Fan Ning has been back to Quanzhou for ten days. Bookmark this site

He has not gone out to sea for the past two months and has devoted himself to the preparations of the fleet.

The fifteen oar boats rented from Fan's trading company have been returned. Three years ago, the Overseas Economic and Trade Administration ordered 300,000-stone oar boats from various ships, and have been delivered one after another.

During this year, the government's oars were conducting small-scale team training to meet the needs of long-distance voyages.

Seeing that Fan Ning was about to marry the daughter of the Cao family, the Fan family seemed relatively quiet on the surface, but there were some small waves in the quiet.

Fan Ning's mother Zhang Sanniang was very dissatisfied with Fan Cao's marriage. She was very satisfied with her current state, with a harmonious family and a family full of grandchildren. She was afraid that another daughter of the Cao family would break this harmony.

Several times during dinner she publicly complained that her son agreed to the marriage.

On the other hand, she felt guilty about her two daughters-in-law and had to express her dissatisfaction with her son. She used this method to comfort her two daughters-in-law. If she showed satisfaction and approval, what would the two daughters-in-law think in their hearts?

Compared with Zhang Sanniang's dissatisfaction, Zhu Pei and Ouyang Qian were very calm and generous, especially Zhu Pei, who had even begun to direct the maids to clean up the yard for the newlyweds.

Fanning's inner study room must be vacated and moved to the west, where there is an empty yard.

The four courtyards on the east side naturally became the residence of three wives and one concubine.

Although Zhu Pei and Ouyang Qian acted generously about Fanning marrying a third wife, it was just on the surface. It was unknown how to deal with Fanning in private.

At least many people have found that Fanning went to his concubine Aya's overnight more times.

Time flies quickly, and it is early November. The daughter of the Cao family went out and set off before the inland river freezes to Quanzhou.

The one who accompanied Cao Xiu to get married was her father Cao Qi. Cao Xiu's biological mother had passed away, and her current stepmother did not follow her south, because Cao Qi will follow Fan Ning to sea in February next year.

The Fan family also began to decorate lights, including Fanning Wharf, with nearly a hundred large lanterns hanging on it. At night, the lanterns were lit up, which were particularly dazzling.

On November 15, the Cao family's fleet of three 3,000-stone ships arrived at the mouth of the Jinjiang River. It was dusk and night was about to fall. The Fan family's wedding boat had been waiting for a long time.

The bride wants to change the boat here and take the wedding boat to the Fan family.

The two ships slowly approached, and a pedestrian pedal with handrails appeared between the two ships. This was a boarding facility that was invented in recent years. All ships over 1,000 stone have interfaces on both sides of the ship's side. The interfaces are unified. If you put on a safety board and buckle the interface, the people on the ship can quickly transfer between the two ships.

A handmaid held the bride wearing a veil and slowly boarded the wedding boat. On this side of the wedding boat was Aya and several handmaids came to greet him.

The groom Fan Ning was also on the boat. He got on the wedding boat and greeted his father-in-law Cao Qi and other relatives and friends of the Cao family, and then returned to the wedding boat.

This time when Cao Xiu got married, the Cao family also gave a heavy dowry. The gold for the dowry alone reached 30,000 taels, 5,000 acres of land in the capital, a five-acre house in the capital, and countless precious jewelry, porcelain, silk, furniture, tea cakes, calligraphy and painting, etc., which contained two large ships.

Although Cao Xiu got married as his wife, there was no difference between etiquette and righteous wife, and he was also a formal marriage between a Ming couple. The empress dowager even appointed her as the county lady, just like Zhu Pei's imperial edict. However, Empress Dowager Cao was quite good at being a human being. While conferring Cao Xiu's imperial edict, he also promoted Ouyang Qian's imperial edict from Shuren to county lady, so as not to cause dissatisfaction among the Ouyang family and make it difficult for the bride to gain a foothold in the Fan family.

The lanterns on the wedding boat were lit together, walking slowly on Jinjiang, with a shiny and a particularly attractive view.

Three wedding boats followed behind and headed into Quanzhou City.

Fanning walked into the cabin, and the maid hurriedly saluted Fanning, "See son-in-law!"

Aya, who was talking with Cao Xiu, stood up and waved her hand, asking everyone to retreat, leaving the big cabin for the newcomers.

Fan Ning sat down beside Cao Xiu and smiled and said, "It's very hard to come all the way!"

"Fortunately, the wind and waves are not big, there is no seasickness, and the waves are calm all the way." Cao Xiu replied softly.

"It's also a coincidence that I happened to work in Quanzhou and my family moved to Quanzhou. If my family is in the capital, I won't have to work so hard."

"Will officials stay in Quanzhou all the time?"

