General, he's cheating again

Chapter 21: Chen Jin

The moonlight fell on the ground in the courtyard like frost, and the old wooden door in front of the courtyard was pushed open by a man with a handsome face. I went to see a slender woman under an old tree bending her head down and looking at something.

The man walked slowly towards the tree with his hands on his back, stopped and patted the woman's back. His eyes were full of tenderness, and he asked softly, "Why are you standing outside so late, is it cold?"

Hearing the words, the woman raised her head and looked at the person in front of her. Her watery eyes smiled like a crescent and shook her head, "Brother, I'm not cold."

The squatting woman held the chick that had fallen among the weeds in her hands, and felt that the chick seemed to be dying, and the look in her eyes dimmed.

"It's so poor, let's help it, or it will die."

The eye sockets were slightly red, she didn't want this little bird to die, just like she was dying and struggling for so many years in a serious illness, longing for life.

"Well, take it home and raise it first. Sister, don't cry, it won't die, and you will be fine." With a gentle smile on his face, the man stretched out his hand to caress his sister's head, helped her up and walked into the house, comforting her. The expression on Shi Shi's face gradually became firm, "Don't worry, sister, no matter what, brother will let you live forever."

In the morning of the next day, everyone rode their horses to Jinghu Road to raise the judiciary, but when they got to the gate, they were told by the guards that the nominating officer Han Zhaocen had something to go out this morning.But after he received the greeting card last night, he had ordered the housekeeper in the mansion to arrange accommodation, and to entertain them well when they came.

In any case, all of them came here to investigate the case at the emperor's order, but Han Zhaocen left with an excuse.

Ask the officer in the Judiciary what is the matter, but the officer just shook his head and couldn't explain clearly, but it must be very important to Han Zhaocen.

"By the way, is there a transfer envoy named Chen Jin in your department?"

Looking around, Ye Ru'an waved the folding fan and finally asked the guard beside him.

"There is such a person.

Chen Zhuanyun told him that he should monitor the unloading at the ferry at this moment. Are the adults going to meet him? The guard looked at the crowd and introduced himself, "I can guide the adults." "

Seeing Gu Zhen and the others nodding, the guard prepared his chariot and horses and took Gu Zhen and the others to the ferry outside the west gate of Tanzhou City.

The tide rises in spring, and the rivers rise and fall in February.

There are several white-sailed cargo ships floating in front of the black wooden broken bridge beside the river, and the officers and men carrying goods on the broken bridge come and go, among them is a handsome man in Chinese clothes standing among them, carefully inspecting the loading and unloading of the goods and record entries.

The officer reined in his horse not far from the ferry, and introduced to Gu Zhen and the others with his palm facing the man in Chinese clothes not far away: "My lords, that is Chen Jin, our transport envoy."

Trotting all the way to approach Chen Jin, the guard briefly explained the situation of Gu Zhen and others and the purpose of their visit, then saluted and rode back to the department.

Seeing Gu Zhen and others walking towards him, Chen Jin bowed his hands respectfully, "Jinghu Road Transit Envoy Chen Jin has seen the adults."

After finishing speaking, he looked up at the sky and guessed that it was almost noon, so he politely smiled at Gu Zhen and the others: "I'm afraid it will take a long time to carry the ferry, and the official's house is nearby. If the adults If you don't mind, you can go to the lower official's house and have a meal and then come back for a detailed inspection in the afternoon."

"Don't be so troublesome, let's take the transporter to a nearby tavern for a meal." Ye Ru'an carefully observed Chen Jin's words and deeds, and said politely: "Transporter, you don't have to be polite with us. I want to check this time In the case of the loss of salt and iron, we will get along for a while, and we can be regarded as half colleagues during this period."

"There are no good restaurants around here. Xiaguan's house is only half a mile away from the ferry. My sister's cooking skills are good and she is hospitable. I think she will be very happy if the adults go and sit for a while."

With a look of persistence in his eyes, Chen Jin wanted to invite Gu Zhen and others to his house from the bottom of his heart.

Hearing this, Gu Zhen and Qin Qingrong, who were standing at the front, couldn't help but look at each other deeply.

You know, Chen Jin's younger sister, Chen Wanran, was one of the reasons for investigating whether Chen Jin was involved in the private possession of salt and iron.Thinking of this level, Gu Zhen nodded his thin lips and said lightly: "Okay, since the transshipment makes our home closer, let's go and bother for a while."

Seeing that Gu Zhen and the others finally agreed to come down, Chen Jin turned around and ordered everyone to take a lunch break.After arranging the manpower to guard the ferry, he tidied up his clothes and led everyone to a courtyard not far from the ferry.

When he got to the door, the wooden door was pushed open by him with a "squeak", and he called out to the courtyard, "Sister, I'm back", then let Gu Zhen and others walk around and watch him at will, and then walked to the kitchen.

This courtyard is located on the outskirts of the city, and it looks like an old house that has been lived in for a long time.Thinking about it, Chen Jin can be regarded as a seventh-rank official at any rate, but his family is extremely simple and old. The reason for his frugality is probably related to his sister who is seriously ill.

After everyone entered the courtyard, Chen Linxiang went straight to the main room to find water to drink, while Ye Ru'an and Qin Qingrong looked around in the courtyard.

