In the morning, the cloud board outside the door of the government office rang seven times, and the outer bang sounded, and the government office.

Qi Su Niang waited for Chen Yan to get up, Chen Yan finished washing, looked at the Chongyang cake brought by Qi Su Niang, was very strange, and said with a smile: "Su Niang, is this still called Chongyang cake?" It's so exquisite, I can't bear to swallow it. ”

Qi Su Niang turned her head to Li'er and smiled: "Tell me quickly, how did you make this cake."

Li'er had a slight restraint on her face, and said in a low voice: "If you go back to your father, you don't use anything else, or rice noodles and ghee, sugar, and glutinous rice flour, first pinch it into a three-layer four-corner pavilion, and then pinch out the ninety-nine eighty-one lambs, put them on the pavilion, steam them together, and put red and green flags out of the cage, just fine." ”

Chen Yan and Qi Su Niang looked at each other and smiled, picked up the lamb with chopsticks, and praised each other. Bi'er said with a smile: "Li'er was busy all night and didn't sleep, made three Chongyang cakes, the slave sent one to Mr. Zhou, and one was packed in a food box, and grandma took it to Lianfu." ”

Qi Su Niang hurriedly asked her to take a ruler, rewarded Li'er, and said with a smile: "It's really hard for you." Li'er, you haven't slept all night, let me ask you, do you want to go to see the Shehuo together and come back and then sleep, or go to rest now? ”

Li'er took the ruler with a happy face, and said: "Grandma, the slave maid wants to go to see the Shehuo, I heard that this Shehuo is lively, and invited the Chenghuang from the Chenghuang Temple outside the city, entered the city, walked around Yangzhou City, and the whole city wanted to see it." ”

Chen Yan laughed, drinking Jiang rice porridge and eating lamb at the same time, "Where are you going to watch Shehuo?" Booked the restaurant seat on the street? ”

"There is a gatehouse shop opened by the Cao Gang next to the house, and the Chongyang Society fire acrobatic has passed downstairs, and it was prepared a few days ago, so it doesn't take us any effort." Qi Su Niang glanced at Chen Yan and sighed: "You want to go to Hongqiao with Yangzhou celebrities and officials to enjoy the autumn, if you are also" stopped, smiled and put a dogwood sachet on Chen Yan's clothes, poured a glass of chrysanthemum wine and offered it, "Live a long life, no disease and no disaster." ”

Chen smiled and drank chrysanthemum wine, watched the girls not paying attention, and gently shook Qi Su Niang's hand, "I'm asking Xiaolian to watch the painting boat, and when I buy it back, I'll accompany you to the painting boat." ”

Sent Chen to the door. Qi Su Niang does not sit in the official sedan chair. With a bier, a branch, a li'er. There is also the girl in Mr. Zhou's room who is immortal. Outside for five coins of silver, I called five sedan chairs. Before the fire enters the city. Quietly entered the Lian Mansion. Lianxiang catches it. With Rui'er and Sister Gui'er. Even the terrier refused to stay in the house. led twenty-seven or eight girls and daughters-in-law to surround Mrs. Yantai in Yangzhou. One went upstairs to the façade.

This façade has three floors. The street is the building. Backed by the back garden of Lianfu. There are four facades on the first floor. Three guest rooms on the second floor. Three bedrooms on the third floor. A kitchen.

Qi Su Niang walked upstairs to take a look. The bamboo curtains on the street floor hang low. A splendid screen is placed in the middle. Forty kinds of fresh fruit refreshments were laid out. In front of the banquet, there was a case of welcoming incense. The corner of the building is full of dogs.

Qi Su Niang walked to the railing. Look through under the bamboo curtain. It's a bustling street. Both sides are all paved. Restaurants, tea shops, butcher shops, pastry shops, shop, satin shops, garment shops, fat powder shops, paper shops, velvet shops, oil mills, sauce shops, dyeing shops, etc. High in the guise of green cloth. It's not lively.

The people who watched the stove fire land had crowded the front of the shop, upstairs, and behind the window. Men, women, and children wear dogs. Or a bench behind the front counter. sit upright and eat tea; Or roll up the curtain upstairs. The man is well-dressed. Cooking tea and laughing. Behind the bamboo curtain, you can see the fragrance of women's cloud clothes. You can hear the voice of Yanyu.

