In the afternoon of early spring, Du's house returned to tranquility.
Du Youlin was reading in the study, and Xue Bai was keeping fit in the courtyard.
As the knock on the door rang, steward Quan Rui led many people to the second hospital.
Xue Bai put down the stone in his hand and stood up. He saw an old man stumbling down the corridor and recognized it as Xue Gengbo, the steward of Xue Ling's family.
Liu Xiangjun and six children followed behind, seeming to have just cried.
"Mukuro."
"problem occurs?"
Hearing this calm question, Xue Gengbo hesitated for a moment and responded: "Yes, Alang was detained and his ancestral home was robbed."
Xue Bai asked: "Why don't you go to Jinwu Guards General Xue, but come to me instead?"
Xue Gengbo said with a bitter face: "Dazong has already said that he will no longer care about Alang's affairs."
"Do I care?"
"this……"
Liu Xiangjun stepped forward, looked at Xue Bai with concern, his face was full of shame, and whispered: "Lang Jun went gambling again. Not only did he lose all his money, but he also owed a huge debt. The creditor is here Occupying the house...I'm useless, the fifty dollars was also robbed."
Fifty thousand copper coins were packed in a box, but this woman actually couldn't protect them.
"They said..." Liu Xiangjun hesitated: "They said, Liulang, that your Fengwei Restaurant earns a lot of gold every day, and they asked you to use the money to repay the debt, otherwise it would be unfilial. They also said that they asked you to go to Qingmen Kangjia Restaurant to redeem someone."
Afterwards, she felt that this mother was being embarrassed and wiped away tears with her hands behind her back.
But all the available favors have been exhausted in the past few years. Whether it is the Liu family or the Xue family in Hedong, the couple has been hated by their relatives in every possible way. Apart from this lost and found son, there is really no other way out.
Xue Bai asked: "Did they tell you specifically?"
"yes."
"No hurry, have you eaten?"
Liu Xiangjun was stunned. Before he could answer, someone already answered: "Not yet."
Xue Bai smiled and said, "Let's talk while we eat."
Qinglan quickly brought lunch.
Xue Bai learned about the six children of the Xue family, three boys and three girls.
Boys are Qilang, Eighth Lang, and Eleventh Lang; girls are Sanniang, Qiniang, and Jiuniang.
The missing ones in the ranking must have died in infancy. Among them, only Qilang and Qiniang were born to Liu Xiangjun. The others were born to different concubines, and the concubines have been sold.
Xue Ling also had five older sons. Erlang died in infancy, Dalang, Sanlang, and Silang joined the army early, and Wulang adopted them.
"My eldest brother has written back. After he has made a meritorious service, he will come to take us and my mother to Fanyang. Can we pay Brother Six back then? My mother has no place to live, and Brother Six just wants to get the house back..."
Xue Qilang's name is Xue Xin. He is twelve years old. He is thin and small, but very courageous. He is not afraid of strangers, dares to speak, and even dares to ask Xue Bai for money.
Boys of this age are somewhat naughty and lawless. Xue Xin is different. He is bold but not naughty.
Xue Bai asked: "As long as the house is in the house, what about your grandfather?"
Xue Xin pursed his lips, glanced at Liu Xiangjun, and said nothing.
But there was a stubbornness in the child's eyes, and he took a hard bite of the biscuit.
Xue Bai then asked Quan Rui: "Manager Quan, there is some trouble at home. I would like to ask Uncle Du if he can let them stay..."
"You don't have to ask Alang, just ask someone to clean up all the guest rooms in the front yard."
Liu Xiangjun was used to seeing cold looks from his relatives, so he felt uneasy about this and said, "One room is enough for me and the children."
Xue Gengbo said hurriedly: "You can just sleep in the woodshed..."
~~
evening.
There is a quiet teahouse in the alley behind Qingmen Kangjia Restaurant.
Shi Zhong hurriedly climbed to the attic and whispered: "Madam, Xue Ling has said everything."
Da Xi Yingying was still making tea. The seat opposite was empty, but a clean small tea cup was placed.
"He said that Sun Cheng, a minor official in the Western City Department, paid him to recognize his kin. The villain went to check. Sun Cheng had a clan sister who was the crown prince's concubine and gave birth to the crown prince's second son, Dan."
