August is the hottest day of the year in Quanzhou, and it is also the peak trade season. In previous years, at this time of year, various ports were parked with new and large ships, and the shore was crowded with merchants from all over the world who came to buy goods. Every day, it was bustling and crowded, but this year, the ports became deserted and quiet. Only a few bald-headed seabirds were left, hopping on the bow of the empty boat to feed.
Most of the residents in the city rely on the sea to make a living on weekdays. Now that they have lost their source of life, they are anxious. At first, they would go to Shibo Division to inquire about news. Now, the door of Shibo Division is also closed, and there is a notice at the door. , I can't see half a person, and I don't know what year and month this sea ban will end. Some poor people have no choice but to find ways to make a living. The remaining people who can still live are also frowning and sighing. .
This ancient city, which was full of vitality, seemed to be taken out of life overnight, and the entire small town was dead.
The general situation is like this, and the Zhen family is not immune. Although the previous accident did not hurt the Zhen family, the loss was not light. In addition, now, the boat can't go to sea, there is nothing to do, there is nothing to do, to those who are attached to it. After the sailor's helpers who lived at home gave out three months of relief food, they gradually dismissed the crew and closed the dock, leaving only the orphans and widows to continue to live. warehouse thing.
This afternoon, the whole Zhen family was quiet. Jiafu returned to her house from her grandmother's side. She had no intention of taking a nap. She sat in front of the window and looked at a bunch of plantains outside the window. , said that Yuzhu came from the capital, and was meeting Meng Shi in the flower hall at the moment, Meng Shi quickly sent her to call Jiafu over.
Jiafu was pleasantly surprised, she hurriedly got up and went over to the flower hall. She saw her mother was holding Yuzhu's hand. The two chatted and laughed. The Yuzhu man seemed to be a little lighter, but his spirit was very good. Seeing Jiafu coming, he was very happy. He came up to see him immediately, still following the previous etiquette, but was stopped by Jia Fu: "Now you are like us, don't be like this." After speaking, he pulled down and sat down and talked about the itinerary, Jia Fu asked Pei You'an recent situation.
It has been several months since he left, and only last month, he received a letter from the official post saying that he had arrived in Beijing and everything was fine. No news. Jiafu wanted to go back by herself, but she hesitated when she thought of his explanation before leaving. In this way, worrying about gain and loss, I have a feeling of living like a year in my heart recently. Today, I suddenly see Yuzhu coming. In addition to being pleasantly surprised, Yin also guessed that her arrival should be related to Pei You'an. After saying a few words, she couldn't help but ask. It was said that he was reused by the emperor, and he went to the southwest to deal with the naturalization of refugees. Before leaving, he arranged for her to come to Quanzhou, and this was her trip.
Meng Shi then asked how long he was going to go, and after listening to it for at least a year and a half, he couldn't help but sighed, glanced at his daughter, and smiled busyly: "Alright, it can be seen that Long Live holds him very seriously, even if it is a year, it will be fast. Yes, now it's August, and the end of the year is only a few months away, so after the new year, he must be back."
Jiafu was disappointed in her heart, but smiled on her face. She sat with Yuzhu for a while, knowing that she had worked hard on the road, and then led her servants to clean up another bright room in the courtyard where she lived. After some resettlement, Take her to meet Hu. In the evening, Zhen Yaoting came home from the dock and was overjoyed when he heard the arrival of Yuzhu. Since then, Yuzhu has lived in the identity of Meng's niece. When the servants of the Zhen family saw that she was from the capital, her demeanor and bearing were beyond the reach of serious young ladies from some big local families. In addition, the mistress and the little lady were intimate with her. How dare you despise her, and treat her as a young lady.
When dinner was over, Jiafu went to Yuzhu's house and brought her the cool summer fruits. Yuzhu was putting away small things with a little girl. Seeing Jiafu personally bringing the fruit, she hurried to greet her, and Jiafu said, "I Come and see you. If there is anything missing in your house, just tell me, don't let it go."
Yuzhu was deeply moved: "I'm here today. From the old lady to the end of your family, there's nothing wrong with me. Where did it come from, it's me, I don't have merit and I'm really sorry."
Jiafu smiled and said: "We were good before, why do you have to meet me. Besides, you are also close by yourself, and you didn't come to our house to ask us to support you. It's just that you took care of the old feelings and obeyed the arrangement of the uncle, come here. It's just to help my mother. Although my family's business is not big, it's not too small. Now that my grandmother can't manage, it's all on my mother's shoulders. I don't know how happy my mother is to have you come to help. "
Although the jade beads were sent by Pei You'an, but when they first arrived, they were inevitably a little uncomfortable. After Jiafu's remarks, his heart gradually became clear. favor. Said: "Don't worry, grandma, since I came here with shame, I will do my best in the future, I hope I can help you."
Jiafu nodded, and finally brought the topic to what she wanted to ask: "Sister Yuzhu, what did the uncle say when he went to see you in the Ci'en Temple that day? Can you give all the words you said to him at that time? Shall I say it again?"
