After Yuan Shu agreed to marry Dong Bai and Xiao Cui, her wives also began to take care of everything enthusiastically.
All that's left is to wait for Yuan Shu to discuss with his uncle Yuan Wei and other elders to find a good time and auspicious date.
But Cai Wenji was the only one who quietly returned to her yard after taking care of everything.
She was playing with a porcelain doll that Yuan Shu had given her when she was a child. There were a few words engraved on the base.
It says "Exclusively for Xiao Zhaoji."
As the scene changed, Cao Cao had been back to Chenliu for many days.
He now listened to his father Cao Song's advice and wanted to go out to visit those famous wise men. He asked them to help him, so he was wandering around the streets of Chenliu with his brother Xiahou Dun at the moment.
I was thinking about who to ask for and what gift to give.
Not far in front of Cao Cao, a waiter beat a man out and said, "You sick man, you have no money to eat."
"It's really strange to say that you don't have money for food. But you have money and are willing to buy those five-stone powder. You are really asking for death."
Fortunately, this scene was seen by Cao Cao and Xiahou Dun. Cao Cao and Xiahou Dun were about to take a detour when they heard the man say: "No, no."
"I, Xi Zhicai, am not a self-destructive person, but my health is really bad. Whenever I get sick, only these Five Stone Powder can suppress it."
"Otherwise, it would really hurt."
Cao Cao took a look and saw that this man looked haggard. It was obvious that he was in poor health, and it was due to long-term smoking of Wushi Powder.
Now the oil is almost exhausted and the lamp is dry, and these five stones are scattered. It's not that Cao Cao didn't know the name, but he knew exactly what it was.
To take a detour, you must know that Five Stone Powder is something that can easily become addictive, in the war before the Qin Dynasty.
Wu Shi San has been widely used in the military because its addiction and dependence are enough to destroy anyone.
Even if the opponent is a warrior who has experienced hundreds of battles, as long as he is contaminated with this thing. There is no difference between being crippled and dead.
The army would not leave such people behind, so all the army's five-stone powder in the pre-Qin era were basically used for death squads.
After a war, if those who took the Five Stone Powder did not die in the battle. The general will also kill the opponent with pain, but these people will receive three times the pension after death.
It was not until the First Emperor unified the world that this thing gradually disappeared from the army. Slowly fading out of the sight of ordinary people, but some nobles will still be exposed to these things.
Just because this Five Stone Powder has great addictive, hallucinogenic and paralyzing properties. Let people not know pain and have happiness for a short time.
Cao Cao: "Yuan Rang, go and help this man up."
Without saying a word, Xiahou Dun stepped forward and helped Xi Zhicai up.
Xi Zhicai: "Thank you for your help, strong man. I am deeply grateful."
Xi Zhi just finished speaking and was about to leave tremblingly. His coming to Chenliu this time was also a helpless move.
Because now, his huge family fortune is gone. All of it was used to support his body. In order not to disturb the family anymore, he retired for a while.
Fortunately, I am quite talented and learned, and I have taught many students. I got a lot of money to buy Wu Shi Powder to suppress my illness, but I could only linger on.
The more medicines you need, the more money you need. Now he is also in trouble, so he plans to go to Nanyang to join Yuan Shu.
Unfortunately, after encountering the robbers, he accidentally ended up in Chenliu where Cao Cao was.
Cao Cao: "Master, please wait a moment."
"I just heard that the young master said that you are a talented actor, so I dare to ask the young master a question."
"Is this step really a talented actor in Yingchuan?"
It was because Xi Zhicai's reputation was too great that Cao Cao had such doubts.
But he didn't believe that Xi Zhicai was a Wushisan addict.
Xi Zhicai smiled, but his pale face looked really scary when he smiled.
Xi Zhicai: "Who is this step?"
"It can't happen, except for me. There is a second Yingchuan in this world, and can't the second Xi Zhi succeed?"
Even so, Cao Cao still couldn't believe it. But at this moment, he said respectfully: "I am Cao Cao and Cao Mengde. Now I am eager for a wise man to help me help the Han Dynasty."
"It's my destiny to meet you now!"
Xi Zhicai looked at Cao Cao in front of him in confusion. He really didn't expect that Cao Cao was so short.
But Xi Zhicai still said calmly: "Is Cao Cao at your feet?"
"The momentum between your eyebrows is extraordinary, and now I see that the strong man next to you is a general."
"I believe you are Cao Cao, but what do you want from me?"
"If you talk about looking for wise men, I think that person may not be me!"
After Xi Zhicai said this, Cao Cao had concluded that this person was the real Xi Zhicai. Moreover, it seems that the other party came here accidentally.
Cao Cao hurriedly stepped forward to support Xi Zhicai and said, "I see that sir, all the expenses on the road have been used up during this trip."
