The night was hazy, and the lanterns were reflected in the water. A few red dots appeared on the pavilion, and the winter starry sky.
Between the Clouds and the Water. Looking down from the window on the second floor, the water in the man-made lake was not frozen. The old man and his family who came a few days ago were also here. At first, they thought it was strange, but then they saw that during the day, someone was using a charcoal brazier to roast the water on the lake. When the water was slightly frozen, it would be picked up by someone.
At this time, a few lanterns were hung on a boat and placed in the lake to illuminate. They set off the independent pavilion in the middle of the lake, reflecting the winter starry sky, hazy and dreamy.
A six- or seven-year-old girl with two braids on her head put her small hands on the window. She stood on tiptoe and looked down. A pair of lively big eyes blinked, full of curiosity.
"Grandpa, look, look, there are lanterns below. It's so beautiful." The little girl stretched out one hand and pointed straight down. She turned her head and said excitedly to the old man.
The old man already knew the scenery below, but he still stood up and walked behind the little girl. He looked at the place his granddaughter pointed at, touched his granddaughter's head, and said, "I saw it, I saw it. I think it's good, so I'll see it more often in the future."
"Father, are you really going to retire?" Hearing the old man's words, a man sitting next to the table asked.
"Kang 'er, it's not that I want to retire, but my body is getting worse day by day. Staying in that position will harm the country and the people. It's better to find a place with good scenery and enjoy the scenery." The old man said helplessly. Seeing his granddaughter look up at him with a puzzled expression, he said to her, "I didn't know where to find it.
"In the past, I didn't know where to look, but now I know. It's Shuiyun Den. You can look at the scenery and taste the delicacies. In the future, you'll be able to look at it all day long. I don't think they can ask for too much money from me. Don't you think so, Miss Wang?
The last words were said to Aunt Wang. Before Aunt Wang said anything, Date and Jujube, who were serving beside her, nodded together. Jujube said quickly, "Sir, you're right. In the future, you don't need to pay a penny here. How dare the Zhang family not listen?"
"Haha, little girl, if you say that, don't let the people of the Zhang Clan hear it. Otherwise, they will definitely drive you away. The Zhang Clan today is different from before. Wait until tomorrow, this old man will let you see that child. After the new year, you will have something to say when you go back."
The old man didn't think that the head of the Zhang family would be as timid as before. What the Zhang family did in the past two years, if it wasn't for the head of the family having the ability, there must be an expert guiding him.
Aunt Wang didn't think that the Zhang family was that great. She said, "Sir, even if the Zhang family is stronger than before and has a seventh-ranked official, they still can't enter other people's eyes. When they go to the capital next year, won't they still have to stay in the Wang family? Otherwise, who will help them organize the poetry and wine banquet? "
The old man looked at the steward sent by the Wang family, who was Auntie Wang, and a hint of disappointment appeared in his eyes. He shook his head and said, "If you still think this way, then don't go see the child tomorrow. Look at how the Zhang and Wang family's farmsteads are being managed. How could an ordinary person do that?"
Aunt Wang didn't dare to talk back to the old man. She could only whisper, "It's just a Zhuangzi. Could it be that they have great ability? It's just a hundred villagers, and they can reach the heavens? "
When the old man heard this, he didn't want to say more. He turned to his son and said, "Kang 'er, go take a look tomorrow. You just came today, so you don't know what Zhuangzi and Zhang Family are like. Learn from your cousin and hide in Xiao Luoshui. Learn from the docks."
"Father, I understand. If Zhuangzi and Zhang Family are different from other places, then the person behind them is definitely not an ordinary person." The child immediately stood up and said respectfully.
Seeing that his son was so sensible, the old man finally showed a satisfied smile. He sat down again and looked at the bubbling hot pot on the table. He picked up a roll of mutton with his chopsticks and dipped it in the hot pot. He dipped it in the sauce on the plate and put it in his mouth. After swallowing, he said,
"This way of eating is really different from other places. The mutton melts as soon as it enters the mouth. There's another aroma in the meat, and the rank odor can't be smelled. I think it won't be long before this way of eating spreads."
"Master is right. I lost a few teeth, so I thought it wouldn't be easy to eat this meat. Who would have thought that after putting it in my mouth and chewing it a few times, I can eat it. The chef Between the Clouds and the Water is also not ordinary." The old woman at the table also dipped a slice and praised.
The old man's son immediately dipped two more slices and put them on the old woman's plate. He said, "Mother, if you want to eat more, then eat more. This meat is fat but not greasy, thin but not dry. You should also try it."
As he spoke, he picked up a piece of red braised pork for the old woman. It was bright red, but it didn't have the taste of the red pond in the mouth. It was the color of sugar fried with white sugar. The meat was also specially chosen to have three layers of meat. When it was dipped in water, he specially added Shancha juice.
