Chapter 22 light tower (4)

Hu Xueyan was in Shanghai, waiting for the exact information from Zuo Zongtang.Zuo Zongtang left Beijing on October 18th, but he did not go south from Tianjin by sea ship and transfer to Jiangning via Shanghai to pick up the post of governor of Liangjiang. Ren, Hu Xueyan originally planned to meet Zuo Zongtang in Shanghai, and return to Hangzhou after he left for Jiangning; seeing this situation, he decided to go back first before coming back.On the second day after returning to Hangzhou, he invited Tang Zishao, the manager of the Gongjidian, to come over, and planned to mobilize the manager of the 23 pawnshops. Taking advantage of the opportunity of handing over to each other, he naturally made a plan for a large-scale investigation, and told over him.

"Zi Shao," he said, "you are the leader of my twenty-three pawnbrokers. I want you to do this, and you go to draw up a charter. It's best to do it in the middle of the year, starting next year." , every family is a new account, with clear boundaries and clear boundaries. What do you think!" Tang Zishao froze for a moment, his mind was fluctuating, and he had many thoughts; he made up his mind and said, "Mr. Da, at the end of the year, if the situation is good, you have to come to redeem the pawn; if the year is not over, ask for Dangdang. When the business is busy, come to the pawn." Transfer, so as not to cause chaos in the world?" "That's not bad. But you can draw up the regulations first, and ask everyone to prepare; once the new year is over and the moon is wan, you can transfer again."

"Yes. This is the right way." After being ordered to come back, Tang Zishao immediately found his supervisor, Pan Maocheng, and had a secret conversation behind closed doors.It turns out that Tang and Pan have colluded and cheated for many years; the most problematic thing is the full clothes - Gongji Dian has set up a clothing estimation shop for the sake of too many clothes, and the sign is called "Gongji Clothes Shop"; The pawned clothes are sent to Yizhuang for sale, some are intact, and some are dropped. It is obvious that a piece of sheep fur that is probably new "shredded radish" is sent to Yizhuang, and it is changed into a "bare board". .The pawnshop "writes the ticket" and always writes valuable things as worthless. It is obviously a gold spring watch, but the pawnshop says "a rotten brass watch". Knowing, so there has never been a customer, and there has been no protest; and because of this "writing ticket" for accounting, the full stuff will be lost, and there is no way to check it.

Gongji Dian was the worst offender. The sable was replaced by a purple lamb, and the spun silk was replaced by a bamboo garment, which was paired with the loan account of Gongji Clothing Factory. After all, the only way to salvage it was to cancel the plan altogether.However, there is no reason to refute this plan except that the business is busy at the end of the year and it is not appropriate to make major changes.Pan Maocheng was at a loss, but Tang Zishao thought of a last resort idea, but this idea can only be done quietly, and must not be announced; and whether he can do it depends on whether his concubine is willing or not.

It turned out that Tang Zishao was from Weizhou, and the court officials of Weizhou went to other places to make a living without bringing any family members with them; Hu Xueyan saw that he was lonely in the guest house, so three years ago he gave him a girl named Yueru as his concubine.Yueru has been married to Tang Zishao in less than half a year, and she seems to have transformed into another person. Her hair was originally yellow, but it turned black and more; her skin was originally rough, but it became white and thinner; At this time, the waist and buttocks are more and more attractive, which makes people think; especially those eyes, which were originally dull and absent-minded, as if they haven't slept enough, suddenly become watery, and they look like a flash of light, which is breathtaking. .

For this reason, Hu Xueyan was quite tempted, and in his speech and expression, he often showed eagerness to try; Tang Zishao had already noticed it, but he just pretended not to know.Now that things are urgent and helpless, I just thought of this beauty trick. If I can convince Yue Ru, half the work will be done.After some calculations in advance, he decided to threaten his interests, "Yueru," he said, "a disaster is imminent." "Trouble?" Yueru couldn't help being surprised, and hurriedly asked, "What trouble did you cause?" "It can also be said that I caused the trouble myself." An emerald ring he was wearing asked, "Do you know where these things come from?"

"Isn't it full loan?" "That's right, it should be a full loan, and I redeemed it as the original owner." Tang Zishao said, "This is considered cheating by hand, and it will be terrible to find out." "No, Mr. Da is very kind, you and Let him be honest, admit his mistake, and he won't make things difficult for you." "It's useless. It's not my business. I will definitely find out. At that time, there is no need for Mr. Da to ask me to walk, and I don't have this card to hang out in Hangzhou anymore. I have to go home and eat old rice." Tang Zishao said tightly Then he said with a mournful face, "I did it myself, and what makes me sad is that I hurt you."

"Have you harmed me?" Yueru was shocked, "How could you have harmed me?" "You think, first, if you caught cheating, you will naturally have to pay. I'm afraid you won't have any jewelry left; second, you will have to suffer when you return to Weizhou with me. How can you afford that kind of hardship?" Yue Ru usually heard Tang Zishao talk about the situation in his hometown. Weizhou is in the mountains, with little land and a lot of people, and the production is not abundant, so all the men go out to do business; women have to do what men do, carrying water and firewood, doing everything. Come here, it is harder than the women in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.What's more, she also thought of her own status, seeing Tang Zishao's original partner, asking her to be submissive and serve her day and night, would rather die than do it.Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel very anxious, "You are too!" She complained and said, "In addition to the regular salary, every month is divided into 'deposit box', 'use', 'public draw', 'dang', 'redemption'. Percentage'. There is already a lot of extra money, and there will be dividends at the end of the year; the comfortable life is not enough, why bother to make other tricks?"

Although Yueru has only been married for three years, she is already very familiar with the rules of the pawnshop.The pawn is from the "internal shortage" manager, package manager, money manager, and account manager; In addition to the regular monthly salary, there is also "extra money" that can be divided. Valuable clothes must be kept carefully. The income from friends is called "use"; the grace period for pawning, for example, is no more than five, and the redemption does not exceed five days at the time of redemption, and no additional interest is calculated, but if it exceeds six days, two months of interest will be paid. In this case, the extra One month's interest also belongs to the partner, which is called "public draw". As for the "pawn rate", it is 1% based on the pawn, and "redemption rate" is 3% based on the redemption. ; Redeem the principal and recover 50,000 silver, there will be a "dangli" of 100 taels of silver, and a "redemption percentage" of 150 taels of silver. These extra money are summed up in centimeters per month, and the ratio of the amount of income is different. Tang Zishao is Mr. Guan, of course he gets a big portion, ranging from five to sixty taels a month, to hundreds of taels as many, and his life is really affluent.

