Zhang Mansion.
Zhang He returned home confused and carefully checked the books, but why did he get interrupted?
Before Zhang He, who was bored, could figure out what was going on, he was about to go out. Aunt Wei, wearing a red flower on her head, holding a red silk in her hand, and a flowered coat, arrived. There was also a team of people outside the door, carrying eight boxes, which was extremely festive.
The big man at the head also held a wild goose in his hand.
Without waiting for Zhang He to speak, Aunt Wei asked about her identity and said, "Mr. Zhang, the mother of the Gu family in Teng County, Shandong Province. I heard that the daughter of the Zhang family is gentle and virtuous, but she has not yet been betrothed. Today, I will send you a betrothal gift to propose to my son Gu Zhengchen. Please also invite me." Mr. Zhang is as good as Chanjuan."
"Gu Zhengchen?"
Zhang He frowned slightly.
A few days ago, Wu Lin just talked about the matter between this person and her daughter, and she felt a little moved. However, she was unable to speak directly, so she put the matter aside.
Who would have thought that the Gu family seemed to be equally interested, and even found a matchmaker to accept the offer.
Zhang He glanced at the betrothal gift, and the wild goose pounced suddenly.
In winter, wild geese fly south, and it is not difficult to catch them in Jinling. However, ordinary people cannot get wild geese, so they can only use geese instead of wild geese, which is called "wild geese". The living wild geese itself symbolizes wealth and status.
Zhang He thought it was Wu Lin's help that led to Aunt Wei's visit today.
Aunt Wei led people into the Zhang Mansion and began to talk about Gu Zhengchen's good qualities. He was young and promising, rich and powerful, handsome scholar, well-informed and sensible. Today he was in the seventh grade, but he was in the first grade...
Zhang He was stunned for a moment after hearing this. This matchmaker has profound skills.
Aunt Wei can't she not be serious about her work. Not only can she not afford to offend the people of the Mu Mansion, not only has she received money from the Gu family, but she also went to the palace to send a message to the eunuch last night to tell her to work with her heart. If she doesn't succeed, she will be punished...
In all these years, being a matchmaker has never been so dangerous, so use whatever good words you have.
When the maid Xiao He heard the news, she quickly ran to the backyard and shouted to Zhang Xiwan, who was dazedly touching the red sandalwood beads on her wrist: "Miss, Miss, the Gu family has sent a matchmaker to pick it up."
"really?"
Zhang Xiwan was pleasantly surprised, and suddenly felt that she was acting too eagerly, so she quickly turned away.
Xiao He came to Zhang Xiwan's side and said with a smile: "Miss, it's absolutely true. I saw Guard Yao bringing a wild goose. I heard that the matchmaker is the government's Aunt Wei."
Zhang Xiwan blushed, grabbed her handkerchief and asked, "What did father say?"
Xiao He shook his head and his pigtails swayed: "The master was talking to Aunt Wei. I didn't listen carefully, so I ran over to tell the lady. Miss, can I go and listen again?"
Zhang Xiwan nodded. It was not appropriate to run out in such a situation.
Seeing Xiao He leave, Zhang Xiwan lowered her head to look at the Buddhist beads on her wrist, stretched out her hand to touch it gently: "Mr. Gu, you understand Xiwan's intention."
Mu Mansion Villa.
Gu Zhengchen completed Mu Chun and Mu Sheng's homework as usual.
Gu Qingqing ran over and complained to Gu Zhengchen: "Ms. Wei has already entered Zhang's house. Mother didn't let me inquire. I don't know what Mr. Zhang is thinking."
Gu Zhengchen smiled and said: "Whether it succeeds or not, we have to wait and see. This kind of thing cannot be rushed."
Seeing Gu Zhengchen like this, Gu Qingqing didn't know what to say and ran to the wall to watch the geese squawking. One of the two sent by the palace had already been given away.
Weddings are all about etiquette procedures. For example, in later generations, you can kneel down at a random place to propose marriage, then say "I do", and the two people will be together. This did not exist in ancient times.
There were six main procedures in ancient weddings:
Nacai, asking for the name, Naji, Nazheng, asking for an appointment, personally welcoming.
