At this moment, the capital, which is thousands of kilometers away from Xianyang, is also bustling with preparations for the New Year.
In front of the house of Sheng Mansion, red lanterns have already been hung, and colorful and lifelike New Year pictures of door gods on the left and right, highlighting the festive atmosphere of the New Year.
The tall and wealthy family of the Ren Mansion has also been decorated with a new look. The yellow lion head door knocker makes the Ren Mansion even more majestic and solemn than before. All the people in the mansion have already made preparations, and they just wait for the big red pair to be pasted on New Year's Eve, and the door is opened to welcome blessings!
At the same time, the Wen family in Xianyang is also very lively today.
Wen Ting, who has been studying with Mr. Song Tao for many days, is back...
"Mother, mother! Look, who is coming!" Wen Ting shouted at the top of his voice as soon as he entered the gate.
Mrs. Zhou is busy preparing new year's goods in the kitchen, and Mrs. Wang and Wang's third daughter, Wen Xin, are also there.
"This child, I heard that he followed the famous Mr. Songtao, how can he still be so angry!" Wang laughed after hearing the sound.
Mrs. Zhou also laughed and said, "He's coming home, because of his nature! If he's outside, he must be well-behaved!" As he spoke, he wiped his wet hands on his apron, and quickly got up to greet him.
In the courtyard, not only Wen Ting and Wen Rou were there, but there were several more abruptly behind them. There was a capable old man, a strong middle-aged man, a handsome young scholar, and of course a big fluffy donkey. !
"You child! If you haven't learned well from this Mr. Songtao, you must have caused trouble again. He must have come to your door!" Zhou Shi scolded Wen Ting while facing everyone with a smiley face.
"Mother, my brother didn't cause any trouble, this is Mr. Songtao, my brother invited Mr. and his party to our house for Chinese New Year!" Rourou took a step forward, helping to resolve the introduction.
"What? Songtao... sir!" Mrs. Zhou was stunned. In the eyes of a woman like her, this great Confucian who has been passed down as miraculous should be well-clothed and well-fed, greeted by chariots and horses, hugged by front and rear, with a big belly and a rosy face! The old man with a donkey in front of him has nothing to do with Mr. Songtao.
"Mrs. Wen, Mr. Yue interrupted you!" Mr. Songtao saw the dazed look of the woman in front of him, so he took two steps forward and said hello first.
"Rou'er, is this Mr. Songtao?" Mrs. Zhou still couldn't believe it.
"Mother, don't say it's you, I heard that Mr. Zhao went out of the city to meet him. I was also surprised!" Gentle whispered back, this anecdote. She heard it when the cooks in the back kitchen were talking and joking. Although she didn't see it with her own eyes, she thought it was funny no matter what!
"Mr. Songtao, please be respected by the women!" Mrs. Zhou was shocked when she heard the words, this is the emperor's teacher! How come he came to his home alive, and said he was here for the Chinese New Year! So, he fell to his knees with a plop, and was about to kowtow to Mr. Songtao.
"No way! No way! Mrs. Wen please stand up!" Mr. Songtao was startled at first, but he was standing up and talking, he knelt down, and was about to kowtow! He hurriedly helped Zhou Shi who was kneeling down.
"Sir, the women insist on begging you today, thank you for not despising me. I am willing to accept the dog as a disciple. With you as a teacher, our Wen family will have hope!" Zhou was so happy that he was incoherent for a while, and knelt on the spot He refused to get up, but nodded and bowed, if Mr. Songtao hadn't supported him. This kowtow must be inevitable.
"Stinky boy, why are you still standing there, why don't you help your mother up!" Mr. Songtao glanced at Wen Ting who was standing aside.
Ruan Wen also went over to help, at this moment Wang Shi and Wen Xin also ran out of the kitchen at some point, such a distinguished guest came to the house, a few women who didn't often go out, they were stunned for a while, even giving up their seats to watch tea Forgot all.
"Hehe, Mrs. Wen was joking. I have to thank Ling Ai for my master-student relationship with your son." When Mr. Songtao said this, he glanced at Wen Rou from the corner of his eye, and a smile flashed at the corner of his mouth.
As early as the day of Wen Ting's apprenticeship during the festival, Rourou confessed to his family. Zhou's naturally knew Mr. Songtao's remarks well. Relying on her culinary prowess and full of whimsical ideas, her own daughter actually played around with the gluttonous emperor's teacher! But right now, the distinguished guest who was tricked came to the door in person, so he couldn't bring up the old things again.
"Mr. Songtao laughed, since you don't dislike the simplicity of our small family, I will ask the old man to bring Rou'er to cook some good dishes for you later! I will also let you comment on it! The old man always brags about his craftsmanship You are the number one in Xianyang, you have seen a lot, and you will destroy his vigor, don't let the old things spoil the girl, and keep your tail up all day long!" Zhou changed to a smiling face to greet people, but never mentioned the old things he knew.
Mr. Songtao's face was dark, presumably the "old stuff" in Mrs. Wen's mouth was Wen Shouzheng, the chef of Zuixianlou. This Mrs. Wen is really heartless, she actually said her man is an old man in front of an old man like me. After a rough calculation, I am also ten or twenty years older than Wen Shouzheng. He is an "old man", so what am I?
Then, a slow-moving shelled animal appeared in Mr. Songtao's mind.
