Someone spent fifty taels of silver to invite three Taoist priests to go to the Jingzhou magistrate's house in the middle of the night to break the evil spell and make the thieves catch him. Dong Sheng, a traveling scholar who was passing by, raised his hand to Su Tao and said, "Young students must ask the three Taoist priests something."
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The three Taoist priests said in succession: "Excuse me, sir!" Su Tao agreed.
Dong Sheng then asked carefully about the appearance, clothes, shoes, accent, etc. of the person who hired them, and asked for pen and ink to draw a figure for the person. Finally, he said: "This is a Wu man, who is the manager of a big merchant in Jingzhou. His boss often
Go to Wu to do cloth business."
Su Tao was stunned: "How can you see that? According to what these three Taoist priests said, that man spoke some Jingzhou dialect."
Dong Sheng said: "This place is Jingzhou. It is very common for people doing business to learn some dialects from other places. That man also spoke a lot of local dialects from Wu. And," he pointed to the portrait, "his appearance is that of a Wu person."
Then he pointed to the clothes of the man in the portrait, "According to what several Taoist priests said, this should be Yun Jin."
Su Tao was startled: "Yun Jin?"
Dong Sheng nodded: "Pure clothes on the outside and Yun brocade on the inside. Where can ordinary people in Jiangnan afford Yun brocade? But this man behaves vulgarly, and his shoes are stained with mud. It shows that he is not a son of a rich family pretending to be a poor boy. If it is the boss
When he pretends to be a clerk, he must be careful not to wear Yun brocade. I think this person is not pretending, it is his usual appearance."
Su Tao couldn't help but follow him and asked: "Why do you see the steward of the cloth merchant?"
Dong Sheng said: "If his boss hadn't been in the cloth business, how could he afford to wear Yun brocade? The clerk certainly couldn't afford it. It's cheap for the only manager to take the opportunity to hide his ideas. He wants to show off to others, but he's also afraid that his boss won't be happy with it.
. I took advantage of the opportunity to go to Taihui Temple to do business and put it on secretly. Besides, the cloth is produced in Wu. Only big businessmen would hire a Wu to take care of their affairs. Ordinary small traders don’t need to spend that money."
Su Tao stroked his beard and nodded: "It makes some sense."
Dong Sheng said: "Since Te Te is a mage hired by Mr. Su's house - fifty taels of silver is not a small amount, enough for two or three poor families to live for a year - please think about it, Sir, do you know that he often goes to Wu State to do it?"
There are no big merchants in the cloth business who don't take fifty taels seriously."
"Hiss—" Su Tao immediately thought of his aunt's brother. He was the big cloth merchant with whom he had the most connection.
While he was thinking about it, someone below said loudly: "It can't be Mr. He! Mr. He's sister is Mr. Su's little wife, and she also gave birth to a son and a daughter!"
Another said: "Then Mr. He is Mr. Su's brother-in-law? My brother-in-law invites Taoist priests for my brother-in-law's family?"
The first one said: "Then why did he hide it from his brother-in-law?" Everyone immediately started talking.
Dong Sheng smiled and said: "It seems that it is probably a family matter for adults, and the other young students dare not say anything nonsense." He bowed to the ground and retreated.
Someone in the hall immediately asked him: "Mr. Dong, what do you think the reason is?"
Dong Sheng smiled and frowned: "I don't know."
The man pulled him and said, "Sir, the way he looks, it's obvious that he's guessing. Sir, please tell me."
Dong Sheng blinked innocently and said, "Have you guessed? The backyard of a wealthy family is more lively than the court. Mr. Su's wife has children and a daughter, and the younger wife also has children and a daughter. Her mother's family still has money. If you can play chess and meet an opponent, you will find a good talent."
"
I saw a young man emerge from the crowd, looked up at Dong Sheng and said innocently: "Mr. Dong, can you guess, I really want to know!"
Dong Sheng said: "Where can I just guess? There is no evidence." He cupped his hands and looked back at Su Tao, whose brows were furrowed. He shook his head again, sighed softly, and turned around to leave. The people around him were curious, and several of them followed.
