There were two long lines outside the gate of Li's mansion to welcome Zhang Yunming and Zhang Yunzheng. The two of them entered the mansion and dismounted from their horses. chairs, and asked them if they sat down to see Mr. Li. Zhang Yunming laughed and said they could leave. But as soon as he left, he realized how big the house was. There are flowers everywhere, pavilions, halls, nine turns of corridors, small canals and flowing water, and it took a quarter of an hour to reach the main hall behind.
The main hall is located on the edge of the lake, leaning against the rockery and facing the small lake. There were also more than a hundred people standing outside the main hall. Seeing them surrounded by crowds, they saluted solemnly, which was very grand. Zhang Yunzheng wanted to lie down and rest right now, and was very impatient with such a scene, frowning all the time. On the other hand, Zhang Yunming kept smiling, nodding his head to everyone's salutes, very noble demeanor.
The two entered the main hall, and Zhang Yunming took Zhang Yunzheng to bow down to his grandfather and grandmother. Mr. Li immediately asked people to help them up, and when Zhang Yunming was about to bow to the uncles and aunts standing next to him The old officials Li stopped him, and those middle-aged men and women also declined together—Zhang Yunming is the eldest son of Marquis Pingyuan, who came from an honorable background, and the Li family is a merchant with no social status. It is reasonable for them to salute their immediate grandparents, but it is a little bit reluctant to salute their relatives in the collateral line. At the insistence of the old official Li, the two of them did the ordinary junior bow.
The two of them raised their heads, and when Zhang Yunming saw Mr. Li, he yelled inwardly—Ms. Li said that Mr. Li was fifty-eight years old, but he looked like he was only in his early fifties, and he could still see that he was a young man. handsome looks. Zhang Yunzheng looks very much like Li Shi, so naturally he is very similar to this grandfather.
The old official Li was also stunned: this so-called Second Young Master Zhang, a relative of Pingyuan Hou Zhang's family, should be Li's child! These eyebrows and eyes are completely his daughter's. Mrs. Li also kept blinking: This child is just like the old official Li when he was young, how could he not be the son of Marquis Pingyuan? !
Seeing that the old official Li was stupefied, the atmosphere in the main hall was tense for a while, but Zhang Yunzheng didn't notice it, and waited impatiently for the interview to pass quickly with a slight frown, seeing that no one was moving, he stabbed Zhang Yunming from behind . Zhang Yunming quickly put on a smile, said Li Shi's greetings to everyone, and presented the gift list from Li Shi.
The old official Li answered with a smile, "How can your mother be so polite." He handed the gift list to Mrs. Li, and said to the two young people: "It's hard for you to come here once, just stay for a while and have more fun." .”
Zhang Yunming had a lot of things to do, but he definitely couldn't say it in front of everyone at this time, so he just agreed with a smile.
The old official Li said: "I know you must be tired after coming so far. But I still meet my cousins, and I can talk to my cousins later."
Zhang Yunzheng was very impatient, but Zhang Yunming bowed and said: "What my grandfather said is true."
The old official Li gave a signal, and more than 20 young men and women walked in the door. A woman smiled and said, "I am your eldest aunt, let me introduce you." Introduce them one by one who is the eldest cousin Brother, second cousin... until the eleventh cousin, and then a group of gorgeous women, the eldest cousin and the second cousin... until the tenth cousin.
Zhang Yunzheng was dizzy and about to explode. He gritted his teeth and saluted Zhang Yunming one by one, resisting turning around and leaving, even thinking that since he didn't bear the title of Marquis Pingyuan's son, could he move out and live alone
After seeing the ceremony, Li's eldest brother Li Daguan took them to the courtyard that had been arranged for them. Once they entered the door, ten servants and ten young girls bowed to salute. Zhang Yunzheng couldn't help asking : "What is this for?"
Li Daguan said with a smile: "It's for your little servant girl."
Zhang Yunzheng said: "No!"
Officer Li looked at Zhang Yunming, Zhang Yunming said with a smile: "Let's stay here, little servant, let alone the maid. My father is very strict and won't allow us to use maids."
Li Daguan was surprised: "Where is there anyone who doesn't use a maid?"
