Volume 3: Dragon and Snake Movement Chapter 326: The Unexpected Hostage
As soon as the word "sweet potato" came out of his mouth, Zhang Shou saw that the face of the old salted fish opposite him suddenly changed. It was not a pure slip of the tongue, but after saying the five words "officials do not make decisions for the people", he suddenly did not want to replace the two words "sweet potato" with something else. Although it was only the first time he met the mysterious old salted fish, he still decided to take a bold step to test it.
Under Zhang Shou's piercing gaze, Lao Xianyu tried his best to appear calm and natural, but because of his emotional fluctuations, he couldn't help but avoid Zhang Shou's sight. However, even if he looked away, he could still sense Zhang Shou's eyes. He struggled with himself for a while, and even had the worst idea, but finally gave up.
He turned around again and laughed dryly, "I've lived for most of my life, but this is the first time I've seen an official like you, Dr. Zhang, who is so humble and cares about the people's food and clothing. I'm really shocked... Since you've asked, I can give you all the seeds of the food we ate today. Not only the seeds, but I can also give you some advice on how to plant them."
Zhang Shou didn't expect that Lao Xianyu didn't use his nephew's matter to bargain. After the initial surprise, he smiled and said, "Only the ones we ate today? You really didn't hide anything else to eat secretly and not share it with others? For example... sweet potatoes?"
The old salted fish, who had just acted cheerful and carefree, finally tensed up again when he heard the word "sweet potato", and even unconsciously took a small step forward. However, when he saw Zhang Shou smiling at him, he finally stopped the impulse, and the smile on his face seemed extremely forced.
"Where did Dr. Zhang hear about sweet potatoes?"
"Of course it's the work of Emperor Taizu." Zhang Shou looked at Lao Xianyu with an unusually calm expression on his face. "You probably don't know that I once cracked a secret box left by Emperor Taizu in the capital, and the relics inside were all given to me by the emperor. Although I am not very knowledgeable and can only see that one of them is a timer, and I have no idea where to start with the manuscripts, but by coincidence I have figured out something."
"After all, many people in the court knew that Emperor Taizu had dreamed of a map of the four directions of the world."
Seeing the old man's mouth open, Zhang Shou looked more sincere and genuine: "Besides, I cracked the secret box, which is known to everyone in the capital. You are from Cangzhou, so you probably don't know. If you don't believe it, hearing is not believing, seeing is believing. If you are willing, you can go to the capital with me. Speaking of which, even if it is for your nephew, you may have to go to the capital."
"Because these good things can feed many poor people, and maybe they can help you save his life."
He paused as he spoke, with a warm smile on his face: "The reason why Zhu Erlang came to Cangzhou this time is because Ah Liu returned to Beijing from Cangzhou that day, and Zhu Erlang happened to hear that you have things that the Ming Dynasty has never heard of. Don't look at his character, but he knows that agriculture is the foundation of the country. If you don't trust me, you can talk to him. It won't be too late to make a decision after growing something in the capital."
Under such gentle persuasion, even though Lao Xianyu barely maintained his vigilance and doubt, he still had to admit that Zhang Shou's words did have some credibility.
What's more, his sister's only nephew might very well be beheaded, and he couldn't really just ignore it!
"This matter is of great importance. After all, I have to leave behind my family business in Cangzhou. Dr. Zhang, you have to let me think about it carefully."
"You can consider it. I still have to stay in Cangzhou for a few days, so there is no rush." Zhang Shou smiled, nodded, turned and went out. He saw Ah Liu outside the door, turning the short sword that could cut through iron like mud in one hand and holding the short bow in the other. He knew that people had been paying attention to his safety, so he couldn't help but smile at him.
Ah Liu smiled at Zhang Shou as well, then sheathed his sword and hung his short bow around his waist. He then pointed at the sky and said simply, "Are we going back?"
"Of course I will go back." Zhang Shou paused for a moment and looked towards the kitchen in the courtyard. He saw that there was no wind, but the curtain was moving slightly. He knew that it must be Xiao Huasheng hiding behind and eavesdropping. He immediately changed his mind and ordered Ah Liu, "Go to Xingtai to deliver a letter when you get back."
