The next morning, Zhang Yanling and Tan Ruqing packed their bags and set off. Since they did not want to attract attention, they packed lightly and did not bring any personal guards to avoid getting into trouble.
Zhang Yanling was riding a horse, wrapped tightly in a thick cloak. Xiaozhu and Tan Ruqing were sitting in the carriage. The boxes behind the carriage were full of gifts, and of course some daily necessities.
Mrs. Tan's hometown is Tanjiazhuang, under the jurisdiction of Chunhua Town, in the south of Nanjing. It is thirty or forty miles away from Nanjing. If the officials figured it out, or if it didn't snow this time, it would be better.
It only takes an hour or two to arrive.
But it rained and snowed, and the roads were all narrow, so people and horses moved very slowly. It was better to ride a horse, because the wheels of the carriage often got stuck in the muddy ditches on both sides, making it impossible to move. The young man who drove the carriage, Tan Jia,
Aniu was sweating profusely, but there was nothing he could do.
After Tan Ruqing got married, the coachman was brought from the Tan family. Uncle Liang, the housekeeper of the Tan family's old house, specially chose A Niu, saying that he was honest and honest and could drive the car well. This was great, A Niu was still good at driving.
I have never encountered such a predicament before. The whip crackled loudly, and I was mentally driven to drive, but I still fell into muddy water from time to time.
"A Niu, what's going on today? This driver is like a beginner. Tell Uncle Liang later that I'll change you." Xiaozhu stuck his head out and threatened A Niu, which made A Niu even more embarrassed.
Zhang Yanling laughed loudly while riding on the horse, looked at Xiaozhu's red face and said: "Xiaozhu, is this how you bully them on weekdays?"
When Xiaozhu saw Zhang Yanling looking at him, he rolled his eyes at him shyly and said, "I didn't bully him. My uncle is just spitting blood."
Although Zhang Yanling is already the Duke of the country, and He Tan Ruqing has been married for several years, Xiaozhu still calls Zhang Yanling uncle. He has never been able to change his words.
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "It's no wonder A Niu, such a road is really difficult. The carriage is also very heavy. With the weight of the carriage, you three, won't you have to sink into such a road?"
Xiaozhu said angrily: "Miss and I weigh just over a hundred kilograms together. Including A Niu, the three of us weigh only two to three hundred kilograms. This carriage can hold five or six people. Does my uncle think that
Are the lady and I both fat?"
Zhang Yanling laughed and said: "You, I don't know, your lady is very light and light. She lies on me and I don't even feel it. If you want to be fat, you are fat."
Tan Ruqing was listening in the carriage, blushing and spat in a low voice: "What nonsense are you talking about? You are such a person."
Xiaozhu also blushed and stopped talking. My uncle was telling the truth about the young lady lying on him. One time I accidentally bumped into my uncle and the young lady in the same room. It was indeed the young lady who was sitting on my uncle's body, and the young uncle was pounding rice up and down the young lady's waist.
Ordinary ups and downs. Xiaozhu almost died of embarrassment at that time.
Zhang Yanling didn't care. Wuzi immediately leaned down and said, "Ru Qing came and rode with me, otherwise we would have to wait until dark to arrive. Although you are not heavy, you carry too many things."
Tan Ruqing said: "It's just a horse, how can I ride it? Besides, I don't know how to ride a horse."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "My horse can carry two people no problem. Don't you have me? Come on, it's important to hurry up."
Tan Ruqing's face turned red and her heart was pounding. Although she and Zhang Yanling were already an old couple, they had never ridden together with Zhang Yanling.
"What are you afraid of? No one is watching in the wild. Besides, we are husband and wife, so what if someone sees us?" Zhang Yanling urged.
Tan Ruqing thought for a while and finally opened the car door and came out. The ground was covered with dirty snow and mud. Zhang Yanling bent over and grabbed her arm and pulled her. Tan Ruqing got on the horse like a cloud in the mist and sat in front of Zhang Yanling.
.
Zhang Yanling urged the horse to take two steps and said with a smile: "Look, you are not afraid at all, are you?"
Tan Ruqing was too nervous to speak. Zhang Yanling rolled up his cloak, wrapped Tan Ruqing completely in the cloak, and said in a deep voice: "Let's jog for a while, it will be more exciting. But it's a little cold. Don't be afraid, damn.
Just stick to my body."
Tan Ruqing wanted to refuse, but Zhang Yanling had already urged the horse to trot. Tan Ruqing screamed nervously, and her body shook unsteadily. Zhang Yanling said in her ear: "Just go up and down with the rhythm of the horse, and relax your body, otherwise
You'll be miserable. Once you get the hang of it, there's nothing to be afraid of."
At this point, Tan Ruqing had no choice but to do as he said. After following the bumpy rhythm of the horse, he immediately felt much better. In addition, Zhang Yanling was behind him, holding his waist with strong arms, and his chest felt tight.
Like a supporter, Tan Ruqing soon enjoyed it.
The road was muddy, and Zhang Yanling was afraid that the horse would stumble, so he ran for a few miles, leaving the carriage far behind. Then he slowly slowed down and allowed the horse to walk forward slowly.
"Horse riding is really fun. This is my first time to experience it," Tan Ruqing said with a smile.
Zhang Yanling rested his chin on her shoulder, put his face against hers, and said with a smile: "We are always busy working, and we haven't been alone for a long time. It's a pity that the snow scene in the south is mottled and ugly, and the snow is covered so quickly.
It has melted. Otherwise, the scenery is very beautiful, so that would be even better."
Tan Ruqing smiled and said, "Who told you that you can't do anything at all?"
Zhang Yanling said: "It sounds a little sour."
