After passing Yuhang on April 27th, we arrived in Qiantang before noon on the 28th. Chen Caozhi said: "Brother Yingtai, I want to go to the city to meet my late father's old friend. I will take you to the Zheliu Pavilion at the south gate. Let's go there."
Don’t pass——”
Zhu Yingtai still applied powder, and squinted at Chen Caozhi with his slender eyes, and said: "Brother Zizhong, you and I are my best friend from the same school, why didn't Qian Tang invite me to sit down at Chenjiawu? Isn't this a bit embarrassing?
Discourteous?"
Chen Caozhi was sweating slightly on his forehead: "Brother Yingtai is going to our hometown, Chenjiawu?"
Zhu Yingtai said: "As a classmate, why don't I go to see Brother Zizhong and his mother when passing through Qiantang?"
When Zhu Yingtai said this, Chen Caozhi could not refuse politely and apologized: "I'm rude, but first I have to pay a visit to my late father's old friend. The Prime Minister of Feng County who arrived in Wu County last month when the order was ordered is also going to
My sister-in-law is Ding Chunqiu’s cousin."
Zhu Yingtai said: "Everything is fine. I'm going with brother Zizhong. Ding Chunqiu is also a classmate of mine."
Although Chen Caozhi is a little helpless, he is not without a trace of joy. Parting always makes people sad. As a friend, Zhu Yingtai is definitely a good friend. When you associate with him, you will feel smarter, regardless of the knowledge in the book or the sophistication outside the book.
, Zhu Yingtai is very insightful, and rarely follows others' opinions. This is something Chen Caozhi appreciates very much, and he has the feeling of a confidant.
Zhu Yingtai followed Chen Caozhi to the west of Qiantang City to meet Feng Mengxiong. Feng Mengxiong returned to Qiantang at the beginning of this month. At this time, he was very happy to see Chen Caozhi. Speaking of Yu Zhongzheng's various difficulties that day, Feng Mengxiong said: "
If it weren't for Cao Cao's great talent, he would have fallen into the hands of a villain like Chen Liu."
Chen Cao said: "Thanks to Uncle Feng for speaking up -"
Feng Mengxiong waved his hand and said: "You must speak up about matters within your scope."
When Chen Caozhi asked about Chen Liu's whereabouts, Feng Mengxiong said: "I don't know much about this matter. Chen Liu should not dare to return to Qiantang. Your fourth uncle has reported him to the county government."
Chen Caozhi went to visit Feng's wife Sun again. Sun treated her with courtesy, but was obviously not as affectionate as before. After all, there was a big difference between the son of an old friend and the son-in-law of his father-in-law, and Feng Lingbo did not come out to meet her.
Chen Caozhi and Zhu Yingtai had lunch at Feng Mansion. They sat for a while and then left. They paid Tangdongmen to go to Ding's villa. Ding Chunqiu was overjoyed to see Chen Caozhi and Zhu Yingtai visiting together, so he took them there.
When he met his father Ding Yi, he said that he also made friends from the gentry while studying in Wu County.
At first, Ding Yi, the head of the Ding family, did not see Chen Caozhi at all. It was a helpless move to allow Chen Cao's uncle and nephew to visit Ding Youwei. After all, Chen Zongzhi and Chen Run'er were born to Ding Youwei. If Ding Yi's original intention was to avoid being with the poor family,
Anyone who has any dealings with the Chen family is afraid of damaging the reputation of his Ding family. However, since last September, Chen Caozhi was appreciated by the Sanqi Changshi Quanli, became famous at the Qiyun Mountain Gathering, and was promoted to a sixth-rank official to be determined.
Ding Yi became much kinder to Chen Caozhi and allowed Chen Caozhi to visit Ding Youwei twice a year——
What really made Ding Yi look at Chen Caozhi with admiration was his trip to Wu County last month. Ding Yi paid a visit to the prefect Lu Na, and Chen Caozhi was also in the Lu Mansion. Seeing that Lu Na treated Chen Caozhi like a nephew, it was really disappointing.
Ding Yi was extremely surprised - if Ding Yi had known that Lu Na would personally see Chen Cao off when he returned home, he would have been so angry that he would not be able to sleep at night or eat to his heart's content, because when he returned to Qiantang at the beginning of the month, Lu Na only sent one official.
