Chapter 13 Wenjiu Merry

Because Maoxiang refused to go to Suzhou to attend the Huqiu Conference, he had a dispute with Wu Yingji, and Chen Zhenhui was caught in the middle, trying to persuade him from left to right.Just when it was time to fight, the noisy voices of Gu Gao, Hou Fangyu and others had already come outside the door.Chen Zhenhui made a gesture towards Mao and Wu, which meant: "Stop arguing, stop arguing!" Then, he turned around and hurried out to greet her. "It's too late, what should I do?" As soon as he reached the door, Gu Gao had already stepped in, Chen Zhenhui stood still, crossed his hands and asked with a smile.

"Haha, look! We have always been the only ones who ask Dingsheng this question, and this is the first time we have solved a problem, and he took the lead, so he is so proud!" Gu Gao exclaimed excitedly. "Ah, brother Dingsheng, you don't know what a joyous thing we did!" Huang Zongxi who followed in said hastily.His eyes sparkled, looking eagerly at Chen Zhenhui.If Hou Fangyu hadn't walked in afterwards, he would have told Chen Zhenhui what happened just now. Hou Fangyu stopped Huang Zongxi. "If you miss the time, please redeem yourself as a commoner!" He said boldly, and cupped his hands towards Chen Zhenhui. Then, as if conjuring, he took out the one hundred and fifty taels of silver note from his sleeve, held it in both hands, He raised his head high: "Look at the beggars!"

Chen Zhenhui smiled slightly.This smile showed how familiar he was with the serious performances of his companions, and it was expected that there would be nothing special this time.He took the bank note casually, glanced at it, and suddenly, the smile disappeared.He walked to the lamp, looked at the bank note several times, raised his head, and asked suspiciously, "Well, what's going on here?" Gu Gao and the others exchanged glances, obviously quite satisfied with the effect of the bank note. Gu Mei, who walked in with Zhang Zilie, showed an inexplicable look.Curiously, she moved closer to Chen Zhenhui, tilted her head and glanced, and her eyes flickered immediately.She covered her mouth with her sleeve and smiled, looked at Hou Fangyu, then at Gu Gao, as if urging, "Yes, what's going on here?"

"Try to think about it!" Gu Gao said triumphantly. "How could I guess it!" Chen Zhenhui spread her hands, "Isn't he the one who sent you?" "Of course—no!" "Then," Chen Zhenhui smiled wryly, "Did you blackmail me?" Gu Gao glanced at Hou Fangyu, then shook his head, as if reciting a poem: "Hey—thinking about mistakes—half!" Chen Zhenhui was taken aback: "What? Are you—really?" His tone became urgent, "I, this, didn't I advise you a long time ago, don't do such a thing! Why are you—" At this time, Wu Yingji couldn't stay by Maoxiang's side, so he came up with a sullen face, took a look at the bank note, and said coldly: "So it's this gentleman! He's not benevolent for the rich, and taking it doesn't hurt the integrity. I don't think there is any need to be nervous!"

"Brother Dingsheng, this matter did not go as you expected!" Huang Zongxi interrupted quickly.Just now, he was very annoyed because others used him to blackmail Xu Qingjun; now, he hastily argued for them.So, he talked and gestured, and stated in detail what happened on the road just now. After Chen Zhenhui listened attentively, she thought about it, finally nodded helplessly, and said, "If that's the case, it doesn't hurt the general situation at all. It's just that the one hundred and fifty taels of silver, apart from deducting the money for the book, must be used for relief. That's good."

