No one knows what they said. They only know that after they returned, the Ning family sent a letter of appointment.
Within a few days, the wedding day was chosen. The time was running out, but there was nothing we could do about it.
Qingmuhai came to Mushan Mansion to avoid disaster, not to enjoy the mountains and rivers.
During this period, he couldn't sleep at night and often dreamed that he was covered in blood and encountered misfortunes.
If you are an ordinary person, it doesn't matter if you dream about it, there is a high probability that it will not come true.
Qing Muhai is different. He is an old frog who has been practicing for thousands of years and is proficient in divination. The scene in the dream may be a warning from somewhere, so he is anxious to settle Shiniang's affairs to avoid catastrophe.
It will also bring trouble to the family.
"We're getting married two days later. It's too hasty!"
Ning Caichen is an ordinary person who knows a little about many things and cannot understand them.
He just felt that time was too short. This was a major event for his marriage. How could he rush the ducks to get ready? I felt very depressed: "I'm afraid it will be difficult for relatives and friends who are far away to arrive, right?"
Zhang Heng asked back: "Do you have many friends?"
Ning Caichen shook his head: "More is not much. It's just a major matter of marriage. It can't be perfect. It's inevitable that there will be some regrets."
Zhang Heng said with a smile: "It is life that has regrets."
Ning Caichen sighed, unable to feel free and easy.
But then he thought of Qing Muhai's identity, and asked a little confused: "What did Master Qing say to my mother? She was not happy at first, but how come she was more positive than me later?"
Zhang Heng smiled but said nothing.
He never told Ning Caichen that Ning's mother was looking for him.
Naturally, Ning Caichen didn't know that his mother had asked two questions, one about the Qing family's wealth, and the other about the Qing family's power.
After receiving the affirmation, Ning's mother's attitude changed drastically.
Now, Ning's mother only wants to marry the Qing family and use the power and wealth of the Qing family to make a comeback for the Ning family.
Not to mention that the wedding was just in a hurry, even if the bride didn't come on the wedding night, the old lady was willing to marry with a chicken and send the bride from someone else's house the next day.
"Caichen, why are you still poking here, like a piece of wood?"
Ning's mother came from the front yard with a face full of joy: "The Qing family has sent thirty large boxes. They are full of silks, gold, silver and jade. They are all things that can be used on the wedding day. Go and take inventory. See
Let’s see if we can match the order.”
When Ning Caichen heard this, he said helplessly: "Everything was brought from Qingfu. They have already checked it. Is it necessary to check it again?"
Ning's mother did not agree: "Those servants are careless and bully my orphan and widowed mother. They are greedy for the benefits even if they are not allowed to do so. It's better to rest assured."
no way.
Ning Caichen could only go reluctantly.
As a result, after counting, not only was there nothing missing, but in a gift box, I found a letter and three banknotes in denominations of 10,000 taels.
Open the letter and read it.
The letter was written by Shiniang. It was greasy and crooked, expressing her longing for each other.
As for the banknotes, Shi Niang had saved them herself. She was worried that Ning Caichen would not have the money to buy the betrothal gift, so Ning Caichen could use it without worry.
"Brother Zhang, look."
Ning Caichen took the banknote and came to Zhang Heng to ask for advice.
Zhang Heng thought for a while and said: "You can use this money with confidence. We are one husband and wife. Just be nice to Shiniang in the future."
After saying that, he added: "Shi Niang is not kind to you. If there are any conflicts or quarrels in the future, you should think more about today and do not despise her because of her status."
Ning Caichen looked embarrassed: "How could I do that?"
Zhang Heng didn't say anything and just nodded at the sky.
Two days later.
The gongs and drums are noisy, and the makeup is red for ten miles.
Ning Caichen rode a tall horse and picked up Shiniang from Qingfu.
Before leaving.
Qing Muhai's face was full of reluctance and she cried several times.
But he didn't say anything, not even a word. He just stood at the door and watched from a distance.
On the night of the wedding, kneel down and worship in the high hall.
