A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 16

It was almost evening, and the smell of food wafted from the courtyard of Wang's house.A total of three tables were set up from the front yard to the back yard, one for the busy masons and one for the neighbors helping firewood.Wang Dou, his mother, his wife, and Han Chao were sitting in the hall.

There was a large bucket of rice, meat and wine in the banquet, and everyone ate very sweetly.Those busy masons can get some wages, and the neighbors who help firewood only have some food, but everyone is satisfied, and everyone eats hungrily. It has been a long time since they have eaten such a good meal.

Mrs. Zhong went out to persuade her to drink a few times, and she said loudly back and forth: "Everyone, eat and drink well, eat well and drink well."

Wang Dou also went out to offer a toast. Seeing Wang Dou coming out, everyone stood up and dared not even say it.

Han Chao winked, and Gao Shiyin toasted behind Wang Dou, which made the neighbors uneasy. That Gao Shiyin, with a full face and fierce eyes, doesn't look like a good person, how can he make people not be afraid?I really don't know where Wang Zongqi found such a sturdy subordinate.

Zhong also smiled and looked at the few big men who followed behind her son. These people were not easy to get along with, but everyone listened to her son, and she was quite proud in her heart.

Wang Dou also asked Xie Xiuniang to offer a toast with him. Xie Xiuniang followed behind Wang Dou, holding a jug in her hand, with a nervous expression, fearing that she would behave inappropriately, say the wrong thing, and make others laugh behind her back.However, Wang Dou's gentle smile and encouraging eyes made her relax a lot.

She followed behind Wang Dou like a well-behaved little daughter-in-law. Someone in the banquet joked and asked her when she would marry Mr. Zongqi.

Xie Xiuniang just blushed and looked at her shoe uppers, Wang Dou smiled generously: "It's coming soon, next year, next year, all the neighbors will come to drink wedding wine."

Everyone agreed one after another, and they would definitely be there when Mr. Zongqi was overjoyed.

Xie Xiuniang blushed and went back to the hall with Wang Dou, and took a moment to tell Wang Dou secretly that the elder brother named Gao Shiyin had a vicious look on his face. I'm afraid he is not a good person, so I advised Brother Wang Dou to pay attention to him.

Wang Dou laughed, no matter how vicious he is, why doesn't he have to lie down in front of me?Don't worry at all.His confident appearance made Xie Xiuniang admire him a lot.

Back at the banquet, Han Zhong also yelled and joked at Xie Xiuniang, asking her when she would get married to his Wang Tou, and he couldn't wait to drink the wedding wine.

Xie Xiuniang blushed even more, Wang Dou scolded him with a smile, "Just eat yours."

Mrs. Zhong also looked at her son and daughter-in-law cheerfully, and sighed inwardly. This daughter-in-law will be raised for a month. Although her face will look better, her body is still too thin, and she needs to be raised to be fatter.

During the meeting, Qi Tianliang and Zhong Shi talked very speculatively, and the two discussed their experience in buying fields and land.After Qi Tianliang got a sum of money, he kept fantasizing about the happy life of a mansion in a fertile farmland, his wife and children on the hot kang. During these times, he also went to Shun Township Fort and many places in Dongjiazhuang.Zhong's dream is also to redeem the fertile land of her ancestors, and then buy some more land, and pass it on to her descendants from generation to generation, so that her house will prosper, so she will have no regrets.

It can be said that the two have a lot in common and have a very happy conversation.

Wang Dou listened with a smile on his side. It can be said that owning his own fertile land is the dream of all Chinese farmers, regardless of ancient or modern times.Wang Dou had also thought about redeeming the ancestral land and finally buying some good farmland heirlooms.

Right now, the land price in Baoanzhou is much lower than in previous years, and after he is promoted to the general flag, maybe some jobs will be distributed.With these lands, the mother and young wife can rely on rent collection to live on, saving the whole day's hard work.They have worked hard all their lives, and they deserve to enjoy themselves.

Of course, this is just one of Wang Dou's plans. If he was from Daming, he would only choose this path.However, as he came from later generations, he had even more considerations in his heart, and he still had several calculations in his heart, which would only be implemented after he was promoted.

……

After dinner, the thankful guests were sent away, and Mrs. Zhong tidied up the room for Han Chao and others to rest. Wang’s house was a quadrangle with two entrances. Although it was dilapidated, there were many vacant rooms. not a problem.

After arranging the guests, Wang Dou talked with his mother and young wife in the house.Talking about Wang Dou's ascension to the general banner, Zhong shed tears again, and she sighed: "If your father is still here, I don't know how happy I would be to see how promising you are now."

Wang Dou comforted his mother a few words, and then talked about taking Xie Xiuniang to Dongjiazhuang for a banquet tomorrow.

Xie Xiuniang was a little uneasy, but she was afraid of losing Wang Dou's face.

Wang Dou comforted her and said: "I don't have to lose face, the wife of the management team is not a big shot, so you can do whatever you want with her."

Xie Xiuniang was still a little hesitant, but it was the Zhong family who had a great demeanor and told Xie Xiuniang what to do tomorrow.Seeing that Xie Xiuniang only had some silver hairpins and silver earrings on her body, after thinking about it, she took out the full set of gold jewelry that her mother-in-law had passed to her, and solemnly handed them over to Xie Xiuniang.