Zhang Yunzheng waved his hand and said, "If you don't need it, you don't need it! Hurry up, prepare water for me, I have to take a shower, it's so hot!"
Officer Li was stunned to see that Zhang Yunzheng went into the main room by himself regardless of Zhang Yunming. Zhang Yunming said with a smile: "We have enough people with us, just leave two or three servants to run errands for us and find people for us. The rest Go back." Although his words were gentle, there was a meaning in them that could not be refuted.
This is the first time for Li Daguan to deal with a prince from the Hou family, even if he is his nephew, he can't put on airs, so he can only point out a few servants to stay, and take the others away first.
After Zhang Yunming and Zhang Yunzheng took a bath, they changed their clothes. Someone came to invite them over there, so they went to the reception banquet for them. It was summer, and the Li family set up a banquet on the terrace near the water, and there were boats on the small lake accompanied by silk, bamboo and wind music.
Zhang Yunming was arranged next to the old official Li, and Zhang Yunzheng was originally arranged at another table. Zhang Yunming didn't dare to let Zhang Yunzheng fly alone. He didn't know what offending words this stunned young man would say, so he pulled him by the sleeve tightly. Let him sit beside you. At the banquet, they also took care of him, brought him some food, so as not to get angry with the unhappy Zhang Yunzheng. Old official Li was even more suspicious - this must be a brother, otherwise there will be problems!
At the banquet, many people secretly looked at the two distinguished guests from the capital. Mrs. Li married far away in the capital, and has never been back, so she doesn't talk about privacy in her usual correspondence. Her siblings, were curious about her life. Now that she saw her eldest son appearing handsome, confident and mature, she knew that she must be doing well. Looking at another brother from the Zhang family, he was rude and childish, and I wondered if this person grew up in Pingyuanhou's mansion. If they grew up elsewhere, that's another story, but judging from the situation of the two of them, they should have grown up together, so did Mrs. Li deliberately make him disabled, so as to bring out his son's sensibility
But in any case, both of them are noble relatives in the capital. As businessmen, no matter how much money they have, they are always worried about the government. up. This is why it is necessary to marry into an official family. Now Mrs. Li is the main wife of Marquis Pingyuan, and when his children come here, they will be near the water first. His unmarried daughters of the right age have to work hard.
After the banquet, the old official Li signaled Zhang Yunming and himself to go to the study. Zhang Yunming didn't want Zhang Yunzheng to leave, but Zhang Yunzheng was already tired of acting stiff in front of others, so he shook off Zhang Yunming's hand and said, "I'll go back by myself, leave me alone." !" After finishing speaking, he said to the servant in Li's mansion next to him, "Take me back to the yard!"
The boy looked at the old official Li, who nodded and said, "Just take this young master back."
Zhang Yunzheng saluted, followed the servant and left, Zhang Yunming said worriedly: "Don't go anywhere, go back to sleep!"
Zhang Yunzheng shook his hands without looking back: "Don't worry about it!"
Zhang Yunming frowned worriedly and watched Zhang Yunzheng walk away.
The old official Li was very nervous: Judging from the situation, they should be brothers, but if they are brothers, why can't they disclose their identities? ... He had a doubt that he didn't even dare to think about.
The old official Li led Zhang Yunming to his study, and told everyone to go out before he could speak. Zhang Yunming said: "Thank you grandpa for your hospitality. I wanted to tell grandpa that we came out this time to handle business. I'm afraid we can't." Stay here long."
Mr. Li didn't want to know what to do now, so he quickly found out Zhang Yunzheng's identity. He immediately asked, "Is that young master your younger brother?"
Zhang Yunming knew that the old official Li had noticed it, so he nodded.
The old official Li gripped the handle of the chair tightly in fright: it was born by Mrs. Li! But Marquis Pingyuan didn't even recognize his son!
The old official Li's face was livid: "What's going on?!"
Zhang Yunming has had to guard a secret since he was a child. Over the years, he has been familiar with creating artistic expressions that transcend reality at any time. After thinking for a moment, he solemnly said to Mr. Li: "This matter is an extremely important secret."
Old officer Li's heart shrank into a ball: "Secret?! Tell me quickly! I will not only keep it secret for your mother, but also find a way for her!" Mrs. Li! How can you do such a thing!
