Chapter 2 The Strong Man (Part 6) Li Xu's troubles only lasted one night. The next day, Qin Shubao, Luo Shixin and others who came to congratulate him discovered the "secret" that there was only one person in General Li Lang's family.
"It's true, Mr. Pei, since the house has been given away, why bother with a few servants!" Luo Shixin, while waiting for Li Xu to prepare tea in a hurry, complained softly that these days, the status of domestic slaves is not much higher than that of animals.
It is very common for friends and colleagues to give away a few slaves to each other. After complaining about others' stinginess, Luo Shixin naturally had to be relatively generous. "I happen to have a few skilled servants in my family. If General Li Lang doesn't mind, I will ask the housekeeper to bring them over this afternoon."
!”
"Presumably because General Li is your Majesty's favorite general, Mr. Pei is afraid that his family members will be clumsy. Even if they are sent here, they may not be easy to use!" Qin Shubao smiled and shook his head, stopping Luo Shixin's reckless behavior. In his opinion, the prefect
The reason why your Excellency only sent an empty house instead of a domestic slave is probably not due to negligence. General Li Lang was sent by the imperial court. No one can guarantee whether this person has other tasks besides assisting Zhang Juncheng in suppressing bandits.
And if the local government wants to monitor him, the most convenient way is to place his cronies among his servants or entourage. Anyway, he came alone, and his family is short of helpers.
The old governor Pei Caozhi did not dare to cause misunderstanding. In order to avoid suspicion, he had to pretend to be an old fool.
Luo Shixin was only eighteen years old and had always regarded Qin Shubao as his brother. When doing things, he always listened to Qin Shubao's words only for the other party's boss. He immediately understood that he was doing a disservice with his good intentions. He smiled awkwardly and changed his words: "That's right.
The people in my family are clumsy and may not be to General Li's liking. But living alone in such a big house is indeed a bit empty. I heard that there is a family in Mi Lane who raised their daughter as a cook since she was a child.
, I’m good at making soup, just to be able to climb the high branches of a wealthy family. Anyway, we have nothing to do today, you might as well go out with General Li to find one. If he’s pretty enough, you can also cover up the bed and warm the quilt or something!"
"You are such a lecherous devil. General Li is coming from His Majesty's side. How can you care about the stupid woman in our small place who is Luo Shixin? You won't refuse anyone who comes!" Qin Shubao raised his foot after hearing Luo Shixin's dirty words.
He made a posture ready to kick, laughed and cursed
"Because I have no one in my heart, of course I look around. If someone like Brother Shubao hurts me, who would go around messing around with women!" Luo Shixin retorted while avoiding Qin Shubao's big feet.
"You can't wait to lure the fairy from the sky back home. Of course it's impossible for someone to like you!" In the blink of an eye, Dugu Lin also joined the "battlefield."
"Yes, my eyes are so high that my mother sent people all the way from the capital to ask when we will come home to get married!"
A few people chatted, and after a few casual arguments, they easily bypassed a relatively sensitive topic, and then began to help Li Xu with housework.
"Is General Li Lang not married yet?" Qin Shubao walked up to Li Xu, who was squatting by the charcoal basin making tea and entertaining guests, and asked.
"No, Brother Shubao, just call me Zhongjian!" Li Xu filled half a spoonful of salt into the copper pot that was already making a faint sound, and then replied in a low voice that the copper pot, porcelain bottle, tea cake and silver spoon at hand were all his.
I got up early in the morning and bought it. It just comes in handy now.
What is boiled in the pot is not water, but a kind of life in the ice and snow outside the Great Wall. There is a copper pot boiling on the stove. It is like suddenly discovering an orchid among the jagged rocks. The impression left on people is definitely not only amazing.
In the reminiscences of Su Chuanbu, apart from the part about Tao Kuo taking off her silk, what Xuzi remembers most clearly is that Aunt Qing’s every move while making tea was elegant, natural and generous, which represents a person’s identity and a tradition.
