(3)
In desperation, several people had no choice but to follow Nie Yun to Shi's house. The Shi Family Mansion is not far from the Shi Family Chamber of Commerce, just a few miles away from the Yamen of Wandeng Town. Because the Shi family has a high reputation in the town and even in inhabited places within a hundred miles, and the family has a large business and many customers. Therefore, if more townspeople are confused about something, they are more inclined to seek help from the Shi family instead of reporting it to the officials. Therefore, there is always an endless stream of guests from the Shi family, while the Yamen next to it is much deserted. Walking from the pier to the town center, you will inevitably pass through the bustling city.
Zhao Xiaomei and Ajuan, who were playful and active, saw masks of different styles being sold on the street, so they bought a few, and then handed them over to everyone in the group one by one, completely ignoring Nie, who had just lost their beloved elder. The mood of the cloud.
"Miss Murong, Master Bai, this is for you!" A girl wearing a pink flower mask handed the green bird mask and the fiery phoenix mask to the two men respectively. If it weren't for her clothes that were very different from others and her clear and pleasant voice, Murong Yan and Bai Feng might not have been able to recognize the face hidden by the mask.
"Mr. Nie, this is for you!" Zhao Xiaomei, wearing a golden horse mask, handed the dark blue fish mask to Nie Yun.
Nie Yun smiled and nodded, and just as he was about to express his thanks, the younger sister turned around and walked towards Zhao Kuo, leaving Nie Yun behind. She swayed her green valerian skirt, and the lingering body fragrance on her skirt drifted into Nie Yun's nose with the wind. He looked at the little girl's back with a naive smile, all caught up in Bai Feng's eyes.
"Brother, this 'pig mask' is for you!" the younger sister said playfully.
Zhao Kuo had an angry look on his face, as if he was holding back his breath, and said, "Ajuan, come here." After saying this, Ajuan didn't know what he was doing, so he walked up to his little sister and asked what he was doing. Zhao Kuo pointed at Nie Yun with his fingers and reproached: "Brother Nie, you just lost your uncle. But you two are so happy in front of him. Is this in line with etiquette? Take off your mask quickly and accompany others. no!"
Only then did the two girls realize that they were wrong. They took off their masks, approached Nie Yun, and said in unison: "Master Nie, I'm sorry."
"This...it doesn't matter!" Nie Yun said in a panic. Then, as if trying to escape from someone's sight, he walked up to Zhao Kuo and said, "This is a festival to celebrate! Everyone should be happy. Besides, this mask will be useful in the future."
"Oh?" Zhao Kuo looked at the funny pig mask on his hand and asked, "What is it for?"
"The last day of the Ten Thousand Lantern Festival is a ceremony to worship the River God. It is said that the person whose face is seen by the River God will be visited by the River God..."
After a while, the six people had arrived at the door of Shi Mansion. Two guards armed with long sticks stood majestically on both sides of the door. The plaque on the door has the word "Shifu" written in gold paint. The two stone lions crouching outside the door are the villagers who have just walked out of the house. The satisfied smile on his face is proof that his difficulties have been successfully solved.
After seeing Nie Yun, the villagers immediately rushed to him, raised their hands and greeted him: "Young Master Nie, have you just come back from doing something?"
"Uncle Ding, I'm in a hurry to take the guest to see my adoptive father! You'd better go back first!" Nie Yun couldn't hide the sadness in his heart, trying not to mention the sudden death of his uncle.
The villager obeyed the order and passed by the five people behind him. When the guards in front of the door saw Nie Yun returning, they all raised their hands and lowered their eyebrows and said, "I have met the young master!"
Nie Yun replied: "Go and inform your adoptive father that I have brought guests to meet with him."
One of the guards agreed, turned around and trotted into the house. Zhao Kuo and his entourage continued to follow Nie Yun, strolling slowly through this huge, intricate maze-like mansion. In order for Shi Hongtu to finish the matter at hand first, they had to spend time in the aisle with numerous bonsai plants. At Nie Yun's suggestion, the lotus pond in the mansion was a scenic spot, so he could take a rest there.
Passing through the porch and walking into the carefully built wooden corridor along the lotus pond, everyone saw not only the beauty of the lotus flowers in bloom, but also a pavilion in the center of the pond. The pavilion standing among the lotus flowers seems to be a nobler and more graceful existence than the lotus. From time to time, beautiful music comes from the pavilion. What about the people who are playing the music? Zhao Kuo seemed to be recalling some past events and was so fascinated that he didn't notice Ajuan's call beside him.
"Mr. Zhao? Mr. Zhao!"
"Uh?" Zhao Kuo suddenly turned around and said, "What's wrong with you?"
Ajuan squinted her eyes, as if she could see through his heart. Then he turned his eyes in the direction of the pavilion and said sarcastically: "Tsk, I miss people when I see things! We are not even in my eyes."
"What are you thinking about..." Zhao Kuo pushed Ajuan in front of him, walked forward quickly, and said, "I'm too lazy to pay attention to you!"
Ajuan hurriedly followed, and stepped onto the steps of the pavilion almost at the same time as Zhao Kuo. Then, out of breath, he put one hand on Zhao Kuo's shoulder and rested: "You... don't think about getting rid of me!"
