At midnight on October 14th, four ox carts drove out of Chenjiawu's heavy Qinggang wooden gate. On board were Chen Xian, the patriarch of the Chen clan, and his old wife Dong, Zhou clan from the east building and their maids, and people from the west building.
Ding Youwei, mother and son were in the building, and the last car was Yuyan, Axiu and Yinggu——
Over sixty years old, Jing Nu, a tough man, led eight private soldiers of the Chen family to escort him, accompanied by several Chen family servants. The group of people headed towards Fenglin Ferry, twenty miles away, preparing to attend the Du Zigong Dojo tomorrow.
At the birthday celebration of Emperor Shuiguan, Chen Man in the Beilou did not believe in the Tao of Heavenly Masters, so he did not go.
Chen Xian was not too keen on Tianshi Dao. He just took this opportunity to go to the county magistrate Feng Mengxiong to ask about news about his nephew Chen Caozhi. The county office received the court report from Wu County's fast horse every half month. This kind of
Chaobao began in the Western Han Dynasty. The emperor's edicts, edicts, ministers' reports and court affairs were written on silk. They were sent to various states and counties by special messengers, and then copied and conveyed to the counties under the county by the officials of each county. For example,
A large-scale inspection like Gengxu Tuduan must be reviewed. As the left supervisor of the Tuduan Division, Chen Caozhi must have gone to the prefecture and county. The court newspaper should have the news first. I wonder if Cao Zhi will go to Wu County to review.
Tu Duan, Chen Xian has something very important to discuss with his nephew——
Ding Youwei has her hair styled in a cloud bun, a golden bird hairpin, a printed gauze brocade robe, and a Xiangqi skirt. She has straight eyebrows and curved temples. Her skin is like jade, and her figure is still slender, as if she is invincible. But even though
In the swaying bullock cart, the waist is still straight and the sitting posture is very beautiful——
Ten-year-old Run'er is smiling, her baby-fat cheeks are tender and cute, her eyes are black and clear, and her long and thick eyelashes are flickering like black butterflies. That innocent beauty is not shown on the surface, but from the skin,
There is beauty in her bones, and there is a hint of cunning in Runer's innocence. She is a very smart little girl.
Run'er climbed up the car window and looked back, saying, "Mom, Uncle Chou said he would take us to Jiankang next year. A new house has been built by the Qinhuai River, but we haven't moved into the square castle in Chenjiawu yet."
Ding You smiled and said: "The square tower will be completed by the end of the year, and you can move in during the Chinese New Year - Run'er, Zongzhi, do you want to go to Jiankang?"
The two children said in unison: "I want to."
Ding You smiled. Children's minds yearn for the distance, but she, as a mother, has more practical considerations. Zongzhi is a boy, so of course he wants to leave Chenjiawu. It is necessary to follow Cao Zhixiaolang to Jiankang.
Yes, Xiaolang's support is needed to study and become an official; and as for Run'er, Run'er is still young now. In a few years, Xiaolang will have to choose a husband, and this will also be decided by Xiaolang. The patriarch Chen Xian only has contacts with the gentry in the county, and
Xiaolang has a much wider circle of friends, so it would be best for Xiaolang to choose a husband for Runer. As for herself, Ding Youwei didn't think too much about it. She could accompany Zongzhi and Runer to Jiankang for a few years, but
After all, I have to return to Chenjiawu——
The oxcart went north. This road had been repaired by Chen's villagers. The road surface was wide and hard, and the oxcart traveled much faster. In less than an hour, the Chen family arrived at the south bank of Fenglin Ferry. In the autumn and winter,
The maple leaves are fiery red, and the fallen leaves on the ground seem to be covered with a layer of red carpet.
Ding Youwei and the two children got off the oxcart. Run'er took a look and saw that there was not a single ferry on this side of the ferry. There were three boats, two large and one small, all on the other side. Among them, the small boat was leaving the north bank and heading here -
Run'er said to Zong Zhidao: "Unfortunately, the boats have passed by this time. We have to wait for a while."
Zong Zhidao: "Why are there so many people on the other side!"
