Suddenly being slandered like this, Du Youlin was stunned for a long time. He felt so humiliated and humiliated that he was so angry that he couldn't breathe.
Lu Fengniang was so angry that she cursed loudly.
"Ignore your money? Eat dog intestines! Jingzhao Du and Fan Yanglu can deny your money. My husband is a gentleman who has read the books of sages. All the officials who have entered the official position are noble officials. How can they deny your little money? Two dignified kings and three brothers
, Is it possible to imitate rogues and cheat now?!"
"I transported my belongings to Du's house last night, and they have already been registered. The Du family received the gift list, and the gift car was left here overnight. Today, there are only some rags, earth and rocks left. Everyone has seen it, how dare you deny it?"
Lu Fengniang was so angry that she went crazy and screamed loudly. She didn't have the dignity of Fan Yang Lu at all, just like a shrew in the market.
"You are talking nonsense, nonsense! The New Year is approaching, and my family has to prepare many gifts every day. Can I bother to check the gifts you sent in the middle of the night? Are you trying to swindle my family's money by using your official power? Although my husband has been demoted, I
...My great-grandfather also served as Minister Youcheng!"
"What is my identity, Alang? How can I deceive you into being a member of a small family like you?"
"..."
The quarrel had spread, Quan Rui was so anxious that he didn't know what to do, and quickly asked Caiyun to go to the backyard to ask the second mother to come forward, because in recent days, Quan Fu kept hearing that Mr.
Go and invite Xue Bai.
Because Du Jin didn't want to see Yang Shenjin at all, she had been hiding in the house today, and Du Jin was accompanying her. At this time, the two sisters were also alarmed, and did not bother to wash up. They walked around the verandah from the east and rushed to the front hall.
When they entered the fourth courtyard, they met Qing Lan holding a lantern and leading Xue Bai from the west verandah. Du Wei quickly lowered her head and avoided him.
Xue Bai held a beautiful wooden box in his hand and said in a calm tone: "It's enough for me to go over there. Can you go back to your room and stay?"
"Okay, you arrogant old guy, don't give him a good face." Du Jin pulled Du Wei and left.
Du Wei looked back and smoothed her uncombed hair.
At this time, the quarrel in the front hall became more intense, and everyone else was in a mess, but Xue Bai remained calm.
"If you say you didn't take it, you didn't take it! Why don't you want to search it again?!"
"Since the Du family's wife refuses to admit it, the matter will come to the end and the only option is to report it to the official."
"Dong dong dong."
Someone knocked on the screen.
Everyone turned their heads to look, and the person who came was clearly still a young man, but his aura was stronger than that of Du Youlin.
"Yang Zhongcheng, we meet again." Xue Bai said, "Today the Prime Minister's Office gave me two boxes of jade dew dumplings. Do you want to eat them?"
Yang Shenjin did not show how afraid he was of Li Linfu, and shook his head: "No need."
"Then do you want to eat it?" Xue Bai walked up to the Yang family steward holding the box.
"This... villain doesn't dare."
Xue Bai said: "You know very well where the property is, don't you?"
"Alang, I really don't know. After the property was counted over there, it was transported directly to Du's house."
"Then report it to the official and investigate carefully. But Ji Facao of Jingzhao Prefecture is not here for the past two days. Will this case be delayed for a few days? What does Yang Zhongcheng think?"
Yang Shen said cautiously: "I just said that I would never embarrass my mother. This matter... is all."
When Xue Bai arrived, it was just for the sake of the right prime minister to calm everyone down. Yang Shenjin had no intention of reporting to the official or personally breaking up with Du Zhai.
He glared at his steward and scolded: "A little money, noisy, and disrespect for etiquette."
"The villain is in a hurry."
Yang Shenjin cursed a few more times, full of aristocratic etiquette, but did not apologize to Du Zhai, emphasizing that the Yang family did not lack that little money, and left with his hands behind his back.
~~
Lu Fengniang was so angry that she asked Quan Rui to follow him and stare at him, and sneered loudly.
"In case Yang Zhongcheng left something on the road and said it was Du's house that took it."
In short, the quarrels between famous families are not much more elegant than those of ordinary people.
After finally getting the high-ranking Erwang Sanke away, Lu Fengniang turned back to the hall and said to Xue Bai: "Sure enough, it was his housekeeper who took it?"
"Probably not."
Xue Bai agreed, then turned to Quan Rui and asked, "Manager Quan is working hard, why didn't he check the gifts when he received them?"
Quan Rui looked bitter and said anxiously: "New Year's Day is coming soon, and we received a total of thirteen gift orders last night. The gifts from the Yang family were sent at night, and the person who escorted the car last night was not his servant, but
A group of rude men unloaded the truck and left immediately, how could they allow us to count them in front of us?"
Lu Fengniang said: "How could a noble person do something like this? It must be to deceive my family."
