Clam Pearl

Gu Zhao watched the excitement in Dacang for a few days. At first, people from the Ministry of War went there. Later, his reputation grew, and the directors of the six departments came to enjoy the excitement. But it is no wonder that in this era, how can there be such fun? My son's affairs are onlookers.

Pity those old ladies who handle weddings, their voices are hoarse from exhaustion in less than three days, but the rewards are all ten.Through this happy event, one thing has become famous, that is, the pot of vegetables, all the adults who come here have to eat a few bowls every day, which consumes half a pig!

Originally, Qiandingsi's buns were famous enough, but now there is another one, Qiandingsi Poon Choi.Tomorrow, the company's business can no longer continue. Gu Zhao can open a restaurant and sell steamed buns and poon choi professionally. That is also a good business!

But Gu Zhao didn’t know that later on, the Five Counties of Juehu gradually became popular. During festivals, it’s a custom for women and wives to gather around and eat Poon Choi. The little fairy of Guanyu, at first this fairy had a lot of clothes, until the time passed, and the customs changed, the clothes on the stone statue became less and less, and finally they were all naked, white and tender, revealing the sparrows underneath, legend has it It is also one of the customs in the five counties of Juehu to treat infertility.

There is always a time when you get tired of watching the excitement. In short, Gu Zhao no longer went to Dacang from the third day, leaving only Fu Ji and others to watch there. Anyway, the senior members of the first and second ranks spend their meals there every day when they have nothing to do. Eat, do not feel coquettish panic.Gu Zhao was at home by himself, and recruited Su and others to organize happy events for his apprentice at home every day.

Because it's not a big deal, it's just that my family knows about it. The Baixu family and the main branch have long since cut off contact, so there are no spectators there to make a collective makeup or something.Although Gu Zhao is a man, he has rich experience in life, so he secretly asked Su to take the money, and bought 36 sets for Baixu, which is still a good deal, a middling dowry.

After all, when a girl comes to her home, she can't take advantage of her. Besides, it's popular now that the man's house only has a big bed, so she comes empty-handed, and she's afraid that the bride will be embarrassed, and others will laugh at her for panic.

In the early morning of this day, Mrs. Su brought the dowry list early, and once she entered the courtyard, she stood in the courtyard and looked at the hot spring with jealousy for a while. She came to this courtyard to soak comfortably a few days ago. Yes, I also thought in my heart that it would be great if I could buy a pool at home.It's a pity that the entire Shangjing is said to be apart from several palaces and palaces, and only here is the only one.While envious, Mrs. Su entered the yard, but as soon as she entered the door, she saw that Gu Zhao was discussing something with his nanny's newly married concubine, Hongzao.

Now Hongzao is the wife in charge of the outer courtyard, and has been transferred to help Fu Ji clean the new courtyard these few days.

When Hongzao saw Su's coming in, she hurried over to salute, "Grandma has worked hard."

Su smiled and said: "Oh, I haven't seen you for a few days, look at our red dates, they are so neat..." After finishing speaking, she stretched out her hand to support the red dates, and looked them up and down kindly.Today, Hongzao is wearing a pink lotus root brocade padded jacket with a lake-colored jacket, embroidered shoes with pink Ningxia silk on her feet, and a woman's scroll on her head, with Jingcui's plum blossom hairpin on it. Ten, and a set of earrings.Mrs. Su helped her, and when she stretched out her hand, she was still wearing a string of purple-red incense beads on her wrist.Su smiled and said: "Sure enough, it's different. Look at Bi Liangli, he knows pain and heat."

Hongzao's face turned red, she has served in Lu's house for many years, and she is not as afraid of Su's as ordinary servants, so she covered her mouth and smiled: "The eldest lady is holding Xiaolang's family capital, not me. Said, Grandma is also considered an elder, but I don’t know what gift I gave, if there is less, the bride will not give you tea when she comes in tomorrow.”

Hearing this, Mrs. Su spat at her with an annoyed look: "Hey, little hooves, don't take me aside. I'm busy today. I'll have time tomorrow to see how I can fix you."

Hongzao just laughed, and after laughing, he took Su's list and presented it to Gu Zhao.Gu Zhao now understands a little bit about the market, seeing that the dowry list is nothing more than a set of gold, silver, and bronze, which is also in line with Fu Ji's current status.

