In the summer of Daoguang 21 years (1841), the people of Nanxun Town were panicked, the first batch of people who fled from eastern Zhejiang to seek refuge with relatives and friends brought bad news, saying that Dinghai fell, after ten days, another group of refugees came, everyone knew that Zhenhai was also captured by the British army, Yuqian, the governor of Liangjiang, was martyred, and several general soldiers also died bravely. So the number of people fleeing the town has increased these days.

Early that morning, Liu Yong woke up from the store, first packed up the bed, removed the door panels, and then took a towel and prepared to go to the river to wash. As soon as he opened the door, he saw a pair of country father and daughter standing at the corner of the door, the middle-aged father was honest, the girl was about fifteen or sixteen years old, cardamom was in her prime, elegant and vulgar, and had a light spirit. The long jet-black braids are one after the other, the braids are slightly tied with pink bows, and the tips of the hair slide between the snow-white fingers; The skin is like clotted fat, the snow white is pink, it seems to be able to wring out water, a pair of red lips, and a smile. Indescribably gentle and lovely. His eyes were like a pool of clear water, and when he was looking forward to it, although he was born in a peasant family, he couldn't hide his youthful atmosphere.

Seeing Liu Yong open the store, the middle-aged man hurriedly greeted him.

The middle-aged man bowed and said, "This little brother, Mrs. Lao, we are here to visit Mrs. I wonder if Madame got up?

Liu Yong looked at the father and daughter with a tired look, and when he heard that they were looking for the boss's wife, he hurriedly said: Please come in! Come in! Please wait a moment.

The father and daughter entered the house and sat down in the hall.

Not long after, the door of the inner room opened, and Mrs. Tan came out, and when she saw the woman in the shop, she hurried out.

The middle-aged man pulled his daughter to stand up, and said with a smile: Her godmother Anfu, disturbed.

The proprietress said: Hey, they are all their own people, why be polite. Is it the wind that blows you? Then he took the little girl's hand and said with a smile: Oh, I was in your house at that time, and the girl was still in swaddling clothes, and I haven't seen her for more than ten years, and she has become a big girl. My hard-working child, before he could get on the flower bridge, my mother left. As he spoke, his eyes were a little moist, and then he said: Anyway, there is a godmother, and the godmother will be responsible for the future marriage, hehe.

Madame's words made the little girl blush.

Mrs. Tan asked again: Does her daughter have a scientific name?

The man bowed down and replied: Her godmother, when she was five years old, the township teacher named her Yuhui.

Mrs. Tan nodded: Shen Yuhui, this name is like a beautiful name for everyone, okay.

The middle-aged man nodded frequently, and then said: She is a godmother, Yuhui will bother you to train her! Country children don't see the world, what you should say and scold what you scold.

Mrs. Tan said: Brother Shen, don't worry, fourteen years ago, I passed by your village with the cloth seller in charge, and it happened that the heavy snow closed the river, fortunately you and your sister-in-law took us in for a few days, which made me and Yuhui's mother-daughter fate! A few days ago, I received a letter from you, saying that I couldn't ask for Yu Hui'er to help me. I don't have a daughter, only a few Tao boys, and now Yuhui is here, and I have all the children, why not?

The middle-aged man hurriedly pushed Yuhui and said: Don't hurry up and salute your godmother!

Yuhui hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed to his wife.

The proprietress pulled Yu Hui up and said with a smile: I see that Yu Hui is beautiful and smart, and she may be blessed in the future! In the future, choose your mother-in-law's house, and your godmother will be in charge, haha.

The man humbly said: Then it's all up to you and her godfather!

After lunch, Yuhui's father went back.

It turned out that some of the housework chores were originally done by Liu Yong, but since Yuhui came, Liu Yong has been a lot easier, and he has more time to be busy with the store, and he is skilled in business. Half a year has passed in a blink of an eye, and Liu Yong's hospitality is no longer like an apprentice, but like a deacon in charge alone.

Although it is hard, Liu Yong is also comfortable, Yuhui is familiar with him, and he is no longer so restrained. She often came to talk to Liu Yong, and Liu Yong taught her to write in her free time, Yuhui was smart and learned quickly. And when Yuhui washed her clothes, she always secretly washed Liu Yong's clothes by the way, Liu Yong didn't want to go, and said her a few times, but she was still like this. Yuhui gradually stopped feeling homesick, and the smile on her face became more and more.

One day, Yuhui was very surprised to see Liu Yong, but then she was full of sadness: My father is here and is talking to my godfather and godmother.

Liu Yong said strangely: Then you haven't gone in, why are you standing here sullen?

Yu Hui pouted and said: I don't know where my father found a fortune teller to calculate a hexagram for me, saying that I must get married this year, otherwise I will lose my father.

Liu Yong felt strange and asked, "Oh, there is such a thing?" So your Abba and your godfather and godmother are discussing your marriage? Have you found someone?

Yuhui said: My father said that he didn't understand these things, and wanted to entrust my marriage to my godfather and godmother, saying that he had to marry me off before the end of the year.

After getting along for a while, Liu Yong did have a good impression of Yuhui, and when he heard that Yuhui was going to get married, he was confused.

Liu Yong thought that he was still an apprentice now, and his family background was average, and he didn't know what Yuhui's intentions were, so he tentatively asked: How do you think about it yourself?

Yuhui said resolutely: Brother Liu Yong, are you willing to marry me?

Liu Yong was surprised and delighted, and asked: Are you really willing? Not kidding?

Yuhui said anxiously: Who is joking with you, I am serious, you should find someone to propose marriage! Sooner rather than later.

Liu Yong asked uneasily: I am still an apprentice, and my family is poor, don't you dislike it?

