Chapter 114 Jinjiang First Release Chapter 114 You Send Us a Couple...
"What did you say?"
One morning five days later, a burst of shocked and angry voices rang out from the Hong residence in the provincial capital: "Chen Xian hasn't come back yet?"
Hong Xiao asked her trusted maid Hong Lian: "What is going on?"
Honglian said anxiously, "Madam, not only has Manager Chen not returned, but Manager Hong has also lost contact. Manager Chen was originally scheduled to return to report to you last night, regardless of the outcome. However, the people I sent waited all night and Manager Chen never showed up. Do you think they will..."
"What's the matter? Tell me!"
"Could he have been detained by the young master's men?" Honglian speculated. "Four people have gone, so at least one of them should be able to deliver the message. And I heard something when I went out this morning. It was said that..."
"Just say what you want to say! Why are you hesitating like that?"
"It's said that the young master went out to play yesterday afternoon and accidentally offended the second son of General Pan Feng. The young master broke one of the second son's jade pendants, and now the Pan family says they're going to sue the young master."
"Isn't it just a piece of jade? At most, I can just compensate them. Why would I have to sue them?"
"I originally thought so, but upon inquiry, I discovered that the jade pendant is made of an extremely rare cold jade, an old item passed down from their ancestors in the Pan family. It is specially used to treat fevers among Pan family members, and it is difficult to buy even if you have money. What do you think we should do?"
As the two were talking, Hong Rong rushed in and hugged Hong Xiao's legs: "Mother! Mother, save me!"
Hong Xiaoshi's temples throbbed. "What do you want to save?"
Hong Rong said, "I accidentally broke Pan Rujin's cold jade. The Pan family won't take the money and is determined to sue me. What should I do? Can you please ask my eldest brother to intercede for me? Otherwise, I'm going to suffer."
Mrs. Hong Xiao said, "Then why did you break someone else's jade for no reason?"
Hong Rong said, "My son, I just can't stand Pan Rujin's constant arrogance, so...but my eldest brother is the Imperial Censor appointed by His Majesty, and the Pan family will definitely give him face. Please send someone to tell my eldest brother quickly. If it's too late, I'm afraid this matter will become a big deal and my reputation will be completely ruined."
"You still want a reputation?! How many times have I told you that you're a good boy? Just stay home and don't go out and cause trouble! But you're so good!"
"I'm fine, it's all Pan's fault! Oh, Mom, please help me just this once. Why don't you just talk to my eldest brother?"
"Okay, okay, get up! It gives me a headache just looking at you!" Mrs. Hong Xiao said. "Honglian, send someone to give the eldest young master a letter. Tell him what's going on and ask him to mediate as soon as possible. It'll just cost a little more money. Just get this done quickly."
"But Madam, the Pan family is going to sue today. It will take a while for the eldest young master to receive the letter now. I wonder if it's still in time?"
"Ah? Yes, mother!" Hong Rong cried, "They are going to sue me today!"
"You're crying now! What were you thinking?"
Mrs. Hong Xiao thought about it and felt that the situation was a bit tricky. After hesitating for a moment, she said, "Honglian, go and prepare some gifts. Have Hongtian take the master's visiting card to visit Qin Wenxian, the Lord Qin. He and Huan'er are close friends, and he will definitely not ignore this matter if he knows about it. We just need to delay for a few days until Huan'er returns."
Honglian felt that this was not an easy matter, but she did not dare to object anymore, so she obeyed the order and hurriedly left.
Hong Rong sat down on a chair and said, "Oh, I was so scared. It's because you thought about me. Let me give you a leg massage."
Mrs. Hong Xiao poked her youngest son on the forehead and said, "You, you! You only cause trouble for me. You are not allowed to go anywhere for the next two weeks. You stay home and reflect on your behavior."
Hong Rong rolled his eyes and suggested, "Mom, how about I go to Qixia Town too? I heard Qin Yushuang is almost living there. It must be a lot of fun, so he has been living there all this time."
Mrs. Hong Xiao said without hesitation, "No! What's the point of a boy like you going to that rural place? Mother has heard that Shuang Ge was tanned after returning from that place. Do you still want to marry into a good family?"
Hong Rong really had no interest in getting married for the time being. When he thought of Yuan Sihan being depressed because she couldn't have children, and how she didn't dare to say anything when they laughed at her, and how his mother wanted to find a concubine for his eldest brother, he found the whole thing very boring. But he didn't dare to say it. He said, "Wouldn't it be whiter if I tanned it and covered myself up for the winter? Besides, what's the point of staying at home all day?"
"If I say no, then no! Read to me more when you have time. And are you going to learn your needlework?"
"I don't like that kind of work. I just don't understand. There are clothing stores, shoe stores, and embroidery shops everywhere. What can't I do if I pay money? Why do you have to make me learn needlework?"
