Chapter 636 Tasting sweets [Kneel down and ask for monthly tickets in the middle of the month!]
The news came that the young governor had left the table to go to the toilet and had something to do and left midway.
There were not many surprises among the businessmen who participated in Xingzifang’s housing rental system.
Who doesn't know that Governor Ouyang is a very busy man. He has both the Governor's Office and the main hall of Jiangzhou, and he has one city and thirteen counties in Jiangzhou on his shoulders. He also has the important task of building the Donglin Buddha for His Majesty.
Public affairs are obviously so busy.
And these days, it is rare and valuable that he can come to Xingzifang often and devote some energy to Xingzifang's rental housing renovation, which is a practical matter for people's livelihood in Xunyang.
It even made many Yangzhou merchants, including Pei Sanniang, feel proud.
Coming over for the dinner tonight is also an exception among exceptions.
Since Governor Ouyang took office again, which banquet has he attended?
He even resigned from the Lantern Festival dinner hosted by Xunyang Prince's Mansion a few months ago, which made a crowd of dignitaries and descendants of aristocratic families who came from far away to see him regret to leave.
If it hadn't been for the fact that at the end of the Lantern Festival dinner, Her Royal Highness the little princess sent a message for him and brought back an article that convinced everyone and was later recognized as the best Lantern Festival poem, "The Sapphire Case·Yuan Xi", otherwise some gossip would have been inevitable.
But we can also see the high integrity of this young governor.
As Pei Shisanniang, the president of the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce, once inadvertently revealed, Governor Ouyang had to go home for dinner every night, rain or shine.
Of course, Pei Shisanniang didn't say which family it was from.
But even if he made it clear, it was still difficult to suppress the admiration that the merchants had for the governor like a river.
He is such a good man who cares about his family and has principles.
So tonight, it is unprecedented for Governor Ouyang to go to the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce's celebration dinner and have a few drinks.
Everyone was too late to be honored, so naturally they didn't say anything about the so-called leaving the meeting midway.
As for the young governor, is there a possibility that he may have a bad drinking habit and run away in confusion...
What, isn’t Governor Ouyang famous for being able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk?
…
The gentle evening breeze blew by the Xingzi Lake.
Ouyang Rongpo's head was dizzy, and he suddenly sobered up a lot.
For people who act too rationally, occasionally getting drunk and getting drunk is a very novel experience.
The restaurant where the celebration banquet will be held tonight is not small in size, not much smaller than Yunshui Pavilion, and not far from Xingzi Lake.
Ouyang Rong, who came to the lakeside to enjoy the breeze, looked back at the bright lights of the restaurant behind him.
After coming out of the banquet, Ouyang Rong's eyes were slightly drunk. Along the way, many things flashed through his mind, and his thoughts were very wild.
There are swaying orchids that have been watered on the windowsill of Longcheng Meiluyuan.
There are strange engravings on the bronze dagger.
A few nights ago, in the dead of night, Xiao Mo Jingmiao thought of getting up and sneaking out of the closet to look through his clothes and packages for signs of other bad women. The sneaky noises he made made him unable to sleep, so he had to act
Turn over and scare it back.
In addition, there was the embroiderer's thin but scorching body temperature on the kitchen stove in the quiet courtyard last time, and the smooth collarbone on one side that was covered with strawberry marks.
In fact, because Xiu Niang was too thin, when he carried her overbearingly to the stove, her waist was aching from the thin pelvic bone below her, but Ouyang Rong didn't say it at the time...
All kinds of senses and thoughts flew past his eyes.
Finally, accompanied by a burst of fireworks that suddenly exploded in the sky behind, they all unified into a quiet silhouette, occupying the entire heart at this moment.
Ouyang Rong's eyes reflected the fireworks.
What is Xiu Niang doing now? Waiting for him, or is she asleep?
Ouyang Rong looked back at a location on the other side of Xingzi Lake.
There were no lights in the quiet courtyard.
Just in the evening, he actually asked Pei Shisanniang to go to the quiet courtyard to inform Xiu Niang that he would not go back for dinner at night. She must have gone to bed early.
"Mingfu, where are we going now?"
Hearing the cautious call, Ouyang Rong came back to his senses.
He turned around and looked, and it was Yan Liulang who was following him.
Pei Shisanniang also followed, hanging not too far behind.
Just now along the way, when Ouyang Rong was drunk and lost in thought, the two of them followed behind silently without disturbing him.
At this moment, seeing Yan Liulang taking the initiative to talk to Ouyang Rong and breaking the silence, Pei Shisanniang immediately stepped forward quickly, followed Ouyang Rong step by step, and asked softly and caringly:
"Master, would you like to go back to Xiu Niang's yard and see her?"
