In the sunset, the whole village was busy.
Hundreds of tables were set up in the square, and each table was already filled with food. The aroma of food and rice spread everywhere. All the cats and dogs in the village were attracted. Children played with cats and dogs, and women gathered around. They were talking and laughing, the men were smoking and chatting, everything was so beautiful.
Now is the time when the lotus pond is in full bloom. There are still a group of tourists in the village who are also staying to participate in the autumn harvest feast. These tourists heard that the Sui'an people have returned from the capital, so naturally they are eager to stay. It's nice to hear that the Sui'an people are here. After arriving in the capital, I experienced some things, and when the time came to talk to my friends, I had something to talk about.
Cheng Wanwan walked to the square with her family and was immediately led by Li Zheng to sit on the main seat.
There were eight people sitting on this main seat. In addition to Cheng Wanwan, there were also Lord Wu, Master Yu, Li Zheng, Old Man Zhao, Patriarch Xu, Zhao Dashan and Shopkeeper Yan.
Shopkeeper Yan can sit at this table because he is eloquent and is not afraid of being left alone at any time.
Patriarch Xu is here because the Xu family is in charge of the village's finances. Now that there is more and more money in the village, the Xu family's status is getting higher and higher.
The reason why Zhao Dashan came to the main table was because after Cheng Wanwan went to the capital, he became the backbone of the Zhao family. People in the village would come to Zhao Dashan for advice on anything, especially cotton matters. He basically Everyone knew about it, and he also asked him about his experience in growing peppers and melons. Gradually, he became more and more able to speak.
After three rounds of drinking, everyone became more talkative and wanted to know what was going on in the capital.
"Didn't I go to the capital this time to attend Zhao'er's wedding? He was marrying the third young lady of the imperial minister's house. She is a perfect match for Zhao'er, a talented and beautiful woman." Cheng Wanwan said with a smile, "You guys Everyone should also know that Zhao'er was the third place in this year's imperial examination, the most famous Tanhua Lang in Jinke, and is now the seventh-grade editor of Hanlin Academy."
She was talking at the main table, and many people gathered around with bowls in their hands to listen to her.
Mrs. Zhu couldn't help but said: "The seventh-grade editor is a bit shorter than Dashan Niang, right?"
"You can't say that." Cheng Wan said in a roundabout way, "I am the royal wife and have no real power. Zhao'er is working for the emperor, and my future is unlimited."
Aunt Wang gossiped and asked, "Please tell me if the dowry of Zhao'er's wife is large."
A group of women immediately nodded: "Yes, yes, yes, let us also hear about the pomp and ceremony of wealthy people in the capital marrying their daughters."
Cheng Wanwan didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "You have to ask Cheng Ding about this. He has been living in the same courtyard as Zhao'er and knows more than me."
The women in the village were like this. Although they didn't understand officialdom, it didn't stop them from eating melons. After asking about the dowry situation, they had a basic understanding of the official position of the Imperial Academy's Minister.
Master Yu here continued to ask about Cheng Zhao's situation, while Cheng Ding over there was already surrounded by women.
Cheng Ding, a young man of eighteen or nineteen years old, usually taciturn, was being questioned by a group of women, and with Cheng Wanwan's acquiescence, he naturally had something to say.
"Oh my gosh, Zhao'er has married a rich daughter-in-law after marrying so many land owners."
"You can't call me Zhao'er anymore. Didn't you hear that Cheng Ding always calls you Lord Cheng respectfully? It's not easy for us to have a big shot from all over the country. Remember, we will call you Lord Cheng from now on."
"Master Cheng is rich now, and we Dashan Niang don't have to subsidize our parents' family anymore. It's great."
"By the way, Cheng Ding, hurry up and tell me, has Dashan Niang seen the emperor in the capital? What does the emperor look like..."
Cheng Ding nodded: "The emperor personally invited An Ren to the palace for a banquet. The Queen also received An Ren and gave him many gold and silver treasures."
"What a guy! Dashan Niang actually saw the emperor!"
