Chapter 166 Promotion

It is said that there is always a way out. The heavy rain in Yangzhou City weakened again at noon. After about 5 p.m., only continuous drizzle was left, still falling in the air.

Such rainfall is acceptable to the people of Yangzhou. There are many plum rains in the south of the Yangtze River. The lazy and cheerful people of Yangzhou only think that the Dragon King of the East China Sea has turned over in the past two days. As long as the Dragon King does not continue to lose his temper, everyone can still live a normal life.

The busiest people in the city are the boatmen who drive small boats. They make a living by water. The flood at the dock has brought them a lot of business. Some people pick up and send people off, and some carry things to sell. People who want to make money always have ways.

In Leyi Academy alone, groups of students and scholars who want to leave have attracted a large number of boatmen to stop their boats against the building. The water level of the flood has receded again and again, and they all want to take advantage of the last opportunity to make a fortune.

Chen Heng also stopped a small boat and took Xinda and Yinglian on board. Although the price was a bit expensive, he was eager to report his safety to his family and didn't care about his belongings.

Xue Ke and others also left at the same time. Everyone agreed to meet in the city after the flood receded, and then they dispersed.

The boat couldn't sail directly to the door of Chen's house, so they just found a place with low water nearby and let Chen Heng and the other two get off the boat.

They walked a short wading road and returned to their own door. Chen Heng didn't rush in, but asked Xinda to go in first to report his safety, and he escorted Yinglian to the next house.

This was also unavoidable. The daughter of another family risked her life to come to find him. If he let her go back alone in the end, how could Chen Heng face Feng in the future.

When he accompanied Yinglian into the Zhen family, there were only a few small puddles on the ground. The gloomy sky was reflected in the puddles, and the misty clouds floated away from the water. Two figures quickly crossed them side by side and walked into the house.

"Mother."

Zhen Yinglian, who was so fearless before, was now so timid. As soon as she stepped into the messy first floor, she was stared at by Feng and Lushui who stopped cleaning.

"My...daughter is back."

The visibility in the hall was not good. Chen Heng squinted slightly to see the embarrassed woman clearly. He hurriedly greeted Yinglian and said, "Aunt, I sent Yinglian back."

In front of outsiders, Feng was angry about her daughter's previous dementia, but she had to entertain the guests first. However, the two did not talk much, only a few words. Feng used the excuse of "the house is messy and it is not easy to entertain guests" to drive Chen Heng out.

This was a bit harsh, and Feng didn't even smile throughout the whole process. Chen Heng didn't want to stay any longer, so he just got up politely and said goodbye.

Zhen Yinglian was worried that he would feel wronged because of his mother's words, and the worry in her eyes was obvious. Chen Heng, who was keeping an eye on her, nodded to her with a smile.

No matter what attitude Feng had towards him, Chen Heng would not be angry. After all, the other party's only daughter could be said to have thrown away the matter of life and death in order to see him. It was reasonable for him to be looked down upon.

Could it be that he still expected that Feng would treat him as a future son-in-law and give him a warm reception as soon as he came to the Zhen family? Chen Heng knew what was going on, and after saying goodbye to Feng according to the etiquette, he went to his own home.

After Chen Heng left, Feng looked at her daughter with her mouth open for a long time, but could not say a word. She just silently held Yinglian's hand and walked to the second floor.

After changing her daughter's clothes into clean and dry ones, Feng looked at the child in front of her who was safe and sound, and then raised her hand angrily and hit Zhen Yinglian on the back one by one.

"If you don't think about yourself, you should think about mother. Mother has thought about you for twelve years, longed for you for twelve years, and waited for you for twelve years. When you left, did you think about mother at all? Since you are so worried about him, why do you risk your life to go by yourself? Why not come back and tell mother and let her go for you? It's better than if you have any mishaps and mother goes to seek death again."

Feng didn't hit her hard, and Zhen Yinglian didn't feel any pain. But these words from her mother fell into her heart like a knife. Zhen Yinglian realized how much damage her impulsive behavior had caused to Feng.

She didn't dare to hesitate at all, and stood up from the chair, knelt on the ground, hugged Feng's waist, and cried: "Mother, it's my fault. I'm ignorant and made you and sister Lushui worry."

Seeing that the child was willing to apologize and didn't get angry with her, Feng's anger was slightly suppressed.

