Bianjing City in April is still shrouded in the vibrant spring. Inside and outside the city, there are boys and girls outing everywhere. Located on the grass next to Jinming Pond in the western suburbs of Bianjing, there is a polo ball game. The gatherings basically never stopped.
Today it is this house, tomorrow it will be that house, and the young boys and girls use the polo and ball gatherings to choose those of the opposite sex that they like.
Although the lintel of the Sheng family is not high, there is an eldest daughter who married into Uncle Zhongqin's house. Mrs. Sheng is the legitimate daughter of Yongyihou's house, and Wang Ruofu's biological father is an old master who enjoys the imperial ancestral temple. There are many old disciples among them, and the Sheng family often attended these gatherings in the past.
But since April, after the accident, the Sheng family began to close its doors. Except for a few in-laws, there were even fewer ordinary greetings and send-offs.
Not to mention anyone else, it was Chang Bai. Such a change occurred in the family, and his mother actually did the act of leaving printing money outside. An upright person like Chang Bai couldn't accept it for a moment.
Especially when Changbai learned from his father that the person who instigated his mother to put money for printing was actually his aunt, the biological sister of the same mother as his mother, it was even more impactful to Changbai's outlook on life.
Growing up, Changbai spent most of his time studying hard at home, rarely going out to socialize, and naturally he had no friends. The only two close friends he had were Wang Zhong from Quanzhou, thousands of miles away in the southeast. The other one is Gu Er, who has now moved out of the Hou Mansion in anger and lives in Tianshui Lane.
The original joy of being ranked number one in high school was shattered by this sudden news. Changbai could only come to Tianshui Lane to meet Gu Er for a drink and talk to relieve his sorrow.
The peach blossoms in Gu's Second Courtyard were in full bloom, and Sister Rong and Brother Chang were having fun playing under the peach blossom trees with the envoy.
The spring breeze blows, and many petals fall with the wind, covering the courtyard.
The two people on both sides of the long case in the pavilion each have their own worries.
"I heard that my uncle fell in love with the daughter of the Hai family for Ze Cheng?" Gu Er didn't want to mention those annoying things, so he simply talked about Changbai's good deeds.
"Father does intend to marry the Hai family!" Chang Bai said.
"The Hai family is a Qingliu family. They have been married for generations. In this generation, they have a three-college academy and are famous all over the world. The family education is very strict. The girls from the Hai family are famous for being virtuous and virtuous! Zecheng is blessed!" Gu Er smiled. He said, but inside and outside his words, there was a hint of envy.
Changbai has always had a bright mind, and listening to Gu Er's tone and thinking about Gu Er's current situation, he vaguely guessed Gu Er's plan.
"A man can bend and stretch, so Zhong Huai might as well give in to Marquis Gu and let Marquis Gu choose a virtuous lady for Zhong Huai, so that Sister Rong and Brother Chang can be settled as soon as possible!"
Gu Er sighed: "That's exactly what I planned, but my father... ugh!"
Gu Er said helplessly: "Now that I have gained a bad reputation and offended the officials, all the ladies in Tokyo think of me as a scourge, and no one is willing to marry their daughter to me!"
Changbai said: "The pure will be pure by themselves, and the turbid will be turbid by themselves. Why should Zhonghuai belittle himself! Who you are is known to everyone with eyes. Do you think Zhonghuai can take a fancy to those people who follow others' opinions?"
Gu Er smiled and said, "Ze Cheng still understands me!" Then he looked at the pair of children playing under the tree, with a bit of doting in his eyes; "It seems that I really should find a marriage for myself! "
"Does Zhong Huai have a girl he likes?" Chang Bai asked curiously.
Gu Er smiled and said: "Tou Xianzi Hou sent a letter, saying that he is now setting up a shipping department in Quanzhou to train the bravery of various counties and villages to prevent pirates. He wants to ask me to come and help!"
"Xiangyong? Sea pirates?" Changbai frowned.
Gu Er said: "You don't know, our government encourages common people's merchants to engage in commerce and trade. The profits of overseas trade are extremely high. Countless merchants and common people rush to go there. But precisely because of the high profits, many pirates have spawned, plundering the passing ones everywhere." Caravans are used to make huge profits. The Xinghua Army in the north of Quanzhou was established in the past to guard against pirates. Now that Zihou has been ordered to set up a shipping department in Quanzhou, it is natural to organize troops to guard against raids and plunder by pirates."
