Chapter 1: The Old Man (Part 4)

Regarding the choice of her father-in-law, Cheng's mother also felt very abrupt. But there are too many abrupt things that the old man has encountered in his life, so he said very measuredly, "Actually, this is fine." At least be able to be your fifth uncle's companion. Otherwise, you have to worry about Uncle Hao, and you have to worry about your father-in-law, you are busy at both ends, and you may not be able to take care of both ends. Besides, my father-in-law is a real person, and he is sent to the officialdom all day long, and he is probably more tired. When I got to the mountains, I looked at the green mountains and green waters every day, and I didn't have so many things to worry about, which was good for my body and bones. I'm too old to cause any more trouble for you two. Otherwise, I would like to find a secluded nunnery to eat a long fast for a few days, pray for blessings for you juniors, and ask the Bodhisattva to take care of the old sisters of our generation by the way! ”

"If my mother wants to do a dojo, I will ask the master to come to my home to do it. The presiding officer of the Baoxiang Temple outside the east gate is said to have understood Buddhism very thoroughly! Cheng Mingzhen was afraid that his mother would mention Xiao Xinghua's deceased parents, so he interrupted with a smile.

"A monk who collects money from people, how can he go if he understands the Dharma thoroughly?!" Cheng Zhushi smiled and shook his head, "That's what I'll say." How can you remember that a play is a play? On the side of the fifth uncle and his father-in-law, you might as well ask someone to take care of one or two. Although the world is becoming more and more peaceful now, after all, the two of them are already old, and their arms and legs are not as good as they were back then! ”

"I was about to ask General Wang Junkuo for help! He is the governor of Hanoi, and if he builds a temporary barracks outside the mountain, he can let the thieves hide far away! Cheng Mingzhen nodded and agreed with a smile. It's just that Juan Zi is afraid of being too troublesome and doesn't want to owe that favor! ”

"It depends on the favor. This kind of favor is worth owing. Cheng Zhu glared at his son and taught in a low voice, "You know more about the principles of officialdom than I do." But it is not all about the entanglement of interests. Usually come and go to help each other a little favor, a little bit down, after a long time, but more than the people who have stakeholders! ”

"Mother-in-law is right, it's me thinking too much!" Hearing this, the cuckoo smiled and nodded in acknowledgement.

"You're also for Xiao Jiu's good!" Cheng Zhu smiled very happily and continued: "The family supports each other and reminds each other, so that life can go more smoothly. Xiao Jiu and his grandfather are blessed, and they only gave birth to such a son. But you and Xiao Jiu are both blessed people, and in the future, they must be taught to be humble and supportive to each other. Don't calculate with each other for bits and pieces, let outsiders see the joke! ”

"Hmm!" Du Juan and Cheng Mingzhen looked at each other and agreed with a smile. Both husband and wife knew that their mothers were borrowing the topic to play and wanted to give little apricot blossom a favor. But there are some things in principle that cannot be changed because of a few words from my mother.

Cheng Zhu guessed that his son and daughter-in-law would not easily reveal a past grievance, and he didn't say more. It takes time to do anything. The elderly have experienced a lot, and the last thing they are afraid of is waiting. After smiling and taking a few sips of tea, she turned the conversation back to what her son and daughter-in-law saw along the way. Cheng Mingzhen and Du Juan deliberately pleased their mothers, adding fuel to how the monks in the mountains were snobbish, how nervous the nearby officials were, and some strange things they heard along the way. The old man listened with a smile, interjecting from time to time to comment a few words, and the family of three was happy.

Xiao Xinghua's mother and son couldn't interject beside them, so they could only sip tea quietly. After sitting for a while, the two naughty boys became bored again, and muttered to their mothers that they were hungry. When Cheng Zhu heard this, he smiled and proposed, "It's not early, just eat here with me." On the day Ermao got married, I fell in love with a large square table used by the Hu people in the Western Regions at his house, and casually praised a few words. His daughter-in-law has a good memory, and a few days ago she had someone beat one with sandalwood and sent someone to bring it to me. I've been worried that I won't have a chance to use it, and today is just right, and our family has a whole table, and it's lively. ”

Now that the old lady has opened her mouth, Cheng Mingzhen and Du Juan are not easy to object. He smiled and agreed, and got up and went outside to tell the servants to prepare dinner. After a while, Sister-in-law Lian directed the servants to carry them into a huge dining table, along with several carved stools with backrests, which were arranged one by one around the four sides of the table. Then he took out a few sets of Yuezhou fine porcelain dishes and paired them with ivory chopsticks, a specialty of Yulin County. White and pure, very rare.

