In a mansion in the capital, a spirited old man was moving his limbs and exercising in the yard.
The old man's name was Sui Fengmao, and he was the Minister of Household Affairs at that time.
Sui Shangshu would find a place to exercise every day after he retired from the court, either on duty or in the official room. Today, he took a break and naturally exercised at home. After all, at the age of sixty and early, physical health is particularly important.
While he was exercising, a servant from the mansion came into the courtyard carrying two buckets of water. Looking at the sweat on his head, he knew that he had not gone far this time.
"Sir, we have brought water from the well of Anyuan Temple." The servant said and put down the bucket.
Sui Shangshu turned his head and glanced, stopped and walked over, saying: "You can keep the bucket in front of you and take away the bucket in the back. You can dump it or water the flowers, it's up to you."
The servant was stunned when he heard this, and couldn't help but ask: "Master, why don't you want the next bucket? I picked the small one back with great difficulty, and I was afraid it might have spilled a little bit on the way."
There is a well behind Anyuan Temple. The water in the well is cool and sweet. Sui Shangshu likes to use the well water there to make tea, so he often asks people from the mansion to fetch water there. However, Anyuan Temple is far away from Sui Shangshu's mansion.
It takes at least an hour to carry water back and forth, which is not easy for servants.
Sui Shangshu couldn't help but look at this servant and asked: "Are you new here?"
"Back to the master, I've just been here for more than a month, and today I carry water for the master for the first time." The servant bowed and replied.
Sui Shangshu frowned slightly and said to his servant: "Since you are new here, I will tell you why you don't want the bucket at the back."
The servant nodded and looked at the master.
Shangshu Sui glanced at the bucket and asked, "You have to carry water all the way back from Anyuan Temple. It takes at least half an hour. Do you find it strenuous?"
The servant didn't think much about it and replied: "Sir, I didn't feel it at the beginning. It's a bit strenuous after walking for a long time, but it's not too tiring."
Sui Shangshu continued: "When people exert force, it is easier to ventilate..."
"Master, what is ventilation?" The servant didn't understand.
"It's just fart!" Sui Shangshu said bluntly.
"Oh." Only then did the servant understand the meaning of ventilation, but he was wondering in his heart, why do people fart easily when they exert force? This has never happened to me...
Sui Shangshu continued: "This water is what I use to make tea. You said you have been walking for so long, and the bucket behind you has been smelly by farts a long time ago? Master, I still want to drink from that bucket.
Smelly book?"
The servant was immediately dumbfounded and thought to himself: Where is this going? Not to mention that I didn’t fart at all along the way. Even if I did, it wouldn’t stink up the water in the bucket!
"Sir, you are thinking too much. I don't have any..."
Just as the servant was about to explain, Sui Shangshu stopped him with his hand.
"It goes without saying, otherwise you... pack up and leave immediately!"
Sui Shangshu didn't want to listen to his servants' nagging, because he had heard this explanation countless times. All he needed was for his servants to do as he said.
When the servants heard the word "pack up their bed", they were frightened and shut up in a hurry.
After finally entering the Shangshu Mansion, he didn't want to contradict the master and lose this good job.
Then, the servant left the yard carrying the bucket of well water behind him.
When I left, the servant was still thinking to himself. I had heard before that Master Shangshu was very clean and had a mysophobia. When I saw him today, he really lived up to his reputation.
After the servants left, Sui Shangshu wanted to continue training, so someone came to inform him: "Master, Marquis Zhongyong is here."
Sui Shangshu was stunned for a moment, frowned and thought to himself: Why is that boy here? He is someone who usually does not see each other for ten days and a half months...
"What is he here for?" Sui Shangshu asked.
The visitor said: "I don't know very well. Marquis Zhongyong didn't tell me, and I don't dare to ask... But from the look of Marquis Zhongyong, it seems that something is urgent."
Sui Shangshu wondered: "Is there something urgent? What urgency can he have?"
After a pause, Sui Shangshu nodded and said: "Go, let him come in."
Not long after, Sui Zhan quickly came to the yard.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, Sui Zhan bowed his hands and said, "Nephew, meet your uncle!"
Sui Zhan's father is Sui Fengmao's cousin, but Sui Zhan has always called him uncle instead of cousin since he was a child, so as not to appear too unfamiliar.
