Afternoon.
Fang Jinshi took square steps and walked into the house where Xue Ling lived behind Sihai Tea House. Xue Ling was sitting at the table doing needlework. When she saw Fang Jinshi coming in, she quickly stood up and said, "Why are you here at this time?" ?”
"Can't I come over at this time?" Fang Jinshi deliberately teased her.
Xue Ling smiled and said, "Of course you can come over anytime, I just said it's a little earlier than usual today."
Fang Jinshi saw a happy smile on her face, her hair was neatly black and shiny, her eyebrows and eyes were lightly made up, and she wore a pair of gold earrings on her ears. She was in excellent spirits. Fang Jinshi's eyes lit up and he praised her heartily: "You look really good today."
Xue Ling dressed up carefully for a long time just to get a compliment from him. Now her wish came true and she said happily: "Really? Are you satisfied with how I look like this?"
Fang Jinshi nodded repeatedly and said, "Of course I'm satisfied. If I take you out like this in the future, it will definitely help me earn face."
Xue Ling whispered shyly: "You can say nice things." She didn't know how sweet it was in her heart.
Fang Jinshi said: "I will officially enter the house tomorrow. Are you ready with everything you need to prepare?"
Xue Ling said: "The lady came here in the morning. She gave me this pair of gold earrings. She also brought three boxes of clothes and some other things. Plus what you arranged... I don't know what else to give." What to prepare?"
Fang Jinshi was very satisfied when he heard that she changed her name to Liang Cuirong as "Big Lady". Although Huang Jinmian was also a concubine, he never called Liang Cuirong and would only call her "Liang" behind her back.
Fang Jinshi hummed and said, "I have asked two local sisters-in-law to come over later and teach you some rules. You can also ask them."
Xue Ling nodded in agreement. He picked up the clothes made by Xue Ling and said, "Isn't this dress already ready and delivered?" This is the red dress worn by the bride. Xue Ling replied: "The hem is too long, I will give it to you. Make it shorter.”
Fang Jinshi stretched out his hand to hold her hand and said, "When I first met you, you begged me to let you be my concubine. Now I finally comply with your wish."
Xue Ling was greatly embarrassed. She smiled and covered her face with her hands and said, "You are making fun of me again."
Fang Jinshi laughed for a while, stretched his arms towards Xue Ling and said, "Sit here."
Xue Ling walked in front of him obediently and sat on his lap. Fang Jinshi put his arm around her waist, grabbed her wrist with his other hand and said, "You must learn to be smarter from now on. I'm like this." My hand means I want to hold you, so you have to take the initiative to sit over me without me saying anything, do you understand?"
Xue Ling chuckled and said, "They...are they two like this too?"
Fang Jinshi said: "Of course, this is my rule. If I raise my hand and you ask me to sit down, I will lose my temper and curse."
Xue Ling said seriously: "I know, I will definitely remember it."
Seeing that she was obedient, Fang Jinshi couldn't help feeling proud, thinking that he had finally subdued a woman who was obedient, didn't talk back, didn't make noise, and could do whatever she wanted. He held Xue Ling and nibbled and touched her for a while. After letting go of her, he asked, "What are you doing with me?" That thing wrapped in white cloth that came over here, have you taken care of it?"
Xue Ling looked up at him and lowered his head without speaking. Fang Jinshi understood immediately and asked, "Are you going to take this home? Do you want you and me to be at odds with each other for the rest of our lives?" ?”
His words were a bit harsh. After hearing this, Xue Ling threw herself on him, hugged his neck tightly with her arms and said urgently, face to face: "Of course I don't hope so."
She hugged it for a moment, then stood up and said, "Can you accompany me to find a place to bury it?"
Of course, Fang Jinshi agreed. Xue Ling went to find the thing wrapped in white cloth. Fang Jinshi kindly said, "How about I find a wooden box to bury it in?"
Xue Ling said: "It's just a piece of burnt wood, no need for it."
Fang Jinshi was moved in his heart. He stretched out his hand to lift the white cloth and looked at what was inside. Sure enough, it was a small piece of burnt wood. He let out a sigh of relief. The uncomfortable feeling he had felt when thinking about this in the past few days was gone. He originally thought, Xue Ling collected Xue Zheng's unburned bones and wrapped them inside.
Xue Ling looked at him and said from the side: "This is a section of the mast of the ship that was burned."
Fang Jinshi patted her shoulder tenderly and said, "I can understand your thoughts."
Xue Ling leaned back on his chest and said, "I've been thinking these past few days that my brother's body is still cold, so I rushed into your house to give you a baby. Thinking about it, I always feel that it's inappropriate."
Fang Jinshi held her hand and said softly: "Think about it, I can't take care of you legitimately, and it's even more inappropriate to leave you alone and helpless to suffer!"
