Yang Hao asked, but before anyone could answer, he heard a shout from the courtyard: "You old fool, you have gone to Japan. Our family cannot tolerate this ghost woman. If we don't drive her away, this family will no longer be able to tolerate it."
Don’t even think about having a peaceful day.”
Then I heard Xizhu'er's voice saying: "Oh, Master, please stop fighting and calm down."
Yang Hao didn't know what was going on, and his heart tightened. He quickly separated from the crowd and rushed in. When he got to the courtyard, he saw a woman kneeling on the ground, her forehead pressed against the palm of her hand, her slender waist almost bent, and her plump buttocks high up.
She stood up and bowed in worship. Her white Taifu with pink cherry blossoms made her exquisite body look smooth and smooth. However, there was a big footprint on her buttocks, which was clearly visible. She thought she had just been kicked by the woman who was scolding her.
.
The kimonos at that time were still different from modern kimonos, and they were divided into two types. Those made of silk brocade were called kimonos, and those made of cloth were called taifu. The kimono style originated from the Tang Dynasty and was worn by Japanese nobles.
The Taifu originated from Soochow during the Three Kingdoms period, and is now mostly worn by ordinary people. Although the woman's Taifu is well-cut, it is very shabby. The white base material has been washed and turned yellow, and the hem has been worn off.
Wire.
Yang Hao looked to the side again, and saw a beautiful woman in her thirties, half-milf, and still charming. Her almond-shaped eyes were wide open, her face was crimson, she was scolding herself, and she was sweating profusely.
He stopped her from rushing to the woman kneeling on the ground. Standing beside him was Zhang Xinglong, the chief helmsman of the Bianhe Gang, with a big beard pouting and a face full of embarrassment. Next to him, there was a scribe in his forties.
With a wry smile on his face, further back, Xiaoxiu girl and Zhang Xinglong's third-room concubine stood under the eaves, both looking like they were watching.
"What's going on?" Yang Hao stepped out and asked in surprise.
Yang Hao is the envoy of Nanya Yuan, and he is a very powerful official in Bianliang City. He is both a "county official" and a current official. Zhang Xinglong has always been very respectful to him. Although he is from a wealthy family, he has been in the industry for so many years.
He also knew the principle of "the people do not fight with the officials". In addition, Yang Hao was Xi Zhuer's brother, so Zhang Xinglong got along with him quite well. When he saw him arriving, he immediately felt like a savior.
He quickly said: "Mr. Yang, you are here just in time. You are here to comment on this theory. My mother-in-law is too fierce."
When Yang Hao saw many stewards and gang leaders of the Bianhe Gang gathered around the entrance of the courtyard and smiled, he said: "The boss is a hero from the Bianhe River. He is so noisy in the courtyard and is not a joke. The whole family
If there is anything we need to discuss, let's sit down in the room and talk slowly. Aunt Zhang, calm down and come on, let's go into the living room."
Yang Hao persuaded Mrs. Zhang, Zhang Xinglong and others, who were still angry, to go to the hall. When he turned around and saw the subdued woman still kneeling on the ground, he hurriedly stepped forward and persuaded her: "Girl, you should get up too.
"
Aunt Zhang, who had just walked under the eaves, immediately turned around and roared like a lion: "Let that ghost woman kneel down!"
The woman raised her head and saw that she was only eighteen or nineteen years old. She had a gentle and gentle face with tears on her eyelashes. She looked pitiful. She raised her head and glanced at Yang Hao gratefully. She nodded slightly and knelt down again.
He went down. Yang Hao shook his head and had no choice but to turn around and enter the living room.
"Master, what on earth is going on?"
Everyone sat down, Yang Hao just asked, Aunt Zhang said angrily: "Mr. Yang, why do you still have to ask? You have also seen that he went out to run around on boats, and was romantically involved. He even married a young wife in Japan, and only kept me in the dark.
Guli, today the little wives from Japan come to our door, and tomorrow the little wives from Luzon, Korea, and Java will also come to our door. Oh my, my Zhang family can open a Ten Thousand Kingdoms Hall."
The word wife had become popular among the people at that time. A few decades later, Wang Jinqing, the consort of the Song Dynasty, even wrote the word wife into a poem. Naturally, Yang Hao understood the meaning of wife better and immediately understood: Dare to love the use of the master.
I took the opportunity to run a boat and took in an outhouse abroad, but now my mistress comes to visit.
Yang Hao was so angry and funny that Zhang Xinglong jumped up with a red face and shouted: "I told you, there are only this one, how can there be so many women?"
Aunt Zhang jumped up and said angrily: "Are you a good guy still trying to lie to me?"
