Chapter Sixty-Five: The Mansion in the Blessed Land
Master Feng and Huang Shijie agreed on the details again, and then stood up to leave. Huang Shijie tried hard to persuade Master Feng to stay for a meal together, but Master Feng waved his hand and said: "I don't dare to stay long, Mr. Zhang is still waiting for news from me. Say goodbye to Feng!"
After saying this, the master stood up, clasped his fists at Huang Shijie, turned around and walked out of the hall, leading a group of strong men out of the Huang Mansion.
Da Kui waited anxiously, and finally saw Master Feng coming back. He couldn't help but go over and ask urgently: "How are things going? When has the wedding date been decided?" Master Feng said with a smile: "Sir, don't be anxious, the date is set at the beginning of the twelfth lunar month of this year.
six."
Dakui slapped his thigh: "Why can't it be today?" "Ah?" Master Feng was stunned and speechless.
Just as Da Kui was discussing the wedding with Master Feng, Xu Yuan came to report outside the door: "Master Zhang, please ask for an audience with Prince Yin of Longping Prefecture." Dakui said hurriedly: "Please come quickly." Not long after, Prince Yin of Longping Prefecture, Xiyuan, walked into the room with a smile.
Come, as soon as he entered the room, he cupped his hands and congratulated: "Congratulations, Mr. Zhang, hahaha." Dakui quickly asked Wang Xiyuan to sit down, and the two of them discussed and became three people.
After a while, Xu Yuan came to report again from outside the door: "Master Zhang, Lin'an Prefecture Yin Zhou Jihuai and Lin'an Weaver Li Tian are visiting." Da Kui couldn't help but look at Master Feng and Wang Xiyuan in confusion: "I just
How come someone knew I was getting married when I returned to Longping?" Wang Xiyuan laughed and said, "Your Excellency, if you don't know something, it's the way to be an official to do as you please. However, there are no generous gifts when you are a lower-ranking official." Dakui said with a smile, "Master Wang.
I am very happy to be able to come... So let's all go to the front hall, where we will have a banquet to entertain you all..."
Dakui, Master Feng and Wang Xiyuan went to the second floor of the front hall, and the two newcomers also went to the front hall together. Everyone sat down to greet each other, and before the stools were warm, Xu Yuan came to report again: "Your Excellency, Kuizhou
The governor and several county magistrates are all downstairs asking to see him." Da Kui fainted, what should we do? Please come up together.
After another half an hour, Xu Yuan reported that someone had come to see him again. Da Kui had no choice but to say: "Everyone is invited." It became lively, and in less than an hour, the entire second floor of the elegant seats was packed. There were ten people from the three houses near Longping
Officials from the seven counties who only had high-ranking officials either came in person or sent generous gifts. Upstairs were all fourth- and fifth-grade officials, and those below fifth-grade and servants who gave gifts all brought their gifts downstairs and were registered and made by Dong Hu.
Record them one by one in the book and prepare a separate banquet for the reception.
Dakui stood up, crossed his arms and bowed, and said: "I am getting married. I would like to thank you all for troublesome lords to come here." All the officials present stood up and returned the salute. One said: "I should come here to congratulate you on your marriage." The other said:
"On your wedding day, don't forget to ask your subordinates to come with whips and kicks." Even more outrageous said: "Your Majesty, we are getting married, so how dare we say troublesome words?" Da Kui couldn't help sweating on his forehead when he heard this.
.
When the banquet was served, all the officials toasted frequently, and Dakui responded with greetings one by one. After three drinks, Li Tian, a weaver from Lin'an, stood up and said, "Master Zhang, I don't know where he wants to take his wife when he gets married?" Dakui couldn't help scratching his head when he heard this.
He thought: 'Yeah, we can't bring Huang Ying to this inn.' The man smiled and said: "Master Zhang is an upright and honest official, with a breeze on his sleeves, and I am very proud of him. It happens that I have a big house in Longping, and I met Zhang today.
Please treat it as a congratulatory gift when you are happy." As he said this, he took out the house deed that had been prepared and walked over to present it to Dakui with both hands.