"What's the use of checking these things? The sage decided on the story of father and son's acquaintance. Do you think the sage was wrong?" Da Xi Yingying said: "Is Xue Bai here?"
"No." Shi Zhong said: "Our people are staring at Du's house, and Xue Bai has never come out at all."
"Wait. The sage pointed out to him that he has to save me."
On the small stove, the tea is boiling and the foam is floating.
Da Xi Yingying frowned slightly, thinking that Xue Bai should not be unable to see that she just wanted to sell him a favor first.
As long as he comes, she can return the person and the house to him and slowly get closer.
But why not come?
~~
The sky is getting dark, and this is the last night in Tianbao's six years without curfew.
~~
The Du sisters walked into Xue Bai's room and stood in front of his desk to look at the results of his reading and calligraphy today.
But I saw a poem written on a calligraphy manuscript.
"The flowers are not flowers, and the fog is not fog. It comes in the middle of the night and leaves at dawn. It comes like a spring dream in a short time, and it goes like a morning cloud with nowhere to find it."
The poem was so beautiful that both of them were stunned for a moment.
When Xue Bai came back from washing, he saw them turning around and looked at their expressions carefully.
Seeing Du Wei's unnatural expression first, he seemed to have some realization. But when he looked at Du Jin, her expression was also wrong, and he was even more confused.
"I heard from Quan Rui that something happened to Xue Ling?"
"Um."
"Aren't you going to redeem him?" Du Jin asked, "If you need money, you can put some money in your account first."
Xue Bai shook his head and said: "This kind of person is a bottomless pit, and it is useless to redeem him."
Du Wei said: "You will be sent to the Imperial Academy soon, so you won't be accused of being unfilial."
"If he dies, you will have to observe mourning for him for three years before you can become an official."
Xue Bai also understood this and mused: "It's normal for the creditor to know about Fengwei Tower, but it's also possible that he's here for us."
"What do you mean?"
"There's no rush." Xue Bai said, "Let's observe it for two days and then see."
The Du sisters nodded one after another, and there was a subtle atmosphere among the three of them.
"It's okay to observe and observe, so you won't be in a hurry to move there in the next few days?"
"Well, the mansion is gone..."
~~
The next day is the seventeenth day of the first lunar month.
The three days of rest during the Shangyuan Festival have passed, and Chang'an has begun to return to its usual busy schedule.
In the early morning, Du Wulang and Xue Bai greeted each other in the corridor.
"I'm so sleepy. Your window hinge hasn't been repaired yet? It rang again last night."
"The Xue family had some trouble yesterday, I forgot about it."
"What trouble?"
Xue Bai probably said something about Xue Ling, which made Du Wulang very distressed.
"Ah, it's troublesome to have such a grandpa on your side, isn't it? A while ago, grandpa established a family motto."
"The Xue family also has this ancestral motto. Those who dare to gamble will be expelled from the family forever, and their parents and children will be cut off from all ties."
Although Xue Bai was just inspired to draw up this ancestral precept, his tone was very plain.
Du Wulang nodded repeatedly when he heard this, and said: "As expected of the white-robed general of Three Arrows Dingtian Mountain, the family tradition is strict. I haven't realized it yet. It turns out that you are the great-grandson of General Xue. Can I accompany you to handle this matter? ?”
"Isn't Fengwei Building busy?"
"Of course I'm busy. No matter how busy I am, the banquet has been booked until the Lantern Festival next year."
In Xue Bai's eyes, Fengwei Building is much more important than Xue Ling.
He thought that if every shop in Chang'an had a restaurant, hired people, and had guards and carriages that could be mobilized at any time, it would be much easier to deal with those secret methods.
Therefore, when the two of them walked from the main courtyard to the front courtyard, they were talking about the restaurant again.
Since the first month of the lunar month, Xue Baishao had been talking to others because of Jiao Nu's gaze. The only thing he often talked about with Du Wulang was the management of the restaurant. Whenever that happens, Jiao Nu will be half-awake beside him.
"..."
"Branch? I've thought about it, but if this happens, our cooking skills will be easily exposed. How about making a lot of money for a while?"
"Do you make a lot of money?"
"A lot?" Du Wulang said, "You can only use such crude words to describe your income?"
