Red Mansion Reader

Chapter 78

After returning home with his grandfather, all the men, including Chen Heng, were instructed by Mrs. Zhou to climb up and down to work.Old Chen's house has a lot of things to do today, not only to clean his own house, but also to clean his wife's house next door.

When Master Wang Xianming and his wife went to Yangzhou for the festival, Chen Begshan asked for the key to their courtyard.

"There's no one who doesn't clean up during Chinese New Year." Chen Yushan paid great attention to the sense of ritual in this aspect, "Hurry up, I think it will snow tonight."

"Father, is it true or not?" Chen Huaijin, who was cleaning the window, looked up at the sky.The sun is warm, except for a little thick cloud cover.No matter how you look at it, today should be a good day.

Chen Gaishan snorted softly, and ignored his youngest son.A farmer spends his whole life with the weather and the fields, so he naturally has his own way of seeing the weather over time.If you tell Chen Huaijin about this kind of thing, the other party will not be interested.

"Father, here comes the water."

Shuangxi carried a small wooden bucket and staggered to the second uncle's side.Chen Huaijin looked into the bucket with his head, and most of the water had already been spilled on the aisle.But he still encouraged: "Double Happiness, you are so sensible, you can help the family at such a young age."

The person who was actually responsible for carrying the water was Chen Heng. After putting down the bucket, Chen Heng raised his hand to wipe his sweat, "Second Uncle, I'll go to my sister's place to see, and call me if you have anything to do."

"okay."

The family has been busy from morning to afternoon before cleaning the house.Zhou and his two granddaughters were left to play with lanterns and other things at home.Chen Yushan took the male at home and cleaned the courtyard of the master's house.

After being so busy, the sky was already dark.After going home and having a sumptuous dinner, there is another ceremony on the New Year's Eve, which is to worship the Kitchen God.

In a place like Shanxi Village, the incense of the Kitchen God and the Land God is more prosperous than that of the Temple of the God of Wealth.At night, every family will take out the incense burner, insert incense, light candles, and place offerings.The whole family, old and young, join the battle and pray to the Kitchen God for happiness and well-being in the coming year.

That night, Chen Heng was half asleep when he heard faint noises coming from the window.He turned over and didn't care, until he got up the next day and saw a world covered in silver.

"It's snowing."

Shuangxi, who was still in bed, couldn't wait to get up when she heard Chen Heng's cheers.Not long after, he changed into a coat and a melon skin hat and ran after Chen Heng's ass.

"Brother, brother, play with me."

Chen Heng laughed happily, and pulled his younger brother to squat on the ground to build a snowman.As a result, half of the snow talents were piled up, and they were driven back to the house by grandma Zhou to escape the cold.

Right now until New Year's Eve, nothing will happen at home.Chen Heng simply sat in front of the window, facing the white world, and looked down at the book.

Outside the yard, the sound of children setting off firecrackers can be heard from time to time.Listening to their laughter, Shuangxi, who was detained to read a book with her elder brother, felt very envious.

After all, the younger brother is still young, and Chen Heng was worried that he would overcorrect and make the child tired of studying instead.He got up and took something out of his bag.

"Double Happiness, look, what is this?"

"Wow, it's candied haws?!" Shuangxi couldn't care less about the firecrackers outside, and was immediately attracted by the red skewers.

"You follow your brother to read the book obediently, and I'll give you this bunch of candied haws, okay?" Chen Heng smiled and turned the candied haws a few times.

Shuangxi nodded naturally, staring at the candied haws with a pair of big eyes, as if afraid that it would disappear.

"Come here, brother will teach you to read the Three Character Classic." Chen Heng beckoned to his brother.

"Shuangxi knows, brother is talking about the beginning of human beings, right?"

"Hahaha, that's him."

Chen Huaijin, who went out to visit after getting up in the morning, heard the sound of reading from the wing room as soon as he returned to the yard, and couldn't help standing where he was, closing his eyes and smiling.

Chen Qi, who was passing by, saw his disoriented appearance, and lightly scolded him, "What are you doing? I don't have anything to do, so I went to lie down in the house. What are you doing in the yard to blow the wind."

"Brother, you don't understand." Chen Huaijin looked at the disappointing Chen Qi, and complained, "You said that when you were young, why didn't you take care of me like Heng Er did to Shuangxi."

Chen Qi sneered, and didn't bother to pay attention to this bastard, "I didn't see anyone early in the morning, where did I go?"

