Chapter 20 cold in october

This winter has been extremely cold.Liu Ye can no longer study hard in the school, even in his own study, it is difficult to sit for a long time.But he still didn't want to waste the day, couldn't sit still, so he took the scroll and paced around the room while studying hard. The nanny looked very distressed.The world is in turmoil, and there is not much improvement. In the spring and March of next year, will the exam really be able to start?Don't use your efforts in vain!Taking advantage of the postponement of the imperial examination, it is better to get married and do a lifelong event.She used this to persuade Liu Ye, but of course Liu Ye didn't like to hear it.

Who would have thought that what the nanny said really came true. Fast forward to March 9th, the old man suddenly called Liu Ye away.It's not common for the old master to call him, but the sixth master didn't expect anything good either.I went in and knocked, and found that the old man was a little excited. "Lao Liu, I called you here because there is bad news." Bad news, still so excited?Sixth Master asked, "What news?" The old man touched a few pages of newspapers from his desk and said, "This is a new letter from Shopkeeper Dai from Shanghai. Shopkeeper Sun sent someone to deliver it. A few days ago, your third brother wrote a letter from Xi'an and mentioned This is bad news."

Sixth Master asked again: "What news?" The old man still followed his own train of thought and said, "Your third brother and shopkeeper Qiu got the news from Mr. Duanfang, a Fantai in Shaanxi. The old man Dai is in Shanghai, and he got the news from the news paper "Shenbao". Compare the two. , almost the same, it can be seen that there is indeed something." Sixth Master wanted to ask one more question: what news?But swallowed it down, waited quietly, and listened to the old man's words. "Lao Liu, haven't you heard of it?" "No." I don't know what the question is, who knows if I have heard of it?

"Foreigners occupy the capital, but it's reasonable. The imperial court wants to redeem the capital, and they issued a redemption ticket, a total of 12 notes, which can really scare people! Foreigners are bullying our incompetent imperial court, and they are getting more and more cruel." When the sixth master heard this, and knew that the old master was going to persuade him to abandon Confucianism and enter business, he couldn't help but said, "The danger today is not only the danger of subjugation of the country, but also the danger of subjugation of the world! Gu Tinglin said: Changing one’s surname to one’s name is called subjugation of the country; overflowing with benevolence and righteousness is called the subjugation of the world. Those who protect the country are their rulers and their ministers, and those who eat meat seek it out; those who protect the world are as humble as ordinary people, and they are responsible.”

The old man laughed and said, "You have great ambitions to save the world. But those Western powers are not stupid! Among the twelve items listed in the redemption ticket, one is for people like you." "Treat me? I didn't mess with them!" The sixth master thought the old man was just using an excuse to laugh at him. "Listen and you'll understand. The fourth clause in the redemption ticket: citizens of all countries are killed and abused, and no civil and military examinations will be held within five years." God, five years of suspension?This is not bad news, it is simply a bolt from the blue!Liu Ye was stunned for a long time before asking: "Is there really such a clause?"

"You won't read the letters?" The sixth master didn't look at it, but said absentmindedly: "Is Taigu considered to be in a state where the exam is suspended?" "Killing the six American priests of the Gospel Church, can Taigu be spared lightly?" "Then the capital is also on the list of banned exams! The ban in the capital, isn't it the ban of the Beijing Middle School Examination? Next year's provincial exam, which was originally postponed, how can it be banned?" "Lao Liu, you are really learning Confucianism! When foreigners bully you, of course they have to choose your deadly place. After being bullied for many years, they have become more and more sensitive to our deadly place. It is a lifeline for the Chinese court to govern the world. If you choke it now, you have to hurry up and beg for mercy! I think this one is more vicious than the previous compensation and cessation of land!"

"Is the imperial court willing to agree?" "The imperial court wants to negotiate a peace, but if you don't agree, can they give you a peace? I heard that Li Hongzhang was upright to negotiate with other countries. Let me see, among the twelve items, the imperial court cares most about the first one: severely punish the culprit. This collapse God's disaster, who is the culprit? Isn't it the woman from the current dynasty? Ever since the New Deal of 1898 was abolished, foreign powers hated this woman. This time she was called out to make her ugly, and they didn't increase the price to blackmail her? She controls the government, so of course she will not agree to severely punish her family. Just wait and see, the result of the negotiation is nothing more than: the foreigners promise not to pursue this woman, and this woman will definitely agree to the rest of the money!"

Sixth Master stopped talking.What else?Suspension for five years!This is tantamount to blocking his future.This way, it counts as the old man's heart.But the world is about to perish, who can be satisfied with it! "Lao Liu, this is God's fault for you! But let me see, if you stop the exam, stop it. The court is so incompetent, and the officialdom is so ruined, so what if you win the exam?" "The world is about to perish, so what if the exam is suspended?" The old man smiled again: "Sixth, you are so ambitious, you will be successful no matter what you do. If you don't want to abandon Confucianism, then wait a few years. But you are seventeen this year, and you will fall into eighteen soon. Marriage can no longer be postponed. There have always been quite a few marriage proposals, but I don't know what kind of woman you want to marry?"

Sixth Master didn't expect his father to ask him such a question, and he didn't know how to answer for a moment.What kind of woman to marry?He doesn't want to marry a woman now! "I know you have a strong heart and a high vision. If you marry someone you don't like, you will be unhappy for the rest of your life. Who can bear it? I'm sorry for your late mother. So, first tell me what kind of woman you want to marry, and then Ask them to find you all over the world!" "I don't want to marry a woman just yet." "How old are you and still not married? It's not up to you! What kind of woman you marry is up to you; if you refuse to marry, it's up to you."

Sixth Master stopped talking. "I can't tell for a while, go back and think about it. After thinking about it, report an idea, so that I can tell them to search for you all over the world." When Liu Ye came out of the old house, the world in his eyes seemed to have changed.The township examination that I had been waiting for for a long time was suddenly in the foreseeable future, and the marriage that I didn't want to think about was approaching in front of my eyes!This fulfilled the nanny's wish, but how could she know his thoughts? Liu Ye didn't go back to see the nanny first, but went to the school instead.