Xue Ling smiled at what he said, held his wrist with her backhand and said, "Let's go."
Fang Jinshi carried the white cloth bag and went with her to the fields on the outskirts. They dug a hole and buried the white cloth bag. Xue Ling did not forget to burn three sticks of incense.
The next day, a big banquet was held at home and in the restaurant to welcome Xue Ling in. At this time, he was different from the past. Although he was just taking a concubine and not officially getting married, he went to the government office, Cai Ang, Wang Diaoer and the others, and won a business His friend Zhou Jinpeng and other merchants, down to the shop clerks and farmers on the streets who had benefited from his rice, all the interested people came to support him, and it was a lively place full of friends.
The flowing water table was laid out, and Fang Jinshi welcomed and sent off many groups of guests. Cai An, the general magistrate of Pingjiang Mansion, drank a few drinks and stood up to leave. Fang Jinshi saw him off. When he turned around, he saw Xiao Bu leading Zhelun from a distance.
Xiao Bu saw Fang Jinshi from a distance, quickened his pace and shouted with a smile on his face: "Brother Fang, congratulations."
Fang Jinshi said hurriedly: "Brother Xiao, you're all right. I'll have someone send a message to the inn where you were staying. The report said you weren't here. I thought you had left."
Xiao Bu asked Zhelun to present the gift, and then smiled and said: "I had already returned, but I heard on the way that you were going to have a wedding wine. How could I miss this? So I came back again and insisted on drinking your glass of wine." Only then can I go back, otherwise I will always think about it when I go to bed at night."
Fang Jinshi laughed loudly. Although this Xiao Bu was a civil servant, he was bold and generous, and his words were never polite, which was very pleasing to Fang Jinshi.
Fang Jinshi and Zhelun also said hello and accompanied the two people through the door. On the way, Fang Jinshi asked in a low voice: "Brother Xiao, how did the thing you wanted to do go?"
Xiao Bu didn't ask what he was asking about, he just smiled and said, "Everything went well."
Fang Jinshi arranged for them to sit down and spoke a few words with them. Shi Hao came over and said, "Mr. Meng Da sent someone to deliver a gift box."
Fang Jinshi nodded to express his understanding, and Shi Hao said, "Do you think Mr. Meng Da will send someone over to congratulate you?"
Fang Jinshi said: "Probably not."
Shi Hao responded and said: "That Li Jiupo from the platoon gang also asked people to bring gifts."
Fang Jinshi said: "This is a good thing. Li Jiupo is starting to feel a little unable to sit still."
Shi Hao nodded and went down. Fang Jinshi welcomed several groups of guests. Zhelun came over and said, "Fang An, do you have any bows and arrows here? Let me borrow them."
Fang Jinshi asked strangely: "What do you need a bow and arrow for when you're drinking?"
Zhelun said: "A few birds fell on the trees in the backyard, and their cries were really annoying, so I went to shoot them."
Fang Jinshi followed him to the corner of the yard. There were several tall poplar trees planted outside the wall. Fang Jinshi raised his head and looked up, and sure enough he saw a few black crows landing on the high branches of the trees. These crows cawed several times from time to time. The sound was very unpleasant.
Fang Jinshi not only muttered: "Why are there so many crows flying here? It's really unlucky."
Zhelun shouted loudly and tried to drive away the crows, but the tree was too high and the crows ignored him. Fang Jinshi found stones to throw at him. The strange thing was that the crows did not fly until they hit it. Walk.
Fang Jinshi remembered that there was a bow in the Golden Cotton Room, so he called a maid to go get it. He and Zhelun were looking up at the sky. Ji Changan and Wang Gui from the front yard came over. They saw Fang Jinshi and the others looking up at the sky. Ji Changan asked curiously: "What are you looking at?"
Fang Jinshi said: "A few crows fell on the tree and kept cawing. It's really unlucky."
Ji Changan looked up and smiled and said, "It's amazing. I know why this crow keeps crowring."
Fang Jinshi asked Daqi: "You also know this?"
Ji Changan smiled and said: "Mr. Meng Da is here, right in front. He is giving you an advance notice."
Fang Jinshi couldn't help but laugh and said: "This crow... is indeed magical."
Ji Changan smiled and nodded, and Fang Jinshi said: "Since Mr. Meng Da is here in person, I have to give him face no matter what and go to greet him." He turned back to Zhelun and said: "Zhelun'an, don't worry about this. If a bird calls, let it sing."
Just as Fang Jinshi and Ji Changan and Wang Gui were going to the front yard, they saw Cai Meng and Sun De walking over. Cai Meng held his hands from a distance with his smile that others couldn't understand: "Congratulations, brother. It’s a happy event, I’m coming here at this time, isn’t it too late?”
