Chapter 20 Cao Xueqin, who failed in the 20th butcher and female supervisor class, ridiculed the world

Ah Gui followed He Zhi on the snow, and after walking for about a quarter of an hour, he arrived at Zhang's butcher shop, but the door was closed, and he heard Le Min reciting a book in a high and low voice: "Confucius passed by the side of Mount Tai. A woman mourns when she cries at the tomb. Listening to it in the style of a master, Zilu asked, "My son's crying is also suspected of worrying."—" "Wrong!" A woman's voice interrupted: "You taught me this word. It is a heavy 'heavy'. Why do you recite it as 'cong'? Do you want to coax me?" Ah Gui and He Zhi couldn't help it. They looked at each other and smiled, but Le Min said with a smile: "One heavy and one heavy, it's also the word 'heavy', can 'repetition' be pronounced as 'kind (sound) multiple'?" The woman smiled and spat, "Save it, save it." Come on, keep memorizing! "

So Le Min backed up again: "—and said, 'Of course. In the past, my uncle died of a tiger, my husband died again, and now my son died again'—" Then he heard the woman laughing and said: "Book, write It doesn’t make sense, and you recited it wrong too! Her uncle told the tiger to eat her, her husband died of a horse, and her son also died of a horse. It’s obviously a word for horse, so why do you keep saying ‘重’ (yan)?” Le Min groaned. He smiled and said, "Where is the word 'horse'? Look carefully! 'Uncle' is what we call my husband's father now, and the ancients called my in-laws 'uncle'—do you understand?"

He Zhi and Ah Gui outside were covering their mouths and laughing as they listened.Without waiting for Le Min to recite it again, He Zhi went up and knocked on the door, shouting in a rough voice, "Is Lao Zhang there? The tax collector is here!" "Don't let your mother fart," the woman jumped off the kang, opened the door with a bang, and said regardless of the situation: "My family does not owe taxes! During the snowy New Year's day, there is never I heard that the tax collector at this time——" Seeing He Zhi and a stranger, he blushed and said with a smile, "So it's Mr. He..."

"Sit a rouge tiger by your bed." He Zhi smiled and said to the dazed Le Min, "How can anyone fail in such hard work?" Ah Gui smiled and said, "I'm a cruel official, let's recite it." Now, it's time to memorize 'tyranny is fiercer than a tiger'!" He Zhi looked at Yu'er, then at Le Min, and said with a smile: "With Yu'er supervising the battle, what champion can't pass the exam? Woolen cloth!" Yu'er listened to their jokes, although she didn't understand them very well, she guessed that the words were not good, and said in her mouth: "What's so rare about the number one scholar?" She spat, turned around and left.Zhang Mingkui's old couple and their son were cleaning up the pig-killing soup pot in the inner courtyard. When they heard the guests, Zhang Mingkui came out in a hurry, smiled and made a bow to He Zhi, and said, "Mr. He hasn't come to my door for half a month. Packed up an animal, ready-made pork head meat in the pot, the door is closed by heavy snow, you are just having fun with wine..."

"This is Agui, the magistrate of Henan Province." He Zhi introduced with a smile, "I'm going to Beijing to report on my work, and I want Brother Le to go see Xueqin together—" Le Min hurriedly said: "Exactly, I said there is something The matter is hidden in my heart, and I am in a trance when reading, but I am also thinking about Xueqin. Let's go, let's disturb him!" Yu'er said: "I have seen that person, but he looks normal, why are you all so Serve him? The big man’s family doesn’t even make a living, and they don’t do well when they have errands. Is it interesting to write about that Huangzi?” He said so, but walked into the inner courtyard, and took his younger brother with him for a while. He came out and picked up a piece of meat, and a pair of offal, complete with heart, liver, and lungs, because it was just slaughtered, and it was still steaming, and he said to his younger brother: "Help me send it to Brother Le, and you will come back and slip it one by one. Fall carefully!"

