Women Wearing Men: The Growth Path of the Bastards of the Aristocratic Family

Chapter 21
On the fourth day of October, it was Gu Zhengde's [-]th birthday. Gu Kaizhen prepared the birthday gift early in the morning, and took his wife and children to Fucheng to celebrate the old man's birthday.

Gu Zhengde has been an official for most of his life, and has countless disciples and colleagues. After he became an official, he helped the village, the young and the old, and helped the younger generations. It can be said that he is highly respected.At this time, there were people coming and going outside the gate of Gu's Mansion in Fucheng, and there was an endless stream of guests who came to celebrate the birthday, and the whole alley was very lively.

"Hey, Mr. Sun, welcome from a distance. Please come inside, please come inside." Gu Kaili smiled all over his face, standing at the door busy socializing with the visiting guests.

"Second brother!" Gu Kaili saw Gu Kaizhen's family from a distance, and walked over with a smile, "I haven't seen you for a long time, my nephews have grown taller. Have your nieces brought them too? Don't stand still, go in Speak, father is waiting for you."

There were many guests today and the entrance was crowded, Gu Kaili didn't exchange too many greetings, he brought his family to the inner courtyard and then went out to continue to greet the guests.

The outside guests were all chatting and having fun in the yard, while the members of the Gu family gathered in the hall to present a birthday gift to the old man.In the main hall, Gu Zhengde was dressed in formal attire, sitting at the head, accepting congratulations from everyone.

The old lady of the second room, Gu Zhenglu, came forward, bowed his hands slightly towards Gu Zhengde, and said: "I went to visit the village a few days ago, and I came across a strange stone, so I bought it and dedicated it to my elder brother as a birthday gift today, wishing my elder brother a long life. "

After finishing speaking, he beckoned, and the servants walked in carrying a stone. The stone was half the height of a person and had a strange shape, which looked like a Chinese character for "longevity".

Gu Zhengde squinted his eyes and said with a smile: "It's really strange, it's really rare, the second brother has a heart."

Then, everyone rushed to offer birthday gifts to Gu Zhengde.

"My son, Gu Kaiqi, dedicated to his father a Langhao pen produced by Rongfangzhai. This is made of the best hair from the tails of hundreds of weasels, and the writing is the most delicate and smooth."

"The grandson dedicates a pair of Dong Xuanzai's "Eight Scenes of Autumn" to my grandfather, and wishes my grandfather good health!"

"Nephew Gu Yuanzhao, I presented my uncle with a leather jacket that was a tribute from the northern border. Seeing that it's getting cold, this one is thick and windproof, very warm."

Gu Zhengde stroked his beard and accepted them one by one with a smile.Gu Kaili took out a gift box from his sleeve, stepped forward and handed it to him: "This is what Xuan'er sent back and asked me to give it to my father. He said that he used to hear you complain about your eyesight, so he bought this western pair from a foreigner." Mirror, it is said that it is very clear after wearing it. He has official business and cannot come back, but he still misses you."

"Really?" Gu Zhengde picked up the diorama and tried to put it on, "Well, he can see things very clearly. It's no wonder that he still misses me, an old man thousands of miles away. It's not in vain to love him, hahahahahahaha." Finally Gu Zhengde naturally liked the gift from his beloved eldest grandson, stroking his beard with joy.

Everyone watched their words and expressions, and when they saw this, they quickly complimented him: "Xuan'er is indeed the grandson that the old man brought up from childhood, he is promising and caring, really filial!"

At this time, Gu Mingan held a brocade box in his arms, and said to Gu Zhengde confidently: "Grandfather, the birthday gift I want to give you is the only one!"

Under the curious eyes of everyone, he turned his head and said: "Come here, close the doors and windows! And put down the curtains!"

Soon, the room became pitch black, and only vague figures could be seen.Seeing that Gu Mingan didn't take it out for a long time, Gu Kaili frowned and said, "Second brother, what are you going to do?"

Gu Mingan was not in a hurry, he waited until there was no light in the room and saw that everyone stretched their necks, and then he lifted the lid of the box: "Grandfather, just watch!"

The moment the box was opened, there was a dazzling white light inside, making everyone squint their eyes, and in an instant, the room seemed to be daytime.

Holding the Ye Mingzhu in both hands, Gu Mingan proudly said: "Son'er sent someone to go to the South China Sea to look for the Ye Ming Pearl half a year ago. It took a lot of hard work to find the biggest and brightest one."

Gu Zhengde took the Ye Mingzhu and looked at it carefully for a while, and couldn't help but wonder: "It's really rare. I have seen many Ye Mingzhus, but none of them are as bright as this one. An'er has a heart." After that, he put the Ye Mingzhu back into the box, Order people to put it away.

