Chapter 19 return home

The Yellow Turban Uprising had only been over two years ago. Regardless of the safety of the world, Emperor Liu Hong returned to his previous state.The Shichang servants relied on favor and proudly sold their officials and nobles, almost crowding out all the honest officials in the capital.It used to be that the people were dissatisfied with the imperial court, but now the literati and local tyrants no longer buy it. Under the pressure of the faint ruler and his ministers, all kinds of rebellions and uprisings continued one after another.Jingzhou Zhao Cizhan prefect Qin Jie revolted, Changsha District Xing uprising, Lingling Zhou Dynasty uprising, Guiyang Guoshi uprising, Xianbei tribes plundered Youzhou, Hanyang bandit leader kingdom rebelled, Longxi prefect Li Xiangru rebelled, Jiuquan prefect Huang Yan surrendered to the Qiang people , Liangzhou local tyrant Ma Teng rebelled, Hugh Tugehu harassed Longxi, Liaoxi Karasuma Qiu Liju rebelled, Zhongshan prefect Zhang Chun rebelled... The urgent letters in the province piled up, and the imperial court dealt with it every day. Endless chaos.

If someone rebels today, it will be wiped out tomorrow, the rebellion will resume the day after tomorrow, and the rebellion will be suppressed the day after tomorrow, a vicious cycle repeats itself.Liangzhou in the northwest, Youzhou in the northeast, Jingzhou in the central plains, and Jiaozhou in the southeast are completely out of control, and almost one-third of the twelve states in the world have lost! However, Peiguoqiao County, where the Cao family is located, has always been calm.Although the government orders and taxes are heavy, no one has ever been able to hold high the banner of righteousness.Firstly, it is because it is located on the edge of Henan Province and has not been impacted by the Yellow Turban Rebellion; It's kind of a deterrent.

The Cao family was implicated by the Song family and declined for a while, and after that, they became more aware of urgency.Cao Song asked his youngest son Cao Deguang to ask for farmhouses and save water for milling. Unexpectedly, in such turbulent years, it would be very effective. After Emperor Liu Hong restored the Nangong Palace, in order to surpass the majesty of Guangwu Yutang, countless carts of copper coins were collected from all over the country, and after melting, they were cast into four bronze figures holding dew trays, each more than two feet high.There are also four yellow bells, as well as Tianlu, toad, and water-swallowing beast, all of which are huge, majestic and exquisite in craftsmanship.The imperial palace is magnificent, but the folks have scarce coins, and it is difficult for merchants to do business without goods.Liu Hong also ordered that the original five baht coins be recast into thin four baht coins.This kind of money is rough in workmanship and poor in appearance. Although there are many in quantity, the value is low, so money is cheap and goods are expensive for a while.And because of the turmoil, the value of grain has doubled. If people in towns want to buy a hu of grain, they have to go out with baskets of money, so that the common people have to barter.

Under such circumstances, the Cao family's land and real estate business can be very profitable, and the grain has already become money.Fertile fields are constantly being produced, water mills are constantly grinding, tenants plant mulberry trees, and peasant women raise silkworms and weave cloth.On the left is Xiahou's manor herding sheep and horses, and on the right is Ding's Chuanlin picking fruit and logging. The three industries are interlinked, and they seem to be able to be self-sufficient behind closed doors.Cao De, Xiahou Lian, and Ding Fei all managed their families well. Not only did their clansmen live well, but their tenants also had some food reserves, and they even exchanged their surplus for cash.

Cao Cao's ability to be an official and fight is half-baked, but he can't manage the farm with little work.Watching my younger brother come and go with his clansmen holding counting chips and account books all day long, and I can't help at all. I can't help but feel that I am too far away from ordinary people's life.People have to make a living first, but Cao Cao doesn't even have this ability.Although he has been an official for ten years and has never been corrupt or bribed, since he was a child, he has been rich and lavish. The little salary he earned is not enough to show off. In fact, he still lives on his family wealth.Now that he is no longer an official, his salary has also been cut off, and his family resources are all managed by his younger brother, so he has become a useless person who only asks for money.

After such a long time, Cao Cao lost face after all, and discussed with his younger brother that he should learn to share some property so as not to cause him trouble.Cao De chuckled and said, "Ah, there are too many things to hide! Why do my brothers talk about each other? My younger brother is a housekeeper, and my elder brother just cares about his studies. Why bother with such mundane affairs?" This made Cao Cao feel even more embarrassed. . Talking about it once won’t work twice, the second time Cao De was mentioned the same thing, and the third time, Cao De was also a little annoyed: “Brother, don’t you trust me? This family provides the same for you and me. A few years ago, my brother I have set aside property for my elder brother, and there are details of good fields and good trees. You can tell when you take the account books. When elder brother wants to separate the family, just tell the younger brother. If you don’t understand these mundane affairs by yourself, I will send a few capable young men to help. You take care of it. Are you willing to divide the family? We can discuss this matter with my father."

