Clam Pearl

On this day, Gu Yunjing invited new and old friends, famous teachers, colleagues, fellow villagers and others to a banquet at the county mansion.

Ever since Gu Zhao moved into this county mansion, Gu Zhao has never had a guest in the mansion. First, he often goes to live with his elder brother's house. Second, he has very few friends and is estranged from his colleagues. I am also lazy to manage.Sanlai? It was because of that reason that I had to close the door and live by myself.

Finally, the mansion was once again lively, so early in the morning, his grandmother Bi Liangli was at the middle door of the mansion, leading a group of servants to rush around.Seeing such a situation, Gu Yunjing naturally felt even more grateful to her uncle for being considerate. I don't know how many times my uncle will be better.

Gu Yunjing was different from Gu Zhao, he was handsome when he was young, talented and good-looking, and had a good personality. He had never had any bad feelings with anyone in the few years since he came to Beijing. This was stronger than his brothers and uncles in his family.Gu's family style is straightforward, what sounds good is honesty, and what sounds bad is a little dazed.

Sometimes Gu Maochang joked that Gu Yunjing was by no means a child of this family, and he was probably coming.

For this reason, Gu Yunjing could not go through the front door of the Gu family for half a year, but through the side door.This kid is also temperamental.

In the middle of the morning, the guests of the family arrived one after another. After being welcomed into the door, these guests did not take the middle road, but as soon as they entered the door, they were carried to a bamboo pavilion in the south of Funan by a small sedan chair and waited.

At this moment, the breeze is blowing, and the blue waves are rippling around the Qushui. In the distance, there is the slang song of the boat mother rowing, and the fragrance of flowers and grass can be smelled nearby.

The buildings in the County Government Mansion are different from those in Beppu. The buildings here pay more attention to privacy. Often a building is a private place. Those buildings have their own characteristics, not to mention, they are all unique and very elegant.Of course, don't expect this to be Gu Zhao's aesthetics. Every building in his mansion is the work of Ah Run, just like Gu Zhao's main house and the lotus garden where these guests are going today.All carefully designed by Arun.

Nahe Garden was originally at the end of the Qushui River in Fuzhong. There are Quqiao, rockery, courtyard, stage, bookstore and teahouse in the garden.There are more than a dozen concave-shaped houses in the garden, half of which are made of brick and tile, and half of which are made of bamboo.It is the lotus garden. Naturally, the whole yard is based on lotus, and the curved bridge is built on the pool in the garden. You can enjoy the lotus from any angle in the garden by walking around.

Even the buildings in the garden are themed with lotus, and the bricks, tiles and cornerstones are all carved with lotus flowers. If there is a banquet in the garden, all the tableware and utensils are all lotus flowers, beautiful utensils in the shape of lotus leaves.

It's a pity that Gu Zhao only knew about this place, but had never been there.Not only has he never been here, he has never been to the six bends of the Qushui and the six independent small courtyards along the way.This guy is just a squat at home, it is impossible to ask him to move to live.

The guests waiting in the bamboo pavilion were picked up by two wooden boats traveling back and forth and sent to the lotus garden. The road was full of twists and turns, and the scenery was naturally beautiful. The little girl in the lotus skirt.Along the way, the wooden boat was swaying, and the little girl would hum and sing some songs from the water. It was true that the guests were already slightly drunk before arriving at the place.

There was a treat at home, but Gu Zhao was not there.

Today is the day when the first batch of knife and pen officials are apprentices, and Gu Zhao works so hard to sign in every day for this day, and Ah Run wants him to be the teacher of all the knife and pen officials in the world.Gu Zhao, who has not been a teacher for a long time, has long been looking forward to this day.

Therefore, he secretly wrote a speech, which included his understanding of the world and his ambition for Daliang, and he even secretly recited it.

What he thinks about is beauty, but it's a pity that some people have long known that he is a semi-literate person who can only read the little picture books of dreams of a girl in spring, and they have already found a deputy doctor for him to take all the classes for him.Now this speech is naturally replaced by someone else, and he is no longer needed.

Gu Zhao was a little disappointed, but it didn't show on his face.Since he can't be a teacher, he is still the vice principal and part-time director of political and educational affairs anyway, so he sits in the yamen, waiting for Qing Wan to call in the admitted students one by one to give a few words of encouragement, and then give the first month's rice The grain is distributed.

