Chapter 56 matching by trick

The third and final round of the township examination ended on August 16 according to regulations.But the 15th was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Gongyuan released the cards one day in advance as usual, so that the candidates who had already handed in the papers would appear first.Among the first batch of candidates were Wu Yingji, Chen Zhenhui, Mei Langzhong, Gu Gao, Hou Fangyu, Yu Huai, Chen Liang, Lu Zhaolong, Feng Shu, Feng Ban, Zhang Dai, Sun Yongzuo and other members of Fushe.Maoxiang is also in it.Now, they are excitedly gathered in the Taoyehe room, chatting happily, while preparing to set wine to appreciate the moon, and sing operas to thank God.

Seven days ago, when Mao Xiang first entered the examination room, although he was once troubled by unexpected setbacks, but when the mysterious revelation from God calmed him down, the situation changed. It went smoothly, as if with the help of gods and ghosts, Evans poured out.Those seven stereotyped essays were really pharaohs and colorful, and even I couldn't help being surprised when I read them.The second and third exams are about theory, judgment, and current affairs policy, and the situation is the same.And in every match, he had already handed in the paper and appeared as soon as the top card was played.When I got back to the river room, I wrote out the test papers one by one and handed them over to a few acquaintances in the society, and won everyone's admiration and approval. language.Looking at this situation, although Mao Xiang was not showing any signs of expression on the surface, he still had a faint look, but he was very proud in his heart, thinking that although he dare not say that he will win the championship this time, there is no doubt about entering the Chinese style.

Perhaps because of this reason, when Dong Xiaowan, accompanied by Gu Mei and Li Shiniang, brought Mistress Lu to Taoyehe House suddenly, Mao Xiang did not show any surprise or unhappiness.On the contrary, the moment Dong Xiaowan walked straight towards him, Mao Xiang even showed a happy and apologetic smile.However, Dong Xiaowan obviously didn't understand the meaning of this smile.Her serious and pale face, her wide-open, frightened eyes, and her stiffened figure spoke of her inner nervousness; Her gait, again, showed her courage and determination.However, what surprised Mao Xiang the most was the martyr-like tragic and touching sense of Dong Xiaowan's whole posture at this moment, so that he suddenly felt a little timid and flustered.Although a few words of entertainment as usual had slipped to my lips, they seemed to be enchanted all of a sudden, and I couldn't say them any more.

Dong Xiaowan stopped in front of Maoxiang.She raised her head, opened her big dreamy eyes wide, and just stared blankly at Maoxiang without saying a word.She stared so intently and for such a long time, as if she forgot where she was at the moment, and also forgot that there were many people around her... Finally, Mao Xiang felt a little uncomfortable being looked at by her.He turned around and found that the eyes of the members of the society were all focused on the two of them, and each of them smiled meaningfully.Mao Xiang's face blushed slightly, and just about to say haha, to cover up the embarrassing scene, a clear and sweet female voice shouted in the crowd:

"Ah, everyone, take a look at these two couples! One is in Rugao and the other is in Gusu. They agreed to meet in Nanjing after a lot of hard work, but when they met, they patronized you to look at me and I to look at you. Not to mention! What kind of a play is this?" That was Gu Mei.As she spoke, she walked over waddlingly.Both Gu Mei and Li Shiniang are Dong Xiaowan's handkerchief sisters.A few days ago, Dong Xiaowan took Mistress Lu to the old courtyard to look for them, told the truth about her and Maoxiang, and begged the sisters for help.After hearing this, Gu Mei fully agreed, and appreciated Lu Maipo's idea of ​​making public opinion force Mao Xiang to submit by publicizing the matter.She said: "Huh, don't tell me, this really has to be done this way! In this world, if we whores want to become popular, we naturally have to be supported by their celebrities; I'm afraid I don't want to be arrogant!" She did what she said, she asked Dong Xiaowan to move into the city, and lived in Meilou, and at the same time, she connected with a group of sisters, talking about Maoxiang and Dong Xiaowan to everyone she met. , Add fuel and vinegar, and try your best to make public.As a result, until now, this matter has become known to everyone in the circle of celebrities, and many people have promised Gu Mei that they will do their best to facilitate this marriage.Therefore, at this moment, Gu Mei already knew what she knew.However, she also knew that whether this matter could be accomplished or not depended on how Mao Xiang made up her mind in the end.So as soon as she came in, she paid great attention to Mao Xiang's expression and reaction.Seeing that Mao Xiang didn't show any signs of boredom or displeasure, she breathed a sigh of relief; then she saw the pair staring at each other in a daze, speechless, Gu Mei almost didn't laugh. "Huh, I also know how difficult it is for this person who pretends to be a big son to take the lead, and he dares to be 'silver-like pewter'! It's ridiculous that my younger sister of the Dong family is also too timid. I'm afraid. Wait for me to use some tricks to match up this marriage, and let's see what she can thank me for!" Thinking of this, she said with a smile:

