Xu Ling went back to tell his father-in-law about this. Gu Litian said: "Zhao Zhen has been smart since he was a child. His whole family supports him in studying and they all have high hopes for him. There is a high probability that he will pass the exam in his hometown next year. Their family is also a good person. Be careful and don't interact with us. You can go and entertain other guests."
Xu Ling nodded. His father-in-law's thoughts were similar to his. In the original book, some members of the Zhao family were indeed very cautious about Zhao Zhen's reputation. Even if there was a big quarrel at home, they should keep it a secret so as not to make outsiders laugh. .
Just to pave the way for Zhao Zhen's official career.
Thinking about it this way, the Zhao family is quite forbearing.
However, this also satisfied Xu Ling's thoughts. He didn't like the original heroine Gu Yao, and he had no intention of having much contact with such people. People on both sides went their own ways, and it was good that the wells did not interfere with the rivers.
Xu Ling turned around and put the matter behind him and went to entertain the guests in the yard.
The tables and chairs in the courtyard are all borrowed from various households in the village. Those who come to eat bring their own benches to support the elderly and the young. Some families come with two or three people, but it is not for nothing. Some people bring gifts and money. Some people just take things if they can't afford the gift money. Anyway, they won't come empty-handed.
Others simply came to help early in the morning and were busy washing and chopping vegetables. Xu Ling's meal was not a loss at all.
Xu Ling set up a table outside the courtyard of his new house, placed pens, inks, paper and inkstones on the table, and asked Fan Shiqing to sit here. Fan Shiqing would ask for the name of anyone who came to hand over gift money.
"What's a cat? That one? Which cat is it?" Listening to these strange names, the old man's mind was filled with questions and he couldn't write for a while.
With Xu Ling standing by, he could take the opportunity to match names and faces.
The man smiled innocently and said sheepishly: "I haven't read a book, so how do I know what a cat is? My father named me this because he said there was a cat meowing outside when my mother gave birth to me."
Fan Shiqing laughed dumbly, "That's why it's called a cat." As he said that, he wrote three black words on the white paper.
He Mingmao poked his head to see: "So this is how my name is written. You scholars are really amazing!"
Even though there are more than 100 households in Lianhuawanzi, the literacy rate is estimated to be less than 3%. Many people are illiterate and have little opportunity to meet scholars.
Now I saw Fan Shiqing sitting at the door keeping accounts, knowing how to write, and recognizing people's names. Everyone came over to take a look out of curiosity.
Old Man Fan patiently told them the origin of the name.
"You call it a bench, it's the bench you sit on."
"Your name is Erya? Why do you call a man Erya? Oh...it turns out to be a duck. Your eldest brother is called Da Ya? You also have a younger brother named San Ya?"
Xu Ling was holding back a smile seriously.
Sometimes when he heard people calling each other names, he would automatically come up with a nice word, but he never expected that the real names would be so funny.
Fortunately again, the original owner's father who died young was really good at naming names.
Gu Litian came here to stand and watch for a while when he had time. When Xu Ling saw his father-in-law, he curiously asked: "Dad, how did you get your eldest brother's name?"
Gu Litian didn't even think about it: "It's the beams used to build a house!"
Xu Ling snorted, and immediately thought of Gu You, and asked with a bad premonition, "What about my wife?"
"A bench!"
Xu Ling: "..." It's better not to ask.
However, Da Ya's name was chosen at random, and the original owner was not particular about it. This name is just fine as a child's nickname, but you have to carefully consider it when choosing a first name.
At this moment, Li Dayuan's voice suddenly sounded: "Brother Ling! The distinguished guest you asked me to pick up has been picked up!"
Xu Ling quickly looked around and saw two people following Li Dayuan. One was Sun Baoyao who he invited, and the other one he didn't recognize.
The man had high cheekbones, a rich complexion, and a tall figure. He held a yellow riding whip in his hand and was wearing a government policeman's uniform.
As soon as he appeared, the atmosphere suddenly became tense, and everyone's voices became softer. Gu Litian walked behind Xu Ling, feeling a little nervous.
Sun Baoyao laughed loudly and said, "Brother Xu, your housewarming banquet is really lively. This is my master. He happened to have a rest today, so he came to ask for a bowl of wine with me. You won't blame me, right?" "
"Haha, I should shamelessly call Brother Sun's master uncle. I just regret that I didn't come to invite him in person. How can I blame him?" Xu Ling stepped forward and saluted the red-faced man, "Dare you ask your uncle's name? Please invite me." Come inside and have a cup of hot tea.”
The red-faced man was also good-tempered. He pulled Xu Ling to stand up and said with a bold smile: "I'm just craving for drinks. I heard from Bao Yao that your family is hosting a housewarming party. This is a little thought from me. You have to accept it!" "
The red-faced man's name was Yang Tao, and he was a fastidious man. The villagers paid only ten cents for a salute, but he paid sixty cents for it. Xu Ling quickly asked Fan Shiqing to write it down in the account, and invited him and Sun Baoyao to come in and sit at the table.
Xu Ling originally thought that Sun Baoyao would be the only one to come today and reserved a place specifically for him, but he did not expect that Sun Baoyao would actually bring his master.
Entering the yard, Sun Baoyao explained to the villagers: "I am a friend of Brother Xu Lingxu. I have come all the way to have a drink. Let's eat and drink well. Don't be afraid!"
The villagers gradually felt relieved when they saw Xu Ling and Sun Baoyao walking close to each other, arm in arm.
"When did Xu Ling, the bastard, hook up with the government official?"
"Hush! You're calling him a bastard, he's very capable!"
"That's right. His brain is smarter than ours. I could tell it when he was sneaking around in the past."
"What did you see? Do you think your chickens were stolen?"
Everyone was chatting and laughing in private, and their hearts were a little complicated. How could Xu Ling, who was originally looked down upon by people, change his identity so quickly that people didn't recognize him?
Xu Ling invited Yang Tao and Sun Baoyao to take a seat, and first poured two bowls of hot tea, "Brother Sun, Uncle Yang, it's really hard for you to go out and warm yourself up."
Sun Baoyao smiled and said: "Master and I rode here just to avoid getting drunk today. Which wine did you buy? Don't let us down!"
At this time, Gu Daliang came over with a jar of wine and put it on the table. There was still some soil outside the jar. Yang Tao's eyes suddenly lit up, "Is this daughter's red?"
Gu Daliang smiled and said: "Your distinguished guest is really very discerning. The rice wine buried in my sister's body when she was born is now eighteen years old."
Xu Ling was stunned. How could he not know that there was such a thing?
"Brother Xu, you still have such good wine at home. It's really worth our while to come here!"
Sun Baoyao was an alcoholic, and he was enjoying himself as much as anything. He didn't wait for the food to come, and asked his master to uncork the wine. The two of them took turns sniffing the wine and sighed.
The daughter's red that the original owner didn't use when she got married to Gu Tao happened to be used to entertain distinguished guests today.
"Let's have dinner!" shouted, and people made way for the waiter to serve dishes such as pork rind jelly, sour lotus root slices, fried lotus root, mutton and cabbage soup...
Dishes were delivered to the table one after another, people were drinking and drinking, with smiles on their faces, it was so lively.
