Chapter 152 A Letter
It's not that Guang'an County has produced talented people, but at Zhou Yi's age, to achieve such an official position, and to be favored by the emperor, to hold such an important position in the imperial court, not to mention Guang'an County, even the whole of Da Yue would not be able to find him. . If Zhou Yi continues to develop according to this momentum, he will be able to enter the cabinet to worship the prime minister just around the corner.
That's why the big and small officials and gentry of Guang'an County welcomed Zhou Yi back to his hometown in such a grand manner.
Zhou Yi stepped down from the cabin and looked at the magistrate of Guang'an County at the front. It was no longer Li Boyong, but a new face.
When Zhou Yi stepped off the boat, the county magistrate hurriedly stepped forward and said respectfully, "Your Majesty Feng Qilun, welcome Mr. Zhou back to his hometown."
Zhou Yi nodded with a smile: "Master Feng, please welcome Mr. Feng. However, Guang'an County is my hometown, and I went back to my hometown only to worship my ancestors. This battle is really big, and the fathers and villagers may be tired, so let them go." Feng Qilun said quickly: "Don't be tired, don't be tired,
Zhou Your Excellency is my pride in Guang'an, and it is a great honor for everyone to welcome Master Zhou back to his hometown."
Zhou Yi listened, his smile remained unchanged, and he looked at Feng Qilun without speaking.
Feng Qilun's heart sank, it seems that he didn't get any flattery, he thought that Zhou Yi must like publicity at such a young age, but now it seems that he guessed wrongly.
Afraid that Zhou Yi would get angry, Feng Qilun hurriedly dismissed the others, and said to Zhou Yi anxiously: "Master Zhou, you are tired from the journey, and my subordinates have prepared a little wine to cleanse you and your father.
" Looking at it from behind, he was very proud, this is their son, and their son has grown to the point where even the county magistrate needs to be respectful in front of him.
Zhou Yi laughed and said, "Master Feng, I'm sorry to bother you, but the banquet will be skipped for the time being. My family members are a little tired. Let's talk about cleaning up the dust in a few days." Feng Qilun felt excited when he heard this, he thought Zhou Yi
would I refused to feel it, but I didn't expect to leave room. This represented Zhou Yi's willingness to contact him.
"Yes, yes, it's because I didn't think carefully, and I hope Mr. Zhou will forgive me. Mr. Zhou is so considerate of his family, I really feel ashamed..." Feng Qilun is close to fifty, and in terms of age, he can almost be Zhou Yi's grandfather. But now in front of Zhou Yi, an old face almost looked like a grandson with a smile.
Zhou Yi, who has seen this kind of flattering and flattering official a lot, didn't take it seriously, just nodded his head slightly, and after exchanging greetings with County Magistrate Feng, he took his family back to the village.
I don't know what Feng Qilun's abilities are as an official, but he is indeed a good hand in terms of winking, so he hurriedly arranged for a sedan chair and carriage, knowing that Zhou Yi doesn't like publicity, so he went to see him off without any fanfare.
Sitting in the sedan chair, Zhou Yi lifted the curtain of the sedan chair to open everything along the way. Since he started studying, he used this road to go back and forth between the county town and his home every day. Seeing you today, I can’t help feeling sad and cherished, and the past scenes came to my mind. , Things that he thought he had forgotten, turned out to have been engraved into his bones unconsciously.
He went out from Xiawan Village, and today he returned to Xiawan Village. The scenery that he thought was normal before, but now he looks at it, but he feels that it has a different kind of kindness.
Walking to the entrance of the village, before getting out of the sedan chair, I heard the noise, and then there was a burst of firecrackers!
"Here, here, Liulang is back!!!" Someone shouted loudly, and cheers suddenly erupted at the entrance of Xiawan Village.
Zhou Yi hurriedly got off the sedan chair, and from a long distance away, he saw the villagers surrounded by his second and third uncles, cheering happily.
Zhou Yi hurriedly ran to the second and third uncles: "Second uncle, third uncle, Liu Lang is back!"
Second uncle and third uncle's eyes turned red with excitement, and kept saying: "Okay, okay, okay, Just be back."
