At nine o'clock in October, Qiantang County Prime Minister Feng Mengxiong, his wife Sun and their daughter Feng Lingbo took an ox cart to the north bank of Fenglin Ferry, intending to go to Chenjiawu to visit Chen Cao's mother Li. They heard rumors from people in Du Zigong's house that Chen's mother
Mr. Li was terminally ill and on the verge of death. Feng Mengxiong was very surprised when he heard this. Three months ago, his wife Sun and his daughter Feng Lingbo visited Chen’s mother Li. They came back and said that Chen’s mother Li was in good spirits. Lingbo
She also recognized Chen’s mother, Mrs. Li, as her adoptive mother. How come her condition became so serious in just three months?
When Feng's family of three and two servants arrived at the ferry, they saw two ferries, one big and one small, floating in the middle of the river, heading for the other side. Sun sighed: "It's too late, it's too late, now it's going to happen."
Been waiting for less than half an hour."
Feng Lingbo was fifteen years old. He was tall and graceful, wearing a curtain hat and lamb fur. He stood on a bluestone at the ferry and looked at the two ferries moored on the other side. Three ox carts came down from the big ships.
There were six or seven people, far apart, and they could be vaguely distinguished, including men and women. They quickly got on the bullock cart and disappeared behind the red maple forest.
Sun said: "Lingbo, the wind is strong on the riverside. Go to the carriage and sit and wait. It will be a while before the boat comes."
Feng Lingbo and his mother Sun returned to the car and waited to cross the river. As soon as they sat down, they heard the rumble of bullock carts and clumsy footsteps. Several bullock carts and a group of pedestrians came. He heard his father Feng Mengxiong greet him: "It turns out we are from Dingshe.
, are the Dingshe people going to cross the river to the south bank this morning?"
Feng Lingbo knew that this Ding Sheren was the uncle of Chen Cao's sister-in-law Ding Youwei, so he opened the car curtain and took a look. He saw an old scholar in his fifties, with a black crown and white beard, elegant appearance, but at this time his face
Angrily, he bowed his head slightly and said, "Oh, Prime Minister Feng." He stopped talking and looked at the two slowly approaching ferries on the other side, frowning.
Feng Lingbo saw that Ding Yi had a bad look on his face and was bringing more than ten people from his tribe, including strong servants and more than ten maids, for a total of twenty or thirty people. He thought to himself: "What is Ding Yi going to do? Cross the river to Chenjiawu."
?Are you bringing so many people to stir up trouble?"
Feng Lingbo knew that the last time the Lu family instigated tenants under his name to besiege Chenjiawu, although it ended with Lu Jun being detained and the Qiantang Lu family falling into despair, the Ding family was not as good as the Lu family. The Ding family was a Qiantang noble family, and Ding Yi had also done it
Zhongshu Sheren has resigned as an official. There are five to sixty people practicing martial arts in Ding's villa. Moreover, County Magistrate Wang has left Qiantang. The current County Magistrate of Qiantang is Chu Wenqian, who hates Chen Cao the most.
Of the--
Feng Lingbo couldn't help but secretly worry about Chen Caozhi.
A steward of the Ding Mansion said to Ding Yi: "Master, Sanniangzi and Young Master Chunqiu must have crossed the river on this ferry, so they should be able to catch up."
Ding Yi said bitterly: "It's unreasonable. You dare to go to Chenjiawu without my permission. It's too presumptuous. Do you still take me as an uncle in your eyes? You even took away all the boxes and gifts because you don't want to go back."
Well, huh, I have to bring her back even to the gate of Chenjiawu!"
Feng Mengxiong finally understood. It turned out that Ding Youwei went to Chenjiawu to visit Chen's mother, Mrs. Li. Ding Yi was angry because his niece Ding Youwei went there without reporting to him in advance, so he went to intercept Ding Youwei's return in anger——
Feng Mengxiong thought to himself: "Isn't it rumored that the relationship between Ding and Chen has greatly improved? Chen's mother Li is seriously ill, and it is reasonable for Ding Youwei to visit. Why is Ding Sheren so angry that Ding Youwei went to Chenjiawu?"
