Most people look forward to the Chinese New Year when they are young, because they can wear new clothes, eat delicious food, set off fireworks, and collect New Year's money...... When they grow up, most people will feel that the New Year is very boring, there is no good food, fun and good-looking, and the rest is just lackluster.

Zhao Yan's cousin Zhao Qi is already married, and his wife Song's belly is also bulging, it is said that the due date is in May of the next year.

In Daming, lifting people can be exempted from dozens of people and about 100 acres of land tax, many villagers in order to pay less taxes will be dedicated to the land in the name of the people, Zhao Yan will naturally be no exception, but the specific affairs are taken care of by the cheap father, Zhao Yan knows that the villagers who are dedicated to their own names are only big houses and three rooms, and the rest of the people are not clear.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Zhao Yan's family returned to the city by ox cart, and after arriving at home, Zhao Yan was originally going to go to Wang's house to pay New Year's greetings, but he didn't want to go out yet, and an unexpected person came to the door.

"Brother Xian, have a good New Year." Although Li Xun was dressed in regular clothes, he looked like he had his own momentum, and the old Zhou of the porter didn't dare to take a breath.

Although Zhao Yan was a little surprised by Li Xun's arrival, he still smiled and said, "When did Brother Li come back?" It's cold outside, so please come inside. ”

After the two came to the front hall and sat down, Li Xuncai said with a smile: "Brother Wei came back the day before yesterday, and he will return to Beijing tomorrow. ”

Zhao Yan said: "Last time I was in Beijing, I would like to thank Brother Li for his thoughtfulness, otherwise the junior brother and Brother Zhang may not be able to escape prison." ”

Li Xun waved his hand, with a hint of helplessness in his smile, and said: "As the saying goes, immortals fight and mortals suffer, and that incident is a secret wrestling between the two big men in the palace, and I can't control it." To tell you the truth, you and Brother Zhang Xian were unknown at the time, so there is no obstacle to report a letter for your brother, but it is just a gesture, and Brother Xian does not have to worry about it. ”

The two chatted for a few more words, and Li Xun asked, "Brother Xian, are you going to take this year's examination?" ”

Zhao Yan nodded and said, "Not only the younger brother is going, but Brother Zhang is also going, could it be that Brother Li heard something that is not conducive to this examination?" ”

"Brother Xian thinks too much." Li Xun laughed twice and explained: "The meeting test is not comparable to the township test, and then the eyes of all the scholars in my Ming Dynasty will converge here, and there will be people in the court staring, and it is not so easy to cheat like the township test." For my brother I want to say, if you and Brother Zhang Xian participate in this examination, you don't have to go to the inn to rent, I rented a house near the Gongyuan alone, although it is not big, but it is much more convenient than renting in the inn, I will write down the address later, and then you and Brother Zhang Xian will live in it. ”

"This ......" Zhao Yan subconsciously wanted to refuse, but Li Xun didn't give him a chance.

"That's it, don't be polite." Li Xun stood up and said, "There are still things in my brother's house, so I will stay soon." ”

Zhao Yan got up and arched his hand: "It's okay, I don't know when Brother Li will leave tomorrow?" Little brother is going to see you off. ”

Li Xun waved his hand and said: "No need, there are still some important errands to be done in the Beijing Division, for my brother to set off before dawn, if you see Brother Zhang Xian, please say hello for me, but I don't have time to visit him today." ”

"Brother Li, please rest assured, the younger brother will definitely bring the words." Zhao Yan sent Li Xun to the door, and after watching Li Xun's vigorous back disappear into the corner of the street, he pondered in place for a while, and then turned around and went back to the back house.

Zhao Xin's marriage is scheduled for the eighth day of February, and the time of the exam is the ninth day of February, and he will enter the examination room on the eighth day of the first month, so Zhao Yan can't attend the wedding of the cheap dad anyway, unless he can fly, but this is a little unrealistic.

On the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, Wang Lin did not follow this time, and the carriage drove out of Shenzhou City in the morning fog and headed in the direction of Beijing City.

Li Er and Zhang Shun's injuries have been healed, but Zhang Shun's right leg has injured his muscles and bones, and he feels a little uneven when he walks, but despite this, Zhang Shun's face is always smiling, because his daughter-in-law added a big fat boy to him a few years ago, which made Zhang Shun very happy in his heart.

"Li Er, you're also in your thirties this year, right? Is there a good maid at home, if so, I will be a matchmaker for you when I come back this time. Zhao Yan wrapped a thick blanket, leaned on the side of the carriage, and said to Li Er, who was sitting at the entrance of the carriage, with a smile.

Li Er usually speaks little, he is a beautiful person, and after listening to Zhao Yan's inquiry at this moment, the soft flesh on his cheeks couldn't help but tremble twice, and then he said: "The maids in the family are too small, and the eldest one is only fifteen or sixteen years old......"

Zhang Shun answered on the side: "Second Brother Li, what is this?" You are an honest man, who followed you is her blessing, what about being young? Zhang Sanhu in our village is more than ten years older than his daughter-in-law, and now his life is prosperous. ”

Zhang Wenyuan smiled on the side and said nothing, he felt that Li Er's words had not finished yet, and sure enough, as soon as Zhang Shun's words fell, Li Er looked at Zhao Yan again, and whispered: "Aunt Song in the kitchen has a niece, eighteen this year, I have met a few times......"

