After a heavy snowfall, Chang'an City ushered in the New Year of Deguang's thirty-third year.
It snowed all day and all night, and there was thick snow piled up in the yard of my house and on the street outside. Because of the snow, whether it was ancestor worship on New Year's Eve or New Year's greetings to relatives and friends on New Year's Day, the Hai family had to complete it in a hurry, and they couldn't help but feel a little inadequate, as if the hard and thorough preparations years ago were not rewarded. It seems like a due reward.
Mr. Ma muttered privately more than once: "If I had known this would happen, it would be better to work less and enjoy a few days of leisure. Instead of being like this now, where my back is sore, I can't sleep well, and my head hurts!"
Hai Xiya comforted his wife with a smile: "Where do you feel pain? Let me rub it for you? Madam, you have worked hard during the New Year. Now that you have nothing to do in the New Year, you can take a rest. Just let the children do the things at home. People do things very carefully, why do you bother to worry about everything? We are all elderly people, we should take more care of ourselves."
Although Mrs. Ma was heartbroken after hearing this, she still couldn't help but squint her eyes and laugh at her husband: "I only use words to flatter you. Aren't you working all the time? When did you understand the principle of skin care, and do it every day?" How about going home from the Yamen earlier?"
Hai Xiya laughed and did not respond.
During the New Year period, the couple had some leisure time, and those with whom they had the closest relationship, such as the Ma family, the third room of the Zhou family, and Mrs. Zhou of the Zhenguogongfu, needed them to visit their homes to pay New Year greetings. Most of the other old acquaintances had given New Year gifts before the year. As for the New Year's Eve wine, Hai Xiya had already canceled the plan considering that he had just returned to Chang'an and had won the favor of Master Tao Yuetao. Xie Wenzai, Cao Gengyun and Lu Bainian were still at home, so it was not convenient to entertain outsiders.
Uncle Ma of the Ma family is ill, and is currently secretly working for the vacancy of the Chang'an vanguard. It is not convenient to serve wine at home. A married woman only needs to go back to visit relatives on the second day of the Lunar New Year; the third room of the Zhou family still has Mrs. Ma under house arrest, and even more It was impossible for outsiders to come in and have contact with him; everyone in the Zhenguo Palace acted in unison and had already decided to entertain guests with wine on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, and the post was sent to the Hai family early. Based on this calculation, there is actually nothing to be busy with in the first month, so naturally we should take the opportunity to recuperate.
Haijiao and Haitang's homework will stop until the 19th day of the first lunar month. During the first three days of the first lunar month, even the daily morning martial arts training and running are temporarily suspended under the order of grandmother Ma, and they can sleep until they wake up naturally.
Haitang slept until the first hour of the Lunar New Year (9 a.m.) when she got up. After washing herself, she put on a brand new bright red cotton jacket embroidered with flowers and fruits, a sky blue heavy satin pleated skirt, and a short pink satin trimmed with sheepskin. He warmly ran to the upper room in the main courtyard to kowtow to his grandparents to pay New Year greetings and ask for red envelopes. While she was eating the delicious breakfast, she realized that her brother Hai Jiao had gotten up early in the morning to follow this routine and was already out the door.
Ma didn't complain this time: "I must have met the brother in the mansion last time when I went back to Zhenguo. I can't figure out which major general's son he is. He looks about the same age as your brother. One looks younger than him, and the other is more mature and taller than him. They are both good and energetic young men. The three of them ran out with their horses, and they don’t know where to play!"
Hai Xiya was reading the newspaper on the other side of the kang table, but he knew more than his wife: "The younger one should be General Zhou's eldest son. I met him in the guardhouse. I don't know about the other one. But among the young men in the Duke's residence, only seven or eight of them are staying in Chang'an now. Looking at his age, Yue Mo is the second son of General Zhou's family."
Ma came closer to her husband and lowered her voice and asked: "General Tuesday seems to be the adopted son of the Duke of Guo, not his biological son, right? He is married to the niece of the Duke's wife. I remember he was very aggressive and had ideas when he was young. General Tuesday She is still stationed outside and has not returned to Chang'an to celebrate the New Year, but my wife is back on Tuesday, and she will most likely intercede on behalf of the Minzhou Guard Commander."
