"My son-in-law...my nephew would like to say hello to Lao Tai, ah no, to my uncle and aunt! After four years of separation, my old...uncle and aunt are still as charming as ever." Jia Hui greeted Li Shouzhong who was sitting on the main seat incoherently.
On that day, a banquet was held to honor the ancestors. On the first day, the children of the Jia family in the eighth room were entertained, on the second day, the distinguished relatives were entertained, and on the third day, the old friends and relatives in Beijing were entertained.
Jia Hui, who had been drunk for three days, was finally free. He quickly selected a few carts of gifts and walked out of the gate of Lixiangyuan onto the street towards the house of his prospective father-in-law, Imperial College Jiu Li Shouzhong.
Just call Lao Taishan when you enter.
Hearing the titles that Jia Hui subconsciously spat out, the mother-in-law-to-be covered her mouth to suppress laughter. Li Shouzhong was a bit dumbfounded. His son-in-law-to-be had really not changed at all.
When she saw him for the first time, she called herself Lao Taishan. Her daughter, who was shyly hiding behind the screen and peeking, ran away in a panic and knocked down her precious brother Yao Ci.
He was so distressed that he didn't eat for three days!
"Okay, okay, dear son-in-law, get up quickly, come on, sit down!"
Li Shouzhong helped Jia Hui and asked him to sit next to him. I looked carefully at my prospective son-in-law, whom I had not seen for 4 years, and was filled with emotions.
Who would have known that a concubine born to a maid in the same household would now be honored as a prince and be worshiped as the Great Sima and General!
In the past, he was worried that Jia Hui died in the northwest battle and his daughter would be left a widow. Now, he is back with full glory!
Li Shouzhong couldn't maintain his usual serious smile. He reached out excitedly and rubbed Jia Hui's big hands that had been exposed to the wind and sun and had become rough with frostbite scars. He couldn't help but feel distressed.
The Li family is not prosperous, and he just gave birth to his only son a few years ago, a half-son-in-law. Before his son was born, he, Li Shouzhong, watched Jia Hui grow up as his own son. .
"My son, you have really suffered these years!" Li's mother also saw the scars on Jia Hui's hands, and she burst into tears.
Li Shouzhong was like this, let alone his mother-in-law. Jia Hui and Li Shouzhong and his son-in-law spent a lot of effort to comfort the crying mother Li.
"Father, mother!" A fat man of three or four years old ran in and saw a big black man sitting in the hall. He couldn't help but feel cautious and hid in Mother Li's arms.
"Haha, here comes Shao'er, come here quickly, virtuous son-in-law, this is your brother-in-law, his name is Li Shao." Li Shouzhong waved, and the little fat man leaned against the edge of the table and leaned against Li Shouzhong.
"Come on, Shao'er, this is your brother-in-law, come and call someone."
Li Shao bit his lip and looked timidly at the big black man in front of him. Suddenly his eyes lit up and he sweetly called brother-in-law.
"Hey, you're so good. Come on, brother-in-law, treat you to some candy!" Jia Hui rubbed Li Shao's head and handed the candy in his hand to Li Shao.
"Brother-in-law, I see my sister is hiding behind the screen." After saying that, he raised his head and looked at Jia Hui expectantly.
Phew!
"Hahaha, you kid, you rebelled just by a piece of candy?" Jia Hui laughed, and quickly took out a few more toffees from his arms, and Li Shao took them into his arms without any ceremony.
"Ah, my blue and white flowers!" Li Shouzhong, who was also laughing, suddenly realized what the noise was and screamed repeatedly, turned around and entered the screen to start crying.
On the other side, a girl came out and stared at Li Shao angrily. Li Shao stiffened and shrank into Mother Li's arms.
When Jia Hui entered the door, he found someone behind the screen. He didn't say anything, just waiting for the person to jump out. Now that he had succeeded, he quickly looked over.
The girl was wearing a light pink jacket and skirt, and underneath she was wearing a white embroidered skirt. She seemed to be in smoke and fog. She seemed to be about sixteen or seventeen years old. Apart from a head of black hair, her skin was exposed. Snow-white, with a beautiful face and a cool temperament.
She is slender and tall, probably only a little more than a head shorter than Jia Hui, who is over 1.9 meters tall. The girl can actually reach his shoulders.
Mother Li looked kind and looked at Jia Hui, who was a little taller than her daughter, standing in front of her daughter, and couldn't help but sigh.