"Oh, are you afraid that we won't be able to go if we hear it? Okay, okay, let's go now. If they get in the way again, I don't know why they will curse us to death!" As Gu Mei said, she turned around and walked out of the hall.After walking a few steps and looking back, everyone was still standing still, she called again: "Hey, what's the matter! You should go!" "You don't say where, how do we go?" Li Shiniang smiled and said, "Could it be that my sister is going to throw herself into the Qinhuai River, and we have to follow?" "Damn girl! Do you even need to ask? Of course it's Shangshui Pavilion!" Gu Mei stomped her feet and said, then she rolled her eyes and smiled sweetly, "Who is obedient, come with me obediently, I'll wait a while Sing a little song sweetly for him; who still insists on leaving, hey, I, Mr. Mao, Xiao Wan, and this saleswoman Lu, will be chased away with a broom!"

"Oh, there's a little song to listen to, of course I'll go!" Gu Gao, who was standing nearby, jumped up first. He pulled Li Shiniang, walked past Maoxiang and Dong Xiaowan with a smile, made a grimace, and then made three steps in two Step out of the main room. So, the rest of the people also laughed and walked out.In a blink of an eye, only Mao and Dong were left in the main room. When Gu Mei was coaxing and coercing her to drive people out, Mao Xiang didn't move, and didn't open her mouth to stop her.He had just finished the exam, and now the pleasant feeling of relief has not disappeared. At the same time, he was somewhat embarrassed that he had broken his promise and refused to go to Suzhou, and Dong Xiaowan's painstaking efforts to come here moved him somewhat.Strange to say, before seeing Dong Xiaowan, he didn't feel this way at all, and was even annoyed at her pestering her; but at this moment, when Dong Xiaowan was standing in front of him with such a lovely and pitiful appearance, Mao Xiang felt that it was a bit too much for her to treat her in the past?

"Well, you—you came by yourself." After a while of silence, Mao Xiang finally spoke.Before Dong Xiaowan could answer, he hurriedly said, "I didn't go to Gusu to pick you up this time, so you must be blaming me, right? Actually, I really wanted to go, but the trial period was too tight and there was no other way. However, I I've made a plan, I still want to go after the exam - I didn't expect you to come first, just in time. It's just hard for you!" "My family does not blame you. You are busy taking the exam. This is an important matter. It is right not to go to Gusu. Now I have seen you and heard that you did well in the exam. I just like it in my heart." Dong Xiaowan said. Nodding his head, he said softly.

"Ah, you also know?" "In the past few days, my family has burned incense and kowtowed to the moon every night, praying for God to bless your son Jinke High School. Just now, someone said in Meilou that the first few articles of your son's head are so good that they haven't been published yet. Bookstore Someone has come to inquire about it, and wants to take it to reprint and engrave the seal. The slave family thought, if there is a spirit from heaven, the young master wins, even if the slave family encounters an accident on the way, it will be..." Speaking of the last sentence, Dong Xiaowan's lips trembled suddenly , the voice also became hoarse, and then swallowed.

Mao Xiang stared at Dong Xiaowan intently.He originally thought that if he missed the appointment this time, he would inevitably be blamed by the other party with tears and snot, at least he would complain a few words, but Dong Xiaowan not only didn't mean to blame at all, but instead made assumptions and excuses for him everywhere.He didn't expect that the other party would be so considerate and caring for him, he was very moved for a moment, he couldn't help stretching out his hand, gently holding Dong Xiaowan's soft and white hand, and said pitifully: "This...is really embarrassing for you! I didn't expect...really. Well, what did you say just now—an accident? What's going on here?"