"That's it!" Changbai nodded and said, "I heard that Quanzhou has changed greatly in recent years. The wealth has doubled year after year, and the people's lives are getting richer and richer. There is no guarantee that they will not be targeted by pirates."
Having said this, Chang Bai suddenly turned to look at Gu Er: "Does Zhong Huai intend to go to Quanzhou to help his son?"
Gu Er said helplessly: "Now that my road to the imperial examination has been cut off, if I want to become an official, I can only go into battle and fight with my life!"
Changbai said: "But Quanzhou is remote, and what Zihou trains is only rural bravery, not even the Xiang army! If Zhong Huai really wants to fight in the battlefield, he might as well join the Gu family's army."
Everyone knows that the Forbidden Army is the elite, the Xiang Army are all stepmothers, and as for the Xiangyong, they are just a bunch of rabble who can't even stand on the stage.
Gu Er said: "Now that the world is at peace and there has been no war on the border for a long time, although the Forbidden Army is elite, if there is no war, if you want to be promoted, you will have to work hard in the army. Besides, I have such a reputation now, Tokyo There are nobles everywhere in the Forbidden Army, so it would be better to go to Quanzhou and follow Zi Hou to fight pirates and gain some military exploits."
"And if I can train a group of rural warriors to be as good as the imperial army and achieve military exploits, wouldn't it be more of my ability?"
Changbai nodded and said, "Zhong Huai plans to get married first and then leave Beijing for Quanzhou?"
"That's right!" Gu Er said, "Sister Rong and Brother Chang are still young, so it's not easy to run around with me! It's better to settle them first!"
Changbai understood what Gu Er meant. He wanted to marry a virtuous and tolerant lady first, and then settle down Zhu Manniang and a pair of children, so that Sister Rong and Brother Chang could recognize their ancestors and return to their clan, so that he would have no worries. Then he can go to Quanzhou.
Chang Bai said, "I'm afraid this matter won't be that easy. If you just have a wife and it's okay, but you also have Sister Rong and Brother Chang, I'm afraid this marriage will be difficult to handle."
"Hey!" Gu Er said helplessly: "I also know that this matter is difficult to handle, but we can't let Mannia, Sister Rong, and Brother Chang live here without any status or status, right?"
Changbai said: "Now you have accomplished nothing, your path to the imperial examination has been blocked, and you have fallen out with your family. I'm afraid it won't be that easy to find a good marriage."
"Even if we really say that we are getting married, my girl can tolerate Mannia and Sister Rong's son Chang Geer, but my parents may not tolerate her. Zhong Huai is also a father. Zhong Huai might as well think about it. Will the girl's parents sit back and watch your wife and a pair of children come in?
Are there not many examples of being born in the Zhonghuai Hou Mansion, as if leaving the mother and leaving the son? "
Gu Er's heart trembled when he heard this, and he immediately figured out the connection. After all, Sister Rong and Brother Chang were the children of a foreign wife, and Zhu Manniang was from a lowly background. She had been a singer in the garden, not to mention someone else. Even if it were his own father, Gu Er was sure that he would not allow Mannia to enter.
As he thought about it, Gu Er frowned, looked at Chang Bai, and sincerely asked for advice: "What good advice does Zicheng have?"
Changbai said: "If you really intend to go to Quanzhou, you might as well go there earlier. With your ability, if you can make achievements early, it will be much smoother to talk about marriage. And if you have achievements, you can face Gu Hou. Zhong Huai's waist can be stretched straighter!"
Gu Er was a little moved when he heard this, but also hesitant: "Sister Kerong and Brother Chang..."
Changbai said, "Is it possible that Zhonghuai just said he couldn't get married, so he stopped going to Quanzhou and just kept putting it off? Zhonghuai can wait. Sister Rong and Brother Chang are getting older day by day. Now, can they wait too long? And Mannia! Women only have a few good years!"
"This..." Gu Er didn't know that it would be difficult for him to propose marriage, but he couldn't bear to see a pair of children with no name and no distinction.
Changbai continued to add fuel to the fire: "When Zhonghuai becomes famous and has a wife and son, are we still afraid that the Gu family will not open the middle door and welcome Zhonghuai and Sister Rong's son Chang brother into the ancestral hall and record them in the Gu family tree? Then? Naturally, all the previous rumors were disproven."
Gu Er's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he suddenly slapped his thigh: "Yes, why didn't I think of that!"
