Standing in front of the gate of Bachuan Villa, Zhou Jun looked at the scenery around him and felt lost in thought for a moment.
After a year's absence, everything in Bachuan changed so fast that he could not recognize it. He was confused.
Qu Sanweng was wearing a silk robe. When he saw Zhou Jun, he shouted excitedly: "I look forward to Erlang returning home soon, and he is finally here!"
Among the people in the Villa, some were Zhou Jun's old acquaintances, and many more had just heard of his name, and they all came out to greet him and bowed in salute.
Zhou Jun handed the reins of the horse to Sun Aying beside him, asked Qu Sanweng to arrange food and lodging for the soldiers, and then, surrounded by everyone, entered the Zhongyuan.
Yuping stood at the door of the small courtyard, looked at Zhou Jun with a smile, and said softly: "Pang Gong has been waiting for Erlang for a long time."
Zhou Jun bowed his hands, stepped into the small courtyard, and then entered the study.
In the warmth of charcoal fire, Zhou Jun saw Pang Gong sitting upright.
Pang Gong was wearing a long indigo gown, with silver hair on his head. The wrinkles on his head and eyes were clearly visible, but the smile on his face was the same as before. He patted the folding chair next to him and said, "Sit down."
."
Zhou Jun bowed to Duke Pang and said, "Jun is in a hurry and is covered in dust..."
Pang Gong: "Sit down, I have something to say."
Zhou Jun responded and sat next to Pang Gong.
Seeing Zhou Jun sit down, Pang Gong sighed softly and said: "Our family has already stepped into the soil with one foot..."
Zhou Jun opened his mouth, intending to say a few words of comfort.
Pang Gong continued: "Da Rong passed away last year, and our family also spent a period of time in despair. Later, I thought about it, a person's life, vegetation and autumn are just a matter of a snap of a finger, so why should we mourn in vain."
After a pause, Pang Gong looked at Zhou Jun and said, "Erlang, do you still remember that our family once boasted of knowing people well?"
Zhou Jun nodded.
Pang Gong: "When we first met Erlang, our family knew that you were not an ordinary person. You acted carefully. Firstly, you were not greedy for money, secondly, you did not seek power, and thirdly, you did not seek fame. You just followed your heart and acted with self-discipline... But, your
I’ve read countless people’s thoughts, but I can’t see through them.”
Zhou Jun raised his head and looked at Pang Gong, but stopped talking.
Pang Gong smiled and shook his head and said: "Don't worry too much. These words are not meant to question us. After so many years of getting along with each other, I don't know anything else, but I can trust Erlang's character. No matter what your thoughts are, from now on
Just let go and do it from now on.”
Zhou Jun was touched in his heart, stood up, and bowed to Duke Pang.
Pang Gong asked Zhou Jun to sit down and said, "There's just one thing..."
Zhou Jun sat down as instructed and looked at Pang Gong.
Pang Gong: "This year's Double Ninth Festival, your parents and the elder brother of the Zhou family came to see you with gifts. They wished our family well-being and accidentally mentioned your marriage."
Zhou Jun was stunned.
Pang Gong: "After the New Year, you will be twenty years old. According to the law of the Tang Dynasty, you are already a late match. Your parents have no idea what kind of beauty they will find for you, so they can only ask me for advice."
Speaking of this, Pang Gong said helplessly: "We are servants in our family. I'm afraid your parents are really helpless about such a major marriage matter, so they went to the doctor to discuss it with me in a hurry."
Zhou Jun smiled bitterly.
Pang Gong: "You live in the sixth rank, and you manage the political affairs of Liangzhou and the Hexi trade in an orderly manner. I heard from the palace that the saints praised you highly. No matter which family you belong to, this high-ranking family in Chang'an City
Mom, as long as you are willing, our family can be a lobbyist for you."
Zhou Jun declined deliberately: "When Jun was in Liangzhou, he was busy with political affairs and never thought about marriage."
Pang Gong: "Then start looking for more things from now on. The harmony of yin and yang is the way of heaven. We can't just drag it on like this."
Zhou Jun responded.
Pang Gong smiled and nodded, and said that the carriage and horse were tired and asked Zhou Jun to rest first.
After Zhou Jun said goodbye to Pang Gong, he left the courtyard.
When he reached the entrance of the courtyard, Zhou Jun was still thinking about what Mr. Pang had just said. An old servant who had been serving him for a long time was waiting in the street, which made him stop.
Yin Darong's former housekeeper, Yin An, respectfully saluted Zhou Jun and said, "Welcome the master back home."
Zhou Jun nodded and followed him to Caiwei Courtyard.
After entering the courtyard gate, Zhou Jun went to the main room. Before he reached the side room, he saw a mother and daughter kneeling in the courtyard outside the door. Zhou Jun looked at the mother and daughter. The mother was nearly forty years old.
