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Chapter 435: Mother returns home after a full moon
Qi's mother struggled with herself for a long time, and finally decided to go home after celebrating the New Year in the south. After all, Master Qi was the only one at home, so she couldn't rely on him to arrange the wedding. She had to go back several months in advance to prepare.
Although Qi Jinru's life experience has been known for a long time, Qi Jinru's mother was completely unaware of this matter, so Qi Jintang still discussed with He Hua how to prepare a dowry for her, even if she was not a sibling, she was still her only sister. After so many years, although there are difficulties in her heart, Jin Ru is innocent, so Qi Jintang really wants to make up for it by buying her a dowry this time.
When he first learned that Qi Jinru had decided to get married, Hehua had already made some calculations. The craftsmen in the south were good at craftsmanship and they could buy good wood. The price was much cheaper than in the north. Including the cost of traveling to the festival, it was still cost-effective. So she suggested to Qi Jintang that it would be better to take out some of the important furniture here before Qi's mother went back, and then load it directly to the ship and go back to her hometown with Qi's mother. The rest, including silks, satin materials and jewelry, should also be bought in the south. As for medicinal materials, leather and the like, it is better to buy them in the north.
After hearing this, Qi Jintang felt that He Hua's plan was reasonable, and with his status and relationship with Sun Jianyu, it was very convenient to buy things in the south, not to mention that he didn't have to worry about being inferior or being passive, so he went to talk to Qi's mother and asked her What's the plan
Although Qi's mother thought it was reasonable, she smacked her lips and said with some embarrassment: "When it comes to this furniture, Nanbian'er is naturally good at it. When I followed your father to Nanbian'er to take office, I watched the progress here. I like the bed very much, and I have been thinking about buying one for your sister when she gets married, but now we don’t know how the house in your brother-in-law’s house is arranged. You can’t just mess around with things like furniture, right?”
"Mom, I just came to discuss with you. As long as you think it can be done, we can always find a way. According to my idea, this time I will find someone to pack a batch of boxes, which can just be used to put silks, satins, and embroidery pieces. I can make a dowry box for my sister if I bring it back. Then I will send someone home tomorrow. I estimate the distance and I should be able to get home after the new year. I just happen to go to my brother-in-law’s house to measure the dimensions of the new house. After we get it back, we will start to pack the furniture, and the time will certainly not be missed. I will arrange for people to escort it back by then, which will not be a difficult task!"
"Well, it sounds like it's appropriate." After listening to her son's arrangements, Qi's mother mentally calculated the days of going back and forth, and then nodded in agreement.
With Qi's mother's approval, Hehua went back to her room and took Xiaoxiu with her to discuss the purchase of silk and satin cloth. These things had to be purchased in Lingyuan County, where trade was convenient and the prices were relatively cheap.
"Speaking of this silk and satin cloth, I brought so much when I came here, and now it is still lying around in the Qi family's old house. I don't know if the servants there are taking good care of it. If it is infested by insects or damp, it can be It's really a waste. If you rely on me..." Hehua said while writing in the account book. She wanted to say that if she relied on herself, it would be better to carry them out and buy them clean. Suddenly she thought that many of the dowry were sent back by Sun Jianyu to add to them. The second half of the sentence immediately stuck in my throat and I couldn't spit it out.
"What can I do with you?" Xiao Xiu stopped the needle in her hand, rubbed the tip of the needle on her hair twice, and raised her head to wait for He Hua's words.
"Oh, I mean, if it was up to me, I shouldn't have bought so much in the first place, and now I can't use it at all." Hehua felt that it was really inappropriate to sell it, so she responded casually.
"Dowry, that's what it is. It mainly depends on the status of the two families. It's for face but not necessarily practical. When you got married, your family's situation was many times better than Jasmine's. Jin Tang is also a Jinshi master. Our family is afraid that if we don’t give you a small dowry for you, you will be poked in the back by others when you come to the Qi family. Naturally, we wish we could buy more." Xiaoxiu felt that her palms were a little sweaty, and most of her embroidery was embroidered. He put his bellyband aside, got up, washed his hands, wiped them with a clean handkerchief, then picked them up again and continued to embroider.
