Chapter 136 Farewell Banquet

Wei Yinghong's departure did not cause much commotion in the city, except for the three newspapers that specifically published it. Although the gentry and people in Yangzhou wanted to see off the former prefect, they had no choice but to leave too hastily.

He and Lin Ruhai were close friends, and they often worked together on official business, so many things were handed over very smoothly. By the time the people of Yangzhou realized that they had to send off this parent official, Wei Yinghong had already boarded the official ship to the capital.

As for Lin Ruhai's appointment, he was not in a hurry to start a new business like other new officials. Uncle Lin was a gentle person, and he didn't want to mess with the government officials on the eve of the New Year.

He only set a date for the family to move to the government office after the New Year, and he still maintained the rhythm of working from the current Lin Mansion to the government office. The big and small affairs in the city still maintained the rhythm of Wei Yinghong's previous work, which was a very smooth handover.

However, there are some things that the new prefect wants to handle in a low-key manner, but the big families in the city can't just say nothing. Visitors lined up, and there were always various reasons to visit.

Such visits, of course, can't go directly to the prefect, and they don't have that much face.

The method these people thought of was simple and more effective. That is to visit the new prefect's wife through their own wives. Apart from other things, some simple friendships can always be established.

Don't laugh, this trick will still work well even after hundreds of years.

Half of the so-called rules of big families are used in dealing with people. Many things that men can't do in person are more suitable for big wives with narrow social circles now.

As the wife of the prefect, her husband had just taken office, and there was news that Jia had rejected the gentry's family. It would not be good to spread the news. Jia had to take up the attitude of the former lady of the Duke's Mansion and handle these interpersonal relationships for Lin Ruhai.

The person directly affected by this incident was Lin Daiyu. She is Jia's only daughter, and she is old enough to learn housekeeping. Whenever there is a party at home, Jia will bring her with her.

Chen Heng knew about this through Xue Ke's narration.

"No, how do you know so clearly?" Chen Heng was still a little confused.

As soon as they met today, Xue Ke pulled him to talk about the Lin Mansion for half a day.

This matter is inevitably a bit strange, you know, Xue Ke usually doesn't care much about such mundane things.

Master Xue spread his hands helplessly, leaned closer to the fire, and complained a little: "It's not my sister, she has been nagging in my ears every day these two days, and as long as she opens her mouth, it's her sister Lin who hasn't come for a few days.

In a few days, she will go to the Lin Mansion with her mother to visit and give gifts. I think she is a little too nervous."

Nervous? Not really! I think Baoqin and Daiyu are like sisters, how could they be nervous about such things.

Chen Heng was stunned at first, and then reacted. Maybe this sister of the Xue family is passing a message to me through her brother, but why would she pass a message to me?

"Hahaha." He couldn't help laughing, as if he accepted Baoqin's kindness. Anyway, he also thought that the Lin family had been crowded with people recently, and he didn't intend to go there to be a conspicuous person.

"What are you laughing at." Xue Ke rarely frowned, and seeing his friend's reaction, he always felt that there was something fishy.

Chen Heng waved his hand, unwilling to point out the matter. He just changed the topic to another matter, "The day after tomorrow, Brother Qian, Brother Jiang and I will open a table at Yangji Restaurant. Do you... want to come?"

"Is it because of Su Zhao?"

"You guessed it too?" Chen Heng was really a little surprised. He originally wanted to explain to Xue Ke that Xin Su Zhao would leave Yangzhou after the New Year.

"After all, he is not a child anymore." Xue Ke's answer was a bit inexplicable, but it aroused Chen Heng's empathy.

In their room, only Chen Heng and Xue Ke are the youngest. Jiang Yuanbai is already fifteen years old, Qian Dayou and Xin Suzhao are already eighteen years old.

Eighteen years old, no matter at what age, can not be regarded as a child. Moreover, Xin Suzhao is devoted to military affairs, and Suzhao, who is not going to take the imperial examination, is wasting time staying in the academy.

"When Xiaohu was lost before, I saw him hesitate to speak, and I had this guess." Chen Heng also sighed for the five years of time, "He has been busy with military affairs recently, and he is often not seen. I think his family has already thought of arrangements for him."

"It doesn't matter whether you come or not, but you can't miss this gift money." Chen Heng joked with his friends.

Xue Ke knew that he was giving himself a way out. In terms of relationship, he and Xin Suzhao are indeed a little worse.

"I'll think about it." Xue Ke didn't say it firmly, just nodded slightly.

This sentence was enough, and Chen Heng didn't force him. In fact, even to this day, even he couldn't figure out why Xin Suzhao always disliked Xue Ke.

They are obviously two good people, why do they just not get along.

…………

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Next to Yangji Restaurant is Jing'an Newspaper Shop.

When Chen Heng came to the restaurant with Qian Dayou and Jiang Yuanbai, he could see the busy people coming and going in the newspaper shop. Today, the newspaper shop, under the management of the Wang family and the Xue family, has acquired two more stores.

The bright and renovated storefront is also worthy of the reputation of Jing'an Newspaper in Yangzhou. Chen Heng had other important things to do today, so he only took a look from a distance outside and went straight to the second floor of the restaurant with his friends.

These three people usually follow Xue Ke and Xin Suzhao out for a meal, and they are already very familiar with ordering dishes. After dealing with trivial matters, they ordered a pot of good wine, and then sat by the fence with the best view, waiting for Xin Suzhao's arrival.

They didn't have to wait for long. Xin Suzhao, who was dressed in white as usual, had already walked up the stairs in tiger-head boots.

"We are here." Jiang Yuanbai raised his hand and led Xin Suzhao to walk across the crowd.

"The sun is rising from the west? You three team up and treat me to a meal?" Xin Suzhao smiled before he spoke, and his eyes scanned back and forth between the three classmates.