Mr. He is sitting around the stove, reading a book.Seeing Master Liu come in, he raised his hand and threw the scroll on the desk.Standing up and looking, Liu Ye seemed to be not quite right, so he asked: "Sixth Master, I think you're listless. What's the matter? It's too cold, the pen and ink are frozen, and the hard study is too hard, so let's take a break. The court prefers Xi'an, and I don't know if the exam will be held next year." Sixth Master snorted coldly, and said, "It has nothing to do with me whether the exam starts or not!" Master He had never heard Liu Ye say such a thing before, so he hurriedly asked, "Liu Ye, what wronged you?" "The world is about to perish, and I am not the only one who has wronged!" "What are you talking about?" Only then did Liu Ye tell the news of the five-year suspension of the exam. Master He was not surprised when he heard this. He just sighed and said, "Let me see, the imperial examinations should be abolished! After all, foreigners are outsiders who think that the imperial examinations can really select the best talents in the world. A mediocrity, a slave, a fool? Sixth Master, I told you a long time ago, people won’t let you pass the exam for a talented person like you! But a fool like me, on the contrary, won the first try. So , stop the exam and stop!" "But it's the imperial court's system!" "The imperial court has lost the capital, so what dignity is there? Forget it, forget it, what's the use of you and I worrying about it? Tell me, if the road to imperial examinations is cut off, Liu Ye will have your way of life! This is the so-called God help you, why are you still listless?" "I'm at a dead end, where can I live!" "Master Liu, if you take a few steps forward, you will step into the threshold of being young and promising. Where is the dead end? If you are really obsessed with the imperial examination and don't understand it, that is the end of the road! Take off the burden of preparing for the exam, Master Liu, I Here to teach you some ways of doing business, to ensure that your business management talent is higher than that of the third master. Do you believe it or not?" "Master He, the world is about to perish, how can business survive alone?" "If the world is not prosperous, business affairs will naturally be affected. But if business affairs are not prosperous, the world will be even more difficult to prosper. Today, the Qing Dynasty is so bullied by the Western powers. It is all because the foreign powers are strong and I am weak. Where is the Qing Dynasty weak? Let me see, it is weak Light industry and light business! Scholars, farmers, businessmen, scholars, farmers, businessmen, and businessmen are at the bottom of the millennium. It is not easy through the ages. If you are neither poor nor weak, what is the result! Sixth Lord, you say that the Western powers have traveled thousands of miles and sent strong ships repeatedly. Sharp guns come to bully us, why?" "Why? Because you are about to perish, vulnerable and easy to bully!" "No! From my cold perspective, the Western powers came here in groups for nothing but one word: business!" "Master He, are you talking crazy again?" "Sixth Lord, keep your eyes open. Since the opening of the sea ban, what is it that has flooded into our country after the strong ships and guns of the Western powers? Is it the Western orthodoxy? No, it is just foreign goods, foreign merchants, and foreign firms. , Yang Bank!" "Master He, you have lost one thing: foreign religion. Isn't foreign religion the same as foreign morality?" "The foreign religion is not to be feared! The foreign religion was introduced earlier than the strong ships and guns. But it has not acclimatized and has not become a climate. Let me see, this year's catastrophe is caused by the imperial court too high." Foreign religion! Be it the empress dowager of the current dynasty, or the fatuous princes and ministers in the court, facing the aggressiveness of the big powers, they all have a major concern: they are afraid that the Western orthodoxy will shake the Chinese orthodoxy! In fact, how could that happen? Shandong Zhili has a large number of religious people, but how many of these people are relics for righteousness? Most of them are poor and have no food and clothing. They joined the foreign religion. It’s just for a little bit of quick profit!” "The world is full of benevolence and righteousness, and the orthodoxy has declined after all. It is the right time for foreign religions to take advantage of the emptiness!" "Sixth Master, you think too highly of foreign religions! Look at the Christian Congregational Church in Taigu, which has been preaching for more than ten years, and only a hundred or so believers were captured there. Compared with the surging foreign goods in Taigu, it is really insignificant!" "Taigu is the old nest of the West Gang. How can there be so many foreign goods in the city? No matter how bad the Congregational Society is, they built a Gospel Church next to the famous tower in the city." "How can the Gospel Church compare with the same foreign goods in the surging Taigu?" "What foreign goods?" "Big smoke." Sixth Master stopped talking. Although the sixth master is young and dedicated to sages and Confucianism, he has already heard about the prevalence of Taigu's opium and poison.In the streets and alleys of the city, there are no smoke houses!Liangzhouzhuang, which sells opium, is inconspicuous on the outside, but it is full of big business inside.There is also the world-famous "Taigu Lantern" among smoking sets. Liu Ye really found it and saw it.The smoke-burning "Taigu Lantern" is not only exquisite in workmanship and ostentatious in style, but more importantly, it has sufficient firepower, a big bald head, and the smoke bubbles burn "yellow, loose and high".Therefore, in comparison with smoking and drugs, Congregational Christianity is really insignificant. The Kang family's family rules are strict, no matter whether master or servant, they are not allowed to be addicted to cigarettes.But Liu Ye had also heard rumors that Master He had already taken up this hobby.After winning the exam, Mr. He felt quite frustrated and often went crazy. When he was upset, he took a few puffs of cigarettes to relieve his worries, and he was inconvenient to be too picky.Today, Liu Ye was also very unhappy. When he talked about opium, he didn't hold back, so he asked: "Master He, have you ever seen such a foreign product?" "How can I never see it! Sixth Master, I won't hide it from you today. My master also often buys this kind of foreign goods." "Often bought, what do you do?" "Master, enjoy it, what else can you do!" Sixth Master didn't expect Master He to make such a confession, so he had to say perfunctorily, "No wonder Master He doesn't hate foreigners very much. It turns out that he can't do without this foreign product!" "Six Lord, I don't hate foreigners, I don't hate foreign goods! Opium opium, this foreign product is too great. In the past, China sold a product to the West, and they couldn't get rid of it once they used it. This product is tea. So, We can use tea goods to exchange for silver. Didn’t your Kang family rely on tea goods to make money? People’s opium is not only inseparable if it is stained, it is much more valuable than tea! How much money can a box of tea be exchanged for? How much money can a box of opium be exchanged for? It’s simply incomparable. With this alone, Westerners are better merchants than us Western gangs!” "Tea nourishes people, and opium poisons them, so how can it be compared?" "If you say that foreign businessmen are more vicious than us, they don't care what is right or wrong!" "Master He, since you hate foreign merchants, you still smoke their foreign cigarettes?" "I've been fooled, and I can't live without it. Sixth Master, if I can return to the business world, I will quit smoking immediately!" Sixth Master sneered and said nothing. "If you don't believe me, Master Liu, you can try it! Today, if you want to control the ocean, you must first develop business. Since Master Liu retired from the imperial examination, why don't you open up a new world and achieve a new business? If I have this ambition, I don't want to be in your house. I have misunderstood my son, I am willing to throw away this hat of raising people, and let you be the leader of the treasurer!" Master He is going crazy again.I have studied under him for many years, and it is always difficult for you to say something intimate to him.The sixth master felt deeply that his family was full of worries, and there was no one to confide in, so he said angrily: "Master He, I would rather become a monk than do business!" When I came back, the nanny asked the old man what he called to talk about, and the sixth master only said: I didn't say anything, but I asked why I didn't go to the school.He really didn't want to mention marriage. Liu Ye didn't want to get married because he had a private thought in his heart: when he became an adult, he must leave this big and empty home.He was already tired of this home!Mother is just a kind of longing. Although father is near but far away, he will always be out of reach.The elder brothers each have their own world, but you are isolated from it.I followed a private school teacher all the year round, but he told you not to get close to him.Only the nanny is selfless towards him, but this little warmth can't fill this too big home.Work hard to study and become an official, and then live a life of traveling all over the world, that is exactly what he wants to strive for. Now, this road is suddenly broken. Mother, are you powerless to bless me, or are you impatient to bless me? However, Liu Ye didn't worry about it for a few days, and seemed to calm down.The imperial examination is only suspended, and it is advisable to marry a wife and start a family during this interval.A lifelong event cannot always be avoided.Once he has a family, maybe he can be more self-reliant?If he can be independent, he will travel the world! The sixth master obeyed the old man's wishes so quickly, it was not a helpless choice, it was because of the old man's words that moved him: what kind of woman do you want, ask them to find you all over the world! Looking for a woman you want? Liu Ye really hasn't really thought about what kind of woman he likes.Because the marriages in that era were all according to the orders of parents.He never expected that the old man would allow him to choose a woman.Looking at it coldly, the first few sister-in-laws don't seem to be particularly favorite of the brothers, but they all come from wealthy businessmen.They might just be the old man's choice, not the favorites of the brothers.When he was young, he couldn't understand these things.Last year, after Wu Niang was killed and Fifth Master went mad, he looked back and realized something.Of the previous brothers, who loves his own woman as deeply as Fifth Master?Wu Niang, that's the woman Wu Brother wants most! So, when Liu Ye heard the old man say that, he first