Hehua tilted her head and looked at her, and then looked at the lifelike pomegranate flowers and seeds embroidered in her hands. She couldn't help but sigh: "I really admire you. You can sit here and embroider for a whole day. If it were me, you would be really impressed." I'm going crazy. That's why when I was little, my mother always talked about my female celebrity..." Speaking of this, Hehua couldn't help but pursed her lips and laughed, "Actually, I also know that it was my mother who spoiled me in the first place. Otherwise, if she was really cruel, If you force me, I will definitely listen to her. She just talks a few words in front of outsiders, but in private she never forces me to learn... "
"What, are you homesick?" Xiaoxiu said without stopping and without raising her head.
"Of course I have, but I have thought about it more recently. Originally, there were Boning and Shuanzi at home, but now they have also come to the south. Only my parents are left. Both of them are honest and honest people. , I'm always afraid that they will be bullied." Hehua leaned on the couch and tugged at the ribbon on her skirt.
"I think you are so homesick because of the recent joys and sorrows. Not to mention the relationship between your eldest brother and Mr. Sun, just saying that with a Jinshi master like Jintang as your son-in-law, no one would dare to bully your parents. Yes." Xiaoxiu smiled and reassured, "Jintang's three-year term is now halfway through. Since you have agreed to resign and return to your hometown, the remaining year and a half will go by in the blink of an eye."
Now that she has been in confinement for more than half of her life, He Hua's face has slowly become rosy, not as pale as before. She is still drinking blood-replenishing medicine twice a day, and her cheeks that had lost weight have gradually regained their roundness. After so many days, her body They were both sore and tired from lying down. Seeing that their health had improved in the past few days, they carried Qi's mother on their backs and began to secretly go to the ground for activities, and they recovered much faster.
"It's a coincidence that you're in the right time for confinement. It will be thirty in ten days after confinement. If you go back to live with me, you will have to rush back within a few days. It's better to go to our place to celebrate the New Year together, otherwise it won't be enough." It’s been a toss-up on the road.” Xiaoxiu complained as she counted the days on her fingers.
"If it was just Brother Jintang and I, it would be easy to say how we would live, but now that my mother-in-law is here, there is no reason to go to my parents' house to celebrate the New Year. Even if Brother Jintang doesn't care, his mother can't explain it. Our relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is not easy. It's getting better, if we have another feud over this matter, it won't be worth it." He Hua shook her head after hearing this.
"I know I can't, but I'm just saying it to have fun." Xiaoxiu curled her lips and couldn't help but murmured: "Her attitude towards you has improved now, and it's not because you fought for her and allowed her to have a grandson. She even said from time to time that it was all because of her asking for some talisman that made you transform from a female fetus to a male fetus, but it was all her fault."
"No matter what the reason is, Amitabha is the only one who can avoid conflicts. I don't want to embarrass brother Jintang." Hehua put her hair back and said with a smile, "After all, we are mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Everyone respects me by one foot, and I respect others by one foot. Everyone As long as we live in peace and harmony, is it possible that we can still live together like mother and daughter?"
"Speaking of mothers-in-law, there are very few who don't have trouble with their wives. Mother-in-laws like my mother are hard to find even with a lantern."
"Mom is open-minded. Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings. Why do you have to hold everything in your hands and wish you could control everything from head to toe? Not only will you get along with your wife, but you will also lose your son." He Hua smiled and picked up a date to eat, "So, my sister-in-law's life is much better than mine. Unlike me, no one hurts her."
"Jintang almost took out my heart to give it to you. You have the nerve to say this." Xiaoxiu said, coming up and pinching Hehua's waist and ribs, and the two of them started laughing.
The full moon ceremony of the eldest son and grandson was of great importance to both the north and the south. It had only been ten days since Qi’s mother started organizing the full moon ceremony. She sent people to book the best hairdresser in the county early and prepared all the necessary equipment. Things, just waiting for the full moon to be so lively.
When they got up early that morning, Qi's mother, Qi Jintang, Lotus and Tuan Tuan, held by their wet nurse, worshiped the ancestors of heaven and earth together in the main hall. Qi's mother hung the unicorn with a gold collar around Tuan Tuan's neck as an amulet.