Huang Zongxi said without hesitation: "This is natural!" Chen Zhenhui was worried, and asked again: "Brother Chaozong also meant this?" Hou Fangyu smiled: "Me? This one hundred and thirty-four taels of color and silver, my brother's intention, is to give it to the master of Meilou, and then invite Shi Niang and Sai Sai to call Zhang Yanzhu, Wu Zhangfu, and Sheng Zhongwen. Come, seek a one-night pleasure with all the public—wouldn't it be much more enjoyable than taking some kind of food for food!" Hearing what he said, not only Chen Zhenhui frowned, but even Huang Zongxi's expression changed, but Gu Gao put away his joking expression, and said:

"Brother Dingsheng, don't listen to what Chaozong said, we have already agreed to take it for relief. If you don't believe me, just ask Lang San!" As soon as Mei Langzhong entered the room, he stood beside Li Shiniang and whispered to his ears. Hearing this, he promised loudly, "It's exactly, let's give relief!" Only then did Chen Zhenhui's face relax.He sighed, and said: "It's not because I'm timid and afraid of getting into trouble, but if you have the right way, it's because you have a big tree that attracts the wind-in recent years, our company's reputation has grown day by day. Of course there are many supporters, and there are also many side-eyed people. There are also shameless villains. , Playing from it, plotting to overthrow the social situation. What happened to Zhou Zhikui and Lu Wensheng is a clear proof. Fortunately, the emperor's sages did not allow this generation to be as he wished. Only his heart is not dead, and he still peeps at me all the time. So, we have to behave ourselves, and don’t give others a handle. What’s more—” He seemed to want to continue talking, but he held back temporarily, and just waved his hand lightly.

So, everyone saluted again, then took off their coats, sat down casually, chatted while drinking tea.Maoxiang is the main guest tonight, so everyone greeted him as usual.Although he was full of grievances, he had to force himself to socialize, but his expression was always unnatural.Fortunately, the few people who arrived later were busy joking with Gu Mei and Li Shiniang immediately, without realizing it.As for Huang Zongxi, when he noticed Wu Yingji's presence, he would look at him from time to time, showing a kind and eager look to talk to him.Therefore, now Huang Zongxi quickly walked up to Wu Yingji, and immediately talked with him:

"Ah, brother Ciwei! Do you remember that we talked about the land system in Hangzhou last year?" He said excitedly, and continued immediately without waiting for Wu Yingji's answer. If you want to change the times and eliminate the disadvantages, the only way is to restore the system of the former king's well!" "Oh?" "My little brother thinks that today's shortage of money and food, and insufficient national use, stems from the disadvantages of the land system! The disadvantages of the land system are that the nobles, officials and gentry take advantage of the power to invade the people's business, so that the fields of the official villages are growing day by day, and the fields of the small people are getting bigger and bigger. Shrinking day by day. That is to say, taking Suzhou as a prefecture, it is almost landless instead of official land, and private land only accounts for one-fifteenth. Nowadays, the country is trapped in wars, the expenses are huge, and taxes are increasing day by day; Increase the amount, and the result will be levied on the common people. The common people are overwhelmed, so they have to abandon their fields and flee. As a result, not only the state's taxation, there is a large shortage every year, and it cannot be completed; In short, there are those who advocate chaos and rebellion, and they will become the source of disaster. Today, this matter has almost accumulated, and if there is no urgent reform, I am afraid that if the situation collapses, it will be irremediable!"

Wu Yingji was obviously not in the mood to discuss such issues at the moment, he nodded vaguely: "Well, you mean, restore the well field system...?" "Ah, listen to me!" Huang Zongxi exclaimed excitedly, completely unaware of the other party's emotions.He took a deep breath, began to talk about the history and function of the well field system, and then compared it with the current field system.He spoke confidently and hastily, apparently intending to present the results of his months of research on the subject.He did not consider how necessary the haste was, or whether it was appropriate on such an occasion to speak of such serious matters.He just felt that this problem was very important, and after hard work, the set of ideas he had conceived to solve this problem seemed to be feasible.He was impatient to say it, for it had been simmering in his mind for some time as a mature thought.Just like a full-month baby who is about to break free from the mother's body, it is the same as announcing his birth to the surroundings with loud cries.And when a baby is born, it never pays attention to the occasion and the attitude of others...