Zhang Yunming said in a low voice: "It turned out that a Taoist priest told my father that my younger brother should not be raised in public, otherwise the whole family would suffer great disaster. My father didn't believe it, but my mother believed him and let my younger brother stand against Zhang Yunming. The name of my nephew from a distant house…”
The old official Li slumped and leaned on the back of the chair: "So..." He is your father's son!
Zhang Yunming didn't know the dark thoughts in his grandfather's mind, and continued: "The Taoist priest also said that if he wants to get his name right, he has to do countless meritorious deeds. He calculated that there will be four years of severe drought and one year of severe flood, Food was scarce, so my mother asked us to bring 400,000 taels of silver to the south to purchase grain, not only for the food and clothing of my family, but also to save some people in times of famine. She asked me to tell my grandfather, how much Make some preparations to buy grain. I am not good at managing, and I have already spent more than half of the money my mother gave me. I wonder if grandpa can give me some to help my brother do more good deeds?"
If Shen Wen was here, he would definitely admire Zhang Yunming's face, which was almost three points thicker than her.
The old official Li had sweated profusely, and his heart was infinitely relaxed! Mrs. Lee is fine! This son is still her beloved, otherwise she wouldn't have spent 400,000 taels of silver to do meritorious deeds for him! If there is a five-year famine, then the food... Mr. Li said: "Your mother gave you 400,000 taels, and I can't give you less, so I will give you 600,000 taels!" , my mind is a bit confused.
Even though Zhang Yunming claimed to be sophisticated, he was also stunned by the grand gesture of the old official Li at this time, and stammered a little: "Mother said... 400,000 taels...not a small amount... let alone 600,000 taels."
The old official Li chuckled: "It's not a small amount for her..." The implication is that it is not for me. It is quite a bit like the later Li Ka-shing withdrawing one billion Hong Kong dollars from the bank on the spot and handing it over to the kidnapper.
Zhang Yunming hurriedly said again: "I will transport all these grains to the north, some are near the capital, and some are further north. Can my mother's housekeeper arrange the transportation?"
The old official Li nodded and said: "In a disaster year, there will be even more food shortages in the north. People in the capital are rich, and they will buy food at a high price. She is right to think so. Speaking of which, among my children, she is the most talented in business." It's allotted... Let's not talk about that, I should have given her her housekeeper, and you will let him come to see me tomorrow. "
Zhang Yunming said sincerely: "Thank you grandpa for your help. This Taoist priest has the eyes to reach the sky. He said that there will be a five-year disaster, which should be accurate. Grandfather also needs to buy more food."
The old official Li said: "It's natural. I'll let people start to build a few granaries. Now it's summer grain, and in a few months it will be autumn grain. If you buy it, there will be a place to store it."
Zhang Yunming was overjoyed when he got so much silver, he smiled and said to the old official Li: "Grandpa must buy more, not less than 600,000 taels."
The old official Li laughed: "Don't worry, it should be a million taels."
Zhang Yunming stammered again: "Grandfather... so many..."
The old official Li waved his hand: "Don't worry, since there is a famine year, we must prepare more food, not only for ourselves, but also for the many villagers who depend on the Li family to survive. My family can become the richest man in Jiangnan because of doing more good deeds and welfare Township. You are so old, you should also know that in this world, there is one destiny, two fortunes, three geomantic omens, four accumulating merits and five readings, six names, seven appearances, eight respects to gods, nine benefactors and ten health care. If you don’t spread good seeds, you can’t say that wealth cannot be preserved. , I’m afraid it’s difficult to die well. Since I have such a fate, I will definitely try my best. Besides, the sooner your brother finds out his identity, the sooner your mother can rest assured.”
Zhang Yunming breathed a sigh of relief, and saluted the old officials and said: "Grandfather bought grain, which can support the price of grain and prevent farmers from losing their money. In future famine years, these grains will surely help countless people. This merit will never be wiped out."
The old official Li said with a smile: "You don't need to worry about this matter. I'll call the people from the surrounding Zhuangzi to talk to them tomorrow. After four or five days, there will be a charter. Take a good rest for two days. .”
