On November 30, everyone made an appointment to leave for Changping Zhuangzi.

Early in the morning, Baoya was the first to arrive, and first gave her congratulatory gift a set of five pieces of gold and silver hairpin beads: a flat square, two hairpins, and two side flowers; Then, he asked someone to bring in the congratulatory gifts given by Cao Yan: two boxes of clothes, four pieces of kang screen jade and other furnishings, and longevity peach and longevity noodles and other food, and two internal purses containing auspicious ruyi coins.

After a while, Yongsheng and Yongjia brothers and sisters also arrived. Because Yongqing couldn't come because of something, he only asked his younger brothers and sisters to send congratulatory gifts. Their gifts are nothing more than paper, pen, calligraphy and painting, as well as Yongjia's own embroidered purse, as well as a box of rouge and a box of uterine powder.

Because they are all acquaintances, they are all teenagers, and there are no men and women who shy away from it, so they all drink tea and chat in the hall.

Seshtu and Ning Chun arrived with the front foot and the back foot.

When Seshtu came in, he carried a food box in one hand, greeted Cao Hao first, and then said to Cao Yi with a smile: "My mother has to let me bring you a few vegetarian snacks to eat on the road." I said that your family must be better prepared, but she had to follow it, and said that this is what you liked and liked, so you have to ask me to bring it. Don't be too long-winded with old people! ”

Cao Yi hurriedly asked the maid to take it, and thanked him with a smile: "The dim sum made by my aunt is indeed the most delicious, thank you aunt for your trouble." ”

Seshtu took out a small box with a white jade hanging string inside, saying that it was a congratulatory gift chosen by his mother. Cao Yi thanked him and accepted it.

Ning Chun came with Qiu Niang. Qiu Niang did not wear the red bridal dress today, but a set of lotus lotus dark pattern cotton brocade clothes, lilac embroidered with pinched teeth and lambskin shoulders, which looked very demure and elegant, not inferior to everyone's ladies.

Except for Cao Hao, no one else has seen her, and they all regard her as Ning Chun's wife and concubine. At the time of the introduction, Ning Chun still didn't add the title of concubine, and Seshtu and Yongsheng also knew that this was the outer room.

Qiu Niang generously gave everyone a salute and greeting, and her conversation was very gentle and polite. Everyone was secretly surprised in their hearts, and no one underestimated her.

Bao Ya didn't think about what the title represented, because she saw that Qiu Niang was born good-looking and well-dressed, and she liked the step of the hanging beads on her head, and the long string of beads swayed back and forth as soon as her head moved, swinging and swinging was very interesting, so these big eyes stared at people dripping.

When Cao Yi saw it, he hurriedly pulled her quietly and quietly reminded her, it was really rude to look at people like this, it would be bad if people were too careful.

Baoya is not able to listen to persuasion, although she is also restrained, but she can't help but take a few looks.

Cao Yi was helpless, but fortunately, everyone arrived, and he didn't stay long, drank a cup of tea, and everyone set off.

Bao Yatu was lively and asked everyone for a car, and at the moment Cao Yi and Yongjia both got into her car, and their own cars followed. also invited Qiu Niang, Qiu Niang smiled and declined, and took a car by herself. The maid and woman in the back either two people in a car, or three people in a car, slipped down a dozen carriages, like a small convoy. The previous time on the Cao Mansion, Amethyst had already gone over with a group of servants to clean up first, so there were not many people in the Cao Mansion today, but there were many people in the guards of the County King's Mansion and the entourage of the Earl's Mansion.

The brigade came to the north of the city, went out of Andingmen, and went straight to Xiaotang Mountain.

* The Cao family tour group left in the morning, and in the afternoon, Mrs. Tian of Ma Liandao took her two daughters to step on Cao Hao to go to school.