Tang Zishao naturally regretted it, but, "What has been done has already been done, and it is useless for you to complain." He said, "Now I can only find a way to remedy it. If you want, I will use my brain again." "What use am I willing to do?" "Of course it's useful. As long as you say something, are you willing?" "Where would you be unwilling? Tell me, why is it useful as long as I say yes?" "It's because you have something useful in your body. I just want to ask if you are willing to borrow it and use it? If you are willing, just take it out."

Yueru savored his words carefully for a while, and suddenly realized, she asked with a straight face, "Who do you want me to lend it to?" "Which one else? Of course it is Mr. Hu Da." "Hmph!" Yueru sneered, "I knew you would come up with such a shameless idea!" Shameless, it is better to be shameless in front of Mr. Hu Da. Tell me, is my plan wrong?" "Your plan is not wrong. However, you don't want face, I want face." "He knows this, you know, I know, no fourth person knows, your face will definitely be saved." Yue Ru remained silent, apparently agreeing. "Mr. Big." Tang Zishao said, "I want to discuss this matter with Rongzhai; he has a good brain, and he must have a proper way to figure it out." Rongzhai's surname was Shi, and he was the manager of Gongshundian in Deqing City, Huzhou.He is extremely capable, and he runs Gongshun Dian alone, and his annual surplus always ranks first. In terms of size, he originally ranked fifth or sixth among the 23 Dian families, but now he is the largest one, with an accumulated capital of 300,000 renminbi. Not much, Hu Xueyan thought to himself, Tang Zishao wanted to discuss with Shi Rongzhai, which was the right way to do things, so he agreed without hesitation. "Mr. Big, do you have anything to say to Rongzhai?" "Yes." Hu Xueyan asked, "Which day are you leaving?" "I can go anytime." "Okay. I'll tell you when I think about it." "That's good," Tang Zishao asked, "Which day will Mister Da be free at noon?" I have to ask Mrs. Song, who ranks fifth among Hu Xueyan's twelve concubines; Hu Xueyan is in charge of all the entertainment, so she asks the girl to ask, and the answer is that she is not free for ten days in a row, and she has copied a list. People please, someday please people, write clearly. "You asked me which day I was free at noon, why?" "It's Yueru, I always want to make some dishes to honor Mr. Da. I think it's better to invite Mr. Da to have a light meal; if you have anything to explain to Rong Zhai, you can tell me by the way." Hearing this, Hu Xueyan was very happy, because not only You can look at Yueru, and I really want to eat the dishes made by Yueru.So I picked up the list, looked at it carefully for a while and said: "I don't have to go to the two dinners at noon the day after tomorrow. It's just at noon the day after tomorrow." "Yes, yes." Tang Zishao said again: "Mr. A few dishes." It turned out that Yue Ruben was helping in the kitchen, although she was not a maid under the stove, she was just running around and passing food boxes; but she was naturally clever, and she was able to cook well.At the beginning, Hu Xueyan picked this unremarkable girl as a gift to Tang Zishao because he was good at drinking and food, and she was good at cooking.For the past three years, Tang Zishao has given Yueru the recipes listed in "Three Barrens and October Surplus" and "Suiyuan Food List".Cooked in the same way, with further improvements, there are a few special dishes that even the cooks of the Hu family admire; it's just that Yueru is quite proud of her craftsmanship and refuses to sell it easily, so she is not very well known. "Everything of Yueru's dishes is good; but there are a few that take a lot of work to prepare." "It doesn't matter. Just give orders to Mr. Big." Hu Xueyan nodded and said, "Make a walnut kidney." This is the same dish that takes a lot of work.First cook lamb or pork loin with salt water and ginger, remove the membrane and slice into pieces; then pick out the walnut meat, peel off the skin and mash, mix well with the loin slices, and stir-fry continuously with low heat until the walnuts come out. oil, penetrate into the loin, and then cook thoroughly with good sauce wine, aged wine and spices.It is a wonderful thing for drinking. "anything else?" "One time, Yueru made steamed eggs to honor the old lady. It's not bad." "Oh, those are three fresh eggs. It doesn't take much trouble. What else?" "I just thought of these two things." Hu Xueyan said again: "Don't have too many dishes, it will be ruined. Besides, a person's time is limited after all. If there are too many dishes, if you can't take care of them, the taste will inevitably be bad." "Yes, yes. At noon the day after tomorrow, Mr. Big please show us your honor early." Tang Zishao lived behind Gongji Dian, and sub-rented the house as soon as he entered the house, on the third floor and the third floor, with front and rear wing rooms; the back wing room facing east was used as a kitchen by Yueru.The two rooms on the upper floor and the outside are connected for sitting and sitting; the innermost one is the bedroom.As soon as Hu Xueyan