Zhang Yunming agreed, saluted and left, worried about Zhang Yunzheng, and hurried back to the courtyard. As soon as he entered the room, seeing Zhang Yunzheng sitting in front of the desk writing, he felt relieved for a moment, and whispered excitedly to Zhang Yunzheng: "Grandfather gave us 600,000 taels of silver to buy food!"
Zhang Yunzheng looked at Zhang Yunming: "Are you lying?!"
Zhang Yunming said in a low voice: "What are you talking about?! It means doing meritorious deeds for you."
Zhang Yunzheng looked sideways: "Isn't this a lie?"
Zhang Yunming pointed to the paper: "You spelled the word wrong!"
Zhang Yunzheng didn't even look at it: "No, you're lying!" Putting down his pen, he wanted to fight with Zhang Yunming, Zhang Yunming hurriedly said: "Don't hit, don't hit! What do you do if you spit out your stomach full of food?"
Zhang Yunzheng lost interest immediately, picked up his pen again and said, "Go away, don't bother me."
Zhang Yunming said: "You also have to write something for your parents, don't just write about yourself."
Zhang Yunzheng said, "I'm too lazy to write! Just write."
Zhang Yunming stepped aside and yawned, "You're so lazy... I'll write it tomorrow."
The next day, the old official Li asked people to call people from the surrounding Zhuangzi into the city, and sent people to convey the order to buy grain through his well-connected business network, and set up several locations to build storage... These are normal However, at the same time, there were suddenly more people from various families in the city who came to visit, and they all said that someone from the Li family had come to the capital, so they had to celebrate it, and don’t let the people in the capital underestimate the people in the south of the Yangtze River. beautiful. If it is inconvenient for the Li family, other people have various flower and wine banquets, and I would like to invite the two young masters of the capital to show their respect.
Mr. Li has been in business all his life, and his heart is as clear as a mirror. He knows that this is because every family has stretched out their fishing rods, and they are going to come and lose a wealthy son-in-law. His two grandchildren are both treasures, so how can he marry a merchant girl? He doesn't look back at all the painstaking efforts he made to marry his daughter into an official family. Even if you really want to marry a businessman, it is best for your grandson to marry the grandchildren of your own family. But we have been doing business in the same city for generations, and we can't give them any favors, so we decided to hold a large-scale song, dance and flower show at home, and invite children from various families to come and enjoy it. With the two grandchildren under my nose, it is good to have someone to take care of them, so as not to be fooled.
"Annoying! I won't go!" Zhang Yunzheng waved when he heard that there was a big garden party the next day.
In the past few days, as soon as they left the courtyard, they were followed all the way by various maids, asking if they wanted something, and bringing them tea—what kind of tea do they drink on the road? ! Along the way, things like handkerchiefs often fell on the ground, but Zhang Yunming ignored them, and Zhang Yunzheng stepped on them sometimes. Not only that, but you will also "encounter" the cousins who are being supported by the maid. When they first met, they must have been astonished and terrified, and then saluted extremely shyly, and said hello with gentle words. Zhang Yunming replied gracefully, but Zhang Yunzheng didn't even look at it, and continued walking with his eyes turned to the sky. He did not think it necessary to give color to this deception.
Zhang Yunming said in a low voice: "Why don't you go? Grandpa knows your identity, he will be unhappy if you don't go."
Zhang Yunzheng said: "If you know it, you know it, you tell him that I am too lazy to talk to people!"
Zhang Yunming sighed: "Why are you so ignorant! Grandpa gave us 600,000 taels of silver! He asked us to go to a banquet and we didn't go, can he be happy?"
Zhang Yunzheng rolled his eyes: "Do you want to sell yourself? Six hundred thousand taels of silver can't buy me, just go!"
Zhang Yunming gritted his teeth: "I'll kill you bastard! Heartless thing! We are here to show our grandfather's face. If you don't go, what will people say? People from the capital don't give face to grandfather? You have to go , let him feel that the money is spent comfortably, and he has done his filial piety for his mother! Do you understand?!"
Zhang Yunzheng was displeased in every way, and the next day with a stern face, he appeared in front of everyone with the smiling Zhang Yunming. When they entered the city that day, everyone saw these two nobles and young men from the capital, one handsome and the other ruthless. Looking at it now in comparison, each has its own merits, and they are both outstanding.
