More than a month has passed in the blink of an eye, and we have entered the eleventh month of the lunar calendar. The weather is getting colder, and when we wake up in the morning, there are even snowflakes in the sky.

Even though it only covered the ground with a thin layer, it also caused the temperature to drop sharply, making the entire Jiangning city feel quite quiet.

Winter is not a good time for most people, especially those at the bottom who lack warm clothing, food, and clothing.

Jiangning is a big city, and the situation is pretty good. After all, the business is prosperous, and there are many people from well-off families. As long as they are willing to endure hardship, they can always find some livelihood.

The school was not affected and remained open, but there were several more braziers in the room, and there was also a female student holding a beautiful hand warmer in her arms.

Qin Siyuan finally stopped setting up his chess stall by the Qinhuai River, and the two became completely acquainted. At Qin Siyuan's invitation, Li Mu also went to the other party's house several times, which was quite simple.

Of course, the word "simple" is relative to the Su family's house. Qin Siyuan's house is indeed not big, it is larger than the small courtyard where Li Mu and Su Tan'er live, and there are not many servants.

However, the front and back of the house are neatly tidied, and there is a smell of books and a down-to-earth life.

It's really rare to live in such a house with such a big official position.

Qin Siyuan used to be a poor scholar. He rose to a high position step by step through the imperial examination. Although his first wife was born as a peasant woman, she did not have that kind of petty attitude and was a quite peaceful woman. She was in her fifties and usually took care of the family business.

In their free time, they tend to some fruits and vegetables, and together with a concubine, Yun Niang, the three of them treat each other as if they were guests.

On this day, Li Mu left the academy and met at Qin Siyuan's house. Kang Xian had already arrived, and the two were playing chess.

When he saw Li Mu, he smiled and said, "Here comes the boy Li Heng!"

Kang Xian usually acted like an old man, dressed gorgeously, accompanied by servants and maids when he went out, and also brought tea sets and snacks. This time it was no surprise either.

Although I didn't bring a tea set, I did bring good tea leaves and spring water specially used for making tea. The maid has already brewed it.

Li Mu was not polite. He took a glass for himself, moved a stool to sit by the chessboard, and took a sip: "Mr. Kang, you are...going to lose."

Kang Xian glared at him angrily: "You are drinking my tea, but you still can't shut your mouth and say that I will lose."

"Today, I want to show you what the real trick is."

After saying that, he raised his hand and was about to make a move when Li Mu suddenly heard a "Huh" sound. He looked at the chessboard in front of him suspiciously, but found nothing wrong. He then turned to look at Li Mu suspiciously and saw him sipping tea.

Not only did he laugh and curse: "What are you calling nonsense there?"

Li Mu raised the tea in his hand: "Mr. Kang, what kind of tea is this? It's pretty good!"

Kang Xian snorted: "Boy, have you never heard of it? You don't know anything about tea, you just know how to drink it. It's such a waste of natural resources. Have you heard of Zisun?"

Li Mu smiled and said: "Old man, look at how proud you are, why don't I just drink a few sips of your tea? Do you feel distressed?"

Kang Xian seemed to be touched on a painful point and became anxious instantly.

The next moment, he put on an extremely magnanimous look on his face, waved his hands and said: "I'm in a hurry. Tea is just for drinking. It's just a dead thing. It was born to please you and me. You and I think it's delicious."

, it has value, why cherish it.”

Li Mu clapped his hands and smiled: "Mr. Kang, you are so generous! You speak like a big shot when you say this."

Kang Xian smoothed his long beard under his chin and said with a smug look on his face: "Like a big shot, what a big shot, I just..."

Li Mu interjected: "How about this big man who makes generous moves and give this kid half a catty of purple bamboo shoots?"

Kang Xian stood up instantly like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, pointing one finger at Li Mu: "You...you..."

Li Mu was surprised and said: "Mr. Kang, you are such a bold and generous person, you wouldn't even be willing to part with some purple bamboo shoots, right?"

Kang Xian couldn't say anything when he refused. He pointed at Li Mu and scolded with a smile: "You boy, I spent a lot of effort to get a pound of this top-quality purple bamboo shoot. I only need half a pound as soon as I open my mouth."

Li Mu smiled: "Since it is so precious, let's take two taels!"

Kang Xian was a bit stunned, and after a while he stretched out a finger and said: "One or two at most."

Li Mu stroked his palm and gave Kang Xian a thumbs up: "As expected of Mr. Kang, you are indeed very generous. I'd like to thank you in advance."

Kang Xian was stunned for a moment, then snorted: "You kid, you are really cunning, you deceived me out of my hands."

Li Mu smiled and said: "What Mr. Kang said is wrong. How can you call it a lie about a scholar? Besides, you said it yourself."

What else did Kang Xian want to say? Qin Siyuan said lightly: "You lose!"

Kang Xian was stunned and shouted: "Can it still be like this?"

Qin Siyuan said: "Haha, originally, Mr. Ming, you brought good tea today. I wanted to cheat a few times and let you play a game secretly. But you gave such good tea to little friend Li Heng and forgot about me. I really deserve to lose."

.”

Kang Xian couldn't laugh or cry for a moment: "Mr. Qin, you are so vulgar and greedy for my little tea. I will give you one or two as well."

Qin Siyuan smiled and said: "Your top-quality purple bamboo shoots are quite rare, so I would be disrespectful to reject them!"

Kang Xian smiled bitterly, then summoned a boy and gave him a few instructions to go home to get tea. They sat together again and reviewed the lost game.

A few people chatted while playing chess, and inevitably they talked about the situation in the north and the Liao invasion.