When he went out, the young man was among them.
After leaving the Yamen, several people immediately surrounded Dong Sheng, asking him to guess. Dong Sheng was silent and said that he had gotten up late and hadn't had breakfast yet. The young man smiled and said: "I'll give him a guess."
Sir, let’s have breakfast.” Another person shouted: “Why are you kids joining in the fun? I’ll treat you, I’ll treat you!” Another person yelled: “Don’t grab it, I’ll treat you!”
Dong Sheng smiled and bowed: "I don't bother you all, I just want to eat some snacks as long as I want."
The crowd refused to disperse and still surrounded him. Dong Sheng led seven or eight idlers to find a small stall on the street and asked for a bowl of rice noodles. The idlers also asked for some food and sat around him. Dong Sheng had no choice but to
Said: "I just guessed."
Everyone nodded vigorously: "I know, I know! I just want to hear your guess, sir."
Dong Sheng said: "Even I, a foreigner who has just arrived in Jingzhou, heard that Magistrate Su is going to marry a local wealthy family named Deng. Is that right if the Deng family still has a son who is a high official in Beijing?"
"That's right! The Deng family is one of the largest families here."
"And it is obvious that the Deng family took advantage of this marriage. The old man of the Su family is a great scholar in the world, and the Deng family is just a little better than the squire. The daughter of the prefect Su who is engaged to the Deng family, in terms of status, if there is no enfeoffment in the world, the prince
The concubine also deserves it. When Su Zhifu agreed to the marriage, he was either out of his mind, or he liked the Deng family's young master very much, or he had been away from the capital all year round and had no idea what his father's status was. He only regarded himself as an ordinary person.
From the Fourth Grade Magistrate." Now the rice noodles were served, and Dong Sheng lowered his head to eat.
Someone asked: "Isn't Mr. Su a fourth-grade prefect?"
Dong Sheng said slowly and calmly: "In the early years when the Supreme Emperor was still in power, all the princes knew that the three princes of the Rongguo Mansion would dominate the world. If they were to win them, it would be like having Kong Ming, Zhou Yu, and Xun Yu all in their pockets. These three most respected people are their two
Mr. Lin Hai, the Minister of Household Affairs, and Su Zheng, the Great Scholar of the Hanlin Academy. In other words, which prince married Lin Hai's daughter, Su Zheng's granddaughter, and then properly put the crown prince's golden crown on his head. If not,
Due to the four generals' rebellion in the capital, Su Tao had to be transferred to the capital immediately after the death of the late emperor. By now he should have been in the cabinet. Even if he was not in the cabinet, he would still have to have a minister. Think about it, how could the uncle of the Deng family marry someone with his status?
Your Majesty's daughter? Even if Lord Shangshu agrees, will all the princes and the wealthy families in the capital agree?" He lowered his head and ate rice noodles again.
"Wow..." The idlers usually only gossiped about the street widows and the prostitutes at the end of the alley. How could they have chewed the prince's minister's tongue? Then they became happy and excited. The young man was silent for a long time and said: "It's just that the world has been divided. Su Tao has been stunned for many years."
I have never been promoted to an official rank."
Dong Sheng smiled and said: "If he wants to be promoted to an official position - if Mr. Su wants to be promoted to an official position, he will be able to come to Beijing right now."
The young man pouted: "That's all, the situation in the world is still unclear. Mr. Dong, do you think this marriage can happen?"
Dong Sheng said: "To be successful, people have to change. If the Deng family doesn't break off the engagement quickly, the world's powerful will be eyeing it in the blink of an eye."
A man with a white face and short beard slapped the table and said, "Can the Deng family still be afraid of them?"
Dong Sheng said leisurely: "I am not necessarily afraid, but I die quickly. A three-year-old child passed through the market pregnant with gold, and he died without knowing how he died. Now that the King of Chu is declining, there is no way to protect them; if the King of Chu had not
If it declines, Miss Su will not be able to turn to the Deng family."
