On both sides of the Songjiang River, lakes and swamps are dotted, and large tracts of shrubs, reeds, and aquatic plants weave into a colorful scene on the vast land. As the sun rises, gray cranes, black-necked cranes, brown sandpipers, and egrets perched on the swamps fly up and down.
In the wind came the chirping of birds and the fragrance of drying grains.
Xie Daoyun stood at the ferry on the south bank of the Songjiang River with his hands folded, looking at Chen Caozhi and Lu Weirui walking hand in hand on the other side. The morning breeze was blowing and their clothes were fluttering. They looked like a couple of gods and immortals.
The hunchbacked old man stuck the long pole in the sand by the river to secure the ferry. Since the people on the other side were not in a hurry to ferry, the old man and his son were happy to take a break. This old man with a hunchback had been at the ferry for forty years in wind, rain, snow and wind.
Twisting his gray beard, he said to Xie Daoyun who was standing on the shore: "The girl with Chen Langjun is Mrs. Lu, right?" Without waiting for Xie Daoyun's answer, he said to himself: "What a perfect match. Let's get married.
People have to cross this river every now and then, it must be a century-old event, and the old man should be able to see it."
Xie Daoyun took a deep breath and looked up from the heads of Chen Caozhi and Lu Weirui. The distant mountains were covered with red clouds, a red sun burst out, and the white clouds in the high blue sky were as silky as catkins. In October, it was a good time in Xiaoyangchun.
What a beautiful view.
Last night, Xie Daoyun was very interested in planning with Chen Caozhi how to get rid of Lu Qin and how to meet Lu Weirui. It was indeed out of sincere friendship and he thought wholeheartedly about Chen Caozhi. However, now, looking at the couple across the river, Xie Daoyun
Suddenly I felt sad. She was already twenty years old. The sixth day of the next month would be her twentieth birthday. Turning twenty was almost half a lifetime for the Xie family. Since the trip to the south, Chen Jun Xie
Most of his descendants have short life spans. Their ancestor Xie Kun only lived to be forty-three years old, his uncle Xie Shangshou was fifty, his father Xie Yishou was forty-seven, and his uncle Xie Zhi was only thirty-three years old. Xie Daoyun originally had seven brothers and sisters.
She and her brother Xie Xuan——
"Well, we will only be friends for life for twenty years." Xie Daoyun thought in his heart. He bowed his head briefly, raised his head again, and whispered in his heart: "Looking at the pines on the mountain from a distance, they cannot wither in the middle of winter."
I wish I could swim down and take a rest, looking at the ten thousand-foot strips. I couldn't leap up, but I stopped until Wang Qiao came to my feet. I am not with you at this time, and the great fortune is flying." Reciting this old poem, my mind became wider, and I thought to myself.
Isn't it a rare opportunity to get to know Chen Caozhi and become friends with him? She wanted to meet such a person who she could admire wholeheartedly, but if she actually met him, there would be no regrets. Chen Cao in Lu Weirui's eyes and heart
It is different from what Xie Daoyun knows and feels about Chen Caozhi, just like the same calligraphy and painting, different viewers have different feelings, and no one can know her wonderful appreciation——
The hunchbacked old man and his son took out their poles and punted the boat. The strong man on the other side asked for the ferry. Chen Caozhi and Lu Weirui also walked back to the ferry. Lu Weirui was determined to see Chen Caozhi across the river, coveting the short time of cuddling in the boat.
This ship carried Chen Caozhi and Lu Weirui. Lu Weirui whispered: "I really want to go to Qiantang with you like this."
Chen Caozhi looked at this delicate and affectionate beautiful girl, and felt a pain in his heart. He felt that he was very sorry for Wei Rui. At this time, he had nothing to say, and his words seemed frivolous. He could only hug her tightly, wishing that they could be kneaded together——
Lu Weirui panted slightly, her graceful and graceful appearance was indescribable, and said: "From now on, I will go to the ferry for a walk every morning. You will definitely go to Beijing next year and pass by Huating, okay, Chen Lang?"
