Meng Xingyuan asked an old man beside him why he had to lay out a mat. The old man replied, "This is because the bride's feet touch the ground, and that would offend the god of the earth." ”

Fan Xiliang and Meng Jiangnu sat opposite each other on the right and left in their marriage tent. There was a woman dressed in festive clothes who sang a song of blessings and sprinkled fruits and money into their tent – which the old man called "scattering the tent." The bride is then given a bundle of hair – which has been cut from the groom's head in advance – and is told to tie it to her own hair, which is called "knotting."

"There's a word called 'getting married,' and it must have come from here. Meng Xingyuan thought to himself.

After the "hair tie" ceremony, the groom walked out of the house. The people who came to congratulate each other, Fan Xiliang returned the salute with a smile on his face, and invited everyone to sit down. For a while, the whole courtyard was full of joy.

When they were all seated, the bridegroom returned to his chamber. While everyone was congratulating the groom just now, someone had already set up a table of wine and food in the new room. The bride has also sat down at the table.

The bridegroom and groom sat opposite each other, both with their eyes down, afraid to look at each other, but the sweetness and shyness on their faces could be seen by anyone.

At this banquet, where only the bride and groom are separated, there is a very important ceremony: the wine, not the bride and groom drinking a glass of wine. I saw someone bring two wine utensils that were only connected by red threads. This drinking utensils are not ordinary drinking utensils, but are split with a delicate small gourd. The newlyweds each hold one and raise their glasses against each other. They didn't drink the wine, but simply rinsed their mouths.

There is a record in the "Book of Rites: Duyi" compiled by Dai Sheng, a scholar of Western Han Dynasty: Eating together is a hundred pounds. The word "gourd" means to divide a gourd into two parts, which is the wine glass used for weddings at that time. And the meaning of "酳" is to rinse your mouth with wine after eating.

Then, Fan Xiliang and Meng Jiangnu ate some other meals, and someone came to withdraw the banquet. Everyone also walked out of the wedding room. Soon after, the candlelight in the wedding room went out, and it seemed that the bride and groom had already begun their "candle night in the cave".

"Why did they just rest? Aren't they still worshipping the church?" Meng Xingyuan was very surprised by this.

Ah Feng's voice came again: "Boy, it's the Qin Dynasty now, and the rules are like this." As for the church and the parents-in-law, they had to wait until the next morning. “

Because Fan Xiliang's parents are no longer alive, the ceremony of Meng Jiangnu's visit to her in-laws is omitted, but the worship hall is necessary no matter what.

The next morning, Meng Jiangnu got up early, and after washing, she and Fan Xiliang each came to the front of the hall with a concentric knot made of red and green colored satin. Meng Laohan and Jiang Laohan and the other elders were already waiting for them.

The couple first worshipped the heavens and the earth, then met with their parents and other elders in turn, and gave each of them the gifts prepared in advance, and finally the husband and wife bowed to each other. There was still joy and shyness on their faces. This made Meng Xingyuan very envious, and he was sincerely happy for them.

In the afternoon, yesterday's decorations were still there, and the festive atmosphere was not reduced in the slightest, but the jubilant people in the courtyard heard an ominous knock on the door.

"Peng Brown Dog came with people from the government. Ah Feng said anxiously.

Before anyone could react, the courtyard door was rudely slammed open. Sure enough, it was Peng Brown Dog who brought people here.

Peng Brown Dog, who was walking in the front, raised his head, nostrils to the sky, and barked loudly: "The official is here, why don't you hurry up and greet him? Let me tell you the truth, the official is here today to arrest Fan Xiliang." Fan Xiliang, you came to us in order not to contribute to the construction of the Great Wall for the country, and you actually married the most beautiful girl we have here, are you guilty?"

A dog's leg is a dog's leg, and people who don't know will definitely think that he is a member of the government when they hear these words.

The people in the courtyard were stunned for a while, and they had no idea. At this time, Meng Xingyuan stood up, he walked behind Peng Brown Dog, saluted the person who looked like the leader of the official errand, and whispered, "Official, can you take a step to speak." ”

The official was a smart man, and immediately understood what Meng Xingyuan meant, and followed Meng Xingyuan into the house.

