On the day of Yin Darong's funeral, it snowed heavily in Bachuan River.
Between the sky and the earth, there is a vast expanse of white, except for the winding and endless funeral procession.
The coffin is lowered into the ground and the sacrifice is completed.
A vegetarian meal was held in the Weiwei Courtyard of Bachuan Villa, and Zhou Jun took the place of the bereaved head of the family and entertained a group of neighbors and friends who were paying their respects.
Zhou Jun, who was dressed in mourning clothes, kept busy until late at night, and then it came to an end.
Sitting in the side hall, Zhou Jun rubbed his forehead and felt sore all over.
Huayue walked into the hall, looked at Zhou Jun who looked tired, and said softly: "The steward of the Yin family is still waiting outside the door."
Zhou Jun: "Let him come in."
Yin An, who was over fifty years old, stepped into the door and bowed to Zhou Jun: "My master..."
Although he only said a greeting, Zhou Jun knew what Yin An was worried about.
Zhou Jun: "From now on, everything will be business as usual."
When Yin An heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief, said yes, stood up and exited the side hall.
Not long after, Xiao Qingchan walked in again holding the account book.
She first put the account book on the desk, then took one from the middle, handed it to Zhou Jun's hand, and said: "The property under Yin Gong's name has been counted in the Kan book. Please take a look at it."
Zhou Jun opened it and read it. Yin Gong once served as a regular servant, and he had land, shops, and houses in his name. If it were converted into money and silk, it would be a big deal.
Zhou Jun only glanced at it twice, closed the page without interest, and said to Hua Yue and Xiao Qingchan: "You guys can move here from Waiyuan."
Xiao Qingchan bowed and said yes.
Hua Yue was a little helpless: "Although there are many people in the outer garden, it is also lively. The Zhongyuan is too quiet."
Zhou Jun shook his head and smiled: "Don't remove the original courtyard. You can still go there to meet old friends on weekdays."
Huayue nodded.
Looking at the snowflakes falling more and more outside the window, Zhou Jun said quietly: "Tianbao's six years have been eventful."
The cold winter is finally over.
It's early March, the water in the lakes and rivers is warm, and the grass is getting longer.
On this day, in front of Yin Darong's tomb, Fan Jinian first placed offerings, then burned paper money, and finally sighed: "When our family used to work under Yin Gong, we often heard him say that it comes like wind and rain and goes like dust."
Zhou Jun accompanied him and said softly: "Yin Gong left peacefully."
Fan Jinian sighed after hearing this: "That's good, that's good."
The two left the cemetery and followed the path to Bachuan Market.
After entering the theater on Zhongjie, a new batch of palace officials who had been sent to Bachuan lined up to enter the theater as before to handle the market deed and registration.
Fan Jinian looked at the group of palace people and said to Zhou Jun: "Including today's, half of the palace people sent by Chang'an this year have entered Bachuan, totaling nearly 600. Is Erlang worried?"
Zhou Jun: "Money, food and expenses are no problem, the only trouble is shelter. It's freezing cold, plus the New Year holiday, so the construction schedule is a little behind. Fortunately, now that spring is starting, the temperature is getting warmer, and the construction schedule should be back in time."
Quite a few.”
Fan Jinian nodded and continued to move forward.
After leaving the middle street, the two came to the connecting bridge, and saw craftsmen and laborers working everywhere on the creek island on the other side. They were beating wooden beams, mixing ashes with earth and stones, and the construction process was non-stop.
Fan Jinian saw that many small buildings and courtyards were already taking shape, and he couldn't help but sigh that Bachuan was changing so fast.
Zhou Jun said: "In less than half a year, more than two hundred small buildings with eaves will be built on Bachuan Xizhou. In addition, there are Buddhist temples, Taoist temples, markets, mountain roads, Yunting and other buildings."
Fan Jinian felt reassured and said to Zhou Jun: "Our family once boasted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, saying that since Zhou Lang accepted the job, he would definitely not break his promise. Having said that, thousands of people came to Haikou in such a short time.
Our family was once unsure about settling down here. But now that we have seen it, we are overly worried."
Zhou Jun took advantage of this opportunity and said to Fan Jinian: "Mr. Fan, Jun has a maid named Xiao Qingchan."
When Fan Jinian heard the name, he recalled for a moment and asked: "Xiao Qingchan...is the eldest lady of the family who was the main culprit in the Ministry of War fraud case?"
Zhou Jun: "Yes, that servant girl has been serving and doing her best since she joined the Zhou family. Jun would like to ask her family in Chang'an to let her go."