However, Huang Zongxi did not finish his statement.A pretty maid of thirteen or fourteen turned out from behind the screen door. "Misters-in-law and aunts, please come to the flower hall to be seated." She said with a salute. Huang Zongxi was stunned for a moment, looked at Wu Yingji who was not in the right place hesitantly, finally waved his hand helplessly, closed his mouth, got up together with everyone, and walked to the back. The size of the flower hall is small, and it is also very elegantly arranged. A large round table has been put together in the center, and the blue and white fine porcelain tableware on the table shines brightly under the light of the lamps and candles.Li Shiniang's madam was leading two maids to look around, and when they saw the guests coming in, they all stepped forward together and bowed their heads together to salute. The guests came to the table and stopped.Chen Zhenhui took a step forward and began to reserve seats for everyone.Because it is a gathering of mutual acquaintances, there is no need to engage in those pretentious tricks of opening tables and giving wine. We only invite Maoxiang to be the chief, followed by Wu Yingji, Zhang Zilie, Gu Gao, Huang Zongxi, Mei Langzhong, and Hou Fangyu.Chen Zhenhui took the first chair by herself.Li Shiniang and Gu Mei sat on both sides of Maoxiang.The bustard waited for the guests to sit down, gave the two maids a few words, and then left.Li Shiniang and Gu Mei stood up gracefully from their seats and began to pour wine for the guests. "Meiniang!" Hou Fangyu turned to look at Gu Mei, and said in a cheerful and relaxed tone, "Tonight, I just think you won't come!" Hou Fangyu and Gu Mei had a good time not long ago, but since he entered the door tonight, he only kept making out with Li Shiniang, but he obviously deliberately avoided and indifferent to Gu Mei, and formally spoke to Gu Mei. first sentence. "Why?" Gu Mei asked, neither stopped pouring wine nor turned around. "Hey, you're still pretending to be confused! Of course it's Gong Xiaosheng!" "Hey, nothing!" Gu Mei blushed. Hou Fangyu sneered: "Nothing? You can hide this from others, but you can't hide it from me, Hou Fangyu!" Gu Mei fell silent. "What? Xiaosheng?" "What happened to Xiaosheng?" "Chaozong, what's going on?" Everyone asked curiously. Hou Fangyu picked up the chopsticks, picked a pigeon egg from the plate, put it in his mouth and chewed it slowly, while looking at Gu Mei, pretending to be hesitant to speak. Gu Mei suddenly turned to Hou Fangyu, staring at him with her big and deep eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.After a while, she narrowed her eyes: "How dare you!" she said threateningly, "Look at my old lady who is not the boss to slap you!" Everyone couldn't help being startled, and then "coaxed" to laugh.This laughter is admiring Gu Mei's boldness and unbridled words.In fact, being good at being wild and unrestrained just right is what makes Gu Mei unique and charming. Hou Fangyu didn't smile.When he received Gu Mei's gaze with deep meaning, his expression changed involuntarily.A trace of self-knowledge of wrongdoing flashed from his fair and proud face.The corner of his mouth twitched, trying to make a smile, but in the end he avoided Gu Mei's eyes against his intention. "Ten Niang must know, just ask her!" Just when everyone was a little puzzled, Mei Langzhong suddenly said boldly.Since entering the door, his eyes have been around Shi Niang most of the time. He asked softly: "Ten Niang, tell me, huh?" Li Shiniang blushed: "My family, how do my family know? I'm afraid, I'm afraid that Mr. Hou is talking about it, but I don't know..." She said dully, cast a reproachful glance at Mei Langzhong, and lowered her head. "You're so stupid, why did you ask me in public? Do I dare to expose sister Meiniang's refusal to say?" She seemed to say that. "Well, I know!" A deep voice sounded from beside Li Shiniang, it was Zhang Zilie.His temper is a bit withdrawn, and he has hardly said a word since he entered the door.When he spoke suddenly at this moment, everyone was surprised and looked at him in unison.Even Gu Mei put away her bohemian energy, and opened her eyes wide in doubt. Zhang Zilie didn't say anything immediately, he raised his glass and took a big sip of the wine, feeling a little depressed for some reason. "Xiaosheng told me this personally." After saying this, he stopped talking, but his expression became more and more depressed. "Wine!" He pointed to the glass. Everyone stared at him intently, wondering and uncertain.Mei Langzhong picked up the jug in