Chapter 150
The Yuzhang Zhou family has a century of history and is powerful. They also control hundreds of thousands of troops in Yuzhang.
It makes people both afraid and want to curry favor with them.
When the old man passed away, Patriarch Zhou would definitely inherit the title of Duke of Yuzhang County, and many people would want to make friends with him.
When the ancestor of a sect passed away, the funeral was held with great ceremony, and forces from all directions came to pay their respects.
The mourning hall was set up in the front courtyard.
Entering the mansion and passing the screen wall, one arrives at the mourning hall. The courtyard in front of the hall can accommodate 500 people, leaving a wide path. On both sides of the path are the servants of the mansion and the subordinates of the various masters.
Even though County Magistrate Zhou has been banished to the small county of Cangwu to serve as an official, he is still a descendant of the direct lineage. According to the tablet, he is higher than the descendants of the direct lineage of the collateral lineage.
Therefore, the position where Fu Wei and others stood was not the last.
The middle of the left side is where they stand.
Perhaps because everyone in the mansion knew that the old man was dying, they had prepared plain white linen clothes and linen mourning clothes early on. So as soon as the old man passed away, even the people brought by County Magistrate Zhou could change into clothes immediately.
The people below dare not make any mistakes with the etiquette at this door, otherwise it will bring shame to the Zhou family.
The mourning hall was set up for three days, and people came to pay their respects in an endless stream. On the first day, most of the people who came were people from Yuzhang City, most of whom were close relatives or confidants of the Zhou family.
He shouted loudly to let people know who they were from, and Fu Wei silently memorized these people.
Ah Ying once said that the one supporting Mu Yunshan was the Yuzhang Zhou family. Mu Yunshan was not only seizing iron mines, but also collecting medicine and food resources, which meant that the Zhou family would also participate in the competition.
If the Zhou family becomes the winner, these people will all have the potential to become important officials.
Fu Wei's gaze shifted from the guests offering sacrifices to the head of the Zhou family.
If the Yuzhang Zhou family is in power, then the person who holds the high position is most likely the patriarch of the Zhou family, the father of County Magistrate Zhou.
As long as Master Zhou gets to a high position, as long as County Magistrate Zhou does not make any mistakes and makes great contributions, he will be made a vassal king of a certain place when he succeeds. It will not be so difficult for him to protect the people around him.
But the young master of the Zhou family obviously dislikes County Magistrate Zhou, so now we have to think about how to check and balance the young master Zhou, and it is important to have long-term plans.
The most important thing now is to remember these people who come to pay tribute to you, as they will be useful in the future.
On the second day of the worship, most of the people who came were from other places in Yuzhang.
On the third day, people from other county seats will meet.
Suddenly, a loud cry came, "Guests are coming! Wuling Commandery, the prefect Huo is here to pay his respects!"
Luo Zhubu, who was standing next to Fu Wei, had his expression slightly changed. He looked at Fu Wei and saw that his expression was still calm, without any sign of surprise or sadness.
"Mr. Fu, have you known about this for a long time?" Luo Zhubu asked in a low voice.
Fu Wei nodded: "In the past, Governor Huo had thought about making friends with the Zhou family."
Now he has been given this opportunity, but as long as he is here, he will not be allowed to easily get involved with the Zhou family and make friends with them.
He turned his head to look in the direction of the mansion gate, and looked at the middle-aged man who was walking around the screen wall towards the mourning hall. Fu Wei's eyes were secretive and concealed in just a moment. His gaze moved away from Huo Shanrong and fell on Huo Minzhi behind him.
He actually brought this person here.
Probably, Huo Shanrong had already known that he had come to Yuzhang.
After the memorial service, some people will be invited to rest in other courtyards.
Perhaps it was because of Fu Wei's outstanding appearance and temperament that even among hundreds of people, as long as you took a closer look, you would find that he stood out from the crowd and was particularly conspicuous.
Huo Shanrong came down from the mourning hall and glanced at the crowd before he saw his adopted son, whom he had not seen for almost two years.
The adopted son looked at him calmly, then nodded at him calmly, as if nothing had happened.
It seems like his adopted son has never changed.
No, something has changed.
It's not the superficial appearance, but the demeanor and aura of this adopted son.
Two years of experience have made him more mature and calmer. He exudes a calm and composed temperament, as if he can face any situation calmly.
For example, when facing his "father" who had raised him for twenty years, he remained calm and composed.
Governor Huo couldn't help but linger for a moment.
Huo Minzhi, who was standing behind him, kept an eye on his father all the time, trying to avoid making mistakes and feeling uncomfortable. However, when he came out of the mourning hall, he sensitively noticed that his father had a slight pause.