He Zhi hurriedly said: "This time I am treating guests, you are not rich, and it is not a common practice to do so. He took out half a tael of silver and put it on the table. Ah Gui saw that Zhang Mingkui was honest and honest, and this butcher's shop is also very run-down , touched his sleeve, there was a silver note of fifty taels and a Beijing ingot weighing five taels, so he took out the Jing ingot and put it on the table. Zhang Mingkui hurriedly said: "How can I bear this?How can this be tolerated?You are friends of Le Xianggong, isn't this embarrassing me?Hurry up—" before finishing speaking, the four of them came out. Yu'er chased to the door and shouted loudly: "Hey—don't be brave if you don't have that amount! "

"It's about you!" Agui smiled and said to Le Min: "Miss Yu has a fierce face, but she is kind in her heart!" "That's right." He Zhiye sighed, "Although the Zhang family's work is indecent, they are really kind people. According to me, you don’t have a family, and you’ll be fine if you settle things early—Brother Agui, you don’t know, the last time Zhuang Yougong came, he had a good dinner with Yu’er!” Then he told Zhuang Yougong that the number one scholar was so happy that he lost his temper, and Yu'er sarcasm and sarcasm. The version of "Scholars and Foreign Officials" - Yu'er's tongue is really powerful!" While talking and laughing, Maomao pointed to the front and said: "Mr. Cao's house is here!"

Ah Gui returned to Cao Xueqin's house for the first time. Far away, a stream ran along the wall, and beside the stream was an old locust tree with crooked neck about the thickness of an armband, with a huge crown and branches covered with crystal icicles. , a stone bench under the tree is leaning on a big steamed bun-shaped stone, covered with a thick layer of snow, the small courtyard is surrounded by walls, and a pomegranate tree in front of the three thatched houses is also covered with icicles.The bright red berries hang half hidden and half visible among the branches, dotted in this white silver world, which is clear to the eyes.Everyone was about to knock on the door, when a person trotted up behind him on a tall horse, and got off his horse in front of the door, when several people looked intently, it was Qian Du, they couldn't help but smile.He Zhidao: "What's the matter today? Did Xueqin invite you through the post?"

"It's Mr. Ah who has won the victory and returned to the imperial court!" Qian Du came over with a smile, and said to Le Min and He Zhi: "You visit elegant scholars on snow, after all, I am inferior to you!" Then he went to knock on the door. After a while, the chai gate squeaked, and Cao Xueqin leaned out. Seeing them, she couldn't help smiling, and said, "I never thought it would be you! Please come in—when did Lord Ah return to Beijing? How many of them are there?" It's quite common..." Then he let everyone enter the room. The three earthen huts were very small, and once a few people entered, it seemed very cramped.Ah Gui looked carefully, and found that the main house and the west house were connected, and there was not even a ceiling above.In the east is the kitchen, separated by a green cloth curtain, and in the west is a large kang table. The kang table is next to the south window, with tiles, inkstones, paper and pens piled up in a mess on it, and there is a square table under the kang, but there are papers, scissors, and paste on it.There is also a bundle of cut bamboo strips leaning against the northeast corner.A few newly tied kites were randomly placed on the north side of the Kang, and Fangqing was tidying up. Seeing this group of people coming in, she came over generously and blessed everyone, and said to Xueqin: "My lord will sit with the guests, I will Go to boil the water—it’s just that there is no wine, and the dishes are all pickled vegetables, how can I do it?” Xueqin seemed a little helpless, and said with a smile: “Then—we have to replace wine with tea. It is said, "If there is no wine in light friendship, you must take pity on my poverty; if you speak deeply but only tea, I will also know that you are discouraged"!"

"How did it get to that point?" Le Min laughed and said, "I have pork liver! Ask my sister-in-law to cook, and I'll ask Maomao to get wine." Maomao hurriedly put his heart and lungs in a pot in the corner He Zhi saw her move slowly, and said to Xueqin with a smile: "Fangqing is pregnant. Whether it's playing Zhang and tiles, I'm sure I can eat soup, cakes and wine." Just joking Jian Maomao suddenly said: "That's not Uncle Liuliu coming here with a load of wine!" When Le Min turned his head to look, it was really Liuliu walking in the snow with a wine load on his shoulders. There was also a big carp weighing four to five catties hanging, unloaded the burden at the gate of Xueqin, wiped his face and yelled: "Mr. Le, Mr. Cao are in the house? Miss Yu asked me to bring wine!"

