Chapter 82: The Great Ming Sword
Chapter 82: The Great Ming Sword (First Order)
Hai Rui brushed off the frost on his body, walked into the shop, bowed to the shop owner who was about to return to his backyard workshop, and asked politely, "Shop owner, do you have any houses for rent?"
The shop owner, who was anxious to make money from Zhu Zaigui, had no time to care about other people at this moment. Even if he had a vacant house to rent at this time, he didn't want to waste time.
The shopkeeper replied impatiently: "No, no, go ask somewhere else, I'm busy."
Zhu Zaigui looked at the stranger who had suddenly appeared, and listened to his Mandarin with a slight southern accent, and he could not help but glance at Hai Rui curiously.
Seeing Hai Rui's dignified and selfless character, Zhu Zaigui couldn't help but feel an inexplicable liking for the stranger in front of him.
When Hai Rui saw the nobleman beside him looking at him curiously, he returned the look in a neither humble nor arrogant manner. This action immediately made Meng Chong, who was serving Zhu Zaigui, anxious.
Meng Chong rebuked Hai Rui, "How dare you look at my young master like that!"
Hai Rui was not afraid of Meng Chong's anger. He said calmly, "I am neither a criminal nor your servant. What's wrong with looking at you? Could it be that your son is a prince? And if so, we are all in plain clothes in this ordinary little shop. How can I look up to your son?"
Hai Rui's words almost made Meng Chong speechless.
At this time, Zhu Zaigui also began to speak: "Brother, please don't blame me. I am a servant who is eager to protect my master. I apologize to you."
After saying this, Zhu Zaigui bowed to Hai Rui with his fists clasped. Seeing such a polite nobleman, Hai Rui naturally would not continue to be stubborn, so he also bowed slightly with his fists clasped.
Zhu Zaigui continued, "From your accent, I don't think you are from the north. Are you here to seek employment in the capital or to seek refuge with your relatives?"
Hai Rui replied, "My name is Hai Rui, my courtesy name is Ruxian, my pseudonym is Gangfeng, I am from Qiongshan, and I am here to attend the imperial examination in Beijing. I came here to rent a house to stay in, and wait for the imperial examination in February."
Zhu Zaigui uttered an "oh" and didn't realize who Hai Rui was. "So Brother Hai is a juren who is taking the imperial examination in the capital. I am so sorry for my disrespect."
After saying this, Zhu Zaigui seemed to remember something and asked repeatedly, "Are you Hai Rui Hai Gangfeng?!"
Hai Rui couldn't help but be surprised when he heard the nobleman in front of him suddenly call out his name.
"Have you heard my story?"
Hai Rui asked curiously.
When Zhu Zaigui heard Hai Rui's words, his excitement was evident on his face.
Zhu Zaigui said excitedly: "Mr. Hai's name is well-known. Today, I saw Mr. Hai's uprightness, and he is indeed like a strong and solid mountain! If Mr. Hai doesn't mind, I am willing to prepare a residence for Mr. Hai to stay in before the imperial examination."
Hai Rui had no idea why the nobleman in front of him looked at him so highly, but he understood the principle of not accepting rewards without merit.
Hai Rui replied, "Thank you for your kindness, sir. I dare not disturb your peace, so you should just find a place to stay."
But how could Zhu Zaigui be willing to let Hai Rui go?
This is a deity known as the Divine Sword of the Ming Dynasty. He is a fierce man who can break down the Taoist priest with just one "Public Security Memorial". He is simply an idol-level god. How can he be allowed to suffer in such icy weather?
Zhu Zaigui continued to persuade him, "Mr. Hai, please don't refuse. I really respect your ambition. A small courtyard is not worth mentioning to me, but it is very important to Mr. Hai at this moment. Mr. Hai will take part in the imperial examination next spring. If there is no good living environment for Mr. Hai to review his lessons, what will happen if it affects Mr. Hai's performance in the examination?"
But Hai Rui still insisted, "Thank you for your kindness, sir. I don't know why you are so enthusiastic, but I really can't bother you." Then Hai Rui bowed to Zhu Zaigui and was about to leave to find another place to live.
At this time, the shopkeeper who had been waiting for a long time could not help but anxiously said: "Sir, do you still want to see my secret recipe for colored glaze? If you don't want to see it, I won't return the money."
Zhu Zaigui was in no mood to deal with the shopkeeper at this time. Without even turning his head, he said to Meng Chong, "Give him five hundred taels and ask him to close the shop. He should report to Shunyi Industrial Park today."
Before Meng Chong could react, Zhu Zaigui had already chased after him, apparently determined to get Hai Rui back.
Seeing that his own prince actually thought so highly of this sour scholar from Qiongzhou, Meng Chong did not have time to think too much. He turned to the owner of the store and said, "Did you hear what I just said? Close the store and report to Shunyi Industrial Park immediately."
The shopkeeper was stunned and said, "Why should I go?"
Meng Chong winked at a guard outside the store and said, "Take him away!"
Then he ran after Zhu Zaigui.
The guard walked into the store and took a look at the panicked store owner. "This is a blessing, a blessing that many people want but cannot obtain. Hurry up and pack your things. Come with me to Shunyi Industrial Park today."
The shopkeeper said aggrievedly: "Just now the young man said he would give me five hundred taels of silver."
The guard said, "My master said he would give it to you, so why are you wasting your time? Don't you know where Shunyi Industrial Park is?"
The shopkeeper suddenly came back to his senses when he heard this, and the light in his eyes instantly brightened up. Of course, he knew the legend of Shunyi Industrial Park. His neighbor Liu Yishou relied on the big tree of Shunyi Industrial Park. Now he is the shopkeeper of Yirantang in Dongshi. He is so prosperous that many people envy him.
I didn't expect that such good luck would befall me now.
The shopkeeper said excitedly, "Please wait a moment. I will go and tell everyone and I will leave with you right away."
Zhu Zaigui in the alley quickly chased after Hai Rui, "Mr. Hai, please wait for me. I really want to help you."
Hai Rui, who was walking in front, heard the nobleman's voice behind him. He stopped and said to Zhu Zaigui, "I really appreciate your kindness, but I really can't accept the reward without doing anything. If I live in the small courtyard you prepared for me for nothing, I will feel uneasy."
Zhu Zaigui said, "Well, I won't let you live here for free, but you can pay me the rent, right?"
Seeing how enthusiastic Zhu Zaigui was, Hai Rui couldn't bear to refuse him. However, when he thought about how expensive houses were in Beijing, Hai Rui didn't want to take advantage of Zhu Zaigui.
Hai Rui said, "Sir, you can think of me so much. I am very grateful, but I hope you don't look for a house that is too expensive, otherwise I won't have enough money in my pocket to pay the rent for you."
Zhu Zaigui smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Hai. I will not make things difficult for you."
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(End of this chapter)