The importance of Nacai to ordinary people is to discuss marriage, clarify the dowry, ask the man about his professional income, etc., to this day it is still the same, whether the man has a house, whether he has a car, what kind of work he does, how much income and so on? The woman can also ask for a dowry, thousands of purples and thousands of reds and greens, etc., which are modern Nacai customs.

In fact, the folk Nacai of the Song Dynasty was the same as the later generations, paying attention to thick marrying and marrying, and the bargaining was very pragmatic, but later generations paid more attention to the dowry, and the Song Dynasty not only the dowry was important, but the woman's dowry was also equally important, which was all said by the matchmaker, just like an intermediary, so as not to fail the bargaining and turn each other's faces awkwardly.

In fact, there was a blind date before Nacai, although this is more important, but it does not belong to the category of six rites, the six rites are marriage etiquette, and blind dates are just a kind of socialization.

The Song Dynasty's Nacai also included asking the name, that is, asking the woman's name, to see if there was any eight-character restraint with the man, but these were all going through the motions, ordinary people looked at property, and what the high men wanted was marriage, as long as it was not the same surname, nothing else mattered.

The seed master Dao handed over Li Yanqing's marriage book to the Cao family, and the Cao family also handed over Cao Yun's marriage book to the seed master to take back, and the two sides discussed the details of the recruitment, and today's marriage proposal was successfully concluded.

Li Yanqing was invited to the backyard by Cao Yun's father Cao Xuan, and today he has another highlight, that is, Cao Yun's mother wants to see him, seeing that her daughter is about to get married, she doesn't know what her future son-in-law looks like, Cao Yun's mother is of course anxious, so she gave her husband a strict order, no matter what, she wants to see Li Yanqing.

Cao Yun's mother's surname is Wang, in fact, she is Wang Jun's aunt, she wants to match the marriage of her daughter and nephew, after Wang Jun was heavily blamed by his father last time, Wang also went to the palace to visit her nephew's injury, and she also wanted to save the marriage.

Unexpectedly, just a few days ago, she got the news that the Wang family had married the Pan family, and her nephew Wang Jun was going to marry Pan Changde's daughter Pan Qianyun, which made the Wang family extremely angry, and she turned her face with her brother for this.

Perhaps because of the anger of the Wang family in his heart, the Wang family also began to feel that his nephew Wang Jun was not worthy of his daughter, and after so many years in Taixue, he couldn't even mix with his upper house, and he didn't even take the Kaifeng Mansion Liberation Test, which was a shame, and his daughter was afraid that she couldn't even be a county official's wife.

On the contrary, when she heard that her daughter's future husband turned out to be the Jinshi Tanhua mentioned by Mrs. Gao Shen, or the Zhengliupin Imperial History, she suddenly burst into joy, and it was natural for her to feel that it was a wise move for her to give up the Wang family.

Just when the Wang family was anxious to see his future son-in-law, Cao Xuan was hurrying towards the courtyard where he lived with Li Yanqing.

"Your aunt's temper is not very good, so you should take care of it a little more, and you will follow her whatever she says, and don't be like her."

Cao Xuan is generous and has a good temper, and he is also a well-known fear of guilt in the Cao family, and he taught Li Yanqing his experience all the way and endured the words.

"Uncle, don't worry! Yanqing will definitely be respectful. ”

Walking into the courtyard gate, a maid reported, "The master is back!" ”

Cao Xuan hurriedly walked towards the guest hall first, and at this time, a small figure slipped out of the bushes next to him, and said with a smile: "Brother Li! ”

It was Cao Jiaojiao, Li Yanqing asked with a smile: "What are you hiding here?" ”

"I'm sending you a letter!"

She shoved a small note into Li Yanqing's hand, and disappeared into the bushes like a rabbit.

At this time, the sound of Huanpei sounded, and a middle-aged woman in full costume appeared at the door surrounded by several maids, it was Cao Yun's mother's Wang, who was about forty years old and had a son and two daughters, the eldest son served as the commander of the Xiangjun in Hedong, the eldest daughter was Cao Yun, and there was a younger daughter Cao Jiaojiao.

