The small cloud on the horizon has turned into a thick cloud, covering the sky. The wind is roaring, and the blizzard is raging... The dark sky merges with the sea of snow, and nothing can be seen.
To the south is Ju Ferry, where a ferry is moored.
There was a tall pole stuck in the bow of the boat, and the lantern swayed in the wind, flickering on and off.
A carriage came slowly from a distance and parked at the ferry.
Zhang Wanzhen got out of the car and boarded the ferry with Manager Zhang. The coachman drove the carriage to the boat despite the snowflakes. Several boatmen also went to help. For a while, the ferry was noisy and lively, and the horses neighed continuously.
"Uncle Zhang, why are there two sinks next to the Cao family's iron furnace?"
Zhang Wanzhen stood at the door of the cabin, looking at the slightly chaotic ferry, and suddenly asked softly.
Manager Zhang was stunned for a moment, shook his head with a wry smile and said: "Miss, how could I have guessed the secret behind this? Talented women like you can't even figure it out, and I can't even figure it out... However, I think it's better to install two sinks.
It’s not a big deal, maybe they will be useful in the future?”
"Hehe, using two sinks at the same time, how could it be a plan for the future?
And what's in the sink is definitely not water... Although I can't guess the mystery behind it, I'm sure it has something to do with Cao Peng.
Uncle Zhang, have you noticed that Cao Peng is different from ordinary people? He has many strange ideas and is a very interesting guy. I want to find out now what exactly is in the sink? Why is it in it?
What’s the special purpose?”
The wind is very strong and the snow is very heavy...
But he couldn't hide the desire for knowledge in the girl's eyes.
Manager Zhang couldn't help but shake his head secretly.
This young lady is really different from other girls. She studies weird things all day long, and her mind is full of whims. But her father actually lets it go... After all, he is also a famous scholar in Jingxiang, how can he teach him
What about such a daughter?
Of course, this is just what Manager Zhang thinks about.
He didn't dare to say it...
Let alone him, I'm afraid even the patriarch of his own clan wouldn't go and make irresponsible remarks.
Although the Zhang family is very famous in Nanyang County, in terms of strength, it is vastly different from the family behind this young master.
Forget it, she’s interested if she’s interested!
If I don't tell her, why should I be such a bad person?
Thinking of this, Manager Zhang felt much more relaxed, "Miss, didn't you say you wanted to learn boxing from Cao Peng? Just ask him then."
Yao's nose curled up, and the girl snorted.
"That guy is very naughty. If there is a secret hidden in it, he might not tell me.
But it doesn’t matter. If he doesn’t tell me, I can find out for myself... Oh, one more thing. After we go back, ask my uncle to prepare a yard for me. I want to make something. But please don’t tell my dad about this.
, otherwise he will nag me again..."
"This little person understands."
Manager Zhang couldn't help but smile and nodded in agreement.
"Miss, the ship is about to leave. You'd better stay in the cabin to avoid the wind and cold."
"Uncle Zhang, it doesn't take long anyway. I'm just here to look at the snow scene. You can go about your business. Don't bother taking care of me."
The girl is not very old, but perhaps because of her background, her words carry an irresistible force.
Manager Zhang thought about this and said nothing more. He walked to the stern of the boat and shouted loudly: "Hurry up, move fast... The snow looks like it will get heavier and heavier, let's not delay any longer.
Park the car...take care of the horses, let's start the boat!"
The ferry slowly left the ferry and headed to the other side of the river.
The girl looked at the snowy scene, but she was thinking about another question in her mind: What is the secret inside the sink?
The next day, Cao Peng got up early.
After putting on my clothes and walking out of the room, I saw a vast expanse of white in front of me, and I felt an ethereal feeling in my heart.
I did a few chest-expanding movements, and moved my legs and feet. First I rinsed my mouth with green salt, then I took a basin of warm well water and washed my face.
It seems that I have to find a way to make a toothbrush.
Although it is good to rinse your mouth with green salt, after all, I don’t have the habit of using a toothbrush.
"Afu, let's go!"
Deng Ji called Cao Peng's name at the gate.
Cao Ji slept late last night, but before Cao Peng went to bed, he told him to go to the county town and buy some charcoal.
From now on, sooner or later, this family will be handed over to Cao Peng to take care of, and he will have to learn to deal with some things slowly. Originally, Wang Meng said that he could buy it, but Cao Ji refused. He has been in Jiyang for so long, and it is also
It's time for Cao Peng to get familiar with the environment here...
Strange to say!
If it were the past, Cao Ji would never have raised any objections.
But even after the fight with Ma Yu that day, Cao Ji gradually showed some changes.
For example, he began to learn to make decisions and began to try to say 'no' to others. This was unimaginable before. His somewhat cowardly character and his overly good-natured character made Cao Ji always very passive.
To make changes. And now, he has begun to take the initiative to make changes, which is definitely a good thing for the Cao family. After all, Cao Ji is now the head of the family...
