Chapter 270 Clothes are not as good as new, people are not as good as old
"Who wakes up from a big dream first? I know myself in my life. I take a nap in the summer in the plum house, and the sun goes late outside the window... It's interesting."
Beside the window sill of the study, the little girl with plum blossom makeup leaned her upper body into the room and nodded, her pretty face thoughtful.
"Bao'er, come back soon. You can't enter Lianghan's nephew's study without permission. It would be bad if he comes back and sees it. We are guests, so we must not lose the etiquette of visiting the house."
From behind Li Guo'er, Li Xian's serious voice came.
"I didn't enter the house. He opened the window by himself. It's reasonable to pass by and take a look."
Li Guo'er leaned almost all of his upper body into the window and looked at a piece of calligraphy on Ouyang Rong's desk. Under the veil, his pink lips parted slightly and he said this.
At this moment, feeling the gazes coming from behind her, the little girl with plum blossom makeup turned around lightly and jumped down, lowered her dark eyebrows, and murmured in a low voice:
"Okay. My father and mother have been talking about Ouyang Lianghan lately. He is closer than his own son. My daughter and my brother are strangers."
"Mei, Lianghan has been ignoring us. Maybe it's because we have been rude in the past. I also think my father is right. Let's wait outside. Don't be rude."
Li Dalang interrupted sadly.
Li Guo'er: "..."
Okay, okay, you are like this too, right?
The little girl who has already deeply experienced the feeling of being an "outsider" before she got married said unhappily:
"What if he did it on purpose? Now I don't know where he is taking Xie's sister to live happily outside, and he deliberately hangs us.
"Humph, it's not that hard to get a visit to the thatched cottage. There's no shade in the yard. What if you get a heatstroke in such a strong sun? Just wait."
With a straight face, Li Guoer turned around and left the Meilin courtyard.
When everyone in the courtyard saw this, they hesitated to speak and looked troubled.
But after a while, the figure of the veiled little girl appeared at the entrance of the hospital again.
Li Bao'er returned with the maids' colorful ribbons and a parasol in each hand.
She walked forward and angrily handed an umbrella to Li Dalang who was next to Li Xian. She silently held up a parasol herself and stood next to Wei Mei to protect themselves from the sun.
Li Xian turned his head and smiled happily, while Li Baoer looked away and did not look at them.
In the hot summer, Meilin Courtyard.
Under the sun at noon, four people from home stood in the courtyard, sweat dripping from their temples, silently waiting for someone.
In front of the four people, there is a food box each. The food box is sealed, and there is a faint air of ice mist coming out of it, which seems to be a delicious cool thing to relieve the heat.
However, the four Lijia people who were sweating from waiting did not move at all.
Instead, they were carefully protected, and people were sent to the cellar from time to time to fetch new ice.
Seeing this, all the maids and slaves from Meiluyuan around wanted to come forward to help, but they were all turned away.
At a certain moment, Li Xian wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeves, looked up at the scorching sun, and couldn't help but sigh:
"Hey, Liang Hanxian's nephew was busy with official duties a few days ago, which is normal. But today is a holiday, so why aren't you at home? Is it because the county government has something urgent?"
This middle-aged scribe, who is "quite a wealthy man," has a sad face.
For ten consecutive days, Li Xian warmly invited Ouyang Rong to have dinner at Li Mansion every day. Later, he and his wife Wei Mei even came over in person every day, sometimes even waiting for most of the day.
Unfortunately, every time he was declined by a certain young county magistrate with excuses.
Obviously there are no maids or servants to take care of Meiluyuan at the moment, so Ouyang Rong's daily necessities are handled by one person.
But he just didn't want to go to Li's house next door, where he was well-dressed, well-dressed, and given warm hospitality.
The Meilin path that connects the Meilin courtyard to the back house of Lifu through a shortcut has been trampled by an endless stream of people from Lifu these days, making it as clean as new and no longer deserted.
It's a pity that the falling flowers are intentional, while the flowing water seems to be ruthless.
