Clam Pearl

The King of Yan, Zhao Yuanxiu, returned to Beijing. Shangjing was lively for a few days, and then calmed down again. There are always many new things in this capital. The most classic thing today is that the Gu family lost their big house in Pingzhou Alley in Shangjing a few days ago. Face.His family's third master, Gu Maofeng's outer room, didn't know what happened, and he knelt in front of the house with a big belly to ask for an identity for the future child.

Now which man is not romantic, you are comfortable, you have to wash your ass!So as not to disgust the family members.A plaything is a plaything, and what is outside is what is outside, and it is wrong to make trouble at the door of the house.It’s not your family that lives in the Duke’s Mansion. There are elders above and four households of the same generation below. There are also many aunts and aunts who come to ask for help. If you go far or near for a few generations, you have never been out of this place. Such a disgusting thing.The woman cried and said that she was looking for the child's father, her man, there are too many men in this house, and this poor man accidentally brought the whole family into trouble.

Many people saw the excitement that day. Gu Maofeng himself was a romantic, plus he had money in his hands in the past few years, and he was very happy. , he has relationships everywhere.Now that the Gu family is in full swing, no one will give him face.

Besides, he didn't raise a family in the outer room. How can a man build a new house every day? There are too many outer rooms. It is inevitable that there will be someone who cherishes it, keeps it fresh, and takes special care of it.But there are also things that play in the past and are out of date.I don't love it anymore, so I just threw it aside and forgotten a few of them.

The person who was messing around in front of Gu's mansion that day was a concubine that Gu Maofeng had found in his early years. In his early years, Gu Maofeng had no money in his hands, so the quality of foreign affairs was naturally mediocre.

In the past two years, he didn't go there very much, that is, he was in a bad mood a few months ago and got into trouble, so he secretly hid in Zhuangzi outside the city for a few days. When he had no future, he calculated.He didn't make a sound when he had it, and only went to the gate of Gu's mansion to make a fuss when his belly grew.She was a rich man in the countryside when she was the Duke of the State, and when she heard that she had a grandson, she didn't care about anything.

Women in the world only think that men cherish face, but they don't want to, that shameless one, no matter how you make trouble, until you die, he doesn't care about you.You only think that the old man of his family must see the face of the younger generation and give you some face, then it will be divided into someone else's family.The most important thing that the Gu family lacks now is the heirs, and Mrs. Gu's heart is biased, so the woman knelt all morning, and it was Lu who brought her in through the small door of the house.

As for what happened to that woman later, since she had the courage to slap the Gu family face, she chose herself for the later days.

Gu Maofeng was quite frightened, he has always relied on money and family power to support his face, no family background, no money, this person is shit.As soon as something happened that day, this person hid without any responsibility. After hiding for a few days, he wanted to go home again. If he didn't go home, he felt that he was not the third master of the Gu family. After thinking about it, there was only one way out. Just to beg my little uncle.His father, the emperor, Laozi might not be able to listen to what he said, but what the little uncle said.

Therefore, early this morning, Gu Maofeng took a set of ivory-carved arhat statues that he bought at a high price of more than 1000 yuan to the county government to curry favor.When he arrived on this day, it happened that Yunjing and his wife were also there.It's not that Yunjing's family has got another son-in-law now, the third son, and the family will celebrate the child's first birthday in a few days, so the couple came to invite their uncle and grandpa to have a drink and a play on the day.

Gu Zhao was naturally happy with the addition of people in the family, so he talked a little more, asking the child how much he weighed now, and whether he has a big name or something.In the past few years, Yun Qing has been doing well in the Ministry of Rites. Although this child has not made great achievements in his career, he is passionate about poetry and prose. He can draw a few pictures of plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum as long as he picks up a brush. I published new poems and prose, and it was only a few days after I went to Beijing that some good words were sung everywhere.

His wife, Gui Shi, loves him very much and admires him very much. The form of showing her love is to often give Gu Yunjing a concubine with confidence. Now that Gu Yunjing is in her early thirties, she is the father of six children. This child really has some descendants luck.

Gu Zhao can't control the private life of the children in the family, so he can only take care of the overall situation, as long as he is in Beijing.The family members can still maintain it well.The premise is, you children, don't overdo things, be good, and don't be sloppy. This requirement is really not high, but some people just can't do it.

Lao Song was in the middle, and Gu Zhao and the others were making fun at home, but Gu Maofeng hurriedly knocked on the door, and Gu Yunjing came in, so you can't ask his uncle to wait outside, right?Gu Zhao was disgusted in his heart, but he could only say: "As soon as he comes, let him come in. What did you say today? It's all discussed and came to my house."