The teenagers from each family saluted one by one, making Zhang Yunzheng's head swell. When he saw strangers, he didn't have the habit of familiarity, so he naturally didn't have the heart to talk. To him, people's strike-ups were all nonsense. After he answered a few sentences, he didn't bother to open his mouth, and followed Zhang Yunming silently. Everyone knew that he was a relative and nephew of Marquis Pingyuan, so they didn't want to curry favor with him, so they mainly attacked Zhang Yunming.
Zhang Yunming is naturally familiar with this, and soon began to chat with everyone, talking about the fashions popular in the capital, etc., which was decent and unique. There are often a few witty remarks, which make everyone laugh with joy, which further highlights Zhang Yunzheng's withdrawnness.
When the singing and swallow dancing on the lakeside over there starts, people will all go to the lakeside, and naturally they will meet groups of girls. Although they wear veils, they can still see the vague outlines. Merchants in the south of the Yangtze River have been rich for generations, and the women's clothes are either gorgeous or elegant, beautiful and colorful, but the clothes are all luxurious.
Zhang Yunzheng himself spent the best money when he was a child, so he didn't feel anything when he saw these things, it's just that the behavior of those women always reminded him of that little liar in the capital! If the other party is shy, he will remember the shyness when Shen Wen first came to see him asking for money—fake! If the other party's tone is sweet, he will think of Shen Wen's sweet and waxy voice when he asked for something in the beginning - it is also fake! If the other party was reserved and dignified, he would remember that he had kept a secret for Shen Wen, but Shen Wen solemnly told Zhang Yunming about his black status—false prudence! …
Shen Wen kind of ruined his novelty and respect for women, which made him regard these girls who came together one after another as liars, and he didn't like anyone.
Zhang Yunming had already kept the fifth princess in his heart. A few years ago at the Lantern Market, although the fifth princess' eyes were red and swollen because she was worried about Chen Guifei crying, she did not forget to pull out a pearl hairpin from her head and give it to the second lady who was pretending to be stupid in the Zhenbei Hou Mansion. In contrast, how cunning the second lady is, and how gentle and kind the fifth princess is. He has only seen the fifth princess a few times in so many years, but she left him a good impression every time: she has a soft appearance, treats people with tenderness, and helps his sister in times of crisis... I heard that the fifth princess is a copy of Concubine Chen Gui, The emperor is really blind, let such a good woman be poisoned to death, if he married the fifth princess, he would treat her well... With these thoughts, Zhang Yunming looked at Yingying and Yanyan around him, and he didn't notice at all , just superficially polite, without a single mistake.
When they got to the lake, Zhang Yunzheng resolutely refused to socialize with Zhang Yunming in crowded places, and took someone to sit in a gazebo on a rockery, watching the singing and dancing by the lake from afar. For the first time, he realized that although he yearned to interact with people when he was in captivity, when it really became a reality, he was not used to mingle with people at all. He couldn't get used to so many strangers and felt very restless.
Zhang Yunzheng sat on the horizontal board of the gazebo, feeling a little melancholy. It was like something that he fought for for a long time, but when he got it, it didn't make him happy...
A burst of fragrance hit, several women pushed each other and walked towards the gazebo. Zhang Yunzheng frowned, but the girls were already used to the expression on this handsome young man's face, and felt that he might be acting so cool because of his shyness, or maybe it was because that Mr. Zhang had gotten a lot of attention, and he himself felt embarrassed. Seeing that Zhang Yunzheng came to the pavilion alone, several people wanted to "pass by" together to see if the young man would stand up and strike up a conversation.
Zhang Yunzheng turned his face away from the women walking towards the gazebo, and looked at the lake. The girls are all young ladies from merchants in the city. Their families are usually well-off, and they have learned how to manage the family since they were young. They are very smart and not as cautious as the daughters of ordinary officials. Now seeing the handsome young master from the capital, I feel that I should go forward and show myself. But when they stood outside the gazebo for a while, Zhang Yunzheng just didn't look back at them. No matter how active the girls are, they can't bear such neglect. I had no choice but to turn around and walk away, talking in a low voice. Zhang Yunzheng practiced martial arts, and his hearing was very strong, so he could hear clearly: "It's just a nephew of Marquis Pingyuan, and he's not a serious son, so arrogant!" "That's rude..." "But he looks really good-looking." "Then you go and call him..." "No, you go..." "I don't know the family background, maybe he was born to a concubine." "Let's go and see Mr. Zhang..."
