But on the other side, in Quanzhou City in the evening, smoke rose from the chimneys of every house into the air, and pedestrians on the street were also in a hurry, rushing home to have a warm meal with their families.

dinner.

Gu Er led Shitou, who had just come out of the military camp, and drove towards home on horseback.

"Sir, the third battalion will be disbanded in a few days. When the brothers return to their respective counties, what will we do?" Shitou asked.

Gu Er and Shitou are now helping to train the batch of rural warriors transferred from various counties in Quanzhou for intensive training in the third camp.

Gu Er, however, took his time and glanced at Shitou and said, "Zihou has his own arrangements. I'm not in a hurry. Why are you in a hurry?"

Shitou chuckled and rubbed his head: "Aren't I worried about the young master?"

"There is nothing to worry about!" Gu Er said: "Since Zihou called me all the way from Bianjing, is it just to ask me to come and help him train a few local warriors?"

"By the way, isn't that pastry shop in front of you selling some new pastries? Go buy some for Sister Rong and Brother Chang to try." Gu Er pointed to a pastry shop on the road ahead with his riding whip and ordered.

Stone Road.

By the time Gu Er and Shitou returned to the small courtyard arranged by Wang Zhong with the pastries they had just bought, the cook had already prepared dinner.

"Erlang is back!" Seeing Gu Er, Zhu Manniang immediately greeted him with a smile. Gu Er hugged Sister Rong and returned to the back room with Zhu Manniang. They sat at the dining table. Zhu Manniang urged the maid to bring all the food.

After a while, the family of four began to use chopsticks. Zhu Manniang served Gu Er and her two children with a smile on her face, looking like a good wife and loving mother, which made Gu Er, who had been lacking love since childhood, even more satisfied with her.

Gu Er has been on duty at the military camp as usual in the past few days. Although the third battalion is about to be disbanded, Gu Er has always been a responsible person. With the idea of ​​being a monk and ringing the bell for a day, in the last few days, not only did he not let this person

The village warriors were a little lax, but were more severe than usual.

Fortunately, the local warriors had long been accustomed to Gu Er's rigorous training, so nothing happened.

But Gu Er would never have thought that the situation in the military camp was calm and the village heroes did not cause any trouble, but his backyard was the first to catch fire.

Gu Er had just told Mannia that the Third Battalion was going to be disbanded and that he could stay at home with her and their children for a while. He thought that what was waiting for him would be Mannia's thoughtfulness, shyness and joy, but he never expected Zhu Mannia's reaction.

Just as he expected.

"The Third Battalion is about to be disbanded?" Mannia looked surprised: "Erlang is the Yuhou of the Third Battalion. Now that the Third Battalion is about to be withdrawn, where will Erlang be transferred?"

Seeing the surprise on Zhu Manniang's face, although it was somewhat different from what he expected, Gu Er didn't feel anything was wrong: "I don't know yet. I'll ask Zihou another day."

Zhu Manniang's heart skipped a beat, then she quickly adjusted her mood and forced out a rather sweet smile: "It doesn't matter if the errand is gone. As long as Erlang can be safe and our family of four can be together, the slave family will be satisfied."

Having shared the same bed with Gu Er for seven or eight years, Zhu Manniang had already figured out Gu Er's temperament, knew what Gu Er cared about, and naturally followed Gu Er's wishes when speaking.

Sure enough, as soon as she said these words, a smile appeared on Gu Er's face. He looked at his children, then at Zhu Manniang, and said firmly: "Don't worry Mannia, I will definitely make a difference for you and Sister Rong.

Brother Chang will live a good life."

Zhu Manniang smiled and took the food for Gu Er, and said: "Erlang is talented in martial arts, wise and courageous. The slave family believes that Erlang can do it!"

"Erlang must be tired from training the soldiers in the military camp. How about I accompany Erlang to have a few drinks to relieve his fatigue?" Zhu Manniang asked softly and with concern.

"good!"

Zhu Manniang immediately asked the maid to buy wine, and then she personally carried the wine pot and filled Gu Er with wine one cup at a time until Gu Er was drunk.