You have to buy charcoal as early as possible.
Cao Peng held the big flower and walked out of the house with Deng Ji.
"Afu, wait for me."
Wang Mai got dressed and caught up, smiling and saying, "I'll go with you."
"You don't practice Kung Fu anymore?"
"I don't have the energy to practice alone. I'll go buy charcoal with you first, and then come back and practice together."
Cao Peng didn't care, so he nodded, led the horse and walked side by side with Deng Ji.
"Brother-in-law, are you busy these two days?"
Deng Ji rubbed his red nose, exhaled a puff of air, and said with a smile: "Magistrate Kuai has gone back to Xiangyang, and he won't be able to return until fifteen years later. There hasn't been much going on in the public house these two days, except for some simple official duties."
Apart from that, there’s basically nothing to do.”
"Haha, I guess I will be a little busier after this year."
"possible……"
Deng Ji was a practical person and was not good at doing business.
However, because of Cao Peng's relationship, Kuai Zheng took good care of him.
Deng Cai was exiled to a village and town and has not returned yet. Ma Yu was imprisoned and has not been punished.
It is estimated that when Kuai Zheng returns from Xiangyang this time, the result will be almost there...Cao Peng is not too worried and seems very relaxed.
Chatting with Deng Ji all the way, before he knew it, he arrived outside Jiyang County.
"Uncle-Sun, I was just going to find you."
Before entering the city, I saw a middle-aged man running towards me.
Cao Peng had met this man before, and vaguely remembered that he was also from Dengcun. In terms of seniority, he was Deng Ji's uncle. His name? Cao Peng really couldn't remember clearly, but when he saw the middle-aged man, he still saluted respectfully and said hello.
The middle-aged man returned the courtesy slightly, then pulled Deng Ji and said, "Hurry up and leave. Magistrate Kuai returned last night and summoned everyone early in the morning to discuss important matters."
"Is Magistrate Kuai back?"
"Yes, I came back last night when it was snowing heavily... Let's go quickly, Magistrate Kuai is waiting for us."
Deng Ji quickly agreed, turned around and said to King Cao Peng: "Ah Fu, Hu Tou, you two keep walking along this road. When you see three old locust trees, turn right, about a mile away.
Cheergou. Find a man named Wei Lan. His charcoal is the best."
"knew!"
Deng Ji did not dare to delay any longer and hurried into the city with the old official.
Cao Peng and Wang Mai looked at each other and led their horses forward along the road Deng Ji said.
While walking, Cao Peng was thinking about things.
It stands to reason that when Kuai Zheng returned home before the New Year, he should have stayed until after the ancestor worship. In these years, New Year's ancestor worship is a big event, and it is impossible to be absent without special reasons. Unless, Kuai Zheng is the subject of the ceremony.
They may be ostracized from their families or be punished.
But it seems impossible. If Kuai Zhengruo is punished, it is impossible for him to continue to stay in his position in Jiyang County.
This shows that something big must have happened!
Cao Peng was desperately trying to remember, then suddenly stopped and said to himself: "Could it be that Cao Cao is going to attack Wancheng?"
In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cao Cao felt threatened by his rear because Zhang Xiu occupied Wancheng and formed an alliance with Liu Biao. So he hurriedly ended the ongoing battle of Xuzhou and returned his troops with the intention of attacking Zhang Xiu. However, Cao Peng was not sure of the specific time.
, I just remember it was the second year of Jian'an.
It is now the end of the first year of Jian'an, and Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao have formed an alliance!
If calculated according to this time, Cao Cao should send troops to Nanyang County after the year.
"Afu, what did you just say?"
"Uh...nothing!"
Cao Peng smiled and said to Wang Mai: "Come on, let's buy the charcoal back quickly and then go practice."
"good!"
Wang Mai still looked indifferent and happily led the horse forward.
Is Cao Cao going to attack Wancheng?
This should be a battle against Wancheng. Cao Cao won first and then lost, and suffered heavy losses. So what benefits can he get from this matter? Cao Peng thought about it, but found that at this time, he seemed to be able to only serve as a
Bystanders, watch the development of the situation.
Could it be that he ran over and told Cao Cao: Zhang Xiu will rebel, and then your son, your nephew, and your generals will all die in the battle?
Not to mention whether you can see Cao Cao, even if you do, if you say these things in front of Cao Cao, you may not be able to save your life...
But just looking at it like this?
Cao Peng felt a little pity again!
Damn, without fame and strength, it’s really a painful thing...——
Cheergou is a village with twenty-eight households.
Every household here relies on burning charcoal for a living, and winter is also the busiest time.
Cao Peng and Wang Mai soon found Wei Lan's residence, bought two large baskets of charcoal, and set off on their way home. In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, prices were not low, especially when Dong Zhuo was causing trouble for the world, he issued a large number of charcoal.