Zhang Yunzheng was even more annoyed, almost swearing, but remembering what Zhang Yunming said, you can't lose face to your grandfather, so you can only bear it. After watching the singing and dancing for a while, it was really boring, so I got up and walked back. He showed his face, so it makes sense, right
Seeing his unhappy expression, the young servants didn't dare to stop him, so they could only follow him from a distance. Zhang Yunzheng walked through several fallen willows, and heard a woman's voice over there: "Miss, you are so beautiful, they will definitely like you." A soft female voice said: "That Mr. Zhang is not as good-looking as the other one. , but he is the eldest son of Marquis Pingyuan, and the other one is very handsome but has no family background, which one should I choose?" "Someone is here, let's go quickly."...
Zhang Yunzheng rolled his eyes and hurried past. He heard the sound of chaotic footsteps in front of him, he hurriedly left the road, picked up the grass to avoid people coming, and listened to the voices of several women from a distance: "Your daughter is well-educated, she should be worthy of Pingyuanhou The son of the mansion..." "You really praised her! The third lady of your family is good, the needlework..." "The Xue family also brought the eldest lady here today,..." "Actually, the Xue family had intended to send their daughter to her for a long time. To the capital... "
Zhang Yunzheng shook his head, as if trying to get rid of the spider web that fell on his head. He returned to the courtyard, wandered around anxiously, and wanted to leave the house, but he knew that he would have to go out to socialize during the dinner later, so he couldn't walk away at this time. I had to sit at the table and start writing to calm down. After writing a page or two, he felt better and raised his head. At this time, the sound of music was melodious in the distance, mixed with occasional laughter from people near and far. Suddenly, the feeling of loneliness that used to come from being locked up in the yard came to my mind again. But this time he felt even more uncomfortable: he had already come out, but he still couldn't get rid of this feeling.
After a while, he was invited to a dinner party. When we got there, we met Zhang Yunming again. Zhang Yunming asked in a low voice, "Where have you been? I can't find you anywhere?"
Zhang Yunzheng said unhappily, "I'll go back and rest for a while."
Zhang Yunming gritted his back teeth and said, "You dishonest fellow! Leave me here alone!"
Zhang Yunzheng frowned and said: "I see that you are doing well, you are very nourished, I am too lazy to talk to people!"
Zhang Yunming asked in a low voice: "Who has been clamoring to come out for so many years?!"
Zhang Yunzheng said angrily, "Who knew it would be so troublesome!"
Zhang Yunming snorted coldly: "Grow up! Everything has a price. If you want to mess around, you have to learn how to deal with people. What's the point of avoiding it?"
The old official Li shouted: "Come here and meet my old friend, old official Xue."
Zhang Yunming and Zhang Yunzheng stepped forward to salute, the round-faced old official Xue said with a smile: "You are really two young talents, come and meet the juniors of my family." Zhang Yunming and Zhang Yunzheng saluted one by one, the girls were all blushing, one of them was extremely beautiful, and when he looked at them, his eyes were full of spring and affection. But Zhang Yunzheng recognized from her "meet the two young masters" that it was one of the voices heard in the willow forest, he was not happy, and his face was calm. Zhang Yunming was still polite, nothing unusual. The woman had a sad look on her face, and there were tears in her eyes. But Zhang Yunming and Zhang Yunzheng didn't take another look.
Seeing that the two grandchildren were not attracted to such a beautiful woman, the old official Li felt a little proud, but he said to the old official Xue: "You are really awesome, boys and girls are so outstanding, the Xue family is really prosperous. .”
The old official Xue was a little disappointed, but he didn't show it on the surface, and said with a smile: "Where is it, who can compare to your Li family?"
The teenagers all retreated, and the old official Xue asked the old official Li in a low voice: "I heard that you sent people to buy food, what's the matter?"
Mr. Li knew that he couldn't hide such a big news from others, so he simply said something, and sighed: "Isn't it to prepare for a famine year. Isn't this a good harvest for several years? I was worried, I always felt unsafe. They came from the capital and said they wanted to buy some grain, so I bought more, as a backup." But it didn't say that it was for a few years.
