According to the words of several women, Mao Jiao walked east and west for a while before arriving at a house.
Outside the wooden fence, Mao Jiao walked to the door and looked curiously at the small garden in front of him.
The small garden was not big, a narrow bamboo door was gently pushed open by Mao Jiao, and then Mao Jiao could see everything in the small garden.
Several stones were placed on the ground, and bundles of firewood were propped under the eaves next to the thatched wooden house. Several pieces of coarse cloth were hung between the firewood and the fence.
On the other side of the wooden house is a simple wooden shed that seems to have just been built, used for raising cattle.
"That boy grew up here?"
Mao Jiao looked at everything in front of him and seemed to be able to imagine that young figure walking out of the old wooden house and walking around in the small garden.
day to day.
Only here, the young man might not see the contempt and ridicule in the village.
"Um?"
In the small garden, a middle-aged woman in cloth and a girl in cloth were chatting. When they saw Mao Jiao, the two looked at each other. After realizing that they did not recognize the old man, they stood up slowly with doubts.
Maybe they didn't know the purpose of Mao Jiao's visit. Both the young woman and the middle-aged woman didn't understand what was going on when this old man, whom they had never met before, came into their small garden.
"My dear, come out quickly!"
The middle-aged woman turned her head and shouted into the room.
After the woman finished speaking, a middle-aged man hurriedly walked out of the house.
The man is Yanfu.
When Yan's father heard Mr. Shi calling him, he thought it was something urgent and he needed help. Unexpectedly, he saw an old man wearing commoners coming into the small garden.
"Old man, who are you? What are you doing here?"
Father Yan glanced at his wife, then stepped forward, looked at the old man and asked.
At first, my grandfather asked his uncle and his third son to read and learn, and Yan's father to work to support the family. Later, Yan's father did not read many books and never saw the world.
It is also true that compared to his uncle and others, Yanfu has a simple nature. Although he is confused about Mao Jiao's arrival, he does not chase people away or speak in a bad tone as soon as he comes.
And it was because of Yan's father's behavior that Mao Jiao couldn't help but nod inwardly after seeing Yan's father.
"I was passing by here and heard about your Zhong'er, so I came over to take a look. I wonder if your Zhong'er is at home now?"
Mao Jiao looked at Yan's father, said with a smile, and bowed his hands to Yan's father.
Mao Jiao's behavior left Yanfu, Jishi, and Yunhan confused.
"Yan'er?"
When Mrs. Xiao heard that the older man said that he had heard about Yan'er, he came over to take a look out of curiosity and frowned subconsciously.
Have you heard about Yan'er?
As a mother, how could Mrs. Xiao not know what the villagers were talking about Yan'er.
Fortunately, Shi had a vague feeling that the old man did not mean to ridicule, so he did not drive the old man away.
"Old man, Yan'er is not here!"
Shi said.
Mrs. Xiao guessed that the old man must have overheard the villagers talking about Yan'er's childhood and became curious.
Ever since Yan'er often brought money to his family's trustees, the jealous villagers kept telling stories about Yan'er's childhood.
"Old man, my second son Zhong Yan is in Yicheng and has not returned yet. He is not at home!"
When Yan's father heard what his wife said behind him, he also explained to Mao Jiao.
In the small garden.
Mao Jiao nodded when he heard Yan's father and Shi's words.
Sure enough, the couple, like the villagers, had always thought that the young man was in Yicheng.
"In this case, I have no choice but to give up. I originally wanted to come over and see the young man. If there is a chance, I will take the young man to learn simple literacy."
Mao Jiao said.
This move was to reassure the couple in front of him that he came here with no ill intentions.
"ah!"
Hearing Mao Jiao's words, both Yan's father and Xiao's family were surprised. Even the girl Yun Han looked at Mao Jiao in surprise.
The old gentleman wants to accept Zhong Yan as his disciple?
This was almost the thought that came to the three people instantly.
"Old sir, come in and sit down!"