"Second master, third master..." Zhou Laoer and Wang Yan also came to the door of the villagers. Zhou Laoer became more emotional, and after shouting this, he was so choked up that he couldn't speak.
At this time, a voice suddenly came from behind the second uncle and third uncle: "Second brother, Liu Lang, you are back? I have been looking forward to this day every day since you left, and you are finally back!" "Second brother...
"
"Second Brother..."
"Second Uncle..."
It was Mr. Zhou who spoke. He came out from behind Second Uncle and Third Uncle, followed by a whole bunch of people in the upper room except Mother Zhou.
But what's interesting is that they didn't dare to call Zhou Yi, they only looked at Zhou's second child eagerly.
Zhou Er Er looked at Mr. Zhou, with a look of confusion in his eyes, and after several times of conciliation, he finally called out daddy.
"Hey, it's good to be back, it's good to be back!!!" Mr. Zhou was very excited, and he wiped the corners of his eyes when he heard Zhou's son shout out.
"Liulang, Liulang, show grandpa, you've been away from home for so long, grandpa misses you so much!" Elder Zhou looked behind Zhou's second again, and said repeatedly.
Really! ! ! Zhou Yi watched old man Zhou acting, and felt tired, but under the watchful eyes of everyone, Zhou Yi smiled lightly and called grandpa, and then called boss Zhou and his brothers one by one.
Zhou Yi's cry was different from that of Zhou's second child. From the frequency of old man Zhou wiping the corners of his eyes, it can be seen that Zhou Yi's call of grandpa really made him really excited!
As soon as Wang Yan got off the sedan chair, she hugged Da Ya and wept bitterly.
Zhou Yi introduced Li Yingru to the clan, and Li Yingru was so generous that the second and third uncles nodded repeatedly.
Almost all the villagers of Xiawan Village came, but those who could stand in front and talk to Zhou Yi were the elders of the Zhou clan headed by the second and third uncles. The other villagers stood behind, looking at Zhou Yi with both excitement and timidity. Even though Zhou Yi left Xiawan Village, now he has become a high-ranking official and has become the backer of the entire Xiawan Village. I still feel that something is different. It was easy to say "Liu Lang" before, but now, looking at Zhou Yi with a warm smile and a personable demeanor, everyone no longer dares to be so casual.
After another long exchange of pleasantries, the second uncle said beamingly, "Don't stand at the entrance of this village, everyone. Liu Lang and the others must be tired all the way. Let's walk around and enter the village. The banquet has been prepared and we have eaten. Let Liu Lang and the others rest, second child, let’s go..."
It turned out that after learning that Zhou Yi was coming back, the villagers of Xiawan Village went to the county to inquire about the time when Zhou Yi would return to his hometown, and prepared a banquet for Zhou Yi. Yi picks up the wind and washes away the dust.
As soon as the second uncle said, everyone surrounded Zhou Yi's family and walked towards the newly built shed in the village. With the opening of the border trade, the workshop is getting bigger and bigger. Zhou Zhu is in charge of all this. He has successfully sold the products of the workshop to the surrounding countries of Dai Viet. It seems that no matter what time it is, it is a woman's nature to love beauty.
Now even if all the villagers in Xiawan Village enter the workshop, there are far from enough people. Many people from the surrounding villages of Xiawan Village also enter the workshop.
Anyway, the life of the villagers in Xiawan Village is getting better and better, so they built a new ancestral hall and a large shed for gatherings and theaters. The space was very large, Zhou Yi walked in surrounded by everyone, and saw that many wine tables had already been set up inside.
It seems that everyone in Xiawan Village is present for this reception banquet.
Zhou Yi and Zhou Lao Er naturally sat at the main table with the elders of the clan, while Wang Yan and Li Yingru sat on the other side.
Zhou Yi did feel exhausted after traveling for so long, but the villagers were so enthusiastic, he couldn't refuse. After the banquet, the family was sent home directly by the big guys.
Knowing that they might be very tired, the second uncle told the villagers to leave. Zhou Yi finally let out a sigh of relief after the villagers had all left.
He looked at Li Yingru and asked worriedly, "Are you okay? Why don't you go and rest first." "
Yes, if the siblings are tired, they should go to rest quickly. I will take care of the house and clean it every few days. Very good." Da Ya said hastily.