Ah Liu didn't even look at the kitchen , and immediately frowned, with a look of resistance: "If I leave, you will be left with no one."
Zhang Shou immediately laughed: "Didn't Zhu Erlang and Yingying bring a lot of people with them?"
"They are different from me." Ah Liu continued to object without hesitation, "Let them deliver the letter."
Zhang Shou stared at Ah Liu's serious face for a long time, as if he had to give in. "Okay, when you meet Zhu Hong and Zhu Yi later, pick a suitable person to go to Xingtai and pass a message to me. No matter whether it's Zhang Wu, Zhang Lu or Zhang Chen, ask them to at least send one person over! They are in Xingtai, but they let the disturbance spread to Cangzhou and made such a big fuss. Of course, they have to be responsible for ending it!"
Ah Liu nodded with satisfaction: "I have fought with all those people from the Zhu family. I will just pick the one who is the best fighter."
The old man who was also eavesdropping in the room had a somewhat stiff expression on his face. What does it mean to beat them all and pick the one who can beat the best? The last time he saw Ah Liu wandering around alone, he only thought that this boy was quiet and had a strange temper, but he was generous and straightforward. But this time he finally realized how eccentric people are!
Zhang Shou did not pick on Ah Liu, as he had seen that Ah Liu was deliberately showing his most perverse side to cooperate with his acting. He continued to speak calmly, "Since you let someone else go to Xingtai, you have to go to Cangzhou in person. Go and send invitations to the families who have connections with the eldest prince one by one, and don't leave any of them out."
Ah Liu nodded seriously and said, "Yes, I know. The Hongmen Banquet."
"Even if you know , don't say it!" Zhang Shou finally couldn't help laughing and scolding. Seeing that the person immediately shut up, he turned around. When he saw that Lao Xianyu finally walked out of the door reluctantly, he nodded and smiled at him.
"It's getting late, and I should go back. But Ah Liu and I are not familiar with each other in Cangzhou City. Can Xiao Huasheng take Ah Liu and I there? Besides, I just arrived, and I have a lot of things to do. If Xiao Huasheng is free, I would like to borrow him to help me for two days to deal with various people. I wonder if it would be convenient?"
"It's convenient, of course it's convenient!" Little Peanut rushed out of the kitchen, his thin body straight, "I'm very familiar with Cangzhou. I know a lot of people from all walks of life. I can lead the way, I can feed the horses, I can..."
"Okay, okay!" Zhang Shou smiled and gestured to Xiao Huasheng, who was still trying to recommend himself, to stop. He then looked at Lao Xianyu. Sure enough, the old man hesitated for a long time, and finally nodded, but called Xiao Huasheng over and gave him many instructions.
He knew without guessing that he must be telling people to keep their mouths shut and not talk nonsense... and it would be better to pay more attention to his behavior and so on.
As soon as he left the salted fish shop, Peanut felt like a bird released from a cage, feeling much more relaxed. He refused to ride Ah Liu's horse again, even if Ah Liu said he was willing to take him along, he refused, saying that he had to do what he was supposed to do, and he grabbed the job of leading Zhang Shou's horse, talking all the way.
"Uncle always treats me like a child, always worried that I'd be cheated. Back then, he even told me not to be sold out by Uncle Yunhe! Uncle Yunhe is so good to me, like his own son...Sixth brother is also very good. I've never met a good person who would let me ride his horse just because I like horses!"
As Peanut said this, he turned his head and glanced at Ah Liu. Seeing that the boy nodded slightly to him, and his face was no longer cold, he became even more excited. He turned to Zhang Shou and said, "I was worried that Dr. Zhang, you would be like those corrupt officials and corrupt wealthy people, but later I found out that you are also a good person!"
Perhaps because it was after the riot and it was already getting dark, there weren't many people on the road. Plus, with Ah Liu around, Zhang Shou didn't worry that Peanut's yelling would cause any trouble. He smiled and accepted the good guy card: "How do you know I'm a good person? Just because I cooked that meal?"
"How can an official cook for someone like me!" Although Peanut was walking backwards, he seemed to have eyes behind his head and walked very steadily. He touched his nose as he walked and said, "Dr. Zhang, you cook delicious food and are so kind to people. Of course you are the best person! You must save Uncle Yunhe. He really did it because he was forced into a desperate situation!"
