[75] Zhao Yan falls into a dream

On the morning of the 25th of the first lunar month, Zhan Zhao was practicing swords in the courtyard, when the yamen servant came to report that someone was asking to see him outside.Zhan Zhao went out of the mansion to see, it turned out that the whole family of the second brother had come.Zhan Zhao hurriedly welcomed a few people into the door, and after seeing Mr. Bao, a group of people came to the Confucius courtyard where Zhan Zhao lived in the back hall.

"Xiong Fei, your sister-in-law and I were so happy to receive your letter! You didn't mention it when you came back from the Qingming Festival last year, and it was hidden deep enough!" Zhan Yao teased Zhan Zhao with a smile on his face.In the heart of the second elder brother Zhan Yao, the third younger brother is kind-hearted and kind-hearted, but he has always been very indifferent to men and women, and he and his wife are not too open.I didn't expect to receive a letter saying that they got married on February [-] during the Chinese New Year this year, which shocked the couple.But he didn't see anyone and couldn't ask in detail, so he could only send the wedding invitations to relatives and friends according to his wishes, and everyone who received the wedding invitations was surprised.

Zhan Zhao smiled and let a few people into the house, and arranged for the servants to tidy up the guest room.After they sat down, his niece Xiaoxia pestered him first to ask the new aunt if she was pretty and if she was good at martial arts, and her nephew Guodong also pestered him.Zhan Zhao laughed and said to the children: "Auntie is very beautiful, she doesn't know kung fu, but she is very smart. She will also cook a lot of food, and you will know when my aunt gets married later."

After sending nephews and nieces out to play, Zhan Zhao briefly introduced Mu Yan's family background and the whole story of acquaintance with her like a brother and sister-in-law.Zhanyao and his wife, who learned about the incident, also had a good impression of this unmarried sister-in-law.There is no other reason, just the gentle look on Zhan Zhao's face when he talked about Mu Yan, let them know that this girl is absolutely good.Let alone a capable girl who can run a family and make money.

Zhan Zhao took out the dowry list and showed it to his sister-in-law. Seeing such a generous dowry, Zhan Yao and his wife's dissatisfaction with Mu Yan's marriage with younger siblings disappeared completely.At ten o'clock in the noon, Zhan Zhao was about to treat his elder brother's family to dinner, but just as he was leaving the house, Xingchen rushed over. "Xingchen, why are you here alone?" Zhan Zhao asked him suspiciously.

"Brother Zhan, I came with Aunt Liu. The academy will start classes soon, and Aunt Liu sent me to study. She said to see if you are free, and take her to see the house. I'm in a hurry." Xing Chen said clearly like an adult.

Seeing that his brother and sister-in-law were puzzled, Zhan Zhao made an introduction.Xingchen learned that it was Zhan Zhao's brother and sister-in-law's family who rushed to pay respects, and later apologized, saying that he was ignorant, asking his in-laws to forgive him, and other humble words.Seeing Xing Chen being so sensible, Zhan Yao secretly nodded in his heart.

Knowing that his mother-in-law had also arrived, Zhan Yao naturally refused to neglect, so he hurriedly went to invite him with Zhan Zhao.Mrs. Liu couldn't refuse, so the family had a meal. Mrs. Liu advanced and retreated smoothly at the dinner table, and it was completely impossible to tell that she was a village woman.In addition, Xingchen was as sensible as an adult, which made Zhanyao and his wife full of curiosity about this sister-in-law who didn't come in.

After lunch, Zhan Zhao took everyone to the new house, which was completed ahead of schedule under the rush of work by craftsmen from the Ministry of Industry day and night.Zhan Zhao doesn't like luxury, so the overall style of the house is very simple.Ruyi door knockers are inlaid on the shiny black lacquered gate, and the word Zhan Zhai on the lintel is vigorous and powerful.

Push the door and enter a green brick road leading directly to the hall. There are several big trees in the courtyard on both sides. The early green of early spring blooms on the branches, bringing a little bit of spring to the small courtyard.The ground of the courtyard is paved with blue bricks, which is very easy to take care of.

In the main room, tables and chairs stand one by one.The sunlight outside the window dapples on the tables and chairs through the hollow windows.Passing through the main room, there are several lotus tanks on the bluestone floor in the courtyard, and the small fish in the tanks chase and play.Walking around a moon gate, a small garden comes into view. Because the flowering time is not here, I can see flowers and trees strewn across the courtyard.