She lived to this age, and she couldn't figure out any situation. She knew that she and Yinglian had just reunited. Although they were blood relatives, they were somewhat unfamiliar and deliberately maintained intimacy compared to mothers and daughters who usually spend every day together.

Feng knew that this was inevitable. Who told their Zhen family to suffer a disaster? Now they are reunited. Her daughter has been living a life that is neither human nor ghost for many years. It is a good thing that she can listen to her words.

"In the future, if you want to do anything, please think about your mother first, okay?" Feng also sat on the ground and hugged Yinglian with her backhand.

"Mother, I know. I will tell you first if I do anything in the future." Zhen Yinglian nodded repeatedly. She once again felt the feeling of being sincerely cared for.

The mother and daughter cried together. When Lushui walked into the house and saw them like this, she also burst into tears and walked up silently to hug them.

Lvshui had been with Feng for more than ten years and was no longer an ordinary servant. Zhen Yinglian apologized to her, and Lvshui accepted it openly, only telling her: "Miss, you are the young lady of our Zhen family and the lifeblood of the lady. If you have any problems in the future, tell Lvshui. No matter it is a mountain of swords and a sea of ​​fire, Lvshui will go for you. You...you can't take risks again."

Zhen Yinglian nodded repeatedly when she heard this, feeling ashamed and guilty.

The three of them cried for a long time before their emotions gradually stabilized. Feng, who stopped crying, pulled Yinglian and Lvshui up, sat on the chair together, and began to question what happened in the academy.

Hearing Yinglian hugging Chen Heng in public, she, as a mother, was already very surprised. When she heard that the two had been abiding by the rules of men and women in the academy. Except for the beginning of being alone, Chen Heng took Xinda and honestly stood outside the door as a door god.

Feng nodded and said in an inexplicable tone: "I didn't expect their family tradition to be so good. This child didn't do anything to take advantage of others' misfortune."

Zhen Yinglian didn't understand what taking advantage of others' misfortune meant, but she didn't dare to ask at the moment, after all, Feng's mood had just improved.

"What happened next?"

There was no water at home, so Feng could only swallow her saliva to moisten her dry throat and continue to interrogate.

"He said that he was younger than me. If my daughter is willing, she can wait for him."

"When he said this, was anyone heard?" Feng looked very nervous, and her tone suddenly rose.

Zhen Yinglian hurriedly shook her head, she raised her hand to gesture, "When he said this, he was so far away from me." She continued, "At that time, there were only two of us in the room."

That's good, that's good. Feng nodded repeatedly, and couldn't help but have some questions in her heart. The people in the old Chen family didn't look like they had studied, so how could they teach such a well-educated child.

Chen Heng's statement was very considerate of the Zhen family's reputation. He did not expose the two people's affairs in public and force the Zhen family to marry off their daughter.

He also gave the initiative back to Feng. If the other party was dissatisfied, they could just use Chen Heng's age to make a fuss. The two families could hide the matter peacefully and pretend that nothing had happened.

After all, age is determined by heaven. It is a very reasonable reason at any time.

"He didn't take anything from you." Feng asked the last question. She was afraid that this innocent daughter would leave some token of love for her, which would damage her reputation.

"No, no." Zhen Yinglian waved her hands repeatedly. When she came back, she accidentally lost a handkerchief. It was Chen Heng who found it for her and asked her to keep it close to her.

Feng nodded with satisfaction, and even Lu Shui widened her eyes and said to the hostess: "After letting the lady say this, I think this young man from the Chen family is really a good person."

Can you say this in front of a child? ? ? Feng felt that Lushui was also confused, and hurriedly tried to comfort the two of them, saying, "It starts from emotion and ends with courtesy. This is the way of a gentleman. He should do this."

Although she said this, Feng's face was much more amiable. She didn't look as anxious as before. Seeing that her mother looked good, Zhen Yinglian said carefully, "He also said..."

"What did he say?" Feng's tone was no longer hasty as she relaxed.

"He said on the boat back that mother would be angry this time. But we, the younger generation, were at fault. No matter what mother said, we must apologize and tell the truth."

Zhen Yinglian spoke more and more quietly, and added: "He asked me not to tell mother about this, so as not to make her think too much and think that the child was just doing it for show and had no regrets."

Hearing this, Feng couldn't help but sigh, "He's a good child."