The next day, seeing Gu Er and Shitou going to the military camp, Zhu Manniang asked the maid to take care of the children at home while she went out to do shopping.

There are many people outside, and Brother Chang is too young to take him out. In the past, Zhu Manniang often went out alone, and the maid didn't think there was anything wrong.

In an inaccessible side alley in the city, Zhu Manniang looked around before entering the door to make sure no one was following her, then she walked into the side alley.

"Manniang!" The man who had been waiting in the side alley for a long time smiled when he saw Zhu Manniang, but he couldn't help asking: "Why are you so anxious to meet her all of a sudden?"

"How did you go about the things I asked you to inquire about?" Zhu Maniang asked quickly.

The man said: "I have inquired clearly. From last year to now, the nearby waters have not been very peaceful. Many pirates have emerged and robbed passing ships. Several merchants have jointly submitted a letter to the magistrate, begging the Yamen to send troops to sea to destroy the pirates. Yamen

These newly trained soldiers and horses are probably going to fight pirates!"

"Fight pirates?" Zhu Manniang couldn't help but guess: "Did Prince Hou bring Erlang from Bianjing just to fight pirates?"

The man shook his head helplessly and said, "That's all I heard about!"

"What use are you!" Zhu Manniang looked at the man with disgust, and then said to herself: "No, we can't stay in Quanzhou forever!"

"Gu Tingye refuses to return to Bianjing, what can we do?" The man looked helpless.

"His eldest brother is not in good health to begin with. Who knows how many more years of good life he will have. He is not favored by the old Marquis. If he is not in Bianjing all the time and waits for his eldest brother to go, wouldn't the Marquis' Mansion be in trouble?

It's his brother's." Zhu Manniang analyzed calmly.

"Is it possible that we can't kidnap him back?" the man said angrily.

Zhu Manniang sneered: "Take him back? He's a soft-spoken guy who doesn't take tough measures. Not to mention you and me, my brother and sister. Even if there are another seven or eight big men, they may not be his opponent."

"Then what should we do?" Zhu Dalang frowned, all his eyes on his sister Zhu Manniang.

This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Zhu Manniang thought for a while and said: "I will try again in the next few days to see if I can persuade him to go back!"

"What if it can't be done?" Zhu Dalang asked.

Zhu Manniang thought about it, but she still didn't dare to say it too harshly: "Let's try it first!"

As he spoke, he opened the cloth covering the bamboo basket he was carrying and handed Zhu Dalang the silver note he had just received from selling the jewelry. He also did not forget to tell him: "Now that I have an IOU at home, all the jewelry Erlang bought for me is for sale."

It’s almost over, brother, please don’t gamble anymore, otherwise it’s time to tell Erlang to spot the clues.”

As soon as he saw the banknote, Zhu Dalang's eyes lit up, and all his attention was attracted by the banknote, and he repeatedly said: "I won't gamble anymore, I won't gamble anymore!"

Zhu Manniang looked around again and whispered: "Brother, be careful these days. Erlang is coming back. Brother, please don't let him see you."

"Then I'll stay away. If something happens, just let me know as before and I'll come find you again."

Zhu Manniang nodded, crouched, stood on tiptoes and looked around, then walked out of the side alley, and Zhu Dalang quickly turned and left.

But before he had gone far, he had just turned the corner and before he could see clearly, a sack covered his head.

The next morning, Gu Er was training his soldiers in the military camp. Suddenly the sergeant on duty came to report, saying that Wang Zhong had something important and told him to go there.

Gu Er walked out of the military camp and found that the person who came was none other than Yu Chuer, Wang Zhong's personal eldest follower. Gu Er, who knew that Wang Zhong was definitely not an unprovoked target, immediately followed Yu Chuer and rode all the way.

When I arrived at the county government office, I didn't expect that Yu Chuer didn't lead Gu Er to the back hall, but instead went straight into the cell.

Just when Gu Er was full of doubts, he saw Wang Zhong in the cell, who was sitting at the table eating wine. There were also two braised vegetables, a plate of edamame, and a plate of spiced broad beans on the table.

