Picturesque Rivers and Mountains in the Red Chamber

83 Chapter 2.60

Volume Two

2.60 I just need my senior brother to be a witness

On the morning of September 25th, at the front door of the Xue family mansion, Zhou Yang followed brothers Xue Tu and Xue Xun and stood in front of the door, looking in the direction of the avenue from a distance, because they had received news last night that Chen Ye, the heir to the Duke of Qi in the capital and the eldest son of Chen Ruiwen, Jun, it will arrive this morning.

"Zi Yang, are you sure Mr. Chen is here in person?" Even at this time, Xue Xun still felt uneasy.

"Second uncle, this is the fifth time you have asked me. Don't worry. Since Senior Brother Chen has replied to the letter, there is absolutely no reason not to come." Zhou Yang comforted him with a smile, "Look, isn't it coming over there? The one riding the horse at the front, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen him in the capital, it’s unmistakable!”

"Chen Luo has met Uncle Shi!" Just as he was saying this, he saw the person dismounting twenty steps away, striding to the front and back of Xue's house and bowing very politely to Xue Tu in the front, "My nephew is just a I came to Jinling to visit my relatives, and it was really annoying to be greeted by Uncle Shi like this!"

"Hahaha, it's great that nephew Chen Xian can come!" Xue Tu, who could only go out in a wheelchair at this time, smiled reluctantly and was very satisfied with Chen Yejun's attitude. It's a pity that even though he is a big man, Even though I took a lot of aphrodisiac, the weakness caused by the injury still couldn't be overcome. "I'm not feeling well and can't get up. It's really rude and disrespectful!"

"Uncle Shi is joking!" Chen Yejun stood up and stepped forward, called Zhou Yang to help Xue Tu push the wheelchair into the door, leaving all the spies outside the door to change their expressions, because the two people called each other enough to show that, at least The two parties have reached a preliminary agreement, not to mention that Chen Yejun added, "Besides, Junior Brother Zhou is here, and my nephew will come anyway."

"Since we are a family, there is no need to be so polite." Xue Xun's face was red and he smiled and complimented.

The group of people chatted and laughed, and soon entered the main hall of the Xue family's main courtyard, where the guests and hosts sat down. Mrs. Xue personally served tea and water, and then asked everyone to leave. The servants and servants of the Chen family who came with them immediately separated themselves and even pulled apart. A circle of twenty steps.

"Senior Brother Chen can come in person, so your mentor must have agreed?" After a meaningless conversation, both parties stopped greeting each other. At this time, everyone actually didn't have much trust in each other, and a suitable middleman was very necessary. Now in the main hall There are only four people, and Zhou Yang is undoubtedly the most suitable.

"My father specifically told me to express my gratitude to Junior Brother Zhou when I came here." Chen Yejun replied with a smile. Whether this was true or not, it was enough to make the Xue brothers breathe a sigh of relief. "Uncle Xue Shi is willing to believe in the Duke of Qi and Chen Yejun." My father is very happy with the family’s strength, and my nephew must admit that this has also helped the Chen family a lot.”

"Haha, if it is true as my nephew said, I am deeply pleased!" At this time, Xue Tu was already very weak, but his speech was much more energetic than usual. He was obviously really happy, "I just don't know if the Xue family is still alive." If there is anything extra that needs to be done, Mr. Chen might as well just say it."

"Thank you, Uncle Shi!" Chen Yejun said with a smile, "It's really no longer necessary. My father appreciates Uncle Xue Shi's generosity very much. My nephew also expressed the Chen family's response here. From now on, if anyone is from the Xue family or the Xue family, The Chen family will never sit idly by and watch things happen; and with the Xue family’s status as an imperial merchant, the Chen family is not at a loss to talk to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.”

"Seriously?" , now that the Chen family has promised, it will be easier to talk, "If that's the case, I really want to thank Mr. Chen."

"Senior Brother Chen, what's the good thing?" Zhou Yang asked with a smile. For the Chen family, this matter is not a problem. For the Xue family, it is very difficult. The Chen family only needs to say a word. It is necessary to pay such attention.

"To be honest with Junior Brother Zhou, my father is short of money." Now that the conditions have been met, Chen Yejun stopped talking in circles, "The Shenji Camp has always been based on firearms and crossbows. Bows and crossbows are just that, but firearms are not. It has always been a money-consuming thing, especially artillery. As the saying goes, 'a cannon fires, a thousand taels of gold', this is what it says.

A few days ago, Wen Fu, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, talked a lot about financial difficulties and suggested increasing revenue and cutting expenditure. This is too difficult to increase revenue, so the first step must be to reduce expenditure. Those poor people talked much about consumption in the army, and they were the first to bear the brunt. It is the Shenji Battalion. At least in name, except for the artillery, nothing else in the camp is irreplaceable. "

"Master, haven't you thought about getting some new firearms?" Zhou Yang frowned, but decided to save it, "When I was in Nanyang, I heard a lot about Westerners' sharp firearms. When fighting with the natives of Nanyang, they often fired guns and artillery. In a short period of time, we defeated the indigenous troops that were ten times our own, but in the Shenji Camp, I have never heard of such artifacts."

