The bear child of the Red Chamber, Jia Cong

Chapter 843

After tossing and tossing for a whole night, it has been five watch days since we returned to Jia's horse house, and everyone tidied up a few times before falling asleep.Jia Cong woke up around noon the next day, his mind was full of cotton.Mimi stared out of the room and saw that Liu Xiaoqi, Shen Zhimo and two guards were playing cards, and Liu Zhuang was sitting with a book in his hands like a young scholar.Jia Cong rubbed his eyes: "Are you human? You all got up so early?"

The card players ignored him.Liu Zhuang said: "Uncle Jia, just now someone came from the yamen."

"what?"

"It's been checked everywhere. His Highness the Fifth Highness disappeared last night, and someone left a note in his residence." Liu Zhuang said, "Master Cui asked me to send it."

Jia Cong regained consciousness: "What did you write?"

"Excavate this heartless heart and soul to pay homage to the deceased sister."

Jia Cong shuddered: "The dross of traditional culture. Pavilion style?"

"Wang Ti Xing Kai."

"Actually, Wang Youjun is also from Qi." Jia Cong muttered. "The city will probably be searched in the next few days. Comrades, should we move out?"

In front of the card table, Liu Xiaoqi dropped a bomb: "Four sixes! What do you want to do?"

Shen Zhimo across from him also dropped a bomb: "Four eights! Let the snake out of the hole."

Jia Cong nodded: "Yeah. The fifth child is lost, Mrs. Cui is fine, Madam Ma and her accomplices must be suspicious. Alas, Mrs. Cui's little white rabbit is no match for Madam Ma, so don't let that beautiful snake get out of the way."

As soon as the words were finished, someone from the horse shop came in and said, "Third Master, someone is looking for you." Then he handed over a post with the words "Qinghe Cuiju" written on it.

After seeing it, Jia Cong handed it to Liu Zhuang: "This name, it seems to be Cui's brother?"

"Yes." Liu Zhuang said, "I got a second-class Jinshi in the Shangke. I haven't held an official position, and I'm at home."

Jia Cong shrugged: "Probably the purpose of taking the imperial examination is to pay less land tax." Nai ordered, "Please come in."

Not long after, a 27-year-old young man came in. Although he was dressed as a Wensheng with Eguan Bo, he had thick eyebrows and big eyes, and he was a little fat, looking very happy.This person is Cui Ju, and after greeting Jia Cong, he said: "Just now my father took her and the princess back to her mother's house in the name of fearing that my sister would be frightened."

Jia Cong said solemnly: "That's right, she is a pregnant woman who is really easy to be frightened, and she is still pregnant with the posthumous child of His Royal Highness Fifth Highness. Did Madam Ma look for her?"

"It's too late." Cui Ju said, "Our family picked it up too fast." Jia Cong winked.

Liu Zhuang said from the side: "Could it be too hasty and make Madam Ma suspicious?"

Cui Ju said: "Just get up. Everyone has gone home, what can I do?"

"That's right!" Jia Cong boasted, "This is the demeanor of a rich family."

Cui Ju smiled, and said: "My father asked me to come, and there is one more thing I want to discuss with the prince. Now the enemy is dark and I am clear..."

Jia Cong interrupted, "Wait a minute!" Naiqin poured two cups of tea, handed one to Cui Ju, and held one up for himself, "Respect the enemy's darkness and I will be clear!"

Cui Ju tacitly held up a cup with him and drank it down in one gulp.Nai went on to say: "Now the enemy is dark and we are clear. Only by baiting each other can we find out the clues."

"Heroes see the same thing." Jia Cong said, "Just now we also discussed finding an inn."

"Why do you need to stay in an inn? Everything is not cheap." Cui Ju said with a smile, "There are still a few idle courtyards in my house. If the prince doesn't dislike it, he can choose a place to stay for a while. There are a few sweeping servants, It's easy for the lord to use his own. Don't worry, I will never give the lord a beautiful woman." As he spoke, he glanced at Shen Zhimo and smiled with Jia Cong.

Shen Zhimo wrinkled his nose, and "slapped" down two cards: "Twin Kings!"

"Wow~~ No way!" "You're so lucky today." The poker players wailed.

In the afternoon of the same day, more than a dozen tall horses came to the door of Mr. Cui Mian's house, and the guests immediately drove off like a long way.There were two beggars leaning on the left and right of the gate of Cui Mansion, they couldn't help looking up.The leader was Mr. Wen Sheng, in his early thirties, with a strong build, wearing blue and white vertical python arrow sleeves and a gorilla felt cloak.Followed by a servant girl and a dozen servants, all of them well dressed.The servant girl is eighteen or nineteen years old, with a beautiful appearance.There is also a young servant who looks handsome in his twenties, and his clothes are more outstanding than others.The two beggars looked at each other with wretched expressions.

