The Six Rites began in the Zhou Dynasty, became successful in the Qin and Han Dynasties, and were recorded in the Book of Rites. Since the Han Dynasty, the world was in turmoil, but the six Rites actually did not exist. By the Tang Dynasty, the Six Rites were determined again to be required for marriage between men and women, and it was stipulated as a law in the "Tang Law".

The Song Dynasty did not have its own laws, and the "Tang Law" was used in name only, but various judicial interpretations were added. Some laws were abolished, while others were changed, which was the "Song Zhengtong". The six rituals stipulated in the "Tang Law" were not only strictly followed by the royal family, but most of the people were simplified in the Song Dynasty. Even the prime minister Xu Ping did not follow the six rituals step by step.

This is Xu Ping's always advocated that every era has etiquette, and we should guide the people to form appropriate ones. Instead of obsessing with the ancients and forcibly promoting ancient rituals in the present world. Forced advocating ancient rituals will not only not educate customs, but will also cause disgust among the people.

In Kaifeng City, the Six Leaves passed down in ancient times have actually been changed into four steps. First talk about the matchmaking, then change the post. The man’s post states the age, birthday, three generations of official qualities, details the family property, and the woman’s reply to the post lists the dowry. This is not only economically, but also the proof of the government’s division of property if the relationship breaks down later. Divorce is legal in this era, and even the relationship breaks up can be used as a reason for divorce, and remarriage is common. When a couple divorces, there is a problem of property division and child support. The basis for the government to divide the property is the change post. The man’s assets belong to the man, and the woman’s dowry belongs to the woman. Each of them takes their own share of their own and then find their own good match.

It is precisely because of this that the dowry is crucial to the woman's status in the future family. Panpan was the eldest daughter. When Xu Ping was a child, she owed her a lot of dowry. Needless to say, gold, silver, treasures, silk, satin, and bank deposits, as well as the Xu family's industries in the capital and the countryside. Xu Ping even bought another house in Luoyang City as part of Panpan's dowry.

Lin Su Niang felt sorry for her daughter. The dowry she prepared was quite generous and a little scary. When she listed the post, she was afraid that Xu Ping would disagree. Unexpectedly, Xu Ping added a long list on it, even listing in detail how many horses she gave to Panpan.

The dowry brought to his husband's family is far greater than all the Su family's property. Su Song's status at home in the future will be suppressed by Panpan for the rest of his life. The male lead is outside, the female lead is inside, and Xu Ping of course has to give his daughter the confidence in the inner.

The post also lists the people who lead the marriage. Now Xu Ping is in power and reputation. Su Shen doesn’t know what method he has used to invite Zhao Yunchu, the youngest son of the Eight Great King Zhao Yuanyan, to take the marriage. Yunchu is Xu Zheng’s confidant. Both of them are the same officials, but they go to court without any hesitation and rain. They never arrive late or leave early. Xu Zheng occasionally asks for leave, but Zhao Yunchu doesn’t even ask for leave.

After changing the post, they usually go on blind dates. At first, it was seen by elders. The man and woman did not meet. It gradually developed to the present day. When the man and woman also want to meet. If they agree, they will give the woman a hairpin. The good family conditions are generally a gold hairpin, which is called "inserting the hairpin". If they don't agree, they will give the woman a few silk, which is called "suppressing the hairpin". Xu Ping's family is relatively loose, and Panpan's gold hairpin was inserted by Su Song himself.

After a blind date, the marriage relationship is formally determined, that is, the appointment is determined. This step is the most important, which is equivalent to determining the legal relationship between the two parties from then on. The woman wants to send a letter of appointment, and the man returns the gift letter. In principle, the bookstore needs notarization.

Today is the day of appointment. The six rituals are included, and the six rituals are combined together. The marriage steps that appeared in the Song Dynasty have had a profound impact on future generations and are basically followed by the people. The six rituals are only in writing.

The one who came to Xu Ping's house to send a job was the female elders of Su Song's family, with Zhang Sanniang and Lin Su Niang in charge of the reception. Xu Ping entertained relatives and friends who came to congratulate him in the back garden of his mansion.