Excluding silk, silk, satin and fur, middle-class household utensils are somewhat particular. Taking bronze wares as an example, there must be bronze mirrors, braziers, washbasins, hand stoves, sleeve stoves, blowing stoves, kettles, jars of various colors, and sacrificial ritual bronze wares of various sizes. , Wall lamps, lamps, hand photos, bed hooks, and urinals, etc. for daily use, one is indispensable, and it will last a lifetime.Fu Ji is a fifth-rank official, so he can only use three kinds.

Gu Zhao was quite satisfied, so he said to Su Shi: "My nephew, you see, every time I am busy here, it always troubles you. It’s Chinese New Year, and you still have to come to my place to do some work. I’ll definitely thank you in another day!”

Su smiled and said: "Little uncle said thank you very much. A family does not talk about two families. Now that you can say such caring words, I have everything. The stupid nephew is complaining, if you are lucky in the next life, you can still be entrusted to be a man, that is, you will not marry the eldest son and grandson, it is too tiring."

Gu Zhao smiled lightly, handed the notebook in his hand to Hongzao and said, "Go downstairs and check your things. Tonight, when it's dark, go find Xizai and call a few people, and quietly carry it to Bai's house. Be more vigilant, don't be watched by others, and save Fu Ji and her daughter-in-law's face. Tell those talkative people to shut their mouths tightly, whoever gets out of the wind, they are small, and I won't have them in my family from now on s position!"

The red dates were blessed and went down.

Seeing Hongzao walking away, Gu Zhao asked Su Shi: "I just said half a sentence to you, and the rest of your complaints can be vomited. My sister-in-law is old, and my brother doesn't care about things now, but did you wrong your niece and daughter-in-law?"

Su sighed, looked around and saw that there were no outsiders, and said, "Little uncle, I won't hide it from you. If this matter is long, it will take a few years ago. It's just a parent's fault. In the past, I didn't want to Plug your ears, add to your worries, hey! You see, the family has been living peacefully these past few years. There is only one person, and I don’t know why. I have been angry with the old man, and I want to break up .”

Gu Zhao raised his eyebrows and asked who it was.

Su said: "Who can be, my old Sanmaofeng!" After speaking with a disgusted look on Su's face, she took out the handkerchief and slapped it irritably and continued: "The old three these years, the old man didn't give him Arrange any good position, everyone knows that he is a money man. I can't see it at that time, I collected money randomly, and it didn't hurt the whole family? But that guy didn't know where the money he got was spent, and he was lavish on weekdays. They also added two outhouses! Nowadays, people don’t care about the food, clothing, and flowers distributed by the mansion at all. I heard from them that the third son now has his own private property outside the city.”

Gu Zhao didn't say a word, but just signaled Su Shi to continue.

Su opened up the chatter box, and continued to vomit bitterness: "It's his business that the third child said it, and we are not jealous, but the day before yesterday, it was Cai Si's family who served in his yard. I have been serving our family for four generations. I don’t know why the third child is a nightmare. I don’t need others if I want to die or live. Hey, it’s pitiful. The old Cai’s family has been with the old for more than 30 years. It's New Year's Eve, and his family has more than a dozen members who have been rejected by the master, what will happen from now on?"

Seeing Gu Zhao's expressionless face, Mrs. Su added another sentence: "Little uncle, since ancient times, every family has had things about concubines, and I'm just tired of talking to you, old lady, old man Don't say it, lest the old man get angry again. Then Lao Cai's family is brought out from our hometown in Pingzhou."

Gu Zhao nodded and said with a smile: "He made trouble with him. I don't want to think about it now. If I get separated, so does my brother. He will only spoil the children! If you drive him out to make a living, that bastard will know that the world is difficult, but At that time, he wanted to come back again, but he couldn't let him go."

Su Yile: "Little uncle, what you said is simple. Parents are alive, but they don't dare to separate and make people laugh. You, first get busy with our little man's marriage. I'm going to say this today." What do you mean, Xiao Lang is also using people in that side now, and now he is the grandson of our family, you see... If not, can Lao Cai's family be sent to that side for help? I am in your house I dare not ask, but that Bai Xu is an old nanny at home, so he can’t ask our Xiaolang to do anything, right? There’s no way around it, you know, Lao Cai is here now There are two sides in the mansion. We know the inside story, we know that it has nothing to do with Lao Cai, but outsiders don't think so, isn't this Chinese New Year forcing people to jump into the well, and there is no way out for them?"

Gu Zhao nodded and said: "It's not a big deal, but... is it reliable? There are several people in his family now, so I don't need to be tricky."

