dressed as a scholar

Qiao Hezhi's uncle's house was only a quarter of an hour away from Qiao's house. Fang Yu thought that since it was not far away, he might as well go there by himself instead of asking his uncle to go there. If he could do it, he would save his uncle and go back to the workshop.

He followed his servants to his uncle Lin's house. In fact, the Lin family was originally a registered household. Although it was not a wealthy family, they had skills and lived a good life from their ancestors. Later, Lin Yanbi married into Qiao. Home, life will be richer, but lost their employment status and entered the business.

And the Qiao family has been in business for generations. In the early years when the status of merchants was not so low, the Qiao family was also one of the best big families in Yuncheng. At the beginning, Qiao Hezhi's father was also a scholar. The emperor called for suppression of merchants, merchants and their children all over the world were not allowed to take scientific examinations, and those with meritorious reputations who had not changed their official status would all be dismissed.

Before Qiao Xinnian had time to change his official status, he was dismissed from his rank, and since then he can only do business.

Thinking about the past, Fang Yu guessed that when Qiao Xinnian chose the Central Plains master as his son-in-law, on the one hand, it was due to the situation in the world, and on the other hand, he might also be obsessed with the hearts of scholars.

Fang Yu asked the servants of the Qiao family to lead them to the workshop. The Lin family is quite different from the Qiao family, not because of the size of the house, but because of the furnishings. The Lin family has wood everywhere. He glanced at it hastily. There are all kinds of wood, not only that, there is also a blacksmith workshop in the house, which is really a craftsman.

"Hezhi is really good at messing around. His husband is a scholar who knows how to draw drawings, and it may not be of any benefit to him to be obedient. Don't delay my work."

He had just arrived outside Lin Xuan's workshop, when he heard the people inside impatiently reprimanding the servants who went to report, and the servant of Qiao's family who followed behind gave him an embarrassed look: "Young master, don't be offended, Mr. Lin Not very good-tempered, especially when doing work."

"It's okay, I'm the one interrupting you abruptly, you might as well wait outside until uncle is done with his work."

As soon as the words fell, Fang Yu heard a voice coming from the room again: "Since everyone is here, let's come in."

The door of the workshop opened with a creak, and there stood a young man inside, who looked no more than 26, tied with a yellow leather skirt, who seemed to have just finished sawing wood, the saw was still in his hand, with one hand on his waist , raised his eyelids and glanced at Fang Yu, but he didn't mean to say hello.

"Fang Yu met uncle."

"I don't like to see you scholars show some vain courtesy." Lin Xuan slapped the saw on the table with wooden faces beside him, showing no good expression: "What kind of blueprint, show it."

Fang Yu was not annoyed, he took out the folded blueprint from his sleeve, and was about to open it and pass it to Lin Xuan, but unexpectedly, the man pulled it out and shook it away: "What are you doing so awkwardly?" .”

Lin Xuan looked at the drawings for a while, then raised his eyes to look at Fang Yu: "You drew this?"

"Exactly."

"The drawing still has some appearance, but it was drawn with charcoal sticks?"

"Uncle's eyes are like torches."

Lin Xuan made a lot of iron and wood utensils, big and small, and delicate ones. People would come to the door with drawings from time to time, and there were all kinds of weird things. Sometimes some of them were things he had never seen before. People talk about the purpose, but they can't explain it in a vague way. It's not without reason that he has a bad temper.

He has never done or seen the things on Fang Yu's drawings. He was about to ask what he wanted to do, but he saw that another piece of paper had neatly written the introduction, name, purpose, and what materials he wanted to make. , and especially marked the important and difficult points, he couldn't help giving Fang Yu a high look, and for the first time felt that scholars were more clear-headed.

His tone softened a lot: "The special money you want is really exquisite, so I'll give it a try first, and if it works, I'll send it to you in a few days."

"So thank you uncle."

After Lin Xuan took the blueprints, he no longer cared about Fang Yu, and took care of choosing materials by himself, just like a craftsman idiot.

