Shanglin Night Snow

Xun Miao took off his brand-new green robe carefully, folded it under the faint light, put it in a clean bag and put it on the stool, took the bag next to him and untied it, and took out a light gray robe. Put on the upper body of the robe, fasten the belt, and raise your head:

"General Guo... Oh, Huiqing doesn't know something. Although this car is cleaned and wiped for a long time, it is full of freshly harvested melons and vegetables from the fields every day, so it will inevitably be covered with dust. I'm afraid of getting dirty. Normally, they would be replaced before boarding the vehicle, but today I went to the Infantry Division to find someone, and I was afraid that a civilian guard would ignore it, so I put on the official uniform."

Under the dim light, Guo Kai lowered his head and glanced at his chest, and saw a layer of gray stains. He sighed helplessly, and pushed the two winter melons at his feet a few inches away as if to vent his anger, and whispered softly: "You didn't say it earlier... "

Xun Miao was about to step inside to take a seat, but he didn't listen to what he said.Only when I lowered my head did I see that the bench was short, and it was a little crowded for two people, and the melons and vegetables piled up under the bench, it was really difficult to get in.Hesitating for a moment, he simply moved a wax gourd, lifted his skirt and sat down, raised his sleeves and wiped his forehead, looked to the opposite side: "Brother Guo, what did you just say?"

Guo Kai smiled wryly: "I just remembered that before getting into the car, you seemed to have something to say?"

"That's why..." Xun Miao scratched his head, half hesitant and half confused, "Actually... my brother is wondering, it is said that such an important task as writing an essay for the Empress Dowager is not enough for me to be a mere eighth-rank secretary. On the head, the strange thing is that when the imperial edict to write the article was issued that day, everyone in the province was humble and excused themselves. The provincial supervisor couldn't do it, so he ordered everyone to work together to write the article and submit it, but he didn't want it to be unsatisfactory. At that time, he was furious , Everyone in the province is in danger, and because of a momentary mood, Xun recommended himself to take the post, but he didn't want to benefit from it." The tone was awkward: "Speaking of it, I have been in the secretary's province for three years, and I have written no less than a hundred articles. Thousands, but it’s over, but because of a hundred-character essay, it’s really a trick of fortune!” After speaking, seeing the person on the other side concentrating, he seemed to be thinking, so he asked: “Brother, do you think this is unusual?”

Guo Kai was startled: "Why did Zhiwei say that?"

Xun Miao pondered: "In fact, when I recommended myself that day, I was warned by my colleagues that the essay should avoid mentioning the merits and demerits of the Queen Mother in politics, but only roughly count the gentleness and respect of a wife and mother, the tolerance and benevolence of governing the six palaces, and the words must be quiet. Containment but not disclosure, sadness has a degree. I felt strange when I heard it, and although I didn’t know the reason, I was already panicked. When the text was submitted, I was always trembling, for fear of any mistakes or omissions, but the final outcome was unexpected. It's just that I have doubts and doubts in my heart, and I don't know whether this promotion will be a blessing or a curse."

Seeing the panic was beyond words, Guo Kai replied with a relieved smile: "I guess, the Empress Dowager Gong Xian was criticized a lot for being in court and listening to politics, because she was the secretary and everyone shirked the excuses to write euphemisms. Misfortune to you. However, Er Dengke has not been favored by the Empress Dowager so far, and has always been alone and has nothing to rely on, so as long as you don’t exaggerate when you write, people with ulterior motives will not be able to attack you, and you don’t need to worry about it.”

"Really?" Xun Miao seemed to be comforted when he heard this, and he breathed a sigh of relief, but he felt emotional again, "But Xun Mou was really not affected by the kindness, even when he was admitted to the imperial examination, the Golden Palace was closed because of the queen mother's words. Down ten places, it seems like a pity that day, but now, it may be a blessing."

"Down by ten?" Guo Kai was surprised at first, "how come?"

The man smiled wryly: "At the beginning of the Golden Palace roll call, I was ranked No. [-] and No. [-] because I was a candidate for the examination! But at the time, I was only nineteen, and my cousin from the same family and I were ranked in the same subject as me, but he was ranked behind me. The Empress Dowager then promoted my cousin to Tanhua on the grounds that 'brothers should not be in front of elder brothers', and I dropped ten places straight down to thirteen. I didn't get what I wanted, and I was in the secretary province for one term for three years, and my time was wasted, doing nothing. I was afraid that this life would be like this..." Looking at Guo Kai, his eyes showed admiration: "I really envy Brother Guo, who has served in foreign positions. He has made many achievements, and now the official is the fifth-rank duyuhou. He is the head of a department with a bright future. Xun is dwarfed in front of you, because it was the first time we met, and he was ashamed to report his background, but I hope you will forgive me."

