In November, the capital has entered a severe winter, but it has not yet reached the coldest time of the year. However, at this time in previous years, the capital has been covered with a thick blanket of snow, and the heavy snow has turned the sky into gray. However, this year it only rains There was a light snowfall, and the sparse snow flakes melted as soon as they hit the ground. Only the top of the Qianyang Hall of Luoyang Palace, a huge palace high enough to overlook the world, was covered with a light layer of white snow, as if wearing a A white hat.
This year, Yang Yuanqing’s three children are also doomed to be disappointed. The two daughters have been looking forward to the autumn and are counting on a heavy snowfall in winter so that they can play in the snow to their heart’s content. However, after a light snowfall, their hopes also disappear. It melted together with the light snow.
"Dad, why doesn't it snow this year?"
The five-year-old eldest daughter Yang Bing pouted and looked unhappy. The second daughter Yang Sihua was like an echo bug to her sister. She would say whatever her sister said, "Daddy, why doesn't it snow this year?"
The expression is exactly the same, the little mouth is pouted and the eyes are full of tears. It makes people feel so distressed that they want to lift a ladder and pull God's beard, "Why don't you give the children snow?"
Yang Yuanqing held a small snow shovel in his hand. He was shouted out by his daughters in surprise. The sparse small snow flakes in front of him also disappointed him. He could only smile bitterly and said, "Then daddy will take you skating!"
Behind their house is a small river. Although the water level has dropped drastically, the ice formed in winter allows the children to go skating.
The two little girls cheered, forgetting the trouble of no snow, and rushed to the backyard. There was a small door in the backyard that led directly to the river. Several maids also ran over.
At this time, Chuchen came out of the room, tidied Yang Yuanqing's clothes and said with a smile: "You took them skating yesterday and the day before yesterday, and they are still so excited today, as if they didn't have enough fun."
"Child! You are happy when you have everything. It was not the same when you were a child in Wubenhe. You didn't even have enough to play for three days, and you even dragged me along on the fourth day. Have you forgotten?"
Chuchen burst out laughing, and lightly tapped Yang Yuanqing on the forehead, "You! It's really strange. I have forgotten everything about my childhood, but you remember it very clearly. Come to think of it, this time really happened Things, but don’t forget the important things today.”
Yang Yuanqing nodded, "Don't worry! I won't forget."
At this time, the housekeeper said to Yang Yuanqing at the courtyard gate: "Master, there are guests coming to visit. Can I see you?"
"Who is it?"
"The surname is Li, it seems to be called Li Jing."
Yang Yuanqing nodded and said with a smile: "Take him to your guest room and wait for a while. I will be there soon."
The housekeeper hurriedly went to make arrangements, and Yang Yuanqing said to Chuchen again: "Go and see the children! I'll go meet the guests."
Chuchen nodded and turned around. Yang Yuanqing looked at her graceful figure and sighed softly. When will she be able to give birth to another child for herself?
In the guest room, Li Jing was carefully tasting the fine tea from Yang Yuanqing's mansion. He was wearing an old crimson official uniform, a gauze hat on his head, and a pair of old black leather boots that had become threadbare and turned white. It was the cold winter season, but his clothes looked a little thin, and it was obvious that he was not doing well.
Li Jing is currently a member of the driving department, Wailang, and is ranked seventh rank. He is a low- to middle-ranking official. Although Li Jing has an outstanding reputation in the capital, he cannot be promoted. The reason is that he and Yang Su are too close. He once served as Yang Su's staff and was on the official blacklist.
Li Jing is forty-one years old this year. He is middle-aged, but his salary is meager and his future is slim. If he is poor, he wants to change. Yesterday, he went to Yang Xuangan's house to look for opportunities from Yang Xuangan. Unexpectedly, Yang Xuangan was in a low mood and was very cold to him.
Without even a cup of tea, he learned that Yang Xuangan had been demoted as the prefect of Dongping County yesterday.