She has the highest status in the family, and she manages her husband obediently, Cao Xuan does not dare to take concubines, and the maids around her dare not get involved.

Li Yanqing hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, "Junior, Yanqing greets my aunt!" ”

Next to him, Cao Xuan smiled flatteringly at his wife: "This is Yanqing, last time I won the pot and arrow leader in Panfu......

Wang glared at her husband and secretly scolded her husband for not being able to speak, what is there to show off? Cao Xuan was frightened by his wife's sharp eyes, in fact, he wanted to say that Li Yanqing had won the Cao family's seven-star sword, but he couldn't say the second half of the sentence.

Wang glanced at Li Yanqing with a smile again, and saw that he was actually a little taller than her son, burly, and talented, she liked it very much, and said with a smile on her face: "It's cold outside, let's go inside to talk." ”

Li Yanqing came to the guest hall and sat down, this time it was different from the visit of the Gao family a few years ago, he specially brought a gift, he put two small boxes, one long and one short, on the table, and the long box was presented to Wang, "This is the top eight bottles of perfume in Baoyan Zhai, only for the queen mother and the imperial concubine, and the younger generation specially gave it to the aunt, I hope the aunt likes it." ”

Wang also used Bao Yan Zhai's fat powder perfume, of course she understood the meaning of Li Yanqing's words, her eyes suddenly lit up, opened the brocade box, the yellow satin lining neatly placed eight bottles of simple and small perfume bottles, there are pictures and names on it: 'Genyue Xingyun, Yishan Sunset, Jin Liang Xiaoyue, Zisheng Fufeng, Baigang Winter Snow, Dahe Spring Waves, Blowing Taiwan Autumn Rain, Kaibao Morning Bell' This is the famous Bianjing Eight Scenes.

Originally, Li Daqi wanted to use eight famous beauties in history as names, but Li Yanqing reminded her that these beauties all represent a certain complex in the palace, and folk women like it, but real court women may be very taboo, Li Daqi woke up and changed it to the Eight Views of Bianjing.

Wang's heart suddenly burst into joy, although she is the daughter of a famous family, but after all, she is also a woman, the last time she got a red treasure box, her heart was a little uncomfortable, every sister-in-law is the same, she can't show her special, and this time Li Yanqing specially brought her Bao Yan Zhai only for the queen mother and the princess special perfume, so that her heart is very comfortable, even applauded, she has also heard of these perfumes, but it is the first time to see them.

Cao Xuan next to him suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, and secretly praised his future son-in-law for doing things, in fact, this was prepared by Li Daqi, he knew the psychology of powerful women, these famous ladies did not care about the price, but about status, and rarity, instead of giving the Wang family a hundred red treasure boxes, it was better to give her eight bottles of top perfume on behalf of status.

Li Yanqing handed the Fang Jin box to Cao Xuan again, "This is also the best ambergris incense in Baoyan Zhai, and it is a little heart from the younger generation to his uncle." ”

Ambergris is the best in the incense, a hundred times more valuable than agarwood, this small box is about two taels, worth thousands of yuan, incense can be used by both men and women, Wang's usual use of agarwood, I heard that it is actually ambergris, Wang took it unceremoniously, "Thank you Yanqing." ”

She raised her eyebrows, and a strange look flashed in her eyes, of course outsiders couldn't understand it, but after being a pillow couple for more than 20 years, only Cao Xuan understood his wife's eyes, and his wife's eyes said, 'I confiscated the things, so you don't have to give them to which fox spirit!' ’

Cao Xuan smiled bitterly in his heart, and had to say to Li Yanqing: "Thank you for your kindness!" ”

According to customs, now it is only the first step in the ceremony, and you can't call Weng son-in-law, you can only call it an uncle and nephew, and you can only change the title until Na Zheng, that is, after the man has a dowry, otherwise it will be changed too early, and it will make people laugh.

