The Ding family in Qiantang mainly has two residences, one is the five-level mansion in the county town, and the other is a villa in the eastern suburbs of the county town. It is the foundation of the Ding family, occupying mountains and rivers, and has fertile farmland.
One hundred and fifty hectares, twenty shade houses, two hundred tenants, and sixty people who practice martial arts all year round. They can all be brought out to fight in battle. If necessary, those tenants can form a family army. This has been the case since the chaos of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
A private armed force developed by high-ranking nobles for self-protection.
The main surnames of the Qiantang gentry are Quan, Zhu, Gu, Fan, Du, Dai, Ding, and Chu. The first four surnames are first-class gentry. The Ding family is considered a second-class gentry in Qiantang, but in the entire Jiangdong, it is a third-class gentry.
The gentry, that is, the lower-class gentry, but even such a lower-class gentry are very powerful in the local area. Generally speaking, the Qiantang County Magistrate cannot control them, especially the magistrate who comes from a humble family.
Under the eyes of these wealthy noble families, God knows why the Ding family married their daughter to the poor Chen Qingzhi in the first place. An intermarriage between common people and common people would greatly reduce the reputation of the noble family and would be looked down upon by other noble families.
At dusk, three oxcarts slowly drove into the side entrance of Ding's villa in the eastern suburbs of Qiantang County. Ding's villa is somewhat similar to Chenjiawu Fort, both with high walls and thick doors. The difference is that Chenjiawu is round.
The fortress and Ding's villa are square in shape and larger in scale. The terrain is low in front and high in back. The houses are built in series and symmetrically around the central axis. It is said that there are more than 400 rooms.
It was getting dark, and a lantern was lit at the small entrance of the hall. A white face was reflected behind the lantern. When he saw the bullock cart coming in, he quickly came out to greet her and asked, "Is this Xiaochan, Qingzhi?"
Xiao Chan, who was in the oxcart, responded: "It's me. Zongzhi and Runer are here to pick me up, and Mr. Caozhi is here too."
"Really? That's great. Madam was asking just now." The maid holding the lantern is named Axiu, and she is also one of Ding Youwei's four personal maids.
Before she even got out of the car, Run'er greeted her sweetly: "Sister Axiu, it's me, Run'er, brother A, and uncle Chou."
The maid Axiu's anxiety due to waiting disappeared in an instant, and she was only filled with joy. She smiled and stepped forward to help Run'er out of the car. She held up a lantern to take a look at her and praised: "Miss Run'er has grown a lot taller. She has become more beautiful."
She is beautiful, has a sweet mouth, everyone likes her when she sees her - ah, Zongzhi, the eldest son, the young man, has also grown taller - hey, who is this?"
Xiaochan laughed on the side and said to Qingzhi: "I'm right, Axiu will definitely not recognize Mr. Cao Zhi."
At this time, a steward of the Ding Mansion came out, asked a few questions, and asked Laifu, Laide and his son to go with the tenants to have a meal and rest. Laifu said that he wanted to see the young mistress first, and the steward said impatiently: "Who dares to let go tonight?"
You go in and see you tomorrow."
Zongzhi and Runer went to the inner courtyard to meet Ding Youwei. Since Chen Caozhi was a minor, he could be regarded as Ding's in-law, and Ding Youwei had specially ordered them, so they followed him there.
Ding Youwei lives in a separate small courtyard with a square patio, a two-story wooden building connected on the southwest sides, and a small garden at the back.
The courtyard door was ajar. When the people inside heard the footsteps, they immediately came out with a lantern. After a brief look, they were overjoyed and called back: "Madam, Madam, Zongzhi, Run'er has arrived."
Run'er held Xiaochan in her arms, struggled to get off the ground, and shouted: "Mother——"
There was a faint fragrance, as if the night wind was blowing through the lotus pond in May. A tall and graceful beauty in white appeared in front of the small courtyard. Under the light of the dim yellow lantern, when she saw the little Run'er running towards her, she just shouted: "Run'er"
"Er--" His voice choked with sobs, and he leaned over to hug Run'er and kept kissing her. Those eyes like stars in the dark night were still looking forward. When he saw Zongzhi, he stretched out an arm to wave, like an injured crane.