The garden is distributed across three courtyards in the east, west, and north, and each courtyard has a main courtyard with two rooms and three rooms.A small courtyard is circled next to the north courtyard of the garden, and several bungalows are distributed in the courtyard.Passing through the garden is the original North Courtyard of Kaifeng Mansion. The original high wall was demolished to become the North Courtyard of the new house.The kitchen, the firewood room and the back door have not been touched, they have only been renovated.

Looking at this simple yet exquisite courtyard, both Mrs. Liu and Zhan Yao praised it.After listening to Zhan Zhao's introduction along the way, I learned that the courtyard originally only had the front hall, a large garden and this small courtyard. Later, because of the large number of people in the family, the garden was reduced and the East and West courtyards were built.Now the east courtyard of the new house is filled with Mu Yan's dowry, the north courtyard where Mu Yan originally lived is still the same, and the furniture in the west courtyard is temporarily empty before it is in place.

After seeing the house, Mrs. Liu expressed her extreme satisfaction.Afterwards, the two families discussed some small details, and it was not until the sun set that Liu Shi and Xingchen declined Zhan Zhao's offer to stay for a meal and returned to the inn.

Watching the two of them go away, Zhan Yao asked Zhan Zhao suspiciously: "This family doesn't look like it came from a small village? The third brother is not me, the second brother frame, right? Did you find a daughter from an aristocratic family? Are you afraid of me?" You're not used to your sister-in-law, so you made up a lie?"

Hearing the second brother's question, Zhan Zhao explained in a funny way: "It wasn't like this when we first met a few years ago. It's because of Mu Yan's experience in doing business in the past two years that it is what he is now. Looking at her, there have been some changes over the years, only she is still as good as the first acquaintance."

Zhan Yao couldn't help laughing at his brother's tenderness when he talked about his sister-in-law.When Zhan Zhao came back to his senses, his face flushed immediately when he saw his brother's profound eyes.However, Zhan Yao patted his younger brother on the shoulder to add fuel to the flames: "Hey! There's nothing to be ashamed of, I don't want my daughter-in-law to be ashamed. In a few days, the siblings will come in, and then you can do whatever you want." Zhan Zhao suddenly Embarrassed, I want to find a seam in the ground and drill down.

With my elder brother and sister-in-law around, it was only natural that my sister-in-law took care of the cleaning of the house.On the third day of their wedding, Mrs. Zhou brought Mu Yu and Hua'er to make room.After the house was tidied up, Douer volunteered to guard the house, and there was no way to replace it with anyone else. There were still a lot of things waiting to be done at home.

Because Renjia Village is far away from the capital city, the wedding ceremony ahead of time was afraid of delaying the auspicious time on the way.Mrs. Liu discussed with Zhan Zhao to welcome the bride directly in the capital, and Zhan Zhao borrowed a friend's house in the suburbs of Beijing, and Mu Yan and her family moved in a few days in advance to pack up and settle down.

On the early morning of the 31st of the first lunar month, Zhan Zhao and his party rushed to the suburbs of Beijing with a reminder ceremony.Brother Zhou waited at the door with Xingchen, and when they saw Zhan Zhao from a distance, they lit firecrackers and came to the door amidst the sound of congratulations from everyone.

The matchmaker sang a makeup reminder song, urging the girl to go to the makeup building.Mrs. Liu arranged for Mrs. Jing to work in the kitchen with a few aunts who are good at cooking.After the make-up ceremony was over, the big table was set up for the wedding reception, and even the patriarch came from Renjia Village to attend the wedding ceremony in person.

After eating and drinking, Zhan Zhao hurried back to the government office. Some friends from all corners of the country who received the wedding invitation or got the news all rushed over one after another, and Zhan Zhao was busy saying hello.Even Zhang Long and Zhao Hu were sent by Mr. Bao to help, and arranged the inn and restaurant according to the number of congratulatory guests.

At the dinner table that night, Zhan Zhao was poured alcohol by his friends in turn.It is said that drinking today will not delay the bridal chamber tomorrow.Zhan Zhao knew that he couldn't avoid it, so he accepted all comers without hesitation.When they were slightly tipsy, these people let Zhan Zhao go back to rest, and it was not good for the groom to be really drunk so that he would not be able to welcome the next day.