Seeing them get off their horses, a [-] or [-]-year-old book boy ran out from the gate of Cui's mansion, went up to him and shouted, "Mr. Zhou is here!" It’s night. Our uncle saw no sign at noon, I’m afraid Zhou Xianggong didn’t know the way, so Baba sent me to guard the door. I’ve been guarding for almost two hours!”

That Zhou Xianggong said with a smile: "Little Shi Yan has worked so hard, Zhou Xianggong will reward you!"

The maid behind him took a purse and handed it to the book boy.The book boy took it with a smile: "Thank you, Sister Lingdang!" Nai shouted at the gatekeepers of Cui's mansion to help lead the horses, and bowed to invite these people into the mansion.

After a while, a beggar asked the door, "Who is this? What a tall horse and rich clothes!"

The door said: "Our uncle's guest. I heard from Shi Yan that it was the son I met when I was rushing for the exam in the capital last year. He came to Qi to study and visit the Confucian Temple in Qufu." He twisted triumphantly, "Our uncle once He passed the exam, but this one passed the second subject, and still lost his name."

"That is, who can compare with Uncle Cui's family! I don't even look at any family education." The beggar hastily complimented a few words, and then asked, "Where is Uncle Zhou from?"

Menzi said: "How do I know? What are you doing asking about this?"

The beggar said: "I think he is generous. Since the master Juren is a study tour, he must go out for a walk, right? If you know where he is from, go to him and sing a few little songs from his hometown. He will treat me as a fellow countryman and give me a few more The reward is also unknown. Good brother, help me find out?"

Menzi said with a straight face: "Nonsense, don't disturb our uncle's guests." Then he drove him aside.

Zhou Xianggong lived in Cui's house for one night, and moved out the next day.That was Mrs. Cui's private house, it was in Wenji Lane, only two streets away from Cui's residence.When I went there, Cui Ju, the uncle of the Cui family, personally accompanied me to send it off.All the beggars at the door heard Zhou Xianggong complain: "Who named it? Did you want me to dance with the chicken? Although I, Zhou, is the latest riser in the capital, it is probably the latest riser in the whole family... ..."

The big maid named Ling Dang gave her master a sideways look: "My poor master has the face to say so. But hurry up and shut up. Usually you only lose face to us, but now even Uncle Cui's face is also lost." Cui Ju looked at the two of them straight laugh.

In the afternoon, several students who were acquainted with Cui Ju received a post saying that tonight he was going to clean up the dust for his friends from Beijing in Sanyuan Building, and invited a few friends to accompany him.In the post, he praised Zhou Ji Xianggong for his talents, saying that he is "the current Xun Linggong".

Cui Ju wrote the post in the house in Wenji Lane.Jia Cong stood by the case and watched him write word by word without moving his eyelids, and he shuddered unknowingly: "Brother Cui, don't you feel guilty? I and Xun Gong can be the same." Painting style? You compare me to Tang Yin."

"It's not more suitable than Tang Yin." Cui Ju said, "These people are all sensible people, and they all know what kind of talents are most lacking in Qi State today." He said while finishing one sheet, picked up another sheet, and added more ink . "Although the fifth child is missing, the post left behind has the meaning of killing him. Without him, his faction will immediately fall apart. The few who were subdued by Madam Ma two years ago are ready to move. Now every family is looking for talents. .Besides," he pointed to himself with the pen, "although our family doesn't show off, at least we belong to the Cui clan."

Jia Cong glanced at him: "Hey, is your family stuffed by the sons of King Qi?"

Cui Ju had already written a few words, but he sighed and put down his pen: "It was originally." Jia Cong blinked.Cui Ju shook his head, "Not a single decent one. Now two have been withdrawn."

"You've only seen it now?" Jia Cong said proudly, "We've seen it a long time ago."

Cui Ju sighed again: "You have to pick the taller among the short, don't you?"

Jia Cong shrugged: "Why not be honest, if you don't have it, you don't have it. It's all about fire with the emperor's house. God knows if you don't pay attention, you will get burned."

Cui Ju looked at him sideways for a moment, and asked, "What is the prince playing?"

Jia Cong said sharply: "Fire. Gun." Cui Ju was slightly startled, with hesitation on his face.Jia Cong patted him on the shoulder, "Don't worry, we have no intention of annexing Qiguo. You live your life, we live ours, everyone can cooperate."

Cui Ju Nai said seriously: "Your Majesty, the state policies of your Yan Kingdom in the past few years are not bad. I also went to many schools in the capital. It's just that there are few who teach the teachings of saints. If things go on like this, I'm afraid the etiquette will collapse."

"No!" Jia Cong said, "Those who should teach the study of saints should still teach the studies of saints. The number of Confucian scholars in Yan State must have increased compared to before this king took office. You just want to think how many people in Qi State know who they are. You can understand the characters. There is no one in a hundred households whose children can read. Farmers, craftsmen, and servants can’t read. Merchants, monks, and monks are not much better than them. Not to mention women. The whole country of Qi The total number of women who can read may not be as many as the number of students from Tsinghua Girls' School. Yan Guo just let these people read. However, after they can read, they are still farmers, craftsmen and merchants, and they are not going to change their careers to become scholars. They don't need to study the studies of saints. There is a specialization in art."