Ouyang Rong was polite and courteous every time, but he refused to leave the house.
During these days of Li Xian, the white hair on my forehead has become more visible to the naked eye.
Today, they found out that it was the county government's holiday.
I also heard from Lady Xie that Ouyang Rong should be resting at home. Lady Xie went over to look for him in the morning.
But just after early morning, in the early morning, Li Xian, Li Dalang, Li Baoer, and Wei Mei each prepared a delicacy to relieve the heat and hurried over.
Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang were nowhere to be seen and their whereabouts were unknown.
In fact, what Li Guo'er said is right, it has never been so difficult to invite someone to the thatched cottage three times...
What's more, no matter how bad they are, they are still members of the Li family.
Although he was demoted to a poor position, his status as a descendant of Emperor Taizong was still a golden sign in this era when the imperial examination had just started and people still attached great importance to family status and bloodline.
There is a saying that Emperor Taizong was really wise and earned his reputation as a hero. No matter what Ouyang Lianghan said, he also relied on the imperial examination to become an official.
In terms of blessings that people in the past valued, a gentleman's fortune can only be cut down in five generations, but it is far less than five generations now. Including the Ouyang family of Nanlong, where Ouyang Lianghan was born, and other poor families in the world, they have also inherited the blessings of Taizong.
According to secular requirements, Taizong's descendants must be treated with some courtesy and respect.
This is probably why Li Guo'er, who has always been proud and aloof, felt a little unhappy just waiting in the yard under the poisonous sun.
However, Li Xian, Li Dalang and Wei Mei who were with her were not unhappy at all.
Instead, I reflected on myself to see if I had done anything wrong, and waited with caution and humility.
"Qi Lang, please relax, it may be that Liang Han's nephew has something unexpected to deal with."
Wei Mei patted the back of her husband's hand, who looked frightened, and said comfortingly:
"After so many years of hardship, I have passed, and now I still feel that my nephew Liang Han is a person who pays attention to things and has clear principles. Many things happen for a reason."
Hearing this, Li Guo'er pursed her lower lip, lowered her eyes and quietly reflected on whether she had offended Ouyang Lianghan before.
Is it okay to quarrel with his junior sister often? But Sister Xie doesn’t look like a snitch...
"Father, mother, I went out to look for Lianghan."
Li Dalang suddenly spoke, stood up and said:
"You guys rest here, my sister, take care of your father and mother, and be careful of heatstroke."
The old man who left home handed the umbrella to the maid, picked up a food box, turned and left the Meilin courtyard.
Li Guo'er raised her heels, but was politely rejected by him.
Everyone in the courtyard couldn't help but watch him walk away.
Li Dalang carried the food box and went to the Longcheng County government office immediately. When he found no one there, he looked around, turned and walked towards the outskirts of the city.
Along the way, Li Dalang was surprised to find that everything in the county had become a little different.
Compared with the county town where the Liu family still existed before the Broken Wing Canal was opened, Longcheng County at this moment is full of vitality.
Many closed shops have reopened and abandoned buildings affected by the flood are being rebuilt.
The sword shop, farmland, house, and Liu family's property on the west bank were all taken back to the county government, either auctioned off, or returned to the people who had been robbed.
The Liu family, which has always been the largest landowner in Longcheng, took back all the thousand acres of fertile land owned by the county government.
Along the way from Dalang, I saw many county clerks on the streets, going from house to house to register fields and create new records.
Without the leader of the big landowner Liu family, the other squires were obedient and honest, and cooperated with the county government's land equalization law census.
The county government, which has regained its reserve of fertile land, seems to be reviving the land equalization method and allocating land to new households.
If this kind of "reform" were implemented in the past, the obstacles and backlash would have been enough to make a county magistrate easily resign.
But now, in front of the young county magistrate who has brought down Liu's prestige and the hearts of the people in the city, he is like a chicken and a dog, tearing down and rebuilding, easy but not easy.
People on the street talk about it.
Everything is thriving.