"Of course my father has heard about it, but both the civil and military officials in the court thought it was an exaggeration, and no one wanted to believe it." After Zhou Yang finished speaking, the Xue brothers looked at each other and said nothing after exchanging glances. Unexpectedly, Chen also Jun didn't mean to believe in the power of firearms. "Of course, I don't have money, so I can't continue to try it out. But with the artillery such as the Folangji and the General in the camp now, it's enough. It was just last month." , after His Majesty officially decided to cut military pay, the money that the Shenji Battalion could get was no longer 10% of the previous amount, and the men could not be made to suffer, so the father could only find a way to make up for it. Unfortunately, with the Chen family's financial background, It is really difficult to fill the gap of nearly [-] taels every year.”

"That's it!" Zhou Yang smiled and nodded, "Father-in-law, I don't dare to say anything else. This money is still a bit. The original promise made by my younger brother was 10% a year. Since Shenji Camp is short of [-] this year Two, then the Xue family will make up for it, just treat it as a meeting gift."

"Really?" Chen Yejun's eyes lit up, and he immediately noticed Zhou Yang's address, "So Junior Brother Zhou has already made a deal with Qin Jin? You, you are so careless, why didn't you tell your father about such an important matter?"

"Ahem, what Ziyang said is what I meant." Xue Tu forced a smile and took over the conversation, "The expenditure of 10 taels is indeed not small, but if the Xue family works hard, it will not be a trouble. As for Zi Please forgive Mr. Chen and Mr. Chen for the matter between Yang and the little girl, because it was just decided a few days ago, and I took the initiative to bring it up, and Ziyang also suffered."

"My father-in-law said something serious!" Zhou Yang quickly stood up and bowed, "My son-in-law has been secretly thinking about it for a long time, but he just didn't dare to mention it. Being given Miss Xue by his father-in-law is a blessing that my son-in-law has cultivated in his previous life, so how can he dare to say anything about it again! "

"Haha, you son-in-laws should stop bragging!" Chen Yejun joked with a smile, "Since Ziyang has an engagement, I should congratulate my brother. As soon as I return to the capital, I will explain to my father that when you come back, don't I forgot to come here. I have no choice but to tell my father about this matter.

Also, your kid just bought a new house and you didn’t even say anything. Are you afraid that we will come and make you poor?I also sent someone to ask before I came here. Your little girl and six minions are all good and take good care of them. I heard that Dongfang Qianhu also came to visit me. I'm afraid you have to go back and explain it carefully! "

"This, I know how to cook." Zhou Yang touched his nose awkwardly, remembering that he had just made peace with Dongfang Bingqinse, and rushed all the way to Jinling that day. He didn't even have time to say goodbye in person, just a letter. I'm afraid I won't be able to escape my temper after I get back, "I also want to thank Senior Brother Chen for taking care of me!"

"Oh, is there anything else?" Xue Tu smiled softly, but his eyes returned to their usual sharpness, staring directly at Zhou Yang, obviously suspicious.

"This -" Zhou Yang was confused and glanced at Chen Yejun speechlessly. How could he talk about other women in front of his friend's future father-in-law, "Father-in-law misunderstood."

"Uncle Xue Shi, please forgive me." Chen Yejun was stunned for a moment, realizing that he had tricked Zhou Yang, so he had no choice but to help explain in embarrassment, "My nephew's words were too vague, which made Uncle Shi misunderstand. Junior Brother Zhou is very much appreciated by Princess Yongchang. When the princess saw him practicing riding and archery alone, although his strength was mediocre but his talent was outstanding, she arranged for Dongfang Qianhu to teach him on his behalf, and thus formed a friendship."

"That's it!" Xue Tu was keenly aware that it was definitely not that simple. But in his current situation, he really couldn't take care of it, and he also needed Chen Yejun to help with the platform, so he could only treat it as nothing, " I would like to thank Her Royal Highness the Princess and Dongfang Qianhu."

"Uncle Xue Shi, what my nephew said at first was not polite. He did have other things to do when he came to Jinling this time." Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit stiff, Chen Yejun simply brought the topic back to business, "So, if there is anything you need, nephew If you do it, you might as well say it together.”

"That's fine." Xue Tu glanced at Zhou Yang again, turned around and said seriously, "I don't have many days left. Anyway, it's only at the end of this month or the beginning of next month. Although he is very reluctant, he also knows that there is nothing he can do to save the day, but Xue Tu I don’t own the house alone, there are a few people who are not very honest, and I need nephew Chen Xian’s help to look into it.”

"What else?" Chen Yejun's expression was grim. In the feudal era, the division between the concubine and the concubine was like heaven and earth. The most unbearable thing for any descendant of the concubine was that the concubine's branch coveted the property of the real branch. "When my nephew came, I still brought a few people Yes, I also brought a few of my father’s name cards, do you need to make some arrangements?”

"Senior Brother Chen, you don't have to be like this!" Zhou Yang stopped him with a smile, but there was no smile in his eyes. "It's not like the Xue family doesn't have people to solve some small things, just raise your hand and solve them, but by then there will definitely not be only those few Those who are short-sighted need a brother to be a witness!"

"When?" Chen Yejun nodded and asked.

"I originally wanted to make some arrangements first, and let Ziyang handle it after I go down. Since nephew Chen Xian is busy, let's do it tonight!" Xue Tu said coldly, "Anyway, it's only a difference of ten or eight days. It’s better to arrange them as soon as possible.”

(End of this chapter)