Since the Han Dynasty, great importance has been attached to every procedure. From the royal family to the common people, six rites are used as the basis for weddings. However, in some war-torn times, "rituals and music are broken", and the people are in danger. Who still uses the six rites. For example, during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, weddings were simplified and "weddings at the time of worship" were used. This procedure is quite simple:
The woman covers her head with a light silk fabric, and her husband pushes it aside. After bowing to her parents-in-law, they are considered married.
However, during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the etiquette system was re-established and the six rites were brought out again. By the Song Dynasty, the Six Rites procedures began to be merged. "History of the Song Dynasty·Yiwei Zhi" records: "When scholars and common people get married, they ask for Yu Nacai's name and ask for an appointment at Nazheng."
This means that in the Song Dynasty, the six rites had become the four rites.
This is also very appropriate. You took the wild geese to send the betrothal gift. Everyone has agreed to the marriage. By the way, asking the girl's name is just a matter of one sentence. There is no need to spend another day alone and prepare a gift. , this is time-consuming and costly.
There is also Nazheng. This is an engagement. Since the marriage is already set, it is normal to discuss and finalize the wedding date. There is no need to go to "ask for an appointment" again.
People in the Song Dynasty knew how to adapt and enjoy life. Zhu Xi was probably also influenced by "simplified" thinking. He also canceled Naji in "Zhu Xi's Family Rituals", and directly became the three rites of accepting gifts, accepting gifts, and personally welcoming.
Zhu Yuanzhang wished he could be a descendant of Zhu Xi. If there were no descendants of Zhu Xi's family and the genealogy was clear, he would not give up because he couldn't add Zhu Chuyi's fame. You can't be a descendant, but you can be a follower of Zhu Xi. During the Ming Dynasty, the rules set by Zhu Xi were to be held according to the "Zhu Xi Family Rituals".
From the perspective of weddings, many people benefited from Zhu Xi. If he hadn't simplified the three rites into three, Zhu Xi would probably have followed the Han Dynasty and returned to the six rites. By then, the six rites would have to be given five times. , five wild geese or geese, trouble the matchmaker five times...
Aunt Wei said a lot, and Zhang He just drank tea calmly. After Aunt Wei finished speaking, Zhang He looked at the embroidered shoes at the door and said, "Xiao He, please invite the young lady to the study."
Upon hearing this, Xiao He hurriedly came out and agreed, then ran out again.
Zhang He said to Aunt Wei, "Please sit down for a moment. I'll come back when you go."
study.
Zhang Xiwan watched Zhang He walk in uneasily, saluted and shouted: "Father."
Zhang He scratched his beard, looked at Zhang Xiwan, and said calmly: "I guess you should know that Gu's mother hired a matchmaker for Gu Zhengchen and found a matchmaker to help you find a match. Who is Gu Zhengchen? I think Gu Qingqing will come soon." I told you, but you have never met before, he doesn’t know you, and you don’t know him.”
"This matter concerns the rest of your life. Father hopes that you will consider it carefully. If you are interested in Gu Zhengchen, father will agree. If you are worried, father will withdraw first and arrange for you to meet in person to discuss marriage another day. It’s not too late.”
Zhang Xiwan looked at her father who loved her, hesitated for a moment, and whispered: "Father, actually, my daughter has met Gu Zhengchen."
Zhang He was a little stunned.
Zhang Xiwan lowered her head: "Yesterday during Laba, Gu Qingqing and I went to Tianjie Temple and met Gu Zhengchen there."
"Tianjie Temple?"
Zhang He was a little angry: "This Gu Qingqing actually let you meet in private without telling me, it's really abominable!"
Zhang Xiwan quickly said: "Father, Gu Qingqing doesn't know that Gu Zhengchen went to Tianjie Temple."
"Hmph, that's nonsense. It must have been arranged deliberately by Gu Zhengchen."
Zhang He was quite dissatisfied, as if his daughter had suffered a great loss.
Zhang Xiwan saw something was wrong and became anxious: "No, my daughter met Gu Zhengchen as early as when she was in Shanyang."
Zhang He was surprised.
Zhang Xiwan rubbed her handkerchief uneasily: "After singing about the great river, we turned around and headed east. A sophisticated group of sciences can help the poor. Having faced the wall for ten years and trying to break through it, it is hard to be rewarded as a hero even if he crosses the sea. My father has not always wanted to find the person who left the poem. This poem - It was written by Gu Zhengchen."
Zhang He suddenly sat in his chair, stunned...
