu Ningxue and Yuan Shi and other women had already eaten, and gathered on the other side to chat.

Xu Xiangyue said: "Third uncle, when will we return to Beijing?" Although I am reluctant to ripple, I also miss Xiao Yezi, do I go to Zhejiang to visit her? ”

"Yes." Xu Hao said again: "Wait for your mother to go back to Beijing first, and let's go to Hangzhou together, this big family will be troublesome wherever they go." ”

"Agreed!" Xiangyue was happy and said with great interest: "Xiao Yezi wrote that their classmates also went to Sanyin Huiji and other places together, and on the way to an ancient temple, they asked the monk the name of the mountain, and what dynasty did the temple originate from?" It is said that when Qin Shi Huang traveled eastward, he saw that there was a royal spirit in the mountain, so he chiseled the dragon vein, and later changed its name to Lufetus Mountain. ”

Xu Hao asked, "How do you change your name to a deer fetus?" ”

Xu Xiangyue said with a smile: "Xiao Yezi also asked, the monk said that the temple was built by two hundred and forty-six generations of ancestors, the ancestor was surnamed Chen, his name was Huidu, the middle-aged abandoned literature and martial arts, one day hunting in this mountain, saw a deer, bent the bow and shot an arrow in the belly of the deer, did not want the deer to be pregnant in the belly, was injured by the arrow to the fetus, fled into the mountains and gave birth to a fawn.

Chen Huidu chased after him, and when he saw that the doe suddenly screamed, he stopped. When the doe saw that the fawn was wounded, she licked her tongue at the wounds of the fawn, and the fawn was seriously wounded and died with the licking. When the doe saw this, she wailed and died. Chen Huidu was overwhelmed with remorse, so he buried the two deer, and then shaved his hair as a monk, devoted himself to the Buddha, and later became a positive fruit, so the temple was called Huidu Temple, and this mountain was called Lufetus Mountain. ”

"I see." Xu Hao turned to smile and said: "Sure enough, I have been to Zhejiang several times, but I don't know this." ”

"And there's more." Xiangyue looked yearning, "They play everywhere, see a beautiful mountain and clear water, there is a village in the place where the ancient trees are towering, the village is very prosperous, and they see the villagers who come and go, all of them walk slowly, and they act slowly, thinking that there are outstanding people and should live in hermit masters."

I only know when I ask, the place name here is actually 'Bihuashu', it is the former residence of Jiangyan of 'Jiang Lang's talent', there are Wang Xizhi's 'ink pool' in the village, Fan Zhongyan's 'Qingbai Hall', as well as 'Yue Wangtai', 'Cao'e Monument', 'Yanguang Tomb' and many other places of interest. ”

Xu Hao said movingly: "With such a victory, how can you not go to pay your respects in person?" didn't say anything, let's make an appointment with Xiao Yezi and ask her to take us there. ”

At this time, Yuan came over and asked, "What are you two talking about?" Elated. ”

Xu Xiangyue said with a smile: "Mother, the third uncle promised to take me to Zhejiang to play." ”

"No wonder you smile from ear to ear, now Ye'er's ripples are gone, you are the most favored." Yuan said with a smile, and said to Xu Hao: "Today I accepted a scholar, who turned out to be a scholar from Beiping Mansion, whose parents died, and said that he came to Yunnan to find relatives. I saw that he must have something else hidden, but he was not very old, so I took him in to see why he came here, or maybe he was really desperate. ”

"Reader?" Xu Xiangyue said strangely: "There are few scholars in Yunnan, why do you have to sell yourself as a slave?" Besides, there is a newly established university in the city, you can go and enroll in it, this person must have ulterior motives. ”

Xu Hao said: "Maybe he inquired about the details of our family and came to cling, such an artificial scheming, he will be more prepared in the future, it is better to give some entanglement and tell him to return to his hometown." ”

Yuan Shi had a good impression of Cao Nai, and felt that he was not that kind of person, so he said: "I know, let's take a look at it for a while, find out its intentions, and if it is not appropriate, it is not too late to send people away." (To be continued......)