Everyone in the room was beaming with joy. Le Min rushed out and helped Liuliu carry the wine barrel into the house. He smiled and said, "You are mine—it's the man who is thirsty for alcohol. Don't go, let's have a good meal today!" "Master Cao, I'm not the one on the stage." Liuliu smiled and said, "Second Master Dun and Third Master Cheng came back up and got drunk by force. The names of the two masters, the old guy was too scared to say anything..." Picking up the empty bucket, he said: "Yu'er said, this is the wine bought with the money of Lord Agui, and this fish. It's called Maomaohe When I went back, I told other men to drink to their heart's content, so Lord Le should drink less!" Everyone in the room looked at Le Min and laughed.After Liuliu walked a few steps, he turned back to Cao Xueqin and said, "Master Cao, if you have anything to do, don't be polite. Grandma Fang has something to do, but you can ask my mother-in-law to help, and I live not far away—the couplet in our house, if you are free , write it out, and I'll pick it up when I have time." After finishing speaking, he went out humming a little tune. With the wine, the people in the room immediately cheered up.Cao Xueqin poured a pot and put it on the fire to warm it.In the east room, Fang Qing was cooking, and the smell of meat diffused through the curtain, making everyone salivate.Ah Gui has heard of Cao Xueqin's name for a long time. Before trying it, she had a few literary exchanges, and read a lot of Cao Xueqin's poems from Fu Heng. , The family situation is so embarrassing.While everyone was talking, Ah Gui walked into the kitchen and saw Fang Qing packing up the fish, put the fifty taels of silver note under the salt jar, came out and sighed: "I didn't expect Brother Cao to be so poor." "Cao Zi is definitely not a person who has been poor for a long time." Qian Du said with a smile: "Don't you hear that 'I am born to be useful'! Now the emperor's grace is mighty, and the government is lenient. I also respect it very much! Brother Cao, please hold back a little bit and give in to Wei Mo, and you will surely succeed!" Seeing that Cao Xueqin smiled and said nothing, Le Min also said: "Confucius was in Chen Shou'er, and he couldn't keep his stew; Zengzi Buju was born in Wei; the Marquis of Huaiyin begged for food in Piaomu, and Wu Xiangqiu begged for Wushi. Mr. Cao is trapped today, how do you know that it is not a sign of a great appointment from heaven?" Seeing Agui, Cao Xueqin whispered, and said with a smile: "I'm afraid your hearts are not good? Le Min is more than a sage, and I never dare to be a sage. God punished me to be born in the world to endure hardship. I can't be an official. I don’t even bother to do it. If God has pity on me, I can write a wonderful book, and my wish is enough!” He Zhidao: “I’m determined to follow Xueqin. He wrote a chapter, I read a chapter, and copied a chapter. Chapter, approve one chapter. If this book can’t be passed down from generation to generation, please brothers and sisters! Enke failed the ranking last year. I had a strange dream. I went to a place where there was a list. Someone sued me , the ones on the list are all chasing fame and fame, I looked at it, and the list is divided into three parts, which are actually 'beasts', 'birds' and 'worms'!" Qian Du chuckled and said, "I'm afraid you, Mr. He, are extremely jealous. Hate, fabricated it!" "There is some truth in what you said." He Zhi smiled and said: "The 'beast' department is talking about people who used to sit in high positions in the court—when they were officials, they would eat people, and when they were full, they would go back to the mountain. It is called "retire after success"; those who have obtained the name of the department but have not become an official enter the "Bird" Department, just as Zhu Wengong said, teach him to say "clean", he said "clean", teach him to say "righteousness" and he will say "righteousness" ', if you really ask him to do it, it is still dishonest and unrighteous, just like a bird that can speak, a starling parrot, etc.; Well, there is nothing more pitiful than this. More than half of the world can only be this kind of worm, what's the point of thinking about it?" Before he finished speaking, Agui, Le Min, and Qian Du laughed out loud.Seeing that the wine had been poured, Ah Gui drank a big cup and said, "Good scolding! Both Qian Du and I joined the 'Beast' Ministry! This time in Shanzhou, I killed more than a hundred people at once and escaped from prison." Prisoners, didn’t you eat them?” Qian Du then asked: “Are you full?” Ah Gui said: “Not yet.” As he made a face, Le Min said: “He learned this from Xueqin It's also a 'bird'!" Everyone laughed again. When Cao Xueqin saw Fangqing serving dishes with plates of cloth, she lit it with chopsticks and said with a smile: "I also eat meat and rice when I write books. When I eat meat, I am a beast, and when I eat rice, I am a bird. I can't write until the lamps are exhausted. At that time, looking up to the sky and sighing, bowing your head and weeping, you are just a worm. Life is empty and empty, and no one can escape this range." Then he sang the bowl and sang loudly: Those who are officials will lose their fortunes; those who are rich and honored will lose all their gold and silver; those who are gracious will escape from death; those who are ruthless will be rewarded clearly; Aggregation is predetermined.If you want to know your fate and ask about your previous life, you will be lucky if you grow old and rich.Those who see through, flee into Buddhism; those who are obsessed, lose their lives in vain—it’s as if the devoured birds fell into the forest, leaving a piece of white land, it’s so clean! After Xueqin sang like a chant, she saw that everyone was stupefied, so she smiled and said: "This discussion about poor official career has ruined Qingxing! I only want to be friends, but I forget about my body. I have experienced it personally. Those who came here just wanted to write, and no one forced me. I remember we had a meeting at Gaojin Restaurant, and we met again today. Everyone’s situation has changed, and it’s only been a year. Look at it In the future, if we really get together again, maybe there will be some great changes!" "This song must be from the inside." Agui sighed deeply, raised his glass and drank it, and said: "——It's so good! It's just a little bit downcast. After all, we can't become immortals through cultivation, and we can't avoid the seven emotions, six desires and five grains. Qinpu, although I don’t seek to write a book for the sake of rice, I can only write books when I have rice! I don’t want to let go of my job this time, but if I let go, how about going out with me?” Cao Xueqin laughed Then he invited everyone to bring food and wine, and said: "I have also passed the Juren exam. I am not a god who does not eat fireworks in the world. You see, these kites are tied up for some money. Many wealthy friends in Beijing, from time to time The last time Mr. Jishan came to Beijing and asked me to be a Qingke, but Fangqing was pregnant and couldn't leave for a while. In fact, there is nothing shameful about being a Qingke. When she gives birth, I really want to go back to Jinling Revisiting the old place!" He smiled at himself, and asked: "Qingke—do you know what happened? Back then, my family had more than a dozen famous fighters. Now I'm going to be someone else's Qingke !” Then he read again: A good handwriting—not bad; second-class talent—do not reveal; three catties of alcohol—do not vomit; four seasons clothes—improper; five sons of Go—no regrets; six Kunqu operas—do not push; seven-character crooked poems— - no resignation; eight horse hangings - do not check; ninth rank title - do not choose; very friendly - not vulgar! After reading it, I couldn't help laughing.At present, everyone orders, drinks wine, sings snow and drinks tea until the beginning of Shen Weiyou.Seeing that Fangqing was impatient and was dozing off while sitting on a small chair against the wall, they each resigned and went back. On the second day, Ah Gui received a notice from the study room, asking him to enter the palace immediately for an audience.Ah Gui didn't dare to stop for a moment, and galloped to Xihua Gate.He was not a Beijing official and had no ticket. After waiting at the door for about a bag of cigarettes, an eunuch came out and stood at the door and asked loudly, "Which one is Ah Gui? Go to the military plane!" After saying that, he turned around and went in.Ah Gui hurriedly threw the reins of the horse to the servant, followed the eunuch in, and stood in front of the military aircraft office inside the Longzong Gate.After reporting the job title, I heard Zhang Tingyu say: "Please come in and talk." "tie!" Ah Gui said yes outside and stepped in. As soon as the cotton curtain was lowered, her whole body was immediately warmed up.When Ah Gui looked intently, Zhang Tingyu sat cross-legged on the kang.Sitting on the chair by the window was a first-rank official, with two eyes and peacock feathers inserted behind the coral top, his hands resting on his knees, and he was looking