"Zhong Huai is here, sit down!" Wang Zhong saw Gu Er and stood up with a smile, gesturing for Gu Er to sit down.

Gu Er only felt that he was filled with doubts. He really couldn't figure out what kind of medicine Wang Chong was selling in his gourd. After sitting down, he looked around and couldn't help but said: "Zihou's interest is different from that of ordinary people. He has to go all the way to eat and drink."

Come to this prison."

Wang Zhong took the jug and poured a glass of wine for Gu Er, and said: "It's not because there is anything special here, but because there is a person in prison at this time, and he has some relationship with Zhong Huai, so the news will be leaked, so this

I specifically asked General Zhong Huai from the second grade of junior high school to come here."

"Come, let's have a few drinks first, lest Zhong Huai loses interest in drinking later!" Wang Zhong picked up the wine glass and invited Gu Er to drink with him.

Gu Er and Wang Zhong had a drink. When he saw Wang Zhong pouring wine for him, he couldn't help but stretched out his hand to block it. He looked at Wang Zhong and said, "Zihou had better speak clearly first, otherwise the wine will be meaningless."

"Forget it!" Wang Zhong put down his wine glass and glanced at Yu Chuer, who immediately ordered: "Bring this person up."

The two jailers immediately walked into the inner room, took out a man whose hands and feet were bound with iron shackles, and made him kneel in front of them.

"Is it you?" Gu Er looked at the man in front of him, his expression suddenly changed, and he looked shocked: "Aren't you dead?"

The man immediately knelt down and kowtowed and begged for mercy: "Second Master Gu, please spare your life. I didn't lie to you. It was all Mannia's idea!"

"What do you mean?" Gu Er frowned, his eyes full of shock. The first time he saw this man, Gu Er had actually guessed it, but he didn't want to believe it.

The man had been tortured a long time ago, and he dared not hide anything. He confessed everything as if he was pouring beans: "It's Mannia. Mannia took a fancy to your identity as the legitimate son of the Hou family, and envied the wealth of the Hou family. Then she

I chased you all the way to Jiangzhou. Mannia also said that you were kind-hearted and the most compassionate person. Only then did you lie to you that I was dead and she was helpless, so you were willing to take her in!

Second Young Master, it was all Mannia’s idea, but I didn’t do anything!”

Gamblers like Zhu Dalang were most afraid of death. Wang Zhong only had people torture him a little and he couldn't stand it anymore.

Yu Chuer brought a package and put it on the table. Wang Zhong said: "Zhong Huai, open it and take a look!"

Gu Er opened the package and took a look. It was full of gold and silver jewelry. Some of them were bought by him for Mannia, some were left by his deceased mother, and there was also a pair of long-life golden locks that he had given to Sister Rong and Brother Chang.

, the names of Sister Rong and Brother Chang are also engraved on it.

"Why are these things here?" Gu Er looked at Wang Zhong in shock and confusion.

Wang Zhongdao: "These are all things that Zhu Manniang took to the pawn shop and were redeemed on the second day of the Lunar New Year. As for the money in exchange..."

Wang Zhong did not continue speaking, but looked at Zhu Dalang who was kneeling on the ground next to him.

Gu Er couldn't guess that all the money must have been given to Zhu Dalang.

"Logically speaking, this is Zhong Huai's family matter. I shouldn't have to take care of it. I just can't bear that Zhong Huai is deceived and taken advantage of. Now I have done everything I should do. How to deal with the matter is up to Zhong Huai himself."

Come on! I won’t interfere!”

Wang Zhong bowed his hands to Gu Er, stood up and left, followed closely by Yu Chuer. Only Gu Er was sitting on the bench, his face changing between gloomy and uncertain.

······

The scorching heat has faded and autumn is getting stronger, but Quanzhou is still the same as usual, and the sea salt is still being dried in full swing at the salt drying field.

Countless large ships returning from overseas trade were anchored in Quanzhou Bay, and merchants from Fujian also gathered in Quanzhou City, bringing with them the tea that is abundant in Fujian, and taking away countless spices and precious wood brought back from overseas.
To be continued...