When I first met Gao Gong, the atmosphere was actually very calm and polite, without the thunder and lightning that I had imagined.

After all, the emperor, Zhang Juzheng, and even Yang Bo had written letters to pave the way for the situation, and Shao had even come to Gaojiazhuang to mediate in advance, so both sides had already digested their excessive emotions. Being able to remain calm during the meeting was also an explanation to all parties.

After the two sides exchanged polite greetings, Gao Gong set up a banquet in the shaded flower hall to welcome the guests from afar.

The chef at the mansion served some very distinctive Kaifeng dishes, such as the finger-licking original chicken... No way!

It's baked carp noodles, fried pork belly, scallion-braised lamb, and four-treasure set! These are all court dishes from the Song Dynasty, the flavors that the ancestors of the Zhao family loved to eat!

Although the Gao family chef's cooking skills are not as good as the chef in Zhou Wangfu's palace, it is obvious that he has also put in a lot of effort.

The signal conveyed here made Zhao Hao feel much more at ease.

However, Gao Gong said that he had asthma recently and could not drink alcohol, and Zhao Liben also said that he had stomach problems and did not drink a drop of alcohol. Therefore, Zhao Hao and Shao Fang, who were sitting with them, did not drink either. After the meal, one always felt that something was missing.

After lunch, Gao Gong invited Zhao Liben to go fishing. Knowing that he had to pass this test, Zhao Liben, who was used to a life of luxury, had no choice but to go with him under the scorching sun.

This was a private conversation between the two of them, so Zhao Hao and Shao Fang naturally wouldn't disturb them.

Young Master Zhao was fanning himself and looking at the leaves outside that were curled up by the sun. He couldn't help but worry that the old man might have a heat stroke.

"Hurry up and prepare some mung bean soup for the old man." He hurriedly told Qiaoqiao, "Also prepare some Huoxiang Zhengqi water."

"Okay." Qiaoqiao responded and hurried to prepare.

"Young master is truly filial." Shao Daxia was touched.

"Hehe..." No matter how thick-skinned Zhao Hao was, he felt embarrassed.

"Come on, I'll take you to meet the master." Shao the hero treated Gao's mansion as his own home. He took Zhao Hao through the hanging flower gate and into the backyard, where they saw a fierce old man with white hair and beard, who looked 70% like Gao Gong, lying on a mat under a camellia flower stand and snoring.

“Who is it?!”

The old man was very alert while sleeping. When he heard the footsteps, he immediately turned over and picked up a sharpened Guandao.

If he hadn't seen Shao Fang walking in front, his big Guandao would have definitely hit Zhao Hao on the head.

"So it's you, kid." The old man put away his knife and scolded Shao Fang in a loud voice: "Where did you go today? To avoid training?"

"Reporting to the Minister, didn't I ask for leave last night? I have to go to the county town to pick someone up today." Shao Fang quickly replied with a serious face and clasped his fists.

"Did you?" The old man scratched his head, revealing an abnormal temperament. After a long while, he said in a muffled voice: "I don't remember it, so it doesn't count. I punish you to run around the yard ten times with a stone lock on your head!"

Shao Fang's face turned green, and she thought to herself, what a cheap person I am. Why do I have to show off my good relationship with an old lunatic?

But there is no regret medicine in the world. Under the old man's loud scolding, he had no choice but to pick up the 20-jin stone lock on the ground, raise his hands above his head, and run around the yard.

Zhao Hao was stunned and subconsciously took a step back, wanting to exit the Chuihua Gate.

"Stop!" The old man leaned on his big Guandao and shouted at him angrily, "Who are you?"

Gao Wu hurriedly tried to block the young master, but heard Shao Fang say from the side: "Don't get me wrong, this is Mr. Gao's elder brother, the former High Chancellor of the Jiangdu Censorate!"

As he said this, he winked at Zhao Hao, meaning that he should not provoke the old man, otherwise he would be driven out of Gaojiazhuang.