Cao Cao was terrified by these words, and waved his hands again and again: "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding! You and I have been dependent on each other since we were young and talk about how to separate the family." From then on, he dared not mention helping things. Cao Cao felt that such a trivial and helpless life was really boring.Riding around on horseback with nothing to do, I suddenly remembered the thatched huts where the Bian brothers and sisters were hiding.Fifty miles to the east of the county, I saw that the fence and huts were still there, but the wormwood was already as tall as a person.There are no other farm houses around this place, and it is very quiet guarding the foothills.He hurried home and ordered the boy to take care of it again, repaired the hut, and built two more rooms.From then on, Cao Cao moved to live in a hut, studying books and biography in spring and summer, and hunting in autumn and winter. Only Mrs. Bian accompanied her with her maid, so she was far away from all troubles.

In the blink of an eye, a year will pass, and Cao Cao is passing the time in this semi-reclusive life, as if he has found a carefree peace. Suddenly one day when Cao Cao was studying, Mrs. Bian came over and hugged his neck, saying: 〖Zhan Bi Qi Yi, Green Bamboo Yi Yi.There are bandits and gentlemen, who are as sharp as cutting, and as sharp as grinding. Sexi 僩xi, hexi 咺xi, there are bandits and gentlemen, you must not be arrogant! Zhan Biqi, the green bamboos are green.There are bandits and gentlemen who are full of ears and are as good as stars. Sexi 僩xi, hexi 咺xi, there are bandits and gentlemen, you must not be arrogant!

Looking up at the other Qiqi, the green bamboo is like a bamboo.There are bandit gentlemen, such as gold and tin, such as jade and jade. Broad and generous, generous and heavy, good at joking, not abusive! 〗 She was born as a singer, very elegant, and she sings pretty but not coquettishly.Cao Cao laughed and said, "For my husband, what kind of handsome man do you call me? You really dare to praise me." "Who sang you?" Mrs. Bian frowned, "You're already old enough to stand up." "So what? This song "Wei Feng · Qi Yu" was originally sung by Zheng Wugong. Zheng Wugong protected the Zhou family and served as a government until he was ninety years old. I was only thirty-three. Why can't I sing about me?"

Bian said coquettishly: "You know a lot! It's all learned by officials and officials. We singers only know the tune, but we don't care about so much trouble." Cao Cao felt distressed for a while. He studied hard under the guidance of Qiao Xuan for his fame, and finally recovered with the ancient learning of Ming Dynasty. Mrs. Bian seemed to have seen through his thoughts, not allowing him to think too much, and kissed him on the cheek at the right time. "What are you doing? It's the old couple's fault, and you're still doing it in front of the maid?"