Su clapped his hands and defended, "Oh! Little uncle, if Lao Cai's family was more naughty, unruly and caring with the third child, it would not be where it is today. There are fifteen or sixteen members in this family, but they are all honest people. What! It’s just too honest, only respecting the rules, and a family of clumsy tongues won’t please. Otherwise, I don’t bother to care about it, Aunt Jiaohong’s side, that’s..."

Gu Zhao discussed with the Su family for a long time, and finally dealt with the inside and outside of Fu Xiaolang's side. It's really not easy to raise a child, thanks to myself.Thinking of this, Gu Zhao remembered that this winter was extremely cold, and he didn't know what happened to Yuan Xiu outside. Although this year was his last year outside, he had to make all the preparations for him, and the child was in the palace. There is no mother and concubine, and there is no natal family. Apart from himself and Ah Run, no one in the world loves him.

Thinking of this, Gu Zhao gave orders again. Fortunately, everyone in the family knew Yuanxiu's habits, what to eat, what to wear, and what to use. These years have already come to the season and everything is prepared without ordering. Everyone has been used to it for a long time, and now he has a flash of inspiration, so he can quickly send the list over there to save him trouble.Gu Zhao looked at the list, feeling a little embarrassed.

Looking at his nanny's determined, expressionless face, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed, so he stretched out his hand and rubbed his nose and said, "Hey, grandma is busy these days, isn't he?"

Bi Liangli sighed deeply, shook his head slightly, turned around, took the order and went out.

These days and nights, Gu Zhao sat at home and read today’s report of Qian Ding’s department. The refreshing spending these few days was all Gu Zhao’s meticulous planning and careful planning. Every day, more than 80 big fat pigs were supplied. , I'm afraid that the people in the village are full of oil.

Gu Zhao was thinking about it, but someone outside said: "Ah Zhao, let's go out together tonight."

Gu Zhao was taken aback, suddenly remembered something, and asked Xizai who was standing beside him: "What star is it today?"

After thinking about it carefully, he took out the Japanese booklet from a drawer on one side and flipped through it: "Master, today is the ghost golden sheep, Qinglong day."

Gu Zhao smiled in a low voice, pretending to continue reading the brochure, and said, "Go down, you're fine today."

Xizai nodded, put away the brochure, turned around and went out.

After a while, someone outside the window said with a smile, "Aren't you going out?"

Gu Zhao said in the house: "Oh, where is this free time? I'm so busy every day, I can eat it. It's not easy for me to save some small treasury. In a blink of an eye, thousands of flowers are used every day, and the landlord's house is also worthless. There is no food left, wait for me to figure it out..."

He hadn't finished speaking, but he didn't want Ah Run to open the curtain and enter the room from the outside in a coarse cloth shirt.After entering the house, I went to the back room and found two big woolen clothes. One was worn by myself, and the other was put on by Gu Zhao. Before going out, I even covered Gu Zhao with a sable hat. After finishing, Ah Runyi stretched out his hand and took Gu Zhao in his hand. He felt that the weight was heavier than before, and he was satisfied immediately. He decided to have a good time tomorrow when he was free.

Nonsense, do nothing, lie down every day, or half lie down, it's strange if you're not fat.

There was a strange whistling sound in the winter night wind, and Gu Zhao was tightly buttoned by his hat, so he didn't feel cold, but only felt the sound of wind in his ears.He could feel that he had entered the warm sedan chair, and was tightly locked by the building all the way.Ah Run didn't speak, but just stayed with him all the time.

It was also this time last year, and it has been eight years in a blink of an eye that this road has been walked, and this chapter has to be walked every year. There are thousands of customs and customs in this world, but only today is the relationship between him and Ah Run. festival.

Finally the steady sedan chair stopped, Ah Run got off the sedan chair first, and then half-bent his back to Gu Zhao.Gu Zhao put his hat up and down, looking at the stairs up the mountain in Fayuan Temple, he couldn't help but like it, but also felt distressed, so he dissuaded him: "Hey, old arms and legs, don't get out of your way, start this year Ask someone else to carry me, it won't hurt anything."

Ah Run lowered his head and smiled, "You talk so much nonsense, come up quickly."

Gu Zhao had no choice but to lean out and lean on Ah Run's back.

On this journey, Ah Run was just like in the past few years. He walked at a leisurely pace. After walking for a while, his sweat started to linger. Gu Zhao took out a handkerchief from his sleeve to help him wipe it off. When climbing the mountain, he lay on Ah Run's back and chattered.

"Go your way, and don't answer me, I'm just nagging myself, just listen to me."

"Ok!"