Tian originally planned well, so he made an appointment with Cao Yi in the name of going to the temple to offer incense on the first day of junior high school, and it was best to think of a way to use words to trap Cao Hao, so that he could escort his sister to go with him or something, and at the last time, he had to call the Cao family brothers and sisters to come to the house for a meal. There are official correspondence between the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Ma Liandao already knows the news of Cao Yin's visit to Beijing. At this moment, Tian only thinks that the relationship between the two families is as close as possible. When Cao Yin came, it would be enough to give him face. He is not in Beijing, and his in-laws help take care of his children, what a lot of affection!

No, Tian thought about it beautifully, but he didn't even enter Cao's door.

The porter informed him that the master was not there.

The mother-in-law who went to the door to ask questions came back and made it clear to Tian through the car window, and said: "I think it's really not there, when we turned into the alley just now, the old slave vaguely heard someone talking about the morning I don't know whose family a large group of people are traveling, so it's not magnificent." Thinking about this around, Cao Mansion has this dignity. ”

Tian shook his head when he heard this, thinking that the Cao family only has three dolls, where will there be a large number of people when they go out, and if they go out to play, there is no reason not to call them in-laws. At that moment, he hurriedly sent the mother-in-law to call a porter to come over and question.

Because Tian's family has been going to Cao's Mansion for a month, there have been eight trips if not ten times, and with such a high frequency of visits, it is difficult for a few little people in the concierge to know her. In addition, she also puts the score of her in-laws' wife in plain life, and she is not stingy with the reward, and the group of little girls still respect her.

Therefore, the wife of the Ma family asked someone to ask, and several little guys were happy to go back and forth, who knew that this lady asked the master's house like a cannon who went, where did they go, and how many of us came back, so the little guy who finally robbed this errand couldn't help but make it difficult, and this is also what the guests should ask? Even if someone knows about these things, they can't talk about it as an outsider.

The little guy was very clever and replied vaguely: "If you go back to Mrs. Ma, our uncle, second master, third lady Zhuangzi has gone to live." If you have something to do, you can leave a message, and the little ones will pass it on to you. It's not for the little ones to know about it. ”

Tian snorted in the car and asked where Zhuangzi was. Thinking of the big team of people that my mother-in-law said, I was unhappy, so I asked again whether my family went or invited others, and who they invited.

It's not a pleasure to ask the little guy like this, this question is becoming more and more unreliable, and I just don't know at the moment.

Tian was annoyed and shouted: "It's obviously a large group of people traveling, I'm afraid it's not just you!" You're a porter, how can you not know?! ”

The little guy knows how to look at people's eyebrows and listen to people's voices, and when she saw that she was annoyed, she laughed and said: "Mrs. Don't blame, the little one is low, where do you know everything about the master?" There were a few other cars and horses in the morning, and who knows where they went? ”

Tian listened to the words of the little guy and knew that it was really Cao Hao who invited others to play and did not invite her home, as if she was drenched by cold water, and in the winter, her face was purple and blue, and a breath of evil gas condensed in her throat, which was angry and blocked. Without saying a word, let the horse turn around and go home.

When he returned home and closed the door, Tian jumped to his feet and scolded for a long time, and then pulled Ma Liandao and asked: "You said that you wrote to that Cao Yin, aren't you coaxing me?" How dare the juniors of the Cao family do this to us? went out to play in Zhuangzi, how many young ladies were invited, but they didn't invite us! What does this mean? How exactly do you write a letter? ”

Ma Liandao was busy stroking his wife's chest and beating his back, and repeatedly swore that he really wrote to Cao Yin about the marriage between the two families, and said: "Didn't you tell you that there is an official document saying that Cao Yin is going to Beijing, maybe we will send his letter to him." Mrs. Don't be in a hurry, don't be in a hurry, he is going to come to Beijing on the left and right, and it is a matter of time before he gets married. That Zhuangzi, in the future, our daughter housekeeper and Mrs. want to live, go at any time, enjoy it quietly, isn't it a hundred times better than joining in with a group of people now? ”

Tian scolded again, and then gradually lost his anger.

