The husband's son-in-law

After two days of warm-up, the 15 Lantern Festival will be held, and the city of Zhaozhou will be full of excitement.There are also country gentry from long distances who spent money to rent small courtyards or inns, and brought their families all the way to Zhaozhou City to watch the excitement.

The Lantern Festival is when the lanterns are hung up as soon as it gets dark in the evening, and several main streets in the city are brightly lit.The road is a cement road, smooth and flat. There are boards on the sewers on both sides, and potted plants are placed on the other side of the road. They are all common and easy-to-raise green plants in Zhaozhou.

Normally, the country squires would not be enough to look at them, but this time the two roads are all like this, not to mention really beautiful, and it is accompanied by bright lanterns.On the streets, the city people, regardless of gender, old or young, all went out wearing new clothes and carrying lanterns.

Not to mention anything else, the squire first said: "Are you rich? Are you living a good life?" He came to Zhaozhou seven or eight years ago, and when he went back, he said, what's so good about Zhaozhou , is no better than their prefectures and counties. Everyone has straw sandals under their feet and their clothes are patched.

But things have changed a lot now.

"Grandpa, you already talked about what happened seven or eight years ago. Didn't you miss Mr. Gu before?" The favored grandson dared to say this to the old man.

The squire was very happy and praised his grandson for being right.

It’s lively and interesting, including guessing riddles, sugar figurines, rings, and shopping. After inquiring about it, local people in Zhaozhou said, “You guys are doing well. Today is the main festival. There will also be parades of floats, dancers, and jugglers.”

That's great.

There is a medical clinic in the back alley of Baishan Street. It was opened by a customer from a long way. I heard that it was invited by Mr. Gu. The plaque hung on the plaque is also Ping An Zheng’s family doctor. At first, the big guy thought the doctor’s surname was Zheng, but after inquiring about it The surname is Wang.

Why is the surname Wang hanging such a plaque?

After asking, I found out that this is the surname of Dr. Oda's master who learned medical skills.At this time, Caiyun held a quilted waistcoat in his hand, and said, "Father, it's cold and windy outside, you'd better put it on, don't freeze."

"I said you and Xiaotian take An'an, and I'll just stay home and watch the old lady." Wang Xue said.

Caiyun said: "Our family spent the first year in Zhaozhou. I heard that Master Gu organized the Lantern Festival. Father, let's go. There is nothing to see at home."

"Let's go, grandpa, An An wants grandpa to lead me." Pingan also said coquettishly.

Wang Xue knew that this was the filial piety of the children, so she didn't mention the matter of not going. He took his daughter-in-law's waistcoat and put it on. He took An An by the hand and said to his son: "You help your grandma, don't fall .”

"Understood, Dad." Xiaotian went to help the old lady.

Before the whole family left the alley, they heard lively noises. Caiyun grew up in the town, and her family was well-to-do, but not rich. Except for marrying and running around with her husband, she had never traveled far before, let alone look like this. lively.

"It's so lively."

"Daddy and daddy have rabbit lanterns, Brother Fubao likes them, and An An bought them for Brother Fubao." Ping An was thinking of Brother Fubao.

Caiyun felt that the young master of Mrs. Gu's family was not from her family's An'an. She was kind enough to save them from kneeling and prostrating, but she couldn't be really blind and talk to her.

During the Chinese New Year this year, the Li Mansion also gave a lot of new year presents, ten catties of pork, half a sheep, a chicken, and two fish, which should be returned in return, but their family really can't afford to pay back the heavy gifts—look, the same family Even if you are a 'relative', you can't show favors.

Her husband also said that Brother Zhou Zhou didn't care about these things.

They don't care if they are rich or valuable, but they have to give a gift in return.Caiyun couldn't hold it anymore, so she listened to her father and made a box of sticky bean buns, and sent a cloth tiger to her.The cloth tiger was given to Master Fubao.

Just say that at this meeting, Caiyun wants to coax Ping An, don't go to Li Mansion to bother her, it's fine, so what kind of walk is it?

"Brother Fubao has a lantern, and An An wants to buy one for An An."

