In July, in the dilapidated county government office in Nanzhang, Gu Hai, wearing a wrinkled official robe, kicked open the door.
In the courtyard, there were twenty or thirty officers and soldiers sitting or standing, talking, laughing and drinking, and everyone looked over when they heard the sound.
These were all people licking blood from the knife edge, and each of them had dozens of lives on their hands. When they all looked over, Gu Hai suddenly felt an invisible pressure coming towards him, and his steps slowed down for a moment unconsciously.
"Who is coming!" the soldiers and guards stood up, grabbed their weapons and shouted.
Gu Hai snorted solemnly and glanced at this group of people.
"Master!" he said, and continued walking towards the main hall.
"The county master is here. Get out of the way." A middle-aged man who looked like a general walked out of the hall and said with a smile. He waved away the soldiers blocking the way and gave Gu Hai his hand.
Gu Hai ignored him and walked past him into the lobby.
The lobby was a little dark, and there were more than a dozen people with different positions and ranks standing around a march map, seeming to be discussing something.
"Step back first." A slightly hoarse voice came from among the people.
The people retreated like water, leaving only Gu Hai and the man sitting on the high table of the county magistrate looking at the marching map hanging under the mirror.
"Are you planning to stay here forever?" Gu Hai asked in a deep voice, holding back his anger.
The man did not look back, swaying his slender legs slightly and looking at the marching map.
"The county master is willing to condescend to see me?" There was a hint of smile in his voice.
"If you are willing to leave, I can do it no matter how condescending you are." Gu Hai said in a deep voice, "Nanzhang is deeply troubled by the war, and the people are very poor. I really cannot afford to support you military lords. It would be better for the military lords to spend their time here than to work hard. Take a few more steps and go to Tangzhou to fight with the Golden Dog and you will get a lot."
Shen Anlin smiled, turned his head, and jumped off the high table with a hand.
"I just ate some rice and noodles from you. The county master is really stingy," he said.
"Rice and noodles also depend on who is eating them." Gu Hai snorted lightly and said, "Don't talk about rice and noodles, if you can kill a golden dog, the common people will be willing to cut the flesh and bleed it."
This is really not polite to say.
"It seems that the punishment from the prison of the Criminal Department was not enough for you." Shen Anlin said with a smile, walked down a few steps and looked at Gu Hai.
Compared to last year in Jiankang, this young man has become much calmer. Due to hard work, his face cannot hide his fatigue.
It is not easy to be the parent official of Nanzhang County.
Shen Anlin's eyes couldn't help but soften a little, "How is it? Can you still stand it?"
Facing his aggressive questioning, the atmosphere between them should have been tense. Unexpectedly, Shen Anlin suddenly changed the topic, his tone and attitude caring like a family member.
When he thought about the origin of such an attitude, Gu Hai's suppressed anger surged to the top. This was also the reason why he had not met Shen Anlin in the past half month.
As long as he thought about this person, making his sister despair to death, he couldn't help but want to beat him, spit on him, step on him severely, or never appear again in this life, but this happened to appear in front of him again, and He always talks and behaves like his brother-in-law.
Stop dreaming
Gu Hai laughed three times to vent his unconcealed anger.
"If you tiger and wolf soldiers don't leave, I really can't say whether I can survive it," he said with a smile.
Shen Anlin looked at him, nodded, looked down at his feet and took a few steps.
"Gu Hai," he raised his head, "You never say anything about your father's faults. I know what my father has done makes you feel chilled, but I have already said that I recognize this marriage. When I return this time, I will welcome you."
Gu Hai sneered and raised his head slightly to look at him, "You're dreaming."
Shen Anlin was slightly startled and looked at him with twinkling eyes.
"If you dream about my sister marrying anyone, she will never marry you. Just give up." Gu Hai said with a hint of ridicule.
"Marry that scholar from Xin's family?" Shen Anlin suddenly asked.
Gu Hai was startled, he didn't know about this matter. For Gu Shiba Niang, there was no need to talk about it in the letter, and Cao was naturally even more embarrassed to talk about it, but he didn't want to talk about it from Shen An. Lin got it confirmed in his mouth, but he, the older brother, didn't know.
"No matter who you marry, it's fine, except for you." He said casually, and his mind was already quickly analyzing the limited information. Xin family, Xin Chaoyang family, scholar. He once knew a scholar from the Xin Chaoyang family, Xin Chunfang.
"Humility and courtesy, understanding of benevolence and righteousness, and protecting the family and relatives, he is indeed a good match." His tone became a little more serious and said, "It's better than being ungrateful like you..."
Thinking that after all, Shen Anlin had not committed such ungrateful behavior at this time, such an accusation could not be justified, so he stopped talking.