a panic and poured wine for him. At this time, Zhang Zilie chanted like a groan: "The dance pavilion and song stage, the wind is always blown away by the rain..." After reciting in this way, he grabbed the wine glass with one hand, drank it suddenly, and then stared at his friends who were in a daze one by one. "Why, ah, don't understand?" He suddenly asked without thinking, with a look of anger. "Ah, could it be that Meiniang is going to belong to Gong Xiaosheng?" Mei Langzhong blurted out and asked.He was addicted to poetry, of course he knew that what Zhang Zilie just recited was a few lines from the famous work "Yong Yu Le" by Xin Jiaxuan, a poet of the Southern Song Dynasty. Zhang Zilie nodded, heaved a long sigh, and said, "Xiaosheng and Meiniang have had a good relationship for a hundred years, and the marriage with flowers and candles is only a matter of the year!" The rest of the people also vaguely guessed that this was the case, but after Zhang Zilie said it officially, everyone still couldn't help but "ah", and then for some reason, they became silent like Zhang Zilie did just now. "Xiaosheng" is the word of Gong Dingzi, a talented scholar in Hefei.He is also a well-known figure in the Jiangnan literary world, and he was also a young man who achieved great ambitions. He was awarded a Jinshi eight years ago and served as a county magistrate in Qishui, Hubei for several years. Now he is called to Beijing for another appointment.Everyone said that he had a bright future and a bright future.Gu Mei is eager to choose a good son-in-law. She and Hou Fangyu have a good friendship, but Hou Fangyu's attitude is hot and cold, which makes her unable to grasp it.Recently, when Gong Dingzi was passing through Nanjing, someone matched him, and it was as expected.In Gu Mei's selfish heart, this is quite satisfactory.Just now she prevented Hou Fangyu from speaking out because she planned to explain to him in private.When Zhang Zilie was speaking, Gu Mei knew that the matter could not be hidden, she was already ready for everyone to make a fuss, and thought of a way to deal with it.Unexpectedly, to her surprise, the banquet ended in silence—Chen Zhenhui and Hou Fangyu lowered their heads slightly, as if in deep thought; Gu Gao opened his mouth wide in surprise; Mao Xiang and Wu Yingji frowned with their own concerns Zhang Zilie kept on drinking; Mei Langzhong's eyes could not stop gliding to Li Shiniang; the latter lowered his head, as if he was hurting himself.Only Huang Zongxi remained calm, putting on an air of nothing to do with him... Gu Mei couldn't bear it anymore. "Hey, what's the matter? Is there something wrong with this?" She asked in surprise. Everyone moved as if waking up from a dream, and exchanged glances with each other. "Oh, great, great!" Hou Fangyu said with a laugh first, "Xiaosheng is a talented person of the generation, with a heroic appearance and beautiful hair, and Mei Niang is in the assistant school, which is the so-called fish and water. You're going to be the envy of my generation!" "Then why are you all so stern, as if the servants have done something wrong?" "This—" Hou Fangyu smiled unnaturally, "I think everyone is a little bit reluctant to part with you!" "Hey..." Gu Mei blushed, "Hou Xianggong is joking again!" "No, Chaozong is telling the truth!" Gu Gao interrupted solemnly.Then, he looked at the people present as if asking for advice.Everyone nodded unnaturally.Li Shiniang's eye circles had started to turn red, as if she was about to cry at any time. Gu Mei looked at this and that, and couldn't help being stunned. "Well, you might as well think about it, if Meiniang is missing from the banquet in the future, will we be happy?" Hou Fangyu said.This time, his tone was very sincere. "Hey, thinking that I will never be able to eat Meilou's steamed eel and fried crab again, I feel very uncomfortable now!" Mei Langzhong said pitifully. Gu Gao nodded thoughtfully: "If Nanqu doesn't have Meilou, I'm afraid it won't be Nanqu anymore!" These few words hit the mood of the people present at this moment, and everyone fell silent again. Gradually, there was a slight sobbing sound.That is Li Shiniang.She covered her face and turned her body away, her thin shoulders were trembling pitifully under the floral velvet dress with agarwood color makeup.Then, Gu Mei's eye circles were also red, she took out a handkerchief from her side, and began to wipe away her tears.Mei Lanzhong turned his tall body uneasily, looking at this and then at that, blinking his eyes and closing his mouth.Suddenly, with a "wow", he fell