The girl's eyebrows were green and her face was full of peach blossoms. She walked shyly to the middle of the room, bowed her hands to everyone.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Sun Hong came up to Wu Gen and whispered, "Brother Wu, don't drink too much. You must be careful. I don't know what Lin Ruoshi is thinking about today's banquet. Just deal with it." .”
"I know it." Wu Gen smiled and raised his glass to the person opposite, but did not look at Sun Hong. "When you first arrive in Dingyuan, it is not appropriate to directly conflict with him. Let's wait and see."
While the two were talking, the woman picked up the plectrum with bare hands and swept it down gently.
The pipa is tinkling, the strings are melodious, and the rhythm is faint, just like the fog locking the mountains and the villages surrounded by smoke. While twisting gently and slowly, the voice was as slow as silk rain, with a hint of sadness hidden in it.
At the end of the song, the woman's eyelashes were filled with tears, her face looked sad, and she lowered her head and said nothing.
Lin Ruoshi put the wine glass on the table with a look of displeasure on his face, "Today we were waiting for Brother Wu to receive the news, but to hear such miserable news is really disappointing."
Another person next to him said: "Yes, yes, it's possible that my brothers have bullied you and still hate us. Such behavior is really unlucky. Come on."
Following the man's voice, the boy ran in and said, "Sir, what's the music like, and do you have any orders?"
"You're a shopkeeper who doesn't know how to do business. You can play some mournful music on a good day. If you change people, you won't get any reward."
"Okay, I'll let her change to a light song." The boy stepped forward and pulled down the collar of the woman's clothes.
"Replacement, I didn't understand what was going on. He's so vulgar and smug, so he's staining our eyes." Another person next to him said angrily.
The boy turned his head and glared at the woman, stretched out his hand to pull her up, and quietly pinched her shoulder hard.
The woman raised her head in panic and looked at everyone with pleading eyes. Half of her body had been lifted up by the boy. Seeing the woman's resistance, the boy cursed in a low voice: "You little prodigal hoof who doesn't know how to advance or retreat has caused me to lose a portion of my harvest today."
The woman was dragged to the door and looked back hastily, tears falling down her cheeks, as if she was very afraid of being dragged away.
Sun Hong was about to get up, but was held back by Wu Gen.
"Wait a minute." Wu Gen stood up with a wine glass in his hand, "Everyone, I usually guard Guan Sui alone and am used to being lonely, but I like this little lady's style. All of you here are people who are successful in their official careers. They are used to being happy, so why not How about listening to this sad song with me today for a change?"
Lin Ruoshi smiled slightly and said, "I never thought that Brother Wu would be so compassionate and cherishing Yu. Okay, today I and a few people will accompany Brother Model to grieve. Little lady, Quan Nongyu, sit next to this Xiao Lang. If it is If you play well, this young man will be greatly rewarded."
After hearing this, the woman hurriedly turned around, saluted everyone, moved her steps lightly, and sat next to Wu Gen. Everyone laughed and joked about his beauty and good fortune.
Wu Gen's face twitched, and it wasn't because he was shy. This kind of teasing was nothing compared to the gangsters in Dafeng Village.
In fact, Lin Ruoshi's "big reward" was a bit harmful. He touched the small amount of money in his sleeve and felt a toothache.
Sun Hong naturally understood that this old man was stingy again. He tugged on Wu Gen's sleeves and pointed to his arms, indicating that he didn't need to worry.
The woman glanced at Wu Gen gratefully and played a song again. Compared with the previous song, this song was much more cheerful.
While everyone was drinking, the woman whispered: "Xiangxiang, thank you for your mercy. I would like to offer you a drink." After saying that, she took the wine glass from the table, poured a glass of wine, and drank it all in one sip.
"It's okay. Huh?" Wu Gen took a sip casually and found that the woman's movements were a little stiff. Behind the slightly cool clothes, the circles of gauze on the back were revealed, "But someone bullied you."
The woman was startled, knowing that Wu Gen had noticed the injury on her back. She lowered her head and said sadly: "A woman who works here will be beaten by her mother-in-law if she can't make any money in one day. If you don't say anything to persuade me to stay today, I'm afraid you will be beaten tonight." He will be punished again and won’t even be able to eat.”
