"That's fine, think about it carefully for your father." Father Chen nodded slightly after listening to Chen Fan's words.
"Father, to make salt, we need to find a suitable beach on the seaside. If we use a boat to go down the river and search along the coast, does Dad have a chart?"
"Chart?"
"Yes, it's a map, a map of the coastal environment, showing where there are reefs and where ships can be docked. Then add information on where salt can be boiled and where shipyards can be built on this map, and draw a map of the coastal distribution." Chen Fan felt that there were some things that he had to mention to his father.
"Okay, I can ask someone to handle this matter."
"Father, is there any other map of Hudu County? The area from the county seat to the east all the way to the sea, where are the swamps, where are the hills and where are the rivers, a map that can clearly mark it."
"My father will go to the county to check. There should be one. If not, my father will have someone draw it."
"Okay, Father, you have to choose the person who draws the picture well, find someone you can trust, and keep it confidential."
"My father knows this, what else is there?"
"We will build a dock or a village outside the city in the future for iron smelting and grain storage. It is best to combine it with the shipyard. But there is no rush. We will wait until we have the map." Chen Fan also said The key thing I didn't mention is how to find someone, but this can't be rushed.
"Okay, father knows."
"There's another thing I want to ask my father, but I don't know whether I should ask it or not."
"If you have anything to say, just ask. As father and son go into battle, there's nothing you shouldn't ask."
"Father, Ah Qing spent so much money to buy a house this time. Does Father know where Ah Qing got the money?" Chen Fan asked after considering his words. After all, his parents might have told him before. A Qing's identity, but Chen Fan probably wouldn't say how much money Xiao Qing had, so starting from the matter of buying a house this time, there would be no flaws.
"Well, even if you don't ask, my father still wants to tell you about A Qing in private. After all, you and A Qing are in school together now, so there are some things you still need to know." Father Chen thought for a while and continued: "A Qing Qing's mother is the sister of your mother's sibling. The two have a very good relationship. She is three years younger than your mother. When your mother married me, your aunt was spotted by the then emperor Xiao Baojuan because of her outstanding beauty, and she was forced to marry her. Into the palace, Xiao Baojuan was debauched and immoral, imposed excessive taxes, trusted eunuchs, and killed ministers indiscriminately, which made people angry. Xiao Yan, the governor of Yongzhou at the time and the current emperor, launched an army to attack him, and joined forces with the then minister Zhang Ji and your grandfather Shen Gong. The execution was due to Xiao Yan's memory of your grandfather and your aunt's outstanding appearance. Not only did he not punish her because she was Xiao Baojuan's concubine, but he accepted her as a daughter-in-law and favored her. But I didn't expect that not long after you were lucky, you My aunt became pregnant with Ah Qing. After giving birth to Ah Qing, rumors spread in the palace that Ah Qing was not the child of His Majesty, but the posthumous son of the former emperor Xiao Baojuan. Unfortunately, this matter could not be proven, and Ah Qing Qingyou happened to be born two days short of the tenth month after Xiao Baojuan was killed, and it was the 290th day that Xiao Yan favored your aunt. However, your aunt claimed that she had not been favored by Xiao Baojuan for half a month, and The maids around him testified that this saved A Qing's life, but it was always a thorn in the emperor's heart, so he kept A Qing in the deep palace and never let him out. Your aunt died of illness last year. Before he died, the emperor asked the emperor to release Aqing from the palace and let him live a normal life and leave him to the care of his aunt, your mother. The emperor thought of his family affection and asked Aqing to observe filial piety for a hundred days and live in the palace again. After a period of time, it was not until he was fifteen years old that Master Huang was arranged to bring Ah Qing to Hudu to live with us. Although His Majesty allowed him to leave the palace, he did not issue an edict to abolish his status as a prince and affirm his life. The emperor would also make some arrangements, but in order to allow A Qing to live an ordinary life outside, he was not allowed to mention his status as a prince outside, and he was not allowed to return to Jiankang without an edict. After Xiao Qing came, he gave himself a name , named Xiao Qing, to celebrate his restarting his life. As for his original name, he didn’t say it, and he didn’t mention it as his father.”
So it's so complicated, Chen Fan sighed in his heart, and at the same time he felt a little sympathetic to A Qing. He lost his mother at such a young age. I don't know how he survived this period. Chen Fan decided to pretend not to know and maintain his current life. Just fine.
"Father, I understand. Just pretend that I didn't ask today. But with this matter, it is impossible for Dad to go to Jiankang and become an official. I think His Majesty will pay attention to every move of A Qing. It is very likely that I will also pay attention to my father's actions. Regarding the matter of drawing a nautical chart along the coast, I asked my eldest brother to handle this matter personally. He said that for the sake of fishing safety, drawing a nautical chart along the coast of Hudu County would not consider building the dock for the time being. If it were to be built, it would not be possible. If you want to build it privately, you must apply to the county magistrate for approval and leave it to the county magistrate. My father will not interfere even if he is openly involved." Chen Fan thought for a while and decided not to arouse His Majesty's suspicion. After all, there must be an emperor in the army. My eyes and ears, who told Ah Qing to be blasphemous? A prince is restless? The emperor must be concerned. But in this way, it will become more difficult to hide the matter of boiling salt from His Majesty.
"Fa Sheng, what you said makes sense. I'm here to tell your elder brother, as for the matter of boiling salt, should we still proceed?"