arrived, he went upstairs to sit. The snow-white brazier was very lively; the windows were newly pasted, and although they were closed tightly, the room was still bright. sweat. Not long after sitting down, there was a sound of stairs, and Yueru came up. She was wearing a pair of purple lake crepe jacket trousers, and underneath were tribute trousers with loose feet—Hu Xueyan hated young women wearing skirts the most. They are all jackets and trousers, so is Yueru.When she met Hu Xueyan, she wrapped herself up as a gift, and her address has not changed. She still called him "Master." "The red light is due to the heat." Hu Xueyan said while touching his face. "Master is wearing silk cotton, no wonder." Yue Ru turned to Tang Zishao and said, "Go and see, do you have jacket and trousers in the master's bag?" "Yes, yes," Tang Zishao patted suddenly. "I should have thought of it earlier." Saying that, he got up and left. So, Yueru sat down and asked the old lady and wife; the aunt and wife in charge, surnamed Luo Xingsi, lived outside the snail gate, so she was called "Mrs. Luosi".Then there were 'Master' and 'Miss', asked one by one; Tang Zishao had already fetched the bag from Hu Xueyan's attendant. "Master," Yue Ru took the bag and said, "I'll wait for you to change it." In front of Tang Zishao, it was naturally inconvenient for her to take on this duty, so she repeatedly said, "I dare not, I dare not. I will do it myself." "Then go inside and change." Yueru led Hu Xueyan into her bedroom, and closed the door behind her.Hu Xueyan sat on the edge of the bed, took off the cotton and changed the clips. After changing the clothes, he had to look around. Among the furniture, there was only one bed that was the most exquisite; There is a sallow bergamot on the side of the pillowcase, pick it up and smell it, it smells like sweet-scented osmanthus, presumably it is because of Yueru's hair oil. "Have you changed it yet?" The person outside the door asked. "It's changed." "Change? I'll tidy up." Then, the door of the room opened with a "ah", and Yueru came in and folded the silk jacket and trousers that had been replaced. Hu Xueyan had already walked outside at this time, Tang Zishao who was smoking a hookah stood up and asked, "Mr. Big, do you want dinner right away?" "Eat when you're done." Hu Xueyan asked, "When did you arrive in Huzhou?" "Leave in the second half of today." "Oh, then I want to tell you what I want to tell you about Rongzhai. First, the silk market is not very good this year. Sericulture farmers, this year, I'm afraid it will be very sad. You tell him to take care of the counter and relax a little bit." "yes." "Second, don't sell the full silk—" "Most of the silk that is full will turn yellow," Tang Zishao rushed to say, "If you don't sell it, it will turn yellow and become worthless." "If you want to sell it," Hu Xueyan said, "you must first inquire about the roads. If people from the Shanghai Silk Reeling Factory come to collect it, you must never sell it to them." "Yes." Tang Zi agreed, but then added another sentence: "Actually, if they deliberately take it in, there is no way to prevent it." "How did you see that?" "They can collect the pawn ticket to redeem it!" "That's what I want."Hu Xueyan said: "People can't afford to redeem the pawn, so it's good if the pawn ticket can sell for a few dollars." "Mr. Da is really a bodhisattva." Tang Zishao sighed. "It's not a bodhisattva heart. I have nothing to lose. I can help others. Why not do it? To be honest, I don't know how much it is easy to do when a person has a social status. Just no heart." "Mr. Da is kind, but it's a pity that some people don't know." "Why do people need to know? It's the secret of being an official to ask people to say hello without paying for it. Do business honestly. If you do it that way, people who know it will criticize you behind your back for fame, and your golden brand name will not hang firmly. " "Yes, yes. Mr. Big can really see it. But—" "You don't want 'ginkgo' and 'red dates', you forget about Chenguang!" Yueru interrupted him loudly, "Dinner is ready." When I looked up, the table was full of dishes. In addition to the roasted walnut waist and three fresh eggs that Hu Xueyan ordered, there were also steamed chicken with pine nuts, fried fish with winter bamboo shoots, braised ham and yellow sprouts, and A large bowl of fish ball soup with water shield and pickles that every family in Hangzhou will make in winter. "What kind of wine does the master eat?" Yue Ru said, "The flower carving is already hot there." "Okay, let's eat the flower carving." After pouring the wine, Yue Ru came to serve the dishes again, "I'm afraid that the master is tired of Fang Yuhe's ham." She said, "Today I use Xuanwei ham." "Your words are too much. You can never tire of eating good ham." Hu Xueyan held a piece of Xuanwei leg, put it in his mouth, chewed, and said: "Speaking of Xuanwei leg, let me tell you a joke. Sheng Xingsun likes to eat Xuanwei legs the most. Someone flattered him and brought two Xuanwei legs from Yunnan to his telegraph office. violated his taboo—” Sheng Xingsun's name is Sheng Xuanhuai. "Tang Zishao explained to Yueru