Cui Ju frowned: "What do they want to know?"

"If an ordinary worker can't read a single big character, how many accountants should be hired in the factory? Regardless of the salary, how many can be found?" Jia Cong said, "The workers can read some characters, and the online statistics can be done by themselves. This is necessary for industrialization. As for why industrialization is needed, Mr. Cui can understand just by looking at how much cheaper prices are in Yan than in Qi."

Cui Ju sighed again, shook his head and said, "I understand what the prince means, but I don't understand what I mean. That's all." Jia Cong shrugged.

Not long after, the post was written and sent out everywhere.When the boys came back, they all said, "A certain gentleman agreed, and he will go tonight."

At dusk, the Sanyuan Building was full of drinkers.Cui Ju reserved a private room upstairs, and went there early to wait for the guests.In just one stick of incense, all the guests arrived—everyone arrived early.Everyone saw that Mr. Zhou Ji from the capital was smiling and very amiable, and his words were humorous and interesting. Gradually, they let go of their restraints and became more relaxed.

Zhou Ji was not good at ordering during the banquet, so he was fined twice in a row.In the third round, Cui Ju booed him to replace it with poems.Zhou Ji didn't refuse, just picked up a pen and wrote:

The blood fertilizes the fertile grass in the Central Plains, and spring plum blossoms grow from the cold ground.

Lian Guangyu's mind is vast, and he hears thunder in a silent place.

These four sentences are all masterpieces of a master surnamed Zhou in later generations, which shocked the whole room, and even Cui Ju praised them in his heart.Everyone clapped their hands together: "Good poem!" "Where did you think of it!" "Mr. Zhou is really a great talent!"

Zhou Ji bowed his hands modestly: "Gentlemen, you've praised me." The eyes of the guests looking at Zhou Ji were different from before.Zhou Ji felt very emotional in his heart: It's not like I didn't show my talent just now.In the eyes of these people, nothing compares to a good poem.

Unknowingly, after four rounds of drinking, everyone was a little slack.Someone tentatively brought up the Fifth Highness and said, "I don't know if it's dead or alive." Cui Ju sighed and shook his head.

Zhou Ji said with the strength of the wine: "The appointment is dead. There are many guards in the prince's mansion. They can enter and steal a big living person. Not only the servant girl who is watching the night doesn't know, even the one who sleeps with him Concubine Ji doesn't even know! How high is this man's martial arts skills? He must be someone like Yinniang Hongxian. These people are all serious, as stubborn as donkeys." Nai patted the case, looked at Cui Ju and shook, "Your brother-in-law, dare to provoke anyone's sister! He doesn't know, hiccup~~ Xia Yiwu violated the ban?"

A scholar asked curiously: "Is there really such a person as Yinniang Hongxian?"

"Yes~~ I know it." Zhou Ji's tongue was a little big, "It's not a woman, but a man. He was an official in his early years. After the world fell apart, that one became cold-hearted and practiced with an old Taoist priest. Although he hasn't It’s too soon to become a monk.” Nai tutted, “You really know how to fly over the roof! He also said that there are many people who know these things, and they are everywhere. My grandma... There are too many! There are still many people on the kang. Can't sleep..."

Cui Ju said with a sullen face: "Brother Zhou, what are you afraid of? You have never offended anyone's sister."

"That's right!" Zhou Ji patted his chest, "My surname is Zhou! I'm upright! I don't touch flowers and mess with grass! What am I afraid of? I'm afraid of ghosts knocking on the door if I have done something wrong!" He slapped On Cui Ju's shoulder, he leaned over with a smile, "Hey little Cui, who did your brother-in-law offend? Does your sister know?"

Cui Ju patted his hand, his face like gold paper: "Brother Zhou drank too much." He raised his head and called the waiter to bring hangover soup.

Zhou Ji also smiled and leaned forward: "Your sister must know! I tell you, women are sensitive. The husband covered the outside with powder to hide the outside room, and the daughter-in-law pretended not to know, but the inside was clear! What? Don’t even try to hide it from them! Xiao Cui, brother, I’m really curious. Who exactly did your brother-in-law provoke to kill you?”

Cui Ju stared at him coldly for a while, but he still smiled.Cui Ju slapped the table and shouted: "Xiaoqi! Your uncle is drunk, come in to serve." But he walked away.

Zhou Ji was still yelling from behind: "Xiao Cui, where are you going? Are you going out? Come back soon after you're done~~"

Just now when Zhou Ji was making trouble, none of Cui Ju's friends who were in the room stepped forward to stop him.At this moment, three of them ran out to comfort and accompany him, while the rest stayed in the house.Just as he was about to talk to Zhou Ji again, this man tilted his body and fell down drunk.