One mile west of the Qin family manor, you can see the Mingdu River.
The water in the Mingdu River has dried up and risen again. It has been rainy this summer and the water is abundant. On both sides of the river, there are wheat fields and bean fields. No matter how the scenery in the countryside changes, it will still make people feel the same, because you can usually see it among the countryside.
The people who arrive are always the working peasants.
Today was different. Zhongzhengguan from Pingyuan County and a group of people came to visit the Qin family. They also included Qin Sheng's former colleagues in the official temple. During the banquet, there were finally signs of prosperity and bustle in the manor.
The guests brought news that the general had sent good officials and was about to come down to hire Qin Liang. The visiting guests all sent congratulatory gifts, and everyone did not forget to congratulate them when they left. There was a festive atmosphere inside and outside the manor.
, just like celebrating a festival.
The Qin family saw off the guests a mile away from the manor, and did not stop until they reached the Mingdu River. Because there were women among the guests, even the Zhang family came. The host and guest bowed to each other, and until the guests' carriages and horses left, the host still stood where he was.
I watched him off with all his diligence and perseverance.
Mrs. Zhang looked into the distance, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she sighed softly without turning her head: "How long has it been since I last saw Luo Shi? I'm afraid it's been two years? I didn't even bother to say a few words today.
"
Qin Sheng's voice said: "Look, it's going to rain. Let's go back."
As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Liang felt a little bit of coldness on his face, and raindrops fell from the sky. As expected, his sister-in-law immediately complained: "What are you talking about?"
Qin Sheng did not say a word. Although the eldest brother had served as a military attache in the county and had a muscular body, he was cautious and even acted too calm at times. Perhaps this was because his sister-in-law, Mrs. Zhang, was very talkative, but the couple did not quarrel much.
There happened to be a thatched pavilion by the river, and a few people hurried there to take shelter from the rain. Unexpectedly, the rain became heavier and heavier, and gradually turned into a pouring water. There was a faint rumble of thunder in the distance.
Zhang's voice said: "Such a heavy rain should be the last one this year."
Qin Sheng said: "Wait a minute, the people from the village will bring umbrellas."
The couple chatted without a word, but Qin Liang remained silent. He looked at the river flowing in a daze, and he didn't pay attention to what his brother and sister-in-law said later.
"Erlang." His sister-in-law called him and he came back to his senses.
"Ah?" Qin Liang turned to look at his sister-in-law.
There was a smile in Zhang's eyes: "Are you unhappy?" Her look was a bit concerned and a bit flattering. In the past, Qin Liang simply didn't dare to hope for this.
When she saw Qin Liang shaking his head, she immediately asked politely, "I see you've been very worried recently. Is there anything you can't talk about at home?"
Qin Liang didn't say anything and didn't know where to start. He wanted to say that it was dangerous to follow Cao Shuang, and he might be implicated in bad luck in the future, but it was weird to say such things, so he had to give up. After all, Cao Shuang is now very powerful, and ordinary people can't do it at all.
If you don't see the danger, it would be too troublesome to explain.
What's more, Qin Liang can no longer refuse Cao Shuang's conquest. Otherwise, the little-known Zhong Chang family in the next county may have a way to make the Qin family suffer. In any case, when the strength is weak and the wings are not full,
, anyone can easily capsize in the gutter.
"Is something really wrong?" Zhang's voice said again. When Qin Liang looked up, he saw that her smile had not disappeared, and her eyes were all on Qin Liang's face. Although Zhang was illiterate, her eyes were bright and not ignorant.
Qin Liang could feel the tangible look in her eyes as long as he was looking at her, and occasionally even felt a little uncomfortable.
Qin Liang did not look at him, but still looked at the river. He could no longer be silent, so he could only mutter: "Sail against the current, if you don't advance, you will retreat. As soon as you get off the shore and get on the boat, you will be involuntarily, and you will never be able to stop."
"
Mrs. Zhang turned her head and glanced at the leaves floating on the river, and said, "You can change the subject as much as possible. Just don't want to tell my sister-in-law."
Fortunately, it is now. If Qin Liang had such an attitude a few months ago, my sister-in-law would have been unhappy and some sarcasm would have been inevitable.
A few people waited for a while while talking, and sure enough they saw two figures walking out of the white rain curtain, probably the people delivering rain gear. When they got closer, Qin Liang saw clearly who was coming. It turned out to be Mr. Dong and her
The sick husband Wang Kang. Wang Kang's face was thin and pale, but he could walk on his own. The last time I saw him, he was still lying in bed.
The two of them handed over umbrellas and bent down to pay homage. Wang Kang said to Qin Liang: "My condition has improved recently and I came to express my thanks. I heard that Erlang and others had sent the guests off, so they waited under the eaves. Suddenly it started to rain heavily, so I rushed
Here comes the rain gear."
Zhang said: "Finally there is someone smarter."
"It's a servant's duty." Wang Kang turned around and said.
Qin Liang nodded and said, "I'm glad you're getting better."
Wang Kang sighed: "If it weren't for Erlang's help, it would be really difficult for me. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to survive."
Although the eldest brother was the owner of the manor and was older, Wang Kang talked more with Qin Liang. On the way back, he unconsciously walked beside Qin Liang. Wang Kang took the initiative to ask: "The general sent an envoy
I’m going to hire Erlang, when will Erlang get up and go to Beijing?”