"Next year, Yuanxiu will be back. I mean, according to Jinshan's practice, the master of Jinshan is going to be the prince's teacher. I'm afraid that by then everyone will know a thing or two, but I don't want to take care of your affairs, but Yuanxiu has been wandering for many years, and the child will be stable for a few days when he comes back, if you don't want to call, Yuan Xiang, Yuan Rui, let's follow, that old man, Lao Jin, naturally knows what to teach and what not to teach."

Ah Run didn't speak, just walked.

Gu Zhao continued: "I know you feel uncomfortable. If others say this, you must be angry, but the old queen forced you to make a poisonous oath, not allowing you to kill them. Since you promised, keep the letter, next year My nanny is going back to the south, and the Southland Navy still needs to start a charter early, it's time to do it."

"kindness."

"Arun, don't feel uncomfortable. The world is big. If you don't want to see me, I will make arrangements for you when you grow old with me. The sea is huge. Find an island at will and ask them to be island owners." , there are also tribes in that place, and they also have fiefdoms, so it can be regarded as fulfilling your oath, and we will have the face to see your mother when we go down in the future."

"... Ah Zhao, Master Huiyi said, I went to Buddhism, these few years..." Ah Run stopped, bumped Gu Zhao on his shoulder, and continued walking, saying, "I'm afraid I won't see you again." Eldest brother, father, and mother, will you go with me that way?"

Having said that, Ah Run stopped and waited quietly for an answer.

Gu Zhao smiled and said, "You ask me even when you know the answer. What's different for me is naturally where you are and where I am. It's preordained in the previous life, and I'm not going to let you go in the next life."

Satisfied, Ah Run continued to walk up the mountain, but the pace in this chapter was much lighter.

The two walked and chatted, and finally came to the top of the mountain. They first went to the small courtyard they knew. Ah Run rested for a while, and then went to the cliff edge of the back mountain with Gu Zhao on his back.

This year, the plum blossoms bloomed there again, and now it is the Royal Garden, but only Gu Zhao and A Run can see that gorgeous color, but over the years, A Run and Gu Zhao have never stayed there. They all sat on the big rock here, looked at the other side, and recalled every detail of their lives.

The cold wind was blowing, but the two of them didn't feel cold, they just held hands together, and looked up at the scenery over there.

"Arun, give me the mountain opposite." Gu Zhao said suddenly.

Ah Run took out a wine gourd from his bosom, and in the gourd was his own brewed plum wine. This year, Gu Zhao had a foot disease and was forbidden to drink, so he didn't have to drink it.

"What do you want to do there? It's so small. I'll give you Pingzhou. In a few years, you can adopt another heir of the clan, so that there will be an offering for generations to come."

Gu Zhao chuckled lightly. How could he know where he would go when the lights went out, but at the moment he was lingering, he just nodded and said: "I have my place, after staying for decades, you gave the world to Yuan Xiu , just follow me, the two of us will have a look around! You promised!"

Ah Run was stunned for a moment, then nodded with a smile: "Okay, let's go with you."

This night, Ah Run drank a lot of plum blossom wine on an empty stomach. After returning home, he used the wine to pretend to be crazy. back.

When he got up the next day, Ah Run saw that he was in trouble, so he inevitably got up early, and with the vulgar reason of state affairs, he slipped away early.

It's just pitiful, after Gu Zhao got up, his body was full of aches and pains, as if he was carrying Ah Run up the mountain yesterday.

Taking two tea bags, Gu Zhao rubbed on his eyes for an hour before he was able to hold on to see people. Fortunately, he has foot problems, so someone carried him back and forth.

Early this morning, the Bai family in Xiuguoli, in the city, went to the red light early and hung up the happy couplet.At three o'clock in the morning, a few neatly dressed servants came out of the Bai family carrying baskets and followed behind an old woman. The old woman was dressed in a rich and dignified way today, knocking on the door of the neighbor with a smile all the way, and only said that the lady in the house We got married today, so we distributed wedding cakes.

Two packages of horse manure paper wrapped in Yixiangyuan's top-quality snacks in the city, and a cloth package of southern coconut jelly, were sent to the neighbors in a dignified way.According to the rules, the wedding cakes were originally distributed on the day when the bridegroom's family took the dowry, but now they are distributed only after they get married. The neighbors were puzzled, but they congratulated sincerely.The Bai family girl, her father and mother passed away one after another, and it is not easy to keep filial piety to this day. With that person, she can't laugh at her, otherwise she is really black-hearted.

