Fake true false
Chapter 22: False and True
The spring rain, as thin as a needle, came quickly. Yi Huan sat on the stone bench in the pavilion waiting for the bus.
The rain curtain made it impossible to see the human figure clearly. As the shadow got closer and closer, the elegant and pure figure was covered with raindrops and came into the sight of the master and the servant.
Yi Huan took a look and then looked away. However, Yun Hu had never seen such a handsome and graceful young man, and she couldn't help but stare at his face again and again.
Qiong Lai stood on the steps, twisting her wet hem. She glanced at her pretending to be casual, then took two steps to the side with a slight uneasiness.
The sound of falling raindrops filled my ears. In the endless silence, Chang Er came from afar in a carriage.
"Girl, the carriage is here, let's go."
When they were out, Yunhu always called her by this name.
"Um."
"Give me the paper umbrella."
Passing by him, Yi Huan handed him the umbrella and said, "This umbrella is for you to keep out of the rain."
"Oh, ah...thank you, my lady."
Qiong Lai looked up in surprise and timidity. An umbrella was enough for two people to keep their hands far apart, but an unknown fire was dancing in his dark eyes.
Yi Huan didn't say another word to him and stepped into the drizzle that was as dense as clouds and mist.
Qiong Lai followed her and looked at her back. The two of them only had one umbrella, and the little maid beside her was holding the umbrella for her diligently. She walked neither fast nor slow, and the rain and fog completely obscured her figure.
Narrow and blurry, it is the only protagonist in the static picture of drizzling rain in front of me.
His eyes fell on the ends of her dark gray hair, and then moved away when the carriage turned.
Yun Hu noticed his unexpected delay in emotion and said excitedly, "Aunt Huan, that man looked at you differently just now. Do you think he was..."
"Don't talk nonsense about things that don't exist."
She really looked like she was avoiding him and had no interest. Yun Hu recalled that person's beautiful and superior face and said with regret, "Oh."
That's right, my aunt is the captain's person. Not to say that my aunt is not moved, but even if she is, she can only hide it.
In the study, the second eldest son was reporting to Peng Zuoyuan the news about the brides who had been transferred out recently.
"The second daughter of the Jin family, she is very beautiful. Her stepmother is not her biological mother, and they appear to be harmonious. The only daughter of the Cui family, she is gentle and moderate in her treatment of others. Her family is gradually declining. The former mistress of the Cui family was from the Feng family. The eldest daughter of the Bei family, she disguised herself as a man and joined the army. She has good skills and a cheerful and unrestrained personality..."
Peng Zuoyan listened carefully, cup after cup of tea, and only spoke up to remove a few families after Chang Er finished reading.
"Tomorrow we'll go to Cui's and Bei's house and deliver the invitation."
"yes."
The Cui family had three generations of top scholars in the imperial examinations. Cui Chao won the first place three times in a row and was personally appointed to the Hanlin Academy by the sage before him. This honor lasted only for four generations. The current head of the Cui family, Cui Xingyan, has reached the age of retirement and is only a temple secretary of the fifth rank. The family that once produced many talented Hanlin scholars is in visibly decline.
Cui Xingyan was of lower rank than Peng Zuoyang, and when he first heard about the invitation from the Peng family, he felt more suspicious than happy.
"Luan'er, our family has no connection with the Peng family. What does he want to do?"
The quiet woman in blue half-sleeves sitting on the chair next to him was also puzzled and speculated, "Could it be something about the shop? Caideng, please invite the shopkeepers over to talk."
The standing lantern knelt down in response, bowed to Cui Xingyan, and then left.
"I think this Peng guy has taken a fancy to my sister."
"Aping..."
"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll beat you to death!"
Cui Ping had been so naughty that he had seen Lao Zi's angry eyes countless times. He knew when he was really angry and didn't dare to provoke him. He looked at his elegant elder sister again, hid back and said quickly, "What else? Why would he come to our Cui family for no reason? Isn't Peng Zuoyuan planning to discuss marriage recently? What else could it be besides this?"
