"What happened?" Wen Liunian asked.
"Uncle Zhang's family didn't know what stimulated him this morning, so he just wanted to commit suicide in his own room." The visitor gasped, "Fortunately, he was discovered early and nothing major happened. Now the whole shantang is in chaos. , everyone is talking about it.”
"Suicide?" Wen Liunian frowned.
"Uncle Zhang, but the one under the big willow tree in the north of the city?" asked the yamen servant beside him.
"Yes, yes, it's him." The visitor nodded, "It was fine before, but today I don't know what happened, and suddenly I couldn't think about it."
Wen Liunian took the yamen servants and hurried to the shantang to check what happened.
Probably something happened just now, so the shantang was much more chaotic than usual. After hearing the announcement, the steward came out in a hurry after a long time, "I'm far behind, I hope my lord will forgive me."
"What's going on?" Wen Liunian asked, "Why did I hear people say on the road that there is an old man in this charity hall who wants to commit suicide?"
"I've been persuaded to come back now." The steward let the group of people into the front hall, and said, "The reason is not a big deal. During dinner last night, several old people accidentally talked about the bandits in Cangwu Mountain, and they all said that they hoped that the adults would lead the troops as soon as possible." We wiped him out, but the Uncle Zhang family overheard him. He originally had a son named Zhang Shengrui who disappeared for no reason a few years ago. It is said that he went to the mountains to become a bandit, and many people have seen him."
"Uncle Zhang was famous for his stubborn temper when he was young, and he loved face. He probably felt ashamed for a while." The person next to him also said, "So he was confused."
"Is the old man okay now?" Wen Liunian asked.
"I've already invited a doctor, nothing to worry about." The steward said, "After taking the medicine, I just fell asleep. Before my lord came, I was telling the rest of the old people not to mention this matter in the future. Just pretend it never happened."
Wen Liunian nodded, "Zhang Shengrui, are you sure you became a bandit?"
"Ninety-nine are not far from ten." The steward said, "Although I haven't seen it, there are people in the city who have witnessed it with their own eyes, and before your lord took office, a group of bandits came to sweep the city, and every household in the north of the city suffered, but they walked around alone. When I left the Zhang family, there was a lot of gossip in the city at that time. The uncle of the Zhang family had been upright all his life, but he never thought that he would be stabbed in the back when he was old, so he sold the property and house in a rage, saying that he was going to go out to beg for food, or we should just talk about it Advise to enter the good hall."
"It's really a crime." The other person sighed, "Although Uncle Zhang's temper is a bit irritable, he is also an honest man. Somehow he raised such a son."
"Does the steward know what Zhang Shengrui looks like?" Wen Liunian asked.
"Of course I know." The steward nodded, "The big guys grew up together since they were young, so they are familiar with each other."
"It's so good." Wen Liunian said, "Later, you and I will go back to the government office together and draw Zhang Shengrui's face."
The steward naturally agreed, and after accompanying Wen Liunian to visit the old people in the Shantang, and took special care of Uncle Zhang, they went to the magistrate's yamen together. Cao Dai was drying the quilts in his backyard, when he heard the invitation from the magistrate, he thought he wanted to draw a handsome man again.
"It turned out that Mr. Cao came to paint." The steward smiled after seeing it, "I don't need to do that. The Cao and Zhang families were originally neighbors."
"Want to draw Zhang Shengrui?" Cao Dai also said after hearing the words, "There is really no need to dictate, I knew him very well before."
"Mr. Trouble." Wen Liunian spread out the rice paper for him, and then sat down with the steward and chatted softly, talking about some things about the reconstruction of the shantang. In less than a stick of incense, a portrait has been completed.
The man on the paper had an ordinary face, and even looked a little timid. He really didn't look like a bandit, but rather a small businessman.
The steward nodded, "It is indeed vivid, Mr. Cao is really a good painter."
"Drawing acquaintances is naturally fast." Cao Dai washed the brush clean, sighed after thinking, "I just don't know what he is thinking, he is going to run to be a bandit."
"Whether it's a bandit or not isn't certain, we'll have to wait for the evidence to confirm." Wen Liunian said, "I hope you two will keep it secret for the time being."
"Naturally." Both Guan Shi and Cao Dai nodded, "Don't worry, my lord, we will definitely not say anything."
After the fourth day of the fourth day, the city became more and more lively day by day. Wen Liunian invited three or five theater troupes from outside, young ladies, scholars, gods and goblins took turns to perform, and finally made up for the regret of not having beautiful men. , this is the most stable year since I can remember.
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, lanterns are set up everywhere in the city. When the dusk comes, there are sparkling lights everywhere, which is really beautiful.
Wen Liunian changed into casual clothes, and planned to go to the Lantern Festival with Mu Qingshan.
"My lord." Shang Yunze stepped in from the door.
Wen Liunian immediately said, "I plan to go outside to have a look alone."
How did it become "alone"? Mu Qingshan wondered, what should I do then.
Shang Yunze said with a smile, "My lord may not be able to leave for a while."
"Why?" Wen Liunian asked.
"A guest is coming." Shang Yunze turned sideways.
Zhao Yue and Lu chased into the courtyard.
Wen Liunian was a little surprised, and greeted with a smile, "Long time no see."
