Chapter 16 The Sixteenth Chapter of Loving Mother's Palace Que Farewell to the Prince Yu Yongyan Watching the Wind and Entering Shandong
Because Fu Heng was seriously ill and dying, Qianlong ordered to stop working for a day.Before Chen's time, Qianlong ordered "prepare Chengyu" to go to Fu's mansion to "see the disease".Among the concubines in the palace, the imperial concubine Wei Jia's has the deepest connection with the Fu family, and if she thinks about kindness and righteousness, she should go to the Fu family to comfort Tang'er at this time anyway.But last night, Qianlong asked for an order from the queen, but Qianlong didn't give him permission. He just said, "There is a regulation here. It is a special kindness for me to go. If you all go, how can the Fu family pick you up? They are all heartbroken at this moment." It's so chaotic, you can't handle it even if you're stationed in the pass. Brother Fifteen is going on a long trip again, and your mother and son should talk to each other and let him go on the road. Just think about the kindness of the Fu family, and don't worry about these trivial gifts." Therefore, Wei Jiashi Early in the morning, I went to the Buddhist hall to wash my vegetarian food, put three peace incense on Fu Heng, and went back to Chuxiu Palace to meditate silently. Miserable things, already blurred with tears.Just as his thoughts were surging like a tide, the little eunuch came in and said, "Master, Lord Fifteen is here!" Then he heard the sound of his son's footsteps approaching gradually, Busy Xue wiped away his tears and changed into a smile, and told a girl beside him "Guixiang, your fifteenth master is here, make tea from the altar of Longjing in the booth!"
As he said that, Yong Yan had already opened the curtain and came in. He politely walked up to Wei Jia's face and said, "Mother is peaceful. I will leave Beijing today, and I will bid you farewell." Standing up and looking at Wei Jia's complexion, he said again : "Mother's face is a little pale, is it because of insomnia at night? It looks like she just cried."
"Sit down." Wei Jiashi said lightly, staring at his son with a flicker of light in his eyes.This is the kind of demeanor that is rarely seen among mothers of any ordinary family in the world.One side said that he was the prince, the proud son of heaven in the palace, and the pillar of the country; the other side said that he was her lifelong backer, and the owner of her family after she returned to the position of concubine in the future.As far as the present is concerned, Qianlong's admonition, the queen's admonition, and Donggong master's admonition-the emperor, monarchs, ministers, and masters can all "train" admonitions, which are the guidelines of the sage system in the "Three Guidelines".The name, status, and status of her "mother" can only cling to the brilliance of this brilliance that matches the sun and the moon, and she can only "admonish" at best.In addition to the innate maternal love in this look: how, tenderness, anticipation, care, longing... There is also a fearful awe of the majesty of the royal family, and the honor of self-identity.All ordinary people's intimacy between mother and child, singing, laughing, sorrowful and happy, was annihilated by this invisible high wall. She just looked at her son like this. He was only fifteen years old, so upright, like a little adult.It is common for mother and child to hug each other and cry bitterly if they are in the folk when they are so old.But she couldn't, she just felt that it was too far away to be so close, and she could only look at it through the "wall".
However, it was difficult for Yong Yan to understand his mother's state of mind at this moment. Seeing her looking at him like this, he looked at himself a little strangely, then raised his head and said, "I'm going on a long journey, so I can't come here to say hello. I can't pass on the Ann Zhezi on the way, and I can't single it out to my mother." .You better take care."
"I eat well and wear warm clothes, and I live in the palace without worrying about everything. Don't forget about me. I'll be fine with everything when you're well. If you're not good, you won't get better." Wei Jiashi regained her mind and returned to the current situation. , sighed lightly and said with a smile: "Although you can't send me a separate letter. You write a letter of greetings to the emperor, and attach a sentence of greetings to the emperor's empress, and I will be able to see it, and I will be satisfied."
"Yes, I remember."
"You are an imperial envoy. Are you going to live in a post station on the post road?"
"It's a guard of honor, according to the rules." Yong Yan heard the trembling voice in his mother's words, his heart felt hot, his eyes were a little red, and he bowed and said, "I will ride with Wang Erlie, the attendant of Yuqing Palace. As the donkey is leaving, we should stop by to see what the people eat and live in, and what difficulties they have.”
Wei Jiashi laughed as soon as she heard it, "What's the point? Your mother came over there and asked me everything—Wang Erlie? I heard you told me that he was a Jinshi for thirty-nine years, right? He is too. I'm a scholar, I can only help you with your errands. I'm just worried that no one will take care of me if I eat, drink and sleep all the way. Besides, I heard that there are bandits outside, so if I don't bring more people, I'll cry if something happens. No tears!" Then he wiped away his tears.Yong Yan smiled and said: "Mother, you are here again. How do you teach me to come here on weekdays? You broke your hands one by one, how did you have nowhere to go, how did you have no relatives and were stared at everywhere, how did you eat under the eaves of others... It's what you said about 'people are more capable of being squeezed', and it's my turn, you should encourage me!" "I'm talking for nothing, just laughing and feeling happy." Wei Jiashi wiped away tears Still pouring out of the socket, "Mother, no one cared and felt sorry for her at that time. You are a golden branch and a jade leaf. Mother would rather you be safe and well than go out and wander alone."