Seeing that it was his elder brother who asked, Chen Huaijin looked around and said in a low voice, "I went to the third brother's house and gave their wives something."

Chen Qi sighed silently after listening.If Qisuo's natal family hadn't been in filial piety, according to his father's intention, he wanted to invite them to celebrate the New Year together.

"In a few years, call Qisuo and his mother to celebrate the festival. I think Dad also has this idea."

"Ah."

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Unlike Master Xu and Master Jin who stayed in the academy for the New Year, Mei Xuezheng's hometown is in Zhenjiang, and it only takes half a day to get there from Guazhou Ferry in Yangzhou.

The Mei family has many relatives, but they are not well-known in Zhenjiang.It wasn't until Mei Xuezheng passed the Jinshi examination and entered the Hanlin Academy that he became famous.The alley where they lived had changed its name because of Mei Jin. In Xiaoyunfang in the east of the city, as long as Jinshi Lane was mentioned, everyone would know that it was the Mei family.

When such a prestigious celebrity goes home to celebrate the New Year, it is natural for the neighbors to come to say hello.Mrs. Mei greeted and sent them off one by one with a smile. After being busy for several days, she finally got some free time today.

"I see you are in a good mood."

Holding the soup in one hand and closing the door with the other, Mrs. Mei walked into the study and looked at Mei Jin who couldn't put down the book.

The two have been married for more than 20 years and have two sons under their knees.The older one has passed the Juren examination and is working hard for the examination.The youngest son was still young, and he was very much loved by the two of them on weekdays, so he was not in a hurry to end up taking the imperial examination.

"Madam doesn't know something." Mei Xuezheng raised his eyebrows proudly, and put down the book in his hand, "My colleague in the imperial court suddenly sent me a letter at the beginning of the month."

Seeing that he intends to show off, showing off his well-informed.Mrs. Mei bent over and sat on a chair beside her, and said cooperatively, "What did you say in the letter?"

Mei Jin chuckled, "It is said that His Majesty intends to promote the government schools in Yangzhou, Suzhou and other places. In a few years, even the provincial examinations may be held directly in Fucheng."

"What about Jinling? In the future, students from these places will not have to go to Jinling to take the provincial examination?" Mrs. Mei exclaimed, what a big deal this must be.

"It should be just a stopgap measure." Mei Xuezheng shook the spoon a few times, and he only figured out the deep meaning of His Majesty's move in the past few days, and it is even more difficult to explain the inside story to Madam right now.

The four great families in Jinling City, including the Zhen family who had served four times, were all deeply favored and trusted by the Supreme Emperor.If you really think about it, you are not that close to His Majesty.

These honorable families received money from Yangzhou salt merchants with one hand, and made friends with talented and obedient family students with the other hand.Combining the upper and lower parts in one place, it has already become a towering tree hidden in the mountains.If it is eradicated with the momentum of thunder, it will definitely hurt the muscles and bones, and it will easily cause turmoil in the world.

Your Majesty now governs Yangzhou, Suzhou and other places with capable ministers, and separated the rural examination from Jinling.What I want is nothing more than slowly pruning the branches and leaves of the big tree.When the branches and leaves of the big tree are cut off, it will be the day for His Majesty to cut down the tree.

"Then what does that have to do with you?" Mrs. Mei said unhappily, that's what's wrong with scholars, and they like to play tricks when they talk.

"Hahaha, ma'am, since you want to be promoted to an official school and hold the provincial examination, then the imperial court can't send an Imperial Academy to preside over the prefectural and rural examinations?" Mei Xuezheng said very proudly, as if the post of Xuezheng had already fallen into his pocket.

"Did you make any friends in the court?" Mrs. Mei was surprised and delighted, "How could such a good thing happen to you."

"It's precisely because I don't have many friends in the court that His Majesty pays attention to someone like me who can't wait for the stage." Mei Jin couldn't help shaking her head, the corners of her mouth became more and more uncontrollable, and finally she laughed.

"Thinking back, everyone refused to come to Yangzhou. Pushing and pushing, throwing me out as a bad luck. I didn't expect it, I didn't expect it. Now they write to me one by one, with implicit congratulations inside and out. Hahahaha."

"Amitabha, Amitabha. Bodhisattva bless you, I have to go to the temple to offer a few more incense sticks this year." Affected by Mrs. Mei's emotions, Mrs. Mei couldn't help clasping her hands together and said joyfully.

"After the Chinese New Year, let Jiaer also go to the academy to study, while I can still talk in the academy."