Gu Yunqing smiled awkwardly. In all fairness, he didn't like this uncle. He had a bad reputation in Beijing, and his name could always be heard behind any dirty things, so he didn't do much in private.He is also flirtatious, but anyway, he has been given a title. His backyard has always been harmonious, and every time he thinks about it, Gu Yunjing naturally feels secretly proud.

After a while, Gu Maofeng entered the house in a turbulent manner. As soon as he entered the door, he first saluted Gu Zhao and then accepted the gift from Yunjing. Gu Zhao looked at him and smiled and said, "I said, third child! I don't see you being filial to me on weekdays. What's the problem today? Don't worry...can you think of me?"

Gu Maofeng quickly defended and said: "How dare you, my uncle is busy with political affairs on weekdays, and my nephew doesn't dare to disturb him even if he is an idler."

Naturally, Yunjing and his wife were embarrassed to sit still, so they stood up together and said goodbye to Gu Zhao.

Gu Zhao sent Nai Ge to send the two of them out personally, but Gu Maofeng didn't get this kind of treatment.

After Yunjing and his wife went out, Gu Maofeng felt more at ease. Gu Zhao sat on the chair without asking him anything, just sat cross-legged on the chair, not looking like an elder, drinking tea while knocking on melon seeds, waiting for Gu Maofeng to fart .

Gu Maofeng held back for a long time, but finally he didn't catch it. He smiled embarrassingly and said, "How is little uncle's health these few days?"

Gu Zhao lazily said: "It's okay, you have a heart, I am still the same, although I am an elder but I am not very old, whoever is fine will play when sick."

Gu Maofeng said with a reassured look: "My nephew had something to do a few days ago, and I haven't come to say hello to my uncle. It's a coincidence that I have collected some good things under my door, and my nephew saw that it was really a good thing. Su Little Uncle Ri has always been kind to his nephew, and he is the one who loves him the most, you see! Now that he gets a good thing, he is the first one to think of you, so... this is not, so I sent it to my little uncle."

When Gu Zhaowen heard this, he asked in a low voice, "What good item has attracted the attention of a rich man like you, bring it here and let me have a look."

Gu Maofeng was overjoyed when he saw that the little uncle was interested in looking at it, and he clapped his hands quickly. After a while, a servant carried a heavy black long lacquer box into the house, put it firmly on the ground and stepped back.

Gu Zhao was still sitting obliquely, eating melon seeds, with his head tilted slightly to look at him.Gu Maofeng first walked around the box a few times in a mysterious manner. Seeing the little uncle staring at the object, he suddenly opened the lid and said, "Look, little uncle, this is a high-quality tooth carving, a statue of eighteen arhats..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Gu Zhao spat out the melon seeds and said, "Come here, throw out the things this guy brought with him."

Gu Maofeng used to hold back his little uncle countless times in his life, and it was not the first time that he did not show face. Gu Maofeng suddenly shouted cheekily: "Little uncle, my nephew is also filial to you, why do you treat me like this?"

Gu Zhao threw down the melon seeds in his hand and said to the ground, "Why do you do this to you? Hey...that's really interesting? Not to mention that this is a Buddha statue, and what you do is to save lives with compassion, but you use this to kill The deadly beast carved the body of a Buddha and gave it to me. What is your intention to bring such a fierce thing to the elders?

What's more, I've never been picky in my life, I'll accept any basket of coarse grains you give me today, but why are you here to show filial piety to me?Bah, do you have the nerve to say filial piety?

You know better than me what kind of reputation you are. Do you pretend that I don't know about the nasty things you did last year?No matter how bad Maojia is, he is also an old Gu family member. You have violated my taboo by stepping on your own family in front of outsiders, not only me, but you have violated the taboos of your other uncles!You just let everyone stop talking and let it go, you think so beautifully!Hey, Gu Maofeng, Gu Xiaosan'er, don't even look at it, now that brother at home is dating you!If it weren't for the face of the elder brother, do you think you can survive until now?Why did my old brother give birth to something like you with a life of innocence? "

The more Gu Zhao talked, the more he felt that it made sense. There was nothing to be bothered with this kind of person. Thinking of this, he stood up and clapped his hands, ignoring Gu Maofeng's argument, and left.

Gu Zhao came out of Laosongju, and went all the way to the Yamen in a soft sedan chair.

