Chapter 10 The Ninth Chapter: Mr. Lou donates money to redeem his friend Liu Shoubei, pretending to be a boatman

It is said that the two young masters were walking on the bank, when they suddenly saw a person walking by the corner of the house, they bowed their heads and bowed; Do you recognize the villain?" The two young masters said: "The front is kindness, I can't remember it at the moment." The man said: "The villain is Zou San, the son of Zou Jifu who visited the grave of the old Taibao." The two young masters were shocked. "Why are you here?" Zou Sandao: "Since the young masters all came to Beijing, the young old man looked at the graveyard, it was really prosperous, and a few fields were placed at the door. The old house is not enough. My family So I bought another house and moved to the East Village. The house was given to my younger uncle to live in. Later, the younger brothers got married again in the smaller house. I have an older sister who is married in Xinshi Town; when my brother-in-law is gone, my older sister takes both my youngest father and mother here to live here, and the younger one follows me." The two young masters said: "So that's how it is. Is there no one to trample on my graveyard?" Zou Sandao: "How dare you do this? The lords of the prefectures and counties pass by there, and they all come in and kowtow, and no one touches a stalk or grass." The two young masters said: "Your father and mother , where is it now?" Zou San said: "I live at my sister's house at the end of the city, not too many steps away. The young master often misses the kindness of the two young masters, so I can't see each other." The third son said to the fourth son: "Zou Jifu is an old man. , we also miss him very much; since it's not far away, why don't you go to his house and have a look?" The fourth young master said: "It's best." He took Zou San back to the shore, and told his followers to pass by the boatman.

Zou San led the way and walked straight to the end of the city. He saw seven or eight small houses and two scorpion doors, half-opened and half-closed.Zou San went up and shouted, "My lord! The third young master and the fourth young master are here!" Zou Jifu replied inside: "Is that one?" He came out with a stick and saw the two young masters. The young master walked into the main room, lost his stick, and wanted to fall down and bow down.The two young masters hurriedly helped him up and said, "Why do you do this, old man?" The two young masters dragged him to sit down with him.Zou Sanpeng brought tea, Zou Jifu took it himself, and gave it to the two young masters to eat.The third son said: "When we came out of Beijing, as soon as we got home, we had to go to the grave of Xian Taibao to sweep the grave. We planned to meet your old man; but because we took a detour in Jiaxing to see Mrs. Yun, we accidentally walked this way, not wanting to run into your son. , said that your old man is here, and I can see you. After more than ten years, your old man is getting healthier. I just heard that your two sons have married wives, and how many grandchildren have you had? Your wife is also the same Here?" Saying that, the old woman, with white hair and eyebrows, came out and said blessings to the two fathers and sons, and the two sons also returned the salute.Zou Jifu said: "Go in and tell the girl, prepare dinner and tea, and leave the two young masters to sit." The mother-in-law went in.Zou Jifu said: "My husband and I are grateful for the kindness of the old master and the young master, and we can't forget it for a while; my old lady, I burn a stick of incense under the eaves every day, and bless the young masters to still be officials. Now the young master I think it's a big sedan chair." The fourth son said: "Our brothers are not at home; what's the benefit to your old man? But saying such things makes us feel uneasy." The third son said: "Besides, your old man is tired of guarding the grave. For many years, we are still grateful, how can we say this?" Zou Jifu said: "Master Yungu has already retired and returned to his hometown. It is a pity that his young master passed away! Do you think the young master will grow up?" He is seventeen years old, and his aptitude is still smart." Zou San held out a meal, chicken, fish, meat, duck, and a few vegetables, all neatly placed on the table, and invited the two young masters to sit down. Zou Jifu didn't dare to come and accompany him, the two young masters repeatedly urged him to sit with him.When the wine was poured out, Zou Jifu said: "Young and old men may not be used to the water and wine in the country." The fourth son said: "This wine also has some status." Zou Jifu said: "Don't talk about it anymore! Now people are so weak, The wine juice made from this rice is very thin. Xiaolao still heard my dead ghost father say: "Living in the hands of Lord Hongwu, everything is good; two buckets of rice are enough to make wine, and there are twenty catties of wine ladies. Later, Master Yongle After mastering the country, everything has changed for some reason, and two buckets of rice can only make fifteen or six catties of wine. 'Like my wine, it is still so bland and tasteless,' said the third son. "We don't drink too much, just this wine is very good." Zou Jifu ate the wine and said, "To tell you the truth, I am old and useless; how can God see me and let their children drink?" In a few more years, Master Hongwu's life will be great!" The fourth young master smiled at the third young master after hearing this.