Seeing Mr. Songtao's annoyed expression, Rourou pondered what Mrs. Zhou said just now, and couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Sister, what are you laughing at?" Wen Ting rubbed the back of his head wondering.
"It's nothing, sir, it's not far away from the Chinese New Year. If you don't dislike it, why don't you stay at my house to save the round trip; second, I won't be able to treat your mouth badly; Homework, do you think it's okay?" He ran to Mr. Songtao with a gentle smile, with a sincere look on his face.
"Okay! I'll save face for you girl! My old man doesn't care too much. It doesn't matter where he lives, as long as he eats well! Haha! Shui Mo, you can go back with Changsheng and pack up my daily necessities. It's easy to go back When you come to your homeland, you can’t have a fun new year! Mrs. Wen, don’t disturb me, right?” Mr. Songtao raised a smile and asked for Zhou’s opinion.
Mrs. Zhou was overjoyed, this Buddha came here uninvited, he said just now that he was here for dinner, but he will be staying soon, and Ting'er must have done his homework right to accompany and guide him day and night!
"Okay! Mr. Songtao, you don't dislike it. It's our family's honor, and the Wen family's ancestral grave is emitting green smoke! Rou'er, follow me to clean up and make room for Mr. Zhou!" After Zhou said, she pulled Wen Wen hand away.
Although Wen's family is a small courtyard, it is not as rich as the big family's rooms. Zhou said with gentleness that he was going to tidy up Mr. Songtao's room, but in fact it was just tidying up a small room where the sundries were stored. Wen Ting made a bed and moved Wen Ting's bedding over. Wen Ting's small bedroom is facing the sun, so it is naturally for Mr. Song Tao to live in.
"Mother, there are still Uncle Sheng and Shui Mo!" Wen Rou kindly reminded.
"Oh, I forgot. By the way, are they also high officials in the capital?" Zhou rolled his eyes and asked.
"Mother, Uncle Sheng is an old servant who has followed Mr. for many years, and Shui Mo is Mr.'s book boy, not a high-ranking official!" Rourou blinked her eyes, not understanding why Zhou had so many high-ranking officials in her heart.
"Oh, it's two attendants! That's easy to handle. Let that ink and your brother share a room. They are both scholars. They are about the same age. There is no taboo. As for the uncle, let him live with your second uncle. , anyway, your second uncle is alone!" Mrs. Zhou made arrangements quickly.
"Mother! You can figure it out! Why is the second uncle alone! Isn't there still Zhenniang? Didn't the auspicious days of the second uncle and Zhenniang be chosen by you? A few days ago, I saw the two Uncle took Zhenniang to buy cloth to make a wedding dress. Mom, you don’t think that there are three people in the bedroom on the second uncle’s big day! Besides, the utility room is already crowded with brother’s bedding. Mother, is it possible that you want your brother to sleep with his arms around ink painting?" Gentle reminded with a smile.
"Ah! If you don't tell me, I almost forgot. The day after tomorrow is the auspicious day for your second uncle and Zhenniang to get married! Look at my brain, I have forgotten it after a busy year! Then you have been with the old man in the past few days. Girl Xin is crowded, and your room will be vacated, and your father and I will move in, and we will have another bed in our room, let the uncle and Shui Mo make do with it!" Mrs. Zhou thought about it, and adjusted the arrangement again.
"Mother, why are you so troublesome, just let Shui Mo and Uncle Sheng live in my room, and my brother and I can live in the same room!" Wen Rou didn't understand.
"What crazy things are you talking about, you girl? You are a girl who has not left the court, no matter how big your brother is, you can't live together! You should get married in two years. If you tell me, which husband's family will dare to marry you in the future! Let Dad Damn it!" Mrs. Zhou poked Gentle's head with her finger.
"Mother, I don't want to marry! I'm still young! I want to be with Mother, and I want to learn crafts from Dad!" Gentle shook Zhou's arm gently.
In the past, whenever family members mentioned marriage and husband's family, Wen Rou always had lingering fears. She had had enough of Yin Deshun's face in her previous life! Now, the villain of the Yin family has been trampled underfoot, and they can no longer have any bad ideas about getting married. As for this time, Zhou's casual sentence about her husband's family suddenly made two familiar faces appear in her gentle heart.
"No, no, what am I thinking!" Rourou shook her head vigorously, blaming herself in her heart.
After being busy for a while, Wen Ting and Wen Xin also came to help, and before dinner, when Shui Mo and Sheng Bo came back, the Wen family had already arranged everything.
"Mother, the restaurant has been very busy these days. Daddy will definitely come back later. Let me help you cook today's dinner!" Rourou scurried into the kitchen like a little rabbit, started to roll up her sleeves and put on an apron as soon as she spoke. .
Zhou's eyes were stunned. She had just heard Wen Shouzheng say that Rou'er could cook, but she hadn't seen it with her own eyes.
"Okay, go and help me peel the green onions!" Zhou smiled and pointed to the food basket, thinking that his daughter has only been learning to cook for one month, and that old man Wen Shouzheng has always talked about bullshit, so it must be his daughter's Knowing how to cook is just cutting a vegetable, cooking a noodle or something.
"Mother, it's peeled! What's in the house?" Just as Zhou's mind wandered, Rourou had already peeled the green onions quickly, and stood in front of the stove with a decent appearance.