Chenjiawu is built of rammed earth and stone, with three floors. The bottom floor is as high as eight feet, which is about four meters high in later generations. The second floor is also two feet high, so the ladder connecting the floors seems quite tall, especially for Chen's mother, Li.
It is very hard for such frail elderly people to go up and down stairs.
Chen Caozhi obtained his mother's consent and tidied up two rooms on the second floor. He lived with his mother and Aunt Ying next to each other, so that his mother could take a walk downstairs without having to climb one more stairs. Chen Caozhi originally wanted to live with his mother on the ground floor.
We went there, but considering that the ground floor was damp and the sunlight was short, we chose the second floor as a compromise.
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, was very happy because of her son's filial piety. Every evening, accompanied by her son and the old maid Yinggu, she went for a walk by the willow forest outside Wubao, talking about old things and feeling peaceful.
At the end of May and the beginning of June, it was the time to mow wheat, and the whole Chenjiawu was busy. Laifu and his son even got up early and stayed in the dark, and the tenants had no time to mow wheat.
The Chen family in Xilou has more than 2,000 acres of land, of which 1,500 acres are planted with wheat. There are 23 households of tenant farmers. They are all very busy at this time. The women and children are carrying pots of rice and milk to the fields for their husbands.
, father, uncle, brother eat and drink, the red sun is scorching, the sweat drips on the hot soil, the hard work is indeed hard, but because of the kindness of the owner, the wheat rent per acre is twenty liters less than the normal market price. In case of famine or disease, the owner will still
Land rents were reduced or exempted as appropriate, so the tenant farmers felt that they had a good life, had enough food and clothing, and had some surplus after paying the land rent and taxes. Farmers nearby envied Chen's tenants, saying they had found a good owner.
Cutting wheat, drying it, grinding it, raising it, calculating rent, and returning it to warehouses are all a busy process until the end of June, and the tenant farmers have to rush to plant rice. At this time, the yield of rice is low, but the price is more expensive than wheat.
At noon on June 21st, Laifu came back from Yuhuang Mountain and went up to the second floor to report to Chen’s mother, Mrs. Li, about this year’s wheat harvest. This year’s harvest was better than last year’s. All the tenants were overjoyed and worked day and night to harvest. Now the harvest was almost complete.
Coming up, wheat is being ground and winnowed——
"Father, mother, little husband, I'm back!"
Laide, wearing a bamboo hat on his head and straw shoes on his feet, strode in, came to the shade under the eaves, took off his bamboo hat to fan himself, and wiped the sweat with his sleeves. His mother, Zeng Yuhuan, was overjoyed to see her son coming back sweating profusely.
I have been in Germany for more than a month now. I am really worried about being alone outside. I quickly brought water for my son to wash his face first——
Chen Caozhi walked out of the room on the second floor and leaned on the railing and said, "Laide is back. Thank you for your hard work. Have you invited Mr. Yang?"
Laide raised his head and said, "Mr. Yang has arrived. He has almost passed the pine forest three miles away. I will rush back to report the news -" and then asked softly, "Little Langjun, is the old mistress okay?"
Chen Cao said: "Fortunately, Laide, you come with me to greet Imperial Doctor Yang."
Ran Sheng was practicing calligraphy under the supervision of Run'er. Hearing that Laide was back, he finally had a reason and jumped downstairs quickly, pulling Laide to ask questions.
When Lai De saw Chen Cao coming downstairs, he said, "Xiao Langjun, then Liu Langjun is here too this time."
"Is it worth it?" Chen Caozhi was very happy and said to his mother that he was going to greet her. Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, said: "Chou'er, where did you invite a miracle doctor? Isn't my mother in good health?
"
Chen Caozhi said: "Mother, this Divine Doctor Yang is from Yangzhou and has met Liu Shangzhi. It must have been this time that Laide said that your old man was not in good health, so Shangzhi asked Divine Doctor Yang to come with him to visit."
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, nodded and said, "Well, Chou'er, hurry up and greet me. I've come from a long way, so don't be rude." She ordered Zeng Yuhuan and his eldest daughter-in-law, Mrs. Zhao, to quickly prepare a few more dishes.
