Kou Zhun, Wang Shu and Weng's son-in-law were drinking tea in the middle courtyard and chatting about political affairs.
Kou Ji, the master and servant of Erbao, stood in the front yard at the entrance of the main hall, waiting quietly.
At the end of the corridor in the front yard, heads poked out from time to time, frequently looking at the stubborn master and servant Kou Ji.
Under the prying eyes of the housekeepers and maids, half an hour passed by in a flash.
After standing for a long time, Kou Ji and Erbao's legs and feet became a little stiff.
Erbao moved his legs and feet quietly to relieve the soreness and numbness in his feet.
But Kou Ji remained motionless.
His brows furrowed into a frown.
Previously, through Kou Zhong's reaction, he had guessed that Kou Li's status in the family was not optimistic. Now, after a long wait, his guess has been confirmed.
As the saying goes, the prime minister's belly can hold the boat.
To be able to force Kou Zhun to look down upon a junior shows that what Kou Li committed is not trivial.
When Kou Ji first arrived in Bianjing, he didn't know the inside story, so he could only wait.
Time flew by and another half an hour passed.
Erbao's calves began to tremble.
Kou Ji wasn't much better. He was also trembling in his calves, but he was holding on to prevent the tremors from getting worse. In addition, he had a long front and back to cover up, so if you didn't look carefully, you wouldn't be able to see it at all.
Less than.
"Pa~"
Sudden.
A thunderbolt on a clear day.
The blue sky was covered by dark clouds at a speed visible to the naked eye.
A light drizzle fell, accompanied by gusts of light wind.
The rain fell on the bluestone, soaking one piece after another.
In the blink of an eye, the entire Kou Mansion was moistened by the rain.
Under the erosion of wind and rain, the clothes on the master and servant were instantly stained.
Erbao was shivering all over from the cold. He asked Kou Ji tremblingly, "Master... are you still waiting?"
Kou Ji stretched out his hand to welcome the drops of rain falling on the eaves, and said lightly: "Wait..."
The rain formed a puddle in the palm of his hand.
He turned his hand and the accumulated water fell to the ground, causing a splash.
"It's raining for no reason!"
Heaven will naturally not reason with Kou Ji, nor will it care about the helplessness in Kou Ji's tone.
However, Kou Zhun, Wang Shu and Weng's son-in-law, who were sitting in the middle courtyard drinking tea, did not care.
In the pavilion.
When the light rain and breeze fell, the servants waiting on the side lowered the straw curtains around the pavilion.
Kou Zhun was still lying on his side on the straw mat, but a few new coals were added to the small stove in front of him.
When the light rain fell, Kou Zhun glanced at the front yard unconsciously.
Wang Shu, who knew Kou Zhun's temper well, guessed Kou Zhun's thoughts with just one glance.
Immediately, he called out: "Where is Kou Zhong?"
Kou Zhong, who had been waiting at the small entrance of the middle courtyard and front courtyard, heard the summons and quickly appeared outside the pavilion.
"What are your orders, uncle?"
Wang Shu tugged at his front, sat upright, and asked, "Is that kid still standing in the front yard?"
Kou Zhong bowed his waist and said with a wry smile: "I have never moved."
Wang Shu glanced at Kou Zhun without any trace, and said with a smile: "I'm still a bit persistent..."
Kou Zhun shook his sleeves and said with a look of disgust: "If I get a little rain, I can enjoy the glory and wealth. I would rather die in the rain."
Wang Shu smiled and said: "Compared with the dangers in the officialdom, a little rain is nothing. But his stubborn temper is very much like yours."
Kou Zhun opened his mouth, but didn't speak.
Wang Shu struck while the iron was hot: "How about we meet?"
Kou Zhun muttered dissatisfiedly: "I want to see you, but I can't see him."
Wang Shu stood up with a smile and put on his boots with the help of Kou Zhong. He bowed his hands to Kou Zhun and said, "Then I'll go see him."
Kou Zhun did not stop him, but frowned and reminded: "Kou Li is very cunning. Back then, on a rainy night, he knelt down and begged me to teach him knowledge. I thought that he was a studious person, so I accepted him as my disciple.
, but I didn’t expect…”
There is no need to explain Kou Zhun's words clearly, Wang Shu already understands them.
As the saying goes, a dragon begets a dragon, a phoenix begets a phoenix, and a mouse's son can dig holes.
Kou Zhun was reminding Wang Shu not to be deceived by Kou Ji's misfortune.