Li Yingru shook her head and said with a smile: "Sister, it's okay, I'm in good health, but parents, you two must be tired."
Zhou Laoer waved his hand: "It's okay, I didn't do anything along the way, can I have a meal?" How tired, we are not as seasick as Liulang, Liulang, if you can't take it anymore, go and have a rest. I am not busy, I finally came back, I have to go around." Zhou Yi felt a little tired,
but It's not time to rest yet, "No need, I slept during the day, and I won't be able to sleep at night, it's good to just sit like this."
When Zhou Yi was talking to Zhou Lao Er, Li Yingru had already started chatting with Da Ya, she pulled Wang Ying and Wang Xiong, and she was happy no matter what she saw: "Oh, these two children are really good-looking, what should I do, auntie?" I like you so much." As he spoke, he asked Qing'er to take out the meeting gift he had prepared early in the morning, stuffed it into the hands of Wang Ying and Wang Xiong, and hurriedly called Qing'er to bring the snacks brought from the capital to the two children.
Knowing that her younger brother married a noble girl, Da Ya was worried that her younger brother and daughter-in-law would not be able to get along, but now that she is so kind and generous, she also breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.
After Wang Yan rested for a while, seeing Da Ya and Li Yingru chatting happily, she interjected: "Da Ya, where is Da Ge and A Yuan? Why hasn't your aunt come?" Da Ya hurriedly said, "Brother Yuan and Daddy followed
Zhu Brother went outside to discuss business, and sister Ling gave birth again and is in confinement, mother is going to take care of her!"
Wang Yan said, as if she wanted to ask something else, but after glancing at Zhou Er and Zhou Yi, she was about to say The words were suppressed.
Everyone was a little tired that day, just as it was getting dark, they went back to their rooms. Li Yingru walked around the room, looking at every object carefully.
Zhou Yi took a bath, sat on the couch beside the bed and shook his fan, watched Li Yingru wandering around the room, raised his eyebrows: "What are you looking at, these things are not new!" Li Yingru picked up
a Yantai looked at it: "Of course I haven't seen it before, but you used it, how can it be the same as other things, Mr. Gong, did you live in this room when you were young?" Zhou Yi chuckled: "You are wrong
. , It should be said that you lived in this house after building a new house." "
Then where did you live before?" Li Yingru asked curiously.
Zhou Yi stood up and pulled Li Yingru to sit beside her, and said, "Tomorrow we are going to the old house, and you will know where I lived when I was a child..." After hearing this, Li Yingru hurriedly
talked Zhou Yi's sleeve: "Sister-in-law, tell me about your childhood. After all, since we got married, you have always been very busy. I haven't heard you talk about your childhood!"
Zhou Yi listened, raised his head, and sighed softly: "When I was a child..." This lecture lasted for more than an hour.
After Li Yingru was pregnant, her mood fluctuated a bit. Before listening for a while, tears were already shed, "Sister-in-law, I didn't know that you had such a hard time when you were a child. How could grandpa and the others be like this? If you weren't smart, if dad was real. I went to serve corvee, so what do you do?"
Zhou Yi stroked Li Yingru's hair lightly: "Silly girl, what's the matter, our Guang'an County is a rich and prosperous town, and the situation in Da Viet is considered good, you If you go to other places, you will know that what I have suffered is nothing! In the countryside, there are too many situations where the elders favor one another. Fortunately, when we were young, the Zhou family gave us a bite of food... "When he said the last sentence, Zhou Yi's tone was full of ridicule.
Li Yingru reached out and patted Zhou Yi's back lightly: "Do you think I have never seen the suffering of the people? I also know that the world is unfair. The wine and meat of the wealthy family stink, and the roads are frozen to death. I have been to the border, but no matter how hard they are, I will pity and feel sad, but I will not empathize with you, because you are my husband-in-law, and I will be in great pain if you are wronged..." At this point, she gently Leaning her head on Zhou Yi's shoulder: "My husband, everything is fine. From now on, you have me and the child, no matter what, I will definitely protect you!"
Zhou Yi listened, and his heart became a puddle of warm water: " Silly girl, I will protect you and the child if you want to protect
me!" Li Yingru burst out laughing, "You can't beat me!"