Ouyang Rong did not answer the two of them.
Yan Liulang couldn't help but look at Pei Sanniang more, with a slightly surprised look in his eyes.
Surprised by the woman's intuition.
With a few "swish" sounds, several more fireworks shot straight into the sky in the direction of the restaurant where the three of them had just bid farewell, cutting through the enchanting spring night and resounding throughout Xingzifang.
I believe people in other communities would also be curious as to why Hao Duan Duan set off fireworks.
It is estimated that only this group of merchants can be so arrogant and organize a celebration dinner with such great fanfare and various celebrations.
However, it is a bargain for children who love to watch fireworks. In Xunyang City right now, there are countless children enjoying the cool breeze in the dark courtyard, looking up at the fireworks with longing faces.
Ouyang Rong suddenly turned around and walked towards Qingyang Street.
Yan Liulang and Pei Shisanniang didn't dare to ask, so they followed silently.
When I arrived at Qingyang Heng Street, I just moved into a new home today and looked around to see what I was familiar with. Most of the courtyards were brightly lit, and many people were awake.
Ouyang Rong seemed to just want to take a stroll and check to see if there were any problems. He walked and stopped, and suddenly stopped in front of a yard.
The lights were brightly lit in the yard, and there was a faint figure of an old woman sitting on a couch blowing the wind.
Yan Liulang glanced at this courtyard and suddenly felt that the location was familiar, as if he had been there before.
Before he could think about it, the figure of the Ming Dynasty standing in front of him had already moved and walked into the courtyard.
Yan Liulang and Pei Shisanniang followed them in honestly.
As soon as Ouyang Rong entered the courtyard, he alarmed the whole family. Although he was not wearing official uniform, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the intersection of Qingyang Heng Street in the afternoon, most of the people staying there had seen his appearance and knew that Ouyang Rong was a handsome man.
Boy, this is easy to spot.
This family's surname was Cheng, and they warmly entertained Ouyang Rong.
Ouyang Rong asked, looked around the yard, and then looked at the old woman of the Cheng family who was sitting in the yard just now.
This courtyard was built on the original site of the Wang family's old house on Qingyangheng Street.
Ouyang Rong repeatedly tolerated Nv Shi and King Xunyang from Xian's place and heard about this incident.
Every time Rong Nushi was mentioned, he felt a little disappointed, and King Xunyang also thought about it.
Now, a new house has been rebuilt, but the Wang family's mother and son are no longer here. After their tragic deaths, the other children in the family have all become scattered.
Now that Qingyang Heng Street is being rebuilt, no one has come back to inherit the house, so the Cheng family tenants have moved in.
Ouyang Rong withdrew his gaze, Xu Han asked warmly, and asked them if they had any requests, just come and make them.
After a while, seeing that nothing happened, Ouyang Rong said goodbye warmly, and the Cheng family warmly welcomed them to the door.
At this time, the old woman from the Cheng family entered the house, left and came back again, pushing away the support of her children, taking out a piece of gray cloth and wrapping it up, then stubbornly stuffed it into Ouyang Rong's hand.
When I opened it, I saw a bag full of candied fruits, made from bayberry.
Ouyang Rong subconsciously declined.
The old lady of the Cheng family shook her head and pushed his arm forward. The whole family's eyes were filled with eager anticipation.
This is a specialty of their hometown, and the candied fruit itself is also relatively precious.
It is one of the most popular snacks among children in this era, but candied fruit is generally only something that wealthy people can afford. Ordinary families, like this Cheng family, can only pick some wild fruits and bayberries to make candied fruit.
Although the taste will be much different, you can still eat it, mainly for children during New Years and holidays, or for the elderly who have a bitter taste.
Ouyang Rong pursed his lips and reached out his hand, ready to twist one in front of everyone's gaze.
At this time, Pei Shisanniang suddenly stepped forward and helped take over the large bag of candied fruits.
Yanrokuro also immediately approached, took the lead in twisting one, put it into his mouth, and quickly chewed it.
After a while, he nodded towards Ouyang Rong, as if to say that it tasted very sweet.
Ouyang Rong didn't look at the two of them, he took one and put it in his mouth.
"Put it away."
After giving orders to Pei Sanniang, he turned his head and sincerely thanked the old woman of the Cheng family.
Before leaving, Ouyang Rong stopped at the threshold and looked back, taking a look at the happy family living in the new house.
After holding the candied fruit in my mouth for a long time, I felt a slight aftertaste. It was indeed quite sweet.