Yong Yan's heart was hot, and he listened to her chatter with a smile on his face. Seeing Guixiang holding the middle bar, he hurriedly got up and twisted a hot towel and gave it to Wei Jiashi. Wang Erlie naturally has arrangements for security matters, and he has never heard of any Jiangyang robbers cutting the path along the official road. You can find out how many merchants from Jiangfu, merchants from Shandong, Anhui, and Yungui from Guangxi, Guangdong, when you go to Luhe Station Yes, it’s much farther than Shandong. You said that I’m tougher than other elder brothers, so isn’t my son not as good as those merchants?” Wei Jiashi cheered up after a while, and said, “You’re tougher, you know what’s going on in your heart. My son, you don’t show much on your face. My mother was born in a bitter cold, and she usually persuades you in a few words, you are more frugal than your brother and your younger brother, and you can endure grievances and beatings - just giving birth to you, you can see the flowers There is no hope, the emperor sent Ye Tianshi all the way, and it still saved your life... I thought, wouldn't it be better to bring along someone who is capable of going out often?" Then he sighed and said, "It's a pity that Fu Liu Grandpa is seriously ill. Otherwise, I will bring out a letter, no matter who Fulongan or Fukangan will be your companion, I will be relieved."
"Without them, my son can still do a good job." Yong Yan said.His self-esteem was stabbed by his mother, and his face immediately flushed slightly.Fulong'an is the princess's son-in-law, Fukang'an is Tang'er's favorite child, both are sons of nobles, not only extravagant but also highly self-respected, since childhood, he studied with Yongyan's elder brothers, rode horses to fight and led the nobles to play, unlike other families The children of the ministers tolerated these "elder brothers" in every way.Although he has no birth due to his mother's affection, Yong Yan has a deep and dull nature. Deep in his heart, he can't get used to the arrogance and arrogance of the Fu family brothers. Ji Ji couldn't take it anymore, he glanced at his mother, afraid that she would be overwhelmed, and said with a smile: "They are filial to Uncle Fu, just like I am filial to Huang Ama and you. Don't say that the sixth master is dying. Even if it's a minor illness or disaster, I can't bear to cut off the relationship between father and son, "
Wei Jiashi didn't know how much his son's thoughts had been moved in a moment, and he smiled and said, "That's right. That's it, I don't want you to make a splash outside and make a name for yourself. I'll be happy when you come back safe and sound." I got up and went into the inner room, and came out with a bag in my hand. It was all prepared under the lamp last night. I opened it and looked at it. On the top was a letter of "Safety Amulet". The seal seal is bright red, as eye-catching as blood.There was a small box next to it, and Wei Jiashi moved it a bit and said, "This is Zijin Huoluo Pill. That pack is Cinchona Cream—you have a malaria root, and you should eat it quickly when you think you are going to get sick..." There was another letter A small packet of mulberry paper of different sizes, with small silver coins, small gold claws, broken silver and so on.Not without regret, Wei Jia said, "This is all a piecemeal win when I was wiping cards with Queen Lafayette. It's useless to think about wanting these, and I rewarded them all. If I had known about this kind of thing, I should have kept it for you. My monthly bill is the most surplus in this palace, and I have 30,000 taels in the account! It's just a move of the money, but everyone in the world knows about it, I'm nothing, and it's meaningless to invite you to gossip..."
Yong Yan listened to his mother's arrangements and instructions one by one, as if he didn't know that he was an imperial envoy who was shaking the earth, but he was like a child from a small family who went far away. He just laughed secretly, and he didn't know why His heart sank all the time, tears welled up in his eyes, he forced a smile and said: "The imperial envoy feeds and feeds horses, there are post stations along the way to provide them, I just need to be a little more careful, mother doesn't have to worry so much." Wei Jia said: "I know, It's hard to go out at home for a thousand days, who is walking with the house on their backs! ——The family needs a solid follower, a good waiter all the way. If I knew this happened, I should point out a girl to show you face. After all, a man can’t serve others properly.” Yong Yan said with a smile, “Even if you have a concubine, you can’t follow me as an imperial envoy! My family is Wang Xiaowu and me—Fu Ling’an sent me off the year before last, and I’m very clever.”
"Yes, I know." Wei Jiashi stopped talking, retreated to his seat, stared at Yong Yan, waved his hands decisively, and said, "Good luck, go on an errand!"
Seven days later, Yong Yan and his party of four arrived in Cangzhou. It was the middle of the twelfth lunar month and the dry season. The section of the canal from Chaoyangmen to Tongzhou was so dry that the bottom of the river could be seen. After passing through the section from Tongzhou to Tianjin Wei Wharf, the canal was so cold that it looked like a mirror, and it was impossible to sail at all. He originally wanted to take another trail as soon as he left Tongzhou, but the densely populated cities along the way, the local officials had already accepted Li Shiyao's notice Get off the list, here eight people carry a big sedan chair, and the city civil and military officials over there already know that there is no end to the horses and horses, and they are already preparing to welcome the imperial envoys-this is one of the disadvantages of traveling in sedan chairs. You can thank the officials for boarding the ship to pay a visit. Diet and daily life are separated from the outside world. If you want to make a "private visit" and change into a Tsing Yi hat, you can leave.There is a "lodging" thing in the sedan chair, and you have to leave the sedan chair for eating and drinking. Although Yong Yan doesn't like to socialize, but wherever he goes, there are hot faces rubbing against each other, and there are loads of good words piled up , I had no choice but to follow the custom and perfunctory, only saying that "all banquets will not be with me".After passing through Qing County, the canal ahead was still frozen, and the shore was covered with solid ice, and the center of the river was covered with thin ice, which was barely feasible for a boat.After boarding the boat, my heart gradually settled down.
