Clam Pearl

When people live in Beijing, time is still, no matter how much they talk with Ah Run every day.No matter how Ah Run and his courtiers criticize the current situation in the palace and seek the well-being of the world, it is all about language and data.

After half a month's stay in Beijing, after Gu Zhao calmed down, Fang realized that there was a difference between Daliang now and when he was wandering around many years ago.The biggest difference is not in the written words such as people's wealth and people's strength.The biggest change in this country is that people's livelihood is stable along the way, and businessmen who come and go have something to look forward to, and they are full of praise when they meet passers-by to sit down and chat.It would be fine if other people heard the praise, but Gu Zhao has a little relationship with this Holy Son of Heaven whom everyone recites.

So there is a heart of pride.Every time I think of it, I am vain, but it is a pity that I cannot share it with others.I think so, but I feel a little distressed when I think about it carefully. That person is mean to himself, and he is also mean to others. He is mean, and he is mean, and it is not for these people's livelihood.

Now the world is getting better and better.Not to mention, the official road alone is also different from before. At least after an October rain, there are few deep potholes on the road, and the road conditions are even different from previous years.It seems that Gu Zhao's policy of building roads first in order to get rich has been thoroughly implemented now.Although people's conditions in different places are different, parents and adults in different places have done a good job. Regardless of the local rich or poor, the journey has been bumpy, but mostly smooth.From time to time, you can see that the laborers in the village are dragging stone rollers on the road. The road surface is so hard that deep water and rain cannot penetrate it.

In a blink of an eye, it was more than half a month away from Beijing, which was the No. 18 day. The farther away from Beijing, the prosperous towns became less and less, and the ones that came and went were not important towns, so the scene became shabby.Gu Yan seems to be a thick-hearted person, but in fact, he has the same roughness and finesse as Mr. Zhang Fei.

He saw that the towns and counties he came and went to receive were not extensive, so he arranged for someone to collect his guard of honor and Gu Zhao's guard of honor and cover them with raincloth.A group of people was divided into three sections, the guard of honor went first, they all changed into casual clothes, and sent a horse to the front station to say hello: "There is no need to entertain when passing by, and they may not have the time to stay for two days, so disturb the people." Things are absolutely impossible.

Officials from all over the country felt relieved when they heard the news. Now the money is not enough.Today is a picky, and they are not rich.After a reception, I'm afraid I'll have to tighten my belt for half a year.Naturally, there are also those who have ghosts in their hearts, and they are afraid that Shangguan will use disguise to understand the people's sentiments. Therefore, they are trembling, for fear of missing the line. Take your time.

Gu Zhao and his team have been rushing along the main road since the 15th, and when they encountered towns, they would not enter, and they all camped outside the town. Naturally, disturbing the people is also paid, so we must not take advantage of the common people.

On this day, Gu Zhao sat in the car and read the letter that Ah Run wrote to him. They communicated constantly every day, but their relationship was much closer than when they were together.Along with the secret letter, three sets of four-layer golden flower and phoenix round boxes were sent.This first set of boxes contained Gu Zhao's favorite snacks that were often made in the palace.The second set contains commonly used medicines such as Shunqi Pill, Huoluodan, and Xiaoshisan, as well as hundreds of fragrant medicine packets for warding off plague and summer heat.

In the third set of boxes are the underwear and trousers that Gu Zhao often wears, and five pairs of satin shoes with blue sides and thick soles. Seeing that it is autumn, Gu Zhao’s underwear will be replaced with thicker soft cloth. Yes, the luggage is actually enough.But Ah Run was afraid that he would suffer, so he ordered someone to do it in a hurry, for fear that he would be wronged.

Gu Zhao read the letter for a while, and after smiling, a sentence suddenly came to his mind, and he immediately picked up his pen and replied: It seemed as if he had glimpsed a sentence in that book before: Only the name is fair, and the lonely should be like this. Zhongqiu... However, political affairs are different from others. The ruler considers things from a different perspective than his courtiers. Zhao believes that the bad habits of the aristocratic and powerful families have been around for a long time, and the shadow of kindness has been long. If you change it for a while, you are afraid of touching the relationship. This matter needs to be taken slowly, three to five Eight years is short, but we must also prevent the disadvantages of scholar-bureaucrats setting rules for the world in the future... This kind of meaning must be realized slowly and carefully summarized..."

