It was already afternoon when Lin Jue returned to Tongfu Inn. Lu Wu and Lin Hu had already had lunch and were sitting on the porch of the inn chatting. Seeing Lin Jue coming back, the two of them hurriedly came forward to greet him.
Lin Jue sat down on the stool and said, "Get some food quickly, but I'm starving to death."
Lin Hu hurried to the inn lobby to tell the waiter to prepare the meal. Lu Wu poured a cup of tea for Lin Jue and asked with concern: "So, the young master has not found the husband?"
Lin Jue took a sip of tea and said, "Found it."
Lu Wu was stunned and said: "Found it? Then why didn't you even eat? Shouldn't you go to Mr. Fang's house? Won't Mrs. Fang cook for you?"
Lin Jue smiled bitterly and waved his hands: "Forget it, sir, he is busy with official duties and my wife is not at home, where will we get food? But when my wife comes back in the evening, we will just go and visit."
Lu Wu let out a sigh and said, "So that's it. It's great that I found him. I finally have an acquaintance here."
Lin Jue smiled and said, "I have a lot of acquaintances. Let's go to the second uncle's house to visit him in the afternoon and say hello to him."
Lu Wu said hurriedly: "Yes, the head of the family is in the capital. Young Master, do we want to live in the head of the family's house?"
Lin Jue said: "You don't want to live in the second uncle's house?"
Lu Wu quickly waved her hands and said, "No, no, I'm just asking."
Lin Jue smiled and said: "Don't hide it from me. You definitely don't want to live with them. I know you are afraid of them and will feel restrained. Don't worry, I don't want to live with them either. Let's find another place to live."
.But I always have to see the head of the family.”
Lu Wu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, the young master understood him. In the Lin family, except for the young master, Lu Wu was very afraid of all the people directly connected to the Lin family, even the second master who had been living in the capital.
This was the shadow in her heart. When she thought about having to live with the Lin family again, she immediately felt unhappy.
Lin Jue had lunch, went back to his room and rested for a while, then took Xiaohu and Lu Wu out of the inn and headed to Xingguo Temple Street. Lin Jue knew that Erbo Lin Bonian’s residence was on Xingguo Temple Street, and after all, they had known each other when they were in Hangzhou.
They exchanged letters. I just didn’t know where the Xingguo Temple was in the capital. But it’s not a problem. If you open your mouth frequently when something happens, you will naturally be able to ask. So the master and the servant asked people along the way.
Shopping in the market was quite enjoyable. I walked around until the end of the day and finally arrived at Xingguosi Street.
This street market is in the southwest of the imperial city. The famous Taiping Xingguo Temple and Kaifeng Mansion Yamen are located on this street to the north and to the south. This shows how prosperous this street is.
Lin Bonian's residence is in the south of Xingguo Temple in Taiping. It is a large house with three entrances and three openings. The tall gate of the mansion is majestic, with two stone lions squatting at the door. From the outside, you can see the inner courtyard of the wall.
There are lush tall trees inside, and the whole house gives people a sense of grandeur and dignity.
The capital is a land of great value, and many officials cannot even afford a small house. However, Lin Bonian can have a large house here, which shows that the money spent must be a lot of money. Of course, Lin Bonian
I don't have this ability, and I have to rely on the financial support of the Lin family in Hangzhou. However, it is indeed a bit unethical for Lin Bonian to do this. He spent the family's money to buy this big house for himself. It cannot but be said that it is a bit of a pretense of public benefit.
suspicion.
Lin Jue brought Lin Hu and Lu Wu to the gate. The two gatekeepers looked down upon Lin Jue and others when they saw that they were wearing ordinary clothes. Lin Jue reported himself to his family, and the gatekeepers learned that the visitor was the son of the Lin family in Hangzhou.
At this time, he bowed respectfully and immediately reported to the house.
Not long after, there was a clatter of footsteps, heard before anyone arrived. Lin Bonian's hearty laughter sounded from behind the door.
"Is Lin Jue here? Oops! I've been waiting for you to come." Lin Bonian, wearing a floral blouse and a satin round hat, appeared in front of the screen with a smile on his face like a wealthy man. Lin Jue was busy.