At this moment, he was sitting in the big cabin of the imperial envoy's ship, leaning on the railing and looking out, but he saw that the flat plains on both sides of the river were slowly moving back, the villages were desolate under the dark sky, and the gray and purple miscellaneous forests were one after another. In the distant sky, it looks like brown mist and mist as far as the eye can see. Nearby, the forest passing by the window is full of thorns and weeds. Pianluo looking for food.Only far away from the embankment, in the farmland mottled with residual snow, you can see the border markers connecting the rice paddies. The winter wheat in the field is about three or four inches high and low, fluctuating in the northwest wind. Business.Hearing some small noises, Yong Yan looked back from a distance, and then noticed that Ren Jifa, a personal guard seconded from the Ministry of Punishment, was standing sideways behind him, and Wang Xiaowu knelt on one knee at the hatch, puffing his cheeks and blowing the charcoal desperately In the stove, the newly added charcoal rods were about to burst into flames, and there was a clanking sound like a small collision.He didn't speak, but when he saw Wang Xiaowu brought the stove, he waved his hand and ordered him to step back, only looking at Ren Jifa.
Ren Jifa was wearing casual clothes, a black button-up vest over a gray market cloth robe, tight trousers with tied cuffs, and a pair of "Kick the Dead Cow" tung oil-soled fast boots on his feet.From his resume, he is already twenty-six years old, but he was born with a baby face, big mouth, round nose, round eyes and a slippery face. One can tell at a glance that he is a character who is full of information and can move at the touch of a button.He followed someone on a business trip, and it was the first time he served a "son of the dragon" like Yong Yan.He also couldn't figure out how this noble man of Tianhuang met officials all the way, held hands, patted his shoulders and laughed, was so gentle and generous that he seemed to have no pretensions, retreated and sat silently for an hour or two, and said a word; Put the chopsticks on the appetite, but never ask the cook to reprimand you for redoing, don't wear new clothes, but never wear the clothes if they are slightly stained-this is not surprising, but there are really not many people like this.He had already been secretly examining this elder brother, seeing him looking at him like this, he quickly lowered his head with a smile, and quietly pressed his tongue against his upper crotch, daring to meet his gaze.
"Your name is Ren Jifa?" Yong Yan finally spoke, his tone still so tepid, "From the Ministry of Punishment?"
Relieved, Ren Jifa breathed a sigh of relief, and replied respectfully: "The villain Ren Jifa was originally a disciple of Huang Tianba's sect. He had meritorious service with Liu Yong and Mr. Fu Kang'an on business trips. Mr. Fu recommended this villain to the arrest department of the Ministry of Criminal Justice. I have the title of a court official, but I am actually a fast-moving chief. You don’t need to call me by my official name, you can just call me 'Human Sperm'!"
"Human sperm!" Yong Yan laughed uncontrollably, "I think you must be extremely clever and martial arts." Ren Jifa changed his face and smiled, "This is why the Lord loves me. I am the grandson of Huang Tianba, thirteen Uncles and uncles all go out with adults on errands, dead or wounded, and everyone has something to do. The lame man pulls out the general, so it's my turn to follow the master. I dare not say that I am smart, and my martial arts are also sloppy. There are more aisles. Black and white are more familiar...hehe!" While talking, Wang Erlie lifted the cotton curtain and entered the cabin, the sperm stopped, and retreated to the side with a serious face.
This is a middle-aged man in his thirties.Medium build slightly slender.Wearing a long robe of reddish brown color, with a crimson belt around the waist, the lower cheeks of the fair and square face are slightly raised, exuding a stubborn air, and there are a pair of triangular eyes on the quiet face, the pupils are bottomless black. The two eyebrows are very light, and the eyebrows droop from the middle, like the wings of an eagle when it dives and rises - the Xiangshu called it "eagle wing feathers", and the precious weapon is flourishing, which is the proof that it has been tried and tested. Yong Yan saw him Come in, point out the window and ask: "Master Wang, it's very cold outside from here, and the ponds outside the embankment are not frozen. Forget it, why don't you start planting crops?" Then, he pointed to the chair on the opposite side and said, "Please sit down."
"Go back to Master Fifteen." Wang Erlie sat down, rubbed his hands that were a little stiff from the cold, and said with a smile: "It's saline-alkali land, no crops grow, and the water here is full of saline-alkali, so even though it's cold, it can't grow. Ice is forming. It is because salt water is pouring into the canal, and the ice in the canal is thinning. The ship travels southward, and the climate is warmer, but there is ice instead. This is also the reason. There are many such cases in Liaoyang, our hometown. The place, otherwise I would really be stopped by the Lord."
Yong Yan nodded after hearing this, and said after a long time: "Then the diet of people here is salty, is there no way to control it?" .” Wang Erlie said.Seeing Yong Yan looking at himself with a questioning look, he smiled again: "The so-called 'sweet water' is fresh water—probably a flood will pass by, and the alkali flowers in the ground will melt and wash away to plant some forage such as alfalfa. Locust locust locusts can also grow, and can be used as firewood. Paulownia can also be planted, which can have the benefits of wood and tung oil..." Yong Yan couldn't help nodding when he heard that, and suddenly turned to ask Bu Zhong, the accompanying eunuch standing at the door of the cabin: "We What ground are you on now?"