Wang Shu nodded and said with a smile: "Don't worry, father-in-law, I will test him. If he can pass my son-in-law's test, he must not be a cunning person."
Kou Zhun waved his hand indifferently and said: "Whatever you want, I have already made up my mind to send the father and son back to Huazhou in a few days."
Wang Shu said no more, cupped his hands and left the pavilion.
Kou Zhong held an umbrella to protect him from the rain.
The two of them moved into the main hall.
A few moments.
Wang Shu, accompanied by Kou Zhong, appeared at the entrance of the main hall.
Master and servant Kou Ji felt relieved when they saw a figure finally appearing at the door of the main hall.
Erbao immediately lay down on the ground and was about to salute.
But he was kicked by Kou Ji without any trace.
Then in Erbao's blank eyes.
Kou Ji clasped his hands in his fists, bowed and said, "My nephew Kou Ji, I have met my uncle."
Erbao hurriedly saluted and said: "Little man Erbao, please pay homage to me."
Wang Shu was stunned, stared at Kou Ji with interest and said with a smile: "How come you concluded that I am your uncle?"
Kou Ji straightened up and said in a neither humble nor condescending manner: "Just now, the housekeeper said that my uncle accompanied my grandfather to discuss matters in the hall. You are obviously younger than my grandfather, and you can allow the housekeeper to accompany you humbly. Naturally, you are my nephew's uncle."
Wang Shu smiled and nodded, "You're not that old, but you're a little smart. You're better than your father."
Kou Ji bowed and said, "I don't deserve my uncle's praise."
Wang Shu laughed loudly and said, "You're not welcome. I called your father stupid, but you didn't respond. It seems that you have guessed that something happened in the house, and it is related to your father."
Kou Ji didn't hide anything, and said frankly: "I guessed a thing or two."
Wang Shu slowly put his hands behind his back and said, "I won't hide it from you. Your father did something stupid, a huge stupid thing. This stupid thing was enough to put your grandfather in danger."
Having said this, Wang Shu looked straight at Kou Ji and said in a deep voice: "Your father has been punished by your grandfather and has to kneel down in the ancestral hall. He has no way to remedy the situation. I don't know if you have the courage to continue.
To remedy this matter?"
Kou Ji was stunned and frowned.
Wang Shu is a third-rank official and a very important figure in the court. Anything that he considers to be a big stupid thing must not be a trivial matter.
He had just entered the mansion and didn't understand anything. Wang Shu opened his mouth and wanted to leave the mess that Kou Li had caused to him to clean up.
What is its purpose?
Testing, testing, embarrassment, or something else?
Kou Ji stood there and pondered for a long time, and finally decided to agree to the matter first.
Although he still doesn't understand Wang Shu's intention of asking him to help Kou Li clean up the mess, he must accept the matter.
He didn't know what stupid thing that cheap father had done, but he knew in his heart that Kou Li's position in the Kou family had begun to waver.
As Kou Li's only son, he and Kou Li both prospered and suffered losses.
He came to Bianjing City to enjoy wealth, not to suffer misfortune.
More importantly, Kou Ji has his own pride. He doesn't have to enjoy the wealth of the Kou family, but he will never allow it to happen because he loses his status as a third-generation official and is driven back to his hometown in Huazhou in despair.
.
Kou Ji always remembered the tragic deaths of the twelve wealthy servants who followed him out of Huazhou. He could not let the deaths of those twelve people be in vain.
Even if he wants to return to Huazhou, he must return home in fine clothes instead of being driven back in despair.
Therefore, no matter what stupid thing Kou Li did, he had to accept it and solve it.
Immediately, Kou Ji said seriously: "It is natural that the father's debt should be paid by the son."
Wang Shu had a surprised look on his face, and said with a click of his lips: "I was just testing it out, but I didn't expect you to actually dare to take it. It's true that newborn calves are not afraid of tigers."
Kou Jizhan smiled and said, "You have to give it a try. What if it's solved?"
Wang Shu was stunned, shook his head and said with a smile: "It seems that your boy used to live in the countryside and does not understand the dangers of Bianjing City. I must remind you that even if I personally take action, I may not be able to successfully solve what your father did."
Kou Ji raised his head and said with a smile, "I still want to try."
"good!"
Wang Shu applauded, but in his heart he underestimated Kou Ji Sanfen.
People who are responsible will naturally be appreciated by others.
But people who don't know their own abilities can be annoying.
In Wang Shu's eyes, Kou Ji is the person who overestimates his own abilities.