"Aye, I think what Aping said makes sense."
Cui Xingyan came back and sat down. "Luan'er, what do you think? Although the Peng family has no foundation, Peng Zuoyuan is capable, and their momentum is only growing."
Cui Luan thought for a moment and made a decision: "If it's true, I want to meet him in person."
Cui Ping sat back down, crossing his legs nonchalantly, "Aye, sister, if you like me, the Peng family wouldn't be bad as an in-law. Let's see who can still bully the Cui family because they have no one."
"If you were capable, would my Cui family need to rely on others? You're seventeen too, two years for the county exam and three for the prefectural exam. Do you plan to spend your whole life as a student?"
"Not everyone can pass the imperial examination," Cui Ping said, curling his lips. "My elder sister is my support. You don't have to worry about me."
“Nonsense!”
Cui Luan stopped the anxious father and son in time, "Father, the most important thing now is the Peng family post. I'm going to go to my grandparents' house, don't worry."
Cui Xingyan always followed her words as his backbone, and after a few words of concern, he ordered people to prepare the carriage.
Peng Zuo-dun arrived in the afternoon. Cui Xingyan was the host entertaining the guests. They found a topic to talk about dryly, without beating around the bush. Peng Zuo-dun said directly, "The younger generation of the Cui family has already met Ping Lang. I wonder if Madam Cui is at the mansion?"
"Well, my daughter is a concubine, so it's not appropriate."
"To be honest with you, Temple Secretary, I am twenty-nine years old. I only have my father at home. I am the only branch of the Peng family and have no sisters-in-law or mothers-in-law. If you are interested, I would like to meet with Madam Cui."
Cui Xingyan was embarrassed to stop talking, and in his heart he was scolding Cui Ping who had left the table, thinking that this kid was right.
Caideng stepped out from behind the wall and passed a message to Cui Xingyan. The Cui family head waved her away, coughed twice, and said with a smile: "Captain Peng, Luan Niang is in charge of the house inside and outside. If there are guests, she will be the one to greet them."
Peng Zuodang stood up, crossed his arms, and bowed, saying politely, "The Cui family is very good at treating guests."
Across the gauze screen, the figure opposite was gentle and quiet. Peng Zuoyao didn't bother to examine her for too long, but instead bowed and said, "Commander Peng Zuoyao, greetings to Madam Cui."
"Mrs. Cui, Captain Peng is respectful."
Cui Luan bent his body to return the greeting, his voice soft but not timid, which showed the dignity of his aristocratic family.
"I'm sorry for disturbing the Cui family by visiting them without any hesitation. I've been transferred to Chang'an and live next door to the Cui family, so I came here to be their guest and to meet our neighbors."
Although the Cui and Peng families lived in the same Shengpingfang, they were diagonally across the street from each other, so it was a stretch to say that they were neighbors.
Cui Luan curled his lips, but didn't continue his riddle and said, "I wonder if the commander is paying homage to both sexes, or to the six-foot neighbor?"
"Ha." Peng Zuoyan lowered his head and smiled, his tone gentle, "To discuss the marriage, the elders should come, but I think this is our business, we should meet first, and then discuss the two families' affairs."
"You should also know that the Cui family is weak in the officialdom, and my younger brother is still young and weak and can't bear the lintel of the family. Aren't you afraid that I will marry you and help my mother's family?"
"Since ancient times, it has been the wish of a woman to rely on her husband. If I had no ability or rank, and were no longer needed by you, I would have reflected on this. Besides, with your ability to manage the entire Cui family, if it were possible, it would be a blessing for the Peng family. Madam Cui, in-laws are inevitably tainted by material interests, but what is rare is the true love beneath the entanglement of money."
The other party fell silent again. Peng Zuoyuan said, "The Peng family has no roots in Beijing. If I talk about climbing up the social ladder, I'm afraid the Cui family will be suspicious of my motives."
