whale wave

There is a kapok tree in the north courtyard of Muzongyuan, which is very tall. Every year when the leaves fall, the flowering period also comes, and the kapok tree is full of red flowers.Just under the kapok tree, there are two stone statues, dressed in broad belts and holding swords in their hands. It is said that they look like general stones, but they are not. The eldest son who moved south has spent more than a hundred years.

Zhao Yousheng walked under the kapok tree. The leaves on the branches were sparse and trembling in the autumn wind. He was naturally familiar with the Mu Zongyuan, but he rarely came to the North Courtyard, and it seemed that he hadn't been there for two or three years.

Prince Pu lived in the north courtyard, and a county official lived there in its heyday. Later, Prince Pu's house faction withered, and the vacated house was occupied by descendants of other houses, who lived with Prince Pu.

Zhao Yousheng's footsteps stepped on the dead leaves, rustling. He looked down at the ground. The ground was covered with large flat stone slabs, which was beautiful.In the previous life, the appeasement envoy ordered the killing of the eldest son, and the women and children in Muzong's courtyard were not spared. The stone ground was once stained red with blood.That scene was probably like in spring, when the kapok withered and covered the ground, it was scarlet.

"Yousheng really won't go back to Zongxue?"

When Zhao Mengshou's voice sounded, Zhao Yousheng realized that he was distracted. He looked up at this senior with excellent character and learning, saw that he had a dead leaf on his crown, and said expressionlessly: "You can also study at home."

Zhao Zhuangdie, who was traveling with him, asked: "Brother Meng Shou is going to take the scientific examination next year, right?"

Zhao Mengshou sighed with his hands behind his back, frowned, and looked worried about the country and the people. He said: "The treacherous ministers in the court are in power, and I am afraid that there is no way to serve the country. You see, even the father of the clan is disheartened now, and he resigned as the servant of the household department." If you don’t do it, you will go home sadly, and you don’t want to interfere with the affairs of the court.”

Zhuang Die winked at You Sheng playfully, and quickened his pace, anticipating that Brother Meng Shou was going to spit out a lot of nonsense.Immediately afterwards, You Sheng and Zhuang Die left quickly, and Brother Liu Mengshou sighed under the kapok tree alone, not knowing that only the stone statue was acting as the audience.

You Sheng and Zhuang Die followed the person in front, that was their father. These old men walked lightly, talking while walking, leaving their sons behind.

Among the three old men, You Sheng's father, Zhao Shimian, is the youngest, Meng Shou's father, Zhao Rutai, is the oldest, and Zhuang Die's father, Zhao Yichun, is the most honorable. Nice friendship.

As the eldest son, it is rare that he can hold an important position in the court. The patriarch Zhao Mengshou said was Zhao Xisheng.

Zhao Xisheng is also Yousheng's patriarch, and they are from the same lineage as Prince Pu.

A group of people walked to the door of Zhao Xisheng's house, the servant of the household department, and the servant of the servant hurriedly welcomed them into the house, and said respectfully: "Zhao Gonggong is meeting guests in the hall, and the minister will bring his wife and children to visit."

The general Shilang mentioned by the servant was Zhao Shilang's brother-in-law. There were a lot of people in the hall at this time. Zhao Yousheng and other juniors consciously waited in the courtyard.

The courtyard of Zhao Shilang's house is a bit barren, and several servants can be seen repairing it. It is thought that Zhao Shilang will live here after he resigns.Zhuang Die wandered around in the courtyard, unable to stay idle, You Sheng and Duan He talked in the corridor, waiting patiently, not long after, a servant came and invited them into the house.

The three of them were taken to the study room, but it was not the living room. As soon as they entered the study room, they saw Zhao Shilang and their father inside. The old men were drinking tea and chatting leisurely.

It has been several years since Zhao Shilang returned to Quanzhou City last time, and when he saw the sons of the brothers of the same clan, he could hardly recognize them.Zhao Yichun signaled Yousheng and the other three to stand in front of Zhao Shilang and keep silent so that he could identify who they were.

Zhao Shilang glanced at the three young men, pointed at Zhao Yousheng, and said with a smile, "You are Yousheng."

Zhao Yousheng hurriedly stepped forward to salute, and the answer was yes.

"Patriarch, do you still need me?" Zhuang Die was lively, no matter how big or small, and asked while pointing to the dimples on his face.It is said that he and Zhao Shilang are not in the same room, but they also follow You Sheng to call the patriarch.

"I know, you are Zhuang Die." Zhao Shilang has a good memory, and he can recognize Zhuang Die even if he looks at his round face and short head, even if he doesn't look at Zhuang Die's dimples.

Meng Shou stepped forward to salute, Zhao Shilang patted him on the shoulder and asked him, "Ah Shou, are you married yet?"

Zhao Rutai, Meng Shou's father, replied: "Not yet married."

Not only is this son unmarried, but his eldest daughter is not yet married either.

Zhao Shilang asked his servants to bring chairs to seat the three juniors. He treated the juniors kindly and without airs.He asked the juniors about their studies one by one, encouraged them a few words, and then chatted with their father about the affairs of the clan.

Zhao Shilang has been away from Quanzhou City for many years, and he never thought that the local Zong Zhengsi would be controlled by King Xi's family. Listening to the stories of his old friends, his expression was gloomy.

Zhao Shilang was tired of the strife between the imperial court and disappointed with the current situation, so he wanted to return to his hometown to take care of his old age. It seems that he can't count on this leisure.

It was almost dusk, and Zhao Shilang personally sent the visitors out of the courtyard. When he said goodbye, he held You Sheng's hand and praised: "You can expect future generations!"

Leaving Zhao Shilang's house and walking past the kapok tree, Zhuang Die patted his head and said nonsense, "Why is it possible for Ah Left to have a promising future? I'm not bad, but the patriarch doesn't praise me."