The old patriarchs Chen Xian and Ding Youwei stood under the willow tree on the bank, looking at the crowd on the other side. Chen Xian said: "The ferry is really lively today. What are so many people doing across the river?"
The two large ships did not move, but the three-foot-long small boat rocked over and anchored on the shore. The boatman, with a smile on his face, bowed to Chen Xian on the shore and said: "Mr. Chen, look who's back -"
Before he finished speaking, Chen Caozhi came out of the tent and stood on the bow of the boat. He saluted Chen Xian and Ding Youwei respectively, and then looked at Zongzhi and Runer with a smile——
Ding Youwei watched Chen Caozhi suddenly appear at the bow of the ship, with jade trees facing the wind and smiling eyes. For a moment, Ding Youwei thought that she was dreaming and forgot to return the gift, but a shy blush appeared on her fair and beautiful face——
Run'er screamed sharply: "Uncle Chou, it's Uncle Chou, Uncle Chou is back!" He held up the corner of his skirt and stepped forward to greet her. A string of laughter like silver bells was like a gull flapping its wings against the river far away.
Fly away——
Zongzhi followed Run'er and looked at Uncle Chou smiling happily.
Chen Xian was surprised and happy: "Cao Zhi is back, so soon."
Chen Caozhi lightly jumped onto the river bank and said: "Four uncle, my nephew arrived yesterday afternoon -" He leaned over and picked up Run'er who was running over, and spun him around in mid-air. Run'er's print
The embroidered skirt drew a beautiful and colorful arc, and Runer smiled "gege"——
Chen Caozhi put down Run'er and looked at Zong Zhidao: "Zong Zhidao has grown a lot -"
Ding Youwei walked closer quickly and called out: "Xiao Lang." The blush on his cheeks was still there.
Xiaochan also got off the boat and saluted the old patriarch and Mrs. Youwei happily. Before she could say a few words to Zongzhi and Runer, she was dragged aside by Yuyan and Axiu for questioning.
Jing Nu said happily: "Xiao Sheng, Mr. Xiao Sheng is back too!"
Ran Sheng hesitated to get off the boat and go ashore. He was very uncomfortable with his new status. He saluted Chen Xian deeply: "Fourth uncle——" and then saluted Ding Youwei and said: "Sister-in-law." At this time, this tall and powerful man unexpectedly
Seems quite coy.
Zongzhi and Runer both looked up at Ran Sheng blankly. Although the two brothers and sisters had already learned from their mother Ding Youwei that Ran Sheng was also a descendant of the Chen family in Yingchuan, named Chen Yu and Chen Zisheng, but now that they met, they heard that Ran Sheng
It’s a serious title, but I still feel it’s strange——
Run'er said: "Xiao Sheng, you have so many beards, I can't even recognize you!"
Nowadays, Ran Sheng is dignified and cold in front of his sergeants, who are very afraid of him. But now when he saw Run'er, who was no taller than his chest, Ran Sheng was at a loss. He scratched his head and said, "I, I, often cut my beard.
But it grows too fast, and the more you cut it, the longer it grows——"
Chen Caozhi supported his fourth uncle and said: "Fourth uncle, my nephew has something to report to you in advance - sister-in-law, please come with us." Then he said to Ran Sheng and Jing Nu: "Xiao Sheng, Uncle Jing, come to the edge of the maple forest.
say."
Chen Caozhi, Ding Youwei, Chen Xian, Ran Sheng and Jing Nu walked to the edge of the maple forest, stepping on a layer of red and yellow fallen leaves. Chen Caozhi told his fourth uncle and sister-in-law that he went to Kuaiji to review the Tuduan.
Then he told me everything that happened last night.
Chen Xian was so frightened that his hands and feet trembled. Ding Youwei also looked at the young man Chen Caozhi in surprise, but Jing Nu was not afraid and said: "Those bandits are bullies and fear evil. If they dare to come to Chenjiawu to rob, I will
I’ll make sure he never comes back.”
Ran Sheng said: "Uncle Jing, the bandits are in the dark, and the Chu family has tipped them off, so there is nothing we can do to prevent them."