Xiaoxiu took out the tiger-head pillow and three pairs of tiger-head shoes of different colors that she had prepared for Tuantuan on behalf of her family.
The two pairs of tiger toe shoes are blue to stop life; the two pairs of red are to ward off evil spirits; the third pair of purple are to complete the child; the soles of the shoes are drilled with nine round holes, which means nine sons and ten percent. May the child be lucky, safe and grow up healthily in the future.
The servants have already cooked the hot soup for shaving, fished out the eggs and duck eggs, wrapped them in red cloth, and will give them to the shaving master to take away later.
A table was set up in the middle of the yard, covered with red felt. A pair of Zhuangyuan red candles stood with their heads held high, and a plate of peaches made from noodles was placed in the middle.
When it came to an auspicious time, when someone had long been asked to calculate, the barber lifted up the lapel of his robe, walked into the courtyard from the main door, walked towards the case, and said: "As soon as you enter the door, your steps are wide, with purple gold bricks on your feet. Purple gold bricks." A lotus seed grows on the top, and a phoenix falls on the lotus seed. If the phoenix does not fall on a treasureless land, the number one scholar will be in your house." He walked to the case and lit a pair of red candles for the number one scholar.
Miao'er put the green onions, brassicas and new axe, which had been wrapped in red cloth, on the ground, and Qi's mother hugged them and stepped on them.
The barber said: "With intelligence, luck and fortune under your feet, you will be smart and seek a title when you grow up." After that, he shaved off the eyebrows and fetal hair, leaving only a bunch of "smart hair" on the top of the forehead. The hair should be left behind and the eyebrows should be shaved off. As the saying goes, this will make the child have thick eyebrows and big eyes in the future.
After shaving, Qi Jintang planted the green onions and brassicas that Qi Muxu had stepped on under his feet into a flowerpot on the side.
The fetal hair is given to Lotus, tied tightly with a bright red headband, wrapped in red paper, and sent to be placed at the highest lintel of the home, hoping that the child will shine on the lintel in the future.
Then the people watching the ceremony came forward to give congratulatory gifts. There were no valuable items. They were all round mirrors, Guan Dao and other objects. They may be related to people from good family backgrounds. Most of the gifts were gilt or silver, and the conditions and relationships were average. Yes, most of the gifts are copperware, with the auspicious meaning of a round mirror to illuminate demons and a sword to drive away demons.
After the fetal hair shaving ceremony. Qi Jintang handed a red envelope to the barber, and then someone came forward and led him to the side courtyard for a banquet.
The next step is the custom in the south, where the uncle has to hold the child and walk across the three bridges.
There are few bridges in northern villages, so there has never been such a custom. Tuantuan is doing as the Romans do in the countryside. He is too young to understand it, but the rest of the family feels it is very fresh, especially for Boning and Shuanzi. After more than half a month of fighting for the job, Qi's mother finally decided that Boning was more interested in him because he was good at studying. This solved Hehua's embarrassing situation of not knowing who to choose.
So Bonin is very proud today, wearing brand new clothes, holding a new almanac in his arms, with a small "Taiping" copper coin strung on a corner of the almanac with red and green silk thread, and holding up a new bright red oil-paper umbrella. , carefully took Tuantuan and carried him out to walk across the Three Bridges.
The southern custom of walking on three bridges refers to the Taiping Bridge, Geely Bridge and Zhuangyuan Bridge. Although the river in Qingxi County has been blocked for many years, the river channel is still there and most of the bridges have maintained their original appearance. The three bridges are all on the main river channel in the city. On the road, they stood side by side separated by two alleys, walking across three stone bridges in a zigzag pattern. Tuantuan was also very considerate, always cheerful, looking around with his fingers in his mouth, his big eyes full of curiosity.
After walking across the Three Bridges with the child in his arms, Qi Jintang officially started the banquet at the Full Moon Wine Festival when he returned home. According to the custom, each table has nine hot, four cold and thirteen dishes, which means nine sons and thirteen grandchildren. Qi Jintang raised his glass and raised the wine to start the banquet, and then everyone also They all drank and moved their chopsticks.