"If you go back to the master." Bu Zhong was startled coldly, and quickly apologized with a smile: "We are on the ground in Zhili."
Yong Yan smiled and said, "Do you still need to tell me about the ground in Zhili? Which county is it?" When asked, Bu Zhong looked dumbfounded, unable to answer with an embarrassed smile.The human sperm smiled and answered: "The first fifty miles of waterway to Cang County, we are not far from the ground of Qing County! The man said that the saline-alkali land is not bad, and the area from Cang County to Dalangdian in the southeast is uninhabited for a hundred miles. , the vast and endless white alkali beach, as if it has been snowed heavily!" Yong Yan listened with a serious face, and said: "Master, let's disembark—the ships and escort ships stop!" He ordered Bu Zhong: "Take the boat and take care of it. Officials along the way from Cangzhou to Dezhou will be exempted. We will discuss again in Dezhou - tell Liu Yong, Hebei, Qian Feng and the others to know." After speaking, he was busy changing clothes.
He moved as soon as he said that, even Wang Erlie was unexpected.According to Wang Erlie's thinking, the big ship sailed so slowly against the current, so it would not be able to reach Cang County tonight, so it would berth at any wharf at night, quietly go ashore and live in the shop, and leave the brigade with no clues or ghosts. ——Abandoning the boat and going ashore in broad daylight, and being seen by the shore, how can you make a "private visit"?But when he looked out the porthole, he knew that his worries were unnecessary—not only was it cold and windy outside, but it was already dark, with leaden gray and slightly brown clouds, layer by layer, chasing each other like a race. Flying to the south, the yellow sand, dust, straw, and grass knots are either chasing wildly in the wilderness, or wrapped in a whirl, and you can see wheelbarrow carts and burden-carrying carts on the post road in the east of the canal embankment. Picking up, there are occasional carts and donkeys walking along the road, all of whom are so cold that they arch their backs and shrug their shoulders, hold their whips, and are wrapped up with only one pair of eyes left, rushing along the road.The wind is strong on the embankment of the canal, and there are thousands of trees and weak willows swaying, and the clumps of locust trees and thorns are rustling in the wind, and there is no one in sight.Getting off the boat here, in addition to being colder, there is really no outsider's eyes.Thinking about it, Wang Erlie was also busy changing clothes, the bridge board had already been set up, Ren Jingzi and Wang Xiaowu helped Yongyan get off the boat, Wang Erlie also went ashore, but the two donkeys bought on the back boat were not dared to live or die. Passing through the narrow bridge, the guards of the royal palace almost lifted the animal to get it down.Before Yong Yan boarded the embankment, he clasped his hands and called Wang Zhong, still in that unhurried manner, and said: "These six escort ships and my ship, some are from my palace, and some are from Ouchi. , There are those in the Ministry of Rites and those in the Clan Mansion, all under your control, anyone who dares to reveal the fact that I disembarked will be murdered without pardon for the crime of murdering an imperial envoy!"
"Ah Zha!" Wang Zhong was ignorantly frightened, his legs trembled and softened, and he hurriedly said: "The servant obeys the order of the prince! It's just that there must be an order from the inner court, so where can the servant find the master?" Yong Yan said coldly Said: "I will naturally send someone to contact you - let's set sail!"
The mighty imperial ship slipped away silently, and the sound of oars and sculls meandered southward in the calm Grand Canal.Yong Yan seemed to be happy, standing on the high port on the embankment, letting the northwest wind lift up the hem of his braided robe, caressing the weeping willow branches swinging like gossamer like a child, buzzing excitedly Nostrils, breathing in the clear and cold air, smiled and said to Wang Erlie: "Master, I love this kind of place the most, where the sky is high, the land is wide and free, there are no nannies and maids around, no eunuchs who know how to hug—" Wang Erlie said with a smile: "There is no master who urges me to study, and I feel drowsy after listening to the lectures." Talking about the heart is also a pain, just such a Forbidden City, such a palace, it is the same. Foreign officials come in and see, this is a majestic sky, dragon towers and phoenix pavilions are resplendent, it seems to be a paradise, and it will be boring after getting used to it. Red walls and yellow tiles are just four corners. Every autumn, I go to Mulan, Rehe, and Fengyao. They look solemn, but in fact, all the brothers are so happy that they are indescribable. It is Mulan Yewei and Summer Resort. Although places such as Fengtian and Fengtian are good, they are still imperial forbidden gardens. Once there are traces of carvings, they will lose their natural and true interest. I think this rural village is better!" After speaking, he smiled.
"I heard from Mr. Xiaolan that a village will be designed in the Old Summer Palace, and everything will be imitated by the folks." Tu Erlie said with a smile: "I heard that wine shops, meat shops, restaurants, theaters, and teahouses are all available. It will be built in the future Lord Fifteen took me in to watch it." Yong Yan shook his head and said: "It can be seen that the emperor is also lonely, what is lacking is good--that is not interesting, it is all fake, the village man is a eunuch, and the village girl is a court lady. It’s boring to think about it. It already has a shape, and I’ll show you when I return to Beijing. This is what the emperor read, and it’s the same model as Daoxiang Village in the Grand View Garden.”