during the time. "Of course he's not happy about breaking his taboo?" Yue Ru asked. "That's right!" Hu Xueyan replied, "At that time he lost his temper: 'What are you talking about? Take it away, take it away!' After a few days, he remembered and called the secretary of the telegraph office I came to ask: "Where are my legs?" Fan Siwu understood, and reported back to him: "My lord's two legs, I don't want them." The masters in the bureau ate your lord's two legs.'” Hu Xueyan spoke very quickly, like a tongue twister, which made Yueru giggle non-stop. "The joke is not over yet." Hu Xueyan said again: "Sheng or Sun is very mean, and he specializes in doing cheap and good-looking things. Someone hated him and wanted to make him happy, so he asked someone to send him a gift. It’s still a pair of Xuan legs. Look at the two hams, they are black, and they are not as big as Jinhua’s legs, let alone Xuanwei’s legs. I thought, what kind of ham is this? "Does the rice secretary understand?" Yueru asked again. "Of course the rice secretary knows the goods, and he said at the time: 'My lord, these two legs of yours are dog legs!'" As a result, Yueru naturally laughed again, stopped laughing and said, "It turned out to be 'xu legs'! I've only heard of it, but never seen it." "It's rare to see." Tang Zishao said: "In a crock of ham, only one 'xu leg' is placed in order to get its fragrance." "Dog meat is really delicious. It's a pity that the old lady is not allowed to enter the door." Hu Xueyan turned to look at Yueru and said, "The old lady often mentions your stewed eggs. You can make another bowl tomorrow to honor and honor her." "Hey! The old lady is really flattering me. She likes it, and I make it every day." "Steamed eggs should be steamed and eaten immediately." Tang Zishao has a better way, "It's better that you pass on the trick to Little Liu Ma, and the old lady can eat as much as she wants?" It turned out that the Hu family also had several small kitchens just like in the palace; the small room dedicated to Mrs. Hu was under the care of Little Liu Ma, and it would be much easier to pass on the secret to her. "Zi Shao's words are very clear." Hu Xueyan took it very seriously, "Yueru, I want to ask you, no matter how many good seasonings you add to the steamed eggs, when you serve them on the table, the top is clear and the bottom is muddy, and the seasonings sink in. The bottom of the bowl has formed a hard lump. Only the bowl of three fresh eggs you steamed, all the ingredients are evenly distributed in the egg, tender but not old, where is the trick?" "The trick is to steam it twice——" Yueru’s method is, for the first time, use three eggs, add a teacup of oil-free ham soup, a little salt, steam it thoroughly, just like very tender tofu; only then add seasoning, ham and mushrooms , It is kernels and the like, and beat another raw egg, together with the steamed tender egg, beat well together, and add mushroom soup according to the thickness.The eggs steamed in this way are the three fresh eggs that Hu Xueyan is eating at the moment. "Everything can't be broken." Tang Zishao said with a smile: "It's worthless if it's broken." "Otherwise." Hu Xueyan said: "Just knowing the trick, not paying attention, not working hard, it is also a 'three different things', let alone Better than others. Yueru, are you telling me what I said?" After listening to his words, Yue Ru felt very comfortable, and her smile was very sweet, "Master said so, let's eat some while it's hot." As she spoke, she scooped up a spoonful and brought it to Hu Xueyan's mouth. "I'll do it myself." Hu Xueyan squeezed Hao's hand to prevent her from putting the spoon into his mouth. Seeing this, Tang Zishao turned his head to look after the girl at the table: "You serve me a bowl of rice and finish eating. I have to catch the boat, and the time is already very tight." "What time to sail?" Hu Xueyan asked. "Two o'clock." "Uh, it's going to be fast. It's already a bit too much. Now the small steamer is towing seven or eight ships at a time. It won't wait until then." So Tang Zishao finished his meal in a hurry, and said goodbye to Hu Xueyan; Yue Ru wanted to send him downstairs, but Tang Zishao stopped him when he reached the stairs. "You accompany Mr. Da. If there is enough time, the ship will definitely catch up. There will always be a three-day delay, so be careful." "I know, you can go at ease." Yueru called the girl again: "You send the master downstairs, and go to the kitchen to help Chen Mama. I am here." After Yueru finished speaking, she still stood there, waiting for the sound of footsteps to disappear before she turned around, closed the door of the stairwell, and flicked the active latch to immediately isolate the inside and outside. Hu Xueyan's heart skipped a beat, it was a bit like the situation at the beginning. "Mr. Hu Da" has changed into "Ximen Daguanren"; but although Tang Zi looks like a Wang Po, if he misses the boat and bumps into him on his way home, he suddenly becomes Wu Dalang, that's not a joke. "Could it be that Tang Zishao has a black heart and wants me to fall into the trap of the fairy?" Hu Xueyan asked himself in his heart, and