Seeing each other off, he was actually inferior to a young man from a poor family——
Ding Yi stayed in Wu County for nearly a month and visited local celebrities. Almost without exception, he was asked about his fellow countryman Chen Caozhi. They all praised Chen Caozhi for his handsome character and outstanding talent. Later, Chen Caozhi came to Zhenqing.
He became even more famous when he copied "Laozi's Five Thousand Essays" to pray for his mother in the Taoist Temple. Of course, what shocked Ding Yi the most was the confrontation between Yu Xi and Chen Caozhi at the Confucian Classics Assessment Hall. Chen Caozhi was neither humble nor overbearing, calm and calm.
In response, Chen Liu's frame-up against him was resolved, and Yu Xi was so angry that he became seriously ill. Because of Lu Na's protection, Yu Xi could not do anything to Chen Caozhi. This was really a strange thing.
Therefore, when Ding Yi met Chen Caozhi this time, he was obviously more enthusiastic than before. Knowing that Zhu Yingtai was a descendant of the Zhu family in Shangyu, he asked Zhu Yingtai what his relationship was with Zhu Yu, the leader of the Zhu family in Shangyu.
Zhu Yingtai replied: "That is the younger generation's clan uncle."
Ding Yi asked about the exemption, and Chen Caozhi said that Yu Zhongzheng had sent his subordinates to Situ Mansion in Jiankang to apply for it.
After chatting for a while, Ding Yi said: "Fuck it, go see your sister-in-law Youwei now, she is always thinking about you."
This is the first time that Ding Yi admits that Ding Youwei is Chen Caozhi's sister-in-law.
Ding Chunqiu accompanied Chen Caozhi to meet Ding Youwei, and Zhu Yingtai said: "Brother Zizhong, I also want to meet Ding's sister-in-law. I think she is very admirable."
Before Chen Caozhi could answer, his sister-in-law Ding Youwei's maid Axiu came over and said in surprise: "The young gentleman Cao Zhi is back. Go see the madam quickly. The lady has been talking about the young gentleman Cao Zhi this morning."
Woolen cloth."
Chen Caozhi nodded to Zhu Yingtai: "Then let's go together."
Ding Chunqiu asked as he walked: "Zizhong, haven't you come back yet?"
Chen Cao said: "Shangzhi has entered the office of the prefect of Wu County as a clerk."
Ding Chunqiu was surprised: "Generally, ninth-level officials from poor families can only work as minor officials in the county government. Shangzhi actually got a job in the county. It will not be difficult to become a county captain or county magistrate in the future - by the way, Zizhong, Lu
Your Majesty appreciates you the most, why don't you stay in the county to serve?"
Chen Caozhi replied: "I am still young and cannot hold office."
Zhu Yingtai said: "Lu Shijun has already announced in public that Chen Caozhi will be appointed as the literary director of the county in May next year. The position is vacant."
Ding Chunqiu was very envious. The county literary post was a sinecure, and he also wanted to find such a sinecure as a way to be promoted in the future.
It was the end of the Shen Dynasty, and the setting sun was shining. Chen Caozhi, Zhu Yingtai, and Ding Chunqiu followed their maid Axiu to the small courtyard where Ding Youwei lived. They saw a wisteria planted near the door with lush leaves.
, winding from the inside of the courtyard wall to the outside of the courtyard wall——
The breeze blows, bringing the faint fragrance of flowers in the backyard.
Chen Caozhi hesitated in front of the door and said with a smile: "The golden begonias planted by my sister-in-law will all bloom by now."
Axiu said: "Yes, it's the one that bloomed two days ago. Mr. Cao Zhi has a really good nose, and he can tell when he smells it." He raised his voice and said, "Madam, Mr. Cao Zhi is back!"
Ding Youwei, wearing a plain dress and a simple bun hairstyle, with a beautiful face and an elegant attitude, leaned on the railing on the corridor and looked down, saying happily: "The young man is back, please come up."
Chen Caozhi saluted and said: "Sister-in-law, this is my classmate and friend Zhu Yingtai, who came with me from Wu County."
Zhu Yingtai bowed deeply and said: "I'm going to Yu Zhu Yingtai to pay my respects to the Chen family's sister-in-law."