Ning's mother sat in the first place, and Ning Caichen's eldest brother and sister-in-law stood on both sides. Everyone was very happy.
Zhang Heng didn't join in the fun, he just sat drinking in the attic in the backyard and watched the big seal above Qing Mansion disappear.
The second day.
When the bride returned home, the Qing Mansion was already empty.
Shiniang looked around with a confused look on her face, but found nothing, not even a letter.
No one knows what happened in Qing Mansion.
Only Zhang Heng understood that Qing Muhai was afraid of involving his daughter and son-in-law, so he left silently.
Then half a month.
Because Shi Niang married into the Ning family and brought a large amount of dowry, the Ning family became visibly wealthy.
Not only did the yard, which had been in disrepair for a long time, be repaired, but the vegetable patch in the backyard was leveled and turned into a garden again.
Even Ning Caichen's eldest brother has a tough back, clamoring to be embarrassed as a son-in-law, hoping to get married again when he returns home.
The father-in-law's family had no choice but to see that the Ning family was going to prosper and prosper, so they quickly said that marrying into the family was just a joke. Not only did they burn the marriage documents, but one of their two children also changed the surname back to Ning.
For a while, everyone said that the Ning family had married a good wife and would feel proud.
But they don't know: the fertile fields are so vast, and they still feel that there are few horses to ride on when they go out. The trough head seizes the mules and horses, and laments that they are being bullied for being unofficial.
Although the Ning family's life is getting richer day by day.
Ning's mother began to sigh, and said to everyone she met: "My ancestors have produced high-ranking officials of the third grade. There is no official in this family, so how can we talk about being rich?"
Later, Ning's mother began to urge Ning Caichen to study, and asked for advice from famous scholars.
Only when it comes to reading, Ning Caichen's talent is average.
For three months in a row, Ning Caichen's articles were always barely good enough. Not to mention taking the provincial examination, Ning Caichen didn't even get into the top 100 in the internal examination at the school. At such a level, he couldn't even reach the threshold of the provincial examination.
Ning's mother saw it in her eyes and was anxious in her heart.
After going back and forth, perhaps because he felt that Ning Caichen had little hope of passing the exam, he began to whisper to Shiniang: "Where is my father-in-law? Can you let him say hello to Mushan Mansion? This family
Don't talk about the two families, if Caichen wins the imperial examination, you will lose face when you go out, right?"
Shiniang was obedient and said that she could not contact her father either.
Ning's mother had no choice but her attitude was not as kind as before.
February.
The spring breeze blew across the earth, and a classmate came to visit Ning Caichen, saying that a protector of the country had come to the capital, and at his request, Enke might be opened this year.
Ning Caichen didn't react at all, because he was not even a civil servant, and Enke had nothing to do with him.
However, Ning's mother was a little reluctant, because the year before last was the imperial examination year, and talented scholars had already graduated from high school last year.
If you open Enke again this year, the pressure of competition will be much less, and the chance of passing the exam will be greatly improved.
Just thinking about Ning Caichen's talents made Ning's mother feel bad again.
In the past, she just wanted to have a better life at home.
Now the Ning family has a lot of silk and satin, so they can eat and drink without worries. Now that they are rich, it would be a pity if it is not expensive.
the other side.
Shi Niang is not good at taking care of women. She sits upright in makeup every day and likes to play with flowers and plants.
Ning Caichen's clothes, shoes and hats were always made by Ning's mother.
After doing it for a long time and feeling unhappy, Ning's mother came to Zhang Heng to complain: "Brother Heng, you are a noble person in my family and a god-like figure. Logically speaking, I shouldn't disturb your purification.
But that Shi Niang is really too much. She is married to a woman, and she doesn’t look like a wife. She even has to push me to do needlework. I think I am old and dim, and I have to go through needlework every day. It’s really a hard life.”
Zhang Heng was silent.
Unexpectedly, Shi Niang was coming to bring tea to Zhang Heng, and she heard clearly.