at the same time raised his eyes to see Yueru's face. Her face was very calm, which made Hu Xueyan feel calm; thinking about it, Tang Zishao didn't have the guts even if he had a "black heart".Yue Ru has no reason to accompany Tang Zishao to play the fairy dance; it seems that she has something to ask for, so it's not a big deal to make such a bad plan. Thinking of this, his mind became wild, "Yue Ru," he said, "I'm so regretful, I shouldn't have promised you to Old Tang." "Why?" "Do you still want me to ask?" Hu Xueyan squeezed her hand and said, "Are you pretending to be confused?" '?" Hu Xueyan built a Zoumalou, which is divided into twelve districts, and houses twelve concubines, so this Zoumalou is also called the Twelfth Floor. Hearing that there was resentment in her words, Hu Xueyan immediately said: "Don't blame me. How could you be like this today!" "What about me? Yueru is not Yueru yet." "Su Qin is not the old Su Qin. The women's university has undergone eighteen changes, but he has become better than you. Except you—" Hu Xueyan swallowed his words. But Yueru wanted to ask: "Except for what? Apart from being able to make a few dishes, there is nothing that the master likes." "Everything, except—" "Well, let's talk and stop talking. I don't like talking half a word at all." "If you don't get angry, I'll just say it. My only fly in the ointment is a pair of big feet." "What's wrong with big feet? Li Zhongtang's old lady has big feet." Li Zhongtang refers to Li Hongzhang. It is said that when Li Hanzhang was the governor of Huguang, he welcomed his elderly mother; Li Hongzhang also rushed from Tianjin to Wuchang to meet him.Stopping at the Governor's Yamen, topping and following dozens of horses, with "Guide" added to the title of the title of office, grow up to the front and sing the gong, but you can't hear it from the back.Mrs. Li's green woolen sedan chair is supported by two governor's sons on the left and right. The people of Wuchang who come to see it all envy them and say, "Ms. Li is really lucky." The old lady Li was naturally very proud too; she got carried away with her complacency, and unknowingly put her toes out of the car curtain. It turned out that the old lady Li was a natural foot, and the people who watched the bustle couldn't help whispering. Immediately said to the sedan chair: "Mother, please put your feet in, it's unsightly to show them." Unexpectedly, one sentence annoyed Mrs. Li; in fact, it was because she hated people saying that she had big feet the most, and she couldn't help becoming angry from embarrassment. At that time, she said loudly: "Your father doesn't think I have big feet, but you do!" This is a well-known joke, so Yueru also knew, Hu Xueyan even smiled and said: "Okay, okay, I don't dislike you." "It's really nothing to hate. You don't know the benefits of big feet." "Oh, tell me." Yue Ru blinked her eyes in thought, then suddenly blushed, and said to him, "I won't tell you." Hu Xueyan felt a little itchy in his heart, and said with a smile: "You should stretch out your feet and let me see." "No!" Yue Ru replied simply, and at the same time shrank her feet behind the chair. So Hu Xueyan thought about it again, and really wanted to follow Ximen Qing's method, deliberately knocking down the chopsticks, and when he bent over to pick them up, he could pinch her feet, but before he could change his mind, Yue Ru spoke. "You can always see my feet." "Oh," Hu Xueyan asked, "What time is it?" Yueru didn't answer. "Yueru," Hu Xueyan stretched out his hand, shook hands and said, "Sit down here, I have something to tell you." "Sitting there, isn't it easy to say?" "No! You have to 'bite your ears' to have a taste for this." In Hangzhou dialect, "biting one's ear" means whispering, "There is no one, why do you want to bite one's ear?" Yue Ru moved a redwood round stool over and sat beside Hu Xueyan. Hu Xueyan stretched out his left hand, hugged her slender and soft waist, leaned over his head, smelled her hair first, and then said in a low voice: "You can wash your feet now, okay?" "Not good!" Yueru replied quickly. "Hey! You didn't say it yourself." "Yes, I said so. But not today." "Then what day?" Yueru didn't answer, but let Hu Xueyan hug her tighter and tighter, but she didn't intend to resist; after a long time, she said: "It's so hot," then sat up a little straight, stretched out her left hand to take off the button of the clothes, and then From the collar to the armpit, they were all unbuttoned, and the skirt was half lifted, Xiang Ze smelled slightly; Hu Xueyan was sitting on her right, and it was just a matter of lifting his finger to touch her chest, but he would rather ask the question clearly first. "Why do not you speak?" "What do you want me to say? Mrs. Luoshi knows, how can I still have the face to go to Yuanbao Street?" "Where did she find out? The people who come out with me are all tight-lipped people." Yue Ru fell silent again, It seemed that he agreed, so Hu Xueyan waited patiently. "I have stewed duck porridge over there, do you want a bowl?" "Eat after rest." Hu Xueyan stood up and gave her a hand. Yueru made the bed and washed her hands, then