Fang Yu walked around the workshop on his own for a while. There was really everything here, including agricultural tools, household tables, chairs and benches, and wood carvings of insects, birds, fish, and animals that children love. The workshop was very messy, he stepped on a stone carelessly and almost fell, when he lowered his head, it turned out to be a piece of graphite.

"Don't step on it. It's for paint. There are two good paints in the workshop. If you need it, take it. Tell He Zhi for me at night, and I won't go to eat." Lin Xuan was rare Taking a moment to glance at Fang Yu, he waved his hand to signal the servants to get the paint: "Your drawings are detailed, so I should call you for nothing."

Fang Yu saw that he was eager to try to make a brush, and said: "Uncle, there is no need to rush to do it, and I am not in a hurry to use it. If I delay going to have dinner because of making a brush, He Zhi will probably blame me."

Lin Xuan said ruthlessly: "No, he knows my temper. Someday I miss him and I will go to see him."

In this way, Fang Yu had nothing to say, and he wandered around the workshop before going back to Qiao's house.

At this time, Qiao's family also became lively. Qiao Xinnian heard that his son was going home, so he hurried back and finally saw his son.

Qiao Xinnian also came back with Qiao Hezhi's eldest daughter, Qiao Hezhi's cousin, who had just entered the house when her voice yelled into the house.

"Hezhi is back! I really miss my sister."

When Qiao Hezhi heard that the elder sister of the second uncle's family had arrived, he looked at his father resentfully, and Qiao's mother said: "You knew that Hezhi and Nanjia had never dealt with each other since they were young, but you still brought her here."

Qiao Xinnian complained endlessly: "Nanjia married in Dongsheng City, and came to visit when she heard that I was discussing business in the past. Just at this time, she received a letter from you. When the girl heard that Hezhi came back, she said she would come to see her." He Zhi, how can I stop it."

Seeing that his parents were about to quarrel, Qiao Hezhi hurriedly said: "The visitor is a guest. I was just ignorant and quarreled with my cousin when I was a child. Now that we are both married, we will definitely not be the same as when we were children."

Just now the other end quieted down, only to see a woman dressed in fox fur and decorated with gold hairpins walking in with a smile.

"Cousin Nanjia."

"Ouch, He Zhi, it's been a long time since I saw you!"

"Since you got married, this is the first time I see you. This time my sister came here and brought you a lot of gifts, all of which you have never used before, silk glass... just take care of your eyes." Holding Qiao Hezhi's hand, she was full of warmth and energy: "Hey, I see that Hezhi seems to have lost a lot of weight, but life at her husband's house is not going well, now when I come home, just talk to my sister."

"I'm fine, but it's cold in winter and I don't have a good appetite, so I don't seem to be in good spirits." Qiao Hezhi was a little embarrassed, and asked instead: "Is my cousin okay?"

"How can it be bad? The magistrate loves me so much that he will bring me to drink today, and to entertain guests tomorrow. See, my food is even more mellow."

Qiao Hezhi smiled: "It's obvious to all that the magistrate treats my sister well."

Qiao Nanjia felt at ease.

"By the way, the uncle of Hezhi's family hasn't come yet? The last time he came back to the door, he said that he never came back with Hezhi when he returned home. It’s too much to ignore you.”

Qiao Hezhi knew that Nanjia would not come back to see him so kindly, first she showed off her good life, and now she made fun of her last visit, it was quite leisurely.

Fortunately, she married the county magistrate of Dongsheng City as a concubine. If she had been the main wife, she would not have trampled on the entire Qiao family.

"It's so lively." When Fang Yu came back, he saw two more people, and he recognized Qiao Xinnian by his facial features, and respectfully called out to his father-in-law.

"Are you back?" Qiao Hezhi heard the clear male voice, and hurriedly escaped from his cousin's fascination array and greeted him with a smile. He stretched out his hand to hold Fang Yu's hand: "Uncle, can you say that you can do it?"

Fang Yu didn't know why he became so affectionate to him when he went out, so he shook his hand back: "I accepted the blueprint, and said to do it first, and my uncle also sent two good paints."