Now, when she looked back and thought about Chen Heng's usual behavior, she felt that her cold treatment just now was a bit rude. But after all, there was no word on this matter, and Feng couldn't say anything more about Chen Heng in front of her daughter. She just turned the topic around Yinglian's body, caring about whether she felt uncomfortable after being caught in the rain.

Now talking about these caring words again, for some reason, the closeness between the mother and daughter seemed to be less than what they had deliberately maintained in the past. The smile and anger also shortened the distance between the two of them.

Yinglian even pulled Feng's hand and started to act coquettishly, which made the latter say that it was a blessing in disguise, which was really unexpected.

They were chatting happily upstairs, but a group of uninvited guests suddenly broke into their house and stood in the courtyard and called out, "Is anyone home? Is anyone home?"

The three members of the Zhen family quickly packed up their belongings and went downstairs quickly, and were immediately dumbfounded. They saw a group of people standing in front of them, all with smiles on their faces.

"Sister Feng, our family is here to bother you." The leader, Old Zhou, smiled before she spoke, and pulled Gu and Chen Qing to greet the Zhen family.

This hand is not to hit the smiling person, Feng hurriedly returned the greeting. After getting up, she looked behind Zhou. In the yard, Chen Qi, Chen Huaijin, Chen Heng, Xinda, Chen Qingyue, and Chen Yin, four younger generations, were busy.

"This... this..."

When had the Zhen family ever seen so many men? Feng was also a little dumbfounded, and she couldn't figure out the intention of the Chen family.

Zhou smiled and said, "We are all neighbors, we should help each other. Sister Feng, don't think too much. We are just thanking your daughter for her kindness today. If she hadn't been asked by an old woman like me to accompany Xinda and take risks, we in the Chen family would still have to live in fear at home."

After hearing this, Feng immediately understood. The Chen family was giving them a way out to help the Zhen family hold up the scene. She looked outside again and saw that the door to welcome guests was now open.

This meant opening the door and speaking frankly. In the future, when the Chen family went out and met people, they would say the same thing and would never change it.

She saw it and was happy for the Chen family's kindness. She smiled and said, "It's okay, it's okay, Aunt Chen. Neighbors should help each other. Let the children rest and come in for a cup of tea."

With Old Zhou and Gu present, it was okay to let the children come in for a cup of tea. At this time, Feng felt that the Chen family was really good at doing things, and it was very pleasant to get along with them.

"These men are young and strong, so they should work more. Boys are too delicate and can't become anything."

Chen Heng didn't teach his grandmother this, it was Old Zhou who added it herself. But she really thought so. After she married Chen Gaishan, she worked hard to run the family. Seeing that all her children and grandchildren were promising, the family was still as harmonious as before.

This old lady would brag to everyone she met, and she was very proud of it.

Feng Shi didn't find it strange. Who could live such a prosperous life? Not to mention bragging to everyone she met, she would laugh a few times before going to bed at night and lying in bed.

The woman in the house was fiddling with the furniture while whispering to each other. The man outside the house was tidying up the rattan rack in the courtyard and repairing various objects.

"Chen Yin, Chen Qingyue, stop playing in the water!" Chen Heng suddenly scolded his two younger brothers. These two little brats didn't do their work when they went out, and only cared about playing by themselves.

If they hadn't clamored to follow him, Chen Heng really didn't want to bring them here to be conspicuous.

"Brother, we are working." Chen Qingyue was still arguing, and hurriedly waved the broom in his hand to indicate that he was not lazy.

But he didn't know that Chen Huaijin, who had a dark face, was standing behind him. Now he dared to be naughty in someone else's house. Chen Huaijin felt that his son really needed a beating.

"When you go out, listen to your brother. Didn't I teach you?"

"Dad, I, I know. I will work right away, don't beat me." Chen Qingyue shook his body as if he saw a ghost, and immediately lowered his head and pulled Chen Yin to the corner.

"Humph!!"

With so many people from the Chen family helping, the messy situation of the Zhen family was tidy at a speed visible to the naked eye. After they were busy for half an hour, Old Zhou had some insignificant small jobs left, and deliberately left them for the mother and daughter of the Zhen family to clean up.

After declining Feng's invitation to stay for dinner, Old Zhou took the family back in a hurry. Until the family closed the door, Old Zhou pulled her eldest grandson and asked with a smile: "Good boy, are you satisfied with what grandma did?"

