Xiling County is located in the southwest of the capital city of the Tang Dynasty. It is one of the six counties under the jurisdiction of the capital city.
Because it is close to the capital, at least 60% of the fields in Xiling County are controlled by nobles and officials from the capital. The people in Xiling County either became professional tenant farmers, or they had no choice but to flee Xiling and hide their names in a remote place far away from the capital.
South Street is the most prosperous street in Xiling County, and the pavement along the street is rare.
Songji Restaurant is located on South Street in Xiling County. It is a time-honored restaurant that has been passed down for generations.
It is said that the plaque of Songji Restaurant was inscribed by Emperor Taizu, the founder of the Tang Dynasty. It is precisely because of this honor that Songji Restaurant can always stand on the South Street of Xiling County although it does not have a big backer.
However, success is also a plaque, and failure is also a plaque.
The plaque of Songji Restaurant, inscribed by Emperor Taizu, the founding father of the Tang Dynasty, has now disappeared.
The Song family was completely panicked after losing such a treasure.
Once the news is known to the court and a charge of disrespect is imposed, their whole family will be in trouble.
Song Defu is the current head of Songji Restaurant.
After learning that the plaque was stolen, he immediately blocked the news and placed the guards and the Song family who were guarding the plaque under guard.
"Dad, you can't contain the fire in the paper!"
Song Yuan is the apple of Song Defu's eye and his only heir.
Originally, Song Defu was planning to marry his daughter.
But now, Song Defu just wants to marry his daughter off as soon as possible.
A married daughter throws water out of the house.
In this way, even if the incident of Song Ji Restaurant losing the plaque written by Taizu broke out, his precious daughter would not be implicated.
"The more you hide this kind of thing, the more difficult it will be in the future."
"In my daughter's opinion, it's better to report it directly to the official!"
"Daughter, you can't report to the official!"
Song Defu's face was as pure as silk, "If the plaque is lost, even if it is stolen, if we are charged with poor storage, our family will be ruined."
"If we are accused of any other crime, our whole family will not be able to survive!"
Song Defu looked at his daughter bitterly, "It doesn't matter what happens to my father, but my daughter, my father promised your mother that he will take good care of you."
"father!"
Song Yuan couldn't help crying when she heard what Song Defu said.
"Daughter, now, dad can only find you an in-law. As long as you get married, then even if our family suffers a disaster, it will not affect you!"
"It's just that without your mother's family to rely on, you will have to swallow your anger and live in your husband's family from now on!"
"Dad, I don't want to get married. I will stay with you. No matter what disaster or misfortune you suffer, my daughter will be with you!"
"Silly girl, you are stabbing your father in the heart with a knife!"
Song Defu took a deep breath and said, "Listen to Dad, get married!"
"Daddy can bear the sin of losing the imperial plaque given by Taizu!"
Song Defu had already made up his mind to handle this matter alone. Whether it was exile or beheading, he accepted it all. The Song family, relying on this plaque, has been able to live peacefully and profitably for several generations.
"Shopkeeper, shopkeeper, someone is looking for you!"
Just when Song Defu and his daughter were feeling sad, the concierge ran over.
"who?"
Song Defu quickly cleaned up his face, returned to his usual manner of treating others, opened the door and walked outside.
"I don't know Xiao Xiao, and he didn't tell me. He just asked Xiao Xiao to bring this to you!"
The concierge quickly handed the envelope to Song Defu's hand.
"You invite people to the living room first, I'll be there right away!"
Song Defu took the envelope and sent it to the concierge first, then opened the envelope and took out the letter paper inside.
The letter paper is very thin and soft, with a line of rubbing text on it.
The text was scrawled and it was difficult to discern the content, but Song Defu's expression changed instantly because the rubbing was the Taizu's inscription on the Taizu plaque his family had lost.
In an instant, Song Defu's body started to tremble.
At this moment, he didn't know whether he was excited or afraid.
"Daughter, daughter!"
Suddenly there was news of the stolen plaque. Song Defu's head was shaking a little and he felt like he could no longer think.
"Dad, what happened?"
Song Yuan hurriedly came out of the room and was startled when she saw Song Defu's excited and trembling look.
"Look, look!"
Song Defu put the paper in his hand into his daughter's hand.
Song Yuan quickly opened the thin piece of paper, saw the rubbings on it clearly, and became excited.
"Dad, we can be saved, we can be saved!"
Since someone has sent a rubbing of the plaque, it means that the other party is about to make conditions.
"Dad, I'm coming with you!"
"well!"
Song Defu was in a very confused state of mind at the moment. He was also worried that he would be deceived by that person when he saw him later. Thinking that his daughter could accompany him and act as a caregiver, he did not refuse Song Yuan's request.
Soon, the father and daughter arrived at the living room of the Song family mansion and met the person who sent the letter.
The person who came looked like he was not very old, he was in his late twenties at most, and he looked very talented. He was wearing a robe that would only be worn by scholars and scholars, and was sitting calmly on a chair.
Seeing Song Defu and Song Yuan's father and daughter arriving, the man immediately stood up and bowed to Song Defu very politely.
Father and daughter Song Defu and Song Yuan returned the courtesy one after another, and then the guests and hosts took their seats.
"what do you want?"
Song Defu looked at the other party directly and went straight to the point.
"My father-in-law is here, and my son-in-law has recommended himself. I would like to be my husband-in-law!"
After hearing Song Defu's question, the man actually stood up and saluted Song Defu again.
When they heard this man's words, both Song Defu and Song Yuan were dumbfounded.
It is no secret that Song Defu deliberately recruits relatives. After all, he has no son, so there must be an heir to such a huge family property.
"Who are you? What do you want to do?"
Although Song Defu wanted to recruit a wife, but before he took action, this man came to his door and stole the heirloom of their Song family.
With such behavior and such a person, he was really afraid of being Song Defu's son-in-law.
"Father-in-law, please don't get excited. My son-in-law just fell in love with Miss Yuan'er at first sight, so he had to take this step."
"To be honest with my father-in-law, my son-in-law's surname is Xu, and his name is Yuanzu. His ancestral home is Xujiazhuang, Weihe River. He is also somewhat related to the Xu family in the capital."
Xu Yuanzu looked at Song Defu sincerely and introduced himself to his family.
Song Defu was stunned for a while when he heard Xu Yuanzu's self-introduction.
Xiling County is under the jurisdiction of Jingcheng Prefecture. Although it is somewhat far away from the capital, matters in the capital are no secret to the Song family, which has been operating in Xiling County for several generations.
Taiping King Xu Zhengqi came from Xujiazhuang on the Weihe River, so Song Defu naturally knew it. (End of chapter)