Zhou Dutou made a silent gesture and said softly: "There is no Aunt Song. When I wrote the letter, I didn't know about Master Chen taking concubines at all. Mrs. Chen also begged Colonel Tiqi to let her go.

"

"How is this possible?"

"How is this impossible?" Zhou Du glared at him and lowered his voice: "With a hundred taels of silver, anything is possible!

She is a civilian, neither prostituted nor a slave, and even Fan Taizun helped cover it up. The captains are happy to collect money, so what are they talking about?"

"One hundred taels?" Li Dan felt incredible.

"Well, one hundred taels... two people!" Zhou Du held out two fingers.

"You mean...?"

"I didn't say anything!" Zhou Dutou immediately retracted his fingers, put his hands in his hands and smiled and stopped talking.

Li Dan was about to continue asking when he suddenly saw a servant running and looking around. He happened to recognize this person, so he called out: "Brother Yu Qi, who are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for..." Na Yu Qiluo glanced at him and said, "Hey, Zhou Dutou, Li Sanlang, it just so happens that you are both here!"

The two of them were stunned and looked at each other. Yu Qi had already run into the tea shop and smiled, reaching out to Li Dan to ask for a reward.

"Making trouble! I'm just sitting here eating tea, why do you reward me?" Li Dan was confused.

"As you know, Sanlang, a good teacher, a courier has just arrived at the post house to deliver the great news. The prince of your family entered high school in the spring, and now he is a master of education! Shouldn't this news be rewarded?"

After Yu Qicai finished speaking, Li Dan had already jumped up: "What did you say, my eldest brother won the lottery? Is it true?"

"The good news is at the county government office. I guess Grand Master Chen Guang has already gone to announce the good news with someone beating the gong to clear the way. I came here specifically to inform everyone, but I didn't expect to be lucky enough to meet you both here...!"

Li Dan could no longer sit still and was about to run out in a hurry. Then he turned back and pulled out a cowhide sheathed dagger from his boot and threw it to Yu Qi, saying: "I'll reward you!"

He slapped a handful of silver coins on the counter and said he was paying for all the customers in the store, and then ran home happily.

When Na Yu Qi saw him giving her a dagger, she was not happy. Suddenly she saw what seemed to be several gems shining on the handle, so she quickly put it into her sleeve with a smile on her face.

"Good news, Titang official reports that your brother-in-law, "Li", has a golden name of "Zhu", high school, Jiazike Jiangxi Provincial Examination, and the 18th place in the Chinese style examination!"

When Li Dan ran to the door of his house, there were already crowds of people from three floors inside and three floors outside.

Someone chanted loudly, and after reciting, several hands handed the good news up, and soon it was posted on the top of the door.

Then the drumming started and firecrackers (firecrackers) were set off.

The butler Li Pu stood at the gate with a smile on his face and directed the two servants to throw the wedding money, which caused a commotion and cheers from the crowd.

Li Dan was happy when he saw it. He turned around and ran to the money shop on the street. He took out two regular banknotes and exchanged them for a bunch of copper coins. He scattered them as he walked, attracting a large group of children to follow him.

In front of the door.

Li Dan threw out all the remaining money in the basket and took advantage of the crowd to jump into the door.

He asked Li Pu with a smile: "Has Third Uncle come back? I rushed back to report the news, but I didn't expect it to be a step too late."

"The third master has not returned yet, but he has already heard about it on the road, and sent Lu Ning'er to ride a donkey back first, saying that he would arrive home tonight. The third grandma was convinced and couldn't stop crying in the back hall, and the eldest grandma and the second grandma

Grandma is trying to persuade me."

Li Pu's elders were brothers of the common branch with Li Dan's grandfather, so they were also considered elders. Seeing that there was another civil servant among the younger generation, he was filled with tears of joy.

After Li Dan heard this, he hurried to the back hall. As soon as he walked around the door, he saw the girls and women gathered outside the hall and were chattering. He didn't care about it, so he walked around the east corridor and went straight in.

"Hey, are you all here? Second brother, fourth brother, congratulations to the eldest brother for high school!" When he entered, he congratulated brothers Li Jin and Li Qin first, because they and the eldest brother Li Zhu are the sons of third uncle Li Yan.