thought of Wu Ge Wu Niang, and then he was moved.But how can he have a woman he likes? Since I was a child, in this family with too much space, all I can see for many years are only members of the same clan.Going out for some entertainment, how can I meet a woman! However, when Liu Ye was thinking this way, there was a woman who couldn't get rid of him.Who is she?I'm afraid Liu Ye will never dare to say: she is the current old lady Du Yunqing. Liu Ye dared not admit that his favorite was a woman like his stepmother, but other than that, he really had no other woman he liked more. Influenced by his nurse, he has been hostile to this stepmother since he was a child.Moreover, she has been far away from him.During the year, I occasionally see it, but I just look at it from a distance.He really didn't pay much attention to what the old lady looked like.However, an inexplicable change has taken place in the past two years: Master Liu seems to have suddenly discovered that the old lady is so different!She is not as vulgar as others, and she is not as proud as others.She has a kind of detachment as if she was born in this world, ignoring the common affairs of the family, but she seems to hide too much sadness.This often makes Liu Ye feel emotional inexplicably in secret: Does she also have sadness?And why sad?In particular, she seems to have completely forgotten that she is an old lady in a high position, and her indulgence is surprising and likable.Her charm is really indescribable. But she is by no means a vicious woman as the nanny often said. Liu Ye firmly believed in his own eyesight, the old lady was not a vicious woman. There is one more thing Liu Ye hides deep in his heart that he can never say: the old lady is too beautiful.If he can get a wife like this, he will be like Fifth Brother, crazy for her, die for her. Liu Ye understood what kind of woman he liked, but how could he express his thoughts?If the old man finds out that the woman he likes is actually a stepmother, then don't kill him!He is selfless towards his nurse, and will never tolerate him having such thoughts. However, at the juncture when the old man restricted marriage, he still wanted to express his wish.He didn't want to marry his stepmother, but just wanted to marry a woman like his stepmother.Born as an official, proficient in literature and ink, with a foreign style, open-minded, not afraid of making friends, not having feet bound, fond of bathing, and of course beautiful enough.Such a woman is not necessarily the only old lady, right? The sixth master thought over and over again, and felt that this was the only woman he wanted, and he would never want anything else.But who can convey this wish to the old man?After much deliberation, there is only one person, and that is Mr. He. Mr. He's madness is madness, but he is careless after all, so he wouldn't suspect that such a woman is just like the old lady, right?A master is like a father, and it is very polite for Mr. He to come forward and say it.In case the old man becomes suspicious, he can be excused by the madness of the old man. So, Sixth Master went to beg Master He. That day, in the name of respecting the teacher, Liu Ye summoned a few small dishes, a seaweed hot pot and a pot of flower carvings, to the dining room, and ordered them to be placed in the school hall. Master He was surprised, so he asked, "Master Liu, what day is today?" "It's not any day, just a little respect for the teacher." Sixth Master said as calmly as possible. "What more respect! Sixth master has no hope of seeking fame, and I don't want to stay in the academy anymore." "Whatever happens in the future, there is no harm in respecting the teacher today. Being a teacher for a day is a teacher for the rest of your life. Mr. He has taught me for many years. Students should never forget their teacher's kindness!" "Sixth Master, what happened again?" "No?" "Isn't it right? I don't think your words are quite right!" "Respectfully entertain Master He, what's wrong?" "When did you say such a nice thing?" "I asked Master He for forgiveness for those who were unreasonable in the past. The current situation has changed suddenly, and students can't jump the dragon gate even if they want to. I'm really sorry for Master He's hard work for many years. That's why I want to show a little respect, but it's too shabby .” "Master Liu really has such thoughts?" "Then I was too disrespectful to the teacher before?" "It's my master who is too disrespectful and doesn't look like a teacher. How can he deserve such a compliment from Master Liu?" "Master He is not quite right today. It's worth talking so much if I invite you to drink some wine? Come, let me offer a cup to Master He first!" "Well, I will accept the kindness of the sixth master!" After taking a sip, Master He sighed happily: "It's a beautiful thing to have a drink around the fire with Liu Ye. Unfortunately, there is no snow scene outside. If snowflakes are falling outside the window, it will be even better if you and I sit around the fire. It's getting better!" "The sky is so dry, how can there be snow!" Sixth Master tried his best to follow Master He's mind and say some gossip to make him happy.He even said that if he really wanted to suspend the exam for five years, he would have to follow Master He's advice and abandon Confucianism and enter business.It's just that he doesn't want to sit back and enjoy the benefits, and be a young master doing nothing.But it's not easy to start another company of your own, right? Hearing