opened the door of the building and asked the girl to bring a pot of duck porridge from the kitchen.Immediately, the girl was sent away, and she filled a bowl for Hu Xueyan herself, and she filled half a bowl herself, and accompanied her. "Master," Yueru asked leisurely, "Does it mean that the manager of the twenty-san family wants to make a big move?" "That's right! Old Tang went to Deqing to discuss this matter." "Where are you going to transfer Old Tang?" "I don't know yet." "Why don't you know?" "'For God's sake' how would I know?" "What do you mean 'by God?'" "Drawing lots." Hu Xueyan said: "The twenty-three pawnshops are divided into large, medium and small, and the pawnshops are divided into three categories. For example, there are eight pawnshops at the top. The managers of these eight pawnshops will draw lots together. Wherever they are drawn, that's where they are." "So, old Tang draws from Suzhou to Suzhou, from Zhenjiang to Zhenjiang?" "Not bad." Hearing this, Yueru put down her chopsticks, covered her face and staggered back to the bedroom.Hu Xueyan was taken aback, and followed in immediately, only to see her lying on the bed, crying with her shoulders shrugged. "Yueru, Yueru!" Although he pushed her body, she ignored him, but the crying seemed to stop. "What on earth are you doing? Crying so sadly for no reason." "Why don't I be sad?" Yueru turned her face to the bed and complained: "You have no conscience! You have tricked me into your hands and tasted something new, so you immediately think of such a way! Tell Lao Tang to take me to other counties, you Out of sight is in the eye! "Where did you start?" Hu Xueyan couldn't help laughing, "I never dreamed that you would bring two irrelevant things together!" "Where is it irrelevant? Old Tang was transferred to another county, so I naturally have to follow. You don't seem to care at all, and it counts after playing." This accusation cannot be said to be unreasonable, Hu Xueyan thought for a while and said: "You don't have to ask Lao Tang to go, I will buy another house for you." "To be your little mansion?" "It's not a small mansion—" Hu Xueyan was at a loss for words, but Yueru did not relax. "What is it if it's not a small mansion?" She said, "Even if it is a house bought by Old Tang, I live alone in Hangzhou. If someone asks me, how can I reply? And you are coming, someone will know; and If your people don’t tell you, someone will come to Mrs. Snail and say it, and one day someone will come to your door. At that time, I had no other choice but to throw myself into the river and into the well.” The words could not be refuted, Hu Xueyan was stunned for a long time and said: "Yueru, you know, the transfer of the twenty-three housekeepers comes first; we will sleep in the same bed today, which is something I didn't even think about yesterday. These are two things that don’t match each other, but now they seem to be linked together. Tell me, what’s the best way?” Yue Ru deliberately pondered for a while, then Fang Shi said: "There is a way. First I want to ask you, do you just want to pick up a bargain today, or do you still want me?" "I still want you." "Then there is only one way, which is to keep it as it is." "How do you call it unchanged?" "President Guan of the other family, even if you transfer the support, Old Tang will still take care of Gongji," Yueru said again: "Old Tang has the mind to help you manage the pawns. Unlike other families, it is reasonable for him not to move." "How can we make it through? Once there is an exception, everyone will not accept it." "Then everyone will not move." Yueru said again: "I don't know how to do business, but as I think, doing business depends on familiarity. When you arrive in a strange place, your eyes are black; when you see clearly, the business has already been taken away by others." Hu Xueyan was in a state of confusion, thinking and thinking, but there was no good way to take care of it. Finally, he sighed and said: "It's up to everyone move." Tang Zishao's "beauty trap" was quickly known to all the servants in Yuanbao Street; but Mrs. Hu was extremely strict in managing her family, and regarded the saying "he who talks about right and wrong is right and wrong" as a golden rule, so no People dare to go to the twelfth floor to tell this secret. But it didn't spread nearby, but it spread far away; Gu Yingchun told Grandma Qigu about this in a depressed tone, but Grandma Qigu didn't believe it. "My uncle is not this kind of person. If you overthrow a business agreement for the sake of a woman, it doesn't count; how could my uncle have such a scene today, he was defeated long ago." "I'm too lazy to argue with you. Fortunately, he is coming to pick up Mr. Zuo, so you might as well ask him face to face." "Of course I want to ask him face to face." Qigu's grandma continued to defend Hu Xueyan, "The general manager of the twenty-three pawnshops is still the same, there must be his reason. Uncle's plan can't be wrong." The next day, Hu Xueyan arrived and still lived in Gu's house; he and Gu Yingchun didn't go home together until after eleven o'clock in the middle of the night for entertainment, and Qigu's