The snow still falls when the wind stops, and the young crows cry at dusk.
At this moment, the sun was setting, and Zhu's father drove the last ox cart back home to eat the delicious dinner made by Chen.
Not long after, a young man appeared on the road from Kaoshan Town to Xiahe Village. The boy was carrying a large bag and was walking on the road leisurely, singing as he walked, regardless of the falling snow.
"Listen to mom and don't let her get hurt. I want to grow up quickly so I can protect her. Beautiful white hair always sprouts happiness. The angel's magic is warm and kind."
Zhu Ping'an walked quickly, as he couldn't wait to see his mother Chen's surprised expression when she saw him.
Crunch, crunch
The crunching sound of stepping on the snow continued all the way.
"Is that Mr. Zhu in front?"
As Zhu Ping'an was walking and singing in the snow, he heard a voice asking questions from far behind him. Zhu Ping'an turned around and saw a carriage coming from behind, which soon stopped steadily not far from him.
The driver looked familiar, an uncle-like man who seemed to have been seen at the house of the wealthy Mr. Li.
"It's really Mr. Zhu, what a coincidence. I'm a procurement worker in the Li family's kitchen. I met you when Mr. Zhu borrowed a book. In the afternoon, I was ordered by the young lady to go to the town to purchase. I was delayed, but I didn't expect to run into Mr. Zhu. Mr. Zhu just came back. I'm so lucky to be the first one to see Mr. Zhu. Congratulations to Mr. Zhu for passing the imperial examination. You have brought honor to our town." The uncle was also a chatterbox. He mumbled a lot of words and finally enthusiastically offered to give Zhu Ping'an a ride.
Zhu Pingan naturally bowed his hands to express his gratitude, and then got on the carriage.
There were a lot of vegetables and meats bought by the uncles in the carriage, but the room was big enough for Zhu Ping'an to sit down, and it could also fit his luggage.
"I'm not in a hurry. I won't need it until tomorrow. It won't take much effort. Besides, it's better to help someone to the end than to send him off to the west. Besides, Mr. Zhu is a juren scholar. I am lucky to have done this."
When they arrived at Shanghe Village, the coachman insisted on taking Zhu Ping'an to Xiahe Village, which was very enthusiastic.
Zhu Ping'an's house was brightly lit at the moment, and two big red lanterns were newly hung at the door. In the falling snow, the two red lanterns looked particularly warm. They must have been hung recently. When he left home, there were no red lanterns hung.
"Mom, just hang the lanterns. We light two candles every day."
At the dinner table, Zhu Pingchuan thought about lighting two candles every day and couldn't help feeling a little sad. It was okay to light candles on lanterns during festivals, but this was not a festival.
Mother Chen was unhappy when she heard this, "What do you know? If Zhu'er comes back at night, he can see our door and avoid going to the wrong door."
"Why would my brother come back so late at night? He usually comes back during the day. Besides, my brother is not a child, how could he go to the wrong door?"
Zhu Pingchuan protested in a low voice, but was glared at by Chen. Then he turned off the engine and dared not say a word.
"Is there any noise outside?" While eating, Chen suddenly put down her chopsticks, pricked up her ears and asked.
"Mom, you must have heard it wrong again. I just went out to check it out." Zhu Pingchuan said in a low voice.
Before his mother Chen could say anything, Zhu's father, who was eating quietly, suddenly put down his chopsticks. He looked outside and said, "There is some noise. It seems that a carriage has arrived at our door."
Zhu's father had always been a driver, so he was very sensitive to the sound of a vehicle and could tell a bullock cart or a horse cart at once.
Upon hearing this, Chen put down her chopsticks, stood up and walked out. These days, Chen always felt that Zhu Ping'an was about to come back. Now when she heard Zhu's father say that a carriage was parked at the door, Chen immediately couldn't wait to go out and see if Zhu Ping'an had returned. She would rather make a few more mistakes than miss this chance.
