Picturesque Rivers and Mountains in the Red Chamber

Chapter 18 1.18 I have arranged all the martial arts
Volume One

1.18 I have made arrangements for the martial arts competition
With spacious streets, densely packed stores, neatly organized stalls everywhere, and most importantly, the flow of people coming and going, the Lantern Festival seems to send out a signal, calling almost everyone out of their homes. , crowded in the "small" market, adding a bit of popularity to the already prosperous capital.

"Master, look, that peacock lantern is so beautiful. It's more than a foot long. I don't know how it's tied up." While strolling around, Qingwen next to her seemed to have discovered a new world, shouting and pointing everywhere. lanterns, "and the auspicious lantern with dragon and phoenix, it looks like it's alive!"

"Quiet, if you don't speak, no one will treat you like a mute!" Zhou Yang angrily knocked Qingwen, who was dressed as a follower. This time when he entered the city, he left the simple carriage behind the Li family. Then he asked Qingwen to change clothes, and then went shopping in a large market. However, he seriously underestimated this girl's curiosity and was almost killed by her along the way.

"Master!" Qingwen's cheeks turned red and she lightly stamped her feet to show her dissatisfaction. However, she could only retreat under the glare of her young master. She made a cute gesture of covering her mouth and stopped talking. But Zhou Yang was not relieved. , because this kind of thing has been repeated several times during most of the morning, almost every once in a while along the way.

"Also, if you idiot keeps calling like that, anyone who is not an idiot will know that you are a girl." Looking at the increasingly weird looks around him, Zhou Yang pulled Qingwen and rushed away, and then he He gave her a slap in the face and said, "Then I can only send you to the Li family's old house, and I will wander around alone for the rest of the time."

"Ah?" Qingwen was completely honest now, but she turned her little head around unwillingly, and soon discovered the problem, "Master, I'm not the only one on this street. Look at the people over there. The two young masters are obviously the same - woo!"

In fact, he has seen it more than once along the way. The ancient restrictions on women could not completely suppress their yearning for beauty. Just in time for the festival, many girls and wives from common people went to the streets to watch the fun, but in You nobles, it’s definitely useless to make it public, but it doesn’t prevent you from changing the way, such as taking a car, or like these two people in front of you who are not afraid of death.

Zhou Yang held Qingwen aside and pulled him aside. He smiled apologetically at the two girls who were also disguised as men and came out to watch the fun. Unfortunately, there was no love story. As soon as the two were recognized, they immediately glared at the couple fiercely. The master and servant hurriedly turned around and left at one glance. Just as they left, several figures around them followed them in a semi-circle, secretly protecting the two of them and leaving quickly.

"They—" Qingwen was not stupid. Seeing this situation, she didn't know she had stung a hornet's nest.

"Okay, I don't want to go back now." Zhou Yang gave her a hard slap in an angry voice, which made Qingwen burst into tears. , if revenge comes, we can’t bear it.”

Hurriedly carrying all kinds of small things I bought all morning, I dragged the maid to leave. Fortunately, the other party was not that kind of dandy, and did not send anyone to chase after him. Outside the simple carriage, the familiar carriage was still parked, and Zhou Yang knew that Li Wan had arrived.

"I have seen the young master!" At the second door, Suyun smiled and stood in the hanging flower gallery and gently bowed to the Wanfu ceremony. "Our grandma is in the backyard. Didn't you say you want to take a stroll? Why do you want to do it now? came back?"

In many areas in the north, there are rules for young daughters-in-law to look at the lanterns (fifteenth) and fire (send the Vulcan on the seventh day), just to make auspiciousness. The custom is to go back to her natal home or to relatives. A young grandmother of three generations, but she is the only one left in her natal family, and it is not convenient for her relatives to receive widows, so she can only be allowed to return to her own "dowry" courtyard.

"Why, it's just the two of you?" Zhou Yang was stunned for a moment, and after looking around for a moment, he realized that the yard was too quiet. Except for Uncle Sun in the concierge, even the Sun Xing family who originally lived in the reverse room were nowhere to be seen. "You guys The government is so relieved that they don’t even send a servant to follow? Also, where is Sun Xing’s family?”

"Grandma has arranged another place for them in the lower courtyard on the back street. They will not come again in the future. Uncle Sun will only stay in the concierge for a long time." Su Yun smiled softly and led the two of them into the backyard. "The house is quite nice. I have sent many people over, and I have already sent them to look at the lights; besides, even if they come back, they will only live in the wing in the outer courtyard and will not come in. There will only be grandma and slaves in the backyard until tomorrow morning."