Gu Er suddenly came back to his senses, looked at Chang Bai, and asked: "Why do I feel that Zicheng doesn't look like he came to me for a drink today, but more like a lobbyist invited by Zihou!"
Changbai raised the corner of his mouth slightly and said, "Zhong Huai received Zi Hou's letter, so naturally I received it too!"
Gu Er was stunned when he heard this, then smiled and shook his head, looked to the southeast, and said: "Wang Zihou, Wang Zihou, you are really a roundworm in my belly, you are killing me!"
Changbai said: "Zhonghuai is such a talented person and full of great ideas. Now he is wasting his time in Tokyo. Isn't it a pity?"
Gu Er shook his head mockingly: "Yes, now that I am staying in Tokyo, besides wasting my time, what else can I do?"
"It's like the morning dew. It's a lot more miserable in the past!" Changbai shook his head and said. After talking to Gu Er for a long time, Changbai's annoyance was relieved a lot.
Gu Er looked at Changbai and then at the pair of children under the peach blossom tree, his eyes gradually becoming firmer.
Gu Er has always been a resolute and resolute person. Now that he has made a decision, he will naturally stop hesitating and procrastinate. He immediately asks Granny Chang and Zhu Manniang to pack their luggage and prepare to go to Quanzhou.
It was night, Zhu Mannia was wearing an apron and was ironing the freshly washed clothes for Gu Er in front of the desk. Gu Er was holding a book and reading. Seeing Mannia busy, he couldn't help but said with concern: "Let's all leave tomorrow. Well, you’d better rest early and don’t be too tired!”
Zhu Manniang smiled and said: "It's almost better! If Erlang is tired, just go to bed first!"
Mannia's back was turned to Gu Er, so Gu Er naturally couldn't see the expression on Mannia's face, he just thought she was caring about him, and he couldn't help but feel warm in his heart.
"I'm not sleepy yet!" Gu Er said.
Zhu Manniang worked for a while and then asked: "I heard that Wang Zihou is now running a prosperous business in Quanzhou, and he has a close relationship with Erlang. Erlang gave up the prosperity of Tokyo to join him, so he will definitely be reused, right?"
Gu Er said: "Zihou specially wrote a letter to invite me to Quanzhou. I must be of use to you!"
"Quanzhou is remote, far less prosperous than Tokyo, and the distance from Tokyo to Quanzhou is thousands of miles. The journey is long. Sister Rong and Brother Chang are still young. After this journey, I am worried that their bodies will not be able to bear the journey. of bumps.”
Gu Er was stunned, closed the book, looked at Zhu Manniang, and said: "We came all the way to Tokyo from the general. The journey is very far, not much closer than going to Quanzhou, so it should be fine!"
Zhu Manniang quickly explained: "Seeing that Sister Rong is getting older, if I go to Quanzhou, Erlang will be busy with things outside, and I am illiterate. I don't know how to teach Sister Rong, Brother Chang, and Brother Chang." My son is still young, so there is no need to think about it for the time being, but Sister Rong has now reached the age of enlightenment, and Erlang should also think about it for Sister Rong."
Gu Er said: "Did Manny forget about Sister Qian and Brother Xu in Zihou's family? Brother Xu is similar in age to Sister Rong. Now that Brother Xu is with Zihou in Quanzhou, Zihou will not let Xu go. I don’t care about my brother’s studies. When we arrive in Quanzhou, we will send Sister Rong to study and read with Brother Xu, so that Sister Rong can have a companion!”
"Having said that, does Erlang intend to stay in Quanzhou for the rest of his life?" Zhu Manniang asked.
"Of course I won't stay in Quanzhou forever!" Gu Er said.
"Although Erlang and the Marquis have fallen out now, Erlang is the legitimate son of the Hou family after all. Now that the old Marquis is getting older, I don't know when Erlang will be able to return to Tokyo. It's better to leave Sister Rong in Tokyo and send her away. Go to the Marquis Mansion and ask Sister Rong to fulfill Erlang's filial piety at the knees of the old Marquis and Mrs. Hou, which can be regarded as fulfilling Erlang's filial piety."
Hearing what Zhu Manniang said, Gu Er didn't think too much and thought it made sense. After pondering for a moment, he nodded and said, "What you said makes sense!"