Outside the door, Zhu Pingan took his bag off the carriage and bowed to thank the driver of the Li family. He was able to arrive at the doorstep just as night fell, thanks to the driver's enthusiasm.
Just as Zhu Ping'an was expressing his gratitude, the door of Zhu's house opened and his mother Chen came out. She immediately recognized Zhu Ping'an, who was standing at the door with his butt sticking out and bowing to express his gratitude.
"Zi Er"
Mother Chen covered her mouth in surprise, but the sound of surprise still came out.
"Haha, Mom, I'm back." Zhu Ping'an immediately recognized Chen's surprised voice. After bowing and thanking her, he turned around, scratched his head and looked at Chen with a silly smile on his face.
Originally, he wanted to give his mother a surprise, but he didn't expect her to leave so soon. However, seeing his mother Chen's surprised expression, Zhu Pingan felt that it was worth it for him to come overnight.
"Why are you traveling at night, silly boy? It's so unsafe. It would be better to come tomorrow." After being surprised, Chen pretended to be angry and criticized Zhu Ping'an for traveling at night.
Zhu Ping'an continued to smile foolishly, which made Chen tap him on the forehead in anger.
"Who is this?"
Chen realized later that there was a coachman standing nearby and asked in confusion.
"Madam, I'm a shopper for the Li family's kitchen in Shanghe Village. This afternoon, I was ordered by our young lady to go to the town to make purchases. I was delayed in the town, and then I happened to run into Mr. Zhu on my way back. Mr. Zhu has brought fame to our town. He is the youngest juren in the history of our county. I'm honored to have the opportunity to give him a ride." The driver talked a lot, and although his words were a bit disorganized, he managed to make his general idea clear.
The words "Li Family, Shanghe Village" immediately attracted Chen's attention. Then she heard the driver say that he was ordered by Miss Li to go shopping in the afternoon. By chance, he picked up Zhu Ping'an who was rushing home on the way.
So, Chen couldn't help but think of Li Shu again, and felt that this was fate. Zhu Ping'an, who might have had to travel in the wind and snow until midnight, came back at dark. This had a lot to do with Li Shu. Her unintentional move saved Zhu Ping'an from having to travel in the wind and snow. She was really lucky for her husband.
"Come home and drink some hot soup to warm yourself up." Chen enthusiastically invited the driver to her home.
"That's right, Brother Wang, please don't be polite." Zhu Ping'an also extended an invitation to the coachman.
"No, Madam, Mr. Zhu, I have to go back and report." The coachman shook his head and politely declined the kindness of Chen and Zhu Ping'an, insisting on driving back to the Li family.
"The meal is ready at home. It's not too late to drink the soup before leaving. My little piglet is so lucky to have you here, otherwise he would have suffered on the road." Chen invited again.
"No, madam. My mistress has set the rules, so I have to go back now. It is a blessing for our family to be able to give Master Zhu a ride. Madam, Master Zhu, I will go back now."
The driver still shook his head, got on the carriage and said goodbye.
Watching the departing carriage, Chen became even more satisfied with the young lady Li Shu who had left home. She heard from the coachman that Li Shu had already started to take charge of the household. She was beautiful, filial, and good at housekeeping. She was simply a daughter-in-law who fell from heaven.
A certain idea has become a towering tree in Chen's mind.
At this time, Zhu's father and Zhu Pingchuan also came out of the house. Seeing that Chen had come out and did not go back, and hearing the sound of talking outside, they hurried out to find out what was going on.
Then I saw Zhu Pingan.
"You're back." Zhu's father's voice was calm, but he quickly and skillfully took the bag that Zhu Ping'an was carrying, which made Chen very satisfied.
"Brother, you're back." Zhu Pingchuan's business became much happier.
At this time, Chen rolled her eyes at Zhu Pingchuan and said, "Humph, who said that Zhi'er couldn't come back at night? And you're still complaining about my candle lighting fee?"
"Mom." Zhu Pingchuan stretched out his voice.
"Dad, big brother, I'm back." Zhu Pingan responded with a simple smile. (To be continued)