Early in the morning on the day of the wedding, just after Yinshi, Mu Yan was dragged out of the warm blanket by Mrs. Liu, and thrown into the bathtub sprinkled with fragrance powder and petals to wash up.Mu Yan watched helplessly as Hua'er and Chunhong were busy going around under Liu's command.

After taking a bath, before Mu Yan finished her breakfast to catch her breath, Sister-in-Law Zhou came in the morning light.Holding a red thread in his hand, he looked at himself with a smile.Mu Yan didn't know what she was going to do, so she could only close her eyes and let her toss about. After a while, there was a tingling pain on her face, Mu Yan subconsciously wanted to hide, and Zhou's sister-in-law hurriedly held her down and said that she was opening her face to tell her to be more honest. I had no choice but to endure it and let them go.

After opening her face, the invited grandma Quan Fu came to comb Mu Yan's hair.Listen to her chanting as she combs: once combed to the head, you don’t have to worry about being rich; ;Two combs to the tail, wing-to-wing together;Three combs to the tail, forever knotted and worn; There is a head and a tail, and we will share wealth and honor in this life.Mrs. Liu smiled and wiped away her tears, Grandma Quan Fu combed her hair, and Aunt Zhou began to put on the hairpin for Mu Yan.

After doing a good job on the head, Xi Niang began to put on makeup for Mu Yan, applying fat and powder, drawing eyebrows and lips, and Mu Yan who put on makeup was a little less playful and a little more soft, as if she had the shyness of a newlywed. color.

As soon as the makeup was done, before the family had time to say a few more words, the ugly girl who was in charge of guarding the gate ran in in a panic, saying that the procession to welcome the bride was coming.Seeing that everyone was in a hurry again, Mu Yan had no choice but to swallow the words that came to her lips.Obediently put on the hijab, sat at the table and waited for Xi Niang's next instructions.

Zhan Zhao's wedding went smoothly, after all, the only female party was Brother Xingchen, and Xingyun was still young, he was hugged by Huzi and begged for a red envelope, and he was hugged down after calling his brother-in-law in a childish voice.Xingchen was the only one left facing a group of big men welcoming the bride.Xingchen was a little flustered, but he regained his composure in a moment, and asked Zhan Zhao with a straight look: "Master Zhan, are you willing to marry Ren Muyan as a wife, regardless of whether she is poor, rich, healthy or sick?" Yes, let him ask Zhan Zhao in front of everyone.

Hearing his question, Zhan Zhao replied seriously: "Zhan Zhao is willing to marry Mu Yan as his wife. No matter what the future holds, she will never leave." Hearing his answer, Xing Chen smiled and made a gesture of invitation to let the group of people enter. out the gate.There was no one in the courtyard, only the dowry boxes, which were filled with 36 people, were placed in the center of the courtyard.

When everyone was at a loss, Mu Yu came out of the main room wearing a festive water-red shirt and holding a scroll.Looking at Zhan Zhao with a smile: "Brother Zhan, I have half a couplet here. You will give you an incense stick of time to write the second couplet. If you don't agree, please go home."

As he said that, he unfolded the scroll with Hua'er, and wrote a letter: "Golden thread willow by the Jinshui River, and golden thread willow pierces the mouth of goldfish."Then he took out another incense burner with thin incense sticks, which had already been lit.Zhan Zhao looked at Shanglian and thought hard, knowing that most of the incense sticks had been burned, but he didn't have a clue. When he turned around, he saw that the hosta flowers in the corner had sprouted, and he had a flash of inspiration.Pick up a pen and write in the blank space: hosta flowers outside the magnolia stem, and jade hairpins inserted into the hosta flowers.

The Zhan Zhao pen was not retracted, and the sound of firecrackers sounded.Not long after, Xingchen came slowly with Mu Yan who was covered with a veil on his back.Stopping beside Zhan Zhao, she slowly put down her sister on her back, and handed the other end of the red silk to Zhan Zhao.

Zhan Zhao picked up the red silk and gently pulled it, motioning Mu Yan to follow him.Xi Niang reminded carefully beside Mu Yan, stepped over the threshold, and sat in the sedan chair. At this time, the firecrackers were set off again, and the bride was sent out.