The white-faced man said: "The marriage is already engaged. Mr. Su made it himself. What can others do?"
Dong Sheng said casually: "Master Su is interested in Uncle Deng, not the Deng family. What if Uncle Deng is walking on the road well and suddenly frightens his horse and dies?"
"Boom..." Everyone started talking again.
Dong Sheng took a mouthful of rice noodles before saying: "It is very easy to kill someone in the hands of princes and wealthy people in the capital. The Deng family has been in Jingzhou for a long time and has never had an opponent. No one has dealt with them like this, nor has they dealt with others like this."
"Anyone who takes action can kill Uncle Deng immediately." Nai shook his head and said, "You dare to take on the porcelain work without diamonds? Do you think you will live too long?"
The young man narrowed his eyes and looked at Dong Sheng: "Are you really here to study?"
Dong Sheng smiled and said, "Do you think I look like me?"
The young man also smiled and said: "It doesn't look like that. Which prince are you from?"
Dong Sheng said: "The master has not been chosen yet." The young man's eyes moved, and Dong Sheng said again, "My superior has not chosen the master yet." The young man tilted his head and looked at him. Dong Sheng then stretched out his arm and glanced at the watch on his hand.
, said to himself, "It's already this time, no need to have lunch today." This group of idlers, including the teenagers, all opened their eyes wide. Western watches were imported from Lingnan in the past six months.
Of course, there is no need to mention the word "expensive". The supply of goods is almost all in the hands of the Wang family in Lingnan - Wang Ziteng, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi.
The young man took a deep breath and said slowly: "Does Mr. Wang also want to join in the fun?"
Dong Sheng shook his head and said: "The young master of the Wang family is engaged. He just heard about the Western chocolate recipe and came to win over the Su family." He then looked at the idle people around him and said, "Everyone knows Western wrists.
As far as I know, this thing is only sold in Guangzhou, Jingcheng, and Ping'an Prefecture, and has not been sold in Jingzhou City. It turns out that everyone is the same and has an owner." Everyone immediately looked at each other with suspicion in their eyes. Dong Sheng stood
They stood up and made a group salute, "Thank you all for treating me as a talented person. You are out on business and still have the thought to help the lord recruit talents. You are all good ministers."
The young man couldn't help but laugh: "Mr. Dong is indeed a talent."
Dong Sheng smiled and said: "Even if you are late, you already have a master. Also, Mr. Wang's eldest granddaughter is ten years old." Everyone couldn't help but take a breath. Dong Sheng had obviously admitted that his boss was Wang Ziteng.
I came here with the idea of getting married, but it was not for Miss Su, but for Miss Su’s brother. This was to warn others that the Su family’s uncle has been targeted by the Wang family, so don’t come and rob him if you have nothing to do. Dong Sheng said again, “Everyone
People from all over come to Jingzhou to join in the fun. It turns out that all the lords have heard about the recipe in Miss Su’s hand and have come to have her idea. There are so many jackals, tigers and leopards, and if the Deng family doesn’t break off the engagement quickly, it will be too late.”
The young man asked: "What should Miss Su do?"
Dong Sheng spread his hands and said: "Anyway, there is nothing wrong with the Wang family. Whoever has the ability will take it." The young man smiled and shook his head.
Someone asked: "Why did the Wang family not think of the idea of attacking the Su family until now? If we do it earlier, we can get a head start."
Dong Sheng said: "Didn't the news about the chocolate recipe just come out in the past few months? The Wang family's surname is not Situ, so why do you want to seize Su Zheng's granddaughter?"
The white-faced man said: "So, Miss Su must be the crown prince's concubine?"
Dong Sheng said: "It's okay to be an idle wife. You can't marry your first wife regardless of marriage, otherwise you will be a widower." The white-faced man's face turned green.
Everyone was suddenly silent, and Dong Sheng took the opportunity to eat rice noodles. After he finished eating, everyone wanted to speak. Dong Sheng touched his belly and said, "Not full." He ordered another bowl of three fresh noodles.