Qi Su Niang saw such a lively scene. Full of joy. Slightly open the bamboo curtain. Unexpectedly, countless eyes from all sides looked over. There are many prodigal sons who are eunuchs, Shikun, and rich people. led twenty or thirty idlers. Holding a slingshot, blowpipe, bat. Or upstairs. Or on the side of the street. I'm waiting to see the grandmother of the local lady. Make frivolous remarks about somebody. to entertain the eyes and ears.

Qi Su Niang was taken aback, although she was not afraid, she also knew that she couldn't pick up the curtain, so she hurriedly put down the curtain, Lianxiang smiled: "Madame is more careful than me, I looked at the lantern in the first year, I was very stupid, and I opened the curtain." Fortunately, it was night, others couldn't see it, and I was lucky, and the master was talking to the second master, so I didn't look at it, otherwise I would be annoyed. ”

All the women laughed, Lian Xiang and Qi Su Niang sat on the screen seat, and the stalk branch couldn't stand, so they also let Sister Gui and Rui'er sit down.

While eating tea and talking, I heard the sound of gongs and drums outside in all directions, and the girls exchanged heads and ears for a while, and there were a few anxious probes to probe their brains, and they couldn't immediately pounce on the railing to see what was going on.

Qi Su Niang saw that Li'er, Zhi'er, and Changsheng were anxious, and said with a smile: "Don't squeeze all the pots, you can't stand the railing carefully, let you go to see the sisters of Bi'er, Banye, and Ziding first, the acrobatics are still to come." ”

Although Bi'er is calm, he is only sixteen years old in the end, and he leaned on the railing with Banye and Ziding to look, his face was full of joy and excitement, "Grandma, the head of the incense worship and the big incense burner came first"

The sound of firecrackers was loud, and the music of the ten gongs and drums was getting closer and closer, "Grandma, the fragrant tea burden, the flower burden is coming, and the osmanthus pot is full of fifty good incense."

"Auntie, there are eight dragons and sixteen lions who dance the dragon and the lion."

Those little girls heard this, where could they still bear it, and kept looking at Mrs. Futai, Qi Su Niang smiled: "Okay, okay, let them take a look at a few little ones......

The little girls pounced on the railing, and other mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law also came up to watch, waiting for the past of the dry boat, the red-faced Guan Yun, the black-faced Zhang Fei, the silver-armored Zhao Yun, the white-faced Xu Xian, the white-clothed white snake, and the little bald-headed Di Fahai in Tsing Yi, when they walked outside the bamboo curtain on stilts, Qi Su Niang and Lianxiang couldn't sit still, got up, and went to the railing, laughing and watching with laughter.

Seeing that the actor on the stilts was outside the curtain, a little girl couldn't help it, opened the curtain and reached out to touch it, and the rest of the people saw it and leaned up.

Lianxiang was startled when she saw the curtain open, and hurriedly pulled Qi Su Niang out of the way, and when she was about to drink, she also felt that it was interesting, and she couldn't stop giggling. Qi Su Niang saw that most of the curtains were lifted upstairs outside, and the grandmothers and ladies all showed their faces, and laughed in a low voice: "Just let them have fun, let's breathe ......" After that, she walked up.

Lianxiang smiled, also stepped forward, peeked at the opening of the curtain, Rui'er and Bi'er couldn't help but lean over, Sister Gui'er had already squeezed to the railing, and rushed to pull the sleeves of the actor's body.

The girls were laughing, and suddenly heard a timid and trembling voice behind them: "Master ......"

Qi Su Niang was startled, and she didn't have time to turn back, so she tore down the curtain and dragged Lianxiang back three steps. There are many girls and daughters-in-law in front who have not heard it, Sister Gui turned her head with a happy face: "Madam, what are you doing to tear it off, the slave and maid haven't seen enough" Seeing Lian Zhenyun's expressionless face at a glance, she was so frightened that all the blood on her face was lost, and her words were stuck in her throat, like a mouse seeing a cat, three steps and two steps, hiding behind Lianxiang.

