The two brothers followed Yan Ming into the cabin. Looking around, they saw that the cabin was spacious, bright and elegantly decorated.
There are a total of twelve tables, distributed in an orderly manner in the hall.
Bian Wenjun suddenly exclaimed.
It turned out that there was a fat, wealthy businessman sitting at a table in the east corner. Under the wealthy businessman's feet was a black panther, with a rope tied around its neck and a muzzle on its mouth.
Yan Ming glanced at Bian Yuanheng and said with a smile: "Uncle Bian, I heard that you once killed a tiger. Is this leopard comparable to that tiger?"
Bian Yuanheng glanced at the black panther and said calmly: "This beast has been raised to the point where it has lost its wild nature, how can we compare it to that?"
At this moment, an old man sitting at a table in the west corner stood up and waved to the three of them: "Yuanheng, Wenjun, I'm here!"
The old man is tall and tall, with slender limbs and lively eyes. Although he is a bit older, judging from his facial features, he should have been a handsome man when he was young.
Bian Yuanheng laughed and walked over, saying: "Big cousin, I haven't seen you for many years, but you are getting younger and younger!"
Although there was a big age difference between the two, they had similar temperaments. When Bian Yuanheng went to observe Fang Guozhen, he passed through Hangzhou and stayed at Shi Naian's house for half a month.
Shi Naian grabbed Bian Yuanheng's arm, stared at him closely for a while, and said with a smile: "Well, you look good. It seems that you are doing well in Jiangdu Army!"
Bian Wenjun said angrily: "What did you say? My eldest brother is like a fish in water in Jiangdu Army, how can he have a bad life?"
Shi Naian smiled but said nothing.
Bian Yuanheng naturally understood what he was worried about. He was a general who came from Zhang Shicheng's side. People like him were often easily rejected by Jiangdu's original generals.
"Cousin, His Royal Highness the King of Chu employs people on their merits and has clear rewards and punishments, so that kind of thing will not happen within the Jiangdu Army. You don't have to worry!"
Shi Naian took the two brothers and sisters to sit down and sighed: "Then it's no wonder that Jiangdu's army expanded so quickly in a short period of time! I heard that there was an uprising in Jiangdu last year, and this year they actually reached Hangzhou!" p>
Bian Yuanheng said: "That's because the Tatars are exhausted and the people's hearts are no longer with them!"
Yan Ming looked around and said with a smile: "That's right. Even these wealthy businessmen from Hangzhou who know how to seek benefits and avoid disadvantages have begun to frequently go to Jiangdu for activities!"
Bian Yuanheng glanced at the wealthy businessman who kept a leopard in the east corner, and found a familiar bird-shaped pattern on the back of his clothes, and his heart couldn't help but move.
"Could that man be a Hangzhou businessman as famous as Shen Wansan, a member of the Lu family?"
Shi Naian nodded.
"Yes, it is the eldest young master of the Lu family, Lu Wanwan. Since the fall of Jiqing, everyone in Hangzhou's upper class has been in danger, fearing that the Jiangdu army will attack! So they secretly sent people to Jiangdu for activities."
Bian Wenjun said innocently: "What are you doing?"
Yan Ming poured a cup of tea for the two of them and said with a smile: "Of course I have to find a backer in advance! When Hangzhou changes hands, the major forces will be reshuffled. Those who are slow may be squeezed out of the powerful circle in the future!" Bian Yuanheng shook his head and said: "These people don't understand us at all, and they are still using the same old method of treating Yuan Ting, which will only be in vain!"
Shi Naian opened his mouth to speak, thought for a moment, and held back.
At this time, Bian Wenjun glanced around and said strangely: "Cousin, where is Miss Cao Miaoqing? Didn't you say she was traveling with you?"
Yan Ming said: "Originally, we were all sitting here drinking tea and talking, but then the land officer came in with the leopard. Miss Cao didn't like seeing the leopard, so she went back to her room first!"
Shi Naian said: "Yan Ming, go and call Miss Cao over, and tell Yuan Heng and the others that they are here!"
Yan Ming agreed, got up and went back. Not long after, he came back. The conversation had already changed to Cao Miaoqing, who said he would be here soon.
At this moment, two monks walked in from the door. The one in front was a middle-aged monk, and the back was an extremely majestic young monk with thick eyebrows and big eyes.
After the young monk entered the house, he immediately saw the leopard in the east corner. He glared and said angrily: "Grandma, what bastard led the leopard to a place like this and refused to let anyone eat breakfast?"
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Lu Wanwan raised his eyebrows and was about to have a seizure when he stood up. Suddenly he caught a glimpse of the middle-aged monk and slowly sat back down.