"You bastard, when have I ever lied to you?"
"If you don't lie to me, where did that Japanese ghost woman come from?"
"I……"
Don't look at Zhang Xinglong as a powerful man, but he has no majesty in front of his wife. Neo-Confucianism was only advocated in the late Southern Song Dynasty and was not carried forward until the Ming and Qing Dynasties. At that time, "men were superior to women", "the three obediences and the four virtues", "men and women were not intimate in teaching and receiving, and they smiled without missing a beat"
, "Not going out the door, not stepping out the second door, it's a small matter to starve to death, but it's a big thing to lose integrity, everyone has their feet bound" and other things have not yet become popular, there is not much market, and women's personalities are very flamboyant. Aunt Zhang and Zhang Xinglong also
They were a couple in need, and they had always been respected by him. Zhang Xinglong blew his beard and glared angrily, not daring to do anything to her.
Yang Hao and Xi Zhu'er had another good time to explain, because Yang Hao saw that Xiaoxiu girl liked Zhu'er, and he also liked this handsome and cheerful girl. He hoped that Zhu'er could open up his heart and form a good relationship with her, so he often helped her.
Although the two parties did not express their opinions, they understood each other. Xiao Xiu was very grateful to Yang Hao. When he saw him, he made peace. Finally, he stood up to persuade his mother and pulled her into the inner room. Only then did Yang Hao listen to Zhang Xinglong's explanation.
passed.
Zhang Xinglong was born in troubled waters. In his early years, in order to make money, he often sailed overseas. In recent years, he has been operating the Bianhe River. Although there are fewer opportunities to run seagoing ships, he still has to go to the nearest countries, Korea and Japan. Many businessmen in the Song Dynasty
When I go to Japan to do business, I am far away from my hometown and my wife and children, so I often find a mistress there. Even an ordinary sailor is considered quite wealthy there. The locals also worship the characters from China and find a young mistress.
Pretty girls are very easy to find, so this situation was very common at that time.
However, when they got older, most of them stopped going overseas, and the outer room was left there to fend for itself. In the past two years, Zhang Xinglong's business on the Bianhe River has grown bigger and bigger, and he has focused on this, and over there in Japan
I no longer go there. Now there is a famine there. Although the money Zhang Xinglong left to this outer room is rich, it is not enough to use it in the famine. The little wife he married there is Sayuri Fukuda.
I begged a merchant from the Song Dynasty and took his ship to the Song Dynasty to find her husband.
In fact, many of these foreign wives have no choice but to find their own way out once they are abandoned. There is no way to find their Song husbands. But Zhang Xinglong is different. He is so famous that the ship owner also knows him, otherwise he would not be able to find them.
He took the risk and brought this girl over. But when the boat arrived at Hangzhou Bay, it was discovered by local officials.
At that time, the Song Dynasty had not yet established a municipal shipping department, and shipping was handled by transshipment envoys. Luo Kecheng, the deputy transshipment envoy of Jiangnan East Road, was an official who specialized in managing shipping and shipping. He checked for smuggling, entrainment, and human trafficking, and collected traffic. Duties, taxes, etc., and finally found out the woman hiding in the cabin, but after hearing her explanation, she still felt compassion, so she spared the ship owner and took the opportunity to return to Beijing to send her away. Come. As a result, Aunt Zhang became very angry when she heard this, and the scene before her happened.
"Luo Kecheng?" Yang Hao couldn't help but feel moved when he heard the name, and quickly asked: "I wonder if Mr. Luo, the envoy of the Third Division, recognizes him?"
Luo Kecheng hurriedly stood up and replied respectfully: "It's my father. Does Dean Yang recognize my father?"
Yang Hao hurriedly stood up and said: "I and your brother Ke Enemy once shouldered the important task of migrating the people of the Northern Han Dynasty together. We are very good friends with each other. After I went to Beijing, I paid a visit to your Lord."
When Luo Kecheng heard him talking about his deceased brother, he was also very sad. The two exchanged pleasantries. Seeing Zhang Xinglong still standing there with a sad face, he asked: "Master, I saw that you also took in several concubines. It seems that Auntie is not that jealous, why are you so angry this time?"
Zhang Xinglong smiled helplessly. To elaborate, it turned out that one of the main reasons why Aunt Zhang was angry was that Zhang Xinglong had a foreign wife in Fusang without telling her. She felt that she and Zhang Xinglong were a couple in need, and they worked together through thick and thin to build this family business. Her husband actually He hid something from her, so he was furious. Furthermore, Zhang Xinglong was from a different family in Fusang. He never thought she would come to him. He made her his wife there. Now that she is here, what will happen? Placement? What is the status in the family? The last reason is that Aunt Zhang looks down on Fanyi women. To put it simply, she has a bit of racial discrimination in her heart.
