Late Tang

After the war, the town of Shamen was full of joyful atmosphere. The island was decorated with lanterns and festoons, and explosive poles were set off, as if it was New Year's Day.Those merchants on the island witnessed with their own eyes that Li Jing led the Salmonella town army to beat the mighty Feng Zhang to flee, and they couldn't help being extremely shocked, and many people who had some strange thoughts in their hearts couldn't help being quiet and honest.

After a big victory, Li Jing was not stingy, not only did all the teams reward them according to their merits, but they also gave them heavy rewards.In addition, the military merits of beheading generals, capturing the flag, and the first rank of soldiers are also issued according to the standards set by the army.In addition, this battle was designated by Li Jing as a big victory with fewer hits and more victories. All soldiers in the army were rewarded with top prizes, and the pensions and allowances for soldiers killed and injured were doubled.

In order to celebrate this great victory, Li Jing specially gave the soldiers and civilians on the island a day off to celebrate together, and all the townspeople also gave each of them a reward of [-] yuan and a bucket of rice.Even the common people who came to build the city from other places were rewarded with one catty of wine and two catties of meat.

The victory of the Shamen Town Army and Li Jing's generous rewards made all the people immersed in this joyful atmosphere, and they also forgot Li Jing's somewhat rebellious fighting nature this time.

On this day, Li Jing also temporarily put aside his military affairs, returned to the mansion, and quietly had a meal with his family.Since arriving on the island, Li Jing has been busy, and usually has little time to eat a home-cooked meal at home, and even seldom goes home to sleep at night, and mostly stays there after being busy late at night in the town general's mansion.This made Han very dissatisfied, and personally went to the town general's mansion to deliver meals several times.

Seeing that Li Jing came back with only a few guards from Zhao Jiang, Wang Guiniang came forward with joy and said, "My husband is back." She helped Li Jing untie the cloak and looked behind Li Jing.

"What are you looking at?" Li Jing asked.

"I see why my husband didn't bring Junior Sister Yu and the Princess together today." Wang Guiniang smiled lightly, women are always sensitive.Especially now that Li Jing's identity has gradually changed. He was just a well-connected peasant boy before, but now he has become a town general with thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands of people.Especially when seeing noble-born women like Yu Youniang, princess and Xiao Yulou always surrounding Li Jing, it was impossible not to be jealous or worried.

"Today I just want our family to have a home-cooked meal. The fourth brother-in-law and three brother-in-laws will also come later, and the others will be gone." Li Jing knew what Wang Guiniang was thinking, but he didn't say anything.

Accompanying Wang Guiniang into the mansion, this is a green brick and green tile house, the house is very large, with more than a dozen rooms inside and outside.Li Jing previously transferred four veterans who were disabled and retired from the army to work as nursing homes, and found four lonely and homeless young women from among the refugees who brought them to the island to help with housework.The yard was clean and extremely tidy.

"Mother, Sanlang is back." Wang Guiniang shouted happily as soon as she stepped into the inner courtyard.

"Sanlang is back." Li's mother was sitting in the hall sewing a pair of thousand-ply bottom cloth shoes, although Li Jing did not lack these, but Li's mother always made shoes for Li Jing herself.

Li Jing stepped forward and kowtowed to Mrs. Han, which can be regarded as guilt for not being able to come home often. "Greetings to mother!"

Mrs. Han stepped forward to help Li Jing, and helped Li Jing pat the dust off his shoulders, "It's good to come back, what kind of gift is there? Wan'er, quickly pour tea for San Lang. I'll go to the kitchen and make it for San Lang with my own hands today." His favorite cold pottery."

"Mom, I'll help you," Wang Guiniang said.Mother Li pulled Gui Niang and whispered in her ear: "You said you should spend more time with Saburo, he is busy and rarely comes back once, so why don't you spend time with him. Keep him tonight, you have to take the initiative in some things. Look how cute that girl Xing'er is, I'm anxious to hug my grandson."

Two red clouds flew up on Wang Guiniang's face, she was also anxious, she always wanted to help her husband conceive a child quickly, so that she would be at ease.But Li Jing is always very busy, occasionally going home and sometimes going to bed very early.It is rare to have such a chance once or twice, but they often have to separate from that villain Wan'er.It's strange to say that although the number of times is a bit small, it has been half a year since we got married, and there is no movement in the stomach.Not to mention her, even that girl Wan'er is the same.