The two walked under an old tree. Ye Ruan squinted at the tree to block the light above his head with a folding fan. As if he had found something, he looked at Qin Qingrong and raised his eyebrows and smiled. He said with emotion: "Qingrong, look at that tree It’s such a big bird’s nest. I remember, when Xiaoxiao was a child, she liked to climb trees and dig out bird’s nests to make trouble.”

A gentle smile appeared on his face, and Qin Qingrong also raised his eyes to look at the bird's nest woven with withered grass stuck between the branches, and Qin Xiaoxiao's soft smile when he was a child appeared in his mind.

"hiss.

Why does my hall master always feel that this Chen Jin is weird. "

Hua Yan and Gu Zhen Lengji had already turned to the study at the back of the courtyard. The window of the study was open, and there was an old porcelain bowl on the window sill.

Looking down at the porcelain bowl, Hua Yan found that a pink silk handkerchief had been placed in the bowl, and a little chick lay flat on the handkerchief.

"Is the bird dead?"

Gu Zhen was also attracted by this bird. He fixed his eyes on the little bird lying motionless in the bowl, looking like he was about to die. He stroked the little bird's body with his fingertips but felt the slight rise and fall of the chest cavity.

"It's not dead, it's just asleep." Hua Yan raised his eyes to look at Gu Zhen suspiciously, touched Han thoughtfully and said, "The care is so meticulous, and she is basking in the sun and wearing a silk handkerchief. I want to help this The little bird should be Chen Jin's younger sister.

It's just, why did his sister put this little bird in the study instead of her boudoir.Thinking about it, the study room is usually a place where men often go in and out, and since she loves this bird so much, it stands to reason that she would put the bird in a place she is most familiar with. "

After thinking for a while, Leng Ji pondered and said: "Maybe it's because the study room is facing the sun, so she will do this."

"No. Although the yard is small, the Feng Shui is transparent and the lighting is even. The study is no exception."

Looking around, Gu Zhen denied Leng Ji's idea, and stared at the courtyard door not far from the oblique side of the study. He took a few steps forward and took a closer look, and found that there was a wooden house behind the courtyard door.

The outside of the wooden house is full of flowers of various colors, and it is the spring season at this time, and there are hundreds of flowers competing for beauty in front of the wooden house.There are also several water chestnut bells of different colors hanging under the eaves, and the bells under the house sway with the wind and the flowers and leaves.

I think such a fresh and elegant place should be Chen Wanran's room. Hua Yan followed Gu Zhen's gaze and noticed this place. He wanted to get closer and take a closer look under his feet, but he didn't want to just step in front of the courtyard door. He was called to a halt.

"My lord, please stay still. That is the room of my sister-in-law. It is inconvenient for the outsider to go in."

Hearing the sound, he turned around and looked back, only to see that Chen Jin was holding two dishes of dishes in his hands, looking at Hua Yan with a slightly sinister gaze.

This look seemed to want to crush Hua Yan, when Hua Yan's eyes met, he couldn't help but feel his heart tremble, and he felt a chill on his back.

After a while, everyone was invited to eat in the main hall. They sat around the table and saw a solid bowl of white rice placed in front of each seat.And there are some home-cooked dishes on the table, including seasonal toon scrambled eggs, braised fish, pork rib soup and so on.

Seeing Chen Jin busily carrying the dishes, Chen Linxiang couldn't sit still and asked: "I said Chen Zhuanyun, didn't you tell us that your sister is very hospitable and would be happy to know that we came? Why did it take so long? Seeing you busy in this yard but not seeing your sister?"

"She is really happy that the adults are here as guests. The dishes on the big table today are all her specialties. The adults don't have to wait for me, let's eat first." Bringing another fried vegetable to the table, Chen Jinjian The younger sister was happy today and her mood became more and more cheerful. She turned to Chen Linxiang and explained: "Sister She is weak, she has been busy in the kitchen for so long today, and now she is a little exhausted, so I let her go back to rest first.

Since she was a child, she rarely went out, and she was very lonely staying at home alone on weekdays.Only when I bring some friends and guests to the house, can she feel the lively atmosphere. In fact, she just likes the house to be lively, that's all.

Thank you Mr. Chen for your understanding. "

After Chen Jin said such a long paragraph, Chen Linxiang grasped the two words "eat first", and then put a chopstick of scrambled eggs with Chinese toon into his mouth.

So he picked up another chopstick to mix the rice, and then looked up at Chen Jin full of praise, "Don't have to say more, your sister's cooking skills are really to my liking. Let her have a good rest, she has worked hard."

"As long as it suits your appetite." Chen Jin's mood became more and more flattering, "I think I will tell her later that her cooking skills have been praised again, she will be very happy."

When Chen Jin left, Hua Yan looked at Chen Jin's back and frowned slightly, saying "strange, so strange" in his mouth.

After Qin Qingrong heard this, he stopped his chopsticks and looked at Hua Yan and asked, "Master Hua, is there anything wrong?"

"No... nothing."

Withdrawing his gaze, Hua Yan shook his head at Qin Qingrong. He looked thoughtful. From the perspective of a doctor, he always felt that Chen Jin's words and deeds were abnormal, but he couldn't tell what was so strange.

He didn't dare to conclude that Chen Jin was sick, so he couldn't talk nonsense and had to stop talking.