Qian Dayou was the same age as him. He couldn't help but blush when he heard Xin Suzhao's joke. He said, "If I don't treat you to a drink, I'm afraid I can only wait until the city gate to see you off."

"Hey." How could a rough man like Xin Suzhao bear this? He quickly patted Qian Dayou on the back, "What are you doing? I thought I would be gone tomorrow..."

"Pfft, pfft." Jiang Yuanbai interrupted quickly, "Don't say such unlucky words."

"Don't look at me. I just drink today." Chen Heng took the bowl and chopsticks himself, "Don't tell me later that you didn't drink with me. Today I will risk my life to accompany you. If I get drunk, let Xinda take me home."

Xin Suzhao chuckled and pulled his sleeves. He never liked to wear wide-sleeved robes. Today he was dressed very neatly. He looked like a young man who was about to travel the rivers and lakes in a TV series.

"You all saw it." Xin Suzhao stopped dodging and said frankly: "Then I won't hide it from you. After the New Year, I planned to go to the border to join the army."

The three of them were shocked. They saw Xin Suzhao's plan. But they didn't expect that the other party was so bold that he would go straight to the border.

In fact, Uncle Xin didn't plan to let Xin Suzhao go to the border at the beginning. Suzhao was the only son in their family. Anyway, they all joined the army, and there were many smooth paths for children to choose.

However, the changes in the grassland tribes, their military families, knew about it earlier than Wei Yinghong. When Xin Suzhao heard that there might be a war at the border, he made the decision to join the border immediately.

"Isn't it said that that place is very hard?" Jiang Yuanbai asked cautiously. Although he had never been there, he had read a lot of poems about the border. In addition to the teachings in the academy, he also had some superficial understanding of the bad situation at the border.

"That's why I want to go and see it." Xin Suzhao smiled heartily, and he didn't tell his friends the inside story.

Telling classmates about this kind of thing would only add to their troubles. If the day of war really comes, the world will naturally know about it.

However, this does not affect Chen Heng and others' admiration for him. There are many ways for a family like Xin Suzhao to choose. If he closes the door and becomes a rich and noble young man, no one can say a word is wrong.

But Xin Suzhao still resolutely devotes himself to the border. This ambition alone is enough to make people admire him.

"Waiter, bring the wine. Hurry up..." Qian Dayou's heart was hot, and he couldn't wait to stand up. He was shouting to the waiter in the store, but suddenly his voice was stuck.

Everyone felt strange and turned their heads to see Xue Ke, who had changed his clothes, and was waving a fan in the cold winter.

"Why are you looking at me? I didn't come too late."

Xin Suzhao himself widened his eyes. He didn't expect this kid to come too.

Chen Heng was the smartest. He quickly stood up and pulled Xue Ke to sit beside him. "Why did you come just now? Hurry up and sit down. Hurry up and sit down."

Jiang Yuanbai's reaction was the most interesting. He winked at Chen Heng and gave a thumbs up, indicating that the other party was really capable of inviting Xue Ke to come.

The atmosphere at the table was a bit awkward at first, but when the wine went into the stomach and everyone's faces were flushed, the atmosphere became more harmonious under the leadership of Jiang Yuanbai and Chen Heng.

This was the first time for all of them to get together and drink like this.

It was not known whether it was the last time, so everyone drank very hard and enjoyed themselves.

After drinking too much, it was inevitable to go to the toilet.

Today's toilets are far less convenient than those in later generations.

A few people drank too much and didn't care about etiquette. They ran to the small ditch behind the restaurant to relieve themselves.

As they went there many times, Xue Ke and Xin Suzhao inevitably bumped into each other.

When the two met, it was hard to say whether it was a surprise or awkward. Thinking of the drinking game they had played together before, they could only nod to each other.

"Are you curious why I don't like you?"

Perhaps it was really because they were about to part, Xin Suzhao was in a rare mood to chat under the influence of alcohol.

"Not curious." Xue Ke's face was red, but his mind was still clear.

He was willing to come today, first for the sake of Chen Heng and others. Second, he felt that after all, they had been classmates for five years and there was no direct conflict, so there was no need to make everyone embarrassed.

Xin Suzhao was not annoyed, and talked to himself, "It has nothing to do with you, but I have seen too many young masters bullying men and women in the capital, and I get angry when I see people like you." He burped, "But don't be angry, your Xue family has a close relationship with that side. If we, the military families, violate taboos, our fate will be worse than those scholars."

Xue Ke was stunned, which side is that?

"It's good now. Listen to your brother's advice." Xin Suzhao shook himself, took up his unwashed hands, and patted Xue Ke on the shoulder, "Tell your father to have less contact with your family's eldest branch, and settle down in Yangzhou. It's better than any great wealth."

Xue Ke frowned when he heard this. He was angry and annoyed. This Xin Suzhao was really drunk and had a big tongue. How dare he criticize the Xue family's family affairs in front of him?

Xin Suzhao saw his reaction. There was no one around, so he just said boldly: "My father said that His Majesty knows very well that the money that the Wang family has taken out for operation in recent years all comes from your Xue family's eldest branch."

"That's all. You guys, take care of yourself."

This short sentence made Xue Ke lose most of his alcohol and was stunned on the spot.

He did hear his father talk about this once. He knew that his aunt often took the money from the Xue family to support her two brothers.

But, why did even His Majesty know about this "small matter"?

Why should the person in charge of the army keep a distance from their family? Even to the extent of showing disgust on the surface?

I forgot to give you a note about that Tsarist Russia yesterday. It's a small matter, so I'll just talk about it today. I'll try to use names for foreign countries in the book that are familiar to everyone.

However, it shouldn't be a taboo.