Brother Donggong

The "Liu Ting Pavilion" in the four empty gardens is in the deepest part of the garden.

It is necessary to pass through the bamboo grove with winding paths, and then cross the Peony Pavilion where the clouds are deep and unknown, turn around the misty and rainy corridor where He Dang cut the candles on the west window, drill through the door opening where the date of the king's return is not yet scheduled, and finally reach the plaque of "all four are empty" Knock on the door, knock on it, and open the door, this is the zenith of joy.

Liuting Pavilion made them toss about the golden and green paintings, which were colorful, and there were a few small operas next to them, playing and singing all the time. The songs were Kunqu operas "Broken Bridge", "Dressing Dressing" and "Kneeling Pond".

All the dishes were removed from the table, and all dishes were served in bowls, all of which were Longquan celadon from Zhejiang. It is said that this is the habit in Yongjia.The dishes are all made by the Yongjia Guild Hall. They bring them here and serve them on the table. The wine is always Taidiao from Yongjia. There is also a rough pottery bottle, which contains Laobaigan from Ranzhuang, with bee jelly added.

Cui Bicheng set up two tables of dishes, Zhou Xi was the guest of honor at the outer table, and I sat at the inner table.

I can see them, Lao Cui asked me to see Jinger, but they couldn't see me.

Sitting outside were Old Cui's Waizhuang shopkeeper in Yongjia, some friends of Yongjia, Zhou Xi, and Zhou Xi's Waizhuang shopkeeper in Yongjing, a table of people, babbling, I half listened to what they said not understand.

Old Cui was in charge, and opposite him was Zhou Xi.

Zhou Xi is much younger than I thought. He looks like Cui Bicheng is one or two years old. He looks very handsome. He doesn't speak, but smiles. His eyes are watery, very clear, but a little bottomless.

Old Cui punched Zhou Xi with a wine glass in his hand.

——"Hello two friends! Haha, good two friends!"

Both of them shouted out that they are good friends, each of them showed two fingers, and they should each have a glass of wine.

"Come, come, come, good friends, eat old wine, and eat together."

People around also booed.

Zhou Xi didn't say anything else, just picked up the wine glass, touched old Cui, Cui Bicheng was as happy as if he had eaten vaping oil, and just smiled there.

Cui Bicheng said, fingers still shaking there, "I look at Nong, Nong looks at me, we are good friends, come, let's have a drink."

Old Cui's shopkeepers in other villages were grinning to the back of their heads.The people around were still booing and clapping their hands, which was better.

Zhou Xi raised his neck and drank the wine, he said, "I've eaten too much of this old wine today."

Cui Bicheng put the wine glass on the table, stood up, stretched his upper body, and asked Zhou Xi, "Are you happy? Are you happy?" Zhou Xi smiled and nodded, "Happy."

Cui Bicheng laughed, "It's good to be happy. As long as Brother Zhou is happy, everyone will be happy. If Brother Zhou is not happy, everyone will be ruined."

I thought they were in such a panic that they asked people to close both doors.

The back room was quiet, just three of us, I, Cui Bicheng's cashier, Lao Jiang, and Lao Cui's storekeeper, Lao You, who had just returned from a shipment of medicinal materials from Dongchuan.It is said that Lao Jiang and Lao You are related to me.They are all relatives of my aunt's side, and they are the sons of the second uncle's second cousin of my aunt's sister's sister-in-law.

Lao Jiang is dull, Lao You is a little bit better, that is, Lao You has just returned from Dongchuan, and just handed over the account with Cui Bicheng this evening, he has not rested yet, and his eyelids are drooping.

He poured me a glass of wine and said with a smile, "I'll have two drinks with the prince."

I asked him, "Do you know what Zhou Xi did in Yongjing?"

Old You bared his teeth and said with a smile, "It's not the end of the year, Boss Zhou is going to give gifts to Yongjing, besides, he still has something to ask our Boss Cui."

I put a spoonful of tofu into my mouth and asked him, "What does he want? He doesn't want to accept Lao Cui, a monster, does he?"

Lao You quickly said, "Look at what the lord said, does he dare? Boss Cui is a god, and only a beauty like a fairy can be worthy of our Boss Cui! If anyone can marry our Boss Cui, that's the best!" Burning incense for several lifetimes, and doing good deeds and accumulating virtues in this lifetime. Isn’t that the whole life of being famous, drinking spicy food, living in high-rise mansions, wearing silk and satin, and enjoying the blessings without borders…”

……

cough cough.

When Lao You saw me looking at him, he quickly said, "My lord, don't look at me like that, I'm flustered."

"Old You, you and Cucumber are from the same hometown, right?"

"Hehe, my lord was joking."

I said, "Okay, stop talking nonsense, hurry up, what does Zhou Xi want old Cui to do?"

Lao You said, "Actually, it's not a big deal. Boss Zhou wants to find an official position. What he's looking for is the Qipin county magistrate of De'an County in the south of the Yangtze River."

I asked, "De'an? Didn't the county of De'an just suffer from floods? More than 30 people have no food to eat. A while ago I saw the new chief envoy of Zhejiang crying to the court for poverty. In such a place, Zhou Xi Where are you going and what are you going to do?"

Lao You said, "Your Majesty, you don't know. Although the Zhou family is rich and powerful, they have not had a scholar in their family for several lifetimes, and they have no resonance. Now, even Jinshi with a regular background in Kejia has to wait for a real shortage. It will take three years, let alone him. He thought, to be the county magistrate, at least he is an official, isn't he?"

I thought to myself, "Is that so?"

Lao You also said, "My lord, I have found out what you asked me a few days ago. This man's eyeballs can change color, which may be a disguise technique. It is said that there are some strange people and strange things in the world. A person can wear a human skin mask to disguise himself, can change his face completely, and can become so fucking that no one recognizes him."

I said, "Nonsense, I've heard of it too, but I've never seen anyone put a human skin mask inside the glasses beads."

Old You said, "Then it might be poisoning."

I was terrified and shivered, "Ah?!—Poisoned, what kind of poison is it, can it kill people?"

Lao You quickly said, "My lord, don't be afraid, listen to me. It depends on how the color of the eyeballs changes. If it changes from light to dark, it will be troublesome. If the color changes from dark to light, it may be a good thing. This time We went to Dongchuan to sell medicinal materials, and heard that a strange poison grows on the snow line of Siguniang Snow Mountain. I heard that people who are infected with this poison will have their brains broken first, and then the eyeballs will become darker and darker, and finally their sanity will collapse. His whole body festered and died. I heard that this is the poison used by the Kunlun Holy Cult of the Great Brightness of the Western Regions to kill people and control people to work for them. I don’t know what it’s called.”