Gu Qian explained: "This time I came here to escort the supplies and grain sent to Guangling by the Wujun family. Huan Da Sima quelled the rebels of Yuan Zhen in Shouyang, which is gratifying. Everyone in Wujun thought of escorting some Food and supplies came to congratulate Da Sima on his victory."
Li Hui frowned slightly when he heard this. He thought to himself: It seems that the Wujun family has finally reached the end of its road and decided to attach itself to the Huan family.
Gu Qian continued: "...Originally, I didn't need to come. The Lu family has a fleet, so the Lu family should escort them here. You also know me, I don't want to travel far, and I am exhausted from all the trouble. But , I thought that Xiaolang was also in the north of the Yangtze River, and Juchao County was only five or six hundred miles away from Guangling, so I volunteered to escort the fleet here. Do you think this is a special trip to Juchao County, or is it just a convenience? Hahaha."
Li Hui smiled and said: "Thank you Dong Weng for your care and your special trip to see me. It's such a long journey. Hey, I'm really grateful."
Gu Qian waved his hand and said with a smile: "My family, why are you saying these things? You have done so many things in Juchao County. You have established a firm foothold and been promoted to county magistrate. We don't know how happy we are. Lanzhi...oh, your mother They all happily went to the temple to burn incense and fulfill their vows, and everyone was grinning from ear to ear. Everyone said you have a lot of potential and praised you. By the way, your mother even wrote a letter trusting me to bring it to you."
As Gu Qian spoke, he took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Li Hui. Li Hui was excited, but he couldn't read the letter at the moment. He put the letter away after thanking him.
"If it weren't for Dong Weng's recommendation, how would I, Li Hui, be today? Thanks to Dong Weng for your support, I, Li Hui, have a foothold." Li Hui stood up and cupped his hands.
Gu Qian smiled and said: "Li Hui, I am very pleased that you can say that. Although everything you did in Juchao County was the result of your proper planning, if you drink water, remember the source, if I didn't recommend you to Zhongzheng Review , if my Gu family had not recommended you to be the county magistrate, it would not have been possible. I can only say that it was just a coincidence."
Li Hui didn't want to argue with him. After all, Gu Qian came all the way to see him, so there was no need to say anything unpleasant. Otherwise, he would have to explain to him why he was qualified to be evaluated by Zhongzheng. Under what circumstances was he selected to take office in Juchao County?
Gu Qian continued: "Li Hui, a few months ago, I wrote you a letter to congratulate you on your promotion to county magistrate. Well... I also received your reply. I know that you are grateful. Those who want to repay you also know that my Gu family has been kind to you. The head of the family also said that your mother is from my Gu family, and you have grown up in my Gu family since you were a child. This blood connection cannot be broken, so you are also my Gu family. Of course, I, Gu, will also pave the way for you so that you can have a better future. For example, if you need any money or materials, or any recommendations on connections, they will be of great benefit to you. I will do what I say, Naturally, I will not break my promise. In fact, I have another purpose in going to Guangling this time. Can you guess what my purpose is?"
Li Hui shook his head and said, "I am too stupid to guess."
Gu Qian chuckled and said, "How could you not guess it? Guangling is the military base of Sima Huan. I was lucky enough to be met by Sima Huan, and I mentioned you to him and asked him to support me. Guess what? Sima Huan. Sima actually knows about you and said that you did a good job in Juchao County and helped capture Yuan Zhen’s eldest son Yuan Jin. I was dumbfounded when I heard that you actually helped Huan Da Sima do this. It’s really This surprised me, and I was very pleasantly surprised. When Sima Huan learned that you were a descendant of my Gu family in Wu County, he immediately decided to put him in a big position. He said, "If you want me to see you, I will inform you to go to Guangling two years ago." He wants to meet you in person. He also promised to transfer you to him and work under Xi Chao. Do you know Xi Chao? He is the grandson of the Grand Sima who joined the army and the former Taiwei Gao Ping Xi Jian. He is from a famous family. Follow him to gain experience. In a few years, you will be put to good use in the future. Young man from the Li family, you are extremely lucky. I don’t know how many people would be envious of such a thing to get such a good opportunity."
Gu Qian was so excited when he spoke that he didn't notice Li Hui's expression at all. Li Hui's brows were already furrowed into a knot. When he heard that Gu Qian came to Juchao County, Li Hui had a premonition that he This visit must have come for nothing. But I didn't know that he came here for this matter.
He went to see Huan Wen and asked Huan Wen to support him. Little did he know that Huan Xu had already mentioned this matter, and he was looking for reasons to shirk it. He wished he could stay as far away from the Huan family as possible, and it was best to have nothing to do with him, so he actually took the initiative It’s really baffling to recommend myself.
Li Hui's face was gloomy, and his brows were furrowed, which made Gu Qian feel a little dissatisfied. He asked in a deep voice: "Li Hui, do you blame me for making my own decisions? Didn't I discuss it with you in advance? Hey, I'll wait for this opportunity. What is the need to discuss? Besides, is it wrong to follow the arrangements of the master and the old man? You go to be an official under Sima Huan, do your job well, and with your talents, you will be reused. In the future, it is inevitable that you will be promoted to governor and governor. of."
