Spring passes and autumn comes, and the sky goes back and forth without imagining revenge and fighting. The first month of the Spring Festival is finally ushered in Bianjing. There are only two or three days left before the answer sheet for this year is handed in again. This year is really full of travels. After going through all kinds of hardships, looking back, I can smile.
For thousands of working people, the Spring Festival seems to be a time when all the sufferings can be temporarily forgotten. They say goodbye to the past year, the hard work and the misfortune of the whole year temporarily, and pack up their bags and face to welcome the new year.
The people in Zhuangzi are all tall and powerful men who left their hometown and said goodbye to their wives and children. When they came to the colorful world of Bianjing, they rarely went out for a walk. Most of the time, they lived in a group of people in Liangjiazhuang, so it felt like home. , here they can do what they want, ride horses and whip, or drink and eat large amounts of meat.
The masters in Luocheng also stopped building stoves after the Little New Year. Everyone was chatting in the village if they had something to do. Just walking around Bianjing City will cost a lot of money, so it is better to save that money. If you keep it in your pocket, you won't have to spend the money if you don't want it.
Zhuangzi suddenly had nearly a hundred people. Fortunately, there were many private houses on Zhuangzi. Everyone squeezed in. Except for some people who followed Liang Chuan to the market to buy new year's goods on a snowy day, everyone tidied up Zhuangzi inside and outside. , or just sleeping soundly in the snow. Not to mention, no matter how loud the firecrackers are outside, it is not as comfortable as being in bed!
This year's Ding Mansion seems particularly deserted.
Everyone in the court thought that after the renovation of the eight halls was completed, Ding Wei had made great achievements and the position of Prime Minister was within his grasp. Unexpectedly, Empress Dowager Liu was confused and asked Ding Wei to repair the mausoleum.
The construction of the mausoleum seemed to be a great achievement, but some veterans of the officialdom vaguely smelled something different in it.
As the saying goes in official circles, if you don't advance, you will retreat. Ding said that this kind of extremely human minister was just short of the last step, but he failed to take this step after all.
If the officials and the Queen Mother really wanted to give Ding Wei the position of prime minister, why bother? Wouldn't Ding Wei work harder if it was given to Ding Wei?
Everyone speculated that Ding Wei was afraid that he might not be able to survive.
How could a minister who was about to lose power have anyone in his family to celebrate the New Year? Besides, there was too much evidence about Ding Wei's previous actions. The imperial officials had long wanted to take action on him, and people with some discernment had long been prepared to distance themselves from Ding Wei. The limit has been reached. Who dares to bump into his house at this time, for fear that others will not know that he is a member of the Ding Party?
Ding Wei didn't have this kind of consciousness. Who would be willing to sit back and wait for death? He didn't want to see guests this year because of Ding Zhaohua's affairs. He hung a wooden sign thanking guests on the door early. If you can't see it, there will be fewer people walking around in the house, and your ears will be clean. If you don't want others to know. It can't be spread.
Liang Chuan did not dare to neglect his boss Liang Chuan. Liang Chuan brought many high-quality tea bricks from the Sun family and several exquisite gifts, as well as collected antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and quickly delivered them to Ding Wei's study after the new year. .
Liang Chuan dared to take advantage of Empress Dowager Liu's daughter. Ding Wei had to admire him for this. This guy was quite capable of pouring ecstasy soup on someone's daughter's head.
He didn't dare to treat Liang Chuan as his servant anymore. When Liang Chuan arrived, he first commented on the Sun family's tea with him and praised him highly. Then he exchanged Liang Chuan's opinions and views on the future construction of the mausoleum. He listened to some useful suggestions from Liang Chuan. Liang Chuan knew that the emperor valued his mausoleum very much. Whoever touched this thing would die, so he naturally didn't dare to make such nonsense.
Liang Chuan now tacitly agreed not to live in Ding Wei's house. After delivering the gifts, he left Ding's house and went to the next house.
The next family is more important than Ding Wei, and it is also the place where he is betting heavily. Zhao Yun gives up his family.
This winter is extremely cold. Zhao Yunrang's family has been as cold as an ice kiln all year round because of financial constraints.
A lot of tea had been sent to Zhao Yunrang last time, which should be enough for their family to drink for a long time, so Liang Chuan did not send any tea. He bought several loads of silver-bone bamboo charcoal on the street. This high-quality bamboo charcoal is a high-grade charcoal from the bamboo-producing areas in the south. It burns with extremely high heat without producing odor or smoke. It is the best choice for Bianjing nobles in winter. like.
After buying the charcoal, Liang Chuan took Yelv Chongguang Yeluhan to the west of the city and led two fat black sheep. He passed by a silk shop and bought ten pieces of fine Hu silk, and the man led the horse towards Shuanglong Lane.
Meng Liangchen doesn't celebrate the New Year. There is no New Year atmosphere anywhere without his mother. Seeing that the first month is approaching, Zhao Zongshi still doesn't fall behind on Zhao Zongshi's homework. Zhao Zongshi was late because he helped Zhao Yunrang prepare for the New Year, and was detained by Meng Liangchen. Reprimand, severity is evident.
Zhao Yunrang felt grateful and distressed when he saw Liang Chuan coming to the door with large and small packages of gifts. The weather was so cold that Liang Chuan and his party turned red from the cold, but they did not forget to give him gifts.
During this period of time, Liang Chuan's etiquette was completely in place. He gave big gifts on major festivals and small gifts on minor festivals. All the food, clothing and clothing for the Chinese New Year were prepared for him. Just those two sheep would make it possible for my whole family to eat until the Qingming Festival.
Those fine lake silks are quite affordable at first glance, as well as those bamboo charcoals. In the past, I never dared to expect to enjoy such fine items.