Li Tian's move caused everyone here to talk about it. Longping Mansion (Suzhou) and Lin'an Mansion (Hangzhou) are said to be heaven and earth. Every inch of land in these two places is very valuable. As soon as Li Tian made a move, it was a big house, and other places were immediately destroyed.
The comparison continued. Da Kui couldn't help being shocked. Li Tian's move was suspected of bribery. As an envoy, how should he deal with it? He turned to look at Master Feng. Master Feng walked over with a smile and reached out to take the house deed.
Zhou Jihuai, the governor of Lin'an on the side, laughed and said: "Master Li's family has been doing business for generations and has a prosperous business background. His actions are indeed extraordinary, hehehe."
When everyone saw Li Tian like this, they couldn't help but think to themselves: "This guy must have his head kicked. He knows that the General Secretary is in charge of clean government, but he still blatantly bribes. Is it because he thinks he has a long life?"
Although I thought so, I still followed closely and sent out gift orders one by one.
Master Feng stepped forward to welcome them and accepted them all with a smile. Da Kui couldn't help but feel a little unsure. Isn't accepting gifts like this a blatant bribery? Although he thought so in his heart, he still couldn't help but express his thanks. The officials handed over the gift lists and each found some.
He excused himself and left. The gift has been given, why should he stay if he doesn't leave? These people have been in official circles for a long time, so they naturally know the importance of etiquette. For example, it would not look good if the general secretary asked someone to see off the guests after a banquet.
When everyone dispersed, Dakui couldn't help but couldn't sit still. He quickly asked Master Feng: "I'm afraid it's not appropriate to accept gifts like this." Master Feng laughed and said: "It doesn't matter, the king of Wu is the matchmaker when you get married. How can officials from Jiangnan be able to do it?"
Can you come here empty-handed?" Dakui couldn't help but ask again: "The Lin'an weaving Li Tian actually gave the mansion, but it was a bit of an open fire." Master Feng chuckled and said: "Don't bother me, sir, the mansion is a stone of inquiry.
This is the order of the King of Wu." Dakui understood immediately.
At that moment, Dakui took a look at the gifts from upstairs and downstairs, and couldn't help but be shocked. The gifts given by these officials were all very expensive, not to mention brocade, jade, etc., there were nearly ten thousand taels of real gold and silver.
.
Master Feng couldn't help but smile after looking at the gift list: "These officials all know how to measure, and the gifts they give are just right." Da Kui couldn't help but be speechless. If these gifts include more than ten thousand taels of brocade and jade, can they be called just right? But that's not what Da Kui is concerned about at the moment.
, first move and marry a wife.
Taihu Lake is known as the Five Lakes. There are dozens of large and small islands in the lake. The peaks on the islands are called the Seventy-Two Peaks of Taihu Lake. Even though it is winter, the scenery is beautiful. There is a small county on the east coast of Taihu Lake called Wu County.
This place falls under the rule of Longping Prefecture. Although the county is small, it is known as the land of abundance and the land of plenty due to the name of Taihu Lake.
A few miles away from the east bank of Taihu Lake, there is a small mountain called Dafu Mountain (this mountain was coined by Feng Lang). On the mountain, there are strong pines and ancient cypresses that are evergreen all year round. At the foot of the mountain, a large house occupies a very large area, adjacent to the farmhouse and fields. This house
With the mountains at its back and Taihu Lake in the distance, the warm sunshine and winter snow reflect the pink-walled, green-tiled buildings with cornices. It is no exaggeration to call it a paradise in the cave.
Dakui and Master Feng rode in together. Looking at it from a distance, Dakui sighed: "My dear mother, this house is so rough." Master Feng asked in confusion: "Sir, what does this roughness mean?
"Dakui hurriedly covered it up and said: "Oh, it's nothing. I just admired the beauty of this house. Let's go and have a look."
When the two came to the gate, they saw a gatehouse with hanging flowers, carved beams and painted pillars. A plaque hung horizontally under the gate, which read: Zhang Mansion, with two large Chinese characters in regular script. The gate was two feet high and nearly two feet wide. The red lacquer on the door was painted with exotic animals.
Swallowing ring. Five bluestone steps in front of the door go straight to the roadside. There is a stone lion squatting on both sides of the stone steps, with teeth and claws spread out as if it wants to choose someone to devour. The carving is exquisite and lifelike.