It's strange to say, but when I don't see that person, I don't shy away from saying anything.

After writing the letter paper, Gu Zhao carefully rolled up the cloth and put it in the letter box, sealed it with wax, sealed it with wax, and then ordered Xizai to find two boxes for Ah Run with some good country fruits he ate yesterday. letter back.

A group of three fast horses went away with two packages of dried fruit wrapped in a gust of wind.

Gu Zhao lifted the curtain of the car, looked at the fast horses going away, turned around and complained to Xu Pinlian: "My little brother, I don't know what to think every day? I've only been away from home for a few days, look...it's coming and going It’s really a waste of time and money to go. I asked why? It’s just a few ordinary meals, but I don’t know who to send it to? Hey, I’m here with you. If you meet someone who has a second heart with us, go back the next day. Participate in a few books, I'm afraid it will be another matter!"

Xu Pinlian smiled slightly, picked up the bamboo roll and blew away the ashes from the knife and pen in one breath.Grandpa Gu sneezed, swung his sleeve a few times, turned around and cursed: "You are not a good person either!"

Xu Pinlian wrote a good article and was in a good mood.After listening to his complaints, he didn't answer, he just took the brush and weighed the ink to finish the writing slowly, then said steadily: "Brother, you really think too much, the county lord opened it himself. As a doorman, he has his own reasons for what he does."

Gu Yan was naturally dissatisfied, and snorted softly: "Where does he make sense? How old is he? How many times have he seen the world? He always thinks about what happens when he comes out. I asked him and he didn't talk to me. Say, I'm really anxious to death."

The tempers of these two brothers are actually not the same at all, Xu Pinlian can tell during this time.For the two brothers, Lord Xiaojun actually made the decision. Most of the time, Lord Xiaojun let his elder brother go.This old thing loses his temper, and sometimes he doesn't distinguish people at all. He has the temperament of an old dog. He was smiling just now, and he can bite people when he turns his face.

Xu Pinlian didn't accept Gu Yan's words, he just cited the travel notes he wrote today, and began to read them aloud to him.

Gu Yan was depressed, he could only suppress his temper, and while bumping his head against the wall of the car, he looked out eagerly.Sure enough, after Xu Pinlian read it for a while, Xinzai rode a blue mule and came over with a three-layered red lacquer box and said, "Master, Qiye said, these are some seasonal delicacies in Beijing, and I asked the younger one to bring them to you." Try it."

Gu Yan snorted and said: "This road is full of villages and villages. If you want to eat, you can find it on the spot, and it can't be fresher! Why does he care about the fresh food in Shangjing? Isn't the fresh food in Shangjing delivered from various places? They come and go, pity these seasons, they finally left home, went to the capital, and now they are sent back."

Others have long been accustomed to his nagging, so naturally they can do whatever they want.

Gu Yan’s mouth has been bitter the past few days, so he opened the box and picked out desserts with big icing sugar to eat. After he ate a few bites, he picked out a few good ones and put them in a box beside him, and sent them to the little ones around him. The servant sent him to the car behind to give his grandson Gu Yun medicine.

Speaking of Gu Yunyao, there are some backgrounds.

Gu Yunyao is actually Gu Maofeng's illegitimate son.When Gu Maofeng was alive, Gu Yan had no idea that he had a grandson born to a maiko in this world.

The child was weak when he was young, so Gu Maofeng nicknamed him Yao'er.As soon as he was born, Gu Maofeng took him away and sent him to a village in the countryside.As for his mother, who knows where?

He is not short of food and clothing, but no one cares about him or cares about him.All day long, I only study and write at home with two old gentlemen, and I have the best food and clothing, but I have never been out of the village until I am 12 years old.

Later, Gu Maofeng died, and the old village head in the countryside hadn't seen anyone send money for a long time, so he naturally didn't want to raise someone for nothing, and found out that Gu Sanye had gone to an emergency, so he tied up a donkey, packed the child's luggage and sent it to him. Arrived at the government office.