As the students were called in one by one, they paid homage to their mentors and received rice grains, and the status of master and apprentice was settled.

At the beginning, Gu Zhao took the opportunity to say a few touching words, but there were so many people, and in the end he didn't say a word, just waved his hands and made gestures.There's no way, his face is frozen with laughter, he really can't show kindness.

Around the evening, another student came in, and both Gu Zhao and the student were embarrassed.Who do you know, but it is Gu Zhao's old friend from before, the friend of Qiu Yangui of Lanruo Temple, Xue He's eight-worship friend, Li Yongji.

Today, Shangjing has only recovered, Lanruo Temple has long since been ruined, and the gorgeous ghosts back then didn't know whether they were alive or dead. Now that I happen to think of it, what Gu Zhao wants to think of is that little girl named Xu'er, her finger peeling chestnuts. It is very flexible and can peel off a bunch in a while.

A few years ago, Li Yongji was obsessed with a Chinese ghost story, fell madly from the roof in the middle of the night, broke his leg, and missed the exam.In this way, his life began to go downhill.Later, both Xue He and Yang Tingyin entered the list, and then they each flew high. Now they are under the place, and everyone and furniture are parents of one party, and their lives are not good.

Only Li Yongji, after missing the exam, went mad for a few days, and was ashamed to go home again. Soon all the money around him was spent, so naturally everyone in Qiu didn't want to sleep with him for nothing. to Beijing.

From the Fangshi Hualou in the downtown area, I lived in a cheap private house.

Li Yuanji survived the disaster a few years ago.But he still didn't dare to go home, he was afraid of seeing the disappointed old father, and the first wife who was struggling with the young son.He worked hard this time, but he lost his reputation in this subject again.

A few days ago, Li Yuanji almost wanted to die after failing the rankings, but unexpectedly, now there is an extra life-saving yamen in the court.As soon as he gritted his teeth, he let go of his past thoughts and devoted himself to being a knife and pen official, vowing to start from a small official.

Gu Zhao looked at Li Yongji in embarrassment, but Li Yongji had long been stripped of all his dignity by the difficult life.

He walked in, lifted the corner of his robe, knelt down respectfully, kowtowed three times and said: "Shanyang Li Yongji, I pay my respects to my benefactor."

Gu Zhao wanted to stand up, but he couldn't. In desperation, he coughed twice and said, "Get up, go outside and wait, I will look for you later."

Li Yongji nodded, bowed and replied: "Yes."

After all, he turned around and backed out.When the door curtain was lifted, the draft brought some sourness on his body into the room, presumably because he hadn't bathed for a long time, and his body had already fermented.

After another two hours, Gu Zhao finally finished seeing the students. He stood up, walked out of the room, and stretched himself.

Master Yunliang over there, having finished seeing the students at the moment, also came out to get some air.But when he saw Gu Zhao, he immediately became very angry, since he had the Tongzheng Daobi Department.As a deputy, Gu Zhao never went to work for a day, and even at the door, he would say "I'm here" at the door, and leave after changing the sign.

He has been busy setting up a yamen with nothing, but now, this person is here to pick up a bargain.

"Hmph!" Master Yunliang flicked his sleeves, turned around and entered the room again.

Gu Zhaocai didn't care. Although his position was one level lower than this lord's, that is to say, he wasn't in charge, but they were all four-rank general officials. What's more, Gu Zhao had a title on him. The slightest bit of dross of Yunliang's popularity is stifling.

It is said that Master Yunliang often carried Gu Zhao out to ridicule him when he was teaching.It doesn't matter, even in the classroom, there must always be a negative example, which Gu Zhao can appreciate.

Gu Zhao smiled and shook his head, then turned to Li Yuanji who was waiting in the yard and said gently, "Have you been waiting for a long time?"

Li Yuanji shook his head, bowed and said, "Don't dare, it's the student's duty."

Gu Zhao waved his hand at him and said, "Don't be silly, we've known each other for so many years... It's just that I've had a lot of business these past few years, and you didn't walk around with me, but it was when Xue He and the others left Beijing last year. , and still go to see me... Forget it, let's go, I invite you to take a bath and have dinner."