"Every day makes a fortune?"
"Well, actually the account book is managed by the eldest sister, and I don't know the details."
"It doesn't matter. Controlling the dishes is the foundation of a restaurant." Xue Bai said casually.
Du Wulang took it seriously and became more motivated.
While talking, the two arrived at the stable.
Du Wulang saw Xue Bai holding the horse and asked, "Hey, didn't you say you wouldn't save your grandpa? Come with me to Fengwei Tower."
"The Lantern Festival has passed, and I remembered that I didn't go to see General Xue. I have to go there."
"Why are you going to visit me at this time? Your uncle should be sitting in Jinwuwei at this time..."
~~
Jinwu Health Office.
In the morning, a roar suddenly sounded.
"Both merit and demerit? What have I committed? General! I was the first to discover this conspiracy. I also led the search for Yang Shenjin's residence last time..."
"Why are you so anxious? When the Yang brothers are convicted, can we not promote you?"
"It's weird, why did Yang Zhao move to serve as the censor now? I saw him just carrying sacks to carry his belongings, but he found evidence and found out that Yang Shenjin had owed money to Kong Taifu? Damn it!"
"Guo Qianli! Don't be too presumptuous!"
"Am I being presumptuous? The imperial court can do it, but I am being presumptuous? Regardless of my merits, yes, but you are praising Yang Zhao's great merits, and I will not agree!"
"Bang!"
"Get out! Is it useful for you and me to discuss this matter? Since you have taken refuge in Genu, go and ask your master!"
Guo Qianli was furious, yelling "Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah", and finally kicked out the door in anger.
"I'm angry, I'm angry!"
"General Guo?"
"Mr.
"General Guo, don't worry."
"How can I not be in a hurry?! I have made great military exploits in Wuwei. In the years since I returned to Chang'an, I have been promoted from the fourth rank of Zuo Jinwu Guards to the middle rank of the seventh rank. How can I not be in a hurry? I am so anxious!"
"It is normal for an official to have ups and downs. General Guo has reached his lowest point, and he will surely rise step by step in the future..."
Xue Bai comforted him for a long time before Guo Qianli calmed down.
"Mr. .”
"Yes, as long as this small defect is made up, General Guo will definitely become a famous general."
"You were the one who reminded me that night in front of the emperor." Guo Qianli scratched his head and said, "Xue Langjun, I have an idea, why don't you be my guest?"
"Shall I be your guest?"
Xue Bai was stunned for a moment and laughed dumbly.
He wasn't angry, but he probably understood why Guo Qianli was able to behave like this.
"Don't laugh, Xue Langjun, I will definitely not miss your monthly salary. If you help me with advice in the future, I will be worthy of General Jinwu."
"It's not about the monthly salary, I still want to study in the Imperial College..."
"You can give me advice and study at the same time. How about I introduce you to Li Taibai and increase your reputation?"
"Let's do this. If General Guo encounters any difficult matters in the future, he can come and ask me at any time, but the curtainman will be exempted. It's really inconvenient."
"..."
After chatting with Guo Qianli, Xue Bai was led by Jin Wuwei into the government hall, where he saw Xue Huizheng sitting with a golden sword.
"General Xue is polite."
"Call me uncle." Xue Hui waved back, "If you don't come to visit me at home during the Lantern Festival, why are you here at the Jinwuwei Yamen?"
"I came here to ask for help from my uncle. Yesterday, the house in Changshoufang was occupied by someone, claiming that the family owed gambling debts..."
"I said I would no longer care about Xue Ling's nonsense."
Xue Hui scolded, with that majestic face, he finally did not hold back, and said with a smile: "But you came to me, you did the right thing. You are a child, you have no choice but to come to me when you encounter this kind of thing Who else can I turn to for this uncle?"
"yes."
"Let me remind you, you were too crazy in the past, even crazier than our Jinwu Guards, please be more honest in the future!"
"..."
After leaving the imperial city, Xue Bai still refused to go to Qingmen Restaurant to rescue Xue Ling.
He drove away on horseback and headed for the Chang'an County Government Office.
~~
Afternoon, longevity square.
Xue Ling's house is in the northwest corner of Changshoufang, and the Chang'an County government office is in the southwest corner.
Xue Bai has been here once and is not unfamiliar with this area.