Yang Hao scratched his head when he asked why. He himself was in debt. Looking at Zhang Xinglong, he couldn't help but feel sympathy for the same problem. Besides, it was really not easy for that woman. She wanted someone and then abandoned her. It just couldn't be justified. Now she has come to visit her. , looking at Zhang Xinglong, he felt pity for her and didn't seem to want to drive her out. Yang Hao thought about it and said: "Master, I'll go talk to the aunt. If the aunt changes her mind, that would be the best. If not... …You have to think of another way?”
"Okay, okay, it's best if Mr. Yang is willing to come forward," Zhang Xinglong said with a bitter smile: "In front of such a tough woman like me, an outsider can speak more effectively than me. Besides, that woman has always respected Mr. Yang. Please, please Already."
Luo Kecheng saw Aunt Zhang's appearance as a fierce wife, and felt very sad for Zhang Xinglong, who was also a man. He was also encouraged at the moment. Yang Hao laughed twice and walked into the room bravely.
After a while, Zhang Huaixiao came out with Zhang Xinglong's third concubine. Zhang Xinglong quickly came up to him and said with a smile: "My good daughter, has your mother's anger subsided?"
Zhang Huaixiu rolled his eyes at him and ignored him. Zhang Xinglong touched his nose and chuckled.
Xiaoxiu girl stood next to Xi Zhu'er and saw that he was looking worriedly into the inner room. She suddenly pinched him hard on the arm. Xi Zhu'er ouched, turned around and said inexplicably: "Why are you pinching me?" ?”
Xiaoxiu said angrily: "Humph, I'm warning you not to imitate my father."
Xizhu'er rolled his eyes and said in a naive voice: "Junior sister, you are very lenient. Even if I follow the master's example, what will it do to you?"
"You?" Xiaoxiu was embarrassed and annoyed, and couldn't speak clearly in front of her father, so she couldn't help but pinch him on the arm again.
"Ouch, why are you pinching me again?"
Xiaoxiu rolled her eyes playfully, raised her chin and said, "I'm happy, what's the matter?"
In the inner room, Yang Hao was trying to persuade Aunt Zhang. He first praised her for her good management of the family and her good manners as a husband and for raising children. Then he softened his tone and said, "Auntie, you see, the head of the family has a third wife." Beautiful concubine, but you are the one I respect and love the most. Could this woman from the Fuso Kingdom threaten your status?
As for her identity, you actually don’t have to worry about it. Just follow the Romans when entering the country. Of course you will be a concubine when you come here. To tell you the truth, I know a little about the customs in Japan. The women there are different from those in China. She's as docile as a sheep. You see, she doesn't fight back when hit or scolded, so you should learn some lessons. She, a weak woman, has come all the way to a foreign land, and she still has the ability to fight against you?"
Aunt Zhang's anger gradually subsided and she couldn't help thinking. Yang Hao looked at the door and whispered: "Auntie, Zhu'er and I are brothers. Sooner or later, Zhu'er will marry into your family and become your son-in-law. We are a family." , do you think I can speak for outsiders? Let me tell you, Mr. Luo was just outside helping the boss come up with a harmful idea."
Aunt Zhang immediately raised her almond-shaped eyes and said, "What idea did he give me as the head of the household?"
Yang Hao hurriedly came closer and whispered: "Listen to what I say, but you should keep your temper and don't say it out loud. Otherwise, Mr. Luo and I will be officials in the same palace, and it will be difficult for us to behave in the future."
Aunt Zhang slapped her chest and said: "Looking at what you said, although I, Cheng Duoduo, am a woman, I am also a man without a headscarf. How could I do such a nasty thing? Just say it, you can tell me, If you can hear it, you will never tell others about it."
"Okay, then let me tell you," Yang Hao looked at the door again and whispered, "Master Luo said that the head of the family is rich and powerful and controls the water transportation of the Bianhe River. If he serves the court, he can get an official position. Let’s do it.”
Aunt Zhang wondered: "This is a good thing. Isn't it good to be an official?"
Yang Hao slapped his thigh and said sadly: "Mom, you are confused!"
"Ah?" Aunt Zhang's emotions were completely guided by him. She blinked and said blankly: "Where am I confused?"
