Jingguo's government officials even took the initiative to organize all kinds of literary gatherings. Especially in Xiangzhou and Jiangzhou, which were close to the Yangtze River, the local officials used all their strength to light lanterns, fire firecrackers, race dragon boats, hold literary gatherings, perform plays, hold banquets, light boat lanterns, and so on. All kinds of traditional customs were gathered on this day.
Many officials had already submitted a memorial to the cabinet and the king, requesting Jingguo to set up a 'Jiangjun Festival' to commemorate Fang Yun becoming the ruler of the Yangtze River.
Jiangzhou, Dayuan Mansion, Ji County.
The whole city was decorated with lanterns and streamers, and every household was filled with joy. The rich families in the city responded to the county magistrate's call and held a banquet on Wenyuan Street. All the people in the city flocked there.
The scholars in the city gathered at various literary gatherings. Some were in restaurants, some were in the wilderness, but most of them were at the Enlightenment River.
Ji County was lively, but three streets away from the famous Fang Yun's courtyard, the Ge family's residence was deserted.
Ge Xiaomao, the only son of the Ge family, was getting married today. The courtyard was decorated with lanterns and streamers, and there were ten tables in the courtyard. Outside the courtyard, there were also more than twenty tables prepared according to Ji County's customs.
However, there was no one outside the courtyard. There were only four tables in the courtyard, and they were all relatives of the Ge family.
The Ge family's in-laws were the Sheng family of Ji County. Although they were not a prominent family, they were still a well-known family in Ji County. Just the dowry alone was a shop and a hundred acres of fertile land, which made the ordinary people envious.
Even if the Sheng family's banquet did not fill twenty tables, it would not be a problem to fill ten tables. But now, only two tables were invited by the Sheng family.
The Sheng family members at the two tables were sullen. They did not even touch the delicacies on the table.
The Ge family members at the side were also sullen. Some were frowning, while others looked at the Sheng family angrily.
According to the usual rules, the parents and grandparents of the two families should sit at the same table. But today, they were completely separated.
The two newlyweds had finished the ceremony. The groom and the bride sat in the main hall with their heads lowered in silence.
Although the groom, Ge Xiaomao, was not a high school student, he had been studying for many years and was gentle. However, his dull face did not make him look like a scholar.
The bride at the side was beautiful. She looked down and did not move, and she looked miserable.
In the evening of July, insects chirped and birds chirped. The air was steaming hot. The red candles shone brightly, but the candles were cold.
On the Ge family's seat, a middle-aged man in his forties with a head full of white hair said, "In-law, you should sit over here. This is a big wedding banquet, we can't be rude."
A middle-aged woman sitting at the Sheng family's table sneered. "What? Are you saying that the Sheng family has no manners? Last year, who was the one who swore that even if Fang Xusheng didn't come, he would still bestow calligraphy and gifts, bringing glory to the Ge family and the Sheng family, and let the two newlyweds receive Xusheng's blessings? What about now? Not only did Xusheng not see him, the scholars in the city also used the excuse of celebrating Jiangjun Festival as an excuse to avoid him. Some of them didn't even bother to send gifts! Being so unlucky to be associated with your Ge family, who would dare to join you? "
The Ge family was embarrassed and angry, but they had no way to refute.
Father Ge, who had spoken earlier, sighed softly and said, "In-law, this wedding is a matter between the two families, but in the end, it's a matter between Xiaomao and his wife. How are they going to live after this on their wedding day? I've already visited them time and time again to apologize. Why are you still so unforgiving? "
Ge Xiaomao gritted his teeth and clenched his fists tightly.
Suddenly, the bride beside him reached out and gently touched Ge Xiaomao's fist.
Ge Xiaomao stiffened for a moment, and his clenched fist slowly loosened.
Their hands were still touching.
"Our Sheng family is still unforgiving? Say that again? Say it again! "Mama Sheng slammed the table and stood up, her voice flying out of the courtyard.
Father Ge's face was full of sorrow. He lowered his head slightly, not daring to look at Mama Sheng.
