Early on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Shi Shuang took his young son Xiao Shitou to Wang Siren's house. On the order of Zhang's mother, Lu, he came to take Master Zhang Yuan home. He also brought two half-foot-long anchovies and ten pounds of shad.
Dongyang Nanzao, Wang Siren asked the housekeeper to give back a piece of Pujiang ham.
After having breakfast at Wang's house, Zhang Yuan, Wuling's master and servant, and Shi Shuang's father and son got up and returned to Shanyin. The weather was fine that day, the rising autumn sun was shining brightly, and the main streets of Kuaiji County were being swept by civilian workers.
The walk was dusty and we passed Xinghua Temple and Prince Qiansu's Temple along the way. In front of us was Kuaiji and Fu River, the boundary river between Shanyin and Shanyin counties.
After spending three consecutive days in the study reading and thinking, Zhang Yuan also felt a little tired. At this time, he stood on the Yuewang Bridge on the Fu River and watched the Fu River flowing day and night reflecting the sparkling sun. Boats were passing on the river and fishermen were singing early morning songs.
, I am naturally broad-minded. Looking back on the harvest of these three days of study, I am in a good mood. It is really different to have a master’s guidance and to figure it out on my own. I will not take detours and get twice the result with half the effort——
Then I thought: "Yesterday evening, the teacher went in and asked Wang Yingzi about her notes in the Four Books. Miss Yingzi must have argued that she was dressed as a man. I didn't notice it. I just wondered whether the teacher believed it or not. Did he scold Miss Yingzi? The teacher went to the front yard.
When I came, my expression was normal, but I didn’t know what I was thinking. The teacher was a first-class smart person. Fortunately, I was only fifteen years old, so there shouldn’t be too many misunderstandings. I should be careful not to interact with that person in the future.
As long as there is nothing to do with Miss Yingzi, Miss Yingzi has exposed her secrets, so she probably won’t come out again——"
Zhang Yuan didn't have many thoughts about Wang Yingzi. Unlike when he saw Shang Danran, he felt excited. Wang Yingzi was like the girl next door. If possible, it would be great to come out and talk together.
, but in the late Ming Dynasty, how could he talk to someone else's daughter at home casually? Teacher Wang must have regarded him as his son-in-law. Although he went too far with his beauty as a metaphor that day, Teacher Wang gave him a lesson with a straight face, but
Judging from the past two days, Teacher Wang obviously doesn't care. He probably thinks that it is understandable for young people to be lustful...
When Zhang Yuan stopped to look at the flowing water and was deep in thought, Wu Ling and Shi Shuang's father and son also stood and waited. The three of them were all smiling. Wu Ling asked Xiao Shitou about White Mule Xuejing, and learned that White Mule had been staying at Zhang Yuan's house.
Here, Wu Ling was even happier and said, "Then why don't you bring the white mule over today and let the young master ride it back?"
Little Shitou scratched his head and said, "I didn't expect this. Xue Jing won't let me hold it, nor will my brother. Only Sister Tuting and Zhenzhen can."
Wu Ling said: "I can do it too, I have a yellow beard."
Xiao Shitou said: "Brother Xiao Wu, I'm wearing that painted face mask, but it still doesn't work."
Wu Ling smiled and said: "You are too short, you can't act like one."
There was a long and narrow dragon-headed boat rowing under the Yuewang Bridge while beating drums. Zhang Yuan looked at it and asked Shi Shuang on the side: "Uncle Shi, the Dragon Boat Festival has passed long ago, why are you still rowing the dragon boat?"
"
Shi Shuang said: "Tomorrow is the birthday of the Sea Dragon King. I want to worship. Isn't the Temple of the Sea Dragon King over there? We just passed by it."
Zhang Yuandao: "That is the Temple of Prince Qian Su."
Shi Shuang said: "King Qian Su is the Sea Dragon King. People in Kuaiji call him that. The Sea Dragon King temple fair is very lively."
Zhang Yuan nodded and said: "That's it - let's go."
After crossing the Fu River, bypassing the Shimen Pavilion, passing between Yuxu Temple and Shuangyi Temple, in front was the Shaoxing Fu Academy. After turning around the Fu Academy, Xiao Xi Nu Wuling's eyes were sharp and he shouted: "Young Master,
My wife is waiting in front of the door."
Zhang Yuan quickly quickened his pace and rushed to the bamboo fence gate first, smiling and saying: "Mother, my son is back."
Zhang's mother, Mrs. Lu, smiled brightly and said, "I guess you will be back soon." Then she looked at her son from left to right and said, "My son seems to be a little thinner. Does it mean that my son doesn't like the food at your husband's house?"
"
Zhang Yuan said with a smile: "The food at my husband's house is very suitable for my son. My son eats several large bowls of white rice for every meal. Let's take a look at it. Where has my son lost weight?"
Zhang's mother, Mrs. Lu, smiled and said, "That's good, that's good." Then she said, "Your sister has sent a letter from Qingpu. Come and see it."
