Sima Zheng's brief visit made Zhang Xing feel a strange emotion. He was obviously aware of this man's struggle and helplessness, and this struggle and helplessness probably meant that this dragon among men was still willing to do something for some people who had grown up since childhood. Just stick to some positions along with his ideas... This inevitably makes Zhang Xing's last bit of advice pale in comparison.

Zhang Xing felt sorry for him, but at the same time, it also made Zhang Laosan further realize how much family background and educational experience from childhood can have an impact on a person... To put it bluntly, everyone's life history is completely different. , everyone’s decision may not be understood by others.

Sima Zheng is like this, Li Ding is like this, Bai Yousi is like this, Qin Bao is like this, Yueniang is like this, Yueniang's father is like this, He Ruohuaibao is like this, the two great masters Cao Huangshu and Zhang Fuzi are like this, and he, Zhang Xing, is like this.

Even the emperor is like this, the King of Qi is like this, and Sima Changying is still like this.

But the key point is that everyone should also give others a decent or dignified choice opportunity. Relying on one's own identity, violence, and authority to be unwilling to give others the dignity of choice is probably the best virtue of censorship. Strategy... As for making a choice and bearing the corresponding consequences, that is a matter on another level.

After thinking about this, Zhang Xing couldn't help but have a childish mentality, but he was determined to wait until he had found out the general results of his future before talking to Qin Bao and Yueniang.

Only Qin Bao is beautiful, and Yueniang is not easy to get along with. I'm afraid she won't be able to hide it from them.

But that's okay, letting nature take its course may be a better way of expressing it.

Turning back to the present, Zhang Xing did not wait for other guests that night. Instead, he ate and drank early, went to bed in the snow, and held the "The Biography of the Heroine Li Yue" that he had not read for a long time to read at night by candlelight... but he actually read it at night... I reread the last volume of this book completely.

This last volume is about the "Wandering Dragon" of the past. Today, Qian Yi, the Prime Minister of Eastern Chu, joins forces with the heroines of Eastern Chu, Li Yue, and Long Huang, and they are determined to reform and prepare their troops. Finally, they fought hard to defeat the enemy in the east. The ancestor emperor forced the ancestor emperor to throw his knife at Yan Mountain, cut off the north and south of the mountains, and saved Zuo, the state of Eastern Chu.

Unexpectedly, because of the reform, the internal demon clan aristocrats had already become extremely dissatisfied.

Therefore, with the death of the ancestor emperor, the external threats were reduced, but the internal conflicts in Dongchu broke out... The two demon islands in the south suddenly rebelled. Qian Yi went to Dongyi Island to organize troops, but unexpectedly he rode to the east border and east When he was on the shoal of Yi Da Island, he was attacked and killed by many monster nobles who had been well prepared.

And this is how Luolongtan got its name.

After this incident, the demon nobles took off Qian Yi's head again, cut off his hair, nose, tongue, ears and eyes, put them in a dung bag and gave them to Li Yue who was still in the east. The heroine Li Yue Seeing his beloved end up like this, he collapsed on the spot, so he committed suicide in the Red Emperor's Temple as a demon clan orthodoxy, made a blood sacrifice to the Red Emperor, and cursed the future of the demon clan.

This move inspired the Red Emperor Empress to manifest herself as a saint, resurrect the two of them, and ascend them into dragons with the flesh and blood of the Supreme Being.

But in the end, after this incident, Dong Chu lost all its territory on the Central Plains continent, and the Dongyi Island and the two southern islands of the Yaozu became independent. The traditional power that defeated the ancestor emperor collapsed together with the ancestor emperor's foundation. Moreover, Unlike the human race, which has become a trend and is destined to make a comeback, the demon race has completely withdrawn from the center of the world.

It was so clean that it was completely white.

All I can say is that it is indeed a masterpiece of realism. Although I have read it several times, Zhang Xing was still filled with emotions and sighs after reading it all night long. I wished I could copy a few poems out of it.

However, as the window turned white and the snow on the eaves suddenly slid down, Zhang Sanlang finally came back from his immersion, and then he suddenly felt tired and turned over to sleep.

When I woke up again, it was already after noon.

Moreover, Zhang Xing, as the deputy regular inspector, had given himself and Qin Bao a three-day leave, so naturally they did not have to work. But even so, unlike someone else, Qin Bao could not stay idle at all. He had already

I swept the yard clean, and then swept along the door to the alley. At this time, I was adding a small stove to keep warm in the stable.