"Okay, my son-in-law is going to have tea in the warming room." Seeing this, Qiao Xinnian smiled. Everyone was satisfied to see the young couple happy, but only Qiao Nanjia had a bad face.

She smoothed things over: "Uncle lied to me so badly that He Zhi's husband-in-law came here without notifying him in advance. Look at me making a joke here."

"I didn't know that my son-in-law was coming until I came back."

"Who is this?" Fang Yu had never met Lin Nanjia before, and was a little surprised to see one more person.

"This is Nanjia, the cousin of the second uncle's family, who is younger than the lord." Qiao Hezhi introduced.

Fang Yu greeted each other and met each other.

"Okay, let's go to the warming room for tea and dinner, the meal is ready."

Finally, it was the highlight of the meal, Fang Yu unceremoniously dragged Qiao Hezhi into the warming room, Qiao Nanjia still wanted to babble but didn't have to say a few words, seeing the couple anxious as if they hadn't eaten yet, I had no choice but to lift the hem of my clothes and follow into the house.

Today, Qiao’s family has launched a big battle, and they are making a popular winter festival in the winter city, which is also called rabbit meat hot pot in later generations. The soup made from rabbit bones is added to the big pot, and it is already bubbling nowadays. up.

Fang Yu couldn't help but said: "The waves clear the river and the snow, and the wind turns over the sunset." ①When Lin Hong wrote a poem and chanted, the name of this elegant dish of rabbit meat hot pot was spread among the people, and he can still eat a mouthful of it today. The dial Xia offered.

Mother Qiao laughed and said, "The rabbit is a wild winter rabbit that was hunted down from the mountain by the hunter today. Try it quickly."

Fang Yu moved the chopsticks and put the thin slices of rabbit meat into the hot pot to rinse. The rabbit meat was cooked quickly, and then put it in the sauce to dip it in. It tasted delicious and strong. He rinsed it in one breath Three times, he praised Qiao's mother's cooking skills without hesitation.

Qiao's mother was overjoyed by the praise, and introduced the ham brought in from Jinhua, and the roasted deer tendon in the purse...Fang Yu was overwhelmed.

This mother-in-law is eager to let him taste all the dishes, and the father-in-law is not to be outdone. He has a cup of Qionghua juice on the left and a cup of Suihantang on the right. rise.

The Qiao family is in the tea business as well as in the fermented wine business. Qiao Xinnian can be said to have been soaked in wine. Fang Yu thinks he has a bit of a drinker, but he is also a bit tricky in front of his father-in-law.

At six or seven minutes, Fang Yu said consciously: "Father-in-law has a lot of alcohol, but son-in-law really can't drink."

At first, Qiao Xinnian just poured a glass of wine for Fang Yu, but he didn't expect that the scholar could drink quite a bit, so he immediately made him happy. This wine lawsuit is not easy to dismiss: " Hey, how can a man say no easily. If you are really drunk, you can sleep here, and you don’t have to go to the academy tomorrow.”

Fang Yu twitched the corner of his mouth, and after drinking another cup, he wittily grabbed the life-saving straw beside him: "Does Hezhi want to eat shrimp? Today's shrimp is fat and huge, and the meat is sweet and sweet. May I peel some for you?"

Qiao Hezhi was a little flattered. Seeing that Fang Yu really picked up two shrimps and peeled them carefully on the plate, his face turned red: "One is enough."

Seeing this, Qiao's mother narrowed her eyes with a smile: "Hezhi in our family loves shrimp the most, my uncle is really careful."

Qiao's father wanted to pass the wine up again, but Qiao's mother stared back.

Qiao Nanjia saw the whole family enjoying themselves happily, and no one greeted her. She seemed like she was redundant. She secretly rolled her eyes, and what kind of drama was she doing, as if others didn't know the reality of your husband and wife. out of the ordinary.

After eating a few mouthfuls of vegetables, she said goodbye and left the table. After going out, she cursed at her personal servants and said, "Fang Yu came from a poor peasant family after all, as if he had never eaten good wine and food. Look at that appearance, it's really annoying." It's a joke, it's like a baby to have an uncle and aunt, isn't it just a student with a work status, and wait another half a year, and I will also be a soldier."