The three golds, dresses, jewelry and so on in the betrothal gift were all collected by Lin Su Niang and put them on her when she got married. Several strong men invited by the Su family swayed and carried a tank of red and green wine and delivered it to the back garden. After drinking this tank of wine, the woman made a marriage agreement. She put two bottles of water, a few live fish, and a pair of chopsticks in the tank, which was a gift.

Putting the wine he brought on the ground, Xu Ping gave the strong men money, letting them drink and have fun elsewhere, and then carry the jar back to Su's house in the evening. He asked Xu Chang to open the jar and invite everyone to drink.

Today, in addition to the important ministers of the prime minister, there are friends such as Guo Zi who had been with Xu Ping, and his Jinshi in Beijing in the same year. Other officials came to congratulate him, and all the concierge refused, and they wrote down their names, did not accept gifts, and did not allow them to enter.

Everyone is a literati. Starting from Yan Shu, each wrote lyrics. It was nothing more than a small order like "I was young and fresh, but my skirt was not stained by the world." Xu Ping asked someone to write down one by one, and the appropriate ones were rehearsed next to it. The book of the lyrics will be recorded and officially copied for Panpan in the future. As her memory, it was also the rehearsal of Xu Ping when he missed his daughter.

There are only a few lyrics suitable for this occasion, and most of them are the same. They just want to make auspicious and join in the fun, and no one writes wonderful lyrics at this time. Everyone laughs and laughs, and their own couplets are very lively for a while.

Wang Su covered her sleeves and said to Xu Ping: "Time flies, Yun Xing, but we didn't expect that we would start marrying a wife and daughter, and it was not the same as before. Panpan was well-educated and polite, and smart. We all watched her grow up, and we were really reluctant to leave."

Xu Ping sighed: "Yes, I always feel a little worried when I get married. I am afraid that she will not be used to living in her husband's house, afraid that she will be wronged in her husband's house, afraid that she will not be satisfied with this or that. I have been traveling to the business all year round, except for the few years in Henan Province, and I have never brought my family with me, and I really owe her. Alas."

Wang Su smiled and said, "Panpan has seen Su Song since she was a child. With her personality, there will be no dissatisfaction! I am afraid that Su Song people are too honest and will be bullied by her. If you marry your daughter as a dowry, how dare the Su family dare to rebel against her personality!"

Xu Ping shook his head: "That's even worse. If you don't say that other people's meetings to discuss my daughters, Yu Panpan herself, having this reputation is not a good thing. I hope she knows what she knows and respects her husband as a guest."

This is how you marry a daughter, and you are concerned about it. You are afraid that your daughter will be bullied after marrying her, and you are worried that you have a bad temper and bullied your husband will cause a family disagreement. Panpan has a lot of dowry and Xu Ping is the backer, so the Su family can't bear it.

Wu Yu came over with a drink and said to Xu Ping: "Why is Yunxing a little depressed on such a happy day?"

Wang Su smiled and said, "Mr. Zhaowen came back from the northwest and took off his saddle and armor. He became sentimental. He was afraid that his daughter would not live well in the future, and he was afraid that he would be too domineering in his husband's family, so he complained about himself here."

The group of people who ranked first in the fifth year of Tiansheng are about the same age as the top Jinshi. Xu Ping is the youngest, but he gets married early, has a daughter early, and his children talk about marriage early. Now, others don’t understand it, they just find it funny.

It was late February, the weather was gentle, the grass was green, and the flowers were blooming. Everyone was drinking and lyrics while traveling around.

The decoration of Xu Ping's mansion is not luxurious, it is better than that of large places, with mountains, water, flowers and trees, and many scenery. The veranda pavilions inside mostly use sturdy and durable but not expensive varieties. This is not Xu Ping's artificiality. He just likes this style, he feels at ease, and others have no gossip. Although architectural decoration is not expensive, since many years ago, this place has been a place for many officials in the capital, leaving behind various poetry inscriptions. Xu Ping has preserved them one by one, and some places are filled with the officials who are visiting, and he will even build another place. These poems and essays and calligraphy are valuable. In this era, many famous officials and scholars have left their names and have left their footprints here, which is the wealth of future generations.

Xu Ping and the others walked for a while and felt a fever on their bodies, so they sat in the pavilion to rest.

A magnolia in front of the pavilion was in full bloom, and the branches were full of flowers, as bright as clouds. Looking at the blue sky through the flowers from the pavilion, the white flowers and the blue sky were uneven, which was refreshing.

