On the first day of March, Zeng Yu returned to Shangrao. He went to Minglun Hall, Fuxue to listen to Professor Zhang's lecture every morning. He took the time to attend several literary meetings and discussed with the students. He prepared for the August provincial examination. He recited poems and painted in his spare time. His life was quite comfortable.

On the afternoon of the ninth day of the lunar month, Zeng Yu accompanied his mother to take care of flowers and plants in the backyard, while discussing the matter of going back to Shitian in Yongfeng for two days to sweep the grave. March 13th is the annual Qingming Festival. Zeng Yu considered that regardless of whether the imperial examination was going smoothly in the future, he would leave his hometown for many days. If he wanted to rush back to Shitian in another province, it would be inconvenient. Therefore, he must go back to Shitian this Qingming Festival. Zeng's mother Zhou and Niu Niu have left Shitian for almost a year. He also wanted to take the opportunity to sweep the grave on Qingming Festival to go back to see it, so he agreed to leave for Yongfeng the day after tomorrow.

He could hear the sound of drums and music from afar, and seemed to be coming to Zeng's house. It was very lively. Zeng Yuxin said, "What's the happy event? I haven't participated in the provincial examination yet." He ordered Sixi to go outside the gate to see what was going on.

After a while, Sixi rushed in and reported the good news: "Grandma, young master, you are very happy. The emperor issued an order to be appointed as an official, and the emperor issued an order to be appointed as an official--"

In the first month of the year, Hu Zongxian sent someone to commend Zeng Yu, saying that he would posthumously confer the title of Zeng Yu's grandfather, father's official position, Zeng Yu's legitimate mother and biological mother's imperial edict. The name of the Guangxin Mansion's ritual room has been verified and reported. Now it should be the imperial edict of the court.

Zeng Yu ordered Sixi, Yu Niang and Du Ma to go to the front hall to prepare the incense table. He quickly changed into the dress of a student himself. Several servants from Guangxin Mansion had already arrived first, saying that the Lord of the Mansion would arrive soon, and there were officials who came to issue the imperial edicts in Nanjing.

The firecrackers were rising and the drums and music were in full swing. The people watching in front of the gate of Zeng's house were shoulder to shoulder. Zeng Yu welcomed the prefect Lin and a sixth-rank chief of the Qing Literature Department of the Nanjing Ministry of Rites into the main hall. Zeng's mother Zhou also came out to kneel down to receive the imperial court for reward.

Zeng Yu's grandfather and father were granted the title of the seventh-rank rank chief of the chief minister, Zeng Yu's mother Gao, and his biological mother Zhou, and his seventh-rank rank rank slut. Zeng Yu's mother Zhou gave the title of the seventh-rank rank garment, and also gave ten pieces of brocade, hundreds of taels of silver, and thousands of stakes of treasure money.

Compared with the generous rewards of Hu Zongxian, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, the court's rewards focused on famous tools. Zeng Yu was able to honor his ancestors and parents as a young scholar. It was rare since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. The beautiful talk about Zeng Yu was rumored around Shangrao City. There were endless people coming to Zeng's house to watch the fun. They took their relatives and neighbors, and even nodded to congratulate him. When Zeng Yu entered the government office to accompany the head of the Nanjing Ministry of Rites at the banquet, the wife of the prefect Lin, An Yiren, also brought Zeng's mother Zhou and Niu Niu to the inner courtyard for dinner.

Since he was posthumously appointed as an official, he would of course pay homage to his ancestors and report good news. Prefect Lin sent a civil servant from the government office and two yamen runners to Yongfeng to worship his ancestors with Zeng Yu, declared the court's grace, and rewarded another fifty taels of silver for repairing the ancestral hall and ancestral tombs.