Local women in Baoan Prefecture have the habit of wearing jewelry, no matter they are poor or rich.Of course, rich people wear gold jewelry, and poor people only wear silver jewelry.But no matter how poor the family is, the women in the family will have at least a few silver bracelets and silver rings.The poorer the family, the more afraid of being looked down upon by others, even if they wear silver jewelry, they will feel more comforted.

Moreover, Zhong's handing over the heirloom gold jewelry to Xie Xiuniang has a different meaning.Watching Wang Dou's status change day by day, Xie Xiuniang has always been worried in her little heart, whether Wang Dou's brother will dislike her and marry another woman after he becomes rich. .

Seeing her mother-in-law handing over the family jewelry to her now, Xie Xiuniang was completely relieved, which meant that her mother-in-law had completely accepted herself, Wang Dou had always been filial to her mother, and with her mother-in-law's support, she would not be afraid of such things happening in the future.

Xie Xiuniang's heart was full of joy, she put on the gold jewellery, and happily looked left and right at the copper environment, while Zhong Shi was at the side giving her advice, and the two discussed what new clothes they should wear tomorrow.Fortunately, when the Wang family went out on weekdays, they always had a set of clean and decent clothes.Moreover, after Wang Dou seized the materials of the Hou Jin Army, he once brought back a few bolts of cloth. The Zhong family had already made a set for Xie Xiuniang a while ago, so that Xie Xiuniang finally had an extra choice when she went out.

Wang Dou went to bed first, and Mrs. Zhong kept discussing with Xie Xiuniang until late at night.

That night Xie Xiuniang was lying on the bed tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. She kept thinking about what to say when she saw Mrs. Guan Dui tomorrow, and what kind of etiquette and behavior she should have so as not to embarrass Brother Wang Dou.It's a pity that she has never met any important people since she was a child, and she has not learned any etiquette and manners, and she is illiterate.I'm afraid that when the wife of the management team asks something, what should I do if I can't answer it?What if Brother Wang Dou gets upset after being rude?
Although Mrs. Zhong taught her a set of secrets, she was still uneasy. After thinking about it for half the night, she thought about what the people in the village would think when they saw her when she left the village with Brother Wang Dou tomorrow. red.After thinking for a long time, she didn't know when she fell into a deep sleep.

……

Early the next morning, Xie Xiuniang got up, dressed neatly, and went to cook happily.

When everyone was eating breakfast, seeing Xie Xiuniang's newly dressed appearance, Han Zhong yelled: "Sister-in-law is really dressed like a bride."

Xie Xiuniang was both ashamed and happy, just peeking at Wang Dou, her eyes full of anticipation, as if she wanted Wang Dou to praise her.

Mrs. Zhong is also very satisfied with Xie Xiuniang's attire, but in Wang Dou's view, she is wearing a flowery dress on her thin body, and the clothes are new, but she doesn't have that temperament at all.

He smiled on his face and said: "Not bad, not bad, the clothes and jewelry are very beautiful."

Only then did Xie Xiuniang feel relieved happily.

After breakfast, before the impromptu, Zhong also couldn't forget to teach Wang Dou some experience, what should be done when meeting with the captain of the team, don't be rude, etc., what else can Wang Dou say?He had no choice but to nod submissively.

Several people brought out the horses. The horses had been fed in the backyard last night, and they were in good spirits.

Everyone went out of the gate, Wang Dou got on the horse, Xie Xiuniang looked at Wang Dou, not knowing what to do.

Wang Dou stretched out his hand and smiled at her, "Come on, Xiu Niang, sit behind me."

Xie Xiuniang was pulled onto the horse by Wang Dou, and hugged his waist according to Wang Dou's words. Her heart was beating violently, and her demeanor was a little stiff.

Han Zhong screamed a few times, and Wang Dou glared at him: "What are you laughing at, brat, look at yourself, it's time to find a wife."

Everyone laughed, Qi Tianliang also said beside him: "That's right, Brother Han, should you ask your sister-in-law to find a wife for you? Your sister-in-law is the most passionate about this."

Han Zhong gave up repeatedly and said: "I don't want it, I am so happy now, finding a mother-in-law is pure trouble."

Everyone laughed and rode away. Zhong leaned against the door and watched his son disappear slowly, with a satisfied smile on his face.

……

Along the way, the streets and alleys were full of people saying hello to Wang Dou, "Good morning Wang Zongqi!" Smiles are respectful.

However, when they saw Xie Xiuniang behind Wang Dou, many people showed surprised expressions on their faces. After Wang Dou and the others passed by, there was a sound of surprised discussion behind them.

In all eyes, Wang Dou and the others rode out boldly.

After leaving the village, there was a vast and flat land in front of him, and Wang Dou was overwhelmed with pride, and he shouted: "Xiu Niang, sit still."

Shouted: "Drive!"

Immediately, the horse galloped away like the wind.

Han Zhong and the others also cheered and shouted. They all started their horses and followed closely behind, stirring up a cloud of smoke and dust.

Xie Xiuniang hugged Wang Dou's strong waist tightly, she closed her eyes, her little heart was full of satisfaction, and she only hoped that this would last forever.

(End of this chapter)