Li Qinzai has always maintained a polite but distant attitude towards Zhao Daoyun and his sister.
When it comes to emotional problems among parents of that generation, one is willing to fight and the other is willing to suffer. Naturally, a son has no reason to say anything, and neither approval nor objection is appropriate.
Li Qinzai can only decide his own attitude, lukewarm or hot, salty or light. Before she integrates into the family, it is best not to take her too seriously.
Faced with Li Qinzai's initiative to chat, Zhao Daoyun was obviously a little flattered and said hurriedly: "I'm used to it. People in the mansion are very nice to me. I also learn the rules and etiquette in the academy."
Li Qinzai smiled: "You don't have to be too deliberate in learning the rules. Live your life casually. Over time, people who abide by the rules will naturally understand them. For those who don't abide by the rules, it is useless even if they memorize the rules."
Zhao Daoyun's eyelids twitched and he didn't dare to look up, but he was secretly thinking about the meaning of Li Qinzai's words. He always felt that there was something in his words, which seemed to contain a warning.
"I understand. I will learn the rules well and abide by them. I will not bring shame to the house." Zhao Daoyun said honestly.
Li Qinzai suddenly asked: "Is your brother still working as an errand with the housekeeper?"
Zhao Daoyun nodded: "Yes, he is a bit stupid. I'm afraid he won't be able to stand alone in three or two years."
Li Qinzai smiled: "No problem, let him study hard. The errands in the mansion are not complicated. Pay more attention to how Butler Wu does it. If there is an opportunity in the future, you can let him take care of some of the properties in the mansion."
Zhao Daoyun said gratefully: "Thank you so much, Marquis Li County."
Li Qinzai shook his head: "Don't thank me. As long as you brothers and sisters keep your integrity, I will treat you as family."
Zhao Daoyun humbly agreed.
After chatting for a few words, Li Qinzai turned around and left.
Facing the Zhao Daoyun siblings, Li Qinzai still couldn't let go of his guard. If you only look at the surface, it sounds quite inspiring that the siblings from poor backgrounds have finally become successful through their unremitting efforts.
But Li Qinzai always felt that this story was too simple. The plot, characters, and settings were all so logical. He had learned a few dog-pawing techniques in the court in the past few years. Li Qinzai would not be so naive as to believe anyone and everyone.
thing.
The story is pretty good, but it could be a little more complicated.
…………
After calling Liu Asi and others to the side hall in the front yard, Li Qinzai ordered his servants to prepare more than a dozen sets of linen shirts for ordinary people. After he put them on, he asked Liu Asi and others to put them on as well.
The soldiers performed the steps conscientiously, and Liu Asi couldn't help but ask: "Fifth Young Master, why are we changing these clothes?"
"Go out of the city and look for a few places to visit."
"Why do you need to change clothes?"
Li Qinzai smiled: "How about I write a detailed report and explain it to you?"
Liu Asi said with a sneer: "I don't know how to read, so there's no need for that."
"Then stop talking nonsense and change quickly!"
After everyone changed their clothes, Li Qinzai ordered them to take off their weapons, and then led everyone on horseback out of the city.
Without a clear destination, Li Qinzai and others stopped outside the city gate after leaving Hanguang Gate. Then Li Qinzai took out a map and casually poked at it with his eyes closed.
"Just go here!" Li Qinzai put away the map and galloped away.
Liu Asi and others were stunned. Is this... too casual? What on earth is Fifth Young Master going to do?
The place Li Qinzai was referring to was Jingyang County, which was very close to Chang'an City, about sixty miles away. It took less than two hours to reach there on horseback.
When everyone entered the boundary of Jingyang County, Li Qinzai did not enter the county town, but ran straight towards the farmland outside the city.
After running for more than twenty miles, with freshly sown wheat fields on both sides of the rugged road, Li Qinzai reined in his horse and stopped.
He tied the horse to a tree on the roadside, leaving one member of the tribe to look after the horse. Li Qinzai led the rest of the tribe on foot toward a village not far away.
As he walked, he looked left and right at the newly sown wheat fields. Li Qinzai nodded with satisfaction: "The auspicious snow at the end of last year came early, and there were several rains at the beginning of spring this year. If there are no natural disasters in the middle of the year, this year should be a bumper harvest."
Liu Asi said happily: "I really have to thank God. Last year there was a severe drought, and all the people of Tang Dynasty suffered. If we can have a good harvest this year, we can make up for last year's deficit to some extent, and the farmers can save a few more bushels."
food."
There was no joy on Li Qinzai's face. He just sighed: "Shangguanyi has calculated an account. Even if all the farmland in the Tang Dynasty has a bumper harvest this year, it will still not be enough to repay the deficit of the treasury in the past two years, not to mention that His Majesty has to grant Zen to Mount Tai.
It’s a lot of money, food and labor…”
"If Your Majesty really succeeds in this matter, Datang will not be able to relax for at least five years."
Liu Asi scratched his head and said: "Fifth Young Master, I am a vulgar martial artist who doesn't understand any big principles. The emperor must understand the principles. If the national treasury is really in such a loss, why do we have to go to Mount Tai to be enshrined? How many years can we wait for it?"
Wouldn't it be better to wait until the national treasury is full before we discuss the matter of Feng Chan, then both the government and the public will be happy?"
Li Qinzai smiled bitterly and said: "Yes, you understand the truth, but the emperor doesn't understand..."
Both the left and the right were trustworthy, and Li Qinzai was not afraid of violating taboos when he spoke. He sighed: "The emperor has indeed achieved a lot of achievements in the past two years. Seriously, he is qualified to be granted Zen status. However, the national treasury is empty and the people have no food left. Such a situation
It is indeed inappropriate for the time to declare Zen."
Liu Asi scratched his head and said, "If the emperor doesn't care about any ostentation, it shouldn't cost much to go to Mount Tai in a light carriage and rush back after completing the Zen ceremony, right?"
Li Qinzai glanced at him: "Feng Chan, there have been strict etiquette and laws since ancient times. Without any pomp, Feng Chan will become a joke. Do you think it is your mother-in-law who went back to her parents' home to visit her relatives?"
While chatting, everyone walked to an unknown village.
The village was deserted. When Li Qinzai walked into Zhuangzi, he found that most of the people he saw were old people, women and children, but there were very few young people in the village.
The children gathered in a group, curiously watching Li Qinzai and others approaching, and followed them timidly from a distance. The old people sat at the door of their homes to bask in the sun, their muddy old eyes looking blankly at the green wheat fields in the distance.
It was as if I was immersed in half a lifetime of miserable memories.
Li Qinzai walked to the east side of the village and randomly found a farmer's house. This farmer looked very poor. The wooden house was in disrepair and was dilapidated everywhere. The fence outside the yard was also sparse and had collapsed.
Even so, Li Qinzai still stood outside the simple fence and called politely towards the house.
An old man staggered out of the house, hunched over and slowly opened the door, trying hard to look at Li Qinzai and his party with his eyes wide open.
Li Qinzai smiled politely at the old man: "My father-in-law, the boy and others were passing by here. They are a little thirsty and want to ask me for a bowl of water. Is it convenient for me?"
The old man shouted, showing his warm side as a Guanzhong person, and led Li Qinzai and others into the yard. Not long after, the old man came out with a trembling big pottery pot and several pottery bowls.