It snowed heavily all night yesterday, and now Yingzhou looks like a girl wrapped in a white fluffy fur. The red lanterns in every house are the steps on the girl's head, swaying in the wind amidst the laughter of the children.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, at the beginning of the new year, Liu Tingyun washed up early and put on the sable cloak his mother had brought from home in Qinzhou.

"Jinyin! Prepare the carriage quickly! I'm going to pick up Zhaozhao!" He looked in the mirror to confirm that he was still facing the wind, and ordered the valet.

"Oh, my young master, who would visit someone's house so early on the first day of the new year, you should eat something first!" Liu Jinyin hurriedly brought over hot white flour steamed buns and sea cucumber and millet porridge.

Years ago, Liu Tingyun made an appointment with Xiaozhao, and began to visit literati and celebrities on the first day of the new year. For this reason, he did not return to Qinzhou during the Chinese New Year.

From the time when the Imperial College was on annual leave until now, he hadn't seen Xiao Zhao for three days, so he couldn't wait for a moment.

Thinking of being able to talk with Xiaozhao about the past and present with those famous scholars, his heart was full of enthusiasm.

With a wave of his sleeves, he pushed away the porridge bowl, and he got up and walked out of the house, "Don't eat, let the small kitchen prepare some hot tofu nao and fried rice, and when I pick up Zhaozhao, we can eat together again!"

As soon as he arrived at the door, he almost bumped into Ji Yuanfan.

"Ouch, what are you doing, Tingyun? You're in a hurry, be careful of falling!" Ji Yuanfan smiled kindly to his only nephew.

Liu Tingyun stood still, bowed his hands in embarrassment and said, "Happy New Year, Uncle, I'm going to pick up my friend."

"It's the Xiaozhao you keep talking about, right?" Ji Yuanfan is too familiar with this name, and his precious nephew keeps talking about his friend's brilliant literary talents and outstanding talents, and his ears can feel calluses.

"Exactly, according to previous years, many civil servants will come to Manyan Building to celebrate the New Year on the morning of the first day of the lunar new year. You also bring your friends to meet the world, have lunch in the building, and visit those bachelors in the afternoon. .”

Arrange it all at once, and set the itinerary for the two of them clearly.

"Okay! Then thank you uncle first!" Liu Tingyun's smiling eyes were crooked, and being able to get acquainted in front of the court officials earlier would be of great help to him and Xiaozhao's future official career.

With Ji Yuanfan's permission, Liu Tingyun happily got into the carriage and went straight to Xiao's house.

As soon as the carriage stopped, he opened the door curtain and saw Xiao Zhao sweeping snow at the door.

"Zhao Zhao!" Jumping off the carriage, he walked in front of Xiao Zhao in two long strides. "Uncle said let us attend the civil servant's New Year celebration in Manyan Building!"

The white air exhaled during the speech circled in small circles in the air before dissipating, as if reflecting his happiness, and gave him a dance.

Hearing what Liu Tingyun said, Xiaozhao was taken aback for a moment. Originally, he only said that after meeting his uncle, the two went to visit the famous scholars in Yingzhou one by one according to the list given by his uncle.

Now it's time to attend the civil servant's New Year party!

Xiaoxun, who was sweeping the snow together, saw that Xiaozhao was still in a daze, so he took the broom in his hand and said, "Go, don't keep me waiting."

After pursing her lips, Xiao Zhao nodded and said, "Then... Brother Axun, please tell my sister for me."

"it is good."

After bowing his hands again and saluting, Xiao Zhao followed Liu Tingyun into the carriage, and first went back to the Ji Mansion to meet the elders.

Ji Yuanfan has been operating in Yingzhou for many years, and his family is well-off. The carriages in the house are all with thin necks and strong bodies, and they run fast and stable.

Xiaozhao felt that there were not many ups and downs, and they arrived at the gate of Ji Mansion.

"Zhaozhao, have you had breakfast?" Liu Tingyun asked without waiting for his reply, he turned his head and said to the valet, "Jinyin, you go to the small kitchen first and let them reheat the fried rice. It won't taste good anymore."

"I've eaten it." Xiao Zhao said hastily, his stomach is still full and there is nothing left to fill.

Early this morning, Xiaoruo gave everyone a bowl of pulpy soup and fruit, asking them to eat all of it, implying that the family will be reunited in the new year.

