The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 206 Li Congjia’s Metamorphosis
In the evening, Li Congjia returned to the room, but it was empty. Xu Xuan probably went out and had not returned yet.

His body was very tired, but he did not fall directly on the bed and cover his head to sleep as usual. Instead, he sat in a daze for a while, then got up and opened the window to get some air.

After walking aimlessly around the tables and chairs a few times, he saw a broom and dustpan placed in the corner. He picked them up and started sweeping the floor.

After cleaning the floor of the room, Li Congjia looked around and saw that there was still some water in the basin. He found a rag, soaked it, wrung it out, and began to wipe the tables and chairs seriously again.

While he was working, the door opened and Xu Xuan entered the room carrying a bag of things. He was shocked to see Li Congjia cleaning the room. He quickly stepped forward, put the things he was carrying on the table, rolled up his sleeves and said, "Little Prince." How can you do such rough work? Put it down quickly and let Xu do it!"

Xu Xuan wanted to snatch the rag, but Li Congjia retracted his hand, shook his head and said, "It doesn't matter, sir, just let me do it myself."

Xu Xuan was stunned and stopped fighting.

Li Congjia began to carefully clean the desk, window lattice, screen, and several decorative lacquerware placed on the cabinet.

Xu Xuan showed a happy smile like an old father. Thinking of something, he opened the paper bag on the table and said with a smile: "Today I went to the newspaper office to ask if the two manuscripts submitted a few days ago have passed the review. I don't want to run into the newspaper office. It coincides with the day of rest, and there are two days of rest every seventh day, which is called "weekend". This seems to be the rule of the Jingzhou government.

Fortunately, luck is not too bad. There are still a few people on duty in the newspaper office. Although the manuscript has not yet passed the review, it has allowed me to find a new job.

Today they are compiling the documents, and they are too busy, so they ask me to help.

Seeing that I was good at handwriting and had written front-page articles, a deputy editor immediately decided to let me help out at the newspaper office every weekend from now on, and I would be paid eighty cents a day. "

Xu Xuan said happily: "It's 160 Wen in two days. It's really good to make more than [-] Wen in a month. When I came back, I went to Taihe Building to cut half a catty of braised pork and brought it back to the little prince to replenish his body. "

Li Congjia smelled the aroma of braised pork, and the glutton in his stomach started to rumble, and he swallowed hard.

Taihelou's braised pork is also one of his favorite dishes. When he smelled the aroma again after half a month, it was really hard to resist.

Li Congjia swallowed hard and tried hard to control his desire for delicious food. He struggled to look away from the bag of braised pork and cupped his hands and said, "Sir, he has been working hard these days writing, and his diet is relatively sparse, so I leave it to you to nourish your body. "

Xu Xuan was stunned, a little unbelievable.

The little prince actually said no to the delicious food in Taihe Building? !
Does the sun come out from the west today?

If Xu Xuan could understand when he saw Li Congjia cleaning the room just now, then now, Li Congjia is indifferent to the delicious food, which is difficult for him to understand!
Xu Xuan walked forward nervously, raised the back of his hand to test his forehead, and murmured, "It's not hot."

Li Congjia pushed his hand away and said with a wry smile: "Don't worry, sir, I'm not sick, I just feel a little emotional today. Since I left Jiangning, I have been taken care of by my husband all the way, and I have never said thank you to him. When I came to Jingzhou, I I encountered many changes, but I didn't know how hard life was, how expensive firewood, rice, oil, and salt were. I spent too much money, and finally ended up working hard to pay off debts.

My husband has always been struggling to support the daily expenses of the two of us, and Congjia feels ashamed.From now on, I will definitely promise my husband to be diligent and frugal and never waste anything more. "

Li Congjia bowed deeply, Xu Xuan was moved and gratified, and hurriedly helped him up: "It is a great kindness for the little prince to reflect on himself! Xu Xuan Xu Xuan"

Xu Xuan was excited and incoherent, his eyes were wet.

"Mr. Xu!" Li Congjia also held his hand emotionally.

Holding hands, the two strangers once again warmed each other with sincere emotions.

"Cuckoo~"

The rumble coming from his belly was a bit abrupt. Li Congjia's face turned red and he retracted his hand sarcastically.

During dinner today, he was in no mood and his appetite was much less than usual. The aunts in the back kitchen thought he was sick and gathered around him to inquire about his welfare.

Even if they dislike him, the aunts still take good care of the chubby Tuya boy.

Xu Xuan said with a smile: "The little prince's body has not yet matured, so he should eat more. Eat it quickly, the taste of stewed meat will be bad when it is cold."

Li Congjia said firmly: "Sir and I will share half of it each, otherwise I would rather not eat it! From now on, I don't have to take care of everything, but I have to think more about myself."

Xu Xuan laohuai comforted him, the little county king really grew up a lot in one day.

The two of them sat at the square table, each holding a pair of chopsticks, picking up the braised meat and dipping it into the sauce, enjoying themselves.

Xu Xuan smiled and said: "Did the little prince encounter something today?"