While talking and laughing, Yong Yan sometimes bent down to look at the wheat seedlings, and sometimes squinted and looked into the distance with his hands on the awning.The walking legs are also raised higher, as if they want to dance with their hands and feet.He was quiet and calm all the way, everyone couldn't understand his state of mind at the moment, they just watched with smiles.But Yong Yan was happy for a moment, and immediately thought of his own identity, smiled at Wang Erlie with a self-conscious smile, and said, "I'm a little forgetful." He lowered his arms sullenly, and proceeded step by step.
Get off the official road and walk forward, and there will be more pedestrians, cars and trucks.Wang Erlie asked Yong Yan to ride on one donkey, and the other end was loaded with luggage and parcels. Wang Xiaowu took care of the donkey. Before the sperm was shot, he accompanied Yong Yan on a meandering walk. Situation, even passing a few villages without stopping, Yong Yan was curious on the one hand, but also caring on the other hand, every time he went to a village, he would go to Xiaowu to ask for a bowl of water to taste, and sure enough, some were sweet and bland, while others were astringent and bitter. salty.He doesn't want to rush into people's houses rashly, and "walk the donkey to see the flowers" outside to see the farmers' houses, even though the clothes of the men who come out to carry water and feed the livestock are old, dirty and patched, and the old women who twist their little feet and feed chickens with a dustpan on their waists The expression is peaceful, the hooves of mule carts and horses passing through the alley occasionally make the post bell jingle, and there are all kinds of noises such as dogs barking and passing hens crowing eggs.Wang Xiaowu was sent to ask for directions, and it turned out that this was the county seat of Qing County. Wang Xiaowu raised his donkey stick and pointed to the south and said, "Five miles away, you will arrive at Huanghua Town, Cang County. There are all stores, and our men will stay in Huanghua Town, and we will arrive in Cang County at noon tomorrow."
The four of them rushed to Huanghua Town, and it was already the right time. The market had just finished, and those who carried packs, carried burdens, and drove animals left the town in a disorderly manner. The streets were full of cows, donkeys, mules, dung, sugarcane, and firewood mixed with floating soil and mud. In the sand, the soup cake pot and stove built of flakes and rotten bricks stand still and green smoke curls up from the embers of the fire.Even when I asked a few big-faced inns, they were all "full of customers". After careful inquiry, I found out that the government servants in Cang County and Cangzhou Prefecture, where they both live, are busy here because "the fifteenth elder brother of the prince is ordered to visit Shandong". The canal is the only way to go. The prefectures and counties have been mobilizing all day to maintain law and order. These people live in big shops in the town.Yong Yan heard it funny, and said: "I don't know they are so pretentious, what should we do?" Wang Erlie said: "They are also kind-hearted, and it is always good to be diligent and diligent - see that there are small shops in the back street, find two Stay in a random room for the night, as long as it is clean.” Yong Yan only ate a plate of dim sum on the boat at noon, and after walking this long way, he was already hungry, and seeing the big shop in front of him coming in and out shouting and yelling He is a government servant with a round hat and a blue shirt, and Youya doesn't want to eat among these people, and when he looks around, he sees a small shop nearby, with a thatched roof and tile eaves. The front of the door was cleaned very clean, because it was appointed: "Xiao Wuzi is going to fix the house, we will eat here and wait."
"Yes!"
Xiao Wuzi agreed and jumped away, and the human sperm tied the horse post at the door and tied the donkey reins. When Wang Erlie and Yong Yan entered the store to look, there were actually two rooms in front, and there were two darkrooms behind the door.To be honest, this can't be called a "shop", it's just a street-side resident who sells porridge and rice at a stall.The furnishings in the storefront are very simple, with two bellows firewood pots and chimneys on the west wall leading to the outside of the house, like a pot for cooking rice and a pot for cooking vegetables. For sitting and eating, the tables, stools and floors are very clean.There was no waiter either, just an old man in his fifties wearing an old cotton robe of rough blue cloth, with his sleeves rolled up, washing dishes.Seeing them coming in, the old man hurriedly wiped his hands, bowed his head and smiled in an honest manner: "The three masters are here? Please sit down as you please. My place is very shabby. There are only home-cooked meals, white flour pancakes, rolled spring onions dipped in sauce, porridge They are ready-made, and there are also homemade pickled side dishes. If you want to eat noodles, you can make them now. There are no fresh vegetables in the winter, turnips, radishes, cabbage, and chicken. Feel free to fry some for the masters to eat." Stirred the porridge by the side of the pot, tasted it, turned around and said with a smile: "My lord, it's yellow rice and mung bean porridge, and the water is not good. There's not even meat. Let's eat at another family." Yong Yan saw the old man's disappointed face. , I was at a loss for what to do with a dull smile on my face, but I couldn't bear it, so I laughed and said: "It's still clean and quiet here, as long as I'm a vegetarian. If you want to eat meat, it's the same if you ask the boss to buy some cooked meat." Said Then he sat down, and Wang Erlie sat down too, and said, "I don't need to eat meat either. I'll just eat what's ready-made." As he spoke, the old man had already brought out tea, each of them poured a cup, and asked the sperm: "What do you want?" Meat? Braised pig's head? Five-spice lamb's head? Beef? How much do you want?"