Yuhui said seriously: What are the apprentices afraid of, one day they will be able to become a teacher. I value your character, my family is poor, even if I put a stove on the pedal, I am willing. We all have two hands, are we afraid that we won't be able to get by?

Liu Yong was moved: Yuhuimei, then you wait!

Liu Yong hurried home and told his parents about marrying Yuhui.

As soon as Liu Yong entered the door, he got straight to the point: Daddy, Mom, hurry up and find a matchmaker to "talk about Dechang Silk Xing" to propose marriage.

Liu Yong's father and mother were confused: Who to propose? Talking about the boss only has a son, where does the daughter come from?

Liu Yong said: I want to marry Shen Yuhui, the goddaughter of the boss!

Liu Yong's father said: It's the girl from the countryside!

Liu Yong thought that his father was not satisfied, so he stubbornly retorted: What's wrong with the countrymen? What is Yuhui not as good as the girls in the town?

Liu Yongniang hurriedly played a round: I think this Yuhui girl is not bad, but both of you are still young, wouldn't it be better to wait for you to be a teacher and then propose marriage? I don't know if people are willing to marry into my family?

Liu Yong hurriedly said: Time is not waiting, Yuhui's father wants her to marry this year, such a girl, my family will not marry, there are people here, in case people take the lead, it will be too late by then.

The mother asked curiously, "What is the reason for such a hurry?"

Liu Yong explained: Yuhui's father asked someone to tell his fortune, saying that she would be a father if she didn't marry this year!

Liu Huanzhang thought for a moment and said: Since you know Ke Dad, won't you Ke Fu family? No, you have to get past the two of you before you can propose.

Mother chimed in: Your father is right, don't be so reckless.

Liu Yong pleaded: For the sake of the two elders, you will ask the matchmaker to propose marriage tomorrow, and it will not be too late to meet the eight characters!

The mother was soft-hearted, so she compromised and said: Marriage is a major event, and it will never be a child's play. I'm going to ask Mrs. Wang tomorrow, but I'm going to say it first, if the two of you don't agree, it's the will of heaven, and we can't help it. I have only one son, yours, and I must not be careless.

Liu Yong saw that his parents were resolute, so he had to compromise first and said: It's all up to Daddy and Mom.

Early the next morning, Liu Yong's mother asked the town's Wang matchmaker to talk about Dechang Silk Xing's family.

Mrs. Wang suddenly came to the door and was very surprised to talk about the boss and his wife. Yesterday, I just thought about finding a mother-in-law for Yuhui, how could the matchmaker come to the door today? This is too much of a coincidence.

Mrs. Wang smiled all over her face, and said hello when she opened her mouth: Congratulations to the boss, congratulations to Mrs. Tan! My wife and son were entrusted by the Liu family to ask to marry Miss Ling Aiyuhui.

Boss Tan was thinking about who had fallen in love with Yuhui, and Mrs. Tan preemptively asked: May I ask Aunt Wang, which Liu family is it?

Mrs. Wang said with a smile: You all know this person, he is Liu Yong Liu Gongzi, the son of Liu Zhaozhang, the coppersmith shop under the Tai'an Bridge, and he is now in your mansion.

When I heard the boss, I had eight or nine points in my heart.

Mrs. Tan said: Liu Yong, this kid is smart and diligent, but we know the roots. I think it's good. I don't know if Yuhui is willing or not.

Talking about the boss said: Have you ever thought about why we only discussed Yuhui's marriage yesterday, and today, the Liu family came to propose marriage, is there such a coincidence? Maybe they've already discussed it, and we're still in the dark.

Boss Tan continued: Marriage depends on character first, and I am also optimistic about this Liu Yong.

Mrs. Tan said: Then let's do it, I'll ask Yu Hui'er how she is in her heart.

So, Mrs. Tan asked the maid to call Yuhui to her house.

As soon as Yuhui entered the door, she asked: Godmother called her daughter over, I don't know why?

Mrs. Tan motioned for Yuhui to sit down, and then said with a smile: Today, the Liu family is looking for Mrs. Wang to propose marriage, do you know?

Yuhui couldn't help but be overjoyed in her heart, but pretended to be calm and said: Godmother, I really don't know.

Mrs. Tan deliberately said: You really don't know?

Yuhui shook her head shyly: I really don't know.

Mrs. Tan sighed: That's good, your godfather has already helped you push, this Liu Yong is an apprentice, you will inevitably suffer if you marry, and your godfather and godmother will find another good family for you!

When Yu Hui heard this, she couldn't be reserved, and said hurriedly: Godmother, what's wrong with the apprentice? Which of the deacon's treasurers was not an apprentice?

The person who came over from Mrs. Tan understood as soon as she heard it, and said: Yuhui, you tell the truth to your godmother, but you like Liu Yong?

Seeing that she couldn't hide it, Yuhui nodded shyly.

Mrs. Tan sighed: Your godfather and I both think that Liu Yong is a good child, not only is he good-looking, but he is also smart and studious, and he will become a great tool in the future.

Yuhui bowed and saluted: Thank you godfather and godmother.

Mrs. Tan got up: That's it, you prepare the embroidery, and I will return to your godfather. Your mother is no longer there, you don't have to worry about the dowry, your godmother has her own preparations. You're married, and it's still your home. Tomorrow, I will send Mrs. Wang to Liu's house to reply.

Yuhui was so grateful that she burst into tears, bowed down and said: Godfather and godmother love Yuhui so much, godfather and godmother are Yuhui's parents, Yuhui will be filial to you and your elders in her later years.

With the consent of the boss and his wife, Liu Yongniang took Yuhui's Geng post to Zhou Blind's house to get married, but it was a good fortune, and Zhou Blind concluded that Liu Yong and Shen Yuhui got married, and the Liu family will be rich and prosperous in the future.