"That's right." Quan Rui was extremely worried. "When the old slave saw the situation, he quickly found the gift list and looked at it. It was too thick. I'm afraid I couldn't buy the entire ancestral home. How could I give such a thick New Year gift?
?I quickly reported it to the owner and didn’t dare to touch the pile of items again. I was so worried that I didn’t sleep well all night.”
"Where's the gift list?"
"It has been returned to him."
Xue Bai asked Quan Rui about the items on the gift list, and having made up his mind, he asked the servants to retreat, glanced at the three people of the Du family, and finally called on Du Wulang.
"It's not that Yang Shenjin deliberately deceived us. His house was ransacked and his belongings were also begged for. Considering the time, they should have been delivered directly..."
"Then he must know. Even if he doesn't know, how could he, the oily person in charge, not know?!" Lu Fengniang was extremely anxious, "We didn't take his property and let him find out on his own!"
Du Wulang quickly supported her and advised: "Auntie, don't be anxious, you should discuss it with your sisters."
Even he understood that if this kind of thing was caused by the Du family, it would offend others.
"Your sister is crying again." Lu Fengniang looked at Xue Bai and asked, "What do you think we should do?"
"It is impossible for Yang Shenjin to apply for an official position, but he sees that the Du family is weak and thinks that the Du family is easy to bully, which is true. The top priority is that my uncle will seek an official position on his own, so don't pay attention to him."
Some people like to take advantage of people's dangers to take girls from noble and scholarly families as concubines. If Du Younja is still a fifth-grade doctor of praise, Yang Shenjin would not dare to mention this matter.
"Yes, what should I do if he throws dirty water into the Du family?"
Xue Bai said: "Those who strengthen themselves will always be strong."
He didn't want to tell Lu Fengniang too much, so he calmly responded with his motto.
Accusing Yang Zhao of swallowing property is something that offends people and does no good. Yang Shenjin will do it sooner or later. There is no need for the Du family to get ahead of him.
Lu Fengniang was stunned.
She knew that her husband always valued reputation the most, but how could he bear it when Yang Shenjin went around saying that the Du family was greedy for gifts.
"Lang Jun, the Du family can't let anyone ruin its reputation! You think so?"
"Cough cough cough."
Du Youlin coughed violently.
Yang Shenjin holds two or three official positions with real power. In the eyes of casual officials like him, he is actually a very high-ranking official. What will happen if someone who dares to copy Yang Shenjin's family is offended?
"The dark world that steals the name! The atmosphere is full of smoke! The anger is killing me!"
After scolding twice, Du Youlin slowly sat down with one hand on the table, closed his eyes and rubbed his head. He must have been so angry that he almost fainted.
Lu Fengniang didn't dare to ask any more questions and stepped forward to greet her. Du Wulang quickly knelt down to serve her.
"It's okay, let me be quiet."
Du Youlin waved them away, covered his forehead with his hands, and glanced away, only to see Xue Bai asking Lu Fengniang to borrow a copper pot again, saying that he wanted to make dishes as a gift for Mrs. Guo Guo.
This is what Zhuzi said: "Those who are self-reliant will always be strong." He does not think about repaying the emperor with his talents and learning, but only knows how to get ahead through nepotism.
Thinking again that since Li Linfu curried favor with Concubine Wu Hui and became prime minister, loyal ministers have been deposed and exiled, and the atmosphere has deteriorated day by day. He really felt a headache and his whole body felt weak.
"well……"
~~
That night, the lights in the backyard of Du's house stayed on until late at night.
Suddenly there was a "sizzling" sound in the kitchen, white smoke rose, and a burst of aroma filled the air.
"It smells so good, is this the feeling you're talking about?!"
Du Wulang was already tired, but suddenly he became excited.
Several maids living in the back yard also opened the door and came out, chattering.
"Did the water leak out? What was burned? It smells so good."
Later, the Du sisters were also alarmed and went to the backyard to see what happened.
But they saw everyone gathered around the kitchen. Xue Bai and Qing Lan were holding a plate of dishes in their hands and smelling it. Du Wulang took a pair of chopsticks and picked out piece after piece from the plate, feeding them one after another to the maids who stretched their necks.
.
"How about it?"
"tasty!"
“So delicious!”
"..."
After Du Jin tasted it, he had a long aftertaste and said, "It tastes very good, but it has a slight odor."
She has never eaten cheap meat, so she can't really describe it.
"Well, this pork has a strong smell, and the oil in which it is cooked has a bit of a smell." Xue Bai had been studying it for a long time and came to the conclusion, "It should be that the pigs need to be castrated before being raised."
"Where can I find pigs that have been castrated?" Du Wulang said: "This time I soaked them in ginger and they are already delicious. My second sister is just a picky eater."
"Is there rice wine?"
"Of course, I have buried several jars of Fangxian rice wine in the yard. I'll dig it up!"
Du Wulang was overwhelmed by greed and the sense of accomplishment of making delicious food, and ran away.
