Chapter 1112: Carrying on the Past and Opening up the Future (I)

In the blink of an eye, it was already March of the third year of the Han Dynasty. It was the time when all things revived and spring flowers bloomed. However, it was also the time when people were drowsy and spring sleepiness was rampant. Zhou Fucai was sitting in his medicine shop, leaning his head on the back of the chair. Up, he was dozing off.

The Kingdom of Han seems to be climbing to a new level every day, and its economic situation is getting better and better day by day. Caravans traveling from north to south, and pedestrians coming and going, fill the small county town of Li County to the limit every day. If it is full and there are more people, there will naturally be more people suffering from headaches, headaches, stomachaches and diarrhea, and the business of his drug store will be excellent.

Zhou Fucai not only runs a drug store, he is also a doctor himself. He prescribes prescriptions and sells medicines, so he makes more money. Now it is no better than in previous years. The influx of medicinal materials from the three counties of Liaodong has caused the prices of medicinal materials to drop a lot. , but now that people have money, they naturally take their own lives more seriously. If they feel slightly uncomfortable, they will come to the drug store to seek diagnosis and treatment. This makes Zhou Fucai's income after one year actually much more than in previous years.

The powerful sound of a pestle came from the back hall, and a smile appeared on the corner of the half-asleep Zhou Fucai's mouth. His son was already seventeen. Last year, he just made an engagement with a lady from the Lu family, a wealthy gentry in the county. Next year, he will be able to marry a new wife. , Speaking of his son, Zhou Fucai was very proud. His son not only inherited his own skills in medicine, but also had an attitude that was superior to others. Otherwise, the Lu family would not have taken a liking to their son.

Last year I made five hundred taels of silver. This year's business seems to be better. I have to make one thousand taels to be enough. The Lu family is a wealthy family, and the bride price they give must not be less. Otherwise, when the bride comes into the house, she will inevitably If you look down on your husband's family, your son will not be able to straighten up his waist. The Lu family has already said that when the two families get married, they will work together to start a medicine business. The Lu family has many old relationships, and I have a good relationship with my son. If they combine their professional knowledge, it will be great for both brothers!

"Boss Zhou, your relatives are here!" A loud voice came from the door, startling Zhou Fucai who was immersed in his beautiful thoughts about the future. When he heard the voice, he knew it was that one. It was Wang Er from the same street. , there is an old lady at home who has a chronic problem of coughing and gargling, and she has to grab a medicine here every three to five days.

"Wang Er, can't you lower your voice? I'm not deaf?" Zhou Fucai stood up lazily, turned around sleepily, opened the medicine drawer, and skillfully grabbed a few medicines.

"Boss Zhou, your relative is here. By coincidence, you said, I was about to come to your place to get some medicine. He grabbed me and asked for your address, so I brought him over directly." Wang Er's voice was still the same. It sounds like it has always been like this.

Zhou Fucai didn't look back and said with a smile: "My relatives are all here in the countryside. Who doesn't know the way to my house? He doesn't have any relatives in other places?"

"Cousin, how come you forgot about me?" A deep voice came from behind.

Zhou Fucai turned around, and the sunlight coming in from the door made him squint his eyes, unable to see the person clearly: "Cousin?" he asked doubtfully.

The man outside walked a few steps inside, stood at the edge of the counter, and smiled softly: "Cousin, now that you are rich, you won't disown me, a poor relative from other places, right?"

Zhou Fucai saw the face of the person coming clearly, and his whole body froze in an instant. His hand loosened, and with a pop, all the medicine he had just grabbed for Wang Er fell to the ground, smashing into pieces.

"Hey, Boss Zhou, what are you doing? I don't want this medicine anymore. You have to get another one for me. I've never given you half a penny less?" Wang Er, who came over at the same time, looked at it. When he threw the medicine on the floor, he couldn't help but screamed and knocked on the counter with dissatisfaction.

"Don't worry, my cousin is always generous. Of course he will grab another pair for you." The visitor smiled and said to Wang Er: "Brother Wang, thank you for bringing me here. If it weren't for you, I really couldn't find it." Here, there are so many people in Li County!"

"Isn't that right? Although our Li County is not big, it is an important transportation route into Jicheng. In the past few years, there have been more and more people every year." Wang Er nodded repeatedly, with a happy face. "But it's good to have more people. Only with more people can we make money. Like the small courtyard in my house. Now I live in one room with my wife and rent the rest to these people. I can get several taels of silver every month. Otherwise, where would I have come from? Money is used to pay for my medical treatment. My mother has been ill for these years and she had to endure it hard in the past. It was because of my hard life that she survived until the good days. Since I started taking medicine last year, my disease has been getting better day by day. It’s not like before. A cough makes the whole night."

"Brother Wang is really filial. Good people are rewarded, and your mother will definitely get better soon." The visitor praised.

"Thank you Ji Yan. Hey, Boss Zhou, what are you doing? Get me some medicine quickly. My mother is still waiting for me to come home for dinner!" Wang Er knocked on the table again, "What's wrong with you? See Are you so happy that your cousin is here?"

The sound of tapping on the counter surprised Zhou Fucai, who was dumbfounded, "Oh, yes, it's time to get you some medicine. I'm so happy that I'm stupid, so happy!"

Looking at the incoherent Zhou Fucai, Wang Er laughed and said: "It seems that Boss Zhou is really happy!"