Fan Ning shook his head, "No, at most two years, I will go back to Beijing to work. When we go, we will have to move back to Beijing, but the house in Quanzhou will still be kept, and maybe when will it come back."

After a moment of silence, Cao Xiu whispered again: "It is not my original intention to enthrone the imperial edict of the county lady, and I have no idea of ​​comparing the high and low."

Fanning smiled, "No one will blame you. Ape is also a woman of sensibility. She knows very well that no one can replace her. She just treats you as a little sister."

"Then I'll be relieved!"

At this time, Fan Ning gently held Cao Xiu's hand. Cao Xiu lowered his head, but did not break free, allowing Fan Ning to hold her hand.

After a while, Fan Ning smiled and said, "Our mansion has a natural atmosphere. The mansion has mountains and lakes. I have really raised many little squirrels, little hedgehogs, and a few deer. A few days ago, two pairs of swans and a group of geese flew from the north to spend the winter. They lived among the reeds of our little lake and were welcomed by the whole family. There is also a grass in the mansion, and I believe you will like it."

Fanning's narrative made Cao Xiu's nervous mood slowly relax. At some point, Fanning's hand had already wrapped around her shoulders, and Cao Xiu leaned gently on her husband's shoulders. At this moment, she suddenly felt an indescribable sense of security in her heart, which made her start to look forward to tonight's bridal night.

The wedding customs in various parts of the Song Dynasty were similar. When the bride entered the man's house, she would enter the bridal chamber that day.

Out of respect for the Cao family and the Empress Dowager, the Fan family also spent a lot of energy to prepare for the wedding. Fan Tiege was fully responsible for engagement and gifts in the capital, while in Quanzhou, the main marriage was hosted by Fan Ning's fourth uncle Fan Tongzhong.

The dock was brightly lit, and a long red carpet was spread from the dock into the house. Aya, as her husband, will accompany the bride throughout the journey.

Zhu Pei and Ouyang Qian also gave enough face and would not appear during the wedding. They avoided the wedding. The newlyweds got married and saluted to the high hall. The famous gentry in Quanzhou was invited to be guests.

A lively wedding did not end until after the hour of the lunar calendar. The bride and groom were sent into the bridal chamber, opening the most unforgettable bridal night in the bride's life.

However, Cao Xiu was his wife after all. The next day, there was another ceremony. She wanted to serve tea to the housewife. The housewife took her tea before she officially accepted her into the Fan family.

In history, older women refused to accept their concubines’ tea, and this kind of thing happened often. Many older women who were jealous or had skills often used this method to deal with their concubines.

Once it happens, the husband has no choice but to find a house for the concubine outside. When the eldest wife is slowly convinced, the concubine will come back to serve tea. In this way, the concubine will usually be cleaned up and will not dare to compete with the eldest wife anymore.

However, this would not happen to the Fan family. Zhu Pei did not make things difficult for Cao Xiu and took her tea directly.

Zhu Pei smiled at Fan Ning who was a little nervous on the side and said, "Go and do your business, husband! I will talk to Sister Axiu, so don't be by your side."

Fan Ning had no choice but to leave embarrassedly. Ouyang Qian wanted to take care of her sick daughter, so she said hello and stood up and left.

Zhu Pei smiled and said, "Axiu, let's go out for a walk."

Cao Xiu followed Zhu Pei obediently, and she also secretly admired in her heart that she had heard that Fan Ning's wife was unparalleled in beauty and was already a mother of two children, but she was still extremely beautiful, which made Cao Xiu feel a little embarrassed.

They walked into the corridor and Zhu Pei introduced to her, "This is the center of the back house. There are four courtyards on the left and right of the corridor. You lived in the Third East Courtyard last night. From now on, there will be your yard. When the door is closed, you will be your world. Our family has always been like this. Everyone has their own territory. Even if I am, without your consent, you cannot easily enter your yard. Of course, if your husband is exceptional, he can enter."

Cao Xiu nodded. She also liked this very much. Her yard had six houses, living with her and two maids. Even if she had children in the future, it would be enough.

In the middle of the corridor is a pool of water, which is connected with the lake water outside. There are various brocade fish in the pool water. At this time, Cao Xiu suddenly found a white swan swimming in from outside, followed by a swan, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.

Zhu Pei looked at her and laughed, "Living here, there will be many surprises like this. Unfortunately, the elf in our family is a bit cold, otherwise she will definitely take you to see all kinds of animals."

"Who is the elf?" Cao Xiu asked in a low voice.

"It is the eldest daughter of my husband, named Fan Zhener, and Sister Qian's daughter. She is soon seven years old. She is naughty and cute, and loves the woods and various animals. With her here, even cockroaches can die in our family."
Chapter completed!