* Changping, Xiaotangshan At noon, the convoy turned into Xiaotangshan. Bao Yawo woke up from sleep in the car, ate a snack, and woke up, feeling that the car was very stable, without any bumps just now. Because of asking Yongjia and Cao Yi, Yongjia smiled and said to Cao Yi: "I felt it just now, look out the window, this section of the road is repaired after your home, it is very smooth." ”

Cao Yi smiled and said that he didn't know, and he asked his brother for a while to find out if he had repaired it himself.

Bao Ya came to be interested, picked up the curtain to look underground, and saw that the road was flat and neat, looking very uneyed, much narrower than the ordinary road, but the road surface was paved with fine sand and stone, and there was little dust on the road, so I couldn't help but praise it.

Yongsheng had been following their car all the time, and when he saw Bao Ya poking his head out of the curtain, he hurriedly urged the horse to come over and ask, "What is Bao Gege going to do?" ”

Bao Ya smiled: "Just to see." As he spoke, he looked around, the winter was plain and light, and there was little color, and a large number of trees near and far were bare branches, looking very bleak, and he couldn't help frowning, and shouted Cao Hao, who was riding a horse in front of him: "Cao Hao!" Where did you bring us here? ”

This voice came out, and Cao Hao, Cao Song, and Seshtu, who were riding horses in front, turned around together.

Yongsheng saw that Cao Song was going to beat the horse and come over to talk, so he hurriedly stopped his head and said to Baoya: "Gege thinks it's boring, I guess I'll be there later." ”

Bao Ya pouted: "What kind of place is this, barren mountains and mountains, look at these trees, lack branches and leaves, strange and cold." ”

Cao Song was assigned by his brother to listen to what Bao Gege had to say, and he was already a little impatient, and after listening to her words, he immediately refuted: "The winter in Beijing is so cold, what tree is not like this?" It's only to the south of us that it's green all year round. ”

Yongsheng originally knew that Cao Song had often followed Bao Ya and them around before, and he was a bit of an eyesore when he saw him, and when he heard him contradict Bao Ya, he hoped that Bao Ya would be annoyed with him.

I had the heart to help Bao Ya refute Cao Song a few words, but suddenly thought that there was Miss Cao San sitting in the car, if it was not good to call the beauty to pick the reason, Yongsheng played Tai Chi at the moment: "Gege has to think like this, what rare trees can there be in this wilderness?" When I got to Brother Cao's village for a while, it was very different. ”

Cao Song had a tendon, and after hearing Yongsheng's words, he didn't go down the steps at all, but said: "If you want to say that, you are really wrong, but it is winter now, and there is no way." I asked my brother just now, all the peach trees are planted here, and they will be in the spring of the next year, and look at it, the mountains are full of peach blossoms, I don't know how beautiful it will be! ”

When Bao Ya heard this, she remembered the situation of the peach blossoms blooming in the spring in her house, and she was also happy, and hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, it must be extremely beautiful." Then let's come back next year when the spring flowers bloom! ”

Cao Song listened and was very proud. Yongsheng made a fuss and laughed embarrassedly.

After another journey, the Zhuangzi of the Cao family finally appeared in front of everyone.

Looking from the outside, a piece of dark green bricks and tiles is not eye-catching, but because of the pines and cypresses, the greenery still exists, and it looks a little vibrant. Nestled among tall trees, the house looks like an ordinary village from a distance.

Yongsheng is used to seeing mansions and rich villages, so he is quite disdainful. Baoya was also a little disappointed, but because Cao Yi was beside her, she couldn't say anything.

Cao Hao is very satisfied, he has already explained to the housekeeper He Maocai, how does it matter how Zhuangzi is inside, the more simple the appearance, the better, it is best for people to walk by without paying attention, it can be seen that He Maocai is understanding.

He Maocai and Amethyst were already waiting on the road, and when they saw the convoy coming, they hurriedly greeted them and led everyone into the village.