The commander of the Minzhou Guard is the descendant of Tang's wife, the Duke of Zhenguo, and is a biological brother and sister to Tuesday's wife, Tang. There is such a relationship, how can there be no reason not to take advantage of it?
Hai Xiya just smiled at this: "You can find someone to inquire about it yourself. How do I know about these things in the inner house? Anyway, no matter who gets the position of Chang'an Vanguard Commander, he is better than the one in front of him."
Ma sighed: "Mrs. Tang took her son back to Chang'an specifically to tell him that she was here. She would definitely have to walk around. If she really wanted her natal brother to take over the Chang'an Vanguard, she would definitely have to visit the seventh room of the Zhou family. . Without the nod from the seventh master of the Zhou family, the commander of the Minzhou Guard may not be able to stay in peace even if he really gets the Chang'an Vanguard!"
Du Boqin, the commander of the Chang'an vanguard who caused trouble, was the son-in-law of the seventh room of the Zhou family. The head of the seventh house of the Zhou family has only one daughter, and she died early. Now she has no hope of a son-in-law to inherit the family business. She has no heirs, and this year may not be good for her. Mrs. Tang took the child to comfort her. Although she was doing her best to express her filial piety, when she thought of her intention, even the seventh-room Zhou family members could not bear it.
Hai Xiya didn't say much, but he knew in his heart that if General Tuesday's wife Tang really took this step, Lord Zhen Guo might not be happy to let the Minzhou Guard Commander take over the position of the Chang'an Vanguard Commander. .
Du Boqin was originally lacking in qualifications and ability. He only got into the position because of his connections with the Zhou family, but he caused such a big trouble. If another in-law of the Zhou family is allowed to take over the Chang'an Vanguard, what if something goes wrong again? If the emperor sees him, he will be more and more convinced that the Zhou family controls the northwest frontier army. In contrast, the other candidate, Yan'an Guard Commander, has a much distant relationship with the Zhou family, but he is also from a prestigious general family in Chang'an, has sufficient abilities and qualifications, and has a close relationship with the Zhou family, so he is more secure. candidate.
General Tuesday was originally the adopted son of Duke Zhen Guo. He was the son of a fallen soldier and his surname was not Zhou. He has military merits, his qualifications and achievements are beyond words, he is honest and upright, and he has been stationed in the border town for many years. He has suffered a lot, but he never complained. The Duke of Zhen and his wife had great pity for him, and they would think of him more if anything good happened. His wife wanted to build relationships with her brothers and seek employment, and it was difficult for the Duke of Zhen and his wife to stop him, but important positions in the army were not ones that could be used as favors...
Hai Xiya was worried that there would be some trouble in the backyard of Zhen Guo Gong's Mansion because of this incident, and reminded his wife: "If you want to inquire about these things or gossip with someone, just talk in private. When you get to Zhen Guo Gong's Mansion, , but be sure not to talk too much, so as not to be tainted with right and wrong."
Ma gave him an angry look: "What do you mean by the master's orders? You're not a fool! At most, you just talk at home, and you don't even talk to your eldest sister or sister-in-law. I understand the taboos here!"
Hai Xiya smiled: "My wife will act with peace of mind for her husband."
The old couple started playing tricks again. Haitang ate a few snacks and felt a little choked. After finishing a bowl of hot soup, she stood up and left.
Her brother was not at home. She had known about it for a long time, but she didn't know that he would go out so early. So what about her original plan to go shopping on New Year's Day?
Haitang specially carried a sleeve of candies and stopped in front of her second uncle Hai Changan's house.
The door creaked and opened quickly. Hai Changan let his son Xiao Shitou ride on his neck. He held his son steady with one hand and held his wife Hu with the other. The family of three happily and affectionately prepared to go out. Seeing this, Haitang quickly seized the opportunity, raised a sweet and endearing smile on her face, and stepped forward to greet him.
(End of chapter)
