After Cui Yi heard this, he suddenly felt like the world was spinning, and his head was buzzing. He staggered two steps, then fell to the ground, cried at the top of his voice several times, and fainted.
The clerk hurriedly supported him and patted his chest a few times. When he saw him, he gradually opened his eyes. Without waiting for questions, he let out another miserable wail. When Cui Yi stopped crying and calmed down a little, he told him the details of the matter in detail, making him sad and obedient.
Cui Yi wiped his tears and said with red eyes: "Brother Zhou, it's hard for you to make this trip. Tell me such an important matter as soon as possible. I have to let my sister know this news, but I'm afraid she will be too sad. Please Come with me to express your condolences."
The young official named Zhou sighed: "You don't need to thank me for this, you only need to thank the new minister."
"Who is he...why do you want to thank this person?" Cui Yi looked confused.
"This gentleman's surname is Ye, taboo Yongjia, and given name Tinglong. He was recently designated by the emperor as the number one hero in eradicating the Liu Party. He is in charge of the military and criminal departments, which is unprecedented in this dynasty. Seeing how pitiful your family is, he called me I came here non-stop to report the news, and paid for a coffin, and paid for Cui Shilang's funeral expenses. I also gave you a few taels of silver..."
With that said, the clerk took out a heavy bag of things from his arms, stuffed it into Cui Yi and said, "Take it, there are fifteen taels in total."
A slight hint of joy flashed across Cui Yi's face, but he frowned for a moment and took the money hesitantly: "Brother Zhou...Why is that Master Ye so kind?"
The subordinate clerk walked on the sidewalk: "I guess he is a new official and it is time to win people's hearts. This is just a way to show his kindness. I'm afraid it has nothing to do with your family."
Cui Yi nodded sadly, but he knew what was on his mind, so he persuaded him with gentle words: "I know Brother Cui has a desire to make progress, but you are a scholar, and he is an important minister of the imperial court, how can you cling to him at will? You are only twenty-three years old this year, and you still have a long time to live. If you calm down and take the exam to become a Jinshi, won't you gain both fame and fortune?"
"Well, I listen to Brother Zhou." Even though he said this, Cui Yi still felt uncomfortable. He had his own plan, but he refused to explain it clearly, so he had to hold back his depression. "These words will stay for now." Don't mention it. You and I will go in and report the funeral first."
The two entered the inner hall and saw Ms. Cui talking to the housekeeper's wife. His sister is only two years older than him, and has just passed twenty-five this year. She looks pretty, with a pair of gently raised long eyebrows, a jade-like face, slightly thin lips, and a light red color. It has a crystal luster, and there seems to be a hint of smile in the words, which is very delicate. After her husband died a few years ago, she returned to Cui Mansion and stayed as a widow for three years. This year she took off her mourning clothes and went out to take care of family affairs. She always observed every detail and managed the servants very obediently, so Cui Longhuai let her go. Hands come, no interference.
"Housekeeper, please step aside." Cui Yi said calmly, and bowed to the old woman; the latter rarely saw him being so respectful, and she expected to have brought a lot of news, so she glanced around. After a few glances, he said goodbye to Ms. Cui, picked up her skirt and walked out of the room quietly.
The Zhou official then told Mrs. Cui the news of Cui Longhuai's death with a sad expression. She was so frightened that she felt dizzy and immediately fell off her chair. She burst into tears, mourned and cried. The sound is heartbreaking.
Seeing her sister's face pale and almost out of breath, Cui Yi stamped her feet anxiously, beckoned some old ladies outside, carried Ms. Cui to the bed in the back room, drank several bowls of hot tea, and then finally died. It was better. Cui Yi saw that she was not in serious trouble, so he went out to thank the official Zhou again, said a few words of greetings, and sent him away.
"Miss, your health is not as good as when you were young. Don't be too sad and break your health..." The housekeeper caressed her hand and pouted worriedly.
"Father, he, he..." When Mrs. Cui mentioned her father, tears welled up in her eyes again, "His health and bones have always been good, why did he pass away without any reason? How can I feel at ease..."
"The master has always been a person who values family ties, so he must have been concerned about something, so he made this choice. But the master always does it for the good of you and the young master. The young lady must not mess up her health again and live up to the master's last wish."
"Oh, don't make wild guesses and worry me too much!" Cui Yi stamped his feet outside the door, opened the curtain, strode in, scolded the ladies, and chased them away without leaving a trace. Ran.
"Brother Yi, why do you have to..." Cui said and started coughing again.
"Sister," Cui Yi said, "this matter is beyond our control. Now that my father is gone, I'd better think about organizing the funeral as soon as possible so that my father can leave peacefully."
"I heard from your brother Zhou that the new Mr. Ye paid for our funeral expenses?"
Cui Yi glanced at her, as if he was suddenly thinking about something else. He was silent for a moment and replied: "Yes, it's him."
Mrs. Cui frowned slightly: "As soon as this person arrived, my father committed suicide in the Yamen... and spent so much money on my Cui family..."
"Sister, after all, he has helped us solve a big problem, so don't doubt his kindness."
"That's right, that's right," Mrs. Cui sat up slightly and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, "but that's not the biggest difficulty. Since my father has passed away, what's the point of us staying in the capital? He's here There are still more than a hundred acres of farmland left in my hometown, so why not use these fifteen taels of silver as payment and return to my hometown with the obituary notice? As long as I manage it carefully there, I will have a good life in the future."
Cui Yi let out a long breath and sat down on a pear wood chair behind him. Facing the dazzling sunshine outside the window, his hands hesitantly moved back and forth on the chair handle.
"Alas," Mrs. Cui frowned and gritted her teeth, "Let me ask you, what's the benefit of teaching here? Why are you still so attached to this place? You can't pass the imperial examination here, and you can't climb up to the elite. , I have to make myself moneyless and powerless!”
"Sister, you have to believe me," Cui Yi pointed hard at his heart, "I have my own clever plan to achieve my great achievements!"
"There is a clever plan on the left, and a clever plan on the right. If after all the hard work, you still don't make a name for yourself, you will be penniless sooner or later. How can you go back?"
Cui Yi turned his head, still refusing to give in: "I sold this armchair before I became famous. If I still have no money after selling it, I will sell other items! Don't think you can scare me with these!"
Mrs. Cui was so angry that she had no choice but to close her eyes and wave her hands: "Okay, okay! I don't believe that you, a scholar who teaches children, can achieve anything great in these days!"
Cui Yi snorted coldly, stood up, took the bag with money on the table, and walked out of the house.