Gu Yunxiao also brought his younger brothers forward and said: "Grandsons Gu Yunxiao, Gu Yunlin, and Gu Yunji wish grandpa a blessing like the East China Sea, and a longer life than Nanshan! This is our birthday gift for you." Then, he presented a picture prepared in advance. calligraphy and painting.

"Three people will give away a painting, it's petty." Maybe because he got a little too proud just after getting a few compliments, Gu Mingan said disdainfully from the side.

Several people gave a birthday gift, not just Gu Yunji and the others, for example, the third uncle Gu Kaixiang who was born as a concubine, and the whole family only prepared one gift.Only a direct grandson like Gu Mingxuan who grew up in front of his eyes would compete to show filial piety at this time.Like Gu Yunji's family, they only come and go once or twice a year, a birthday gift is enough, no one will say anything, Gu Mingan obviously just wants to provoke trouble.

Although Gu Yunxiao's illness has recovered, his body is still a little weak. At this time, being ridiculed by Gu Mingan in front of the audience, his chest is full of depression, and his lips are already turning white.

"Who said that?" Gu Yunji took a step forward, looked directly at Gu Ming'an and said, "We still have something to bring out. Someone, bring it up!"

Soon, a glazed jar as big as a bucket was carried up, which was filled with a bottle of light yellow liquid, and there were many round fruits at the bottom of the bottle.

Gu Yunji introduced: "This is green plum wine brewed by my grandson's family. I heard that my grandfather was good at the Dragon Boat Festival last time, but I always feel that drinking alcohol is harmful to my body and I dare not drink too much. This green plum wine has a unique flavor. It is most suitable for grandfathers to eliminate fatigue and prevent diseases."

"Although green plums are also produced locally, the amount of green plums is small and sour. This green plum fruit is produced in Fuzhou Prefecture. The flesh is thick and juicy. It was my eldest sister Gu Yunyi who specially entrusted someone to transport it all the way. Our brothers and sisters I personally select and wash the fruits, pick the best ones, brew them with high-quality rock sugar and white wine, and finally seal the altar by my father and put it in a cool and ventilated place to wait for fermentation. It took a year before and after. That's how it became this altar of green plum wine."

This statement is half true, half false, the wine is real wine, and the green plums are indeed produced in Fuzhou Prefecture, but they did not make them themselves.Gu Yunji heard that Gu Zhengde was good at wine, and after he came back from the Dragon Boat Festival last time, he asked Gu Yunxiao to buy a jar from Fuzhou Mansion, and planned to give it to him this time. I thought of using it here.

At first, Gu Yunxiao thought that Gu Yunji wanted wine because he was greedy, so he didn't take it to heart. At this time, he was stunned by his words, and didn't react immediately.Gu Yunlin also had an expression on his face that I didn't know why, and he winked at him desperately.

Gu Yunji just pretended not to see it, and when he told the lie without changing his face, he said as usual: "Although the production of this green plum wine is cumbersome, it is not worth much after all, and it is not as unique as Ming An's cousin's Ye Mingzhu, so I just bought it." I don't have the nerve to show it openly in the hall, I originally wanted to privately dedicate it to my grandfather."

Gu Zhengde took a small glass of green plum wine, put it under his nose and smelled it, then put it in his mouth, tasted it carefully, and said:

"Well, it really is clear, sweet and sour, with a mellow taste, good wine! Although this green plum wine is rare, it is difficult for your family to work together and make it with your own hands for a long time. This kind of heart is hard to buy Ah! What is even more commendable is that you know how to restrain your edge and not fight or grab, which is very good."

As soon as these words came out, it immediately seemed that Gu Mingan, who had just shown off with the Ye Mingzhu, was competitive and didn't understand the general situation, and his face turned into a pig's liver with anger.

Gu Kaiqi, who lived in Fuzhou Prefecture for a period of time, is very familiar with green plum wine. He also poured a small glass and tasted it, but he drank the familiar taste of a famous winery in Fuzhou Prefecture. He looked at it meaningfully. Gu Yunji glanced at it, but did not expose it, and echoed: "It is indeed a good wine."

Thinking of Gu Ming'an making things difficult for him during the Dragon Boat Festival last time, it was Gu Yunji who unexpectedly rescued him, and also taught him a lesson with Gu Kaili's hand. It is said that you passed the examination of the first case in this year's Huating County Examination, and your father sent me the paper to read, and the writing is very good, quite like the ancients."

This compliment was really great, and the people around immediately looked sideways at Gu Yunji with admiration.

Soon, it was time to start the banquet. Everyone walked out of the main hall and took their seats.

(End of this chapter)