"The sound of firecrackers is a year old, and the spring breeze brings warmth to Tusu. Thousands of families always exchange new peaches for old symbols." This poem by Wang Anshi, a great poet of the Song Dynasty, vividly describes how the ancient Chinese celebrated the New Year. Lively scene.
What we now call "Spring Festival" was called "New Year's Day" in ancient times. In the Chinese language and culture circle, "Yuan" means beginning, which means first; "Dan" means one day or morning, and the two characters collectively refer to the first day of the new year. According to legend, the term "New Year's Day" comes from Zhuan Xu, one of the three emperors and five emperors in the ancient times. He stipulated that the first month of the lunar calendar is "Yuan" and the first day of the lunar month is "Dan". Later, some dynasties changed the date of New Year's Day, but in principle, the first day of each year is New Year's Day.
The Xia Dynasty took the first day of the first month as New Year's Day, but the Shang Dynasty took the first day of December as the New Year's Day, while the Zhou Dynasty took the first day of November as the New Year's Day, and the Qin Dynasty took the first day of October as the New Year's Day.
In the early Western Han Dynasty, the Qin Dynasty's Zhuanxu Calendar was used. But Zhuanxu Calendar has certain errors. In the 6th year of Yuanfeng (104 BC), Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty ordered the calendar to be revised after the proposal of the great historian Sima Qian and others. He also instructed Deng Ping, Tang Du, Luo Xiahong, and others to discuss the creation of the "Han Calendar". Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty Yuanfeng was completed in the seventh year of the calendar, and the year was changed to Taichu (that is, the first year of Taichu) in May of the year, and the "Han Calendar" was promulgated and implemented. "Han Calendar", later generations called this calendar "Taichu Calendar" based on the promulgated year.
"Taichu Calendar" was the first relatively complete Han calendar in ancient China, and it was also the most advanced calendar in the world at that time. The law stipulates that the year of return is one year, and the month of one synodic month is one month, so it is also called the eighty-one calendar. The first month of the summer calendar is the beginning of the year. For the first time in the Santong calendar, the twenty-four solar terms were incorporated into the calendar, and the months without middle energy were regarded as leap months. It also recorded the cycle of five-star operation for the first time.
In short, starting from the first day of the first lunar month in the Western Han Dynasty, it officially became the first day of the new year. More than two thousand years later, after the success of the Xinhai Revolution, it was decided to adopt the internationally accepted Gregorian calendar, so the Lunar New Year's Day was changed to "Spring Festival", and January 1 of the Gregorian calendar was called New Year's Day. When the People's Republic of China was founded, the "A.D. chronology" was officially used, and January 1st of the Gregorian calendar was designated as New Year's Day.
It is the late Han Dynasty and the Lunar New Year is still called New Year's Day.
New Year is a day of reunion, Liu Bei called Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and others to celebrate the New Year together. Both Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun have not yet married, and come here alone. Guan Yu didn't come because he needed to spend the New Year with Diao Chan. Zhuge Liang did not come because he had a large family.
Early in the morning, Liu Xun got up early and set off firecrackers in the eastern courtyard of the Jingzhou Provincial Governor's Mansion to expel the Plague God. At that time, there were no firecrackers. Liu Xun first lit a fire, and then set the dried bamboo joints on the fire. After the bamboo joints burned, they would make a popping sound, achieving the effect of setting off firecrackers in later generations.
After drinking and eating, everyone sat down and chatted together.
"General Zhao Yun and General Zhang Fei haven't married yet. Especially General Zhang Fei, in their early thirties. Why haven't they asked for a wife?" Madam Mi seems to be very concerned about their marriage.
"Over the years I have fought with my eldest brother in the South and North, and I didn't care about it. Now I finally have a place to stay, but so many years have passed in a flash.
Zhang Fei truthfully returned to the Tao, thinking that when Liu Beigang started the army, he was still a young man in his twenties, and now he is almost thirty-five years old. It is really easy to pass by, and it is embarrassing.
"Your sister-in-law is so concerned about the marriage of the two brothers."
Liu Bei was cheerful.
"No... No need."
Zhang Fei stammered, and it was strange that he was hesitant to speak.
"Why is General Zhang Fei so excited? Does he already have a sweetheart?"
Mrs. Mi is still very experienced in marriage. She can tell at a glance that Zhang Fei already has a sense of belonging, so she refuses to be introduced to him by others.
"Don't tell me, I really miss a girl in my heart."
Zhang Fei said truthfully, with a smile on his face.
"Which girl is it, I will ask Sun Gan to arrange the dowry for you and marry that girl."
Liu Bei happily said that Zhang Fei's life-long events have also been of concern to him.
"Hey..." Zhang Fei sighed and said: "This girl is Xia Houyuan's niece, her name is Xia Houjuan. When I was in Xudu with my eldest brother, I fell in love with her at first sight. But then I hurriedly and my eldest brother, The second brother escaped from Xu Du, so there is no contact. I don't know how she is doing now."
After hearing what Zhang Fei said, everyone was very surprised. They didn't expect Zhang Fei to have such an experience. Zhang Fei was born in a wealthy family. It is accurate to say that he was born in a landlord family. He has a lot of assets in the family, but he has a bad temper, but he writes well, and his painting is of a certain standard.
When Zhang Fei was in Xuchang, one day Zhang Fei went to the outskirts to go hunting. He happened to meet Xia Houjuan who was picking sang. Xia Houjuan's beauty made Zhang Fei fascinated, and Xia Houjuan had also heard of Zhang Fei's prestige, and he was quite fond of it. Zhang Fei immediately agreed with Xia Houjuan to see each other in a few days. On the agreed date, Zhang Fei gave Xia Houjuan a gift-a handkerchief. The handkerchief is not special, but on the handkerchief is a portrait of Xia Houjuan, which is lifelike and painted by Zhang Fei.