Meijia is their youngest son, who is just 11 years old this year.When Mei Jin first came to Yangzhou, she was very depressed and felt that her official career was difficult, so she didn't bring her children with her.

"it is good."

How could Mrs. Mei refuse to agree? One school is right, that's a great official.

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The New Year's Eve is approaching, and the Yamen of Yangzhou Prefecture is also a piece of leisure.

When Wei Yinghong was free, he rushed ahead of Ruhai and invited Pei Huaizhen and his wife to celebrate the New Year together.Lin Ruhai had no choice but to pick a day and come to the door with a gift.

As soon as the three of them met, they used to run to the study.A lot of things happened in the court this year. As His Majesty's confidantes and people in the situation, they are naturally much more informed than others.

"So Yangzhou is going to hold the township examination?" Pei Huaizhen suffered from a cold not long ago, and she was not in good spirits, and she was recuperating by the stove.

"Well, Master Pei." Wei Yinghong nodded with a smile, and pointed to Lin Ruhai again, "This is Ruhai's strategy. If you want to rule martial arts, you must first rule arts."

Lin Ruhai smiled and shook his head, not daring to take credit for himself.He handed a Mrs. Tang to Pei Huaizhen's hand, and deliberately moved towards her side.Now that everything has been decided, he can tell Pei Huaizhen the whole story of the plan.

At the end of August this year, after the death of King Beijing.The members of the Taishanghuang line were on guard, fearing that the Kyoto envoy would fall into His Majesty's hands.His Majesty knew that if he insisted on doing things, he would definitely disrupt the atmosphere in the court.

As a political person, the most important thing is to fight without breaking.It is easy to cut down trees, but difficult to plant them.Just thinking about doing whatever you want by killing ministers is the way to subjugate the country.

Since it is not easy to use force, Lin Ruhai took the opportunity to suggest that His Majesty throw someone out from time to time for everyone to argue, make noise, and confuse their eyes.

On the other hand, he quietly removed Yangzhou, Suzhou and other places from Jinling's rule.First weed out the Jinling nobles, and then send people's minds to the court.

This is why Wei Yinghong will rebuild Yangzhou Academy and invite Pei Huaizhen to be the head of the mountain.They originally thought that this matter would take ten years to plan, but they didn't expect that the death of King Beijing brought the opportunity to them.

Now that His Majesty has been on the throne for [-] years, he has long held righteousness in his hands.It is gratifying to get the soldiers and horses outside the capital now.If you can't get it, it will be His Majesty's lunch sooner or later.

Only civil servants are the top priority.If the successor cannot be selected well, Jinling Xungui has been asked to give someone to the Supreme Emperor.The party struggle will only become more and more fierce, repeating the disaster of Tang Ming.

As long as the officials of the Supreme Emperor's line are replaced smoothly, it is ensured that there will be no disturbances in the court.There is nothing to worry about an old emperor who has abdicated and lived in the palace.

"Well done, you guys are doing better than me." Pei Huaizhen nodded in satisfaction. These two young people who were selected by herself at the beginning have already started to play a role in the court.

After saying this, Pei Huaizhen paused for a long time before saying with emotion, "The Supreme Emperor is still old."

Neither Wei Yinghong nor Lin Ruhai had experienced the court during the reign of the Supreme Emperor, and they did not have deep feelings for this old man who was like Tang Minghuang in his later years.

"If he was young, he would definitely know the truth that he can only pacify the world at once, but cannot rule the world. How could he make such mistakes."

After hearing Pei Huaizhen's words, Wei Yinghong also deeply agreed.Looking back at the past dynasties, except for the founding of the country and the use of troops abroad, there are very few examples of military generals and nobles climbing over the heads of civil servants.

The reason lies in the imperial examination, which is held once every three years, and every time there are three tripods and two rankings, there are many Jinshi.Without them, there is no way to control the court and govern the world.

The three of them stopped talking, just watched the north wind whizzing by outside the window, blowing an inch of snow off the branches.

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After worshiping the Kitchen God on New Year's Eve, the adults in the family began the final preparations before the New Year's Eve.Spring Festival couplets are always indispensable, and this matter naturally fell on Chen Heng. He wrote a couple of them: good years, good times, good luck, rich fortune, good fortune and good luck.

Auspicious is the name Chen Gaishan chose for his third younger brother who was still in his infancy.

"One double happiness, one auspicious. I hope our family will be as smooth as this year."

At the New Year's Eve dinner table, Chen Yushan announced his decision to his family.