Also yesterday, he heard that Yang Yuanqing was named the general manager of Youzhou. Li Jing stayed up all night and finally plucked up the courage to come today.
Li Jing felt a little uneasy, wondering if Yang Yuanqing would look down upon him for his shameless visit, but he had another glimmer of hope. The maid told him when serving tea just now that this was a guest room, and she had only received three people this year, but Yang Yuanqing actually
Treating him as a distinguished guest shows that Yang Yuanqing is still nostalgic for the past.
At this time, Yang Yuanqing's hearty laughter came from the door, "Yuanqing is rude, I kept Uncle Shi waiting for a long time."
Li Jing hurriedly stood up and saw Yang Yuanqing walking into the room quickly, cupping his hands and saying with a smile: "I didn't expect Uncle Li Shi to come and sit in the small house. It's such a rare visitor."
Yang Yuanqing's title made Li Jing blush a little, but thinking about it, Yang Su called him his nephew, Yang Xuangan called him his wise brother, and it was normal for Yang Yuanqing to call him his uncle. However, Yang Yuanqing was now in a high position, so this "uncle" was really embarrassing.
He couldn't bear it.
Li Jing smiled bitterly and replied: "Yuan Qing, we haven't seen each other for almost six or seven years!"
"That's about it. The last time we met was the fourth year of Renshou. Now the seventh year of the great cause is coming to an end. Time flies so fast. Uncle Shi, please sit down!"
Both of them sat down. Yang Yuanqing's sharp eyes caught sight of Li Jing's old boots with threads coming off. Li Jing shrank in embarrassment, turned red in the face, and muttered: "The other pair of shoes are not dry after washing, so I have to wear them."
Old boots made Yuan Qing laugh."
Yang Yuanqing sighed secretly, after all, Li Jing came from a family of officials and was the nephew of Han Qinhu. He also had a salary of eighty stone per year, so how could he be so miserable?
Li Jing also knew that it was unreasonable, so he could only sigh, "Although there are several acres of thin farmland at home, the harvest has not been good in the past two years, and he cannot bear to force the tenants. In addition, his mother passed away two years ago, and the family's situation is not as good as before. In addition, I am such a person."
Good wine, half of the salary is thrown into the wine, ugh! It's embarrassing to say it."
"Uncle Shi, there is no need to be embarrassed. When I was young, I could hardly afford to eat, so I had to hunt to support my family. Everyone has their own downfall, which is a period of time. With Uncle Shi's martial arts talent, isn't it easy to make money to support the family?
? Just like Yu Shinan, he is worth a fortune, but he is willing to live in poverty. He must not do it because he cannot do it! "
Yang Yuanqing's words made Li Jing's self-confidence come back. It was true. With his reputation, if he opened a martial arts school to teach apprentices, he would probably be overwhelmed by the number of apprentices. But there were some things he didn't want to do and would rather stay poor.
, Yang Yuanqing used Yu Shinan as a metaphor, which made him feel very comfortable.
However, he can endure poverty, but he cannot endure the hopelessness of his official career. He came to Yang Yuanqing today to find hope from Yang Yuanqing.
Li Jing pondered for a moment and then asked: "Yuan Qing, I wonder how Su Lie is doing now?"
Su Lie is Li Jing's apprentice, and Li Jing has not seen him for seven or eight years. Yang Yuanqing nodded, "He is currently serving as a soldier in the Fengzhou Governor's Mansion. I am going to transfer him to Youzhou and entrust him with important tasks."
Yang Yuanqing smiled again, "Uncle Shi, his father named him 'Dingfang.' Uncle Shi can also call him Su Dingfang in the future."
"Su Dingfang!"
Li Jing read it twice, then nodded and said with a smile: "This is a good name, it fits his character very well."
The two chatted for a few words, and Yang Yuanqing gradually figured out the purpose of Li Jing's visit. If he had something to do, he would definitely say it clearly. If he came to visit him, he did not say that he was visiting. Since he was hesitant and embarrassed to speak, Yang Yuanqing then
It was inferred that Li Jing wanted to find a job.