He did not punch the smiling man. Even though Cai Meng and Fang Jinshi were already on the same level, since he came in person, Fang Jinshi had to give him some face. Fang Jinshi walked over and said: "It's not too late, Mr. Meng Da is always the best." I'm busy, it's rare that I have time to drink from my brother today, I can't thank you enough for being my little brother."
Cai Meng smiled and said: "Brother Fang's taking a concubine is a great event for our Sihai firm. Why can't I not come since I'm free? Brother Fang's failure to get the last room is my brother's fault. I hope my brother will accept this." If Fang Zai doesn't come to congratulate me and ask for a drink, I'm afraid that behind my brother's back, I'll blame me for being ignorant."
Fang Jinshi cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Meng Da said something serious, and brothers should not take it seriously."
After the two exchanged false polite words, Cai Meng waved his hand, moved the person behind him to the front, and said to Fang Jinshi: "I would like to introduce a good friend to my brother. This is Li Jiupo, the leader of the Pai Gang. Brothers, you can cooperate more in the future."
Fang Jinshi looked up and saw that Li Jiupo, whose name she had always heard but never seen, was wearing a gray cloth dress with a coarse cloth belt around her waist and a pair of thin-soled black cloth shoes. She was very strong and ordinary-looking. Very well, with this appearance and this kind of clothing, you would never notice him when standing in a crowd.
Li Jiupo took a step forward, raised her hands to Fang Jinshi and saluted, "Li Jiupo from the Pai Gang has met Young Master Fang."
Fang Jinshi returned the courtesy and said, "Brother Li, you are so polite. I visited your house a few days ago and I have always been generous with you. It is a great honor to see you today."
Li Jiupo said: "Unfortunately, I happened to be away from home a few days ago, which made Young Master Fang's trip in vain. I heard that Young Master Fang was holding a happy event, so I thought I couldn't miss meeting Young Master Fang again, so I invited him Mr. Meng Da brought me here.”
Fang Jinshi smiled and couldn't help but look back at the crows on the branches. This was so fitting for the occasion. Li Jiupo followed his gaze and looked up the tree and asked, "Master Fang, what are you looking at?"
Fang Jinshi said: "I'm having a wedding today, but a few crows fell on the tree. It's really unlucky. Forget it, just ignore it."
Li Jiupo looked at the treetops and said to Fang Jinshi: "It seems that I came at the wrong time. Since the birds are making unpleasant calls, I will drive them away on behalf of Young Master Fang."
Fang Jinshi said: "Brother Li, do you have any idea?"
Li Jiupo didn't answer, and said to the follower behind her: "Here comes the bow."
The attendant behind him handed over a small bow with a gold back. Li Jiupo touched it on her waist and found a stone in her hand. Li Jiupo bent the bow and aimed it. When she let go with her right hand, the stone was as fast as a shooting star and hit those few The crow stepped on the branch of the tree. The crow was frightened and flew up quickly with flapping wings.
Fang Jinshi couldn't help but praise: "Brother Li is so accurate."
Following the sound of a bowstring behind him, a cloud-piercing arrow flew into the air, and the arrow passed through the body of a flying crow. The crow flapped its wings and quickly fell outside the wall.
Fang Jinshi turned around and saw Zhelun standing behind him holding a long bow. It turned out that the maid had just come over with a bow and arrow. Seeing the crow flying, Zhelun couldn't help but feel itchy, so he snatched the bow and arrow from the maid's hand and shot an arrow.
Li Jiupo shot pebbles and hit the tree branches, but they always remained motionless. Crows are living creatures flying in the sky, and their bodies are small. Zhelun was able to hit them with one arrow in a hurry, which shows that his archery skills are outstanding.
Li Jiupo also praised: "This brother is good at archery."
Zhelun returned the bow to the maid, turned around and said, "This bird doesn't fly high, so it's not too difficult to shoot it. When I was in the desert, I climbed to the top of the mountain and bent my big bow to shoot the big eagle. That one was difficult." .”
Fang Jinshi knew that this was not because Zhelun deliberately showed off his magical skills, but because he was straightforward by nature and would not be hypocritically humble. He was a rough man from the grassland who only knew how to use a machete and a fast horse. Naturally, he was not as polite as the Han people in the Central Plains. of colorful intestines.
Fang Jinshi asked Wang Gui to greet Zhelun and continue drinking. He led everyone to the vestibule and held a banquet for Cai Meng and Li Jiupo. Ji Changan and Shi Hao came to accompany them.
After drinking for three rounds, Cai Meng put down his glass and said, "I came today to congratulate brother Fang. Secondly, I want to ask my brother for a small favor because I have something to do."