When Bian turned around, she saw Huan'er coming in with a hidden smile, and said with a smile, "What maid? She is my righteous sister, and she is not an outsider. It doesn't matter if she sees her." Cao Cao gave her a blank look: "Don't hinder me from studying." Huan'er ran over and said, "Master, you are so idiotic, I don't even know my sister is pregnant." "Conceived?" Cao Cao was taken aback, staring at Bian's stomach, "You...you got it?" "My emperor's ancestor!" Mrs. Bian scratched his nose, "It's almost five months, and your stomach is getting a little big, but you didn't notice it at all. Huan'er is quick to talk, if you stick to me, you will never tell You, nine months and ten days have ripened, let's see how shameless you are as a father!" Cao Cao quickly put his ear to her stomach to listen. "What can I hear in four months? I sang "Qijiu", and I sang it for my son. He will be handsome in the future, so don't follow you!" "How do you know it's a son, not a daughter?" There is a saying that a mother is more valuable than a child, so Bian naturally prefers to have a son, but said: "This child is dishonest, he tosses me from time to time, he is probably a careless boy." Cao Cao smirked and said, "Son and daughter are the same, it's better than having an eggplant." "Fuck you! It's not serious!" Mrs. Bian pinched his forehead, "Huh, we are together every day, and you turn a blind eye when I have a big belly, and you don't know what you are thinking every day?" "I saw it, and thought that life is going well, you have gained weight!" "Bah! You just have to be silly." Mrs. Bian got up to tidy up the slips of letters everywhere.Cao Cao saw her bent over and lowered her head, and hurried over to her: "I'll come! I'll come! Be careful not to hurt yourself." Xiaohuan'er even laughed: "Master is too worried, it's only been four months." Having said that, from this day on, Cao Cao did not dare to ask the Bian family to do anything anymore, and everything was either robbed by himself or done by Zhang Luohuaner.After more than half a month, he couldn't hold on any longer, and he was worried every day and didn't talk about it, and he didn't have the heart to read the book.Seeing this, Mrs. Bian sighed: "You can't feel at ease here. You might as well go back. There are more servants to help you." Cao Mengde was so nonchalant that he hurried home to call a car, and carefully told him to prepare a wide car and the old horse should not be jolted.Early the next morning, my brother-in-law Bian Bing drove the car himself.Cao Cao spread and padded three layers of straw mats, helped Bian into the cart like a servant serving his master, and asked Huan'er to serve him, while he straddled the cart with his uncle.Bian Bing also made fun of him: "Brother-in-law is not an official, but he is a current person. Even our natal family is in pain when they look at it. First, they love you, and second, they love money. The servants of two thousand stones can't be used. !” Although these words were humorous, Cao Cao felt uneasy and said, “I am doing this for your sister.” "Stop talking nonsense!" Mrs. Bian interrupted, "You are doing it for your son!" "Yes, yes, grandma is right." Cao Cao agreed subtly, and everyone inside and outside the car had fun. Fifty miles was not too far away, and Cao Cao refused to let Bian Bing drive faster, so the carriage turned into an ox cart.I left the hut early in the morning, and it was already past noon when I walked to the entrance of my village. Lou Yi welcomed the sun for an hour. As soon as they entered the manor, all the aunts and daughters-in-law of the family came, chatting with Mrs. Bian around the car, and bringing some fruits and chicken eggs.Women talk a lot when they meet, especially about giving birth.Cao Cao has always hated women who gossip, but today, as the father of a child, he has to make up for it no matter how annoying he is. After finally waiting for the women to disperse, I saw my son Cao Ang and my nephew Cao Anmin running in arguing.The two children are seven years old, and they were born on the same day. They read and play together, and they are almost inseparable.He hugged Cao Cao's thigh and called his father and uncle. After being coquettish for a long time, he pulled Bian Bing and asked his uncle to play with them.Bian Bing coaxed them a few words, took out a handful of sheep bone dice from his bosom, and sent them away. "You child king, you have coaxed two generations of children. When will you raise a child yourself?" "Brother-in-law put it lightly, I haven't married yet!" Cao Cao said with a smile: "Which girl do you like, I will decide with you." "Whoever I want, you all know in your mind." As he spoke, he winked at Huan'er on the car, Cao Cao smiled, but pretended not to see, staring ahead and ignoring his words. The group finally arrived home slowly.Waiting for Mrs. Bian to get out of the car and enter the house, there was a lot of fuss about arranging things.Cao Cao didn't care about other things, he first told his wife Ding's room.As soon as he opened the door, he saw Ding sitting busy in front of the loom, with his daughter helping out.The eldest girl is ten years old. She has been married to Xiahou Mao, the son of Xiahoudun since she was a child. She follows her mother to do work all day long. She is the most obedient. Cao Cao smiled and said, "Big girl, go and see your aunt." When Ding saw her daughter had gone out, she complained to her husband: "You still know how to come back! You only came home half a month ago, what do you think of my place?" Ding is mediocre in appearance, has a stubborn temper, and is two years older than Cao Cao, but she is a good wife who cares for her husband and teaches her children.Especially when Cao's family was in trouble, Ding presided over the housework and encouraged him to work hard, and