Arriving outside the city, Li Dalang saw that the twenty-four disaster relief camps had been completely dismantled.
Also, the people in the city no longer have to worry about floods. A broken-wing canal has completely changed Longcheng County's internal problems for thousands of years and made up for its shortcomings.
This change in the situation and status of this county in Jiangzhou is simply inestimable.
The change that is most easily visible to the naked eye is that there are many more strangers inside and outside the county.
They are all businessmen and tourists from other places.
The original Butterfly Creek and a Penglang Ferry could not carry such a large passenger flow.
If Li Dalang guessed correctly, they should have poured into the county town in large numbers from the new ferry at Zheyi Canal outside the city.
Butterfly Creek is located between Yunmeng Daze and the Yangtze River. It is the only passage, but it was previously winding and difficult to pass.
The current Zheyi Canal is not only a water conservancy construction to eliminate flooding.
Invisibly, it has become a shortcut for water transportation.
Intercepting part of the passenger flow of the huge Yangtze River.
For a small, remote county in the middle of barren mountains and rivers, the business dividends this brings are immeasurable.
The word prosperity is appearing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
And now, the new canal is built, but the new ferries at both ends of the new canal, which contain huge business opportunities, have not yet been completely built.
Longcheng County Government, together with Wang Caozhi and a dozen other large grain merchants, are eager to pour huge amounts of money into it to start construction.
It is estimated that Wang Caozhi and other grain merchants who invested in the stock never thought that the folding-wing canal that Ouyang Rong urged to build would have such good results after it was completed and put into operation.
It's not an exaggeration, it's even an understatement.
No, everything you said is true. Are you trying to make a fool of yourself?
The establishment of the new ferry created a large demand for workers and stone materials, stimulating the economy of the nearest county, Longcheng County.
Li Dalang even saw many young and strong people from the surrounding counties coming to seek a living.
Inside and outside the county town, everything was in full swing.
This is the most intuitive feeling when traveling all the way out of the city.
"The merit lies in the present, and the benefit lies in the future... A good man is a true national scholar." Li Dalang muttered.
He looked at the folded-wing canal in the distance, as if he was infected, and he couldn't help but feel more energetic.
This Broken Wing Canal, like a powerful plan with minimal side effects, will definitely bring new prosperity to Longcheng County.
Li Dalang felt from the bottom of his heart that Liang Han's achievements in flood control could not be overstated.
Only by seeing it with your own eyes can you know what it means to change the world.
These vibrant grassroots scenes can only be witnessed by walking out of the prosperous and quiet Luming Street.
Li Dalang, who had not been out for a long time, sighed:
"It turns out that Lianghan leaves early and comes back late recently because he is busy with these important things. Perhaps, in Lianghan's eyes, these current things are more meaningful than the rise and fall of our family and the private plans of our family. No wonder he postpones it.
"
He was holding the food box in his hand and making guesses, looking both happy and sad.
But for some reason, such speculation and explanation would obviously make people feel slighted and ignored, but Li Dalang felt happy for no reason.
Li Dalang looked around and suddenly wanted to see Lianghan more and more.
Where will he go on holiday?
Li Dalang looked thoughtful. On the way, he was unfamiliar with the place and honestly asked passers-by for directions. Half an hour later, he took the lead in arriving at the residence of Liu Ashan's family on the outskirts of the city.
Walking into a simple-feeling house, Li Dalang saw Ah Qing, a slender and pitiful figure, and Liu Mu, who was lying in bed and unconscious.
In addition, he also saw a strange young civilian woman, dressed in mourning clothes, taking good care of the old woman at the bedside. She seemed to be Ashan's widow.
Li Dalang came forward and expressed his condolences and greetings.
Ah Qing hurriedly entertained him, but here, Li Dalang did not see the figure of Ouyang Rong as he had guessed.
"Brother Lianghan isn't here?" he asked.
"Master has never been here." She lowered her head and replied.
Li Dalang noticed that this girl Ah Qing had a somewhat complicated look in her big, delicate eyes.