After a few breaths, when he came to his senses, before Yan's father could speak, Shi passed by Yan's father and asked Mao Jiao to come in and sit down with enthusiasm.
"Yunhan, it's getting late, let's go make something to eat."
Shi ordered her eldest daughter-in-law.
In Mrs. Shi's eyes, she had no doubts about Mao Jiao's words, because when she looked at the old man in front of her, his words, deeds, and expression were anything but ordinary.
Mrs. Xiao was not worried that the old gentleman was just pretending to cheat him out of food and drink.
If this is really the case, then the Shi family will admit it and let Yan'er learn this deceiving skill in the future, and trick a woman into coming back to be her daughter-in-law. Moreover, when Yan'er gets old in the future, she will not have to worry about food and drink.
A mother is worried.
Compared with the eldest son, the second son has always been in the heart of the Xiao family. After all, unlike the eldest son Shou'er, the second son Yan'er has been looked down upon since he was a child.
Mrs. Ji was worried that a hundred years later, she and Yan's father would no longer be alive, and her eldest son would be in the army. Yan'er would come back here without the appreciation of Ling Shi, and would be helpless and incompetent.
In the small garden.
When Junhan heard what Xiao said, she nodded quickly and looked at the old man she was facing in surprise. She didn't expect that the old man would accept his brother-in-law as his disciple after hearing about her brother-in-law.
But before she turned around, she saw the old gentleman waving his hand.
Seeing this scene, Mrs. Xiao smiled cautiously.
"You don't have to be polite, old gentleman."
Shi looked at Mao Jiao and said.
Ms. Xiao was naturally nervous about the opportunity in front of her. Letting Yan'er become literate and learn skills was something she had always dreamed of.
Now that she sees an opportunity, she is not willing to give up.
"Yes, the old gentleman goes in first to drink some water."
Yan's father was also helping.
Mao Jiao looked at the anxious couple and couldn't help laughing.
"No, since your second son is not here, I can't stay long!"
Mao Jiao said with a smile.
Mao Jiao did not tell the couple in front of him about the boy.
This moment is different from just now.
Just now at the entrance of the village, when he learned about the boy's experience from other women, Mao Jiao was impulsive and had the idea of telling the couple.
But after walking here from the village entrance and seeing the couple again, Mao Jiao had calmed down.
Mao Jiao knew that he was here to investigate this time, not to take away the family, so he could just go back and resume his duties after investigating, and he could never make the decision without permission and let the news leak out.
The most important thing is that even if he says it, the couple in front of him may not believe it.
Moreover, he came here on the order of the king and his status is sensitive. If the couple accidentally tells the truth or inquires about it, it will definitely bring disaster.
In the small garden.
Faced with the repeated attempts by Shi and Yan's father to stay, Mao Jiao declined gently, and then made an excuse to ask about other things.
During the chat, Mao Jiao kept in mind the placement of the stones in the courtyard, some of the old details of the wooden house, and most importantly, the characteristics of the couple.
As for the young woman.
Mao Jiao already knew that the woman had just been married, so he did not pay special attention to his observation.
His purpose for this trip was to remember some details of this village, as well as to observe the old things and the couple in this small garden.
"Then I won't bother you!"
After Mao Jiao remembered what he saw in his heart, he raised his hands and prepared to leave.
"Can the old gentleman tell you where he lives? The next time Zhong Yan comes back, I will definitely ask Zhong Yan to visit the old gentleman."
Seeing that Mao Jiao could not be retained, Mrs. Shi still refused to give up and spoke.
Father Yan also nodded.
"We will meet again next time!"
Mao Jiao said with a smile, without giving his address.
Mao Jiao had a hunch that the next time he saw the couple, he might tell them his identity.
After finishing speaking, Mao Jiao handed over his hand again, then turned and left under the eyes of Shi, Yanfu and Junhan.
In the Bamboo Garden, Yanfu and Shi looked at the old man's leaving figure and looked at each other.
Although the old gentleman said that he would come again next time, he was unwilling to tell where he lived. The couple were a little worried that this was just a polite word.