"I want five catties of cooked beef." Human sperm said casually, "It needs to be light. You have some sauce here to dip it in, and it's almost the same." Yong Yan sipped his tea and was about to speak, when he heard this, he couldn't help Startled.Wang Erlie also stared round, looking at the sperm in confusion, wondering if he was joking or for real.Seeing the old man staring at him dumbfounded, the human sperm said with a smile: "I'm not a monster, how can I look at people like this? - Is there no beef seller here?" Then the old man came to his senses, and said repeatedly: "Ah - yes Yes! It’s because I haven’t seen the world, and I don’t know that Grandpa eats a lot, so Grandpa was frightened.” Turning around, he shouted to the back room: “Hui girl——bring five catties of beef to the soup pot of Ji’s house in the back street—— After the customer pays the bill, the money will be delivered!"
Then I heard an "Hey" from the back room, and a girl of fourteen or fifteen came out through the curtains. She was tall and apricot-faced, with crows and black hair, thick and bright braids hanging down to her waist, and a green cloth gown. The white trousers were rolled with embroidered plum borders, and he came out clean and numb. He only glanced at Wang Erlie and the three of them, walked to the old man and whispered: "I have paid more than 200 cash on credit in the past half a month! My mother bought the medicine. I haven't paid back the bill, even if he doesn't open his mouth, I'm embarrassed..." After saying that, he turned his face away, gave Yong Yan a blessing, and said, "Great man! We are really a small business , there is no more than water on the feet, I am not afraid of my father's jokes, I have to ask my father for a reward, so I can open my mouth to buy meat and come back, please forgive me." Yong Yan was born in the deep palace and raised in the palace, and there are too many girls around him who can't be called by name. Also don't pay attention to it.Face to face with each other like this, the girl stared at her with black eyes, feeling uncomfortable all over, she was busy reaching for her purse with her sleeves, only then did she remember that the money was in her purse.The human sperm had already handed over half a tael and a small coin, and said with a smile: "This one has even paid off the debt owed to him. It seems that your family is also an honest person, so there is no need to look for it." Hui girl took the money and looked at it with blinking eyes The three guests suddenly blushed, became a little shy, bowed their waists, and said in a soft voice: "Thank you, sir, for the reward...you are Bodhisattva-hearted, God takes care of you..." After finishing speaking, they left in a hurry .
Here the old man sets out the rice, white flour corn yellow and white two-color pancakes are crispy and fragrant, as well as scallion, ginger, vinegar garlic moss, red pepper, turnip ginger, mixed with a small amount of sesame oil in the big sauce plate, and raw Pickled celery, diced tofu, green white and emerald red are full of aromas, and Yong Yan has never eaten such a meal in his life. Onion dipping sauce and small tofu are rolled into cornmeal pancakes, but the mouth feels full of saliva.Wang Erlie took a sip, and then called out: "Okay, okay! Even this pickled vegetable is comparable to my Northeast!" The old man was smoking a pipe and watching them eat, and said: "It's just that the water in this place is not good. We eat It’s okay if you get used to it, outsiders can’t bear it.” The human sperm didn’t seem to care about the lye porridge, they ate pancake rolls with shallots and drank the porridge.
It was only during gossip, eating and drinking that Yong Yan knew that the family name was Lu.My hometown in Zichuan was plagued by locusts the year before last, and I opened five acres of alkaline land near the village. I sold my luggage and belongings and built these rooms next to the road. They are dedicated to taking care of the passing pedestrians on the post road.Yong Yan asked: "Since alkaline land can open up wasteland, wouldn't it be good for you to open up more land? How much can you earn from five acres?"
"The land is just to the south." Old man Lu pointed out the door with a cigarette stick, "This land needs to be washed with water before we can plant some sorghum. The washed land is boring. Fortunately, there are a lot of cow and horse dung in this town, which can be retting after retting. Go to the land, wash it when there is more rain in summer. It is more than ten times the labor cost of farming in our hometown. It is good that my wife is strong and strong. She washes clothes for passing guests and sews them to make her belly round. My legs are sick, even if my whole family is sick... Alas!" His face was wrinkled, as if he was tasting the bitter and hot taste of dry tobacco, he sucked the cigarette holder with his mouth deflated and sucked the smoke: "I can't live... I heard from Texas Jobs are easy to find, his uncle said, sons and daughters are all going, son knows how to carpenter, Huier can wash clothes, needlework is also good, I'm trying to make money for them, let's go find a way out!" He licked his dry hair lips, fell silent.
Wang Erlie was listening, thinking on behalf of this family, there is really no way.Yin asked: "Since Cang County is not as good as Zichuan, why don't you go back to your hometown? After all, there is someone who knows you well, so why ask your children to go to Dezhou again?" Old man Lu said: "This place is adjacent to the official road and the canal. There are a lot of high-ranking officials from Beijing and Nanjing, and they still have the king’s law. In our house, there is Qingshi Mountain. One of the big families is an official and the other is a bandit. It’s really overbearing. One donation today, one tax tomorrow, and then Another big king came to "borrow grain" on the same day, and all the layers were pressed on the small households. Girls like Hui'er are not at ease when they go out to visit their relatives for five miles. Nizi goes in to 'help', if it's wrong, it will be ruined—" When he wanted to say more, Hui'er had already come in with a plate, and she was blushing after hearing the "unpleasant" words outside the door. Angrily said: "Father! How can there be so much gossip!" Looking at the piece of beef, the human sperm was a whole hind leg and shoulder blade, covered with scum from the soup pot, it was steaming and steaming, and the whole room was filled with a strong smell. The scent of meat and fennel and cinnamon, he took it with a smile and put it on the table, took out a sharp knife from his waist and cut off a stalk, and said: "Xiaohui, this tendon blade is for my masters to cut thinly." One plate. I will eliminate the rest!"