When Qin Liang heard this, he immediately realized that everyone around him seemed to think that he would definitely accept the conquest and had not considered the option of rejection at all. Including his brother and sister-in-law, they did not ask Qin Liang after hearing the news.
Liang's wishes were fully prepared for him to become an official.
However, Qin Liang has thought about it again and again. Maybe this is the only way at the moment. Thinking about it, he even laughed at himself. A sibling of the fallen minister Gu Ming, a relative of Cao Cao's stepson, Qin Liang's status, looking around the government and the public
Only Cao Shuang liked him. Cao Shuang didn't dislike him, but he disliked Cao Shuang a little?
Qin Liang sighed secretly and responded casually: "When the envoy arrives in Pingyuan County and receives him, I will accompany him to Beijing."
Wang Kang asked again: "When will the messenger arrive?"
Qin Liang turned to look at him, "I don't know yet, but so many people in the area have news, I don't think we can wait a few days."
At the same time, Qin Liang saw Mrs. Dong next to her, and noticed that Mrs. Dong's eyes were very sad and vaguely painful. Wang Kang was talking here, and Mrs. Dong almost didn't say a word, but the emotions in her eyes showed
Very obvious.
Wang Kang said: "If Erlang does not give up, I and Zhuojing are willing to follow Erlang to the capital."
Qin Liang turned around again, his face facing Wang Kang, but secretly he couldn't help but observe Dong's subtle expression. At this time, she raised her head and looked at Qin Liang unabashedly, with an expectant mood.
It was rekindled.
Qin Liang thought for a moment and said, "What should I do with my parents?"
Wang Kang said: "Please Qinjun draw some grain regularly and ask your neighbors to take care of it. My servant is willing to follow Erlang and serve him wholeheartedly to repay Erlang's kindness."
"That's okay." Qin Liang nodded simply.
The banker who has the closest relationship with Qin Liang on the manor, besides Rao Dashan, is Wang Kang. Although Rao Dashan is powerful, he is illiterate and sometimes impatient. Wang Kang can read and count, and looks more meticulous. The future is coming
Luoyang is an unfamiliar place, so having multiple helpers may not be a bad thing.
The Dong family behind was holding back the surprise. But Qin Liang found that Wang Kang was also very happy, and his thin face seemed to have a lot of joy. But how could he be so happy to repay a favor?
The group of people had walked past the earthen wall of the manor, and they didn't speak again for a while. However, the sound of rain covered everything, and the silence did not seem abrupt. Qin Liang's wooden-soled leather shoes were covered with mud and were hard.
The linen clothes were soaked by the falling rain, which actually made them more comfortable.
At this moment, Qin Liang suddenly came back to his senses, suddenly realized, and seemed to understand Wang Kang's mood.
The peasants who work in the manor work all year round, and 60% of the harvest is taken away (the government collects taxes from the manor owner), barely enough to make ends meet, and they are actually serfs; ordinary villagers are better than the peasants, and will receive some extra rewards.
But the benefits are limited. Moreover, Wang Kang's health has not been very good in recent years, and life is really not easy. But if Wang Kang can follow Qin Liang as an official in the future, obviously the burden of life will be greatly reduced.
Such a small change can make a person feel satisfied and happy. Wang Kang's optimistic attitude also infected Qin Liang.
In today's world, the hierarchy is strict. At least Qin Liang can directly enter the eyes of those in power. What else is there to be depressed about when he becomes an official? In any case, Cao Shuang should not be defeated in the next few years, so Qin Liang at least will not live in these few years.
It would be too sad. Let’s talk about what happens next. Living in troubled times, it is not easy to live a long life.
After thinking about it, Qin Liang even felt that this was not completely a dead end.
In the official career in the Wei Kingdom, one's background can determine almost 90% of the future. With Qin Liang's status, if he wants to make a difference and if he doesn't want to visit the Three Kingdoms in vain, Cao Shuang is almost the only chance Qin Liang has.
As for the future, there are no other possibilities. For example, Cao Shuang turns defeat into victory? But Qin Liang thought about it for a while and felt that it was quite difficult. Otherwise, when Emperor Ming Cao Rui died, Cao Shuang should not have killed the original ministers who cared about his life.
Qin Liang then thought again, no matter what, as long as he could be promoted to a certain position before Cao Shuang's defeat, things might still turn around?
Unknowingly, the group of people had walked into the manor and arrived at the gate of the house. Qin Liang put down his umbrella and hung it under the eaves. Zhang's voice said: "Erlang has figured it out?"
"Ah?" Qin Liang didn't know why. Meeting Zhang's gaze, he came back to his senses after a moment and immediately smiled, "There is nothing difficult to figure out."
At this time, Mrs. Zhang's voice said again: "The more I look at you recently, the more I feel that you are different from before."
Qin Liang said in a joking tone: "That's because my sister-in-law didn't care about me at all before."
Mrs. Zhang made a sound from between her teeth and cursed with a smile: "You have no conscience. I have washed and cooked for you all these years in vain."
Qin Liang just ignored it. When he walked into the door, he looked back and glanced outside. The rain curtain between the sky and the earth was still there, and the visibility was very low.