Qin Siyuan said: "If I talk about my understanding of the Liao people, I can recall a person who, although not from my family, has the same surname as me."

Kang Xian said: "Could it be that Qin Huizhi, the current censor Zhongcheng, is what Qin Gong said?"

Li Mu looked at the two people talking speechlessly, Qin Huier, he is familiar with it too!

Qin Siyuan nodded: "I heard that the Liao people went south a few years ago and captured his family to the north, where they were trapped in a land of tigers and wolves. However, this man was brave and resourceful, and he made a fool of himself with the Liao people. The year before last, he took advantage of the Liao people

Take the opportunity to attack Shanyang and return south with your family."

Kang Xian said: "He is indeed brave and resourceful, but after all, he came back from the Liao Kingdom. The journey was so smooth, and everything he experienced was dictated by his dictation, so I am a little confused."

Qin Siyuan said: "There is indeed a lot of suspicion in the court, and your Majesty thinks highly of him. However, baseless speculation is not the behavior of a gentleman."

This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! "I have heard someone say that this person has a good character, awe-inspiring justice, and cares about the country and the people. This cannot be faked. Let's see what happens in the future.

.”

Kang Xian nodded: "I heard that his hometown is in Jiangning. If there is a chance in the future, I can meet him and have a chat."

Li Mu blinked and listened to the two of them talking about Qin Hui in a serious manner, especially when Qin Siyuan said that he had good conduct and justice. He seemed to be talking about a rather positive person and almost laughed.

However, he didn't show it on his face. Maybe Qin Hui was also a passionate and ambitious young man when he was young! Just like the man named Wang who made a quick move with his sword and lived up to his youthful reputation.

Here, he was a guest at Qin Siyuan's house in the afternoon, but he didn't know that in the morning, a guest came from the Su family.

Although the Su family is a merchant family and not a scholarly family, it is impossible to do such a large business without intersecting with the officialdom.

For example, Song Mao, who is visiting today, is now the magistrate of Shenzhou and has a close relationship with the Su family.

The first wife of Su Tan'er's second uncle, Su Zhongkan, and Song Mao were cousins. The Song family had only produced a few minor officials in the past. The Su family had given Song Mao a lot of help on his way up.

Once you become a magistrate, you will naturally have to give rewards and care.

Although he is the magistrate of Shenzhou, his influence does not extend to Jiangning. With such a person, as long as he reveals a little bit about his relationship with the Su family when he comes to Jiangning to visit other officials, although everyone may not care about it, they will know it.

If someone talks behind you, you won't be reduced to that kind of fat sheep.

The only bad thing is that Song Mao is a relative of the second wife, which may have a certain impact on Su Tan'er's future power.

However, having such a person is always a good thing for the Su family.

Speaking of which, Song Mao could become the magistrate of the state without much background. Even though the Su family spent a lot of money to help him manage it, his knowledge was still extremely outstanding and he was a Jinshi.

Every time he came to visit the Su family, Mr. Su would also pull out those outstanding disciples and let Song Mao give them a test. Song Mao had a good taste, and his evaluation was quite fair. The Su family has indeed produced a few outstanding students in recent years.

A gifted reader.

After the examination in the Su Mansion Library was over, Song Mao returned to the courtyard arranged for him, and his personal servant came over to report: "Master, Master Wenxing wants to see you."

Song Mao nodded: "Let him come in."

Su Wenxing is the son of Su Zhongkan. He is already twenty-three years old, older than Su Tan'er. He ranks fifth among the third generation of men in the Su family. This ranking includes not only the third generation of the Su family, but also many cousins.

.

Su Wenxing was quite unconvinced that Su Tan'er would take charge of the Su family in the future. In the past, Mrs. Su had no choice but to suppress him, but now that his cousin is here, he naturally needs support.

After entering and greeting Song Mao, he began to talk about how Mr. Su arranged for Su Tan'er to take over, how he found a son-in-law for her, and what a man he was who was trying to gain fame and reputation.

Song Mao heard him mention Ning Yi, and then he showed some interest: "You are talking about Ning Yi, the singer who wrote Shui Tiao. He is the son-in-law that old lady Su hired for Tan'er! As expected of the old lady, he has good taste.

It’s really possible.”

"You said that Ning Yi was just trying to gain fame, so that poem was also copied?" Song Mao raised his head and asked.

Su Wenxing said: "Cousin, it was definitely copied. Maybe grandpa paid for it to give him a good appearance. You see, his talent and reputation are already spreading."

Seeing that Song Mao still didn't believe it, he quickly said: "Cousin, what I said is true. We have clearly investigated his origins. He used to be a bookworm, living alone and not having many relatives or friends. Naturally,

He also has no knowledge, which is why grandpa chose him."

Su Wenxing kept talking about his suspicions and his grandfather's partiality in handing over the family property to a woman.

Song Mao listened for a while and pressed his hands to calm him down.

"Wenxing, don't always listen to rumors. The truth of this matter is still open to question. As for who is in charge of the Su family's business? Wenxing, if you really have this ability, my cousin will naturally support it."

"As for Ning Yi, is he trying to gain fame and reputation by buying poems and cheating? My uncle will give it a try if he has a chance."

After saying that, looking at his cheap nephew who still had an unangry face in front of him, Song Mao shook his head secretly. The Su family is really getting worse from generation to generation.

Still patted Su Wenxing on the shoulder: "Wenxing! You have to take a long-term view. If you fight like this, you can't compete with Su Tan'er. In fact, with me here, even if Su Tan'er is in charge of the Su family, I won't treat you badly.

"
To be continued...