As soon as he entered the gate of the yamen, Gu Zhao saw several craftsmen from Xia Sima carrying the roof of the oil shed and walking in.At the beginning is an old man, this old man has a head of white hair, he is dressed in coarse linen, his hair is barefoot, and on the back of his short jacket is a big black craftsman character on a white background.

"Yo, old Duantou, is this the new car roof?" Gu Zhao got out of the soft sedan, said with his hands behind his back, and walked inside.

The leader of the craftsman was surnamed Duan, and he was an old labor slave of Xia Sima. The year before last, Gu Zhao dispatched fifty wheelwagon craftsmen from Xia Sima to work in Xia Sima.Within a few years, these people were nourished by Qian Dingsi's thin-skinned buns and became strong.

Now that I work for Gu Zhao, I will pay [-] qian a month as wages, and I will give Dacang food coupons, oil coupons, meat coupons, cloth coupons and other benefits during the holidays. Those craftsmen benefited and naturally worked hard.

When the old Duan first saw Gu Zhao, he came over to salute first.Because of his old age, Gu Zhao always took care of the craftsmen, so he was spared from the old Duan's kneeling ceremony.The old Duan grinned with big yellow teeth and sang fatly: "Hey, Mr. County, you are so rare, I haven't seen you around these few days. The villain is still thinking, the weather is not good, the autumn wind blows You don't like to go out with your face!"

Gu Zhao smiled and shook his head while talking with him while walking inside.Lao Duan didn't dare to walk with Gu Zhao, so he half bowed his waist and walked cautiously behind.

Gu Zhaodao: "The weather has been fine these few days, and I'm thinking about nothing, so I just slept at home for a few more days, man! I'm tired when spring comes."

Old Duan said with a smile: "Master Jun, you are a rich man, how can villains be so tired, all year round, wind, frost, rain and snow, in order to eat a bite, you have to go out even with a knife! Don't you think? Villain I have lived for more than 60 years, that is to say, I have enjoyed a few days of leisure and blessing with you, and I can buy new ones inside and outside for my grandchildren during the holidays last year."

Gu Zhao didn't answer the words. These old craftsmen all have a lifetime of work experience, and they have good skills all over their bodies. It's a pity that no matter how good the work you are doing this year, craftsmen are three points inferior to others.

They walked slowly all the way to the backyard. This way, Qian Dingsi was very different from before. The three-story courtyard, with hundreds of people inside and outside, was busy in an orderly manner.Originally, the courtyard was very crowded, but after a large warehouse was built outside the city, Gu Zhao moved those storytellers, as well as knife and pen officials, outside the city, where the air is fresh and the accommodation conditions are good.The most important thing is that the secrecy is good, Da Cang, that is Gu Zhao's territory.

Today, these three yamen courtyards are still old houses, but they are painted every year, and things are added every month. .Even when the boss went to work, the chief didn't need to watch over him. Everyone obeyed the rules and cherished the blessings.People in this day and age are so simple, such as scholars, especially low-level officials.

Gu Zhao doesn't come here often on weekdays, and Fu Ji is in charge.But last month, Fu Ji had a daughter-in-law. Gu Zhao pitied his apprentice for being a father for the first time, so he came to the office every now and then to help with chores.

The corner of the backyard of the Qianding Division is where the craftsmen work. Three years ago, Gu Zhao formulated a plan for a storyteller and a knife-pen official to write books in pairs.The storyteller can be eloquent, but unfortunately most of them are illiterate, and the knife and pen officials are all scientific candidates, so they are somewhat arrogant.Being a knife and pen official is still reluctant, but it is absolutely impossible to ask people to go out to tell stories.

Therefore, Gu Zhao ordered them to search for the county annals and government annals, find the legends and wild interests in them, and compile them into wild books and legends to teach the storyteller, which is to do early publicity for Qian Ding in the future.

Now, four years have passed, those storytellers have been properly adjusted, and each of them has a sense of belonging to Qianding Division. Since the hard labor has passed, they are now registered in Qianding Division, and they get a stone of miscellaneous grains every month, eight hundred A breadwinner.Now they have also learned seven or eight books of wild fun, legends, and some lively jokes, and there are dozens of jokes in the hot scene.

Gu Zhao recalled the several ways of storytelling in his previous life, so he made them bamboo boards, big drums and other rattles. Not to mention, these back and forth really created a lot of cultural flavor.Even, these storytellers have a fixed opening song, ending song, and a fixed set of legendary jokes at the bottom of the box, which can be regarded as promoting the process of history and culture.Every time Gu Zhao thinks about it, he feels very proud.