After the full moon wine, He Hua and Tuan Tuan went to Lingyuan County with Xiao Xiu to hide their confinement. According to the previous agreement, Boning stayed in Qingxi County to learn from Qi Jintang to manage government affairs, and Shuan Zi followed Xiao Xiu and He Hua went back to Lingyuan County together, planning to arrange for him to work in a store named Sun Jianyu to learn some business skills.
Because the Chinese New Year was coming soon, Hehua only stayed for three days after arriving in Lingyuan County before packing up and returning to Qingxi County.
Even though Hehua told the coachman to walk slowly on the road and not to hurry, she was very tired after going back and forth. When she got home, not only was she so tired that her back ached, but her energy was also a little wilted, and she was exhausted before nightfall. Starting to have some fever.
For such a young child, Hehua was afraid that he would burn out his brain. As soon as he felt a little hot, he hurriedly sent for a doctor. The fever seemed to be getting worse by touching him, so he quickly got some wine to rub his body to cool him down.
The doctor arrived quickly, and Qi's mother also got the news. When the doctor checked her pulse and prescribed a prescription, she couldn't help complaining: "It's such a cold day, how can such a small child bear such a tossing back and forth? Fortunately, it's We’re home, if we’re still on the road, something big will happen in the wilderness.”
Hehua ignored the conversation and kept using her cheeks and forehead to test the heat of Tuantuan's body. She felt relieved when she saw that the body massage was really effective and the temperature did not continue to rise.
Qi Jintang came back from the Yamen and heard that his son was sick. He didn't even have time to change his clothes, so he went upstairs to check. He saw Hehua hugging Tuan Tuan and rocking her gently to coax her. Tuan Tuan's cheeks were red, and her usually rosy mouth was a little dry. , leaning languidly on Hehua's shoulder, reaching out to touch her forehead, but there was no response.
He Hua also looked tired, but most of her eyes still had an anxious look. She patted Tuan Tuan's back while slowly pacing around the room.
"You are tired all the way back. Let the wet nurse hold you for a while!" Qi Jintang looked at He Hua's face and said with distress.
"He cried as soon as he was handed over to the wet nurse, and he cried as soon as I sat down. He could only walk and pat him, and then he reluctantly settled down." Although Tuantuan is still young, taking care of her seems very worry-free. She only eats and sleeps every day. , when he wakes up, he only opens his eyes wide and looks around. When he has to urinate or is very hungry, he will open his mouth and cry twice. But as long as he feels comfortable being served by someone, he will immediately smile again.
Speaking on weekdays, everyone would say that Hehua has a good life and gave birth to such a well-behaved son, but I didn't expect that Tuantuan would be so clingy when he was sick.
"What did the doctor say?" Qi Jintang changed out of the big woolen clothes and put on a homely long gown. He first went to the charcoal cage to warm up, and then reached out to take the ball over so that the lotus could have some time to rest.
When the substitution was made, Tuantuan's little mouth almost collapsed into tears, but she leaned against Qi Jintang's chest, sniffed, and seemed to smell a familiar smell, and suppressed the crying.
"The doctor said that I was too tired along the way and couldn't sleep well in the car. Tuan Tuan was less than a month old when he was born. Although he looked very happy, he was still weak in the end. I was a little tired from driving back and forth this time. , let alone a baby as big as him.
Qi Jintang and He Hua took turns holding her, coaxing her around and tossing her all night long. Fortunately, the fever subsided the next morning, and she became well-behaved again. Although she was still not very energetic, she was no longer just looking for someone. Mom and dad, please go to bed with your wet nurse.
Seeing that her grandson suffered such a crime, Qi's mother wished she could take the child back to the north and take it with her by herself. As soon as such an idea came to her mind, she became a little uncontrollable. While the whole family was sitting around having dinner, she said: " She had only been ill for two days, and Tuantuan's originally round face had become thinner and pointed.
