"Old man, please don't misunderstand me. I have no ill intentions in looking for you!" Cao Zhang saw the old man's worry and hurriedly comforted her.
"I just heard that my son was very righteous in eradicating harm and sacrificing his life to protect his mother. I admire him very much."
"I also know that he has traveled all over the world, looking for famous teachers, and is perfect in all strategies and strategies. He is a talented man with both civil and military skills. I want to ask him to serve as an official to help me achieve my great cause!" Cao Zhang expressed his intention to conquer Xu Shu to the old man.
After Xu's mother understood Cao Zhang's intention, she felt at ease. Then she apologized to Cao Zhang and said, "I thank you for your kindness to Quan Zi."
"It's just that Quanzi is traveling to study now and is not around. Moreover, my son is not very talented and has little knowledge. I can't help him. I'm afraid I will disappoint him." Xu's mother rejected Cao Zhang directly.
When Xiahou Ba heard that Xu's mother rejected Cao Zhang, he was a little anxious and couldn't help but stepped forward: "Hey, why do you, an old woman, talk like this? Mr. Sikong Zhengpi, you still..."
"Zhong Quan, don't be rude!" Cao Zhang quickly stopped Xia Houba.
Cao Zhang understood in his heart why Xu's mother refused his conquest.
After Cao Cao took control of Yanzhou, he killed Bian Rang and other famous officials. Later, he conquered Xuzhou to avenge his father Cao Song, and massacred the city, which greatly reduced his reputation and gave him a very bad reputation among the people.
Xu's mother in "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" committed suicide because she refused Xu Shu to serve Cao Cao.
The Xu mother I met now should be very hostile to the Cao family.
"Old man, when a man is born between heaven and earth, he should use his useful life to serve the country and benefit the people. Your son's talents and learning should not be buried here." Cao Zhang tried to persuade Xu's mother.
But when he saw that Xu's mother's expression was not moved by him at all, he immediately changed the topic: "But everyone has their own ambitions, so you can't force it, and I will never force it on you."
"Here are some money and gifts. Please accept them as a token of respect." Cao Zhang waved his hand to Xiahou Ba to give the gifts.
Xu's mother did not reach out to take it at all: "No reward for no merit. We appreciate the kindness of the young master, but we cannot accept the things or money."
Seeing that Xu's mother was resolute, Cao Zhang didn't say much and waved his hand to Xiahou Ba to put the things away.
Xiahou Ba was dissatisfied, but Cao Zhang didn't let him get angry, so he could only endure it and turn around and walk away.
Cao Zhang bent down to look at the green vegetables in the bamboo basket in front of Xu's mother, and praised: "These mallows are very fresh. My father has not eaten such fresh mallows for a long time."
"Old man, I want all these dishes." Cao Zhang took out his wallet and paid.
Although Xu's mother was reluctant, Cao Zhang paid normally, and she couldn't refuse, so she could only signal Xu Kang to accept the money.
Cao Zhang signaled his servants to carry the vegetable basket away, and then said to Xu's mother: "Old man, if you eat these vegetables well, I will come to you often to buy them. I won't disturb you today. Farewell!"
Cao Zhang said goodbye to Xu's mother, turned around and left with Xiahou Ba and others.
Xu's mother didn't expect Cao Zhang to leave so simply. Instead, she was a little surprised and watched him go away silently.
"Mom, Mr. Sikong wants to recruit his eldest brother. This is a good thing. Why do you reject him?" Xu Kang asked his mother in confusion.
"Cao Cao was ferocious and cruel. He massacred several cities in Xuzhou and killed many innocent people. How could I let your elder brother serve such a person?!"
"But I think this young master today is a very nice person. He punished the bully and was very kind to us. Maybe he is not the same kind of person as his father?" Xu Kang expressed his impression of Cao Zhang.
"Who knows if he is pretending? Okay, the vegetables are sold, go home." Xu's mother urged Xu Kang.
Xu Kang nodded, packed up his burden, and helped his mother return home.
…
Return to the official road of Xudu.
Cao Zhang and Xiahou Ba rode their horses slowly.
Xiahou Ba asked in confusion: "Ziwen, you spent so much effort to find this mother and son just to conquer his son."
"That old lady doesn't know how to behave, why don't you just let me tie her up? I don't believe her son won't come back if he finds out!"
"Zhongquan, Xu Shu is a talented person. We must treat each other with courtesy. You tied up her mother by force, can he still serve me sincerely?!" Cao Zhang explained helplessly to Xiahou Ba.
"But we have been busy for a long time and were rejected without even seeing the real owner. What should we do next?!" Xiahou Ba asked helplessly.
"What should I do? In order to meet the Dongguo barbarians, Duke Huan of Qi had to go five times before meeting him once."
"We are seeking virtuous people, so naturally we must treat virtuous corporals and convince others with virtue, so that they can be willing to serve me. You, just learn from me." Cao Zhang responded to Xiahou Ba.
Cao Zhang had already anticipated such an outcome and had made preparations for long-term actions to slowly influence Xu's mother...
The setting sun cast a wisp of red onto the city gate of Xudu.
Cao Zhang and Xiahou Ba came from afar and entered Xudu.
There were already guards from the Sikong Mansion waiting inside the city gate. When they saw Cao Zhang entering the city, they immediately came forward and said, "Greetings to the young master. Sikong has an order. Please go see him immediately after the young master comes back."
Cao Zhang agreed and said to Xiahou Ba: "Zhongquan, my father has summoned me. You should go back first and bring some fresh vegetables back to Uncle Xiahou and Juan'er."
Xiahou Ba agreed and divided some of the green vegetables out.
Cao Zhang took his servants and carried the remaining vegetables to Sikong Mansion.
When Cao Zhang arrived at Sikong Mansion, he heard people say that Cao Cao was in the back hall. He did not go to see Cao Cao directly, but went to the back kitchen with vegetables.
The back hall of Sikong Mansion.
Cao Cao held a scroll of bamboo slips and looked at it carefully, nodding his head in admiration from time to time: "High, really high!"
Cao Zhang walked in with a servant, who was holding a tray with freshly cooked mallow and porridge on it.
"Meet my father." Cao Zhang respectfully saluted Cao Cao.
Cao Cao raised his head: "You're back, what are you bringing?"
"It's the fresh mallow I just brought back. I just asked the chef to prepare it for my father to taste." Cao Zhang replied.
"Oh, I happen to be a little hungry, bring it over." Cao Cao responded.
The servant delivered the tray to Cao Cao.
Cao Cao picked up his chopsticks and took a bite to taste: "Well, this mallow is very fresh and tastes good."
"My son knew that his father had not eaten such fresh mallow for a long time, so he bought it specially for his father."
"I'm interested. But do you think you can just get some mallows to please him and get away with it?" Cao Cao looked at Cao Zhang and his expression slowly darkened.
Cao Zhang looked at the change in Cao Cao's expression and realized that something was wrong.
"Do you know why I'm looking for you?" Cao Cao asked Cao Zhang coldly.
Cao Zhang hesitated for a moment, then suddenly realized, and responded: "I wonder if father is looking for me about Uncle Zilian or about General Dong Cheng's nephew?"
Cao Cao nodded, then took a few shots of the cases in front of him and said angrily: "Who gave you the courage to do these things?!"