Oda knew what his wife was thinking, and he was not a wink, even when he just arrived in Zhaozhou, he was very close to Uncle Li and Brother Zhou Zhou, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, and he would also say: "When you are a few years older, send me Studying in school, you can see brother Fubao all day long."

Pingan knew that brother Fubao was studying, and he missed brother Fubao when he went home, so his mother said that brother Fubao was away studying and was not at home.

"Okay." Ping An will be unhappy if he is wronged.He wants to play with brother Fubao.

Wang Xue stroked her grandson's hair, her eyes were filled with kindness, and she coaxed, "When spring gets warmer, let your father and mother take you to the poorhouse to play with your little brother."

"That's a newborn child. If you want to see it, it should be quiet and not noisy," Xiaotian said.

Ping'an pursed her lips, "An'an doesn't make trouble, An'an is the most obedient."

"Yes, our An'an is the most obedient and obedient." Wang Xue protected her grandson.

The family chatted and laughed on the street. Xiao Pingan forgot to play with Brother Fu Bao when he saw the excitement. He ate this and bought that, and his wife, Wang Ergou, who was with them, walked silently. follow along.

Wang Xue was not bad to her, there was no shortage of food, drink and clothes, but she couldn't talk well, and when her husband left, she had no one to talk to her, and she was alone, who might be to blame.

No one was mean to her, and said she was a happy old lady.

Just after Xushi at night, the parade of floats started from the east end of Baishan Street. From the perspective of modern Gu Zhao, the parade of floats is also very beautiful. The floats are pulled by ox carts. It walked slowly but steadily, and the boards were also custom-made, decorated with fresh flowers and silk, and there was a petite and slender young woman dancing in a skirt on it.

On the left and right sides are those holding lutes, playing flutes, playing drums, as well as dancing girl troupes and jugglers, forming a mighty team.

Gu Zhao hugged Li Zhaoxi and his son to watch the fun.

"Are you wearing summer clothes? Don't turn around and catch a cold." Gu Zhao muttered.

Li Zhaoxi nodded, just like his father, "Sister who is dancing must be very cold in such little clothes."

The lead dancer really danced well, her limbs were soft and slender, very soft and beautiful, she was wearing a summer dress made of streamer silk, for the sake of viewing, the sleeves were made of water, the waist was designed, the waist was slightly straight and closed, but the knees were like The wide skirt with layers of horns, turning around like this, outlines a graceful figure, and the bottom is like a lotus flower blooming one by one.

"You can't learn it. If you wear so little, you will have a runny nose." Gu Zhao said.

Li Zhaoxi nodded solemnly, "It's too cold."

Li Zhouzhou who watched the dance together: ...turned to look at the father and son.

"What's the matter Zhou Zhou?" Gu Zhao saw that the emotions on Zhou Zhou's face were slightly complicated, and then he looked at the dancer, and immediately understood that Zhou Zhou was in a bad mood, so he immediately looked back and said righteously: "I am sorry No matter how beautiful the girls and brothers in the world are, except for Li Zhouzhou, I will never be tempted or dream about anything!"

Li Zhouzhou: "...let's watch the dance well." He looked away.Originally, he just wanted the father and son to watch the dance well, don't be so cold and cold, and he was so confused when he watched the dancer dance that he was full of people wearing so little clothes.

"Hey hey hey, I still don't want to watch it, I'll just watch you." Gu Zhao felt that he had guessed right, that he was an old married couple, and Zhou Zhou of his family still loved him so much that he would be jealous even if there was no shadow. cute.

Li Zhouzhou couldn't help laughing, why is Xianggong still so cute.

I couldn't stand watching the dance anymore, and then the family took a stroll and looked around.And the people of Zhaozhou City have never seen such a lively scene, especially the dancers on the floats dancing, watching the lively girls, they are not envious, just looking at the new-style skirt made of flowing silk, they are reluctant to blink their eyes .

"This dress is so pretty."

"The blossoming flowers at the bottom."

"It seems that the waist is thinner."

"This color is also good, and I don't feel ugly after wearing all three colors."

"I want to do this too."

"How do you live in this? The sleeves are so long."