The old woman looked at her son, then looked at her granddaughter, and then looked at the lively atmosphere in the room. She laughed happily and said to the old man, "Master, I heard that the new county magistrate of San Shui County seems to have some friction with the Zhang Family and the Wang Family. Why don't you persuade them? If the county magistrate uses any tricks and harms the Zhang Family and the Wang Family, it won't be good."
The old woman was a little worried about the Zhang Family and the Wang Family. After all, Jia Shan and Jia Yiheng were county magistrates and had some ability.
As she spoke, her eyes landed on the steward of the Wang family. Her meaning was self-evident. Auntie Wang also knew why the old lady was looking at her, but she pretended not to know. On the other hand, Little Zao and Big Zao were anxious when they heard this. They exchanged glances, but did not dare to casually say anything to protect anyone.
The old man muttered to himself for a while and said, "Don't worry. It's the new year. Who would be so blind as to cause trouble for others at this time? After the new year, there will be a provincial examination. That way, Zhang Zhong will have the status of a provincial scholar. Since he's close to the capital, he can participate in the spring examination this year.
In the next few months, as long as the Zhang Family and the Wang Family are fine in Zhuangzi, with the help of the people in the capital, as long as he can show some ability, there will be no need to worry about Zhuangzi. "
"Father is right. This place is close to the capital. Once he has the status of a provincial scholar, he can immediately rush to the capital. It's not like that faraway place. Even if he gets the status this year, he might not be able to make it next year. If something happens on the way, it will be even more troublesome. However, this provincial scholar's ranking can't be too low. Father, why don't you help think of a way?"
Kang 'er echoed. His idea was that if he helped the Zhang Family, when the time came and his father was willing to live here, the Zhang Family would definitely take good care of him.
The old man smiled and said, "Kang 'er, you don't need me for this kind of thing. Look at the calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall. You can imagine how much effort the Zhang Family put in to provide for this person. Before the examination, Zhang Zhong's name will definitely spread everywhere.
Hand in the recipes for growing vegetables in the winter. In the future, the people in this cold land will be able to eat more in the winter. The Zhang Family also doesn't want any official rewards, so they must want to make a name for themselves. "
Kang 'er now understood that Zhuangzi had already planned this. Since Zhang Zhong's calligraphy and paintings hung on the wall of the restaurant Between the Clouds and the Water, Little Luoshui's restaurant would not be too bad. They had forcefully pushed it up. Even if Zhang Zhong's talent was a bit lacking, he was still better than that scholar who couldn't get a job.
"Hmph! I don't believe that Zhang Zhong can get the title of first place in the examination. One first place in one province. How many provinces? How many first places in the first few years have come to the capital together? Is the examination in spring that common? "
Aunt Wang whispered again. She seemed to look down on Zhang Zhong, who was Zhang Xiaobao's father. No matter what happened, she would always mock and ridicule them. However, she had no intention of not eating the food on the table, even if she ate while finding fault with it.
Big Date and Jujube couldn't get a word in edgewise. The two of them could only whisper to each other.
"Big Date, we'll be able to see the young master tomorrow. What do you think the young master looks like? Will he be as dumb as Zhang Zhong? Will he be so scared that he can't speak in front of such a big scene? "
Jujube carefully thought about Zhang Zhong's appearance. She wanted to combine the images of Zhang Xiaobao and Zhang Zhong. She asked Big Date, who was next to her.
Big Date didn't seem to have a good imagination like Jujube. He couldn't guess what Zhang Xiaobao looked like. He shook his head and said, "How would I know? The young lady of the Wang family should be very fun to play with. I heard that when the two of them met, they were entangled together. When they separated, they cried. They have been living in the Zhang family.
If only I had such a person when I was young. We could play together and grow up together. If someone bullied me, he would help me. I would wash his clothes and cook for him, and then … then … "
As he spoke, Big Date couldn't continue. His voice became softer and softer, and his neck turned red.
Little Zao, who was at the side, heard Big Zao's words and was also stunned. His eyes looked at the night sky outside. After a while, he reacted and said to Big Zao with a smile, "Big Zao, do you want to grow up with Er Kui in the fu? I knew what you were thinking. "
"What nonsense are you saying? I was talking about the young lady of the Wang family. Er Kui is so dumb. I don't like him. What does he have to do with me? I've never thought about him.
You don't know. Last month, he went out with the people in the manor to do something. When he came back, he wanted to catch fish. The river was frozen, and he fell into it. Do you think he should stay? And in October, he himself … "
Big Date denied Jujube's words. He said that he didn't care about someone. He began to recite the things that someone did. Jujube was stunned again.
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