Smoke curls from the kitchen, dogs bark and chickens crow; the sun sets in the west and the sky is filled with red clouds.
The dusk in Xiahe Village gives people a warm and comfortable feeling, and you will never get tired of it no matter how many times you watch it.
Zhu Ping'an returned to Xiahe Village from Rich Man Li's house in the setting sun. He heard a commotion and noise before he reached the door of his house. From a distance, he saw that there were many villagers surrounding his door.
What's wrong?
Zhu Pingan walked over with doubts. When the villagers watching the excitement at home saw Zhu Pingan coming, they all said hello and made way for Zhu Pingan. Zhu Ping'an also responded one by one and walked in through the road that the villagers left.
Then I saw my grandparents, uncle, and family in front of my house. My mother, Chen, and my father Zhu were also there. My mother, Chen, looked a little unhappy.
The uncle's family was making a noise, but it wasn't with his own family.
After Zhu Pingan said hello to his grandparents, he walked to his parents, looked at the noisy uncle's family, and then looked at the villagers who were full of boos and laughter, and then walked to the noisy uncle's family to persuade them.
"Uncle, aunt, and Brother Jun, why are you standing at the door? Go inside. If you have anything to do, let's sit down and have a cup of tea to talk about it."
As the saying goes, family ugliness should not be publicized. Even if the family is separated, there is not a single word of praise in it.
The eldest aunt was teaching Zhu Pingjun to work hard and didn't want to go into the house. The eldest uncle listened to Zhu Ping'an's advice and nodded politely. The grandmother said something to the eldest aunt, and then the eldest aunt took Zhu Pingjun's arm and followed. Grandma entered Zhu Ping'an's house.
As the uncle's family entered Zhu Ping'an's house, the onlookers all said hello to Chen and others and went home.
Zhu Ping'an followed his parents to the last home he entered. When he got home, he found that his uncle's family was still arguing among themselves in the house, and no one could stop them.
From the commotion in the eldest uncle's family, Zhu Ping'an roughly understood what was going on. It was mainly about the internal disputes caused by proposing marriage to Zhu Pingjun. A few days ago, a matchmaker found his eldest aunt and wanted to tell Zhu Pingjun. A marriage affair. It is said that the woman's family is not bad, the woman's father is still a scholar, and the family still has a lot of fertile land. He lived a very prosperous life. The eldest aunt was very happy when she heard it, but she didn't agree immediately. When she found her uncle and talked about it, the uncle heard that the woman's father was a scholar. Naturally, I am also very happy. Having a scholar-in-law will benefit me a lot in the future.
In addition, these days, the uncle and aunt are overwhelmed by the happy events of Zhu Ping'an's family, and finally something good happens to their own family. Look, it's so embarrassing for the scholar's family to take the initiative to marry him. This is a high achievement. Both the uncle and the aunt were very satisfied, and the grandparents also agreed. However, Zhu Pingjun didn't think he was right, so he just didn't agree.
In ancient times, the matchmaker's words and the parents' orders were important. The uncle and aunt agreed to the marriage using their parents' names. Even the parents' orders required Zhu Pingjun's cooperation. However, this guy refused to cooperate and didn't agree, which led to this noisy scene.
"Jun'er, just listen to my mother's advice and follow Matchmaker Wang to take the money." The eldest aunt advised her earnestly.
"If you don't want to go to Nacai, you won't go!"
Zhu Pingjun raised his head, folded his arms, tapped his feet on the ground, and his whole body swayed.
Nacai is similar to today's blind date. in ancient times. Chinese women are often "born in a boudoir that no one knows, and no one knows whether they are beautiful or beautiful." After being arranged by the matchmaker, the man goes to the woman's home for the first time with the help of the matchmaker, which is called "seeing the bride." It is commonly known as "blind date". Visiting the bride is a key link in the success of a marriage. Men, in particular, should be treated with caution, behave well, and try to impress the girl's parents and gain her favor. Afterwards, the man prepares gifts and goes to the woman’s house to propose. Complete Nacai.
Since Zhu Pingjun was so determined not to accept the offer, the marriage would naturally not take place. The uncle and aunt were sincerely hoping that the marriage would make their eldest brother proud, so they naturally treated Zhu Pingjun both softly and hard.
"Jun'er, why would mother harm you? The girl's family is doing well. Her father is a scholar, and there are dozens of acres of fertile land at home. If you marry this girl, you will have no worries about food and clothing in the future. Mother has approved it. , you are a literary star who came to earth, maybe you should be here, your father-in-law is a scholar, he can also tutor you in your studies, and you can take the first prize in the future." The eldest aunt persuaded Zhu Pingjun with sincerity.