, customs or... Xuzi himself couldn't explain clearly, but he knew that ever since he saw Aunt Qing's skill in making tea, he had a deep understanding of the difference between the Central Plains people and the people outside the Great Wall. He was so obsessed with this feeling,
So much so that I can't hate the cunning and cold-hearted Aunt Qing at all. Although Aunt Qing was one of the culprits who separated him from Tao Kuo.
"Zhong Jian is actually good at this!" Qin Shubao was obviously a knowledgeable person. Seeing Li Xu's meticulous movements, he exclaimed.
"I learned it by accident. It looked interesting, so I painted the gourd and the ladle myself. Not only can I quench my thirst, but I can also relieve my boredom when I am alone." The sound of water in the pot was slightly louder. Li Xu opened the lid of the pot and used another silver spoon.
I skimmed off the fine foam on the water with a spoon and then covered the copper kettle again.
"I didn't expect that General Li Lang, who tasted blood with his sword head, was still an elegant man." Dugu Lin also came over and commented with a smile, "Such an ordinary woman really can't stand in the eyes of Brother Zhongjian!"
"No, I have been in Liaodong since I was fifteen years old and rarely go home, so..." Li Xu smiled and blushed a little. He was not used to being asked about family affairs.
"It turns out that I am following Huo Qubing's example. No wonder there is no one to warm my bed!" Luo Shixin also came forward and squatted next to Li Xu to watch the excitement. At this time, the sound of boiling water in the pot was like falling beads. Li Xu recalled the memory
Then, open the lid of the pot again, use a large copper spoon to scoop out two tablespoons of boiling water, pour it into the prepared magnetic bowl, and then use a bamboo tong to gently stir the water while stirring.
The silver spoon scooped out some tea powder as fine as broken rice from another azure porcelain bottle, and slowly poured it into the boiling water.
The drunkenness flowed throughout the room, and Qin Shubao and Dugu Lin both closed their mouths, fearing to disturb the artistic conception. Luo Shixin could not feel the taste at all, widened his eyes, and asked: "Isn't it just a bowl of water?"
Why, you still have to go to such trouble and wait for you to boil it? The impatient person will die of thirst."
"Shixin, the master personally prepared tea for the guests. This is a gift. If you mess around again, be careful of being kicked out!" Qin Shubao turned his head and glared at Luo Shixin, scolding him in a low voice.
"Trouble, I would rather drink cold water!" Luo Shixin muttered unwillingly
"It's okay, I don't have any wine at home, so I have to treat the guests here." Li Xu was amused by Luo Shixin's naughty appearance and laughed dumbly. He shook his head and explained in a low voice for a while. After the tea was full, he invited everyone to sit down and stood up.
He took the white porcelain tea cup, picked up the pot, and poured half a cup in front of everyone.
The host raised a cup to invite the guests, and the guests returned the favor with a smile. If there was another person in the room who did not know the identity of the four people, they would definitely not be able to associate them with the image of the tiger general on the battlefield. Half a cup of tea was swallowed into the throat, and the relationship between the four people
The relationship immediately became closer. Dugu Lin put down the tea cup, thought about it for a moment, and then asked with a smile: "Brother Zhong Jian is going to take office this time. Didn't he bring any servants with him?"
It’s no wonder that Dugu Lin asked this question. Going thousands of miles away to take office alone was indeed not in line with the norms of Sui Dynasty officialdom. Xu Zi had his own difficulties, but it was difficult to tell a few colleagues whom he had just met. He pondered for a while and explained with a smile:
"Hi! It was a coincidence that I was injured while fighting near Luoyang in the fall, so I left the army and returned home to recuperate. It happened that Your Majesty drove past my house in his car, so I returned south with the imperial court. I planned to return to Xiongwuying to take office.
I didn't find a new follower. Who knew that the imperial court suddenly ordered me to serve in Qi County on the way, so I had to rush here."
"Your Majesty also firmly believes in Ren Youjia, so he won't give you a chance to take a break from your busy schedule!" Qin Shubao smiled and interrupted the rumors about Li Xu. He had heard a little bit about it, but after a few days of contact, he found that the facts and rumors were not at all true.
Not only is this person not as arrogant, domineering, vulgar and savage as rumored, but he is actually a man of real talent and learning. On the contrary, it is clear who is who in the dispute between Li Langjiang and others.