Zhou Yi rubbed his nose and said, "A man, a man, depends on brains, not force. !"
Li Yingru laughed even louder: "Yes, otherwise, how could you have thought of writing such a tricky letter to Master Wen!"
Zhou Yi suddenly turned cold when he said this, "I told you before the fourth sister got married. , will definitely protect her and become her reliance, now that she is in such pain, how can I do nothing! Let's see how Mrs. Wen responds, if they still insist on letting Wen Xin take a concubine, then I am not polite It's over."
Li Yingru looked at Zhou Yi with stars in her eyes, how lucky her husband is to be so responsible and considerate of women!
It turned out that when Zhou Yi heard what Li Yingru said about Liu Ya, he couldn't go back, so he wrote a letter to Wen Qu in the carriage. This letter should have arrived not long after they left the capital. Wen Qu got it.
While Zhou Yi was talking with Li Yingru, the atmosphere in the Wen family was not so harmonious. That's right, that letter arrived in Wen Qu's hands not long after Zhou Yi left the city.
Wen Qu is a typical feudal man, he doesn't care about the affairs of the back house, everything is handled by Mrs. Wen, so Mrs. Wen leaked to Liu Ya and Wen Xin that she would give Wen Xin a concubine, because it was Wen The madam only brought it up one day before Zhou Yi and the others left the capital, so he didn't even know about it.
When he received Zhou Yi's letter, he was still in Hanlin Courtyard. When he saw the envelope signed by Zhou Yi, he was very surprised. He knew that Zhou Yi went back to his hometown to worship his ancestors that day. I know, after all, now that Zhou Yi makes any movements casually, there are always people to observe and analyze them.
What did Zhou Yi write to him for? If you have something to say, just say no before you leave or after you come back.
Wen Qu opened the envelope in doubt, and after reading the whole article, Zhou Yi's words were very polite, and he only wrote lightly at the end of the letter: "There are so many beauties in the two gardens. Mr. Wen has devoted himself to serving the court for many years, so the backyard is empty and the children are few. I heard Mrs. Wen There are plans to spread the branches and leaves for the Wen family. Mrs. Wen is worthy of being from a scholarly family. When my mother heard about it, she was ashamed. She said that although she could not be as virtuous as Mrs. Wen, the Zhou family and the Wen family are children In-laws, Mrs. Wen is so worried, and she is also very worried. After thinking hard, she earnestly told me that I can choose two or three beauties from the two gardens to add fragrance to Mrs. Wen's red sleeves. Madam's management of Zhongfu can relieve Mrs. Wen's worries about spreading branches and leaves. This is a beautiful thing that kills three birds with one stone. After hearing about it, I also feel that this method is very wonderful. If Mr. Wen is interested, you can write to let me know, and I will live up to the entrustment !"
Wen Qu read the letter, but felt baffled, what was it all about, when did he say he was going to add a beauty? Madame wants to spread branches and leaves for the Wen family? When did it happen, why didn't he know? Also, when did Madam become so magnanimous? When he was young, he occasionally had the idea of taking a concubine, but Madam was petty and didn't talk to him for a whole month. Madam walked over supporting each other. Seeing Madam Wen was so uncomfortable, she stopped thinking about concubine, and raised eyebrows with Madam Wen. After a long time, I also felt that this life as light as water was not as exciting as being hugged by others. But also more peaceful and tender.
I didn't take concubines when I was young, but now I'm old, what beauty do I still want?
Until the next day, Wen Qu was full of thoughts and couldn't get any answers. When he got home, he asked Mrs. Wen directly: "Ma'am, what are you thinking? We are old couples, An Ansheng is living a good life, isn't it? Why do you want to help your husband take a concubine?"
Mrs. Wen also opened her eyes wide after hearing this: "Master, what are you talking about? When did I say that I would help you take a concubine?"