"No, mother, you said that I am a Wenqu star who has descended to earth. Why should I rely on them? Haven't you heard that mountains will fall if you rely on them, and they will flow if you rely on water. You have to rely on yourself."
Zhu Pingjun shook his legs, with a confident and energetic look on his face.
Wenquxing descends to earth?
Looking at Zhu Pingjun, who was swinging his legs, looking high-spirited and confident that he could ride a tiger up the mountain and capture a dragon in the water, Zhu Pingan felt a group of grass and mud horses whizzing by above his head. By the way, when I visited Old Master Sun last time, Old Master Sun was still lamenting that Zhu Pingjun was a dead wood that could not be carved, and the reputation of Zhu Pingjun in the village was quite negative...
Listening to Zhu Pingjun's nonchalant words: The mountains will fall if you rely on them, the water will flow if you rely on them, and you have to rely on yourself.
In his heart, Zhu Ping'an wanted to correct him for no reason: he can fall if he relies on mountains, he can run if he relies on water, but he can't do anything on his own. How good is that! ! ! Of course, Zhu Pingan would not say it.
"On your own? Are you waiting to drink the northwest wind?" The uncle said the truth in anger.
"Oh, why can't I rely on myself? Isn't it because of me that someone wants to get married to our family this time? My mother just said it, Matchmaker Wang said it herself, saying that the girl took a liking to me at first sight!"
Zhu Pingjun raised his head with pride on his face.
"Then why don't you go?" The uncle looked angry.
"Why should a man be without a wife? I haven't gone on a blind date yet, but the daughter of a scholar's family fell in love with me at first sight. When I go to the examination room next year and pass the exam, I will be like a pig, and I will be selected as a scholar, a scholar, etc... ....Just a daughter from a scholar's family..."
Zhu Pingjun said, with a look of disdain on his face.
Well, he must have been overwhelmed by the sudden surprise. Zhu Ping'an was a little speechless. Brother Jun took the imperial examination too easily, and said that the imperial examination was like one held by his own family.
Moreover, Zhu Ping'an was still very confused about the matchmaker Wang Matchmaker told Zhu Pingjun. It’s not that I look down on Brother Jun, but a simple analysis of the facts. Brother Jun has accomplished nothing now, and his reputation in the village is not good. His uncle has not passed the exam every year. The woman is from a scholar family, and her family still has dozens of acres of land. You can definitely find better fertile land, but why did you fall in love with Brother Jun at first sight? Love at first sight and so on are all nonsense in novels, especially in the feudal Ming Dynasty, women were raised in boudoir, especially those of scholars. , the etiquette must be stricter, then there will be a chance to catch Brother Jun from outside, unless...
Thinking of this, Zhu Pingan asked his eldest aunt without leaving any trace, "Auntie, did Matchmaker Wang say that the girl fell in love with Brother Jun at first sight?"
When the eldest aunt heard this, she looked proud and said, "That's not good. Matchmaker Wang swore to God that that girl fell in love with your handsome brother at first sight. She also swore that if she told a lie, she would give me ten taels of silver. .”
"Auntie, well, before agreeing to this marriage, you should go and inquire about this girl privately. If it's good, I believe Brother Jun will go." Hearing this, Zhu Ping'an had a strange look on his face, and he wanted to He stopped talking.
The matchmaker was trying to cover up everything.
Zhu Ping'an vaguely guessed that the girl from the scholar's family must have a physical problem. If his guess was correct, she might be blind in one eye. Otherwise, you should be able to find something better. Of course, I can't say these words casually. In the Ming Dynasty, a woman's reputation is more important than her life. I can't say unfounded words casually and irresponsibly.
If the uncle's family had agreed hastily and later found out that his new daughter-in-law was blind in one eye when she got home, they would have gone to the matchmaker to reason with her, and the following conversation would probably have happened.
Auntie: "Old Wang, the daughter-in-law you introduced to my Jun'er is blind in one eye! You compensate me for the matchmaker's money and give me an extra ten taels of silver. What you said at the beginning was that if you tell a lie, you will come to me. Ten taels of silver!"
Matchmaker Wang: "One eye is blind."
Auntie: "You lied to us. Why didn't you tell us and give us the money?"
Matchmaker Wang: "Why didn't I tell you? I told you at that time that that girl fell in love with your Jun'er at first sight!"
After Zhu Pingan reminded the eldest aunt in a kind and subtle way, the eldest aunt looked at Zhu Pingan in a strange way, feeling that Zhu Pingan might be jealous that her Jun'er had found a good marriage.
"Um."
So the eldest aunt just dealt with it and didn't pay attention to Zhu Pingan's words at all. (To be continued.)