Another girl said: "Sleeves should be shortened, and the opening should be wider. It should not be in the way, and you can still work."

"The cuffs are so big, you can't show half of your arm? What kind of talk is that?"

But the girl didn't listen to it at the moment, she looked at the dancing girls with all her eyes, thinking about what she would look like in the improved skirt.It doesn't matter if half of the forearm is exposed, isn't it necessary to roll up the sleeves and show the wrists when doing laundry and cooking at home? Her sleeves are too big, so she doesn't move around outside, so she must be covering up.

As for the literati who have not returned home, looking at the hustle and bustle in the city, and the women on the floats, they can't help pondering and exporting poems...

At [-]:[-], the float came to the center of the city, and the fireworks exploded in all directions, exploding the sky with brilliance. With the light of the fireworks and the lights in the city, the smiling faces of the people of Zhaozhou were reflected.

Sweep away the staleness and staleness, and everything is thriving and developing for the better.

The year is over.

The factories in Zhaozhou started working when they were supposed to, planting, picking, transporting, making hemp thread and silk thread, the spinning of the textile machine, the rattling of the loom, and the workers in the factory were still talking about the Lantern Festival. During the three-day lantern festival, there were also chats about visiting relatives and friends during the Chinese New Year.

Brother Lin has been a little busy recently, he has to go to Chen's house to discuss the pattern with the master sculptors, and he has to go back to the textile factory - he has figured out a new pattern.

And this year, the color of the streamer silk is also a kind of water blue.

As soon as the sky cleared, Li Zhouzhou took Fubao to the relief home to see his little brother. Fubao knew he was going to see his little brother, so he found his toys. Later, he heard from his father that his little brother was too young to play with. , Fu Bao went to find the cloth doll again.

Li Zhou saw on Monday that there was another one made by him. He lived in Beijing at that time, and he had a lot of free time, so he made many tiger cloth cubs and rabbits. Later, my husband drew some fruit patterns, and he also made them.

What Fu Bao is holding in his hand now is a cactus made of green cloth - that's what Xianggong called it.

This Fu Bao is very playful. Before going to bed, he had to hold it while sleeping. Now he took the initiative to give it to the little brother, which shows that he likes the little brother who has never been masked.

Li Zhouzhou thought that he had a lot of free time in Beijing, and he was with Fubao all day long, doing this and that for Fubao, and now he looked at them as old cloth dolls, with an extra tiger head, which was given by Oda's wife this year , I couldn’t help but blame myself a little, and said: "I gave this to my little brother, and I will make you a new one when I come back."

"!" Fu Bao's eyes lit up, wrapped his arms around Father's arm, and said, "Daddy, I don't want it when I grow up, can you make one for Wang Wang? Wang Wang has been secretly biting my tiger's head recently."

Li Zhouyi agreed, "Sure, Daddy will make a big one for Wang Wang, let him grind his teeth and play with it."

The father and son went by car, talking all the way, and soon arrived at the gate of the almshouse.The door was still open, and the inside was cleaned cleanly. Li Chun boiled goat milk and eggs for Lin Qiaoniang to drink, and said: "Don't come out, I didn't have a good confinement before, I heard from Erniang that I have to make up for it. "

"Sister Li Chun, I'm fine, I just sweep the floor."

"Let's put it there, drink this first, so that I can breastfeed my little brother." Li Chun didn't refute.

Lin Qiaoniang could only drink goat's milk and eggs first. She had never tasted such things when she was in the Lin family.As soon as Li Chun went out, he saw the boss and the young master coming, his eyes were bright, and he rushed to greet them.

"Fu Bao and I came to see the child."

"Aunt Chun." Fu Bao called happily. He hadn't seen Aunt Chun for a long time.

Li Chun also missed the young master, and his face was much gentler. He hurriedly greeted him and sat down. After a while, he brought another cup of goat's milk. Fu Bao didn't drink goat's milk for a long time, so he took the cup happily, "Thank you, Aunt Chun."

"You drink slowly." Li Zhouzhou told him, chatted with Li Chun, asked and answered, Li Chun still didn't like to gossip, his mouth was not broken, and he said what he wanted.