…
Ding Chunqiu knew that Gu Kaizhi and Xu Miao were scheduled to leave for their hometown on the second day of the Beginning of Winter. They had agreed to rest at Ding's villa, so on the third day of October, Ding Yi, Ding Chunqiu and his son were all waiting at the villa, but they did not arrive until dark.
When he saw Gu Kaizhi and Xu Miao and his two men arrived, Ding Yi thought that Gu Kaizhi and Xu Miao had left Qiantang and hit the road. Feeling that he had lost face, he turned his anger on his son Ding Chunqiu, saying that Ding Chunqiu had been hanging out with a bunch of poor people all day long.
Don't want to make progress.
Ding Chunqiu said aggrievedly: "Dad, Gu Changkang is from a wealthy family in Jiangzuo."
Ding Yidao: "Gu Kaizhi is a fool. He is willing to associate with both wise and foolish people."
Ding Chunqiu did not believe Gu Kaizhi, so Xu Miaohui left without saying goodbye. Early the next morning, he sent a servant to Chenjiawu for questioning. In the evening, the servant came back and said that Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, was seriously ill and that Gu and Xu would have to wait for a few days before returning home.
Ding Chunqiu told his father about this, and Ding Yi said "hmm" and was relieved.
Ding Chunqiu thought that Chen Caozhi's mother was seriously ill and she had to let her third sister know about it, so she went to inform Ding Youwei. Ding Youwei was very worried. Zongzhi and Run'er came to her last month. Chen Caozhi died because of his mother's poor health.
Accompanying her, Ding Youwei had been worried about her aunt. She wanted to visit but knew her uncle would not agree. After all, she had been to Chenjiawu in June, and last time Zongzhi and Runer came to stay at Ding's villa.
If she proposes to go to Chenjiawu in less than half a month, her uncle will think that she is overreaching——
But now, Ding Youwei got the news that her aunt was seriously ill and couldn't sit still anymore. She immediately begged her uncle to let her go to Chenjiawu again, and Ding Chunqiu also helped to put in good words.
Ding Yi refused at first, feeling that she had too frequent contacts with the Chen family, and that there was no hope for the Chen family in Qiantang to join the gentry. However, Ding Youwei knelt and refused to get up, saying that if her uncle did not allow her to return to Chenjiawu to visit her aunt, she would continue to
Kneeling down, Ding Yi had no choice but to reiterate that Ding Youwei could only rest in Chenjiawu for one night and had to come back before lighting the lamp the next day. However, Ding Youwei asked to stay in Chenjiawu for a few more days to serve his aunt. Ding Yi was very upset.
Displeased, he walked away and ordered the villa steward not to let Ding Youwei go out.
Ding Youwei asked Ding Chunqiu to help her persuade her uncle Ding Yi. Ding Chunqiu tried to beg her father once, but was scolded by her father Ding Yi. Ding Chunqiu now has a deep friendship with Chen Caozhi and felt that her father would not allow the third sister to go.
It was very unkind to visit his aunt, so he said to Ding Youwei: "Third sister, you can just quietly leave the villa and go directly to Chenjiawu. I will go with third sister."
Ding Youwei thought for a while, nodded and said: "Okay, Brother Chun will find a way to prepare three ox carts, and then leave here."
Ding Youwei has made up her mind that she will not go back to Ding's villa when she goes to Chenjiawu this time. She wants to serve her aunt and raise Zongzhi and Run'er. The reason why she didn't dare to do this before was because her uncle Ding Yi said harsh words.
If she insists on going her own way and affects the reputation of the Ding family, then the Chen family will no longer be able to gain a foothold in Qiantang. Ding Youwei can only accept the humiliation, but times have changed. After defeating the Lu family in Qiantang, which was backed by the Chu family, the Chen family's status has greatly increased.
In order to be promoted, and Chen Caozhi is now a sixth-rank official, he is famous in Wu County, Yangzhou and even the capital Jiankang. He is the first person of the younger generation in Wu County. The Qiantang Chen family is no longer afraid of the powerful people in this county.
The suppression——
Ding Youwei understands his uncle's character. The interests of the family come first, and he is very good at sizing up the situation. His uncle will not fall out with Qiantang Chen because of her, because it is not good for Ding, and it will be bad if the matter gets bigger, so as long as she enters the Chen family
If the gate of the dock was closed, it would be impossible for her uncle to rush in and order someone to take her back by force.