"Ouch, the old Zhao family's ancestral tomb is really smoking. Our Dahe Village has great feng shui."
"The Queen has rewarded us with gold and silver, so the Emperor should have also rewarded us with good things. Please explain it to us quickly and don't ask before telling us."
Cheng Ding scratched his chin: "The emperor gave An Ren an official position, Sixth Grade Secretary Bin of Honglu Temple. When people in court see An Ren, they have to call him Lord Secretary Bin."
The people in the village didn't know what Honglu Temple was about, but the literati who came to visit knew it very well, and they were all shocked.
"The minister of Honglu Temple is a serious court official, how could he be granted the title to a woman?"
"If such a big thing happened to the upper class, we should have heard about it."
"What happened in the capital will not spread to our Huzhou so quickly. There is no need for people around Sui'an to tell this lie."
These scholars were hesitant, so they simply walked over and asked Cheng Wanwan directly.
Cheng Wanwan smiled and said: "There are few talents in Honglu Temple, so I was named a sixth-grade minister. It's just a temporary position. I can't count it. I brought some foreign books back from the capital and will put them in the reading room for everyone. After reading, if you pass the exam, you can also find a job at Honglu Temple."
It is not easy to pass the exam, but it is easier than the Jinshi. Once you become a scholar, you are qualified to be an official. In the past, you could only find a job as an academic officer in a remote area, but if you know a skill, you might be able to enter Honglu Temple, which is also a way out. .
The scholars present could not help but be overjoyed.
The people from Sui'an opened their mouths and pointed out a way for them. It must be the Ming Road. They had already registered as members in the reading room and would come several times a month. Now the people from Sui'an must have brought a large number of books back from the capital. They I am willing to stay in the reading room every day...
The autumn harvest banquet in Dahe Village revolved around Cheng Wanwan from beginning to end. After the moon rose, the banquet finally had to end.
After everyone helped clean up the mess, they went home.
Because some time was wasted in the afternoon, after eating, some villagers went to work in the fields, and there were many torches burning in the fields.
Cheng Wanwan walked on the road in the village and saw the market that was getting bigger and bigger, the neat schools, and the small courtyard with green bricks that had been built during this period. The village was getting bigger and bigger. , she will not allow this to be ruined.
She turned back and said: "Da Shan, let your Uncle Wang come for a visit."
Uncle Wang is Wang Yongcheng, Loach's father. After He Xiao left, all the patrol teams in the village were managed by Wang Yongcheng.
Hearing that Cheng Wanwan was looking for him, he thought he was asking about the development of the patrol team in the village. He immediately put down what he was doing, picked up the roster of the patrol team, and hurried to Cheng Wanwan's yard.
"Dad Ni Loach, please sit down." Cheng Wanwan said with a smile, "I asked you to come here to ask if there are any unusual events happening in the village during this period."
Wang Yongcheng thought for a while and then said: "More than a month ago, people have been coming to inquire about Master He, but Dashan Niang, you have warned me in advance, so the whole village has the same opinion, saying that they have never seen that person. How many times has that person come? Seeing that I couldn't find out anything, I left."
Cheng Wanwan secretly thought that the people sent by the He family would not leave so easily. They must have found a way to sneak into the village and find out the exact information before leaving.
She continued to ask: "What happens after that?"
Wang Yongcheng shook his head: "In the past four months, the village has been very peaceful, and some trivial things are normal. What exactly does Dashan Niang want to ask?"
"I returned to the village early this time because something bad might happen in the village." Cheng Wanwan looked serious. "Starting from tonight, the number of people patrolling in the village will be increased four times. The head and tail of the village need to be on guard. If there is any Please notify me as soon as possible if there is any trouble.”
"yes!"
Wang Yongcheng immediately went down to make arrangements.
Cheng Wanwan did not dare to relax at all. She calculated the time and found that it would take at least eighteen days for He Ling to come to Huzhou all the way. He Ling set off two days earlier than her, which meant that He Ling would arrive in about six days. In Dahe Village, she must arrange everything in these six days.