Everything is fine with Lin Qiaoniang, and so is my little brother.

Huaniang's daughter, Yuanyuan, also came to meet people, and she wanted to kneel, but was stopped by Li Zhouzhou, and said with a smile: "Your name is Yuanyuan? I have a little nephew named Yuanyuan, he is Yuanxiao's Yuan, You are a perfect circle, nice to hear."

He opened the snack box he brought and asked Yuanyuan to pick one to eat.

Yuanyuan didn't dare to reach out to take it, so Fubao, who licked his mouth after drinking the goat milk, took one for his sister, "You've been looking at this for a long time, this is for you," Fubao said.

"Thank you, young master." Yuanyuan's voice was soft and scary.

Fu Bao took another piece, "You call me elder brother, I'll give you another piece."

"Brother."

"Hey."

While talking, there was another movement outside the door. Erniang Chen came over, followed by Xiaotian's family, who said they met on the road.Now it was lively, Li Zhouzhou saw Uncle Wang also came, with a smile on his face, the adults chatted and the children went to play.

Xiaopingan was very happy to see brother Fubao.

Fubao is the head of the big kids here, not to mention how happy they are. The children are eating pastries, drinking goat milk, talking and playing with toys, talking childishly and every word.The grown-ups were talking about homework, but Lin Qiaoniang was really restrained, and when she saw his wife, she sat down properly and dared not speak.

"What do you think? When the weather gets warmer, let Li Chun take you to Heli, go through the formalities and post a notice. I was in the coconut factory before, but now I brought my little brother to Zhaozhou. Ji Ting's factory, Lu Yuan, must be I can't go back, if you are not afraid of gossip, you can get healthy and come to work in the silk and hemp factory." Li Zhouzhou said.

Lin Qiaoniang had tears in her eyes, and kowtowed to his wife quickly on the ground with a plop.

Li Zhouzhou hurriedly pulled it up and asked Li Chun to support him, "Don't be like this if you are still healthy, don't damage your legs with such a loud thump." He also said: "Others can only help you, You have to walk your own way in the future.”

Ask Li Chun to help him go to the house to rest and lie down.

Lin Qiaoniang is uncomfortable staying here, and she doesn't know how to flatter her, so it's better to go back and lie down at ease.

"Sister Li Chun, let me come." Caiyun took the initiative to help Lin Qiaoniang, she couldn't stand here and felt uncomfortable, so why not talk to Lin Qiaoniang to feel more at ease.

Li Chun let Caiyun go.

Li Zhouzhou could tell that there were not many people he could talk to now, and he couldn't help thinking that when he was in the village, he could chat with Uncle Wang when he bought tofu. Now Uncle Wang treated him with a little respect and was much more polite.

People are like this, as Xianggong said, other people are just passers-by, stage by stage.The husband and wife are the ones who stay with each other for a lifetime.

"If there is one, there are two. When Hua Niang first came here, she was very anxious and dull. After Qiao Niang came, she became more stable. It is not unusual to think that someone is like her." Chen Erniang said, also referring to her state of mind.

There is such a place that accommodates women with no reputation like them, and I feel much more at ease.

"Yes, this place is good." Wang Xue murmured.

Li Zhouzhou knew that Uncle Wang must be thinking about the past, but he just said to Er Niang: "When people who lack support gather together, isn't it that they have support and have a mother's family?"

"That's right, what you said is really good." Chen Erniang said.

She has her natal family to rely on, Huaniang Qiaoniang did not have it before, and now the orphanage is their support.At noon, I also ate in the relief home. It was a big pot of braised miscellaneous grain rice and stir-fried vegetables.

Li Chun didn't dare to give Yuanyuan more, fearing that he would get fever if he ate too much.

It was time to leave in the afternoon, but Xiao Pingan still reluctantly called Brother Fu Bao and asked when Brother Fu Bao would go to school.When Fu Bao mentioned going to school, his face fell down, and he said, "There are still five days."

"Then can I play with you?"

"Of course, come here, I'll take you to play with Wang Wang."

The two agreed.Later, when Xiao Ping An returned home, he was going to play with Brother Fu Bao the next day. It's the same as when Zhou was a child, he is a good boy, and he doesn't need any gifts."

