Wei Huai was waiting outside the gate of Lu Mansion. When he heard someone say "Come in" from inside, he walked along the cobblestone road to the inner courtyard. He saw Lu Fangxuan walking by the road, bending down to pick a plum blossom and quietly picking a plum blossom. It's so elegant to smell its fragrance.
"Have you come to see me?" Lu Fangxuan turned his back and smiled brightly at him.
"Yes, we haven't seen each other for many years, and you and I have aged a lot." Wei Huai also smiled.
"I'm afraid you're not here just to reminisce about old times, are you?" Lu Fangxuan sneered, "When did Wei Jijiu have this problem with using polite words..."
"Sir, you are definitely mistaken." Wei Huai said resolutely, "I think you must still remember that you supported my reform, which shows that you are sincerely for Nanjing and there is no hypocrisy. Today is my It is an insult to my original intention to suggest that any party dispute breaks out!"
As he spoke, he threw down his crutches and slowly knelt down with his lame leg: "Mr. Lu Yue will definitely not want to see this happen. Please make a decision on the dismissal of officials as soon as possible and don't let the situation develop like this..."
Lu Fangxuan was silent. He pinched the rhizome of the plum blossom, broke off a few snow-colored petals, and dropped them on Wei Huai's knees.
"You are so naive." A sentence finally popped out of his mouth, and the petals fell together, "I have never seen people who are mixed up in official circles become more and more confused!"
Lu Fangxuan's tone gradually became heavier: "As a high-ranking official in the border area, I have unjustly killed so many people and done so many dirty things that harmed others and benefited myself... You damn thing said that I really did it for Nanjing... Are you kidding me? It's so ridiculous. !”
Although Wei Huai didn't speak, he lowered his head to pick up a few plum blossoms, and still opened his eyes in a righteous manner, raising his sharp eyebrows, without any wavering of will.
"I'm quite good. I tell you clearly that I don't want to lie to you. If there are tens of thousands of people like Heshun, you are still in the dark! He is almost forty, and he is still the leader of the literary world, but he has no sense. I don’t even understand…”
Lu Fangxuan fiddled with the plum blossom in his hand and glanced coldly: "Aren't you famous people always so upright and proud of your plum blossoms? But even this plum blossom is smarter than you. At least it knows when to bloom and when not to. It’s time to open…”
He threw the flowers on the ground and said, "I have said all I have to say. I have done my utmost to be benevolent. Please don't disturb anyone from now on." As he said that, he slowly left the stone road and entered from the corner of the road.
Wei Huai smiled helplessly, lowered his head and reached out to pick up the plum blossoms. Then he stood up shakily, supported the cane, turned his back, and looked up at the pale sky, which was so pale that it was boundless. He didn't blame anyone, he just walked and murmured to himself: "I don't know when the flowers will bloom..."
After he walked out of Lu Mansion, he walked along the street with his head down along the wall. Pedestrians were coming and going on the road, and he was afraid of being recognized by them, so he handed the crutch to his right hand and hid it.
But the common people had always admired Wei Huai, and when they saw his stooped body and plain clothes, they gradually gathered around him. Some even had tears in their eyes, looking at him affectionately.
"Mr. Wei!"
Wei Huai suddenly raised his head. He was in a depressed mood at the moment, but he could only reluctantly put a smile on his face and wave to them slowly.
"You took great risks and proposed cutting redundant officials to benefit the people. This is so great. Please accept our worship!" After that, everyone fell to the ground and worshiped. "We also heard that you went to the Lu Mansion, but did you go for this?" They came up in groups and asked enthusiastically.
Wei Huai was almost driven into a corner by them. The crowds of people swarming around were full of ardent expectations for him, which made him feel mixed emotions. He could only say calmly: "Indeed. But there are some obstacles."
"No matter what the obstacles are, you will definitely get justice for us!" A six or seven-year-old child sat on the neck of an old man and shouted in a childish voice.
"Yes, yes..." The old man stroked his beard and said with a smile. After hearing this, everyone cheered in agreement: "You're right! Well said!"
When Wei Huai saw this scene, he didn't know whether to cry or laugh. He sees people as motivation, but they also make him increasingly exhausted. He was struggling in his heart. He didn't want to abandon these simple people, but at the same time, he didn't want to bear too heavy a burden.
He still remembers his original intention, which was nothing more than "to enlighten the world and make the people aware of the New Deal" and to be a silently working reformer; but time has quietly given him the title of "hero", a person he is far from being. state reached. Then, let him shout to the world alone. There was no choice, because, except for Wei Huai, there was no leader in the reform cause.
"Everyone..." Wei Huai said in a slightly serious tone, "If one day I fail to live up to your expectations, please don't blame me." After saying that, he walked straight through the crowd and never looked back.
Wei Chong was walking on the opposite street at this time. He hurried to the official office without even looking this way. He entered from the lobby and saw Hu Qi eating in the second hall. What he ate was just a bowl of pickles and a vegetarian dish, nothing special.
"You are really late for dinner... you must be busy with business?" Wei Chong said.
"How long has it been there and you still give it to me to eat..." Hu Qi took a bite of the pickle and said to himself.
"you……"
"I can't even eat without peace of mind!" he complained.
Wei Chong knew that Hu Qi despised him as a person and deliberately embarrassed him. But now I could only hold my breath, and whispered again: "Little Wei Chong is here to see you."
Hu Qi chewed pickles and then raised his head.
"Wei Chong, you're finally here, has it been an hour?" He put down his chopsticks.
"I posted the official document and rushed over immediately. It may have been delayed for a while."
"The prince said that layoffs are inevitable. You don't need to do anything to obstruct it, just let it take its course." He took out a booklet from his pocket, "This is the booklet of Nanjing's big and small officials. Give it to Ye It is in the hands of the prefect, and he will decide who goes and who stays."
Although Wei Chong wanted to ask something else, he really had nothing to say to Hu Qi. He just accepted the letter, nodded and said, "I'll go right away."
He came out of the government office and took a shortcut to the government office lobby. When he saw Ye Yongjia, he gave him the booklet and sat outside the house with a government servant, chatting and passing the time.
About half an hour later, Ye Yongjia opened the curtain and came out, handed the book back to Wei Chong, and said: "The people who should be eliminated are all written on it. You can go to the palace and show it to the prince before making a conclusion."
Wei Chong obeyed, took the book and went down. Seeing that Ye Yongjia had entered the room, he secretly opened the list. This opening was extraordinary, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured on him - the first name circled by the pen and ink was his own.