Tan Ruqing said angrily: "No, I am not that kind of person. I mean, you are busy with court affairs. I can understand you, you are also working hard, I am fine."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Thank you very much. You are the best."
Tan Ruqing smiled and said, "What's wrong with me?"
Zhang Yanling said: "Everywhere is good. His appearance, character and character are impeccable. He is first-rate."
Tan Ruqing blushed and said with a smile: "Don't say this in front of them. I know you are trying to coax me, but I am also very happy."
Zhang Yanling said softly: "I didn't say anything against my will. I still remember the time when we met. I fell down from upstairs and heard your voice while I was unconscious. It was gentle and nice. Although I
I was groggy, but when I heard your voice, I thought: Whose lady is this? Her voice is so nice. I must get to know her when I wake up."
Tan Ruqing glanced back and said angrily: "You have evil intentions. You were almost dying at that time, and you are still thinking about these nonsense."
Zhang Yanling said to herself: "Later, you healed my injury, and you and I got to know each other. I thought at that time, I must marry you. No matter what, I must marry you. Fortunately, my dream has come true.
Yes. We almost missed it."
Tan Ruqing was silent, feeling very moved in her heart. Of course she knew that Zhang Yanling had feelings for her, and she knew it from the beginning. But she didn't have a good impression of him at that time. This man had a bad reputation, and she didn't even think about being with him.
It's related. If Ji Chi didn't want to save people, he wouldn't have known this person at all.
"Ruqing, when did you fall in love with me? Let me know." Zhang Yanling asked with a smile in his ear.
Tan Ruqing was stunned and said: "When? Let me think about it."
Zhang Yanling sighed: "Is there any need to think about it? Didn't you fall in love with me at the first sight?"
Tan Ruqing spat: "Bah, you're stinky. I just wanted to use you as a test subject for bloodletting therapy. I didn't save you because I liked you."
Zhang Yanling smiled bitterly and said: "It turns out that I am just a test subject. I am really pitiful."
Tan Ruqing turned her head, looked at no one around, and kissed Zhang Yanling on the lips to apologize.
Zhang Yanling was about to kiss back, but Tan Ruqing had already turned her head, bit her earring in her mouth, and vomited it out in a hurry.
"I really fell in love with you and changed my mind about you when we were in Xishan Manor. Husband, do you remember? The rice in Xishan Manor was infested with insects. When you tried to find a way to control the pests, you really thought about the people. That's when I started to treat you.
You have a good impression. Also, that night, the scene with all the lights and stars all over the ground was really beautiful. I thought at that time, this person really has some tricks up his sleeve, and the scene was really beautiful." Tan Ru.
Qing said softly.
Zhang Yanling remembered that it was a few years ago. He helped the tenants get rid of insects and controlled rice planthoppers. It was indeed a wonderful scene with lights all over the ground, like stars.
"Yes, I remember. That night, your eyes were as bright as the stars." Zhang Yanling said with a smile.
Tan Ruqing was moved and turned to look at Zhang Yanling. Zhang Yanling also looked at her with a smile. The two couldn't help hugging each other and kissing.
It wasn't until the sound of the carriage rang out from behind, and A Niu's loud scolding of the horse, that the two of them separated. Tan Ruqing, face red, lay in Zhang Yanling's arms.
"See, the carriage won't get stuck now. We caught up so quickly. Ruqing, how about we run a little further? Which direction is the fork in the road ahead?" Zhang Yanling said with a smile.
Tan Ruqing sat up straight and pointed to the road in the southwest: "For the road here, go forward, cross a small river, cross the bridge and walk three or four miles to get there."
Zhang Yanling urged the horse and said: "Okay, sit tight and let me drive you."
…
In the early afternoon, Zhang Yanling, Tan Ruqing and his entourage arrived at Tanjiazhuang. This is a village between two mountains. The mountain village is not small, with hundreds of households. Most of them talk about their surnames, and they are all relatives.
After learning that Tan Ruqing was back, the peaceful village became lively after a while. Soon, uncles and aunts rushed from various houses to Mrs. Tan's dilapidated old house.
"Hey, isn't this Ruqing? Is she back?"
"Ruqing, you are back. Aren't you going to come back to visit us in a few years? At least you can visit your grandmother's grave."
"Ruqing, who is this young man? Is he your man? He seems to be a rich man."
"Ruqing, when you come back from the capital, why don't you help us? What did you bring to honor your third cousin?"
Men and women were all talking, and surrounded Zhang Yanling and Tan Ruqing, asking endless questions. Some people even started to rummage through things on the carriage.
Xiaozhu stopped and frowned: "What are you doing? No one has entered the house yet, won't you be able to get the things after a while? Why did you get started?"
Tan Ruqing glanced at Zhang Yanling with a wry smile, and Zhang Yanling shrugged, knowing that the common people in the countryside did indeed have this kind of virtue.
"Xiaozhu, the things have been distributed. Uncles and aunts, I came back to visit my grandmother's grave during the winter solstice. I also brought you some gifts to honor you. Every family has them, so I won't miss any of them." Tan Ruqing said.
Everyone was overjoyed and rushed forward one after another. The wrapped gifts were torn and a pack of candied dates were scattered all over the floor. Xiaozhu had a sullen face and muttered something in his mouth, shaking his face. But this was not the case at all.
These people didn't feel any pressure and just grabbed things as if they were natural. One family even got into an argument over a pack of cakes.
Tan Ruqing also frowned and said to Zhang Yanling: "My husband is laughing at me. They are always like this. I came back with my grandmother before, and they were like this too. Don't be surprised."
Zhang Yanling waved her hands and said: "Let's go into the house. Just let them quarrel. When it comes to your mind, out of sight is out of mind."
Tan Ruqing nodded, opened the courtyard door of the old house first, and walked into the old house with Zhang Yanling.