The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 232 There is no overnight feud between father and son
The next day, Xu Biao led the Xu clan to leave Anding County, preparing to head east into Guanzhong, pass Chang'an and go to Shangluo, and return south via Wuguan.

Another day later, Xu Xuan rode a carriage alone, escorted by two county officials, to the farming area to take up his post.

Li Congjia stayed in Shenghe's residence. In a few days, Jingzhou Academy would start, and he would have to register, go back and forth between the school and his residence, and start his day study career.

After Xu Xuan left, Li Congjia had to learn to live alone, which was a new challenge for him.

On the day when he saw off Xu Xuan's carriage and left the city, Li Congjia cried very sadly. Zhu Xiu stayed with him and kept comforting him with kind words.

Looking at Li Congjia's fleshy face covered with tears, Zhu Xiu was also sighing, and even felt a trace of guilt in his heart, as if he had forcibly separated a pair of close relatives.

According to Xu Xuan's instructions, Li Congjia stayed in the back kitchen of the mansion to help the miscellaneous, and at the same time went to Jingzhou School to study, which can be regarded as a part-time work-study program to earn some living expenses for himself.

Xu Xuan became the mayor of the town. With his salary income, he would also ask someone to send money back to supplement his income.

On weekdays, I would like to ask shopkeeper Chu and Mr. Chu to take care of me.

Zhu Xiu naturally agreed.

Chu Shaolang, as half of the young master of Shenghe Dishe and a classmate of Jingzhou Academy, is relatively mature and steady in his conduct. With his help in life, Xu Xuan can rest assured even if Li Congjia stays alone in the county.

After sending Xu Xuan away, Zhu Xiu sent Li Congjia back to his residence, patiently comforted him for a long time, and agreed that they would meet again after the school started.

Zhu Xiu said goodbye and left, and Li Congjia said goodbye reluctantly.

Without Mr. Xu, Li Congjia regarded Chu Xun as his only relative and friend in a foreign land.

Zhu Xiu wanted to take advantage of Li Congjia's inner loneliness and helplessness to break through his defenses and push the relationship between the two deeper while the iron was hot. Unfortunately, he had more pressing things to do and had to say goodbye temporarily.

News came from Yan Ping that Fu's second wife and Fu Jinhuan's car will arrive in Anding County in the near future.