Chen Caozhi took Laifu, Laide and Ran Sheng out of Wubao and headed north for more than half a mile. They saw two bullock carts approaching under the scorching sun. There were two followers on foot beside the carts. The one in front of them
The bullock cart stopped first, and what came out was the tall and strong Liu Shangzhi, and his personal maid Gillian.
Liu Shangzhi bowed to Chen Caozhi from afar and said something to Yang Quan in the car behind. Yang Quan, a famous doctor in Guangling, also got out of the car. He had a round face, a little fat, a flat nose, and very long eyebrows, almost as long as
Covering his eyes, he is over fifty years old.
Chen Caozhi hurried up to greet Yang Quan, bowed deeply to Yang Quan from a few feet away, walked a few steps closer, cupped his hands and said, "It's such a hot day. Doctor Yang has come from thousands of miles away. I'm very grateful. Sir, please get in the car and sit down.
My house is still half a mile away."
Yang Quan returned the gift to Chen Caozhi and looked at this well-known and beautiful young man from a poor family with a smile. It was because of this boy that Yu Xi, the internal history of Yangzhou, became seriously ill.
There are anecdotes about this son spread, Sanqi often served Quanli, Grand Sima joined the army of Huan Yi, and Wu Commandery Governor Lu Na all admired this Chen Caozhi. Recently, it is said that Xi Chao and Chen Caozhi met like old friends, and they talked at night -
Famous doctors, like celebrities, also need to cultivate their reputation. Among those doctors who are confined to their hometowns and have no reputation outside their own county, there are quite a lot of people with superb medical skills. Why do they have no name? It means they are not good at cultivating their reputation. Yang Quan understands this very well.
One thing is that he was originally an imperial physician at the Shang Yao Jian. He resigned and returned to Guangling due to disagreements with the imperial physician order. He had always only treated diseases for high-ranking dignitaries, and traveled more than a thousand miles to treat an old woman from a poor family. Yang Quan asked himself that he was not so noble.
If it weren't for Prefect Lu's reputation, Chen Caozhi still wouldn't be able to hire him because of his medical ethics. However, when they met, Yang Quan secretly praised him in his heart.
, It is rare to see a handsome young man with such grace and grace. Only Wang Xianzhi, the seventh son of Wang Youjun, can compare with this Chen Caozhi.
After exchanging a few words of greeting, Yang Quan sat back in the car. The sun was so scorching, it was piercing him like golden needles, and he couldn't stand it.
Chen Caozhi and Liu Shangzhi were walking. Liu Shangzhi first asked about Chen Caozhi's mother's physical condition. When he learned that she was safe, he showed his usual playful nature, chatted and laughed easily with Chen Caozhi, and said: "Zizhong, your sixth grade
I have received the exemption certificate, and I also received it on behalf of Ding Chunqiu. I brought it back this time. I rested at Ding's villa last night and rushed here early in the morning."
When Chen Caozhi learned that he had finally ordered the product, he felt only a touch of joy. He could make his mother happy, and asked: "Is it going well for you on your official business in the county?"
Liu Shangzhi said: "Sure, Ambassador Lu takes good care of me. Although he is a low-grade official, he is not too dirty. After my father asked you to report the news, he sent two family members to send a lot of money and silk.
Wujun is for my use. The meager salary is not enough for me to spend. My return to my hometown this time can be regarded as a business trip. Lu Shijun sent me to accompany Imperial Physician Yang to Qiantang. I will continue to accompany him after his illness is cured.
Imperial Physician Yang returned to Wu County."
While they were talking, when they arrived at Chenjiawu, Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, came to greet her personally. Yang Quan got out of the car and quickly asked Chen Caozhi to help his mother in to avoid suffering from heat stroke.
Chen Caozhi invited Yang Quan and Liu Shangzhi to sit down in the main hall on the ground floor, served tea, and talked for a while. Then Laifu came to invite the young man and the distinguished guests to dine.