Yueniang also left food for Zhang Xing in the small stove early, and was sorting some groceries in the main room... They were all the cheapest tea, needlework, and candies... These were intended to be distributed to the poor families in the surrounding neighborhoods.

When Zhang Xing and Qin Bao were there, they were more sensitive to this kind of thing because of the previous incident in Nancheng's siege, so whenever it rained or snowed, there would basically be a period of time... Before the two were away, Yueniang was the only daughter.

It is said that the child's family has never been separated, and now that the two of them are back, it is as usual.

"We're running out of firewood..." Yueniang glanced at the listless Zhang Xing and blurted out.

Zhang Xing actually yawned while eating: "If it's gone, it's gone."

"If it's gone, we won't be able to eat hot food, and people in the house will freeze to death." Yueniang lowered her head and packed things as usual. "Mr. Zhang is not afraid of the cold. Let's start with Mr. Zhang and save firewood."

Zhang Xing thought for a moment, then asked seriously with chopsticks: "Are you worried that the old man who delivered the firewood won't be able to come due to the snow?"

"He hasn't been here for a month." Yueniang raised her head slightly. "At this age, it's normal for him to be sick or die."

Zhang Xing was startled for a moment, then nodded... This was the truth... However, he immediately remembered something: "How do I remember you said that he has a son or nephew?"

"My son... I used to work as a laborer, and he came back after a long time... I sent him off twice." Yueniang blurted out. "I've always felt that something was wrong."

"There was no trace of me in the service, and it took me a while to come back. I basically escaped... But no matter what, even if nothing happens to my family, it's hard to send him off on this snowy day." Zhang Xing blurted out. "So.

What do you want Master Zhang to do?"

"Go to the cross street firewood shop and order a cart of firewood, and ask them to deliver it as soon as possible in the next two days." Yueniang blurted out. "But it will be a little more expensive, and it may not be as neat as the previous firewood."

Zhang Xing nodded.

In this way, the two of them chatted about each other. After finishing the meal, Deputy Changjian went back to the house and put on thick clothes, a machete, and a seal ribbon. Then he condescended to him and walked out slowly.

He went to the Cross Street to order firewood in person. Not only that, after ordering the firewood, he did not turn back, but turned directly out of the square gate and walked slowly towards Tongtuofang.

Not unexpectedly, business at Tongtuofang was particularly prosperous in the afternoon.

Especially after Zhang Xing casually walked into a few unfamiliar shops, he became even more sure of his judgment - pens, inks, papers and inkstones and other middle- and low-level consumer goods were selling well. This was related to the consumption stimulation in the entire Dongdu City, but

Another level of business in Tongtuofang, that is, the calligraphy, painting and antique business, has obviously not recovered from the previous gold and silver recruitment incident.

However, there are still differences.

There are obviously more calligraphy and painting stocks on the market now, and the prices are also very low... They are low in all aspects, not only gold and silver, which are in short supply, but also measured in terms of copper coins and silk, which are much cheaper than the previous two years, but the transaction volume

rare.

This means that artworks as a whole become worthless in front of currency and other products.

In other words, people as a whole are no longer willing to collect art. People who could afford to collect paintings and calligraphy in the past are trying to replace gold, silver, copper and silk with calligraphy and painting for things that are more portable or practical.

The market price was very rare, so Zhang Xing found two calligraphy and paintings, and asked the store to wrap them up and take them to his residence to get the money. Then he continued to go to Beishi alone, and then found Yan Qing in the northeast of Beishi.

"Third brother, don't worry. Although business is difficult, no one is making things difficult for you." On the counter of his cattle and horse store, Yan Qing, who had a slight beard, personally offered Zhang Xing a cup of tea, and then said simply. "Third brother.

His title is sufficient, and there is no additional oppression from Jinwu Guards, Luoyang County Yamen, and Beishi City officials."

"That's what I'm here to talk about." Zhang Xing was serious and actually revealed some of his plans earlier than Qin Bao and Yueniang. "I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you in the future. Bai's tiger skin should be

Pull it up and pull it up..."

Yan Qing nodded.

Zhang Xing picked up the tea and took a sip, then suddenly realized: "Are you not surprised?"

"Third brother is already at the sixth level, and he is so capable. Sooner or later, he will have to go abroad. I have said it before." Yan Qing said with a smile. "Besides, the current situation is not good, everyone is afraid of being fooled again.

, Third brother wants to leave Dongdu in advance, and it is normal for him to seek shelter elsewhere..."

