The slanting sun shines through the window lattice, outlining a neatly arranged diamond-shaped light spot on the exquisite reed mat, the light spot is from small to large, and has been spread out to the east wall, half of Chen Caozhi's body is in the diamond-shaped light spot, his face is calm, thoughtful, and his eyes are particularly deep.

Xiaochan saw that the study was quiet all of a sudden, and her heart was a little panicked, and she said timidly: "Lady, Xiaolangjun, did the little maid say the wrong thing?" ”

Ding Youwei waved his hand, signaling Xiaochan not to speak first, and stared at Chen Caozhi: ", do you think what Xiaochan said is feasible?" ”

Chen Caozhi straightened his waist, knelt and sat more upright, and said: "I'm the same as Zongzhi and Run'er, I can't wait for my sister-in-law to go back to Chenjiawu with us now, I know that my sister-in-law is very unhappy here, and she can't be with her closest relatives. I think a large part of the reason for the appreciation of me is because of Huan's appreciation of me, Huan is a person who understands the rhythm of music, the moment he appreciates my flute sound, I am a confidant with him, there is no distinction between high and low, but the whole Chang Shi is different, the seemingly cordial attitude of the whole Chang Shi is actually the open-mindedness of the noble to the humble and a polite corporal attitude, he can talk to me about calligraphy, music and praise me, but if I think I have climbed up to him, ask him for this favor, I am afraid that I will immediately be coldly looked at by him, at this time, The great chasm between the scholars and the Hanmen immediately appeared, so I couldn't beg him, begging him, it was enough to be humiliated. ”

Ding Youwei sighed lightly and said, "Cao Zhi is right, which makes my sister-in-law both sad and gratified." ”

Chen Caozhi didn't want to depress the atmosphere, so he asked with a smile: "I said so much, sister-in-law doesn't praise me a few words, I, like Zongzhi and Run'er, also want to praise." ”

Ding You smiled slightly, and said in the kind of intimate tone that he spoke to Zongzhi and Run'er: "Okay, sister-in-law praises you, you are not arrogant or impatient, calm and thoughtful, what else, you say it yourself-"

Everyone in the room laughed, and the dull mood was swept away.

Run'er asked, "But Uncle Ugly, when will my mother go back with us?" ”

Chen Caozhi said: "We won't wait for a long time, let's come step by step, Run'er believes in Uncle Ugly the most, doesn't he?" ”

"Hmm!" Run'er nodded vigorously, and Zongzhi also nodded on the side.

Ding Youwei looked at the three intimate uncles and nephews, thinking that the three of them would go back to Chenjiawu in a few days, and she couldn't go with her, Aunt was old, Zongzhi and Run'er still had to be taken care of, and the Chen family's property in the West Building was not a small amount, and these needed to be taken care of, although Xiaolang was mature and steady, he was still a young man after all, and he needed to concentrate on studying, and he couldn't be distracted by trivial and mundane things all day long-

", you can copy the score now, and I'll give it to my uncle."

Ding Youwei brought Chen Caozhi's transcription of the silk music score, and asked Ah Xiu to accompany him to see his uncle Ding Yi.

Chen Caozhi led Zongzhi and Run'er brothers and sisters to the small garden for a walk, jumping and touching the height under the laurel tree, this thin body must be exercised persistently, the sick can not be good, the Jin people ask for immortals and ask a lot, but they don't seem to be very enthusiastic about fitness, because of the war, because of the epidemic, life is short, or it is good to enjoy it in time, but Chen Caozhi will not think like that, he wants to live well, serve the widow and widow, take care of his nephews and nieces, study and progress, and rejuvenate my Qian Tang Chen......

Chen Caozhi bathed out, Laifu, Laide father and son were already waiting outside the courtyard gate, and reported to Chen Caozhi that he went to Qiantang County to recruit tenants today, saying that he had seen the two households, both of which were registered good people, and there were also stateless homeless people, and they were cheaper, just because the Qiantang Chen family was not a scholar family, it was difficult to shelter them, and they generally would not come to take refuge.

Chen Caozhi nodded, asked Laifu and his son to go down to eat and rest, and call him into the city tomorrow.

As soon as Laifu's father and son left, Ding Youwei came back and called Xiaochan, Qingzhi, Ah Xiu, and Yuyan to the hall, saying that if there was something to order, Chen Caozhi's uncle and nephew naturally had to listen.

Ding Youwei named one by one: "Xiaochan, Ah Xiu, Qingzhi, Swift, which of the four of you wants to go to Chenjiawu?" Does it mean that they will all live in Chenjiawu in the future? ”

The four maids looked at each other, and Xiaochan said in surprise: "Lady, is the head of the family willing to let the lady go back to Chenjiawu?" ”

Ding Youwei shook his head: "I can't go back for the time being." ”

She just asked her uncle Ding Yi to go back to Chenjiawu to visit her aunt, Ding Yi resolutely refused, Ding Youwei also knew that her uncle would not agree, her uncle was afraid that she would not return, and then it would be known all over the county, which would hinder the family's voice, this was Ding Youwei's scheming, and deliberately put forward a request that her uncle could not accept first, in order to seek second, so when she proposed to let her personal four maids go to Chenjiawu to take care of Zongzhi and Run'er in two, and serve her aunt with filial piety on her behalf, Ding Yi hesitated, and did not oppose it as resolutely as before, Ding Youwei pleaded again and again, Ding Yi agreed.

Xiaochan took the lead and said: "I will go to Chenjiawu with Xiao Langjun." ”

Qingzhi immediately said: "I'll go with Xiaochan, I like to take care of Run'er and Zongzhi." ”

Ah Xiu and Yuyan hesitated, they were the daughters of the family, their parents and brothers were both farming in the Ding manor, and they were the shade of the Ding family, and Xiaochan and Qingzhi were orphan daughters.

