As soon as Yi Haoran got this name, he started to manage things justifiably.
The purpose of offering incense is to meet Cai Lan. For Yi Haoran, this "god" is much more difficult to invite. Then he made his own decision and decided to do it on July 6th.
Ding Atao doesn't have much housework to take care of, and it doesn't matter how many days in the morning or evening he has to do. This day was decided.
Yi Haoran immediately left the city and arrived at the Dragon Mother Temple. He came to the temple to find the presiding Taoist priest.
The presiding Taoist priest of Longmu Temple is not known as the Taoist Priest. He is not very young, but he is very good at dancing in Wuzhou and has connections with the local wealthy families. Originally, small and medium-sized businessmen like Luo Yangming were not in his eyes at all. It was considered a face reward to be received by a knowledgeable guest when he came to the temple to offer incense.
Nowadays, Luo Yangming is a well-known and powerful figure in Wuzhou, so when Yi Haoran arrived at the Longmu Temple, as soon as he handed over the famous assassin, Taoist priest Wuyuan personally welcomed him out. After some pleasantries, Yi Haoran explained his intention: Luo Yangming's wife and concubines were coming to Longmu Temple to offer incense on July 6th. They hoped to arrange a quiet room in the backyard and order a vegetarian meal.
After hearing this, Taoist Priest Wuyuan showed a troubled expression on his fair face.
"Why, are you in trouble?" Yi Haoran asked.
"The small temple did not dare to refute Master Luo's matter, but it was an unlucky day." Taoist priest Wu Yuan frowned and said, "Someone came to make a reservation yesterday..."
"There shouldn't be only one quiet room in the backyard of your Dragon Mother Temple, right?"
"Of course it's more than that." Taoist priest Wuyuan said quickly, "It's just that this guest has a very high profile."
"Oh? I wonder whose family it belongs to?"
"It's not from any master's family..." the Taoist priest lowered his voice, "It was decided by the Australians, but by the female family members."
Yi Haoran thought this must be Cai Lan! Qiu Chan is really capable! He smiled slightly and said: "Taoist Master, my husband is working in the aftermath bureau. The only real Australian in Wuzhou is the prefect Jie. And he has no female relatives to accompany him to take office. The female relatives you mentioned are about that..." He Then he pointed in the direction of the temple entrance, "...that one?"
Cai Lan's assassination at the entrance of Longmu Temple caused a sensation in Wuzhou. Later, "losing integrity and becoming a thief" became news in Wuzhou. It was very unbearable to be embellished by others. Whenever someone mentions this matter, it is mostly with disdain.
Contempt turned to contempt, Cai Lan is now a "true woman" - the common people still know what will happen to women who talk about people in power. Therefore, Taoist Priest Wuyuan deliberately lowered his voice when speaking, and Yi Haoran used "that person" to refer to him.
Taoist Priest Wuyuan nodded.
"Since it's her, it's easy to handle." Yi Haoran said, "Speaking of which, this person has no status, neither wife nor concubine, neither slave nor maid. Why should the Taoist priest treat her so highly? This master of Wuzhou City If they find out, wouldn’t they laugh at you!”
Wu Yuan was a little surprised: these words sounded so vicious. If it had been anyone else, he would have quickly pretended to be confused and "sent guests off". But behind this Mr. Yi is Mr. Luo of the "Aftermath Bureau" - Zhen Kun's number one celebrity! Not to mention that his status is more noble than Cai Lan, and his master can say such words...
He also remembered that the person who came to inform him this time was not an important cadre under the Australians. He was just a petty official and Cai Lan's "accompanying wife", and he did not ask for confinement. It can be seen that Zhenkun's love for her has faded.
Wu Yuan is a sweet-hearted person, his thoughts turned very fast, and he smiled and said: "Since Mr. Luo's family attaches great importance to the small temple, Xiaodao can't refuse it. In this way, how about settling on the quiet room at the east end? As for this Suzhai …”
"The Taoist Master just decided, there is no need to be frugal." Yi Haoran said with a smile, "Master Luo's family members are also sensible people, and they will definitely not embarrass the Taoist Master." Yi Haoran has already been to the backyard of the Dragon Mother Temple. I know the topography: the three main rooms are for Cai Lan and the others, and the quiet room at the east end mentioned by Wu Yuan is the three side rooms. The environment is quiet and secluded, making it a good place to talk privately.
"It's easy." Taoist priest Wuyuan agreed. "It's hot in the summer, so there aren't many family members coming to the temple to offer incense. It's natural to do what Mr. Wu said."
On June 16th, the weather was sunny and hot with few clouds. Yi Haoran got up early in the morning, washed up and ate breakfast in a hurry, then went to the sedan chair line on the street to call two bamboo silk sedan chairs, and carried them to the courtyard to wait.
He was anxious in his heart, fearing that he would miss Cai Lan. Although he knew it was still early, he still went to the door of the inner house to take a look from time to time.
Ah Chun saw this anxiety. "Master," he joked, "I think your old man is more interested in going to the Dragon Mother Temple than my wife and aunt!"
Yi Haoran realized that he was losing his temper and quickly defended himself: "It's hot out here. Let's go out earlier to cool off on the road. If the sun comes up, we'll be steaming and basking in the sun all the way."
"Master, don't be worried." Ah Chun said, "My wife and my aunt got up early. They had delivered breakfast just now, and now they are probably washing up - it will take a lot of time. Madam said, our family is now considered to be a semi-gentry family. Now, going out to worship God is a big deal, so don’t be too careless.”
As the Australians made rapid progress in Guangdong, Ding Atao no longer complained about her husband's focus on the aftermath, and gradually began to feel that his identity was "unusual."
Going out to offer incense was almost the only opportunity for women to appear in public at that time. It was also an opportunity for women from wealthy families to show off their family background, family status and wealth. Ding Atao came from a small family. At her best, she was just the wife of a rice shop owner. She was not considered a leader among the merchants in Wuzhou City, so she didn't dare to think about such a thing. She only spent time in silence when going out to burn incense. Quietly.
The situation is very different now. Luo Yangming is one of the "leading figures" in Wuzhou City. No matter how distinguished a gentry is, even if the head of the family has run away, as long as there are still people left in Wuzhou, people must be sent during festivals. Come to your door and send a famous tattoo and a gift of water. This kind of respect is something Ding Atao has never enjoyed in half his life.
So this time she decided to take this opportunity to show off. Even Ah Chun changed into a blue cloth shirt today and even a new net scarf.
Yi Haoran waited for half an hour before he saw the two people coming out. They were newly purchased from head to toe. Not only were the materials used exquisite, but the patterns were also gorgeous. Compared with her usual light makeup on Qing Yi, she is completely different.
Ah Chun was even more stunned and blurted out:
"Madam, you suddenly become so beautiful!"
After all, Ding Atao came from a small family. When the child praised her, her cheeks immediately turned red and she said, "Since you want to offer incense, you have to make a scene."
Yi Haoran quickly said with interest: "Madam is right! Now that the master has a distinguished status, the wife cannot be too shabby when she goes out. It will not be good if she ruins the master's face."
Ding Atao felt that Master Yi was not only capable in doing things, but also well-spoken. He couldn't help but smile and said, "It's going to be hard for you today, sir."
The tone of her voice was both slow and slow, revealing the calmness and unhurriedness of Mrs. Jinshen, which was different from usual times.
Yi Haoran said hurriedly: "Madam, you are serious." He bowed and said: "The sedan is waiting in the courtyard, please Madam and aunt get on the sedan."
The two got on the sedan, with Yi Haoran leading the way and Ah Chun following behind. Speaking of which, the back house of the Luo family was quite shabby. Apart from a rough mother, Ding Atao had no other servants around her. She and Wen Yun did many things in the house by themselves. Therefore, the team that went out to burn incense could only keep things simple. He only called a waiter in the rice store to carry the burden of offerings.
The group of people left the house and came all the way to the Guijiang River. Ding Atao rarely goes out on weekdays, only seven or eight times a year. After the Australians captured Wuzhou, she stayed at home because she was worried that the current situation would be unstable and that going out would cause trouble. My husband said that Australians are talented in governance, and he wanted to take a good look at the new scene in Wuzhou.
Through the thin bamboo curtain hanging on the sedan window, I saw that the street outside was flat, neat and clean, indeed different from the past. There are not many people walking on the street, walking in a hurry, each working for a living, nothing out of the ordinary. However, along the way, there were no beggars or homeless people - they used to be everywhere on the road, but now there are no traces of them.
It seems that Australians do have some skills. Ding Atao thought to himself that if they could split the land and become kings in Guangdong and Guangxi, and her husband would follow them, he would be considered a first-class gentleman. If it is true, as my husband said, that the Australians want to conquer the Central Plains and dominate the world, then Luo Yangming is the hero of Conglong, and he must have an imperial edict...
However, worry quickly enveloped her heart. Nowadays, the business of Mipu is not good. Merchants in the city say that business is difficult and the market is sluggish. As she walked along, she saw that although the shops were all open, they all looked half-dead. There were no merchants coming and going, and there were no streetwalkers soliciting business and negotiating deals...
When she thought about Luo Yangming's absence from home these past few months, her mood became depressed again. It is said that the Mother of Dragons is the most efficacious. As long as we ask her to bless Australians to win more battles, Luo Yangming will be able to travel thousands of miles and earn a good future - finally, don't deny her this poor wife after you get rich...
She was thinking wildly along the way, and she didn't know how long it had passed before the sedan suddenly stopped. Yi Haoran's voice came: "Madam, the Dragon Mother Temple has arrived."
Ding Atao got off the sedan chair and saw that he had arrived at the steps of Longmu Temple. Although she has lived in Wuzhou for several years, she has only gone to the Dragon Mother Temple a handful of times, but Wen Yun often goes there - her brother is the porter on the dock, and he is also a person who eats on the water, so he is very fond of the Dragon Mother. Faith is much more respected than ordinary people.
Yi Haoran sent away the sedan chair and led the way. Climbing the steps is a stone archway with the words "Mrs. Yongning pardoned" in the middle. Ding Atao heard someone say that this was granted by the Taizu of this dynasty.
After passing the archway, there is the main hall. The weather is hot and not many people come to Longmu Temple to offer incense. However, as soon as Ding Atao appeared, he immediately attracted a lot of attention and confusion. Ding Atao suddenly remembered that she was dressed like a rich lady, but there were no girls or ladies surrounding her.