It's strange to say that Gu Yanben was seriously ill, and he was confused, but when this child came, he found a sustenance.If it is said that Gu Maofeng's family also has a son, but for this illegitimate son, Gu Yan is right. He only thinks that Gu Laosan is reborn, and the injustice of his previous life has indeed returned.

So, the grandpa and grandson would hang out together every day, taking them with them wherever they went, and asking when they couldn't see anyone for a while, for fear of getting cold or hungry.Gu Yan felt sorry for the child's lack of father and mother, so he was even more wary of this at home, looking at that, I'm afraid he might feel wronged.In fact, to put it bluntly, this is the old man's temper.

For the Gu family, the arrival of this child was not even the slightest splash.The old lady Lu Shi only thinks that the old man has found a spiritual sustenance, and treats this child like a puppy or a cat.Others don't feel that this child can hinder anything, even a concubine is not a child, the old man is old this year, and he can watch him for a few days, even if he is biased, there are ancestral family laws.

When he came out this time, Gu Yan was afraid that the child would live at home soon and that he would be bullied, so he had to take him with him.Others can't laugh or cry, so naturally it's him.

Not to mention how Gu Yun took the medicine and took a box of snacks, but just came and went. Seeing that the sky was getting late and the sunset was shining, Gu Huaizi came running from the front on a horse.When he got to Gu Yan's car, he got off the horse and said happily: "Master! There is a place to stay in front, and the small ones are all arranged!"

Gu Yan raised the car curtain and asked, "Where is the front?"

Gu Huaizi replied: "Four miles ahead, there is a village called Neizhangzi Village. It is an old village. This village is not small, with about [-] households. We have traveled about [-] miles along the way. All the fields are planted by people there.

We went over to have a look and inquired. There were two squire families living in that village, one surnamed Zhang and the other surnamed Yan.The family surnamed Zhang was mean and unethical in his hometown.On the contrary, the country gentleman surnamed Yan is the most benevolent gentleman and person of high morality.Most of the road pavilions and covered bridges along our way were donated by his family. People in the village also said that the country squire donated money every year for the study house in the town, so his family can live in it.The younger one went to Yan's house to beg for a place to stay. His master was naturally willing, and he agreed wholeheartedly. Now everything is ready at the other end, just waiting for the master to stay. "

Gu Yan was satisfied after hearing this, so he asked: "Is his house enough, and we have a lot of people in this line of business?"

Up to this point, Gu Huaizi wondered: "Sir, the squire said he was a squire, that is, he had a household registration of two to three hundred acres of high-quality land. The squire Yan's family is very poor, and there are only two places where he can live. The courtyard and the guest room were also temporarily tidied up, only two. The younger one said that he would definitely not be able to lose money to his family, but the squire Yan is open-minded. He also vacated his son’s room, but it’s a full budget, and the family can accommodate up to five or six people.”

After hearing this, Mr. Pin Lian interjected in the car: "It's not rich, it would be better if the old man lived outside the village tonight. The car is also generous, and I can't owe it to me."

Gu Yan waved his hands and said angrily: "Hey, what I said, since there is a roof, why bother to sit on the ground in the open air, and it will be done at night."

Gu Huaizi hurriedly said to Xu Pinlian: "Sir, although his house is not enough, but the beds are enough. People here don't make beds, and the people living in the house are all old Tong Kang, which can sleep four or five people without sleeping. It's crowded."

After Xu Pinlian heard this, he quickly nodded and said: "That's good, that's good! Go quickly and ask them to prepare some hot water. The old man is sore and sleepy. It would have been better if there was hot water to soak in the past."

Gu Huaizi got on the horse again and laughed, "It's been arranged a long time ago! The water is being boiled for cooking at the other end. The gentlemen will be satisfied when they go."

After saying this, the chariots and horses drove slowly, and when the sky was blurred, they arrived outside a village.

This village is an old village with a lot of years, and the outside of the village is surrounded by thick earth embryo walls.When entering the village, there is a tall earthen pagoda several feet high, with archery holes on the top of the tower, a two-foot deep pit downstairs, and a suspension bridge under the tower. Wormwood.When people got out of the car, they could smell a tangy smell of stinky grass.

