Chapter 134: Provocation

Li's house, front hall.

Cao Yong was invited to the front hall by Li Xu. After seeing the ceremony, he sat down with guests and guests. Li Xu always smiled, but he seemed to be a little reluctant to speak.

Cao Yong knew that this was the show, but he didn't know which one his cousin wanted to sing, so he didn't take the initiative to speak. He only picked up a few tea cups and ate two bites of tea slowly. Although this tea was jasmine tea, it was different from ordinary jasmine tea. The fragrance of flowers was faint, but the tea taste was even more mellow. He lifted the cover bowl and looked at the color of the tea inside. He couldn't blame it. It turned out that the selected embryo tea was Biluochun.

Li Xu was thinking about where to speak, when he saw Cao Yong looking at the tea, he smiled and said, "This is made by your second cousin. He heard that your family has built several tea shops and launched several famous teas, and he was also concerned about the tea leaves. He couldn't find the best tea tree for a while, so he took a chance and processed the Biluochun into jasmine tea. He didn't expect it to be good." Speaking of this, he left a little bit of color on his face, and bowed to the direction of the capital: "April tribute came to Beijing, and I heard that the Empress Dowager loved her very much!"

Cao Yong smiled and said, "It's a good tea. The second cousin is so smart, which is really admirable!" As he said that, he remembered something in his heart. The tea house of Biluochun is in the name of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and behind the scenes are the members of the Guo Luoluo family and the mother of the Ninth Prince. Thinking about it, the Governor Gali is the clan member of the ninth Prince's legitimate wife. The ninth Prince is the core figure of the Eighth Prince's Party, and there are some tricks in this. For no reason, why should the Guo Luoluo family use their own tea to make the Li family benefit? This jasmine tea is not a unique recipe, and can be processed even if it is painted. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly. The Li family is trapped too deeply!

Seeing Cao Yong saying a little more, Li Xu felt very uncomfortable. He always felt that his scheming was too deep. Thinking about what happened half a month ago, he felt that this nephew was even more unthinkable.

Half a month ago, Li Ding rushed back from Yangzhou and told his father about the matter. Li Xu was furious. He wanted to be close to Gali, but he never thought of breaking up with the Cao family.

The Cao and Li families rely on each other. If they let others provoke each other and have conflicts, it will be "the relatives are hurt, and the enemy is happy"!

However, as soon as this happened, he was not only angry about Gandu's stupidity, but also frowned for the Cao family's strength. It was just a misunderstanding, so it would be enough to solve it privately, so why not leave any room for anything? Although the dead are all the people of Gali, there is nothing to worry about, but he also slapped the Li family in the face.

Although Li Xu was annoyed, he knew that this kind of thing could not be brought to the table and said that he had not yet figured out how to face the Cao family in the future. Unexpectedly, it was not long before he heard the news that Li was about to return to Ning.

Today, Li Xu invited Cao Yong to the front hall, and there was also a tentative intention to see if he came because of the Yangzhou incident. However, after waiting, he could not see anything he said except for what he mentioned.

Without any help, Li Xu had to speak first: "Your mother is really, now your father is still sick, why should he come back at this time? Although he cares about his parents' home, he should also put his husband's home first!"

"My father's health is getting better, and my mother came out for reasons!" Cao Yong defended Li, saying: "In the second half of the year, my nephew will go to Beijing to work in August. My father and mother meant to let my third sister come to Beijing with her! This time, my mother had to take care of her father and prepare a dowry for her sister. She was a little too busy, so she wanted to take her grandmother to help! Moreover, my nephew and my sister also wanted to be filial in front of my grandmother while we were both in Jiangning."

Li Xu suddenly realized: "It's because of this. I guess your mother must have seen her children leave. She thought of her own family and missed her mother!" She was shocked. What does the Cao family mean? She took Gao Taijun to break up with the Li family? Even if she accidentally got involved in Yangzhou, the explanation she should have already been explained, why do she still do this?

Li Xu felt a little annoyed, and then pondered, and said solemnly on his face: "You are here just the right time. I have wanted to go to Jiangning to see your father and talk to him some days. It's just that there are so many things in the yamen that I haven't been able to leave. Since you are here, you can help me convey it!"

Seeing that he was solemn, Cao Yong also responded solemnly: "Uncle, please speak, and my nephew will convey it truthfully!"

"Yeah!" Li Xu nodded. Although there was no one in the hall at the moment, he still deliberately lowered his voice: "Just say what I said, "Just be careful of Gali. That old guy really has no good intentions. The matter in Yangzhou was handled very well, just to teach him a lesson. What is he? I impeached your father last year, and this year I made a good idea to attack our two families again, and deceived your second cousin and wanted to set up a trap for our two families. It's really not a thing, and it's impossible to bully our two families without anyone!" At the end of his words, he was full of anger.

Times have changed, and although Li Xu is now extremely innocent and full of resentment, Cao Yong doesn't believe it. If he really has this intention, even if he can't get through, he will be able to send someone to deliver a letter.

Although he was very whispered in his heart, Cao Yong looked at the sage, and said respectfully: "I originally thought that the Governor of the Gali was good. Even if his reputation was a little bad, I was afraid that it would be slandered by the world. I didn't expect that it was as dirty as my uncle said nothing! My uncle calmed down and could not be angry with the infamous person. Although the Li family had an engagement with the Governor's Office, the second cousin's unmarried wife was just Gali's niece, not his biological daughter, and it was far away. It was just because relatives were not easy to alienate, and they were so troubled that they were also blessed! In Jiangning, the Governor and the Governor were not stolen. It was probably not long before they would make trouble in front of the emperor again. If the uncle was accidentally implicated, wouldn't it be unfair?"

But these words sounded sincere and Li Xu nodded constantly: "Ying'er is still thinking carefully!" After saying a few more gossips, he called the housekeeper and sent Cao Yong back to the living yard to take a nap.

After Cao Yong left, Li Xu's face drooped, he held the corner of his mouth and snorted coldly.

When Li Ding came out of the inner room, he frowned and asked in confusion: "Father, why did you explain so much to him? It seems that our family is afraid of the Cao family? I thought he was here to apologize for his father's order. What's this? Could it be that he came to ask for the crime?"

Li Xu glared at his son: "Isn't it the trouble you caused? Although that boy Gandu looks smiling, he is not a good thing. How could he be the son of Gali? That's a mad dog in the Governor's Office. If you didn't leak pearls in front of him, then he would dare to cheat you so blatantly?"

Li Ding first bowed his head and confessed his guilt, and then complained, "My son is just not convinced! The Cao family is too hypocritical. Their family is a tea garden and a pearl. How come they have been tossing for a year? Even my father was hiding it, and he was still guarding against his father. Now, his family is doing a house selling land like money, saying that he will be deficit, but he will be flattered in front of the Long Live Master? What's the result? The flag is raised, and the junior's marriage is also pointed out, and he has taken all the benefits! If we really think we are relatives, how could this happen? In the end, we will still be like a sermon, and we will criticize our father again!"

Although Li Xu was a little complaining about Cao Yin, he didn't think so much like his son. Now, seeing his son mentioning the Cao family's resentment and thinking about Cao Yong's calm and calm appearance just now, he shook his head and sighed deeply.

When Li Ding heard his father sigh, he thought his father was really afraid of the Cao family, so he couldn't help but say, "What's the matter with my father? Now that Cao Yin has stepped down, if their family is still in the south, there will be a time to ask my family!"

"What are you saying?" Li Xu waved his hand and couldn't help but scold, "Look at Cao Yong, follow him and study hard, don't be so shallow! Cao Yong was right. Kali was too arrogant, and Zhang Boxing was a famous stubborn donkey. Now the Governor's Office and the Governor's Office broke each other. It would be fine for three or two days. If it continues like this, it will be a matter of time before the emperor. In front of Kali, you can say a few good words. Could it be that our Li family is really his lackey? Humph! He is greedy, and he looks at the Cao family's industry and has no courage to get started directly, but he wants to use our family as a gun! Why should we hide it for him? We are far away in Suzhou. Kali is planning Zhang Boxing or the Cao family, and we just watch the show, there is no need to get involved!"

My father had this attitude of "watching the tigers fighting". Li Ding thought about it carefully, but it was the most appropriate thing in front of him. No matter which side he lost, the Li family would have nothing to do with the winning side. I really admire him.

In Suzhou, the person Cao Yong wanted to meet the most was Zhuang Chang, but if the Cao and Li families had a relationship too close to Zhuang Chang, he was afraid that Zhuang Chang would be difficult to do with the Li family in the future. Thinking of this, he stopped thinking. Every day, he either went out for a drink with Li Nai and Li Ding brothers, or accompanied his mother to visit relatives.

In a blink of an eye, four or five days have passed.

When Li first arrived, he explained his purpose. Gao Taijun was impatient, but he couldn't resist his daughter's quest. He thought that his son-in-law was sick and could not help but help him, so he reluctantly responded.

After calculating the days, it has been a few days since Li was worried about his family and said goodbye to Wen Taijun. Wen Taijun knew that she had too much work at home and did not keep her much, so he chose the people who followed him to serve Gao Taijun, and asked Li Xu to arrange a few of their mothers to return.

Li Xu was generous. In addition to the gifts prepared by the inner house to the Cao family, he heard that his niece had already set a date for her wedding, so he gave her a thick dowry.

*

When he boarded the boat and left Suzhou Pier far away, Cao Yong felt no relief at all.

Although Gao Taijun came to achieve his goal, in the Li family, looking at the closeness of the old man with the children and grandchildren of the Li family, this affection is no less than that of the daughter of Jiangning. She has lived in the Li family for most of her life. If she lives in Jiangning for a year and a half, would she have to stop her?

Cao Yong couldn't help but rub his eyebrows, remembering his second aunt's big belly, and sighing why it wasn't that my mother was pregnant. The old man was afraid of loneliness, so there was a child who was much more lively in front of him, and he became older.

I had to take a step first. If the children in the second room could win the old lady's favor, it would be better to keep her there.

*

Jiangning, Cao family, Xifu.

After beating Cao Quan, he would not go to other courtyards. Except for the fixed number of days a month to go to Zhaojia's house to rest, the rest of the days were on Lumei. Baodie and Jade had not even seen him for more than ten or twenty days.

Jade is used to this, but Baodie is very unwilling to accept it and repeatedly provoked Zhaojia.

Zhao Jia's family did not get much fetal aura when Lu Mei first entered the mansion, and it took him half a month to get better. At the moment, she only made it the first priority to raise her fetus and had no time to clean up Lu Mei. However, after hearing Baodie's words a few times, she felt a little unhappy, so she told Cao Quan that she would save money by taking advantage of the fact that the child in her belly did not have the 5,000 taels of employed money.

Originally, Zhao Jia had never discussed the matter with Cao Quan, and everything was decided by her. Cao Quan had always been obedient, let alone she gave such a high-sounding reason. Cao Quan naturally agreed without thinking.

After Cao Quan's approval, Zhao Jia became a virtuous person and began to reform the financial expenditure of the mansion. The first thing he was to bear was the several concubines in the family. Their food, clothing and expenses, and even monthly silver began to be used. The monthly price of Baodian and Jade was only 20% less, but Lu Mei's less. Moreover, if Cao Quan eats rice with Lu Mei, it will naturally be delicious and delicious. If he is not here one day, although there will be no leftovers, he will also have carrots and vegetables, and there will be no meat.

Lu Mei was once offered a gift for her, and she wore gold and silver, and she was very rich. She had just come to the Cao family and lived a wealthy life. She was unable to save her now, and she was not willing to do it. She was used to coaxing people to make money from others. She now beat the drum and blew the wind on Cao Quan a few times. She wanted to instigate Cao Quan to teach Zhao Jia a lesson, and also wanted to hold Cao Quan's private money in her hand. However, although Cao Quan was tempted to coax her, she only asked her for something. She never acted seriously. The two of them often coaxed each other and pulled them down on the bed.

Cao Quan did not dare to go against Zhao Jia; again, Zhao Jia had discussed the use of chewing and he nodded and agreed. Isn’t it a slap in the mouth when he went to find Lu Mei? But although he didn’t give Lu Mei some benefits, after hearing her talk a few times, he felt a little sorry for her, and finally asked her to take her out for some time to buy some materials and face.

One day, the road platform put up a seat and asked for a post. Cao Quan took this introduction and told Zhao Jia that he wanted to lead Lu Mei to the banquet.

Zhao Jia was angry for a while, but she had no choice but to say that she was pregnant and couldn't socialize, even if she could go there, Lu Daotai was the host, so she would have to ask Lu Mei to go there, at least she had to give Lu Daotai a face.

When she entered the Cao family, she had been to the East Mansion once, and Lu Mei never even stepped out of the gate. She was originally a lively person, and she was very bored to endure these days. Now she heard that she was going out to eat a mat, so she was so happy that she took out the most decent clothes and jewelry and had to wear it.

As soon as he changed his clothes and knee pants, Lu Mei stopped and thought for a while. He asked the maid Fuyun to pack up the clothes, picked up a simple set and put them on. His hair was combed neatly, but he only had two jade hairpins left.

Before leaving, Lu Mei went to pay tribute to Zhao Jia first. Zhao Jia saw her outfit, and the charming appearance of the clear soup noodles was gone. She felt much more comfortable. She didn't speak harshly, so she gave her a few words and let her go.

After leaving the second door and getting into the car, Cao Quan frowned when he saw it, and his face sank. He knew best how much Lu Mei had. Every time he went to Lu Mei's room, Lu Mei would change her clothes, which made him dazzled. But now he was wearing such a outfit, which was clearly intended to embarrass him.

Lu Mei looked at his face and was sticky like sugar. Her watery eyes blinked and said pitifully: "It's not Mei'er who deliberately made trouble for the master. This wife said that the whole family was frugal, so how dare Mei'er not obeyed? If she wears a gorgeous dress now, she will turn around and treat Mei'er's sins again. Mei'er can't bear it..."

Cao Quan frowned: "I went out and brought the face of the Cao family. What can she punish you?" Seeing her frugality, she compared her silk shirt with her, as if she had been abused in the Cao family, she had to take it to the table and ask Lu Daotai to see it...

When she asked her to go back and change her clothes, she had to have a lot of trouble with Zhao Jia. It would be better to add two decent jewelry to save trouble. After thinking about it, Cao Quan ordered the coachman to go to Bihelou to pick jewelry.

After coming out of the building, there were two gem-inserted flowers on the brow, a hairpin, and a pair of hanging beads on the ears. It looked a bit as grandma as an official grandmother.

Sitting in the car, Lu Mei leaned against Cao Quan, let Cao Quan hold and play with one hand, and rubbed the beads on his ear with the other hand, and said unsatisfiedly: "The beads just now are the same size and are moist in color, which is really great."

But she just saw a string of pearl chains. Because the store asked for a price of 600 taels, Cao Quan had no intention of buying it for her. Although she was moved, she couldn't give up her identity in front of outsiders, so she had to choose the right earrings of the beads.

Cao Quan was extremely dissatisfied with Lu Mei today. He heard what she said, but he did not answer. He just let her hand go without saying anything, closing his eyes to rest. Lu Mei knew that he was annoyed, so he was impatient and did not dare to say anything else.

There was no political affairs on the Ludao table, and everyone talked about the romantic and romantic. Lu Mei was trained since childhood and was proficient in both chess, calligraphy and painting, and had excellent piano skills. During the meal, he stroked two ancient songs, which was amazing. Later, the poems and lyrics were harmonious, and Lu Mei also took the lead and was stronger than the other grandmothers in the same class. Therefore, everyone praised Cao Quan as a wife who was both talented and beautiful, which made Cao Quan very satisfied.

On the way home, Cao Quan looked at Lu Mei becoming more and more pleasing to her eyes. He hugged and kissed her again, saying that she was making face for herself and that she would admire her pearls when she turned around.

Lu Mei hung on Cao Quan, exhaling like orchid, and said coquettishly: "The master knows that Mei'er loves that bead. If he admires it, he loves Mei'er. He doesn't appreciate Mei'er or is greedy, but he is not allowed to coax Mei'er!"

Cao Quan smiled and rubbed her breasts: "Look at you all day long, you have to ask you to plunder and be poor, lord."

Lu Mei was soft and said in a whisper: "The master is not the one who has sent Mei'er!" As he spoke, he tilted his head and pretended to be innocent: "I heard that our family has pearls just now! Mei'er didn't know. The master is so, and he doesn't want to admire Mei'er wearing pearls."

Cao Quan frowned, put down his arm, and smiled: "Who did you hear?"

Lu Mei'er's eyes were circulating and she smiled charmingly: "Can the master hide his own personal information? Several grandmothers in the family said this, and asked Mei'er if the pendant on her ear was produced by her own family."

Cao Quan shook his head and said, "That is my eldest brother's property."

Lu Mei curled her lips and leaned into his arms: "Mei'er shouldn't say this, but Master, haven't you separated yet? Why are the ones who are divided into big houses and second houses all among the officials? Why are the food and food of the big houses and food on the big houses are excellent, but we are tightly fed?"

Cao Quan was unhappy when he heard this and coughed: "Don't talk about these things."

Lu Mei looked at Cao Quan for a while, slowly stood up, and said seriously: "Today, Mei'er talks too much. Even if the master is angry, Mei'er is also talking. The Lu brothers are all strongly supporting each other. If anyone is in trouble, other families will help. I think Mei'er has lost her parents since childhood, but no uncle in the clan dislikes me, and the uncle and aunt in the clan treat me like my own child. If it weren't for them, Mei'er would have been a lonely soul. A glimpse of the warmth and coldness of human feelings. In this world, there is no reason for a brother to watch his biological brother starve to death? If it weren't for the separation of families, this industry is the official; if it were separated, this industry is also a master. Why do we just keep it hard, and the master is happy to be a mountain of gold and silver? If the master doesn't give it, why don't you mention it... Ouch..." Before she finished her words, she was slapped in the face and half of her face was swollen.

Cao Quan was still on fire before listening, and heard that she was going to blame her elder brother. She couldn't bear it anymore, so she raised her hand and slapped her in the face, and said angrily: "Bitch! Big brother is also what you can say? Are you going to provoke our brothers' disagreement? Who is the one who directs you?"

Lu Mei covered her face and was stunned, then tears suddenly fell, and she cried sadly: "Who is Mei'er for? Isn't it for you? I'm good at treating you as a donkey's liver and lungs, wuwu..."
Chapter completed!