grandma prepared a supper as usual and waited for them. While chatting with each other over the cup, Grandma Qigu casually asked: "Uncle, I heard that your plan to transfer the chief pawnbrokers of the 23 households has been cancelled. Why?" "Sister Qi, please don't ask me any more." Upon hearing this, Qigu's grandma suddenly changed color, and immediately asked: "Why don't you ask?" "Seventh sister, let's talk about interesting things; if you talk about boring things, even you will not be happy, why bother?" "That said, it's true. It's true that the surname Tang set up a trap, please Mr. Hu Da to get into it. Uncle, how could you do such a foolish thing?" Speaking of the word "confused", his mouth was already crooked, his eyes were also slanted, and his face was red like fire; Gu Yingchun called out: "No!" It fell to the ground, but fortunately the ground was covered with an extremely thick Persian wool carpet, so the head did not break. "It's a stroke!" Hu Xueyan jumped up and shouted, "Come on!" So he called people in and helped Grandma Qigu up, and at the same time sent people to Yanyi——Hu Xueyan took care of Cao Langzhong, who had entered the palace to "seek pulse" during the Xianfeng period and was known as the imperial doctor, but Gu Yingchun believed in Western medicine and had A well-known doctor named Elliott, so another person was sent to invite him. It was midnight, knocking on the door to get the doctor out of bed, naturally it took some effort.Gu Yingchun could still hold his breath, but Hu Xueyan was unusually anxious, looking at Grandma Qigu who was lying on the soft couch, eyes closed, "snoring, snoring" only making phlegm in her throat, rubbing her hands and shimmying non-stop.He knew that Grandma Qigu was overly annoyed when she heard that he had done something worthless, which led to this change.If it is not cured, "Although I don't kill Boren, Boren will die by me", I will feel guilty for the rest of my life, can I live on? It was not easy to wait for the doctor, and Elite came first, seeing Grandma Qigu lying there, telling Gu Yingchun in English that a stroke patient should not lie on his back.Gu Yingchun immediately called two servants to help Grandma Qigu up, leaned on the easy chair, and supported her left and right.Western medicine sees a doctor, there is no such thing as "a man and a woman don't know each other". Ai Lituo opened his leather bag, took out a stethoscope and hung it on his ear, and told Gu Yingchun to unbutton Grandma Qigu's clothes, and pressed the receiver on her chest to listen to her heartbeat.After the diagnosis was over, he opened his teeth and managed to swallow the pill he brought with warm water, letting her swallow it.Then tell Gu Yingchun that if he wakes up six hours later, his life can be saved, and he will come back for a follow-up visit after dawn.While they were talking, Cao Langzhong arrived; Ai Lituo's face was not very good-looking, and he protested to Gu Yingchun that he could not see Chinese medicine if he wanted to see Western medicine.This time, Gu Yingchun was in a difficult situation, so he discussed with Hu Xueyan, what should he do? "If you believe in western medicine, it's up to you to make the decision. Cao Langzhong, he takes care of the illness and prescribes the prescriptions. Just don't take his medicine." "Not bad, not bad! This method is good." Gu Yingchun followed his advice. Ai Tuli's skills were good, and at dawn, Grandma Qigu opened her eyes, but Hu Xueyan was too tired to open her eyes. "Uncle, go to sleep quickly, you have to pick up Mr. Zuo in the afternoon." Gu Yingchun said: "Go to sleep at ease, I will call you when the time comes." "It's good to be able to rest assured and sleep well." “小爷叔，死生有命；而且看样子也好转了，你不必担心。”话虽如此，胡雪岩如何放心得下？双眼虽涩重得睁不开，睡却睡不好，时时惊醒，不到中午就起身了。 “艾礼脱又来看病，说大致不要紧了，不过风瘫恐怕不免，带病延年，活上十几年的也多的是。”古应春说道：“小爷叔办正事去吧，可惜我不能陪你；见了左大人，代我说一声。”“好，好！我会说。” 左宗棠等过了慈禧太后的万寿，方始出京，奉准回籍扫墓，十一月甘五日到湖南省城长沙，第一件事是去拜访郭嵩焘。 郭嵩焘与左宗棠有一段重重纠结的恩怨。当咸丰八年左宗棠在湖南巡抚骆秉章幕府中时，一切独断独行；一天骆秉章在签押房里看书，忽然听见辕门放铳，看辰光不是每天正午的“午时炮”，便问是怎么回事？听差告诉他：“左师爷拜折。”连上奏折他都不知道，湖南巡抚等于左宗棠在做；因而得了个外号，叫做“左都御史”。巡抚照例挂“右副都御史”衔，叫左宗棠为左都御史，意思是说他比“右副都御史”巡抚的权还要重。 其时有个湖南永州镇总兵樊燮，湖北恩施人，声名不佳，有一次去见左宗棠，谈到永州的防务情形，樊燮一问三不知，而且礼貌上不大周到，左宗棠大为光火，当时甩了他一个大嘴巴，而且立即办了个奏稿，痛劾樊燮“贪纵不法，声名恶劣”，其中有“目不识丁”的考语，也不告诉骆秉章就发出去了。樊燮是否“贪纵不法”，犹待查明，但“目不识丁”何能当总兵官？当下先革职、后查办。这“目不识丁”四字，在樊燮心里，比烙铁烫出来的还要深刻，“解甲归田”以后，好在克扣下来的军饷很不少，当下延聘名师教他的独子读书，书房里“天地君亲师”的木牌旁边，贴一张梅红笺，写的就是“目不识丁”四字。他告诉他的儿子说：“左宗棠不过是个举人，就这么样的神气；你将来不中进士，不是我的儿子。”他这个儿子倒也很争气，后来不但中了进士，而且点了翰林，早年就是名士，此人就是樊增祥。 一方面教子，一方面还要报仇”樊燮走门路，告到骆秉章的上司，两广总督官文那里，又派人进京，在都察院递呈鸣冤。官文为此案出奏，有一句很厉害的话，叫做“一官两印”，意思是说有两个人在做湖南巡抚。名器不可假人，而况是封疆大吏；这件事便很严重了。 其时郭嵩焘是南书房翰林，他跟左宗棠的胞兄左宗棠植是儿女亲家，与左宗棠当然很熟，深知他才气过人，便跟同为南书房的翰林潘祖说：“左季高如果不在湖南，一定保不住；东南大局，不复可问。我跟他同乡，又是姻亲，不便进言，老兄何妨上个折子。” 潘祖荫听他的话，果然上了上折子，铺叙他的功绩以后，作了个结论：“国家不可一日无湖南，即湖南不可一日无左宗棠”。咸丰一看，为之动容，当即传旨问曾国藩，左宗棠是仍旧在湖南好呢？还是调到曾国藩大营中，以便尽其所长。曾国藩回奏，左宗棠“刚明耐苦，晓畅兵机，”。于是奉旨随同曾国藩襄办军务。 左宗棠因祸得福，多亏得潘祖荫、郭嵩焘，但他对潘、郭的态度，大不相同。左宗棠除了“三节两寿”必送一份极厚的礼金以外，知道潘祖荫好收藏金石碑版，当陕甘总督时，凡是关中有新出土的碑，初拓本一定专差赍送潘祖荫，有时甚至连原碑都送到潘家。 郭嵩焘是在洪杨平后，奉旨出任广东巡抚，两广总督名瑞麟，与巡抚同驻广州；“督抚同城”，常不和睦，瑞麟贪而无能，但为内务府出身，有事可直接诉诸两宫太后，靠山很硬，所以郭嵩焘深受其掣肘之苦而无可如何。 哪知处境本已很难的郭嵩焘，万想不到多年好友，且曾加以援手的左宗棠会跟他为难，为了协饷，除致函指责以外，且四次上奏折，指摘郭嵩焘，措施如何不然。