For Yue Qingshan and everyone in the Golden Rat Club, if it weren't for Mi Lao Shuan, they might not have been able to get out of Shennongjia at all. At first, because Tan Yanqiu was injured, Mi Laoshuan almost used up all the prey he had caught at home and replaced it with seeing a doctor. And the money for medicine allowed Tan Yanqiu to recover peacefully for half a year.
In the end, Tan Yanqiu compensated Mi Laoshuan with the break-up funds, thus fulfilling his kindness of support.
It is said that debts of money are easy to repay, but debts of love are hard to repay. Although he paid off the money, the debt of love is always there. It is also because of this that Tan Yanqiu helps the old farmers to manage their shops and let their business Not only do you stick to the countryside, you can also go to towns and counties to exchange for higher prices.
It is better to teach people to fish than to teach them how to fish!
From a current perspective, what Tan Yanqiu did is indeed not worth mentioning, but looking back at the time, it was the best repayment he could do when he was trapped and injured.
Over the past few decades, Tan Yanqiu's business world has been ups and downs, and the Mi family has also known his interests. They did not deliberately ignore him because he lost power, nor did they deliberately fawn over him because he gained power. They always insisted on the righteousness of friends and the distance between gentlemen, no matter what happened in the family. For major business matters, I would send letters or telegrams to Tan Yanqiu and ask him to check them.
In the process, Mijia became more and more successful and became one of the largest trading houses in Xingshan County.
So many years have passed since Tan Yanqiu left until now. When Tan Yanqiu left, Li Bai and Li Yang were still a few years old. Li Mei was even still in his infancy. Now, Li Bai and Li Yang have also reached the age of no doubt. Years old, as for Li Mei, she is probably not too young.
During this period, he and the Mi family only kept in contact with each other and had not visited a few times. Opportunities for a quiet cup of tea like today were even rarer, so he had to inquire about the situation of the Mi family first.
Mi Libai put down the tea cup: "The old man is now eighty-six years old. His body is still strong, but his mind is a little confused. Sometimes he suddenly remembers the past things, and sometimes he forgets them completely. Anyway, Just sober sometimes and confused sometimes.”
"After he stopped taking over, I took over the trading company, and Li Yang happened to take over the caravan. If Li Mei hadn't taken care of the family affairs, we really wouldn't have been able to do anything about it."
"I hear what you mean, Li Mei is not married yet? Because of the old man's affairs, the marriage will not be delayed, right?"
Before Tan Yanqiu finished speaking, shopkeeper Mi waved his hands helplessly: "Anyway, Limei is our sister. Even if I don't have it early, we can't be so harsh on her. We have been looking for her since she was a teenager. My husband’s family, either this is not possible, or that is not possible, so it was delayed.”
"I used to think that I, a girl with high eyesight, insisted on marrying a relative of the emperor. Who knew that she was not willing to marry someone? She also said that now that she is looking at Xingshan County, she doesn't take anyone seriously. She is close to forty years old, almost an old aunt, so she is a loser."
"The family doesn't lack this little money, so I can just keep it. She and my sister-in-law can make decisions at home, so I don't have to worry about anything."
Speaking of this, he sighed: "I heard that I recently fell in love with a male actor, and he gave me gold, silver and jewelry, which made me confused."
"I don't know, I thought she was going to marry this male actor."
Speaking of this, he looked around: "I'm here to talk to you, but you haven't introduced this to me yet."
Tan Yanqiu put down his tea cup and explained: "These are relatives and friends, Ban Shu, Ban Nu, Yue Guanchao, Song Siyuan, Yue Guanhai, Xu Xiake, Hua Yuxiu. The last two are my former brothers, Yue Qingshan, Sun Daqiao, I want to introduce them both to you."
"Back then, Brother Yue and Brother Sun were capable people in the Golden Rat Club. Uncle Mi brought us people here to Shennongjia. Speaking of which, the two of them had also been favored by Mr. Mi, and they also paid a visit this time. That’s what the old man meant.”
Tan Yanqiu didn't say much. Shopkeeper Mi probably heard his family talk about the past a lot. He only mentioned the past a little bit, and he already understood it.
Shopkeeper Mi cupped his hands and said: "It turns out that you two have such a connection with the old man. They can be considered old friends. I was blind and didn't recognize it. It has been so many years. No matter what kind of kindness or not, as long as I can come, it will be We should treat the distinguished guests of the Mi family well."
Yue Guanchao listened to Mi Libai's words, and it seemed that Tan Yanqiu really taught Shopkeeper Mi a lot. This beautiful words directly leveled the status of the two. Without talking about repaying kindness, it was considered open-minded and knowledgeable.
"Nice to meet you."
"Easy to say, easy to say."
After the people in the hall introduced each other, Shopkeeper Mi sat down and asked curiously: "Mr. Tan, I mentioned albino animals in my letter just because I wanted to tell you about the recent situation. I didn't expect you to bring someone to visit. But Because of this?"
Mi Libai took a look at these people. They were of all kinds and from all walks of life. They didn't look like Tan Yanqiu's family members or servants. If they were friends, it would be a bit too complicated, and he immediately became curious.