Ding Youwei listened to Zhu Yingtai's soft and low voice, not like a man's voice, and looked carefully. Although Zhu Yingtai had a slender figure, standing next to Cao Zhi, he was obviously much slimmer. This looked very much like a woman's physique.
!
Ding Youwei thought about it and smiled: "It turns out to be Mr. Zhu, so please come up together."
Chen Caozhi did not expect that his sister-in-law would invite Zhu Yingtai upstairs, so he made a gesture of invitation and asked Zhu Yingtai to go first.
Zhu Yingtai usually has few flaws in imitating men's words and deeds, but recently she traveled with Chen Caozhi and realized that she didn't need to imitate so hard. Chen Caozhi didn't notice that she wasn't a fan of her, so she relaxed her vigilance a little and just now
When talking to Ding Youwei, she did not use the nasal voice of Luoyang accent. Now she went upstairs, her waist was slightly swaying naturally, and she climbed the stairs. She had never climbed stairs in Wu County for several months, and she did not consider whether men and women would climb stairs.
There are differences in gait——
Chen Caozhi noticed this because he was intentional. Ding Chunqiu didn't think about it at all, and he didn't think there was anything strange about Zhu Yingtai.
There is a small hall on the left side of the study room upstairs. Ding Youwei invited Zhu Yingtai to sit in the hall. Yu Yan quickly brought tea and exchanged greetings. Ding Youwei then asked Chen Caozhi about what happened in Wu County and whether Chen Caozhi would offend Yu Xi.
Any future troubles?
Zhu Yingtai remained calm and quietly looked at this beautiful woman who finally married Chen Caozhi's brother despite her family's objections. She felt that there was an unshakable determination and determination in Ding Youwei's quiet and gentle temperament. For some reason, Zhu Yingtai was very moved.
, I feel that Ding Youwei is very kind——
Ding Youwei naturally knew that Zhu Yingtai was quietly sizing her up. It would be a bit rude for Zhu Yingtai to be a man. However, Ding Youwei already had preconceived ideas, and he also responded intentionally and unintentionally. Naturally, he saw that Zhu Yingtai looked like a woman in every way -
—
Zhu Yingtai was lost in thought. Ding Youwei looked over at her, smiled and said nothing, but Zhu Yingtai was shocked. There seemed to be something special in the eyes of Ding's sister-in-law!
Zhu Yingtai stood up and left immediately, and Ding Chunqiu also went downstairs with him, leading Zhu Yingtai to arrange his accommodation.
Chen Caozhi sent Zhu Yingtai downstairs, returned upstairs, knelt down in front of his sister-in-law Ding Youwei again, and said, "Sister-in-law, I have something to tell you."
Ding You smiled slightly and said, "Well, you said, my sister-in-law will help you make up your mind."
Chen Caozhi told the story of how he met Xi Chao one by one. Ding Youwei was overjoyed. She didn't expect that Chen Caozhi was talking about this. It was such an unexpected surprise. She said: "This is really great. It is famous all over the river."
Guest Xi from the left will help you. The Chen family of Qiantang should have great hope of joining the gentry. Tomorrow, Cao Zhi will go back to Chenjiawu to discuss with the clan leader, the fourth uncle, to see who should be sent to the Jiankang Genealogy Department to pay a visit to Shi Jia Bizhi. This is a big deal.
, it must be done well.”
Chen Caozhi felt sincerely happy when he saw his sister-in-law's radiant face. Only when sharing this kind of exciting good news with his loved ones can he feel real happiness.
Chen Caozhi said: "If everything goes well, my sister-in-law will be able to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival in Chenjiawu next year - I know how happy Zongzhi, Run'er, and my mother will be!"
Ding Youwei was in a state of excitement and burst into tears. She didn’t need to hide it in front of Xiao Lang, so she wiped her tears with a silk handkerchief and said: "Every time I see Xiao Lang, I am so happy. My sister-in-law knows that you have worked very hard for more than a year."
It’s really hard for Xiaolang.”
The uncle and sister-in-law talked for another while. Ding Youwei saw that Chen Caozhi had not mentioned another very important matter, and became a little anxious, so he asked: "Caozhi, why don't you tell your sister-in-law about Mr. Yu Zhu?"
Chen Caozhi was stunned, what happened to Mr. Yu Zhu?
