After breakfast, there are officials who send New Year's greetings one after another, the first day of the New Year of the Ming Dynasty generally does not go to visit relatives and friends, but between good officials is to send famous posts and gifts, people can not come, but the earlier the name of the post is sent, the more it shows that the relationship is not ordinary, after the second day of the first month, you can invite each other to set up a banquet, meet and play.

Song Nan received a lot of famous posts in the hall, and wrote a reply to the order of the little servants to distribute it separately, and saw that the day was approaching the end of the day, so he instructed Uncle Zhong: "I need to go to the Guogong Mansion for a trip, and I will ask Mrs. to reply and take care of the post when I come back." ”

Uncle Zhong nodded in agreement, Song Nan went out of the hall door, ordered people to prepare horses, and Li Daniu, who came to the Song Mansion early in the morning, rushed to hear the news, and heard that Song Nan was going to the Guogong Mansion, and said in amazement: "Young master, didn't you say that you won't go to the Guogong Mansion again?" Why are you going today? ”

Song Nan said with a smile: "That's angry words, after all, it is the maiden family of the little county lord, and today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, I have to go there without sending the poster, otherwise how can the lady deal with herself?" Besides, the little grandfather is still good to me. ”

Da Niu thought for a while and nodded: "What I said is that although Da Niu doesn't understand it very well, I also think it's better for us not to have a stiff relationship with the Guogong Mansion." The old grandfather has a big face, and it is understandable to look down on our small family, but after all, he still married his wife to the young master, which shows that the old grandfather is actually still satisfied with the young master, as for why he didn't help the young master last time, I can't figure it out. ”

Song Nan smiled and said: "You don't understand, I understand, I'll come when I go, you don't have to follow." ”

Li Daniu hurriedly said: "Then how can it be done, I will lead the horse to accompany you, you let Wang Yong and them leave, and I will take the position of guard." ”

Song Nan waved his hand and said, "Come on, you should go to your sister Ping'er." ”

Li Daniu's face flushed and said, "Young master, you know everything." ”

Song Nan laughed and said, "When I am deaf and blind? You know all the interesting things about Ping'er in the backyard, why did you come to me this morning when you didn't accompany your parents at home for the New Year? Don't you want to meet the person you like? Lord, I'm from here. ”

Li Daniu twisted and said, "Don't you blame me? ”

Song Nan said: "What do I blame you for?" Although Ping'er served me as a child, I treated her as a sister, and now she is in her early twenties. Originally, I wanted to find a good family for you, with your current status, it is no problem to marry a lady, but since you like Ping'er, it is all due to fate, and I also agree. ”

Li Da Niu knelt down and said: "Thank you young master for your success, I am not a rare official lady, I only like Ping'er." ”

Song Nan hurriedly helped him up and said: "You and I are always friends, like brothers, we naturally have to hold a shelf in front of outsiders, but don't be so formalistic at home." I agreed to this, and I will do it for you on an auspicious day after the New Year, and your Aunt Song will also agree, since you marry Ping'er to be a wife, I will beg my mother to accept Ping'er as a righteous daughter, so that the identity is also appropriate. ”

Li Daniu's excited tears were about to fall, he stood in a daze and couldn't speak, Song Nan smiled and raised his whip, and Li Daniu came back to his senses after the horse went out, jumped three feet high, and sent a maid to the backyard to find Ping'er out.

Ping'er came to the front yard with a flushed face, Li Daniu pulled her to the corner of the house, Ping'er shook her hand and said, "What are you doing?" I just met, why don't you leave? I can't tell if the young ladies see me. ”

Li Daniu stammered and told Song Nan what he promised, Ping'er was stunned for a long time, and suddenly her eyes turned red and she burst into tears. A pair of little lovers have secretly liked each other for two years, and today they finally got their wish and couldn't help crying with joy.

……

In the British Mansion Garden, Song Nan's arrival somewhat surprised Zhang Lun, although he tried his best to save the relationship with Song Nan, he did not hesitate to speak for Song Nan in the face of the old man, and turned around and privately planned to lend the old camp of the Fenwu Camp in Rizhongfang to Song Nan's Shenshu Camp to station, but unfortunately Song Nan did not appreciate it and refused.

Zhang Lun sighed for a few days, thinking that this brother-in-law might never be able to enter the door of the Guogong Mansion again, and he was worried that the little county lord would fall out of favor in the Song family because of this, so he was very worried for a few days; Hearing that the guards came to report Song Nan's visit, Zhang Lun hurriedly came out to greet him, and Liu called him behind him to change into decent clothes, but Zhang Lun also turned a deaf ear.

Song Nan stood in the big front yard of the Guogong Mansion Garden, the courtyard was still full of flowers, even in winter, it was like a paradise; I remembered the mood when I first went to the palace that day, and I was worried at that time, and I was careful everywhere, for fear of saying the wrong thing and going the wrong way.