Yuzhu nodded, then repeated all Pei You'an's words at that time, and finally said: "After the uncle's instructions, go to the root hall to worship the ancestral lotus, and spend the night in the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion. The next morning, I went there. , the others left, and the monk said that it was still before dawn, so he went down the mountain."
Jiafu asked a few more questions, but couldn't ask any more. She sat down for a while and told Yuzhu to rest early, and went back to her room. It was night, tossing and turning.
Pei You'an was seduced by the emperor and sent to the southwest to handle the unfinished naturalization of refugees. Before leaving, he arranged for Yuzhu to come to Quanzhou, not only to help himself, but also to arrange a way for Yuzhu, who was originally determined to keep the old lady's spirit, A very logical thing. But I don't know why, thinking of the night before he left, his unusual tenderness and reluctance towards him, Jiafu's heart could not be settled, as if something was about to happen.
Before Mrs. Pei left, she showed her the secret between the emperor and Pei You'an. Jiafu understands that in the eyes of the old lady, this may be a big hurdle in Pei You'an's life. She is afraid that her grandson will not be able to overcome this hurdle. She hopes that one day, when Pei You'an faces this hurdle, she will be there by her side and give her help. He helps.
But Jiafu was really a little scared. She was afraid that if something happened one day, would she have enough strength to stand by Pei You'an's side and give Pei You'an help as her grandmother expected.
She couldn't help but think of the boy named Yu he met that night when he took himself to the reef island.
After the boy left that night, Pei You'an didn't tell her more, and Jiafu didn't ask. But the young man called Pei You'an "Young Master", but Jiafu heard it.
In this world, what kind of students are qualified to call their teachers "Shao Fu"
Jiafu thought about the rumors of the old dynasty, and some old things about Pei You'an when she was young. In these days, she finally understood something vaguely.
Pei You'an has his own creed and character, which Jiafu can't understand.
But from the moment she realized the identity of the boy, she was sweating for him.
He walks between day and night, seemingly with ease, but over the years, every step he takes has been walking like the tip of a knife.
Jiafu recalled an incident that her brother had mentioned when he came back in the evening. He said that he was in the dock during the day, and there were rumors that in the past few days, someone had seen more than a dozen warships from the imperial court go into the sea, and they recruited old fishermen who were familiar with sea routes. The guide, it is said that he is going to fight the nest of Japanese pirates.
When my brother talked about it, he was very excited.
Indeed, if the Japanese pirates are eliminated as soon as possible, this also means that the sea ban can be lifted as soon as possible, which is naturally good news.
But Jiafu felt very uneasy.
She always had a bad feeling.
Pei You'an, he still has something to hide from her, and it's a huge thing.
…
Cui Yinshui followed Pei You'an to Jingxiang. Although the journey was exhausted, he did not dare to slack off and served diligently along the way. I arrived in Nanyang today, and the destination of this trip, the newly established Anhua County, is only a few days away. This night, I finally arrived at the post house on the way. , graciously greeted him and said with a smile: "Master Pei is virtuous and kind, and he left in a hurry last time. The people are still thinking about it. I didn't expect to come back this time. It's really a blessing for Jingxiang!"
Pei Youan asked a few questions about the livelihood of the people, and then settled down. In the middle of the night, Cui Yinshui borrowed tea and knocked on the door. Seeing that he was still sitting behind the table, he seemed to be writing a letter.
Cui Yinshui did not dare to approach, so he just stood by the door and waited, his eyes gradually became sore, and he advised: "Sir, it is hard to travel during the day, and I have to get up early tomorrow morning, so I can rest. This trip is a drudgery, I want to serve the lord for a long time, if the lord is exhausted, I am afraid that my godfather will find out and blame me."
Pei You'an has always written a thousand words, but tonight, for some unknown reason, let alone to whom he wrote a letter, he stopped writing several times in the middle, and when he heard Cui Yinshui speak, he raised his head, slowly put down the pen in his hand, and said, "Alright. I'm sleeping, you should go to rest too."
Cui Yinshui hurriedly laid out the bedding for him, waited for Pei Youan to get on the couch, and then blew the light for him, went out lightly, closed the door, and was silent all night. On the next day, Cui Yinshui got up early and waited outside for Pei Youan to get up. For a long time, I didn't see any movement inside, so I boldly pushed the door and entered, only to see that the bed was neatly quilted, and Pei You'an was not in the room.
Cui Yinshui hurriedly called the postmaster. Yi Cheng said: "Master Pei set off at the fourth shift, saying that you have to travel hard, so that I don't have to disturb you."
Cui Yinshui was taken aback.
On his trip to the southwest, in addition to serving, he was also instructed by Li Yuangui to keep an eye on Pei You'an's movements on the way. There was nothing unusual along the way, but he didn't expect that he would leave without saying goodbye this morning, paused, turned around and hurriedly left, and a guard who was traveling with him had stopped him and said with a smile: "Eunuch Cui, Lord Pei ordered Come on, say you have worked hard this way, and ask the little ones to keep you here, so that you can rest for a few days, and when you are rested, it will not be too late to find him again."