The old official Xue thought to himself that today's banquet was really not in vain, even if his granddaughter didn't fall into the eyes of Pingyuan Hou's son, it was worth it for him to get this letter. Who doesn't know that Li Laoguan is a genius in business, and if he gets a move from him, he has to follow up quickly.
So, the next day, the Xue family also started to send people out to buy grain. Soon, the news spread that various merchants began to buy a large amount of grain, and the news spread to their relatives. People in other cities also bought grain. Regional food prices have been maintained and have not fallen into a trough that has bankrupted farmers. This is another story.
After the flower festival, the Xue family had other harvests besides the reminder to buy food. Miss Xue, who had never wanted to enter the palace, told her grandfather that she was willing to enter the palace.
Although the emperor did not uniformly choose concubines, everyone knew that after the emperor abolished the empress, the harem began to recruit people. As long as they are young and beautiful, they will be sent to the capital.
Miss Xue looks like a fairy, she is only sixteen years old. His eyes are higher than the top, and he can't look down on the local teenagers. The Xue family originally wanted to find an official from the capital, but now they finally had the opportunity to see two real sons from the capital, but they didn't even like her! This made Miss Xue very angry, and she decided to join the court and make a breakthrough, so that those who looked down on her now would regret it!
Naturally, the two brothers in Li's residence were unaware of these matters. After the flower festival, there were various parties and banquets for several days in a row, Zhang Yunzheng was on the verge of breaking out, and he started clamoring to go outside instead of eating in the mansion. Someone naturally told Mr. Li his request.
Over the past few days, Mr. Li has completely figured out the tempers of the two children: Mr. Zhang is mature and smooth, but this younger brother is unsophisticated, withdrawn, and has a short temper. Although Zhang Yunzheng is obviously a crooked person, the old official Li has a special care for him. Maybe he looks too much like himself. Mrs. Li also discussed with Mrs. Li to see if Mrs. Li could send him here so that they could take care of Mrs. Li. Hearing that Zhang Yunzheng was going out for dinner, the old official Li said with a smile: "It's because we think our cooks are not diverse enough. It's okay, let people accompany them to the restaurants in the city to eat casually. Anyway, it's not easy for them to come here. Let them have a good time."
So Zhang Yunming and Zhang Yunzheng were led by the sons of each house in turn to taste all kinds of delicacies in the city. At the banquet, people would often come to say hello, so they sat together, and Zhang Yunming, the supervisor, contacted his cousins and the important princes in the city. Status—everyone believed that Zhang Yunming was the right person to please, so don't bother him.
A month later, Zhang Yunming couldn't take it anymore, and told Mr. Li that he was going to buy grain far away. The old official Li knew that Marquis Pingyuan let them come out because of his long experience, and he couldn't play like this for half a year, so he sent his own capable procurement and Li's housekeeper to take them further south.
This time, their group was stronger than when they first left the capital, but Zhang Yunzheng was much happier after leaving the fixed courtyard and the crowds chasing them every day. Probably because of his addiction to restaurants, whenever he went, he would inquire about the food, taste it, and write down his experience, which is called "Jiangnan Food Notes".
After being out for a long time, Zhang Yunming also gradually let go of Zhang Yunzheng, no longer worried that he would not come back. I feel that as long as he doesn't get angry with me, he can do whatever he wants, and he will encourage Zhang Yunzheng's actions more than hinder him, and the two of them get along very harmoniously. They roamed thousands of miles in three months, and they didn't go back until Zhang Yunming had spent all the money given by Mrs. Li and Mr. Li.
When they returned to Mr. Li's place, it was already winter. After they met Mr. Li, they stayed for a few days and then left, trying to return to the capital before the New Year's Eve.
The old official Li called Zhang Yunming to the study alone and said: "Your brother doesn't seem to have much experience in the world. Go and tell your mother that if it is not convenient for him to show up in the capital, let him come to my place. He has to go to school. Well, I can arrange for martial arts training, too. There are many brothers here, so it's very lively."
Zhang Yunming thought to himself, how is this possible? There is going to be a catastrophe in the capital, and Zhang Yunzheng has to go back to work. But he said in his mouth: "Thank you grandpa, I will definitely tell my mother when I go back."