Seeing that Xiao Zhao really didn't want to eat any more, Liu Tingyun curled his lips and said, "But I haven't eaten yet...then just watch me eat later!"

Xiaozhao said hello, and he became happy again, took Xiaozhao's wrist and walked to the main room of Ji Mansion. The housekeeper said that Ji Yuanfan was drinking morning tea in the room at the moment.

Bypassing the screen wall, passing through the ten-meter-long front yard, passing through the vertical flower gate, and passing through the inner courtyard with unique and scattered landscaping, the two arrived in front of the main house.

Standing outside the corridor, Liu Tingyun said loudly: "Uncle, Xiaozhao and I are here to wish you New Year's greetings!"

Immediately there was amiable laughter in the room, Ji Yuanfan said: "Today is the rule, let's all come in."

Liu Tingyun, who was dismantled by his uncle, scratched his face in embarrassment, and led Xiao Zhao into the main room together.

The lush courtyard shows the strong financial resources of the Ji Mansion, and the master's main house can only be described as extravagant.

There are white marble pillars standing at the four corners of the spacious house, carved with delicate and vivid birds and herbs.

Hanging on the wall are curtains embroidered with layers of gold, silver and silk threads of various colors, reflecting the light in the house, as if there is no wind and automatic, and the radiance is overflowing.

The tables, chairs and beds that can be seen are all made of golden nanmu, this expensive wood is just random furniture in this room.

Ji Yuanfan sat on a carved ivory stool, holding an official kiln historical cup, sipping Yunshan Baiwu tea.

Liu Tingyun was in front, and Xiao Zhao took a half step back. They both bowed their hands together and said, "Uncle/Uncle Ji, Happy New Year. I wish you a long life and a happy spring."

"Okay, okay!" After hearing some auspicious words, Ji Yuanfan's face was full of joy, and he smiled and asked the two juniors to get up and take their seats.

After the two sat down, he took out the red envelopes he had prepared a long time ago, and stuffed them into each of them, "In the new year, both of you should study hard and work hard!"

The elder's New Year's greeting red envelope cannot be shirked, Xiaozhao said thank you and took it.

Ji Yuanfan looked at the familiar side face of the young man in front of him, and a strange emotion surged in his heart.

"Your name is Xiaozhao, right?" He suppressed the turbulent emotions in his heart, and said with a smile on his face: "I always hear Ting Yun mentioning you. Seeing is better than hearing a hundred times. You are indeed a handsome young man."

He personally brought tea to the two of them, and he said casually, "Are you from Qinzhou too? I haven't been back to Qinzhou for many years, and I have forgotten the neighbors in Qinzhou. Which street do you live in? Maybe I still know your parents."

Xiao Zhao took the teacup with both hands, and said respectfully, "My family is from Shangxi Town, Ling County, Qinzhou. Later, I moved my family to Qinzhou Mansion for the provincial examination."

"Oh..." Ji Yuanfan nodded thoughtfully, and asked again: "Then what does your father do for a living? You and Tingyun have a good relationship, and our two families can help each other in other ways..."

Before he finished speaking, Liu Tingyun interrupted him angrily: "Uncle! Didn't I say that Zhao Zhao lost his father when he was young..."

The voice became smaller and smaller, until the last few words, Liu Tingyun couldn't help but secretly glanced at the faces of the people around him, lest he mentioned his sad things.

On the contrary, Xiao Zhao said generously: "Thank you Uncle Ji for your kindness, but my parents died of illness when I was three years old. There are only three siblings in the family. Now there is a teacher who lives with my grandfather. With the future brother-in-law, there are six people in the family. Mouth people."

"That's good, the six people are still quite lively." Ji Yuanfan still had a kind smile on his face, "Tingyun hasn't had breakfast yet, right? Go and have some, don't starve. Go directly to the Manyan Building, the Spring Festival is about to begin."

After being mentioned by his uncle, Liu Tingyun felt empty in his stomach and very hungry.

He pulled Xiaozhao up and bowed his hands to Ji Yuanfan, saying: "Then Zhaozhao and I will take our leave first."

After watching the two leave with a smile, Ji Yuanfan suddenly put away the smile on his face, waved towards the void, and said, "Go and check, the Xiao family in Shangxi Town, Ling County, Qinzhou."

A ripple flashed in the air, like a flying swallow invisible to the naked eye.

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