On the evening of March 11, Zeng Yu's family had Zhu Dedong, and Zeng Ruolan's family of five were moored at the entrance of the south gate of Yongfeng County. Zeng's father-in-law Xie Yuanwai and eldest son Xie Mantang had been waiting for a long time. The enthusiasm of the Xie family made Zeng Yu's mother and son unable to withstand it. Several of the female relatives of the Xie family came. They flattered Zeng Yu's mother and Niu Niu and tried their best to invite him to rest at the Xie family's house. Zeng Yu is not a vengeful person, and Zeng's mother Zhou is even more kind, but the enthusiasm of the Xie family. That night, she had dinner at the Xie family's house and rested at night. Xie Zidan, who had had a grudge with Zeng Yu before, didn't even see her. She must have been ordered by her father and brother to temporarily avoid Zeng Yu's sight, so as not to arouse old hatred. The Xie family obviously underestimated Zeng Yu's spirit by judging others.

The next morning, Zeng Yu rushed to the West Mountain to pay homage to the old Hanlin Lu Huai. Lu Huai was very encouraging to him. When he was talking, the magistrate of Yongfeng sent a yamen runner to invite Lu Huai and Zeng Yu to the county yamen for lunch. Zeng Yu's current status is extraordinary. He has been rewarded by the court to suppress the thieves and made meritorious contributions and became the son-in-law of the Longhushan Dazhen Mansion. This is also the glory of the entire Yongfeng County. It was not only the beginning of the prefect Lin, but also the magistrate of Si County also allocated 30 taels of silver from the county's household department for Zeng Yu to return to the stone fields to repair the ancestral hall and ancestral tomb.

In the afternoon of that day, Zeng Yu's family was in the palace. The county officials accompanied him to Shanxi Post. Xie Mantang and several stone carpenters were also accompanied by Xie Mantang. Zeng Wen and Liu Jiachang from Shitian were already waiting on the pier. The sedan chair and porter had hired them. Shun Dangdang rushed to Shitian fifteen miles away. When passing the road pavilion in Xiazhoufan, the group hurried past and did not stop to rest.

Niu Niu and her mother were sitting in the sedan chair, half-punching out of the sedan window, looking at the remaining post pavilion. She remembered that her brother was carrying her on the rain and was sheltering from the road pavilion. At that time, she was really cold and scared. Looking at the rain and fog floating outside the pavilion, the little girl could also feel the desolation of her life. Fortunately, she had her brother and mother, everything was getting better. I still remember that she lay on her back and asked her brother what kind of sister-in-law she would marry in the future. Her brother said she wanted Niu Niu to like...

Thinking of this, Niu Niu couldn't help but laugh, and her mother asked her what she was laughing at. Niu Niu said, "I remembered that the little fairy sister-in-law and brother were trapped on the mountain in the rain."

Zeng's mother Zhou also smiled when she heard this, and looked at Zeng Yu, who was riding a horse in front of her.

It was dusk when the group arrived at Shitian. The sunset was setting, and the water surface of Fengxi was rippling with golden waves. The hunchbacked old shipwreck flew back and forth three times before sending Zeng Yu and his group of more than 20 people to the left bank of Fengxi. Zeng Yu ordered Sixi to buy some money for the old shipwreck to drink. The old shipwreck thanked him very much and praised Zeng's mother Zhou, saying that he had long seen the extraordinaryness of the Zeng family's young master--

Niu Niu believed it and asked how the hunchbacked old shipwreck how could he see his brother's extraordinaryness?

The old shipwreck had been talking to people for many years and was good at making up stories. He immediately pinched the broken silver given by Sixi and smiled: "Ms. Niu Niu, listen to the hunchback who came slowly. One summer day, I was dozing on the river side, but I didn't hear Mr. Zeng calling me to ferry on the other side. Suddenly I had a dream. An old official with a white beard raised forehead knocked my knee with a crutch. Remind that Wenquxing was on the other side to greet me quickly. I woke up with a tremor. I heard the young master of Zeng call a boat on the other side to come. The hunchback took the boat over to take Mr. Zeng over the river. When Mr. Zeng walked away, the hunchback suddenly realized that the old official in the dream was the Land Lord in the small temple at the foot of the mountain. The Land Lord was holding a dream. The hunchback didn't dare to talk to others about this matter. Today, Miss Niu Niu asked about it. The old hunchback revealed the secret of the world, hahaha."