Zhu Xiu said goodbye to Li Congjia, asked Hu Guangyue to take good care of him, and hurried back to Jiedu Mansion to prepare.

~~~
As the autumn season changes, Shi Kuangwei has been suffering from wind and cold recently. His nose is stuffy and his brain is swollen. He is listless and drowsy all day long.

Especially in the past two days, Shi Kuangwei felt that he was sneezing more and more. When he accidentally sneezed, there were two slugs hanging under his nose. He looked as embarrassed as those wild boys in the agricultural reclamation area who caught cold while playing in the water with their bare buttocks.

The wind and cold had not improved for more than half a month. Shi Kuangwei even thought that someone behind his back must be cursing and scolding him. He changed doctors and prescriptions, and also wanted to invite some masters to perform magic spells and cast talismans.

Fortunately, Zhu Xiu stopped him in time.

Shi Kuangwei was unconvinced and argued a few words, but he didn't insist. He honestly followed the doctor's instructions, kept warm from the cold, and took acupuncture and medicine.

It's not yet winter, but he has already wrapped himself in a sheepskin jacket and put on a woolen thunder cap. He spends the whole day wandering around with his sleeves folded, looking like an old Northeastern man taking a walk after a meal.

The domed thunder peak hat was designed by Zhu Xiu and a tailor. After Shi Kuangwei's personal promotion, it has become popular in Anding County.

Because of its unique shape, it is also called a big-ear hat. There are countless imitations and modified products.

In the past two days, Zhu Xiu often went to the cross-yard where Fu Jinzhan lived, which aroused Shi Kuangwei's alert. He took a walk after dinner and wandered to the cross-yard to investigate the situation.

Mrs. Fu is a virtuous woman who understands the general situation, but Zhu Xiuke is a bad person full of bad intentions, so she has to be careful.

Shi Kuangwei poked his head around the door of the courtyard and saw Zhu Xiu and Fu Jinzhan standing in the courtyard talking and laughing. Several servants were cleaning the courtyard and moving furniture.

"Cough cough~"

Shi Kuangwei coughed twice, and stepped into the yard with his hands cut off his back.

Seeing him stunned, Zhu Xiu curled her lips and turned away.

Shi Kuangwei also pretended not to see him, snorted and walked straight towards Fu Jinzhan.

Fu Jinzhan saw the expressions of the two of them and smiled.

Ever since the death of Wei Hu in Zhecheng City, the two had been at odds with each other, often arguing tit for tat, with neither one convinced of the other.

People who don't know the truth think that Shi Jieshuai still resents Zhu Xiu because of Wei Hu's death.

However, Fu Jinzhan knew that the resentment in Shi Kuangwei's heart had long since dissipated, but Wei Hu's death left some stings in his heart after all, and there was still some lukewarm rivalry with Zhu Xiu.

The closer a conflict occurs between people who are close to you, the more likely it is that there will be a period of ice-breaking period after the conflict is resolved.

During this period, the two of them could only get along awkwardly like this.

"Miss Fu is cleaning the dormitory?" Shi Kuangwei asked with concern with a smile, "Is there enough manpower? Do you want to find some more?"

Fu Jinzhan bowed with his hands folded and said with a smile: "Thank you Shi Jieshuai for your concern. I just rearranged the furnishings in the house and did a little cleaning. I have enough manpower."

"Haha, it's enough." Shi Kuangwei glanced into the room and pretended to ask casually: "Ms. Fu thinks the previous decorations are inappropriate, why do you want to rearrange them?"

Fu Jinzhan said with a smile: "My second sister will arrive in Anding County in the next day or two. My two sisters have not seen each other for more than two years, so I thought I would take this opportunity to get close.

When the second sister comes and lives with me, I want to decorate the house like the Fu family's old house in Yanzhou so that the second sister will not be timid. "

"The second lady of the Fu family is coming?" Shi Kuangwei was stunned and glanced at Zhu Xiu subconsciously.

Zhu Xiu looked up at the sky, as if don't look at me, I don't know.

Fu Jinzhan suppressed his smile and said apologetically: "Second sister came suddenly and I haven't reported to Shi Jieshuai yet. Please forgive me and I hope I won't disturb you."

"No, no, no, no, Mrs. Fu has arrived, our Zhangyi Army Jiedu Mansion is in full bloom, so we should welcome her!
Jiedu Mansion is so big, and there are many houses and courtyards. When Mrs. Fu comes, she can live wherever she wants. "

Shi Converse smiled heartily.

"Thank you Shi Jieshuai for your warm hospitality!" Fu Jinzhan thanked him.