Xing'er is Zhang Chengzong's daughter, when Zhang Chengzong's family almost starved to death by the side of the road, this girl very boldly stopped Li Jing's carriage to ask for food.Previously, Zhang Chengzong had been serving as Li Jing's servant, and Xing'er and his mother had been coming to Li Jing's house from time to time to help with chores and chat with the old lady.Since Li Jing's second brother also passed away, Li's mother likes children now, Xing'er is obedient and sensible, just like a little adult, Li's mother loves her like a granddaughter.Xing'er greeted Li Jing, left the hall without paying attention, and brought her mother back after a while.

Zhang Chengzong's wife is a Hebei woman, generous and forthright, she greeted Li Jing with a smile, and rushed to the kitchen to help Li's mother.After a while, Liu Shouqian's wife also brought two children aged seven or eight, a boy and a girl, to greet Li Jing, and then went to help in the kitchen.These two families are not too close to Li Jing's house, but they often come to Li's house.Liu Shouqian and Zhang Chengzong used to be said to be Li Jing's servants, and it was Li Jing who saved them from starvation.Now Li Jing has been promoted to be the general, and he can be said to be Li Jing's confidant.Their family members often come to the house, and Li Jing is more willing, which can be regarded as adding some intimacy.

The three children are always very lively together.Liu Shouqian's son Shitou started to show off the characters he knew in school to his younger sisters Rou'er and Xing'er. The two little girls looked at Shitou with a branch and scratched on the ground with admiration.

Wang Guiniang and Wan'er looked at the three children with love in their eyes.

"I think Zhang Hong can set up a girls' school in the town in the future, and teach the girls of the town's military bureaucrats and other willing girls to read and write, and learn some culture." Li Jing laughed.

"It's a good thing." Wang Guiniang said, "Our school teaches the children of soldiers and civilians in the island for free, and many people praise it."

After chatting for a while, Li Jing still didn't see Fifth Sister Wanting, so she couldn't help asking strangely, "Where is Fifth Sister, why haven't I seen him since I came back?"

Wan'er chuckled from the side and said: "Mrs. Han sent someone to pick it up early in the morning. She said she had bought a few pieces of high-quality mirror flower silk, and was going to make a wedding dress for her little lady. She said five Sister and daughter are doing well, let her go and take a look."

"Which Han family?" Li Jing froze for a moment.

"It's the Bing Cao Zuo Han Jinshi's family." Wang Guiniang said on the side, "I was about to tell you that this old lady of the Han family seems to have the intention of becoming a relative with our family. She probably has a crush on our fifth sister. Fifth sister That girl seems to be interested in Jin Shilang, and the Han family came to pick him up every three days, and she ran there again and again. For a girl who is not yet married, this is a bit too bold."

Hearing that there is still this matter, Li Jing pondered for a while and said: "Although the Han family has been a merchant for generations, Han Zhongwu is also a Jinshi, and he is also able to handle affairs in the army. If the Han family is interested, and Fifth Sister is also interested, I will I think this is a good thing. There is nothing to talk about. The fifth sister is also fifteen this year. It is time to talk about marriage. Since she likes it, she can ask her mother about it. If she agrees, then go ahead. It can be settled. Don't delay, just let the Han family follow the etiquette."

For this marriage, Li Jing is still very willing.Han Zhongwu is not a high-ranking man, he is also an effective staff member of his subordinates, and he is also a Jinshi. He is also a good person and has a good temper.It's good to be able to marry such a person.

The fourth sister married Lin Wei, and if the fifth sister married Han Zhongwu, all five sisters would be married, which would be considered an end to their mother's worries.

After a while, four married sisters came with four brothers-in-law and several nephews and nieces.The house suddenly became lively, although these brother-in-laws were also Li Jing's subordinates, but at home, Li Jing did not put on airs of a boss, and the whole family was very lively.

A table of dishes was put on the table, and Mother Li sat down at the chief seat. Seeing such a big family and a large table of dishes, she couldn't help feeling deeply moved.Last year, she also experienced the pain of losing her son, the pain of her son being imprisoned, the sale of the family property, and the shortage of food in the warehouse.Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, the Li family is now living such a life that they never even dared to imagine before.

"Sanlang, I have pity on your father and two short-lived brothers. If they can live to this day, our family will be happy." He couldn't help but shed tears, and turned to look at the two young men in plain clothes. Widow and daughter-in-law, "It's because of your two sister-in-laws."

Li Jing also sighed, the two sister-in-laws both lost their husbands shortly after they got married, and they didn't even have a son or a half daughter.Young and widowed, now he eats fast and recites Buddha all day long, and the green lanterns and yellow scrolls talk about life, which is unbearable to watch.Li Jing also mentioned the matter of letting the two sister-in-laws remarry before, but the situation of the Li family was not good at that time. Even if the two sister-in-laws remarried, they might not be able to marry into a good family. , is also inevitable.