The wine is Qian Tang Guizi wine. The dishes include four meats, four vegetables and one soup. The four meats are boiled mutton, braised silver goose, fried mandarin fish and steamed bacon. The four vegetables are cucumber, cowpea, red amaranth and lettuce. The soup is
River shellfish and broad bean soup.
These simple, fresh dishes were delicious and both Yang Quan and Liu Shangzhui devoured them.
After the meal, Chen Caozhi arranged a guest room for Yang Quan to take a rest. Yang Quan was very particular about treating people. He said that doctors should not be tired or eat improperly. There are such things as "six cures and six no cures"——
Liu Shangzhi took out a brocade box from the car and said to Chen Caozhi: "This is your sixth grade exemption certificate. If I don't give it to you now, I will give it to Aunt Chen." He went up to the second floor with Chen Caozhi and went to Chen Caozhi.
In mother Li's room, after giving the gift, she opened the brocade box, took out the silk scarf, and presented it to Chen's mother, Li.
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, looked at her son's name written neatly on it. On it were the cinnabar seals of Situ Sima Yu, the seals of Yangzhou Dazhongzheng Yuxi, and the seals of Wujun Zhongzheng Quanli——
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, looked at the sixth-grade exempted form, and then at her son who looked like a orchid orchid tree in front of her. You can imagine how happy she felt. She turned to Aunt Ying and said, "Aying, open the nanmu box on the bedside. What's inside?"
There is a small box, take it."
Aunt Ying took the small box, and Chen's mother Li opened the wooden box, and what she took out was Chen Qingzhi's seventh-grade free form. The silk was slightly yellowed, but the cinnabar seal became brighter with time.
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, said to Chen Caozhi: "My mother still clearly remembers the scene when your brother presented this exemption certificate to my mother. It has been eleven years now."
Liu Shangzhi was afraid that Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, would be sad after seeing things and thinking about people, so he smiled and said: "Zizhong is famous for his talents and is the most talented scholar in Wu County. In the future, Zizhong will also present the copper seal and ink ribbon to Aunt Chen.
"
Zongzhi on the side said in awe: "So, Uncle Chou is now a high official?"
Run'er said: "Of course."
Xiaochan, Qingzhi, Yinggu, Chen's mother and Mrs. Li all laughed.
At this time, people from the Chen clan and family members kept coming to see Chen Caozhi's exemption, and they were all sincerely happy. This was the honor of the Chen clan of Qiantang, and every Chen clan member felt proud.
Liu Shangzhi wanted to rush back to Liujiabao to see his old father, saying that he would come back early the next morning. He had been ordered by Grand Administrator Lu to accompany Imperial Physician Yang throughout the whole process, and he could not neglect his duty.
Chen Caozhi sent Liu Shangzhi away. When he came back, he saw that Yang Taiyi had woken up from his nap. After washing his face and hands, a child came with a medicine bag to diagnose and treat Chen's mother Li. After feeling her pulse, he looked at Chen's mother again.
Mrs. Li asked about her daily diet and daily life, nodded, and comforted Chen's mother Li for a few words. Then she and Chen Caozhi went to the study on the third floor and sat down. Xiaochan brought tea.
Yang Quan asked: "Chen Langjun, what medicine has your father taken recently?"
Chen Caozhi then told the story one by one about how Ge Hong and Zhi Mindu came to treat their mother last year. Yang Quan said calmly: "It turns out that Mr. Zhikawa and Mr. Du both treated illnesses for your mother. How could Yang do that?"
This trip is not in vain."
It is said that scholars look down on each other, and doctors are even more jealous of each other. Yang Quan didn't have the heart to support others, so he felt a little unhappy at the moment.
Chen Caozhi explained: "Mr. Zhichuan is my teacher. He went to Luofu Mountain in September last year. Last month, Jiaci's body was not in harmony. I was very anxious, so I sent someone to ask Yang Taiyi to come and treat my mother.