What did these two children eat to grow up? They have grown so tall!
It doesn't matter that Jia Hui is a man, but his daughter is also taller than her father.
His father was no longer short among the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty.
Thank you for meeting Jia Hui, otherwise how could I get married?
Mother Li took Li Shao's hand and led him away, letting the two young men reminisce about old times. With so many maids watching, she was not afraid of Jia Hui messing around.
They looked at each other in silence, wanting to say everything, but everything was already said in the letter.
"Does your hand still hurt?" Li Wan spoke first.
"It didn't hurt at first, but you said it, it hurt."
Silence again.
Li Wan stretched out his flawless, delicate and soft jade hands and picked up Jia Hui's rough and scarred black hands.
Li Wan felt a little sad as he gently wiped the scars on it.
Everyone in the world praises their beloved Jia Hui for his bravery and good luck. He is already a very popular minister at a young age, but who knows how much blood and tears his beloved has paid behind this?
Every time her father told her what battles Jia Hui had won and how many enemies he had killed, Li Wan did not feel joy, but endless fear. She was worried about how Jia Hui had been injured and what would happen next time he went into battle. She accidentally missed it, and the next time her father came over, he told her the news that Jia Hui had died in battle...
The cold girl never brought bad mood to others, but in the dead of night, she cried alone because of that person.
"Why are you crying? Come on, give me a smile! Come on!"
"Huh, don't you find it annoying that you've been saying this since you were a kid? When will you get some new words!"
Li Wan took the handkerchief and nodded at the corner of his eyes, rolling his eyes.
This person has liked to tease himself like this since he was a child, and he only says one or two sentences, which is so annoying!
Seeing that Li Wan was no longer sad, Jia Hui also breathed a sigh of relief.
My little wife is good at everything, but she has a cold temper. It took me several years to make her lively.
Silence again.
One is clumsy and the other doesn't like to talk.
Whoever speaks first loses.
Li Wan still couldn't hold on anymore and lost to Jia Hui, who was used to big scenes.
"You...why is it so dark?"
After saying that, Jia Hui's dark and rosy face turned one color darker. Li Wan broke out and burst into laughter.
"This... is exposed to the wind and sun. The sun is poisonous in the desert and the sun is strong on the plateau. It will be white after a few months of raising it." Jia Hui regretted that he did not speak first.
The Jia family is famous for their appearance. Regardless of whether they are successful or not, no one is ugly in appearance, and Jia Hui is no exception.
I think back then, he was also a handsome young man with extraordinary martial prowess, fair skin, and eyes that revealed purity and stupidity.
Then he joined the army.
Originally, he only got a bronze tan in the desert, but who let him go to the plateau? He was tanned and rosy.
This is after almost two months of staying indoors.
I can only blame it on my own constitution.
After a few words of bickering, there was still silence.
"Are you free the day after tomorrow? How about we go on an outing together? Call Yuanchun and the others, and you also bring Brother Shao. I learned some barbecue recipes from the Western Regions, and I'll give you a try the day after tomorrow!"
We can no longer let her speak first!
"Well... ok!" Li Wan agreed without hesitation.
As for the girl's reserve, it doesn't exist. The black guy opposite is very incomprehensible and charming. She has experienced it since she was a child.
For the sake of the restraint of my girl's family, I missed countless candied haws, candy people and bamboo tube rice dumplings.
This black guy will not ask anyone a second time!
"Then let's make an agreement. I'll pick you up at Mao the day after tomorrow."
The matter is settled.
Silence fell again.
Growing up as childhood sweethearts, having been together for more than ten years, and knowing that they would become husband and wife very early, the relationship between them skipped love and became family affection.
One look, one movement, any little detail can tell what the other person wants to do. The two people who usually talk little have a tacit understanding.
"Tell me about your time on the plateau? You haven't written any of this in your letter."
"Okay, let me tell you..."
As soon as Li Wan asked him to tell him about the things on the plateau, Jia Hui became energetic. He stood up and stepped on the short ridge, and started talking to Li Wan vividly, using his hands and feet together.
Li Wan also exclaimed from time to time, applauded when he said something wonderful, or asked him a question, which made Jia Hui's mood become higher and higher, and he spoke more energetically!
Standing beside the two of them, Li Wan's personal maid Suyun sighed.
After all, my uncle was caught by his own lady.
They continued talking until noon when they were interrupted by Mother Li who came over to greet the two of them for dinner.