But the status of the Li family is different now. If the two sister-in-laws are married off and more dowries are given, with the status of the Li family, they can still find a good family for them.

"Aniang, elder sister-in-law and second sister-in-law. Today we have a family gathering, and I want to mention one more thing. That is, the two sister-in-laws are still so young, and they should not continue to delay their youth. In my opinion, it is better for the two sister-in-laws to remarry. The home is the second natal home of the two sister-in-laws. I will spend a generous dowry to find a suitable and honest person, and I think I can live happily in the future."

The two sister-in-laws were stunned for a moment, and they didn't expect the old uncle to bring up the old story again.

"Sister-in-laws, don't be in a hurry to refuse. This matter needs to be considered carefully, after all, it is a matter of a lifetime. I do have a few suitable candidates, the deputy general of the right wing of the battle barracks in the town, Li Wei, the tenth general of the reconnaissance battalion, and There is Cui Zhiyuan, a Jinshi from Silla, and several others, all of whom are good candidates. These sister-in-laws should have met, and they are good people. I will decide which one I like."

The two sister-in-laws are both above average in appearance, and they are also quite clever.The atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty was open, and it was not uncommon to marry a widow.Except for some women who voluntarily observe chastity, they are also very tolerant to those women who remarry.Because of this, it is common for women to marry and remarry.

Lin Wei, who hadn't spoken much, suddenly said: "I think it's not bad. Although Wang Zhong is a bit old, he is not bad. Li Wei and Cui Zhiyuan are also reliable people."

Li's mother has always felt that she owes her two daughters-in-law. At this time, she said: "I have always regarded you two as my daughters. Now, I will marry my daughter once. Don't have any psychological burden. You will be widowed all your life. How can I feel sorry for this old man. Listen to my mother, pick the one you like and marry. If you don’t like it, you can ask someone to look for it. There will always be someone you like. "

The family persuaded together, and finally the two sisters-in-law finally figured it out and agreed, and stated that the matter was entirely up to Li Mu and Li Jing.They also believed that Li Jing could find a good entrustment for them, so Li Jing decided to strike while the iron was hot, calling Wang Zhong, Li Wei, Cui Zhiyuan, and finally Du Zhongwu.After the people came, he asked them one by one very simply, and things went smoothly in the end.

Because Li Wei is a brother of the same family, he felt that it was not appropriate to marry the wife of his deceased cousin. In the end, it was decided that Wang Chong would marry his eldest sister-in-law Zhang, Cui Zhiyuan married his second sister-in-law Wang, and Du Zhongwu also formally married his fifth sister Wanting. It's decided.

It can be said that happiness is added to happiness to make three marriages at once.Especially for Li Jing, not only did the two sisters-in-law finally get married, but he didn't have to watch them waste their whole life, which made him feel relaxed.What's more, Wang Zhong and Cui Zhiyuan are also important subordinates of Shamen Town, and marrying them will undoubtedly enhance their relationship.

When Li Jing was in a happy mood, he announced loudly that the two sister-in-laws and the fifth younger sister had the same dowry standard, each with a dowry of [-] guan.Three thousand strings, this is quite a generous dowry.Although Wang Zhong's family is actually a big family in Qingzhou, and the Han family is the most wealthy businessman in Mouping County who have been doing business for generations.Although Cui Zhiyuan's family is in Silla, he can be regarded as a small local nobleman.However, giving such a generous dowry is entirely for the purpose of making them live better in their husband's house.According to the rules of the Tang Dynasty, women's dowry was their private property, not the public property of their husband's family. After they died, the dowry was passed on to their children, and those who had no children might even be directly inherited by their natal family.

The night is quiet and people are deep, and the family banquet is over.Li's mother pulled Li Jing and said: "Your two sisters-in-law have finally found a home, and now Wu Niang has found someone she likes. Mother also feels that there are three more things missing in her heart. The only thing she cares about now is that you can get married as soon as possible." Give me a grandson. Your father and brother died early, and now you are the only male in the whole family, and the Li family is waiting to grow and grow."

"Mother, I know." Facing Mother Li, Li Jing nodded.

"It's good if you know, then go back to your room, your wife is waiting for you." Mother Li urged Li Jing to go back to her room. Seeing her son's back turning and leaving, Mother Li was full of worry.Although there was joy on the island, it was a war after all.Although this battle was won, but the war is ruthless, who can know the result of the next one.Back then, Li Jing's grandfather followed Ziqing Jieshuai Li Shishi to rebel against the imperial court, and finally died in battle.Now my son is fighting with Shangfeng again, hey, I pray to the gods and Buddhas to bless me, I hope my son will be safe and sound.

(To be continued)