A few days later, Duke Anshi of Kuaiji invited me to attend the elegant gathering in Dongshan. I declined because my mother was ill and could not attend the meeting. Master Zhi Mindu was staying at Xie's villa in Dongshan, so he came here accompanied by Xie Youdu to diagnose and treat my mother——"
Yang Quan smiled and said: "Mr. Chen's filial piety is commendable. It is a worthwhile trip for Yang to come from afar and get to know Qian Tang and Chen Zizhong."
Chen Caozhi said hurriedly: "Afraid."
Yang Quan said: "Mr. Ge Zhichuan and Master Zhi Mindu are both famous doctors in the world. Their prescriptions are both very good. I can't give you a better prescription. I will just follow Du Gong's prescription. In addition to not working too hard, you should eat more."
Be careful not to eat cured meat or salted fish, and don’t drink too much water, as long as you don’t feel thirsty. The hawthorns are about to be ripe, so you can eat more than ten hawthorns a day. The most important thing is to try not to catch a cold.”
Chen Caozhi kept this in mind and said, "I dare to ask Imperial Physician Yang, if there is no accident, can Jiaci live a long life?"
Yang Quan said: "In today's world, people who are over fifty are considered to have a long life." He also said: "Chen Langjun, don't think too much, just live your life and serve your royal family. Your heart will be open and you will be harmonious."
Chen Caozhi nodded in agreement and asked no more questions. From now on, he would just take care of his mother. Now he finally understood why Master Ge asked him not to go out after May this year. That was because his old and frail mother needed to be taken care of.
Ah, the mother only has one son like him. If he is not around to serve in his old age at this time, then what is the point of raising a son?
At dusk, Chen Caozhi and Yang Quan were chatting in the study. Yang Quan was familiar with the family stories and his conversation was quite interesting. When talking about the Xie family in Chen County, Yang Quan said: "Everyone says that Xie Anshi is very magnanimous, but they don't know that his younger brother Xie Wanshi is also very magnanimous.
In the early years of Yonghe, the famous monk Zhi Daolin returned to Shan County. All the famous people in Jiankang gathered in Zhenglu Pavilion to see Zhi Daolin off. Cai Zishu arrived first and sat beside Zhi Daolin, listening to Zhi Daolin's "Jise You Xuan Lun"
, Xie Wanshi arrived later, and there were already people sitting around Zhi Daolin. He could not listen to Zhi Daolin's wonderful talk. Just at this time, Cai Zishu got up because of something, Xie Wanshi moved the cushion to occupy Cai Zishu's seat, and listened to Zhi Daolin's talk.
In appreciation, Uncle Cai came back at this time. Seeing that Xie Wanshi had taken his position, he was furious. He rushed up and yanked Xie Wanshi's cushion, knocking Xie Wanshi and the cushion to the ground. He took his original position and Xie Wanshi fell.
The gauze crown and turban were all off. Everyone thought that Xie Wanshi would be angry, but they didn't expect Xie Wanshi to straighten his clothes, sit down calmly, and continue to listen to Zhi Daolin's talk about mysteries. At that time, people praised Xie Wanshi for his magnanimity, and Situ Sima Yu appreciated it very much.
If the official fortune is good, if we can achieve success in this northern expedition, we may be able to open the three divisions of Yitong and join Huan Da Sima."
Chen Caozhi thought: "Xie Wan is suitable for serving in the court, not for commanding the army. I wonder if Brother Yingtai has conveyed my words to her uncle Xie An. I guess Xie Wan's failure is inevitable."
At this time, I suddenly heard Laide calling from the other side of Wubao gate: "Young Master Cao, a guest is here. It's Mr. Ding."
When Chen Cao heard this, why was Ding Chunqiu here? He asked Yang Quan to sit down, and he quickly went downstairs. Zongzhi and Run'er followed behind him. Run'er asked, "Could it be my mother who is here?" Chen Cao asked Yang Quan to sit down.
Cao Zhi didn't answer, feeling a vague expectation in his heart.
Chen Caozhi took his nephew and niece down to the courtyard. Three ox-carts from the Ding family had already entered the gate of Wubao. Ding Chunqiu got out of the car first. When he saw Chen Caozhi, he quickly came over and said seriously