this, Mr. He became really excited and said, "That's not easy! Sixth Master, I'll be your leader. How about setting up a new name? I've thought about it a long time ago. To open a new name, the general name must be If you move to the capital, you can't stay in Qi Taiping!" The sixth master laughed, and only gave him a word, but he was going to choose the opening place of the new account! "Master He, you forgot that the capital is still in the hands of foreigners!" "I can't make it to the capital. When we go to Shanghai, we have to choose a big wharf that can look down on the world!" "It seems that if I say open the name, I can open it. This is a big deal. The leader must be nodded by the old man, and the third master will agree." "The old man knows that you have abandoned Confucianism to enter business, and you will be happier than anyone else when you set up such an ambition! The Qiao's house in Qi County opened later than your Kang's house, but if they don't open it, it will be two consecutive numbers. : Dade Tong, Dade Heng. The two numbers echo each other and join hands to promote it, and it has become a big trend in just a few years!" Seeing that Master He was talking more and more vigorously, Sixth Master quickly stopped him and said, "Master He, what the old master is forcing me to do right now is not this matter!" "What's that?" "Marriage. Seeing that the imperial examination is hopeless, the old master forced me to get married." Hearing this, Master He became even more excited!He knew that the Kang family had an important family rule: Once the children of the Kang family married and started a family, the "old man", that is, the family in charge of Mrs. Kang, would be given a monthly payment in addition to the regular daily money. With the funds from the Philippines, he was asked to be the bank and open his own firm.The profit of the firm belongs to each family, not to the old man.The more profits, the more private financial resources of each family.If you make less profit, you can only spend less.If you don't make a profit, just eat the old man's extra money.The purpose of establishing this family rule is to encourage children to start their own businesses and to prevent financial resources from being weakened due to division of family property.However, the first five masters of the Kang family did not have well-developed businesses, but the silk and satin shop under the name of the third master was a little stronger.The third master has great ambitions, and his mind is not on his own small print.But Mr. He has been in distress for many years, and he no longer thinks that this kind of private business is small.If the sixth master wants to ask him to lead the East, it is not impossible to make it into a large room. Therefore, Master He got even more excited and said loudly: "Sixth Master, you should get married too! After you get married, you can set up another shop of your own! You want to call me Lingdong..." "I don't want to get married yet." "Marriage is a lifelong event, and no one can avoid it. Besides, it's a beautiful thing, not hard labor. I don't know whose family's beauties the old man has ordered for Liu Ye? Are you not satisfied?" "The marriage has not yet been decided. The old man also let go: you tell me what kind of woman you want, and ask them to find you all over the world!" "The old man is so open-minded, sixth master, why worry about you!" "Master He, I buried myself in the academy, studying hard day and night, how would I know what kind of woman to marry?" "If you are as rich as a noble mansion, of course you have to talk about a well-matched family." "I'm afraid this is the right match!" "The family is right, plus a two-phase pleasure." "Master He can only talk about wars on paper, and people don't know where they are, so how can they be happy when talking about it!" "Sixth Master!" Master He seemed to be more energetic suddenly, and his voice became higher. "Things are changing rapidly in today's world, and it is not advisable to be too old-fashioned in marrying a wife. It is difficult to restore the country, so it is easier to get married, right? Let me give you a few conditions for the restoration, what do you think?" Marriage Restoration?What crazy things is Master He going to say again?The sixth master said, "I would like to listen to my teaching." "The first thing is not to bind your feet. The second thing is to have a good command of poetry and books. The third thing is to be open-minded, not shy away from new trends, and not afraid to make friends. There is another thing, of course, you must have a first-class female appearance." The more Liu Ye listened, the more he acted as he thought!Master He actually guessed his mind? "Why, you don't want to marry such a new-style beauty? Look at your old lady, there was such a reformation more than ten years ago, but you want to keep the old?" The new-style beauties mentioned by Master He are actually compared to the old lady?This surprised Liu Ye.However, he was no longer so ashamed. The stepmother must be admired by everyone, and he was not the only one who had evil thoughts.Even Master He recommended a new style of beauties like the old lady, which surprised him and made him even happier!He has a majestic cover: it's not that he wants a woman like his stepmother, it's that the teacher's order is not easy to disobey. "Master He, how can I compare with the old man?" "The old lady started, didn't you just follow Weixin?" Liu Ye deliberately evaded it before agreeing, but pretended to