Time flies, two years have passed, and the time has come to the Shangyuan Festival in the second year of Huangyou.

Shangyuan Festival is a big festival, and the county school has a seven-day holiday.

The Shangyuan Festival in Jiangwan Village has not changed much from normal times, and the atmosphere of the New Year has not completely faded, but lanterns have been hung up in every household.

On the morning of the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, Fanning, with the assistance of the domestic servant Lao Yuan, hung two heavy red lanterns on the door.

"Little official, slow down, there's an iron hook on it!"

Fanning slowly hooked each of the two lanterns and jumped lightly from the high stool.

In two years, Fanning has grown half a head taller, and his height has surpassed his mother, about 1.65 meters, just a few days before his birthday, and he is eleven years old.

The customs are different in different places, and the age algorithm is not the same, according to the folk algorithm in the Jiangnan area, Fanning should be twelve years old after the New Year.

In the past two years, the childishness on Fanning's face has also subsided a lot, and the outline of the young man has begun to appear, with a high nose, two sword eyebrows, and a very bright and sharp gaze.

His skin is still very fair, compared to the country boy, he is simply an alternative, his complexion is like his mother, and he will not easily darken no matter how he gets sun.

When Fanning reached the age of eleven or twelve, the amount of food became very large, and it was always like he couldn't eat enough, and he was very lean, and his smile always gave people a feeling of being a child.

"Little official, are you going to the county seat tomorrow to see the lights? I'm going to hire a ship first, and I'm afraid I'll be killed if it's too late. Lao Yuan asked with a smile on the side.

Lao Yuan is an old servant hired by Fanning's family, he is over fifty years old, he is honest, he is also surnamed Fan, and Fanning's family is of the same clan and different clans.

He became a domestic servant at the age of ten, worked for forty years, changed three owners, and his grandson was the same age as Fanning.

However, his grandson is not in good health, and he needs to take medicine for many years to recuperate, which costs a lot of money, and the summer before last, Lao Yuan and his wife were introduced by acquaintances to Doctor Fan's family in Mudu Town as domestic servants.

Lao Yuan is a housekeeper, his wife is a cook, husband and wife can earn four times a month, and they eat and live in the main house.

Fanning was a little embarrassed, he made an appointment with a few friends to watch the lights together tomorrow, but he didn't know if his parents wanted to go together.

He thought for a moment and said, "Okay! I'll book a boat first, and I'll leave tomorrow after breakfast. ”

"I know, don't worry, little official!"

Lao Yuan turned around and went to Zhang Shuigen's house to book a boat, Zhang Shuigen bought three more boats, hired two guys to run the boat for him, and the business was very good.

"Ning'er!"

The shout of her mother Zhang Sanniang came from the inner house, "You come to play with your sister!" ”

"It's coming!"

Fan Ning walked quickly to the inner house, his mother Zhang Sanniang gave birth to a little lady as she wished the year before last, her name is Ado, now she is one year old and two months, she has just learned to walk, and Fan Ning was entangled by her as soon as she got home.

As soon as Fanning entered the inner courtyard, a girl dressed like a little sheep was stumbling towards him, spreading her little arms and her little face as if she were smiling.

"Ah Pot!"

The little guy's speech was still a little slurred, and the elder brother shouted Ah Guo.

Fan Ning picked her up, smiled and pointed to her face, "Kiss Brother!" ”

The little guy kissed his brother twice on the face like a chicken pecking rice, and pointed out the door, like a general's order, "Go play!" ”

At this time, Zhang Sanniang came out of the room, wiped her apron with her hand, and said to Fanning: "It's windy outside!" Don't go out. ”

Fan Ning looked embarrassed, "Mother, Ah Mei must go out, she will cry if she doesn't go." ”

Zhang Sanniang glared at him, "Won't you think of a way?" ”

Fan Ning had no choice but to turn around and ask the little maid Amei, "What can I do to coax her not to go out?" ”

Amei is a native of Jiangdun Village, as old as Fanning, fair-skinned, very delicate, and has been a handmaiden in Fanning's family for almost two years.