Before Zhao Hao came, he had heard that Gao Gong's elder brother Gao Jie was a Jinshi in the 14th year of Jiajing and a famous general in the fight against the Japanese invaders. However, because he was upright and refused to follow the Yan Party, he was framed by Zhao Wenhua, who was supervising the army in the southeast at that time, and was almost imprisoned. Fortunately, someone spoke for him, so he did not suffer the disaster of imprisonment. However, he was still forced to retire, and he was not relieved. He became sick due to depression and became crazy.

He quickly waved his hands, signaling Gao Wu to leave.

Shao Fang introduced Gao Jie again: "Secretary General of the Central Government, this Mr. Zhao came here because of his admiration for him and joined the Central Government..."

"What the hell is this young master?" Gao Jie hated the word 'young master' the most. He immediately frowned and said, "We don't want second-generation rich people in our army! Get out!"

Master Zhao thought to himself, that’s great, he doesn’t have to join in the monkey show anymore.

But when he saw Shao Fang's pitiful and pleading eyes, he couldn't move.

Shao Daxia is Gao Gong's number one confidant in the future, and also the head of the underground organization of the Ming Dynasty. In the future, he and Jiangnan Group will rely on him for many things. How can we not give him this face?

He could only sigh secretly and explained to Gao Jieqiang with a smile: "Zhongcheng has misunderstood. I am not a 'young master'. It's just that my father has never been educated and randomly gave me a name called 'salary'."

"What are you talking about?" Gao Jie opened his eyes wide and stared at Zhao Hao, saying, "I can't hear you!"

"My name is Zhao Gongzheng." Zhao Hao had to raise his voice.

"Louder! You think you can make such a small noise like that?" Gao Jie said sternly, "In my military camp, if a goose says it can't hear you, it can't hear you!"

"My name is Zhao Gongzheng!" Zhao Hao spoke with a Henan accent, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "It's the Gong of wages and the Zi of materials. It's not the Gong of male and female, or the Zi of son!"

"Oh," Gao Jie said, his anger subsiding, "Salary. My father must really love money."

"Who said I'm not coming?" Zhao Hao said with a wry smile.

"Okay, I will accept you as the leader of the E-Dripping Water Army." Gao Zhongcheng laughed and said, "Go, run with my cavalry leader..."

"Ah?" Zhao Hao was stunned.

"Are you going to disobey military orders?" Gao Jie glared and raised his knife. "I will shed tears and execute Ma Su!"

"Come on." Shao Fang was holding a large stone lock and running with sweat dripping down his back. "Otherwise, I'll ask you to lift a stone lock as well. Can you do it?"

"Sigh..." Zhao Hao frowned and waved his hand quietly, signaling the guards to turn their heads away so as not to affect his glorious image in their hearts.

Oh, what a shitty image...

"Don't just stand there, run together!" Gao Jie had already noticed them and gave the order immediately.

"Uh..." Gao Wu and others looked at their young master in dumbfounded.

"Run, run." Zhao Gongxin thought to himself that this was just right, no one would laugh at anyone else.

He then took his guards and started running in circles behind Shao the Great Swordsman.

"Oh hahaha, my team has grown stronger." Gao Jie felt very pleased and clapped his hands happily, saying, "Come on, sing the anti-Japanese army song with me!"

"With one heart and one mind, the mountains can be shaken! With loyalty and righteousness, the spirit can surpass the bull!"

When singing this widely sung military song, the infatuation on Gao Jie's face disappeared, his pronunciation became much clearer, and his rough and passionate voice immediately brought people back to the brutal battlefield of the anti-Japanese war.

Gao Wu, who had been following behind Zhao Hao silently, suddenly started to sing loudly: "My Lord loves me, like my parents! If I violate the military law, I will not be free!"

"The orders are clear, and the rewards and punishments are fair. No one dares to delay when facing fire and water!" Hero Shao also sang along with all his might.

"Report to the Emperor and save the people. Kill all the Japanese invaders and seek a title of nobility!" Everyone opened their voices and sang along.