Because there was still chaos in various places in the past few years, all villages and towns built archery towers. Now the world is peaceful, but there are still villagers watching this earthen building. Seeing visitors from afar, someone shouted from the top of the tower and asked: "But Shangjing is here to stay overnight." from far away?"

Gu Huaizi laughed downstairs and said, "It's not us!"

Soon, someone greeted him from the village.

Gu Yan and the others claimed to be old officials who had returned home, so the old squires who came out of the village said, "Your servant, Yan Xie, pay my respects to my old parents."

Gu Yan and the others saw that the old squire was five or sixty years old, with a gentleman's demeanor, and his behavior was very polite.Because he came to meet them, he also changed into a decent silk shirt. This person can wear silk, and he thinks that there have been officials in his family, and he has a certain family background.I also saw obvious creases on his clothes. I think they were often placed at the bottom of the cabinet and carefully protected. Now I only take them out when I see a distinguished guest.

With such politeness, just seeing it makes people happy.

Standing at the front, Gu Yan saw the old squire salute, and after he finished the ceremony, he stretched out his hand to support him and said, "Hey, the old man is too polite. It's not about seeing or not, now that the old man has retired and returned home, A white body is not a big gift."

Gu squire said: "You deserve it, you deserve it...how can you not deserve it, you deserve it!" Because he is a man of few words, he repeats these few sentences over and over again.

Gu Yanfu said again: "During the journey, the villagers who came across me on the road praised him, saying that the old man Yan built bridges and paved roads, and helped the villagers. Come to ask for lodging. Firstly, let the unfilial sons and grandchildren of the family learn the principles of life, and secondly..."

Gu Zhao also got out of the car. He drank too much water in the car, so he held back his urine.His old brother talked nonsense in front of others, and he pretended all the way, but he didn't get tired of it.It looks like there are some ink stains.Therefore, he quietly turned sideways and winked at Xizai.

The master and servant walked all the way back, but they didn't take a few steps, but they heard someone's footsteps following softly behind them.Gu Zhao turned around, only to see that it was his old brother's lifeblood, and the little guy named Yao'er followed him.

This little guy has never seen the world, and he is most afraid of raising his head and looking at people with his eyes. The most common gesture he makes on weekdays is to bow his head shyly. If he asks too many questions, he will hide behind his grandpa without saying a word. You can joke with him, He takes you seriously!It's really not funny at all.Gu Zhao loves children, but he can't love him.

Seeing him coming, Gu Zhao asked strangely, "Yao'er? What are you doing here?"

Gu Yunyao didn't say anything, just rubbed his feet against the ground, trembling slightly, a little anxious.

When Gu Zhao saw it, he knew it, didn't ask him, just called Xizai and went to the back of the convoy, waited for a while, the waiter at the back took out a small toilet, and someone immediately opened it with a cloth curtain to cover it. All around, Gu Zhao urinated into the toilet, stretched his arms, bent carefully to help him tie his trouser belt.

At this moment, Gu Yunyao, who was standing on one side, was shaking even more violently, and the slave who was holding the toilet on the other side looked at him eagerly, but he didn't open his pants, and just lowered his head and twisted the corner of his clothes with a flushed face.

Gu Zhao blinked his eyes, and said after a while, "You all go out." Presumably this child is timid, and he can't urinate when he sees someone.

Moments after the group of people went out, there was a rushing sound from inside, and the sound of running water rang out in full ears.

Gu Zhao sighed, the death of the child's father was more or less inseparable from himself.Seeing how cautious he is now, without the slightest bit of masculinity, and sometimes his aura of hiding his head and tail, I really want to kick his ass hard.Gu Zhao knows more or less what his elder brother thinks, hey!I can't wait, I can't fight, I can walk and watch.

After Gu Yun finished urinating with the medicine, he tidied himself up, then calmed his hands in the copper basin held by the servant, applied the grease and came out from the curtain, but seeing Grandpa Qi still waiting for him, he was suddenly scared again.Gu Zhao didn't say anything, but he immediately tucked his hands into his sleeves, lowered his head and looked at the invisible ground without saying a word.

Gu Zhao said nothing, and when he saw him coming out, he went straight ahead.Gu Yunyao followed quietly as if she didn't exist, the sound of her footsteps was not as loud as the crickets chirping by her ears.