Several clerks in the prefecture and county, Xie Mantang, Liu Jiachang and others flattered Zeng Yu, as if Zeng Yu was really Wenquxing descending to earth. Zeng Yu shook his head and smiled: "Don't talk nonsense. I have been taking the scholar three times. Is this the case for Wenquxing descending to earth? Also, if I fail the provincial examination in this year, I will come to trouble you, see if you dare to make up stories of gods and monsters again."

The hunchbacked old shipkeeper smiled and said, "Those who will win will win, Mr. Zeng will definitely be in high school today." He said to himself: "If you fail the exam, can you still take my old hunch's bamboo pole?"

Zeng Yun was happy to hear it and gave the old shipman a string of copper coins to buy a roast chicken for wine. The group entered Shitian lively. In late spring, it was dark quickly after sunset. The town Shitian was already brightly lit, and the people of Shitian even welcomed each other. Since Shitian lived in a small town, this was the top priority. Who would have thought that the stubborn concubine of the Zeng family could be so glorious about his family?

Wealth and honor do not return to our hometown like walking in brocade clothes at night. It is easy to show off in front of old friends and acquaintances. Although Zeng Yu is not rich, he can be regarded as famous far and wide. Zeng Yu can still calmly and self-control for his flattery and beautiful words from his neighbors. What is rare is that Zeng's mother, Zhou, also showed a decent graceful demeanor, which is not like the miserable fate and humble background.

Zeng Yun was originally worried that Zeng Yu's mother would show resentment to his wife Xie and even attacked him on the spot. After all, Xie was not virtuous to Zeng Yu and his son over the years. Zeng Yu often studied outside and was less angry. Zeng Yu's mother and Xie had suffered a lot of grievances. Now Zeng Yu has made a name for himself. Zhou is a decree. If you want to settle the old accounts with Xie, Xie Mantang dares not say "no" here, so Zeng Yun is nervous.

Although Zeng Yu's mother, Zhou, was a child-raising concubine, and Zeng Yu's father had never been promoted when he was alive, this time, the county and the government ritual house reported that the Nanjing Ministry of Rites regarded Zhou as Zeng's father's second wife. Now the imperial edict has been issued, Zhou is already a seventh-ranked gentleman named by the court. If the Zeng family re-revised the genealogy in the Sanliao of Xingguo after the New Year, the Zhou family would be recorded as Zeng's father's second wife. Therefore, when Zeng Yu saw Zeng Yu's mother again, she changed her words to be called her stepmother; Zeng Yu's wife Xie was even more accused of being.

Guo’s husband’s advice and father and brother’s harsh instructions, if Zeng Yu’s mother wanted to vent her anger, she would have to endure even if she was beaten and scolded. Otherwise, the Xie family in Yongfeng would not have a good life in the future, so Xie also put away his stinginess and gritted the bullet and prepared to endure Zeng Yu’s mother’s sarcasm and even beaten. Unexpectedly, Zeng Yu’s mother smiled and didn’t even say a word of complaint. This made Xie feel a little unbearable. Life was unbearable, and the rest was ashamed.

Zeng's mother, Zhou, and his son, had similar ideas. They were both family members. Although they had rifts and conflicts in the past, there was no need to settle the accounts one by one. The most important thing for a person is to live a good life, rather than to show off a smug and frivolous face to exert anger. Moreover, Zeng's mother, Zhou, was already satisfied from Xie's timid and shameful expression, so why bother to tear his face and show off his hatred and majestic style.

The family is harmonious and everyone is happy.