"This will naturally continue. In addition, we still need to consider the construction of Zhuangzi. But we cannot use my father's power in the navy. On the surface, it has nothing to do with us. Secretly, the rural people under our control are responsible for it. Think about it. What arouses His Majesty's attention is that this person is difficult to find. He needs to be popular and well-informed so that he can be easily controlled. I wonder if my father has a suitable candidate?"
"As a father, let me think about this. Is it okay for the shipyard to operate like this?"
"Father, the dock is not possible. The dock is different from Zhuangzi. The scale of building the dock is too large, and it involves a national weapon, which will definitely attract your Majesty's attention. The dock I originally thought of is not possible. This Zhuangzi can only build an ordinary one. It is used to store some food, and His Majesty cannot feel that it is out of line. In this way, even if His Majesty is discovered, it will not be a big deal. If he is discovered, we will say that we are doing it to make some money, and when we become rich in the future, we will leave it to others. I think your Majesty won't blame him. As for making salt, there is no rush. We will wait until the sea chart is drawn. I will go back to Suzhou the day after tomorrow. During the chess competition in Gusu in the twelfth lunar month, my father will take the contestants there. Would you like to bring my two friends Gong Qing and Feng Can with you? I will meet you in Suzhou."
"Okay, for the competition on the 12th of the twelfth lunar month, we will set off on the 10th of the twelfth lunar month. I will have someone call them both to go there together. When we get to Suzhou, I will ask your elder brother to contact you."
"Okay, thank you very much, father. I asked my father to take care of the food and lodging for Gong Qing and Feng Can on the road. They can stay at my place when they get to Suzhou."
"You don't have to worry about the two of them. My father will make arrangements for it. When I get to Gusu, I will come to your place to have a look. I heard from your eldest brother that the house is not bad, but I still want to see it with my own eyes." "
"That's natural. Why don't you take grandma with you and stay with us for a few days?"
"Forget it, just stay at home. There are a lot of things in this family that cannot do without her."
"Okay, after the chess match, I want to go back to Hudu with you, but I'm not sure yet. The main reason is that Xuanmen has a talk, and I don't know if I want to participate, and when it will be held."
"It doesn't matter, we'll see about this later."
"Okay, does dad have anything else to do?"
"No, you go see your mother."
"Yes, Father." Chen Fan stood up to say goodbye, left the study, and walked towards his mother. Even if Father Chen didn't say anything, Chen Fan still wanted to see his mother. After all, they hadn't seen each other for a long time. When they were eating just now, it was Chen Fan who Fan was talking and his mother was listening, but the two of them didn't communicate much.
"Mom." Chen Fan saw that Chen Fan had not gone back to rest, and was putting things in a box in the lobby. When he saw Chen Fan coming over, a smile appeared on his face.
"My son is here, come and see if you like what mommy has prepared for you."
Chen Fan stepped forward and took a look, and saw that the box was almost full of things. There were several sets of new clothes and a white velvet leather coat. "Mom, what is this?"
"This is made of fox fur. The snow-white fur and skin match your skin."
"Why don't you keep it for yourself? I'm going to practice Taoism and won't need it." Chen Fan felt moved in his heart. Fox fur coats are not easy to come by in this world, especially pure white ones. Not only are they not cheap, they are also very affordable. And it wasn't sold at all.
"This leather was given by your aunt. I thought it wouldn't be good if I kept it for a long time, and I wouldn't use it, so I made this dress for you. Can you try it on and see if it fits?"
"Mom, I'm still growing, so I'm wasting my time."
"What's the waste? If it's too small, change it later. Let's try it."
"Okay." Chen Fan picked it up and put it on, and found that the size was just right. White brocade was added inside, making it soft and comfortable to wear. "Thank you, mom, it fits just right."
"Well, my son looks really handsome in it. He will charm many girls from now on."
"Why am I joking about my son? If he is too handsome, my son won't dare to go out. Have you ever heard of watching Kill Wei Jie?"
"Don't talk nonsense. He was tired and sick at that time. How could he really be considered dead? If you go to learn Taoism now, you must live a long life."
"Thank you, Mom, I will do it. Mom will be well too."
"Well, we all want to be well."
"By the way, Ah Qing is learning Taoism with me now. Has my mother prepared some clothes for him?"
"Of course I have prepared it. My mother worked hard this time and prepared a tiger skin cloak for him. The clothes you have now were given by his mother. I will also prepare one for him. Don't be unhappy. "
"How is it possible, Mom, I am not a child anymore. Why don't you put this dress away at home? We will come back to celebrate the New Year in the twelfth lunar month and wear it then."
"When you go to a place like Suzhou, you have to dress decently. You also have to participate in a chess match. The weather was cold at that time, so this dress is just right."
"Okay, thank you, Mom. I plan to get together with Gong Qing and the others at noon tomorrow. I will probably call A Qing and ask you not to prepare our meals."
"Okay, you can figure it out. Is the money still enough? I heard that A Qing took the money out and it's hard to keep using his. I have discussed it with your father and will give you 1,000 yuan a month for living expenses from now on. There are four of you and you have hired a cook, so you still have to make necessary expenses."
"Okay, thank you mom, we have enough money for the time being. It's getting late, mom, don't be tired, get some rest early."
"You should rest early. You've been traveling all day today, so go back and rest."
"Thank you, mother."
Stepping into the cold evening breeze, Chen Fan returned to his residence. Ah Chun was already waiting in the room, "My husband is finally back. I'll go get him some water."
"Okay, thank you." Chen Fan sat at the desk in front of the window. Through the window, he saw Xiao Qing reading in front of the opposite window. It felt like he was back in the past. Before going to Suzhou, the two of them read like this at night, but Not talking to each other very much.
