In the back house of Cheng's mansion, in order to divert his parents' oppression of his marriage, Cheng Ze began to worry about his sister's lifelong affairs.

"Da Lang, you met two friends on the road, and you thought about marrying your sister to them?" Cheng Ze's mother's eyes widened.

Cheng Ze's mother's surname is Yang, the daughter of the Yang family, the third largest wealthy family in Yangzhou, married Cheng Yuanwai twenty years ago and gave birth to a son and a daughter.

She wanted her son to marry her cousin's daughter and continue to consolidate the marriage between Cheng and Yang's families, but her son didn't like that cousin, and he actually ran out to play the day before the blind date, which really annoyed her.

Now her son has put forward an absurd idea to let a stranger who meets in Pingshui marry her daughter, or someone from Pingjiang Mansion, which makes her unable to hide her anger.

"Do you have a pig's brain, and your sister is only thirteen years old, and you are in a hurry to marry her off? Even if it's a blind date, it should be a blind date with someone who is familiar with it, how can there be a brother like you, just pull two people from the road to marry your sister, you tell me, what are you thinking about all day long? ”

"Mother, don't you be so extreme, okay? These two people are sons-in-law that you can't find even with lanterns, one is the first place in the Pingjiang Mansion Boy's Examination, and the other is the fifth, Fan Ning is Fan Zhongyan's grandson, Su Liang is a generation of scholars, which one is not better than us? ”

Yang was a little stunned, she glanced at her husband next to her, and when she saw that her husband was thoughtful, she said, "Outside, you won't be tempted too!" ”

Cheng Yuan smashed his mouth and said slowly: "Actually, Da Lang is right, these two teenagers have a bright future, especially that Fan Ning, the first place in the Pingjiang Mansion boy's examination, he is really a son-in-law who can't be found with a lantern, I don't think Yuanyuan is worthy of others." ”

The Yang family was also a little relieved, thinking about it carefully, but no, when Wang Qin, the first place in Yangzhou Tongzi's liberation test, rode a horse and praised the street, how many wealthy families wanted to recruit him as a son-in-law, and it was not their turn to be the Cheng family.

Pingjiang Mansion is far stronger than Yangzhou, and the first place in Pingjiang Mansion's children's test is at home, this is really an opportunity!

"Da Lang, will they already be married?"

Cheng Ze shook his head, "We asked them, but they didn't get married, so I tried my best to invite them to come to the house as guests." ”

Cheng Yuanwai thought for a while and said: "Although Fanning is the first place in the exam, I prefer the child surnamed Su, he is more gentle and elegant, knowledgeable, I always feel that Fanning City Mansion is too deep for people to see." ”

Yang immediately said: "Then let Yuanyuan take a look for herself, see what she thinks, and set up a family banquet in the evening, and Yuanyuan can also be served." ”

"This is a good method, just set up a family banquet, and observe them naturally."

Speaking of this, Cheng Yuanwai glared at his son, "Don't think about diverting the topic, your marriage with Xiu'er must be decided in the next two days, whether you want it or not, I and your mother are in charge of this matter." ”

Cheng Ze resisted weakly, "Wait a little longer!" Maybe the child can also be admitted to the Jinshi. ”

........

In the evening, the Cheng family set up a family banquet in the inner hall to entertain the three young guests from Pingjiang Mansion, and the dinner was not a round table meal, but a separate meal, that is, one table per person and one meal per person.

Both the combined and separate meals coexisted in the Song Dynasty, and generally speaking, large families preferred to divide their meals, even if they sat at the same table, each meal was shared.

There are not so many people at the bottom, and the way of sharing meals is more economical and more suitable for the frugal lifestyle of ordinary people.

There are a total of eight sets of tables and chairs in the lobby, directly above are the two tables and chairs of the host and his wife, and below there are three tables and chairs on the left and right sides, on one side are the three children of the Cheng family, and on the other side are the three guests.

This kind of arrangement seems to be a bit snubbing to the guests, but in fact, it is not necessarily the case, the key is that Fan Ning and the three of them are friends of the eldest son Cheng Ze, as juniors, of course they have to sit at the bottom.

Fan Ning sat on the first one on the right, Su Liang in the middle, and Li Dashou below, Li Dashou was a little distracted, still thinking about practicing calligraphy, but the host had a treat, and he couldn't help but give face no matter what.

The first one on the left is Cheng Ze, the seat in the middle is still vacant, and the next one is an eight or nine-year-old little fat man, who is Cheng Ze's half-brother Cheng Hai.