But since the old man has left, they can't stop him.
"My dear, you are going to get some rice and some money. The road out of the village is not easy to walk. We, husband and wife, are going to see the old gentleman off."
After a long time. As the old gentleman left, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that he had missed the opportunity. Feeling regretful, Shi turned to Yan's father and gave instructions.
"The old man seems to be a polite person at first glance. He must have heard about Yan'er and felt that Yan'er was pitiful, so he wanted to accept Yan'er as his disciple. We, the couple, must not neglect him."
Shi said.
Thinking back to what the old man could do for Zhong Yan, he came to this water village and came here to ask if Yan'er was at home. Ms. Xiao felt more and more that the old gentleman just now really wanted Yan'er to be his disciple.
If so.
This opportunity should not be missed, but should be seized.
"Okay! I'll get something!"
When Yan's father heard his wife's words, he nodded, turned around and walked back to the house.
"Mom, I'll go with you!"
Junhan watched Mrs. Xiao get up and quickly followed suit, wanting to accompany Mrs. Xiao.
Shi nodded.
However, when Yan's father and Xiao Shi took Junhan, they chased him from Shuicun to Guandao. They walked for a long time, but they didn't see Mao Jiao.
Qi State Linzi.
Deep in an alley, in a narrow and dilapidated yard, an old woman with white hair and wrinkled cheeks was washing clothes with water.
In this quiet alley, the old woman's figure in the yard looks very lonely.
The old woman seemed to be in poor health. After washing the clothes, she bent down again the moment she stood up. Finally, she stood up and rubbed her waist with one hand.
The old woman took the washed clothes and slowly walked to the yard step by step to dry them on a pile of trees.
After a while.
After drying the clothes, the old woman went to do other chores.
At this time, the sound of footsteps came from outside.
"right here!"
When the old woman heard the sound, she turned around and saw a man coming to the yard with an old man in cloth.
Under the watch of the old woman, the old man entered the courtyard.
"Who are you?"
The old woman looked at the old man, a little strange.
She didn't seem to recognize the person who came to the yard in front of her. Could it be that he was here to see his eldest son?
"Dare I ask, who is Zhong Yan's grandmother?"
The old man asked softly.
The old man is Mao Jiao who left the water village.
It turned out that when he was in Shuicun, he learned from the woman that the old woman was in Linzi, so Mao Jiao went back to the official road and ordered his followers to go to the old woman's village and find villagers who were familiar with the road to guide her.
Here Mao Jiao uses small tricks.
When he appeared in the water village, he did not let the villagers in the old woman's village see him. Instead, he asked his subordinates to follow the villagers to know the way before bringing him here.
In this case, the villagers of the old woman will only think that there is a young man looking for the eldest son of the old woman.
"I am!"
The old woman was Bai Yan's grandmother. When the old man in front of her mentioned Yan'er, she, with her white hair, nodded quickly.
Although I don’t know the purpose of this old man’s visit.
But her grandson Yan'er has been away for nearly a year, and she misses her grandson very much.
"Does the old gentleman know my grandson Yan'er?"
The old woman's eyes were red, she looked at the old man in front of her and asked softly.
Mao Jingjiao nodded.
Looking at the old woman in front of him, Mao Jiao didn't have to go to the water village so much to find this place again.
But thinking of those women's words, Mao Jiao still chose to find this place.
In addition to wanting to inform the king about this matter, he also wanted to see the old woman.
"Old sir, where is my grandson?"
The old woman asked with a trembling voice.
At this moment, the old woman's mind is full of the image of her little grandson, who used to call her grandma before entering the Bamboo Garden. At a young age, she always dragged bundles of firewood home, worrying that she would have no firewood to make a fire.
Mao Jiao looked at the wrinkled face of the old woman in front of him. When he mentioned the boy, his eyes turned red, full of concern and longing.
"Qin!"
Mao Jiao said.
In the yard.
The old woman kept nodding her head when she heard Mao Jiao's words.
