Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 50
Chapter 49

West City, at the gate of Cao Mansion.

Several large carts were laid out along the gate and along the wall, and Cao Zhong and Cao Fang commanded people to carry things from the carts.Cao Fang, how did Cao Fang get to the capital?Cao Yong was a little surprised.

Seeing Cao Yong coming back, Cao Zhong hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Master, hurry into the yard, the wife is here!"

After hearing this, Cao Yong hurriedly got off his horse, ignored Cao Fang's conversation, and strode inside.Although he didn't intentionally advance the changes that happened in the capital, nor did he intend to hide it from Cao Yin's eyes and ears, but he really didn't want Li Shi to know about it, and he didn't want her to worry about it.His mother is the person who loves him the most in this world.

After entering the main hall of the front yard, he didn't see Mrs. Li. After asking the maidservant, Cao Yong knew that Mrs. Li had gone to the side yard where he lived.

Walking into the courtyard, there are two familiar figures at the door, dressed as women, they are Hui Xin and An Xiang who have served Cao Yong for several years.

"My lord is back, this slave is paying my respects to my lord!" Hui Xin and An Xiang bowed down and saluted.

"Hui Xin, An Xiang, did you come with your mother?" Cao Yong asked.

"Is Yong'er back?" Li heard Cao Yong's voice in the room and went out of the room.Zijing followed behind, especially with tears on her face.

The mother and child hadn't seen each other for only a month and a half, but Li's sideburns were dotted with white hair, and his face was thin and haggard, which could hardly hide the fatigue of the journey.Cao Yong felt guilty for a while. It seems that Li Shi was worried because he got the news that he was seriously ill.Zijing, could it be that she got scolded because of her involvement?

"Yonger!" Seeing Cao Yong, Li's eyes immediately turned red.

"The child has seen his mother!" Cao Yong bowed his head and saluted.

Mrs. Li took her son's arm and looked Cao Yong up and down. Seeing a half-inch long scar on Cao Yong's brow, she knew it must be left by the beating, and she couldn't stop crying: " My son!"

Cao Yong watched his mother's eyes fall on his face, stretched out his hand to touch the scar, and comforted him: "Mother, don't worry, the doctor said that the scar will fade in two or three months, and it won't be visible in two years. Amethyst will be smeared with medicine sooner or later, but she is caring."

Mrs. Li pulled Cao Yong to sit down in the small hall: "Although our family is an ordinary family, you have never touched half a finger since you landed. Now you have been bullied like this when you just arrived in Beijing. How can you continue like this?" Great?"

"Mother, it's just a quarrel between teenagers. How can we talk about bullying or not bullying. Mother's health has improved in the past two years. How can she withstand the journey of thousands of miles? Doesn't this make my son more worried?" Cao Yong couldn't help thinking of Li's hard journey. Very worried.

Mrs. Li wiped her tears with a handkerchief: "Don't talk about thousands of miles, for my own children, what's the point of thousands of miles. If it weren't for our house, I really want to stay in the capital to take care of you." .”

"Father and three sisters are okay?" Cao Yong couldn't help but miss Jiang Ning's life.

Mrs. Li nodded: "Knowing about you, your father didn't say anything. He must be worried. He didn't sleep well for several nights. Yi'er also cried a lot and wanted to come to Beijing with me. Look at you, but there must always be someone to look after you in the mansion over there."

When Cao Yong heard this, he felt warm in his heart. This is his family, and he cares about his family all the time.In order for these family members to avoid suffering from illness and ransacking their homes, what is it to be looked down upon in the capital?
The mother and son were talking, Cui'er came over and replied: "Madam, sir, Mr. Zhuang has settled down in the east courtyard. I heard that the master is back, and I want to see you!"

Cao Yong Daqi: "Mr. Zhuang, which Mr. Zhuang?"

Mrs. Li explained from the side: "Your father was afraid that you would delay your studies due to your young age. He originally wanted to invite Mr. Song to Beijing, but Mr. Song did not want to stay away from his hometown. There was no other way, so he invited this Mr. Zhuang again. Mr. Zhuang Chang's family members in our mansion, I heard that they are also very knowledgeable!" Then, he took out a letter from his sleeve: "This is from your father, and this gentleman should be mentioned."

The knowledge is excellent, and the image of an old gentleman like Master Song appears in front of Cao Yong.Since it is a teacher invited here, it is natural to treat each other with courtesy. It would be rude to see my mother first when I come back like myself, and then to see a foreigner.

Cao Yong took the letter from his mother, opened it and read it. Cao Yin didn't say much, but half of it was about this gentleman. He said that his name was Zhuang Xi, his name was Xia Qing, and he was the younger brother of Zhuang Chang. He once worked as a servant in the capital's palace, so he is a knowledgeable person.

"Mother, my son will go to visit the husband first, and then talk to his mother when he comes back!" Cao Yong put away the letter and said to his mother.

"Well, let's go, Zijing and I still have something to talk about!" Li Shi looked at his son in a good mood.

Before leaving the room, Cao Yong remembered something and asked Li Shi back: "Does mother know a man named E Fei?"