Li Hui gritted his teeth and decided to speak openly. On this matter, he must make his attitude clear and must not be manipulated by others. If he left the Gu family, he would not be manipulated by the Gu family. How could he allow them to arrange his future? I think I am being kind to myself.
"Dong Weng, I didn't expect you to come here for this matter. I thank Dong Weng for your concern, but this matter may need to be considered in the long run. I don't want to leave Juchao County yet. The people here need me, and I haven't finished it yet. My promise to them failed to allow them to live here peacefully. Therefore, I don’t want to go to Huan Da Sima’s tent. I also asked Dong Weng to inform them, saying that I, Li Hui, have limited talents and cannot hold a big position. No need. Help me, an incompetent person." Li Hui said in a deep voice.
Gu Qian looked shocked and said in a deep voice: "Is this what you are saying? Would you rather give up a great opportunity and stay in this remote place? Don't you really want to develop and be ambitious? How could you say such a thing?"
Li Hui cupped his hands and said, "Everyone has his or her own ambitions, so we can't force it. Now I just want to be a good county magistrate in Juchao County."
Gu Qian said in a deep voice: "Li Hui, don't say stupid things. You are a smart man, how could you do such stupid things?"
Li Hui smiled bitterly and said: "Don Weng, just think that I am confused. I have already decided on this matter."
Gu Qian frowned and shouted in a deep voice: "Li Hui, don't act willfully. You are a descendant of my Gu family, so you should follow the advice of the family master and me. This is also for your own good. How can you miss such a good opportunity? "
Li Hui breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I remember that Dong Weng originally disagreed with the Gu family's support of the Huan family. Why are they so enthusiastic now?"
Gu Qian yelled: "What is Reluo? Since the various clans in Wu County have made a decision, I naturally have to abide by it. Gu, Lu, Zhu and Zhang will advance and retreat together. Do I want to go against the family's decision? Besides, there is nothing wrong with supporting the Huan family. .You don’t have to listen to other people’s rumors. Good birds choose trees to roost. If we, the Wujun nobles, want to gain a foothold and rise, we must find a big tree to fall on. Only in this way can we have a chance to return to the top."
Gu Qian frowned and said, "Are you saying that I am confused?"
Li Hui said hurriedly: "I don't dare. Dong Weng, I still insist on my own choice and cannot obey your arrangements. I don't care how the Gu family chooses. I, Li Hui, will not serve as an official under the Huan family. Li Hui thanked Dong We have to worry about it, so we can only accept it with our heart."
Gu Qian's expression changed drastically and he said coldly: "What do you mean? Don't you listen to what the head of the house and I say?"
Li Hui said in a deep voice: "Dong Weng, I am not a descendant of the Gu family, why should I listen? My surname is Li, not Gu."
Gu Qian looked at Li Hui in shock and said in a deep voice, "What did you say?"
Li Hui said in a low voice but firmly: "Dong Weng, we don't have to deceive ourselves. The Gu family has never regarded me, Li Hui, as a child, and I will never be a member of the Gu family. Li Hui thanked Dong Weng from the bottom of his heart for his care. If not
Dong Weng, my mother and son may not be able to live quietly in Wu County, and Li Hui may not be able to study and grow up. But Dong Weng understands in his heart that my mother and son are regarded as slaves in the Gu family. Although they can survive, they have suffered a lot.
Humiliation. From the beginning, we were just living under someone else's roof. Dong Weng also knows exactly how they treated my mother and me."
Gu Qian said coldly: "So you still have grudges. Okay, okay, so scheming."
Li Hui shook his head and said: "Dong Weng, Li Hui is not an ungrateful person, but this kindness is only to Dong Weng, not the Gu family. I will always be grateful to Dong Weng. But this has nothing to do with whether he is a descendant of the Gu family.
I don’t hold a grudge, I just told the truth. Dong Weng is a wise elder, he should know that what I said is not a lie. The head of the family, the young master of the family, the eldest son, they hate me to the core and wish to kill me.
I know it very well, and Dong Weng also knows it very well."
Gu Qian said loudly: "Opinions will change, one moment at a time. Now the master of the family and the young master of the family appreciate you very much, and they all regard you as a descendant of my Gu family. Don't remember those things in the past.
"
Li Hui sighed: "Dong Weng, my surname is Li, my father is Li Zhi, and I come from the Li family of a small tribe in Danyang. This is a fact and cannot be changed. I cannot forget my ancestors, forget my origins, join a big family and forget my own."
Gate. Please Dong Weng understand my difficulties."
Gu Qian frowned and pondered for a moment, then suddenly said: "Li Hui, do you always hold a grudge against me? Do you blame me for being too mean to you? When you and Qing Ning happened, I said too harsh words to you. Did you feel guilty because of this?
Do you feel that I am not sincere to you?"
Li Hui was stunned, shook his head and said: "That's not the case. Dong Weng is overthinking."
Gu Qian thought to himself and said: "Li Hui, do you think I am not sincere to you and treat you like an outsider? Okay, I promise you, I can betroth Qingning to you, so that you will be my grandson-in-law in Nanzhai.
After you get married, you will be on an equal footing with Gu Chang and others, and you no longer have to worry about your status. They will no longer be able to look down on you. You should understand that with my Gu family status and Qing Ning’s appearance and character, she can
Marry into a wealthy family and live a carefree life. I have fulfilled your wish by marrying her to you. Such sincerity should be enough, right?"