Seeing his father seemed to be looking somewhere, he couldn't help but follow his father's gaze. When he saw Fu Wei in the crowd, his pupils suddenly shrank and the look of astonishment on his face was hard to hide.
How could he appear here?!
How dare he!
After learning that his legs were healed, he was furious and offered a huge reward for Fu Wei's legs. He would reward five hundred taels to anyone who could cripple Fu Wei's legs.
When his father found out about this, he whipped him ten times and threatened him that as long as Fu Wei stayed in Cangwu for one day, he would suffer the same danger as he had endured.
These ten lashes were to teach him a lesson.
The ten lashes were so severe that the wounds on his back were oozing with blood. He had to lie on the bed for seven full days before he could get up.
Why are you so protective of someone who is not your biological child? And how can you be so cruel to your biological child!
If it weren't for Fu Wei, he wouldn't have lived a life worse than pigs and dogs for twenty years!
If it weren't for Fu Wei, how could his father treat him so cruelly? The look in his eyes when he looked at him had no warmth at all, only full of contempt.
If it weren't for Fu Wei, he wouldn't be compared to him everywhere!
Thinking of his own experience, he stared at Fu Wei with poisonous eyes.
Fu Wei noticed the cold gaze, but he just glanced at Huo Minzhi indifferently and then looked away.
He had never owed this person anything, and when they saw each other again, he no longer felt the slightest bit of guilt he had before his exile.
But in just a moment, a hidden storm surged between the three of them.
After Prefect Huo left to pay his respects, County Magistrate Zhou, who was in the mourning hall, couldn't help but glance outside.
Seeing Fu Wei's calm expression, he knew that he didn't need anyone's concern, so he looked away.
At noon, everyone dispersed and rested for half an hour.
Fu Wei was about to return to the courtyard when someone stopped him: "Mr. Fu, please wait a moment. My master wants to see you."
Luo Zhubu, who was standing beside him, was surprised for a moment when he heard this. He then leaned closer to Fu Wei and whispered, "It seems like he's someone close to Magistrate Huo."
Fu Wei had lived in the Huo family for twenty years, so he naturally recognized who this person was.
He said to Luo Zhubu beside him, "I'll be back soon."
After that, he nodded towards the man and said, "Lead the way."
The man said: "Mr. Fu, please follow me."
Fu Wei and that man left, and Luo Zhubu couldn't help but frown.
If I am not mistaken, the young man who came with the prefect Huo should be the eldest son of the Huo family who exchanged twenty years of his life with Fu Wei and even broke Fu Wei's legs.
When this man was in Yu County, he liked to steal and commit crimes. People like him are the most sinister and vengeful.
During the eighth and ninth months of the previous year, there was a period of time when Fu Wei was escorted home by Fu Zhen and another yamen runner. After a little inquiry, he learned that during that period, Fu Wei often encountered various dangerous accidents.
It happened to be the time when Fu Wei's legs had recovered, which was obviously related to the young master adopted by the Huo family.
I'm afraid that this meeting will bring bad intentions.
After thinking about it, Luo Zhubu followed in the direction the two had just left.
At least we are closer and can help in time if there is danger.
*
Fu Wei followed Huo Shanrong's men and entered a small courtyard.
There were several people guarding outside the yard. I guess Huo Shanrong borrowed this yard from the Zhou family.
After walking along the long corridor and passing through the moon gate into the inner courtyard, I saw a figure standing by the pond with his hands behind his back.
Fu Wei lowered his eyes slightly to hide the gloom in his eyes.
After the subordinate who led Fu Wei came forward and said "people are coming", Huo Shanrong turned around and looked at Fu Wei who was ten feet away.
Fu Wei was dressed in a plain white linen robe, standing straight. When he looked over, he bowed and said politely, "Greetings, Your Excellency the Governor."
Huo Shanrong waved to his men, who understood and retreated, leaving only the two of them behind.
When they were alone, Huo Shanrong's expression and tone were filled with helplessness: "Jinzhi, how could we be so unfamiliar with each other?"
Fu Wei lowered his head and said, "The governor has been kind to me for twenty years, but that's all."
The person opposite sighed, "Because your father was the person I respected the most, but I didn't know he did such a thing. I have never been able to forgive him. In addition, Minzhi was taken away by mistake and suffered for twenty years. When I first learned the truth, I chose to ignore your news, fearing that the more I knew, the more I would miss you. But who knew..."
At the end, he was filled with regret and sighed again: "I know you have resentment towards me. If I hadn't failed to take good care of Minzhi, you wouldn't have suffered so much."
Fu Wei said calmly, "Your Excellency, there's no need to blame yourself. It's perfectly normal for your son to feel resentment towards me. I don't blame anyone, but I also hope that your son has vented his anger before and won't cause trouble for me and my family again in the future."