at himself intently.Zhang Tingyu waited for Agui to salute Qian'er, and said with a smile: "Let me introduce to you, this is Zhang Guangsi, governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, named Jushan, Mr. Zhang, this is the Agui I told you just now, and I will be your subordinate from now on." The next lieutenant general. Ah Gui, Mr. Zhang is a famous general today, a hero of the generation, you changed your military position and went to work under his command, so you have to learn from it." A Gui couldn't help being shocked when he heard this: the magistrate is from the fourth rank, and the lieutenant general is from the fourth rank. From the second rank, he was promoted to the fourth rank and the second rank all at once, which can be regarded as a super move, but he never expected to be changed to a military rank, and he was somewhat reluctant in his heart.But this was something she couldn't help herself, so Ah Gui could only smile all over her face, while saluting Zhang Guangsi, and said: "The great victory in Miaojiang shocked the world, and I have admired the mountains for a long time. I didn't expect to see it today. After being humbled Learn from the juniors, follow the adults on the saddle, and do your best to do things, I hope the adults will support and teach!" "Get up." Zhang Guangsi smiled imperceptibly, raised his hand, and said, "I'm just a boss at your age, and I'm really a formidable young man. After you are an old minister of the country, your future is limitless! You are here I have already read the excerpts of using soldiers in Shanxian County in the residence newspaper, and they are very literary. According to my opinion, if the prisoners are unarmed and unarmed when they are released from prison, they may not be able to kill Mi in a hurry. The snake is a bit full, what do you think?" He was picky as soon as he opened his mouth, and he insinuated that Ah Gui was promoted so quickly only because of the popularity of the people.Zhang Tingyu, who was sitting on the kang, couldn't help frowning.But Zhang Tingyu has been prime minister for decades, and the city government is extremely strict, so he quickly changed the subject, and said with a smile: "You guys have some time to discuss those military affairs in the future! Ah Gui will meet you here first, and the emperor is still waiting to be summoned over there." Well! Let’s talk about it later..." Zhang Guangsi also smiled, got up and bowed to Zhang Tingyu, only nodded to Agui and went out.Agui suddenly felt a sense of depression, staring at Zhang Guangsi's back, turned his head until he was far away, and said to Zhang Tingyu with a smile: "If Zhongtang has any warnings, just tell me." "How can there be any admonitions?" Zhang Tingyu said with a smile: "Guangsi is a commander in chief who is very capable of leading troops. As for you, you are a fledgling after all. You must understand that soldiers are fierce. Soldiers are fierce and dangerous. You can't be as perfunctory as the magistrate. You don't have exclusive power. In the battalion, you have to obey orders and work together with the commander. I heard that you are not as arrogant as some Manchus. You are smart and willing to study. The country is not booming now, so it is better to take advantage of the time to read some military books. Don’t cram for the time being. Learn martial arts well. It all boils down to this sentence. Maybe you think my words are empty now, but you will understand in the future. Old man There are only a few who can lead troops in a generation, that is, Yue Zhongqi and Zhang Guangsi? The new generation has not risen yet, so as long as there are signs, they will be promoted very quickly. Fu Heng is also a civil servant. This time he is on an imperial mission, and the emperor will order him Commanding military parades in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Nowadays, all you read are military books, and paying attention to military affairs is more important than government affairs! The transformation of culture into military affairs is really important, and you must not treat it as an ordinary thing!" Gao Wuyong came in while talking, and said: "Mr. Zhang The emperor asked you and Agui to go in!" Zhang Tingyu and Agui hurriedly got up and agreed: "Yes." They followed Gao Wuyong to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. As soon as the two entered the courtyard of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, they heard a "dang clang", as if something had been broken in the hall.When listening carefully, Qianlong was scolding