"Grandma's work is naturally the best and can't be better." Chen Heng smiled and bowed, silently thanking his family for their understanding and support.

"As long as you like it, grandma will listen to you. But in the future, when you meet the girl from the Zhen family again, you must be careful. You are a smart child, do you understand what grandma means?"

"Grandma, I saved it."

"Okay, okay."

Zhou smiled and nodded, and the more she looked at Chen Heng, the more she liked him.

How could she have such a smart grandson? Hahahaha, it was all her credit.

…………

…………

The rain in Yangzhou lasted until the beginning of April, and it only stopped for one or two days in the middle. Fortunately, there was only one or two days of heavy rain afterwards. On other days, the rainfall was not heavy.

Such a separation greatly relieved the disaster relief pressure of the government office.

The first thing to do with flooding is to clear and dredge the river. As long as the drainage and flood discharge are fine, there will be no long-term flooding in the city. It is not difficult for officials headed by Lin Ruhai to work together to treat the flood.

Afterwards, they will resettle the affected people and arrange for the counties to resume spring plowing. They are also familiar with it, and everything is proceeding step by step.

The scope of the disaster this time is not large, and it is far less urgent than the drought when facing 100,000 disaster victims.

But looking back, if there were no hard work of tens of thousands of refugees before, the flood disaster in Yangzhou this time would be really hard to say.

In any case, the city of Yangzhou has successfully resisted this natural disaster. The lives of the people in the city have not been greatly affected.

Everything seems to be developing in a good place.

…………

…………

On the first day of April, the 800-mile urgent document about the flood in Jiangnan and other places rushed into the capital with unstoppable momentum and was reported to the court. On this day, the people of the world naturally did not know what happened in the court.

Only the next day, the current emperor issued an edict of self-blame, blaming himself for last year's drought and this year's flood. The edict written by the Hanlin Academy was naturally brilliant. Unfortunately, the people could not understand it and could not appreciate it.

They only knew that the emperor felt sorry for the suffering of the people and cancelled the selection originally scheduled for July. This made many families who wanted to send their daughters to Beijing very happy. They felt that they did not have the blessing to become royal relatives, and they did not want to rely on their daughters to enter the palace to prosper.

When this news reached Rongguo Mansion, it shocked the two families at once.

Aunt Xue was eager to bring Baochai to find her sister. Their Xue family went to Beijing this time because they were ordered by their brother Wang Ziteng to let Baochai participate in the selection and enter the palace.

Seeing that this matter was going to come to nothing, Aunt Xue was also worried. She took Mrs. Wang's hand and said repeatedly: "Sister, what should we do? What should we do? Three years later, Baochai will be seventeen years old." ”

What kind of disadvantages will the 'advanced age' of seventeen have in the draft three years later? She, a womanly person, also knows this.

Among the people, families that do not want their daughters to participate in the draft will rush to designate a marriage before the draft begins. The palace will not pay much attention to this. Some people are secretive about the palace, and naturally some people are eager to see it.

This is a vanity fair that goes round and round, and no one can tell whether it is good or bad.

Mrs. Wang also had a headache. She signaled to her sister not to worry. After thinking for a long time, she said, "Pick a day and let's go home."

Of course, there is no need to say much about this home.

Aunt Xue also knew that this matter could only be resolved by going to Wang Ziteng. As a woman in the capital, what she can do is really limited.

Baochai listened silently, still looking unhurried and unannounced. She always had such an expression that no one else could guess her thoughts.

No wonder the servants of Rongguo Mansion often say that Xue Baochai is actually more like Mrs. Wang than Aunt Xue.

Several people gathered in the room, and before they could say a few words, Jia Baoyu from outside ran in happily.

Seeing this precious son, Mrs. Wang had no time to blame her servants for obstructing him. He just coughed and asked his sister to change her face. Then he said to Baoyu, "I have been so confused and naughty all day long, why are you so happy today?"

"Isn't this good news? Come and tell my wife."

Jia Baoyu seemed quite sure that the news would make Mrs. Wang happy. He directly moved the stool and approached his mother.

Seeing that he was acting like a good boy, Mrs. Wang lovingly touched the child's face with her hand, and said calmly: "Then why don't you tell me, if you want to get some favors? I only have a few Buddhist scriptures here. I'll look for them again." Nothing else comes out.”