Zou Jifu said again: "I heard people say that the world in this dynasty should be as good as Confucius' Zhou Dynasty; it was ruined just to produce Lord Yongle. Is there such a thing?" The third son laughed. Said: "An honest man in your country, where did you know these words? After all, who told you these words?" Zou Jifu said: "I really didn't know these words; because there is a salt shop in my town, the salt shop A gentleman in charge came to our rice field or under a willow tree and sat and said these things, so I often heard them." The two young masters were surprised: "What's the name of this gentleman?" Zou Jifu Said: "His surname is Yang, and he is very honest. He is also a good reader. He often hides a volume in his cuff, sits everywhere, and takes it out to read. Usually he is fine here after dinner, so he can walk out. Now he wants to Seeing this gentleman, but I can't do it anymore!" The two young masters said: "Where did this gentleman go?" Zou Jifu said: "Don't talk about it again! Although Mr. Yang came from a business background, he refused to take care of all the accounts; Apart from hanging out, when he was in the store, he only read books at a low price, so everyone in the store called him an "old idiot". In the past, the boss entrusted him to take care of him because he was upright; later, when he heard about these stupid things, the boss I went to the store by myself and settled the accounts, but I was short of more than 700 silver. I asked and had nowhere to spend, and I still insisted on words in front of my boss, pointing fingers and dissatisfied. The boss was annoyed, and sent a certificate to Deqing County. County owner The master saw that it was a matter of salt affairs, so he ordered it to be enforced; take this Mr. Yang to prison, sit and investigate, and now he will be in prison for a year and a half."

The third son said: "Does his family have any property that can be compensated?" Jifu said: "It's a good thing. His family lives four miles away from the entrance of this village, and his two sons are stupid; neither do business, I don’t study, and I still rely on old officials to support me, what compensation do I get?" The fourth son said to the third son: "In a remote village, there is such a gentleman who is an educated man, and he is so abused by a money slave! We can discuss a reason, save Do you want this person?" The third son said: "He is only in debt, not breaking the law; if you are ordered, you only need to go to the city to find out the details and clear up the debts for him. What's the difficulty?" The fourth son Said: "This is the most reasonable. The two of us will go to do this when we get home tomorrow."

Zou Jifu said: "Amitabha! The two young masters are willing to do good deeds. Thinking about the past, I don't know how many people have been rescued. Now if Mr. Yang is rescued, no one in this town will respect him!" The third son said: " Jifu, don't say this while you're in town, wait for us to take a camera." The fourth young master said, "Exactly; if you don't know whether something can be done or not, it will be boring to say it." So there was no need to drink, and I took food to eat, and hurried back to the boat.Zou Jifu carried a cane to the boat, and said: "Congratulations, young masters, for returning to the mansion, and I will come to the city to be safe in the mansion some other day." He also asked Zou San to bring a bottle of wine and some side dishes, and send them on the boat, with them The two young masters had a midnight snack.Watching the boat sailing, I just went back.

