fake gentry

Time passes unnoticed in the mountains.

Several days later.

"Gentlemen, please leave quickly, you have already eaten me out of house and home."

By mid-morning, the Taoping Mountain Road was filled with oxcarts.

Xie Hong, along with Xie Shang, jokingly ushered them away.

Wang Huzhi and Lu Shi led Wang Biaozhi, Lu Na, Yang Ben, He Xi and others to bid farewell to Xie Hong.

Who would have thought that these guys, who were supposed to be the elite of the top families in Jiangzuo, each with their own family learning and great reputation, had completely lost their pride and arrogance during their time in Taoping, and didn't care about the poor conditions, lingering there every day and not wanting to leave.

Xie Hong naturally couldn't discuss metaphysics and Confucianism with them. He had to maintain a high-class image when he spoke. At most, he would just provide them with some good food to shut them up, and maybe have them play music or chess.

Wang Huzhi was the first to bow deeply and proclaimed in a loud voice, "The phoenix possesses pearls and jade hidden within its shell, and through its investigation of things, it has attained divine understanding; we have benefited from it for life."

The others also bowed in unison, saying, "Thank you, Master, for your guidance and enlightenment."

These guys were all filled with reluctance. They had already regarded the past few days of spending time together as a rare and joyful experience in their lives.

Xie Hong accepted their bows without any hesitation.

He can afford it.

One copy of "Xie's Calculation Rules" is enough.

"Brother Xiuling, Brother Shiyan, the Heaven and Earth Society has just been established, and the framework of the two branch halls has not yet been set up. There is still a lot of work to be done after you go back, especially the matter of relief. I entrust it to you."

Everyone knew that the time for parting had come, so they did not linger any longer, and each tidied their clothes and bowed to Xie Hong to say goodbye.

"Fengzhi, I am waiting for you in Jiankang."

Xie Hong raised his hand in return, saying, "Brother Xiuling, please have a safe journey."

After Wang Hu finished speaking, he led Wang Biao into the carriage and told the servants to leave.

The others also boarded the car. Xie Hong escorted Xie Shang all the way to the main road intersection before stopping to say, "Even a thousand miles of farewell must come to an end. Gentlemen, I won't see you off any further."

Sitting in the carriage, Wang Huzhi bowed to Xie Hong from afar, then sighed to Wang Biaozhi, "Xie Fengzhi is unparalleled in elegance and talent, unmatched in Jiangzuo. I'm afraid even Wang Xizhi is far inferior to her."

Wang Biaozhi wholeheartedly agreed, saying, "Atu is too arrogant. If Xie's son goes to Wuyi Lane, won't he fight with Atu?"

Wang Hu chuckled, neither confirming nor denying.

These past few days have been the happiest time of his life in the last six months.

Wang Biaozhi suddenly said softly, "Brother, Xie Zi has been building his reputation by building a hut, refuting famous scholars, and treating virtuous friends. He is proceeding step by step with great care and cunning. His intentions are far too deep."

Wang Huzhi's face darkened: "Ahu, don't talk nonsense. Xie Fengzhi has the bearing of a pine tree and the demeanor of clouds and water. I can tell that he is an extremely proud person. The fact that he is willing to befriend us is a sign that he thinks highly of us."

Wang Biao secretly curled his lip and said no more.

You're always the one looking down on everyone, but now you're not caring about social status?

Lu's oxcart was at the back, and Lu Na dawdled and refused to get on for a long time.

"Fengzhi, why don't you come with me to Wu County? The Lu family has a manor and a large lake, where we can go boating."

Xie Hong felt a mix of amusement and inexplicable emotion. He reached out and punched Lu Na in the chest, laughing, "Brother Zuyan, let's not get sentimental. It's not like we're about to be separated by life and death."

As he spoke, he reached into his hand, pulled out a cloth bag, and handed it to Lu Na. Then, he said solemnly, "Keep this safe. Do not open it unless it is a matter of life and death. If nothing happens in two years, destroy it."

Lu Na was taken aback: "Feng Zhi, what's in here?"

Xie Hong smiled mysteriously: "It's unspeakable."

Of all these distinguished scholars, he had the best impression of Lu Na, not only because Lu Na was the first distinguished scholar willing to befriend him at the Huangshiyan gathering, but also because of his character.

But Xie Hong clearly lacked any integrity.

He's become addicted to giving away gift pouches.

I gave one to Zhou Guang, the prefect of Xunyang, and now I'm giving one to Lu Na.

That's outrageous cheating.

Lu Na's father, Lu Wan, was now forcibly recruited by Wang Dun to serve as his chief secretary, and was further coerced by the family. Lu Wan had no choice but to take up the post.

But Wang Dun's reign of terror wouldn't last long.

A little over a year later, Wang Dun's rebellion was quelled by Xi Jian, and all of Lu Wan's subordinates were arrested by Xi Jian.