Shi Kuangwei glanced at Zhu Xiu, suppressed his smile, put his hands behind his back and took on the posture of a commander, and ordered with a cold face: "Zhu Sima, as the commander-in-chief of the Zhangyi Army, when the second wife of the Fu family arrives, you will take my place. The commander-in-chief must greet Mrs. Fu Er with great courtesy, and must not lose the etiquette of Zhang Yijun."

Zhu Xiugong cupped his hands and hummed in a long voice: "I will remember the commander's order!"

The two glared at each other, then turned their heads away in unison, snorting from their nostrils.

Fu Jinzhan looked at the two of them with a smile, feeling very interesting.

Shi Kuangwei said a few polite words without any words, and walked away with his hands cut behind his back.

Fu Jinzhan looked at Zhu Xiu and pursed his lips and smiled: "It can be seen that the relationship between you and Shi Jieshuai is more like a grudge, and there is no real feud.

You two are like a father and son who are at odds with each other. There is no irresolvable grudge. They are just letting their anger out.

Seeing you reminds me of my father and brother when they were back home. "

Zhu Xiu groaned: "Shi Heitan can't give birth to such an outstanding son as me." Fu Jinzhan smiled and said: "Wei Hu's matter is over. Find an opportunity to take the initiative and give him a step. This matter It’s a complete turn of events.”

Zhu Xiu glanced outside the courtyard and said in a low voice: "Madam, I don't know. The reason why Shi Heitan is angry with me is, on the one hand, because of Wei Hu's death, and on the other hand, because of his perceived status in the Zhangyi Army." Being compared with me, as a commander, he cannot outdo me, and he feels he has lost face."

Fu Jinzhan was startled, and rolled his beautiful eyes at him: "Nonsense! Is Shi Jieshuai such a narrow-minded person?"

Zhu Xiu curled her lips and said: "Madam, I don't understand. This is called the imbalance of mentality of veteran cadres before they retire. Seeing that their role is getting smaller and smaller, rising stars are gradually overpowering themselves, and they are unwilling to completely give up their power, but they cannot dominate. Overall, various emotions of anxiety, unwillingness, and irritability are intertwined, leading to an unbalanced mentality.

Madam, don't worry, don't pay attention. After a while, Shi Heitan will completely accept the reality and stabilize his mind. "

Fu Jinzhan was stunned for a moment. He didn't fully understand, but he also understood what Zhu Xiu wanted to express.

"Does Shi Jieshuai really think so?" Fu Jinzhan was a little doubtful.

"You can't be wrong! I know him very well!" Zhu Xiu nodded affirmatively.

"Forget it, I can't ask more questions about you two. However, Shi Jieshuai treats you with great kindness. No matter what, you must not let him down." Fu Jinzhan warned seriously.

Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "Madam, don't worry, the friendship between me and Lao Shi will not change."

Fu Jinzhan looked outside the hospital, frowned, and whispered worriedly: "How should you explain the arrival of the second sister to Shi Jieshuai? I'm worried that it will cause him to misunderstand."

Zhu Xiu scratched his head, feeling a little headache. This matter was indeed difficult to explain.

"In my opinion, it's better to tell the truth. I don't want Shi Jieshuai to misunderstand that my Fu family uses power to suppress others because of this matter.

Shi Jieshuai handed Zhang Yijun into your hands and treated you like his son. Now everyone in Zhangyi Army knows that you will be Shi Jieshuai's son-in-law.

It's better to explain the reason to Shi Jieshuai, I believe he will understand. "

Zhu Xiu hesitated, shook his head and said: "This matter cannot be rushed. Let's postpone it for a while. Wei Hu's incident has just passed not long ago. If this black guy becomes angry and loses his mind, it will be troublesome if he doesn't listen to others' advice." Yes. When I have the opportunity in the future, I will look for an opportunity to talk to him again."

Fu Jinzhan smiled bitterly and said, "It's up to you to make the decision. Fortunately, Privy Guo's marriage discussion with my father was not leaked out. Shi Jieshuai still doesn't know that my second sister came to Jingzhou to have a blind date with you."

Zhu Xiu had a headache when she heard the word "blind date" and had the urge to run away.

"Don't worry, Madam, my sister will definitely not fall in love with me, and I will definitely not let her fall in love with me! Madam, please stay here and continue to clean up the courtyard. I'll take my leave now."

Zhu Xiugong cupped his hands and trotted out of the courtyard.

Fu Jinzhan watched him leave, smiling bitterly and shaking his head.

As soon as he stepped out of the hospital door, a big black-haired hand suddenly stretched out from the side, twisted Zhu Xiu's arm, and pulled him aside without any explanation.