Lao Duan came to the back and ordered his disciples to pull out a large wheeled cart.Gu Zhao sat on the seat brought to him by his subordinates and watched Lao Duan and the others share the car.

This car is called "Xuan Che", and it was specially ordered by Gu Zhao to be built for the storyteller. It has a large body and is spacious. It has two floors. The upper floor is for storing luggage, and the lower floor sleeps people. Up to four people can sleep in the car.There is a large drawer board on the roof, pull out the board, then set up two sticks, and cover it with a rough tarpaulin cover, it is a small stage for sun and rain.

In the future, whenever the country has new laws, new agricultural technologies, and new policies, it will be publicized in this way, which can be regarded as a thoughtful door-to-door service for the people.

Gu Zhao thought so, but others saw him as fooling around.Now people don’t see the benefits of propaganda, but for future generations, it doesn’t matter which country, which political party, whether the guns are powerful or not, you must have the upper hand in propaganda.Therefore, no matter what others say about Gu Zhao, he must have the right to speak anyway. He can't grasp the factions of those literati, and he doesn't understand the pursuit of literati. They are one type of people.Every time I talk about it, I even look down upon it.

Gu Zhaocai didn't care about this, he just had one idea, the ideas of farmers and common people in the world must be controlled well.The scholar rebellion failed for three years, and the peasant uprising was the root of the chaos in the world.When Gu Zhao talked about his thoughts back then, Ah Run was the most supportive. That guy had the thinking of an emperor, and he immediately understood the benefits when he thought about it. He even felt that three hundred storytellers are too few, and three thousand is the most basic. configuration.

Bah, what he said sounds nice, where's the money?

The newly-made roof of the old section was quickly placed neatly, and the drawer was made very flexible. Gu Zhao didn't understand the mechanism. He walked around the car several times just now, but he didn't find it installed there. Now After being fiddled with by the old Duan, a small stage was instantly formed between pushing and pulling.Gu Zhao admired it in his heart, and ordered someone to reward Lao Duan with ten coins. Unfortunately, the old man didn't want it, but he said that the family wanted to get rid of his craftsman status, which was a bit difficult.

Back then, the craftsman Qi Ye invented paper, and this family was exiled. Now the old Duan's car is really hard to sell.

Seeing that Gu Zhao didn't say a word, the old Duan couldn't help but shed tears when he saw Gu Zhao's silence. He had worked hard to serve the officials all his life, that is, to earn enough food and clothing. It doesn't matter if he is abolished. The third class, every time I think about it, I really feel sorry for my ancestors.

Gu Zhao sighed, stood up and helped Lao Duan with his own hands, and said, "Old Duan! This matter is not a matter of one or two people. What am I? I'm just an idle dandy. Where can I take care of you? It's just a matter of money. There are so many craftsmen in the world, and there are more than 4 people in the world. Now you are on business with me, and I will help your whole family get out of citizenship. Your family has hundreds of people! Your family has gone out, and other people's families I must not follow, and when the time comes to ask, it will be another entanglement. How can it be a simple matter to leave the nationality? In this way...you wait a few more years, let me think about it, think about it..."

Gu Zhao left feeling depressed.He still can't do many things, and he can't change them.How can he have only one person against the whole world.Now I can only wait until the world is stable and the country is prosperous and strong, and then I can gradually arrange my own plans, one by one.At that time, it is impossible to achieve great harmony in the world, so it is necessary to give craftsmen a way to survive. There are such things as cultural people in any era, but craftsmen, technicians, and science and technology are the foundation of the country.

Gu Zhao came all the way to the middle courtyard, and as soon as he reached the courtyard, he saw Gu Maojia's son Yunke, wandering back and forth outside his house.While walking, he also imitated the sad appearance of adults, with his hands behind his back, sighing again and again, going around in circles.

Gu Zhao stood still and said, "Yunke, why didn't you go to school today?"

Gu Yunke was taken aback, and when he looked back at his uncle, he saluted first, then stood up, opened and closed his mouth for a long time, and finally choked out a sentence: "Uncle, my father said, my aunt is coming back."

Gu Zhao clicked, he knew about it.These storytellers are about to disperse, and there must always be someone in charge of the yamen. If he wants to employ people in the Ding Division, he will naturally use his own people. The money from Jinyu's family said that Xianggong Qian is still a good person.Not to mention the straightforward personality, there is something in the stomach, and it is also a duty to be a human being.The most important thing is that he is very kind to Jinyu.Therefore, Gu Zhao arranged a position for him to come to Qian Ding Si to be the head of the department, which is the official status of the sixth rank.

