In the thirty-seventh year of Zhengzheng, it was the first day of the Lunar New Year.
A child catches a native ox with a whip, but an old school boy shoots the head first!
On the Yingchun Bridge in the east of the city (this bridge is still there), gongs and drums were loud and firecrackers were blasting.
At this time, all the four gates of Hailing City were opened, and outside each gate there were more than a dozen strong men carrying a native ox into the city.
The body of the native cow was covered with colorful ornaments and was made lifelike by craftsmen who specialized in making native cows.
Next to the Tu Niu, the county government has arranged drum music, and they beat the drums all the way into the city.
Xu He and Sister Gu stood under the Yingchun Bridge, waiting for the native cattle from the east gate to come over.
Sister Gu has been ill for the past two days and is in a bad mood.
Xu He smiled and said: "Meisheng, I will be whipping spring soon. I have already found Hu Xian Cheng, and I will definitely snatch the horns for you!"
Gu Hengbo forced a smile and said: "The meat of native cattle is best for silkworms and also avoids the plague. Why are you robbing the horns?"
Xu He scratched his head and said, "Don't I think it's good luck if we take the lead?"
Sister Gu was finally amused. Under the cover of the curtain, she was very touching.
Xu He said with a smile: "Look at you, you just have to smile more to look good. You have been frowning these days and you have become a bit uglier!"
What woman wouldn't be anxious after hearing this?
Gu Hengbo secretly reached out and grabbed Xu He's arm.
Unexpectedly, Xu He was on guard and took the opportunity to hold her hand and said: "Meisheng, I have been too busy recently and I have neglected you!"
Gu Hengbo blushed and said: "A while ago, it was about the safety of the people in the city. I, I know you are working hard!"
Xu He deliberately squeezed her body and said close to her, "Then why have you been unhappy these past two days?"
Gu Hengbo was embarrassed and angry: "How can I be unhappy? You are talking nonsense!"
Xu He whispered: "Is it because you know that I will have a test in the next year, so you can't bear to leave me?"
He was originally a test, but he suddenly hit the female literary youth's pain point, and Sister Gu suddenly became sad.
"Bright voice! You must write to me often after you go!" Gu Hengbo's eyes were filled with water, and tears were about to fall.
Xu He said quickly: "Don't worry, I'm sure the letter will arrive in three to five days! I also want to sing with you!"
Seeing that Gu Hengbo was still not in high spirits, Xu He said, "Meisheng, why don't you come to Beijing with me?"
Gu Hengbo was startled, and waved his hands repeatedly: "I won't go, I won't go! How can a man go to Beijing to take the exam, and he still needs his female family to accompany him? He doesn't have to be laughed at by others!"
Xu He laughed loudly: "You also admit that you are my female family member!"
Only then did Sister Gu realize that it was Xu He who was teasing her on purpose, and she immediately blushed with embarrassment.
After a little probing, Xu He knew what Sister Gu was worried about.
I guess if you ask her, she will only say that she is worried about his diet and daily life.
If Xu He really believed it, he would be too straight.
When a man travels far away, what do the women at home worry about?
I understand everything!
Xu He squeezed Sister Gu's hand and said, "Meisheng, you remember that we had an agreement. We must be together in this life."
Gu Hengbo couldn't help but feel sweet in his heart when he thought of that day when the two of them fell in love, and whispered: "Remember!"
"Anxin is at home waiting for me to come back. When the time comes, I will pass the imperial examination and marry you!"
Gu Hengbo's eyes were full of love and he nodded lightly: "I've always wanted to find an opportunity to explain to you. You must pay attention to your health when you go out, and don't be reluctant to spend money. I still have some money. My name is Juan'er tonight. Give it to you!”
I……
Xu He was numb. If this plot continues, he will go to Chen Shimei.
"No, no, you don't know. I've always spent money lavishly! How can I use your money? If you want something, I'll buy it for you when I get to Beijing!"
…
Just as the two were chatting with each other, the east side of Yingchun Bridge suddenly became noisy, and the people suddenly cheered.
Xu He squeezed Sister Gu's little hand, and they both looked up.
I saw a dozen strong men carrying native cattle on the bridge. There was a large case on the bridge, with incense, candles and tributes placed on the case.
The big men put down the cattle before the big case. At this time, the sound of gongs and drums became louder.
I saw a man dressed in green clothes and a green hat, holding a green flag in his hand, dancing and singing and came to Tu Niu.
At this time, someone next to him handed him a whip made of willow branches. The man picked up the whip and whipped it on the native cow.
As soon as he pulled it down, the people around him burst into deafening cheers.
"Hit the spring ox!"
"It's time to whip the earth ox, it's spring!"
The crowd cheered and watched as the whip struck the native cow.
Xu He lowered his head and asked Sister Gu: "The man who whips the spring ox is dressed so weirdly. What does he do?"
Gu Hengbo was amused by Xu He. This scholar was really good, but he really didn't know some things that everyone knew.
"That man is pretending to be the God of Light!"
When Xu He heard this, he suddenly realized that the god of light was Jumang. It is said that he is the god of Sichun. Later generations also worshiped him as the god of farming and animal husbandry.
At this time, under the Yingchun Bridge, Chen Hua, who was not far from Xu He, was surrounded by officials and Xu Dai and other squires, and walked up to the big case on the bridge.
I saw him reciting some congratulations, then twisting incense with both hands, bending down and saluting the native cow.
The surrounding atmosphere seemed to reach a boiling point at this moment.
Everyone was going crazy. When Chen Hua just returned to his seat under the bridge, all the people rushed forward and grabbed the [beef].
Fortunately, Xu He, Sister Gu, Ding Ze, Juan'er and others stood not far behind Chen Hua, so the common people would not crowd in here no matter what.
Juaner clapped her hands excitedly and said, "There are many people grabbing beef. Sister Yatou, let's go too."
Unexpectedly, as soon as they finished speaking, the Mang God brought a plate full of [beef].
"Sir, this is what Hu County Cheng asked me to deliver."
The county magistrate was still sitting in front, so Hu County Magistrate directly handed the plate to Xu He.
But the wealthy squires around him seemed to take this for granted, and they all looked at Xu He with smiles on their faces.
Xu He turned to Sister Gu and said, "Sister, do you want horns or beef?"
Gu Hengbo knew that he had been teasing him, so he blushed and refused to speak.
Xu He smiled, took a piece of beef and handed a horn to Ding Ze behind him.
Then Ding Ze took out an ingot of silver, about one tael, and placed it on the tray.
When the [Mang Shen] saw the silver, he smiled so hard that his eyes narrowed: "Thank you Mr. Xu for the reward!"
After saying that, he went to deliver [beef] to other families.
At this time, Chen Hua turned around and said with a smile: "Liangsheng, you have a large family, and the beef is not enough. When the time comes, I will ask someone to loosen some spring beef for you!"
The so-called little spring cow is a smaller version of the spring cow.
After the spring, they are all sold in the market. This thing is prepared for the people who have not been able to grab the spring cattle.
But the magistrate's little spring cow is not just made of clay.
They are all made of the same material as the big spring cattle, and the decoration is more exquisite. They are used by the county magistrate for his own use or as gifts for close people.
In previous years, the county magistrate always sent off the official Zuo Erguan and the respected old man in the village first.
Well, Chen Hua didn't ask anyone this time and just sent Xu He off first...
When people around saw this scene, their eyes turned red with envy!