Wu Gen raised his eyebrows, "Then just don't do it here. Why suffer this humiliation?"
Xiangxiang smiled bitterly, "Young master, you don't know that we are all common people. We were sold here as slaves since we were young. If we escape, we will be beaten to death when we are caught."
Although it is a bit miserable here, I can still have enough to eat. Besides, grandma is already very good, at least she won’t chase people away. Sisters from other families would be sold away if they couldn't make any money, or they would be kicked out and live in exile, and they might die in the dark one day. "
Wu Gen was speechless after hearing Xiang Xiang's words. When he saw the woman's injuries just now, he had already guessed the outcome. However, he never thought that the woman would not complain at all. Instead, she was grateful to have such a safe place.
Sun Hong came over and said, "Brother Wu, there have been many such things before you came here. As time goes by, you will not be surprised and become accustomed to it."
Wu Gen avoided Xiangxiang and asked in Sun Hong's ear, "What's the price of this reward? I was caught by Lin Ruoshi's words just now. It wouldn't be a good idea if I don't pay the reward. At least this girl will be spared a meal." Fight."
"Generally speaking, the starting price is five taels, and more may even be ten taels, one hundred taels, etc. It depends on the mood of the guest." Sun Hong quickly introduced, for fear that this person would take out a few copper coins. He was sure that Wu Gen could do this kind of thing.
"Five taels." Wu Gen almost shouted out in shock. He and Bao Xiang would have to earn back the money by selling so much money just for listening to a song. He reached out and touched his sleeve, and took out a five-tael silver ingot with pain.
Sun Hong took a look, calmly took out another five taels and put them in Wu Gen's hand.
Wu Gen gritted his teeth and handed the ten taels of silver to Xiangxiang, and said angrily: "Here, this is your reward, so you won't get beaten."
Xiangxiang quickly took it, "No, no. Master, would you like me to play another song?" She looked at Wu Gen expectantly.
"No, no, let's call it a day." Wu Gen hurriedly stopped him. Two pieces of music cost ten taels of silver. If he continued to play, he might have to wear pants.
As Xiangxiang left, the banquet was coming to an end. As the last pot of wine was drunk, everyone left the table drunk.
On the way back, Lin Ruoshi took the initiative to walk with Wu Gen and Sun Hong. The three of them stumbled and seemed very drunk.
Suddenly, Lin Ruoshi turned to Sun Hong and said, "Master Sun, please allow me to talk to Brother Wu alone."
Sun Hong was stunned and looked at him warily. Wu Gen smiled and said, "Why don't you, I don't believe Brother Lin still has the habit of cutting off his sleeves." His eyes signaled Sun Hong to leave.
Lin Ruoshi and Wu Gen were walking on the street, their steps were steady and they were not drunk at all.
"Wu Gen, you and I are well aware of the festivals between us. Do you know why I am hosting a banquet for you today?" Lin Ruoshi said with a smile.
Wu Gen glanced at the other party jokingly, "Maybe you admire me as a role model in the military and want to turn conflicts into friendship. Or maybe you see me so charming and suave, and you are secretly impressed. You actually regret it and want to get closer."
"Hahaha, Brother Wu is joking. I am truly grateful to you for today's banquet." Lin Ruoshi turned around, "I was driven back from the Xiangjun camp. It must be Brother Wu's hands and feet."
Wu Gengang wanted to refute, but Lin Ruoshi waved his hand and said, "It doesn't matter whether it is yes or no. Being expelled this time is really a great shame in life.
After returning to the city, I thought about it again and again, but felt a little relieved. Through this incident, I realized my shortcomings, which was that I was too aloof and disdainful to deal with low-level people, so I lost the support of the Xiang army.
After I came back, I learned from the experience and made great changes in my behavior. Whether they are soldiers in the army or officials in the government, they are all treated in harmony. Therefore, I sincerely want to invite you to this banquet tonight.
Everyone here tonight may be a housekeeper dog who doesn't know how to make progress, or may be embarrassed by the vulgar people. If we talk about heroes, Brother Wu Gen can be called this. After tonight, you and I will each show off our skills and abilities, and who will win will depend on his ability. how. "
Licking his lips, Wu Gen said with a smile: "It's true, Lin Ruoshi, I'm wondering if I should take advantage of the dark moon and high winds to kill you. Wouldn't it be a clean slate?"