Small families don't pay attention to it, and the blind date is successful and begins to call the virtuous son-in-law and aunt, but the Cao family is a famous nobleman and pays great attention to the etiquette, although you can not care about some small details, such as Li Yanqing followed the matchmaker to the door today, but there is no ambiguity in the etiquette rules.

Wang took a sip of tea, and asked with a smile: "I heard that Yanqing has already accepted a concubine?" ”

Cao Xuan next to him was in a hurry, desperately giving his wife a look, how could he say such rude words, but Wang didn't seem to see it, and still looked at Li Yanqing with a smile.

Generally speaking, it is said that marrying a wife and taking a concubine, marrying a wife first, taking a concubine last, a concubine is a supplement to the wife, for the prosperity of children and grandchildren, in order to take care of daily life, it is not recommended to take a concubine first mainly to prevent the situation that the eldest son is not a descendant, and it is a little inappropriate to take a concubine before marrying a wife.

But in fact, which son of a wealthy family does not have a woman he loves before marrying a wife? Even the prince already had several palace concubines before the crown princess, no one took this kind of etiquette seriously, Cao Ping didn't mention it at all, but the Wang family asked, of course, this is also her distressed daughter, it is understandable, if she doesn't ask, it is estimated that no one will ask again.

Li Yanqing had already been mentally prepared, and he bowed and said: "There is a concubine in the younger generation's family, mainly because there are special circumstances. ”

"Oh——, what's the special case?"

"My aunt doesn't know, the father of the younger generation has no brothers, and the mother sees the back very early, and the younger generation has no brothers, the younger generation has two generations of single transmission, the year before last, the younger generation entered the Hedong Army after the entrance examination, and wanted to participate in the upcoming Song and Xia battles, the Song army died tens of thousands of soldiers in that battle, and my father was extremely worried, in order to leave a pulse of fireworks for the Li family, so my father married a concubine to the younger generation."

Cao Xuan next to him couldn't help but say: "I think Yanqing has forgivable circumstances for taking a concubine, after all, the war is too cruel, and no one can guarantee survival from the battlefield." ”

Wang glared at her husband fiercely, and Cao Xuan didn't dare to speak anymore, so she had to lower her head stupidly.

"And has your father's wish been granted?"

The Wang family is very scheming, this is what she wants to ask, she does not allow her husband to take concubines, but she can't control others, Li Yanqing's concubines are already in the boat, what can she say? Can you still object to this marriage not being successful? In fact, she just wants to know if Li Yanqing has a son now, which is the key, which is related to the status of her daughter's future husband's family.

After a few circles, she asked the point.

Li Yanqing was also slightly unhappy in his heart, he replied that it was already very reluctant, and the Wang family should accept it when he saw it, but he continued to ask, at this time Li Yanqing also realized that his future mother-in-law was a very powerful character, and she was unambiguous on key issues.

He had to shake his head, "The younger concubine's health is not very good, and my father's wish has not yet been fulfilled." ”

Wang's heart suddenly breathed a sigh of relief and laughed, "What a pity! ”

At this time, a maid at the door said, "The old man has sent a message, and the guest is about to leave." ”

Li Yanqing got up and said, "The junior will come to visit my uncle and aunt next time, so I will say goodbye first!" ”

Wang smiled and said, "Go back and prepare, our family is ready, you are welcome to come over at any time!" ”

Li Yanqing said goodbye and left, Cao Xuan led him back to the front yard, and apologized to him on the way: "Your aunt is this temper, with a knife mouth and a tofu heart, in fact, people are kind, and today is a little too much, don't take it to heart." ”

"I totally understand that I don't care if a parent doesn't care about their children!"

"That's good, hey! I don't know how many people she offended with that knife mouth? ”

Li Yanqing left Cao's mansion, and in the carriage, he quickly glanced at the note that Cao Jiaojiao had given him before, "The day after tomorrow, see you at the gate of Daxiangguo Temple."

This is not Cao Yun's handwriting, the handwriting is very immature, it should have been written by Cao Jiaojiao to her, Li Yanqing is a little strange, what does this little lady ask herself to do?