Chapter 2173 A Big Banquet

After Qu Xiucai and the others listened, they finally felt relieved.

Gu Jinan looked at Mou Fang: "Master Mou, aren't you protecting Master Zhong? Why are you here?"

Mou Fang is a member of the Fuhu Army, but his mission is to protect Lord Zhong and he rarely returns to camp.

Mou Fang said: "The man from Qianshan County was born in a poor family, and he also had the important responsibility of hunting on behalf of the emperor. He Chengjin was a bit impulsive. Lord Zhong was worried and ordered me to accompany the man from Qianshan County for three years. When he returns from hunting on behalf of the emperor, I will go to the palace again." Return to Master Zhong as an errand."

After hearing this, Gu Jinan felt relieved. Zhong Huan was protecting Lu Bai by giving such a capable person to Lu Bai.

In short, Lu Bai is useful now. Zhong Huan and His Majesty will protect him and will not let him die within three years.

"Thank you." Gu Jinli said, then went to see Lu Bai and asked him, "Do you want us to stay with you?"

Lu Bai shook his head and said with a smile: "No need... I have to go on my own in the future. You can't always stay with me."

After Gu Jinan and the others heard this, they stopped staying any longer.

But before leaving, Gu Jinan reminded him: "Your marriage is being closely watched, so you need to think about it."

Lu Baidao said: "I'm thinking that if we don't get married for the time being, we should first finish the job of hunting on behalf of the emperor."

He has no one he likes, and he knows very well that after becoming a pawn for Emperor Jingyuan to win over the people, he will probably not end well. He doesn't want to cause others to become widowed, so he simply doesn't get married in the first place.

Then he smiled and said, "It's you, hurry back and prepare gifts, and go to Ouyang's house to meet the elders. If you don't go, be careful that Ouyang's family doesn't want you as their grandson-in-law."

Gu Jinan was forced to stay in the palace, which made him miss the time to visit Ouyang's house. He had to visit Ouyang's house as soon as possible while he had vacation.

Gu Jinan smiled and said: "Okay, let's go back first and come to see you tomorrow. Your Baronial Mansion is very impressive. Hua Qianshan even said this morning that he would come to visit the Yamen."

Lu Bai laughed and said, "Don't just come here for a stroll, just move in and live here."

Regardless of whether Lu Bai was pretending or sincere, he looked happy now, and Gu Jinan and the others went back with peace of mind.

As soon as they arrived at the house, the concierge said: "Mr. Gu, a letter has arrived from the Ouyang family, saying that you can come and visit tomorrow."

The capital is different from the countryside. In the countryside, you can go to a relative's house without saying hello. But in the capital, you have to post a message and wait for a reply before you can come to the door. Otherwise, you are contemptuous of others and have no rules.

Gu Jinan and the others grew up in the countryside, but after entering the capital, they had to abide by the rules of the capital.

"I know, thank you." Gu Jinan took the reply from Ouyang's family and went back to the house to check the gifts. He went out at half past midnight the next day and arrived at Ouyang's house.

The Ouyang family's house was given by Emperor Jingwu. It occupies a large area. It has seven entrances, three gardens in the front and back, and two large lakes. When the men and women are entertaining guests, they can go boating on the large lakes. , do not interfere with each other.

In addition, there is also a densely packed house in the street, which is used by the servants of the Ouyang family.

This was the first time Gu Jinan saw the so-called aristocratic mansion, and he was really shocked.

The Ouyang family attaches great importance to Gu Jinan's visit, and Mr. Ouyang Zhang specially asked for leave to receive him at home.

Mr. Ouyang Hong also ordered that Gu Jinan must be treated with courtesy. If he dares to talk about his origin, leave him alone and ignore his family methods!

Therefore, Gu Jinan was very comfortable staying at the Ouyang family, but he only spent one day mingling with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the Ouyang family.

There is no way, Mr. Ouyang Hong is much older than Ouyang Hu, and Ming'er is younger than Ouyang Zhang's eldest grandson.

But he took advantage of his seniority, and it felt inexplicably refreshing to see several people around his age calling him uncle.

And the gift he gave Mr. Ouyang Hong was a pushable word mill.

The Ouyang family members were surprised when they saw it: "What is this? Is it a new work by a master sculptor?"

Gu Jinan smiled: "It's not a new work by a master... My father is a carpenter, and he made it by himself according to what the second sister said. I followed the example of a gourd and a ladle, and made this calligraphy mill. I wanted to come to my uncle's house." Sell ​​it fresh... Just push the words in the grinding block, and you can combine these words into poetry."

Ouyang Zhang asked: "Maybe the characters can be extended?"

Gu Jinan nodded: "Yes, the word grinder is convex. As long as you apply ink, you can rub the words down."

After saying that, he demonstrated it himself, which made Ouyang Zhang pound the ground and said to Gu Jinan: "Brother An, your father has such a rare thing, he should take it out as soon as possible. This can expand the entire book." , much faster than copying books.”

But Gu Jin'an said: "Literati pay attention to studying hard and practicing calligraphy. If you make such convenient things in a big way, I'm afraid the literati will not like it."

Mr. Ouyang Hong nodded: "What Brother An said makes sense, but since such rare things have been born, they should be passed down."

He looked at Ouyang Zhang and said: "Tomorrow, you can bring this calligraphy mill to the palace in the name of An Geer's father and let His Majesty have a look. If His Majesty allows it, you can use this calligraphy mill to create more books." Let the books be spread throughout the Chu State more quickly and benefit the children from poorer families."

The aristocratic family did not want the children from poor families to study, so they kept many books privately and prevented them from being leaked out. Even if the children of the same family wanted to read the books, they could only use copied books.

If copying is slow, books will be circulated slowly.

"Yes." Ouyang Zhang agreed.

Ouyang Hong looked at Gu Jinan again and said: "Although the calligraphy is strange, it can be easily reproduced. Even if His Majesty is interested in it, he will not reward your father greatly."

The meaning is to tell him not to be too happy, as such things will not be of great benefit.

Gu Jinan hurriedly said: "Grandpa, don't worry, I understand."

Seeing that he was not disappointed, Ouyang Hong nodded with satisfaction.

After Gu Jinan had dinner at Ouyang's house, he was sent back by the housekeeper of Ouyang's house.

Two days later, it was Lu Bai's knighthood banquet. The door of the baron's mansion was opened wide to welcome congratulations from all the families in the capital.

There were really many people coming to this knighthood banquet, ranging from royal family to peddlers. It could be regarded as a real fun with the people.

And this is what Emperor Jingyuan wants.

However, it was a mess due to the large number of people, and the palace was afraid of trouble, so Emperor Jingyuan sent a group of imperial guards to maintain order, and even sent the chief eunuch.

With the eunuch here, the wealthy families and high-ranking officials knew that His Majesty wanted to protect Lu Bai, and they could not disgrace Lu Bai. Therefore, although they felt disgusted to sit at the table with the traffickers and lackeys, they were smiling the whole time. Dare to show off.

"Mr. Lu County, congratulations. It's because of you that we can enter the Baron's Mansion for a banquet!" It was Chen Xiaoba who spoke, and they were also invited.

Lu Bai thanked them very much and said guiltily: "I'm sorry, I made you suffer a torture because of me."

Chen Xiaoba waved his hand and said with a smile: "The words of Mr. Lu County are too polite. Brothers help you voluntarily, and we don't help you in vain..."

He lowered his voice and said to Lu Bai, "The Ruan family gave us a thousand taels of silver. We have become rich."