Xi Jian certainly dared not kill them, but he suggested that the emperor dismiss and imprison all of them. Only Wen Qiao, the Prefect of Danyang, pleaded for Lu Wan, and in the end, Sima Shao listened to Wen Qiao's advice.

Lu Wan not only escaped unscathed, but also became the Minister of Personnel. Naturally, he was ashamed and declined the position, but was promoted to Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and concurrently served as the Grand Justice of Yangzhou.

If history proceeds smoothly, nothing will happen.

But Xie Hong definitely needs to come up with something to win over Lu Wan.

These kinds of famous people may appreciate you easily, but don't expect them to believe in you, let alone worship you.

Lu Na clutched the brocade pouch tightly in both hands and refused to leave. Lu Shi sat in the carriage waiting for a long time, but finally couldn't help but jump up, grabbing Lu Na by the back of his collar and pulling him into the carriage.

"Fengzhi, we're leaving."

Lu Na, being pulled backwards by her brother, waved at Xie Hong, saying, "Feng Zhi, I'll write to you as soon as I get back, and you have to write to me too..."

"Let's go, let's go!"

Xie Hong couldn't help but smile.

Xie Shang looked at Xie Hong with immense envy, thinking to himself, "When will I ever have the same reputation as my elder brother?"

I'm afraid it'll never be possible in this lifetime.

Xie Hong stood at the intersection watching the convoy wind its way down the mountain road until the last oxcart of the Lu family disappeared from sight before he turned back.

"Brother, what do we do next?"

On the way back, Xie Shang asked Xie Hong a question that gave him a headache.

"What are we doing? Going down the mountain to restock. These bastards have gone and consumed everything except the rice."

After returning home, Xie Hong summoned Chen San and asked him to bring out the monthly allowance and silk fabrics that had been prepared for Li Shi, A Ling, and A Heng.

The three members of the Li family have been on the mountain for more than half a month. They have been cooking, washing clothes, serving tea and water with him on the mountain, and have never complained. Xie Hong plans to take them down the mountain back to Dongshi Wubao so that they can go home and visit their families.

Upon hearing that they could go home, Ah Heng and Ah Ling were overjoyed. Although Li Shi didn't show it, there was still a hint of joy in her eyes, after all, she was worried about the children.

But when they saw what Xie Hong had given them, they were immediately terrified.

Each package contained two thousand coins, a bolt of silk, and a bolt of cloth.

Previously, Xie Hong had said he would reward them with silk and cloth, but Li Shi firmly declined, thinking that Xie Hong had given up.

Looking at the three bulging packages in front of her, Li lowered her head, wiped her eyes with her sleeve, then squatted down, curtsied, and bowed deeply to Xie Hong: "This servant thanks you, my lord."

Ah Heng and Ah Ling also quickly bowed, but their faces were beaming with smiles.

After lunch, Xie Hong asked Chen San to drive two oxcarts. A Liu led a refugee to lead the oxcarts, while Chen San stayed at home. He took Xie Shang, Li Shi, A Ling, and A Heng down the mountain.

It was already 1:15 PM when they arrived at Dongshi Fortress. The children who were picking snails in the fields and ditches outside the fortress recognized A-Ling and A-Heng sitting in the oxcart following Xie Hong's luxurious oxcart. They immediately came over with their bamboo baskets.

"Sister, sister, you're back!"

Ah Heng chuckled and pulled a handful of candy from her bag. The children immediately stretched out their arms, chattering excitedly and disturbing the people in the fortified village.

"Uncle, your granddaughter has returned home, carrying a huge bundle!"

The oxcart was still a long way off when the gates of the fortified village opened, and heads popped out.

"Look! Young Master Xie has given Ah Heng and Ah Ling a lot of good things."

"It's probably linen, right?"

"Two thousand coins a month, plus a bolt of linen as a bonus, tsk tsk tsk, why don't we get to have such good things?"

"Who told your daughter to be dark-skinned?"

"Pah, your whole family is black."

When they learned that Xie Hong had actually rewarded the three members of the Li family with a bolt of fine silk and a bolt of fine cloth, the entire Dong family fortress was in an uproar.

Two thousand a month is frightening enough; even in the county, it's considered a very high wage.

But two thousand coins plus a bolt of silk and a bolt of cloth...

That's enough for a family of four to live comfortably for a whole year without doing anything.

Not to mention that this is just their monthly allowance and reward.

It is said that Xie Langjun could also make a kind of food called Bing Su, which was a delicacy that even the emperor had never tasted.

Dong Xuan came to greet him from afar, chuckling and bowing deeply: "This servant greets my lord."

Xie Hong jumped down from the oxcart and said sarcastically, "Lord Dong, you are now the magistrate of a county, while I am still a commoner. There's no need for such formalities, is there?"

Dong Xuan was so frightened that he waved his hands repeatedly and said in terror, "This position as county magistrate was given to me by you, my lord. I would never forget it even if you beat me to death."