Along the way, the common people congratulated Zhan Zhao one after another.The sedan chair was carried from the outskirts of Beijing to the small courtyard, Zhan Zhao followed the custom and kicked the door of the sedan chair, and Xi Niang helped Mu Yan across the brazier to the wedding hall.

The two stood side by side, worshiped the heaven and the earth, and sent them to the bridal chamber.Zhan Zhaolin said to Mu Yan in a low voice when he was leaving the house: "I asked the girl to prepare food for you, and I will fill your belly in a while, and I will come as soon as I go." Mu Yan was teased when she heard Zhan Zhao going out, and the laughter gradually faded away. away.

Mu Yan heard that there was no voice in the room, and wanted to secretly lift her hijab to breathe, but the whole journey almost suffocated her to death, she couldn't speak, and couldn't take an extra step.I was peeking around, when I heard the sound of the door, Douer sneaked out.

Seeing her take off her hijab, she hurriedly stepped forward to bring her the snack in her arms, and poured another cup of tea.Only then did Mu Yan have her first full meal of the day, and she didn't feel full until she had three snacks and three cups of tea.He began to put on the hijab again and talk to Douer about the arrangement of the house and the guests outside, knowing that Zhan Zhao's voice could be faintly heard.

Not long after, Zhan Zhao pushed the door open and Xi Niang came in, saying auspicious words, and at the same time offering a scale for Zhan Zhao to lift the hijab.Lifting the hijab, Mu Yan under the hijab lowered her eyes, shy and charming.Zhan Zhao couldn't help but feel dizzy when he saw it.Xi Niang gave another glass of wine for the two to drink, and then took Dou'er out of the new house.Zhan Zhao stretched out his hand to lift Mu Yan's chin, seeing Mu Yan's expression of shame and anger, he smiled in a low voice: "It's really not easy to marry my girl."

Mu Yan saw that Zhan Zhaojun's face was flushed and reeked of alcohol, knowing that he had been poured a lot, she pushed him to wash up.Unexpectedly, Zhan Zhao wrapped her in his arms with one hand, took a deep breath around her neck, and said, "It's so fragrant, Jasmine's." His movements were natural, making Mu Yan's face flushed, and she couldn't help stretching out her hand Twist at Zhan Zhao's back. "Hiss, do you want to murder your husband on a happy day?" Zhan Zhao grabbed her little hands that were playing tricks behind her back and kneaded them.Just as Mu Yan was about to speak, she heard Douer calling out that the hot water was ready.

After opening Zhan Zhao to wash up, Mu Yan also took off the hairpin with Dou'er's help, and took a bath.Changing into a silk nightgown, Mu Yan sat in front of the dressing table and asked Douer to brush her hair.Mu Yan, who rubbed Dou'er's hand lightly, was drowsy, and suddenly there was a chuckle behind her back, and she realized that she had changed at some point.

Turning to look at Zhan Zhao, he also changed into the bright red groom's attire.Wearing a loose white jacket and a blue robe loosely wrapped around his body, he looked a bit lazy.Seeing Mu Yan looking at him with blurred eyes, Zhan Zhao smiled and said, "If you're so sleepy, go to bed earlier." As she said, she picked Mu Yan from the table, Mu Yan was startled and subconsciously hugged Zhan Zhao's neck, and hurriedly Shaking his head and saying that he was not sleepy, he didn't know if his flustered appearance pleased Zhan Zhao, but he actually smiled more happily: "Since we are not sleepy, let's do something else." On the Qiangong bed, he turned himself onto the bed, raised his hand and put down the red curtain.

In an instant, the temperature in the tent rose quite a bit, looking at Zhan Zhao's eyes full of affection, Mu Yan also knew that this must happen, so she simply closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.Zhan Zhao's light kiss was as tender as a feather passing across her heart, Mu Yan opened her eyes and looked at Zhan Zhao.Seeing him looking at him with a smile on his face, he raised his hand to touch him, how could Zhan Zhao win her hand, clasping her hands and raising them above his head, his lips fell domineeringly on Mu Yan's two bright reds.For a time, mandarin ducks were necking each other in the tent, and the spring tide was surging.