When the daughter returned home, Mr. Xu and his wife were naturally smiling. Seeing Chenglong's handsome son-in-law, especially when his wife told him that his daughter and son-in-law had consummated their marriage, Mr. Xu imagined the day he would have his grandson next year.
"My dear son-in-law, your mother-in-law and I are very happy to have you come home today." At noon, the Xu Mansion entertained the young couple with a banquet. After Mr. Xu's brief opening remarks, lunch began.
"Today is a family dinner. Our daughter and son-in-law are such a wonderful family. Next year, I will give birth to a fat grandson." Mrs. Xu said with a smile.
"Mom——" The young lady's face immediately turned red, and she stopped her.
Mr. Xu quickly said: "Eat, eat."
When Master Shen saw his parents-in-law being so affectionate, he naturally couldn't ask for more. Some people say that marriage is always a matter between two families. When the Shen family and the Xu family got married, not only the two families were happy, but the neighbors on Zhuxiang Street were all happy for the Shen family...
It is said that on the Dragon Boat Festival, Magistrate Huo specially came to Xiaohu to watch the dragon boat race. He took his wife and goddaughter to sit in the pavilion. The strong men on the dragon boat listened to the drum beats. Their sincere cooperation made Miss Li amazed.
Next to the canal embankment on the west bank of Xiaohu Lake, "Hanhou Diaoyutai stands erect". To the south of the platform is the Yushi Pavilion, to the north of the platform is the Piaomu Temple (see "Han Xin Memorial Forest" for details), and to the side of the temple is the Jianjia Pavilion; the lake To the northwest is "near ancient Meili, a place with dense residents". In the lake, "a stone embankment stretches across it to facilitate pedestrians", which is commonly known as Lianhua Street.
Xiaohu is surrounded by famous gardens, and there are almost no days to spend sightseeing. There are hundreds of acres of paddy fields in the lake, with wild rice growing all over. The scenery is beautiful, with fishing boats coming and going, competing with crows and ducks, and the small dam tea house is filled with wind and flute music in the evening. The sunset bells in the Zen courtyard and the string songs on the boat echo in harmony from afar.
The scenery is picturesque all year round, "either when the summer rain begins to fall, or when the cold snow first clears up, or when the spring wind blows and the willows are green, or when the autumn water and wild grass bloom, the vast Zhouzhu is surrounded by misty waves", which makes people feel relaxed and happy.
"Dad, Mom, this is so exciting."
"My daughter, you live in the north, so of course you have never seen these things. Dragon boat racing, eating rice dumplings, and wearing velvet during the May Festival." Mrs. Huo explained with a smile.
"Mom, it's so lively over there, they seem to be reciting poems and composing poems." Miss Li looked around curiously.
Mr. Huo took over the conversation and said: "Xiaohu is a gathering place for literati and elegant people. They are just playing Feihualing. It can be said that those who come to Xiaohu are either rich or noble, and this county is proud of them."
You can directly enter Xiaohu through the Hexia Canal. Merchants in the ancient town often rush to be arty.
There were cruise ships on the sparkling lake, and cheerful laughter flew in all directions from time to time. Not far away, long towing teams came and went on the canal, and birds deep in the reeds were frightened and flew straight into the blue sky...
"Daughter, there is a wonderful legend about Xiaohu." Master Huo said, shaking his feather fan gently.
"Tell me, godfather." Miss Li came over and gently slapped Master Huo on the back, "I'll give you a slap on the back."
"good."
Legend has it that a crab spirit molested a fairy in the heavenly palace. The furious Jade Emperor threw the crab spirit into the mortal world in a rage and fled to Xiaojia Lake in Hexia Town. The scenery of Xiaohu Lake is meandering, with lotus flowers dancing on the lake surface, fish swimming in the shallow bottom of the lake, and weeping willows dancing in the wind around the lake. It is really fragrant and the people living by the lake live a very comfortable life.
Unexpectedly, after the arrival of the crab spirits, they made waves. There were no more hundreds of boats competing on the lake. The water was turbid and there were no more lively fish. The reeds on the lakeside turned yellow and the lotus leaves withered.
The Crab Spirit was not satisfied yet, so he called for wind and rain. In a short time, houses collapsed, fertile fields were flooded, and people were displaced. At this moment, it suddenly transformed into an old man. He soared in the clouds and said to the people below the river: "If you want to prevent floods, every year during the Double Ninth Festival, three beauties will be selected, given to the crab essence, and thrown into Xiao Lake."
Mr. Huo's vivid description made Miss Li shiver all over. She seemed to have seen the scene of her parents' tragic death again: "Can no one cure it?"