Money has caused prices to skyrocket. One bush of dendrobium costs hundreds of thousands of money. Many people save a lifetime and may not be able to afford a stone of food. In the end, they have to choose to exchange food for food to survive.
However, after Dong Zhuo's death, the situation began to improve.
Liu Biao was not a person who did big things, but he did have some means in terms of governance.
First, he abolished the unwritten coins issued during the Dong Zhuo period (small coins minted during the Dong Zhuo period, with a diameter of 1.2-1.5 cm and a weight of 0.5-1 gram. They were also engraved with the words five baht, but because the font was blurred, they were later ridiculed as unwritten coins.
money), using the full value of five baht, which caused prices to drop rapidly. Later, he joined forces with the Jingxiang family to reward farming and build water conservancy projects, which gradually stabilized Jingzhou's rule.
From this point of view, Liu Biao did a pretty good job.
Originally, Cao Ji asked Cao Peng to buy a basket of charcoal, but considering the upcoming war, Cao Peng bought an extra basket.
It seems that I need to buy more food to reserve...
Cao Peng murmured in his heart: Once the war starts, Ji Yang will definitely be affected. When prices soar, there may be another trouble.
After returning home and unloading the charcoal, Wang Mai led the horse into the stable.
Cao Peng was about to discuss the matter of storing grain with Cao Ji, but before he entered the hall, he heard a burst of laughter coming from inside.
have a guest!
And it’s a familiar guest, Mrs. Hong.
Ever since what happened with Ma Yu, Mrs. Hong and Cao Ji's family have become very close.
Although this woman had no education, she was a person with sharp eyesight. She could see that Deng Ji's family would definitely develop in the future, so she would come to help the Cao family if anything happened. After going back and forth, Mrs. Hong deliberately greeted her.
He became more and more affectionate with Zhang and Cao Nan.
"Hey, it's Xiao Langjun who's back!"
When Mrs. Hong saw Cao Peng coming back, she immediately greeted him warmly.
"Brother, this is your fault... How can I let the young man go out in such a cold weather? If anything happens in the future, just tell me. Anyway, my family has nothing to do, so just let him go. Sit down quickly
, sit down quickly and go out for a trip, it’s been hard work..."
Mrs. Hong was all smiles, which made Cao Peng a little bit at a loss.
After seeing the ceremony, Cao Peng was about to call Cao Ji out to talk about something, but he heard Zhang asked: "Peng'er, please sit down first. I have something to ask you."
"Mom, what's the matter?"
"I heard that you and Hu Tou play on the river beach behind you every morning. What do you do?"
Cao Peng was stunned for a moment, "You didn't do anything?"
"Are you practicing martial arts?"
"Uh...yes!"
This kind of thing cannot be hidden, and Cao Peng has no intention of hiding it.
However, he did not tell anyone that he taught Wang Mai how to box.
Therefore, both Cao Ji and the Zhang family thought that Cao Peng was practicing martial arts with Wang Mei.
Wang Meng noticed some clues, but if Wang Mai didn't tell him, he wouldn't ask...
There was a vague feeling that Wang Mai had made great progress after practicing martial arts with Cao Peng. Wang Meng knew his own situation very well. The things he taught Wang Mai could not achieve such results. It must have been Cao Peng's guidance? It sounds like this
It seemed absurd, but Wang Meng was not surprised. Thinking back to the time when Cao Peng studied with the alchemist, maybe the alchemist had great magical powers and taught Cao Peng the magical method of the immortal family?
Zhang smiled and said, "Peng'er, that's it.
Your aunt from the Hong family has helped us a lot these days when our family has been in Dengcun. She has a son, Deng Fan, whom you should have met... he is about the same age as you. Your aunt from the Hong family came to me for discussion.
, I want Deng Fan to practice martial arts with you two."
Madam Hong had an awkward smile on her face, as if she was a little embarrassed.
"Xiao Langjun, I also know that this is a bit presumptuous.
It’s just that the boy in my family is getting older. He spends his time idle and causing trouble. I asked him to learn a craft from his father, but he was unwilling and said he had no future. I asked him to study, but he didn’t have the ability. I heard
Both young gentlemen have good skills, so I just want him to learn from you... In this chaotic war, if you can practice some boxing and kicking, you might be able to gain a better background..."
Cao Peng was stunned!
"I need to ask Uncle Wang about this matter."
Cao Ji said: "Uncle Wang said, it depends on what you want... If you are willing, he has no objection.
Peng'er, your aunt has helped us a lot. When our family was in trouble, your sister also had to take care of her. You can figure it out yourself."
Damn it, I have to figure it out myself?
Your old man has already talked about this, what else can I do?
Cao Peng knew Deng Fan, but he had no impression of him.
So I thought about it and said to Mrs. Hong: "Auntie, if Brother Deng is willing, let's come together!"
The smile on Mrs. Hong's face suddenly became even brighter.