"Hahaha, there's really no need." When Jia Baoyu thought of the good news, he couldn't hold it back and said directly, "Just now, news came from outside that my uncle was recruited into the palace and was promoted to be the governor of nine provinces. I will leave the capital in the next day and inspect the border."

Jia Baoyu said this quickly and clearly, and he didn't know how many times he had rehearsed it in his mind. Although he was not interested in outside things, the son had the intention to tell Mrs. Wang about such a great thing, hoping to make her happy together.

"This..." Mrs. Wang suddenly stood up from her position, unexpectedly not expecting such a huge good thing. Her mind was in a panic. I just feel that my biological brother from my mother's side is about to become something special.

Fortunately, Mrs. Wang remembered that there were several juniors sitting beside her. She picked up the beads and fiddled with them dozens of times before she could hold back the excitement in her heart and tried her best to whisper: "In that case, I want to prepare a gift to send to your uncle's house."

Is this just a gift? Aunt Xue was shocked when she heard this. My dear sister, why don't you take the whole family and come to the door in person to congratulate your brother?

Xue Baochai sat between her mother and Mrs. Wang. Listening to Mrs. Wang's words, her eyebrows moved slightly, but she still didn't say a word from beginning to end. I don't know if I am happy about this, or if I have other thoughts.

No wonder there is a poem in the book: No matter how ruthless it is, it is also moving.

…………

…………

Jia Min on the other side was sitting in her daughter's boudoir. There was lingering worry on both her and Daiyu's faces. The mother and daughter did not expect that they would encounter a flood in Yangzhou after just staying in Jia's house for a while.

Will my husband be okay? Is Jue'er scared? Jia Min lowered his head, feeling extremely uncomfortable when he thought of his relatives who were in danger.

She was confused when she was concerned for a moment, but her daughter Daiyu showed a rare general's style and comforted her mother: "Mom, as early as last year, dad had already expected that there would be flooding. You know dad's intelligence. Yes. The situation in Yangzhou will definitely not be much worse. You must also pay attention to your body and don't worry about it. "

Seeing Daiyu's calm expression, she could see the carefully hidden nervousness and fear. Jia Min thought of the child belatedly and said hurriedly: "Mother knows, don't worry, Yu'er." She patted Daiyu's hand and pulled her daughter into her arms, "Don't be afraid, mother is with you in everything. "

"Well, Yu'er knows. Mom is here, dad is here, and my brother is here. My daughter is not afraid of anything." Daiyu raised her hand and patted Jia Min's back gently.

Seeing that the mother and daughter's emotions had calmed down a little, Zijuan, who was packing her luggage just now, cautiously asked: "Madam, do you still need to pack your things?"

Just now, the hostess rushed in hurriedly and ordered the two of them to pack their things quickly and prepare their things to go home immediately.

After Jia Min calmed down, she let go of her daughter's hand, sat down and shook her head, "Wait a moment, I was confused just now. I don't know what's going on outside now. I'll wait until I order someone to inquire and go back to Yangzhou." Let’s discuss the matter of setting off back.”

"yes."

Zijuan and Xueyan responded, then took out the things they had just packed one by one from the box, and arranged them in their original positions.

"You stay at home and mother goes out and asks someone to inquire about the situation."

Before Jia Min left, he gave Daiyu a warning.

The latter nodded repeatedly, and after seeing his mother leave, he slumped down on the chair, unable to hide the worry on his face.

She asked why she had that dream.

…………

…………

On the tenth day of April, Mrs. Wang, who had been waiting for a long time, finally picked a good day. After a lot of trouble in the Jia Mansion, she took Baoyu, Aunt Xue, Xue Pan, Xue Baochai, Wang Xifeng and others to her mother's house to congratulate her brother and see off Wang Ziteng who was about to leave Beijing.

There is no need to say more about the things between the two families for the time being. But on this day, there were also several expedited letters, which rushed to Yangzhou City in the wind and rain along different routes.

Among them, Li Bian, the academician, received a letter, and the things in it turned out to be a few grains of salt. It took him a long time to figure out Gu Zaiyong's deep meaning.

Soon, the news that Lin Ruhai fell ill due to disaster relief spread throughout Yangzhou City. The prefect Zhang Shangxian had to come out to preside over the overall situation.

This chapter is close to 7,000 words, so I guess you didn't wait in vain. Hahahahahaha.