Wang Zhong's words in the past still had some effect. Although the relationship between Gu Er and Gu Hou was still bad, and Gu Er could never let go of Gu Hou's blind favoritism, it was not like in the original plot. He was against Gu Hou and talked back every word.
But Gu Er still has worries in his heart after all: "It's just that Sister Rong is still young after all, and my eldest brother treats me like an enemy and puts Sister Rong in the Hou Mansion alone. I don't feel at ease."
However, Zhu Manniang refused to give up and continued to persuade: "Sister Rong is Erlang's daughter after all, a bloodline of the Gu family, and the granddaughter of the old marquis. Even if the old marquis does not look at his grandson's face, he must look at the Buddha's face, and Sister Rong is so well-behaved and sensible, it’s hard to believe that she’s already liked by the old Marquis!”
"This..." Gu Er was indeed tempted: "I'll think about it again!"
That night, Gu Er rested his arm on his arm and couldn't sleep all night. He thought about it all night. Early the next morning, he came to Sister Rong who was washing. He picked up Sister Rong and asked, "Daddy, what are you asking about Sister Rong?" One thing good?”
"Daddy, what do you want to ask?" Sister Rong asked crisply.
Gu Er looked at Sister Rong and asked, "Daddy is going on a long trip and I don't know when he will be back. Can Daddy send Sister Rong to live with her grandparents for a few years?"
As soon as Gu Er said these words, Sister Rong's little face drooped, looking aggrieved and about to cry: "Daddy doesn't want Sister Rong anymore?"
There were already tears in his big black and white eyes.
"How could Daddy not want Sister Rong!" Gu Er immediately began to comfort his daughter: "It's just that the place Daddy is going to go this time is too far!"
"What about my younger brother? Will my younger brother also go to his grandparents' place with Sister Rong?"
Sister Rong's words stunned Gu Er, and he suddenly woke up. If one of his children was taken with him and the other was sent to the Hou Mansion, wouldn't they be treated differently?
In the future, will Sister Rong think that she is partial and despises her as a daughter, so she abandons her in the Hou Mansion?
Thinking of this joint, Gu Er immediately felt nervous. He was determined not to repeat his mistake with his daughter, but in an instant, Gu Er made up his mind.
"Daddy was joking with Sister Rong. Sister Rong is so cute and well-behaved. How could Daddy be willing to leave Sister Rong behind!" Gu Er immediately said, "How about Daddy taking Sister Rong out with us?"
Sister Rong immediately hugged Gu Er's neck, with a smile as bright as a sunflower on her face.
But Gu Er didn't see it. Outside, under the eaves, Zhu Manniang's face had turned very ugly. Her fingers were clenched tightly into fists, and her sharp nails dug into her flesh, almost piercing her skin and bleeding.
But when she heard the footsteps getting closer and closer in the house, Zhu Manniang quickly took a few deep breaths, quickly adjusted her emotions, and put on a smile that could not be seen as forced on her face.
"Erlang, it's getting late, let's go have breakfast first!"
When Gu Er saw Zhu Manniang, his expression looked unnatural for a moment, and then he smiled and said, "Okay!"
Seeing Zhu Manniang serving porridge to him next to him, Gu Er told Zhu Manniang his decision to take Sister Rong and Brother Chang to Quanzhou. Zhu Manniang still had a smile on her face and handed the porridge to Gu Er. : "The slave family is just a suggestion. Now that Erlang has made a decision, the slave family will naturally obey it!"
Seeing Mannia's reaction, Gu Er was relieved. He originally wanted to explain it to her, but Mannia was so sensible and Gu Er was happy to relax.
At the end of the day, Gu Er took Zhu Manniang, a pair of children and Shitou, and boarded the already-contacted ship at the Bianhe Pier with Changbai and Changma seeing them off.
It was already a month and a half later when Gu Er and his party arrived in Quanzhou.
Wang Zhong ordered people to prepare the house early, and he personally went out of the city to welcome him, and held a banquet in Taibai Tower to welcome Gu Er.
The two hadn't seen each other for several months, so they naturally had a lot to say. Gu Er became more and more curious about the current situation in Quanzhou. In addition, there were fine wines and delicacies at his side, so he accidentally got drunk while eating, and time passed by minute by second. Then, when Gu Er returned to the residence arranged by Wang Zhong, smelling of alcohol, he had already passed his destiny.
Zhu Manniang had already put her children to sleep. When she heard the news of Gu Er's return, she quickly got up to serve them.