Li Jing couldn't be allowed to speak about this kind of thing. He was an elder after all, and asking him to speak would hurt his face. Yang Yuanqing understood this. Of course, if Li Jing was willing to take up a post in Youzhou, he would be happy to do so.
"When I saw Uncle Shi, I suddenly remembered something."
Yang Yuanqing patted his forehead, indicating that he was a little forgetful. He smiled and said: "The Holy Father officially appointed me as the general manager of Youzhou yesterday, and I will take office soon. I want to bring a few people from Fengzhou, but there are no good candidates at the moment.
Now I am worried that there is no one around me, I wonder if Uncle Shi is willing to go to Youzhou to help me?"
Li Jing was overjoyed. He knew that according to general official practice, the new general manager could recommend three assistant officers other than Chang Shi, such as Sima, Lu Shi, and the army. Youzhou was the general manager, and the rank of the assistant officers was not low, at least higher than that of his own driving department.
Yuanwailang is much better and has real power.
Of course Li Jing understood that Yang Yuanqing had seen through his own thoughts and knew that he was here to apply for a job, so he gave him face. He was grateful and a little moved. Yang Su's son did not miss the past, but his grandson was very affectionate.
He stopped being reserved, stood up, and bowed deeply, "Thank you very much, Li Jing!"
Yang Yuanqing kept sending Li Jing out of the door and said with a smile: "Uncle Shi, please don't worry, there will be results from the official department tomorrow."
Li Jing was really embarrassed by the title of "Uncle Shi", so he smiled sheepishly and said: "Seniority comes from seniority, from now on Yuan Qing can call me pharmacist."
Yang Yuanqing smiled slightly and said, "It doesn't matter. Back then, my grandfather planned to let me become my disciple, Uncle Shi, and call me another name in the official circles. Now, Uncle Shi, I feel relieved."
Seeing that Yang Yuanqing insisted, Li Jing said no more. At this time, the butler came out with two cans of wine. Yang Yuanqing handed the two cans of wine to Li Jing and said with a smile: "This is the best peach wine in the world. I give it to Uncle Shi."
taste."
Li Jing knew that this was the famous Dali Yijiao, and he was filled with joy. He thanked him repeatedly. He carefully put the wine into the wine bag, got on his horse, and said to Yang Yuanqing, "Yuanqing, I will bear in mind what happened today!"
Yang Yuanqing bowed his hand to him, and Li Jing urged the horse, and the horse galloped away.
Yang Yuanqing saw Li Jing off, but saw an ox cart parked at the door, as if he had come after a long journey. He was stunned, had they already arrived?
Yang Yuanqing pointed to the ox cart and asked the concierge urgently, "Whose ox cart is this?"
"Replying to the master, it's the second lady's mother and grandmother who have arrived."
Yang Yuanqing turned around and ran towards the inner house, leaving the concierge stunned. They had never seen the master running like this. Yang Yuanqing was so excited that he could not control himself. It had been thirteen years, he and his aunt had been separated for thirteen years, and she
Finally came back.
Rushing to the back house, he heard his aunt's familiar laughter from a distance, which was as familiar and familiar as before. Yang Yuanqing's nose suddenly sore, and he felt as if he had returned to his childhood.
Running to the door, he stopped and slowly opened the door. A maid was about to announce, but he quickly hissed, and his aunt's voice came from the back room, "Hey! I don't know what has become of Yuan Qing. What has happened to him?
Senior official, will you have official airs?"
Yang Yuanqing opened the leather curtain and met her aunt's eyes. Shen Qiuniang was stunned, and then shouted in surprise: "Yuanqing!"
Yang Yuanqing couldn't bear it any longer. His eyes turned red and his vision was a little blurry. He quickly walked into the house and knelt down in front of his aunt. "Aunt!" His tears burst out.