In the hall.
The cuisine today is mainly Jiangnan cuisine, which is light and delicious. Xiao Luolan is from Jiangcheng and has a good acceptance of this type of cuisine. If spring is here, cold or stir-fried fresh wild vegetables are also a delicacy.
It was quite appetizing for Zhou Xu to eat something light once in a while, not to mention that his wife was beside him, sitting and dining with him.
"When the spring bamboo shoots are unearthed in February, we will go to the countryside to pick them. Then we will make spring bamboo shoots and stir-fry shrimps. Qinghe, do you like to eat it?" Xiao Luolan is very much looking forward to the coming spring. Everything will revive, green willows will appear, and the tips of the buds will turn pink. Tender, everything is full of life.
Xiao Qinghe sat under his aunt's desk. After hearing this, he put down the jade chopsticks and replied seriously: "I like it, thank you, aunt."
"Spring bamboo shoots bloom in February, mandarin fish are fat in March, peach blossoms bloom in April, and I will go to the south of the Yangtze River with you." Zhou Xu was in a good mood and read a poem casually. After reading it, he felt quite proud and felt that his poetry was really good.
Xiao Luolan covered her lips and smiled, her hairpin swaying slightly on her temples, her face was covered with snow and jade, and her smile was like a flower.
Xiao Qinghe looked at his loving aunt and uncle, his handsome face as bright as the moon also smiled, thinking together, he said.
"Where can I find happiness in my life? Peach blossoms and flowing water, people in the bamboo forest, and fragrant buds adorning the branches. It's a good time in the world."
"Spring bamboo shoots are stripped of white jade, there are handfuls of ferns, half-hooked yellow leeks, thousands of greens, and green hills are covered with Huanxi sand."
Zhou Xu coughed slightly after hearing this and thought it was okay, just a little bit worse than him.
Xiao Luolan smiled and said: "This poem is good, much better than your uncle's." It didn't mention spring, but it completely described the beauty of spring. It was particularly refreshing and elegant to read.
Xiao Qinghe blushed and said: "Aunt Miao Zan, everything in my uncle's poems expresses his thoughts directly, and his words are catchy, which is the legacy of Chu poetry."
Xiao Luolan couldn't help but laugh. She looked at Sect Leader Zhou who was nodding shamelessly and stroking his beard in agreement, and said with a smile: "The poems you have written are all very good."
Zhou Xu felt at ease.
After finishing the meal, Xiao Qinghe gave his aunt a respectful greeting, and his uncle saluted before leaving.
Xiao Luolan and Sect Leader Zhou were the only ones left in the hall for the time being. When no one was around, Xiao Luolan laughed out loud.
Zhou Xu's face turned dark, and he held his wife in his arms. Xiao Luolan held up his sleeves to cover her face, and kept laughing, mainly because the words "two, three, and four" were particularly joyful when combined.
Zhou Xu gently pulled down Madam's wrist and held it together, pretending to be cold and dignified, but when he saw Madam's brows relaxed and her eyes full of smiles, he suddenly fell in love with Madam again, lowered his head and kissed Madam, and said angrily: “Are my poems that funny?”
Xiao Luolan felt a little embarrassed. She pursed her lips and smiled and said: "No, I can't write poetry yet." She can read it and appreciate it.
"It doesn't matter if you don't know how to write poetry. Neither can I." Zhou Xu couldn't hear his wife saying anything bad about him, and kissed her again: "You like poetry, I can ask the poet to write many poems for you."
"No, I just need to read those books. There are many books in Didicixuan and I haven't finished them yet." Xiao Luolan said with a smile: "I just thought that two, three, and four in your poem would be followed by five."
"Are you going to Jiangnan in May?" Zhou Xu looked serious and shook his head.
"Bamboo shoots bloom in February, mandarin fish are fat in March, peach blossoms bloom in April, and go to the south of the Yangtze River in May." Xiao Luolan thought it would be okay to read them consecutively.
Zhou Xu stroked his wife's broken hair with his big palm, put his forehead against her forehead, and said with a smile: "No, I just want to go to the south of the Yangtze River with my wife."