"Official," Meng Xingyuan said politely, "My young lady has just gotten married, I don't know if the official can raise his noble hand and let them go." ”

The official squinted and glanced at Meng Xingyuan, looking embarrassed: "They are newlyweds, and it stands to reason that they should not be separated." However, this is an official matter, and it is difficult for me to do it. ”

"How can I embarrass the official. As he spoke, Meng Xingyuan found a piece of gold with a pound in his pocket (the gold of the Qin Dynasty was not our modern gold, but brass. Moreover, one pound in the Qin Dynasty was only equivalent to 258.24 grams in modern times. Stuffed into the hands of the officials. Needless to say, this must be Ah Feng's help.

The official felt heavy in his hand, bowed his head slightly, and saw that it was a piece of gold, and was overjoyed: "It's easy to say, it's easy to say." I can't bear to arrest the newlyweds. As he spoke, he hurriedly put it into his arms.

"Then there is Master Lao!" Meng Xingyuan smiled and bent down to salute.

The official was about to leave, walked a few steps and stood still: "There is another question, I am here to arrest people, there is no reason to return empty-handed, what do you think I should do?"

Meng Xingyuan didn't want to think about it and said, "Official, you just arrest the most shameless and despicable person around you to settle the count, I don't know if it's okay?"

"It's not impossible, then who do you think is the most shameless and despicable person?" The official messenger in turn took Meng Xingyuan's army.

"This old fox!" Meng Xingyuan secretly cursed in his heart, but he couldn't help but pretend to think about it for a while, and said: "I'm not too familiar with the people in the village, but I think that a person who secretly informes, tells right and wrong, and refuses to even pay for prostitution must be a shameless and despicable person." What do you think, sir?"

The official nodded and said nothing. He walked into the courtyard, the official was dignified, and shouted to Peng Brown Dog with a straight face: "Peng Brown Dog...... That, Peng Bao, are you guilty?"

Peng Brown Dog, who was triumphant and shaking his head, was stunned for a moment, and stumbled and said, "Official, official...... Why?"

The official stared at him: "Refuse to admit sin, do not repent." Come on, take me back to the prison and interrogate me carefully. ”

Peng Brown Dog fell to his knees all of a sudden, his face full of panic: "Official, uncle, grandfather, I am a leprosy dog, please let me go." Zhao Dahu and Zheng landlords in the village are my godfathers......"

"Those two dogs are not unqualified to be my grandson. Take it away!" he waved his big hand, and immediately a small minion rushed up, tied up Peng Brown Dog, and took it away.

It wasn't until the miserable barking of the Peng Brown Dog could not be heard that the people in the yard came to their senses. Meng Laohan, Fan Xiliang, and Meng Jiangnu knelt down together and thanked them again and again. Meng Xingyuan hurriedly helped them up one by one. Meng Jiangnu kept crying.

Ah Feng's voice came again: "They escaped this catastrophe, you did a good job!"

After sending the people away, Meng Xingyuan returned to the earthen house where he lived.

"Ah Feng, I have an idea now. Meng Xingyuan said solemnly, "Although we saved Fan Xiliang today, there are still thousands of laborers who are building the Great Wall with their blood, sweat and lives. Most of them will die at the foot of the Great Wall, and I want to save them!"

"Your idea is too big to come into practice. After thinking for a while, Ah Feng spoke.

Meng Xingyuan said excitedly: "We must rise to the challenge, because we have to save thousands of lives! They are not machines, they are not tools, but living flesh and blood people, and they are our compatriots! Ah Feng, are you willing to help me?"

Ah Feng was infected by Meng Xingyuan's words: "I am willing to help you." But will that change history?"

"It's important to save people, I can't care so much now. ”

"Well, it's up to you. So what are you going to do?"

Meng Xingyuan said: "The first step in doing this is to ask me to meet Qin Shi Huang. ”