The three of them left Qingyang Street.
Take a walk by the lake and return to the carriage.
On the way, Pei Shisanniang was holding a package of candied fruits, and Yan Liulang was following behind with a knife.
Ouyang Rong spoke without looking back, breaking the silence:
"Why is the Thirteenth Lady here too? She's not hosting the banquet?"
"I still like to be with the young master, I feel more at ease."
"In the past, you were not at all comfortable."
Ouyang Rong chuckled.
Pei Shisanniang hesitated for a moment, then boldly said:
"I used to be very afraid of the young master. Although I am still very afraid now, I feel more at ease with him."
"Well, I feel at ease."
Pei Shisanniang nodded and repeated, looking at his back and said:
"Not only do I feel at ease when I'm with the young master, I also feel at ease when I'm in Xingzifang and Xunyang City."
"Didn't you feel at ease before?" Ouyang Rong asked with a smile.
"In the past, I always regarded myself as a guest in a foreign country. I thought I would leave when I could make money. I would go wherever I could make money. If I couldn't make any money, I would leave immediately and go to the next place where I could make money, just like a traveler.
The next stop is the same."
Pei Shisanniang raised her head and said seriously:
"Occasionally in the dead of night, my heart feels a little empty. When I wake up from a dream, I don't know where I am. In other words, it doesn't matter where I am, just like a ghost."
"What about now?"
"Now... I have met the young master, Yan Canjun, and many interesting Xunyang people. During this period, I persuaded my colleagues to invest most of their money in this Xingzifang.
"Young master, I haven't had many feelings before, but when I see these houses being built little by little, when I see them rising from the ground like high-rise buildings, and when I see the families who live in these houses reunite, the joy on their faces
With a smile, I suddenly understood what the young master wanted to do."
Ouyang Rong remained silent and walked in front.
When Pei Shisanniang said this, she sounded a little embarrassed, shook her head and said:
"Actually speaking, when I first followed the young master's instructions and built these ordinary houses that made no money and could hardly repay the money, I was still a little bleeding. I felt like I wasted all my money. I even felt that if I didn't make any money, it would be a loss.
.
"However, when I gradually accepted them, when I saw that they were really completed and people were actually living in them, and when I saw the lively scene of everyone being happy today, I suddenly felt relieved and felt that it wasn't that bad after all. I felt faint
There is still some stability.”
"Safe?" Yan Liulang raised his eyebrows.
"That's right, safe and sound."
Pei Shisanniang nodded and her eyes became brighter:
"If I had followed my previous temperament and bought all the mansions and compounds, I would have made more money, but I would have just treated it as a business. Business is of course profit-oriented, and I only pursue higher profits.
No matter how luxurious, exquisite or unparalleled these houses are, they are nothing more than a piece of business. I only talk about money and not about feelings."
"Now, are you talking about feelings?"
"Not really. After the house on Qingyang Main Street was built, I suddenly felt very at ease. I haven't experienced this sense of at ease for a long, long time.
"Well, I experienced this once when I first made money from business and used it to improve the life of my mother-in-law. At that time, I felt that I did it based on my own ability. It was because I had a talent for doing business. At that time, I
I am excited and excited. Seeing the happy smiling faces of my family makes me feel very at ease physically and mentally.
"But later on, I don't know when, I began to pursue maximizing profits more and more, and many other things were gradually discarded, including some ethics, some compassion, and even my father, mother, and concubine went back to see me.
They received little money, but just sent a sum of money regularly so that they could have enough food and clothing in their hometown.
"But my body has become erratic. From Yangzhou to Jiangzhou now, before I met the young master, my heart has been completely unsettled. It seems that only by making profits one after another and gaining a more glorious identity step by step can I vaguely feel something
I have a sense of being alive, but it is still very empty, and I often wake up in the middle of the night..."
She raised her head and whispered:
"I just accompanied the young master to the courtyard of my family. I was actually a little leisurely to look at the details of the eaves, doors, and walls. I felt quite satisfied. They may not be as exquisite as those of the mansions and courtyards, but they are so beautiful to me.
I have the patience to look at it, but I don’t know how to describe this feeling. What I said is a bit confusing. Don’t blame me for you and Yan joining the army..."
Pei Shisanniang sighed, a little bit embarrassed, and then let out a breath of relief.
Ouyang Rong nodded lightly and said no more.
Yan Liulang laughed casually:
"Thirteenth Niang just feels at ease. In the words of the Ming Dynasty, this is called alienation. Power and force are the easiest things to alienate people, followed by money."
"Alienation..." Pei Shisanniang chewed carefully.