"I know about it. Why, your father wants to take your aunt home?"

Gu Yunke was thinking about other things, but when he heard what Gu Zhao said, he opened his mouth and said, "My aunt! Go back to my house naturally, why don't you go to grandpa's house to be ashamed?"

Gu Zhao burst out laughing. He looked up and down at his grandnephew. This is a teenager who has reached the stage of rebellion, right?Anyway, what other people say is wrong.

Just like that, the young uncle and grandnephew froze like this.Gu Yunke stood there motionless, but did not speak.

Gu Zhao had no choice but to let out a sigh of relief, and said first, "You... this kid is really upset, if you have something to say, tell me quickly. Could it be that I am a vicious person? If I say something wrong, can I just drag you out and beat you up?"

Gu Yunke bit his lower lip, and after holding back for a long time, he lowered his head and murmured: "Grandpa...my father forbids my grandson to talk about this, but... my grandson thought about it for a long time, just like what my uncle said , A family is a family, even if there is something messy inside, even if flies fall into your own pot, the smell should be covered. Right?"

Gu Zhao nodded firmly: "That's right, that's what he said. Your father's temper hurt him, but after all, he is an old Gu family member, so if something goes wrong, your uncle and grandpa and I still have to take care of it."

Gu Yunke raised his head sharply: "Uncle grandpa... nephew and grandson are here to tell the elders right and wrong."

Gu Zhao was taken aback for a moment, and immediately looked left and right. The new boy who was standing at the door was smart, and hurriedly led people back out.

After Gu Yunke said this, the big tendons in his body were pulled away.

The swallows under the eaves of Qiandingsi flew back from the south again, and now they are building new nests with new mud in their mouths.

Gu Zhao and his nephew Yunke sat cross-legged under the eaves without speaking.Gu Yunke sat there for a long time, and Gu Zhao took out a handful of melon seeds from his sleeve and continued to knock them in the yard.Gu Yunke didn't know what he was thinking.But it is a serious crime in this era to tell elders right and wrong.

After an unknown amount of time, Gu Yunke said, "Uncle, I hate him."

Gu Zhao said lightly, "Who?"

Gu Yunke raised his head, two lines of hot tears slowly flowed down his face, the tears flowed along the wings of his nose all the way to the fine hairs under his nose, this child is also fourteen or fifteen years old this year, right?There is also a small beard, Gu Zhao is a little envious, he is not well developed, his chin is always bare, and he can't grow a beard no matter what.

"Uncles, grandparents and nephews are not angry. You always say that we are a family. But when we were suffering in other places, when my mother took us to farm, and when our family was hungry, no one noticed. We are family."

"Although we are a family, but...the life is lived by oneself...so is the respect."

"Grandpa, I know, you don't like my daddy, my grandmother."

"Well, I don't like it, but I like your uncle and aunt. You haven't thought about why?"

"Why, it's just that my father is honest and worthless."

"Hey...You child, think as you like. You have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a mouth to inquire. Since you think so, why don't you go back and ask carefully before you say this."

"...Uncle Grandpa..."

"Um……"

"I... grandnephew, grandnephew... I used to play with Yunwei from my uncle's house."

"Oh, Yunwei, that kid doesn't come to me. I saw him years ago. He hates him just like his father, Maofeng."

Gu Zhao's liking for people is what he thinks in his heart, what he says with his mouth, and there is no taboo, but when he said this, Gu Yunke's mouth slightly evoked a smile.Obviously, he didn't like Gu Yunwei either.

The swallows chirped under the eaves, and Gu Yunke finally mustered up the courage to raise his head and said, "Uncle, you always say that we are a family, so we should discuss things carefully, right?"

Gu Zhao nodded with certainty: "That's right, that's it."

Gu Yunke said: "Last year, Yunwei was drunk at school, and his grandnephew carried him home. On the way, Yunwei said that his family had endless money, and his father... helped King Lu manage the iron mines, silver mines, etc. As for the mine, uncle and grandpa, it is wrong for the elders to say that the nephew and grandson are wrong, but... the iron mine, the silver mine... If it is true, if this... If the matter is found out, it will be enough to kill everyone? It is ours The family has the Iron Juan Dan book, but... secretly digging iron ore is a felony!"

Gu Zhao felt cold all over, and fought a cold war under the sun.