"Is that bad?"

Wang Xuedao: "They are still young now. If they grow up in the future, if they are alienated, they will naturally alienate. Now Fubao doesn't think that our An'an family is low, so let's go play."

"Hey, Dad, I know." Caiyun felt at ease now.

In Loei.

Li Zhouzhou and Su Shiyi finished their business. The Liuguang silk produced in March and April and the first batch of early-ripening canned lychees all went by water. The early canned lychees were not much in quantity, and they were all supplied to Beijing, so the boat could be freed up. Put streamer silk.

He will not go to this batch, and will be handed over to Su Shiyi and Wang Jian, who did a good job last year.Li Zhouzhou thought that he would wait until the shipments in July and August came down, including coconuts, lychees, pineapples, yellow peaches, canned seafood, and other dry goods, before he went again, as well as colored glaze and jadeite for Liang's mansion.This is big stuff.

"...Send a batch of Liuguang silk now, and another batch will be released in June, so that they can be sold in summer."

Su Shiyi memorized it all.

"Go and ask brother Yu, if he wants to go back this time and is homesick, let him go with you." Li Zhouzhou said.

Su Shiyi was stunned for a moment, "What did the boss say about this?"

"The business is over, now I am your cousin, Uncle Yu." Li Zhouzhou said with a smile, meaning that Su Shiyi should not be nervous and talk about family life, "The business of the lo mei shop is stable, and Li Xia is now calm and experienced. It's fine to stay alone with Brother Yu and watch."

"Brother Yu has been out for four years, right?"

One and a half years in Beijing and two and a half years in Zhaozhou.

Su Shiyi nodded, "Yes."

"I remember he was the youngest, he came out at the age of 12, and he will be sixteen after the new year. He called me uncle, and I was considered his elder. I don't feel anxious about the marriage, and there is no need to make it so early. But Zhaozhou is far away from the village, so let him go back first and ask his parents what they think, should I show him a look, or go back to get engaged."

Su Shiyi's expression also relaxed, and he said: "My cousin is so childish and doesn't understand anything. I don't think it will be a problem to wait for three or four years."

"He doesn't understand, do you understand?" Li Zhouzhou asked back, looking at Su Shiyi, "Do you have any ideas? That's right, you are nineteen this year. Brother Yu is not in a hurry, you need to be in a hurry."

But Su Shiyi blushed with embarrassment, but he really wanted to start a family, blushed, and said in a muffled voice, "Brother, I want to make a family in Zhaozhou, and I don't want to go back to the village."

Li Zhouzhou's heart skipped a beat, and without showing any emotion on his face, he asked, "Then do you have someone who suits you?"

"No." Su Shiyi said bluntly, scratching his head in embarrassment, "I'm not the eldest, I should be a father, I want to marry a daughter-in-law, buy a small house, and have a few more children."

"I'll show you a look, what do you want? Family background, background, appearance?"

Su Shiyi: "What kind of family background can I be worthy of as a big old man in the village, as long as I am hard-working and virtuous, it would be best if I am more beautiful."

"..."

"Brother, what's the matter? Isn't it good to be beautiful? That's enough to be equal to everyone, and I'm not very picky."

Li Zhouzhou sighed in his heart, this foolish boy didn't get the hang of it, so he said, "I know, I'll take a look at you, if you're not in a hurry, I'll take your time, if you're in a hurry—"

"It's not in a hurry, brother, take your time." Su Shiyi said embarrassingly.

Li Zhouzhou: "It's done, you go and ask Brother Yu, and you two don't bring too much money when you go back, especially Brother Yu, don't take away all your family property in a foolish way. If you get married and buy a house, you can buy a house in Zhao It’s all an expense to settle down in the state.”

This time Su Shiyi understood, he was not stupid, and said: "Brother, I know this." If something happened, he would naturally contribute his efforts and money, as long as he lived a decent life on weekdays.

Don't reveal your wealth in the village.