"Okay, Qin State, my grandson is in Qin State."
The old woman's old eyes were filled with tears.
She recalled how her grandson knelt down in front of her at Linzi City Gate in full view of everyone.
It turned out that her grandson was going to Qin at that time.
"It's good to be in Qin~!" "It's good to be in Qin~!"
The old woman murmured.
Mao Jiao lowered his head, not looking directly at the old woman in front of him, as if he was thinking about something.
"Since the old gentleman has met my grandson, could you please sit down and tell me about my grandson?"
The old woman looked at Mao Jiao pleadingly.
At this moment, the old woman didn't ask for much. She just wanted to hear about her grandson from the old man in front of her.
Then under Mao Jiao's eyes.
The old woman looked at the yard, a little anxious, as if she wanted to find a place to sit and talk.
But at this time.
Mao Jiao looked at the old woman, finally made a decision, took a step back, and raised his hands under the old woman's gaze.
"Old woman, your grandson has been made a minister and a general!"
Mao Jiao said, telling Bai Yan what happened.
Facing the couple in Shuicun, Mao Jiao didn't have to say anything.
But after learning everything, Mao Jiao couldn't bear to hide it when facing the pale-haired old woman in front of him.
He was sure that the old woman in front of him would not tell anyone nonsense.
What's more, when he mentioned the boy, unlike the couple, the old woman didn't say she was in Yicheng, but instead asked him where the boy was.
Obviously, the old woman knew from the beginning that the young man was not in Yicheng.
"What?"
When the old woman heard what Mao Jiao said, she looked at Mao Jiao blankly.
What did he say just now?
"My grandson, has he been granted the title of general?"
When the old woman said these words, the tears in her eyes fell down her wrinkled old face.
is this real? Have you really made me a general?
Is my grandson really made a minister and a general?
The old woman stood there, with these words in her mind.
"It's absolutely true, your grandson is now the chief of Zuo Shu of the Qin Kingdom! Bai Yan!"
Mao Jiao cupped his hands and said, worried that the old woman wouldn't believe it, so he explained to the old woman.
As soon as he finished speaking, Mao Jiao saw that the old woman's face was covered with tears, but she was smiling brightly.
"When the Yuezhi and the Xiongnu went south, it was your grandson who led the cavalry to drive away the Yuezhi and the Xiongnu. Later, the King of Qin met your grandson in person and worshiped your grandson as a general."
Mao Jiao said to the old woman.
Before coming to Linzi, Mao Jiao already knew that the battle between Gao Nu and others had already spread to Linzi, and the news was aroused.
"My grandson has been granted the title of concubine!"
The old woman murmured, although she didn't know what her grandson had gone through, why was she unhappy when she learned that her grandson had been made a general.
No one knows better than the old woman how much ridicule and discrimination her grandson faced when he was a child.
this moment.
The old woman wanted to see what her grandson would look like when he became a general, and whether he would be majestic or not.
Moreover, the old woman also learned from Mao Jiao's words that the Qin general Bai Yan talked about by the people outside Zicheng was her grandson.
The boy who used to hide behind her.
In the yard.
Mao Jiao looked at the old woman in front of him. After saying this, he finally felt relieved.
But Mao Jiao also knew that if he said it, he could only make the old woman feel at ease.
For other things, even if word spreads now, no one in the villagers who once laughed at the young man and the old woman will believe it, not even the young man's biological father and mother.
Thinking of the old woman in front of me, she once protected the young man with a broom and rocks.
To this day, people still laugh at me.
Mao Jiao knew.
The old woman had been wronged and had to wait until the young man came back. Only then could everyone shut up.
Only when the young man returns, no one here will dare to bully this old woman.
"You guys wait outside!"
Outside the alley, a girl's voice sounded.
In the yard, the old woman's eyes were red. When she came back to her senses, she looked around and saw a girl running towards her.
When you see the girl, the old woman, your wrinkled old face suddenly raises a loving smile, just like when you saw your grandson.
"Grandma!"