Li Dalang was about to say goodbye and leave. As soon as he reached the door, he was stunned when he saw Yan Liulang and others dressed in casual clothes.
The latter was immersed in leading a group of men, carrying or carrying medicinal materials, rice bags, furniture and other items into the hospital. Behind them was an elderly doctor with a serious expression, carrying a small medicine box on his back.
After Yan Liulang approached, he noticed Li Dalang's figure, raised his head and asked curiously:
"Why is Dalang here? Are you here to visit Ah Qing?"
Li Dalang nodded and couldn't help but ask: "Does Liu Lang know where Brother Lianghan is?"
Yan Liulang was silent for a moment and glanced at A Qing's house behind Li Dalang.
"Wait a moment, Dalang. I've settled here and then I'll take you there."
Li Dalang nodded and waited patiently. During this period, he looked back curiously.
Inside the house, a group of blue-robed police officers were seen, putting down all kinds of daily necessities that were sent to them while Ah Qing waved his hands anxiously to refuse them.
They went to the hospital bed to visit Mother Liu, and introduced the doctor they had brought with them. They then spoke a few words in a gentle voice to Ah Qing, who lowered his head and wiped away tears, and then slowly left, leaving two people behind to take care of him.
"Let's go. If nothing else, the Ming Mansion should be there."
Yan Liulang passed by Li Dalang and led the way.
"Where?" Li Dalang glanced back in the direction of Xinqu, curiously: "Isn't it over there at Zheyi Canal? There is no one here, and I am planning to go there to find him."
Yan Liulang shook his head and led the way silently.
Li Dalang found out that he was heading towards the county seat, and his expression became more curious. He first asked:
"How is A Qing's family doing now? What's going on with Mother Liu?"
Yan Liulang sighed and said:
"On July 15th, I fainted due to stimulation. During this period, I also woke up from time to time, but when I woke up, I was confused and talking nonsense. I even thought Brother Ah Shan was still there and said I wanted to see him...
"After the doctor checked, he said he was fine, but warned us not to tell the old woman about Ah Shan, as it might cause fire to attack the heart and lungs, which would be bad for the old man... So no one, including Miss Ah Qing, dared to say anything.
, didn’t even mention the funeral.”
Li Dalang was about to speak but stopped: "Listen to Miss A Qing, why doesn't Liang Han come to visit?"
Yan Liulang whispered: "On the 15th, before Mingfu went to rescue Brother Ah Shan, he swore in front of Mother Liu and Ah Qing that he would not be able to bring Ah Shan back and that he would not be able to come to see them...
"During this period, the Ming government has been telling us to come and take care of us every day. Although we are busy with official duties, he has been asking us every day and never comes by himself.
"On other county government affairs, the Ming government made prompt decisions, but only on the Ashan family's affairs, he walked around in the court hall, pausing to give orders...
"Let's go. I have a rest today. There is no need to go on duty. I finally had a day's rest in the Ming Mansion. I should have gone there again."
Li Dalang suddenly became quiet.
After a while, following Yan Liulang all the way, he suddenly discovered that he had crossed the river and arrived at Guyue Sword Shop on the west bank of Butterfly Creek.
Arriving in front of a simple high platform, Li Dalang saw the graceful figure of Miss Xie standing pretty with a sword in the shade of the tree under the high platform.
Seeing Li Dalang and Yan Liulang arriving, Xie Lingjiang didn't say anything, but simply glanced at the food box in the former's hand. She calmly turned her head and looked back.
Li Dalang followed her movements and looked up.
Finally, on the quaint high platform above, I saw a familiar slender figure.
Under the sun, Ouyang Rong was sitting casually on the ground, surrounded by seven or eight dark-skinned old craftsmen, sitting around with him, smoking dry cigarettes and talking from time to time.
The young magistrate tilted his head, as if he was listening to something, and the river wind blew his black temples one after another.
I slept like crazy this night. I slept on the sofa for eleven hours... yes, there are more! But brothers, go to sleep first and watch when you wake up!