She covered her mouth and smiled: "Either ride a donkey, that's how the staff coaxed her." ”

Fan Ning smiled and coaxed his sister and said, "Is it okay for Brother to ride a donkey for you?" ”

When he heard that he was going to ride a donkey, Addo changed his mind and began to pull his brother's neck. Drive! He shouted excitedly.

．．．．．．．

In the living room, Zhang Sanniang was sewing and mending clothes for her son, but listening to the introduction of the matchmaker Xu's sky.

"Xu Xiaoniang is thirteen years old this year, one year older than your little official, we are all from the township, and we all know that the mother-in-law loves her husband when she is older."

According to the customs of the countryside of Wu County, family affairs are generally decided early, after Shaolang is eleven years old, and the little lady is ten years old, you can say that the matchmaker will talk about marriage.

A few years after the family affair was set, the young man was fifteen or sixteen years old, and the little lady was fourteen or fifteen years old, and the two families could arrange the marriage.

Especially a good marriage, once you reach the age, matchmakers will flock to it, and it is not too much to say that you have broken the threshold.

Since last spring, Fanning's family has been coming in an endless stream of matchmakers.

Zhang Sanniang was quite enthusiastic at first, but the matchmaker came too much, and she was a little tired.

What's more, Zhang Sanniang is no longer the ignorant village woman she was back then, she is a lady outside the fan, and the mother of the county magistrate.

The son earns her nearly a thousand yuan of wine money commission every month, which is stored in the Zhu family's silver shop, this money is controlled by her, and she herself has a servant woman and maid, and she is also a famous family in ten miles and eight townships.

Last year, Gao County ordered to inspect Mudu Town, and specially came to Jiangwan Village to visit Fan Tiezhou and his wife, praising Fan Ning as a proud son of heaven and a great weapon.

With such conditions, how can Zhang Sanniang still be able to see the eyes of an ordinary village girl or a small family jasper.

But others don't know that Zhang Sanniang and her husband are extremely low-key and still live a thrifty life.

Who would have thought that such a village woman who sewed and mended would have more than 10,000 taels of silver in Zhu's silver shop, and she also had a famous store like Fan Ji Qishi Pavilion under her name.

So most of the people came for Fanning's future, and Fanning's family was a small family.

Zhang Sanniang bit off the thread with her teeth and said lightly: "Actually, age is not important, what matters is character, appearance and family background." ”

Mrs. Xu slapped her thigh, "That's it!" Let me tell you, Xu Yuanwai's daughter's appearance is not much worse than Xi Shi, but it is not much inferior, and she is also very famous in Yuexi Town, her skin is delicate and delicate, and the spring flowers in February are not as delicate as her, and those eyes are like two black grapes falling into mercury, black is black, white is white, big lady, I can't describe it.

As for character, you don't have to worry at all, gentle and virtuous, in the future, after passing the door, I will ensure that your mother-in-law will be served comfortably.

As for the family property, Xu Yuanwai personally told me that as long as the marriage was completed, he would take 500 acres of land to make a dowry for his daughter, so that his uncle could study and take the imperial examination with peace of mind. ”

If it was two years ago, Zhang Sanniang would really be tempted, but after too many matchmakers came to the door, Zhang Sanniang had already seen through the matchmaker's exaggeration.

Once she and the matchmaker went to Zhoudun Village to visit Zhou Yuanwai's wife and daughter, and saw the little lady with her own eyes, she knew what it means to add one point is too white, and subtract one point is too dark, obviously she has a sick yellow face.

As for today's matchmaker's description of Xu Xiaoniang's eyes, they are like two black grapes falling into mercury, black is black, white is white, isn't her father-in-law just like this? It's just that the grapes are a little smaller.

What's more important is that Zhang Sanniang knows that once her son is admitted to Jinshi, I don't know how many wealthy families in the capital will compete to marry their daughter to him, and now hastily setting a marriage for his son will only ruin his future.

Besides, Zhang Sanniang still remembers the little lady Zhu at the beginning.

"Mrs. Xu has worked hard, Amei, serve soup to Aunt Xu!"

Serving the soup is an implicit way of sending off guests, telling Mrs. Xu that you should go.