Open the door of the village, but there is a cave. The entrance is a typical northern architectural style, a very bright courtyard, a square bluestone paving, and sometimes a simple pattern outlined with embossed blue bricks, which is very broad. Turning into the verandah, but gradually turning into the style of the south, the pavilions, pavilions, ponds, and water pavilions are exquisite, although there is no carved beams and paintings, but it is the details to start, how to see how comfortable, with an indescribable charm, soft and comfortable.

Cao Hao nodded while looking at it, he didn't make very detailed requirements for this Zhuangzi at the beginning, only said that it would be built according to the hot springs, ring a few more hot springs into the Zhuangzi, and thinking about bringing hot spring water to various places and so on. Regarding Zhuangzi's design requirements, he said three words, to be comfortable.

In fact, he doesn't have much concept of architecture, although he wants to be more modern, but he really doesn't know what to do with those modern designs in this era. If you don't draw a tiger and don't become an anti-dog, then it's not interesting, it's better to keep it original.

In September, He Maocai handed over the general map of Zhuangzi to Cao Hao.

Cao Hao just took a general look, and didn't pay much attention to anything else, remembering that the entire Zhuangzi was divided into four districts. It turned out that when He Maocai asked someone to design, the designer was also worried about the word "comfortable", if only one or two large gardens are empty or chaotic can not be satisfactory, it is better to divide them into four medium gardens, according to the spring, summer, autumn and winter each set up a main scene, the host can change the courtyard and live in the four seasons, take in the beautiful scenery, isn't it comfortable.

Cao Hao saw this idea at the time and felt that the ancients were no worse than the modern people. When he came, he also had the mentality that there were only these places to enjoy, but now he has not turned into the courtyards, and he has feasted his eyes, and the courtyards are much better than he imagined. Cao Hao couldn't help but praise He Maocai from the bottom of his heart, saying that it really made him bother.

He Maocai really spent a lot of effort before and after this Zhuangzi, and in the end, although he was satisfied, he didn't know whether it was in line with the little master's meaning, and he was a little suspenseful. Now that I have listened to the praise of the little master, I know that he is happy, and my heart is steady. He Maocai was busy saying that he didn't dare to take credit, but his face was full of smiles.

This Zhuangzi occupies a huge area, and it takes most of the day to walk around. Because they were tired of the road for half the day, and it was time for supper, the people did not continue to walk through the garden.

Amethyst sent people to lead everyone to settle down, and after a simple wash, two tables were set up in Jiuru Hall in the front yard to wash the dust for everyone.

* After dinner, Bao Ya shouted that she wanted to take Cao Yi and the others to the hot spring, but Ning Chun was only able to drink it and refused to get off the table. So, everyone divided into two ways, the girls all went to the hot springs with Baoya, and Cao Hao and the others stayed on Jiurutang's side and continued to drink.

Although Ning Chun, Seshtu and Yongsheng are all new acquaintances, he has always been sleek, with a bit of familiarity, and everyone is enthusiastic in a few words.

Yongsheng looked at people and put dishes on the plate, and he didn't take the declining red belt of Seshtu in his eyes, but because he was a guard in the palace and was friendly with the Cao family brothers, he was polite and polite.

Seshtu has always been enthusiastic about good popularity, and this time he met two new friends, and he was happy in his heart, so he drank happily one cup at a time.

Cao Song has been detained in Zhaojia Mansion Zongxue for a whole month, and now he is free, and he is comfortable. He also went out to drink with a few cousins, knew the rules, raised the wine cup at the moment, and accompanied everyone to eat and drink in style.

Cao Hao looked at everyone with a smile and sighed that it was not easy. In the blink of an eye, more than half a year has passed, and there are really few days when I am in such a happy mood as I am today. However, the more lively and cheerful it is, the more I am a little scared in my heart. Although he had experienced life and death eight years ago, and now he is a human being in two lives, but death in that life was an accident, and the crossing without warning made him have no consciousness of approaching death at all. Now, there is a fate in front of him, and he can't help but think about whether history has changed or not, and how many years he can live.