Meng Shou said, "No, I didn't praise me either."

Meng Shou thought about it, in the study, when the old men were talking about the uneven distribution of accounts for the official ships, You Sheng interjected a few words, saying that the officers of the official ships should not be appointed by Zong Zhengsi, but should be hired by the Zongzi himself. It is also said that each housing faction hires a clerk to carry out nautical trade, and when dividing accounts, it can also distribute more money to poor and lonely families.

If Zong Zhengsi managed the official ship according to You Sheng's method, many conflicts could be avoided.

In the past, You Sheng didn't seem like a person who loves to use his brains. On the contrary, he has strong hands-on ability, and he often fights with people. Meng Shou is a little confused.

**

In the incense room of Zeng's family, there was Chen Yu's busy figure. He took away the dried incense cakes from the wooden shelf.

These dried fragrant cakes have different fragrances. Chen Yu would smell the smell every time he collected one piece. He not only smelled it himself, but also handed it to his fragrant friend Zeng Yuanrong.

The Zeng family and the Chen family are very close, separated by an alley, but the Zeng family, being a famous family, somewhat looks down on the Shanghai Shang family, or the young masters of the two families should have known each other long ago.

A few days ago, Zeng Yuanrong's grandfather celebrated his birthday, and Chen Yu followed his father and brother to congratulate him. Because of his handsome figure and special spices, he was introduced as a confidant by Zeng Yuanrong, who is obsessed with fragrance.

Zeng Yuanrong was the fifth brother in the clan, so the people in the west of the city gave him the nickname Xiang Goro.

This is a handsome young man who loves fragrance like an idiot, and loves exquisite clothing. There are even rumors that he is good at women's clothing.

If Chen Duanli was not an open-minded person, he would definitely not allow his son to associate with such a person.

Chen Yu had never seen Zeng Yuanrong wearing women's clothing, and he was not interested in the malicious rumors outside. People always said that he was the son of a shark girl, although he really was.

Chen Yu lowered his head and sniffed the fragrant cake in his hand, with a gentle and calm breath, he said, "Yuan Rong, I want to give this fragrant cake to someone else, and there is someone who suits its fragrance."

Zeng Yuanrong took the fragrant cake with a handkerchief, sniffed it lightly, but he found it sweet, and said with a smile: "It's suitable as a gift for a beautiful woman."

Chen Yu smiled, took back the fragrant cakes and put them in the wooden box, thinking that Ah Left is not a beautiful woman.

The two continued to collect the incense cakes, and put each piece into an exquisite incense box. There were already eight or nine boxes of these incense boxes piled up on the table.Zeng's family is wealthy, and they can buy good spices at home, and Chen Yu's family is a maritime merchant, so they can afford it naturally.

"Xiao Yu, smell this cake, it smells really weird, I guess I made a mistake in the recipe, why don't you throw it away."

Zeng Yuanrong received a piece of fragrant cake with a special smell, the smell made him frown, he didn't like it.He is a slender person, and he can associate many things from the fragrance. This piece of incense, like a dangerous figure, exudes a disturbing atmosphere.

Chen Yu took the incense cake, held the incense and smelled it lightly, as if thinking about it, he said: "It's like the fragrance of rose water, but stronger."

"That's right." Zeng Yuanrong came to a sudden, it really looks like it, it smells strange, because it has a strong and strong smell, and the one they use is very light on weekdays.

"It's a pity to throw it away, it's better to give it to Zheng Yuanya." Chen Yu returned the cake to Zeng Yuanrong, and he just said it casually, thinking that Yuanya might be suitable.

"The incense I made, why should I give it to a barbarian?"

Zeng Yuanrong said that's what he said, but he still put this special-smelling fragrant cake into a wooden box, the materials used were expensive, and he was reluctant to throw it away.

In fact, Zeng Yuanrong has never met Zheng Yuanya, but he has heard about this man's deeds, and knows that he is the son of a pirate, and he hangs out with rough sailors on sea ships since he was a child.

Zeng Yuanrong thought: Xiao Yu has such a good personality, and he can get along well with someone like Zheng Yuanya.

The two put away the homemade incense cakes, selected a piece to burn, and took their respective pianos to play amidst the scent.

The beautiful boys are accompanied in the incense room, the fragrance is lingering, and the sound of the piano is melodious, which makes people think about it.

From Zeng Yuanrong, Chen Yu not only learned how to make incense, but also learned how to play the piano.

Leaving Zeng's house, Chen Yu brought two pieces of fragrant cakes, Dong Wan, a book boy, carried a piano, and the master and servant returned home.

Ever since he learned how to play the piano, Chen Yu has often played it at home. Although he is a businessman, he has a rather elegant temperament.

The flower corridor is lonely and empty, and the sound of the piano is melodious, with a touch of melancholy.

Since Yousheng returned to Quancheng, he has never visited Chen's house, and his figure has never appeared on the flower gallery again. Chen Yu sometimes thinks about this incident, and inevitably feels lost.As they got older, they seemed to behave in accordance with the rules, but Chen Yu didn't like such rules.

Chen Yu thought about going to Zhao's house tomorrow, and giving the homemade fragrant cakes to Ah Leftover, and by the way, thanking him for carrying him down the Chunfeng Tower when he was so drunk that he was unconscious.

Chen Yu couldn't remember what happened when he was drunk, but he learned from Dong Wan that it was Ah Left who carried him downstairs, and that Ah Left repeatedly told the bearer to lift the sedan chair more steadily and not to wake him up.

That day, Chen Yu, who was drunk, fell asleep peacefully in the sedan chair. After returning home, he didn't wake up until dawn.

The author has something to say: Yuan Ya: Heck, who is speaking ill of me.