"Now that I'm short of money to buy medicine to suppress my condition, why not stay in my mansion for a while."
"Of course, all of your husband's food and other expenses are paid for by me, which naturally includes the money for your husband's medicine."
"I wonder if you, sir, would like to come and sit with me at home. I have admired your name for a long time."
Although Xi Zhicai is less than thirty years old now, he is so smart. How could he not know what Cao Cao was thinking, but he also thought that he really had no good place to go now.
Then he said: "Since Brother Meng De kindly invites me, it would be unreasonable to reject him."
"That plan will bother Brother Mengdi!"
After Cao Cao heard Xi Zhicai agreed, he immediately said to Xiahou Dun: "Yuan Rang, please bring a carriage quickly."
"I want to drive the car for you sir, so hurry up and don't waste any time."
Although Xiahou Dun didn't understand what Cao Cao wanted to do and why he wanted to invite a drug addict home. But he never doubted Cao Cao's orders at all, and went ahead with them immediately.
After the carriage arrived, Cao Cao personally put down the step stool for Xi Zhicai and helped him up into the carriage.
He said: "Sir, sit down for a moment, and I will go out and help you pick up the car."
Xi Zhicai didn't say anything, but quietly watched Cao Cao do this.
This was also his test for Cao Cao, after Cao Cao went out to drive. Then he said to Xiahou Dun: "Yuan Rang, ride a fast horse and rush home quickly."
"Let the chef prepare a good banquet for the table. I will have a drink with my husband later."
Xiahou Dun still did as he was told and rode his horse back home.
Cao Cao drove Xi Zhicai himself, without any princely demeanor.
Before returning home, Cao Cao stopped the carriage and personally helped Xi Zhicai out of the carriage.
Be careful, for fear of knocking Xi Zhicai's body. Similarly, he was also planning to invite a doctor back to Xi Zhicai after dinner.
As a prince, Cao Cao had very good control over these details.
After Xi Zhicai was asked to get off the carriage by Cao Cao, he personally helped him to the mansion. At this moment, wine and food had been prepared in Cao Mansion according to Cao Cao's instructions. Cao Cao personally invited Xi Zhicai to the table before sitting down and said, "Sir, you came in a hurry today, so I can only prepare a small banquet to entertain you."
"Please don't blame me, sir!"
But Xi Zhicai said: "Hey, I am penniless today. But I can still get such attention from Brother Meng De. I am really lucky."
"It's just that I'm inviting you to such a grand banquet."
"I'm afraid Mr. Cao has something important to do, but can I help you?"
The title at this moment has changed unconsciously.
Xi Zhicai no longer addressed Cao Cao as Brother Meng De, but as Shijun.
Cao Cao also knew it and sat down now. It's time to talk about important things, otherwise the other party might refuse your invitation and leave.
After all, Yingchuan plays Zhicai. He had heard about it a long time ago, but he didn't expect to encounter it today.
Cao Cao: "Sir, you are very resourceful. Cao Cao really wants to ask for something."
"But this time, I really want to entertain you sir."
"After we've had enough wine and food, you and I can have a long chat."
"What do you think, sir?"
Xi Zhicai was indeed hungry, so he said, "It just so happens that I haven't eaten in my stomach for a long time."
"In that case, let's eat first!"
The chef in Cao Cao's mansion was a disciple taught by the old imperial chef in the palace.
Although the food produced is not as good as the restaurant Yuan Shu once opened, it is almost there.
Basically, they are all delicious and delicious, but they lack a lot of seasonings.
When Xi Zhicai eats, he just eats. He didn't pay attention to others and ate with gusto.
Cao Cao also ate some symbolically, because it was indeed noon.
In the entire courtyard, Cao Cao and Xi Zhicai were the only two people now. After drinking and eating for a while, Xi Zhi took some more Wu Shi Powder.
At this time, Cao Cao said: "Mr. Guan, I don't have enough energy and blood."
"And if you take this Five Stone Powder, what kind of disease will you get?"
Xi Zhicai didn't have any other expressions about Cao Cao's words. He just said: "I do have some soldiers, and the officials have already declared that my days are numbered."
"And this disease is also very difficult to treat. Whenever it occurs, the pain in the abdomen will be unbearable, as if there are insects biting inside."
"Only this Five Stone Powder can suppress one or two, but since I took too much of this Five Stone Powder, the effect has gradually decreased."
"So much so that I need to take a larger amount to suppress the pain. I've searched all over the world for this disease and even exhausted my family's money, but there's still no solution."
"I have used a lot of precious medicinal materials, but there is still no improvement at all."
In fact, Xi Zhicai's disease is only common in some wealthy families and nobles in today's era.
But no one still knows the cause of the disease, so basically if you have such a disease, you can only rely on Wu Shi Powder to suppress it and delay the arrival of death.
