"Dad," Li Yonglin was a little uneasy about what to say, but before she could finish her words, she heard Li Taiyuan say again: "So, today, in front of everyone, I want to express my gratitude to the man who saved the whole family as the head of the family.
!" As he said this, he bent down and saluted Li Yonglin.
Of course, Li Taiyuan knew that it was unethical and even against the rules to salute his daughter, but he still did it. Her daughter had been wronged when she was divorced, but many people in the family were ridiculing her. Even he was embarrassed because of it.
He was worried that he didn't care enough about his daughter about important events in the family. But his daughter didn't care about this at all. She still tried her best to plan for the family, and risked leaving Suzhou Mansion to go to the capital for help. The entire family's industry, the lives of more than ten people in the family, and the family
His future was all saved by her. He felt that only as the patriarch of the clan could he express his gratitude to his daughter in public, so he saluted regardless.
"Dad!" Li Yonglin immediately stood up to avoid him, not daring to accept this gift. At the same time, she said a little at a loss: "Dad, what are you doing? How can your daughter accept the gift from your father!" She stood there for a moment, stunned.
Then he hurriedly bent down to help Li Taiyuan up.
There was an uproar in the entire courtyard. It was already very surprising that Li Taiyuan let his daughter attend the banquet, but Li Taiyuan actually did something even more surprising. Thousands of people in the audience were stunned and stunned for a moment.
Sitting there.
But then, the venue seemed to be erupting like a volcano, with roaring sounds. Countless people started talking loudly with people sitting around them who they knew or didn't know, were familiar with or were strangers, as if they were trying to express their surprise by speaking.
"I still thought wrong. I thought it was surprising enough for Li Taiyuan to let his daughter attend the banquet, and it would make everyone talk about it for half a month, but now it seems that I still underestimated Li Taiyuan. He saluted his own daughter, which was enough for the whole family.
It has been discussed in Jiangnan for more than half a year, and someone will even mention it more than ten years later." Li Xingxiao shouted loudly.
"Yes, yes." Li Xingjian also patted his chest and said.
But he soon became concerned about other things: "Li Taiyuan just said that the eldest daughter is the great contributor to their Li family. It seems that she played a role in the Li family being able to survive this time. This matter must be done by Beijing."
You have to be a high-ranking official to turn around. It seems that this senior official is an acquaintance of hers."
"Could it be that..." Li Xingjian quickly thought of the same thing as Shang Ming. He didn't dare to say it out loud, but said in his heart: 'From now on, the Li family can offend anyone, but never offend her.'
There were many smart people in the field. After they gradually calmed down, they all thought of this. Everyone secretly said in their hearts: 'We must never offend this aunt of the Li family in the future.'
Looking at the guests with expressions of sudden realization on their faces, everyone in the Li family felt ashamed and annoyed. Of course, the people sitting at the table with Li Taiyuan were talkative people from the direct or side branches of the Li family, and of course they all knew who really helped their family.
Who is she? But the princess is a backstage matter, unless they can no longer hide it, otherwise their family will never reveal it; but if they don’t tell the truth, the guests present will definitely not believe that Li Yonglin did not betray her appearance, and the reputation of their Li family daughter
Everyone in the Li family couldn't help but get angry at Li Taiyuan and Li Yonglin: "Li Taiyuan, you just let Li Yonglin sit at the table, but you actually said that she is the great hero of our family and wanted to salute her in public, and you didn't even care about the ethical principles."
, the book went into the dog's belly! Li Yonglin, you too have read and understood the truth. When Li Taiyuan asked you to come to the table, why didn't you shirk it? Could it be that Li Taiyuan could still go against your will?'
But no matter how much they complained in their hearts, they didn't dare to show it on their faces. They all bent down to help Li Taiyuan up, and at the same time advised: "Brother/Uncle, is there any reason in the world for a father to salute his daughter? If you do this,
I’m afraid it’s going to shorten the life of my third niece/sister, so get up, get up!”