The young man said before the others: "After chatting for a long time, Mr. Dong still hasn't said how you guessed the case today."
Dong Sheng said with a smile: "What I just said is not a unique insight. Many people know it - probably only the Deng family doesn't know it. After all, their life is too smooth, they have no sense of crisis, and they let money go to their heads. Artificial intelligence
Wealth dies and birds die for food." He sighed softly, "Miss Su is really a good person. You must have heard the gossip on the street now, it is what Miss Su said herself." Everyone was silent.
Obviously everyone has heard of it.
The young man thought: "Mr. Dong thought it was Miss Su who released it herself?"
Dong Sheng nodded and said: "She even went out to the banquet in gorgeous clothes, all to warn the Deng family that they could not afford to marry her. Seeing that your lords and the wealthy businessmen of the country have sent people to Jingzhou, as long as the Deng family is not completely confused, it won't be long before
It is time to discuss breaking off the engagement with the Su family. Su Tao is a gentleman, so he will inevitably feel embarrassed. The Deng family can take the opportunity to discuss another marriage with the Su family. The Deng family cannot afford to marry Miss Su, so the other two girls who were born as concubines still marry
Affordable.”
The young man blinked and said, "So, who is the rich man?"
Dong Sheng said: "Since Mr. He can become a rich man, he must have some vision or know some people with vision. The fight in the backyard is no less than that of the previous dynasty. Kick the opponent out and the position will be yours. The daughter of Mr. He's niece and
Master Su's young daughters are about the same age, and both girls have the opportunity to marry into the Deng family." He paused, "Since ancient times, witchcraft has been a serious crime in the harem's backyard."
The white-faced man immediately said: "Are you suspicious that Mr. He is a mischief-maker and is trying to frame Mr. Su's other concubine for his niece?"
At this moment, the three fresh noodles were also served. Dong Sheng took a mouthful of the noodles and said, "Think about it, if those three Taoist priests were not caught as thieves, what would have happened next. Remember, who are they?"
I bought it with fifty taels of silver from my family. Fifty taels of white money~~" He took a few more bites and said, "Oh, this Mr. He is a rich man. Mr. Su's other concubine doesn't have a rich uncle."
The white-faced man chuckled and said, "This is just a nouveau riche that has made a fortune in recent years."
Dong Sheng said: "Then I dare say that the inner courtyard of the Su family may have asked the sisters of the rich man He to bribe many servants. It would be easy to bury a witchcraft doll in the courtyard."
A man in black clothes who had never said a word laughed when he heard this and said, "Mr. Dong, do you think highly of that upstart?"
"Huh?" Dong Sheng turned his head and looked at him, "Brother, what do you have in mind?"
The man said: "I think that neither the person named He nor his sister are the masters of high-level affairs. What Mr. Dong said just now is all based on the mind of a talented man. The witchcraft is a witchcraft, but it is not aimed at Mr. Su.
That concubine went towards Miss Su."
"Ah?" Dong Sheng put down his chopsticks, "Brother, are you kidding me? That Miss Su is half a young lady from the Rongguo Mansion!"
The man in black clothes said: "I heard that Miss Su was as extravagant as she was in Beijing after she came to Jingzhou, but she was not willing to give some clothes and jewelry to Mr. Su's little wife and concubine." He paused.
Dong Sheng was busy eating noodles, and the white-bearded man couldn't help but ask: "So what?"
The man in Xuanyi said slowly: "Envy, jealousy, hatred, and greed. Just like the Deng family thought that as long as they married Miss Su, they would get chocolate recipes and help from the Rongguo Mansion; then Rich Man He's sister also thought
, as long as Miss Su is moved down, her clothes, jewelry, body, and even marriage can become his and his daughter's. They have never thought about whether their family is so blessed." He spread his hands and said, "
Don't be surprised, that's what fools think."
Dong Sheng took a few bites of noodles and thought, "It seems to make sense." After a while, he smiled again, "The comparison between the Deng family and Mr. He's sister is vivid and close. Most people don't know their own weight.
"The white-bearded man's face immediately turned as red as pig liver.