Shen Anlin heard this and was silent for a moment.
"I didn't help you with your matter this time. It was because of my incompetence." He whispered.
Gu Hai was startled, he didn't expect that he would think of this and admit his incompetence outright.
"Why do I need your help?" He snorted and turned his head.
"I can't protect you because I am incompetent and cannot achieve God's will, but I can protect you and I will protect you," Shen Anlin continued, "A small businessman took advantage of this opportunity to make profit. Enyi threatens the marriage..."
He said this and looked at Gu Hai with a trace of determination on his face.
"The Eighteenth Mother will definitely refuse, and the profiteers and villains will definitely get entangled. It is within my power and my duty to protect you..." He said in a deep voice, with a smile on his lips.
With his status and status, the Yinrong family has never entered school or become an official, nor has he made any achievements. Naturally, he has no standing in the eyes of the important officials of the imperial court. However, to a merchant, it is like a mountain that can crush people. No respect, this is class privilege.
Gu Hai looked at him and suddenly felt all kinds of feelings in his heart.
Although there has been no direct contact in the past half month, from what I have heard, heard and seen, it can be seen that Shen Anlin is decisive and cold-hearted. He is by no means a pompous and mediocre person. For the generals who stayed on the border, he is also He is not a person who is greedy for life and fearing death for seeking fame and harming the people. Given his age and his background, it is very good to be able to do this.
But it happened that this decisive and cold behavior also happened to his sister. The feeling of admiring him as a bystander and being the recipient of it were completely different.
No matter what Gu Shiba Niang did in that life, as an older brother, he believed that his sister was not guilty enough for Shen Anlin to treat her like this.
He really wanted to ask him why he treated Eighteen Niang like this, abandoned her orphan daughter and forced her to die, but he was speechless. There was no way to ask about such a ridiculous thing.
"Your Excellency, it is better to set off as soon as possible. Whether it is catching the bandits, chasing them, or killing the enemy, the people of Nanzhang County cannot withstand the flames of war." Gu Hai said in a low voice, turned around, and after listening for a moment, he turned back. He said, "As for my sister's matter, Mr. Shen, I'd better not mention it again. Now it's not that we blame you for being unfaithful and unrighteous, but that we don't recognize this marriage because it's our fault."
He emphasized the last sentence, glanced at Shen Anlin, and walked away.
Shen Anlin looked at his leaving back, thoughtfully, motionless and silent.
Chaotic footsteps came from outside.
"Sir, Master Zhao has an order to go to Suxi and Zuo Division to encircle and suppress the Five Tiger Bandits." The ordering soldier knelt down on one knee, holding an order arrow in his hand, and said loudly.
"So, that dog thief has left the Nanzhang border?" Shen Anlin whispered, looking back at the marching map and drawing a line on it with his finger, "Send the order to leave the city immediately."
Seeing the army of dozens of people riding away, Gu Hai at the city gate breathed a sigh of relief, but his mood was not that relaxed.
"Sir, those five tiger thieves are ferocious and cunning. They have a large number of people, and they are assisted by the Tangzhou Golden Dog. Can Master Shen just use this small number of people, is it okay?" The yamen servants next to him asked with worried faces.
"The enemy is strong and we are weak. We have a well-established advance and retreat. How can they, the marching people, not know? Why are you so worried?" Gu Hai said in a deep voice, "Keep your mouth shut, don't disturb the people's hearts, and divert more water." Irrigating the fields is your main business.”
The clerks responded with a smile. Although they were not very respectful to the county magistrate, who was much younger than themselves, they treated him sincerely. Unexpectedly, a young boy was actually down-to-earth and willing to work. He was not just talking on paper. The political achievements are really a blessing for Nanzhang County, which has withstood the baptism of war.
"We have stepped up our vigilance recently." Gu Hai said, looking into the distance again. Shen Anlin's men and horses had turned into black dots on the horizon.
At the end of July, Peng Yizhen's pharmacy had been open for half a month, but the business was not satisfactory.
"The tongue is pale, the pulse is thin and weak, and the kidney yang needs to be warmed and replenished..." Peng finished diagnosing the pulse with a needle and raised his hand to write a prescription.
The chubby, wealthy old man sitting opposite seemed impatient.
"Doctor, doctor, please prescribe more Yougui Pills. Come on, three hundred..." He said with a slit in his eyes.
It was like this again. Peng Yizhen almost dropped the pen on the old man's face.
"Three hundred, let's eat them as food!" He muttered, suppressed his temper, and said, "You don't need that many, ten are enough. Come back after you finish..."
The old man's face was a little disappointed, his eyes swept back and forth on the medicine cabinet, and he reluctantly asked the waiter to get the medicine.
