The sudden chirping of cicadas added a bit of irritability to the furnace-like weather.
Xu Mu, who was sitting in the village, drank a bowl of sour plum soup. After much deliberation, he still wrote a letter back to Zhao Qingyun.
I'm so sick that I can't travel far.
It's a ridiculous reason, but it takes into account the face of both parties.
It's not that they never get along, but betrayal is a knife that breaks his fiery heart.
No matter how you make your future choices, the first and most important thing is to protect yourself wisely. The mess of the four major households is a bloody lesson.
After handing the letter to Chen Sheng, Xu Mu stretched and stood up slowly.
"Caiwei, how much money is left in the account?"
"Xu Lang, about six thousand taels." Jiang Caiwei, who was looking at the account, raised her head in a hurry.
Six thousand taels, after paying the wine, you can still get another 10,000 taels. If this life is smooth and stable, it is enough to be a happy man.
But in the troubled times, it is probably a bit uncertain to be a happy man.
"Hey, little boss."
"My young master, please bring two jars of wine."
Ma Liu's cautious figure walked into Zhuangzi again.
Before Xu Mu could say anything, Chen Sheng, who was moving the wine jar, stopped.
"Liu'er, it's only been two days, how many times have you been here?"
"I have something to do, don't I?" Ma Liu laughed playfully and came closer in a few steps.
He is a very ordinary person, a very ordinary official. The only difference is that he still has the word "filial piety" in his heart.
In May, the old man at home got the heat evil and developed sores in his abdomen. I went to Guanfang to borrow all kinds of money, but it was just bits and pieces. Only the little boss in front of me gave him twenty taels as soon as he made a move.
A thousand pieces of gold are easy to get, but a bezoar is hard to find. After going to the drugstore to pick a small corner, my father's illness gradually improved.
"My little boss, I'm going to be on duty at the official workshop today. I heard from Li Yu that the old owner of your village is planning to come back."
"Is the boss coming back?"
Xu Mu frowned. This was vaguely possible, but he only took it as a joke. He didn't expect that this round, it would actually become real.
The Zhuangzi purchased for three hundred taels only needs to be repaid four times, and one thousand two hundred taels can be used to take back the entire Xu family winery by relying on the great discipline.
The notarization of the land deed became a piece of waste paper.
At this time, in the Ji Dynasty, unlike later generations, there were such things as property rights. Before the relocation period had expired, Xujiazhuang was only a renter.
Faintly, Xu Mu felt like he was being tricked.
After holding two jars of wine in his arms, Ma Liu, who had just reached the entrance of Zhuangzi, suddenly looked back.
"My little boss, I can't live in Tangjiang City. If you have the skills, go out and make wine."
"Ma Chao, thank you."
"My little boss, my name is Ma Liu, not the mighty general you mentioned."
The footsteps faded away.
Xu Mu rubbed his forehead and fell into deep thought.
There are six thousand taels in the book, which is indeed enough to buy another village, and it can temporarily avoid the sharp edges of the four major households. But leaving Tangjiang City means that you will not be able to participate in the Yuetou Liquor Market in the future.
There are gains and losses.
Fortunately, Xujiazhuang has accumulated a lot of customers in the two wine markets.
Xu Mu's face darkened, and he spoke slowly.
"Chen Sheng, go to the nearby Fengcheng Guanfang and inquire about the land deeds outside the city."
Even if they want to buy a new village, the official village in Tangjiang City can no longer count on it.
About dusk.
Chen Sheng's fast horse hurried back from the east gate. The panic-stricken look on his face shocked Xu Mu for no reason.
He originally thought that Chen Sheng would not be able to come back until at least the next day.
"Chen Sheng, what's wrong?"
"My boss, I went to Fengcheng, but there was a traffic jam halfway."
"The officials are blocking people?"
It was known a few days ago that dozens of officers and soldiers were killed, and now the number of officers and soldiers patrolling the inner city has increased several times.
But Chen Sheng has a dental license and proof of employment, so this should not be a problem.
Chen Shengning nodded and lowered his voice, "I paid two taels of silver and asked for a small official. Then, those heroes are preparing to cause rebellion!"