According to the rules of the Central Plains, the banquet guests have always sat separately. Only in the northern part of Hedong and Hebei provinces, the vulgar families who were heavily affected by Hu Feng would set up a large table and sit in groups to eat. But in Cheng Zhu's eyes, Xiao Xinghua is not an outsider, so sitting around the table is not slow. Besides, if you sit together and eat a few meals like a family, maybe the old grievances will be forgotten, and no one will deliberately remember them again.

Guessing her aunt's intentions, Xiao Xinghua was grateful. During the banquet, he kept pouring water and cloth vegetables for the old lady, which was more thoughtful than taking care of his two children. Cheng Mingzhen and Du Juan saw her so cautious, and the alienation in their hearts was not so strong. In order to take care of the old lady's emotions, she occasionally took the initiative to talk to Xiao Xinghua for a few words, all of which were shallow, trying not to ask the other party's intentions and details.

Even so, it has made Xiao Xinghua feel a lot more comfortable. Taking the opportunity to pour wine for everyone, he whispered, "Cousin has been very busy with official business recently, right?" I've heard that the fight has been fierce in the north! ”

"Not busy, not busy. I was only responsible for taking care of the food and grass, which was an extremely easy job. In fact, there is no need to take care of those things at all, the people under my hands are all old people from the Qin Palace, and they are more familiar with official business than me when they pull one out! Cheng Mingzhen smiled and talked about him.

"Nearly 200,000 people have food and clothing, how can it be easy!" Xiao Xinghua smiled and slowly filled the wine cup in front of Cheng Mingzhen, "That is, cousin, if someone else ......"

"Your cousin is actually an ornament!" Du Juan stood up with a smile and took the white jade wine jug in Xiao Xinghua's hand, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and King Qin have a lot of capable people in their hands, and there is no need to bother your cousin at all." No, I saw that he was bored, so I took him out to visit my grandfather. Alright, alright, I'll just come alone. Don't be busy. You are a distant guest, as long as you can take care of your two little nephews. Sister-in-law Lian, help get some more sour plum juice for the two cousins. It's hot, don't let them get heatstroke! ”

"Hey!" Sister-in-law Lian, who was waiting outside, happily agreed, stepped forward with a smile, and took away the empty porcelain retorts that the two children had drunk. When he turned around, he didn't forget to smile at Xiao Xinghua, as if he was showing goodwill, and as if reminding her to be self-conscious.

Regarding the secret war between his daughter-in-law and niece, Cheng Zhu saw them all. The old lady couldn't take sides, so she smiled and whispered, "Okay, let's all sit down and eat." Don't drink too much. After all, Xiao Jiuzi is still holding a military position, and if he is temporarily appointed as a general, it is really difficult to explain the smell of alcohol. Don't give your child too much sour plum soup, although that thing is delicious, it can't be full, and too much will hurt the stomach! ”

"Hmm!" Cuckoo and Little Apricot nodded and agreed in unison. The two naughty boys didn't know what was going on with the adults, and when they heard that they weren't going to drink sour plum soup, they immediately muttered and protested, "Auntie, I want to drink it!" It's hot, heat stroke! ”

"Don't be naughty, obedient! Eat well! Xiao Xinghua lowered her head and ordered the two children.

"Am I going to drink it?" "I'm full! Thirst! The two naughty boys did not take the majesty of their mothers in their eyes at all, and stretched out their arms and kicked their legs on the stool.

"You can't drink this bowl of rice until you've eaten it!" Xiao Xinghua grabbed one of them by the arm and forcibly shoved the chopsticks into the other's hands. Then he turned his head to the other one and whispered, "I'll have to finish this bowl of rice when I'm full." No matter how much food is wasted, it will become insects that will gnaw you at night! ”

Of course, this threat has no effect, and the two naughty boys, one on the left and one on the right, alternate protesting voices and movements, making Xiao Xinghua scramble. Cheng Mingzhen looked funny, lowered his head and snickered secretly. Du Juan likes naughty children, and smiled and begged Cheng's mother for the other party: "It's okay to drink less." Sister-in-law Lian is careful, she will definitely not add too much ice to the sour plum soup! ”

"It's a virtue with Xiao Jiu when he was a child!" Cheng Zhu shook his head and smiled. "Let them finish their meal and drink again. Only one more bowl per person! ”

"Thank you, Auntie!" "Grandma is a great person!" Before Xiao Xinghua could change her words, the two naughty boys immediately cheered. Immediately after, he picked up the chopsticks and cleaned up the rice in the bowl with three clicks and two clicks.

"Auntie......" Xiao Xinghua turned around and looked disgusted, still a little bit of the coquettish appearance of the year.