Two days ago, Zeng Quan ordered people to prepare the earth, stone and wood for the tomb repair. When Zeng Yu arrived, they started to repair the tomb. The first three and seven were allowed to worship ancestors during the Qingming Festival. Therefore, after five days of repair and construction by craftsmen, on March 18th, the sixth day after the Qingming Festival, the tombs of the grandfather, uncle, father and mother Gao's tombs were renovated, and they also spent money to buy several acres of land in front and behind the tomb. Zeng Yu and Zeng Yu brothers planted more than 100 pine and cypress trees, and the cemetery had a weather condition, and the rest was not changed. This auspicious land was personally surveyed by Zeng Yu's grandfather during his lifetime. It can bless the descendants of the Zeng family to flourish. Now that it is the Zeng Yu generation, isn't this fulfilling?

On the afternoon of March 19, amid the discussion and praise of the people of Ishida, Zeng Yu's family left Ishida. Zeng Yu knew that he would not know when he would return home this time. In the 40th year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty, he was twenty-one years old, full of energy and in his prime. Although he knew that the world was difficult, he always had to make a fortune before he would be willing to do so. Even if he did not make achievements, traveling thousands of miles was his favorite, so he would travel far.

When he returned to Shangrao, Zeng Yu began to prepare his luggage. The reply from Yan Shifang and Yan Shaoqing of Fenyi also arrived. Mr. Yan Er congratulated Zeng Yu on his engagement. He didn't say much else, but said that he would talk to each other again. However, Yan Shaoqing replied to a long letter, which was very regretful of Zeng Yu's hasty engagement with Zhang. They did not inform Lu Miaoxiang and Yingzi of Zeng Yu's engagement. Let this matter fade slowly...

Early in the morning of March 23, Zeng Yu rode a Mongolian horse, black beans, servant Sixi straddled a donkey, and the master and servant left home. Zeng Yu didn't want Sixi to follow him. There were few people in the house, and Sixi was the most capable, but his mother Zhou insisted Sixi to go with him. Zhou said, "Yuer, you are going far away this time, and you have to wait until September to come back alone. How can you feel at ease? Let Sixi follow you with a look. There are Yu Ma and Wu Ma in the house, and Yu Ma's husband Lao Liao has also been hired to work as a long-term worker in the house, and there is enough manpower. Usually, your sister Ruolan comes to visit you every now and then. Don't worry about it when you are outside. You must know the cold and warmth, eat less wine, make more friends and show off. Don't stay up late when you study and composition..."

The passenger ship was traveling west, and the wind was rustling in the river. Zeng Yu stood on the bow of the boat, and his mother's advice was still in his ears. He planned to go home after the provincial examination was completed in August. Yesterday, he had visited the prefect Lin and Professor Zhang. Professor Zhang said that he would arrive in Nanchang at the end of July and early August. Zeng Yu went to the Tixue Yamen to find him. He would prepare the certificates required for the provincial examination and make the tickets ready to be completed.

In late spring, the banks of Xinjiang River are green and continuous. Si Xi, who stood beside Zeng Yu, was very excited about traveling far away and asked: "Young Master, are we still going to Longhu Mountain this time?"

Zeng Yu thought to himself: "I didn't even read the box of Taoist scriptures that Zhang Guangwei gave me. I didn't take the box of Taoist scriptures with me this time. If she knew that she would blame me for being unstable." He said: "I won't go anymore. After meeting Brother Shi Zhi in Yingtan, I went to Anren. Jian Xiucai of Anren even wrote a letter to Shangrao for concern for my safety. We will go back to Fenyi and meet him. Also, I will go there too, Qingtian Lu family in Jinxi, and I will go there."

When he said this, the bald head in black clothes, the quiet and quiet Lu Miaoxiang and the beautiful drooping body, and the innocent and childish Yan Yingzi's figure flew past his heart, making Zeng Yu's mood depressed. This is good. How to face Lu Miaoxiang and Yingzi is a big problem for him, which makes him nervous than the Golden Autumn Provincial Examination, but no matter what, he must face all this bravely and move forward, and maybe the willows and flowers are bright.