"Why are you here free?" Sui Fengmao asked while continuing to move.
Sui Zhan said: "I remembered that I would visit my uncle some days in the future, so my nephew came to visit me early this morning."
"Hehehe..." Sui Fengmao suddenly laughed, and then said: "You kid never goes to the Three Treasures Hall for anything, and usually you are too lazy to come during the holidays. Why did you change your gender today?"
Sui Zhan smiled and said: "Uncle, don't blame me. My nephew usually has too many things to do and is too busy, so...he comes less often. Please forgive me, uncle."
"Yes, you are busy. You are busy taking in concubines and raising extra wives. How can you not be busy?" Sui Fengmao said sarcastically without mercy.
Then he added: "By the way, I heard that you took in a concubine a few days ago. She seems to be a red card from a brothel..."
Sui Zhan was a little unhappy after hearing this, and said to himself that I am in good health and have the ability to take a concubine and raise a wife. Can you do that?
Sui Zhan did not show any displeasure, and still said with a smile on his face: "Uncle, please stop making fun of your nephew."
Sui Fengmao stopped his movements, walked up to Sui Zhan with his hands behind his back, and asked: "Tell me, what are you here for today? Let's talk about it first, the seats in the household department are already full, and there is no place to arrange those messy things for you.
People!"
Sui Zhan immediately said: "No, no, uncle, you have misunderstood my nephew. My nephew is not here for those things, and anyone who comes to see my nephew has been sent away by his nephew."
"Oh?" Sui Fengmao was a little surprised and asked, "Do you have anything else to do?"
Sui Zhan nodded vigorously and said: "Yes! Uncle, it's important! It's a life-long event!"
Sui Fengmao was surprised and said: "A lifelong event? Whose is it?"
Sui Zhan patted his chest and said, "It's my nephew! Uncle, my nephew is here to ask for your help for a life-long matter!"
"You?" Sui Fengmao laughed when he heard this. He waved his hands and turned around. He walked into the house and said: "You want a bad old man like me to help you with your kid's life-long event? Don't let people laugh at you if you tell me.
Death! Who doesn’t know that your young Zhongyong Marquis has a lot of wives and concubines, and he has countless concubines?”
Sui Zhan immediately followed up and said behind him: "Uncle, you are wrong. My nephew is not married yet!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Sui Fengmao stopped, and then turned around and said: "Yeah, I just remembered that your kid hasn't married yet! Alas, it's mainly because you took in too many concubines.
I'm confused..."
Sui Zhan looked at Sui Fengmao firmly and said forcefully: "Uncle, I have made up my mind, I want to get a wife!"
Sui Fengmao frowned suddenly, looked at Sui Zhan and asked, "Can you say it again?"
"Uncle, I want to marry a wife, a real wife!" Sui Zhan shouted loudly.
Sui Fengmao immediately shook his head and said: "Are you kidding? You came here early in the morning just to make fun of me?"
After saying that, Sui Fengmao entered the hall.
Sui Zhan followed closely and said firmly: "Uncle, why don't you believe my nephew? My nephew has really thought clearly about marrying a wife and marrying a real wife!"
Sui Fengmao walked to the main seat and sat down, and said lightly: "Okay, I believe you for the time being! Then tell me, how do you deal with the warblers at home and outside? If you leave them alone, who will marry you?
ah?"
"Uncle, my nephew has already thought about it. I will get rid of all the people at home! My nephew will also cut through the mess with a sharp knife and cut them all off!"
When Sui Zhan said these words, he showed unprecedented determination.
After hearing these words and Sui Zhan's resolute expression, Sui Fengmao couldn't help but look at Sui Zhan squarely.
It took a long time before Sui Fengmao asked: "Then tell me first, who is the person you want to marry?"
"Uncle, you have known this person for a long time. Her family has always had a good relationship with our family, and we have known each other since childhood!" Sui Zhan said excitedly.
"Tsk! What detours are you taking? Just tell me who it is..." Sui Fengmao urged.
Sui Zhan said: "Jimo Qiao!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Sui Fengmao opened his eyes wide, looked at Sui Zhan in shock, and asked, "Who are you talking about?"