"Who's kid wasn't like that when he was a kid. You and Xiao Jiu back then, you were much more Tao than this! Cheng Zhu smiled and responded lovingly. You don't remember, but I remember it. Especially you, you don't look like a girl at all! ”

Listening to her aunt talk about what happened when she was a child, Xiao Xinghua's face turned red, and she smiled and stopped talking. It's a long, long time ago, and who says they don't remember? At that time, my cousin was like an adult, and he was responsive to his needs. I once thought that I would be like this for the rest of my life, follow my cousin, be his follower, and be protected by him for the rest of my life. It's a pity that creation makes people......

Thinking of this, her face turned redder and redder. The heart is also panicked, as if all the secrets are ** in broad daylight. If it weren't for the sake of the two children, would he dare to be cheeky and go to his cousin's house again? She asked herself, and her nose suddenly soured, and tears slowly flowed out.

"What's wrong?" Cheng Zhu was stunned for a moment and asked with concern.

"Got a bite of mustard!" Xiao Xinghua pointed to the cold dish in front of her and replied with a smile. "I'm going to rinse my mouth and I'll be back shortly!" With that, he grabbed the wine cup in front of him and ran away.

It happened that Sister-in-law Lian walked in with a sour plum soup in her hand, and when she saw that the guests were running fast, she quickly avoided a road. When Xiao Xinghua's figure disappeared at the door, Cheng Zhushi sighed, pointed to the two children who were grabbing the sour plum soup to drink, and said in a low voice: "Your cousin's family is afraid that they will be forced to a dead end." Otherwise, with her stinky temper back then, I'm afraid she wouldn't have begged you for anything. They were indeed very sorry for you back then, but so many years have passed, and there is no need to keep the hatred in your heart. Otherwise, you are tired yourself, and I am tired of watching! ”

"The night I sent her away, I don't hate it anymore!" Cheng Mingzhen knew that what should come would come after all, so he put down the wine cup and said in a low voice. "But she came this time and wanted me to do something, and I haven't asked yet. Besides, you also know that although I, the marquis, looks quite majestic, in fact, it is just a gesture made by the court for the defectors, and the power is very small, and there are not many places to speak! ”

"Mother knows. Mother has been thinking about this these days! Cheng Zhushi sighed and said quietly, "It's not easy for you and Juan Zi to have today. Mother is not reluctant to ask you to help her. Mother just hopes that if you can, you can stretch out your hand. After all......"

Pointing to the two scoundrels, the old man emphasized in a very bleak tone, "After all, they are your cousin's children. Although his father's surname is Zhou, he still has half of the blood of the old Zhu family. After the death of your unruly uncle, your cousin has no relatives in this world except us. ”

"Well, I see!" Cheng Mingzhen didn't want to make his mother sad, so he nodded lightly. "I ask what happened before I make a decision. If it's too much trouble, my cousin might as well stay at our house for a few more days. Avoid the limelight, and then find a way. ”

"Does my mother know what happened to her?" For the meaning of the little apricot blossom, the cuckoo also felt very strange. For the sake of the two children's very cute situation, I decided to ask once.

"How can I ask carefully before you husband and wife come back?!" The old lady shook her head and smiled very skillfully. "Although my mother has never seen anything in the world, how can you promise people indiscriminately before you make a decision?"

"What about my cousin-in-law, wasn't he given an official position? Mother-in-law knows what officials have been awarded! The cuckoo thought for a moment and continued to ask.

"I guess it's a countyman. I don't remember too clearly. What about Xiao Jiu, don't you know? Cheng Zhu thought about it and frowned and recalled.

"There are new officials taking office every day these years, and there are a lot of them written in the newspaper, how can I pay attention to them!" Cheng Mingzhen shook his head and smiled bitterly. Since successfully accepting the remnants of the Wagang Army, the strength of the Tang Army has skyrocketed, and it is invincible and invincible. Looking at the whole world, as long as the eyes are a little clear, you can see that the Tang Dynasty's unification of the Central Plains has become unstoppable. Therefore, the "heroes and heroes" who originally ceded land and respected themselves lowered their flags one after another, accepted the constraints of the Tang Dynasty, and strived to be the founding fathers of the country. The official seals issued from Chang'an every month need to be loaded with cars, and the first car has just been distributed, and the second car is already on the road.

"Quite a familiar place. It seems that it is not far from Ping'en. Where did ...... come from" Seeing that her son couldn't catch the stubble, the old lady continued to search her intestines and scrape her belly, "By the way, it seems to be Lucheng, no, it's Luzhou ......"

"Wang Bo, the governor of Qizhou! It's not Lucheng, Hebei, it's Lujun, Henan. He is the confidant of Zhishilang Wang Bo! Cheng Ming stood up violently, the wine cup in his hand shook, and the wine was spilled.

.69 Chinese debut