Contacting so many matchmakers, Zhang Sanniang is not embarrassed, as soon as the time comes, she will directly pick people up.

Seeing that Zhang Sanniang refused to agree, Mrs. Xu had to get up and say, "Big lady, think about it again!" If I have an idea, just ask someone to send me a message. ”

"I know, Aunt Xu walks slowly!"

The maid sent Aunt Xu away.

After a while, Fanning walked into the house, "Mother, my sister is asleep." ”

"I'll take a look!" Zhang Sanniang hurriedly went next door to see her daughter.

Finally lulling his sister to sleep, Fanning was exhausted, and he sat down in front of the brazier, baking his frozen hands.

After a while, Zhang Sanniang came back and said to her son: "Next time, take off her coat and cover the quilt, otherwise it will be easy to catch a cold." ”

"I see!"

Fanning hesitated, then said to her mother, "Do you want to go to see the lights tomorrow?" ”

Zhang Sanniang took a piece of clothing to sew again, she sighed for a while and said: "Your sister is so young, where can I go out, let's talk about it after she is three years old!" ”

"I've made an appointment with a few friends, so I'll go alone and come back in the evening."

Zhang Sanniang has long been accustomed to her son studying abroad, and for her, her son is already a winged eaglet, so she doesn't have to worry about it anymore.

Her whole energy has now been involved in her daughter.

Fan Ning's family is now known as Fan Yuanwai's family, and his father Fan Tiezhou has become more and more famous in the past two years.

Not only is it ten miles and eight townships in Mudu Town, even in Wuxian County, it is also very famous, last year Gao County ordered a sprained foot, and specially sent someone to ask him to be treated.

Fan Tiezhou opened a special medical center in the town of Mudu last autumn and hired two young doctors to sit in the hall, and many simple bruises and injuries no longer need Fan Tiezhou's help.

At this time, Zhang Sanniang remembered something, "By the way, last time my father said that Zhou Yuanwai in Mudu Town wanted to ask you to make up for his son, you see ....."

Fan Ning shook his head and said, "Mother, I will take the children's exam this fall, where will I have time to make up lessons for others!" ”

"That's right! If you don't say it, I almost forgot, I'll tell your dad about it when I go back. ”

"Ning'er, are you still in touch with Little Lady Zhu in the past two years?" Zhang Sanniang asked seemingly nonchalantly.

Zhu Pei's great-grandmother died peacefully in her sleep the summer before last, she was Zhu Guifei's mother, and her death had a great impact, and even the Son of Heaven sent people to Pingjiang Mansion to mourn.

The old man was finally buried next to the tomb of her husband in Wujiang's ancestral land, and the funeral of the entire Zhu family was busy for three months.

Zhu Yuanfu's three brothers immediately kept filial piety to their mother in the old house in Wujiang, and even Zhu Pei's father also quit his job and returned to his hometown to keep filial piety to his grandmother for two years.

Zhu Pei also had to return to Wujiang and live with his parents, the Zhu family in Mudu Town was already an empty mansion, and there was no owner to live in, and occasionally Zhu Yuanfu would come back to do some chores.

Fanning smiled, "There is still an occasional correspondence, and I haven't seen her for more than a year, so I guess she will forget about me!" ”

Zhang Sanniang snorted lightly, "It's you who forgot about others." ”

"How can it!"

Fan Ning scratched the back of her neck and smiled: "She is still the second owner of the Strange Stone Pavilion, I haven't forgotten her, but the eighteenth female college has changed, it is estimated that she has changed a lot now, and when I meet, I'm afraid I won't recognize her." ”

"The eighteenth year of the female college will be fifteen or sixteen years old! At that time, the girl changed a lot, and now she has changed only slightly at most, and if you still don't recognize it, it only proves that you have forgotten about people. ”

"Mother, I won't forget her appearance."

Fan Ning smiled bitterly in his heart, then stood up and said, "Then I'll go back to my room to read." ”

"Go ahead!"

Zhang Sanniang put down the needle and thread and said with a smile: "I also want to go to see your sister, the little guy likes to kick the quilt when he sleeps." ”