Lin Hu and Lu Wu also kowtowed and saluted on the steps. Lin Bonian stepped forward to support him and said, "Get up, why should we be so formal as a family? Let my second uncle take a look. Hey, I've lost weight. I've lost weight. But it's not like that."
I feel energetic too.”
Lin Jue smiled and let Lin Bonian look at him up and down. Lin Bonian's behavior was quite artificial, and his nephew did not need to be so enthusiastic. But for Lin Jue, he was still a little touched. After all, he was a family.
.No matter what his true thoughts were, as an elder, Lin Jue still felt the care and concern for the younger generation.
"How is your second uncle?"
"Okay, my health is okay. By the way, let me introduce you. This is your cousin Lin Sheng. You haven't met him yet. He is the second child. Lin Sheng, this is what I often mention to you.
Lin Jue from the third room. Don’t think he is younger than you, he is very capable." Lin Bonian said with a smile.
Lin Jue cupped his hands and looked at a young man with fair complexion and fat figure standing behind Lin Bonian. In fact, he didn't need Lin Bonian to introduce him, he could recognize that this was Lin Sheng, the second son of the second wife. Because he was in Hangzhou with
Lin Chang looks almost exactly the same. He has the same small eyes and light eyebrows, and the same fat figure. If there are differences, the second son's face is paler, his eyes are also very scattered, and he looks like he is used to having fun and drinking too much.
"Brother, you are polite." Lin Jue cupped his hands and said.
"Are you Lin Jue?" Lin Sheng asked in a high-pitched voice.
Lin Jue smiled and said: "It's my little brother."
"Dad always says that you are very capable, what are your abilities?" Lin Sheng said.
Lin Jue looked at Lin Bonian with a wry smile. Lin Bonian frowned and said, "Second brother, what are you talking about?"
Lin Sheng said: "Don't you praise him all the time? When you scold me, you say that I am not even as good as one of his fingers. Why don't you ask him what he is capable of?"
Lin Bonian changed his face and shouted: "Shut up."
Lin Sheng muttered: "Just teach me, that's all. I just don't look like an eyesore." After that, he turned and left.
Uncle Lin's old beard was standing up. He tried hard to calm down his anger. He turned around and put on a smiling face and said to Lin Jue: "Lin Jue, don't laugh. My second uncle has no way to teach his children. You, my cousin, have been spoiled by my arrogance. It's really rude."
.I will teach him a lesson later. Come on, come into the house quickly, your aunt also wants to see you. You are home now."
Lin Bonian took Lin Jue's arm and pulled him into the gate. After bypassing the screen wall, there was a large courtyard. Not far ahead was the main hall and the flower hall. Although it was not a high-rise building, it still had eaves.
The warped walls, carved windows and lacquered corridors are magnificent.
In the flower hall, Lin Bonian and Lin Jue sat across from each other and talked.
"Lin Chang wrote in a letter saying that you came to Beijing last year. I kept looking around, but you never came. Are you just coming to the capital, or are you avoiding me when you arrive in the capital? Haha." Lin Bonian laughed.
.
Lin Jue said: "What did the second uncle say? How dare my nephew come to the capital and not come to see the second uncle. My nephew arrived in the capital last night and came to see the second uncle today."
Lin Bonian nodded and said: "Let me tell you, you are not such a person. I was thinking wildly before, wondering if I asked Lin Chang to go to Hangzhou to take over your position as chief executive, which made you unhappy. So you are angry
Second uncle is angry."
Lin Jue smiled and said: "Second uncle is worrying too much. How could I be dissatisfied because of that matter? Second uncle knows my thoughts. If it was not impossible to shirk it, I would not take the position of chief steward at all. Cousin Lin Chang goes
Hangzhou takes over this position, which is what I wish for."
Lin Bonian nodded and said with a smile: "It's just my imagination. I haven't seen you for a few months. On the one hand, I am worried and will inevitably have other strange thoughts. Where have you been these few months?"
Of course, Lin Jue made some nonsense to explain it away. It was just that he was invited by a friend to travel around the world for a few months. Lin Bonian did not intend to go into details and just said: "I see. We are more worried. Traveling all over the world.
