Seeing that Li You wanted to continue talking about this matter, Zhao Xiucai said: "Such a trivial matter is not worth worrying about! Tonight is too hasty. Tomorrow night I will be the host on the flower boat and treat Mr. Li to wine and flowers. I will take care of the rest.
My idea, as long as you come, nothing will happen to you. Since we are fellow believers, please come to me, but please don’t worry!"
Seeing that Zhao Xiucai was finally persuaded to make a guarantee, Master Huang and Li You left.
On the way, Li You couldn't help but ask: "Who is this person? Why do you come to beg him?"
Master Huang said: "He is the grandson of Duke Zhao Wenzhen, a great scholar in the past."
This Duke Zhao Wenzhen was the prime minister thirty or forty years ago. He was awarded the first prize and entered the cabinet. His posthumous title was Wenzhen. He was a great celebrity in Suzhou. Although he has passed away, his legends and stories are still circulated in the streets and alleys.
"Why do the prime minister's descendants look like this?" Li Youqi asked.
Master Huang chuckled and said: "There are three direct brothers in his generation, and Zhao Xiandi is the youngest. He has had an elder brother to support the family since he was a child, and his family background is good. Zhao Xiandi has been carefree since he was a child, leaning on the red and green trees, and enjoying himself leisurely. It's really
A truly wealthy and idle man. Don’t you know that he has an all-female theater troupe at home, all of whom are beautiful and unparalleled in Suzhou. I saw him once when I was young. It was really..."
Seeing that Mr. Huang was very involved in what he said, Li You observed his words and asked suddenly: "Do you want to replace him?"
"Yeah, who doesn't...don't interrupt!"
Li You sighed inwardly, my time-traveling experience was too miserable. I couldn't time-travel to the young Jinshi master Chen Zhixian, but I could have time-traveled to the rich and idle man Zhao Xianggong. Even if I am older, I will admit it.
But he didn't want to think about who he would talk to if he traveled through time to someone like Chang Dalang or Fan Wu.
Master Huang continued: "Brother Zhao Xian calls himself a Flower Appreciator. He loves to hang out with beautiful women and is very romantic. But his character is not arrogant and deceiving. He is easy to get along with and has a good reputation in the brothel.
This time, all the flower boats from Suzhou Prefecture asked him to take care of them. He didn't refuse even though he had nothing to do, so he followed them. The old prefect of this prefecture was his grandfather's disciple, and his brothers were still serving as officials. Generally,
You have to give him some face everywhere."
"This subordinate is so presumptuous. May I ask how the old gentleman knows such a person?" This is what Li You is most curious about.
"In the past, I traveled to the south of the Yangtze River to study. I was lucky enough to be a disciple of the great Confucian scholar and was his classmate for three lifetimes." Master Huang said fondly.
They must have done other things together, Li You guessed.
Master Huang suddenly reminded again: "Things may not be that simple tomorrow night. You still have to be careful."
"Didn't the old gentleman say that Mr. Zhao is very easy to get along with?"
Master Huang was a little worried and said: "Ms. Zhao is a very talkative person with no temper. But one problem is that he likes to tease people for fun. Who knows what evil will happen tomorrow night. I think back then, I..." Master Huang said this,
He just kept silent, and it seemed that he had suffered a loss.
While Li You was busy with the altar affairs, Inspector Liu condescended to go to Li You's home to discuss the marriage in person. He only said one sentence and impressed Li You's father.
There was nothing to say all night. The next day, Li You went to the Yamen and sat idle, thinking about Zhao Xiucai as his host tonight. He had never been on a flower boat and painted boat. He imagined the scene, with the bright moon in the sky, rafting on the water, melodious tunes, and drinking.
After drinking a little wine, hugging various beauties and teasing them wantonly, late at night, I must have insomnia and feel lonely and empty. Then I calmly copy two poems suitable for the occasion and spread them to the south of the Yangtze River. Many flatteries flock to me. How beautiful!
Li You thought happily while sighing, "Master, I am becoming more and more like a scholar. Even my leisure interests are getting closer to that of a cultured person. I finally succeeded in brainwashing and completely got rid of the vulgar government servant temperament."
"Master? Master?" Someone interrupted Li You's thoughts. It turned out to be his family's younger brother.
"Father's name?"
"yes!"
"Walk."
When we arrived at home, my father immediately said: "Yesterday, Inspector Liu came to discuss marriage. My father has already agreed, and the matter is settled."
Like a bolt from the blue, Li You was dumbfounded. When he reacted, he shouted: "How can father agree? Isn't this delaying the child's life! Are you so timid that you are really afraid of Liu's inspection?" He turned to his mother again.
Said: "Mother! That Miss Liu is disabled, not very bright, and can't see things between men and women. What's the use of such a wife? Will my son have to be like this all his life?"
Mother Zhu sighed: "Xiaoer, this is fate, just accept it."
Even his mother doesn’t object anymore?! Li You lost his biggest supporter and panicked. “Why on earth?”
The unexpected answer was immediately revealed.
Li's father said word for word: "Master Liu said that as long as you become his son-in-law, I guarantee that you will be an official of real rank within half a year."
Be an official? In an era when there were only seven officials in a county, what did it mean to be an official?
Li You was stunned, and his eyes were as wide as copper bells. Being an official has been his dream since he came to this world. It is not an exaggeration to say that the more he cannot get, the more he desires.
Although he is now a civil servant, under the system of this dynasty, he can only ensure that his son can take the scientific examination. He himself still cannot get rid of his identity as a former yamen servant and the son of a yamen servant, and it is absolutely impossible to enter the civil service class.
Yes, this kind of discriminatory humiliation has always been helplessly suppressed in my heart.
It will naturally hurt when someone pulls out a scar. The greater your hope, the more sensitive you will be to possible disappointment.
"How is this possible! Who am I and who are you?" Li You was a little excited: "Inspector Liu is not the emperor. He himself is just a small inspector of the lowest level. How can he break the law?"
The ancestral law, he is a liar! Do you think you are too stupid to believe this?"
"Kneel down! Is there any reason for a son to speak to his father like this? If he does this again, I'll call the family law!" Li's father slapped the table and scolded.
Li You bowed his head and knelt down.
Li's father took out a piece of paper and said: "Inspector Liu invited the ambassador of the Taxation Department to act as a guarantee and made this agreement. It states that if you cannot be an official within six months after marrying his daughter, you will be appointed as
It is up to you to divorce your wife and pay all the dowry to the Li family. Otherwise, how can my father dare to believe him? But he said that he would have to wait a few days before he could explain the reason."
Who is crazy in this world? Li You doesn't know, but he is going crazy himself.
Li You walked out of the house in confusion, returned to the county government office in confusion, and sat in the public room in confusion, continuing to be confused.
At one moment I felt that Inspector Liu was a despicable and shameless manipulator, and at another I felt that since Inspector Liu dared to write this engagement letter, he might really have some hope of becoming an official. At one moment I guessed that Inspector Liu was crazy about wanting to marry his daughter, at the next I guessed
Liu Xingjian is the emperor's illegitimate son or lost brother who hides in the human world, and he is a master like the sweeping monk of Shaolin Temple.
After thinking about it, my worry about gains and losses became more and more intense. The two thoughts in my mind were in conflict with each other and it was very painful. I just wanted to get drunk and pass out.
The sun was setting in the west when a handyman came in and said to Li You: "Mr. Huang summoned Mr. Li to go with him."
Li Youcai remembered that he was going to a banquet tonight. When he thought of the word "wine", Li You slapped the table and said, "Go!" This startled the servant, who thought he had offended Li Dianshi in some way.
