The group of people took the written couplets and returned to the palace with satisfaction. Tomorrow is the last day before the New Year. The New Year's Day is actually the New Year's Day, and I can't remember exactly when the New Year's Eve started. It's just that this This kind of festival seems to have been engraved in the genes of the Chinese people. Yancheng has become a little more lively and there are more people. Some small businessmen and hawkers have appeared on the streets. Although the people's lives have been very difficult in the past year. , but since the arrival of King Yan, this frontier city seems to have undergone some changes. A young prince has brought youthful vigor. In the past, once the autumn harvest was over, everyone had nothing to do, but this year is very different. , some people went to Xishan to mine coal, some went to the mountains in the north to dig iron ore, some went to the beach to dry salt, and some went to smelters and salt refineries. Many people found things to do. , not only that, even if it is so-called corvee service, the palace will take care of food, housing, and some extra wages. This has never happened in the past decades, hundreds, and thousands of years. It costs more than a few hundred pennies. ? Not more, not less? Quite a lot, especially for those who have been starving for eight meals in three days. Many people have found the hope of living. They no longer live in isolation as before, living day by day. The coal diggers have returned home, while the iron and salt refiners are still going on. But so what, they The wages are sent back home, and the children and old at home have food to eat, and they are satisfied. As for tiredness, living in this world is already very tiring, but if you can live well, it will not be so tiring.
Early the next morning, Ling'er woke up from her sleep. She looked at His Highness Prince Yan who was lying in bed in front of her, lightly kissed his lips, and then slowly got up and got dressed. They had a lot of things to do today. They had to clean the whole palace and put up couplets. Although they dyed some red paper last night, she felt it wasn't enough, so she wanted to dye some more. Fortunately, there are enough people, and most of the guards sent by the palace have returned. Only Xiao Chu and Xu Ling have not arrived yet, and I don't know if they can come back today.
Ling'er tiptoed out of the room. The guards in the palace had just changed shifts. The replaced guards rushed to the dining room. There was a hot breakfast there. This was what Zhao Bin said, so the brothers who were off duty had breakfast in the palace. Go back to the barracks next door to rest.
Ling'er ran to the dyeing room. The stove in the room was still on. Compared with the temperature outside the door, the temperature in the room was very comfortable. After adding some coal to the stove, Ling'er started dyeing paper alone in the room.
Half an hour later, the sun had risen. Except for Zhao Bin, who was still sleeping soundly, everyone else in the palace had gotten up and started busy with their own affairs. Lu Biao led some people to start cleaning the palace, and Wang Wu and Cui'er went to post couplets. Not far away, Lin Jingtang and Lin Yao were walking towards the palace, followed by a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar.
When Cui'er saw Lin Jingtang approaching, she hurriedly stepped forward and said, "I've met Mr. Lin."
Lin Jingtang smiled and cupped her hands slightly: "Hahaha, good morning, Miss Cui'er."
Lin Yao, who was on the side, ran towards Tweety excitedly, stretched out her hand to hold Tweety's arm: "Good morning, sister Tweety."
Cui'er responded with a smile, turned to Lin Jingtang and said, "Mr. Lin, who is this?"
"Oh, this is my son, Lin Shuren. He has also studied for two years and can write a few words. I simply asked him to come and help."
"It turns out to be Mr. Lin, Twee'er is so polite." Twee'er saluted the middle-aged man and said.
Lin Shuren said slightly cautiously: "I have met Miss Cui'er."
Before coming, Lin Jingtang had warned the father and daughter that the main figures in the palace were all close men brought by King Yan from the capital, and they were absolutely trustworthy by the prince and could not be neglected.
"Master Lin, please come in."
The three of them followed Cui'er into the palace. It was Lin Yao's first time entering the palace. The palace was considered the largest house in the city. The little girl looked around curiously, "Sister Cui'er, the courtyard of the palace is so big."
Cui'er looked at this little girl with a novel look and said, "This is not big. You haven't seen the palace yet. The palace is dozens of times bigger than the palace."
Several people came to the front hall. As soon as they entered the room, a rush of heat hit their faces. Lin Yao couldn't help but be startled: "It's so warm, Grandpa. The palace is much warmer than our home."
"Hahaha, no wonder Cao Juncheng and the others come to the palace to work every day. The charcoal fire in the palace is much warmer than that in the government office." Lin Jingtang laughed and said.
"The prince came to Yancheng for the first time. He was afraid of the cold, so the charcoal fire in the house was brighter." Cui'er explained with a smile. In fact, there was nothing to explain. Zhao Bin organized people to dig the coal when he came, and the people also took it. The salary is reasonable.
"Master Lin, please sit down first. I'll go see if the prince is up."
"Is this king that lazy?" As soon as Cui'er finished speaking, she heard footsteps coming from the back door, accompanied by King Yan's voice coming in from the outside.
Lin Jingtang's ancestors and grandson hurriedly stood up and saluted: "I have met His Highness."
"You're welcome, Mr. Lin. Hey, who is this?"
"This is the dog Lin Shuren."