Li Yuanji was stunned for a moment, then replied in a respectful voice: "Yes." After speaking, he followed Gu Zhao with his rice package under his arm.

Gu Zhao didn't take Li Yuanji's house. It's fine for him to bring a woman home, but it would cause trouble if he brought a man home. Because Li Yuanji's body smells sour, Gu Zhao now thinks of a good place to go.

Today, Shangjing has regained its prosperity, and all the damaged squares and markets in the early years have their own scale, but they have been restored, that is, those few places, where there are cockfighting and lackeys, the squares that play tricks, and the flower houses that do pink business , these places, as long as Gu Zhao dares to step in, the whole country will be wiped out on a large scale tomorrow.

That's fine, you can't bring trouble on others, right?

What Gu Zhao took Li Yuanji to was "Huhualing", which was an elegant place where one could only take a bath, massage, and listen to operas.

In the west corner of Shangjing, there used to be a dirty pool at first, and people who lived in the west corner often poured dirty water into it.

Later, a fool bought this place at a low price, dug the pool clean, and built a garden according to the water potential.There is a cross-flying beam bridge in the middle, and in the middle of the bridge is a stage, and all the rooms of the flower bell are surrounded by this stage, and there are exactly 36 rooms in that circle.

Huhualing’s room is also interesting, divided into three rooms inside and outside, including a bathroom, a bedroom, and a small living room. As long as you open the sliding door of the living room in each room, you can see the performance on the stage.

What's more interesting is that the private rooms here are not big, and you can bring friends to play with up to five people. If there are too many, it will be crowded. Therefore, Huhualing is not a place for group play, so there are fewer incidents.

Shangjingcheng is a place that embraces all rivers and rivers. As long as you are unique, you will never miss guests.Therefore, since this place was established a year ago, the business here has been booming. No matter if they are officials or dandies, they all love to come here, and they love the comfort and comfort here.

There are also wealthy candidates from outside who like the elegance and freedom here, so they have rented a room here for a long time. It is also a very good place to invite a few friends to drink wine and listen to operas on weekdays.

Think about it, first take a beautiful group bath together, then have a massage, wear a loose coat, open the door, drink wine cross-legged, eat small dishes, and watch a small show, that is really comfortable and refreshing.

What's more, the owner of this place is Gu Maobing.

The reason why Gu Maobing wanted to build such a place was because he wrote a lot of dramas and raised three troupes of small operas, but it was a pity that he entertained himself at home, which was really boring.At first, he wanted to build the largest theater in the country.This concept was naturally opposed by the whole family, and they even brought him into the Banyue ancestral temple, where he was beaten up.

Later, in the county mansion, I accidentally saw my little uncle built a bathing place, opened the door and could look at the small garden of plum blossoms outside while drinking a little wine.

He has always been smart, so he expanded the concept of the little uncle by 36 times and made a flower protection bell.There is something about the origin of the name Huhualing. It was the name of the first play he wrote, so he used it.

Since Gu Maobing created this place, he left three rooms for his family, one for his uncle Gu Yan, one for his uncle, and one for himself.

This is also the first time for Gu Zhao to come here. When he entered the door, he was in a daze. He seemed to have eaten sushi sashimi in such a building before.Hey, there is always something, pushing the times, and I don't know how long it will be, some savages from overseas will bring this fashion back home.

Li Yuanji was brought in by Xiao Nu to take a bath and massage. Gu Zhao also changed into loose clothes and sat in the small living room to watch the play.This kid really failed his talent if he didn't write a little dirty book, listen to this song he wrote...

A girl in heat sang a song to the branch: "I love spring, the spring is beautiful, the green feathers are lying on the new blue, the branches are singing spring grass, the spring birds return again, which annoys the spring, the peach blossoms float away and the lotus pistils fade away, I am only afraid of the spring I failed."

A love letter stunned outside the wall: "I love Jiao, Jiao is so wonderful, silver teeth groan, Yao skirts have fragrant grass, hornets love new flowers, begonias go to bed early in spring, mandarin ducks sleep on pillows, don't pretend to be sycophants, people come to find you I... and you..."