Tan Yanqiu had already seen what Shopkeeper Mi meant: "Yes, I have received the letter you gave me a long time ago. I just read it as a novelty. No, I happened to meet my brother from back then in Jianghan City. I mentioned it to them, and they all wanted to come and visit the old man again, so we brought the juniors over."
Speaking of this, Tan Yanqiu had no intention of hiding it from Shopkeeper Mi: "At that time, when we were lost in Shennongjia, we said that if anyone becomes prosperous in the future, he will come to replace the other brothers to renovate the Ji Temple of the Nong Shrine and offer incense. This time I will come I just thought of doing it together, which would be considered as fulfilling my wish.”
"So that's it. Then you can rest assured that the food, clothing, housing and transportation in Nongshen Town will be all taken care of by our Mi family. After I finish my work in the morning, I will take you back at noon, so that the old man can be happy. Everyone, please drive. You are probably quite tired after a long day of work, so let’s take a rest at the business office for the time being.”
After Mi Libai left, Hua Yuxiu rolled his eyes up and down, a little picky: "Isn't the Mi family the best home in Xingshan County? This is incomparable to Jianghan City. Even the wealthy gentry with some financial resources are better than here. Be richer."
The shops in Xingshan County are indeed incomparable to the modern foreign markets in Jiang Hancheng. It seems that they are just commercial streets in towns where travelers and merchants are slightly prosperous. Even light boxes are rarely seen, and most of them are signboards from the previous dynasty. And lantern flags, if it weren't for electric lights and telegraphs, it would really be no different from the previous dynasty.
Tan Yanqiu patted the back of her hand: "This place can't be compared with Jianghan City, but Xingshan County is better than Xingshan County. At least it has beautiful mountains and clear waters. Further northwest is Shennongjia, which is regarded as an ancient garden town close to nature. Not bad."
After a while, Mi Liyang had returned. Shopkeeper Mi took him to see Tan Yanqiu. The two brothers immediately sent their own convoy to take Yue Guanchao and the others out of Xingshan County and rushed to Nongshen Town, which was more than ten miles away.
…
To the southeast of Shennongjia, with Xingshan County as the center, and further northwest for a dozen or twenty miles, you will have arrived at Nongshen Village. Once here, you have basically entered the edge of Shennongjia. As long as you leave the village and enter a certain mountain, you can go around in circles. Generally, you can turn into Shennongjia.
When they were far away, they could already see the dense mountains and primeval forests right in front of them. This Farm God Village was located under the rolling hills. It was shaped like the word "Qi" and was surrounded by the surrounding forests and hills.
Tan Yanqiu got off the carriage and sighed with emotion: "If I don't come back for decades, Nao Shen Village will become a town."
In front of them was a medium-sized town!
This town is surrounded by three mountains and two forests, with the Bay River extending through it. There are water canals and laundry pools dug by the people everywhere, like emerald beads on the river, connected to various streets and alleys. The neighbors in the town rely on the numerous rivers of the Bay The tributaries spread out over the houses like spiders spinning their webs.
With its horse-headed gables, white walls and gray tiles, barking chickens and dogs, and curling smoke, it is a very traditional riverside ancient town.
Among the many houses, they could see at a glance that the four-bedroom apartment on the edge of the town near Linhai had a foundation that was half the wall of the surrounding houses. It was probably the Mi family's house!
In the countryside, the most taboo things are that one's neighbor's eaves are higher than one's own, and second, that one's neighbor's foundation is higher than one's own. When these two things appear, it means that one's neighbor is overpowering him, and his family's fortune may be affected. It was so noisy that you and I lived together.
Of course, this kind of pressure on the eaves also depends on the situation. The exception is squires like the Mi family. For these villagers, those who become rich squires are those whose families have good luck. The higher the eaves and the foundation, the higher the eaves. Yes, I can't compare with my own, but I can't compare with it, but it's easier to accept.
According to this rule, wherever you go, if you find that the eaves are higher than the people around you, or the foundation is higher than the people around you, it is probably the local squire or sage.
When they walked to the door of the Mi family, the Mi family had probably heard the news, and the two families and Li Mei had already welcomed them out.
After some pleasantries, Tan Yanqiu was taken into the Rongshou Hall in the backyard by shopkeeper Mi. The sunshine was quite good this afternoon. The servants set up a round low table in the corridor. Mi Laoshuan sat on the Taishi chair, covered with a blanket at an angle, letting the family The grandson swayed and basked in the sun.
"Dad, do you think who is here?"
Mi Laoshuan is over eighty years old, with a thin layer of flesh hanging on his withered body, like a skinny eggplant that has lost its vitality. As he gets older, his skin becomes transparent, and the blood vessels on the back of his hands are clearly visible.
The old man raised his eyes and looked at Tan Yanqiu. His cloudy old eyes suddenly focused and he raised his head: "It's Tan Yanqiu. You haven't come to see Mr. Mi for more than ten years."
After saying that, the old man stretched out his hand tremblingly, and Tan Yanqiu quickly took it: "Uncle Mi, you are quite strong."
Mi Laoshuan held Tan Yan's hand, and it took him a long time to think of letting go: "Hey, it's okay to be half buried in the ground. While you're still strong, let's bask in the sun for a few more days. Fortunately, you are all here. If you had come later, In a few years, maybe I will be buried as an old man."