Qingming rain, late spring cold.

The cold rain tightens and slows down and goes down endlessly. The fallen leaves of the maple tree are piled up with a thick layer. When they step on it, they "squeak" and mud will be emitted. The depressions will also flood the uppers. From the Maple Forest House to Jieqiao Village, three miles of roads have become muddy and difficult to walk. Although the infant priest is wearing big wooden clogs on his feet, he will still stain his cloth shoes and skirt every time.

One evening in mid-to-late March, the drizzle was still woven. Lu Miaoxiang held an umbrella by the single-plank bridge and waited for the infant to return from school. Looking up, last winter, the leaves fell into bare maple trees. When spring came to spring, they were covered with green leaves. They looked even greener under the nourishment of rain. Jiexi, on the side of her feet, has risen and wider these days, so that the newly-launched spring grass on the shore is also immersed in the stream, not appearing turbid, and becomes greener.

Through the branches and leaves of the maple forest, Lu Miaoxiang heard the footsteps approaching. This was Yingzi's footsteps, and then called out: "Xiaozi--"

In the past, Yingzi would respond soon: "Mom, it's me." But today she didn't say anything, but just speeded up her pace, walked out of the maple forest, and came to the end of the single-plank bridge. The girl, who was only thirteen years old, was so graceful that she was leaving. She put away her umbrella by the bridge, twitched her lips, and screamed "Mom" with grievances. The tears that had been in her eyes suddenly flowed down, and she stood like that, letting the drizzle fall on her hairline and shoulders.

"What's wrong, what's wrong, what's wrong?"

Lu Miao was very surprised. While anxiously asking questions, he stepped onto the single-plank bridge to walk over—

The girl baby figure hurriedly said, "Mom, I'll come over, I'll come over." The bridge was slid on the rainy day, and my aunt had little feet, and she was not as fast and agile as she was walking.

Lu Miao wanted to wait for Yingzi to come, so he quickly moved his umbrella to hide the rain for Yingzi, wrapped his shoulders and back with one hand, and said softly: "What's wrong, tell me."

Yingzi sobbed and said, "Mr. Fangtang - Mr. Fangtang told me that I don't have to go to the clan school to study tomorrow."

Mr. Fang Tang is Yan Shifang. The students in Yuqing Hall call Yan Shifang Mr. Fang Tang, and they are not called by the generations of the clan.

Lu Miaoxiang half-wrapped the infant figure and walked slowly towards the wooden house, asking, "What else did Mr. Fang Tang say besides this?"

Yingzi said, "That means that I have grown up and can't study with the children of the clan, but Yuexiang is one year older than me. Mr. Fang Tang didn't say he wouldn't let Yuexiang come to school, just talk about me."

There are only three female students in the Yuqingtang clan of the Jieqiao Yan family, Yingzi, Yan Yuexiang and Yan Wan'er. Yan Wan'er is the daughter of Yan Shifang, two years younger than Yingzi.

Lu Miao wanted to comfort her: "Xiaozi, don't worry, I will go to Yuqingtang tomorrow and beg Mr. Fang Tang to let you go to school as usual this year."

Yingzi said "hmm" and said, "Thank you, mom." He hugged his aunt's thin waist under her wide black robe and snuggled back to the maple wood house.

There were fried fish for dinner, but Lu Miaoxiang only ate vegetables and tofu, and fish were only for Yingzi to eat. After the meal, Lu Miaoxiang cooked a pot of tea as usual, while talking to Yingzi. The drizzle outside the house was warm and quiet inside. The two of them spoke beautifully like a flute tube-

Yingzi said: "Mom, today I asked Wan'er to ask Mr. Shaoqing when Mr. Zeng would come to Fenyi again. Mr. Shaoqing said Mr. Zeng would come at the end of the month, but they will go to Nanchang soon and will not stay in Fenyi."