"Captain, you are overly concerned. The Peng family is sincerely inviting us, and the Cui family will certainly treat us with sincerity."
Cui Luan was the one who negotiated everything inside and outside the Cui family. There was a batch of lychees with a finalized price. The two shops met this time to sign the documents.
The heads of the Cui and Tian families sat opposite each other. Cui Luan pulled out the deed from the box and said as he pushed it, "Manager Tian, this is the deed drawn up by the Cui family. Please take another look at it, and then we can sign it."
"Master Cui, this contract you drafted is not good enough."
"It's a deal between the two parties. Do you want to raise the price?"
Tian Qiu, with his round face and pointed jaw, narrowed his eyes and evaded responsibility, "It's not that I'm unethical, Mr. Cui, but even though lychees are rare, their price changes daily. Today's price has dropped even further. Aren't you being inconsiderate of your subordinates' lives?"
"Tian Qiu, if you want to buy it, just sign it. If you are not sincere, I will not take your Tian family's business in the future."
Although Tian Qiu's temple was small, he had built his business from scratch with the money he earned through his social life. He immediately slammed the table and said fiercely, "Cui Luan, I call you the boss because I respect you. You are just a young girl who is not even 20 years old. Were you even born when I was discussing business with you?"
"After spending most of your life in this world, your Tian family is still no match for my Cui family, right?"
Cui Luan sat with his face tilted back, his dark eyes half-hidden, revealing a hidden sternness. "Fifty-five coins per lychee, ten taels of silver for a basket of fresh lychees. If you don't sign, then the East and West Markets, the Imperial Li family, the leading merchants in Dayu, who among them can't eat up acres of my fruit trees?"
Fear flashed across Tian Qiu's narrow eyes. "You, you're trying to scare me. Compared to Lingnan red silk, how can the royal family even consider your osmanthus-flavored silk?"
Cui Luan raised his lips and said, "Master Tian doesn't believe me. The door is open. Please leave without seeing me off."
"I……"
While Tian Qiu hesitated, Ma Zhun observed and said, "Si Ge, are you going in? If you don't, Madam Cui will be able to negotiate."
Che Xiao made a quick decision: "Go in."
"What are you yelling about?"
The left and right guards with curved swords on their waists were so arrogant that they suppressed the situation. Tian Qiu immediately calmed down and said with a flattering smile, "Sir, I am the owner of the Tian family in Zhuque Fu Street. I was discussing a small business here. I was a little loud and disturbed you. Ha, please forgive me."
"Is that a bit too loud? Isn't it quite domineering when you slam the table?"
Tian Qiu laughed softly and cupped his hands, saying, "It's inevitable that a woman in charge of business won't understand. I was a little emotional. I hope that Mr. Cui can understand my good intentions."
Che Xiao glanced coldly at Tian Qiu, who was lying low, then sat down with a big horse and a golden sword, spread out the contract, and asked with a squinting eye, "How much did you say just now?"
"What?"
After dusting off the papers, Che Xiao emphasized his tone and said, "I'm asking you, how much tael were we talking about just now?"
"Ten taels...two hundred silver coins."
"What's your name?"
"Tian, Tian Qiu." The latter didn't care about his trembling legs and asked anxiously, "Sir, what do you think?"
"Tian Qiu, right? Ten thousand wen, not a penny less. Can you sign it?"
Tian Qiu did not rely solely on his fists to fight, so he guessed the intentions of the left and right guards Si Ge. He turned his attention to Cui Luan, who was sitting there motionless, and kept mocking him in his heart.
He hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes, yes."
The two characters "Tian Qiu" were written in a sloppy hand. Che Xiao commented, "Just barely legible."
"You won't deliberately make things difficult for the Cui family in the future, right?"
Tian Qiu wailed and quickly assured, "How could I be such an official? I will definitely negotiate business properly in the future. I still have to rely on Mr. Cui for business."
"That's good to know. Go away."