Li Zhu was the biological son of his third grandmother, Shu, and Li Jin and Li Qin were the children of Li Yan's concubine, Cui.

Li Jin won the prize, but Li Jin and Yourong looked reserved, nodded with their hands behind their backs, and said with a smile: "Brother's success is just as I expected. With his talent, I think it is possible for him to go one step further."

"Oh? The fourth brother could actually guess that the eldest brother won the exam? So, fourth brother, who is more powerful, you or the eldest brother?"

Honest people kill people. Li Qin's serious question made Li Dan and Li Shuo suppress their laughter and turn their heads.

Li Jin didn't know how to answer, and faced his brother's expectant gaze and couldn't help but say, "Is Wen Wu the best? Who is more powerful?"

My eldest brother, who is several years older than me, naturally has a deep understanding of the words of saints. If you look at me, when I was as old as my eldest brother, I would have been on the top list of high school and wanted to be asked by the Golden Palace."

"Fourth brother, I heard that the emperor is very majestic with a height of nine feet. In the past, there were new scholars who were trembling in the hall and could not answer." Li Shuo touched Li Qin's shoulder and said.

"Amitabha, fortunately my father asked me to practice martial arts, so I can avoid such sins!" Li Qin shook his head.

Li Yan believed that his family should be both civilized and martial. His youngest son, Li Qin, was honest and strong, so he trained him as a martial artist from a young age and learned riding and shooting skills from two masters.

It is precisely for this reason that he is the closest to Li Dan among the three brothers of Sanfang.

"Hey, look at your courage!" Li Jin looked down upon this "vulgar warrior" younger brother: "It's natural for the emperor to be majestic, but there's no need to be scared like this!

As a minister, you must fulfill your duties loyally, be bold in admonishing, and be forthright in giving advice. If you are like you, how can you deal with state affairs and share your worries for the king?"

Li Dan didn't want to mess around with his brothers, so he excused himself and went into the back room to pay his respects.

When I entered the house, I saw that the room was full of people. The eldest lady Dou made an exception today and asked the third grandmother Shu to sit in the middle and was wiping her tears with a handkerchief.

Behind her stood the elder's three daughters, Fu, Lu and Shou, followed by the elder's two aunts, Su and Wen.

Li Dan first greeted his mother and then his two aunts.

Mother Gao smiled brightly and asked people to move Zhang Xiudun to sit on her. She said with a smile: "Look, today the eldest son was elected, and even the sanlang has behaved a lot better!" This made everyone cover their mouths and chuckle.

Li Dan blushed and said, "Mom, I don't know how lively it is outside. People grabbing lucky money are standing all over the alley, and my son is throwing a dustpan in front of the door himself!"

"Oh, Dalang is such a good boy! It's a pity that the eldest son is not so blessed!" Mrs. Dou pouted enviously as she spoke, while the two concubines behind her, Mrs. Su and Mrs. Wen, hurriedly lowered their heads.

"Sister-in-law, don't worry, both sisters are young, maybe..."

Suddenly, Mrs. Gao realized that it was inappropriate for Li Dan to speak like this, so she quickly changed her words and said to him: "By the way, your third uncle came back with a message, saying that he planned to entertain guests at Hongyan Tower tonight.

When you first came in, we were saying that this seemed inappropriate. Auntie's intention was to set up a few tables at home. What do you think, Sanlang? "

"Uh, what do you think, second brother?"

"He has the style of a celebrity and will be a prime minister in the future. He is not willing to bother with such trivial matters!"

Shu curled his lips, looking disdainful, and whispered: "It's not bragging, he only wants to be better than his elder brother, and I don't think he can do it in this life.

Really, look at his style and magnanimity, how can he compare to him?"

Seeing everyone's embarrassment, Mr. Gao hurriedly waved his hands: "Sanlang, what do you want to ask me? What happened at Hongyan Tower...?"

"Mom, I think what the eldest aunt said is really wise. Nowadays, it is not appropriate to make public the national mourning. The case of the Chen family is right in front of us, and Tiqi is still in the county.