Zhang Yuan followed his mother into the inner courtyard and read the letter written by his sister Zhang Ruoxi. Her sister's Jin people's small regular script had a unique style. Zhang Ruoxi said in the letter that she cried with joy when she learned that Zhang Yuan's eyes had recovered. She went to the outer Yin Temple in the city to offer incense and pay her vows.
, and I was very pleased to know that Zhang Yuan studied hard. Since Zhang Yuan plans to come to Songjiang next March to celebrate her brother-in-law's birthday, she will send a servant to pick her up then. She also told some trivial things about her two little nephews and sent them with the letter.
There are many Jiaxing fish breasts, Nanjing Taomen dates, Suzhou hawthorn cakes, pine nut candies and other recipes.
Hawthorn cake and pine nut candy were Zhang Yuan's favorite foods in the past, but now he dare not eat more. He tasted a few pieces and left a small half. The rest was shared by Wu Ling, Tu Ting and Shitou brothers. In the afternoon, Mu Zhenzhen
When he arrived, Zhang Yuan gave Mu Zhenzhen the bag of hawthorn cake and pine nut candies and asked her to take them home later.
Mu Zhenzhen now sells both Shaoxing oranges and Dongyang southern dates. He said to Zhang Yuan: "Master, my maid will also go to Kuaiji tomorrow -" When he said this, the fallen girl looked at him with her dark and bright blue eyes.
Zhang Yuan, obviously wanted Zhang Yuan to guess what she was doing in Kuaiji?
Zhang Yuan stood by the stone trough in the back garden, caressing the white mule Xuejing's neck, looking sideways at Mu Zhenzhen, and said, "Let me guess, um, are you going to the Hailongwang Temple in Kuaiji to attend the temple fair?"
Mu Zhenzhen's eyes widened and he said, "Ah, how could the young master hit the mark with just one guess!"
Zhang Yuan smiled and said: "Tomorrow you go to Kuaiji with me, and I will wait for you at home. You don't have to be in such a hurry. It doesn't matter if you are a little late."
This is what Mu Zhenzhen really hoped for. The young master once again spoke to her heart and said happily: "My little maid, you don't have to go to the dock early tomorrow. Daddy went with me today and picked up 150 kilograms of southern dates and Xie oranges to go home."
, Southern dates won’t go bad if stored for a few days.”
Zhang Yuan said: "Okay, you can just get here at the end of the morning tomorrow morning."
Wu Ling held the reins of the white mule and said, "Master, let's ride the mule and play."
Zhang Yuan did not touch the book today and completely relaxed his mind. He had learned too much in the past three days and must relax his mind. A balance between work and rest is a must.
After tying up the saddle bridge, Zhang Yuan climbed on the white mule and went out from the small gate of the back garden on his stomach, trotting along the east bank of the Touji River. Wu Ling and Tu Ting followed the white mule. The little girl Tu Ting screamed happily like a bamboo whistle.
generally.
Mu Zhenzhen followed him for a while at first, but felt a little embarrassed. She was much older than Tu Ting, and was no longer a child, so she stopped and stood under a tall willow tree to watch the young master riding a big white mule as he rode away.
I feel really happy to be back.
"Definitely..."
The iron horseshoes struck the solid stone. Two tall horses stepped across the stone arch bridge and ran from Xizhang to Dongzhang. The passengers on the horses were the two brothers Zhang Dai and Zhang E. Zhang E pointed at them and ran towards them from afar.
Zhang Yuan laughed and said: "Brother, look, Jiezi is so happy to ride on a mule after he gets a mule. He is really a small family man."
Zhang Dai said: "Otherwise, Xue Jing is no better than an ordinary mule. She can run as fast as our two horses in short distances. She also has the endurance of a donkey. She can run two or three hundred miles in a day, but she can last for seven days. Horses cannot."
"
While talking, Zhang Yuan ran up to the two of them, reined in the white mule, held the reins in his hands and said, "Hello, eldest brother, hello, third brother."
Zhang Dai asked about Zhang Yuan's studies at Wang Siren's place, nodded and said: "Mr. Jian'an is a young Jinshi, and he must have a unique secret about Eight-legged Gu. As long as he is willing to teach others, and Jie is willing to study diligently, he will naturally benefit a lot.
.”
Zhang E said: "Reading those boring things all day long is boring to death. You will live for a hundred years. If you suddenly die on the day when you are a Jinshi in high school, wouldn't it be a waste of time?"
Zhang Yuan smiled and said: "It is rare to be so unjust. You can't do nothing just because you are afraid of death. Only the third brother can do this."
Zhang E laughed heartily and said: "The Double Ninth Festival will be in a few days. Our brothers have made an appointment with some friends to climb Yuqi Mountain. You must come, Jie Zi."
The Double Ninth Festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, and today is the fifth day of the lunar month. It happens to be a day of rest after three days of hard study. On the Double Ninth Festival, I respect the elderly and will come back to celebrate the festival with my mother. Zhang Yuan said: "Okay, my two brothers will call me then."