brought up Cao Ang, who was born by his concubine Liu's death. So Cao Cao respected her rather than loved her. She is dexterous with her hands, and the shuttle is like a small fish swimming between the mulberry and hemp. While weaving, she scolded her husband: "You! You don't know how to take care of the family business, and the child doesn't know it hurts? Anger is your flesh and blood. , it’s been another six years since you left, and you don’t even see your face when you come back. The children have almost forgotten what you look like! Also, even though the old man is not around, you must have the intention of being a son. My father-in-law is from Luoyang One letter after another, you don’t want to go out to be an official, go to Luoyang and talk to the old man seriously! You come and I quarrel with letters, what’s it like? Lou Yi has been in this year I just ran away to deliver letters for you two. Thanks to you, you are still Xiaolian, how can you be filial? You are thirty-three years old, and you are a bit serious..." "Stop talking." Cao Cao stroked her back with a sad face, "Every time I come back, I always talk a lot, I know it's not easy for you, let's rest!" "My friend, I can take a rest, but how can I rest?" While Ding was speaking, she had already spun a piece of cloth, and Cao Cao helped her lay it down, felt the texture of Zimi, and praised: "My wife, You are really a good craftsman. But if you have more money, you still need to weave it yourself, so don’t be too hard on yourself.” Mrs. Ding ignored his words, just smiled and said: "Look, how about making a dress for our Ang'er? The rest of the material is just for the child born by Sister Bian. There will be no delay." Only at this time, Cao Cao felt that she was cute and cute, and said with a smile: "They are all other people's children, when will you raise one for me?" Ding sighed: "Oh... If you don't come, when will I be able to take care of you?" "I'll come tonight." Cao Cao said with a smirk. "Leave it alone. My sister entrusted Ang'er to me when she was dying. He is my flesh. Since I am the eldest grandma of your Cao family, which one of the houses is not my son? There is no hope for the birth or not. I only hope that Ang'er will be successful in the future, and I will be satisfied that the eldest girl can marry into Xiahou's family safely." Cao Cao leaned over and wanted to kiss her, when suddenly he heard Cao De yelling outside: "Brother! Come out, the big man is here!" Cao Cao hurried out of the yard, only to see Xia Houyuan hugging a three-year-old bare-bottomed and fat boy. lol. "It's really you! How can such a small child be so troubled? Your wife doesn't even ask." Cao Cao accused. "Meng De, you don't understand, children have to play with it a lot, so that they will be fruitful and healthy in the future." Xia Houyuan shrugged his nose, and shouted at Cao De, "Ziji, take a closer look, this is your son-in-law, dear baby!" You can't rely on it!" He was holding his son Xia Houheng, who was married to Cao De's daughter. "Oh, Heng'er, Heng'er, you are so chubby." Cao De teased the child, "You can be my son-in-law for your small appearance, but for your father, I have to think about it." Everyone laughed loudly when they heard the words, and a tall, coarse-clothed farmer rushed up while talking, with a fishing rod under his arm and a few big fish in his hand. "Brother Qin! I'm sorry for asking you to spend money." Cao Cao rushed to meet him. Qin Shao grinned and said, "Friends... come here! People like you don't need anything, and I'm a poor man, so I just caught a few fish to make up for my younger siblings." Cao Cao took the fish handover from Lou Yi, and said politely, "Since Brother Qin is here, please sit down and rest, let's have a drink later!" "I won't stay anymore, I still have something to do, let's have a drink together some other day!" He didn't finish his sentence, but someone behind him said: "He won't drink, I have to drink!" It turned out that the alcoholic Ding Chong walked in with a red face, holding a gourd of wine; Holding a box. Cao Cao jokingly said, "You still want to drink? You're like a drunk cat all day long. Be careful if you rot your intestines and get drunk to death!" "If you die drunk, you will die drunk, and if you die, soak in the wine tank!" Ding Chong took another big gulp after speaking. Cao Cao didn't bother to talk to him, so he was busy staying with Qin Shao.Qin Shao waved his hand, took out the biggest fish from the bamboo basket behind him, and said with a smile, "My mother-in-law has it too, and she's still waiting for my fish soup at home! Let's meet again some other day." Seeing this, Ding Fei grabbed Qin Shao, opened the box in his hand, and took out a small jade ruyi and a gold hairpin from it: "Brother Bonan, this is a trivial matter, save it for the children to play with! " "Don't dare dare!" Qin Shao waved his hand, "Your family gave me a lot during the famine, I can't ask for it anymore." Ding Fei is notoriously stingy and loves money, but today he was so generous that he stuffed two things into Qin Shao's hands: "I don't give it to you, it's for the child. If the boy gives Yu Ruyi, the hairpin will be kept." Hiring a daughter-in-law; if the daughter-in-law gives a golden hairpin, Ruyi will be a dowry in the future." "Hahaha...you can come up with ideas." Cao Cao laughed.Qin Shao couldn't refuse any more, accepted the things, thanked him and left.Ding Fei stuffed the rest of the things including the box to Cao Cao: "These are all given to your children." "Ouch! This is too heavy." "Accept it!" Cao De said with a smile, "Ding Wenhou can be said to be a good fortune, and it is rare to be generous. Don't refute his face." Cao Cao said with a smile to the relatives and friends in the yard: "I, Cao Cao, just want to raise a child, why should everyone