Lotus eyes swept over Qi's mother's face, and saw that she seemed to be speaking seriously. She turned to look at her son carefully. How could she tell that she had lost weight in this round and tender face
"Children tend to fall off the scale when they are sick. After two days, they will feel better. If they eat more, they will gain weight again." Qi Jintang also looked at his son carefully for a while, and felt that his face was round, and his arms and legs were also bulging. The back of the hand is so fat that you can see the white and tender little flesh Xuan'er... But you have to follow Qi's mother's words, otherwise you are afraid of being nagged again.
"I was thinking, you two are still young and there are a lot of things going on outside the family. How about I take Tuantuan back and show your father his grandson?" Qi's mother thought for a long time and finally spoke.
As soon as these words came out, the room suddenly became quiet. Qi Jintang and He Hua exchanged glances unnoticeably. He Hua continued to eat without saying a word. Qi Jintang considered for a moment and said, "Mom, Tuantuan was not born at full term. The doctor also said two days ago that my foundation is still a little weak. I have been sick for several days after a trip to Lingyuan County, let alone returning so far to the north. I am only more than a month old, and it will definitely be too much for me. .”
Hearing this, Qi's mother also felt that her idea was not very reliable. It would take more than a month to travel home, and it was really unrealistic to bring a child who was just one month old. She had no choice but to sigh: "You are right, we will fight to the end." Still too small.”
After saying that, he turned around and said: "Hehua, you are too young and don't know how to take care of children. The wet nurse and the mother-in-law at home have given birth and know how to take care of children. If you have anything to do, listen to them and don't mess around on your own." "
"Mom, don't worry!" He Hua quickly promised, "I will definitely learn how to take care of the children. When Brother Jintang's term is up, I will take the children back and let dad see his grandson."
With He Hua's assurance, Qi's mother finally gave up, and kept Tuantuan in her room for the next few days, saying that she wanted to be alone before leaving.
Although Qi's mother was reluctant to part with her grandson, she still missed her family. Now that she had decided to go back, she couldn't stay any longer after the New Year. Just after the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, she took a few cars of packed things and set off home.
Maybe the winter rains have stopped falling quickly before the new year, and the weather after the new year is particularly refreshing. Due to the delay of the heavy rain last year, the river dredging project, which was originally progressing normally, is now a little short of time. When we get up, it is necessary to increase the number of manpower to rush the work.
Qi Jintang checked the flood season records of the past ten years and calculated based on the earliest date of the spring flood time records. He added a lot of manpower to the construction site by the river. He ordered that the last section of the river must be dredged before the spring flood to ensure that the spring flood would be flooded. Before arriving, the flood discharge and diversion capacity of the rivers in Qingxi County should be restored.
Since Boning settled down in Qingxi County, he no longer just sits in his room reading books as before. He follows Qi Jintang in and out every day, not knowing what he is busy with.
As soon as Qi's mother left, Tuan Tuan relied on Lotus to take care of her. Although there were many wet nurses and girls in the house, she couldn't rest assured if she didn't look after her. She was stumbling over the children every day and left most of the outside matters to her. After leaving Miao'er and Xiaozhen, he takes care of them all by himself and no longer takes everything too seriously.
Last year, the sales of honey-pickled bayberry were good, and surrounding cities and counties came to inquire about purchasing goods. Many people in the city were already interested. Now that they see that the river is about to be dredged, they become even more anxious. They were still waiting and watching. Even the people could not sit still. The yamen was crowded every day with people who wanted to dig up mountains and cultivate wild bayberry trees. It was so noisy and lively.
After the new year, Qingxi County was so busy and busy day by day. The river dredging project was finally completed in the first month of the year. Qi Jintang and Mr. Liu had a brief discussion and decided that on February 2, the day when the dragon raises its head, the river dredging project would be completed. The earthen dam that blocks water upstream is opened to officially open the river to water. After the water is released, a river ceremony is held to wish for good weather throughout the year.
After the year, new officials were appointed to the vacated positions in the Yamen. Perhaps with Master Ma’s experience and fear of factory guards, the new officers were very respectful to Qi Jintang. The errands handed over were handed over without delay, and the operation of the entire Eryamen was unprecedentedly smooth.
There was a happy spring breeze both at home and at work, which made Qi Jintang's mood as good as the weather, and there was a sense of joy in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to subscribe and reward. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
Chapter 435: Mother returns home after a full moon