Chen Qi naturally wouldn't object, Jixiang and Ruyi, he likes both names very much.Only the second uncle was covering his mouth and snickering. Chen Yushan felt strange looking at it, so he asked, "What are you laughing at?"

"Father, I thought of the nickname you gave Heng'er back then. Hahahahaha, let's see what you choose now." Chen Huaijin grinned, completely ignoring Chen Gaishan's darkened face.

Mrs. Zhou thought that tomorrow would be the first day of the Lunar New Year, so don’t make jokes about her youngest son being beaten again, so she hurried out to smooth things over, “What’s wrong with the name Ergou? If you want me to tell you, it means that after Ergou was born, our family’s life is getting better day by day.”

Chen Yushan nodded in a muffled voice, Chen Huaijin wanted to explain his intention out loud, but Chen Qi had already kicked him under the table to signal this heartless brother to stop making trouble for himself.

"Everyone eat first, let's talk while eating." The second aunt also took the opportunity to change the subject and said to Zhou, "Mother, after eating later, I will accompany you to order some incense."

Every year on the [-]th night of the confinement, Mrs. Zhou would take her daughter-in-law to the earth temple at the head of the village to offer incense and pray for blessings. But this year, Mrs. Gu will be confinement at home, and only her second aunt can accompany her for this job.

Mrs. Zhou responded with a smile: "This year, bring the two sisters, Chen Qing and Chen Xian, too. There will be more people and it will be more lively."

Farm girls are sensible early, and although they don't have as many rules as big families, they still have to learn the customs of festivals and festivals.

Men naturally have similar tasks, and they are usually entrusted to them when they go to the ancestral hall to worship their ancestors.But this year it's not their family's turn to do this. The adult males in the family only need to go there by then.

"It's not in a hurry." Chen Yushan still felt sorry for his granddaughter, and said, "It's rare to have an opera troupe from the county come to sing opera this year. First, take the children there to see the excitement. If you don't feel tired when you come back, you can take them there again."

There was no opera troupe in the village in previous years.I heard that someone from Xiatang Village next door made a fortune outside. He just came back this year and told Lizheng in the village that he had invited the county magic troupe to make the village lively.

But this kind of thing only thinks about the people in his own village, and it is easy to fall into the gossip of others.Li Zheng of Xiatang Village was also clever, and directly chose the location where the opera stage was handed over to Shanxi Village.It is also easier for people from other villages to come here.

They only need to occupy this title, ask someone to write two lines of titles, and stand on both sides of the stage, which will not only make them famous, but also not make people feel ostentatious.

The two sisters, Chen Qing and Chen Xian, were eager to agree.At the same time, I promised my grandma that I would never feel sleepy when I burn incense by myself.Looking forward to the liveliness on the stage.

After dinner, Chen Yushan took his family and went out directly.Only Mrs. Zhou and her second aunt held auspiciousness and stayed at home with Mrs. Gu who could not go out.

Originally, Shuangxi didn't want to take it with her, but she couldn't stop the child from crying all the time.As soon as the second uncle's heart softened, he hugged him and warned him not to run around, so that this kid got this opportunity.

Tonight is a fine weather, with a bright moon in the sky and no clouds in the sky.The stars in the sky twinkle directly above the stage.When Chen Heng arrived, the place was already crowded with people.

Chen Qi put down the two benches he had carried from home, and found a place on a slightly higher ground outside.Chen Qi pulled Chen Huaijin and jumped on the stool, and after confirming that there was no problem, he pulled Chen Qing and his third sibling to stand up.

"Grandpa, I heard that at the end of the opera, candy will be thrown, is it true?" Chen Xian blinked bright eyes, she was not very interested in listening to the opera.I just had dinner, and I'm already planning to eat for a while.

Chen Yushan smiled, "If you can sit until the end, then think about whether to go up and grab the candy."

"Sister, do you want it?" Chen Heng rubbed his hands and whispered to Chen Qing, "If you want to eat, I'll grab it for you."

"There are so many people, why do you go to join in the fun. My sister doesn't eat, so I come to watch the fun." After all, Chen Qing is the oldest, and when he speaks, he is extraordinary.

"It's started, it's started." Shuangxi shouted in the arms of the second uncle, pointing to the distance suddenly.

As the words of Double Happiness fell, the crowd also cheered.A Tsing Yi in a costume stepped out of the curtain gracefully and danced through the long night with sleeves flicked.Drums and gongs sounded one by one, a colored ball exploded from mid-air, and a long couplet in black and red paper fell down.