I felt extremely aggrieved for a moment and couldn't help but come out and cry to Ning's mother: "What did mother say? My daughter-in-law comes to say hello to you morning and night. If you don't rest, my daughter-in-law is always standing outside. She doesn't dare to sleep first, for fear that you will have trouble."
No one responds to my orders, so why don't I look like a wife?
The needlework you mentioned can be left to the servants.
You care about the money and want to take care of it yourself. I can't say anything more, but you shouldn't say anything wrong about me."
Ning's mother was furious: "You have been lazy all day, and you only know how to play with flowers and plants. A pot of flowers costs a hundred taels of silver, and even a golden mountain is not enough for you to spend so much."
Shiniang's eyes were filled with tears: "Which item in the Ning Mansion was not spent on my money? You said something bad about me. It's just because I didn't find my father and asked him to help deliver the message to the rural examiner. You blamed me in your heart.
I feel like everything is bad about me.”
Ning's mother was speechless, and then she sat on the ground and burst into tears.
Zhang Heng was silent.
In fact, he had guessed that this dynasty would happen as early as the beginning.
Because Ning's mother had too many expectations for this marriage that she shouldn't have, and if she didn't go according to her wishes, there would inevitably be disputes.
From his point of view, Shi Niang is already excellent.
Marrying into the Ning family brought a large dowry, enough to last ten generations of the Ning family.
What was the Ning family like in the past? They didn't know the taste of meat for half a month and ate some meat. Even the eldest son who was the son-in-law had to come home.
Now that things are better, there is no shortage of silks and satins, but she no longer dislikes her daughter-in-law. How can there be such justice?
"Don't you just want me to go find daddy?"
"Okay, I'll look for it right now. If I can't find it, I won't come back."
Ning's mother cried, and Shi Niang also cried.
Halfway through crying, I walked away angrily and left the house without looking back.
That night.
The Ning family caught fire.
It is strange to say that the fire seemed to have eyes, and it only burned the dowry brought by Shi Niang and the renovated courtyard.
The Ning family was in chaos.
Ning Caichen even came to beg Zhang Heng personally: "Brother Zhang, there is a fire at home. Please help save it."
Zhang Heng shook his head: "This is a demon fire. I can save it, but I can't save it. Laowa has already figured out that his daughter has been wronged. He wants to take away everything Shiniang brought and let you go back to the old days. I
Not suitable for interfering."
The second day.
Looking at the messy Ning Mansion, Ning's mother couldn't afford to fall ill.
Zhang Heng used talisman water to treat the disease and asked: "Today is like the past, has the old lady ever regretted it?"
Ning's mother was furious and said angrily: "My Ning family has passed down poetry and calligraphy. The daughter raised by Lao Lao cannot serve her parents-in-law. Can't I say that? Burn it, let him burn it. I just think the gold and silver he sent is too high."
It’s so dirty that I’m embarrassed to pass it on to our children and grandchildren.”
Zhang Heng said no more.
The next few days.
The Ning family was impoverished and returned to the way it had been before. Every day they had clear soup with little water and no meat or fishy taste.
Ning's mother has been used to eating afternoon tea in the past few months and is extremely uncomfortable.
Ning Caichen saw this and went out with the hen at home. As a result, he waited until night and the hen in his arms was not sold.
And compared to Ning's mother, Ning Caichen's eldest brother had more complaints.
Complaining about his mother's ignorance, Ning Caichen was able to marry a wife like Shiniang, which was a blessing earned in eight lifetimes.
If it were him, he would have wished to be worshiped as a Bodhisattva, but if she asked for anything, she would always be granted. Ning's mother actually went to trouble Shiniang. Isn't this making herself uncomfortable?
Ning's mother had nothing to say. Looking at Ning Caichen who was getting thinner and thinner, she felt very regretful.
It's a pity that the Qingfu people left the building empty, and no one knew where Shiniang had gone. Ning Caichen searched for several days, but found nothing.