郭、左失和的原因，有种种传说，流传最盛的一个说法是，当郭嵩焘放广东巡抚时，湘阴文庙忽产灵芝；郭嵩焘的胞弟郭焘写给老兄，以为是他开府的吉兆。左宗棠得知其事，大为不悦，说“文庙产灵芝，如果是吉兆，亦当应在我封爵一事上面，与郭家何干？”由此生了意见。 其实，湘阴文庙产灵芝，是常有之事，左宗棠亦不致小气到连这种事都要争。真正的原因是，洪杨军兴以后，带兵大员，就地筹饷，真所谓“有土斯有财”。李鸿章最懂得这个道理，所以始终霸住江苏，尤其是上海这个地盘不放；左宗棠却只得浙江一省，每苦不足，看出广东是大有生发之地，所以狠狠心不顾盛谊友情，一再攻讦郭嵩焘。最后终于如愿以偿，由他的大将蒋益澧接了郭嵩焘的手。不过蒋益澧的广东巡抚，干不多久就被调走了。 郭嵩焘因此郁郁不得志。光绪建元，起用在籍大员，他跟曾国荃同被征召至京，曾国荃放了陕西巡抚，因为不愿与陕甘总督左宗棠共事，改任河东河道总督；郭嵩焘则奉派为福建按察史；这在当过巡抚的人来说，是很委屈的，不过他还是接了事。不久，诏命开缺，以侍郎候补，充任出使英国钦差大臣。 其时云南发生英国公使翻译马嘉理，赴滇缅边境迎接来自印度的探险家，不意为官兵所戕，因而引起很严重的交涉。英国公使威妥玛表示，郭嵩焘出使英国，如果在国书上表明中国认错字样，可即赴任，否则应候云南案结后再赴英国。总署诸大臣都认为中国不能认错，郭嵩焘亦就不能出国；奉旨署理兵部侍郎，并在总署行走。 郭嵩焘对办洋务，一面主张公平合理，认为非此不足以折服洋人。他认为马嘉理被戕一案，云南巡抚岑毓英不能说没有责任，当案发以后，意存掩护，又不查明杀害情由，据实奏报，一味诿罪于深山中的野人。而中朝士大夫又因为官兵所杀的是洋人，群起袒护岑毓英，以至于英国更觉不平，态度亦日趋强硬。这件纠纷固结不解，全由不讲公平、不讲事理之故，因而奉命入总署之日，便单衔上奏，请旨“将岑毓英先后酿成事端之外，交部严加议处，以为恃虚骄之气，而不务沉心观理、考察详情，以贻累国家者戒。”郭嵩焘平时讲洋务，本已为守旧的“卫道君子”所不满；如居今然参劾杀洋的岑毓英，在他们看，显然是私通外国，因而引起了公愤，连他平素往来密切的朋友、门生，对他亦很不谅解，湖南则有许多人不认他是同乡。此外京师有人做了一副对联骂他：“出乎其类，拔乎其萃，不容于尧舜之世；未能事人，焉能事鬼，何必去父母之邦？” 到得第二年七月底，中英订立烟台条约，“滇案”解决；郭嵩焘可以启程赴英国了，当时称为“放洋”；而“放洋”以前又发生了一件很不愉快的事。 有个广东人叫刘锡鸿，原任刑部员外郎；此人是郭嵩焘在广东的旧识，谈起洋务来，颇为投机。此时希望跟郭嵩焘一起放洋。但谈洋务是一回事，办洋务又是一回事，郭嵩焘认为刘锡鸿脾气太刚、好意气用事，而办洋务是“水磨工夫”，颇不相宜。哪知刘锡鸿不死心，托出郭嵩焘的一个好友朱孙诒来关说。朱孙诒向郭嵩焘说：“你批评他不宜办洋务的话，我都跟他说了，他亦很有自知之明，表示一切不问，你只当带一个可以谈谈，以解异国寂寞的朋友好了。” 听得这样说，郭嵩焘可怜刘锡鸿穷困不得意，便上奏保他充任参赞。刘锡鸿是个司员，而且只是六品的员外郎，论资格只能当参赞。 不过上谕下来，竟是“刑部员外郎刘锡鸿着即开缺。以五品京堂候补，并加三品衔，充出使英国副使。”这种例子，殊为少见；其中有个内幕，军机大臣李鸿藻对郭嵩焘的态度，有些怀疑，怕他出使后，处处帮英国人讲话，因而提拔刘锡鸿，以副使的身分去钳制正使。 这刘锡鸿是个不明事理的人，以为李鸿藻派他去当“打手”，所以谢恩以后，便去看郭嵩焘，责问他为何不保他当副使而当参赞？说他不够朋友，另外还有很难听的话，等于是骂了郭嵩焘一顿。 郭嵩寿气得半死，总是遇到这种恩将仇报的人，只好自怨命中注定。后来刘锡鸿果然处处跟他为难，而且大吵大闹，不顾体统，郭嵩焘写信给李鸿章，形容共事为“鬼嗥于室，狐啸于梁”，公使馆的上下不安，可想而知。 其时刘锡鸿已调充驻德公使，可以单衔上奏，彼此互劾，而由于刘锡鸿有李鸿藻撑腰，占了上风。李鸿藻的门下，赫赫有名的“翰林四谏”之一张佩纶，上奏“请撤回驻英使臣。”郭嵩焘大为泄气，一再求去，终于在光绪五年七月改派曾国藩的长子曾纪泽接替郭嵩焘，不过刘锡鸿亦同时垮台，改派郭嵩焘所欣赏的李凤苞使德。这时李鸿章办争的结果。 郭嵩焘在英国博得极好的声望，所以于郭之去，多表惋惜。郭嵩焘原配早死，继室下堂，只带了个姓梁的姨太太赵贡，照她的身分是不能觐见维多利亚女王的，竟亦破例特许。但在英国如此，回国后郭嵩焘自知李鸿藻这班人不会放过他，而且已六十二岁，因而决意引退，一到上海即称病，不回京复命，而请开缺，终得如愿以偿，回湖南后住在长沙。身虽在野，并不消极，关于时政，特别是洋务方面，常跟李鸿章，曾国荃书信往来，细作讨论。日子过得也还闲适。 这一年——光绪七年，郭嵩焘年初年尾有两件比较快意之事，一件是二月间，调回国充任通政使司参议的刘锡鸿，因为李鸿章敲掉了他的“洋饭碗”记恨在心，奏劾李鸿章跋扈不臣，俨然帝制。李鸿章正在红的时候，刘锡鸿自不量力，出以此举，自然是自讨没趣，上谕斥责其“信口诬蔑，交部议处。”结果竟落得个革职的处分。 再一件就是左宗棠来拜访。排扬阔极，顶马、跟马、高脚牌，前呼后拥一顶绿呢大轿，内中坐的是头戴宝石顶、双眼花翎，身穿四开禊袍黄马褂，鼻架一副大墨晶镜的东阁大学士恪靖侯。首府长沙知府及首县长沙县，早就在郭嵩焘家附近，清道等候；湖南省的藩、两司、修补道等等，亦来站班。可是郭家双扉紧闭，拒而不纳，左宗棠只好在大门口下桥，由戴红顶子的“材官”上门投帖。 “不敢当，不敢当！”郭家门上到左宗棠面前，打千说道：“请大人回驾。” 左宗棠早已料到有此一着，一点都不生气，和颜悦色地答说：“你跟你家老爷去回，说我是来看五十年的故人；便衣不恭敬，所以穿了官服来的。” 门上一进去，久无消息；首县看“爵相”下不了台，硬闯进去跟郭嵩焘打躬作揖，说是如果不见，全城文武亦都僵在那里了。请他体恤下情。总算说动了郭嵩焘，开正门迎接，不过他自己只是站在大厅上等候。 “老哥！”左宗棠见面便说：“宗棠无状，特来请罪。”接着，拂一拂马蹄袖，捞起四开禊袍下摆，跪了下去。“不敢，不敢！”郭嵩焘也只好下跪答礼。 随从官员，将主客二人都搀扶了起来，左宗棠便自责当年的不是；也不解释是为了军饷，“有土斯有财”的缘故，只连声：“是我该死，是我荒唐。” 左宗棠一向健谈，谈西征、谈边防、谈京里的新闻；又从曾国藩谈起往事，一直到中午都没有告辞的意思，郭嵩焘也不便象督抚会客那样“端茶碗送客”，便只好留饭。 随从倒是有首县办差，从长沙第一家大馆子玉楼东去叫了酒席来，在附近的关帝庙接待；左宗棠却必须是郭嵩焘的家庖，才是待客之道。好在湘军出身的达官，除了胡林翼以外，都不甚讲究饮食；左宗棠喜欢吃狗肉，称之为“地羊”，有此一味，加上腊味，再炒一盘去骨的东安鸡，在他便是盛馔了。 一顿饭吃到未末申初，左宗棠方始兴尽告辞。临行时做个手势，材官递上一个红封套：左宗棠双手奉上，口中说道：“不腆之仪，聊助卒岁，务请赏收。” 郭嵩焘不肯收，左宗棠非送不可。当着好此湖南的文武官儿，郭嵩焘觉得起了争执。有失体统，便收了下来，不过，心里已经打算好了；拆开封套一看，是阜康钱庄所出的一万两银票，当即提起笔来批上“注销”二字，拿个信封装了，送到左宗棠的行辕。照道理是要回拜的，郭嵩焘也免了这套俗礼。左宗棠到头来，还是讨了个没趣。 十二月初二到湘阴，当天晚上，就收到一道由湖南巡抚衙门专派差送来的军机处的“廷寄”。 廷寄中说，有人参劾湖广总督李瀚章“任用私人，纵容劣员，该省防缺军额，虚糜帑金，贻害地方；李瀚章本人黩货无套，民怨日深”。原奏胪列了李瀚章许多劣迹，其中情节重大者四款： 一、湖北全省厘金，岁收三、四百万，报部则仅四万。 二、竹木税年收百万，报部仅三万。湖广总督衙门每日用银七百五十两，即在此中开支，年耗帑银二十七万余两。三、以公家轮船，载运私货，公然贩卖。 四、要李瀚章在扬州、芜湖均设有当铺。 清朝的规制，凡是督抚被参，视情节轻重作不同的处置。情节较重者，常由京里特派大员，至少是尚书，且须资格较被参督抚为深的，前往查办。为了防备被参督抚事先湮灭证据，所以明发上谕中只说派某人往某地出差；所谓“某地”决非被参督抚所管的省分，譬如说派到四川出差，湖北是必经之地；一到武昌，立即传旨，随带司员马上动手，封库的封库，查帐的查帐，来他一个措手不及。 情节轻微，或者有意把案情看得不重，便就近派官阶资格较高者查办或查复。左宗棠奉到的上谕是：“将所奏各节，确切查明，据实具奏。”这是查复，不是查办，可是左宗棠不理这一套。 十二月十三到武昌时，李瀚章已经接到李鸿章的通知，知道左宗棠是来查案。须先示意布政使衔候补道杨宗濂告假回籍。此人在咸丰末年，以户部员外郎在原籍江苏金坛办团练。同治元年，江苏士绅凑集了十八万银子，雇用英国轮船到安庆，接淮军到上海打长毛时，杨宗濂就是往来奔走接头的人；以此渊源，与李鸿章的关系很深，李鸿章剿捻匪那两年，杨宗濂替他管过营务处。以后一直在湖北当道员，李氏兄弟相继督鄂，杨宗濂由“李大先生”的部属变为“李在先生”的部属，管理汉口“新关。” “关差”一向是好差使，汉口是长江的第一个大码头，收入以竹木税为大宗。西南深山中的木材，以湘西辰州为集散地，扎成“木排”，由沅江入洞庭湖，经岳阳入长江，在汉口交易。左宗棠早就听湘西的“排客”谈过，汉口“新关”收竹木税的种种弊端，所以一到武昌，就要找杨宗濂。由于是奉旨查案，所以左宗棠跟李瀚章不作私人的交往，在行辕以一角公文咨湖广总督衙门，“请饬杨宗濂到案备询”，而复文是“该员业已告假回籍，无从传饬”。 这一下左宗棠大为光火，用“札子”下给汉黄德道及武昌府，“催令杨宗濂迅赴江宁问话”。一面出奏：“臣前次回湘，路过新关，杨宗濂避而未见；此次又先期告假回籍，是否有意规避，虽未可知，而查询杨宗濂素日声名平常、性情浮动，则众论相同，无代其剖白者。”至于经收竹木税有无弊端，“应俟查取票根底簿，传杨宗濂到案质询，方照核实。”接着声明：因为须赴两江接任，所以传杨宗濂到江宁备询，同时以“贪鄙狡诈”的考语，请旨将杨宗濂“先行革职，听候查办”。 此外汉黄德道何维键、候补知府李谦，都是李瀚章的私人，左宗棠亦毫不客气，对何维键以“庸软无能”四字考语，奏请“开缺送部引见”，意思是请慈禧太后亲自考查，对李谦则谓之“性善圆通、难期振作”，请旨交湖北巡抚彭祖贤“察看。” 奏折中还将李瀚章训了一顿，他说：李瀚章一门，遭逢圣时，功名大显，亲党交游，能自立的亦颇不乏人。不过依附者亦很多，当时随从立功，身致富贵者，又各有其亲友，辗转依附，久而久之恃势妄为，官府处置为难，不能不作姑息；乡里受其欺凌，亦惟有敢怒而不敢言，由于“贤者不肯规之这以正，懦者畏其忌嫉，谣诼纷兴、事端叠起，洵非家门之福。宜以身作则，毋与乡邦人士争势竟利，遇事敛抑，免为怨府，其李鸿章、李瀚章所难尽言者，臣等忝仕疆圻，亦当尽心化诲，俾知以义为利、如思保世承家，为报国之本，则李氏亲友之福，亦李鸿章、李瀚章一门之福也。”话说得很不客气，但左宗棠自以为对李瀚章多所开脱，帮了他很大的忙。十二月十九拜发奏折以后，随即坐长江轮船，鼓棹东下，到江宁拜印接任。 因为如此，使得胡雪岩扑了个空。原来左宗棠原先的计划是：回湖南原籍祭祖扫墓以后，南下由广东至福建，自厦门坐特派的南洋兵舰到上海，再转江宁接任。这是为了一履旧日百战立功之地，同时还有“南洋大臣”巡海之意。不想一到湘阴，有奉旨查复李瀚章纵容劣员一案，前后耽误了十一天，不能不走捷径，在年前赶到江宁接任。 “既然如此，小爷叔你回杭州过年吧。”古应春说：“过了年，我陪小爷叔专程到南京去一趟。” 也只好这样子。不过，七姐的病，我实在不放心。 ”“不要紧的。人是醒过来了，只要慢慢调养，逐渐会好的。医生说：中风这种病，全靠调理。将来总归带病延年了。 " 胡雪岩跟七姑奶奶情如兄妹，看她人虽醒了，却还不能说话；不过人是认得的，一见双泪交流，嘴唇翕动，不知多少有苦难言，胡雪岩忍不住也掉眼泪。 “小爷叔，小爷叔，千万不要如此。”古应春劝道：“这样子反让病人心里难过。” 胡雪岩点点头，抹掉眼泪，强作欢颜，坐在病榻前向七姑奶奶说道：“七姐，年底下事情太多，我不能不走。你慢慢调养，我记得你的八字上，说你四十四岁有一关，来势虽凶，凶而不险，过了这一关，寿至七十八。今年年内春，算壬午年，你正好四十四；你这一关应过了，明年秋天，老太太等你来吃寿酒。” 七姑奶奶口不能言，却听得懂，只在枕上摆头，表示会意。 “还有句，七姐，那种荒唐事情，偶尔一回，以后决不会再做了。” 七姑奶奶致疾之由，便是由于气恼胡雪岩的荒唐，所以这句对她是最好的安慰，居然含着泪笑了。 离了病榻，打点回乡；当