Li Congjia said enthusiastically: "Mr. Jean guessed it right. Today there is a new person in the kitchen. He is only a few years older than me. He is the grandnephew of the old shopkeeper of Dishe. His name is Chu Xun. He has read books and is quite knowledgeable. What's even more rare is that he seems to be quite proficient in cooking."

Li Congjia described the scene today where he saw Chu Xun show off his knife skills and kill chickens and pluck their feathers. Xu Xuan was greatly surprised when he heard:
"Is it possible that his family has been doing this for generations?"

Li Congjia thought about it and said: "He said that farming and reading have been passed down from generation to generation in his family. Although he was poor, he never forgot to study and practice essays. He said: 'Farming is to build a life, and reading is to build a person.'"

"Well said!" Xu Xuan stood up with a roar, so excited that he couldn't contain himself.

"Such a concept coincides with Xu's!"

Xu Xuan sighed with emotion: "There are virtuous children in a small residence and kitchen!"

Li Congjia said in admiration: "Chu Xun came here to take the selection exam for the Jingzhou Academy in the near future. There is no one who can do all the work in the back kitchen. When the masters who are in charge of the cooker can't get away, they have to let them go." He came to help. The master said that if Chu Xun became an apprentice, in a few years, everyone in Taihe Building would be competing for him.

He also commented on Liuhe Dong's "The Moose Linjiang" with me, often with witty remarks and thought-provoking.

Mr. Xu, how can there be such smart and interesting people in the world? "

Xu Xuan looked at Li Congjia, secretly surprised, and also had strong curiosity about Chu Xun.

Although the little prince has been accustomed to fine clothes and food since he was a child, and he is a glutton and a good talker, the ink in his belly is real.

Even though Prime Minister Song Qiqiu, the princeling leader, disliked Li Congjia and was wary of him in every aspect, he had nothing to say about his literary talent.

Discussing Ci Fu articles with Li Congjia, you can't do it without some real talent and learning.

This Chu Xun was not only able to chat and laugh with Li Congjia, but also received his heartfelt praise, which showed that his level was absolutely extraordinary and his knowledge and knowledge should not be underestimated.

In the cramped back kitchen room, two literary young men sat and talked in front of a pile of chicken feathers. Xu Xuan found this scene extremely interesting when he thought about it.

"According to this, this boy is a rare talent!"

Xu Xuan said with emotion, "If he comes again tomorrow, I will definitely find a chance to meet him."

Li Congjia's mouth was full of oil. He put down his chopsticks, his face fell, and he sighed quietly: "Sir, compared with Chu Xun, I feel that I am useless.

He is smart and hard-working, and he knows all the kitchen chores. His aunts and cooks all like him.

However, he is also quite knowledgeable, sensible and has many wonderful words in his mouth.Alas~ He took to the water like a fish in water when he first arrived, unlike me, who was scolded and disliked everywhere."

Li Congjia sniffed, a little sad.

Xu Xuan listened quietly without interrupting.The impression of Chu Xun became fuller.

At the same time, I became more and more confused.

According to the description of the little prince, this should be a wise man who can laugh and scold with the people in the market, and also play chess and drink tea with the literati and poets.

But is such a person really just a young man from an ordinary peasant family?
In the small Anding County, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Jiangbei is full of surprises.

Xu Xuan once again marveled at Beidi, mixed with a bit of yearning.

I wonder if there are such talented people in the Kaifeng imperial court?

Li Congjia was still quietly recounting his reflections on the day: "Without my status as a born wealthy person, I am just an ordinary person. In the back kitchen, no one will treat me with superiority or do anything to me just because of my status." If you do something wrong, you will be scolded. If you cannot complete your work, you will be disliked and ostracized. Everyone is busy with their work, and no one will pay attention to you, let alone flatter or flatter you."

Xu Xuan smiled and said: "This is what ordinary people do day after day. The world is difficult, it is not easy to survive, and it is even harder to live well. The little prince is a prince when he is born, and enjoys the support of the people , we should think more about the people.

If there is an opportunity in the future, I will take the little prince to see the fields, see how the farmers work, and see how the crops grow. Then the little prince will know why Yasheng said: "The people are the most precious, and the country is the most important." Therefore, you are taking it lightly. '"

Li Congjia solemnly said: "The words of sages are truly immortal for thousands of years!"

Xu Xuan suddenly thought of something and said excitedly: "My conversation with the little county king also made Xu Xuan enlightened. I thought of the topic for the next article, and I will write about agricultural production and resettlement in Jingzhou."

Xu Xuan felt that the thoughts in his mind were extremely clear, and he immediately apologized, sat down in front of the desk, spread out the paper, dipped his pen in ink, and sorted out the outline first.

"I'm here to grind ink for Mr. Li." Li Congjia cheerfully began to twist the ink stick and grind the ink.

Xu Xuan frantically wrote, and even forgot the time for a while. It was not until the light in the room was dim that the handwriting could not be seen clearly that he suddenly woke up.