The two sons arrived home, cleaned up some household chores, entertained guests for a few days, and by the way called a family member who was in charge to be promoted, and told him to go to the county. The salt store in Chaxin Town sent this person to be imprisoned. What's his name?What kind of silver is short?How much is the total?Do I have fame or not?Find out and report.Jin Jue took the order and came to the county government office.The Household Book Office is Jin Jue's sworn brother. Seeing him come to investigate, he quickly found out the case, copied a copy on paper, handed it back to him, and replied to the two sons.I saw that it reads, "The salt store in Gongyu Banner, Xinshi Township, the first businessman Yang Zhizhong (namely Yang Yun) has been in the store for many years and has not kept his duty; whoring, gambling, clothing and food cost more than 700 taels of misappropriation, which is a violation of the national lesson. , Kindly pursue this and so on. However, Cha himself is born and born in Bagong, so it is inconvenient to compare, and the details will be removed for strict comparison. Now, when I violated the right, I will be sent to prison and imprisoned, pending the approval of the constitution, and then restricted and so on. "The fourth young master said: "This is also ridiculous. He was born with Bagong, and he is also a person in the clothes. Now he only embezzled the salt merchant's few liang of silver, so why should he be punished and held accountable?" The third young master said. "Have you found out that he has no other feelings?" Jinjue said, "I have asked you clearly, and there is no other love." The third son said: "In that case, go and take away the man from Huangjiawei who came to redeem the field the day before yesterday." Zong Yinzi, exchange seven hundred and fifty taels for him to go to the treasury; then write the name post of the two of us, and ask the county to say: This Yang Gongsheng is a good friend of the old men, so let him be released from prison. You take yours again Add a certificate of guarantee to your name, and you can handle it as soon as possible." The fourth son said: "Jinjue, you can handle this matter, don't neglect! Then Yang Gong is born in prison, you don't have to say anything to him, he will come to me naturally. Come meet here." Jin Jue promised to go.

Jue only took twenty taels of silver to the secretary's house; he gave the silver to the secretary and said, "I will discuss with you about Yang Gongsheng." Post, why is this difficult?" Then he posted a post saying: "This Yang Gongsheng is from the Lou Mansion; the two masters posted a post, and now the Lou Mansion's furniture is insured. Besides, the Lou Mansion said: This money is very valuable. The stolen goods are not money, so why should I be imprisoned? I beg the master to judge this matter." Hearing Lou's words, the county magistrate panicked, but he couldn't return to the salt merchant.Pass it to the book office to discuss it carefully, so I have to collect several salt regulations and money to make up for this one.After the Jinjue guarantee certificate was approved, Yang Gongsheng was released from prison immediately;The more than seven hundred taels of silver were all accepted by Jinjue; he replied to the young master when he released them.

The young master knew that he was out of prison, so naturally he wanted to thank him; but Yang Zhizhong didn't know why.Asked people in front of the county, and said that a Jin Jue surnamed Jin protected him.He thought to himself that he had never recognized this man named Jin in his life; if he had doubts, he should be ignored, he would be clean, and he would go to the countryside to read books as usual. When they got home, the old wife went on, and the joy fell from the sky; the two stupid sons gambled in the town every day and never came home at midnight.There was only one old woman, doubtful and deaf, who cooked at home and waited at the door.The next day, Yang Zhizhong walked around the town where famous people knew each other.Because Zou Jifu was the second son and raised his grandson, he took him to live in Dongzhuang, but he never met him.So Mr. Lou's righteous deed, he would never know it in his dreams.Mr. Lou was more than a month old, and his brother was at home, so he was very surprised; thinking of the story of Yue Shifu, I felt that Yang Zhizhong's knowledge was extremely high, which was even more respectable.One day, the third young master said to the fourth young master, "Yang Zhizhong hasn't come to thank him so far. He has a different character." Come to thank you, isn't this common?" The third son said: "I think so too; but don't you hear the saying that'Young master is virtuous to others, may you forget it'? If we go to his house first, it won't be like Do you want to express this matter specifically?" The fourth young master said: "When we meet, don't mention it. It's common for friends to miss each other and order to visit each other. Could it be that because of these reasons, they are separated and can't make friends? "The third son said: "This is very reasonable." At present, the discussion has been decided, and he said: "We must get on the boat one day first, and arrive at his house early the next day, so that we can talk all day." Small boat, no entourage; disembarked in the afternoon, walked dozens of miles.

