Just after the beginning of autumn, outside the city of Qingzhou, an old man and a young man were running beside the post road.

The old man was carrying a worn-out sword box, wearing a tattered Qingxu Taoist robe, and at a closer look, after more than a dozen sewing and repairing robes, there were still a few small holes; his hair was neatly tied with a belt, his skin was dark, his eyes were squinting and his nose was hooked, his inch-long white beard was stained with a few points of oil, and his face was sweating a little bit of hot sweat, and he was chasing the young child in front of him with a sigh: "Rabbit cub, it's time, it's time, don't panic, don't panic......

The child is about eight years old, wearing a square scarf, holding a suona in his left hand, holding a scallion pancake in his right hand, wearing common green shoes on his feet, and wearing an inappropriate cloth coat on his body.

Hearing the voice of the old man, he was stunned, slowed down and ate a bite of bread and muttered: "Old man, we stayed at Orion's house last night, and we have long said that when the rooster crows, we will leave for the city. I kicked you three times this morning before I got up, do you know what's going on today?"

Lao Dao hurried a few steps to the child and smiled: "I said that my waist hurts, it turned out to be a good thing done by your kid." If you really miss the auspicious time, it doesn't matter, but you just go back and nibble on hemp cakes for three more days. ”

After hearing this, the young child glared at Lao Dao unhappily, knowing that his temperament was like this, but he said helplessly: "If you miss Zhang Yuanwai's major event today, let's wait for three days of hunger. ”

Lao Dao touched his white beard and said: "The words of drunkenness are not credible. Not credible. ”

The young boy took another bite of the hemp cake he brought before leaving, and said vaguely: "I heard that the master is very polite today, and invited the chef of the Yufu Building - the chef known as the Golden Knife Liu is in charge of the spoon himself, and there are your favorite Buddha jumping over the wall, Jiuqu intestines, and even preparing the wine that has been sealed for ten years - April green, last time I passed by Xingyun Building, there were guests who drank April green splashed on their bodies, just smelled it from afar, hey, don't say it, this April green fruit is really worthy of its name, if you are not in a hurry to go back and add incense, otherwise I would rather be hungry for half a month, and I must get a little to drink. ”

When Lao Dao heard this, his cloudy eyes lit up instantly, and he began to spin and drip, and then he sped up his pace and muttered: "Where did you hear this, but seriously! Haha, go quickly, I want to drink April Green openly today, don't stop me, Lao Dao, I will not get drunk this time." ”

About a stick of incense, there were no two people on the post road.

......

Hengzheng Street, crowded, semi-monthly city gathering, some township people, mountain hunters also began to set up stalls shouting: "Buffalo Pass newly caught pheasants, uncle, you take a look, if you like, sell your ......'' cheaply''

"Fresh arugula, the water is very tender, the guest officer takes a look at ......"

"Sharpen scissors and kitchen knives ......"

Such a sentimental prospect is so lively.

At the middle end of Hengzheng Street, at this time, the lantern outside the Zhang family's mansion was hung high, and the word Double Happiness on it still carried the fragrance of ink, which was obviously newly hung not long ago; ”

Zhang Yuanwai was wearing a silk coat made in Huzhou today, with an inscription jade pendant hanging on his waist, his body was naïve, his abdomen was slightly bulging, and his fat face was piled up with a little smile.

Today is the day of the marriage of Zhang Yuanwai's little daughter, and the other party who promised to marry heard that he was the son of a wealthy businessman, and he was doing salt and iron business in Ningzhou, which was rich in natural resources, which was quite important.

climbed this relationship, in the future in Qingzhou, Zhang Yuanwai is also a figure with a head and a face, no matter who sees it, he has to be honored as Master Zhang. Or because of this, Zhang Yuan's outer confidence is full, although he is bloated, he stood for a moment today, and let no one help him to rest.

Wenru Street, which is adjacent to Hengzheng Street, Lao Dao is fastening his robe, straightening his crown, and combing his sweat-soaked temples and white hair.

After a while, the old Taoist solemnly instructed the young child: "Boy, today is Zhang Yuanwai's big day, don't hurt me!"

The toddler wiped the sweat dripping from the tip of his nose, took out the sesame cake from the cloth bag around his waist, took three mouthfuls of it, and drank a large scoop of well water with a rumbling mouthful, and said with a disapproving smile: We have done a lot of work before, but we have never seen you so nervous as today. Isn't it just a Zhang Yuan? What is there to be afraid of? “

"Hmph, ignorant child, at a glance, you know that you are a mountain village man, and you have never seen the world. Do you know that Zhang Yuanwai is in Qingzhou City, intertwined, and the relationship is dredged, and everyone knows it......"

The man who said this was a guy driving an empty mule cart next to him, with standard groom equipment, a whip in his hand, and the word "Yonghe" written on his clothes, with a full expression, needless to say, it must be a powerful Yonghe dart game in the city.

Qingzhou is located in a remote area, surrounded by mountains, since ancient times out of the city and connected to other places, there is only one post road, and it is difficult to cross the mountains, transporting some goods will inevitably delay time.