Chen Heng knew the words on it, and it was written to thank Li's Qingyun from Xiatang Village, because he wrote the words.In terms of Go, Chen Heng's understanding is limited.But his handwriting, after tempering in the academy, has surpassed many others.

Today's first performance is "Jade Dragonfly".This play is very famous in Yangzhou and Suzhou, and its resounding level is no less than that of "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai".

But the content of this play is a bit like Xu Xian's son Xu Shilin saving his mother.However, compared to the bizarreness of the story, it is not inferior to "Legend of the White Snake".

It is about a talented man named Shen Guisheng in Gusu, who was dissatisfied with his elder's finger pulp for marriage, so he ran to take refuge in Fahua Nunnery.He came here because he fell in love with a nun at first sight.

For a moment, Chen Heng couldn't figure out why this boy surnamed Shen became interested in nuns.In short, the two expressed their love for each other, and the boy surnamed Shen left the family heirloom "Jade Dragonfly" as a token of love.

Soon, the nun had a child named Shen.

Really a fierce man, Chen Heng sighed again.

I don't know if the person who made up this play is a Taoist.It's really too bad to let this nun give birth to a child in Fahua Nunnery.

Later, Shen Guisheng's original wife came across Shen Guisheng and ordered his family to search Fahua nunnery. The nun asked the nunnery's teacher to quietly send her newly born child out of the temple.

At this point in the play, the content of the first day is over.In Xiatang Village, Li was taking a few strong men, carrying piles of rice cakes, bacon, half a pig's foot and other things on the stage as a thank you.

The Tsing Yi who was playing the nun came out with a tray in her hand, and sprinkled sugar on the children surrounding her.

After grabbing the candy, everyone can go home and prepare for the last New Year's Eve.As usual, it was Chen Qi who carried the stool, and Chen Yushan walked in the front carrying the lantern.

Chen Heng followed his two older sisters and walked ahead of his second uncle.

"Brother, don't you fall in love with nuns in the future." After watching the play, Chen Qing still felt a little weird.It's terrible, how can you give birth in a temple without fear of punishment from the Buddha?

Chen Heng also couldn't laugh or cry at this inexplicable exhortation, and said: "Sister, don't worry. Your brother is not that stupid."

"What's wrong with the nun, after all, the two of them really love each other." Chen Xian retorted, "If you want me to say, the original wife is the one, isn't the beauty of an adult?"

Chen Qing couldn't say anything, wanted to refute but couldn't think of words, hesitated for a long time, and said: "Anyway, brother can't."

"That's right, if my younger brother finds a nun, grandpa may be..." Chen Xian made a wobbly posture, probably remembering the incident when Chen Huaijin fainted Chen Begshan this year.

Chen Heng smiled and shook his head, "Second Sister, didn't you cry the most at that time?"

"I was crying because I was worried about grandpa, but grandpa is in good health." Chen Xian spread her hands, really looking like a Chen Huaijin optimist.

Chen Huaijin didn't know what his daughter said, and he was still dealing with Shuangxi's problem.

"Father, do we have family heirlooms? You tell me quietly, I won't tell my brothers and sisters."

"Yes, why not." Chen Huaijin sneered, "Your grandfather has a stick, and it will be your heirloom from now on. You will take it as your token of love in the future."

Shuangxi showed panic, "Is it the stick that hit Daddy?"

"Why, you don't like it?"

"Give it to brother, give it to brother. Let him give it to the female monk." Shuangxi hurriedly shrank to Chen Huaijin's neck. Now thinking of the scene of Chen Huaijin being beaten, he still has lingering fear in his heart.For a while, he was terrified to death when he saw Chen Gaishan.

"What are you doing, hurry up."

Chen Yushan stood still in front, urging the family to follow quickly, and then everyone quickened their pace a little.

When they got home, Mrs. Zhou had already prepared the things for worship in the evening, and only waited for the second aunt to pack up Double Happiness, and the men would look after the house.He took the female relatives and set off for the Earth Temple.

Not long after Mrs. Zhou went out, the sound of firecrackers, symbolizing the Chinese New Year, rang in the middle of the night.Chen Heng leaned on the head of the bed, turned over and fell asleep with a sigh of relief.

Wenhe has been here for two years.

　The second volume is over, this chapter is [-] words, I will go to have dinner later, and then publish the content of the third volume.Code words in summer tend to be hot, and code words in winter tend to be cold. Only spring and autumn code words are the most comfortable.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)