Of course it's good, but you must write a letter next time so that your family won't worry. People from the Ministry of Etiquette have also come to ask many times, and they are also worried about your safety."
Lin Jue cupped his hands and said, "It's my nephew's fault and I should report it to my second uncle."
Lin Bonian thought for a while and lowered his voice and asked, "Is your uncle okay? No one in the family is gossiping about me."
Lin Jue said: "My uncle is in good health and spirit, but I saw him just before he left last year. I won the first prize in autumn, and he came back from Xiyuan to attend the celebration banquet and even encouraged me."
Lin Bonian sighed: "My eldest brother is still open-minded. It was the happiest thing for him to learn that Qiuwei High School, a member of the clan, was his happiest thing. Thinking about it, some of our previous actions were indeed a bit excessive. It hurt his heart.
"
Lin Jue smiled and said nothing, thinking: Since you think so, just return the master of the family, and there is no need to say these words.
Lin Bonian's emotion didn't last long, and he immediately regained his smile and said, "You have become very good since you came. I was so happy to learn about your high school education that I didn't sleep a wink for three days and three nights. Your father has a spirit under the spring.
You must also be smiling. Are you living in an inn now? I will immediately send someone to fetch you, and you will be living at home from today. I will make a courtyard for you to live in, so that you can stay warm and comfortable.
Prepare for the exam. You must be a Jinshi in the Spring Examination, and then my Lin family will be even more glorious."
Lin Jue said hurriedly: "Second uncle, don't bother me. I don't plan to live here."
Lin Bonian said in astonishment: "Why is that? Where would you live if you don't live here? Do you have any acquaintances in the capital?"
Lin Jue smiled and said, "Have you forgotten that my teacher, Mr. Fang, is also in the capital?"
Lin Bonian suddenly said: "Oh, look at me, I'm so confused. Fang Zhongcheng is in the capital. Do you plan to live in his home? This is not good. As far as I know, Fang Zhongcheng's residence is just a small courtyard, how can you
Boarding? I think it’s better to stay at my place.”
Lin Jue said: "I plan to rent a courtyard near my husband's residence and serve my husband and his wife nearby. As a student, I must fulfill my filial piety. In addition, I can also ask for advice nearby."
Lin Bonian thought for a while and sighed: "What you said is right. In that case, I can't force you. But when you come to the capital, you live elsewhere, which makes me feel unhappy. Then something happens.
I want to talk to you, but it’s not convenient.”
Lin Jue said: "That's convenient, I just come to visit my second uncle from time to time."
Lin Bonian said: "That's all, it's up to you. In short, you are welcome to come and stay whenever you like. But my second uncle will never force you. You can stay for dinner tonight and we will have a good time."
Let’s have a chat, my second uncle has a lot to say to you.
Lin Jue smiled and said: "Second uncle, I'm sorry. I'm going to my husband's house for dinner tonight. My husband told me this morning, I'm afraid I can't stay here. I'll go to the inner house to see my aunt in a while and then I'll leave.
Already."
Lin Bonian bulged his eyes and said, "Why do you feel that my second uncle is not as close as your teacher, Master?"
Lin Jue smiled and said: "Second uncle, please don't say that. We are a family, and the teacher is the teacher. After all, the teacher's side must be polite and considerate. Even if the family lacks some etiquette, you won't be surprised, right?"
Lin Bonian said: "You have said that, can I still be surprised? But I do have something urgent to tell you. After you settle down, you will send someone to inform me. It will also make it easier for me to contact you."
Lin Jue nodded and agreed. After chatting for a few more times, Lin Bonian took Lin Jue to the back to meet the women. Lin Jue was actually not familiar with these women, but he was just doing some courtesy. Especially when he saw Lin Bonian.
The concubine in the sixth room was just a woman in her twenties, but when he wanted to call him aunt, Lin Jue felt a little embarrassed. After the visit, Lin Jue said goodbye and left. Lin Bonian walked to the door, and that
The second cousin, Lin Sheng, was nowhere to be seen.