"Huh?" Zhou Yang paused for a moment and looked at Su Yun. He received a flirtatious answer that seemed to make him wet. He couldn't help but hugged the maid with a look of surprise and nibbled on it.

"Hmph!" Dissatisfied, she glanced at the shameless two, and Qingwen snatched the small bag containing things from Zhou Yang's hand, "I will leave now, so as not to disturb some people." What is my sister worried about?" Suyun looked at a certain maid who had already walked towards the wing, but was as slow as a snail, and couldn't help laughing, "It's not that I don't know the young master's virtue, so maybe I can forgive you in the future?"

Qingwen didn't say a word, she just covered her face with her hands and ran into the side room.

The two of them chatted and laughed and entered the main room in the backyard. Li Wan, who was drinking tea in the living room, glared at the maid who had sold him again, but was directly carried into the bedroom by Zhou Yang, leaving Su Yun in the living room. Mouth snickered.

"Suyun told me everything." Zhou Yang gently hugged Li Wan and sat on the kang. Zhou Yang did not rush to do any daytime activities, but one sentence made Li Wan, who was originally struggling to push him away, freeze up, " I didn't expect you to be so depressed in the house, but unfortunately I can't help you yet, but don't worry, sooner or later, I will rescue you."

"It's good that you have this heart." Li Wan sighed quietly and glanced at her with a complicated expression, obviously not taking her seriously, "That girl Suyun seems to be unreliable, but I can't live without her for the time being. , you should also be careful. If Lantian really grows jade, you are the only one, but I can only return the body deed and let her go. Who will take care of her?
Also, I have made arrangements for the martial arts examination. You can rest assured and register in Daxing County. This year’s martial arts examination is scheduled for the eighth day of February. Don’t forget to go there. No matter how much you think about it, If you don't even have any fame, I'm afraid it can only be a dream. I don't ask you to do anything, I just hope that you will think about your own future and spend all your thoughts on it. "

"Do we have to speak so formally?" Zhou Yang slipped his right hand into Li Wan's shirt and said angrily, "Don't worry, my archery has stabilized at four out of nine shots. As long as the state is normal, five out of nine shots is not the best." The question is, there is less than a month left, I will go all out to practice well. As for my strength, you will know later."

"You -" Li Wan grabbed the mischievous right hand, but was unable to pull it out, so he had to let it be rubbed, "What does your own future have to do with me? The worst thing is that I will never see you again, and I will spend the rest of my life selling your braised rice." That’s good.”

"Don't worry!" Zhou Yang lowered his head and kissed lightly, looking into Li Wan's eyes, and said solemnly, "I've also inquired about it. Martial arts have degraded a lot these years, and it hasn't been all excellent for many years. Basically, all you need is archery. If you pass the test, if you have decent courage, then you will definitely pass, but it is the Wuju provincial examination in August, I am not sure now, the main reason is that I hardly know how to ride and shoot, and I can't find anyone to teach me."

"I can't help you with this. You have to rely on yourself." Li Wan nodded and said softly, "As long as you are selected as a martial arts scholar, you can be regarded as entering the official career. If you really can't pass the martial arts examination, Jia's family will be in the army." There are still some ways. At worst, I will sacrifice my face and ask Uncle Dongfu to send you to the capital camp to serve as the general flag or something like that, and you will rise step by step."

"What about you, do you have any plans tonight?" Having never considered this kind of "upgrade" method, and never thought about getting too close to the Jia family, Zhou Yang simply changed the topic, "Just now Qingwen and I were on the street. I saw a lot of good things, but it’s a pity that it’s daytime now. When all the colorful lights light up at night, it will be really beautiful!”

"I" Li Wan was obviously moved, and the longing look on his face could not be concealed at all, but after thinking about it for a moment, he shook his head helplessly, "You go with the two maids, and let Uncle Sun drive the car, so it will be inconvenient for me to go out. There are also many servants from the mansion who are here, if they see it, it will not be good to spread the word."

"Just don't let them see it." Zhou Yang smiled and comforted her, "When the time comes, let Uncle Sun drive the carriage directly to the inner courtyard, and you and Suyun will just get on the carriage. Outsiders will say that only she and Qingwen are there. Girl, if you lock the inner courtyard door again, will they still have the guts to come in?"

"This -" Li Wan is actually not that big, and the girl's curiosity is not bad at all. Seeing that the arrangement is so well-organized, she naturally no longer refuses, "In that case, I will trouble you."

"I still like it when you call me husband." Seeing that the business was arranged, Zhou Yang couldn't help it anymore, "Or even better, it would be better to call me master or daddy."

Li Wan blushed and hit him lightly, but still let him push him down on the kang.

(End of this chapter)