Zhang Xing nodded and asked again: "The Saint's Tower of Babel collapsed, did you know?"

Yan Qing stood with his hands folded and smiled even more bitterly: "Since it is the third brother who is asking, how can I dare to say that I don't know? But since I learned about it from a purchasing office in the palace that day, I have never told anyone about it, and no one has said it again.

...The bosses here in Bei City all have their own opinions, and they all probably know about it, but no one mentioned it to each other."

Gu Long

Zhang Xing nodded. This kind of message would come to an end if it stayed at this level.

"Are you still preparing for the imperial examination?" Zhang Xing thought for a moment and continued to ask. "I see that you have gradually taken over the family business now..."

Yan Qing finally fell silent, and after a long time he spoke: "This time the saint's patrol caused such a big fuss. Even here in Bei City, because the princess and her family suddenly disappeared, half of the city was destroyed.

It is impossible not to think about childbirth without making relevant considerations, and my father is getting older... However, the course starts every three years, and it only takes two or three months to see it. After preparing for so long, I still can’t reconcile it."

The last sentence is the key. Zhang Xing nodded immediately after hearing it: "If that's the case, I will try my best to introduce you to the White House no matter what... But even the British prince, no one dares to say that he was still in office at that time.

, let alone me...so, this is only a half-guaranteed statement."

Yan Qing laughed again: "Third brother always doesn't like to take guarantees, but he can always help. I said this once last time. Now that the situation has collapsed, I have to say it again... Then I can only

Once again, it’s enough to have Third Brother’s words on this matter. In fact, let alone this, no one knows whether the imperial examination can be held on time or not.”

Zhang Xing nodded again and again: "The key is, who would have thought that you thought the situation would collapse, but it would always collapse again? I don't know if it's still the worst now."

Yan Qing could only smile bitterly.

In this way, after explaining to Yan Qing, Zhang Xing originally wanted to go find Li Ding... But for some reason, maybe because he had seen him too many times on the inspection road before, he couldn't be interested at this time, especially when he saw the husband and wife.

Adding to the heartache.

So, Zhang Xing first visited Bei City, then left the south gate of Bei City, then turned back along Luoshui... After walking a few cities, he arrived at the south gate of Chengfu Fang. At this time, he wanted to go home.

, but his eyes glanced at the Xinzhong Bridge on one side, but his heart moved slightly, and then, like a strange coincidence, he held the knife in his waist and turned south, crossing Luoshui.

And returned to the Xiuyefang where he once lived.

He didn't recognize the officials, nor did he recognize the Jingjiehu who passed by on the road. Even the layout of the square had changed - the former Luling Zhang family's mansion had now been cut into several pieces, with the largest piece

It was the residence of a minister. Obviously, when Zhang Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment died on that day, although he died in the line of duty on the surface, and the saint also gave him great mourning and honor, it could not delay the complete loss of power of a second-rate southern family like the Luling Zhang family.

Based in Dongdu.

Of course, looking back now, maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

In addition, the northern half of Xiuye ​​Square, which used to be famous for its cleanliness and neatness, has now become obviously messy and scrawled.

Along the way, Zhang Xing saw many idle people coming and going in small groups. The snow on the ground was not heavy, but it was also messy and unattended. Most people just cleaned in front of their houses, unlike Fangshi north of Luoshui.

It can still be connected to alleys to some extent.

Before reaching the intersection, Zhang Sanlang completely lost the motivation to continue moving forward. Just as he was about to turn back, suddenly, a gap opened in the street door beside him, and then a hand that was obviously a woman stretched out

He came out and hung a peace talisman from the Qing Emperor Temple on the door knocker. Then, he immediately retracted his hand as if he was afraid of the cold, but did not close the door again. Instead, he left a gap and kept his posture ajar.

Zhang Xing stared at the door for a long time before he realized what this meant.

In other words, he actually realized what this meant from the beginning, but he just couldn't believe it - it used to be a training workshop for middle-class families, and it was the most authentic northern half, and it was also facing the street, but it was so majestic.

A secret door appeared.

I remember that when I first came to Xiuye, I heard my colleagues from Jingjiehu analyze why there was so little private prostitution business in Xiuye ​​Square and why it could only be set up in a corner.

Zhang Xing stood in front of this door for a long time, attracting the sideways glances of many men and women passing by. If it weren't for the scimitar slung around his waist and a black ribbon hanging on it, someone would have pointed at him and secretly laughed at him for his lustful heart and lack of courage.
To be continued...