"Isn't this Master Rutong? We, the Lu family, have always been respectful to your temple and even funded the renovation of your temple's Luohan Hall. Is this how the people in your temple repay us?" He said coldly.
Monk Rutong frowned and said, "Junior Brother Zhihai, please don't make trouble!"
The majestic monk snorted and said: "Brother, this guy led the leopard to the place where he was eating. He is obviously used to being domineering. We can't ignore this kind of thing!"
A servant behind Lu Wanwan shouted: "Do you know who our master is? How dare you interfere in Tai Sui's family's business?"
Monk Rutong had already found a corner to sit down and shouted: "Junior brother, come here quickly!"
However, Monk Zhihai did not listen to him. He folded his arms and said, "Who cares who you are, since I have encountered this kind of thing, Buddha must take care of it!"
At the desk in the west corner, Bian Yuanheng said: "Cousin, who is this Mang monk? Do you know him?"
Shi Naian smiled and said: "The monk's name is Zhihai. He was originally from Taizhou. He once recruited volunteers to fight against Fang Guozhen. Later he was ordained in Lingyin Temple. He hated evil as much as his enemies and his martial arts were also very good."
Yan Ming smiled and said: "Among the more than two thousand monks in Lingyin Temple, the one I admire the most is Master Zhihai!"
Shi Naian frowned and said, "It's strange. Master Cizhao has always strictly prohibited Master Zhihai from leaving the temple to prevent him from causing trouble. Why are you letting him go out today?"
While they were talking, the quarrel between Master Zhihai and Lu Wanwan became more and more fierce.
"You, the Lu family, are domineering and oppressing the people in Hangzhou. Lord Buddha has long wanted to teach you a lesson!"
Lu Wanwan said coldly: "Rutong Bald Donkey, if you don't care about the people in Lingyin Temple anymore, don't blame me for being rude to him!"
Rutong said anxiously: "Zhihai, what time is it now? You can stop causing trouble to the temple, okay?"
Monk Zhihai said loudly: "Brother, if a dog like this is smashed and walked around in the world, it will only harm people. Why don't you let me punch it to death!"
"Ah!" A wild beast's roar suddenly sounded.
Bian Wenjun was startled and hid next to Bian Yuanheng. It turned out that Lu Wanwan was so angry that he ordered someone to remove the black panther's muzzle, hoping to scare Monk Zhihai.
Monk Zhihai was not afraid of rejoicing, and laughed and said: "Wonderful, wonderful, please quickly loosen the rope of that beast, let Buddha beat it to death, and send it to the Paradise of Paradise!"
Lu Wanwan sneered and said: "Everyone has seen the ignorant thing. It's not me who hurts people, but this bald donkey's repeated provocations!"
Many businessmen knew Lu Wanwan, and although they cursed him in their hearts for bringing leopards to such a place, they did not dare to offend him.
"What the hell, this kind of barbaric monk deserves a lesson!"
"Master Lu has always been generous to others, but this bird-bald bully has gone too far. We can all see it clearly, and there is no need to explain!"
"Master Rutong, as the eldest disciple of the abbot of Lingyin Temple, you can't even control your own junior disciples. No wonder your Lingyin Temple is getting worse and worse!"
When Yan Ming saw that everyone was helping Lu Wanwan speak, he felt unhappy and was about to help.
Suddenly, a weak female voice sounded.
"Alas, if there is no bad storm at the head of the river, it would be difficult for others to travel on earth!"
The voice was so clear and sweet that everyone couldn't help but turn around and look.
I saw a woman in a green dress walking in. She was beautiful, but her expression was a little lonely, like a flower that was about to wither.
For a moment, everyone couldn't help but look at the woman. Only Leopard and Monk Zhihai didn't notice it and stared at each other closely.
Bian Wenjun stared at the woman blankly, guessing that she was Cao Miaoqing, and whispered: "Brother, what does that poem just mean?"
Bian Yuanheng said slowly: "It means that the wind and waves at the head of the river are high and the waves are not very dangerous, but the road in the world is even more difficult!"
Bian Wenjun repeated something in a low voice and said in a daze: "I understand, she is mocking Lu Wanwan and those who speak for Lu Wanwan!"
Bian Yuanheng nodded silently.
Lu Wanwan and the other businessmen were all disgusted by Cao Miaoqing's words. However, Cao Miaoqing's special status meant that it was not easy for them to get angry.
Lu Wanwan couldn't afford to offend Cao Miaoqing, so he had to vent his anger on the two monks and wink at the Leopard Master who was leading the leopard.
The Leopard Master nodded, loosened the rope in his hand, and struck the ground with his whip.
"Aww!"
The black panther roared wildly and rushed towards Monk Zhihai.