When they arrived at the south bank of Songjiang River, Lu Weirui and Chen Cao got off the boat and watched the ferry swing back to the north bank. Lu Weirui felt a little happy. There were still Xiao Sheng and the sergeants on the north bank. It would take two more round trips for the ferry to transport Xiao Sheng and the others across the river.
She can still stay with Chen Langjun for a while longer.
Xie Daoyun saw Lu Weirui, nodded lightly, and said to Chen Caozhi: "Zizhong, let's hurry up and get to Qiantang before the Yuan Dynasty on October 15th, so that we can participate in the celebration of Emperor Shuiguan at Du Daoshou Dojo.
"
Xiao Chan on the side said happily: "Yes, yes, Mrs. Youwei, Zongzhi and Runer will definitely be in the county."
Lu Weirui remembered something and said to Chen Cao: "Chen Langjun, last year the Ding family's sister-in-law came to visit me in Huatingzhuang. I had gone to Jiankang at that time. It's a pity. If possible, please invite the Ding family's sister-in-law to come to Huating."
Okay, I miss her very much."
In June three years ago, Lu Weirui went to Chenjiawu to visit Chen's mother Li. After returning, she rested at Ding's villa and had a long talk with Ding Youwei. Lu Weirui received great encouragement and confidence from Ding Youwei. Three years later,
Lu Weirui really wants to see Ding Youwei again——
Chen Caozhi responded: "Okay, my sister-in-law must also really want to see you."
Ran Sheng and twenty sergeants all came across the river. Lu Weirui was reluctant to leave, but she said on her face: "Chen Langjun, you guys go on your way. Have a safe journey - I'm crossing the river. Chen Langjun, see you next year."
Chen Caozhi, Xie Daoyun and their entourage left Huating, stayed early and stayed overnight, and hurried on. The weather was always sunny and rainless. They arrived in Qiantang in the afternoon of October 13th and went straight to see Feng Mengxiong, the magistrate of Qiantang County.
Feng Mengxiong served as the magistrate of Qiantang County for two years. He was honest and honest. He received nothing except his salary. The mansion where he lived was still next to the market in the west of the city. The three tall locust trees in front of the door were lush and leafy. At this time, it was
At the end of the Shen Dynasty, Feng Mengxiong had just returned from the county government. He was very happy to see Chen Caozhi, and ordered his subordinates to arrange for Xie Daoyun and others to stay in the county post, and Chen Caozhi lived in the mansion.
When Feng Lingbo heard that his adopted brother was back, he hurriedly came out to meet him. Feng Lingbo was more than five months pregnant, already bloated and smiling. Speaking of Chenjiawu, Feng Lingbo returned to Qiantang at the end of May and returned to Qiantang in early June.
Went to Chenjiawu to visit Ding Youwei and paid homage to his adopted mother Li’s grave——
Feng Lingbo said: "Sister-in-law Youwei went back to her mother's house during the Double Ninth Festival to visit her relatives. She also brought Zongzhi and Run'er to visit me. She brought pears, tangerines, oranges, and pomelo from Chen's Manor, so that I could eat more fruits and vegetables, by the way.
, The day after tomorrow is the birthday of Emperor Shuiguan, sister-in-law Youwei is also coming to attend the celebration, maybe she has arrived at Ding's villa today."
Feng Mengxiong said, "I'll ask someone to inquire and see if Mrs. Ding has arrived." Then he ordered the officials to visit Ding's villa in the eastern suburbs.
When it was time to hold the lantern, the servant came back, and Ding Yi, the head of the Ding clan, also came. Chen Caozhi quickly apologized, saying that he had wanted to visit him tomorrow, but how dare he bother Uncle Ding to come here first to meet him and kill him!
The white-haired Ding Yi smiled brightly and said, "My nephew Cao is here to work hard. It doesn't matter if I come to see you first. I'm about to discuss things with Mr. Feng." He added, "Youwei said it last time.
We have decided to come to the county the day before the Xiayuan Festival, and Cao Zhi can go to Fenglin Ferry tomorrow afternoon to greet her and give Zong Zhi and Run'er a surprise."