Seeing him depressed, Guo Kai sympathized with him, and after a short silence, he got up and stepped over the pile of vegetables, picked the thickest and roundest wax gourd and sat opposite him.Instead of being condescending, my heart suddenly opened up, and I smiled embarrassingly:

"Do you really think that I am lucky compared to you? But you know, I won the first place in the Gengwu military test, but it was only because of a villain's words that he slandered my background and said to the Queen Mother that if the sons of merchants win the championship, they must win the championship." Becoming the laughing stock of the world' made me become unknown. A total of 100 Jinshi were selected in the martial arts test, and I finally ranked 78! When I was awarded an official, I was far away from Jiannan, where bandits and chaos frequently occurred. After going through many twists and turns, Three years ago, I was promoted due to meritorious deeds, so I could have kept my achievements in Shu, but who would have thought that the villain would be slandered again, that the Dao Guo family already had a son-in-law, so it is not suitable for him to be a powerful general, but the Queen Mother thought it was right, and sent me to Huainan, which has always been peaceful. It is expected that there will be chaos in the west of Beijing soon, and I led the people to go northward through dozens of hard battles for half a year, defeating the rebels. This time, I will take credit for it, and it will be difficult for the group to find excuses, so I finally have to move back to Beijing." Pat on the opposite side Human shoulders, "In comparison, since you entered the imperial examination, although it is difficult to say that you are prosperous, at least you can live in peace, but now it is easy to get promoted because of an essay."

"This... is true." Xun Miaoxian was amazed by his rough experience, and was a little speechless for a while.After hesitating for a moment, his eyes flickered: "So...the villain who has always hindered your official career, where is he now?"

There was a moment of silence.

"Dead." Guo Kai said, seemingly carelessly.

Xun Miao was startled: "Dead? How did he die?"

Lifting his finger and tapping his forehead, Guo Kai said plainly: "One day at a banquet, he was drunk and wandered through the market naked. He was chased and beaten, fell into the cesspit and drowned." The details mentioned, he conceived from time to time, brewed in his spare time, and increased or decreased as he wished (only recently, either because of a sudden decrease in resentment, or because he didn't have much leisure, he didn't "play" much.), but it is not convenient to explain in detail. .

Xun Miao was startled, tongue-tied, and after a long while, Fang muttered: "This is what he deserves..."

Nodding his head, Guo Kai smiled like a spring breeze.

At this moment the carriage stopped.An old voice from outside came in: "Xiao Lang, we have arrived at Jinliang Bridge, you can find a place to drink, the old man has to go home."

The two got out of the car as promised, thanked the old man, and walked along the street.

Xun Miao ate too much of the discounted dim sum that he had deliberately asked for leave earlier to grab at lunch, while Guo Kai sat for half a day and had refreshments in the afternoon. go and see.

This Jinliang bridge can be regarded as one of the most prosperous places in Yanjing City, there are row upon row of restaurants and restaurants, and when the lights first come on, there is a lot of traffic and people.Xun Miao seldom set foot here, so he followed the man all the way, wanting to listen to his choice, and secretly fortunate to have listened to the old man's words earlier, and collected a hundred liters of money from others to pay for the wine, otherwise tonight, Also or make a fool of yourself.

In the midst of the lights and candles, from time to time, prostitutes with heavy make-up | girls gathered in clusters of flowers on the side of the main corridor by the roadside, looking like gods.Xun Miao glanced twice at the place where the butterfly danced oriole was flying, but when he turned around, he could no longer see Guo Kai, so he hurried to look for it, but after a while, he saw the man standing in a dimly lit place, facing a corner of the street. The restaurant is in a trance.

Quickly catching up, Xun Miao felt uneasy: knowing that he was not familiar with the place, but he only cares about walking by himself, and he doesn't know when he leaves people behind. Isn't it an insult?That being the case, he lowered his head and clutched the purse in his sleeve, feeling a bit of remorse in his heart: since he was so rude, and backtracked, and never fulfilled his promise, why should he cater to him and spend money to please him?Ordinarily, Old Man Li should have been taught to send them to Baitie Lane in the south of the city. There are many cheap grocery stores there, and a table of drinks can cost dozens of pennies... Even, the banquet tonight should have been done by him East!

However, the slander is the slander, seeing that the predecessors are already walking towards the restaurant named "Majia Hutang", Xun Miao can't think too much, and walks forward quickly.When I approached, I saw that the store was small and small. Although there were two floors, there were no more than a dozen tables.

"How about this gourd soup shop?" Guo Kai turned around and asked.

Xun Miao murmured: Compared with those surrounding restaurants and restaurants, the cost of this gourd soup restaurant seems to be lower... then he nodded.

After entering the store and taking a seat, the two ordered some wine and fruit soup.After a while of drinking, Xun Miao seemed to feel that the man was absent-minded in the drinking room: he looked around from time to time, as if looking for someone, but when asked, he denied it, which was really unpredictable.After sitting like this for nearly half an hour, after drinking for three rounds, Xun Miao felt that the time had come, and was about to tell the purpose of meeting him today, when he saw him get up and call Xing Cai (1) who was passing by, and said softly What, xingcai pointed to the inside.

Turning around and saying "Excuse me", Guo Kai left his seat and walked inward.

At first thought he was going to pay the bill, Xun Miao hesitated for a moment, but finally got up and followed.

After leaving the noisy living room and passing through the narrow backyard, the two of them went to the inner kitchen.Because people come in and out from time to time, the door of the inner kitchen is open, and you can hear clanging from the inside when you stand outside.Xun Miao looked around and saw a man with a big arm and a round waist busy in front of the case, the sound must have come from chopping the chopping board with a knife.

Seeing Guo Xie clasping his fists at the back, "Dare to ask this brother, your family..." In the middle of speaking, the clang stopped abruptly, and the huge body shook, as if half of his waist was frozen. He turned his head a little bit—but saw a face covered with grease, brows raised furiously, and cheeks trembling wildly.

Surprised, Xun Miao looked back and saw that the face of the person next to him gradually froze, unexpectedly: the respectful face on the opposite side fell into the eyes of that person, and it seemed familiar.