"Listen to me." A lot of people gathered around Mr. Huo unconsciously. They also wanted to listen. Mr. Huo came and continued talking.
In order to avoid flooding, the people had no choice but to do what the crab spirit said. Many girls from good families lost their lives in vain.
Year after year, it’s Double Ninth Festival again. On the Double Ninth Festival, the town leader stood on the high altar and shouted: "The sacrifice has begun, bring up the beauty."
"Stop!" a sudden shout came from the crowd.
This person was none other than Wen Lou. He pulled up scallions onto the high platform, kicked the town leader over, and dropped the three beauties off the stage like chickens: "What kind of crab spirit? Can't harm the people like this anymore." Children!"
Suddenly there was a thunderbolt on a sunny day, strong winds blew, dark clouds rolled, and heavy rain came unexpectedly. The people immediately realized that the crab spirit was coming!
Sure enough, a giant crab spirit appeared in front of Wenlou. He picked up a sword weighing several hundred kilograms and fought with the arrogant crab spirit. After a hundred and ten rounds, Wen Zhuangshi slashed at the life gate of the crab spirit with a knife, and the crab spirit was suddenly hit. It was split in half, but its large pincers also penetrated deeply into Wenlou's thigh, and blood flowed profusely for a while...
"What happened next?"
"Wen Lou died. In order to commemorate him, people go to the lake every Double Ninth Festival to go door to door to crabs, cut off their iron claws, lift off the armor, dig out the buttery white meat, cut it into meat paste, wrap it in white dough, and make it. Crab roe buns, commemorating Wenlou.”
"Daddy, is this the legend that the Wenlou soup dumplings I ate that day were about?"
"Yes, Wenlou soup dumplings——"
Before the words were finished, people all said in unison: "I can't wait to eat!"
"Hahaha!"
The bustling Dragon Boat Festival has passed, and Hexia Ancient Town has returned to its former vitality. As summer passes and autumn comes, autumn passes and winter solstice comes, the four seasons pass by unknowingly.
In the second year of Zhengde, 1507, it was an ordinary day. The lights of Hexia Commercial Street in Shanyang County, Huai'an Prefecture are dim, and the shopkeepers are leaning against the door frame and stretching. Maintaining a professional smile all day long, the muscles in the face seem to be stiff.
Master Shen Wei saw off the last batch of guests and closed the shop as usual. He picked up the notice written on the counter, smeared some paste on it and pasted it on the door: "Something happened at home, business will be closed for three days." My wife is giving birth.
Shen Wei knelt down, tied his trousers, and ran home at 100-meter speed. Vigorous exercise stimulates the flow of Qi and blood, temporarily sweeping away the feeling of fatigue.
The lights at home are getting clearer and clearer, still as soft and warm as ever. Thinking that he was about to be a father, Shen Wei felt a surge of pride in his heart.
"Last year, auspiciousness descended from heaven, and the half-immortal said that Wenquxing descended to earth. Do you remember?" An old man stroked his beard.
"Look at the sky!"
Upon hearing this, everyone instinctively looked to the west, and sure enough, a green dragon was clearly visible. Suddenly it soared into the clouds and flew straight to Zhuxiang Street...
Suddenly thunder rumbled in the sky, and the neighbors came out curiously to have a look. While everyone was wondering, a baby's cry came from Shen's Mansion in the deep alley of Zhuxiang Street, and the thunder disappeared.
The midwife opened the door curtain and announced the good news to Mr. Shen: "Mr. Shen, congratulations, the young lady has given birth to a son."
After hearing this, Mrs. Shen quickly ran to the Bodhisattva statue and clasped her hands together: "The Bodhisattva appears, Amitabha."
"Set off the firecrackers quickly." Mr. Shen was so happy that he couldn't help but tell the housekeeper.
Amidst the sound of firecrackers, Master Shen ran straight home three steps at a time. When the servant at the door saw Shen Wei coming back, he stepped forward to congratulate him: "Master, the young master of the Shen family is born."
"Okay, great."
"Daughter-in-law, you have suffered." Master Shen was still panting. He sat on the edge of the bed and wiped the sweat of the young mistress, and said excitedly to the young mistress, "We have a son."
"Well, we have a child, please give him a name." The young lady said to the man.
"I have already thought about it. The single name is Kun, the courtesy name is Baisheng, and the nickname is Shizhou."
Xiaoling on the side clapped her hands and cheered: "Shen Kun, this name is resounding."
"Butler, arrange for someone to tell the Xu family to come for the wedding banquet tomorrow," Master Shen ordered.
"Okay, let's do it."
If you want to know what happens next, please listen to the explanation next time.