Qin Shubao has been fighting among the county soldiers for more than 20 years, and his life experience is far beyond that of the few young men in front of him. If he thinks about it carefully, he already understands that the emperor ordered Li Xu to come to Qijun to assist Zhang Juncheng, and I am afraid that he wants him to take advantage of the opportunity.
By achieving some military exploits and silencing someone, it can be predicted that this person will soon be promoted to a higher position. In this way, the prefect Pei Caozhi was so polite to him, and gave him credit and a house.
It's not surprising that when he thought of this, Qin Shubao put down the tea cup and suggested in a low voice: "Logically, we shouldn't interfere in Zhongjian's personal affairs, but he is not familiar with this place. He is really too busy to handle all the chores by himself, so why not do it like this?"
Before everyone disperses and goes home, tomorrow I will take you to the military camp to select a few soldiers. In the name of General Li, stand in front of the team and shout. There must be many people who are eager to serve as servants at home.
What..."
"That's not easy to handle. Anyway, we all have nothing to do today, so why not go to the market together? Spring is about to start, and my family also needs to hire a few more laborers. I don't know if there are any leftover goods in the military market, Lao Xu, that guy.
Always quick!" Luo Shixin finally found a chance to interrupt. Before Qin Shubao could finish speaking, he immediately jumped up and started shouting.
"That's fine, but I don't know what Zhong Jian's intention is?" Qin Shubao nodded and turned his eyes to Xu Zi again.
"I'm willing to listen to Brother Shubao's arrangements!" Li Xu nodded and answered with a smile.
"Why don't you go now and buy a few boys, hire a cook, and pay for a housekeeper? Brother Zhongjian doesn't have to go out. It's all covered by the rest of us. It'll be a gift for you to move into your new home." Luo Shixin was the most enthusiastic
, seeing Li Xu agree, he immediately suggested loudly
Xuzi now has a small amount of savings, so naturally he is not willing to ask his colleagues to pay for him to buy slaves. Qin Shubao and others do not agree, and they have to give this gift anyway. The four of them are polite, while riding their horses, talking about it.
He said, before he knew it, he had arrived in the downtown area.
Due to the war in surrounding counties and counties, many people who were originally well-off had to flee. As the only paradise nearby, the streets of Licheng naturally showed a kind of morbid prosperity. Asahi clearly saw the white board in front of a rice shop.
, the astronomical price of twenty-five cents per dou was written on charcoal, and there was an endless stream of people buying rice (Note 1) Thinking about it before she left the country, the price of rice was clearly six cents per dou. Asahi was not only secretly stunned, but also elaborated
If you look closely, the prices of firewood, rice, oil, salt, pots and pans, as long as they are related to daily life, are more than four times what I remembered.
The only thing that is cheap in the whole market is people. Qin Shubao found a dental shop that he knew well and just said he wanted to hire a housekeeper. Countless pairs of eyes were already looking around.
Although the Qin family and the Luo family are not considered to be aristocratic families, they are also one of the most powerful tooth shops in the local area. The shop owner did not dare to neglect. He first invited several military masters to sit down in the inner hall and asked the servants to bring tea.
He bowed his body and asked: "Master Qin is looking for a housekeeper, why don't you ask a domestic servant for advice, instead of hiring a handsome face from outside?"
The housekeeper is the confidant of the master. Ordinary people rarely hire servants of this level. Even if an official takes office in a different place, he will be brought from his hometown or recommended by a friend.
Introducing a well-informed local, but even the prefect avoided suspicion. Qin Shubao, who was sophisticated in the world, certainly did not dare to overstep his authority.
This is the truth, but he said it tactfully. Qin Shubao smiled and replied in a low voice: "This friend of mine, Li Lang, who is famous in the court, is going to Li City on official business. For the time being, he needs an experienced and dignified person to help ordinary people.
, how can you show yourself in front of him!"
"It turned out to be Mr. Li who rode through the enemy's formation on his own that day. The little old man has stupid eyes. He can work as a housekeeper for Zhongyong's house. He can raise his chest by three points when he walks in front of others. If it weren't for his incompetence, the little old man would have to do it.