"That's right."
Yan Liulang nodded heavily and looked at Mingfu's silent back with admiration:
"What you are doing now is a formal business. The pursuit of profit in the past was too sick and it was easy to hit the wall. In other words, there is no end to pure money making money. Use money to mobilize resources and do some real things.
, only then can you feel down-to-earth and have peace of mind.”
His eyes were somewhat reminiscing:
"It's like this when doing business, and it's not like that when you're an official. I was like this when I was in Longcheng. Until I met Mingfu and followed Mingfu, I also had a similar sense of stability as you."
Pei Shisanniang's face was stunned, and she looked at the quiet Ouyang Rong in front of her.
At this time, the three people came to the carriage and stopped one after another.
Ouyang Rong took the candied fruit brought by Pei Shisanniang, and before getting into the car, he patted Pei Shisanniang on the shoulder.
"Thirteenth Niang, go back and rest early, Liulang, come up."
Pei Shisanniang was left with mixed feelings, and Yan Liulang followed Ouyang Rong and got into the carriage.
After burning the incense, the groom Ali saw Yan Canjun get out of the car with a serious face and leave in a hurry.
As the carriage continued to move forward, inside the carriage, Ouyang Rong opened the package of candied fruits and took a look.
He bent down and took out a small wine gourd from under the seat, put it to his ear and shook it. The gourd was filled with thick, turbid wine mixed with talisman ash.
Ouyang Rong was silent for a while, then closed his eyes and entered the Tower of Merit.
His eyes fell on the blue-gold font above the small wooden fish:
[Merits: Eight Thousand Three Hundred and One]
After a dinner party and a walk after dinner, the price increased by a small hundred.
It’s rare for merit to be so abundant.
Ouyang Rong pursed his lips and left the Merit Tower.
Opening his eyes, his perspective returned to the slightly bumpy, dim car.
"Tonight I'm going to have to suffer from Ali again."
Ouyang Rong suddenly spoke.
Ali's muffled voice came from outside:
"It's not hard work. I brought the rations and I'm willing to protect you, sir." After a pause, he asked for the first time: "Sir, is there any danger in the temple?"
Ouyang Rong didn't answer this simple man's intuition and whispered:
"At the back door of Chengtian Temple, find a shelter and stop."
"yes."
In the carriage, Ouyang Rong leaned on the back of his seat, lowered his head, and gently tapped a pack of candied fruits and a small wine gourd on his lap with his palms.
His eyes were a little dim and his expression couldn't be clearly seen.
"Whoosh."
"Crack-!"
There was another firework in the night sky on the other side of the lake, piercing the sky.
Ouyang Rong's eyes regained his sight, and he turned to look at the short-lived fireworks outside the window for a while.
His eyes were lost in thought for a moment.
"Wait, let's go to the courtyard first."
Ali seemed stunned for a moment, but immediately agreed: "Yes, young master."
The carriage turned around and drove towards a quiet courtyard by the lake not far away.
Ouyang Rong lowered his head, opened the package of candied fruits, twisted a candied fruit out of it, and wrapped it carefully with the handkerchief left by his junior sister.
He stuffed the handkerchief and the wine gourd under the seat and placed them next to the piano case.
After doing this, the carriage arrived at the entrance of the quiet courtyard and stopped slowly.
It was already dark, Ouyang Rong took a look and saw that the yard was completely dark.
According to the healthy schedule of Xiu Niang and the Fang sisters, they went to bed early, but he came too late.
Ouyang Rong got out of the car with a bag of candied fruits in hand, glanced at the courtyard door, and pushed the door open without hesitation.
His steps are light.
Walk through the silent lobby and walk to the backyard.
The several wing rooms were dark and quiet.
He placed the bag of candied fruits on the stone table, touched something, and lowered his head to take a look.
As my eyes adapted to the darkness, I immediately saw clearly that there were several plates of dishes covered by bamboo baskets on the stone table.
He subconsciously touched the bowl with the back of his hand. He didn't know whether it was because the weather was getting warmer in spring or because he was a little cold after being drunk and sober up, but there was a faint warmth in the bowl.
Ouyang Rong pursed his lips, stood for a while, turned around and left.
Tonight, at Chengtian Temple, he still had a very important matter to solve.
At this moment, a familiar crisp sound suddenly came from behind:
"Long Ling——!"
Ouyang Rong paused.
"Ah, ah..."
In the darkness, a woman called him weakly.
…
——————
(PS: It’s the middle of the month, please beg for a wave of guaranteed monthly tickets that will be refreshed in the middle of the month. Oh my dear brothers, please vote~or2)