Ping An Biography

After staying in Yangzhou for a few days to complete the official business, the time has already reached the end of the twelfth lunar month without knowing it.The weather is very cold, and Zhang Ning even feels colder than Bei Jing. There is no kang burning in South Zhili, and there are no facilities to keep warm in many places, so that the temperature in the house is almost as low as the wind, unlike It is still cold outside in winter in the capital, but it will be much better once you enter the house.There seems to be a saying that the cultural prosperity in Jiangsu and Zhejiang is related to the environment and living habits, and the cold is good for exercising people's cardiovascular and cerebrovascular.

The snow has not yet fallen, and I am afraid that there will be no snow in the twelfth lunar month of this year in Nanzhili. The auspicious snow heralds a good year, and snow is a good thing.It is a bit strange to think that there was still thunder one night in August this year, and the way of heaven next year is vague.

If you can go home before New Year's Eve, you can celebrate the New Year at home, and you can stay for a few more days to do other things and make some preparations for finding the whereabouts of the Peach Blossom Fairy.According to the custom, people who are not from the same family are not polite to visit others at the end of the year, unless it is to ask for debts, just like in "The White Haired Girl".So Zhang Ning could justifiably wait until the first month to visit his boss Wu Yong.

It was agreed that Zhang Ning greeted the master of the prefect of Yangzhou privately, and returned to Nanjing by land with his official position.As a supplementary official, he may have been given the title of judge for some reason, so there is no need for the officials in the mansion to intervene. It is good that he does not get involved in the government affairs of the mansion, so as to avoid any confusion of authority among the extra officials.

The messenger Zhan Zhuli was originally Zhang Ning's bodyguard, but he never saw anyone.Zhang Ning went back to Nanjing this time and rode alone again. Riding a horse is faster than walking by water. The last time he escaped for his life, he learned how to ride a horse.

I really wanted to see Zhang Xiaomei soon... The parting was very hasty, I didn't even have time to say a word of parting, and although I brought letters back and forth, it was definitely not as good as meeting.But for a few months, Zhang Ning felt as if he was looking forward to the reunion of his old friends for many years.

Maybe it's just the lack of information?If you are separated from your loved ones for a few months in modern times and make phone calls and send text messages from time to time, it will not be so annoying.

Zhang Xiaomei has only been in his life for a few months, and the time he has been with him is even shorter. At this time, she seems to be more familiar, but still strange.Unspeakable feelings, in short, I care about her very much and hope she is well.

...It was already the 28th of the twelfth lunar month when we arrived in the capital. This year, the twelfth lunar month in the lunar calendar is only 29, which means it will be New Year's Eve tomorrow.As soon as I entered the capital, I saw the festive atmosphere on the long street. No matter how low the temperature was, there were more people in the streets and alleys than usual.Many women put on red clothes, and the warm colors made the weather seem less cold.

The bustle of the New Year's Eve made the signs of peace in the Ming Dynasty more and more intense. If it was a time when the mountains and rivers were divided, it would not be like this even during the New Year.

However, in recent years, the Ming army fought on the north and south fronts, and used hundreds of thousands of troops. The Zheng He fleet at sea led nearly [-] officers and soldiers, and more than [-] warships of different sizes. It didn't take too long for Li to recuperate after regaining orthodoxy. Yongle also experienced several years of "Battle of Jingnan" with hundreds of thousands of soldiers.Ordinary people in Ming Dynasty still had a heavy burden, so they were not considered rich at this time, and it might be better in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.People live frugally on weekdays, and the scale of consumption is still very large during the Chinese New Year. This is probably a consistent tradition of Chinese people.

The street was crowded, and Zhang Ning found it difficult to walk while leading a horse, but he still had to squeeze into the crowded business district because he had to buy some gifts for his family.

After he became an official in Beijing, the Ministry of Officials would send a letter to the place where he was born. The family members should know that he was an official, so the gifts to the uncle and the others should not be too shabby.But after counting the family and property, the Chinese New Year is completely manageable.Previously, the Ministry of Officials issued 50 taels of housing allowance, deducted the 30 taels of the rent deposit paid to Yu Qian and the 82 taels lent out, and there were about 110 taels left. 60 taels.There are three main expenses that will be paid. Wu Yong, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites in Nanjing, can't pay for five or sixty taels. Gifts for family members when they go home. .

Anyway, money comes and goes, but that's all.

The family is not too tight. Now that it has been closed in recent years, there should be no shortage of things like New Year's goods. Zhang Ning doesn't need to worry about it, just express his intentions.So he bought new cloth suitable for men's and women's tailoring, tea, common ginseng, and children's toys at a higher price than usual in the street market, and put a bunch of things on the horse's back.

When passing by a silk and satin shop, Zhang Ning just took a look. Uncle Xindao's family is relatively low-key and doesn't know how to wear silk and satin clothes, so it's useless to buy them.Unexpectedly, the person standing at the door to welcome the guests still took the initiative to say hello to them despite the heavy passenger flow: "Young master came back from making a fortune outside? Buy two bolts of good satin for the lady at home, it must be right, women like this the most."