I just want to go to the south of the Yangtze River with you, no matter what month the spring is.
Xiao Luolan was startled, the tips of her ears were reddish, and her face was filled with clouds.
Chapter 174
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the ban on Langge was officially lifted, and the rich flavor of the New Year was instantly concentrated on the Shangyuan Festival.
The birthday of the heavenly official is the day of blessing.
Sect Master Zhou had worked at the government office for two days and had a holiday. If Xiao Luolan hadn't seen General Song Deyu Song, he would have thought that Angel and the others had left.
She sent Chen Fu off the day before yesterday. Today she will be busy making lanterns for the Lantern Festival. Her daughter happily ran to her in the morning and acted coquettishly, waiting to go to the Langge Shangyuan Festival lantern festival in the evening.
"You can go, but let's make the lanterns first. Then wouldn't it be better as a family to play with lanterns?" Xiao Luolan asked her daughter to eat sweet-scented osmanthus wine glutinous rice dumplings first. Her daughter used to love this snack very much. Xiao Luolan woke up early in the morning and cooked dessert for the whole family.
Anyway, Sect Leader Zhou habitually got up early to practice martial arts, so she also got up early to make something that her daughter liked to eat.
"Thank you, grandma!" Xiao Qingxue sat next to grandma. The small spoon was filled with fragrant glutinous rice dumplings. She happily ate it in one bite. It was sweet and glutinous. Auntie is a dexterous person. I also added some red bean paste and paired it with the fragrance of osmanthus, which left a fragrance on my lips and teeth.
"It's delicious. Mom, you should take a bite too." Xiao Qingxue scooped a small spoonful for grandma.
Xiao Luolan took a bite and continued to play with the lantern on the table. The material for the lantern was collected by Chunhua. The goldfish-shaped lantern swayed with its tail raised and painted with bright fish scales. Xiao Luolan was watching Granny Cui yesterday. I tried it several times and tried it myself.
Qiuyue lifted the bead curtain and bowed.
Zhou Shenzhi brought Xiao Qinghe to pay his respects to his mother, and he immediately saw his cute little sister with round cheeks.
"Mother/Aunt, Shangyuan Ankang." The two of them saluted at the same time.
Xiao Luolan put down the lantern in her hand, asked them to sit down, and then said to Chunhua: "Chunhua, go and bring two bowls of sweet-scented osmanthus glutinous rice dumplings."
Every time he goes to his mother's place, he always has to eat something before leaving. Zhou Shenzhi is used to it.
"Brother, cousin, you need to eat more later. The sweet-scented osmanthus glutinous rice dumplings are so delicious. My mother-in-law made them by myself." Xiao Qingxue ate less than half a bowl of glutinous rice dumplings, her whole body was warm and her cheeks were white. She was blushing and her eyes were as bright as stars.
Xiao Qinghe looked at his aunt who smiled gently and was a little surprised.
"Just one bowl for each of you. If you eat too much glutinous rice, it will be difficult to digest it." Xiao Luolan looked at Shenzhi and Qinghe: "There is a lantern festival in the evening. Do you want to go out and play?"
"Let's go together, my mother-in-law has already made your lantern." Xiao Qingxue said before her brother and cousin Qinghe could answer.
Zhou Shenzhi nodded and said with a smile: "Of course I want to go. It's Shangyuan's holiday today. It's rare that I have free time. In the evening, my sister and I will go to the street to enjoy the lanterns."
"I want to go too." Xiao Qinghe said shyly.
"Then let's go together." Xiao Luolan asked the two children to choose a favorite lantern style and save it for the afternoon.
"Mother, the lantern you gave me last time is still usable. I want to take that one tonight." Zhou Shenzhi said, not wanting his mother to work hard with her own hands.
"Ah, I also remembered, I also have a little rabbit lantern that I keep in my room." When brother said this, Xiao Qingxue immediately thought: "Mom, give this goldfish lantern to Qinghe. "
"I..." Xiao Qinghe quickly declined. Neither Young Master Zhou nor his cousin had the lantern made by his aunt, so how could he hold it.