Close this deceptive shop and deliver it to your door yourself!" The shopkeeper of Yahang is a good person. When he learned that today's customer was Li Xu, he started to pour out flattering words.
"Don't talk nonsense, go find someone who can read and write, can write and do arithmetic, have a reliable person to vouch for it, and look neat. Don't use crooked melons and bad dates to make up the numbers. If your Mr. Li doesn't use it smoothly,
Don't blame Mr. Luo, I came over to demolish your shop!" Luo Shixin disliked him for being talkative, so he tapped the table with his fingers and ordered.
"I know, I know!" the shopkeeper agreed repeatedly and ran to the outer hall to look for qualified candidates among a group of people looking for something to do.
Bandits are rampant in nearby states and counties, causing many people who were originally well-off to leave their homes and go to Licheng to escape the war. The prices in the city are high. These people have spent all their savings and have no choice but to put down their lives and try every means to earn a living. Although the status of a housekeeper is already the same
Although he was a slave, his status was higher than that of ordinary slaves, so after only half a cup of tea, the shopkeeper came in with four middle-aged men in their thirties, wearing long robes and looking upright.
"These are all people from Lu County near us. They are all educated, can settle accounts, and have relatives in the city who can prove that their family backgrounds are innocent and their hands and feet are clean!" The shopkeeper of Yahang lined up the four people and approached Li Xu one by one.
introduce
The four people came from the hometown of Confucius. Although they were down and out, they still had a scholarly atmosphere in their demeanor. The one on the left, whose surname was Zhao, turned out to be the accountant of a jewelry store in Bocheng. This spring, rogues entered the city and the owner's goods were stolen.
After the roll was cleared, the whole family committed suicide by jumping into the river. He then lost his job and had to come to Licheng to seek refuge with relatives and friends.
The second person from the left, surnamed Zhang, is a traveling trader. His goods were robbed by bandits on the way, so he had to live in another country.
The three people from the left are surnamed Zhou. They are honest people who have farmed and studied for generations. They used to have some fields and houses at home. Unfortunately, the fields and houses were too close to the bandit dens. The food they harvested every year was not enough to pay the bandits "buying peace money", so they had to go out.
flee
The last person's surname was Kong, but he was an out-and-out descendant of a saint. Judging from his age, he was only 27 or 28 years old. He probably felt that he was ashamed of his ancestors by selling himself as a slave. After entering the door, he kept his head lowered and did not dare to look at anyone.
How to select people? Li Xu was not there at all. After listening to the shopkeeper's introduction to the backgrounds of the four applicants, he thought about it for a long time, then walked up to the scholar named Kong and asked: "This brother is not old enough."
At thirty? Is there anyone left in the family?"
"No, I dare not be a villain. This villain is twenty-seven this year! All his family members are dead? There is a distant cousin who helps sell boots in Licheng," the boy named Kong stammered.
answer
"This person can't be used!" Before Li Xu could make a decision, Luo Shixin had already stood up and suggested loudly.
Hearing this, everyone was shocked. The disciple named Kong turned red with anger and wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl in. Without waiting for everyone to ask why, Luo Shixin stepped forward, pointed at the disciple named Kong's nose and cursed: "
Grandma, you are only twenty-seven years old, you have hands and feet, and you don’t have a family to support, why not go to the army to gain fame? Isn’t it a waste of your surname to work as a housekeeper for others? "
"No, I don't know how to use force? I don't have enough strength!" The boy named Kong blushed so much that he almost bled, and muttered to defend himself.
"If you don't know martial arts, how can you learn? If you don't have any strength, if you eat enough and run against sandbags every day for three months, you will definitely have strength. People like this have no backbone and can find a good excuse for whatever they do.
He went up to be submissive, but when he turned evil, he was crueler than anyone else! I asked him to be a housekeeper, but he was sold out one day." Luo Shixin pointed at the boy named Kong and scolded him loudly.
In fact, the other party may not be as unbearable as he said, but in the eyes of Luo Shixin, a young hero who joined the army to kill thieves at the age of fourteen, of course everything about him was not good.