"This is not Mr. Liu's medicine," the old man said suddenly after taking a careful look at it in his hand.
"The profit margin of this small store is so low that we can't afford Liu Gong Pharmaceutical." Peng Yizhen said through gritted teeth.
"Doctor, just ask for the price..." the old man put on a smile.
"No, I don't have it. I want to go to another drug store to buy it..." Peng Yizhen said quietly, "Are you going to see a doctor or take medicine?"
The old man was obviously not so angry. He snorted and glanced at Peng Yizhen, "Without Liu Gong's medicine, who would want you to come to see a doctor?"
He said and walked away.
"This damn old man" Peng Yizhen stomped behind him and scolded him.
This time the old man's entourage stopped working and came back with their sleeves rolled up.
"Who are you scolding, country bumpkin?"
"Who doesn't know that Gu's Shunhe Hall was opened by Liu Gong's disciple, and you actually said that there is no Liu Gong's medicine here? Old boy, you must be deceiving people."
"Yes, this old boy, send him to the government."
Peng Yizhen had a bad temper and was invincible in the countryside. For the first time, he met a cunning person who was more righteous than himself. Seeing that the opponent was more powerful and sharp-tongued, his anger suddenly rose to the top of his head.
"Come on, come and try to tie me up. I didn't diagnose the wrong disease or prescribe the wrong medicine. Why don't you tie me up and take me to the government? Go ahead and tie me up." He also rolled up his sleeves, revealing his thick arms. "Grandson, I don't dare to tie you up." grandson"
Today's doctors are either gentle and elegant, or have eccentric tempers, but it is rare to find such rude ones. For a moment, the two groups started to quarrel in the lobby of the newly opened Shunhe Hall.
Peng Yizhen's wife and Lingbao, who was in the backyard, both ran out and tried to persuade her, but Lingbao was accidentally pushed, tripped on the threshold and fell out.
"What are you doing? What are you doing?" Four or five government officials appeared out of nowhere, shaking their chains and shouting fiercely, quickly separating the two chaotic parties.
"Sixth Master," a young man saw the person coming. He immediately put on a smile and stepped forward in a familiar manner, "I was about to invite you."
The leading yamen servant looked at him sideways, and the boy hurriedly pointed in the direction of the old man who had already boarded the carriage outside the door.
"Our great-grandfather..." the boy said.
"Oh, it's Mrs. Jia..." The yamen officer nodded, as if he had just recognized him, "What? Is the old lady okay?"
From this polite attitude, it can be seen that the daily relationship was not in vain, and the wine money during the holidays was not in vain. The waiters straightened their waists and looked at Peng Yizhen, who had a look of dissatisfaction and puffed out his cheeks.
Country bumpkin!
"This is the capital, and you are the one running rampant under the emperor's feet!" The boys shouted at Peng Yizhen in unison. Before he could finish his words, Peng Yizhen threw a shoe over his head, causing a strange scene. Call.
"Sixth Master, look at this murderous man. He doesn't look like a doctor at all. He must be using his medical practice to defraud people out of money!" The boys shouted, "Get this man quickly!"
"Grandson! You can't see the truth! Grandpa is very skilled, let you humiliate him! Let me tell you that in the future, if you beg grandpa for medical treatment, you won't be able to get it. Grandpa will not sit in court in the future. If you want to invite grandpa, you will have to drive a horse and drive away... . .." Peng Yizhen shouted with a blushing face and bare feet.
"Shut up!" The government officials were so dizzy from the noise that they shook their chains and shouted to stop them.
"Go, go, take it away for me!" the leading yamen servant waved his hand impatiently.
The boys laughed happily at the misfortune, but they saw the government officials swarming up and twisting them up.
"Hey, Master Six, Master Six, it's wrong, wrong!" the boys suddenly shouted.
But he was stabbed twice by the yamen guards with the handles of their knives.
"What are you shouting for?"
"What's wrong!"
"When did Mr. Liu miss it?"
"It's you who are caught!"
The boys who were beaten held their heads in their hands and begged for mercy.
"Sixth Master, Sixth Master, this is a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding..." The boy who spoke first said with a sad face, begging for mercy to the government servant Liu Ye, who was holding his hands aside.
"What misunderstanding!" Mr. Liu said with a face. "They opened a medicine shop. Did they invite you to come or force you to come? Did they diagnose the wrong pulse or prescribe the wrong medicine? Did they kill people or extort the price?"
The boys looked astonished, while Peng Yizhen and others looked surprised.
"Also," Mr. Liu's horse-faced expression softened, and he pointed at Lingbao, who was standing in the corner rubbing his arms.
