Chapter 0——⑨Buddha Face·Ghost Face
One morning before leaving, Zhao Kuo followed his father Zhao Wei to the Buddhist hall at home to worship. The place was filled with various beads, statues, and incense burners. The ashes left when offering incense yesterday were still warm.
The servants began to burn incense and prepare medicinal baths, and the clothes hanging on the wooden racks were neatly arranged. Everything was ready, and when the master and the young master finished paying homage to the Buddha, they began to greet him with tense faces. On weekdays, changing clothes and bathing after paying homage to the Buddha was also part of the ceremony, but today's atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed.
From the Buddhist hall to the bathhouse, lights were decorated all the way. Zhao Wei, who had always been serious, rarely showed his kind and kind side. He distributed money and food widely and rewarded all the servants, just so that they could sincerely express their love on the way to propose marriage. Showing a smile to show the people in the town: "Something happy is going to happen in the Zhao family today!"
After the brocade clothes embellished with gold threads were put on, Zhao Kuo finally came to pay his respects to his father. Zhao Wei also relaxed his posture in a unique way, eliminating his usual frown. He sat here and waited like a smiling Buddha. When he saw Zhao Kuo coming, he I was so happy that I couldn't even open my eyes.
"Kuo'er, today is your engagement day, and it is also the most festive day for our Zhao family in the past ten years. Remember to follow the rules in everything, and don't forget Mr. Fan's teachings."
Fan Liwu greeted him from the side, his expression still frowning, he did not dare to neglect this matter at all: "I hope that the young master will first discuss the interests and benefits of the marriage with General Yao, and then present the betrothal gift as a tribute, and finally just say The childhood love between the young master and Miss Yao touched his heart."
Zhao Kuo raised his hands and said respectfully: "Students, please keep this in mind."
After speaking, Zhao Kuo took half a step back and expressed his respect to the two elders. Then he prepared the betrothal gifts and accompanying servants, and set out with Zhao Wei and Fan Liwu to visit the mansion of General Yao in Yuyi Town.
Everyone has had this feeling, and I hope that one day in the future when I think back to today, my heart will still be full of throbbing and there will be no regrets.
Zhao Kuo rode leisurely on his horse and ordered people to drop money along the way, attracting everyone to come and join in the fun. However, after a while, the news that the Zhao family was going to Yao Mansion to propose marriage spread throughout the town.
Simple and kind people have always known that there is a pair of living "Cowherd and Weaver Girl" in Yuyi Town. They often recite poems and couplets on the banks of the grassland and rivers, making the washerwomen intoxicated and pleasing the herdsmen. Facing them, even the fighting men will change. Gotta be gentle. As the saying goes, it is better to demolish ten temples than to destroy a pair of beautiful women.
Now that you can witness a beautiful thing being accomplished with your own eyes, who wouldn’t want to come?
Surrounded by the townspeople, the Zhao family walked into the Yao Mansion in a grand manner and followed the guide to the lobby. As distinguished guests who had been informed in advance that they were coming to propose marriage, the Zhao family was surprised to find that the Yao Mansion was not prepared at all. , not only were there no corresponding etiquette to greet him, but there were only a handful of servants waiting for him.
Fan Liwu complained angrily at such contempt: "General Yao never told his subordinates, how come he didn't invite me kindly?"
"Don't be anxious. I may be busy with official duties, so I couldn't make proper arrangements." Zhao Wei helped his old friend smooth things over, and warned Zhao Kuo: "When you meet General Yao later, you must be careful and pay attention to your words."
Zhao Kuo nodded. When General Yao went out to meet his guests, he was the first to come forward to greet him. He raised his hands and said in greeting, "Zhao Kuo has met General Yao."
"My dear nephew, why are you so angry today?" General Yao sat in the middle of the hall and extended his hand to invite: "Brother Zhao, please sit down."
"How are you looking today, dear brother?" Zhao Wei came up to sit with him, smiling broadly.
General Yao replied: "Very good. It's just that I suddenly felt cold last night. If there was no servant calling me just now, I would definitely neglect you, brother." After that, he filled a glass of wine for himself and Zhao Wei. After drinking, he said: "Come on, brother, we haven't drunk in many days, and we will not come back until we are drunk today!"
"No, no, no, dear brother, why don't we talk about business first?" Zhao Wei put down the wine glass without appreciation.
"What is business? Talking about old times with my brother, isn't it business?" General Yao continued to look around and said to him: "Brother, come! Drink this cup with me."
At this time, Zhao Kuo finally lost his temper and suddenly blurted out: "Uncle, we are here today to propose marriage."
"Oh, asking for marriage?" General Yao thought for a moment, slapped his forehead, and suddenly said: "I remember, Caiwei came back that day and asked me to read a letter."
After hearing this, Zhao Kuo was overjoyed and continued: "My uncle is now at the time of employing people. He is suffering from the troubles of the Wuchuan Heba clan internally and the Rouran disaster externally. If we can use marriage to revive morale, with the financial resources of our Zhao family, , and my uncle’s resourcefulness, why worry about his achievements not being preserved and his official career not prospering?”
"Hahaha... My nephew is indeed a talented person and speaks well." After General Yao finished praising him, his expression seemed to have changed slightly due to the smell of alcohol.