Now a few years have passed, the Guogong Mansion has also come a lot, every time I come, the awe here is a little less, today I look at the past, except that the place is more spacious, the house is taller, the scenery is better, and it is no different from other people's mansions. The grandfather and the little grandfather who lived inside also faded their majesty and mystery in Song Nan's eyes, and became sophisticated and ordinary.

"Song Nan, why did you come in person, and you didn't send a famous post in advance." Zhang Lun stood on the steps in front of the hall and bowed his hands far away.

Song Nan smiled and saluted: "The old man and the little grandfather like to be quiet, and they will be in the other garden during the New Year, I know that they must be at home, but I don't know if it disturbs the tranquility of the old man and the little grandfather." ”

Zhang Lun pretended to be displeased and said: "Hey, you are also saying such things now, it seems that there is a lot of estrangement between you and my country's government." ”

Song Nan smiled silently, followed Zhang Lun into the hall, and after sitting down for tea, the two chatted casually, seeing that Song Nan was always reluctant to talk about the mustard between the two families, Zhang Lun couldn't help it.

"Song Nan, you know my attitude, I Zhang Lun can recognize you as a friend, after all, the old man can't wipe his face there, is it possible that you have been in such a stalemate with us? This can only be regarded as a family matter, and it is not a joke for outsiders to keep doing this. ”

"What did the little grandfather say, I came here today to make a special trip to thank the little grandfather, that day in the court, the little grandfather spoke up for me, and I also received the old man's board in public, I really don't want to go. I remember when I was in Zhengnanfang, the little grandfather came forward to mediate for me to relieve the siege of the fight with Dongchang Fanzi, and since then, I, Song Nan, have regarded the little grandfather as a friend. What's more, today we have become relatives, and we won't blame the little grandfather for some trivial things, Song Nan is not such a person, I just don't like people who go back on their word. ”

Zhang Lun shook his head and sighed: "I don't dare to say anything about the old man's fault, but I can see that in fact, the old man doesn't have any bad intentions for you, he just tries his best to maintain the prestige of my country's government." The marquis of the regimental battalion collectively boycotted you, what can he do as the governor of the regimental battalion? Do you force everyone to fall to Xu Guangzuo? Of course, the old man didn't listen to your plan and made an arbitrary decision beforehand, which was his mistake. The old man himself probably knows that he has gone too far. ”

Song Nan said: "I understand that there is no right or wrong in this matter, there is right and wrong in the eyes of children, but there are only pros and cons in the adult world." The old man did this because of the pros and cons, and I can't point fingers at him. But this incident does disappoint me, the little grandfather knows what kind of person I am, and I am afraid that I will not be able to treat the old man like before in the future, I will not be able to do this. However, for the little grandfather and the Guogong Mansion, I am still the son-in-law of the Guogong Mansion and a friend of the little grandfather, and I will not have any prejudice against the concubine, although Song Nan is not a weapon, but at least he is a knowledgeable person, and he will not be a philistine like a man in the market. ”

Zhang Lun nodded and said, "I understand, but do you want to meet the old man?" ”

Song Nan thought for a moment and said: "Let's see it, if you celebrate the New Year, you should also ask the old man to say goodbye." ”

Zhang Lun got up and led the way, the two walked through several courtyards, and came to a small courtyard in Sanjin, Song Nan remembered here, this was the time when the relationship between himself and the little county lord was made public, the little county lord was trapped in the house, and when he came to find the little county lord, he was led to this courtyard, and Zhang Mao was still playing a chess game with himself at that time.

The courtyard was warm, the cold winter wind was blocked from the surrounding houses, and the sun slanted down, basking half of the courtyard into a golden warmth; Zhang Lun led Song Nan into the courtyard, under the gourd stand in the corner, a table, a chair, a game of chess and a pot of tea, Zhang Mao sat there with his back to Song Nan and Zhang Lun.

Zhang Lun wanted to step forward to speak, but Song Nan grabbed him and said softly, "Listen." ”

Zhang Lun stopped listening, but when he heard the sound of snoring, which was endless and rhythmic, he couldn't help but be stunned.

"The old man is asleep." Song Nan said in a low voice.

Zhang Lun frowned and said: "These subordinates don't know what to do, how can they let the old man sleep outside in the winter, isn't this going to freeze his body?" ”

Zhang Lun walked forward quickly, Song Nan also followed him closely, and the two walked around in front of Zhang Mao, but saw Zhang Mao with his eyes closed, his mouth open, the silver filaments flying on his head were messy, and the wrinkles on his face were like axes and knives, and he was sleeping and snoring.

Song Nan looked at the face in front of him, and suddenly a sense of pity rose in his heart, this old man who has experienced decades of ups and downs always feels strong and ruthless, but he looks so old and decadent when he sleeps. The white erosion in the corners of the eyes, the saliva flowing from the open mouth, all convey a signal: this person is too old, too old to have loose skin and flesh, too old that his muscles and nerves can no longer control his face when he relaxes.