When the curtain was picked up, a middle-aged scribe in his thirties poked his head out and said, "Oh, it's here so soon."
At this moment, two soldiers guarding the city gate ran forward and blocked the way.
The middle-aged scribe frowned and said, "I heard people say that Xiangyang City is free to enter and exit. It seems that it is not true to the name."
The soldiers were not upset when he heard what he said. One of them said politely: "This gentleman, you have misunderstood, we are not stopping the car for inspection. The east of the city is mostly official residences, and merchants generally don't take this route. , We see that your car is very eye-catching. It must be the first time you came to Xiangyang and you are not familiar with the situation in Xiangyang, so come to ask, lest you go wrong."
The middle-aged scribe still didn’t believe him, but saw another carriage passing by them, and entered the city gate without any hindrance. Then he said, “So, we are the relatives of Cai Duwei who came to the navy. Isn't it a wrong way to enter this door?"
The soldier smiled and said, "Since you are going to Master Cai's house, it is good to walk from here. You enter the city, walk along the main road, turn right at the second intersection, and not far after entering, there will naturally be someone to help you there. Announcement."
After entering the city, he could not ride his horse. The coachman jumped down, led the horse, and walked along the path pointed out by the soldier. After a short distance, a group of soldiers came out to block them.
The middle-aged scribe had to pick up the curtain again and asked, "What's the matter? We are here to see Duwei Cai."
The leader came forward, arched his hands, and said, "What is the relationship between this gentleman and Lord Cai?"
These people were obviously much stronger than the soldiers guarding the city gates. The middle-aged scribes knew that they were rough people, and they didn’t care too much about them, so they said lightly: "My name is Huang, it’s Cai. Du Wei’s sister-in-law."
The head of the man heard that the scribe's brother-in-law, who claimed to be Cai Tao, did not change the expression on his face. He bowed to him without arrogance and said, "Sir, please wait a moment here. I'll give you a report."
The middle-aged scribes surnamed Huang were a little surprised. He is also very knowledgeable. If soldiers in other places knew which adult's relative he was, they would have long been laughing and flattering. These people seem to be indifferent to his identity. The scribe gently lowered the car curtain and said to the woman sitting next to him: "Madam, depending on the situation, your brother's situation may not be great."
The woman burst into tears, and said with a grievance: "Chengyan, you have long asked you to take me back to see your family, but you just refused. I heard that Degui is now under house arrest by Master State Shepherd because of a mistake. You He often learns with conceit, if he can help him give some pointers, why does he come here?"
Huang Chengyan grabbed the woman's hand, patted it, and said, "Yue'er, don't worry, I will come back this time to help him think about a solution."
A little girl sitting next to the woman suddenly raised her head and said in shocking words: "Father, mother, since uncle made a mistake, he should be punished, why should we help him!"
This little girl was only three or four years old, with ugly birth, yellow hair, dark skin, and a large red birthmark, which took up almost half of her face.
Huang Chengyan obviously loved this daughter very much, and said with a smile: "A Ugly, don't talk nonsense, children, don't care about adults." There was no blaming in his words.
At this moment, the car door suddenly picked, and a little head poked in and exclaimed in surprise: "Sister, brother-in-law, you really are here!"
The visitor was Cai He's youngest brother, Cai He, who had just returned home from school when he heard that his sister had come, and jumped to greet him. Huang Chengyan pulled Cai He into the car, and the soldiers who stopped in front of the car also let go of a road, and not far forward, they arrived at a tall mansion.
After entering the mansion gate, Cai Yue went to the back house to visit his family members. In the hall, Cai Tao and Huang Chengyan sat opposite each other. Although Cai Hao was ordered to think behind closed doors by Liu Xin, it did not prevent him from obtaining all kinds of information. Even the Jingzhou briefing was sent to him every month. This kind of Jingzhou briefing was issued only in the first month of this year. It records various policies issued by Jingzhou and major events that have occurred in each county. The briefing is marked with the word "secret" and can only be seen by officials of a certain level.
Huang Chengyan’s home is in Baishui County, not far from Xiangyang City, and is also under the jurisdiction of Xiangyang County. He also knows the various policies and changes that Liu Xin has implemented in Jingzhou, but at his level, you must understand More details are more difficult. Now that Cai Hao came together one by one, it was naturally a different feeling. Huang Chengyan couldn't help being fascinated. He didn't expect that in just over two years of work, not only Xiangyang City, but also the whole Jingzhou would have undergone so many earth-shaking changes. He couldn't help but propose to take a walk on Xiangyang Street tomorrow morning.
Cai Hao smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, you are going to have a look. You don’t have to wait until tomorrow morning. The night market in Xiangyang will be very lively. It’s a scene now, but it’s a pity that I can’t accompany you. , I will let my second brother accompany you for a while."
Huang Chengyan heard that the night in Xiangyang was also very lively. He was very surprised. He couldn't wait to have dinner and stood up eagerly and said, "Degui, I don't need anyone to accompany me. I'll just go and see it by myself."