Feng Mengxiong twirled his beard and smiled. Thinking about the past, Ding Yi didn't recognize Chen Jiawu as a relative. Zongzhi and Run'er were only allowed to visit their mother once a year in Ding's villa. In just a few years, the situation changed drastically, and Chen's family disappeared.
Chen Caozhi, the largest family in the Qiantang Dynasty, was even more famous. It was rumored that Sima Huan treated Chen Caozhi very politely, and Tu Duan was entrusted with an important task this time. Now the Ding family is proud to be related to the Chen family.
, the two families kept in constant contact.
When Ding Yi learned about Chen Caozhi's return, he came over before dinner. He immediately dined with Chen Caozhi, Xie Daoyun and Ran Sheng at Feng Mansion. When they talked about the Tuduan incident, Chen Cao said: "Qian Tang is the
This time, Gengxu Tuduan was the first county to report the completion of registration inspection, and Uncle Feng’s political reputation has spread to Jiankang.”
Feng Mengxiong said with a smile: "Qian and Tang's registration inspection was the most successful. I managed it by doing nothing."
But Ding Yi said: "Master Feng, I heard that there are still dozens of hidden houses in Chu's manor. Master Feng should clear out these hidden houses before the envoys from the capital review, otherwise it may cause trouble in the future."
Feng Mengxiong frowned and said: "During the registration check last month, didn't Chu Jian say that those hermits had fled? Did they sneak back to Chu's manor quietly?"
Ding Yidao said: "The Chu family has now fallen into disgrace and has a close relationship with the bandits in the Wuchao Mountain area. Those Chu family's secluded people went to Wuchao Mountain, but yesterday I had a villager and saw another Chu family.
Hidden house rowing on the Xiaohang River——"
There are many mountain bandits in the counties of Sanwu. They are refugees from the North and the bankrupt farmers. They have no land, no job, and no way to make a living. They make a living by robbing families and homes, but the scale is small, more than a large company with more than a hundred people.
There are very few bandits, and these bandits bring their families with them. They usually work as servants in farming, and in their spare time they go to rob, and travel to various counties. Because there are many refugees who farm and hire workers, it is difficult to patrol, and these bandits
It's not a serious act, it rarely hurts people's lives, and the counties don't pay much attention to it——
When Chen Caozhi heard that the Chu family was connected with the bandits, he was shocked and said to himself: "Don't kill the snake and suffer backlash." He then said: "Uncle Feng should arrest the Chu family's hermit immediately, so that we can
We have evidence of the connection between the Chu family and the bandits. The Chu family is still a prominent family in the county. If we don't take action early, there will be endless troubles."
Ding Yi was scheming and said: "The Wu County Lieutenant in charge of the horse archers has always been close to the Lu family and the Chu family. Now that the Chu family has lost power, Wu County Lieutenant probably will not focus on rectifying the Chu family and let him send people to arrest him."
Most likely they won’t be caught.”
Ran Sheng said to Chen Cao: "Brother, let me take people there. Since this Chu family is seeking death, we will kill him completely this time to avoid future troubles."
Chen Caozhi nodded. The Chu family colluded with the bandits, which was a great threat to Chenjiawu. They must be eradicated, otherwise the Chenjiawu clan members would not be safe. He said, "Then search the Chu family at night."
Manor, even if Yinhu is not captured, Chu Jian and his son will be captured."
Feng Mengxiong, the tolerant governor of the county, felt a little uncomfortable after hearing this. After all, Chu Jian was once a sixth-rank official. But since Chen Caozhi had decided so, Feng Mengxiong could not object. Chen Caozhi was the left supervisor of the Tuduan Division, and the matter involved Tuduan.
If you cut it off, you can do it easily.
Ding Yi was also deeply aware of the threat of Chu's collusion with the bandits, and said: "Let me, the Ding family's villager, lead the way. If there is not enough manpower, my Ding family has sixty private soldiers at our disposal, and Chu's original army also has sixty."
He is a private soldier. When his status as a noble was revoked two years ago, his private soldiers were also disbanded. I wonder how many of them are left privately?"
Chen Caozhi looked at Ran Sheng, and Ran Sheng said: "My twenty sergeants are all elites. They are enough to deal with the Chu family."