"She has noble people to protect her, and her longevity must be greater than mine. How can I shorten my daughter's life!" Li Taiyuan still said. But even though he said this, the original tightness in his waist suddenly stopped working.
With the help of his brother and nephew, he stood up straight.
After a while, all the guests present calmed down and sat down again. Li Taiyuan continued: "Of course, the reason why our Li family was able to weather the storm this time was because the family was united and no one succumbed to those few people.
There is no time to elaborate on this, but most of the associates of my Li family in various industries have weathered the difficulties with my Li family. Even if they were coerced or tortured, they would not betray my family. Since they are worthy of my Li family, my Li family will never betray me.
I won’t treat them badly!”
"Lao Lu," he said, looking at the man sitting at the table next to him who still had scars on his face: "In order to collect evidence against my Li family, you were arrested by the prefect because you were the manager of several shops.
He was tortured so severely that his legs were broken, his fingers were pinched off, and there was no good piece of meat on his back. He was also imprisoned for more than a month, and the meat on his back turned into rotten flesh and was infested with maggots.
…”
"But even so, you will not betray my Li family. Our Li family is just a businessman, not a scholar-official, but we also know how to be a human being. If you have done this for my Li family, if I treat you less,
Is he still a human being?"
Everyone was a little moved when they heard these words. A person who was tortured like this was really worse off than dead. But this man named Lao Lu still didn't betray. Even the hard-hearted people were moved. And everyone was thinking:
'Do I have such servants under my command?'
"Sir, this is what I should do. There is no reason for a servant to betray the master's family." The man named Lao Lu said.
Li Taiyuan ignored his words and said directly: "Lao Lu, those shops you are in charge of are yours to own from now on! I will give you another thousand taels of gold and a three-level house in the city. I also heard that
Lu Manting (Lao Lu’s son) is eighteen years old this year and is not married yet? My second daughter is fourteen years old this year, so I will give it to him!"
The guests present were all shocked again. Was Lao Lu tortured like this, or was he tortured by officials but still did not betray? Everyone knew that of course he should be rewarded heavily, but such a generous reward was beyond their expectations.
"Sir,..." Lao Lu hurriedly declined. But Li Taiyuan insisted on giving him a heavy reward. He really couldn't shirk it and had no choice but to accept it.
After that, Li Taiyuan said a lot of things, including generous rewards to all the guys who didn't betray, including all kinds of lively celebrations, etc. But everyone was numb to these after the first few exciting news.
Including the delicious delicacies after the meal, except for the small merchants who devoured it because they had never eaten it before, everyone else was thinking about how they should treat the Li family and Li Yonglin in the future.
The results of everyone's thinking were highly consistent, so all the guests looked more respectful when they said goodbye after the banquet was over. They also specifically said goodbye to Li Yonglin, but only said one word, not much, and strictly observed the etiquette. In the inner hall.
When the female guests came out, they held Li Yonglin's hand affectionately and talked endlessly. They probably wanted to give something as a gift before leaving. Li Yonglin declined some gifts, but some were really difficult to refuse, so she had to accept them. Soon
, there was no room for gifts on her body, even the maid’s clothes behind her were full.
"Master Li." Dan Mo came to Li Taiyuan, saluted respectfully and said, "I would like to thank Master Li for your hospitality."
"I just hope I never hear you say this again." Li Taiyuan said coldly.
"..., the villain and the dog are uninvited guests. It's really touching to be treated like this by Mr. Li." Dan Mo didn't care at all about his sarcasm and continued. After finishing what he wanted to say, he
He glanced at Li Yonglin again with regretful eyes, sighed, turned around and left the Li Mansion with his son. His son Dan Qingsheng seemed to want to say something, but in the end he didn't.
"Finally, he still knows what's going on. If he dares to say a word to Third Sister, I will have my servants throw him and his son out!" Li Xiaoxing sneered.
