It has been ten days since Fanning returned to Quanzhou.

For these two months, he did not go to sea for the time being, and devoted himself to the preparation of the fleet.

The fifteen paddle boats that had been leased from Fan's firm had been returned, and three years ago, the Overseas Economic and Strategic Government ordered 30 10,000 stone paddle boats from various shipping houses, and they have been delivered one after another.

Throughout the year, the government's paddle boats are training in small teams to meet the needs of long-distance voyages.

Seeing that Fan Ning was about to marry the daughter of the Cao family, Fan Mansion seemed relatively quiet on the surface, but there were some small waves in the quiet.

Fan Ning's mother Zhang Sanniang was very dissatisfied with this Fan Cao benefit marriage, she was very satisfied with the current state, the family was harmonious, and the grandchildren were full, and she was very afraid that another daughter of the Cao family would break this harmony.

She publicly complained about her son's consent to the marriage several times during dinner.

On the other hand, she felt very guilty about her two daughters-in-law, and had to express her dissatisfaction with her son, in this way to appease the two daughters-in-law, if she showed satisfaction and approval, what would the two daughters-in-law think.

Compared with Zhang Sanniang's dissatisfaction, Zhu Pei and Ouyang Qian behaved very calmly and generously, especially Zhu Pei, who had even begun to command the maids to clean up the yard for the newcomers.

Fanning's inner study had to be vacated and moved to the west, where there was an empty yard.

The four courtyards on the east side naturally became the residence of three wives and one concubine.

Although Zhu Pei and Ouyang Qian were very generous to Fan Ning marrying a third wife, that was only on the surface, and it was unknown how to clean up Fan Ning in private.

At least many people have noticed that Fanning has significantly increased the number of times she goes to spend the night with her concubine Aya.

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, at the beginning of November, the daughter of the Cao family went out and set off for Quanzhou before the inland river froze.

Cao Xiu's biological mother has died, and her current stepmother did not follow her south, also because Cao Tong will follow Fan Ning to the sea in February next year.

The Fan family also began to put up lanterns, including nearly 100 large lanterns at Fanning Wharf, which were lit up at night, which was particularly dazzling.

On November 15, the Cao family's fleet of three 3,000-stone ships arrived at the mouth of the Jinjiang River.

The bride wants to change boats here and take the wedding boat to Fan's house.

The two boats slowly approached, a pedestrian pedal with a handrail appeared between the two ships, which is also a boarding facility only invented in recent years, all ships above a thousand stones, there are interfaces on both sides of the ship's side, the interfaces are unified, put on the safety board, buckle the interface, and the people on board can quickly transfer between the two ships.

A handmaid helped the bride wearing a hijab to slowly get onto the wedding boat, and on the side of the wedding boat was Aya with several handmaidens to greet her.

The groom, Fan Ning, was also on the boat, and he got on the boat to see off his relatives, and met with his father-in-law Cao Tong and other relatives and friends of the Cao family, and then returned to the boat to welcome his relatives.

This time Cao Xiu got married, the Cao family also made a very heavy dowry, the gold of the dowry alone amounted to 30,000 taels, as well as 5,000 acres of land in the capital, a five-acre house in the capital, and a variety of precious jewelry, porcelain, silk, furniture, tea cakes, calligraphy and paintings, etc., which were enough to install two big ships.

Although Cao Xiu is married as a wife, there is no difference between the etiquette and the main wife, and it is also the Ming media is marrying, and even the Queen Mother also named her the county lady, the same as Zhu Pei's edict, but the Empress Dowager Cao is still relatively good at being a person, and at the same time as sealing the county lady of Cao Xiu, Ouyang Qian's edict was also promoted from a lady to a county lady, so as not to cause dissatisfaction with the Ouyang family and make it difficult for the bride to gain a foothold in the Fan family.

The lanterns on the welcoming boat are lit together, walking slowly on the Jinjiang River, and they are full of light and attract people's attention.

The three family ships followed behind and sailed towards the city of Quanzhou.

Fanning walked into the cabin, and the maid hurriedly saluted Fanning, "See Uncle!" ”

Aya, who was talking to Cao Xiu, got up, waved her hand, and asked everyone to step back and leave the big cabin to the newcomer.

Fan Ning sat down next to Cao Xiu and said with a smile: "It's hard to take a boat all the way over!" ”

"Fortunately, the wind and waves were not big, there was no seasickness, and the whole way was calm." Cao Xiu replied softly.

"It's also unfortunate that I happen to work in Quanzhou, and my family has moved to Quanzhou, so if my home is in Beijing, I don't have to work so hard."

"Will the officials stay in Quanzhou forever?"