Mr. Li wanted to take Zhang Yunzheng over, so he naturally wanted to cultivate some relationship with him, so he called Zhang Yunzheng over the next day and asked, "Do you like this place? Is it a good place to live?"
Zhang Yunzheng usually had no good looks towards his parents, but now facing an old man, he could only suppress his temper, nodded politely and said, "Thank you grandpa, you live well."
The old official Li asked again: "What do you want? What do you want to do? Tell Grandfather, and I will ask someone to do it for you."
Zhang Yunzheng asked unceremoniously: "Does my grandfather have a shop with dried fruits? I want to go and pick."
The old official Li said with a smile: "Those worthless things, as many as you want, you can't give them away."
Zhang Yunzheng frowned: "Then how can we do it?"
The old official Li likes and sighs at the same time. What he likes is that this child is simple and clear, and what he sighs is how can he deal with people like this? Haven't been cheated by others
The old official Li said: "Then you have to work hard on the utensils. The boxes should be beautiful and expensive."
Zhang Yunzheng nodded and said, "Thank you grandpa, then I'll pick the dried fruit now, shall I?"
The old official Li smiled: "Go, I'm really impatient." He asked people to come in, and took Zhang Yunzheng to the dried fruit shop opened by Li's family. Zhang Yunzheng tasted them one by one, and finally ordered more than twenty kinds, each with a big bag. , packed a large bag. Because I was afraid that others would not take it seriously, and it might be thrown away, I carried it back by myself.
Seeing Zhang Yunzheng carrying a sack into the house, Zhang Yunming laughed and asked, "What's in it?"
Zhang Yunzheng said in a bad temper: "It's dried fruit, did you forget? That little liar won't forget, what if I don't help you?"
Zhang Yunming tilted his head and said, "So much?! Didn't you give it all to that second lady?"
Zhang Yunzheng said, "Except for her, who would want it?"
Zhang Yunming sighed: "Mother is so pitiful! And, don't forget, you have a younger sister!"
Zhang Yunzheng frowned and said, "Grandpa said it's worthless, how can you give it to mother and sister? Didn't you buy things for them?"
Zhang Yunming rolled his eyes: "What did you buy for them?"
Zhang Yunzheng said: "I think you bought enough, you should count me in."
Zhang Yunming clicked his tongue and said, "Are you embarrassed? After more than half a year, why don't you buy something for mother when you go back?"
Zhang Yunzheng felt a lot of pressure, so he gave up and said: "Okay, then I will put these dried fruits in a valuable box and give some to my mother and sister..."
Zhang Yunming shook his head: "What kind of box do you want for your family? Just take it from the sack. But are you willing to give such a cheap thing?"
Zhang Yunzheng was in a hurry: "What do you mean?! It won't work if you don't give it, and it won't work if you give it. It's been a long time since we fought, right?!"
Zhang Yunming raised his hand: "Okay, etiquette is less important than others, and any mother will be happy if you give it to her, as long as you don't tell her that you actually bought it for someone else."
Zhang Yunzheng was worried: "Then don't give it away, I'll go buy something for my mother."
Zhang Yunming said: "Where is there so much time! That's it! I know you..."
Zhang Yunzheng finally punched him: "You know how to say bad things, what are you going to do?!"...
After the two of them finished fighting, Zhang Yunzheng went to the street angrily, and bought a pair of walnut balls for Pingyuanhou, an abacus for Mrs. Li, a comb for his sister, and a set of lake pens for his little brother. , everything is not as expensive as that used in Pingyuanhou's mansion, but after all, he bought it himself, Zhang Yunming thinks this is enough to make his parents happy.
When the day of departure came, Li's mansion gave them a warm farewell again, and surrounded them out of the city. Zhang Yunming and Zhang Yunzheng saluted and said goodbye again and again, and finally set off for the capital with a dozen or so carts full of gifts from each house. The return journey is far easier than the arrival. Zhang Yunzheng stopped running around a long time ago. He has become a skilled traveler. He will help unload the car when he goes to the place, and then he will get familiar with the roads around the inn as soon as possible. Go... Zhang Yunming thought of Zhang Yunzheng's nonsense when he first left the capital, and even missed his younger brother who he had to worry about and take care of all the time.