Chen Caozhi pointed to the other side and said: "Those are the hundreds of private soldiers I borrowed from Quan and Ding. Uncle Jing led them back to Chenjiawu to prepare for the bandits. After the bandits were captured, Quan, Ding
The private soldiers of the family can be withdrawn - fourth uncle, sister-in-law, we will still cross the river and attend the birthday celebration of Emperor Shuiguan tomorrow, everything will be as usual."
Hundreds of Quan and Ding private soldiers led by Jing Nu went to Chenjiawu to guard against bandits. Chen Caozhi, Chen Xian, Ding Youwei and others crossed the river, and Xie Daoyun greeted them at the ferry. Zongzhi and Run'er had not seen Xie Daoyun for three years.
They all saluted Zhu Langjun affectionately. Because Xie Daoyun is a woman, she is deliberately cold and arrogant in front of others, but now facing these two beautiful children, especially Run'er, people can't help but feel happy. Xie Daoyun
He liked talking to Run'er very much. Xie Daoyun led the horse and walked, letting Run'er sit on the saddle bridge. While walking, he had a simple Confucian and metaphysical debate with Run'er. Although Run'er was young, he answered fluently, and his mind was delicate and astute -
—
A group of people went to Ding's manor. Ding Youwei sat in the bullock cart and looked at Zhu Langjun and Xiaolang Chen Caozhi who were leading the horse from the window. Ding Youwei learned that Zhu Yingtai was the person who reviewed Kuaiji Tuduan.
Deputy envoy, I was really surprised. This Zhu Langjun returned from a study tour in Wu County three years ago. He passed by Qiantang and came to see her with Xiao Lang. She saw that this Zhu Langjun was most likely a woman. At that time, she thought
This is the girl from the Lu family that Qiao Zhuang must pretend to be. Xiao Lang was also vague. Unexpectedly, Zhu Langjun became an official and was still Xiao Lang's deputy. This was really strange. Could it be that she had misunderstood this Zhu Langjun?
The husband is not a woman?
Arriving at Ding's manor, Ding Yi, Ding Xia, Shang and his son came out to greet them, and then there was a big banquet. Ding Youwei took his two children to visit his aunt and other female relatives of the clan. Ding Yi's wife Wu used to be lukewarm to Ding Youwei.
, but now he is very enthusiastic. Although Ding Youwei has moved to Chenjiawu, the courtyard in Ding's manor is still idle there. People often clean the pavilions and trim the flowers and trees in the back garden, just to prepare for Ding Youwei's return to peace——
After the dinner, Chen Caozhi came to the yard with osmanthus trees and golden crabapples. The bright moon was shining and the clear shadows were slanting. Chen Caozhi stood for a while by the wisteria flower stand in front of the door. In early winter, the wisteria and the golden begonias were beautiful.
The sweet-scented osmanthus and golden crabapple flowers in the backyard have withered, but there is still lingering fragrance floating among the branches and leaves. The lights from the pavilion shine on the mud floor in the courtyard, competing with the moonlight. In a daze, Chen Caozhi feels that his sister-in-law Ding Youwei still lives here, beautiful and beautiful.
Lonely, but he was still the same boy four years ago, working tirelessly to reunite his sister-in-law and his two nephews——
"Xiao Lang, why don't you come in?" Ding Youwei said in a gentle voice.
Chen Caozhi came to his senses and saw his sister-in-law Ding Youwei standing at the gate of the courtyard, her whole body as holy as a Gushe fairy in the watery moonlight, and the light behind her revealed the brilliance of her motherhood.
Zongzhi and Run'er were looking down on the corridor, and Run'er called out: "Uncle Chou, come and see who is better in calligraphy between Run'er and Brother A--"
Ding Youwei looked behind Chen Cao and asked, "Xiao Lang, didn't Mr. Zhu Lang come with you?"
Chen Cao said: "Brother Yingtai didn't sleep last night and has gone to rest now."
Ding Youwei said: "Xiao Lang also stayed up all night, don't be tired."
Chen Cao said: "I'm fine. I'm really happy to see my sister-in-law, Zongzhi and Run'er. I still have to test Zongzhi and Run'er to see if they've made any progress in their studies."