Xu Mu lowered his head, not surprised. Where there are people, there are rivers and lakes, and where there is oppression, there will be resistance.
The Daji, which is rotten to the core, has no rebel uprising. This is the problem. It is said that in the past 100 years, there have been no less than 100 civil uprisings, large and small.
"and after."
"Later, I heard that the officials had transferred two more camps to prepare for the killing."
Xu Mu cursed mother.
This is true at the border, and it is also true in the inner city. But if you want to live, life is always so difficult.
"Master, which side are we on?" Chen Sheng lowered his voice.
“I’m not taking either side.”
Officials and rebels, no matter which side, one wrong move will lead to an abyss.
If he had a choice in life, why would he just want to be a miserable brewer? But whatever he does, his starting point is Zhuangzi's safety.
"Chen Sheng, go and say something and let everyone pack their things first."
"Boss, are we going to move?"
Xu Mu shook his head, "I don't know yet. But it's always right to prepare in advance."
Whether you go or stay, it is destined to be a difficult road. After all, he has no intention of choosing a better place to live now.
"Master, I looked at the sky and I'm afraid it's going to rain in the next two days."
…
Hit the nail on the head.
Two days later, Tangjiang City finally received a heavy rain after a long drought. The falling rain began to soak the streets and alleys again.
The river is covered with a monument line.
The boatman stopped the ferry, sideways the boat, and ate wine in his nest. The boats that came and went in the past, and the oirans who competed for their beauty, all disappeared for a while.
Frozen dead fish floated on the river with their bellies turned inside out. The animals that fell into the water only struggled a few times before being completely submerged.
Chen Sheng, who was wearing a raincoat and pushed open the door, still looked panic-stricken.
"My boss, I asked about it."
"There was a traitor where Xia'er was revolting. The three battalions of the officials hunted him down all night and killed many people. The bodies of those Xia'ers were hung densely in several towers by the Ji River."
"There were still many who were not dead, but they couldn't be beaten, so they all fled for a while."
Xu Mu's face was tense and he was about to say a few words.
Bang——
The village door was suddenly pushed open again.
Ma Liu, who was all wet, stepped in with a heavy look on his face. The first sentence is to borrow money.
"Dong Xu, can you lend me fifty taels?"
Xu Mu suddenly felt a little uncomfortable. In his impression, when Ma Liu talked to him, he was just trying to make fun of him.
But without thinking much, Xu Mu immediately took off his money bag and handed over several large ingots of silver. No written evidence was even established.
"One hundred taels, if something happens to you, use it to eliminate the disaster."
Ma Liuhong took it with eyes, suddenly knelt on the ground, kowtowed to Xu Mu three times, then hurriedly turned back and walked out of Zhuangzi again.
"Is Liu'er really in trouble?"
"It should be."
During this period, Ma Liu's help to Xujiazhuang was immeasurable. One hundred taels is not even a good price.
"Master, I'll go find out more."
"Go ahead."
…
It rains at dusk and night. Chen Sheng walked back from outside again, his eyes already red.
"Ma Liu is in great trouble!"
"My boss, Ma Liuta, he is also a chivalrous man, dormant in the city! Now he was sold by the traitor! The one hundred taels from before were used to send my father, wife and children out of the city!"
Xu Mu's mind buzzed and he froze on the spot. In his mind, the humane and sophisticated city guard appeared in his mind, calling him his little boss, and then begging for a drink with a flattering smile.
"A large group of battalion soldiers, as well as officials from the official office, surrounded Liu'er's home! If he is caught, he might be taken to Caishikou and beheaded."
"Master, what should I do!"
"How many battalions?"
"Two thousand people."
Xu Mu closed his eyes, his chest felt so tight.
At this time, outside Zhuangzi, the sound of riding horses suddenly came.
"I would like to inform my little boss, follow the great disciplinary order! The land deed of the official farm has not yet expired! The old farm owner has returned, please Xu Dongjia, please give up the farm as soon as possible!"
"Shut up!" Xu Mu turned around and shouted angrily.
The little official on horseback who was announcing the announcement was suddenly startled and almost fell off his horse.