After having lunch with the Li family and taking a nap in the guest room for half an hour, Jia Hui finally said goodbye after repeated attempts by the Li family.
. . . . . .
Jia Hui was not in a hurry to go back. Instead, he held the horse and swayed down the street with his hands behind his back.
After visiting the Li family, my marriage will begin to go through the process.
In fact, the process had already begun. As early as when my grandfather was still alive, he had completed the four steps of "nacai", "asking for names", "naji" and "nazheng" to complete the engagement.
Next, you only need to take the remaining two steps of "applying for an appointment" and "welcoming in person".
Jia Hui's visit this time was actually a reminder to the Li family to prepare for their wedding.
I couldn't help but laugh when I thought that I and Li Wan had been an "old married couple" for more than ten years, and they were only planning to hold a wedding now.
At the orange stall nearby, a grinning dandy who had eaten a sour orange heard the laughter coming from behind and thought it was a joke on him, so he was so angry that he was about to whip his whip.
When he turned around and saw a six-foot-tall black man wearing a purple and gold round-neck bullfighting uniform, he was so frightened that he dropped his whip.
The big black man has seen it, and the six-foot-tall man has seen it, but this bullfighting uniform is not something you can wear easily.
Purple robe, bullfighting uniform, Lord Marquis!
Jia Hui also noticed the dude and looked at him playfully.
Dandy's scalp is numb.
"Smoking, why don't you smoke?"
"Little, little, how dare you offend the Marquis?"
The usually eloquent dude couldn't say anything anymore.
His father had worked hard for most of his life to become a servant. If he really did it, the whole family would be exiled to Da Yuan Island tomorrow!
Thinking of this, the dude's legs were shaking like he was passing through a sieve.
"Tsk, how dare you act like a playboy with such courage? Get out of here while a certain family is in a good mood!"
Seeing the dude's reaction, Jia Hui felt bored and kicked the dude's crotch. The dude rolled several times before stopping, rubbing his crotch and howling.
"Why is this dandy in Yanjing City so arrogant? I remember that a certain family used to be very powerful... Oh my god, what the hell!" Jia Hui was picking oranges in front of the orange stall and asked the trembling stall owner, peeling off the oranges. I opened an orange and tried to eat it. My teeth almost became sore and my tongue stuck out!
"Have you never eaten your oranges before? How dare you sell them if they are so sour!"
"S-small..."
"Forget it, you weigh two pounds for me, and I'll take it back and give it away."
I can't be the only one who gets sour oranges!
. . . . . .
The sky gradually darkened until the last ray of light escaped from the book. Jia Zhu was shocked to realize that she had been reading the book for a long time.
In front of the window on the second floor of Jia Zhu's study in the courtyard, Jia Zhu, who felt dizzy after reading, rubbed his eyes and prepared to go downstairs to have something to eat. He didn't like having people around when he was reading. The maid downstairs was well aware of Jia Zhu's habits. Seeing Jia Zhu leave the window, she quickly picked up a bowl of ginseng soup and greeted him.
Jia Zhu's courtyard was originally Jia Zheng's courtyard, just west of Jia She's courtyard, across from the hall where Jia Mu and others removed Jia Hui's armor a few days ago. This is where Jia Baoyu's appearance in the original work will be. Study room "Qishaizhai".
After a bowl of ginseng soup, Jia Zhu felt like she was alive again, quietly experiencing this transparent feeling.
"Hahaha. Brother Zhu, I'm here to see you!"
The heroic laughter could be heard from far away. Jia Zhu, whose experience was interrupted, smiled helplessly. Every time his elder brother Hui came here, he always treated him like returning to his own home and never announced.
"An evil guest is coming, Pearl, go and prepare some tea." Jia Zhu ordered his personal maid, Pearl, to greet Jia Hui.
"Brother Hui, do you want to see me for anything?"
"Hey, I can't come to you if I have nothing to do?"
"That's not possible, come on, come into the house!"
The two went straight to the second floor and sat in front of Jia Zhu's favorite window. Pearl had already brought tea.
"I heard that Uncle Zong admires you very much and wants to recruit you as his son-in-law?" Min took a sip of tea and Jia Hui spoke.
"Where is the only daughter of the eldest uncle? How can I, the legitimate son of a fifth-rank official, think about it? But the daughter of the eldest uncle's cousin said that she has fallen in love with me and is currently discussing with her father."