Hearing that Peanut had been playing the nice guy card repeatedly and then started to grumble again, Zhang Shou sighed and said, "I'll think of a way... By the way, I heard that the reason why the eldest prince was held hostage was because Xian Yunhe sent someone to seduce him? Which girl is so courageous that she could charm the eldest prince and later hold him hostage?"
Xiao Huasheng hesitated at first, then began to talk about something else, trying to evade the topic. When he found that Zhang Shou was still insisting on it, he had no choice but to lie and said, "I don't know either. Maybe it was Uncle Yunhe's old lover..."
"A real man, even if he encounters an insurmountable obstacle, will never offer his beloved woman with both hands, unless he is shameless... even if it is just a show." Zhang Shou interrupted Xiao Huasheng's words and said with a smile, "Although I have never met Xian Yunhe, from what I have heard, he should not be the kind of person who will do anything to get what he wants."
Seeing Xiao Huasheng lowering his head guiltily, Ah Liu suddenly said, "It can't be you, right?"
“Six…Sixth Brother, stop…stop joking! What am I? How could it be me!”
Seeing that Peanut was like a cat whose tail was stepped on, he was so angry that he couldn't even speak clearly at first. It took a while for him to catch his breath. Zhang Shou originally thought that Ah Liu's guess was ridiculous, but now he couldn't help but murmur. He glanced around and saw that there were no pedestrians . He stared at Peanut and looked him up and down. This time, he found a clue.
Although she is not very tall and a little thin, Xiao Huasheng is indeed quite pretty. If she could be dressed up by someone who is good at makeup, and her manners are different from those of the coquettish beauties, she would have a unique charm. Maybe the eldest prince, who has a "unique" vision, would really fall for her.
Although Xiao Huasheng lowered his head and dared not look Zhang Shou in the eye, he persisted for a while, and finally said dejectedly in a low voice: "It was me... I volunteered. I couldn't sacrifice a girl . As for me... if it really didn't work out, I would fight him to the death. Fortunately, I didn't wait until that time, and I got the chance..."
Good boy, if it weren’t for Ah Liu’s rich imagination, he would have almost missed such a big fish?
Zhang Shou took a deep breath, and when he turned his head, he saw Ah Liu looking Peanut up and down with great interest, as if he had become the weirdo who was looking at where in a person he thought was most appetizing. He had to cough loudly.
"Has General Zhu never asked Xian Yunhe about this before?"
Peanut suddenly felt even more guilty: "General Zhu asked... but Uncle Yunhe refused to tell, and the others didn't know. In addition, Uncle Yunhe took all the blame, so..." His voice became smaller and smaller, and he felt more and more guilty. In the end, his eyes were a little red. "Actually, at this time, I should have been locked up with him..."
At this moment, Ah Liu suddenly jumped off his horse and slapped Peanut hard on the shoulder. Peanut was startled and immediately looked up. When he found it was him, he pressed his chest and breathed a sigh of relief. He said bluntly, "Don't let him down."
These four simple words almost made Peanut cry again. He quickly reached out his hand and wiped his eyes vigorously, then he smiled and said, "Thank you, Sixth Brother."
Ah Liu nodded to Peanut, then rubbed his head, then turned around and went straight back to his mount, jumping onto the horse's back easily. When Zhang Shou saw Peanut, who smiled silly and touched his head, regained his spirits and led the way, he couldn't help but glance at Ah Liu again.
Unconsciously, Ah Liu, who was silent most of the time, actually knew how to comfort people! If the person he comforted was not a fake girl like Xiao Huasheng who used to dress up as a woman, but a real girl, then he would be truly relieved, because that would mean that the boy had finally grown up. Unfortunately, there is still a long way to go...
As for whether Lao Xianyu would run away because of something, Zhang Shou was not worried at all. Because after he entered the city, he heard that Zhu Tingfang still continued the previous ban on Cangzhou City, which allowed people to enter but not leave. This effectively prevented the escape of relevant people. As for those who wanted to leave the city for special reasons, they had to report to the county government, and Zhu Tingfang had to personally review it and personally send someone to escort them.
When the three of them finally arrived at the gate of the county government office, they saw a figure rushing forward like lightning.