As Che Xiao led his men out, Tian Qiu straightened his bent shoulders and said sarcastically, "I didn't expect the Cui family had such powerful guards behind them. I, Tian Jiamiao, was timid and didn't realize how much I had earned in my past lives to be noticed by your boss, Cui, and do business with you."
Cui Luan ignored his sarcastic tone, took a few quick steps, and called out to the man, "Si Ge, please stay."
"Madam Cui, do you have anything to say?"
"Did he let you in?"
Che Xiao asked in a cryptic tone, "Him? Who is Madam Cui talking about? The Left and Right Guards are responsible for maintaining Kyoto's law and order. It's just a coincidence that we met Madam Cui to discuss business. Tian Qiu was just asking for a higher price, so we were just having a friendly negotiation."
Cui Luan understood what he meant and stopped asking questions. He nodded and left the restaurant after them.
Peng Zuoyuan works for the Left and Right Guards, and they are members of the Left and Right Guards. They just helped the Cui family without investigating the cause and effect of the incident. If it weren't for his instructions, they would never have taken action.
He was the one who had been keeping an eye on her.
Thinking of the guess in her heart, she felt warm inside.
She was confident that she could make the deal even without the interference of the left and right guards, but there would be a few more twists and turns. It was his thoughts that made her feel a little differently.
When they were still a short distance away from the Cui family's carriage, they heard a call from behind.
"Mrs. Cui."
Cui Luan turned around and, as expected, saw Peng Zuoyan walking towards her quickly with watery eyes. She should have been watching and waiting, but she actually saw some feelings of only loving you in him.
"I warned you several times in my heart but I couldn't help but call you. Please don't blame me, my lady."
Cui Luan pursed her lower lip slightly, her raised eyes flashing with emotion. She guessed that it was his when the contract was signed normally. From the fourteen steps across the threshold to the carriage, she had been waiting for him in her heart.
"Captain Peng." Cui Luan bowed in return and waited for him to speak first.
Peng Zuoyan looked at her and smiled slowly. His eyes were illuminated by the afternoon light, and the upward-curved corners of his eyes were tinged with a smile. There was also rare praise in his words.
"Late summer is still green, and Madam Cui is like a cool summer lotus wrapped in a gentle breeze, serene and refreshing, in harmony with the season."
Cui Luan curved his lips politely, but after going around in circles about the contract, he still couldn't help but bring it up.
"Captain Peng, I know you're helping me with the contract. On behalf of the Cui family, I want to thank you."
She had just bent half a fist when Peng Zuoyan blocked it with the back of his hand, lifted her up slightly, and then withdrew his left hand.
"Madam Cui is good at business, and the Cui family is also a famous merchant family in Chang'an. Even if my people don't go, you can still make a deal. Madam, you don't need to thank me."
Cui Luan accepted it with a smile, and said modestly, "Captain, you are too kind. These are just some trivial things, I'm glad you took notice of them."
He did not look down on merchants, nor did he think that women should not show up in public, which surprised her.
"Captain, don't you think that as a girl, you should stay at home and wait until you are of marriageable age?"
"Does my wife like business?"
Cui Luan was stunned by his question and, looking back at himself, replied, "At first, I had to support my family. Gradually, I preferred to stay in a world with only account books and abacus beads."
She talked for a long time, Peng Zuoyuan watching without blinking. Cui Luan fell silent under his gaze and said embarrassedly, "I've said too much."
Peng Zuoyan shook his head. "My lady, you are very thoughtful. Your insights are both novel and expected. If we meet again, I will give you an abacus."
"I……"
His eyes were clearly filled with anticipation for his invitation to be accepted. Cui Luan was the first to look away, his eyes retreating back to him: "Captain, I have a new and suitable abacus. There is no need to trouble you with the expense."
Peng Zuoyan stopped talking about gifts and turned sideways to reveal the carriageway in front of her. "It's cold in the evening, my lady, please return home in time."
Cui Luan nodded and said a few words of thanks.
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