Ah Xiu and Yuyan said together: "Lady, then let's go too-" The tone was inquiring, not as sure as Xiaochan and Qingzhi.

Chen Caozhi said with a smile: "The four sisters have all gone to Chenjiawu, so who will serve my sister-in-law?" ”

Ding Youwei said: "Uncle only agreed to go to two, just Xiaochan and Qingzhi, Ah Xiu and Yuyan stay, and I also need people around me." He said to Chen Caozhi again: "Caozhi, my uncle also allows you, Zongzhi, and Run'er to visit me again in September, twice a year in the future." ”

Zongzhi and Run'er both smiled and squinted, what a poor child, they were happy to see their mother twice a year.

Chen Caozhi said happily: "Sister-in-law, don't you think this is all a good thing, you also have to be relieved, everything will be fine for us." ”

Ding Youwei was very happy in her heart, and she really felt that everything would be fine.

……

That night, after Ding Youwei took care of the two children and fell asleep, he listened attentively, and there were patrolling Zhuang guests in the distance who used the ringing wood "Duoduo" to report the time, it was already the hour, let Ah Xiu hold the lamp, walked to the porch and looked, the sky was slightly drizzling, the lantern light went out, and the bluestone slab in the courtyard downstairs was wet and bright.

Ah Xiu said: "Xiaolangjun hasn't slept yet, the light is still on." ”

Ding Youwei said: "Go and have a look." ”

The two of them walked to the room at the west end, and the door was hidden, and the faint yellow candlelight leaked through the crack in the door, diagonally.

Ah Xiu leaned into the crack in the door, turned around and said softly: "Cao Zhi Xiaolangjun is writing." ”

Ding Youwei asked Ah Xiu to knock on the door, and heard Chen Caozhi say: "Please come in, the door is not bolted, just push it." ”

Ah Xiu pushed open the door, Ding Youwei stood by the door and looked inside, and said, "Why aren't Xiaochan and Qingzhi waiting on the side?" ”

Chen Caozhi got up and said: "It's sister-in-law, it's me who didn't let the two sisters, Xiaochan and Qingzhi, wait, because I read late at night, and I will take care of myself-sister-in-law, please take a seat." ”

Ding Youwei sat on the side of the mahogany table, sat opposite Chen Caozhi, looked at the scrolls and pen and ink on several cases, and said: "Don't stay up late, it's not good for young people to stay up late." ”

Chen Caozhi said: "Sister-in-law, I can't sleep if I go to bed too early, it's enough for me to sleep three hours a day, because I sleep very soundly, although some people have to sleep for four or five hours a day, but they are still listless, isn't it?" ”

Ding You smiled and shook his head slightly: "Sister-in-law can't argue with you, anyway, you just take care of yourself, well, what did you write?" ”

Chen Caozhi pointed to a silk book on the case and said: "This is Liu Shao's "Portrait" that I saw on my sister-in-law's bookshelf, and I thought it was very interesting, so I wanted to copy it. ”

Ding Youwei looked at a stack of Zuo Bo paper full of Chen Caozhi's unique, elegant and elegant small lines, and saw that Chen Caozhi's knuckles were a little red and swollen under the candlelight, and couldn't help but cherish: "If you want this book, take it away, why copy it!" You see, your hands hurt, right? ”

Chen Caozhi said: "It's okay, sister-in-law, it's still because I don't work hard enough, and it won't hurt when the thick cocoon is sharpened in the place where I hold the pen, and it is best to copy the book myself, which can not only deepen my memory, but also take the opportunity to learn words, kill two birds with one stone, no, three things, and get a book." ”

Ding Youwei and Ah Xiu both laughed, and Ah Xiu praised: "Cao Zhi Xiaolangjun works so hard, it's just a head hanging beam, a cone and a thorn." ”

Chen Caozhi said: "Isn't that to frighten my sister-in-law and Sister Axiu, as soon as I came in and saw my head hanging from the beam and the cone piercing the strands, I had to exclaim." ”

Ding Youwei couldn't help but smile and said: ", there is something my sister-in-law wants to tell you, didn't my uncle allow you, Zongzhi and Run'er to visit me again in September, at the beginning of September, there is a riverside Yaji in Jiuxian County, and when you come, you can participate in the riverside Yaji by the way, with your current knowledge, you are expected to become famous in one fell swoop." ”

Chen Caozhi: "Yes, my mother told me about this a few days ago, but my mother said that I am still young and it is not too late to participate next year." ”

Ding Youwei said: "It's better to participate this year, because it is very likely that the Quanchang servant is in charge of the nine products of the twelve counties of Wu County. ”

Chen Caozhi responded: "Okay, I listen to my sister-in-law, and I will participate this year." ”

Ding Youwei was reminded of the past when she was a girl at the riverside Yaji on September 9, and said: "Brother Ru also emerged on the riverside Yaji back then, and the first time I saw Qingzhi was at that riverside Yaji, I was not used to those children of the scholar clan who applied powder and incense, and Qingzhi was like a friend at first sight......

The sound of rain outside the building, the room is quiet and warm, Chen Caozhi looked at the beautiful and elegant sister-in-law, and listened to her talk about the first acquaintance with his brother, which was a very common encounter, and achieved an almost impossible marriage between the scholar clan and the poor family in this world, which was a good story in the world, but the regret was that the brother died too early, leaving his sister-in-law and Zongzhi and Run'er in this vast world-

Chen Caozhi thought again: "Brother is fortunate again, he married such a beautiful and virtuous wife as his sister-in-law, and I, Chen Caozhi, what kind of wife will I marry in the future?" ”