Jia Zhu has a clear understanding of herself. Although it is a bit rude to talk about my father, my father is essentially a high-ranking member of the imperial family, and he was admitted to Rongxi Hall because of his transgression. No matter what the reason, not refusing is the biggest mistake, so he is not welcomed by his colleagues.
Now it sounds nice to call him the second master of the Duke's Mansion, but after all, he has to separate the family and move out. At that time, his father Jia Zheng was just a fifth-rank Beijing official, the kind who could kill five or six people with a brick on the streets of the capital. .
He is not in good health. Qiu Wei almost died in the examination room last time. Even if the eldest uncle wanted to marry his only daughter, he did not dare to marry him.
Uncle Zong's cousin is very suitable for him, but she has a tough temperament, and no one who dances with guns and sticks all day long would dare to come to propose marriage. Otherwise, how could such a beauty get her turn?
"Ah, that's good. When my brother and I marry your sister-in-law into our family, it will be your turn next. Wait, the great uncle's niece, Li Peilan?" A figure of a strong woman appeared in Jia Hui's mind.
Back then, I followed my grandfather Jia Daishan and visited many martial arts schools in the capital.
Chongde Martial Arts School is one of them. This is the ancestral property of Li Yan, the current official of the Ministry of Rites and the eldest uncle. Li Yan had no talent for martial arts, so this martial arts school belonged to his younger brother Li Chun.
Li Peilan is Li Chun's daughter.
He still can't forget the scene of Li Peilan chasing and beating more than a dozen of his peers with a wooden sword.
He glanced at Jia Zhu with pity and did not continue to ask.
"Oh, by the way, how are Enke's preparations for this year?"
"Fortunately, I experienced Qiu Wei last time, and I probably already know how to take the exam. In recent days, Uncle Li has read my articles and said that I am already at the second-level level. If I can meet an examiner who appreciates me, I guess Can reach the front position of the second class.
Speaking of which, it's all thanks to you, eldest brother. If eldest brother hadn't fought well this time, the emperor wouldn't have started another encore just because he was happy. Otherwise, he would have had to wait three years for the next exam. "
"It's all thanks to the soldiers. More than 8,000 people went up, and in the end, more than 3,000 came down. There were hundreds of people who couldn't even find their bodies. Alas..." Jia Hui sighed.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. It's all over and the battle is over. There's no point in talking about it anymore." Jia Hui shook his head.
"By the way, why are all the dandies in the city acting like this? I didn't meet many along the way."
"Ah, well, there's no reason. It's just that the old dandies are married and have children, so naturally they won't go out to cause trouble. The rest are just some unpopular little dandies, and the official positions of their fathers and grandfathers are not high.
Recently, there have been many old men who have become officials. Naturally, their dandies will follow the footsteps of their fathers and grandfathers. They will continue to be lawless in the capital. I am afraid that no one will care about them unless they are killed by someone. In addition, big brother, you all The newly appointed nobles are all afraid of bumping into you and being established! "
Also, Jia She, the biggest gangster leader in Yanjing City at that time, has retired, and their group must be similar. My group of brothers are all seventeen or eighteen years old, and they were beaten by my group without any explanation. Naturally, I have to keep my tail between my legs.
"Okay, by the way, one last thing, will you have nothing to do the next day?"
"What happened to Xiu Mu, the imperial eunuch?"
"I want to take Yuan Chun, the others, and your sister-in-law on an outing the day after tomorrow. If you take advantage of the opportunity, you can ask Yuan Chun to invite Li Peilan out to meet her."
"Yeah!"
They are all young and restless teenagers in their early teens, when they are most curious about their other half.
The two brothers looked at each other and smiled.
"Then it's settled. Come on, I bought some oranges on the way back. Do you want some?" Jia Hui took out two oranges from his pocket on the ground and handed one to Jia Zhu.
Jia Zhu, with pure eyes, took the orange and peeled off the peel in a few strokes.
"Bah, ugh, what is this!"
Jia Zhu, who had the elegant temperament of a scholar, was instantly defeated. His whole face shrank with soreness, and he started twitching. He spat out the oranges in one gulp and took a big gulp of tea.
"Brother, you and I have no enmity in the past and have no enmity in the recent past. Why are you plotting against me!"
Jia Zhu felt the stab in the back from her relatives.
"Hahaha, how can I only be allowed to eat such sour oranges!" Jia Hui laughed!