Forced to have no choice, Ning's mother could only come to the backyard again and plead to Zhang Heng: "My greed has covered my eyes, just like dark clouds covering the sun. Now I think about it and regret it. Since Shi Niang married into my Ning family, we have suffered a lot."
Because of his kindness, now Caichen misses his wife every day and doesn't think about food and drinks. This is all my fault and I will never do it again."
Zhang Heng sighed: "Neither deaf nor mute, nor a family man, Ning Caichen and Shiniang have a very good relationship. Let them live their lives by themselves. As a mother, why bother to interfere.
"
After saying that, he added: "Before Qinggong left, he asked me to take care of Shi Niang. I know where she is now, but I have said it first. This kind of thing cannot be done twice. If it happens next time, I won't do it."
I’ll take care of it.”
Mother Ning thanked her profusely.
Zhang Heng called Ning Caichen and said to him: "Seven miles west of Qingfu, there is a stone bridge. Shi Niang has nowhere to go, so she lives under the bridge. It depends on you whether you can bring her back.
"
Ning Caichen hurried over.
But when I got under the bridge, I looked around and there was no one there.
Ning Caichen was impatient and could only shout: "Shi Niang, Shi Niang!"
Gua!!
A red frog jumped out of the river.
But after hesitating for a moment, the red frog got back into the water, only looking at Ning Caichen with its two eyes.
Ning Caichen is just an ordinary person, how could he find any clues.
After calling for a long time, Shi Niang didn't come out to meet him. She thought Shi Niang was disgusted with him, so she couldn't help but feel sad: "Shi Niang, Shi Niang, how can I live without you?"
I saw Ning Caichen crying bitterly.
Shi Niang couldn't bear it anymore, jumped out of the water, turned into a human form, hugged Ning Caichen and cried: "Caichen, I can't let you go, but now I can't find my father, and I'm disgusted by your mother.
, what can we do if we don’t leave?”
When I think about these days, Shiniang has been living under the bridge and has no home.
Ning Caichen cried so hard that he blamed himself: "I was busy studying all day long, and I couldn't stand in the way and handle the relationship between you and your mother. It's all my fault. I've also seen through it. I'm not the material for reading at all.
Instead of wasting time with fantasy all day long, it is better to obey destiny and live a good life with you at home."
That night, Ning Caichen took Shiniang home.
Seeing Shiniang back, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Unfortunately, Shi Niang had no money left, so she had no choice but to pawn her jewelry and get a hundred taels of silver back.
Of course, this amount of money cannot be compared to what it was before.
But it was enough for the two of them to rent a shop and sell some pens, inks, paper and inkstones to make a living. Although they were not rich, it was enough for them to have enough food and clothing.
call!!
Zhang Heng is meditating in the attic.
Suddenly, the paper frog placed on the table spontaneously ignited without fire and turned into a puff of smoke.
The green smoke condensed but did not disperse, and gradually turned into the form of an old man. He saluted Zhang Heng and said, "My little girl, I have asked the real person to worry about it."
"It's okay."
Zhang Heng's face was expressionless: "What's going on with Mr. Qing?"
"I have found out that Na Pudu Cihang came from the Western Regions and came from Dabei Temple. He is the current Dharma King of Dabei Temple."
"Shi Jing, the Censor of the Left Supervisor, recommended the Empress Dowager to come to the capital to preach in the name of her seventieth birthday."
"After the Dharma Conference, the Queen Mother took a fancy to him and gave him a badge of honor to travel in the palace. Soon after, he was elected as a national advisor by the emperor."
"Of course, this is on the surface. Secretly, Shi Jing, the censor of the Left Supervisor, is a registered disciple of Zen Master Hongye of Xiangguo Temple. Pudu Cihang became the national master, and there is a hint of Buddhism behind it."
"And after Pudu Cihang became the national master, many canonized demon kings disappeared. I'm afraid..."
Qing Muhai didn't say anything else.
After a moment of silence, Qing Muhai frowned: "I just don't know what their purpose is."
...
ps: There is a second update in the early morning, which is also 4,000 words long.