"Master Efei E?" Li's expression was confused: "Is it a relative of our family in Beijing? I don't know it."

Cao Yong was a little bit unwilling: "Mother has never heard of this name, has my father or uncle mentioned it?"

Mrs. Li shook her head: "No, this is the first time I've heard of this name today."

Cao Yong thought about E Fei's surprise when he saw him. If there was nothing in it, who would believe it?However, looking at his mother, it seems that he really doesn't know this E Fei. What's going on?

*
Northeast of Cao Mansion, Banyan Courtyard.

This is the guest room of the Cao Mansion, because there is a hundred-year-old banyan tree at the gate of the courtyard, so it is also called the Banyan Courtyard.

When Cao Yong arrived, Zhuang Xi was directing two young men to take out books from the bookcase and place them on the shelf in the study.

If you say that Zhuang Xi gives people the impression, it is that his appearance is not good.Neither tall nor short, neither fat nor thin, in his fifties, with a sparse beard.

Cao Yong is not a person who judges people by appearance. Since Cao Yin was able to invite him, he also explained it in the letter, which has deep meaning.

"Cao Yong met Mr.!" Cao Yong performed a junior gift.

Zhuang Xi took half a step back and accepted it, looked at Cao Yong and asked: "Before entering Beijing, your father mentioned that you have learned all four books and five classics, now you can still practice calligraphy and reading every day?"

When Cao Yong heard this, his face was full of melancholy. He has been in Beijing for more than a month, and he has improved his health, but he seldom reads or writes.

Seeing Cao Yong's expression, Zhuang Xi's expression became tense: "Studying knowledge is like sailing against the current. If you don't advance, you will retreat. Could it be that the young master was dazzled by the prosperity of the capital and neglected his studies? Are you willing to be a mediocre person?"

Cao Yong is ashamed, this Mr. Zhuang is more like a strict teacher than Master Song.Although he is not very interested in reading, Cao Yong is still unwilling to offend this gentleman.Those who can be valued by Cao Yin will definitely not be simple old masters.Since Cao Yin specifically mentioned his work in the palace of the capital, there must be more things to teach Cao Yong.

Cao Yong has two advantages, he is more eager to learn, and the other is to respect the elders.Therefore, he humbly accepted Zhuang Xi's criticism, and seriously reviewed his lack of hard work in learning, and expressed his willingness to work hard under the guidance of his husband.What was used to deal with the teacher in the previous life is still applicable at this time.

Seeing Cao Yong's submissive attitude, Zhuang Xi nodded with satisfaction.I had heard that Cao Yin, the son of a legitimate son, was pampered and raised by his grandmother since he was a child. I was afraid that he would have the arrogance and rudeness of a master's son, but now it seems that I was worrying too much.

Zhuang Xi showed his identity and taught him a few words.Regardless of whether Cao Yong heard it or not, he looked serious on his face.

The study room was messy, Zhuang Xi looked a little uncomfortable, waved his hand and said, "You talk with Lingtang first, we'll talk later!"

Cao Yong responded, and saw some wrinkles on Zhuang Xi's clothes. Although he was very energetic, his face was still a little tired.After more than ten days on the boat, tiredness is unavoidable: "Sir, I will ask the servant to bring water, sir to take a bath to relieve fatigue, and I will arrange the kitchen to prepare food and drink, and greet him!"

In this era, people don't live as long as later generations. After fifty, they can call themselves "old" and are considered old people.

Even though the little old man Zhuang Xi has a weird personality, he traveled thousands of miles for Cao Yong after all.

*
After leaving the banyan courtyard, Cao Fang was already waiting behind the courtyard.

Cao Fang, the second son of Cao Fu, the great steward of the Cao family in Jiangning, had been Cao Yong's long follower and was responsible for transporting Cao Yong to and from school.Later, because of Cao Yong's kidnapping, he was punished by the housekeeper's family law and punished to do chores.When Cao Yong was ten years old and Zhang Luolin went to fast, Cao Fang was asked to be the shopkeeper.

Two years ago, Brother Nine sent people to Jiangning to poach the two chefs of Lin Xiazhai, and Lin Xiazhai was closed.Cao Yong suggested to Cao Yin that Cao Fang be a steward of Cao's tea business.Cao Fang's son, Xiaoman, is now working as an errand by Cao Yong's side.

For his little master, Cao Fang was both grateful and convinced. He saluted and said, "Master's story spread to Jiang Ning, but it scared the slaves to death. It seems to be all right now. It's a blessing!"

"Send mother and Mr. Zhuang to Beijing in peace, I'm sorry to trouble you!" Cao Yong smiled and said: "Where are these vain gifts used? How is the business at the tea house? Why did father make you come out?"

"Originally, the servant's father wanted the servant's elder brother to come, but the servant was worried about the uncle and took the initiative to come here. It happened that the tea merchant in Beijing had some money to collect." Cao Fang said.

If someone else said this, Cao Yong would have to consider the water in it, but when Cao Fang said it, he believed it.

(End of this chapter)