Fang Jinshi asked knowingly, so he turned to Li Jiupo and said, "Oh? I wonder if Brother Li needs my help for anything?"
Li Jiupo said: "It's nothing. A few days ago, I heard from my brothers that they recently took the receipt document for our shipment to Sihai Bank to withdraw money. I don't know why, but the bank wouldn't give it to me. I heard that now it's Fang Xiao The young master is in charge of Sihai Bank, so I came here specifically to ask."
Fang Jinshi was silent for a moment and looked at Cai Meng's face, and then said calmly: "There is no special reason. First, the accounts made by Fu Zhirong, a big shopkeeper of the bank, are somewhat unclear. I am determined to clarify these accounts. Order some money to be paid later."
Li Jiupo hummed and said to Cai Meng, "I don't know what went wrong with Shopkeeper Fu's accounts. If possible, could you please ask Shopkeeper Fu to come back and check it with us in person in front of Young Master Fang?"
Fang Jinshi was moved when he saw that Li Jiupo actually went to ask Cai Meng. Cai Meng turned around and said, "Okay, I'll let Fu Zhirong go find you later."
Fang Jinshi said: "Well... there's no need for it. I've already checked it out. Shopkeeper Fu's accounts have nothing to do with the Pai Gang. If Brother Li is in urgent need of money, just ask someone to go directly to the bank tomorrow morning. I'll just give you instructions later." , Besides..." He looked back at Cai Meng and said, "I'm just afraid that the rich shopkeeper is afraid of me and doesn't dare to come to the bank to reconcile with me."
Cai Meng picked up the wine glass and took a sip, but did not hear what he said.
Li Jiupo was overjoyed. She picked up the wine glass and said, "Thank you so much, young master Fang. I'll do it first as a token of respect." After that, she drank the wine in one gulp.
Fang Jinshi picked up the wine glass and said, "Brother Li, I also have a business deal and want to cooperate with the Pai Gang. I wonder if Brother Li is interested."
Li Jiupo put down her wine glass and said, "Let's talk about it."
Fang Jinshi said: "I have some tea leaves that I want to transport to Japan. I heard that the brothers from the Pai Gang can travel on land and in rivers. There are even many big ships that go out to sea. I don't know what the brothers from the Pai Gang want to do. I don’t want to go to Japan for my brothers. As for the price, everything is easy to say. Just follow the prevailing official price, and I will add 10% more.”
Li Jiupo immediately became interested and immediately asked: "Where will it be loaded? When will it go to sea?"
Fang Jinshi said: "Zhangzhou Prefecture is loading the ship, the sooner we can set off, the better."
Li Jiupo lowered her head and thought for a moment and said, "I'm going back to discuss this with my brother. How about I give you an answer tomorrow afternoon?"
Fang Jinshi smiled slightly and said, "Then I will wait for the good news from Brother Li." He turned to Cai Meng and said, "Mr. Meng Da, is this in compliance with the rules?"
Cai Mengdao: "The rules are all set by people. Brother Fang's Sihai Tea House and Sihai Bank will of course follow your rules."
As soon as Fang Jinshi finished speaking, he immediately said: "Okay, that's good."
Cai Meng stood up and said, "I still have something to do, so I have to take a step forward and say goodbye."
Fang Jinshi smiled and said, "Mr. Da, why don't you have a few more drinks before leaving?"
Cai Meng ignored him and stood up to leave. Li Jiupo also stood up and said, "Young Master Fang, I also want to go back and discuss with the brothers. I'll take my leave now."
Fang Jinshi said: "It's easy to talk about. I'm waiting for your good news."
Cai Meng and Li Jiupo left the table. Fang Jinshi asked Ji Changan and Shi Hao to send them out, but he did not go. He picked up the wine glass on the table and took a slow sip.
Ji Changan and Shi Hao came back soon, and Shi Hao couldn't help but said: "Didn't King Xiu's fleet transport tea to sea? Why are you looking for the Pai Gang's ship again?"
Fang Jinshi said: "Who is not lucky to let us transport it? King Xiu still charges our money, but he doesn't transport it to us for free. It's not a bad thing to have another way."
Shi Hao said: "I'm afraid King Xiu will have some ideas. Moreover, this Li Jiupo and Mr. Meng Da have always been close friends. It's our first time to transport tea in large quantities to the sea, so there is no chance that anything will happen."
Fang Jinshi said: "I will tell King Xiu myself, just ask the guys to prepare the goods and send them to sea. Don't worry about the rest."
Seeing that he was stubborn, Shi Hao didn't say much, but he felt that Fang Jinshi was becoming more and more stubborn and arbitrary, and was no longer the young master he used to discuss things with.
Fang Jinshi took a sip of wine and said meaningfully: "I'm really not afraid of anything happening."
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