: "Zongzhi, come -"
Chen Caozhi pushed his nephew's shoulder lightly, and Zongzhi stepped forward a little shyly and called: "Mother."
Ding Youwei held both her children in her arms and cried with joy. This scene of separation and reunion made Xiaochan and her four maids burst into tears.
After a while, Ding Youwei raised his face and asked, "Where's Xiaolang? Isn't he here?" The Wei and Jin women called their brother-in-law Xiaolang.
Chen Caozhi stood between Xiaochan and Qingzhi. He took two steps forward and bowed deeply: "Cao Zhi pays homage to my sister-in-law."
"Ah!" Ding Youwei straightened up and stared at Chen Caozhi with wide open eyes, surprised and delighted: "Caozhi? Six Ugly?"
Xiao Chan smiled and said, "Madam, my husband has grown a lot, right? Axiu didn't even recognize him just now."
Another maid, Yu Yan, exclaimed: "This is Mr. Cao Zhi, I don't even dare to recognize him."
The two lanterns were now shining together on Chen Caozhi, so that Ding Youwei could take a closer look.
Ding Youwei walked up to Chen Caozhi with a gentle smile: "It's true that Caozhi is as tall as my sister-in-law. You are not yet fifteen years old, and you will be taller than your brother in the future." Chen Qingzhi was seven in height back then.
A tall, slender and handsome man.
Xiaochan was worried that Ding Youwei would become sad again, so she quickly said: "Madam, let's go into the courtyard. Zongzhi and Run'er are both very hungry. They've been jolting around for three hours."
Ding Youwei blamed himself for being confused. He held Zongzhi in one hand and Run'er in the other, turned around and walked towards the courtyard door, but stopped and looked back, saying to Chen Caozhi: "A Chou, come with sister-in-law -" before Chen Caozhi could respond.
, then smiled sweetly and said: "I won't call you A Chou anymore. When you grow up, you will call me Cao Zhi."
Run'er asked: "Mom, what do Run'er and brother call Uncle Chou?"
Ding You said slightly: "Let's call him Uncle Cao instead."
Uncle Cao was really awkward, so Chen Caozhi hurriedly said: "Zongzhi, Run'er is used to calling him Uncle Chou, and it sounds nice to me as Uncle Chou."
Ding Youwei, dressed in white and plain skirt, led a pair of children in front, and Chen Caozhi followed behind. The sister-in-law in the young memory was not so thin. Her weak willow-like waist seemed to be broken at a touch, and her face was as pale as faded petals.
, only those eyes are still as bright as stars——
Despite this, my sister-in-law is still the most beautiful woman Chen Caozhi has ever seen!
After dinner, Ding Youwei ordered Xiaochan and Yuyan to prepare water for Chen Caozhi to bathe. She herself rolled up her skirt and sleeves to bathe Zongzhi and Runer. It was a rare occasion to take care of her children, and all the hard work was fun.
When Xiaochan and Yuyan saw that Chen Caozhi refused to let them serve, they secretly laughed outside the door and said that Mr. Cao Zhi would blush and be shy. Then they murmured and commented on Chen Caozhi's appearance, recalling
When Chen Caozhi was a child, compared with now, he was filled with admiration.
When Chen Caozhi came out of the bath, he was as black as paint, with red lips and white teeth. The two maids, Xiaochan and Yuyan, were stunned.
Chen Cao said: "Sister Xiaochan, take me to my sister-in-law's study."
Ding Youwei's study is next to her bedroom, on the second floor. Chen Cao was stunned when he stepped in. Under the light of a copper bull lamp, the layout of this study was the same as that of Chenjiawu, elegant and simple.
, there are pen, ink, paper and inkstone on the desk. It seems that my sister-in-law still maintains the habit of reading and practicing calligraphy every day.
Xiao Chan was more attentive. When she saw Chen Caozhi standing still, she understood after thinking about it. She whispered: "My lady has arranged this specially. Madam misses Chen Jiawu——"
At this time, Run'er's laughter came from outside the door: "Uncle Chou, show me the Keting flute quickly. Mother doesn't believe that Uncle Chou can play the recorder. I don't believe that someone will give Uncle Chou a Keting flute."
Ding Youwei's soft and melodious voice came again: "It's not that I don't believe it, it's that I'm so surprised. I haven't seen you for two years. Are you so good at it? Who taught you?"