"You didn't say it, so why did the news leak to the Zhou family's ears? Zhou Yi wrote to me saying that if necessary, he can choose a beauty from the two gardens!" Dadu, the old man thought that you were petty and misunderstood you because of your husband, but why should you let the Zhou family know about such a family matter, if you really want to add someone, you can find it yourself in the capital..." Before Wen Qu finished
, The teacup in Mrs. Wen's hand fell to the ground with a loud noise: "Master, where did you hear the rumors? Could it be that you have the idea of taking a concubine, and now you are pushing it on me?" "You did
n't ? Then what's going on?" Seeing that Madam Wen's face didn't seem fake, Wen Qu handed the letter in his hand to Madam Wen in doubt.
Mrs. Wen took a look, her face turned blue and then pale, she slapped the letter on the table, trembling with anger: "Okay, I just said that I would take a concubine for the new child, and she went back to her mother's house to complain! I just said A woman in the countryside cannot be married. She is so jealous and can't tolerate others. Could it be that our new son will guard her alone? She already occupies the position of the first wife, and now she is not even allowed to take concubines. She is so overbearing. Whose daughter-in-law is like her? And this week's family, I give the new son a concubine, what position do they have to control it? Since ancient times, it has been a matter of course for capable men to take concubines. No matter how capable he is, Zhou Yi, You must have stretched your hands too far!"
"Wait a minute, when did you say you were going to take a concubine for the new son?" Wen Qu stood up suddenly, "I said, how could Zhou Yi suddenly do this?" Write me a letter like this, no wonder, no wonder!"
"My lord, Zhou Yi has been deceiving people so much this week that even the emperor can't care about concubines in officials' homes. Why should he care? This is not bullying our Wen family. Is it?" Mrs. Wen also stood up and said eagerly to Wen Qu.
After listening to Wen Qu, he laughed and sat down, took a sip of tea slowly and said: "He didn't say that you are not allowed to take a concubine for the new son, he just said to choose two or three beauties for the old man, alas, it is really unexpected , I am old and old, but I still have such beautiful blessings. Ma'am, what kind of beauty do you think I should write to Zhou Yi? I understand, do you want to be gentle and virtuous, or delicate and charming? Or should I have both?"
"Master, you... How could you think so? You actually disregarded the relationship between our husband and wife for so many years!!!" Mrs. Wen looked at Wen Qu in disbelief, tears streaming down her face.
Wen Qu sighed, "Ma'am, you are so confused, look, the husband is just talking about it, you are so uncomfortable, isn't it the same with the daughter-in-law, she and Xin'er are in a good relationship, and now she is pregnant , you go to Zhang Luo's concubine for Xin'er, what do you want your daughter-in-law to think? Let's judge others by yourself, Xin'er can decide for himself whether to take a concubine or not, why should you meddle in his son's affairs!" Mrs. Wen
saw Wen Qu didn't really intend to take a concubine, so he wiped his tears with a handkerchief and sat down: "I didn't say that I must give Xin'er a concubine, but that's all I said, look, I just said, She couldn't wait to go to her natal family to file a complaint, after all, she came from a small family, she has no airs!"
Wen Qu put down his teacup, "Don't say anything, madam, you are also well-read poetry and books, don't do to you what you don't want You should also understand the principles of human beings. Why do you want to embarrass your daughter-in-law when you can’t bear it? What does this have to do with small households? Could it be possible that there are real wives who happily take concubines for their husbands? If so, why Ma'am, don't you set an example?"
"You..." Mrs. Wen was unable to refute what Wen Qu said.
"Children and grandchildren have their own blessings, so don't worry about those things. If Xin'er wants to take a concubine, it will be useless no matter what the Zhou family says, but now you are forcing Xin'er to take a concubine, of course the daughter-in-law has Wronged, she went back to her mother's house to explain why she couldn't do it, but Zhou Yi's method this time is really..." What is it, tricky! Knowing that he couldn't interfere with this matter directly, he broke through from the side and beat cattle across the mountain. Seeing his wife's current state, he might not be able to say anything about taking a concubine for his new son!
Thinking of this, Wen Qu deliberately teased Mrs. Wen: "Madam, if you want to get a concubine for your new son, you have to hurry up. If you don't make sure your front feet are all in order, Zhou Yi will send you a few sisters on the back. Oh, so That’s okay, let your husband enjoy the blessings of being equal to everyone!!!”
“Master!!!” Mrs. Wen was ashamed and angry!