"Lin Shuren, the civil servant of Yancheng Prefecture, has met the prince." Lin Shuren bowed and saluted again.
"Oh, I remembered it. I seemed to have met you when I went to the government office for the first time. It turns out that you are Master Lin's son. No wonder you look familiar."
"Your Majesty has a good memory, so I was standing by at that time."
"Well, well, now that Mr. Lin is here, let's start setting up the stall." Zhao Bin said with a smile as he looked at the Lin family's ancestors and grandson.
At this time, the red couplets had been posted outside the gate of the palace. Pedestrians passing by the gate of the palace stopped to watch, and some even whispered.
"What do you think Prince Yan's Mansion is doing?"
"I do not know"
"When I came from the east of the city, I saw that the home of Prefect Lin was also posted."
"I think I saw Mr. He posting it too."
"Is anyone literate? Look at what's written above."
A middle-aged man said: "This is a couplet. The first couplet says that the door will welcome the dawn and the wealth will be abundant; the second couplet means that the spring breeze will bring good luck to the household; and the horizontal line means that the lucky stars will shine brightly."
Everyone looked around and found out that this person was none other than Cao Li, the Prime Minister of Yancheng County. The people said hello one after another, "Hello, Mr. Cao, hello, Mr. Cao." Some people have often seen Cao Li running around recently, without any official airs on him. Cao Juncheng, who was already quite popular among the people, also greeted the people with a smile on his face.
"Master Cao, why did the prince post couplets on the door?" Someone asked curiously at this time.
"Yes, Mr. Cao, what is the prince doing?"
Cao Li turned to face the people watching behind him and said: "The prince said that these couplets are expectations for a better life in the future and are used for blessing. From now on, during the New Year in Yancheng, every household will post couplets. Let's pray together, Yancheng The days will get better and better.”
"Pray for blessings? Does every house have to post couplets? Where can I buy couplets here? I'll buy a pair and put them on the door to pray for blessings."
Someone in the crowd kept talking
"I haven't heard of anywhere selling couplets. Do you know where they can be sold?"
"I don't know, you know what?"
“I haven’t heard of it.”
Just as everyone was talking, the door of the palace opened again, and then several guards came out carrying two tables. The people made room for one after another. Zhao Bin led everyone out of the courtyard. When the people saw His Royal Highness King Yan coming out, they all Kneel down and bow: "Greetings to His Highness King Yan."
Zhao Bin stood on the steps and said: "Everyone, get up, get up, let me tell you something good. Today, the palace will write couplets for free. The three outstanding figures of the Lin family will write the couplets themselves. This is a rare opportunity. The quantity is limited. First come, first served. One for each family. ." As he spoke, Zhao Bin suddenly felt that he looked a bit like a street vendor.
When the people heard that it was free, they immediately went crazy and raised their hands to express their gratitude.
"My lord, I want it"
"I also want"
...
If there weren't guards blocking him in front, he might have rushed into the palace.
"Line up, line up, come one by one," Zhao Bin shouted at the top of his lungs.
With the support of the escort, the people slowly moved closer to both sides and formed two long formations.
Lin Jingtang and his son each occupied a table, while Lin Yao helped out. If Lin Jingtang got tired after a while, she would be asked to replace him.
"Where's Ling'er?" Zhao Bin turned to Cui'er and asked.
"I went next door to dye paper early in the morning." Cui'er raised her chin and pointed to the yard next door.
"This girl, Lao Wu, is taking a few brothers to help Ling'er dye paper."
Lin Yao below heard that she was helping Ling'er dye paper, and she immediately became interested again: "Prince, I also want to help sister Ling'er."
"Aren't you busy writing anymore?"
"Isn't this just the beginning? Sometimes my grandfather can write for a whole day."
"Cough cough cough" Lin Jingtang couldn't help coughing.
"Hahaha, then you can go along. This is your grandfather anyway. It's up to you whether you feel bad or not," Zhao Bin said with a smile.
Lin Yao glanced at Lin Jingtang, then raised her head and said to Zhao Bin: "Thank you, Your Majesty, I will go then."
Cao Li joked from the side, "Mr. Lin, in another two years, this elbow will probably turn outward."
Lin Shuren on the side also smiled bitterly and said: "Hey, I have no choice but to grow up."
The people on the side burst into laughter after hearing this, "Hahaha"
In ancient times, women were fifteen years old and had haircuts. After that, they were considered adults and could get married. Some families with poor families would marry off their children as soon as they were young. Families with better family conditions would have to wait until their children were sixteen or seventeen years old before marrying. , those who are not married after the age of 18 are considered eldest girls, and they will inevitably be criticized behind their backs.
In the yard next door, some papers could not be placed in the room, so they were taken to the yard to dry. However, the drying speed was not as fast as drying by fire, and soon all the dyed papers were written on. And people who came after hearing the news kept coming. In desperation, Zhao Bin could only explain to everyone that the paper was limited, so this year would be the case for the time being. Next year, people in the whole city would be sure to have couplets posted. People who received the couplets were naturally happy, and those who did not received them looked regretful. It was strange. Why didn't you come earlier?