Chen Caozhi replied: "Sister-in-law, I just played a few random words, and for some reason it suited the wishes of the passerby on the river. I gave him a flute and said it was a Keting flute."
After taking a new bath, Ding Youwei led Zongzhi and Runer into the study. Mother and son looked like they were carved from beautiful jade, with skin like snow and picturesque eyebrows. Although Ding Youwei was slender, her texture was still fine and translucent under the light.
, because she is thin, her eyes are particularly big, her chin appears pointed, her manners are unpretentious, but she has a charming demeanor.
When Chen Caozhi looked at his sister-in-law, she was also looking at him with a smile. After two years of not seeing him, this young man who was a bit dull at first is now not only fresh and handsome, but also seems to have opened his mind and become smarter.
Ding Youwei nodded and said: "Run'er is right, Xiaolang is really much stronger. Well, climbing Jiuyao Mountain every day is very good." At the same time, he ordered Qingzhi and Axiu to move Chen Caozhi's luggage to the second floor.
The room in the west building had been decorated a few days ago and was prepared for Chen Caozhi. Runer and Zongzhi naturally slept with her.
When Run'er saw the pen, ink, paper and inkstone, she remembered what Uncle Chou had said to her, and said, "Mother, Run'er and my brother have brought gifts for mother."
"Really?" Ding You said happily: "What gift have you brought, please let mother see it quickly?"
Run'er said: "Brother, you go first."
Eight-year-old Chen Zongzhi glanced at Uncle Chou and got encouragement from Uncle Chou's eyes. Then he walked to the desk and studied ink alone. Xiaochan wanted to step forward to do it for him, but Chen Caozhi stopped him. Chen Caozhi said:
"To practice calligraphy, you must grind the ink yourself. This is also a good way to exercise your wrist and finger strength - my brother taught me this way back then."
Ding You nodded slightly, feeling sad and happy in his heart.
Chen Zongzhi spent half a quarter of an hour sharpening his inkstone, rubbing his little hands, kneeling and holding a pen with his wrist hanging, and copied Zhong Yao's "Declaration Form" from memory, which took more than two quarters.
At 18:00, the "Declaration Form" with 308 words and 18 lines was written neatly on the paper. Although the pen is immature, it has begun to take on the graceful and fresh atmosphere of Zhong Yao's calligraphy.
Ding Youwei knelt down and sat quietly watching Zongzhi write. The eight-year-old child was so focused and meticulous, Ding Youwei's beautiful big eyes were filled with tears of joy.
After Zongzhi finished writing, he put down the pen and his knuckles turned red. He looked at Uncle Chou, then at his mother, and whispered: "Mother, this is a gift from my son to my mother."
Ding Youwei's tears flowed down heavily, and she hugged Zongzhi to her chest. Her voice trembled with joy: "This is the best gift my mother has ever received. My mother has never been so happy!"
Seeing that her brother had been praised, Run'er was eager to express herself and said crisply: "Mother, Run'er also has a gift——"
Ding Youwei knelt down on the reed mat, half hugged Zongzhi, wiped her tears with a silk handkerchief, and said with a smile: "Okay, mother wants to inspect Run'er's gift."
Run'er said: "Run'er can also write "Declaration Form", but his writing is not as good as my brother. Run'er just recites "The Analects of Confucius"." As he said, he recited all the way from "Xue Er Pian" to "Wei Zheng Pian"
He came down and memorized "Township Party Chapter" until he stopped and gasped: "I'm so thirsty——"
Xiaochan quickly brought some water for Runer to drink. Zongzhi on the other side whispered: "Mother, Runer doesn't know how to recite."
Ding Youwei was so elated that she held Run'er on her lap, her face next to her daughter's pink face, and said softly: "Run'er, my mother was not literate when she was your age. Run'er is better than my mother."
Too many, the gifts you two gave me are so gratifying to my mother - who taught you these?"
Run'er said: "My grandmother taught me before, and then my uncle Chou taught me. Uncle Chou taught me better."
Ding Youwei raised her face, her tearful face was like white magnolia petals condensed in the morning dew, and she opened a beautiful smile: "A Chou, thank you, this is also the most precious gift you brought to my sister-in-law."
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Thanks to the book friends for their votes, Xiaodao is very motivated.