Well, this slang song can be called "A Young Girl Meets a Handsome Guy".The slang song doesn't matter, the problem is that the effect is very funny, the girl inside the wall is really ugly, with a pockmarked face, plasters on her temples, and a big mouth.

After they finished singing, the girl in the wall turned her back to the outside and said, "Lang Jun, the nanny is not at home tonight..." The scholar jumped three feet high and went away.

The spectators laughed for a while, well, the next show will be the evening show.

Gu Zhaozheng wondered, why not a matchmaker?Someone behind him said respectfully, "Teacher, the student is here."

When Gu Zhao turned his head, Li Yuanji had been washed clean, his hair was loosely tied now, and he was wearing a brand-new toga, probably because he hadn't worn new clothes for a long time, and his face was a little shy.

Gu Zhao nodded in satisfaction, waved his hand to tell him to sit down and said, "I'm just blind, how dare I be your mentor, just sit down, eat something, and then talk about other things."

Li Yuanji didn't know Gu Zhao's thoughts, so he tasted like chewing wax on a very sumptuous meal.

Gu Zhao didn't speak, but waited for him to finish eating, then asked someone to bring good tea in, closed the door, and a little girl came in again lighting four bright copper candlesticks.

"In the blink of an eye, I didn't expect to see Xiuzhi (Li Yuanji's character) in the department. In the past few years, there were many twists and turns. Because of family affairs, I didn't contact Xue He and Ting Yin again. The last time I saw it, It was a hasty farewell last year, and from now on the ends of the earth.

However, I heard from my nephew that the foreign officials they hired last year did a good job, and now they are both parents. I think life is going well. You... are you still in touch now? "

Gu Zhao helped Li Yuanji pour tea, and Li Yuanji hurriedly picked it up with both hands, took a sip and put down the cup before saying, "Brother Xue and Brother Yang have not seen each other for a long time..." He smiled wryly, and explained: "It's not that they didn't see each other... Me, it's just...we all came out of our hometown together back then, and I felt a little...this..."

Gu Zhao nodded, he understood, so he said apologetically, "It's all my fault, I shouldn't have said that one day, and it caused you to break your leg."

Li Yuanji quickly waved his hands: "It's all students who were crazy that day, conceited and talented, how can you blame sir!"

Gu Zhao smiled lightly, nodded slightly and said: "You don't hold grudges, forget it, now that it has become like this, old friends can't do it anymore, but I am really embarrassed to be your teacher. How about it, you From now on, you will call me Mingruo, Mingruo is my word, I don’t like to go out, everyone outside calls me Gu Laoqi, but I don’t often use this.”

Li Yuanji was stunned for a moment, his face was very touched, and there was an aura that was about to drip.It's a pity that he has a beard now, and Gu Zhao couldn't stand such a gesture, so he didn't look at him, but just lowered his head and said.

"Hey, I don't dare to cry. There are so many people here, I'm afraid people will misunderstand." Gu Zhao hurriedly persuaded him a few words, then changed the subject and asked, "Now, what is Xiuzhi's plan?"

Li Yuanji said: "How can it be regarded as a plan! I just want to stay a few years of seniority and earn some money as a petty official. The old father, wife and children in my hometown have sold all their ancestral properties for me. They were crazy before they were born, and they don't know the suffering of the people. No... I almost lost my life in the disaster three years ago. I'm afraid I still don't understand it now. I just hope that in the future I can do some practical work in a down-to-earth manner, and I can save some family money and take my old father, wife and children out. , to enjoy the blessing of a few days of leisure.”

Gu Zhao nodded, feeling a little appreciative in his heart. People who know how to be responsible for their families are more or less responsible.

"Since you said so, I might as well tell you something. From now on, I am afraid that you will not be able to go to those good places where you can save your family money. To tell you the truth, now His Majesty is afraid to do it for, Gan, Chang, Qing, 埝, As for Yu’s reserve talents, Wuzhou is a county with no talent, and I’m afraid that I won’t be able to return to my hometown for more than ten years, so it’s really against your will?” Gu Zhao finished speaking and looked at Li Yuanji quietly.

Li Yuanji was stunned for a while, his face turned blue at first, then after a while he began to think of something on his mind.Gu Zhao didn't bother, just closed his eyes slightly, listening to the sound of silk and bamboo outside...