It's a matter of life and death, and who can handle it calmly.

At the wine table, Cao Hao didn't say much, but since he was the host, everyone naturally had to clink glasses with him.

After going back and forth, Cao Hao drank the most among the people, plus he pretended to be in his heart, and he was drunk unconsciously, only feeling feverish, panicked in the room, and couldn't breathe, so he excused himself to be convenient and went out of Jiurutang.

The little guy waiting at the door wanted to come forward to help, Cao Hao waved his hand, told him to step back, and walked along the verandah by himself.

It's the end of the month, and there is no moon in the sky, and the stars are shining brighter, adding a bit of sparkle to the quiet night.

In the open space at the end of the verandah, a small rockery is piled up with lake stones, and there is a pond with a height and a width of a foot, which is used to raise fish or plant lotus flowers in summer, and it is now in the middle of winter, and the pond is dry.

Cao Hao wanted to sit down on the platform by the pool, but he didn't want his body to slip, so he sat directly on the ground.

As soon as the night blew, Cao Hao's head was heavy, and he became more and more confused, and a lot of things poured out of his mind. For a while, he was terminally ill, lying on the bed like skinny, unable to speak, and about to die, when a big-bellied woman next to her who couldn't see her face clearly was crying; After a while, the door of the weaving mansion was sealed, and the white-haired Li was pushed out holding Cao Yin's tablet, trembling and wanting to come forward to speak, but was pushed to the ground by a soldier with his arm stretched, Ping'er, Amethyst and others were tied, dressed in a string, and escorted to sell, all ragged, sad and sad, and the appearance was really pitiful.

"No, no, I don't want to die, I want to live!" Cao Hao closed his eyes and muttered as he reached out and gestured, as if he was about to push something away. "I want to live, I want to live......" The voice grew lower and lower, and finally it was no longer audible.

At this time, I heard the sound of footsteps in my ears, followed by the woman's sweet and glutinous voice: "Fang just listened like it, it's really the uncle of the Cao family!" ”

Cao Hao squinted his eyes, only to feel that there were two women standing in front of him, one tall and one short. The short one is the one who speaks, Ning Chun's beloved concubine Qiu Niang; Gao carried the lantern and was silent, looking at himself with only wide eyes. I can't complain that Yongjia is like this, Cao Hao Su said that he is all well-behaved, and he acts squarely, where has he ever been so naïve? It's really strange.

Cao Hao thought of Ning Chun Su being romantic, but now he loves Qiu Niang alone, and the two of them are affectionate and loving, which is really admiring others. Even if a friend watches, he is happy for the two of them. Thinking of this, Cao Hao couldn't help but quip drunkenly: "Little sister-in-law, hurry up and come on, I will add a big fat boy early, and I will be a godfather!" Because he was so drunk, he said these words with his tongue knotted, stumbled, and slurred.

But Qiu Niang heard it clearly, and immediately felt ashamed, and said softly: "Uncle Cao is drunk!" Then he turned around and ran.

Yongjia was looking at Cao Hao, but he didn't hear what he was muttering. Qiu Niang ran away like this, leaving her alone, and suddenly felt embarrassed, and wanted to raise her legs to leave, but the person in front of her was drunk like this, and she couldn't rest assured.

After making fun of Qiu Niang, Cao Hao came up sleepy, gradually closed his eyes, curled up, and gradually tilted to one side, and was about to fall to the ground if he wanted to see it.

Yongjia hurriedly put down the lantern in his hand, half-squatted down, hesitated for a moment, and gently held Cao Hao's shoulder: "Cao Hao, wake up!" It's cold outside, I'll call someone to take you to the house to rest! ”

Cao Hao drank the wine and saw the wind again, only to feel chills all over his body, his mouth was slurred, and he didn't know what he was saying.