"You still dare to talk back? Fine, then you can handle the Pan family's affairs yourself! Honglian!"
"No, no, no, Mom! I, I'll listen to you, okay?"
Hong Rong stopped massaging his legs. He knew his little arms couldn't twist a big thigh, so he returned to his yard in a sullen mood.
Madam Hong Xiao said to the other two maids, "Keep an eye on the Second Young Master. Don't let him run away again. If he does, you'll be in big trouble!"
The maid immediately obeyed the order and left. Only then did Mrs. Hong Xiao take a bag of fish food with satisfaction and go to the porcelain tank in the yard to feed the goldfish.
Unexpectedly, before an hour had passed, Hong Tian came back: "Madam, this is difficult. Master Qin is not at home!"
Mrs. Hong Xiao suddenly sat up straight: "Then the people in his house didn't tell him where he went?"
Hong Tiandao said, "He said he was going to visit one of his mentors. But this Lord Qin has several mentors. I asked the Qin family's housekeeper which one it was, and the housekeeper said that he didn't say. I also asked when Lord Qin would be back, and the Qin family's housekeeper said it would take at least three to five days."
Mrs. Hong Xiao was immediately furious: "Why are all of you not here at this time? Forget it, forget it. I'll wait at home today. I want to see who dares to come to our Hong Mansion to take people away!"
"Madam! Madam! Something bad has happened!" the doorman came running over in a panic. "The officials are here and want to arrest the young master!"
"Mother! Mother, please save me!" Hong Rong ran back and hid behind Hong Xiaoshi, "I won't go with them!"
"Madam Hong, we are also following orders. Please bear with us." The official followed closely and said, "Our master said that if someone does something wrong, he must be taken back for questioning."
"What do you want to know? It's just a piece of jade! My Hong family will compensate him!" said Mrs. Hong Xiao. "We don't intend to deny our debt. Why should we arrest him?"
"Very well, then," said the officer, "twenty thousand taels of silver. As long as you give us the money now, we can report back."
"You! You guys are taking advantage of me because Huan'er is not at home!"
"Madam Hong, I dare not do that. Besides, even if Lord Hong were here, I would probably act the same way. Lord Hong is upright and honest, always setting an example himself and governing his subordinates strictly. He would never show favoritism."
"Hmph. Fine, if you have the guts today, take him away and ruin my brother's reputation. I want to see how you end up!"
"Well, I'll take your leave then. Take me away!"
The officer gave the order without even a frown. At that moment, two burly servants arrived, carried Hong Rong away. Seeing their audacity, Hong Xiaoshi was so angry she nearly fainted. She called out to Hongtian, "You, you go to Qixia Town yourself! Bring back the young master! Wait! Honglian, go with your brother. If anything happens, let me know immediately!"
The siblings Hongtian and Honglian left the Hong Mansion without even having time to change their clothes.
However, Qin Wenxian, who was supposed to go to "see his mentor", was in Qixia Town at this moment.
In the past, his second brother always brought his younger brother here, and this time he came to see what kind of demeanor this person, who was praised by his best friend, younger brother and even his parents as someone who only lives in heaven, had.
Hong Huan said, "You'll understand once you meet them. These two are different from everyone else we've met before. They understand profit but don't pursue it blindly. They're open and honest with the nobles and tolerant with the common people. In other words, when you're with them, you'll find that many simple things in this world become extraordinarily beautiful and interesting."
Qin Wenxian said, "Then I really have to get to know him."
Hong Huan said, "To be honest, this is all thanks to you. If you hadn't thought of helping me and Han'er, I might not have had this opportunity."
Qin Wenxian said, "That was mainly due to my brother Shuang. I have to thank him. He was the one who strongly suggested that I meet the Fang family husband. He said that Fang Shoucheng's copied sutras had spread good news to so many families, and that the Fang husband was very knowledgeable. I didn't believe it at first, but who would have thought it was true? That's why I came to you. Now you are finally going to be a father, and our family is very happy for you."
Looking back, it was truly a miracle. Hong Huan couldn't help but sigh, "Sometimes I really envy you. A harmonious family, with brothers who are friendly and respectful to each other, is more soothing than anything else. If my parents could be like this, Han'er wouldn't have suffered so much to have this child."
After getting to know Fang Shu and his wife, his husband became cheerful. Before that, he was in tears all day long. How could he be happy at all?
Qin Wenxian said, "It's not right for the younger generation to criticize the older generation, but it's really not easy for you and Han Ge'er. Fortunately, someone has enlightened you this time, so you should be more careful in the future. Right now, I'm just worried that my uncle and aunt won't let it go. If I hide this time, they will definitely send someone to look for you."