be casual and added a sentence: it would be even better to be born in a scholarly family and an official family.Master He actually agreed.Later, the sixth master pretended to be worried, fearing that the old man had already made plans, so he tactfully asked Mr. He to come to the old man and make a trick.Master He didn't know what Master Liu was thinking, but he also promised that he would persuade the old man. Sixth Master was secretly happy, so he drank a lot of wine with Master He. After drinking too much, Mr. He actually praised the old lady's beauty, so Mr. Liu panicked a little.However, Master He never said anything out of the ordinary. Only one day later, Liu Ye was called by the old man. Before the ceremony was over, the old man asked a question: "I heard from Mr. He that you want to marry a reformer, a new-style woman?" The sixth master hurriedly said: "Master He insisted on this, saying that the world is changing with each passing day, and marriage should not be old-fashioned." "I'm asking what you mean!" "Master He has taught me for many years, so it's not good to be too disobedient." "I don't want to force you yet, tell him to force you? What do you mean by yourself?" "I don't have an opinion at all, so be it." "that's it?" "That's it." "Well, just do what Master He said and tell them to search for you all over the world!" The sixth master didn't know what Master He said, did he mention the scholarly family background and the beauty?But in front of the old man, it was really inconvenient for him to mention it again. After coming out of the old man, he rushed to ask Mr. He.Master He affirmed again and again that he had said everything without missing anything.Sixth Master was relieved. Finally, he conveyed his wish, but Liu Ye had a new worry: Is there really such a ready-made new-style beauty in the world, waiting for him to choose?What does the old man mean by the whole world?It is nothing more than Taigu, at most it is limited to Qi Taiping.Can Taigu, and even Qi Taiping, find such a new-style beauty?He had heard a long time ago that his stepmother grew up in the capital.The old man will not go to the capital to find beauties for him, let alone the capital has fallen. However, within half a month, news came that the woman Liu Ye wanted had already been found, and the birthdays of both parties were also handed over to a Hetu master to calculate. Found it so soon? Liu Ye really wants to know where he found it, does everything meet his wish? But where is he going to find out! In the marriage process of that era, although there was a procedure of "blind date", it was not the man and the woman who participated in the blind date.Especially the big family, let alone show their true face casually.Wouldn't it be a great shame and humiliation to show your true face but you don't like it?Therefore, most of the people involved in the matchmaking are matchmakers in the middle.Master Liu doesn't even know who the matchmaker is, so where can he find out? At this time, he felt the importance of his mother even more.If the mother was there, she would definitely inquire for him, or she would know everything at any time.Now, everything is in father's hands, will the old man really think about everything for you?He is always worried.The nanny kept asking, but who took her seriously?She can hardly hear anything. It's not appropriate for Master He to inquire about such things for him. Sixth Master had no choice but to wait. Fortunately, within a few days, the old man summoned him again and explained everything: he had already chosen a marriage according to his wish.The woman is the Sun's family in the city, and it is also a big family in Taigu.The daughter of the Sun family is the second young lady in front of Fourth Master Sun.This woman is also a bit like Rumei who was in front of the third master. She has been chivalrous since she was a child, she refuses to bind her feet, she likes to go out, she learns to read with boys, and she doesn't hate foreign things and styles.In short, all conditions are in line with your mind.The horoscopes of the two of you are also very compatible, and you can help each other.This marriage is settled like this, right? "Sixth, I know your temper. I wanted to use a trick to give you a chance to see Miss Sun's beauty in the dark. It's just that the Sun family is a big family. If people know it, they will laugh at us. of!" The sixth master was a little disappointed when he first heard that it was the Sun family: it's still the right family.The Sun family in the city is also a rich man who established his family based on business, but he prefers to donate officials. I heard that there are also "pleasant" gifts for wives.Is this considered an official family?The sixth master wanted to become an official with the right path, so he disdained the officials who spent money to donate.Hearing that this young lady of the Sun family looks like Rumei, she is even more displeased.Rumei is quite talented, but she is almost like a boy, without any charm of a beautiful woman!Rumei is not ugly, but she is not beautiful either.If he is really like Rumei, he doesn't want it! But it was inconvenient for him to tell his father directly.After reading all the horoscopes, the old man must have agreed to this marriage!What can he do? In a hurry, I had an idea. "With my lord father making the decision, I can still worry about it? It's just that if that girl is really as aggressive as Rumei, I'm also very afraid. What is her nature? I want to ask my lord mother to