Xia Houjuan didn't expect that such a sudden general would still paint well, and he was even more impressed with Zhang Fei. Before long, Liu Bei used the excuse to block Yuan Shao and took the opportunity to escape from Xuchang. Zhang Fei also followed Liu Bei to leave Xuchang. Since then, the two have not contacted each other.
"Don't be discouraged, Sanshu, you may see each other again when you can."
Liu Xun comforted Zhang Fei on the sidelines.
"Don't just take care of me, Brother Zhao Yun should also get married."
Zhang Fei patted Zhao Yun, as if he didn't want others to pay too much attention to his emotional world.
"I'm still young and don't want to start a family for the time being. I'll talk about it in a few years."
Zhao Yun currently has no plans to get married. It seems that he wants to make contributions first, and then get married.
"I heard that the military master has a younger sister, who is eighteen years old, and she is in her boudoir. I asked her about her eight characters, and it matches with General Zilong."
Mrs. Mi said with a smile, it seems that she has been prepared. At first, Liu Bei led the soldiers to fight in the front. Mrs. Mi would always pay attention to the family members of the generals. The soldiers were very grateful and became more loyal to Liu Bei.
Zhao Yun also heard that Zhuge Liang had a younger sister, who was beautiful and virtuous and generous. If this marriage can fall on his own head, that would be great.
Madam Mi saw that Zhao Yun bowed her head without speaking, her face flushed, and she understood that Zhao Yun was interested in this marriage, so she smiled and said, "General Zilong, don't worry, this marriage is on my body."
Zhao Yun was overjoyed when he heard it, and his heart was like a calm lake. Suddenly the breeze blew over, causing ripples. But it was not easy to show it, so he nodded slightly and acquiesced to this marriage.
"It shouldn't be too late. Let's visit the military division's house. This is just the right way to talk about the marriage of General Zilong."
Liu Xun suggested to everyone.
"Okay, okay, I really envy the military division's family members, we might as well go and see how the military division celebrates the New Year together."
Zhang Fei also wanted to join in the fun. Zhang Fei had always respected the scholars, but he had not seen him three times after visiting Longzhong. This made Zhang Fei very annoyed and had a lot of opinions on him. However, later I saw that Zhuge Liang was indeed very talented, so he respected Zhuge Liang again.
"Okay, let's go together."
"Okay, let's go see the military division together."
Everyone agreed.
Zhao Yun was embarrassed to go, but he couldn't help everyone, so he had to go together.
Zhuge Liang's mansion is to the east of Cishi Mansion, not very far from the east courtyard where Liu Bei lives. Everyone will be there in a while.
After Jiading informed, Zhuge Liang took the whole family to the door to greet him.
"Lord, wife, son, General Zhao Yun, General Zhang Fei, please."
Zhuge Liang respectfully greeted everyone into the living room. Huang Yueying greeted Madam Mi to the back room.
"It's really envious to look at the sergeant and the big family, the people are prosperous, but it's a pity that I am alone now."
Zhang Fei’s voice came from the living room, and everyone laughed loudly after listening to it. Unexpectedly, Zhang Fei would laugh at himself, and he had a funny side.
"General Zhang, you should also marry a wife." Zhuge Liang smiled, and he seemed to be in a good mood.
Zhao Yun looked a little uncomfortable on the side, touching his fingers all the time, with some beads of sweat on his face. Seeing this scene, Liu Xun smiled and joked: "General Zilong, why are you so nervous?"
"Because the happy event is approaching."
After Zhang Fei finished talking, even Liu Bei and Liu Xun couldn't help laughing.
Zhuge Liang also heard Huang Yueying say that Mrs. Mi deliberately matched her younger sisters Zhuge Yuyan and Zhao Yun. Seeing this situation, she understood a little bit in her heart. Zhao Yun is brave and wise, a talented person, and his future is limitless. Zhuge Liang is naturally very happy to be married to Zhao Yun.
But he doesn't know what his sister thinks. If her sister disagrees, he can't force it, and he feels a little worried.
"Military strategist, today we are here to promote a beautiful thing, that is, the marriage between General Zilong and Lingmei."
Liu Bei is straightforward and does not go around in circles.
"I also heard my wife Huang Yueying say about this. General Zilong is a talented person and his future is limitless. If you can get married with Zilong, it will be a blessing for Lingmei."
Although Zhuge Liang didn't know his sister's idea, since Liu Bei had spoken, he still had to express his attitude first. He was still very satisfied with Zhao Zilong.
"Who said it was my blessing? That was his blessing!"
Suddenly a woman's voice came over, the voice was very loud, mixed with a very unconvincing tone in it.
Everyone followed the prestige and saw Zhuge Yuyan walking straight to Zhao Yun.
Zhao Yun glanced roughly, and could roughly feel Zhuge Yuyan's beauty and shrewdness, and his love for her added a bit.
"Mrs. Mi has already introduced me to this marriage. I think you are pretty good. Let's go out and talk?"
Zhuge Yuyan invited Zhao Yun out to talk, and she was generous.
Zhao Yun was surprised by this. Such a woman is exactly the type he likes.
Seeing their distant back, everyone was very pleased, and it seemed that there should be no problem with this marriage.
Zhuge Liang's hanging heart finally landed. Zhuge Yuyan's marriage problem is also what Zhuge Liang has always worried about. They grew up together, and their relationship was very good. Now that his sister can find a good home, he is happier than anyone else.
However, did Zhao Yun and Zhuge Yuyan talk smoothly