"No more, I'm full." Yong Yan waved his hand repeatedly, "Mr. Wang, just eat, I don't need it." Wang Erlie also smiled, "I've been seasick for days, and I just want light food. Let's see how you finish it!"
The human sperm laughed and said, "What's the point of this piece of meat! If I can't eat it, how can I get the strength to work hard for my master?" As he said, he cut it off with one knife, and piled up another knife, and a large piece of beef was divided into old coarse sand The bowl was four pieces big, holding the burrito in one hand, and grasping the meat drippingly with the other, Wu Xiao bit it down in one bite, his mouth was full of oil, and he didn't see any movement, and it disappeared immediately.He didn't mind the hotness of his mouth, dipped the scallion roll pancakes in sauce, stuffed his mouth left and right, served a bowl of porridge, scooped up tofu side dishes and ate them one by one, and even delivered pieces of beef, greasy and oily. He didn't seem to chew much, and even the leftovers on the table were swept away in a short time.Everyone was stunned, and Yong Yan said in amazement: "In addition to beef, you also ate seven pieces of cake and four bowls of porridge. Your stomach is really unambiguous. Don't talk about eating, I have seen enough!" Human sperm laughed. : "What's so strange about this? My master didn't see my seventh uncle eating meat. I ate eight catties of three-inch thick fat pork. He rubbed his stomach and said, 'It's done, don't waste any more'."
One sentence made everyone laugh, and Yong Yan was still thinking about the saline-alkali land. Seeing Wang Xiaowu's shop coming back, he said: "Boss Lu, get him something to eat, and we will wait for him to eat—what you said just now is to wash the land with water. Put the alkaline water from Dalangdian into the canal, and the rains and floods in several summers will wash this land out, how much land will be added!" "My lord, you really have water in your eyes." Huier was washing by the side Holding a bowl, he interjected, "The former Mr. Ji of our county came here to inspect and said the same thing. Wealthy households here are willing to pay for digging canals when we say that we will release alkaline water, and the common people say that they are willing to work without money, and to treat the land according to their needs." Work points. But the downstream is Qingxian County. To release water from Qingxian County to the canal, the canal has to pass through other people's homes. The old man at the other end wants 100,000 silver per mouth. Cangxian County is a poor place. How can we get so much together? So we left it. Now we have Mr. Ke, who said that boiling soda can also make money. He thought it was easy, but he didn’t know that boiling soda requires skill, coal and firewood, and pots and lids for workshops. I kept saying it was 'difficult', and I still left it." The old man Lu said: "I heard from the old people in Huanghua Town that this place was a good place 30 years ago. There are canals connecting Dalangdian Lake, and rapeseed is planted as far as the eye can see outside Dianzi. , the flowers bloomed yellow and long, covering the village. Reeds, water chestnuts, and lotus vegetables grew out of the lake, and they could fish heavy fish. Later, the canal was dredged several times and diverted several times, and the upper and lower sides were blocked When it is dead, the alkali flower will look like this when it floats up."