Tian Feiyan, dressed in silk clothes, jogged up to the old woman and shouted sweetly.
The old woman looked at the girl, her red eyes full of smiles.
Grandma, this was the name that the old woman insisted on Tian Feiyan calling her at the beginning. She was very stubborn. At first, Tian Feiyan was not used to it, but later, with the old woman's love, he gradually got used to it.
"I am an old woman who often comes to see me, and she is not afraid of getting tired!"
The old woman smiled, stretched out her thin, calloused hands, and rubbed the girl's black hair.
The girl didn't mind at all. Seeing the old woman's eyes full of tears, she stretched out her little hand and gently wiped the tears on the old man's cheek.
The girl did not ask why the old woman was crying.
the other side.
Mao Jiao looked at the girl, dumbfounded and filled with shock.
At first, when he looked at this fair-skinned and beautiful girl, Mao Jiao was amazed. He also saw at a glance that this girl's origin was definitely unusual, and he was curious as to why this girl would appear here.
But behind.
Seeing the familiar girl, Mao Jiao quickly remembered whose daughter this girl was.
A few years ago, he met a child in Tian Mansion.
Tian Ding’s daughter, Tian Feiyan (Gui Feiyan)!
Why does Tian Ding's daughter appear here? With Tian Ding's character, it would be impossible for him to tolerate his beloved daughter appearing here.
"Feiyan has met Lord Qin Shangqing Mao!"
Tian Feiyan, who was dressed in the Qi State costume, saluted to Mao Jiao, then looked at Mao Jiao and said with a smile: "Feiyan is very curious as to why Mr. Mao came all the way to Qi State to inquire about a village. matter?"
"How did you know?"
Mao Jiao looked at the girl.
He clearly went in disguise and there was no way he would be stared at. How could the girl know that?
At this moment, Mao Jiao was a little worried.
Tian Ding's daughter Tian Feiyan already knows, so does Tian Ding also know.
Think of this.
Mao Jiao frowned.
"Not smoke!"
The old woman looked at Tian Feiyan and shouted softly.
"Don't smoke to make medicine!"
The girl heard the old woman's words and said with a soft smile. She stopped being naughty and then walked towards the yard with the bag in her arms towards the place where the medicine was boiled.
This scene.
Mao Jiao was even more surprised. He didn't know why and looked at the old woman in confusion.
The old woman had just heard Tian Feiyan's words and already knew that the old man in front of her was Mao Jiao, the Qin State's top minister.
This is a big shot that is out of reach.
"Old woman pays homage to Master Mao!"
The old woman saluted Mao Jiao.
"You are Welcome!"
Mao Jiao returned the gift with his hands in hand.
After the two of them finished their ceremony, the old woman informed Mao Jiao about Tian Feiyan and why her grandson left Qi.
Only then did Mao Jiao finally understand why the couple always received money from the Yicheng boy.
Looking at the girl in the distance who was skillful in making fire, Mao Jiao was in disbelief. Who would have thought that that girl was the daughter of Tian Ding in Tianfu, whom countless people were in awe of.
But the same thing.
When Mao Jiao thought of Tian Ding, he couldn't help but laugh in his heart. In the Qi court, Tian Ding was a rare capable minister in the clan, and he wanted to conquer Qi.
The result was that such a high-ranking and capable minister personally drove out of Qi a young man who dared to fight a bloody battle with 10,000 horses and 150,000 horses!
Such a generous gesture was not so generous in the Qin State.
"Tian Ding, Tian Ding, I'm really curious about what your face will look like the day you see that young man and learn that you personally drove him out of Qi State!"
Mao Jiao thought to himself.
Mao Jiao didn't expect that the boy's experience would be so interesting.
Listening to the old woman's words, Mao Jiao was relieved when he learned that the girl was worried because she learned that the young man's uncle had met the young man in Qin State and ordered someone to quietly monitor the village.
However, Mao Jiao also knew that the reason why the young girl brought it up deliberately when she saw him just now was to vaguely remind him that this is Qi State, so don't mess around.