"The topographic map of the mountain has been drawn, and there is something to do going down the mountain, so I sent it to your lord along the way." Lu Zhui said.
Wen Liunian let the two of them into the study room, took the scroll and opened it for a look. On the top, he saw a map of the boundless mountains carefully drawn, marking every bandit den, and there were many written explanations beside it. Extremely detailed.
"Thank you, Second Master." Wen Liunian was very satisfied. He looked around, but he didn't find a bandit named Zhang Shengrui among them, so he said, "May I ask one more thing?"
"Naturally." Lu Zhui nodded, "My lord, please tell me."
"There is a family with the surname Zhang in this city. It is said that their son went to the mountains and became a bandit. His name is Zhang Shengrui." Wen Liunian said, "Do you know the second master?"
"Zhang Shengrui?" Lu Zhui shook his head, "I've never heard of it, but the boundless mountains are so vast that it's easy to hide one or two gangsters, and what's marked on this map may not be all."
Wen Liunian pulled the portrait out of the bookcase, "It's him."
Lu Zhui took a look in his hand, then laughed, "So this person is called Zhang Shengrui."
"Have you seen the Second Master?" Wen Liunian hurriedly asked.
"It's indeed a group of bandits in Cangwu Mountain, in Hutougang." Lu Zhui handed the portrait to Zhao Yue, "I once came to Chaomu Cliff to provoke trouble, but after being repelled twice, they never appeared again .”
Wen Liunian frowned, "You really became a bandit." He only wanted to be happy and happy, and ignored his elderly father at home. It was a pity that he had such a gentle name.
"The people in Hutougang have no good things, and they are all difficult masters. There are many bandits in the mountain who have been blackmailed by them." Lu Zhui said, "Because of the terrain, it is difficult for outsiders to attack. , I don’t know the name of the bandit leader until now, it seems that he has never shown his face.”
Wen Liunian looked for Hutou Hill on the map, and saw that the terrain was indeed very steep, with a cliff in front and a deep pool on the side.
"If my lord needs it, I will pay more attention to the movement of this group of people in the future." Lu Zhui said.
Wen Liunian nodded, "Thank you Second Master."
"Your Excellency, you are welcome. Since you agree to cooperate with both parties, this is also a matter of duty." Lu Zhui smiled, "Since the map has been delivered, we will take our leave first."
Zhao Yue turned around and walked out.
"Master!" Wen Liunian enthusiastically called out to him.
Zhao Yue: ...
What's the matter? !
"Since we're all going down the mountain, why don't we go to the Lantern Festival together?" Wen Liunian cordially invited.
Going to the Lantern Festival is good! The dark guard came back from the outside, but before he could figure out what the crowd was talking about, he just heard the word "Lantern Festival", and immediately started applauding enthusiastically.
Zhao Yue: ...
Lu Zhui said, "It's okay to take a stroll."
Zhao Yue really wanted to overturn the table and fight him.
Did I talk, just "it doesn't hurt to take a stroll"
Lu Zhui looked at him meaningfully—pay attention to your attitude, we still have to rely on the government to attract Mujiazhuang.
Zhao Yue could only take a deep breath, "Okay."
Wen Liunian said, "Why does the head of the family have such a hideous expression?"
Lu Zhui explained calmly, "It's been cold lately."
Wen Liunian was puzzled, "Tianhan?"
Lu Zhui continued, "It's been frozen for a long time, so my face is paralyzed."
Zhao Yue: ...
Wen Liunian looked concerned, "It's better for those two masters to go down the mountain earlier."
Zhao Yue couldn't bear it anymore, turned around and went out first.
I heard him chatting with Lu Zhui before, and they talked well, why did I start to be beaten again when I was replaced by myself
It's just itchy.
Of course, in order to avoid commotion among the common people, the dark guard also specially found a bamboo hat for Zhao Yue, with black gauze hanging around it, which was very effective in covering his face.
Zhao Yue's head was buzzing, and he would never have imagined that there would be a day when he would be inconvenient to see people.
Lu Zhui couldn't help laughing, and really wanted to draw this scene.
Although it is not comparable to a rich place, there is a rare lantern festival in the city, and the people are still looking forward to it, many people even came here before dark. Shang Yunze bought a rabbit lantern from a small stall, and handed it to Mu Qingshan.
The dark guard bit the candy cake and watched from behind.
Mu Qingshan said, "Children like these."
"Who said that." Shang Yunze said, "I like it too."
Mu Qingshan: ...
Then why don't you take it yourself
"Do you want to eat pork rib cake?" Shang Yunze asked again.
"Don't eat, I'm tired." Mu Qingshan said, "I want candied haws."
Shang Yunze shook his head with a smile, and dragged him to find a stall selling fried hawthorn. It was crowded with people, so he naturally held hands to avoid being squeezed out.
Tears welled up in the dark guard's eyes, it was not easy, but he finally made some progress.
"Where did your lord go?" Huatang looked around.
Lu Zhui shook his head, "I didn't pay attention, just look ahead just now."
Zhao Wu walked over with a bag of fried broad beans.
Hua Tang asked, "Have you ever seen where your lord is?"
"Turn ahead." Zhao Wu stretched out his hand and pointed, "Turning sugar paintings with Master Zhao."
Huatang and Lu Zhui were silent for a moment.
Why does it feel so... weird.