be so polite?" Ding Fei waved his hand: "Everyone is looking for an opportunity to get together. Life is too short, so we must pay attention to it. Back then, we were teenagers who played Cuju together, but now we are all fathers! Do you think this life is going fast? !" Cao Cao was full of emotions, and thought to himself: "Yes! I am already a father, and the time has passed too fast. It's just that I am doing nothing now, living in my home, wasting time, why do I go around? In the world, can you still enter the imperial court and achieve fame!" While he was thinking, he heard laughter again and again.A fair-skinned and handsome young man came in style: with facial features and appearance, he was well-rounded.The eyes are bright and the eyebrows are curved.Well-proportioned, broad-boned.Wearing long clothes, beautiful and beautiful.His gestures and gestures are extraordinary - he is Cao Chun, the youngest son of his second uncle Cao Chi and Cao Ren's younger brother.There is also the boy Lu Zhao who is holding a letter and accompanying him. "Zihe, why are you here at this time?" "Just let the kids go." Cao Cao was taken aback for a moment, and asked in surprise, "Now you teach rural studies?" Cao Chun clasped his hands and said with a smile, "Little brother is reluctant to do it." Cao Cao looked at him differently for a long time: when the Cao family was in trouble, his father Cao Chi died suddenly on the way back to his hometown. He was only fourteen years old at that time, and his elder brother Cao Ren was an official in Huainan, so he had to separate the family.It is also thanks to Cao Chi's skill in collecting money that he has left him the richest property in the clan, with hundreds of servants, children and tenants.At such a young age, Cao Chun was in charge of his own household, managed more than a hundred people with ease, and was able to read and study. He couldn't help but sigh: "The son and the shrewdness must be made in heaven." Cao Chun pointed at Lu Zhao and said, "I'm nothing, this kid is a child prodigy! After only a few months, I have learned it." Hearing Cao Chun praise him, Lu Zhao scratched his head in embarrassment: "It's you and Uncle Ziji who taught him well." Cao Dezheng prepared food and drink, then took the bait and said: "I can't do it! Now I'm just a land rich man, and it's Zihe's credit. Man, you don't know, do you? Dad wrote a letter a few days ago, saying that he has already done some dredging. , our son and the next year will be promoted to Xiaolian." Cao Cao nodded: "Zihe, you are the third Xiaolian Duke among our brothers." However, Cao Chun sighed and said: "Nowadays the world is in chaos, and the people of Li are waiting to be fed like they are hanging upside down. The scholars of my generation should do their best. When I enter the court as an official, I must live and die for the safety of the country. The misery of the common people!" "Good! Promising!" Everyone praised. Cao Cao smiled helplessly: Wasn't he as smug as he was back then?So what?Naturally, people should be encouraged to walk, but under the prevailing winds, who can really comfort the ups and downs.When he enters the court, he will understand... After the wine, meat, fruit and vegetables were placed, everyone sat down one after another, pushing cups and changing the water and land, and everyone was talking and laughing.But Cao Cao's food was tasteless and his drinking was like water. He looked at the beaming family.Now he has the acquaintance of Guan Bao Yang Zuo, and the love of husband and wife, family happiness, why still can't cheer up?I don't know who talked about Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren, and Cao Hong being officials in other places, which made Cao Cao even more depressed.Ding Chong was the best at this time, Cao Cao just had to drink with him without saying a word. The banquet ended very late, Cao Cao went to Ding's room, lay on the couch and watched his wife weaving: "Aren't you coming to rest?" "Weave another one to make a new suit for Anmin's nephew. Brother Ziji has treated us so well, and I, as an aunt, should love my nephew." Ding rubbed her neck and stopped. Live, "I went to see my sister just now, she is almost five months old, why can't you see it?" "I was careless." "Is it careless or is there something else in your heart? Can you see when your stomach comes out?" Cao Cao put the quilt over his head: "Oh, my grandma! You can't be idle for a while, you are working and worrying." Ding took off his clothes and said: "One must never be idle, one will be lazy when one is idle." She said these words casually, but Cao Cao in the quilt felt more and more uncomfortable hearing them, as if the words were aimed at herself.The two of them still didn't have a good time that night, and Cao Cao accompanied her to imagine his son's future. The next day, everything was back to how it was.Cao De held up the account book to settle his accounts; Ding continued to spin her cloth in the room; Bian, who was pregnant, wentssiping with her sister; Huan'er and the eldest girl were busy with the two wives; Itinerary; Bian Bing played the flute to coax the children from various families to play; Cao Ang and Cao Anmin went to the village school with their little uncle Cao Chun, and Lu Zhao followed closely with the slips... Cao Mengde was left alone! He wandered around for half a day, but he was still depressed. Everyone has their own things to do, but what should he do?After a hasty lunch, he mounted the Dawan horse and returned to the thatched cottage.However, Cao Cao did not go back directly, but galloped his horse through the countryside until it was getting dark from exhaustion before returning to the empty hut. "Everything is fine! This is just moaning for nothing, nothing more..." He lay alone in the dark hut, constantly comforting himself.