The grandfather and grandson walked to the entrance of the village, where they just finished greeting each other. Seeing his younger brother coming, Gu Yan introduced to Yan Xiangshen that this is my younger brother and grandson.That Yan squire was first surprised at Gu Zhao's age, and then at Gu Zhao's appearance.So he praised Gu Zhao a few words for his noble character, such as Lan Ruju's complete set, which seems to be good words in the book.

After Gu Zhao listened, his mouth was modest, but his heart was naturally proud.If you don't talk about it, people in this world don't see Ah Run, and if they get outside his talent and character, it is also first-class. Whoever sees him will not praise him!This matter must be written in a letter to show off.

After Yan Xiangshen had finished his praise, he brought these people into the village. Because his house did not have enough room, Gu Huaizi and the others found a place to shelter from the wind under the village wall, set up cloth curtains, set up animal skin tents, and lit a bonfire for self-sufficiency.There was a squire named Zhang in that village who came to invite him repeatedly, because he had a bad reputation and his reputation for being a man of no virtue had long been ruined. Therefore, even domestic slaves like Gu Huaizi and the others would not go to his house to settle down.

Zhang Xiangshen invited him several times, but he just refused. After being helpless, he had no choice but to return in a hurry.Later, they brought some wine and meat over, but Gu Huaizi and the others still refused, and they didn't even touch the dust of his house, let alone wine and meat.

Yan Xiangshen's family lived at the east end of the village, with a large courtyard and a large tile-roofed house with two entrances and eight rooms.Although this is a rural area, it is also particular about it.There is a carefully carved stone screen wall at the entrance of his house, and there are carved pillars for tying horses.Although his family is small, there are three or five servants who are helping workers running back and forth in a hurry.

When I entered the courtyard of Yan's squire's house, sheep and chickens were being slaughtered on the side of his compound. It is said that there will be stews to eat tonight, and mutton flat food for supper.

Gu Zhao hasn't eaten well in the past few days, so he looks forward to it just by listening to it.

This group of people came to the main room of Yan Xiangshen's house, and Yan Xiangshen sent his eldest son out to meet the guests.The eldest son of his family, named Wei, is in his 30s this year. He once studied, but he didn't know how to read well. Now he just helps his father manage the housekeeping at home.There is also a youngest son in his family, who is now studying in a privately run jingshe in the county.Come to think of it, this is also the reason why Squire Yan donated money every year.

Today, I had a visitor. In the living room of Yan's country gentleman's house, a few tallow candles were lit over the years. The candles had been left for a long time, and the outside was covered with a layer of black ash.Gu Zhao stared at the candle in silence. His nephew Yunyao was afraid that his grandfather would tell him to talk to the master's family, so he shrank in the shadow beside his seventh grandfather, afraid of being seen.

When Yan Xiangshen saw the guests, he went to the back kitchen to take care of them, so these people sat in the living room and played like statues.

Xu Pinlian saw that the eldest son of this family was a clumsy person, so he found something to ask him: "I don't know how many mu of land the eldest son's family has now? Can the year be prosperous?"

The eldest son of this family was not interested at all, and was sweating from his brow in a hurry. When he saw the guest asking, he quickly stood up and replied, "Don't dare to lie to the guest. Now the family has planted 360 mu of land, and [-] acres of land are plowed a year." Mu, and the rest are all middle fields that have been plowed for two years." When he said this, the eldest son was very proud.

You know, the land is divided into grades, and one year of farming means that there will be income every year.If the fields are not fertile, some thin fields have been planted for a year, and they have to rest for three years before they can be plowed again.His family has [-] mu a year of farming, which is really not bad.

When the eldest son talked about the land, he was very talkative.When Xu Pinlian came out, he naturally had an errand with him.So I asked about some people's livelihood and livelihood.As they talked, they didn't know what was going on, but they suddenly abducted to the house of the squire named Zhang.The eldest son's family and the squire's family are really entangled, so the words are not very good, but his family is simple, and he doesn't want to speak ill of this family, as long as Mr. Pin Lian shows the intention of snooping, he will repeatedly wave : "Don't talk about his family, don't talk about his family."

That's what he said, but the eldest son really had a look of resentment on his face.