"Uncle, my nephew has prepared a small gift, but I hope you will accept it." Zhao Kuo waved his hand, and a boy put the silk jewelry in a box and presented it to him. Each box required four men to move it, and a total of three or four were moved. Wheels almost filled the entire lobby aisle.
General Yao nodded with satisfaction, but his expression was still so drunk and indifferent: "My nephew is interested. According to what the letter said, you and my eldest daughter Caiwei have a long-standing friendship. It's a pity that I want your uncle more. The second daughter Caixia is betrothed to you..."
"What?" Something unexpected happened to Zhao Kuo.
"Brother, I have something to talk to you about earlier, but it's a pity that I have been busy with official duties and can't get away." General Yao filled another glass of wine for himself and said to Zhao Wei apologetically: "My eldest daughter, Cai Wei, has never been able to get away. There is a lack of suitors. In my opinion, the young master of the Tong family in Woye Town is the best. Therefore, I have entered into a marriage contract with the Tong family and will set off to marry in the near future. As my nephew said, the marriage is revitalized at this time. To improve morale, the best strategy is to unite the towns to eliminate internal troubles!"
Zhao Wei was shocked: "This... why didn't you tell me earlier? My brother, I was fooled by you this time."
"Brother, calm down, brother, calm down."
"Hahaha, it doesn't matter. You and I have been brothers for many years. Why should such a small thing matter?"
"Brother, do you know that the second daughter Caixia..."
When they were confiding their hearts, Zhao Kuo suddenly got angry and cursed: "You are talking nonsense! Caiwei will never agree to this!"
"Kuo'er, don't be so presumptuous!" Zhao Wei suddenly returned to his usual appearance. His angular cheeks were very intimidating, and when his eyes widened in anger, he looked like a ghost.
"I want to see Caiwei, I want to see Caiwei... let her come out to see me!"
After Zhao Kuo said this, Zhao Wei was so excited that he stood up and said, "Shuzi, why don't you shut up?"
General Yao immediately agreed: "It doesn't matter, I'll call her out now...Brother, it's better to explain some things clearly."
After a while, Yao Caiwei heard the sound and came over. She was wearing a green shirt, plain makeup and silver hairpin, her eyes were dancing, as if she hadn't slept all night.
"Caiwei, did you really agree?" Zhao Kuo asked bluntly, "As long as you tell me that this is all because of force, I will risk my life to take you out!"
Yao Caiwei was extremely frightened. She glanced at the other party helplessly with her dry eyes, then nodded and said, "I agree."
"What did you say?" Zhao Kuo pondered for a long time, then suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed wildly: "Hahaha, you are an old man, you just ordered Caiwei to marry away from home with just one sentence, how can you make sense? If you treat your family like this, how about you treat Yu Yi? What will happen to the people of the town? I think you are already a withered bone in the grave, and you will die soon because of the betrayal and separation of your relatives!"
General Yao drew his sword angrily and cursed: "How dare you speak such arrogant words, you idiot! Did you know that I, the general, can execute you on the spot for disobeying military orders?"
"Dad!" Zhao Kuo looked at his father pleadingly, but Zhao Wei was completely unaware and just looked at him quietly without making any response.
Zhao Kuo understood that his father would not explicitly punish him if he did something wrong when he was a child, but punishment would always come unexpectedly. This memory of pain made him timid, so he took a few steps back.
"General!" Fan Liwu, who had been waiting for a long time, suddenly knelt down to greet him. He put on a frightening smile and said flatteringly: "My little master is still young and impulsive, but I still want to see the general. Reminding you of our past feelings, forgive him this time.”
General Yao was arrogant and scolded Fan Li and Wu Yitong again: "Mr. Fan gave me a clever plan to defeat Rouran last time. It was a great achievement. However, you actually taught such a rude student!"
"My dear brother, please listen to me." Zhao Wei said: "This matter is indeed a rude act by Quanzi, but it is also because you did not tell your eldest daughter Caiwei that she was engaged to be engaged. It is all the fault of the elders. , Why are you angry at the young man?"
"Father!" Zhao Kuo felt full of compassion and wanted to cry but had no tears. However, he couldn't help but feel horrified when he saw that his husband and father, who taught him about benevolence, righteousness and morality, were so philistine and like ghosts.
"The death penalty can be avoided, but the living crime cannot be escaped. Someone, please knock this rude person out of the house with a stick!"
In an instant, seven or eight boys raised their sticks and hit Zhao Kuo at the same time, forcing him to retreat continuously.
During the struggle, the passionate young man's clothes were torn, his hair became extremely messy, and he even lost one of his shoes, but he still wanted to stay there: "At least, I can look at her one more time." Let’s go, don’t know when we’ll see you again?” He was covered in injuries and was left on the street in a daze for a while.
Everyone knew that this was the eldest son of the Zhao family, and everyone started talking about it. Zhao Kuo didn't listen to a word and was walking like a zombie on the street. It happened that his younger sister was also wandering in the nearby market. After hearing the news, she came and saw her eldest brother in such a state of desolation. She was heartbroken. She was about to step forward to ask what happened, but Zhao Kuo He replied, thus ending her curiosity.
"Everything about benevolence, justice, etiquette, wisdom and trust is all bullshit."