Cai Hao persuaded a few times but did not persuade him, so he had to secretly send two family members to follow.
In the back house of Cai Mansion, the little girl named A Chou was clamoring to find her aunt. When Cai Yue saw Cai Hao coming in, she pointed his nose to his face and said, "Why are you so confused! Jue'er is so old that you gave her to Liu Xin and spread it out. What is the face of our Cai family!"
Mrs. Cai hurriedly explained to the side: "The Master Zhou Mu had been eyeing the younger sister a long time ago, and the master had no other way to do this. Now the Kuai family and the Wang family are in full swing in Jingzhou. If the master loses his official position again, in the future There is no place for the Cai family in Xiangyang City."
Cai Hao was still quite scared of this sister, and quickly explained.
Huang Chengyan is not only in Xiangyang, but also in Jingzhou as a whole. There are also several types of celebrities. Some people have to find an official and a half-time job after they become famous, and some people like to call friends and talk about them, and some people prefer to live in the mountains and forests and become a world outsider. Expert, Huang Chengyan obviously belongs to the latter kind.
But no matter what kind of celebrities, everyone gathered together, it is inevitable to comment on the current situation. And the most noticeable thing among the ruling and opposition parties recently is that Liu Xinjian’s resignation from the title of King Xiangyang, therefore, Liu Xin has naturally become the focus of everyone's discussion.
What Liu Xin did in Hejian, apart from being close to Zhang Rang, other things were quite satisfactory. But after he arrived in Xiangyang, he carried out a dazzling series of reforms, and there were more and more discussions about him from the government and the public. In addition, Wei Jia, Cui Yan and others belittle him everywhere, saying that he is greedy, lustful, oppressive, and domineering property, and they almost criticize him decently. It was not until this time that Liu Xin appeared on the watch five times in a row and asked the emperor to take his life back, and only slightly saved his reputation in Shilin.
Huang Chengyan originally lived in a county in Xiangyang, and people who interacted with him on weekdays would inevitably beat Liu Xin at him. He came to Xiangyang City this time. On the one hand, he was invited by Cai Hao to help him get out of the predicament. On the other hand, he also wanted to take the opportunity to see what kind of person Liu Xin was.
The night market in Xiangyang City is mainly located on South Street, which is a long way away. Huang Chengyan didn't want to move the crowd, so he declined Cai Tao's kindness to send him a carriage. He felt that if he walked there, he might be able to see more things he wanted to see.
After leaving Cai Mansion, he didn't walk far, and he came to the place where he was stopped by the soldiers just now. A few more cars were parked there, all waiting for the soldiers to report. Huang Chengyan couldn’t help slowing down and observing carefully. Only then did he find that among the waiting people, some went to Jushou, some went to Kuailiang, and the soldiers had such faces no matter who they were. Judging Cai Weihe's situation by his attitude is obviously a big mistake.
Huang Chengyan was walking on the East Street, except for occasional groups of patrolling soldiers passing by, and he didn't see many people. When he left East Avenue, talents gradually increased. When he turned into South Avenue, he suddenly changed the scene.
There are many small stalls on both sides of the street, selling snacks, selling various utensils, performing juggling, and selling various small crafts. Most of the brightly decorated shops on both sides of the street have not yet closed. Customers come in and out, and business is obviously very good. These open shops include not only brothels, wine shops, and inns, but also grain shops and cloth houses. Even if it's night, almost anything you want to buy can be bought here.
Huang Chengyan has also been to many counties and towns. It seems that even in the daytime, those places are not as prosperous as half of the Xiangyang Night Market. Huang Chengyan walked all the way, and he was dizzy with such a different kind of scenery. It was not until the third watch that Huang Chengyan slowly returned to Cai's house.
Cai Yue has been sitting in the room waiting for Huang Chengyan. When she saw him, she couldn't help but complain: "Why did you come back now? My daughter waited for you for a long time and couldn't hold it before going to bed. You really want to go to the street. Walk around, and it’s not too late to go when it’s dawn. How can you be so anxious and run out without eating dinner."
Huang Chengyan listened to her remarks, not at all angry, still couldn't hide her excitement, and said: "This time in Xiangyang, it is a worthwhile trip. Tomorrow, I will accompany you and my wife to go shopping. Unexpectedly, after only four years, Xiangyang City will become a paradise on earth.
Cai Yue said with no anger: "I asked you to help Degui. It's better for you. I just want to have fun. If you want to go tomorrow, you should go by yourself. A Chou and I have no time."
Huang Chengyan took out a pair of white jade bracelets from his sleeves and said to Cai Yue: "Why, I'm angry? I didn't go shopping at the night market. No, I'll bring you back a gift. Try it. Do you like it."
Cai Yue took the jade bracelet, gave him a blank look, and said: "Who is angry, our mothers are really not free tomorrow. Tomorrow we are going to the prefecture."