At this time, even though my eldest brother is in high school, the most we can do is set off a couple of firecrackers and throw some money to celebrate, which is understandable.

But if we want to further book a restaurant and hold a big banquet, I'm afraid it will be over. The child thought that the third uncle was temporarily happy and might have forgotten this problem.

If you really want to celebrate or have a banquet, why don't I go to Hongyan Tower and invite his chef to his house.

Let’s just set up a few tables in the front hall, serve some fresh wine, don’t hang any red lights, and do it quietly without raising any lights. What do you think?”

After hearing this, the three people above exchanged glances with each other, and Mrs. Dou nodded: "I think it's okay. Now is a special period. If good things turn into bad things, it would be boring."

"Okay, then please ask Sanlang to go and I will go and clarify things with your third uncle." Mrs. Shu then agreed: "Just make an agreement with Hongyan Tower and invite them to come to my place to settle the settlement later."

"Hey, how can I ask you to spend money? This is a big event for the whole family, and my second grandma and I will each contribute a share!" Mrs. Dou said quickly.

"It's getting late, so Hongyan Tower must seize the time to purchase and prepare. I won't bother you anymore, and I will go out to do things."

The house was full of women. Li Dan asked about the number of people, the number of tables in the front and back halls, the time of day, etc., so he didn't want to stay any longer and got up to say goodbye to his mother and two aunts.

He went out and closed the door. Behind him, Mrs. Wen smiled and said, "You see, Sanlang is actually very good at doing things."

"He's pretty good when he's not making trouble and getting into trouble. He can't be stopped even if his temper comes up.

Or why does the uncle always say that he is a monkey, just like Sun Xingzhe who studied in the Western Heaven?" Gao's words made the whole room laugh.

I heard that a banquet was going to be held at home in the evening, and the three brothers in the outer room were also very happy. Li Jin, holding his status as a scholar, was still there shaking his fan and being reserved, while his two younger brothers clamored to go to Hongyan Tower with Li Dan.

But Li Shuo couldn't go, because the Gao family's ban on him had not been lifted yet, so he could only watch helplessly as Li Qin went to his mother to beg for mercy, then happily came out and took Li Dan outside like a little bird. .

"Fourth brother, you go to the gate and wait for me first. I'll go say hello to my aunt." Li Dan said to Li Qin and turned around to go home first.

In front of the door, I saw Daniel and Zhen'er gesticulating and describing the lively scene in front of the door, including which family had sent a duck, and which family had come to hand over the 200-dollar congratulatory gift.

Zhen'er saw Li Dan first and rushed to greet him. "Daniu, there is a banquet at home tonight. You can eat before you go back and say hello to your uncle!"

Daniel agreed and happily went to find Ma Jiu. Then Li Dan asked his aunt what she was doing. Zhen'er told him: "Looking through the cabinet in the east room, what are you looking for?"

Li Dan entered the house and Xiao Qian was walking out. Mother and son almost bumped into each other.

"Sanlang is back? Just in time, you can run over for me and give this to the third grandma, saying it is a gift from me." Xiao Qian said, handing over a small bag wrapped in a satin handkerchief.

Li Dan took it in his hand and felt it was a little heavy, so he quickly opened it and looked inside. What he saw inside were five shiny pieces of rich money and two strings of red silk bracelets, with three small golden bells hanging on each bracelet.

"Isn't this something I wore when I was a kid? What's the origin of this money? It looks very heavy." He picked up the money, weighed it and said.

"This is not ordinary money." Xiao Qian pursed his lips and smiled: "This thing was made by the former imperial master Totuo Timur, and a total of six thousand coins were minted.

The Nanyang purple-gold copper used is coated with gold and is specially used to reward meritorious service. After a hundred years, there are probably less than a hundred pieces in the world today, so it is extremely precious, and one piece is worth one or two gold!

If you give it to Third Grandma, just say it's my heart and ask her to take more care of her in the future." After that, he smiled and said, "Do you remember that bracelet?

After your father died, I took it off for you and put it away. Now my brother is too old to wear it.

The day before yesterday, I heard my third grandma quietly tell me that your sister-in-law is not feeling well. I wonder if she is expecting another baby?
To be continued...