The visitor just laughed and said nothing. He just looked thoughtfully at Zhou Fucai, who had his back turned to him. What Wang Er didn't notice was that Zhou Fucai's hand holding the medicine was trembling all the time. He grabbed it several times. The medicinal materials fell back again.

Wang Er picked up the packaged medicine, paid half a penny, and raised his hand to the visitor, "You cousins ​​haven't seen each other for many years. You must have a lot to talk about. I won't interrupt you. Farewell, farewell!"

"Okay, okay, Brother Wang is generous and generous. When I settle down, I'll come and have a drink with you." The visitor returned the gift with a smile.

"Okay, let's drink. Although I, Wang Er, are poor, I can still afford a drink." Wang Er laughed and turned around to leave.

As soon as Wang Er left, Zhou Fucai jumped out of the counter and ran to the door to close it.

"Cousin, why are you closing the door in broad daylight? Are you afraid that others won't know that there is something fishy here?" The visitor leaned on the counter with his arms folded, looking at Zhou Fucai with a half-smile.

Zhou Fucai's outstretched hand suddenly froze. After a long while, he turned around with difficulty, looked at the visitor, and whispered: "Master Tan, why are you here?"

"Didn't you expect that I would come?" Tan Kang chuckled, "How could the young master forget about our old brothers in the past? We used to have a lot of things to do and couldn't handle them. Now we don't have to fight anymore and we are free. Naturally, I want to have a good chat with my old brothers. What's the matter, Lao Zhou, aren't you welcome?"

"No, no, no, how could you not welcome me?" Zhou Fucai swallowed and tried his best to calm down.

"Dad, the medicine is ready." The curtain in the back hall was lifted, and a young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes came out carrying a tray full of medicine powder. When he saw the visitor, he took another look at his father's expression and was stunned. , "Dad, are there any guests?"

"Is this my cousin? He's grown so tall!" Tan Kang walked over with a happy face and looked the boy up and down, "I remember I hugged you back then. By the way, cousin, my cousin's name is I can’t even remember the name!”

"My name is Zhou Youwei!" the young man said loudly: "Who are you?"

"I am your cousin. I have been away from home all year round and haven't been back for many years. Look, just now your father didn't dare to recognize me?" Tan Kang burst out laughing.

Zhou Fucai forced a smile on his face and said, "You're welcome, my cousin is here. I'll go back inside to talk to my cousin, and you can look after the shop outside."

"Don't worry, Dad, nothing will happen to you!" Zhou Youwei nodded.

Zhou Fucai extended his hand and said, "Please, cousin!"

Tan Kang smiled slightly and strode inside.

With a bang, the door was closed tightly by Zhou Fucai, holding the door latch with both hands. Zhou Fucai stared at Tan Kang, "Master Tan, why did you come to me? Yan Lingwei is gone and has dispersed. I am now He is no longer a member of Yan Lingwei."

Tan Kang squinted his eyes and looked at Zhou Fucai, "Who said that the Yan Ling Guards have dispersed, but the Yan Ling Guards will not disperse if the young master is still there. The Yan Ling Guards will be there if the young master is here."

"Master Tan, don't forget that there was a Yanzi in the Yanling Guard. Now there is no more Yan. Master Tan has now become the general of the Qin Dynasty. The former Yanling Guards have long since dispersed. Master Tan, I serve the Yanling Guards. After many years, there is no merit but hard work, so why do you come to trouble me again?" Zhou Fucai stared at the other party, "Master Tan, considering the past friendship, I will not embarrass you, you can go, we people , no one would want to go back to the old days."

Tan Kang looked at the other person and laughed. Not only did he not leave, but he walked to a chair on the side, sat down, looked at the other person and said: "You are doing very well now. Youwei seems to be serious." He is young and promising, listen, he is diagnosing a patient, and he speaks very eloquently!" Tan Kang tilted his head and listened for a while, "I also heard that you have a son-in-law with the Lu family, a wealthy businessman in Li County, and you will marry him next year. There is a lot of potential in the medicinal materials business as a partnership, so it’s no wonder you don’t want to go back to Yan Lingwei.”

"Let me say it again, Yan Lingwei is gone. Since you have inquired about me so clearly, you know that I am just an ordinary Han citizen now. I can't help you, and I won't do you any favors. .”

Tan Kang said calmly, "Really? As far as I know, some of the Yan Ling Guards back then were killed by King Cao because of their resistance, and some followed Ning Xin and defected to the Supervisory Yuan. With your skills, if you show your identity and defect to In the past, there must have been a good salary, how did you become a drug store owner?"

"Me!" Zhou Fucai's face turned red.

"Oh, I remembered that our Brother Zhou used to be a master of the torture chamber. Oh, by the way, when we were interrogating Ning Zecheng, Brother Zhou spared no effort. That acupuncture technique is comparable to that of Donghu's Lu Shiren. It's a wonderful thing, but Ning Zecheng can't live or die under your hands. Now Ning Xin is the princess of the Han Dynasty. I heard that the King of Han Gaoyuan doted on her and he was very doting on her. You don't dare to go to them, you can only hide in hiding. You are hiding your name, for fear that they will know your past." Tan Kang looked at Zhou Fucai, whose face had turned gray, "Brother Zhou, you have no way out. If your identity is exposed, do you think Ning Xin will rape you? As for his skin, hey, then our promising nephew’s life must be very gloomy. Whether he can save his life or not is a matter of two minds!” (To be continued)