The Ge family glared at Mama Sheng, but their status was not as high as the Sheng family, so no one dared to refute.
Mama Sheng pointed at the Ge family and said, "You have the nerve to talk about our Sheng family? If it weren't for the engagement, and if it weren't for my daughter's reputation, our Sheng family would have called off the engagement no matter what! Our Sheng family is also a reputable family in Ji County. Our ancestors have passed the imperial examination, and there are also imperial scholars in the Three Prefectures! He is even a high-ranking official in the Da Yuan Mansion! What does your Ge family have? Ah! What do you have?! "
The Ge family was ashamed. The Ge family had once passed the imperial examination, and that was a hundred years ago. They all hoped that Ge Xiaomao could bask in Fang Xusheng's glory. But who knew that Ge Xiaomao would not be enlightened and could not pass the imperial examination. There were even rumors in Ji County that all the scholars in Ji County's literary institute took good care of Ge Xiaomao. But every time Ge Xiaomao went to the examination hall, he would perform abnormally, and the examiners could do nothing about it.
Mama Sheng put her hands on her hips and said fiercely, "What did your Ge family say when you were trying to curry favor with our Sheng family? You said that my stupid son-in-law would definitely pass the imperial examination this year. You said that Xusheng would definitely send someone over. You said that if they had a son, they could be adopted by the Sheng family. You even said that you could beg Fang Xusheng to take in a disciple, or at the very least, teach him another disciple. What about now? What about now?! "
Mama Sheng slammed the table again, and the bowls and plates shook.
"Just the day before yesterday, you told us to swallow our anger because you were afraid of angering Old Master Ge. Is it our fault that you did not dare to invite Old Master Ge today? If my stupid son-in-law really has feelings for Fang Xusheng, why didn't he come? What about his stupid son-in-law's schoolmates? They did not come because they knew what kind of person Ge Xiaomao was. He was always lazy and did not do any proper work. How can holding a book be called studying? However, it was fortunate that his classmates did not come. If his stupid son-in-law's classmates had all come, these dozens of tables would not be able to seat them all. After all, his classmates had left in waves. Do you know what others say about my stupid son-in-law? Ge Xiaomao is made of iron, and he is a scholar! How can your Ge family say anything about our Sheng family? How shameless! "
The Ge family became even more furious.
The groom, Ge Xiaomao, was so angry that his hands trembled.
The bride slowly raised her delicate hand and placed it on Ge Xiaomao's hand.
Ge Xiaomao's eyes reddened, and he almost cried.
Mama Sheng glanced at the Ge family and looked at Ge Xiaomao contemptuously. She raised her voice.
"If Ge Xiaomao and Fang Xusheng were not classmates, your Ge family would not be able to see our Sheng family even if you were to jump into the sky! When my daughter was sixteen years old, people came to propose marriage to her. Do you know that? In one year, the door was changed three times, and they even had to cover it with iron sheets! Do you know why we chose your family? Because Fang Xusheng's classmate already has a wife! They are all people with civil positions! When my daughter was betrothed to your family, what did the neighbors and friends say? They said that our Sheng family was lucky to be able to get Fang Xusheng's classmate, and he was on good terms with him! But now? Now?! "
"I must have been blind!" Mama Sheng screamed at the top of her lungs like a chicken or a duck.
Just then, a cold snort came from outside the door.
"Who is crying at the wedding of the newlyweds?!"
A group of scholars came in, led by a high scholar.
Ge Xiaomao looked up immediately.
The leader was Lu Lin, who had entered the examination hall with Fang Yun. He was also a scholar on the same roll as Fang Yun.
Behind Lu Lin was Liang Yuan, who now held a high position in the Fang family and was in charge of many businesses.
There was also Lu Zhan, who had helped Fang Yun enter the examination hall. He was now a scholar and was quite famous in the Dayuan Mansion.
The most eye-catching one was a person about the same age as Ge Xiaomao, Fang Zhongyong, who had already become a scholar.
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