"Old woman, Mao Jiao will leave first! Don't spread the news about today's incident!"
Mao Jiao raised his hands to the old woman and said.
"Don't worry, sir!"
The old woman nodded in return.
"The old woman will send you sir out."
The old woman looked at Mao Jiao and said softly.
Mao Jiao wanted to refuse, but he looked at the old woman's eyes and nodded. Before leaving, he glanced at the girl making medicine in the distance.
Mao Jiao is not worried about the girl telling anyone. The girl has long known that he has been to the village, and she didn't look surprised just now. She obviously knows something. If the girl really wants to tell, the person who just appeared here is probably Tian. tripod.
The old woman sent Mao Jiao outside the yard.
In a deserted alley.
The old woman stopped and looked at Mao Jiao.
"Please tell the King of Qin that my grandson is kind-hearted. If he does something bad and is remonstrated by other officials, it must be something he did wrong. As for those treasonous things, please believe it to the King of Qin. , If my old woman is here, that boy won’t do those things. If the old woman dies and the grave is there, that boy won’t dare.”
The old woman said to Mao Jiao: "Please tell this message to my grandson too!"
The old woman's words were obviously not as nice as those of other people who had read the book, but she could still feel the concern. After hearing this, Mao Jiao couldn't help but tremble in his heart.
Mao Jiao did not blame the old woman for her uprightness. As a Qin State minister, at this moment, he sincerely admired the old woman's words.
That young man has the best grandmother in the world.
"I will definitely tell you!"
Mao Jiao said.
Mao Jiao, who had once risked his life to submit a letter and persuade the king, naturally knew how to inform the king of the old woman's intention.
"Thank you, sir!"
The old woman saluted Mao Jiao gratefully.
Mao Jiao bowed his hands in front of the old woman and said goodbye to her again before leaving.
The old woman watched Mao Jiao's leaving figure disappear, her eyes full of longing for her grandson, and she turned around and walked back after a long time.
After a while.
The old woman returned to the yard.
"You, didn't you already know this?"
The old woman looked at Tian Feiyan and whispered angrily, but the love in her eyes was extremely doting.
What the old woman couldn't see just now, Tian Feiyan seemed to have known about it for a long time.
Watch the old woman sit down.
Tian Feiyan stood up and helped him, while shaking his head with a smile, refusing to admit it.
This appearance made the old woman couldn't help laughing, and then she sat on the stool.
"Yan'er has been made a general!"
The old woman murmured softly, her eyes turned red, and she couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. Remembering that her grandson had become a general in the Qin State, the old woman finally felt relieved at this moment.
She knew that her grandson would definitely be successful.
"Grandma, you need to take good medicine, take good care of yourself, and wait for him to come back!"
Tian Feiyan said softly, and the smile disappeared from his face.
The guy was a fool and didn't know that his grandmother had known that he would consult a doctor. Fortunately, she found out early.
Return the chief of the left concubine of Qin!
"Okay! It's great to have Yan'er, learn medical books and treat an old woman like me!"
The old woman smiled and nodded, stretched her skinny old hand to her shoulder and placed it on the back of the girl's hand.
I think back to when I was a child, the children who kept yelling at their grandmother, and the way my grandson looked at me with a smile.
Now, she has not seen her grandson return home wearing battle armor and carrying a sword. How can he let his body collapse with his majestic appearance?
What's more, she still has to watch Zhong Yan marry Yan'er and go home.
"Grandma, please go out and live with me, and let Uncle Ji go with you!"
Behind him came the words that the girl had said countless times.
The old woman shook her head and looked at the small courtyard in front of her. She knew her grandson and knew that her grandson would definitely want to see her once he returned to Qi.
In the beginning, her grandson carried her things and sent her here.
"Yan'er sent me here in the first place. He knows the way and can find it directly when he comes back."
The old woman said with a smile.
During the Warring States Period, an old woman could talk to the king, just like Zhao Kuo's mother.
He was a king during the Warring States Period!
(End of chapter)