Fan Jinian first glanced at Zhou Jun, then said with a smile: "If Erlang can speak, the Xiao family girl must have some ability to serve others."
When Zhou Jun heard this, he knew that Fan Jinian was probably thinking wrongly, but he didn't make too many excuses.
Fan Jinian: "If our memory is correct, some of Xiao's daughter's family members in Chang'an are in Sinong Temple, and others are in Jiaofang. Please let the official maids in Sinong Temple be your private maids. This is easy to handle. We
Just go home and say hello. As for the Jiaofang..."
Zhou Jun cupped his hands and said: "Liyuan Jiaofang is under the rule of a saint, so Jun naturally does not dare to bother. He just asks Sinong Temple to release him."
Fan Jinian agreed immediately: "Okay, since Erlang said it, our family will go to Sinong Temple to show our favor."
When Zhou Jun heard this, he cupped his hands and said, "Jun thanks Mr. Fan."
After seeing off Fan Jinian, Zhou Jun returned to the middle street and went to the back alley.
In the back alley are the residences of the palace residents, which are divided into several areas according to their different functions and occupations.
Zhou Jun went to the residence of Shangfu Palace and found Granny Peng and her former colleagues.
Sitting on the crescent moon stool in the back hall, Zhou Jun first asked Granny Peng and the palace servants who were standing in front of him: "How are the food and accommodation expenses?"
Peng Po bowed and said: "Everything is ready, it's even better than in the palace."
Zhou Jun nodded slightly.
Granny Peng: "Isn't it true that Mr. Zhou came to see me just to ask about this matter?"
Zhou Jun no longer planned to beat around the bush and said bluntly: "In a few days, I will go back to Liangzhou to serve, and I plan to take you with me."
When Peng Po heard this, she showed no surprise or resistance and said to Zhou Jun: "But it depends on Zhou Jun's arrangement."
Zhou Jun was a little surprised: "What are you not going to ask?"
Po Peng: "I have always heard that Zhou Yilang is very thoughtful. It is useless to ask more questions."
Zhou Jun glanced at Granny Peng, then stood up and left the back alley.
After a few days, Zhou Jun, who had packed everything, first went to say goodbye to Pang Gong and Yuping, and then returned to Caiweiyuan, planning to embark on a journey back to Liangzhou.
Huayue helped Zhou Jun check his luggage and documents, while Xiao Qingchan helped pack clothes, shoes, hats, expenses and other items.
In the middle of cleaning up, Xiao Qingchan secretly glanced at Zhou Jun beside her. She couldn't hold back the sorrow in her heart, her eyes were red, and she could only bury her head deeply to prevent others from seeing her.
With the help of Hua Yue, Zhou Jun carefully counted the keepsakes and documents belonging to Yan Qi's ancestors. After confirming that there were no errors or omissions, he began to pack the boxes.
After doing all this, Zhou Jun ordered people to carry their luggage onto the cart and took over the reins of the horse.
Seeing this, Hua Yue also brought his own horse and said to Zhou Jun, "I'll see you off."
The motorcade left Bachuan Villa and followed the long street towards the official road.
On the way, Hua Yue looked at Zhou Jun, but stopped talking.
Zhou Jun asked: "Want to go to Liangzhou with me?"
Hua Yue was startled, hesitated for a moment, nodded first, and then said: "I have stayed in Chang'an for a long time, and it is boring... Although Hua Yue wants to go with Erlang, she also knows that I can only help if I stay in Bachuan.
I’ll be more busy with you.”
Zhou Jun turned to look into Hua Yue's eyes, smiled and said, "Let me make a promise with you."
Huayue: "Promise?"
Zhou Jun: "When I return to Chang'an this year, if I have to go out to work again, no matter where I am in the world, you will go with me."
Huayue opened her eyes wide and said quickly: "Is it a deal?"
Zhou Jun: "I will never break my promise."
When the motorcade reached the official road, Zhou Jung just wanted to say goodbye to Hua Yue and headed north, when something appeared in his sight, causing him to rein in his horse.
It was an inconspicuous carriage, parked on the side of the official road, with more than a dozen knights guarding it.
The curtain of the carriage was opened, and a familiar female face appeared in Zhou Jun's sight.
Zhou Jun hesitated for a while, and finally moved in the direction of the carriage and took out the silver ball sachet with flower and bird patterns from his arms.
When the woman saw the sachet, she burst into tears, put her right hand on her heart, and nodded gently.
Zhou Jun sighed softly, withdrew his gaze, looked north, and shouted to the convoy: "Let's go!"
This chapter has been completed!