It was lunch time when he arrived, so he found the busiest stall nearby and ordered a bowl of mutton noodle soup. It tasted really good, fragrant but not overpowering, and the meat was soft and glutinous.
Halfway through the meal, I saw Yan Zhenqing wearing a dark blue official robe and walking with two minor officials holding official documents.
Yan Zhenqing also saw him and waved his hand to signal him not to get up in a hurry.
"Lao Chong, Lao Chong's sister-in-law, three bowls of mutton soup and six cakes."
The vendors were a couple, Lao Chong was an old man, working at a big casserole, Lao Chong's wife was a fat woman, carrying a bowl and walking around the table and chairs as light as a bird.
"Okay, County Lieutenant Yan will take the seat first!" Lao Chongsao looked familiar with the county officials. "I know that the County Lieutenant will come back from work and ladle out more mutton soup."
Yan Zhenqing stroked his beard and smiled, nodding in thanks.
A clerk whispered: "County Lieutenant, the county magistrate only asked us to urge the payment. If we explain it to them instead, it would be over the limit. This is not something that happens in a day or two."
"Then can they create Qiangu in one or two days?" Yan Zhenqing waved his hand and said, "Don't be anxious."
"When the new Jingyin takes office, how can we allow the county lieutenant to slowly visit and collect payment..."
Xue Bai sat aside and watched this scene, suddenly recalling a lot.
Speaking of which, after spending seven years at the grassroots level in his previous life, he was seconded to the county and worked next to the fourth person in charge of politics and law. He was almost a minor official next to the county captain.
After thinking about it like this, when he looked at Yan Zhenqing again, his eyes were already kind.
"Little man."
Dark blue sleeves were waved in front of his eyes. Xue Bai came back to his senses and saluted quickly.
"Are you here to get the copybook? Come with me."
"I've met Mr. Yan." Xue Bai said, "I'm here to report the case today."
"Okay, do you have the paper?"
"have."
Xue Bai immediately took out the paper from his arms and said: "Someone kidnapped Xue Ling and seized the Xue family's house and the property in the house without signing a contract."
Yan Zhenqing took it and took a look.
The handwriting, which in the eyes of others could barely be considered neat, seemed hopelessly ugly to him, but the idea of the writing was very clear.
He had already heard about what happened in Changshou Fang yesterday. Xue Ling owed a huge gambling debt, which was paid to the house, and everyone in the family was kicked out.
But no one thought to report the crime.
Because no one thought that the Tang Dynasty actually banned gambling.
"Are you the Xue Bai who 'made things up randomly'? I remembered that I met you once in Dali Temple."
"Student Xue Bai made Shaofu Yan laugh."
Yan Zhenqing had already heard about what happened at the imperial banquet on the Shangyuan Festival, and knew that Xue Bai was clinging to Mrs. Guo to curry favor with the powerful. She also heard that Yang Shenjin was also involved in the case.
But he didn't expect that when he saw this person, there was no flattery in his eyes, only determination.
This young man... only cares about the ultimate goal and does not care about the muddy road.
"You have gone through everything, and today you can still think of following the law and reporting the matter, instead of taking advantage of the situation." Yan Zhenqing sighed, "It's not bad."
"As long as it can be dealt with by law, students will follow the law."
Yan Zhenqing asked: "What if we can't solve it legally?"
"It depends on the situation. It depends on whether I am wrong or the law of the world is wrong. If I am wrong, it is just following the law."
Xue Bai didn't want to talk about the superficial things, so he stopped talking.
Yan Zhenqing insisted on asking again.
"What if the world's laws are wrong?"
"change."
With a simple and powerful word, Yan Zhenqing suddenly lost his mind.
He thought about what he had seen during his tenure as county captain, the collapse of land equalization and renting and mediocrity in the Tang Dynasty, and the court's tinkering and even intensification.
I have never seen anyone dare to respond firmly with the word "change" to these broken traces.
This is a prosperous age, there is no need to change, and no one can afford to change it.
I also wrote 8,600 words today, which is a continuous streak of extraordinary performance. Thanks to the new leader, I plan to write a summary at the end of each month, and thank you all at that time (because I didn’t have time when I posted it, and the writer’s words are often added later). Please vote for me, please subscribe~~