At this time, it was the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, the days were short and the nights were long, and there was some hazy moonlight in the river; the boat rode the moonlight, swaying the oars.The rented rice boats of the families in the river couldn't be crowded; this boat was small and only passed by the boat.Looking at the weather, the two young masters were about to fall asleep, when they heard a sound that made the river beat loudly, but the boat had no lights, and the cabin door was closed again.The four young masters opened a sheet between the boards, and saw a big boat in the upper reaches, brightly lit with two pairs of big high lamps; one pair of lamps had the word 'Xiangfu' on it, and the other was 'Tongzheng Secretary's Hall', and there were several people standing on the boat. People like wolves and tigers, with whips in hand, beat the boats that squeezed the river.The fourth young master was taken aback, and called out, "Third brother! Come and see, who is this?" The third young master came to see, "This servant is not from my family, after all." Saying that, the big boat had arrived and beat him with a whip. The boatman of this small boat; the boatman said: "It's a good river road, you can go as long as you go, why do you commit murder?" The people on the boat said: "You dog-raised servant! You open your donkey's eyes and look at the words on the lantern. The boat is that The boat of the family!" The boatman said: "You have the 'President's Mansion' hanging on your lamp, I know you are the prime minister's house!" Those people said: "Blind death row prisoner! Huzhou has a second prime minister besides Lou's house?" The boatman said "Lou Mansion! Well, which master is it?" The boat said: "We are the boat of Master Lou San who rents rice, who doesn't know! This dog is raised, and then talk back, take a rope to tie him On the bow of the boat; I will go back to the third master tomorrow, send the post to the county, and write dozens of boards before talking about it!" The boatman said: "Master Lou San is now on my boat, and there is another master Lou San coming out from your place?" The young master laughed secretly.

The boatman opened the deck and said, "Please come out and recognize the third master." The third master walked on the bow.At this time, the moon has not yet set, reflecting the lights over there, shining brightly.The third son asked: "Are you the family members in that room of my house?" Those people recognized the third son, all panicked, and knelt down and said: "The master of the little people is not the master's family; the master of the little people, Mr. Liu, once I used to be the guard of the mansion. Because I was transporting some rented rice from the village, I was afraid that the river would be crowded, so I boldly borrowed the official title in the master's mansion; if I didn't want to, I ran into the boat of the third master, you should die!" The third son said: "You Although the master is not from my own family, he is also in the village, so why not borrow a lantern with an official title? But you can’t do it when you attack people in the river. If you say it’s my family, don’t you want to ruin my family’s reputation? Besides, you know it too. No one in my family has ever dared to do such a thing. When you get up, go back and meet your master, and you don’t have to say what you said when you met me in the river, but you don’t have to do it next time. Do I still care about you?” Everyone He promised, thanked the third master for his kindness, kowtowed, hurriedly blew out the two high lamps, and moored the boat to the river to rest.