"Although the 36 counties in the world belong to His Majesty, those lands probably belong to aristocratic families." Li Yuanji's voice suddenly broke into the sound of silk and bamboo.

Gu Zhao opened his eyes, his eyes were bright, and with a smile, he said lightly: "Go on."

Li Yuanji nodded and said: "Mr. Jingluo from Shanyang is the first teacher for the students. Mr. Jingluo is most famous for calligraphy and painting. In fact, Mr. has another skill, which is to read the situation and the general trend of the world. It is a pity that the students started late, only I have learned superficially, but I have learned a little bit of Mr.'s ability to see things. Now Daliang is safe, with this population, agricultural tax is a big problem, isn't it, teacher?"

Gu Zhao didn't answer either, but motioned him to continue.

Li Yuanji's face was smeared with some excited red. He nodded, sat upright, and said to Gu Zhao seriously: "Although the world is big, the family has lasted for hundreds of years. The forces are intricate, and if something happens, His Majesty can't control much. In the eyes of the students, His Majesty has now regarded the five counties as his own private property, and he is not going to share it with outsiders, is he?"

Gu Zhao still smiled, and only said to him: "I've said it all, don't call me a student, just keep talking."

"Yes, from the students' point of view, since His Majesty has such thoughts, then those who come from aristocratic families and those who pass the examination without practical knowledge are even more useless, because the five counties are Juehu counties, and the situation there must be abnormal. Difficult, those people naturally do not want to go.

Only the swordsman who knows the skills of farming, spelling, law, water affairs, etc., is the talent that the five counties really need...that is to say..."

Li Yuanji was a little excited, his eyes became brighter and brighter, and finally he stood up and said in a low voice, "Mentor! Could it be that we belong to His Majesty's faction!"

"Hey!!!!" Gu Zhao laughed, pointed at him and said, "Sit down quickly, I didn't say anything, you just need to know some things yourself, I just want to tell you, pay more attention to your colleagues on weekdays If you have great talents, you may as well pay attention to me. You and I are old people. Although we don’t have a close relationship, I also know that you are a person who is deeply affectionate and straightforward. Therefore, I will confess to you , Xiu Zhi... Work hard, survive for a few years, Xue He and the others are not as many as you, you will have a bright future...

Those children from aristocratic families can be secretary and book writers when they are born. Let me ask, who is willing to be an official in the five counties?Although you are small officials in the yamen today, but one day, after the five counties have regained their vitality, as long as you manage well, it is not known whether you will be allowed to be the head of the six departments.I can't say that the pillars of the future are among my students today. Think about it, how many grades will be given, isn't it up to His Majesty?What I mean, can you understand? "

Li Yuanji tidied up his clothes, bowed solemnly and said: "I am fortunate to have Mr. Guidance today. Yuan Ji will never forget Mr.'s great kindness in his life. From now on, he will go through fire and water..."

Gu Zhao interrupted him, hurriedly helped him up and said with a smile, "Hey, hey... I'm a dandy, I'm not worth your troubles, get up quickly."

Li Yuanji sat down again and said respectfully: "Students understand that after today, students will record their affairs in school, so as to save the teacher from bothering."

Talking to smart people is easy. Gu Zhao nodded in satisfaction. Seeing that it was getting late, he stood up and said, "It's late today, just stay here and leave tomorrow. Oh, you need to socialize and make friends on weekdays." , Now these things are also going to waste, how can you have enough rice, I will send someone to send some meaning tomorrow morning, you just accept it... If there is any news, there is a person named Xinzai under my door, who will go to the house every day The yamen is calling for me, you just quietly bring the news to him, remember, don’t let anyone know.”

Li Yuanji naturally agreed, and bowed to send Gu Zhao out.

Gu Zhao left Huhualing and returned home. It was already late. After he entered his yard, took another bath, and washed away the smell of alcohol, he dared to return to the bedroom. At this moment, Ah Run had already gone to bed. Down.Afraid of waking him up, Gu Zhao quietly lifted the corner of the quilt and burrowed in.

Unexpectedly, the person beside him suddenly jumped up and held him down and said in a hateful voice: "Today, your nanny is not at home!"