Zhang Shun smiled: "It turns out that brother, you have already had a girl you like, just now my brother and I talked too much." ”

Zhao Yan thought about it, he had a little impression of the niece of the cook Aunt Song, she was a white and pure, slightly plump girl, and she looked quite standard, but he heard that Li Er meant that he fell in love with that girl, so he responded: "When I go back, I will go to Aunt Song and ask where the girl's family lives, and then go to propose marriage for you, you are also not small, and it is time to start a family." ”

Li Er was very grateful when he heard this, and a thousand words came to his mouth, but he only said, "Thank you, Childe." ”

After ten days, a long stream of hot air erupted from the mouth of the colt pulling the cart and stopped. The Shipai Hutong in front of you is located in the Jingshi Sicheng Fang, not far from the Gongyuan, although the houses in the alley are all small doors, the environment looks quite quiet.

Zhao Yan and Zhang Wenyuan jumped out of the carriage, slightly dressed slightly, and then signaled Li Er to go and call the door.

Li Er stepped forward and tapped the door a few times, and a moment later, a somewhat timid voice came out from behind the door: "Who is outside the door?" ”

Zhao Yan and Zhang Wenyuan glanced at each other, and Zhao Yan responded politely: "We are from Shenzhou, Zhending Mansion, in the next Zhao Yan, next to this is Zhang Wenyuan Brother Zhang, the two of us came to Beijing to participate in the examination, at the invitation of Brother Li want to stay here for a while, I don't know if Brother Li has ever talked to the girl?" ”

The voice inside the door was silent for a moment, and then there was the sound of the latch being pulled, and the backyard door was pulled open from the inside, and a seventeen or eighteen-year-old lady appeared in front of everyone.

The little lady is not tall, not fat or thin, she looks very delicate, she stood in the door and looked at a few people before saying: "The little maid is called Qiuyue, my son-in-law has long been looking forward to the two sons." Zhao Gongzi and Zhang Gongzi, please come in, my son-in-law has been very busy recently, and he won't be able to come back until about midnight, so the little maid will take the two sons-in-law to settle down first. ”

This is a small house with two entrances, only two of the rooms in front can live in people, and the others are mostly filled with some sundries, Li Er and Zhang Shun are arranged to live here, there are three main rooms in the back, three side rooms, Zhao Yan and Zhang Wenyuan were arranged to live in the wing room, although it is not as convenient as living at home, but it is much better than living in the inn.

The futon had been prepared, and the carbon basin was then lit by Qiu Yue, and after arranging the two, Qiu Yue stared at the two for a long time, her smart eyes full of curiosity.

The two of them had never been stared at like this by a big girl, Zhang Wenyuan's face was a little red, and he turned his head away as if he was looking at the room, although Zhao Yan was also a little uncomfortable, he asked with a smile: "Miss Qiuyue, has Brother Li left anything for the two of me?" ”

Qiu Yue was awakened by Zhao Yan's voice, thinking that her actions were very rude, she couldn't help but blush and lowered her head, explaining: "My son-in-law only said that he would let the little maid settle the two sons well, and did not leave any other words, but my son-in-law once told the little maid that the two sons were very smart, and they were admitted to Xiucai at a young age, and then they were admitted to the lifting of people together, if it wasn't for the master's sake, although he may not be as blockbuster as the two sons, and he was able to live the life he wants. The little maid just remembered my son-in-law's words, and couldn't help but look at the two sons a few more times, and asked the two sons not to be surprised. ”

"It doesn't matter." Zhao Yan said with a smile: "Are you the only one living with Brother Li here?" ”

Qiu Yue nodded and said: "My lord has a big mansion in Bao'en Temple, and the little maid originally served the lord there, and then the second son came to Beijing and moved here alone, and the lord was afraid that the second son would not be able to take care of himself, so he sent the little maid to serve the second son." There was originally a cook here, but two days ago, someone in her family died, and the son asked her to go home to mourn. ”

"I see." Zhao Yan was headed, he didn't know much about the affairs of Li Xun's family, he only knew that his father Li Jian was the commander of the Jinyi Wei from the third grade, his eldest brother Li Xian was the commander of the Jingwei Command Department from the five products, and Li Xun himself was from the five products of the Jinyi Wei deputy thousand households, and now Li Xun does not live in the big mansion purchased by his father, but moves here by himself, which must have some hidden secrets, maybe it is related to Li Xun's eldest brother Li Xian.

Zhao Yan speculated wildly there, and Qiu Yue helped Zhang Wenyuan sort out the luggage of the two.

After a while, the luggage was sorted out, and the sky outside became a little dark, Qiu Yue lit the candlestick in the house, and then said: "The two sons are tired, they must be tired, the little maid will go to the restaurant outside to order some food, and then come back to boil water, and the two sons can take a bath after eating." ”

"Then thank you Miss Qiuyue." Zhao Yan and Zhang Wenyuan thanked each other at the same time.

Qiu Yue was about to turn around and leave the house, when Li Xun's laughter suddenly came from outside the courtyard: "Two virtuous brothers, are you still satisfied with this?" ”