The third young master came into the cabin and laughed with the fourth young master; the fourth young master said: "Boater, you really shouldn't have told me that the third master of my family is on the boat, and please show him again; what is it to make them ruin this great fun?" What do you mean?" The boatman said, "Don't tell me, he's going to break through the planks of my boat! He's so vicious! It's only after a while that he shows his original shape." After saying that, the two young masters undressed and went to bed.The boat rowed all night, and arrived at Xinshi Town in the morning. The two young masters fetched water to wash their faces, ate some tea and snacks, and ordered the boatman to "watch the boat carefully and serve it here." The two walked ashore and came to At the end of the city, Zou Jifu's daughter's house saw that the door was closed. After knocking on the door and asking, I found out that the old Zou and his wife had gone to Dongzhuang.The daughter left the two masters for tea, but never sat down. The two left the town and walked along the main road for more than four miles. They met a woodcutter picking firewood and asked him, "There is a master Yang Zhizhong here. Where does he live?" The one that is red is the back of his house, you should go through this path."The two young masters thanked the woodcutter and searched for a way in hazelnuts. They arrived at a village; there were only four or five families and a few thatched huts.There are two big maple trees behind the house, the maple leaves are red, and I know that this is the back of Yang's house.Another small road leads to the front gate. There is a ravine in front of the gate, with a small board bridge above it.When the two sons crossed the bridge, they saw that the two doors of the Yang family were closed.Seeing people approaching, the dog barked.The third young master came to knock on the door. After knocking for a long time, an old woman came out with very tattered clothes.The two young masters stepped forward and asked, "Are you the home of Mr. Yang Zhizhong?" After asking twice, they nodded and said, "Yes. Where are you from?" The two young masters said, "My brothers are named Lou. I live in the city, and I’m here to visit Master Yang Zhizhong.” The old woman couldn’t understand, and said Ni: “Is the surname Liu?” The two young masters said: “The surname is Lou. You only need to tell the master that you are a scholar from Lou’s family and you will know. .” The old woman said: "The master is not at home. I went out to watch him fishing yesterday, but I haven't come back. If you have anything to say, come back another day." After that, she didn't know that please come in and have tea, but she closed the door and went back. up.The two sons were very melancholy; after standing for a while, they had no choice but to cross the bridge, follow the same road, return to the boat, and enter the city. Yang Zhizhong didn't come home until evening.The old woman told him: "In the morning, two people surnamed Liu came to look for my father in the city; they said he lived in some Dajue Temple." Yang Zhizhong said, "How did you answer him?" Father is not at home, so tell him to come back another day." Yang Zhizhong thought to himself, "Then who is surnamed Liu?" Suddenly he remembered that the salt merchant had sued him for a lawsuit, and the original messenger from the county was surnamed Liu.It must be the messenger who came to find money; because he scolded the old woman a few words and said, "You are old and stupid! If such a person comes looking for me, you just say that I am not at home, and tell him to come another day." ? You are so useless!" The old woman refused to accept it, and returned his mouth.Yang Zhizhong was annoyed, he slapped and kicked the old woman several times. After that, I'm afraid they sent someone to look for him again, he went out early in the morning and didn't go home until evening.I don't want the two sons of Lou's mansion to be worried; after four or five days, they called the boatman to the town again, and still walked to the door and knocked on the door.The old woman opened the door, and seeing these two people, she became very angry and said: "Father is not at home, what are you just looking for?" He said: "What are you talking about! I have been beaten and kicked because of you two people. What are you doing today? Dad is not at home, and he won't be home for some days! I don't have time, I have to cook! "Speaking, the two couldn't help asking again, closed the door, and went in, and there was no knocking again.The two sons don't know why, but they are very annoyed and funny.After standing for a while, I thought the call would not answer, so I had to go back to the boat.The boat was rocking and traveling for several miles, and saw a boat selling water chestnuts; a child was rocking and approaching the boat.The child leaned on the window of the boat and said, "Buy water chestnuts! Buy water chestnuts!" The boat tied the boat with ropes and weighed water chestnuts.The two sons leaned against the window in the cabin, and asked the child, "Where do you live in the village?" The child said, "I'm in this new town." The fourth son said, "Here is Father Yang Zhizhong, Do you recognize him?" The child said: "Why don't you recognize him? This old gentleman is a very kind person; he took my boat to Qiancun to watch a theater the day before yesterday, and he left a scroll in his sleeve and wrote These words are on it." The third son said: "Where is it?" The child said: "Under the cabin." The third son said: "Take it here and let's have a look!" The child took it and handed it over, and took the boatman to buy it. Ling's money shook away. The two young masters opened it, and saw that it was a piece of plain paper, on which was written a seven-character quatrain poem: "I dare not do something rash, just because I have read running script; the severe frost and scorching sun have passed by, and the next spring breeze comes to the grass reed." One line writes 'Yang Yuncao, the clumsy old man in Fenglin'.The two sons sighed after watching it.Said: "This gentleman is indifferent, actually respectable! But why are we so difficult to meet?" On this day, although Shuangfeng was sad, he was happy that the weather was clear; the fourth son saw the scenery of mountains and waters from the bow of the boat, and wandered around to look at it.I saw a big boat behind, catching up; a man on the bow shouted: "Master Lou Si! Please come closer to the boat, the master is here." Turning his head, he saw the cabin and said, "It turns out that the third master is here too." Just because he met this boat, there are different teachings: