Chentan's Memories

The tenth round of farewell to the old city, two knots in Jinlan Yigui old house and hanging a crimson lip plaque

"Has the matter been settled?" Lin Lang asked blankly in the suburban station.

Sensing that the young man's depressed mood had not completely calmed down, Tang Yushu patted his chest and tried his best to make the atmosphere better: "It's done—don't think too much about it, I've settled a bill: Chen Tan has a family I bought all the bowls and dishes I used there, and it cost only 200 yuan to buy more than [-] pieces; there was also a blacksmith, where the pots and stoves were made, and the total cost was only [-] yuan. ; And the tables—look at the tables I built myself, which are worse than the ones you rich people use? The wood for ten tables came down for less than a tael of silver—with me here, what can’t be done?!”

The listless Lin Lang put his face on the table and smiled wryly.

——Although it is completely different from the exquisite and magnificent restaurant as imagined, but... for now, we can only make do with it.At the end of the co-authorship, Tang Yushu still has to take care of everything alone, and I don't know how much the so-called "rich business experience" is worth when I am currently penniless?

The mood couldn't get better for a while, but Tang Yushu was so excited that he didn't know what he was happy about, and suddenly approached mysteriously: "Why don't you speak up! Let me tell you—our restaurant will definitely be successful." !"

——"Our restaurant..."

——"It will definitely succeed!"

"Why?" Lin Lang finally sat up, looked at Tang Yushu and asked.

In view of such things as "betting that Lin Lang will cry", if he said it, he would definitely be beaten up. After thinking about it, the honest Tang Yushu gritted his teeth, just smiled mysteriously but didn't know what to say to prevaricate.

But Lin Lang asked back: "You trust me that much?"

"Yeah!" He nodded firmly.

"I am your son. To open a store, even if you mess up 100 taels, 1000 taels is a trivial matter. I can turn back at any time and continue to spend money like water. What about you, aren't you afraid of losing money? Are you not afraid of this?" The restaurant is just a whim of mine, will I throw it away after I get too excited?"

"Scared." Tang Yushu answered honestly.

"Then why do you trust me?"

"There's nothing to rely on, just trust you...you won't deceive me."

Lin Lang laughed out loud: "You are such an idiot... If you meet a cunning liar who abducts your house, you probably won't be able to recover."

Tang Yushu, who was defined as a "fool", didn't know what to say, so he just kept laughing with him.

"It's a pity that I can't give you a guarantee - because I don't know if this store will be able to open. The only thing I can guarantee is that I will not let this store down, and I will not break your promise." Lin Lang swallowed a mouthful of the simple and bitter taste of the station. Tea: "I am very envious of Qingyang—she has such a good brother like you. For her, you have the courage not to be afraid of death, but you also have the will to survive. I—although I was born with a golden spoon in my mouth , since childhood, countless fans have responded to every request, but they just don't know how to get a heart..."

The sound of cars and horses rushing to and fro outside the post station kept coming and going.

The wind blowing into the hall stirred Lin Lang's two tufts of dragon beard and hair, revealing those thin and cold eyes.In a daze, Tang Yushu always felt that something invisible was dissipating from the body of the brocade-clothed boy in front of him—childishness, or pride.

Even knowing that this kind of change is bound to happen in the end, there is no alternative but to grow up.But Tang Yushu wanted to do something inexplicably, so that this kind of growth would slow down, and slow down...

——"Let's ask for help!"

Lin Lang: "?"

Jinling City fell into the night, and the lanterns were first put on, inside the Lin Mansion.

"I haven't found Lin Lang yet, what are you going to do in Chengdu?!"

"Don't worry, Lin Lang is definitely fine - didn't you find his trace yesterday? It means that he should be in the city at this moment, anyway, he is in the hands of brother-in-law, and he will definitely be found in a few days." Facing the furious Brother-in-law, Zhang Qian accompanied him with a smile.

"It must be that brat who has no money to spend, that's why he went to cash the banknotes - tell me, if you scare him like this, will he be forced to live even more..." Hate is hate, but my dear son is also heartbroken Rou, Lin Yuanwai frowned, and sighed one after another: "It's still you—in the end it's still you! Lin Lang really learned from your stinking problems!"

"It's me! It's me……"

"You didn't listen to your father back then, you didn't study well, you insisted on running some kind of shipping company! The result? The result—" I wanted to give a counter-example, but when I came here casually, Lin Yuanwai was stuck Out of the shell-Qianhe Water Transport Division is not only hard to break, it is not a counterexample, but it should be regarded as the most suitable model for setting up as a benchmark in the business world in recent years.

The atmosphere was awkward.

Zhang Qian was quick-witted, and immediately pushed the quarrel aside: "Obviously she followed my sister—didn't my sister marry you because she didn't listen to my father?"

"Why?" Lin Yuan raised his face after hearing this: "You imply that your sister paid someone by mistake?"

"Pfft——" Zhang Qian looked at his brother-in-law's raised chin, and couldn't help laughing out: "I didn't mean that! Brother-in-law, you're just asking about your gender—look at your expression and eyebrows now, you have to say If Lin Lang followed you, no one would believe it."

After being ridiculed by his brother-in-law, member Lin blew his beard and stared, but couldn't find any rebuttal, so he simply changed the subject: "...What are you going to Chengdu for?"

"After the suppression of the rebellion in Chengdu, one of my adopted brothers stayed there to deal with the aftermath of the war. A few days ago, he sent a letter asking me to go and have a look. I am going here to meet him first, and secondly to inspect Chengdu in person. The current situation—it’s time for post-war resettlement, the common people are short of money, and they urgently need to trade and buy money to flow into Jincheng.” Zhang Qian took a sip of tea and continued: “Jincheng is famous for its embroidery, I see if we can Help brother-in-law, get through the Jinling weaving business. In addition, many soldiers who were demobilized after the war have nothing to do. The Water Transport Department can just sell the favor of the court, provide hundreds of people with work, and share the settlement for the court. worries."

Lin Yuanwai sneered: "'Share the worries of settling for the court'?——I really know how to say it."

Zhang Qian, who had seen through his thoughts, laughed: "The Water Transportation Department has always been struggling to expand upstream due to various complicated relationships...Now some jobs are offered, one is to help my foster brother stabilize Chengdu, and the other is also the backing of the Water Transportation Department The imperial court, it is a good time to open up the transportation of the entire Yangtze River."

When leaving the house after resigning, Zhang Qian met Shun'er, and saw that the child's blush was messed up.

Zhang Qian greeted him.

Let's talk about this Shun'er, although he is a servant of the Lin family, he is a small official who was bought back by his wife himself.Da Xiaoer followed Lin Lang, and the one with a high status seemed to be half a young master.Since Lin Lang disappeared, he has been sitting on the wide steps in front of the Lin residence all day, waiting eagerly.

Shun'er gave him a blank look, but walked in without responding.

The last time Shun'er found out that he actually knew Lin Lang's whereabouts, but he kept silent under Shun'er's interrogation.Since then, Shun'er has repeatedly ignored him because of his petty temper, Zhang Qian smiled wryly and shook his head.

——But Na Shun'er is young after all, and his mind is not too sharp.If you really told him Lin Lang's whereabouts, it would be bad if you slipped up.

But Zhang Qian also understood from the bottom of his heart: Na Shun'er grew up with his sister and Lin Lang since childhood, and his loyalty to the mother and son can be learned from time to time.When his sister passed away back then, the child lived and died for several days without oil or salt; later Lin Lang followed him to the Silk Road without taking him with him, and when he came back, he scolded Zhang Qian all day long: "The bad uncle who kidnapped the young master and ran away!" Father!"

Zhang Qian sighed.He kept his mouth shut and refused to reveal anything, which was indeed cruel to this child.

While thinking about it, he saw his servant who was waiting in front of Lin's mansion came forward and handed over a piece of paper.

Standing under the bright lantern in front of the Lin Mansion, Zhang Qian stared at it for a while, and his eyes widened: "This...who gave it to you?"

The boy replied: "A man passing by - tall, with some accent, said that he was entrusted by someone to name you, young master."

"Go - you go back to the mansion first and bring your packed bags, and meet me at the pier in a while, I have something urgent to deal with."

The servant obeyed the order and left.

Zhang Qian was about to rush to the address on the note, but he remembered something, turned around and shouted to the little figure who hadn't gone far: "Shun'er!"

The figure stopped, but did not look back.

"come over--"

Unmoved.

"Come here! Uncle has something to do with you."

Still unmoved.

"Uncle will take you to meet the person you want to see." Zhang Qian tried his best to be vague, and glanced at the servants of the Lin family. Fortunately, the servants didn't seem to notice anything wrong.

Shun'er turned around, with a look of anticipation on his face, but suppressed by resentment.

Zhang Qian was anxious: "If you don't come, uncle will go away by himself."

After the words fell, Shun'er ran up desperately, and stumbled over the threshold on the way.

In front of the crude tea table in the station, Shun'er threw herself into Lin Lang's arms, crying out of breath.

Zhang Qian and Tang Yushu were sitting on the other side, each frowning with sweat and wry smiles, watching a "reunion after a long absence", fidgeting.

After listening to Lin Lang's narration just now, Zhang Qian vaguely understood the ins and outs of the matter.

The theater of "Affection between Master and Servant" was not easy to interrupt for a while, so I had to smile politely with the young man beside me awkwardly: "So, you are under Li Bao's command?"

Hearing this extremely familiar name, Tang Yushu was startled for a while before nodding his head and said, "...that's right."

"Oh...fate..." Responding with his mouth, Zhang Qian suddenly seemed to have a vague guess about the occurrence of the "Chentan real estate case", and Zhang Qian couldn't help but gasped.

There was already a voice urging to start from outside.

Seeing that Lin Lang was still being hugged by the octopus-like Shun'er, Zhang Qian tried hard to persuade Shun'er to "go back to Lin's mansion first, so as not to disturb the master", Zhang Qian stood up and pulled Tang Yushu: "You comfort Shun'er first, Young Master Tang and I will go out first...to have a look."

Lin Lang nodded with a wry smile.

Walking out of the post station, Zhang Qian suddenly took out a bank note and handed it to Tang Yushu: "I've entrusted you to take care of it these days, Lin Lang didn't cause any trouble, right?"

"No, no, no..." Tang Yushu didn't dare to accept the money: "What are you... doing?"

Zhang Qian smiled politely: "I also came out in a hurry. I didn't bring much money with me. I only had 100 taels of silver, which was regarded as a deposit. That house was indeed left to Lin Lang by my father. I will send it to Lin Lang in the next few days." I will send you another 400 taels... Although I don't know the exact situation, the oolong in Chen Tan's house probably has something to do with my confused brother--you General Li Wei. You don't have to shirk it , just take it. However, after the county magistrate closes the case, you can leave..."

Tang Yushu took a step back, farther away from the money handed over: "But Lin Lang said that he wanted to open a hot pot restaurant with me!"

Zhang Qian's smile is still polite: "Just now Lin Lang spoke happily, and I couldn't bear to interrupt him. But after all—doing any business is not easy. He is young and thinks everything too simply. I don't expect him to No matter what world he breaks out of, I just hope he can live as he wants."

"But Lin Lang said that he wanted to open a hot pot restaurant with me!" Tang Yushu repeated the words just now clumsily.

This paranoia caused Zhang Qian to put away his smiling face: "Forgive me for being rude—in the past, Lin Lang was surrounded by many people, trying to make money for him, but as long as he doesn't hurt him, I don't care. But now he Now that you are penniless, what else do you want from him?"

"What's the picture...?" Tang Yushu lowered his head: "I don't know either."

Zhang Qian withdrew his sore hand.It was the first time I encountered a situation where money could not be given out, and it was a bit embarrassing.

"I didn't want to do it with him at first—I'm just an ordinary person who got my life back on the battlefield. I haven't seen anything in the world, and I don't have any dreams or plans... The imperial court gave me a house and I lived there. Just looking for a job and doing it just to make ends meet. I don’t have any troubles, and I don’t want any benefits..."

"But even a small person like me sometimes feels sorry for a nobleman like Lin Lang - he clearly has his own plans, but you don't believe or agree... He shouldn't be looked down upon by Miss Hua, he shouldn't He should be forced by his father to become an official, and he shouldn't be locked in a golden cage that you bought with money, which is safe and pathetic."

"Did you know? When Lin Lang mentioned hot pot restaurants, his eyes would light up."

"When my sister was alive, whenever Jiangnan was mentioned, her eyes would shine brightly."

"We've already made a promise. If it's just a young man's little mess, then I'll play with him; he's never seen ugly things in the world, then I'll stand in front of him and carry them for him; the house he lives in is leaking, and I'll play with him." I will mend it for him; if he is cold, I will give him half of the quilt; even if one day we both lose all our money and live on the streets, I will not let him starve if I have a mouthful."

"If you have to ask me what I want to picture him, I will picture the light in his eyes. That is the light that I wanted to protect, but watched... go out."

After finishing all the words, Tang Yushu turned around and got into the car without waiting for Zhang Qian's response.

It seemed that Lin Lang's side hadn't coaxed Shun'er well yet, crying and clamoring to go with Lin Lang; after a while, Lin Lang and Zhang Qian said goodbye and exhorted each other.

Tang Yushu rubbed his heavy eyelids and closed them.

It is the night of October 27th.

"Be careful and don't fall!" Lin Lang held the ladder and exhorted below, but still maintained his usual style of "refusing to talk properly" and added: "If it breaks, I can't afford to pay you." Look sick!"

After confirming that the plaque was hung securely, Tang Yushu looked down, only to see Lin Lang, who had been working on the opening of the business all day, under the lantern, his face was smeared with black and gray.

Tang Yushu couldn't help laughing out loud: "You look like a tabby cat."

"You are just like a big tabby cat, my lord... the shopkeeper is a big tiger!"

"Whatever you want! Whatever you say is what you want."

Tang Yushu climbed down the ladder, raised his head and looked at the old house with the plaque with Lin Lang.

"Although it is a bit different from what I imagined, but... let's make do with it!" Although the words were disappointing, the smile on his face did not diminish at all.

"Yes." Tang Yushu agreed.

"Ah - is the red flower ball for cutting the ribbon ready?"

"The fat girl and the thin girl each made one."

"Okay. Later, you go and count the firecrackers that are going to be set off tomorrow. Remember not to put them under the wall - the weather here is wet, and it will be damp tomorrow. It's unlucky to be a squib!"

"...I want it."

"I washed all the pots and pans - let's go buy meat and vegetables tomorrow morning. Have you cooked the hot pot base?"

"……OK OK."

"Oh, right……"

Tang Yushu had had enough of nagging: "It's all done!"

"Do you think I have too many things? It's not that you are clumsy!" Lin Lang rolled his eyes.

"What's the name of our shop?" Tang Yushu looked at the plaque carved by himself: "I'm rude, I can't read, I can't remember..."

"It's been a while and I still can't remember it?! It's called 'Dian Jiang Lips'!—"Dian-Crimson-Lips—'!" Lin Lang said, pretending to use his fists to impress Tang Yushu.

Tang Yushu cooperated with him to escape.

Looking back, I saw Lin Lang who was chasing towards him with his teeth and claws. His eyes reflected the red lanterns on both sides of the plaque. Those lights fell into the eyes of the young man and turned into a bright light.

So Tang Yushu laughed.