Wang Su sighed: "I suddenly remembered that we haven't sat leisurely looking at the sky like this for a long time."

Xu Ping and Wu Yu and others nodded silently, without saying a word. This is because they have not practiced enough and were disturbed by government affairs. If they go home, they will find it difficult to truly relax. The prime ministers of the previous dynasty, Xu Ping's most yearning for Wang Dan, Wang Zeng and Zhang Zhibai. They are at ease in handling political affairs and are content to return home. They are still far from being able to do so.

Yan Shu and Du Yan walked along the path hidden by flowers and trees together. When they saw Xu Ping and others, they came over to sit down in the pavilion.

After looking at the blue sky among the flowers for a while, Yan Shu said, "Today is a leisurely day, and we shouldn't mention political affairs. However, I had been discussing with Mr. Du for a long time, but I still couldn't figure out why Mr. Zhaowen had to instruct Guo Zi not to interfere in local political affairs?"

Xu Ping said: "I met Guo Zi when I was a teenager. I farmed in the village. He was the chief clerk of Zhongmu, and he was also acquainted with him at a loss. Guo Zi is talented and clever, and his mind is rare in comparison to anyone in the world. But there is one thing that Guo Zi is very serious in doing things and is sometimes addicted to it. This time, we have a list of Fangtian on Jingdong Road. As long as we count the land according to the chart, we can naturally calculate the area. However, there are not many scholars and scholars who are proficient in calculations, and many people even know nothing. According to the chart, they are afraid that some people will not be able to calculate. According to Guo Zi's temperament, they are afraid that they will teach people everywhere, which will delay the main work."

Speaking of this, Xu Ping looked at the distant blue sky and said helplessly: "We read the books of sages and become court officials to govern the world and benefit the people. Some people just can't tell the relationship between their own practice and political affairs. They don't want to be rational in politics, and are diligent in cultivating morality and being gentlemen. They delay political affairs and leave harm to the people. Where can such gentlemen be like this in the world? The scholars and officials cultivate virtues to the courts in the world. They must first handle political affairs well after self-cultivation. In recent years, many scholars and officials are addicted to the learning of Buddhists and elders. They move their practice skills to study and government affairs, which is the most harmful. They don't care about letters or political affairs, and they call it "non-interested in civil affairs. If there is not such a person who knows nothing about political affairs, why should I repeatedly remind Guo Zi!"

Geometry is used to calculate the area of ​​square fields. In this era, there are not many people who can calculate square circles clearly, not to mention that the land will have all kinds of strange shapes. Xu Ping organized people to compile a set of charts and put various area formulas in it. As long as it is measured according to the shape, it will be calculated in the form. People who have read books should understand it quickly, but in fact, according to Xu Ping's test, there are still not many local officials who can figure it out. Guo Zi, a scientific genius, cannot be careful in his duties when he goes to the local area, so he instructs officials to calculate these things every day. Xu Ping had to repeatedly tell him not to pay attention to these people. If he can't learn to think of ways by himself, he will be punished obediently and does not want to be an official at all.

The bureaucratic system operates according to the system. Once the system is destroyed, all kinds of strange things will come out. The Ming and Qing dynasties especially like to send ministers and imperial envoys to supervise, and often even directly seize the power of local governments to govern on their behalf. It seems that they are kind-hearted, but in fact they destroy the system and seize the power of local officials, they will be so at ease that they will not do things and will not be responsible. Over the years, everyone is scammers in the local area. If they do not send people to the superiors, they will shirke the responsibility and not do things, and eventually the discipline will be ruined.

Even if local officials cannot do things well for a while, they can send people to teach them what they don’t understand, but they cannot seize their governance power. If they deserve rewards, they will punish them. They must do the things. Only when they give them power can they take responsibility.

In the bureaucratic system, there is a pit of carrots and a pit. If there is an accident, they must be delegated to power. If there is an accident, they must be held accountable. If there is an accident, the parties involved will not accept responsibility. If they force people to take the blame, they will make the bureaucrats disinterest. The advantages of the bureaucratic system are completely lost, leaving only the disadvantages. Can they control the world with three heads and six arms?
Chapter completed!