In the blink of an eye, it is the end of the year. The court sealed the pen, and hundreds of officials rested. Chang'an City is full of lights, draped in red and green, and the roadside stalls also begin to put up red lanterns, New Year's paintings, peach charms, firecrackers and all kinds of New Year's goods. The red, red, green and green are set against the white snow and green bricks, showing more and more the flavor of the year.

Livestock and poultry such as pigs, sheep, chickens, ducks, etc., which are usually not sold out in two or three days, are now open every day, and people come and go on the street, all of whom are wearing big sweaters to buy New Year's goods. Even the most reluctant to see meat on weekdays, when they arrive at this stall, the slightly wealthy people grit their teeth and pick up a few catties of meat, buy some fried melons and fruits with sugar, in order to have a prosperous year, and the next year will be better.

Not to mention those wealthy officials and gentry who don't care about food and clothing. Not only must you carefully prepare New Year's goods and food, but also prepare good drama and wine toys, so that when relatives and old friends walk around to visit, you will not lose face or lining. Therefore, just after entering the beginning of the lunar month, the slightly famous juggling team in Chang'an City played ten small plays, and they all made people go early. Because of the old things in the family in the early years, the Chen family was afraid of omissions during the advent period, so they also booked a group of small opera families early. Although there are no famous actors among them, their figures and singing voices also have merits. Because he also instructed the slave boy of the family to build a stage in the inner courtyard where the Youlaoan people lived, so that they could enjoy the play when relatives and friends came. Needless to say.

Now it is said that Chen Qi advised the prince to implement the "double-entry accounting method" in the household department and the preparation of "raising honest silver" in the court and the central government to motivate hundreds of officials to check and govern all affairs, and the prince and the sixth highness deeply agreed. Later, when he entered the Daming Palace to ask for peace, the prince told him all kinds of advice in person.

The saint is a wise and benevolent lord, the most perceptive of the world, sympathetic to the officials, hearing the prince's advice, at first I only felt amazing, and then I thought about it and felt that it was deeply enlightened. Then in the Daming Palace Qinzheng Hall summoned the elders to discuss the matter, all the elders unanimously praised, thinking that this is the grace of the saint who is not born. Then he ordered the prince to be in charge of the household department and the ministry to prepare a detailed statement, and after the decree was completed, he chose to announce the decree before the year and announce it to the world.

At this point, the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty were enthusiastic to thank God. As the prince, the prince has won countless people's hearts after this incident. The East Palace was in the limelight for a while, and the most important thing was that the prince was praised by the saint for this, and he compared all the brothers as if they were nothing.

Seeing the three princes' gloomy faces every day, but they had to force a smile to congratulate him, the prince liked it more and more. Because he thought of the person who made meritorious contributions, he personally gave a class of drama wine and Chen Qi at the end of the year, one as a reward, and the other because he knew that Chen Qi's family was not rich and intended to make a face for him.

Chen Jue thanked him for his kindness, and made it clear that his family had little income every year, and the imperial wine rewarded by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was also returned, Chen Jue really couldn't afford to raise such an ordinary small drama, so he had to take it back to show off for a few days, and after the New Year, he would return everyone to the East Palace. He also asked the prince to forgive him for the sin of shyness.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince might as well tell Chen Qi so truthfully, and his words were witty and witty, and he couldn't help laughing for a while, and he actually squirted out a sip of good tea. The six princes, who happened to be sitting under the crown prince, were sprayed all over their faces.

The sixth prince took out a handkerchief embroidered with a few green bamboos from his sleeve a little helplessly, raised his hand to wipe his face, and was led by the little eunuch to the side hall to change clothes and wash in the prince's accusations. Thinking of Chen Qi's words and demeanor, the six princes frowned without a trace. I only feel that even though Chen Qi and his people are exquisite in means and cautious, they are so clever and full of nonsense habits, which is really unpleasant.

At the moment, I can't say how the six princes will evaluate Chen Qi. It is only said that Chen Qi returned home with the drama wine rewarded by His Royal Highness the Prince. For a while, well-informed officials and courtiers learned of this and came to the door to say hello. Chen Qi had to greet everyone with pride. By the way, he transferred a small drama he had set earlier to others. He also divided the imperial wine personally rewarded by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince into three parts and sent it to his friend Xu Zichuan, his wife Feng's maiden brother and You Ziyu. It is also for the meaning of sharing the same qi and sharing blessings.