"No... nothing." "No, tell me, I want you to tell me!" "It's really nothing. It's just... when we came, we met robbers on the way. We wanted to grab things, and we ran as hard as we could. We finally hid in the reeds and didn't ask them to search. But the rudder was broken. The boat couldn't move, and he didn't dare to go ashore, for fear of encountering robbers again. There was no food on board, so he had to starve. After three days, the boatman secretly went ashore and repaired the rudder. At that time, the slave's only thought was , I was born with a bitter life, and when I died, I had nothing to hate; and if I died on the way to find the young master, I was considered blessed after all. It's just that I don't know why, and I can't send a letter to the young master when I die, but... ...why...not reconciled!" Dong Xiaowan struggled to finish speaking, and couldn't bear it anymore.She broke away from Maoxiang's hand suddenly, covered her mouth with all her strength, fell on the chair, and wept bitterly and aggrievedly. Mao Xiang stood there blankly, looked at Dong Xiaowan, didn't move, and didn't try to persuade her.For some reason, he felt a little confused, not sure what to do and what to say.Yes, it wasn't difficult to say something softly and reassuringly -- he didn't promise anything, but he sounded kind -- and he had done it that way more than once in the past, Very effective every time.But today, should we still do this?Mao Xiang felt a little hesitant.He is very clear that what Dong Xiaowan needs is a sincere promise, not empty comfort.If I still use that method to deal with such a weak woman who is infatuated with me, it will be too bullying and not fair enough.But what if he really promised to marry her?There are indeed many difficulties.Let alone whether I really like her or not, let's take the two things of paying her debts and redeeming her body as an example. I don't have one or two thousand taels of silver in hand, so I'm afraid it will be difficult to clear them.But since the father's incident at home, the situation has been much worse than before.Now that I want to take out two thousand taels of silver to ask for a concubine, I am afraid that my parents may not agree. "Hey, even if you marry Yuanyuan, things might not work out, let alone her!" Thinking of this, Mao Xiang was discouraged again.He turned his head and glanced at Dong Xiaowan, and was about to walk over to say a few random words of persuasion, when a voice with a smile on his face rang out outside the door: "What? Haven't you finished yet? Oh, this is really 'cutting and messing up'!" Gu Mei said while walking in.Suddenly seeing Mao Xiang standing in the middle of the hall with frowning eyebrows, and then looking at Dong Xiaowan, she found that she was crying on the chair, Gu Mei was startled, and quickly asked: "What's the matter, what's the matter? It was fine just now , How could it be like this? — Humph, Mr. Mao, it’s probably because you see that my girl has a good temper, and you somehow bullied her, right?" As she said that, she quickly walked to Dong Xiaowan's side: "Sister, don't cry. Tell me, how did he bully you? Wait for my sister to judge him!" Dong Xiaowan was almost crying, but she just hoped that Mao Xiang would come over and say a few gentle and considerate words to her, so she procrastinated.Seeing Gu Mei walk in, she quickly wiped away her tears, stood up and said, "I'm not pretending to be a son, it's my sister who wants to behave like this." "Is this true?" Dong Xiaowan nodded. Gu Mei breathed a sigh of relief.She looked at Maoxiang, and then at Dong Xiaowan: "Everything is ready over there, everyone is waiting for you to take a seat! If there is nothing else, just go there!" Seeing that Mao and Dong didn't object, she said to her Dong Xiaowan said: "Sister, look at you, how can you meet people with this appearance! Hurry up, there is a dowry in the next room, go and even your face before you come back, we will wait for you!" Dong Xiaowan agreed, and obediently walked into the next door.Taking advantage of this moment, Gu Mei pulled Mao Xiang aside, and quietly asked: "Well, how about it, have you made up your mind?" Mao Xiang glanced at her, knowing that she could not be fooled, so he shook his head honestly. Gu Mei originally squinted her eyes with a smile on the corner of her mouth, but when she saw him like this, her eyes suddenly widened, "Why, you still think about Chen Yuanyuan?" She said angrily, "Tell me, where is my sister?" Not as good as Yuanyuan? Will Yuanyuan treat you so desperately? Will she wait so desperately to find you? Will she die for you and be willing?" Mao Xiang didn't make a sound.He had also thought about what Gu Mei said, and he also felt that Chen Yuanyuan was indeed inferior to Dong Xiaowan in this respect.But what he is thinking about now is not this. "Don't talk about Yuanyuan!" He said unhappily, "I mean getting registered and paying off debts!" "Oh, I'm so worried about this matter!" Gu Mei became happy when she heard this, "What's the problem? It's just one or two thousand taels of silver! You're so imposing, are you afraid that you won't be able to get it?" "Hmph! How would you know!" Mao Xiang sneered, "A year ago you said that was pretty much the same, but now—" He shut his mouth and shook his head. "This..." Gu Mei blinked her big apricot-like eyes, as if she was a bit embarrassed, she couldn't help but ponder.However, when her eyes fell on Mao Xiang again, she smiled: "Young master, you are really smart all your life, but you are confused for a while! Thanks to your self-esteem and self-respect, you are quite assertive, but when things come to an end, you forget your own weight!" "..." Gu Mei curled his lips: "If it's those unknown juniors like cats and dogs, I can't help it. But a famous Fushe son like you, just say a joke - just use this name to pawn a shop, and you can pawn it It’s a thousand and eight hundred! Do you need to worry about money?” "..." "You don't believe it?" Gu Mei's eyes became sparkling, "Everyone on the Qinhuai River knows about you two now, if you believe it, we'll just make a fuss about it tomorrow. Make it a sensation in the south of the Yangtze River, tens of thousands of mouths, the more vigorous the better! At that time—see, someone will be willing to be there and pay for it for you! Do you believe it or not?" After a pause, she saw that Maoxiang was sullen and silent, unable to understand his thoughts, so she covered her mouth again and smiled "Puchi": "Don't be annoyed, my lord, I'm just joking with you! But, To be honest, there are so many famous people nowadays. He looks at you two celebrities and beauties. If this romantic story comes true, it goes without saying that everyone will envy it. Maybe it will be passed down through the ages! As long as you spend a thousand With two silvers, he can gain the reputation of being a yellow shirt and a jailer, and he probably thinks it's a good deal!" I don't know whether Mao Xiang was listening or not, he stood motionless, stroked his black and beautiful beard slowly, but still didn't speak.

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