Zhang Ning was about to ignore it and leave, and couldn't help asking: "Is there any thing for women...Sipa or something like that?"

"Yes, yes, please ask inside, you will be able to pick something that suits your needs!"

So Zhang Ning first grabbed a small handful of copper coins to tip, and asked him to find someone to watch over the horses and goods, because it was the Chinese New Year, and the servants who went out to reward and do errands would be more generous.

Many people in the shop were watching and choosing, and the colorful silk material hanging had been touched by countless people.After being persuaded to come in, no one paid any attention to them. It took a long time for a young man to come to greet them. They were indeed too busy at this time.

"Guest officer, what would you like to pick?" the servant asked.

Surrounded by people, Zhang Ning was a little uncomfortable talking to this young man, so he frowned and said, "You only have such things in your shop?"

"Just wait and see, I'll call Madam." The servant hurriedly said.

After a while, a woman in her 40s and [-]s came down from the counter. At this time, women seldom show their faces to do business, but at this time, there are not enough people to come out to help, and they don’t pay too much attention. After all, businessmen are not as strict as scholar-bureaucrats. .

"I want some things for women, a little better." Zhang Ning said.

Pointing to the cave door inside, the woman said, "There is one inside, I'll show you to see it."

As soon as you enter the cave gate, you can see all kinds of colorful and beautiful gadgets inside, such as aprons, corsets, handkerchiefs, etc. It is not too open in the market in Nanjing, and the store did not dare to put these gorgeous things. Things hang outside to catch the eye.Most of them were female customers, and when they saw a good-looking male customer coming in, they all turned their faces away a little shyly.

Zhang Ning looked around, pointed to a pair of light red gauze hanging and asked, "Is this a tube top?" people like it.

A little girl next to him heard Zhang Ning say so carelessly, and couldn't help giving him a blank look.

"Young master is very knowledgeable." The woman smiled lightly, taking it off and handing it to Zhang Ning as she spoke.When Zhang Ning held it in his hand, he felt it was soft and slippery, and the material seemed to be very good.However, except for a small piece in the front that is thicker, the whole is transparent. It seems a bit too "interesting" for an unmarried girl like Zhang Xiaomei... It is really very attractive, whether it is the color or the pattern, the first few gold threads The small petals of osmanthus are gorgeous and restrained, and the fine workmanship is not comparable to street stalls.

The woman said: "It uses yarn as the base, and silk and cotton are interwoven as patterns. It is exquisitely carved and the whole is like a perfect jade. Please take a closer look, young master. The patterns on it are not embroidery, but weaving."

"It's the same as Yunjin, I understand." Zhang Ning nodded, "It's just not very dignified."

The woman laughed out loud: "This is something worn inside. How can outsiders know whether it is dignified or not?"

If Zhang Ning said it was a bra for his younger sister, the woman would probably be left speechless.Zhang Xiaomei probably bought that silk thing with her own savings. It is not easy for a little girl to save some private money, and she also likes beautiful things. Zhang Ning lost it... To make up for one in private, she will definitely not be with her. someone else said.

But this one is a bit out of place, although it is really very beautiful, and the rest feels crude when picked up.

Zhang Ning hesitated and wanted to put it back, but the woman persuaded him, "Young master has good eyesight, why should you give up?"

"How much? This." Zhang Ning couldn't help asking.

The woman said: "It's not expensive, you can buy such a perfect thing for 15 taels, and this is the only one in this shop."

15 taels is not expensive, how many taels is a large piece of fine silk?Such a small piece was worth several bolts of silk, but it proved to be laborious to make, and a fine thing.

Zhang Ning was very willing to spend this money for Zhang Xiaomei, but he just didn't think it was suitable, so he didn't think he had to buy it.He bargained casually: "Ten taels."

"There is no bargaining. Everything in our shop is worth what you pay for. We operate honestly and honestly. Besides, it's the peak season, so you can't make up your mind today. Maybe someone will buy it if you come again in the afternoon." humane.

Zhang Ning said without changing his face: "12 taels, if it doesn't work, I won't talk about it."

The woman pondered for a moment, and finally nodded and smiled: "Success! I'm also happy for Madam to get the son's favor, and it's a favor for you."

Zhang Ning stopped worrying too much about suitable issues, paid the money and left, and hid the wrapped things in his arms.

The total cost of a few big new cloths on horseback is less than one tael, and a small gift for a girl is 12 taels. On the contrary, Zhang Ning feels much better, even if it is a family, there is a difference.

Leading the horse and entering from Liren Street, the familiar alley was filled with the smell of gunpowder smoke from firecrackers. Red lanterns were hung on the doors of every house to represent a prosperous year. Like portraits, festive atmosphere can be seen everywhere.The alley was much quieter, but Zhang Ning had been crowded among the crowd for a long time, and the noise of "buzzing" was still echoing in his ears.