Yang Haodao: "Whether you are an official or not, the head of the family is still powerful, so what does it matter? But don't you know that once you become an official, you are eligible to marry one master, two equals, and three wives? No matter how big or small, if you still refuse to agree to let the Fusang girl come into the family, and the head of the family wants to find an official, then you, the wife of the wife, will not be needed to agree. If the head of the house marries another wife, you You can’t care about him, and he’s on an equal footing with you after entering the door. Madam, think about it, which one is more important and which one is less?”
"How dare he take another wife? I've made him a heartless, forgetful bastard!"
When Aunt Zhang heard this, she jumped up. Yang Hao quickly stopped her and urged: "Auntie, don't be anxious. Mr. Luo came up with this idea, but the boss didn't agree with it. He said that my aunt and his childhood sweethearts had built this family business together through thick and thin, and would never do such unscrupulous things."
After hearing this, Aunt Zhang turned her anger into joy and said with some emotion: "This old immortal still has some conscience."
Yang Hao took the opportunity and said again: "The head of the family also said that he is the head of the Bianhe River. With so many subordinates watching, if he can't even forgive a weak woman who came all the way to join him, he will be kicked out. From now on,
He no longer has the shame to be such a loyal brother, so he only waits for the aunt to drive her away, then he becomes a monk and cleans up the ancient Buddha to atone for his sins."
"How dare he!" Aunt Zhang stared, and after thinking about it, she felt a little worried. She was afraid that the old bastard would abandon his family and become a monk, and there would be no place to cry. She couldn't help but murmur to herself:
"Have I really gone too far? Or...or should I give in and ask her to stay?"
Yang Hao said happily: "That's right. Auntie, be more generous. If the head of the family feels guilty about you, he will only guard this family more dutifully, guarding you and Miss Xiaoxiu. Oh... Look, there are still things here.
I offer a statue of Guanyin. I believe in Buddhism and have a compassionate heart, so I have the heart to let her wander around without a place to stay? This is not like giving up the boss, you have a kind heart!"
"Yeah!" Aunt Zhang was convinced, nodded and said: "Dean Yang, as an official, is knowledgeable. When you say this, I feel much better. If so, just ask her to stay. Ai...
…”
Aunt Zhang felt shy for a moment and said sheepishly: "Look, the whole family is in a state of turmoil. It's embarrassing to ask me to go out now and agree to ask her to stay. Just...please take care of me, Mr. Dean."
I mean tell that damn ghost, okay, I...I won’t go out now.”
Yang Hao smiled and said: "It's right for the aunt not to rush to see her, but as long as Sayuri enters the door, she still has to go to see the aunt and offer tea and gifts. The aunt just waits for her to come. Today
This is such a show of force that she will have to be obedient and not dare to cause trouble in the future."
"Humph, who cares about the tea offered by the Yi mother-in-law!" Aunt Zhang said and couldn't help but laugh.
"She agreed? Really agreed? Oops..." Zhang Xinglong rubbed his hands repeatedly, as if he was happy, then he held Yang Hao's hand and said gratefully: "Dean Yang, please help me."
Dawei. I haven’t mentioned it yet. If Dean Yang needs Zhang’s help for anything in the future, all you have to do is give him an order, and Zhang will not disappoint you even if he bows his head."
"Haha, the boss is so polite." Yang Hao grabbed his wrist, pulled him aside, and briefly repeated what he said to Aunt Zhang, so that he would not have to turn around to put on his clothes. Zhang Xinglong laughed and raised his eyebrows.
Pointing: "Dean Yang, you are tall, you are really tall!"
At that time, the head of Zhang Da was in high spirits, so he asked his maid to help Sayuri Futian go down and build a residence for her in the side yard. He was making arrangements to invite Yang Hao and Luo Kecheng to have a drink. Luo Kecheng had just returned to Beijing and was going to give this gift as a gift.
When the girl came over, she was about to go back home to see her father. At this time, she was eager to go home, so she was not willing to stay here to have a drink.
Seeing that he insisted on leaving, Zhang Xinglong had no choice but to send him away. After Futian Sayuri was taken away, Aunt Zhang came out. Although she still had a straight face, her anger was gone. Zhang Xinglong wanted to please his beloved wife and wanted to see the guests out with her.
Who would have thought that Aunt Zhang snorted coldly, glared at Luo Kecheng fiercely and contemptuously, then raised her head and walked away.
Luo Kecheng was full of wonder: "When did I offend this tough woman? Didn't you treat me well just now?"
Luo Kecheng boarded the bow, but he was still confused. The oar paddled away from the dock, and in the distance, another large ship docked on the shore also set sail. A person on the bow held a bamboo hat, and under the bamboo hat
That face was none other than the helper who once visited Li Jia Xiang Shop.