Yongjia saw Cao Hao's closed eyes and frowning, trembling, and trembling, and couldn't bear it, so he untied the snow-blue satin gray squirrel he was wearing, helped Cao Hao cover it, and tucked the corners of his clothes.

Cao Hao seemed to be aware of it, and slowly opened his eyes, seeing Yongjia's side face close at hand. Perhaps because of the red lantern next to her, her face was dyed with the morning glow, big eyes, thick and long eyelashes, a straight nose, and slightly pursed lips. Her jet-black and silky hair, loosely braided in two braids, hung down by her ears, and lined her oval face just right.

Cao Hao gently and carefully raised his hand, slowly stroked her cheek, and then pinched it twice.

Yongjia trembled, and hurriedly turned sideways and retreated.

Cao Hao raised his hand and said in a daze: "It's a real beauty, why does she look like Wanyan Yongjia like this?" It turned out that he was so drunk that he was called a few times by Yongjia, but he was still half-asleep and half-awake, and there was an extra beauty in front of him, and he thought it was his hallucination, so he couldn't help but pinch it twice.

Yongjia touched the place that had been pinched by Cao Hao just now with his hand, his face became more and more red, he couldn't tell whether he was ashamed or annoyed, he only felt that his whole body was weak, and his heart was about to jump out of his chest.

"Sister!" The voice with a little guilt is Qiu Niang, who has gone and returned. She whispered an apology, "I really shouldn't have left my sister here...... I'm sorry for my sister......"

They had sent the maid to the hot spring first, and the two of them lit lanterns and walked slowly along the verandah, and just walked to the door, and heard someone talking in the courtyard here, like Cao Hao's voice, so they came to take a look. It's really Cao Hao, but he got drunk and talked and ran away with Qiu Niang. Qiu Niang ran out quite a long way, only to remember to leave Yongjia behind, and rushed back.

Yongjia gently stroked his chest, stabilized his mind, and said with a smile: "It's irrelevant, it's just that the wind and cold night are heavy, it's really inappropriate for him to get drunk here, let's call someone to send him back to the front yard." ”

While speaking, Yongjia glanced at Cao Hao, and saw that he was already snoring slightly, and he didn't know what to do. I wanted to help him, but because Qiu Niang was by my side, the girl's house was really inconvenient, so I quickly walked back to the Cangmei Courtyard and shouted Amethyst.

*On the west side of the villa, the temple temple.

This is one of the winter gardens, and the plum trees planted in the hot spring pond around the courtyard are called plum trees. There are two hot springs in this courtyard, both indoor and outdoor, not to mention indoors, and there are also barriers carved by mountains and stones on the periphery of the outdoor pool, which are suitable for female dependents. Bao Ya Cao Yi and they chose to settle here. Because of the cold, they were confined indoors.

Amethyst was dragged by Baoya and Cao Yi to soak in the hot spring, because Yongjia and Qiu Niang had not yet arrived, Amethyst refused to go down first, so Cao Yi sat and chatted with her. Only Bao Ya was in a hurry and got out of the pool early. Although the house is all daughter's house, they are embarrassed to be naked like a normal bath. Therefore, Bao Ya went to her clothes, sat in the water in her belly pocket, patted the water for a while, and fiddled with the carved water injection for a while, and had a great time.

I heard that Yongjia and Qiu Niang came to say that Cao Hao was drunk and collapsed in the courtyard next door, and Amethyst and Cao Yi hurriedly walked out. Bao Ya was about to come out of the pool, but was persuaded by the sparrow: "My good character, it's strange cold outside, your hair is soaked, don't you dare to go out, it's not fun to be frozen!" ”

Bao Ya thought about it, but she couldn't see Cao Hao's drunken appearance, she was a little unwilling, and instructed Lingque: "Since I can't go, you go after the third sister and them, take a closer look at Cao Hao's drunken state, come back and tell me, see how I shame him Ming'er!" ”

The sparrow smiled and agreed, instructed the two maids by the pool to serve carefully, and lifted the curtain and went out.

(To be continued)