The daughters-in-law all over the room were silent, and fled from the railing with a pale face

, Li'er, and Changsheng also held their breath and didn't dare to raise their heads.

Qi Su Niang grabbed Lianxiang's hand and trembled slightly, and when she heard the sound of Sister Gui'er's teeth fighting behind her, her heart jumped. I thought that Lian Zhenyun was also in Hongqiao, but I never expected him to come back. He is far more polite than Li Siqin, and at this time, a bunch of his wives are peeked at, and it is difficult to say that he will not be annoyed. Although she is Mrs. Zhengsipinfutai, in the end she is a guest in other people's mansions, this etiquette is ......

Li Siqin looked at Lian Zhenyun, who was expressionless, and then looked at the sweaty Qi on his forehead, and stammered: "Big brother, this ...... Outside...... It's so lively......" and he couldn't speak.

Qi Su Niang gritted her teeth, let go of Lianxiang's hand, and was about to speak, but saw Lian Zhenyun slowly bend down and salute, "Xiaguan greets Madame." ”

Qi Su Niang secretly wiped her cold sweat and said with a smile: "The concubine and Lianxiang are like sisters, and the big boss is also an old man, so don't use these false courtesies, don't ......" While saying, she desperately gave Li Siqin a look.

Lian Zhenyun slowly straightened up, "Please take a seat, Madame." ”、

Li Siqin hurriedly said: "Yes, all sit down, it's Chongyang today, you want to drink chrysanthemum wine, Dahe, you kid, don't bring up the wine in Hongqiao Xindedi." ”

I didn't dare to go out of the Lian Da River and Lian Da Boat, so I didn't know where to go, so I removed the mud seal from a jar of chrysanthemum wine and handed it to Rui'er. Rui'er didn't dare to speak, so she beckoned, and the daughter-in-law with a wine vessel lightly went over and filled the pot.

Su Niang coughed, pulled Lianxiang and walked over to the seat, Sister Gui tiptoed behind her and arrived at the front of the seat.

Qi took a boat all the way to Yangzhou, and he also heard a lot from Zhou Xiangtian's mouth, and knew that Lian Zhenyun was different from the past. Yangzhou Mansion is the intersection of the Yangtze River and the Cao River, and the key place for Cao, salt and grain transportation. Lian Zhenyun's family wealth and power, in a rich place like Yangzhou, is also one of the most land, not lost to Cheng, Ma, Zheng, Wang and other eight major merchants. Although she is a fourth-grade wife, Mrs. Yangzhou Futai can't be slow to treat him. Moreover, she was an old acquaintance with everyone in the mansion at the beginning, and she also accepted her feelings in times of trouble, so she couldn't ask her to sit on the throne. She excused herself with a smile, and let Lianxiang sit next to Lian Zhenyun according to the usual number of hosts and guests, but she only felt that Lianxiang's whole body was stiff.

Qi Su Niang secretly glanced at her, and saw that her eyes were about to flow out with fear, and she couldn't help but smile bitterly in her heart. I had to go to the middle seat and sit down, separated between Lian Zhenyun and Lianxiang.

Rui'er came up to pour wine for Su Niang, Lian Zhenyun glanced at her, her hand shook, and she immediately spilled the wine, and the more anxious her eyes turned red. The daughter-in-law on the side didn't dare to take a breath. Qi Su Niang had no choice but to stand up, take her wine jug, personally pour wine for Lian Zhenyun and Li Siqin, and pour it full for herself, and said with a smile: "The concubine is a guest at the mansion of the big boss, and I will first give a glass to the two masters." ”

Li Siqin hurriedly picked up the wine glass and drank it in one gulp, Lian Zhenyun slowly stood up and picked up the wine glass, "Madame is polite." ”

The stilts outside have passed, and in the exclamation and cheers of the people, the jumping judge and the judge are carried all the way over, and the opening gong behind the mountain is smashed, and the statue of the god of the city god has seen it.

The streets were noisy and boiling. The floor where Qi Suniang and the others were located could hear even a needle falling on the ground.

Lian Zhenyun drank, looked outside the curtain, and said, "The god seat is here, and I invite my wife to watch and welcome the god together." When Lian Xiang heard this, she shuddered suddenly, where did Qi Su Niang dare to look, and hurriedly said, "No need...... The concubine has seen enough...... Enough is enough......"