Li Congjia didn't know when he fell asleep lying on the desk. Xu Xuan smiled, helped him lie down on the bed, took off his shoes and socks, covered him with bedding, then returned to the desk, turned on the oil lamp, and continued writing.

~~~
Early the next morning, Zhu Xiu chewed a fried dough stick and walked slowly to the back kitchen.

Not far away, a person came down the stairs, it was Xu Maocai.

Zhu Xiu took a glance and found that Xu Maocai was sizing him up. His heart moved, and the fish took the bait.

He quickly finished chewing the fried dough sticks in a few mouthfuls, lowered his head and walked a little faster, pretending not to recognize him.

As they passed each other, Xu Xuan stopped and turned sideways, smiling and saying, "May I ask, are you Chu Xun and Young Master Chu?"

Zhu Xiu paused, turned his head with confusion on his face, and held his hands in confusion: "The late student is Chu Xun, I wonder who you are sir?"

Xu Xuan returned the courtesy and said: "I, Xu Maocai."

Zhu Xiu was stunned again, and said with a sudden look on his face: "It turns out to be Mr. Xu, whom I have admired for a long time!"

"In the kitchen room yesterday, thanks to Mr. Chu's help, I helped my nephew Li Jia out of trouble. I came here specifically to express my gratitude!" Xu Xuan saluted.

Zhu Xiu hurriedly avoided it and said modestly: "Mr. Xu, you are too polite. Wan Sheng and brother Li Jiaxian hit it off at first sight, so it's not worth mentioning!"

Xu Xuan smiled, looked around and said, "Xu wants to chat with Mr. Chu for a few words, why not sit in the lobby?"

"Okay! It's an honor to be born later in life to be taught by Mr. Xu!" Zhu Xiu agreed without even thinking about it.

Xu Xuan asked curiously: "Don't Young Master Chu need to go to the back kitchen room first and ask for leave from the head chef?"

Zhu Xiu said with a smile: "No, the manager of Dishe is the second uncle who was born late. Even if he is lazy and doesn't go, they won't say anything."

Xu Xuan was stunned and couldn't help but laugh. This Chu Xun is really a wonderful person.

When we arrived at the lobby of the residence, it was still early and there was no one around. So we sat down at a random square table, and a waiter immediately brought a teapot to us.

Xu Xuan nodded when he saw that the clerk was the one who collected the room fee that day.

This waiter was somewhat knowledgeable and well-spoken, and Xu Xuan had a high regard for him.

And it can be seen that this person has a high status in Shenghe Residence, and he should be the head waiter.

"Have you ever been to a county school, Mr. Chu?" Xu Xuan asked with a smile after they each poured tea.

Zhu Xiu smiled bitterly and said: "Jingzhou Prefecture School has been discontinued since the fifth year of Tianfu (940). Before that, the county schools had long existed in name only."

Xu Xuan nodded: "So Mr. Chu can be regarded as inheriting the family tradition?"

Zhu Xiu sighed: "Since I was a child, my father has been very strict with me. I can read at the age of three and practice Chinese essays at the age of five. I recite the Book of Songs in the morning and read the Spring and Autumn Annals at night, all day long. My father died of illness when I was ten years old. I studied alone when I was a child, immersed myself in the meaning of the scriptures, and thought about it. From now on, I’ll take the exams and gain fame.”

Xu Xuan said in awe, "Do you think your father also has some fame?"

Zhu Xiu secretly laughed. He was trying to find out about his family background. He sighed and said, "My father has no intention of pursuing an official career. He has never been an official. The family hid in the fields and lived in poverty. His great ancestors had served as officials. In the first year of Emperor Xizong's Wende reign, (888), he served as the governor of Jingzhou"

Zhu Xiu was full of nonsense, but Xu Xuan listened carefully. He stroked his beard and sighed: "Abandoning his official position and living in seclusion, he is like a wise man! Judging from the origins of Chu Shaolang's family, we can see that our ancestor must have been a virtuous minister. It's a pity that he was born at the wrong time!" "

"Who says it's not the case!" Zhu Xiu also sighed, picked up the teacup and took a sip.

It was expected that Xu Maocai inquired about his family background, since what happened more than 60 years ago is known to everyone.

He dared to say it, and Xu Maocai also dared to believe it.

Yesterday, he deliberately approached Li Jia to take the opportunity to attract Xu Maocai's attention.

Observing his behavior, this guy is also cautious and will not reveal his secret easily.

If you want to find out the details about Li Jia and Xu Maocai, you must not be too anxious and arouse suspicion and caution, or you may have to waste all your efforts.

Li Jia was young, so Zhu Xiu started with him first, using Li Jia's words to attract Xu Maocai's attention and let him take the initiative to approach him.

In this way, Xu Maocai would not be suspicious.

After yesterday's initial contact, Zhu Xiu had a rough idea of ​​Li Jia's identity.

The age, appearance and characteristics are all matching, and he is still a young man. Zhu Xiu can't help but wonder, is he really the one from the south?

If it is really him, then this person named Xu is definitely not an ordinary person.

Zhu Xiu squinted her eyes and looked at Xu Maocai sitting opposite, like a little fox that smelled meat, with a sly smile on his face.

(End of this chapter)