There are predecessors who groped out the shortcut from Mozhu Mountain, and then through the water and land canals, all the way to the south of the rich land in the south of the Yangtze River, but there are many thieves and bandits in the mountains, the goods have been robbed for a long time, and often the owners of the property are empty, so the business of the Qingzhou Dart Bureau is getting bigger and bigger, and the Yonghe Dart Bureau is quite powerful, it is designed for the gentry and the rich to go darts, and it is quite affectionate on the road.

It's just that the ordinary rich are already difficult to invite the Yonghe dart game, so the Yonghe dart game goes up to the dart owner, down to the groom who is driving the car, and the pride arises spontaneously, but I don't know who is the groom today.

The toddler was frightened by the sudden opening of his mouth and began to be silent.

The young man continued complacently: "Zhang Yuan's grandfather has accumulated some family funds on the practice of medicine, only outside the West City, there are 100 acres of fertile land, dozens of domestic servants, in this Qingzhou City, quite a good reputation, passed to Zhang Yuanwai's hands, he has a business mind to open up the Quartet relationship, eat all over the world, and then spend a lot of money to donate a member, and by the blessing of the government, in black and white, there is a bit of thin noodles. ”

The young man paused for a while, and when he saw that Lao Dao and the young child did not respond, he shook his head a little bored and continued: "Don't look at Zhang Yuanwai's smiling face, Qingzhou people are rumored to have angered Zhang Yuanwai, and you will be confessed in this life." Someone once said that a man named Hanako accidentally bumped into Zhang Yuanwai while walking, and in less than half a day, he was thrown into a mass grave in the north, and was eaten by wild dogs.......

Lao Dao glanced at the guy who was driving the car, seemed to have a slight affection for him and nodded to him, turned around and said to the young child: "Rabbit cub, you are still young, the future is promising, give me a good job today, don't go wrong, Lao Dao, I have never drunk in my life, but I don't want to be sent to see the king of Hades so early." ”

When the young boy heard the words of the old man, he stuck out his tongue, and he shuddered: "This Qiu'er, but it's really cool, old man, let's just go home today, the hemp cake is difficult to swallow, but it can fill the stomach, no matter how well you eat, you still don't remember the taste when you sleep, and it's boring." ”

Lao Dao comforted and said: "But don't be too panicked, just like before, if something happens, I'll bear it." ”

The young boy pretended to look calm and asked: "In our view, we only do things within a radius of ten miles, for so many years, although we often come out to the city to catch the market, but have never stepped into Zhang's mansion, how did you get acquainted with Zhang Yuanwai and find today's big event?"

Lao Dao laughed and said: "Although there are only you and me in this view, but you usually sit in the view, you can also know things outside the view, besides, I am not famous, but there are also a few old confidants, in the middle of the person to talk, naturally found me." This kind of good thing, how could I miss it. ”

It's not too early, Lao Dao glanced at the top of his head and continued: "Don't worry, I want to get the money back as soon as possible, go to Lao Li's house in Huanghuagang to get a five-pound pine basket wine, and then you go to Hechang Ji to cut two catties of sauce beef, just fried peanuts, life is not comfortable, although our two people live a difficult life, we can't treat ourselves badly." Relying on the people's intermittent sesame oil money, I have eaten hemp cakes for nearly a month, and I have really wronged you, and the old man has no oil and water in his stomach. After this order, we can also rest for the time being this month, let's go, see that this hour is not early, but don't really miss the auspicious time, you can't run away when the time comes. ”

With that, the young boy followed behind Lao Dao and stopped talking, and the two hurried towards Zhang Yuanwai's mansion, leaving behind the confused chauffeur guy.

The street is noisy and boiling, the flow of people is crowded, the merchant carries the burden and sells, the front of the stall is also full of people, the drunk people in the restaurant at the stall are drawing wine fists, all kinds of sounds linger around the ears, today Zhang Yuanwai's daughter is married, many guests congratulate, followed by the crowd of people wearing Chinese clothes on the street, after a while, the two walked to the front of Zhang's house, Zhang Yuanwai's face is full of meat, is hugging fists to greet the guests, the servants on both sides are dragging a long voice loudly shouting:

"The shopkeeper of Tan Ji Tea Store sent a pair of silver pots, six horses of Huzhou silk, and ten boxes of tea from southern Yunnan. With that, a doorman led the guests into the inner hall for tea, waiting for the wedding banquet to begin.

"Su Ji Tobacco Store Su Xian's old lady sent a pair of Taihu stones and Huizhou pine smoke ink two cases......"

Guests come and go, so lively.

Lao Dao and the young boy waited for half a pillar of incense next to them, seeing that the guests were almost here, taking advantage of the lack of people at this time, they hurriedly went up and saluted and said: "Congratulations to Master Zhang, marry Shiying on an auspicious day, and be fortunate to have a bright star." ”

Zhang Yuanwai was busy sweating with a handkerchief, glanced at it, and saw that Lao Dao was wearing a tattered Taoist robe, his hair was scattered and had not been taken care of for a long time, and the young child was wearing cloth clothes, and his body still smelled of sweat, so he hurriedly covered his mouth and nose and said: "Where did you come from to stinky and beg for food, pretend to be a ghost, get out quickly." If I let my daughter get bad luck, I will throw you into the river. So saying, the doorman began to come with clubs, and was about to drive them out.