He acted like this, and the people who were waiting to hear the gossip were really anxious to death. Gu Zhao put his head aside and sighed: "Either say it, or don't mention it. It's really like eating watermelon. It's so boring to hesitate."

Gu Yunyao, who was sitting on the side, knew what his uncle wanted to say, but what is eating watermelon?It wasn't written in the book, so he didn't understand, but he didn't dare to ask.Therefore, he sat on the side, tilted his head slightly, and quietly aimed his eyes at people.

Gu Zhao was most annoyed by the child's sharpness in aiming at people. Immediately, he couldn't hold back, he stretched out his hand and slapped it on the back of the child's head. Goug your eyes out."

Gu Yunyao was frightened immediately, took a look at the paozishui, stood up trembling and went to find his grandfather again.Even if you go there, you won't know the tricks of melon officials, complaining in front of people, making childish jokes, and arousing love and affection.He just stretched out his hand and pinched the hem of his grandfather's clothes, looking very sad. This child is already twelve, and he will be a father in a few years.

Gu Yan was helpless, if he was someone else, he would have scolded him long ago. This is his younger brother, the person he is least willing to provoke in the world.In desperation, he turned his head and said to Gu Zhao, "You know he is timid, but you still scare him."

After hearing this, Gu Zhao didn't care about it, just smiled.

Not to mention that they were chatting in the living room, but that another family in the village, Mr. Zhang's family, has moved their minds.

Speaking of this squire's family, in terms of wealth, his family's wealth is several times that of the Yan's, but his family rarely does anything to help the villagers, let alone building bridges and paving roads.If it's the same, it's fine, the money belongs to others, and if they don't want it, no one can say anything.

But something bad happened to his family, and he was pregnant with virtue.This country gentleman's family has two sons and a jewel in the palm.That's all for the son, send him to study, he has some knowledge, and he doesn't do things out of the ordinary.Only the young lady of his family, named Xiaoyan, is quite beautiful and beautiful.

Zhang Yan's family had a good relationship in the early years. When she was very young, the young lady's parents loved her and did not want her to marry far away.The nearest one was assigned to the second young master of the Yan family.But what I didn't expect was that Xiaoyan did something extraordinary last Suiqiu. If Gu Zhao saw it, it would not be a big deal!But in this day and age, this matter is linked to family tradition and morality.

It is said that if there is some money in the family nowadays, if there is a lady, they must be locked up when they are seven or eight years old. She often reads that the so-called boudoir education has been like this for thousands of years.

Miss Zhang's family is in good condition, and she also hired a blind musician to enlighten her.Although Zhang Xiaoyan is a young lady in the village, she has great ambitions because she knows poetry and read the idle books brought back by her brothers.What's more, her mother Jiang's family often associates with three aunts and six wives, so she has a lot of talents and beauties.

Another reason is that Zhang Xiangshen is the most vain person. He often said when he came and went in the house that his ancestors were from a famous family.What's more, his family has a broken genealogy of the Zhang family, which records that this family was originally from the Zhang family in Shanyang County.

Ms. Zhang felt that her family was from an aristocratic family, so it was only natural to be married to an aristocratic family.Naturally, the family of the Yan gentry who came from a poor family was not suitable for his family. Therefore, last autumn, Ms. Zhang organized a women's rights movement, and she went to Yan's house to withdraw from the engagement.

Afterwards, Xiangshen Zhang naturally covered it up in every possible way, but the Yan family did not dare to take this person anyway, so Miss Zhang's marriage was naturally gone, but her reputation was also ruined.

The daughter's bad reputation naturally became a big worry for Zhang Xianggentry's family.The old couple had been in a hurry for less than a year, and they looked like seven or eight years old.Now, a foreign visitor suddenly came to the village, Zhang Xiangshen's wife, Mrs. Jiang, had an idea.She first found out that the visitor was a Beijing official who came to Beijing and returned home, so she took the old servant at home to check the carriages, horses and luggage quietly.

It doesn't matter if you look at it, it's a group of more than [-] high horses and mules in a row.After further inquiry, there are two unmarried sons in this family.In this way, after thinking about it again and again, the old couple became more thoughtful than they should have been.