"But this time, I really brought some silk beads for nothing. I wanted to see Qiao Hezhi's pitiful appearance, but I told him to gain the upper hand. I was so mad. I will go back to Dongsheng City tomorrow morning."

Fang Yu came out of the heating room full of food and drink, and was still discussing today's dishes with Qiao Hezhi when he left the dinner table.

It was a pity that there was only one stomach in the sumptuous dinner, and Qiao Hezhi comforted him a bit, saying that he had to go back and make it for him to eat, so he felt at ease.

The two were planning to go back home, but Qiao's father and mother were reluctant to part with their son, and Qiao Hezhi was also quite attached to his parents. Fang Yu thought that it was rare to come back, and it was okay to stay overnight, so he asked the servant to bring a letter go back.

Just as he asked Xuezhu to go home to report the letter, Qiao Hezhi Shi Shiran came to him, wondering: "Mother let you stay in the same room with me, so I won't arrange a wing room."

"It's okay, let's just listen to the mother-in-law's arrangement." You will spend the night on the soft couch, and the condition of Qiao's family is so good, the soft couch must be more comfortable than theirs, so he readily agreed: " Walk around to digest food and then go back to the house."

Qiao Hezhi looked at Fang Yu very gratefully: "My parents are happy today. When I go back, apart from today's dishes, I will also cook cherry meat for the master."

Fang Yu said: "My parents are happy, so are you happy?"

"Me?" Qiao Hezhi frowned, and smiled very gently: "My parents are happy, and I am also happy."

Fang Yu rubbed his head: "It's so stupid."

The two of them walked side by side through the promenade of the house. From the side door in the southeast corner, there is a large lake. The weeping willows are already sluggish in winter, but under the light of the long rows of lanterns, the grand scene of spring can be vaguely seen. If it is summer Walking here at dusk must be very cool and comfortable, and the wind on the lake in winter is a bit cold.

The lake was very wide, and the two of them walked back for less than a half hour before they couldn't bear the cold and ran back. For the first time, Fang Yu entered the room where Qiao Hezhi lived since he was a child. The room was bigger than the main house of Fang's family.

The servants were afraid that the two of them would catch a cold when they went out, so they brought hot water in early to wash and let the two of them rest earlier.

The two of them finished washing as they said, and after the servants left, Fang Yu began to look for his slum in the house, but there was no sign of slump inside and outside the house, let alone a slump, and the room was even wider than a piece of it. There are no benches.

Qiao Hezhi was also surprised: "I have a soft couch in my room. I used to put it by the window. In summer, when there is thunder occasionally, Si Yu sleeps over there to accompany me."

"I'm going to ask someone to come in and ask..."

"Hey!" Fang Yu wanted to call to stop him, but the young master anxiously called his servants to inquire.

"Madam said she wanted to change the young master to a sandalwood couch, but that one was old, so she carried it away first."

"I haven't lived at home yet, so what would I do with it?"

The female envoy was unable to answer the question, but Fang Yu had already seen the clue. Jiang was still old and spicy. It seemed that his father-in-law and mother-in-law were from experience.

"You go down first." Fang Yu waved the servant girl back for Qiao Hezhi: "Look if there are still quilts, it doesn't matter if you make a bed on the floor."

Qiao Hezhi hurriedly went to look through the cabinet, but there was no quilt except for a pile of old clothes, so he froze in front of the cabinet door.

Fang Yu coughed dryly: "It seems that the mother-in-law of the cabinet also wants to change to a better one."

Qiao Hezhi bit his lip, a little afraid to look into Fang Yu's eyes, feeling very guilty in his heart, Fang Yu reassured his parents in order to be considerate, but in the end he made it difficult for him: "I'll let the servants arrange the wing room, just Said that the Lord is not used to sleeping on my side."

If that's the case, it's too late, Fang Yu pulls him back: "Forget it, let's stay together."