The business of the Luzhu shop is good, following the way of the prefectures and counties back then, down-to-earth, small profits but quick turnover.Li Zhouzhou gave Su Jiayu and Li Xia two taels of silver a month, not to mention that Li Xia said no, but Li Zhouzhou insisted on writing it down, saying that in addition to the monthly salary, there will be bonuses and silver at the end of the year.

Ten taels of silver per person.

In this way, this year, there will be 34 taels of silver, food and lodging in the stewed shop, and work clothes. In addition to daily expenses such as buying soap, tooth powder, and small snacks, at least 33 or 32 taels of silver can be saved.

Both Su Jiayu and Li Xia are tight-lipped people, especially Li Xia, Li Zhouzhou didn't move when the money was issued, and sent it back to him, it was like a cow and a horse, saying that it was sold to Li's house, what money did they get? .It was Li Zhouzhou who gave the order and forced Li Xia to accept it.

After a little thought, he knew why Li Xia didn't want money - he had no desire.

A slave, and a husband who has given birth to a baby and died a man at an old age, I am afraid that he will not have any hope of having another child in this life, especially Li Xia does not want to start a family again, this person has no hope at all, he can only be busy alive.

Li Zhouzhou can't do anything about it.

Let's just say that Su Jiayu probably has more than 60 to 70 taels of silver in his hands now, and this money is enough to buy a small yard with two entrances in Zhaozhou City.

When Su Shiyi asked, Su Jiayu was really happy, could he really go back?

"If you come back, then you should explain your work during this time..." Su Shiyi made it clear to Brother Yu, don't bring too much money, "and how much money my cousin makes in business, don't disclose all of it."

"I know, I won't tell anyone."

Su Jiayu was homesick, and also wanted to go out with Su Jiaying in Beijing.When he sent Su Shiyi away and saw Uncle Li Xia's back when he came back, he was so happy that he must have heard what he said, so he couldn't help but leaned over and said, "Uncle, when I get home, I'll bring you something to eat." , my house is in the mountains, and I have pecans, dried dates, and chestnuts."

"Okay." Li Xia smiled, "It would be great if you could go home."

Su Jiayu was a little annoyed, Uncle had no family, he shouldn't have mentioned this, but he was stupid and didn't know what to say to persuade him.Unexpectedly, Li Xia said with a smile: "I didn't know if my family was alive or not in the past, but now the Li family is my patriarch, so I can be regarded as a well-established person."

Wherever Li's family is, there are his roots.

Only now did Su Jiayu know why it was a holiday, and he and uncle went shopping to buy soap and tooth powder. Uncle always liked to take a detour, walking from the alley behind Li Mansion, and sometimes staring at the back door in a daze.

Uncle misses Li Mansion, and sometimes Uncle would come to visit them, and Uncle would be happy, but he never said these things, nor showed it on his face, and was very calm, he never knew that Uncle thought this way before.

Later, at the beginning of April, when the first batch of goods in Zhaozhou was about to be delivered, Su Jiayu went back to Li Mansion when he was packing up and leaving, with a look of apprehension and hesitation on his face. But it doesn't look like it.

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong? Or something missing?"

Su Jiayu shook her head, and finished what Uncle Li Xia had said to him, "...I just feel sorry for Uncle."

Li Zhouzhou was also stunned when he heard this, he always thought that Li Xia was reliable and quiet in doing things, but he didn't expect that Li Xia would also read it, took Li's mansion as his home, and wanted to come back and have a look——

"I know, you should go back with Su Shiyi first, and be careful on the road."

Li Zhouzhou chatted with Mr. Xianggong later, and said: "For the New Year and the holidays, we still have to call everyone with the Li family name back, have a meal, give a red envelope, even if they don't eat and drink with us, let them get together, and we will get together. The poorhouse is average, you may not have known each other before, but now you are all relatives, and you have the confidence to rely on."

When Gu Zhao heard this, he naturally agreed.

Zhou Zhou's heart is kind, which is quite popular.

good thing.

"Speaking of which, if someone in the poorhouse loses a child in the future and Li Xia wants to adopt one, let him take one." Gu Zhao said.

If you don't have a child, you can adopt one, and it can also solve the pressure on the poorhouse.

Li Zhouzhou: Can it still be like this?

But it is also good.