Zhao Kuo did not respond, just stared blankly ahead. A moment later, Ajuan also followed his line of sight and saw an elegant woman about the same age as herself. She was dressed in Hagi-colored clothes and had her hair tied up in a bun. She was kneeling on the straw mat in a dignified but not dignified manner. , stroking the strings with both hands, looking at the two people who suddenly appeared with her wise and slightly melancholy eyes. There is a maid beside the woman, who is holding a huge banana leaf to fan her and protect her from the sun, which makes the woman look more graceful and noble.
"Excuse me... Miss." Zhao Kuo apologized, knowing that he was not the first to interrupt other people's music.
"Who are you?" the woman asked doubtfully. Her eyes first observed Zhao Kuo, and then stayed on Ajuan for a long time, seeming to be very interested in her clothes and silver jewelry.
Nie Yun and others also rushed to the pavilion at this time. Seeing that Zhao Kuo and Ajuan had arrived uninvited, he stepped forward to introduce everyone: "Mrs. Xun, this is the guest I brought. You In front of me are Mr. Zhao and Miss Ajuan..."
"Madam?" Ajuan asked quietly to Zhao Kuo beside him: "She is so young, how can she become a madam?"
When the woman heard the word "young", she seemed to frown, and then pursed her lips and said: "Young Master Nie, I will go and get the medicine soup for the master first, and you can receive them well." As soon as she finished speaking, Mrs. Putting on her skirt, she stood up and left. The maid behind her staggered away, packed up her guqin, saluted Nie Yun in front of her, and followed Mrs. Xun.
Several people felt embarrassed, after all, they were occupying other people's leisure and entertainment space. After a moment of burning incense, a servant wearing dark blue linen came to announce: "The master has finished handling the matter at hand. Please take the guests to deal with the matter." Under the guidance of the servant, everyone was led to the In front of a tree covered with talismans, and behind that, was the hall where Shi Hongtu welcomed guests. Talismans were also posted on both sides of the hall door. An old man with sallow skin, white hair and deep wrinkles on his face sat in the center of the hall. He looked far worse than the legendary tycoon Shi Hongtu. The only thing that could make him What reminds people of his extraordinary ability is his still burning gaze.
"My child, you're back." Shi Hongtu said with difficulty in his breathless voice.
Nie Yun knelt down on the ground with great respect, raised his hands and lowered his eyebrows and said: "Father! The child has completed what you told him and is back!"
At this time, Mrs. Xun, who was holding the medicinal soup, walked directly to Shi Hongtu from the side and wanted to hand the medicinal soup to Shi Hongtu, but Shi Hongtu reached out to stop her, indicating that she would drink it later. Mrs. Xun had no choice but to stand aside and quietly watch the arriving guests and what was about to happen.
"Who are these?" Shi Hongtu asked.
"This is Mr. Bai, that is Mr. Zhao..." Nie Yun introduced them one by one and explained their purpose.
"But even if I am willing to open the port, no one will be willing to sail the ship!" Shi Hongtu replied helplessly: "How about I ask a few skilled servants to protect you by land to Jiangzhou?"
Zhao Kuo hesitated and said: "How troublesome Mr. Shi is! Besides, this trip is a long way. We can't afford to lose Mr. Shi's men..."
"If Mr. Shi really has no choice, then please let it go!" Bai Feng immediately agreed.
Murong Yan suddenly pulled off the sleeves of the young man next to her in a panic and whispered: "Brother Feng, look!" Bai Feng followed the direction indicated by Murong Yan and found that Shi Hongtu's eyes were turned up and his body was constantly moving. The ground twitched.
Seeing the situation, Bai Feng hurriedly shouted: "Mr. Shi, what's wrong with you!"
When everyone heard the news, they saw that Shi Hongtu had stuck out his tongue, and the saliva in his mouth was almost dripping. He looked very indecent, and he was still muttering: "Xue...xue...er..."
Suddenly, he grabbed Mrs. Xun beside him into his arms, and with such force, he tore off Mrs. Xun's gauze jacket, exposing the lady's fragrant shoulders in front of everyone. Obviously, most people present had no idea what was going on. Immediately afterwards, Shi Hongtu put his tongue out due to spasm close to Mrs. Xun's beautiful young face and licked it continuously. Although Mrs. Xun tried her best to resist, due to Shi Hongtu's strange strength that was inconsistent with her weak and thin body, she could only tremble slightly, close her eyes tightly, and accept it in pain.
Nie Yun saw the situation. After being stunned for a moment, he stepped to his adoptive father's side in two or three steps. While rescuing Mrs. Xun from the predicament, he said, "Madam, I'm sorry."
Mrs. Xun was ashamed and resentful. After arranging her clothes, she seemed to have regained the elegant expression she had at Chi Xinting. She handed the medicine to Nie Yun and motioned for Shi Hongyu to take it.
It turned out that this was a "strange disease", and Zhao Kuo and others suddenly realized it. After Nie Yun ordered his servants to send Shi Hongtu back to his room, he solemnly apologized to everyone present, including Mrs. Xun who was humiliated in public.
Unexpectedly, Mrs. Xun just replied coldly: "As long as the master takes his medicine on time, he usually won't be like this during the day."
"I will obey my wife's instructions. The child will definitely remember it clearly!" Nie Yun replied very apologetically.
Everyone asked for help to no avail, so they had to find another way. It's just that the longer you stay in this Ten Thousand Deng Town, the more confusing it becomes. In view of the fact that Bai Feng, Zhao Kuo and other five people can only stay in Wandeng Town temporarily. At Nie Yunzhi's invitation, everyone first planned to attend the ritual ceremony of Master Shi Er in the evening.