Lin Ruoshi shook his head gently, with a look of pity on his face, "Haha, I was seriously injured on that mountain that day, so you took an advantage. I don't think you can defeat Daxia Rongfu, but in front of me, you are really not good enough. .
You don't know how big the gap is between a martial artist and a Qigong practitioner. Let's just say that you have this ability. In this Dingyuan City, you are not familiar with the place, and you don't even think about whether I have set up an ambush to surround you if I invite you out alone. "
After saying that, Lin Ruoshi threw up his head and laughed, turned around and left.
Looking at his back, Wu Gen remained silent, took a deep breath, and returned to the captain's mansion to rest.
Wu Gen began to nod and take naps on time in the captain's mansion. In the military room, except for Bi Hua who occasionally chatted, everyone else ignored each other.
As for Cao Jinren, he had a gloomy face all day long, as if everyone owed him money. After trying to get Wu Gen to write a document, he no longer asked him to write, and only did things like delivering documents.
At first, Sun Hong even ran to the counselor's room and chatted with Wu Gen. Gradually, even Sun Hong came less and less.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, Cao Jinren handed Wu Gen a document and asked him to deliver it to the county governor's house. Although Lieutenant Yuwen was in charge of military affairs, the county guard was the head of Baoan County after all, and he had to consult him for instructions on many matters, so there was a lot of correspondence.
He casually put the official document into an envelope and sealed it with wax. Wu Gen casually wrote his name on the seal. At this time, Bi Hua walked in from outside the house and summoned everyone to go to the Bing Cao office to discuss matters. Wu Gen had no choice but to put the letter on the table and go with the others.
By the time we were done, it was almost evening. Because he was not very familiar with the others, Wu Gen wandered back to the house alone, picked up the letter on the table, and went to the county governor's house to deliver the letter.
The Sheriff's Mansion is in the west of the city, a few streets away from the Colonel's Mansion. After Wu Gen delivered the letter, he deliberately delayed it for a while so that he didn't have to go back to the lifeless military room.
After leaving the gate of the magistrate's house, Wu Gen walked around in a circle, wandering out of boredom and looking at the surrounding scenery.
As a county town, Dingyuan City has been built for nearly a hundred years, and the scenery is quite beautiful. The Tuohe River flows around the city from the west and serves as both a transportation and a moat. There are many winding pools and ponds in the city, so there are many bridges and arches. It is quite interesting to walk among them.
When we got to the side of the Bell and Drum Tower, it was a gathering place for people coming from the south and the north, and the flow of people started to increase. Turning the corner, several people came in front. The leader was Lin Ruoshi, and Sun Hong was also among them.
Seeing Wu Gen, Sun Hong was stunned and looked quite uncomfortable. Lin Ruoshi took the initiative to greet him, "This is not brother Wu Gen. We haven't seen each other for a few days, but he has lost a lot of weight. It just so happens that a few colleagues are getting together tonight, why not have a drink together."
Glancing at Sun Hong who lowered his head, Wu Gen said lukewarmly: "I am from a poor family. Last time I went to a banquet with Brother Lin, I lost ten taels of silver and owed five taels to others. I definitely don't dare to go. I have some things on hand, so I won’t disturb a few of you." He cupped his hands and prepared to leave.
"What are you talking about? If brother Wu is short of money, I still have some money left here. We are all colleagues. Just use some to spend." Lin Ruoshi seemed not to let Wu Gen go.
"Forget it, the one who takes advantage of others is soft-handed and the eater has a short mouth. You can eat as much rice as you have. I'd better go back and eat my pickled vegetables and rough rice." After Wu Gen finished speaking, he walked away.
"Who are you? You grew up eating hedgehogs. You are so shameless." Someone among the colleagues muttered in a low voice.
Looking at his back, Lin Ruoshi shook his head gently, but didn't say anything. He patted Sun Hong's shoulder lightly, "Let's take a walk, don't let your mood get bad. It's such a good time to raise a glass to the moon." After that, he said with a smile Several people went to the east of the city.