Cheng Yuanwai glanced at the vacant seat in the middle, and said a little dissatisfied: "Da Lang, you go and urge your sister, there is a guest, let her come over immediately." ”

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard footsteps, and a round and jade little lady walked out from behind the screen.

She made a blessing to her parents, bowed her head and sat directly in her seat.

Fan Ning and Su Liang quickly exchanged glances, and sure enough, it was the little lady they saw in the afternoon, it turned out that she was Cheng Ze's sister.

Fan Ning winked at Su Liang and smiled ambiguously, Su Liang's face suddenly turned red, and he glared at Fan Ning in annoyance.

Cheng Yuanwai looked in his eyes, and he smiled and said: "Let me introduce the three young men, this is a little girl Yuanyuan, thirteen years old." ”

Cheng Yuanyuan's face turned even redder, how could there be an introduction of age, Daddy's introduction like this would make people misunderstand.

Cheng Yuanwai said to his daughter again: "Yuanyuan, these three are your brother's friends, they are all young talents in Pingjiang Mansion, this Fan Shaolang is the first place in the Pingjiang Mansion boy's examination this year, and in the middle is Su Shaolang, who is the fifth place in the boy's examination, and that is Li Shaolang, who is a few years older than them, and he also passed the examination." ”

Cheng Yuanyuan hurriedly got up and gave the three of them a blessing gift, but he didn't dare to look up.

At this time, several maids came quickly with wine and food, pouring wine for each table, the dishes were very rich, and the wine was also the best sake, and the Cheng family was indeed very sincere in inviting guests.

Cheng Yuanwai raised his glass and said with a smile: "You don't have to get up, this glass of wine will wash the dust of the three young langs, I hope the three young men can stay for a while, just like their own home, if there is anything inconsiderate, please bear with me." ”

Everyone hurriedly said a few polite words, and everyone drank the first glass of wine together.

Everyone began to eat and drink food and drink with laughter, and the family banquet was very casual, without too much etiquette, and they could chat and talk to each other.

The Yang family was quietly looking at the three of them, and Li Dashou first ruled it out, he was too dark and fierce, with a sideways face, which was daunting, and a little unwilling, which made the Yang family dislike it very much.

Fan Ning and Su Liang are really between Yu Liang, I heard from my son that both of them are twelve years old, but Su Liang is half a year older than Fan Ning, but Fan Ning is a little taller, both of them have very white skin, and they have the unique elegance of a scholar at a glance.

However, Fanning could see that he was older, his eyes were very deep, but there was a hint of cynical smile on the corner of his mouth, which was difficult to see.

But Su Liang is very cheerful and sunny, the city is not deep, and almost all mothers-in-law like this kind of cheerful and sunny son-in-law.

However, the mother-in-law is more concerned about their family background.

"I heard that Fan Shaolang is Fan Xianggong's grandson?" Yang asked with a gentle smile.

Fan Ning bowed slightly and replied: "The Fan family is very big, and I am just a distant junior of Fan Xianggong, so it doesn't really matter." ”

"Oh-"

Yang nodded and asked, "Then what does your father do for a living?" ”

Fan Ning showed an imperceptible smile on the corner of his mouth, and still replied very politely, "My father is a fisherman in Taihu Lake, and he makes a living by fishing, so the younger generation's family is relatively poor, and there are only three thatched huts in the family. ”

Next to him, Su Liang was simply unbearable for his aunt, but his uncle couldn't bear it, he was just about to open his mouth to correct Fan Ning's nonsense, but Fan Ning kicked him silently, and kicked Su Liang's words back to his mouth.

Yang smiled, "It's not easy for a poor child to be the first in the exam!" ”

Although Yang is polite, but her interest in Fan Ning has faded, marriage pays attention to the right family, if Fan Ning is now a Jinshi, she can not care about her background, but she can't lift people.

Yang's interest immediately turned to Su Liang.

"I heard that Su Shaolang is from a scholarly family?"

Without waiting for Su Liang to speak, Fan Ning smiled and answered for him, "Xiao Su's grandfather is one of the founders of Yuqing School in Sutai Town, and his father is the chief professor of Yuqing School. ”

Su Liang's face was swollen and flushed, and he whispered hatred to Fan Ning: "I will say it myself, I don't need you to do much!" ”

"There are some things that you are embarrassed to say, so let me tell you for you!"

Fan Ning smiled at Yang and Cheng Yuanwai again: "Xiao Su is twelve years old, and he has not yet decided on a marriage!" ”

There was a burst of laughter in the inner hall, and Lian Cheng Yuanyuan couldn't help but sneak a glance at Su Liang, with a meaningful smile in his eyes.