Chen took the imperial wine sent by his brother, and smiled at You Lao'an and You Ziyu: "It's better to wait for the ancestral hall to worship the ancestors, and then use this imperial wine to worship the ancestors." In the end, it is more decent than other things, and it is a blessing. ”

You Lao'an and You Ziyu listened and thought so. You Lao'an looked at the pot of jade wine, only looking at the gold and silver mountains of Dule, and smiled at Chen: "I can't imagine that her uncle still has such dignity." It can be seen how much His Royal Highness the Crown Prince values it. ”

Chen couldn't imagine that his brother would have such an adventure, and he felt that there was light on his face. smiled and praised his brother a few words. However, You Ziyu, as an official of the imperial court, learned that Chen Jue's advice to the prince was exactly the same as the housekeeping method that Chen came up with, and he unconsciously became suspicious. I had to ask a few words behind my back.

Chen was busy with all the things in the New Year, so he casually perfunctory the past. Seeing this, You Ziyu had no choice but to give up.

The Chen family didn't theorize about this, but only cared about Zhang Luo's family sweeping the house and dusting it, and preparing all kinds of things to worship the ancestors. In addition, he also made New Year's gifts for the elders and clansmen with the eldest girl, wrote a list of dates for inviting each family to eat New Year's wine, and instructed the comprador to buy the red lanterns, door god New Year's paintings, red paper ties, firecrackers, fireworks and other decorations for the New Year. He also begged You Ziyu to write a couplet and a blessing character, and personally stared at the boys and maids climbing the ladder and pasting it...... All the big and small trivial piles have to think of the commands, and they are really busy with their feet not touching the ground.

On this day, Chen is sitting in the room with the eldest girl to check the house in order to reward people for the New Year, there are pen ingots Ruyi, there are eight treasures of Lianchun, there are champions and first, each ingot silver is only two or two, the end is small and exquisite, people can't put it down.

Chen looked at the eldest girl once, and then ordered someone to put it away. While talking and laughing, there was a legend that "Aunt Lan brought the four girls to ask his wife for peace".

Chen was stunned, and then remembered that because the end of the year had arrived, Chen had already sent the Buddhist scriptures written by Aunt Lan and the girls to the temple, and respectfully asked the monks and Taoist priests to read them and burn them to the Bodhisattva Buddha in front of them to pray for blessings. After this incident, the Chen family couldn't use this method to toss Aunt Lan anymore, and Aunt Lan, who had been vegetarian in the Buddhist hall all day long, fasting and copying scriptures and praying for blessings, was also considered to be out of the sea of suffering.

That's why I have the leisure to greet her.

Chen sneered in his heart, waved his hand and ordered Chunlan to bring people in. Chunlan agreed to go. After a moment of turning, he led Aunt Lan in. The little girl who was waiting in the room immediately put two futons up for Aunt Lan and the four girls to kowtow and say goodbye.

Chen took a closer look, only to see that Aunt Lan was wearing a royal blue brocade placket with silver chrysanthemums today, black satin trimmed, and a ginger cotton silk horse face skirt tied on her lower body, with only a homely quilt on her head, and a three-tailed small phoenix hairpin with a little emerald inlaid red treasure inserted, and the pearl ruby tassel held by the phoenix mouth kept shaking and playing the swing with Aunt Lan's bowing and kneeling behavior. This half-new and old-fashioned dress is more and more set off Aunt Lan's gentleness and tranquility, compared with the delicate and fresh appearance half a year ago, it is simply like two people.

Chen raised his eyebrows with a little interest, but he didn't shout. On the side, Qiu Ju had already brought a bowl of tea over with a tea tray. Chen reached out to take the tea, lifted the tea lid and slowly brushed the tea leaves on the water, took a sip gently, and asked Qiu Ju with a slow smile: "You came in from outside, but you can see what the second girl and the third girl are doing in the room." ”

Qiu Ju asked, and replied with a smile: "The second girl and the third girl are doing needlework in the third girl's room, saying that it is the new year, and they want to embroider a pair of foreheads for the old lady, a purse for the master, and a handkerchief for the wife." Now it's time to wrap up. ”

When Chen heard this, he smiled and said, "This is also the filial piety of their two children." It's just that they are small, and they don't have a lot of money in needlework, unlike the big girls, and the new winter clothes cut for the old lady and the old man are all ready, right? ”