The neighbors hurriedly searched for some congratulatory gifts at home. There was not a single wealthy family in this country, so they just gave away a few feet, and if they were good, they gave a few hundred dollars for congratulatory gifts.They arrived at Bai's house with their things in their hands, but they didn't want to. An old man standing at the door who claimed to be housekeeper Cai said, the master ordered, and the neighbors have favored them all these years. They dare not accept gifts anyway, because the elders in the family I'm not here anymore, so I won't show up at this table, and I hope the neighbors will be considerate.

A few hundred dollars is still a lot of money. Most of the neighbors knew that there was no need for He Yi, so they were naturally willing, so they collected their things and stood at the gate of Bai's house to watch the fun.

At three o'clock, the most respectable matchmaker in Shangjing came to the gate of Bai's house in a sedan chair. When the matchmaker got out of the sedan chair, the neighbors felt extraordinary, because the matchmaker was wearing a purple satin back and a small golden crown. Someone put up a parasol to cover her head.There is also a golden mandarin duck-shaped dental plaque on the waist.

It's amazing, this is a matchmaker, a high-ranking official matchmaker.Could it be that the girl from the Bai family married that old official to fill in the house? Hey, it's pitiful. She started as a stepmother.That's what I said, but it's amazing. It's a great fortune. I will call the girl of the Bai family grandma in the future.

Naturally the neighbors were discussing a lot, and they were talking lively, when the maid gave an order, there was a little servant in a wedding dress behind, holding a phoenix crown and a xiapei, and got off the cart respectfully with four plates in their hands.

The first plate is a golden peony crown with twelve emerald feathers, the second plate is a red agate bead hoop, the third plate is a round-neck Fuhai Xiangyun robe, and the fourth plate is a tasseled coat with eight treasures. jade belt.This is a very serious and pleasant Xiapei.

Not long after the matchmaker entered the door, a well-dressed band began to play at the door, and the atmosphere of the newlyweds was heightened for a while.Not long after, a few slaves came out of the house, holding dried fruits, and a bunch of lucky money worth [-] cents was sprinkled at the door.On weekdays, if there are wedding money, they all go in threes, sixes, and nineteens. This string of nineteen coins is very ostentatious.

Immediately, the alley here became lively, and the children rushed forward, scrambling to pick them up all over the place.

In the twinkling of an eye, the time has come, and the corner of the street is even more lively. The groom, Guaner, rode a strong jujube horse, and came to the gate of Bai's house, surrounded by several good-looking and noble brothers.

Oh, I really can't think of it, the groom is only about twenty years old, with long red lips and white teeth, delicate and handsome.But I saw him wearing Wusha on his head, with two golden flowers on the left and right sides of the gauze hat, wearing a red five-rank auspicious suit with a round collar, a five-rank jade belt on his belt, and two small pendants worth hundreds of pendants hanging from his belt.Just like that, just this ostentation, this is the first place in Jianguoli.

Fu Ji got off his horse, saluted his neighbors on his left and right, and then went straight into the courtyard of the Bai family.Baixu's family had no relatives and reasons for a long time, and now no one came to stop him.In this way, these people walked unimpeded all the way, and they walked very comfortably, which made Gu Maochang behind him really jealous. If he got married and went to war, the old queen's family would be in every possible way, and he lost half of his life!Hey, it's really different.

In a blink of an eye, the auspicious time has come, and the bride's dowry will go out first, not to mention how envious the neighbors are, there is such a wealthy family hidden in this alley, if I knew it earlier, I would have done it, why wait until today , I just don't know but it's cheap for this one.Look at this dowry, the fourth grade can also be married!Who is this?It's a good life, look at this is marrying a golden girl and returning home, not to mention the set of gold and silver, but the ten sets of silk and satin that I'm afraid I won't be able to wear them all in this lifetime.

Bai Xu was wearing a phoenix crown and Xiapei. She wanted to cry but didn't dare to cry. She bid farewell to her parents, and suddenly felt a hundred kinds of feelings in her heart. She couldn't cry, her tears had dried up long ago, so she only whined a few times when she went out. , and then being carried into the bridal sedan chair, she only listened to the lively fluttering in her ears all the way, but she felt at a loss for the way ahead and felt uneasy.

I don't know how long it took, and finally arrived at the door of the man's house.Someone went out holding a mirror and walked backwards in front of her. She followed the mirror into the yard according to the rules, and suddenly someone whispered in her ear: "Miss, don't be afraid, just follow me." Then, someone Stuffing a piece of red silk into Bai Xu's hand, at that moment, Bai Xu was safe, and was pulled forward step by step.

"Father, Ah Mu, my daughter knows how to go...go forward, follow him..."