Li Taiyuan was about to say something when he saw Li Xingjian. Brother Li Xingxiao had come over and saluted him with a smile: "Thank you, Mr. Li, for your hospitality. Our brothers have never eaten the food today. Some of the dishes have only been heard about."
I've never seen it before. If it weren't for Mr. Li's hospitality, we don't know when and what month we would be able to eat it. Thank you so much, Mr. Li."
"I don't dare take this seriously. You two have a bright future. How can you put this little food in your eyes in the future? I just took advantage of the two young people." Li Taiyuan saluted slightly and said with a smile.
"Why don't you see me as a brother? Is it because I was tortured in Beijing and fell ill?" he asked again.
"Master Li, if it were anyone else, our brothers would definitely say that my father is sick; but since it is Master Li who asks, we dare not use such lies to deceive him."
Li Xingjian said: "Although my father has been in jail in Beijing for a long time and is relatively weak, he is not unable to come to the banquet. The main reason is that Mu County Lieutenant, who is new to the branch, is a scholar who has just graduated from the Imperial College.
, and he only had experience in the police station of Zhenjiang Prefecture for half a year. He is still a nerd. He feels that as an official, attending the banquet of the people under his rule is suspected of corruption, so he does not come. You say he is just an official of the eighth rank.
, where are there so many taboos?”
"But no matter what, if Mu County Lieutenant doesn't come, my father doesn't dare to come either. He can only ask us brothers to come to the banquet and talk about our feelings."
"Oh, I forgot. Brother Cheng has not yet congratulated you on his promotion to the position of recorder. Li Xiaoxing, go pick out a gift right away. I will go to the house in person to congratulate you tomorrow," Li Taiyuan said.
"I don't dare to let Mr. Li come to congratulate me in person. We brothers can just take the gifts back," Li Xingjian said.
"That's not possible!" Li Taiyuan said, "What will it look like for you to take the gift back home? I will definitely go to the house in person to congratulate you tomorrow." Brothers Li Xingjian and Li Xingxiao couldn't shirk it, so they could only agree. They talked for a while,
Brothers Li Xingjian and Li Xingxiao just said goodbye and left.
Li Taiyuan stood at the door of his house and waited for a long time before sending all the guests away. Li Taiyuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and muttered: "Finally, all the guests have been sent away." Then he called his son Li Xiaoxing and daughter Li Yonglin.
He helped him back. After saluting him, his brothers and nephews also returned to their respective courtyards. However, some people also left the house. The courtyard where they originally lived was demolished because it was close to the front yard. They could not move back for a while, so they had to
Still living outside.
"Dad, how can you salute your daughter in public today?" Li Yonglin was still thinking about this matter.
"You are a great hero of our Li family, how can I not be polite to you?"
"Dad, you are still your daughter's father."
"This is different. If I don't salute you in front of everyone, if I don't let others know that our family's success this time depends on you, my father will feel sorry for you, and the entire family will feel sorry for you."
"But my father still neglected me. As a result, your reputation will probably not be good, and it will be difficult for you to kiss me. You are only this age, and you cannot be a widow. It seems that I can only find a suitable husband for you elsewhere.
"Li Taiyuan said with some regret.
After he saluted Li Yonglin, he suddenly thought of this, but he could no longer take back what he had said, so he could only secretly think of ways to remedy it.
"It doesn't matter even if you never marry again in your life." Li Yonglin just said lightly. Finding another husband may not be the same as Dan Qingsheng. If she met such a person, she would rather live her whole life by herself.
"How can you die alone? Father must find a good husband for you." Li Taiyuan said. In this era, women who do not marry and have no children almost never end well. How could his daughter be like this?
Li Yonglin knew that she could not persuade her father at this time, so she could only keep silent. But she secretly made up her mind.
Li Yonglin and Li Xiaoxing helped their father back to their yard, returned to their dormitory and fell asleep. Not only Li Taiyuan was busy and tired, but Li Yonglin and Li Xiaoxing were also very busy and exhausted, and they couldn't hold on any longer at this time.