Fan Ning shook his head, "No, at most two years, I will return to Beijing to take up my post, and everyone will have to move back to the capital when the time comes, but the house in Quanzhou will still remain, maybe when I will come back." ”

After a moment of silence, Cao Xiu said in a low voice: "It was not my intention to give Mrs. Fengjun's order, and I don't have the idea of competing with each other. ”

Fanning smiled, "No one will blame you, Appe is also a measured woman, she knows very well that no one can replace her, she just treats you as a little sister." ”

"Then I'm relieved!"

At this time, Fan Ning gently held Cao Xiu's hand, Cao Xiu lowered her head, but did not break free, and let Fan Ning hold her hand.

After a while, Fanning smiled: "Our mansion is very natural, the mansion has mountains and lakes, there are a lot of little squirrels, little hedgehogs, and a few deer, a few days ago, two pairs of swans and a group of geese flew from the north to spend the winter, they live in the reeds of our small lake, and are welcomed by the whole family, and there is a meadow in the house, you can ride a pony, I believe you will like it." ”

Fan Ning's narration made Cao Xiu's nervous mood slowly relaxed, I don't know when, Fan Ning's hand has been around her shoulder, Cao Xiu gently leaned on her husband's shoulder, at this moment, she suddenly had an indescribable sense of security in her heart, so that she began to look forward to tonight's night in the cave room.

.........

The wedding customs in all parts of the Great Song Dynasty are similar, and the bride enters the man's house and will enter the cave room on the same day.

Out of respect for the Cao family and the Empress Dowager, the Fan family also spent a lot of energy to prepare for this wedding, Fan Tiege was fully responsible for the engagement and financial gifts in the capital, and in Quanzhou, the main wedding was presided over by Fan Ning's fourth uncle Fan Tongzhong.

The dock is brightly lit, and a long red carpet is rolled from the pier to the mansion, and Aya will accompany the bride throughout the whole process as the bride.

Zhu Pei and Ouyang Qian also gave enough face, they would not appear in the wedding, avoided the wedding, the newlyweds worshiped the hall and got married, saluted to the high hall, and the famous gentry of Quanzhou were invited as guests.

A lively wedding did not end until after the end of the day, sending the bride and groom into the cave room, opening the most unforgettable night in the bride's life.

However, Cao Xiu is the next wife after all, and the next day, there is another ceremony, she wants to serve tea to the housewife, and the housewife takes her tea before she is officially accepted into the Fan family.

Historically, the eldest woman refused to accept the concubine's tea, and this kind of thing often happened, and many jealous or skilled women often used this method to clean up the concubine.

Once it happens, the husband has no choice but to temporarily find a house for the concubine to live outside, and when he slowly convinces the eldest woman, the concubine will come back to serve tea again, so that the concubine will generally be cleaned up and obedient, and dare not compete with the eldest woman anymore.

However, this will not happen to the Fan family, Zhu Pei did not embarrass Cao Xiu, and directly took her tea.

Zhu Pei smiled at Fan Ning, who was a little nervous on the side: "Husband, go get busy!" I'll talk to Sister Ah Xiu, so you don't have to be around. ”

Fan Ning had no choice but to leave, Ouyang Qian wanted to take care of her troubled daughter, said hello and got up to leave.

Zhu Pei smiled: "Ah Xiu, let's go out for a walk." ”

Cao Xiu obediently followed Zhu Pei's side, and she also secretly admired in her heart, she had heard for a long time that Fan Ning's wife was unparalleled in beauty and was already a mother of two children, but she was still extremely beautiful, which made Cao Xiu sigh a little to herself.

They walked into the verandah, and Zhu Pei introduced her, "This is the center of the back house, there are four courtyards on the left and right sides of the verandah, you lived in the East Third Courtyard last night, and then there will be your yard, and closing the door is your world, our family has always been such a tradition, everyone has their own territory, even if it is me, without your consent, I can't easily enter your yard, of course, except for the husband, he can enter." ”

Cao Xiu nodded, she also liked this, her yard had six rooms, and she and two maids lived there, even if she had children in the future, it would be enough.

In the middle of the corridor is a pool of pond water, which is connected with the lake outside, and there are all kinds of brocade fish in the pond, at this time, Cao Xiu suddenly found a white swan swimming in from the outside, followed by a swan, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.

Juppe looked at her and laughed, "Living here, there will be many such surprises, but it's a pity that our little elf is weird and a little cold, otherwise she will definitely take you to see all kinds of animals." ”

"Who is the elf?" Cao Xiu asked in a low voice.

"It's the eldest daughter of the husband, called Fan Zhen'er, Sister Qian's daughter, she will be seven years old soon, naughty and cute, loves woods and all kinds of animals, with her, even cockroaches in our family can die."

Cao Xiu'poof! Laughing out loud, she happily said, "Speaking of which, I really look forward to seeing her." ”