Xiao Luolan waved Qinghe over and handed the lantern to his hand: "Shenzhi and Qingxue are both here. I'll give this to you. Do you like it?"
Xiao Qinghe held the goldfish lantern and nodded heavily at the end: "I like it, thank you, aunt."
In the afternoon, Xiao Luolan disposed of the family's belongings and received another invitation. Dou Dalang was getting married. The date was scheduled for the 20th of the first lunar month, which was an auspicious day. She replied to the invitation and told her that she would definitely attend.
In the evening, Zhou Xu came out of Deyan's study. After the family finished eating, they went to the street to enjoy the lanterns.
Xiao Luolan was wearing a gauze curtain hat, and next to her was Sect Master Zhou. After nightfall, the whole Langge City became lively.
Fire trees, silver flowers, fish and dragons dancing all night long, people coming and going, bright lights can be seen everywhere, as if it were daytime.
"There are seven colored lanterns in front. Let's go to the stage to have a look." Zhou Xu said, holding his wife's hand.
Xiao Luolan turned around and saw Shen Zhi, Qing He and the others beside her daughter, and felt relieved.
"Brother, cousin, can you guess lantern riddles?" Xiao Qingxue pulled her brother and took a fancy to a doll lantern. If the stall owner guessed it, he could give it away. This is a common way to attract tourists at lantern festivals. .
However, this lantern stall owner was really too young. Xiao Qingxue stared at his face for a while. He looked pretty good, but his face seemed to be powdered and too white. But the lanterns on his stall were pretty good. Yes, a female doll holding a gold ingot is lifelike.
"Just a moment." Xiao Qinghe stood next to his cousin. Because there were many people around, he was worried that his cousin couldn't hear clearly, so he moved closer to his cousin's ear canal.
Zhou Shenzhi looked at the stall owner with a cold expression. He was older than Amei. When he saw the way the young man looked at Amei, he knew what the scholar was hiding. He heard Amei ask him, "You can give it a try." "
The scholar stall owner showed excitement in his eyes but suppressed it secretly. He smiled and said: "Girl, do you want someone else to guess for you? In fact, my crossword puzzle is very simple."
"I don't care if you are simple or not, I don't want to guess." Xiao Qingxue said. She didn't think there was anything wrong at all. She didn't know much about ancient culture. Her brother and cousin Qinghe around her both loved reading. In this case , of course let them come.
The scholar didn't expect to get such a straightforward answer. Shouldn't aristocratic girls be well-read in poetry and books to show off their talents? Why speak so rudely.
"I want the doll holding the gold ingot. You can tell me the crossword puzzle." Xiao Qingxue raised her chin.
He was really pampering and domineering, and his taste was too vulgar. The scholar stall owner couldn't bear it. He originally wanted to recommend himself to Master Jiedushi, but unfortunately he never had a way. After asking around, he learned that Master Jiedushi had a beloved daughter, so he started to think about it. , all the lantern riddles on the stall express love and affection. Although there are maids at home who add fragrance, the girl in front of me is dressed in luxurious clothes, with snow-skinned skin and green eyebrows. Even though she has a bad temper, her appearance is like a dazzling pearl...
Zhou Shenzhi narrowed his eyes slightly, picked up the soft whip from his waist and slapped the face of this ignorant scholar stall owner, and said in a cold voice: "I asked you to tell me a riddle, are you mute?"
The scholar's face turned red immediately after being humiliated. He met the young man's cold gaze and swallowed in panic: "The mystery is that there are no traces of travelers in thousands of mountains. Only when you look for them do you know that the moon is empty. Suddenly, the word "Slanting Goose" appears, and the boat swims in surprise. The carp leaps three reds.”
Zhou Shenzhi smiled coldly and looked at the scholar up and down. Do all the stupid people in the world think that others are as stupid as him? He is so evil-minded and wants to cling to his sister. He doesn't follow his own example and thinks that he is. Is my sister a pure purdah girl who is easily deceived? Even if she was, he would still have to break this person's legs! Stop thinking about this person.