Xue Bai said to the Du sisters: "I will buy some materials and try them twice tomorrow morning. In the afternoon, Yang Zhao will take me to visit Mrs. Guo Guo's house."
"Okay, I'll talk to grandpa."
"Do you have money?"
After Xue Bai took some money and returned it to Qing Lan. Qing Lan was originally happy, but when she saw that he had borrowed money from others and paid it back to herself, she couldn't help but snorted: "I am not in a hurry to ask Xue Langjun to pay it back."
"Although it is a fateful friendship, if you can recruit rich people, you can still recruit rich people."
Hearing Xue Bai's words, Qing Lan became happy again, glanced at him quickly, and snickered secretly.
~~
The next day, no one in Du's house mentioned Yang Shenjin again, which ruined his mood for no reason.
But with such a large amount of property missing, even if it is not reported to the official, it will not be settled easily.
Du Youlin had a headache when he thought of this. When Lu Fengniang came to make noise again, he said: "Er Niang said yesterday that Ge Nu sent some slaves. You go to the Dongshi Department to sign a contract and bring them back."
"It's too embarrassing to call him Prime Minister, isn't it? Alas." Lu Fengniang said: "If we take many slaves at this time of year, we will really be wronged by others for taking away that old man's money."
"Go ahead and say it was confiscated. Don't wait until they are exiled."
Lu Fengniang was very worried, but she didn't forget to order someone to bring the food to Du Youlin first, and then asked Quan Rui to prepare a car and take her to the Dongshi Department to apply for the deed.
The study is finally quiet...
"Squeak."
Du Jin pushed the door open and came in. After saying goodbye, he asked, "Master, do you plan to follow Xue Bai to visit Mrs. Guo Guo's house this afternoon?"
Du Youlin was a little afraid of this daughter. He stroked his beard and said, "After all, meeting such people will hinder my reputation."
"What Grandpa said is that when the Du family is bullied to death, it will be fine."
"Listen to me." Du Youlin was not annoyed. He lowered his voice slightly and sounded more solemn. "The official career is dangerous. Now I am blocking the saints from hearing and excluding dissidents. This is not the time for a gentleman to enter the official position. In the coming year, Brother
Now that I have dismissed the Prime Minister, your two brothers will be transferred back to the capital, and I have Du’s personal connections to be taken care of at that time."
"Yes, when the Jingzhao Du family is in trouble, they can't come to the rescue. They can only ask for the cockfighting cock. How can they still do it as a favor?"
After Du Jin made such a mockery, he became more and more disappointed with Du Youlin and only regretted that he was not a man.
"But Grandpa, have you ever thought about why Suo Douji let the Du family go? Is it because his conscience suddenly grew again? He just wanted the Du family to do things for him. So these days, when Grandpa is enjoying peace and quiet here, what can I think about?
But who is holding up the sky above the Du family?!"
After a long time, Du Youlin made a sad face and said: "What can I do? I can't persuade the saint, even if I don't want to step into the filth?"
"My grandpa was almost killed in Dali Temple with a stick, but since he survived, it's time to support the Du family."
Du Youlin was stunned and stood up, but his eyes fell on the "Qujiang Collection" on the case. He didn't know what he thought of, but he stopped again and murmured a sigh.
"Why bother your grandpa? I'm just... not that capable..."
Du Jin was speechless.
She knew in her heart that it was extremely difficult for a man or a father to admit that he was weak, so she decided not to persuade him any more.
"It's my daughter's fault, don't blame me."
After apologizing softly, she said a blessing, turned around and left.
Du Youlin breathed a sigh of relief, sat back down again, and continued reading.
Not long after, a servant called outside the door: "Alang, the food is here."
"Um."
Suddenly, Du Youlin sniffed and looked where he saw several plates of dishes being placed on the table.
His face became solemn, he held up his sleeves with one hand, held up the chopsticks with the other, stretched it towards the shiny plate, put the food in his mouth, and chewed it twice, with a look of shock in his eyes.
“Delicious food!”
~~
At noon, the kitchen sent two more biscuits to the study.
Du Wulang peeked into the study, pulled over the servant who was delivering food, and asked, "What do you say, Master?"
"Alang doesn't want to eat Hu Pancakes, so he asked if there are any more dishes delivered in the morning."
"As I expected, what else? Can you tell me what you want?"
"As I said, breakfast is a trial of side dishes. Later Xue Langjun will take Hu Shisanniang to Mrs. Guo Guo's house to cook some big dishes."
"good."
Du Wulang handed over a small bunch of money and whispered: "Don't let me know about it, just go ahead."
Suddenly there was a "squeak" sound and the study door was opened.
I saw Du Youlin standing there, with a heavy expression on his face as if he was going to die in danger.
…
As the carriage went out, Du Wulang couldn't help but feel proud and whispered: "See, my method is more effective than the second sister's persuasion."