Zhu Xiu was startled and was about to scream when she suddenly met Shi Kuangwei's cold eyes. She swallowed hard and swallowed down the cry for help.

"What are you going to do?" Zhu Xiu broke away, smoothed the wrinkled robe, and glared at him angrily.

Shi Kuangwei said viciously: "What were you and Madam Fu talking about just now? What is the affair between you two?"

Zhu Xiu blushed, took a step back and said angrily: "A dog can't spit out ivory from its mouth!"

After giving him a fierce look, Zhu Xiu turned to leave, but was held tightly by Shi Kuangwei again.

After struggling for a few times but unable to break free, Zhu Xiu was so angry that she stamped her feet: "Shi Heitan! Don't go too far!"

Shi Kuangwei snorted, widened his eyes, and asked, "Why did Mrs. Fu come to Jingzhou?"

Zhu Xiu felt guilty and pretended to be calm: "How do I know! Mrs. Fu is here, and Fu Zhaoxin is also in Qizhou. Why not come to reunite with my sister and brother?"

"Really?" Shi Kuangwei's eyes were full of doubts.

"How could I know about the Fu family's affairs!" Zhu Xiu shook off his hand angrily, "If you don't want to entertain and don't want the Fu family sisters to live in Jiedu Mansion, I can go and tell Mrs. Fu to let her They moved out of the house, and I found another place for them in Yacheng."

Shi Kuangwei hummed and said: "I'm here, of course I live in Jiedu Mansion. If I meet Fu Yanqing in the future and say that as a landlord, I ignored his two daughters, wouldn't I be wrong and unable to explain? "

Zhu Xiu teased: "Why, are you also afraid of Fu Si?"

Shi Kuangwei glared, and yelled rather boldly: "What a joke! How can I be afraid of him! Fu Sisi is the military commander of the Taining Army, and I am the military commander of the Zhangyi Army. They are just half a dozen!"

Zhu Xiu laughed and said: "The Taining Army is a powerful vassal in Guandong, with more than [-] armored men. The Fu family in Yanzhou is deeply rooted, from the court to the prefectures and counties, and their disciples' old friends are all over the world. Fu Yanqing is also a dignified minister, Wei Guogong.

If you compare yourself with others, you're just a poor country bumpkin! "

Shi Kuangwei said angrily: "I am also the Crown Prince's Shaobao, a second-grade official!"

Zhu Xiu ridiculed: "In the territory of the Han Dynasty, which Jiedu envoy does not have the title of second or third grade on his head? One brick can kill a large area, what's so strange about it!"

Skuangwei was so angry that his teeth were itching, the hateful boy Zhu mercilessly exposed his background and poked his sore spot.

Zhu Xiu didn't mean to anger him, it was just the fact.

The Zhangyi Army is indeed developing well, but its foundation is weak and its presence in the court is not strong. It is not comparable to the Taining Army of the Fu family for the time being.

Shi Kuangwei hummed: "I've been suffering from the cold recently, so it's hard to see guests. When Mrs. Fu arrives, you can greet her well for me and treat her warmly. Don't let people think that I'm a petty person."

Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "Don't worry, I will definitely make Madam Fu Er feel at home."

Shi Kuangwei glanced at him sideways and said: "No matter what you do, take Yan'er with you. With Yan'er watching you, I can rest assured, lest you kid have evil intentions."

Zhu Xiu pouted: "I know."

"By the way, the first mayor of the Reclamation Zone seemed to be a man who wrote articles in newspapers. His name was Xu. What was Xu? Do you know about this?" Shi Kuangwei asked.

"My name is Xu Maocai. This man has real talent and knowledge. He was recommended by Wen Zhongping and I have approved him to serve as the mayor after inspection." Zhu Xiu said with a smile.

"Well, since you have already met the real person, I won't ask any more questions."

Shi Kuangwei snorted angrily.

The agricultural reclamation area is of great importance, and the first mayor is responsible for the administrative reform of Changyi Army. Now that Zhu Xiu has arranged the candidates, he is relieved.

When it comes to serious matters, Shi Kuangwei absolutely trusts Zhu Xiu's judgment.

"Take Yan'er away quickly, this girl has disturbed my peace and quiet all day long." Shi Kuangwei glared at him, folded his sleeves with his hands, hunched his waist, and left slowly along the stone path.

Zhu Xiu looked at him and saw a layer of silvery white frost between his temples under the brim of his hat.

"Old Shi, you must take care of yourself! When we advance into Kaifeng in the future, you will be required to go into battle and lead the army! You are the commander-in-chief of our Zhangyi Army!" Zhu Xiu suddenly shouted loudly.

Shi Converse paused, did not look back, and did not say a word. He continued to walk forward slowly, but his rickety back seemed to straighten a bit.
(End of this chapter)