Lu Miao thought, "This year is the year of the provincial examination. Mr. Zeng is going to Nanchang for the exam."

At the end of last year, Yan Shaoqing's mother came here to talk about Yingzi's marriage with Lu Miaoxiang, saying that she hoped that Mr. Zeng would win the imperial examinations so that the marriage would be harmonious, so Lu Miaoxiang was also very concerned about this year's Jiangxi Road Provincial Examination.

The drizzle outside stopped and it became dark. Lu Miao wanted to say, "I will go to see Mr. Fangtang tomorrow. If it is sunny, I will go to Jichangyuan to visit Mrs. Cao, which is also a return gift to her visit last year." Yan Shaoqing's mother Cao intends to promote the marriage between Zeng Yu and Yingzi, and said she would write a letter to Yan Shifan. I don't know if Yan Shifan has replied, so Lu Miao wants to go to Jichangyuan to inquire about some information from Cao. Yingzi is already thirteen years old and it is almost time to get engaged. If she can decide this marriage, then she can just recite the Buddha's name and practice it with all her heart.

The next morning, Lu Miaoxiang and Yingzi had breakfast, and the two followed each other to Yuqing Hall. The rainy days that had been in short order for half a month finally cleared. The sun rose, the clouds were clearing, and the sky was clear, and the temple was Ding Laoyan was sweeping. Lu Miaoxiang and Yingzi were waiting by the courtyard of the school. After a while, two Yan's children who came early arrived. They came early not to study, but to play before Yan Shifang arrived. Seeing that Lu Miaoxiang and Yingzi were here, the two students sat upright and read aloud-

At the end of the Mao period, when Yan Shifang came to Yuqing Hall, he heard a sound of books and felt very comforted. He divided the poems and rituals of Yan's family. With such a background, his uncle Yan Song stood out. Suddenly, he saw a girl standing by the courtyard of the school. He thought she was here to beg for alms. He frowned and raised his eyebrows and said, "Lu, why did you end here?" While asking the students to continue studying, he walked to a corner of the courtyard and waited for Lu Miao to come over and talk.

The Yan children who were studying loudly in the hall shut up at the same time, wanting to hear what Mr. Fang Tang said to this beautiful teacher. Some people still don’t know who this beautiful teacher is?

Yan Shifang glared at her eyes and shouted: "Reading"

The sound of reading sounded in the hall again, some read the "Book of Filial Piety", some read the "Analects of Confucius", and some recited the "Thousand Family Poems". For a moment, it was like a boiling and shaking, and it was almost tilted up the tiles in the hall, but soon the sound became smaller. Yan Shifang turned his head and glared, and the sound was higher again, and so repeated.

Lu Miao wanted to say to Yan Shifang: "You dare to ask Mr. Fang Tang to ask Yingzi to finish reading the "Four Books" and "Thousand Family Poems"."

Yan Shifang was unwilling to talk to his cousin Yan Shifan's concubine, so he nodded and said, "Okay, that's it, you go back first." He turned around and ordered Yan Ciding to send Lu Miao back to the Maple Forest Wooden House.

Lu Miao thought, "Pinnie wants to go to Jichangyuan to pay homage to Mrs. Cao, and beg Mr. Fang Tang to make arrangements."

Yan Shifang thought that Lu wanted to ask about Zeng Yu and Yingzi's marriage. Yan Shifan's reply to Cao knew about it, so he asked Cao to explain it to Lu Miao, and said, "Manager Wu from the Changyuan will send something today, so you can follow his carriage to send to Changyuan."

Lu Miaoxiang was waiting in the small hall in front of Yuqing Hall. At the beginning of the silence, Manager Wu really arrived and handed over some daily necessities to the housekeeper of Qianshan Hall. Then he went to Yuqing Hall to see what Yan Shifang had to give. Yan Shifang ordered him to take Lu Miaoxiang to the Changyuan to meet Mrs. Cao, and Manager Wu certainly obeyed the order.
Chapter completed!