Huo Shanrong raised his eyebrows slightly, and then said: "Jinzhi, you are still the same as before, still clear about gratitude and resentment. Even if he did such a despicable thing to you, you can still look at it so openly."
As he spoke, he walked towards Fu Wei, closing the distance between them.
He raised his hand and placed it on Fu Wei's shoulder, patting it gently. Observing the subtle changes on his face, he spoke slowly, "After all, you and I have been father and son for twenty years. This bond cannot be severed easily. Your biological father's mistakes have nothing to do with you. I shouldn't take my anger out on you."
Seeing that his facial expression didn't change when talking about his biological father, he thought that this adopted son was better at hiding his emotions than before.
I don’t know what kind of feelings the adopted son has towards his biological father whom he has never met.
"If you need any help or need anything in the future, you can ask me for help."
Huo Shanrong has a kind fatherly face, but underneath this face is a cruel heart. Fu Wei has a clear mind.
He bowed his head and said, "Thank you for your concern, my Lord. Everything is fine in Cangwu."
Huo Shanrong nodded: "As long as everything is fine."
After that, he said helplessly: "I just wanted to see you and talk to you. Now we have met and talked. You can go back. As for Minzhi, I will control him."
Fu Wei bowed, then turned and left, as if he had no regrets at all.
Looking at Fu Wei's departing back, his originally kind face gradually turned cold.
He is really an ungrateful person who can never be tamed.
After a while, the man who had led Fu Wei here came back and whispered, "Sir, Master Minzhi is outside the courtyard."
Huo Shanrong nodded: "Don't worry about him, he can do whatever he wants."
*
Seeing Fu Wei coming out of the yard, Huo Minzhi gritted his teeth and broke a branch beside him.
Their eyes met.
When Fu Wei came over, he lowered his voice and said sinisterly, "In Cangwu, your father can protect you. But outside of Cangwu, you must be careful. Don't break your leg by accident."
As he spoke, he squeezed the broken branch in his hand, implying something.
Fu Wei paused for a moment, glanced at him calmly, and said, "Do you know what you look like now?"
Huo Min was stunned, with a moment of confusion in her eyes.
Fu Wei raised the corner of his mouth slightly and said, "Like a frustrated loser."
Huo Minzhi glared at him fiercely: "Fu Wei, you really won't cry until you see the coffin. When your legs are broken again, you'd better keep such a stubborn mouth."
Fu Wei said nothing, looked at him coldly and calmly, then walked away.
After walking a little further, Luo Zhubu hurried forward and glanced at Huo Minzhi behind him. He shuddered in his heart and said hurriedly, "The look in the eyes of the young master of the Huo family seems to want to kill you."
Fu Wei sneered calmly: "It would be best if he takes action."
Luo Zhubu looked puzzled: "Why?"
Fu Wei tilted his head slightly and looked at him, with a half-smile: "Although he was the one who did it, who knows if it was the Huo family or the Zhou family? Who knows if they wanted to harm me or you, sir?"
Luo Zhubu was stunned and asked, "What if people mistakenly think that I am trying to harm you?"
Fu Wei withdrew his gaze, walked forward slowly, and said calmly, "Old things will be brought up again, and things from several years ago may be brought up. Although I don't know why you were demoted from the military guard to the magistrate of a lower county, based on the attitude of the Zhou family's servants and the rumors heard in Yu County, it is not difficult to guess that you were blocking someone's way and were framed."
Luo Zhubu knew some things, but only some.
I only know that the master was demoted and it was related to the young master of the Zhou family, but I don’t know what the situation is.
"So what do I need to do?"
Fu Wei shook his head: "Don't do anything, just wait."
"But Mr. Fu will also be in danger. This is too dangerous."
Fu Wei said indifferently: "It's okay, I can still protect myself, I'm just afraid that he won't take action."
That's why he deliberately provoked Huo Minzhi just now.
Moreover, even if Huo Minzhi did not take action, Huo Shanrong would add fuel to the fire.
The reason why Huo Shanrong brought his son out today was definitely not to expand his network of contacts, but because he was also there.
Huo Minzhi hated him the most and would never sit still and do nothing.
Huo Shanrong came to find him today just to show it to Huo Minzhi.
If I'm not mistaken, if Huo Minzhi hurt him in Yuzhang, the Zhou family would have some responsibility. At that time, Huo Shanrong would express his position and sacrifice his own family for the sake of justice.
Although it won't cost him his life, it will definitely help him make friends with the Zhou family.
To put it bluntly, Huo Minzhi is just a chess piece that can still be used.
Even though he is my biological son, I can still plot against the one I have raised for twenty years, let alone this son whom I have never raised for a single day in these twenty years.
How can I feel sad at all if I give up?
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