"Sanlang has long told you not to spend so much money. I can't thank you enough for looking up to me, Mr. Zhao. You must not do this next time."
Liang Chuan said politely and humbly: "Why do you say this, sir? It is a small man's blessing to be able to do something for you. I see that Mr. Meng and Mr. Xiao Zhao's study is also cold and freezing. How can they do it without burning some charcoal fire?" Continue to support me? What if the root cause of the disease is found in the long run? Sir, you must never stop accepting others!"
With eyes full of gratitude, Zhao Yunrang took Liang Chuan's hand and sat in the room, boiling tea bricks with ginger and garlic. The tea soup went into his stomach and dispelled a lot of coldness.
"The restaurant on Bianhe Street should be completed after the year, and Mr. Zhao will be invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony at that time!"
Zhao Yunrang said in embarrassment: "Sanlang, I don't dare to go. I have neither contributed any effort nor money. That building has nothing to do with me. I don't dare to covet your private property, Sanlang!"
Liang Chuan said: "The villain and the adults have agreed that the adults will own 10% of the shares. If necessary in the future, the adults will be asked to help take care of and support them. This is what the adults deserve!"
"Even if you don't give me that 10% share, even if you are so kind to my Zhao family and my father's family, I won't dare to say no if I can help you in the future! He who is ruthless, unjust and has no end in life is not a gentleman. also!"
"No, no, no, sir, you must not refuse! I'm here to wish you a good year in advance. It's getting late and I won't bother you anymore. I'll take my leave!"
Zhao Yunrang stood up and took Liang Chuan and said reluctantly: "Sanlang, thank you for recommending Mr. Meng. Mr. Meng is an unparalleled talent in the world and can be my son. That is his blessing. I don't know if Sanlang has any relatives or friends in Bianjing." Let’s celebrate the Chinese New Year together. If we don’t dislike it, how about the Thirty-Third Young Masters coming to my house to have a happy party together?”
Liang Chuan was flattered and said: "The whole family is in Qingyuan, but there are still many brothers in Zhuangzi. The master and the family are enjoying the family relationship. Why don't I bother you by licking my face? Thank you for your kindness. I dare not forget it. I will say goodbye." .”
Bianjing is full of Chinese New Year flavor. The millions of people here are relatively wealthy, and every family pays great attention to the sense of ceremony. Not only are red lanterns and red ribbons hung in front of the door, the ground is covered with red confetti after the firecrackers have been set off. , the air is filled with the smell of gunpowder, and even the pedestrians on the street are dressed in festive red clothes. The atmosphere of the Spring Festival is intoxicating.
Liang Chuan came out of Shuanglong Lane and went straight to the Imperial College. At this time, the Imperial College was sparsely populated and surprisingly quiet. Most of the students had their own places to go, except for a few who were still studying hard in this twelfth lunar month.
Bao Heitan had no relatives or support in Bianjing. He was helping to copy documents in Kaifeng Mansion a few days ago, but he couldn't be found later. It seemed that he was working hard for the spring examination next year.
The Spring Festival has always been the most important festival for our nation. Even if you don’t have relatives around, you must at least spend it with friends. Otherwise, this Spring Festival will be too miserable.
Liang Chuan waited at the gate of the Imperial College for a long time. The guard went to pass Bao Heitan around, and Bao Heitan came out in a hurry after a while.
"Third brother!"
"I thought you went back to your hometown when I haven't heard from you for so many days."
"No way, it's so cold today that it's too cold to stay in the Imperial Academy and it's even more freezing to death when you come out. If you didn't come to find me, I would have gone to bed early and read a book when it gets bright tomorrow."
"Don't stay here these days. Come to my place to celebrate the New Year together."
"The relationship is so good. If you didn't tell me, I would be too embarrassed to look for you."
"Have you ever seen me outside?"
Bao Heitan smiled sheepishly. This generous old man always had something to say, so how could he really be serious with him?
It would be nice if he knew where Jinyan lived and asked her to go to Zhangjiazhuang with him. Unfortunately, this girl followed Qin Sang and came and went without a trace every time. He sent people to Laojun Mountain to look for her, but she never returned there.
Could it be that she was in trouble again? Even if it was just sending someone to deliver a message, she could at least contribute.
Liang Chuan led Bao Heitan to finally buy the new year goods he needed.
Of course, the fabric of clothes is not a problem. Everyone in Zhuangzi has two new sets of clothes, and even one piece cannot be rotated.
What everyone is most concerned about is drinks and food. Liang Chuan has never been stingy about these things. On the contrary, these wines and foods were the lowest consumption in the Song Dynasty, and you could have everything with just a little money.
Liang Chuan not only bought a few fat sheep, but also a few yaks transported from the northwest. These cattle were not farm cattle from the Song Dynasty. They could be eaten openly, and the yak meat was more fragrant. However, the people of the Song Dynasty had never seen such cattle. There are so few people that we don’t dare to be the first to try something new.
If you have beef and mutton, how can you avoid wine?
Liang Chuan bought four jars of aged rice wine in Zifan Tower. Looking at the old yellow mud on the wine jar, Liang Chuan's saliva was already flowing out.
After eating meat, there are also various kinds of candied dried fruits. Bianjing is indeed the most prosperous place in the Song Dynasty. The imperial court also has an agency that specializes in making candied fruits. Although the candied fruits are expensive, they are more hygienic, more delicious, and more exquisite. My mouth watered when I saw it.
Yelu Chongguang had lived in Qingyuan all his life and never thought that a small fruit like sour plum and jujube could be made into so many tricks. When a grown man looked at those fruits, he was so greedy that he couldn't even move.