For the sake of family reputation, Ding Youwei didn't want to take this step, but his uncle was too stubborn. Auntie's condition must be very serious. Even Xiaolangjun's friends had to stay with Xiaolang to take care of his mother. She, the Chen family of Xilou,
How can the eldest daughter-in-law still wait for the opportunity calmly!
Early in the morning on the ninth day of October, Ding Chunqiu dismissed a steward who was assigned to look after Ding Youwei. Two ox carts drove outside Ding Youwei's small courtyard. Ding Youwei asked the servants brought by Ding Chunqiu to carry seven or eight large boxes onto the ox carts.
Then he took Axiu and Yuyan to another ox cart. When they were leaving the villa gate, they were stopped by the servants who had received instructions from the steward in advance. Ding Chunqiu behaved like the young head of the family, scolded twice, and the three ox carts successfully left the gate.
Head straight to Fenglin Ferry, ferry across the river, and head towards Chenjiawu.
It was twenty miles from Fenglin Ferry to Chenjiawu. Ding Youwei was afraid that her uncle would catch up with her and take her back, so she ordered the coachman to hurry up. When they arrived at Chenjiawu, each of them was rewarded with five hundred coins. Although the coachman wanted to work hard to speed up the car, but the driver
Cows don't want to go fast. Cows are different from horses. Cows have good endurance and can walk slowly all day long, but it's a bit difficult to go in a hurry.
After passing the pine forest, you can see the round castle of Chenjiawu three miles away. Ding Youwei lifted the curtains of the car and looked around, feeling that his heart was tightening for no reason. The castle, which was as quiet as before, seemed to contain a heavy sadness -
—
At this time, Ding Chunqiu, who was in the car behind, shouted: "Third sister, my father has caught up."
Ding Youwei poked his head out of the car window and looked towards the road. About a mile away, more than ten people were striding over. Two of them were carrying a rope sedan. Sitting on the rope sedan was naturally Ding Yi, the leader of the Ding clan.
Ding Youwei immediately ordered to stop the car, got out of the car, lightly lifted the skirt with both hands, and started running quickly. Axiu and Yuyan followed behind, while Ding Chunqiu stood beside the car in a daze.
Ding Yi led more than a dozen people to go ahead. These people were all strong men and walked as fast as flying. Although they crossed the river half an hour later than Ding Youwei and his party, they quickly caught up. When they saw the ox cart in front, they were even more excited.
He quickened his pace, and in a moment he was in front of Ding Chunqiu.
Ding Chunqiu stood respectfully to the left and said to his father, Ding Yi, who was sitting on the rope carriage: "Dad, it is reasonable for the third sister to visit Mother Chen. Why did dad bother to chase her here!"
Ding Yi glared at his son and shouted: "What do you know? Ding Youwei wants to stay in Chenjiawu from now on. Didn't you see her moving the dowry?" He snorted coldly and ordered Mingbuqu to go ahead and intercept Ding Youwei first.
, don’t let her enter the Chenjiawu gate.
The four strong men agreed and ran towards him with great strides.
Ding Youwei grew up in a deep courtyard. She had never run like this before. After running less than half a mile, she was already out of breath. She was still two miles away from Chenjiawu. She gritted her teeth and ran for another mile.
A Xiu shouted: "Madam, they are catching up."
Ding Youwei turned around and saw that four members of the Ding clan were chasing after them in large strides from thirty feet away. Knowing that he could not outrun them, he said to Axiu: "Axiu, you run first to report the news and ask Xiao Lang to come and pick him up."
Me." He was out of breath as he spoke.
Axiu was young and could still run. She responded and quickened her pace and ran towards Chenjiawu.
Ding Youwei turned around and stood still, glaring at the four people who were chasing her. Seeing that the third lady had stopped, the four people also slowed down and waited for the master of the house to come up and deal with her.
The wind blew from the west, bringing with it the sound from Chenjiawu, which seemed to be the sound of wailing. Ding Youwei's face, which was originally red from running, turned pale in an instant. He turned around and trotted two steps towards Chenjiawu, his arms and legs
Her legs went weak, and she knelt on the hard gravel ground. She called out, "Auntie--" and fainted on the ground.