Seeing the smile that had not faded from Gu Er's face, Zhu Manniang wiped Gu Er's body and couldn't help but said: "The friendship between Erlang and Wang Tongpan is really deep."
The drunken Gu Er, with his eyes closed at the moment, enjoying Zhu Manniang's service, naturally did not notice Zhu Manniang's expression and only smiled and replied: "That's natural. Although I don't spend much time with Zihou, we share the same goals." , have similar interests and are rare confidants.”
"Since we are close friends, we will definitely not treat Erlang badly. I wonder what job Wang Tongfang has arranged for Erlang?" Zhu Manniang asked.
Gu Er said: "I have just arrived and have achieved nothing. How can I be promoted? Zihou asked me to go to the army as a Yuhou first. After I get used to the life in the army, I will make other arrangements."
"Marquis Yu?" Although Mannia was not from a humble background, she still had some knowledge. However, she was not very familiar with the official ranks in the army, but she also knew what Marquis Yu was.
Mannia asked reluctantly: "Is it Jun Yuhou?"
Gu Er smiled and said: "Just the most ordinary Yu Hou!"
"Erlang is the legitimate son of the Marquis Mansion. He even passed the examination. Why was he only given an errand as a Marquis of Yu?" Zhu Manniang asked in confusion, feeling even more unwilling.
Gu Er explained: "I said it was just a temporary errand. After I get familiar with the situation in the army, Zihou will have other plans."
At this time, Gu Er had opened his eyes, looked at Zhu Manniang, and said in a gentle tone: "Manniang, don't worry, I said that I will make great achievements and give you, Sister Rong, and Brother Chang an explanation."
Zhu Manniang smiled softly, looked at Gu Er affectionately, and said as if she was deeply moved, "I believe Erlang!"
Gu Er also had a smile on his face, and stretched out his arms to hug Zhu Manniang's slender waist. The aroma of powder lingered on the tip of his nose, and with the stimulation of alcohol, Gu Er felt a heat rising in his lower abdomen, and the two of them rolled straight onto the couch. .
The next morning, when Zhu Manniang woke up, Gu Er's figure had long disappeared from her side. Zhu Manniang hurriedly called the female envoy to ask about Gu Er's whereabouts.
"Second Master went to the military camp early in the morning and won't be back until evening. Hot water and breakfast have been prepared in the kitchen. Please help the lady change and wash up!" Even the female envoy knew that Zhu Manniang was just Gu Er's roommate and concubine. She is not the main wife, so she calls Zhu Maniang just the lady, not the eldest lady.
Zhu Manniang nodded and asked the maid to help her wash and change clothes. During the process, she couldn't help but ask: "So you are all serving in the Tongpan Mansion?"
The female envoy smiled and replied: "Madam, I misunderstood. We are local people nearby. We were recruited by Madam Li from the Tongpan Mansion. We only signed a three-year contract."
"Are you all locals from Quanzhou?" Zhu Manniang asked looking at the little female envoy who was only fifteen or sixteen years old in front of her.
The female envoy replied: "Only our children and the two women in the front yard are the same. Madam Yu in the kitchen is from Yangzhou. I heard that she is from the same hometown as Tongpan!"
Zhu Manniang nodded and continued talking to the maid, hoping to get some useful information from her mouth.
However, these female envoys are just little girls of fifteen or sixteen years old. They don't know anything about the military affairs. The only thing they know is that a few months ago, the magistrate ordered the troops from all counties and villages to be dispatched to Jinjiang for unified training. Don't know anything about it.
Seeing that Zhu Manniang couldn't get any information from the little envoys, and she was eager to know Gu Er's current situation in Quanzhou and his future prospects, she had other thoughts in mind.
After breakfast, Zhu Manniang made an excuse, saying that it was her first time back in Quanzhou and she hadn’t taken a closer look at what Quanzhou was like, so she asked the female envoys to lead their mother and son out so that they could inquire about what Zhu Manniang wanted to know. news.
But after asking around, the news Zhu Manniang found had nothing to do with the new army. Everyone was talking about training local braves to prepare for pirates.
Even though Zhu Manniang had never seen the world again, she also knew that the local commander of Xiangyong was called a county captain. The key point was that the position of county captain in Jinjiang County was not vacant now.
But when she thought of the identity of the legitimate son of Gu Erhou Mansion, even though the facts were very clear to Zhu Manniang, she still had the slightest expectation in her heart.
(End of chapter)