try to meet her and grasp the truth for me." The Sixth Master had the courage to make such a request, but the old man laughed when he heard it: "Lao Liu, to tell you the truth, this Second Miss Sun was seen by the old lady!" This surprised Liu Ye greatly!Has the stepmother already met him?The reason why he boldly proposed to ask his stepmother to meet Miss Sun's family was because he wanted to ask his stepmother to check in on him.He would definitely like a woman his stepmother could fall in love with.He used his stepmother as a heterosexual idol. But no matter what, he never thought that his stepmother had already seen that girl for him!Stepmother will also care about his marriage? This accident made him very happy. "Since my mother has been on a blind date, I feel more at ease." He said as calmly as possible. "Lao Liu, you have the old lady in your heart, she must be very happy! Go and see the old lady." The old man's words made him even more excited. This winter, the old man has already lived in the spacious seven-room main house in the old courtyard.He was the sixth master who was summoned in his own study in Dongtou.Therefore, when Liu Ye went to see the old lady, he just walked through the halls and went to the study in Xitou.However, Liu Ye was a little nervous today, even shy. Ever since he confirmed that he loved his stepmother in his heart, and expressed his desire to marry a woman like her stepmother, he hadn't seen her yet.You must be calm as usual! But when he was paying respects, he still couldn't calm down, he didn't dare to look her in the eye.Fortunately, the old lady was calm as usual, she just smiled casually after hearing what Du Mu conveyed to the old lady. "Master Liu, you have me in your heart, which makes me even more uneasy. I didn't pick this second Miss Sun for you! I heard that Master Liu also wants to marry an enlightened woman who doesn't bind her feet, so I just mentioned it to the old man. A few of them are all ladies who often go to the women's department of Huaqing Pool to take a bath. Among them is Miss Sun Er. They said that they didn't bind their feet just to imitate me. I don't believe their words! Fortunately, everyone Still lively and enlightened. As for why I chose Miss Sun's family later on, I dare not be greedy for credit!" "Since it was recommended by my mother, I can always rest assured." "Sixth Master, don't dare to say that! You won't wait to see me when you marry me back, but I can't bear it." "It's up to the parents to decide." "Master Liu, let me give you an idea! I will go to the city to take a bath another day, and when I come out, I will try to go with Ms. Sun's family, walk out of the back door of Huaqing Pool, and ask her to talk for a while before boarding the car. Sir, you Well, you can sit in a carriage in advance and park it nearby. When I talk to Miss Sun, you can hide in the car and watch through the window! Would you like to?" Liu Ye didn't expect the old lady to give him such an idea, but this idea is very attractive: Isn't this naughty and troublesome?And it was playing tricks with the old lady! He showed a bit of shyness and said, "I would like to listen to the arrangement of my mother." "That's good. When I go to the city to take a bath some other day, I'll tell the sixth master." "It's just that it's a cold day, working mother..." "I'm not afraid of freezing, just don't freeze Master Liu!" "I'm not afraid of freezing." Coming out of the old courtyard this time, Master Liu felt elated. The woman chosen for him was originally recommended by the old lady!She is lively, enlightened, has unbound feet, likes to bathe, and can read and write. She is like the old lady in everything, and everything is as he wishes.Whatever you think about, you will have something, isn't this Tian Zuo you!These days, what I think about the most is the old lady. The old lady is actually helping you choose a beautiful woman!The old lady didn't say whether this Second Miss Sun was beautiful or not, so she probably wasn't bad.For a girl with poor appearance, the old lady will recommend her? In short, the sixth master was already relieved of this marriage.But the old lady came up with such an unannounced visit idea, can he not agree?To see the woman's true face one day earlier, of course he is willing!If the old lady did this, she must have a plan in her chest, and she wanted to surprise him one day earlier. Therefore, Liu Ye couldn't help but tell the nanny all this when he came back, but he didn't say that Miss Sun's family is a natural foot.He didn't want to hear more nagging from the nanny. He still wanted to talk to Master He, but finally he held back. Only one day later, Du Mu, who was in front of the old lady, came running and said, "Tomorrow, the old lady will go to the city to take a bath, and the sixth master will have to enter the city at three o'clock in the afternoon. It is so cold, there is no need to go early to catch the cold." Liu Ye tried his best to calmly agree, because he was very excited. But as soon as Du Mu left, the nanny kept asking: What are you going to do in the city?Why do you want to go with the old lady? Of course, the sixth master couldn't tell the truth, so he had to make up nonsense to deal with it: "After taking a bath, the old lady wants to go to the East Temple to offer incense. The old lady asked me to accompany her." "Have you ever had such a thing before?" "Before, wasn't I young?" Master Liu didn't say any more, and went out to see the housekeeper, Lao Xia, and asked him to set up a car for him tomorrow. Arrived at three o'clock in the afternoon, and left at the beginning of noon, but it was half an hour before noon, and Liu Ye boarded the car and set off.