"Hahaha, good, very energetic!" Gao Jie was so happy that he laughed out loud.

~~

By the stream.

Gao Gong and Zhao Liben each held a fishing rod and sat under a big willow tree.

The sun melted the clouds in the sky, cicadas were screaming overhead, and the two old men were already sweating profusely, but they still stared at the water motionlessly.

Gao Fu and Xi Wa, who were waiting in the distance, were stunned. The two had been in this position for nearly an hour.

However, the two had ordered that no one was allowed to approach unless they were called, so they could only wait there in worry.

I waited and waited, but the two old men remained motionless. Could they have passed away?

The two old people sat like this until the sun set.

Gao Gong, with lifeless eyes and cracked lips, finally spoke: "Go back."

"Okay..." Zhao Liben, who was almost exhausted, nodded, threw away the fishing rod in his hand, held on to the willow tree and tried to stand up, but he had no feeling in his legs.

"Xiwa!" he called out weakly.

"Uncle." Xiwa ran over quickly.

"Hurry, help me, my feet are numb." Zhao Liben stretched out his hand to him, and Xiwa quickly helped him up.

Gao Gong looked at Zhao Liben with contempt, supported his knees with his hands, and tried to show off his strength, but almost fell into the stream.

Gao Fu quickly stepped forward and supported him.

"Why are you still standing there? Don't my feet feel numb?" Gao Gong glared at the old housekeeper. "Why don't you come and help me..."

"Hey, hey." Gao Fu quickly put the third master's arm on his shoulder.

Gao Fu and Xiwa each supported one person and walked quickly to the entrance of the village. Only then did Gao Gong and Zhao Liben's legs regain consciousness.

The two men refused to be supported and walked towards the village, one limping and the other limping.

Arriving in front of the Baomo Tower, Gao Gong said proudly, "How about it, are you envious?"

"My son has won the top spot in the imperial examination." Zhao Liben said calmly.

"Puff..." Gao Gong almost spat out a mouthful of blood on his face: "Then let's continue fishing tomorrow!"

"No, no, I'm still very envious." Zhao Liben was almost frightened to the point of incontinence. If this happened again for another day, he would turn into a dried fish.

"Alas, I am also envious." Gao Gong sighed softly and walked into the yard dejectedly.

Zhao Liben smacked his lips and followed in, dragging his legs.

~~

Wait until he finally moved back to the cross-courtyard arranged by the Gao family.

Ye came out in a hurry to support the old man who was wilting in the sun, and asked distressedly, "What happened to you, sir?"

Zhao Liben waved his hands, unable to speak. If he hadn't drunk a bellyful of mung bean soup and Huoxiang Zhengqi water beforehand, he would have had to explain what happened this afternoon.

Ye and her maid quickly helped him into the house, let him lie down on the Luohan Pillow, put ice flakes in his mouth, and wiped his face and neck with a wet cotton towel. Finally, they scraped his sha and fed him salt water, and Zhao Liben finally gradually regained his vitality.

At this time, there was a noise outside and Zhao Hao also came back.

Zhao Liben's face immediately turned stern, ready to settle accounts with this good grandson who sold his grandfather for fame and fortune.

Who knew that Mr. Zhao was also brought in by Secretary Ma and Qiaoqiao.

Seeing his grandson unable to stand steadily and about to become dehydrated, Zhao Liben did not bother to settle the account and asked distressedly: "Why, you went fishing too?"

"It's much worse than fishing. I'm going to military training..." Zhao Hao lay on another recliner. The set of tricks he used to serve Zhao Liben was still there, so it was a good time to do it again.

"Let's talk about it later. I have to get up early tomorrow to continue." After Zhao Hao said this, he closed his eyes tiredly and began to snore soon.

"This kid is not even as good as me..." As soon as Zhao Liben finished speaking, he began to snore.

Ye, Qiaoqiao and Ma Xianglan looked at each other, thinking that it was troublesome to discuss things elsewhere, but why was it just a waste of effort in Gaojiazhuang?

ps. Chapter 2, please give me your monthly vote!