The eldest girl sat on the side, and saw Aunt Lan and her fourth sister, who had been quite favored at home in the past, kneeling on the ground, and she was already restless. I didn't expect Chen to suddenly ask her words, and she didn't react for a while. After a pause, Fang replied with a smile: "It's already done before." Just wait for the second sister and the third sister to wipe their foreheads and give them to the ancestors together. ”

When Chen heard this, he hooked the corners of his mouth with great satisfaction, reached out and patted the hand that the eldest girl put on his lap, because he said, "I know that you are a child, and your speech and demeanor could not be safer." I like the outfit you gave me a while ago. I was thinking about the Chinese New Year, and when I was entertaining my relatives and friends, I wore it and asked them to take a look at my daughter's needlework. Then again, I also like your kind nature. Never grasp the sharp and sell fast strong limelight. This is what our young lady does. Regardless of being a person and doing things, it is always good to be stable and local. The elders saw it and liked it too. ”

After that, he smiled and asked Aunt Lan: "The master once said that Aunt Lan has a gentle temperament and is the most knowledgeable. The four girls have followed you since childhood, presumably their mother. Now that the Chinese New Year is approaching, I don't know what gifts the fourth girl, as a junior, prepared for the old lady and the master? ”

Chen didn't mention himself, but Aunt Lan was still red with shame when she heard Chen's words. When Aunt Lan was in charge of the house before, there were only four eldest girls in the family, and the eldest girl was an invisible person with a wooden temperament, and the four girls were young and couldn't even hold things steadily, so naturally they didn't have to prepare needlework gifts for the elders.

Now that the Chen family is in charge, he is disciplined by the three girls, so he naturally moved the Chen family's set of living and learning. Aunt Lan copied scriptures in the Buddhist hall all day long, and she didn't notice these things. At this moment, he was forced to be questioned by Chen in person, and he blushed unconsciously.

Seeing this, Chen sneered more and more: "I am the wife who just entered the door, and I can't compare to you all staying in the You family for a long time." In those days, I heard from the people below that the eldest girl was clumsy and clumsy, and the fourth girl was clever and transparent. Now it seems that I am afraid that if someone with a heart says this and spreads it like this, everyone will not distinguish between right and wrong, so they will believe it. ”

The eldest girl was sincerely frightened, knowing that these words were for Aunt Lan and the fourth girl, she was still a little unsure.

Seeing that the eldest girl was so restrained, Chen's smile was even more beautiful. and instructed Xia He to go to the drawer under her dressing table and take out a small black lacquer box with filigree inlay, lift the lid of the box, and see that there was a pair of gold heads wrapped in red gold and silk, with hairpins, distractions, heartpicks, sideburns, and gold earrings. Chen smiled at the eldest girl in front of the room full of people and Aunt Lan's mother and daughter, "I saw that you cut a new set of red satin jackets with gold and butterflies and flowers, but there is no suitable head and face matching. I'll give it to you to wear. ”

Seeing this, the eldest girl waved her hand and shook her head: "The house has already given a new face." The wife still keeps it for the second sister and the third sister. I'm going to have a good new face on the house. ”

When Chen heard this, he smiled more and more: "The head of the house is an old practice, and what I give you is my heart." If you call me Mrs., I naturally can't lose you. What's more, you are still the eldest sister of our You family, and your father only has a daughter like you, so the degree of food and clothing is naturally different from that of those aunts. Besides, now that you are older, you should save more good clothes and a good face, so that you can be respected when you come to your in-law's house in the future. ”

Chen didn't pay attention to what he said, but he was so ashamed that the eldest girl's face was red. He only lowered his head and fiddled with his clothes, and said no more.

Chen only remembered that Aunt Lan and the four girls were still kneeling on the ground, and hurriedly smiled: "Look at my memory, it is also a headache for me who is disturbed by the new year." I forgot to call my aunt and the fourth girl to get up. Hurry up. ”

Because of the order, Chunlan Qiuju helped Aunt Lan and the four girls up and gave them to sit. and ordered the tea to be boiling on the girl's head. Only then did he smile at Aunt Lan: "How did Auntie remember to invite me today." But if you have nothing to do, you won't go to the Three Treasures Palace? ”

After a sentence, Aunt Lan was already so ashamed that her face was flushed. When he thought of his daughter's future, he still held back his shame and said, "I heard that my wife's family invited the grandmother in the palace to teach the girls the rules——"

Before he finished speaking, he heard the little servants on the second door reply, "The elders of the You family and several elderly and virtuous daughters-in-law and aunts of the family are here." ”

Seeing this, the Chen family was not curious, but they didn't know what the good You family was doing at this time.