Hong Huan said, "I wish more people would come."
Just as these words fell, the two heard someone shout, "Brother Liwei, you're finally back. I thought you were lost."
Hong Huan rode his horse almost to the Fang family's gate and dismounted. "My good brother wanted to see the scenery along the way, so he didn't rush back. Let me introduce them: Fang Shu, Fang Shoucheng. Qin Wenxian, courtesy name Huaide."
Fang Shu smiled and said, "Brother Qin, welcome to my home."
"Thank you, Brother Shoucheng. I've heard of your great name for a long time. My brother Shuang has been bothering me a lot lately, and I'm grateful that your husband Fang has taken care of him."
"Hey, Shuang'er and my wife are very close friends. I think they're going to become sworn brothers. Brother Qin, please."
"Brother!" Qin Yushuang was holding a bunch of round things of different sizes in her arms. "You really came. I didn't believe it when Brother Hong told me."
"Let me see what kind of wonderful place is it that makes you like it so much that you don't want to go back home."
"So how do you feel?"
“It’s different from other places.”
Qin Wenxian felt that the house itself wasn't anything special; it was even quite ordinary. But the people inside seemed incredibly happy, their faces beaming. These smiles weren't fake flattery for fame or fortune, nor were they the product of smug pride. Instead, they were genuine and simple, like a deep-seated sense of peace and understanding.
He instantly understood why Mr. and Mrs. Hong Huan and his younger brother liked this place so much.
There are no rules, no dogmas, no constraints, no grievances or tolerance here, only enthusiasm and sincerity.
Qin Yushuang said, "Brother, you really came on time. Long Ge'er said he would make us something delicious today."
Qin Wenxian said, "Your face has become round from eating so much, and you're still thinking about eating."
Qin Yushuang said, "Oh, there's nothing I can do. It's just that whatever Long Ge'er cooks smells so good that I can't control my appetite."
Qin Wenxian asked: "What are you holding in your arms?"
Qin Yushuang said, "Potatoes! There are so many in the field. It's so fun to dig them up. Long'er said he would make us something delicious with them. Long'er, Long'er, this is my eldest brother, Qin Wenxian. His courtesy name is Huaide."
Yu Qinglong emerged from the alley connecting the backyard to the front yard. Upon hearing this, he greeted the eldest brother of the Qin family and said, "My dear, I need to prepare some dishes. You can take care of Yangyang and Little Stone. I need to prepare a few more dishes, so Brother Yuan and Brother Shuang will have to help me."
Fang Shu agreed and invited Qin Wenxian and Hong Huan into the main hall. Soon, he replaced Yuan Sihan, who was watching Yang Yang and Xiao Shitou.
Yuan Sihan smiled and greeted Qin Wenxian before heading straight for the kitchen. Qin Wenxian observed, "Brother Yuan, you've really changed. Hong Liwei, you've really changed too. You never let your husband into the kitchen before?"
Hong Huan smiled and said, "If Han'er likes it, let him go. Besides, he and Long'er have endless things to talk about, and they will be happy together. It will also be good for him and the child."
Fang Shu teased the two little guys.
Qin Wenxian saw two little kids lying on a wooden lathe he had never seen before and wondered, "Where did you buy this? It's really something new."
Fang Shu said, "My wife drew the design for this, and my uncle made it himself. My wife called it a 'baby stroller,' and it can be pushed out or stood on the ground to serve as a bed. It also has a curtain, so you don't have to hold the baby when you take them out, and they don't have to be afraid of the light."
Qin Wenxian circled the cart twice. "No wonder Shuang'er kept talking about Long Ge'er the moment she got home. She said he had so many interesting ideas. This is truly a brilliant idea. It's a pity that my son is already three years old, otherwise I would have shamelessly asked for one for him."
"A three-year-old has his own toys. My wife has drawn many wooden toys that are both educational and entertaining. I'll make them and give them to your son when the time comes."
"Then I would like to thank my brother who is guarding the city first."
The three men chatted and teased the children. The little ones were almost three months old. Unlike newborns, they ate and slept, and when they were awake, they could be played with for a while. They were already somewhat aware of people, perhaps through smell and voice. When Qin Wenxian held them, they cried, but they stopped crying when Fang Shu held them.
Fang Shu felt so happy, he felt that all the hard work over the past few months was not in vain.
He lost a lot of weight, but he felt very satisfied.
Yu Qinglong watched Fang Shu lose weight. But he had to take good care of his own child. All he could do now was to make sure Fang Shu ate well and gained some weight before the expedition.
He is going to make sweet and sour pork and stewed potatoes with tomatoes today.
He'd already washed the starch a few days ago, using mashed potatoes from the backyard. It wasn't much, but it was enough for him to use a few times. He'd also bought and sliced the pork.