He seemed to want to smile, but the smile that appeared on his face looked even more terrifying, and Lingbao couldn't help but shrink back.
"It's shameless and despicable that you dare to hit such a cute little girl." Mr. Liu shouted righteously, and then took a few steps towards Lingbao with some respect, "Miss, are you okay? Did you fall hard? Quickly. Let the doctor take a look..."
"Sixth Master, our old lady..." The boy was about to cry. He turned around and pointed towards the street, only to see that the old lady's carriage had disappeared in a flash.
Everyone was dumbfounded. This time, they hit the iron plate.
The backend of this company is really tough. It seems that not only the medicine industry is respectful, but also the officials are giving it face. The servants have finally woken up.
After insisting on getting Lingbao's reply that he was fine, Mr. Liu drove a group of boys away in a noisy manner, not forgetting to reprimand the onlookers loudly.
"See! This is the result of making trouble unreasonably!" With this voice, everyone left in excitement.
Peng Yizhen's face lit up with excitement. Look, this is the capital, at the feet of the emperor, the most reasonable and fair place in the world.
"Master, you need to change your temper!" Peng said worriedly and dissatisfied.
"Am I wrong to change anything?" Peng Yizhen said with a glare, "I am a doctor. I treat illnesses and save people. I am not killing people and buying goods. If I have to be humble about anything I do, it means they don't know the true Buddha."
Having said this, I felt a little frustrated and looked up at the door plaque. It was an old plaque taken from Shunhe Hall in Jiankang Mansion.
Perhaps, the true Buddha has to leave the famous temple before he can be known to the world.
Mrs. Peng held Lingbao to talk and helped her rub her injured arm.
"But it's really strange. The Cha Ye here is really good..." she said. "This is the first time I have seen such a considerate Cha Ye. He is indeed under the emperor's feet and the world is clear."
Lingbao nodded, with a hopeful look on his face, "The people here are so kind, so my brother will definitely not suffer much here."
On the street, under the eaves not far away, a thin man with half his face covered by a wide bamboo hat slightly stretched out his hand to lift the brim of his hat, revealing a familiar face.
If Lingbao looked over at this time, he would definitely pounce on him with surprise.
Lingyuan did not come over, he just looked at it quietly for a moment, put down his hat, turned around and disappeared into the bustling crowd.
On the other side of the street, there are many restaurants and wine shops. One of them has a quiet facade and a carriage is slowly stopping.
As soon as Gu Shiba Niang stepped out of the carriage, a young man in brocade clothes ran over from the other side.
"Gu Shiba Niang" he shouted unceremoniously.
Gu Shiba Niang stopped and looked back at him. A trace of doubt flashed across her face, and she obviously didn't recognize the person.
"I'm here to tell you that we won't come to the banquet," the young man said excitedly, with a look of indignation on his eyebrows.
Gu Shiba Niang understood clearly after hearing this.
"I didn't invite you." She smiled, not caring about the young man's obvious hostility.
"My grandpa won't come," the young man said with a snort, "You want to invite me? Unless you kneel down and kowtow to me."
"Aren't you here, young master of the Wang family?" Gu Shiba Niang pursed her lips and smiled.
The young man seemed not to have expected her to have such an attitude. He blushed for a moment. As the saying goes, you can't hit someone with a smiling face. What's more, in front of him was a young lady who was a few years younger than him. Those words of reprimand and insult that he had prepared. Not a word could be said.
"... My grandfather repaid kindness with evil, feel guilty! Do you... do you know that you were wrong?" The young man suppressed his blush and shouted with a serious face.
Gu Shiba Niang laughed.
"Young Master of the Wang family, I know everything. I really don't know that I am wrong..." She smiled and said, "Go back quickly. If you meet your grandpa, be careful of being scolded..."
After saying that, I ignored him and stepped in.
"Shameless! Shameless!" the young man was heard stamping his feet behind him and shouting.
The smile on Gu Shiba Niang's face never disappeared, and two small dimples appeared on her cheeks, adding to her beauty.
"It turns out that Madam Gu likes to be scolded...".
A voice suddenly came from the side, with a bit of joking and almost imperceptible sourness.
Gu Shiba Niang raised her head, her smile became even brighter, and she looked at Xin Chaoyang, who was walking slowly through the corridor surrounded by vines.
"Is the eldest young master also here to ask questions?" she said with a smile.
-------------------------------------------------- ----------
Five thousand words, thank you all for your pink votes. Xi Xing knows that I can’t add more updates and it’s easy to write crookedly, so I don’t dare to ask for anything. I just ask for it to be written in a correct and high-quality way. Thank you for your love.
Happy National Day holiday