people loudly in the hall: "It's useless to ask anyone for this matter, you go and tell her, begging is worse than asking yourself! By the way, go back to Lafayette at the Palace of Compassion and Ning, and say that I have already dealt with it, next night Go over and greet me, I will tell Lafayette myself!" Zhang Tingyu and Ah Gui stopped quickly, and heard someone in the hall whispering cautiously, and Qianlong said impatiently: "Got it! What are you nagging about? Let's go!" Then Dai Ying, the chief eunuch in charge of the six palaces, backed out with a pale complexion, when passing by the two of them, Dai Ying only bowed to Zhang Tingyu and left in a hurry.Zhang Tingyu came in with Ah Gui, and saw Qianlong pacing back and forth in front of the wooden partition of Dongnuan Pavilion with his hands behind his back, his face was full of anger, and several court ladies were squatting on the ground to clean up the broken porcelain bowls.When the two met, Zhang Tingyu asked, "Master is angry!" "It's not for official business." Qianlong heaved a sigh of relief and turned back to sit on the kang, and said: "Concubine Zhun beat a maid to death with a big stick for a trivial matter today. She heard that I was going to punish her. Mrs. Nala went to Lafayette's place to strike the wooden clock. Dai Ying was sent by Lafayette. Now the atmosphere in the palace is the same as outside, seeing that I am filial, I beg the Queen Mother every now and then—" He said holding the cup, but If it's empty, order: "Give it to my grandma! Enjoy Zhang Tingyu's ginseng soup and Agui tea!" The two received their rewards and thanked each other. Zhang Tingyu said slowly: "Master, there is no need to be angry about such a trivial matter. In my dynasty, the empresses and concubines have always been benevolent and virtuous. It is rare to kill a maidservant. It should be placed in the front of the Ming Dynasty, and it must be carried from the rear gate every day. It's not worth mentioning five or six corpses." "I have deposed her as a concubine," Qianlong said, "although there is a distinction between master and slave, human life is the most important thing. When the first emperor was alive, he avoided people under the sun." The shadow walks. There are a few palace people in front of them who have committed punishments. Some hanged themselves and threw themselves into wells. In other words, if he was executed under the stick with great punishment, what reputation would it spread outside? Afterwards, the descendants followed suit, and it might cause some disasters!" Qianlong calmed down his anger and said to Agui: " Has Hengchen talked to you? Have you seen your coach Zhang Guangsi?" "Yes." Ah Guizheng was startled when he heard that, and hurriedly bowed back: "Master's cultivation grace is higher than the sky! There are two things that this slave can't think of. He didn't expect to change his military position, and he couldn't expect to be promoted so high. The slave's original thoughts, no matter which one or what One government, be a good follower, really do something for the court, and benefit the people of one side. If you change your military position, you have to learn everything from the beginning." Qianlong nodded, staring at Agui for a while with bottomless pupils, and said: "Heng Chen is my thigh, what can I say? I use you, and I don't have any prejudice against Han in my heart. Zhuang Yougong, Qian Du is not all Han Chinese! I originally wanted to rely on veteran ministers, but now it seems that I can’t rely on it. My father’s envoys are all from the Xi Dynasty, and they are old when they are handed down to me. I am still young, so I have to support him. A group of young people will come up and replace them slowly. Tingyu and Ertai are all good, they have been selected from the best for decades, and they have gone through several generations. People. Hengchen, think about it calmly, is this reasonable?" Zhang Tingyu hurriedly said: "The lord is really far-sighted! There are talents, but they are not carefully selected. This is the responsibility of the prime minister. In my heart I'm very ashamed." Qianlong laughed and said, "I didn't mean to blame you. Is this a heart-to-heart talk! As for civil and military positions, there is no set rule. What I want is all-round talents in civil and military. If you change your military position, you still need to study and have ambition. If you want to be the lords of a generation like the ancestors, you have to hold your breath and be a worthy minister. I have no more instructions, so you kneel down!"