Lian Zhenyun stood still and did not sit down. Qi Su Niang couldn't figure out what he meant, whether it was because a group of his wives were looked at and said angrily, or if he really wanted to see it. Seeing him like this, he had to stand up and go to La Lianxiang, but he knew that she would not dare to go, so he had to step forward alone.

Lian Zhenyun stood in front of the bamboo curtain, looking at the statue of the god of the city god in the middle of the street being lifted from downstairs, and said suddenly: "Dahe, roll up the curtain for three minutes." ”

Lian Dahe didn't say a word, came up and rolled up the curtain, the curtain just blocked Qi Su Niang's face, and exposed half a foot of space below, you can see the center of the street, or someone from the left and right looked over, and saw Lian Zhenyun here, they all turned their eyes.

Qi Su Niang was startled by him, and was about to speak, Lian Zhenyun turned to look at Lianxiang, "You guys also come over to welcome God." Lian Xiang's face was stunned, and she couldn't move for a long time, and was gently pushed by Rui'er, who had come to her senses, and stood up in a panic, "Yes." ”

Lianxiang stepped forward, Sister Gui and Rui'er naturally had to follow, Qi Suniang saw that Lian Zhenyun seemed to be quite fond of Lianxiang, she was slightly relieved, gritted her teeth, turned her head and said, "Bi'er, you all come and see." ”

The women gathered around, and just as they saw that the acrobatic troupe began to gather around the shops to ask for money, the pastry shop gave two packs of dim sum, the satin shop gave two pieces of cloth, and the pharmacy gave two packs of Qin. Changsheng and Zhi'er are still young, and they are not the girls of Lianfu, so they can't help but start chattering again, "Grandma, let's get downstairs, what does Aunt Lian want to reward them?" ”

Qi Su Niang said with a smile: "What is sold in my aunt's shop, I will be rewarded, Lianxiang, what does this shop sell?" Hurry up and take the reward.

”

Lian Xiang burst out laughing, quickly covered her mouth, and secretly glanced at Lian Zhenyun, "Madam, this shop sells paper." ”

Everyone in the room laughed, and the tense atmosphere finally slowly dissipated, Qi Su Niang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and said with a smile: "People have worked hard for half a day, it's not good to appreciate the white paper, Lianxiang, what do you want to reward?" ”

Lianxiang bowed her head and said, "Please show me." ”

Lian Zhenyun waved his hand, "You are free, reward money, children, and rulers, you can do it if you are happy." ”

Hearing him speak to Lianxiang like this, without any irritation, Qi Su Niang let out a sigh of relief and put down her high hanging heart. Lianxiang, Rui'er, Sister Gui'er, and Terrier all looked good, and the daughter-in-law who was all over the room also began to whisper.

Qi Su Niang was sweating on her back, and she just wanted to rest, Lian Xiang smiled: "Tell the girls to change the green money and throw it away, people are happy, and we are also lucky." ”

Rui'er responded, and ordered the daughters-in-law to exchange money, and after a while, she carried a dustpan of copper coins up, and the girls and daughters-in-law all rushed to the railing, and when the acrobatic team arrived downstairs, Lianxiang said: "Reward." "Throwing money down with all hands and feet, making a mess, upstairs and downstairs are laughing from ear to ear.

Qi Su Niang returned to the table early and sat down, Li Siqin was only one seat away from her, looked at Lian Zhenyun's back, and complained: "We quit halfway and rushed back from Hongqiao, and finally squeezed in on the street outside, and we have seen each other for more than three years, and you are in trouble again." Little sister-in-law, where do they dare to do this on weekdays? It scared me out. ”

Qi Su Niang said angrily: "Isn't it just to open the corner of the curtain?" We are not the only ones on this street who have opened the curtain, you are happy to see it outside, you don't care about our life or death, I won't talk to you" Ignore Li Siqin again, just bow your head and eat fried shrimp and spiced melon seeds.

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Yangzhou Chongyang Shehuo customs, borrowed from Wang Zeng's "Hometown Sanchen" ()