Since the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Cheng has stopped arranging affairs and devoted himself to spending time with his family.
Since he crossed over in July of the 11th year of Chongzhen, he first recuperated from illness for nearly three months, and then he was ordered to lead the army to King Qin. He had been fighting on the Gyeonggi frontline for nearly half a year, and even spent the entire New Year's Day in the military camp.
The Ming Dynasty used the lunar calendar instead of our current Gregorian calendar, so the first day of January every year is New Year's Day, commonly known as New Year's Day, New Year's Day, New Year's Day, etc. It is also known colloquially as the Chinese New Year and the Chinese New Year.
The Spring Festival is a later title and did not exist at that time. The name of the festival was created by the government of the Republic of China later.
During the Republic of China, the Gregorian calendar was introduced to China, and the lunar calendar gradually became the standard for farming. In 1914, the Republic of China government mentioned in a report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs that it "plans to designate New Year's Day of the lunar calendar as the Spring Festival."
Therefore, the saying "Spring Festival" gradually spread.
This time, he wanted to have a good New Year's Eve. Early that morning, he accompanied his wife Ji Xuanzhu to the Chenghuang Temple in the southwest of the castle to burn incense. In order to avoid being too eye-catching, he only brought jade pistils and two embroidered moons.
There are maids and four strong women accompanying them.
There was a lot of excitement in front of the City God's Temple. The carriage stopped just a short distance from the City God's Temple. Zhang Cheng handed his horse to the mate to hold the hand, while he stepped forward and helped Ji Xuanzhu out of the carriage, and a group of eight people rushed to the City God's Temple.
There are many vendors in the open space in front of the temple. They sell all kinds of snacks and objects, such as candy figures, dough figures, candied haws, sachets, etc., as well as some small accessories. The shouts, inquiries and bargains complement each other, making it very lively.
Yu Rui and Xiu Yue have a candy figure in their left hand and a face figure in their right hand, while Zhang Cheng is holding up a candied haws, with two hawthorns obviously missing from it.
The four strong women separated, and there were two people in front and behind who were both opening the way and protecting them. Perhaps because their aura was too strong, the crowds shunned them wherever they went.
After offering incense, everyone visited the temple for a while, then got on a carriage and headed all the way back to Chi Castle. Inside the castle, every household was decorated with lanterns and bright red lanterns lined up along the street. The lively scene was no less than that of Zhang Cheng
That wedding time.
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In the next few days, Zhang Cheng no longer went out. Every day he was not playing horse games with the old ladies, which reminded him of the mahjong and poker cards of later generations.
Soon after, these two magic tools, mahjong tiles and playing cards, became popular on Xuanzhen North Road, Daming Dynasty.
During these days, Zhang Cheng, in addition to showing his filial piety by accompanying the old lady, also spent time with his wife Ji Xuanzhu, enjoying the snow, drinking tea, or watching Ji Xuanzhu's embroidery, enjoying himself happily.
Of course, he can be leisurely and happy, but other people in the General's Office are very busy. Not only do they have to buy all kinds of New Year's goods, but they also have to sweep the dust, worship the Stove Lord, kill New Year pigs, put up New Year reds, etc.
There is a folk proverb that goes, "On the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, pigs are killed to cut meat for the New Year." It means that on the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, preparations for meat for the New Year begin.
The so-called killing of pigs, of course, means killing the pigs raised by one's own family; the so-called cutting of meat means that poor families who do not raise pigs go to the market to buy meat for the New Year.
The reason why "cutting new year's meat" is included in the New Year's folk songs is because the agricultural and social economy is not developed enough, and people can only eat meat during the annual New Year's Day, so it is called "new year's meat".
Even though the appearance of Zhang Cheng has made North Road more stable and prosperous than before, it is still located in a border fortress. It is lucky to be able to make a living, and most of the military households are still far from being able to live.
The extent of eating meat at will.
The General's Office has its own pig farm outside the castle. Four big fat pigs were killed today. After all, there are many people in the office, including 200 healthy women. In addition, there are Zhang Cheng's personal military guards.
And Tong Ziying, as well as some maids, mother-in-law and other servants.
Today happened to be the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, and Ji Xuanzhu couldn't sit still. He was directing Yurui, Xiuyue and others to put up New Year's red. The inside and outside of the General's Office had been dusted again.
Sister-in-law Jia is also instructing the healthy women and women to hang up bright red lanterns. There are also colorful lanterns in the garden behind, making it a lively scene.
"On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, make cakes and steamed buns with appliqués!"
The so-called decals are the general term for pasting Spring couplets, door gods, New Year pictures, blessing characters, horizontal stripes, window grilles, etc. Since these are red festive elements posted during the New Year, they are collectively called "New Year Red".
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Zhang Cheng also had a rare leisure time these days. Apart from playing horse tag with the old ladies, he also accompanied Ji Xuanzhu to wander around the Red Castle. He felt that this was what life was like.
He was free today and was alone in his study. Although it had been a year and a half since he came to this world, he was still not used to using a writing brush. At this moment, he was writing and drawing at his desk with a pencil and a wooden triangle in hand.
After a while, he put down his pen and triangular board, looked at the patterns he had drawn, a smile appeared on his lips, and he shook his waist, and a few soft "click" sounds came out, and he suddenly felt comfortable all over.
"Father, Brother Cheng Fang and Mr. Lin are back!"
A slightly childish voice came from outside the study. Zhang Cheng recognized that it was Zhang Jintai's voice, and he also shouted loudly: "Zhang Jintai, come in."
Zhang Jintai pushed the door open and entered, followed by Lin Fangping and Zhang Chengfang. After entering the room, they immediately clasped their fists and saluted: "Zhang Jintai, Zhang Chengfang, come see your father!"
"Lin Fangping, please see the Commander-in-Chief."
"Everyone, get up."
Zhang Cheng called them up in a deep voice and asked: "Fang Ping, Cheng Fang, you two have worked hard all the way. Have you got everything done?"
"Back to the Governor, we will go to Yanghe to meet Governor Chen in person. The New Year's gift has also been presented to the Governor. Governor Chen brought back a letter to the Governor and asked the Governor to sign it personally." After Lin Fangping finished speaking, he stood up.
He placed a letter on the desk in front of Zhang Cheng.
"By the way, the Governor-General has also heard about the Song of the Military Composed by the Commander-in-Chief. He also asked us about the lyrics composed by the Commander-in-Chief. He also greatly appreciated the Song of the Military Composed by the Commander-in-Chief."
He paused briefly and then said: "My subordinates had previously asked Wang Yuanjing and Wang Xiucai to make a copy for me. I was so excited that I dedicated it to the Governor!"
"Haha. Just ask Yuan Jing to make another copy for you!"
"The Governor also said, 'A man should be in a dangerous career, so why should he let a scholar's crown derail his life?' This sentence is extremely well written, especially majestic and righteous. Every time I read it, I feel excited in my chest!"
When Lin Fangping said this, he was actually quite excited, and he continued.
"There is also the phrase 'call for more than 100,000 comrades, sing war songs and join the army.' This sentence is also loved by the governor. He said that if the governor can really train an army of 100,000, there will be no need to worry about the injustice of the rogue bandits, and the Eastern captives will never be destroyed!
"
"Haha, if I really have an army of one hundred thousand, this big head on my neck may not be my own!"