Yu Qinglong remembered that his grandmother used to make sweet and sour pork with ready-made starch. He didn't know if his method would work, but he decided to give it a try.
He put the meat coated with starch into the frying pan and fried it until it was cooked. "Brother Yuan, Brother Shuang, would you like to try the crispy outside?"
Qin Yushuang blew away the heat, tasted it and said, "It's still a little soft."
Yuan Sihan smiled and said, "It's a little soft, but it smells really good."
He didn't have much morning sickness, and he was eating more and more. He really thought the meat tasted really good.
Yu Qinglong took one bite, feeling it wasn't quite right, so he fried it again and set it aside to make the sweet and sour sauce. He'd learned the sauce from the chef at Fu Yue Lou. Once it was ready, he coated the fried meat with it! He then sprinkled it with chopped cilantro and scallions.
There's also a casserole of tomatoes and potatoes with thinly sliced beef. A small cold dish of cucumber and dried bean curd sheets, stir-fried green peppers and pork, and a plate of sliced watermelon! A plate of peanuts, and a plate of steamed vermicelli with garlic and cabbage!
Although there are not many dishes, the taste is so fragrant that it can be smelled from three miles away.
Qin Wenxian was polite at first, but when he saw that he was the only one who was particular about food, and everyone else was talking and laughing and eating without hesitation, he didn't care anymore.
Qin Yushuang smiled and said, "How is it, big brother? Isn't it too fragrant?"
Qin Wenxian said, "The Autumn Examination is coming soon, and the provincial capital will be busy. Otherwise, I would have to come here for more meals. The food here is really wonderful."
The food wasn't particularly expensive, but it was simply delicious. He felt it had something to do with the people he was eating with.
Yu Qinglong said, "If Brother Qin doesn't mind, you can ask Brother Qin to come stay for a few days. Although our place is small, it's always bustling."
Qin Wenxian was naturally willing. He and Hong Huan were close friends. He knew Hong Huan's friends were reliable without even having to get to know them too closely.
Yu Qinglong also sent sweet and sour pork to his father's house, and also to Li Zheng and his family. And to Fangshan's family. He was always generous with his food, always willing to share. So, with the exception of a few wicked people, no one in the village disliked him.
Qin Wenxian didn't want to go back to town at night, but it was really inconvenient not to go back, so he went back.
On the afternoon of the second day, the Hong family sent people to Xiaxi Village. Hong Tian and Hong Lian went straight to Xiaxi Village to inquire about the situation. However, they arrived smoothly and were detained by Hong Huan's people.
This was also Yu Qinglong's idea. Yu Qinglong's point was that the people who could be sent here at this moment were all capable people around Old Lady Hong. So, let's start with these people. If they could switch sides, that would be best. If not, then they couldn't be allowed to return easily.
Of course, he believes that there is no problem that cannot be converted as long as the right method is used.
Yu Qinglong called over the six people he had detained and asked, "Do you know what I do?"
All six of them shook their heads.
Yu Qinglong asked again: "Do you want to go back?"
The six of them nodded in unison.
Yu Qinglong said, "I am responsible for the trial cultivation of potatoes for His Majesty. This is for the benefit of the people of the land and is of vital importance to their livelihood. I have asked you to stay and help me. If you dare to have even the slightest second thought, you will be deliberately obstructing my mission, which His Majesty has ordered. I wonder if you can bear this charge?"
The six of them looked at each other, how could they dare to refute such a statement? They immediately shook their heads like rattles: "Absolutely not." "How dare we say that?"
Yu Qinglong said, "That's good. You won't suffer any loss by working here. But remember, don't have any bad intentions, otherwise don't blame me for being ruthless. If you make a mistake, it won't cost the life of any one of you, but the lives of everyone, even your family members. So you must think carefully before doing anything."
The six people nodded vigorously: "Of course, of course." "Don't worry, we won't dare to do anything rash."
They were detained by a group of soldiers. Now, the gates of Fang's house were filled with soldiers wearing armor and holding real swords and guns. How could they dare to move?
As a result, Hong Xiaoshi waited for two days without any new news. The people she sent out were like meat buns hitting dogs, and none of them returned.
But she couldn't leave the city on her own because she had an imperial order and neither she nor her master could leave the city!
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Author's words: Qinglong: Accept all who come [Sunglasses]
Fang Shu: Long Er doesn't plan to return it [shut up]
Qinglong: Anyone who can climb high must have some tricks up their sleeves. Let's see if I can use them here. [Smirk]
Fang Shu: [laughing and crying]
PS: I was too happy yesterday. I just celebrated my recovery from a cold, and then my period came. [burst into tears] It was too late. I didn’t catch any bugs. I’ll catch them as soon as I post them!
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