Chen Ahfu heard someone from the embroidery workshop behind him calling out to the little boy, "Brother Wang, what are you selling today?"
The boy smiled and said, "Manager Li, this time it's a medium-sized piece, 'Cat Rolling Embroidered Ball', which can be used as a screen for the kang or as a decoration."
She looked back at the little boy's back again. He was thin and frail, just another child struggling to make a living.
She didn't think much about it and took Yang Qian back to the restaurant.
Several men were talking animatedly, Yang Mingyuan was the main speaker, followed by Chen Ayu. Chu Lingxuan only spoke a few words from time to time. He was very frugal with others except Chen Afu and Chu Hanyan. Yang Chao sat there and listened like a little adult. It seemed that Yang Mingyuan had already started to train him.
Yang Qian happily showed off the flowers on her head and the purse in her hand to her father and brother.
Chen Ahfu sat down and drank a few sips of tea. Two tables of hot pot were already set up. Three men were at one table, and Chen Ahfu led his two children to another table.
The hotpot tastes great, it carries forward what Chen Afu taught and incorporates the local culinary characteristics.
But Chen Ahfu always felt that something was not going on in her heart, and she felt a little restless. When she was halfway through her meal, a flash of inspiration came to her mind, and she realized why she had always felt that something was wrong. It turned out that the child she had just met looked like Chen Ahlu, and Chen Ahlu looked like Wang, and the child's surname was also Wang... Although the uncle changed his name to Li Gousheng, he was sold at the age of six, so he must have remembered his own name, and it is possible that he changed it later.
But now that it's been so long, the child must have passed away, right? Regardless of whether he's gone or not, it's better to find out clearly so that you won't have any regrets.
She said to the nurse behind the two children, "Take good care of my brother and sister." She stood up and said to the men at another table, "Eat slowly. I have something to do at the Shui Linglong Embroidery Workshop."
Chu Lingxuan asked, "What's the matter?"
Chen Afu said, "I just met a boy in Shuilinglong. I thought he looked a bit like Alu, and his last name was Wang. I wanted to go and see him."
Chu Lingxuan knew how much Chen Afu's family hoped to find Wang Cheng, so he stood up and said, "I'll go with you."
Yang Mingyuan and Chen Ayu also stood up to go together.
Chen Ahfu smiled and said, "That boy may not really be related to my uncle. It's not such a coincidence. I'm just going to take a look. You guys continue to eat."
Chen Ayu said, "It's been so long, the child must have left. I'm familiar with the owner of Shui Linglong, so I can help find out." Then he said to Chu Lingxuan and Yang Mingyuan, "General Chu and Boss Yang, please continue drinking, I'll just accompany my sister."
Chu Lingxuan is Chen Ayu's brother-in-law, and Yang Mingyuan is his brother-in-law. One is a high-ranking general, and the other is his direct leader. Both of them are very good to him, but Chen Ayu does not take advantage of his favor and never calls them brother-in-law or brother-in-law in public.
Chen Afu and his sister took a few people to Shui Linglong, and the child was really gone.
Chen Ayu then asked the shopkeeper if he knew where he lived and who was at home.
Shopkeeper Lu said, "I only know that his name is Wang Xiaodi, his mother's surname is Wu, and they live in the eastern suburbs of Beijing. He came to sell his mother's embroidery, and I don't know anything else."
Chen Afu was extremely disappointed after hearing this.
Chen Ayu comforted Chen Afu and said, "Don't worry, sister. Next time when little brother Wang comes to sell embroidery, let shopkeeper Lu notify me."
Shopkeeper Lu smiled and said, "Then Shopkeeper Chen will have to wait a little longer. As you know, we at Shui Linglong are very picky about the work we do outside, and the embroidery must be fine. Fine work is slow work, and a small embroidery usually takes two months to embroider, and a medium embroidery takes more than half a year. My younger brother Wang's mother is not in good health, so the work is even slower. My younger brother Wang came today, and the next time he comes will be three to four months later."
Chen Ayu said to Chen Afu again, "Sister, don't worry and go back home. When little brother Wang comes to the embroidery workshop again, I will ask him clearly. If he is really related to your uncle, I will send a letter to you.
At this time, a waiter came over and said, "Manager Chen Er, that little brother Wang seems to be very familiar with Shanzi from your restaurant. I saw him talking to Shanzi once."
After hearing this, Chen Ayu said happily, "That's easy."
They returned to Hongyun Restaurant, and Chen Ayu called over a young man of about seventeen or eighteen and asked, "Shanzi, are you familiar with Wang Xiaodi who often goes to Shuilinglong to sell embroidery?"
Shanzi was a waiter at the restaurant, and he quickly said to Chen Ayu, "Little Brother Wang and I are neighbors, so of course we are very familiar with each other. What does the Second Shopkeeper want to know about him?"
Chen Ayu said, "No matter how big or small the matter is, as long as it is about little brother Wang, tell me everything." He added, "Let's talk in the private room."
Several people returned to the private room and listened to Shanzi talk about Wang Xiaodi's situation.
Wang Xiaodi and Shanzi both lived in Jiuli Village, east of the capital, about ten miles away from the capital.
His father was in his thirties, feeding horses in the Zuowei Camp. Because he was missing four fingers on his left hand, he was called Wang Liuzhi. This nickname became known, but his real name was not mentioned, and Shanzi didn't know it either.
His mother, known as Wu, was very good at embroidery and had started to embroider for the Shui Linglong Embroidery Workshop when she was young. But her health was not very good and she could not do heavy work except embroidery. He also had a five-year-old sister.
Life at home was not easy, and they lived in a few thatched houses.
Chen Afu asked, "Brother Wang's father feeds horses in the army, so he should have military reputation. His mother can make embroidery, especially if she can sell it to an embroidery shop like Shui Linglong, the price should be high. There are only four people in the family, so how can life be difficult?"
Shanzi said, "Aunt Wang's family is from our village. Because of her good embroidery skills, her family has always been reluctant to marry her off. They said that she was a good embroidery artist, and whoever married her would be like marrying a treasure pot. Her family wanted a betrothal gift of 100 taels of silver before they were willing to marry her. Who would want an embroiderer who could afford a betrothal gift of 100 taels of silver, so no one has ever proposed to her. When she was 18 years old, she went to the capital to sell embroidery work and was molested. Military officer Wang Liuzhi saved her. How did the two of them fall in love with each other? Uncle Wang didn't have that much money, so he borrowed some silver to make up 30 taels. He went to discuss with Aunt Wang's family and asked them to pay 10 taels of silver every year, and the Wu family agreed. 70 taels of silver, plus interest, has not been paid back yet."
This girl's family is really abominable.
However, after hearing so much, there are only three pieces of useful information, which are also relatively close to Wang Cheng: his surname is Wang, he is in his thirties, and he works in the army.
These information have made Chen Afu happy, and she wants to visit Wang Xiaodi's home in Jiuli Village.
Chu Lingxuan said, "It takes at least an hour and a half to get to Jiuli Village from the city. It's late, and it's not convenient for a woman to go there. Besides, people in the barracks don't go home every day, so you may not be able to see Wang Liuzhi if you go there. There is a brother I know in the left barracks. I will send someone to the barracks on horseback to inquire about his situation. We will know the exact news tomorrow at the latest. If that person looks like your uncle, I will go with you again."
This is the only thing we can do.
Chu Lingxuan asked someone to call up the personal soldier who was eating in the hall, gave him a few instructions, and the man left quickly.
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