Gossiping, Wang Xiaowu had already eaten, and came over with a cannonball belching, "Master, let's live in the Qianfang Qianjia store in the back street. It's getting dark now, take a bath and sleep well, tomorrow we have to接着赶路呢！”颙琰这才笑着起身，对王尔烈道：“这是厚道本分人家，多赏点银子吧！”说罢踅身出了店。他看了看天，苍雾雾的一片昏暗，街上黑魃魃的几乎没有行人，也还都没有上灯。透着门板缝约略可见临街人家晚炊的火焰闪烁不定。偶尔远处传来几声犬吠也是旋叫旋止，反而更增暮色幽暗凄凉。忽然，老大一片雪飘落在他脸颊上，几乎同时，王尔烈在身后叫道：“下雪了！”
人精子拉着两头毛驴随后，小悟子打头带路，从店门口踅一个弯回到正街。颙琰这才知道：前街后街一房之隔两方世界。这边一街两厢看样子都是大户人家，即使不是店铺，一座一座的倒厦门也都吊着灯，粉橙红绿映得一片彩，各家客栈饭铺都还没有打烊，街上人看样子都是外地路过的，有的串街散步，有的在小馄饨担旁吃点心，有的像是牛马经纪，统着老羊皮袄蹲在房槽底下隔布袋拉手指讨价还价争得唾沫四溅。还有的醉汉满口酒屁臭嗝儿，趔趔趄趄摇荡着身子哼山东道情，“王二姐在绣楼，空守了二八秋，思量起昨晚个那个梦，好不叫人羞……唉呀喂……好不叫人羞那么个依儿喂……”……杂着各店里吆五喝六的猜拳声、罚酒声，说笑声还有女人咿咿呀呀的唱曲儿声混成一片。
四人正走着，冷不防小巷黑地里两个女人蹿出来，一个搂住了王尔烈“叭叽”在他腮上亲了个红吻印儿，一个抱住了颙琰，绞股糖般扭定了撒娇弄痴：“小哥哥屋里坐，有好东西给你看，包你百看不厌！”颙琰和王尔烈哪里见过这个？闹了个手忙脚乱。加着小悟子人精干连呛喝带骂才撕掳开身子，王尔烈用手帕子一个劲擦脸，颙琰手足无措，摸摸帽子又拽拽衣襟，红着脸兀自心头突实乱跳。连连道：“这什么话？这怎么回事？”那两个婊子勾肩拉手跑到暗地里，不知嘀嘀咕咕说了几句什么，突然发出一阵叽叽格格的浪笑。
“呸！”王小悟咋着笑骂道：“冷不丁的就蹿出两条骚母狗——这地方怎么这个德性！”人精子笑道：“没有惊着爷吧！娼妇也分着三六九等呢！这是下三烂的野鸡——你到济南堂子里看看那些侍书，比大家千金还体尊些呢！”颙琰犹自心有余悸，捂着发烧的脸皱眉道：“还要叫我堂子里去看看？我永不去那地方儿！”王尔烈想着方才光景直皱眉头，一眼见一家店面山墙上贴了许多纸，三两个过路人伸直脖子，就看小摊上的灯觑着眼看，便道：“左右回店也没事。我看好像有什么官府告示，咱们瞧瞧吧？”颙琰一点头没言声，跟着走过去。
墙上贴的纸色甚杂，红白两色居多。大的可拟桌面，小的巴掌来大，有写“天皇皇地皇皇我家有个夜哭郎！”的；有卖跌打丸狗皮膏药的；有卖春药的，“专治雄风不振，管保金枪不倒”；治杨梅犬疮的“一敷光鲜永不再犯”……五花八门乱七八糟。倒真有一张告示式样的，写的却是启事：
奉钦差副使和大人讳珅瑜。仰赖我大清列祖列宗深仁厚泽，我皇上数十年宵旰勤政夙夜匪懈，天下大治承平极盛，民殷而府实，礼兴而乐倡，文物典型春华繁茂。此世人所共知焉。德州处三省之冲要，挟运河驿道之利，轴轳相街帆樯林立，四海富商货殖聚散，五湖贤达频临过往之地，乃学宫门破败不堪，庙宇园林调敝失修，街衢桥梁会馆堂肆皆不足观瞻，此我商家之责任也，用是德州十八行业主聚而议定，各自出资兴修馆驿堂搂，合资葺缮学官孔庙会馆庙宇，光大文明以足藻饰。奉德州知府徐讳彦光宪谕，特发启示文告周知。此冬闲之季，四方有欲谋工者，或擅，或精木艺瓦工、石匠雕工，皆可在本地投保俱引，至德州码头兴工处报名投用，量材施用，工酬不菲。拟招用四千人，满员即止。见示有意者——
下面的角被撕掉了，但意思看得明了：德州在大兴土木，而且是奉了和坤的谕堂皇行事。印证惠儿兄妹要去德州作工，更坐实了是真。
颙琰一边看一边沉思，已是阴沉了脸，一言不发抽身便走。王小悟不知什么事触翻了这位“爷”忙抢几步到头前带路，王尔烈二人也忙跟了上来。这一路七扭八折坑坑凹凹，众人谁也没再说话。遥见尽镇南头一盏米黄西瓜灯在风中摇荡着，上头写着“钱记蜂房栈”五个茶杯大小的字，已知是到了。一个伙计挑着盏小灯在门口守望，影影绰绰见他们四个过来，小跑着迎上，对王小悟道：“这位爷，叫我们好等！嘿嘿……还以为您另找住处，不来这了呢！”
“笑话！”王小悟道：“我给你下了八钱定银，想捉我们老憨儿么？”说着牵驴要进大车门，那伙计狗颠尾巴连笑爷哈腰点头抢在前头帮着牵驴，说道：“是这么回事啊爷——方才您去后来了一批贩绸缎的客人。他们人多，还带着货，住小房子搬来搬去的也不便当。等你们又不来。小的左右为难，只好给爷们调了西院那三间上房，一样的独院儿，只是没有厢房……”王小悟笑着，听着听着变了脸：“只怕没有那个规矩！老子十三岁走云贵道、下福建，什么店没住过？他有几个臭钱就挤了我们！你是狗眼不识金镶玉！什么绸缎商；叫他们腾开！”
那伙计一脸难色，强堆着笑赔着不是，还要解说，王小悟一把推开了，说道：“叫你们掌柜的来！怪不的姓钱。原来钻钱眼里了！”颙琰止住了道：“住西院就住西院，房子大小也就一夜，不要争这闲气了。”王小悟还要理论，看看颙琰脸色，没敢，嘟嘟囔囔到马厩上拴驴背行李去了。伙计如释重负带着他们穿正院，过一道黑魃的窄道进西院，又是开门又是点灯又是招呼打净面水，殷勤得没缝儿可寻。王尔烈和颙琰一人一盆水泡着洗脚，王小悟伏蹲在地下给颙琰捏腿揉脚，人精子出院外转了一匝，回来说道：“这是几个四合院打通了连起来的。西山墙那边是北院厢房。两位爷住东屋，这么着紧趁妥帖些。”伙计提茶给他们斟着，在旁说道：“早先我们老掌柜的是放蜂收蜜发迹的，冬天放蜂箱要房子，几处院都买下了——爷们请用茶，这是自个院里深井泉水，比前街的水好了十倍去——后来没了菜花，养蜂不成改了这栈。这位爷说的不差，是几处院子连起来的。”又交待几句“小心灯火关门防贼”的话才辞了出去
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