"Can you guess it?" Xiao Qingxue asked her cousin.
Xiao Qinghe was as handsome as jade and frowned slightly. This scholar was too rude. He replied: "Okay, but before that, I also have a riddle to give to this stall owner. If the stall owner says it, then we will use this lantern I bought it with money, and the riddle is that I can sit when I sit, I can sit when I lie down, I can sit when I stand, and I can sit when I walk."
As soon as these words came out, many literati around burst into laughter. For a moment, all eyes looking at the joke fell on the scholar. The scholar's pale face was completely burned. He no longer had the dignity to stay here. He left the lantern holding the gold ingot in his hand. Leave in a hurry.
Xiao Qingxue held the rabbit lantern in one hand and the new lantern in the other. She happily turned the lantern in a circle. When they walked to the next market, she asked cousin Qinghe in a low voice: "What is the riddle of the stall owner just now?" ah?"
Xiao Qinghe glanced at the young master of the Zhou family, and when he saw that he did not say anything, he said: "The answer to the scholar stall owner's secret is love at first sight. My cousin must not believe him. This person does not have much talent and has a wrong mind. He is not a good person." select."
"He was chatting with me." Xiao Qingxue understood, and then asked: "Then what's the answer behind you?" Why suddenly, the scholar stall owner left in shame and anger.
A smile appeared on Zhou Shenzhi's lips and he said: "The answer to Qinghe's riddle is □□ (hama)." He mocked the scholar stall owner as if he was a leper/□□ (laihama) and wanted to climb high.
Xiao Qingxue was stunned for a moment, then started laughing. She didn't realize that her cousin had a bad mouth, but she liked it!
Xiao Qinghe's face turned red, feeling embarrassed when his cousin laughed at him.
The three of them continued shopping.
far away.
Xiao Luolan unexpectedly saw Master Lian, and Zhou Xu raised his eyebrows slightly.
"I pay my respects to the General, General's wife." Lian Shiqing waved his sleeves as a perfect greeting and smiled sincerely.
"Qi Nanhua invited you here?" Zhou Xu looked at Feixian Tower behind Lian Shiqing.
Lian Shiqing smiled and said: "Nothing can be hidden from the general. The general is really a god. Qi Shilang presented me with a box of Beihai Pearl for my humble position and asked me to be a lobbyist. He has prepared a banquet in Feixian Tower and is waiting. The general is here to visit us."
Xiao Luolan suddenly realized, no wonder the angel didn't come to announce the edict for several days.
"What if I don't go?" Zhou Xu said playfully.
Lian Shiqing immediately said: "The humble official immediately returned all the pearls and returned to Taiyang County."
Zhou Xu looked at his wife, but Xiao Luolan didn't react at first.
"Do you want to go, madam? Or do you want to go shopping again?"
Is this for her to decide? Xiao Luolan looked at Feixian Tower. If it hadn't been for Qi Shilang and the others, she would have actually forgotten about the title ban. She also didn't expect that the matter had been dragged on until now and it wasn't over yet.
Xiao Luolan sighed inwardly, and after much deliberation, she decided to let the people in the court leave early to avoid being upset: "We are tired from shopping, let's go upstairs and rest for a while."
Lian Shiqing's fox eyes had deep smile lines. After the general went upstairs, he fell a few steps behind the general's wife. He took the opportunity to whisper back: "Many villages and counties in Taiyang County have been hit by snow disasters. I will take Qi Shilang's pearl We exchanged money and grain for the victims, and the general’s wife can rest assured that Mr. Lian will not let you down.”
Xiao Luolan turned around in surprise and looked at Master Lian. This person had to tell him when he did good things?
Lian Shiqing bowed his head respectfully. Since he was on the general's wife's side, of course he had to go along with her. At least he would have a good impression on the general's wife. If the general's wife was a person who loved pleasure and beauty, he would find another way to please her. The superior is happy.