The daughter was only six or seven years old. Both of them were wearing maidservants' skirts, so they asked Yin An, "Who are they?"
Yin An: "Go back to the master's house. They are Mrs. Qingchan's family."
Zhou Jun realized that he had asked Fan Jinian to rescue Xiao Qingchan's mother and younger sister from Sinong Temple. They must be the two people in front of him.
Zhou Jun asked them to get up and asked Yin An, "Where are Huayue and Qingchan?"
Yin An: "You two ladies, you went to the market very early in the morning for inspection. I'm afraid you won't be able to come back until noon."
Zhou Jun nodded first, then looked at the Xiao family mother and daughter.
Mrs. Xiao Zheng lowered her head and eyebrows, not even daring to make a sound. The younger sister of the Xiao family secretly glanced at the master's house. Seeing that Zhou Jun happened to be looking over, she quickly lowered her head again.
Zhou Jun looked amused, turned around and said to Yin An: "I've been riding all the way back from Liangzhou. I'm a little tired. Get the mattress ready. I'll sleep first."
Yin An responded.
Before anyone could give instructions, Mrs. Xiao Zheng said softly: "Master, the bedding and bed clothes have been prepared."
After hearing this, Zhou Jun entered the wing and fell asleep.
During this sleep, Zhou Jun slept until the sun went down and the bright moon came up.
When Zhou Jun opened his eyes and got up from the bed, the bedroom door was pushed open, and Hua Yue and Xiao Qingchan walked in together.
Xiao Qingchan lit up the lights in the room.
Huayue sat on the edge of the bed, looked Zhou Jun up and down, and said with a smile: "I can tell you have gone to the desert at a glance."
Zhou Jun looked at Huayue and said with a smile: "How can you see it?"
Hua Yue: “Only those travelers and merchants who cross the desert in midsummer will leave hot spots on their necks caused by sunburn.”
Zhou Jun touched the back of his neck and said as he got out of bed: "The headscarf and veil were not tied tightly. For a while, there were wounds on the skin and sweat entered it, making it unbearably itchy."
Hua Yue: "Apply with cork juice every day and wipe it for half a month, and it will be cured."
Xiao Qingchan got the coat and robe, and while serving Zhou Jun to dress neatly, he said: "I heard from my servants that when Erlang returned to Chang'an from Liangzhou, there was no one to take care of him on the way. They were all soldiers and tribesmen.
."
Zhou Jun adjusted his collar and said with a smile: "The journey back to Chang'an from Liangzhou was very fast. Ordinary people can't bear that hardship."
Xiao Qingchan wanted to speak, but after thinking about it, she remained silent.
Zhou Jun looked at the sky outside the window and said, "It's already this hour. Let's have some food served in the kitchen. I'm really hungry."
Huayue: "It's been prepared a long time ago."
Zhou Jun followed Huayue and Qingchan to the side hall. When he saw the table full of food, he sat down and said with a smile: "It's been a long time since I've eaten food here."
Seeing Huayue and Qingchan still standing there, Zhou Jun said again: "You guys should sit down and eat together, there are no outsiders here."
Huayue added bowls and chopsticks before sitting down at the table. Qingchan hesitated for a moment and sat down sideways.
Zhou Jun wolfed down some cakes and porridge, remembered something, and asked: "When I passed by Guandao today, I saw a group of refugees, much more than usual. What's going on?"
Hua Yue swallowed the fried vegetables in her mouth and said: "In September this year, there was heavy rain in Gyeonggi Province. The wall houses were damaged, and many houses in the south of Chang'an City collapsed. I heard from Aunt Gongsun that the duckweed house was also damaged.
."
Zhou Jun stopped his chopsticks.
Hua Yue added: "In addition, the imperial concubine was favored and the Yang family gained power. Many members of the Yang family were rewarded and given titles. The Yang family felt confident, so they purchased and annexed land in the capital, capital and other places.
The private and decent households have no place to rely on and can only become refugees."
Huayue saw Zhou Jun's serious expression and said, "Bachuan regularly distributes porridge for food relief, but the number of refugees is increasing day by day, and sometimes it is beyond its capabilities."
Zhou Jun nodded lightly and put the bowls and chopsticks aside. Seeing that the atmosphere in the hall was dull, he stopped asking about the matter and turned to Xiao Qingchan and asked, "I met your family today."
Hearing this, Xiao Qingchan stood up and bowed to Zhou Jun: "Erlang saved his mother and little sister. This is a great kindness. Qingchan wishes..."
Zhou Jun said nonchalantly: "Since I promised you in the first place, I must keep my promise."
Xiao Qingchan looked at Zhou Jun gratefully, not knowing what to say.
Zhou Jun picked up the bowls and chopsticks again, and while eating dinner, he said to the two girls: "I am going to the market tomorrow, and you should go together."