on the table and burst into tears. The rest of the people watched silently, with miserable expressions on their faces, and no one spoke to dissuade them. At this moment, an angry and anxious voice suddenly spread across the table: "You gentlemen are here tonight, is it just to imitate the 'Crying of Xinting'?" When everyone turned their heads, they saw Huang Zongxi's thin face was flushed and his expression was extremely excited.He said loudly: "Xin Jiaxuan was born when the Song Dynasty was traveling south, and it was peaceful for a long time. The master was fatuous, and Wen Tianwu played. Loyal and righteous people have no ambition to serve the country, and there is no way to ask for a job, so this voice of grief and indignation is sent. .However, even at that time, Xin Jiaxuan was nothing more than patted on the railings. He was strong and fierce, and he did not look like a son and daughter! Today, my ancestors of the Ming Dynasty have established a foundation for 270 years. We are troubled by each other and have not been able to shake the unity of our world. What's more, today's sage, who wears clothes and eats food, works hard to govern, this is the autumn when people with lofty ideals put their lives to work! Why don't you seek great feats, but consult and weep, if you are not emotional! Aren't you afraid to laugh at the ancients in the ground?" This rebuke was impassioned and impassioned, and he made everyone look up to me, and I looked up to you, and I felt a little embarrassed.Mei Langzhong quickly stopped crying and wiped away his tears. At this time, Chen Zhenhui stood up.He said: "Tai Chong is right to blame! Let's stop acting like sons and daughters! Mei Niang looks like a celestial being, and she is relegated to the world. It is a joy to congratulate her to be here today. Come, let's congratulate her!" He said, picking up the wine glass.Everyone raised their glasses.Gu Mei was obviously very moved.She laughed and wiped her tears, and poured three cups for everyone in a row. Two red clouds immediately rose on her fresh and delicate face, making her look even more glamorous.More than half of the people in the seat couldn't help being attracted by her.Everyone didn't say anything, but secretly envied in their hearts: Gong Xiaosheng is really a blessing! Chen Zhenhui waited for Li Shiniang to refill the wine for everyone, and then said: "There is one more thing to celebrate at this evening's meeting—" He turned his eyes to Maxiang, who had been looking sullen since the beginning of the banquet, and said in a serious and solemn tone, "Shicai Pijiang came from Xiong Da Sima's mansion and got the news that the transfer of his lord's post has been approved by the authority, and the mansion will be reported soon. Ladies and gentlemen, filial piety is the foundation of a gentleman. In the past half a year, Jiang has been running with sorrow and spared no effort for the matter of respecting adults. The voice of filial piety and righteousness has moved the court. This is the true character of a gentleman in my society. It is respectable and praiseworthy. There are a few villains outside the society who use this as a topic to criticize us in an attempt to achieve the purpose of endangering our society. It can be said that they do not know how to control themselves! As long as our colleagues stand in the world, we must not allow their generation to be rampant ! Do you take my brother's words seriously?" As soon as Chen Zhenhui finished speaking, several people in the seat shouted loudly: "Of course!" "They don't want to succeed!" "Pijiang is dedicated to filial piety, and he is an example for his peers. How can we allow the idiots to slander you!" "Pijiang, I have a toast to you!" "Yes, yes! Brother Pijiang, we all support it you!" Amid the clamor, Chen Zhenhui turned her gaze to Wu Yingji, obviously hoping that he would show something to eliminate the grudge between him and Mao Xiang.But Wu Yingji didn't say a word, and turned away stubbornly... At this time, Mao Xiang stood up.He didn't look at anyone, and said in a low voice: "Thank you for your protection, Mao Xiang is very grateful. Right and wrong can be judged freely, and I don't need to say more here. The future will be long, and my brother will always have the opportunity to prove to the world that Mao Xiang is definitely not deceiving the world. , A coward who hates life and fears death!" In a few words, speak firmly.Everyone roared with applause.In the midst of the uproar, they had a toast with each other, and the atmosphere at the banquet finally became lively.