天气倒是不错，太阳很鲜艳，也没风。但毕竟是隆冬，没走多远，寒气早穿透了车轿的毡罩，只觉越来越冷。六爷也没多在乎这些，一心想着即将到来的那一刻。 那女子如果叫人一见倾心，他就真去东寺进一次香，以谢天赐良缘。 也许是天冷，车倌紧吆喝，牲灵也跑得欢，刚过午时就进城了。还有三刻时间，干冻着也不是回事。去自家的字号暖一暖，又太兴师动众。六爷便决定先去东寺进香许愿：如彼女真如他所愿，定给寺院捐一笔不菲的香火钱。 寺院也不暖和，只是忙碌着进完香、许下愿，真也费去了时间。等再赶到华清池后门，正其时也。 杜牧已等候在那里，见六爷的车到了，便过来隔着车帘说：“老夫人很快就出来，请六爷留心。” 说是很快，六爷还是觉着很等了一阵。终于盼出来了：老夫人与一个年少女子相携着走了出来。这女子就是孙二小姐？显然是天足，因为她走路与老夫人一样，轻盈，快捷，自如。可穿得太厚实了，除了华贵，能看出什么来？尤其是头脸，几乎被一条雪狐围脖给遮严了。 六爷紧贴了轿侧那个太小的窗口，努力去看，越看心里似乎越平静。老夫人为了叫他看得更清楚，引导孙小姐脸朝向他这边，还逗她说笑。平心而论，孙小姐可不丑，说美貌，也不算勉强。说笑的样子，也活泼。她也不像汝梅，有太重的假小子气。可六爷总是觉得，她分明少了什么，少了那种能打动人的要紧东西。 到底少了什么，他也说不清。只是与继母一比，就能分明感觉出来。浴后的继母，那是更动人了！所以，他不敢多看继母，一看，就叫人不安。可同样是浴后的孙小姐，却为何不动人？再仔细看，也激动不起来。 继母和孙家女子都登车而去了。稍后，六爷的车马也启动了。可他坐在寒冷的车轿里，怅然若失：已经没有什么可企盼的了！动心地盼了许久的，原来这样平淡无奇。 现在，六爷有些明白了：继母坚持叫他来亲自相看，就怕他看不上吧？可是，这位孙小姐样样都符合他提出的条件，又怎么向老太爷拒婚？她要生得丑些，他还有个理由，可她居然不丑。不丑，又不动人，叫人怎么办？ 老天爷，你总是不叫人如愿！ 在回去的半路上，老夫人还停了车，问了问六爷：“看上了没有？” 这叫他怎么说呢？只好说：“也没看得很清。” 老夫人一笑，就不问了。看他无精打采的样子，她能不明白？她回去见了老太爷，把他的失望说明了，局面会改变吗？ 然而，没过几天，老太爷召他过去，兴致很好，开口就说：“跟孙家这门亲事，就定了吧。人是按你的心思挑的，模样你也亲眼见了，定了吧。我已经跟他们说了，挑个吉日，先把定亲的喜酒吃了。到腊月，就把媳妇娶过来。老六，你看成吧？” 这不是已经定了吗？六爷一脸无奈，还能说什么！ 老太爷似乎没看见他的无奈，依然兴致很好：“听说老夫人安排你见了见孙小姐？哈哈，没被人家发现吧？” “藏在车轿里，也没看清什么。” “也行了，大冬天的，站当街，能站多久？我跟老夫人说了，哪如安排在戏园子里？虽坐得远些，也能看得从容。老夫人说，孙小姐还未出阁，哪能挤到戏园子看戏？倒也是，我真老糊涂了。婚事上，老夫人很为你操心。走时，过去谢一声。” 还能说什么？什么都不能说了。 六爷退出来，进了老夫人这厢。老夫人一见他，就说：“六爷，看你像霜打了的样子，我就心里不安。那天从城里回来，我就跟老太爷说了：看来六爷不很中意。老太爷听了，只是笑话我安排得太笨，费了大劲私访一回，也没看出个究竟。那天，你真没看清？” “母亲大人，看清了。” “那你是不中意吧？” “就那样吧，母亲大人。” “我看你是不如意。” “就那样吧。” 还能怎样呢？六爷知道，在这件事上老夫人做不了什么主，一切都由父亲决定。父亲已经给了他很大的仁慈，事先叫他提条件，而且样样条件都答应。样样条件都符合，挑出来了，却不是你想要的人！这能怨谁？ 你做了按图索骥的傻事吧？ 继母也是太独特了，独一无二。你比照了她，到哪再找出一个来？ 罢了，罢了，这就是你的命吧。世间惟一疼你的人，早早就弃你而去。一心想博取的功名，眼看临近了，科考却是先延后停。那就娶一个心爱的女人相守吧，却又是这样一个结局！你不认命，又能怎样？ 六爷毕竟年轻，心灰意懒几天后，忽然想起一个人来：那就是天成元京号的戴掌柜。 那次，何老爷带他去拜访戴掌柜，有几句话叫他一直难忘：到了残局，才更需要大才大智；临危出智，本来也是西帮的看家功夫。他现在已到残局时候了，真有大才大智能挽救他的败势吗？ 所以，他特别想再见一见戴掌柜。 跑去问何老爷，才知道戴掌柜早到上海去了。刚要失望，忽然就跳出一个念头来：他去上海找戴掌柜，不正可以逃婚吗？ 这是不是临危出智？ 平白无故的，老太爷不会允许他去上海。他就说，决心弃儒习商了，跟了戴掌柜这样的高手，才能习得真本事；上海呢，已成国中第一商埠，想到沪上开开眼界。婚事，既已定亲，也不必着急了，在这兵荒马乱的时候完婚，怕不吉利。 这样说，不知能否说动老太爷？ 六爷就将这个心思先给何老爷说了说，当然没说是逃婚。 何老爷听了很高兴，说：“六爷，你算是改邪归正了！去趟上海，你也就知道什么叫经商，什么叫商界，什么叫大码头。” “老太爷会不会答应我？” “哪能不答应？老太爷看你终于弃儒归商，只会高兴，哪能拦你！” “可老太爷说了，腊月就叫我成婚。” “那你就成了婚再走！离腊月也没多远了。” “腊月一过，就到年下。戴掌柜在上海能停留多久？” “京城收不回，戴掌柜也没地界去的。” “满街都说议和已成定局，十二款都答应了人家，就差画押了。和局一成，朝廷还不收回京城？” “谁知……” 何老爷忽然打起哈欠来，而且是连连不断。刚才还好好的，这是怎么了？六爷正想问，忽然悟到：何老爷是烟瘾犯了吧？于是，故意逗他： “何老爷是怎么了，忽然犯起困来？夜间没睡，又读什么野史了？” “睡了，睡……” 哈欠分明打得更厉害。 六爷才笑了，说：“何老爷，你既已不瞒我，就烧一锅洋烟，抽几口吧？” “太不雅……六爷请便吧……” “今儿，我才不走，得见识见识。” 六爷真稳坐不动。何老爷又忍了片刻，再忍不住，终于从柜底摸出一个漆匣来。不用说，里面装着烟具烟土。 何老爷在炕桌上点灯、烧烟时，手直发抖，嘴角都流出口水来了。抖抖晃晃地烧了一锅，贪婪地吸下肚后，才像泄了气，不抖不晃了，缓缓地躺在炕上。片刻之后，简直跟换了个人似的，一个精神焕发的何老爷坐了起来。 “六爷！”何老爷叫得斩钉截铁。“见笑了。你看我哪还配在贵府家馆为授业为师呀？你快跟老太爷说一声，另请高明吧。我就伺候六爷你一人了，你当东家，我给你领东，咱们成就一番大业！” 六爷以前也常听何老爷说这类疯话，原来是跟他的烟瘾有关？吸了洋烟，就敢说憋在心底的话了？六爷忽然就产生一种强烈的冲动：也吸口洋烟试试！他心底也憋了太多不如意。 “六爷，你去上海，我跟你去！上海我去过，我跟了伺候你。” “何老爷，你再烧一锅烟，叫我尝几口，成吧？” "What did you say?" “我看你吸了洋烟，跟换了个人似的，也想吸几口，尝尝。” 何老爷立马瞪了眼：“六爷，你要成大事，可不敢沾这种嗜好！我是太没出息了。六爷你要叫我做领东，我立马戒烟！” “何老爷，我早听你说过：太谷的领东大掌柜，没有一个不抽大烟的。孙大掌柜也抽？” “要不他越抽越没本事！林大掌柜可不抽。” “何老爷，你只要有领东的本事，我不怕抽大烟。” “那六爷你也不能抽！你们家老太爷待我不薄，我能教你做这种事？” “我也不修儒业了，要那么干净何用？再说，我也只是尝尝而已。” 何老爷盯着他看了片刻，好像忽然想通了，就真烧了一锅。跟着，将烟枪递过来，教给他怎么吸。 六爷照着吸了，老天爷，那真不是什么好味道！但渐渐地就有异样感觉升上来了，真是说不出的一种感觉。跟着，整个人也升起来了，身子变轻了往上升……说不出的感觉！ “六爷，没事吧？” “没事！只是觉着身子变轻了。” “六爷，我把你拉下水了！” “何老爷，不怨你，是我愿意！科举停了，老太爷定的那门亲事，我也不中意，样样都不如意，我还那么规矩，有何用？我倒想做圣人，谁叫你做？老太爷他要怪罪下来，我就远离康庄，浪迹天涯去！” “六爷，你要这样，就把我害了。你知道我拉你下水为了什么？为了叫你铁了心投身商界！有此嗜好，无伤商家大雅的。你要一味败落，那我罪过就大了！” “何老爷，那我就铁了心，弃儒习商！做商家，不正可浪迹天涯吗？” “六爷说得对！” 两人慷慨激昂地很说了一阵，心里都觉异常痛快。尤其是六爷，全把忧伤与不快忘记了，只觉着自家雄心万丈，与平时特别不一样。 乘着感觉好，六爷回去了。见着奶妈，他也是很昂扬地说话。提起自己的亲事，居然也夸赞起孙家来了，已没有一点苦恼。 事后，何老爷惊恐万状地跑来见六爷，直说自己造了孽了，居然教学生抽大烟！六爷也有些醒悟了，表示再不深涉。就那样吸了一两口，也不至成瘾难回头吧。 不过，后来六爷终于还是忍不住，暗自上了几趟城里的烟馆。哪想到，太谷最大的凉州庄谦和玉，很快就发现了这个不寻常的新主顾。康家在太谷是什么人家？赶紧伺候好康六爷吧！于是派出精干伙友，扮作儒生，到康庄拜访六爷。如何拜访呢，不过是奉赠一个精美的推光漆匣：不用问，里面装了全套烟具和少量烟土。 就这样，在什么企盼都失去以后，六爷有了这新的念想。这一日也断不了的念想，叫他平静下来了，不再想去上海，更不想浪迹天涯。 只是，六爷一直深瞒着，不叫别人知道，更不敢叫老太爷知道。 汝梅一看见自己的画像，就要想起那个画匠来。可这个拘谨的画匠，已经无影无踪了。她暗自托下人打听过，这个画洋画的画匠，已经不在太谷了，有的说去了平遥，也有的说去了西安。 总之，无影无踪了。 画像中的汝梅，灿烂明媚，连老太爷看了，都说把梅梅画成小美人了。可画匠本人居然那样木，什么都看不出来？汝梅常常凝视着画像，不能确定自己到底是不是美人。 画像那两天，她真是用尽心机讨好画匠。可那个木头人，始终是那样拘谨，客气。他或许是见的美人太多了？她问过：你是专给女人画像？他说：还是给做官的老爷们画像多。他可能没说实话。 汝梅亲眼看见，画匠在给她画像时，常常会眯起眼睛来，去凝视老夫人的那幅大画像。这种时候，她说话，他也听不见了。 老夫人是个美人。到现在了，还那么能迷住男人？你一定是没有老夫人美貌吧？其实，汝梅一直就不想做女人！ 情窦初开的汝梅，无论心头怎样翻江倒海，也没法改变什么。画像那几天，很快就过去了。除了留下一张灿烂明媚的洋式画像，继续散发着不大好闻的松节油气味，什么都无影无踪了。她想再看一看老夫人的画像，看究竟美在何处，管家老夏也不肯答应了，总是说去做画框，还没送回来。 就在这几分恼人、几分无奈中，汝梅又想出游去。可大冬天的，又能去哪？父亲去了西安，又是遥无归期。父亲这次去西安，是以时局不靖，兵荒马乱为由，不肯带她同行。反正他总是有理由，反正他永远也不会带她出门的。 而今年冬天，连一片雪花也没见过。 下了雪，或许还好些？总可以外出赏雪。 这种无聊，使汝梅忽然又想起了那次异常的凤山之游。那次，她一定是犯了什么忌。犯了什么忌呢，竟惹了那么多麻烦？莫名的好奇又涌上来了。 大冬天的，上凤山是不可能了。汝梅忽然有了探寻的目标：那些已故的老夫人的画像。那次，她发觉有几分眼熟的画像，到底是哪一位老夫人？是不是六爷的生母？ 只是这样一想，汝梅就觉有几分害怕。可此时的她，似乎又想去触动这种害怕，以排解莫名的烦恼。 在一个寂静的午后，汝梅果真悄然溜进了前院那间厅堂。这间过节时庄严无比的地界，现在是既寒冷，又有几分阴森。她努力挺着胆，去找她的目标：挂在一侧的那四幅已故老夫人的画像。现在看去，老式笔墨画出的人像，毕竟难现真容。可这四幅遗像要都用洋笔法画出，一个个似活人般逼视着你，那更要吓死人了。 寻见了那一幅：嘴角斜上方点了一颗很好看的痣，但定神细看，已没有多少眼熟的感觉。凤山见过的那个老尼，记忆也模糊了，只是那颗美人痣还分明记得。痣生的地方，也很相符。 汝梅看了看这位生痣的老夫人的牌位，写明是孟氏。她没敢再抬头看遗像，惶惶跑了出来。 孟氏。六爷的生母姓什么呢？六爷的生母真要是孟氏，那凤山的老尼打听六爷就有文章了……汝梅不敢细想了，但又被更强烈吸引住。 她不动声色问母亲，母亲居然想了半天也没想起来：“真还记不得了！以前也是老夫人老夫人地叫，老夫人娘家姓什么，真还一时记不起来了。梅梅，你问这做甚？” “也不做甚，我跟她们打赌呢！” “拿这打赌？没听说过。” “女人嫁到婆家，就没名没姓了。贵为老夫人尚如此，别人更不用说！” “梅梅，你又疯说什么！去问问六爷，他该记得外爷家的姓吧？” “也难说。我就记不得外爷姓什么了……” “你又作孽吧！” 汝梅跑出来了。除了失望，她还替这位早逝的老夫人难受：母亲记不得她的尊姓，大概也没多少人记得了。去问六爷！正是不想直接问六爷，才问你们的。 汝梅又问了几位上年纪的老嬷，也没问出来。她们都是前头这位老夫人去世后，才进康家的。 真是得直接问六爷？问六爷奶妈，就成。汝梅忽然想起，在六爷的屋里，仿佛就供有先母的牌位吧？ 好了，去拜见一趟六爷，不就什么都明白了！ 汝梅去见六爷时，他不在，只奶妈在。奶妈对汝梅倒是很殷勤，让到正屋里，问长问短的。汝梅却早已心不在焉：一进正屋，她就看见了那尊牌位：先妣孟氏…… 真是孟氏？ 汝梅不知自