Just as Duan Mingqing thought, the two petty officials came to the Duan family just for the reward.
"Is the old lady at home? Someone has come from the capital! The imperial envoy has arrived with the imperial edict!" one of the young-faced officials said hurriedly.
When Duan Mingqing rushed to the front door, he happened to hear these words, "Why are you here in such a hurry?"
The junior official had met Duan Mingqing several times and knew that he was the master of the Duan family. He raised his hands and saluted, "Master Duan, I don't know. I only know that the imperial envoy came to the county government office early in the morning and brought
As soon as the imperial edict came from the capital, the county magistrate asked us to come to Duanjia Village to find the old lady and tidy things up in advance."
Although it is a happy event to receive an imperial edict, you must prepare a lot before receiving the edict. The edict is like His Majesty coming in person, and you must at least bathe and change clothes. These are all signs of respect for His Majesty. If you do not do it well, you will be punished by the courtesy officer.
punishment.
"Excuse me, you two. I'm going to find my mother. Uncle Sun, please come in and have a drink of tea." Duan Mingqing greeted him quickly, not even bothering to give him a reward.
Duan Mingqing told his family about the imperial edict coming from the capital, and asked the women at home to boil some hot water and prepare some snacks.
Even if you don’t need to shower and change clothes, you always need to wash your face and change clothes.
Duan Mingjing was feeding chickens in the backyard when he heard the news.
Hearing what Shang said, he hurriedly poked his head out of the chicken house, "Really? Someone is really coming from the capital?"
In addition to feeding the chickens every day, Duan Mingjing also needs to clean up the chicken manure in the chicken house, no matter how big or small. This is Qiao Lan's request.
Mr. Shang nodded, "The little official who sent the message is still in the backyard." He looked at Duan Mingjing again and said, "Second Master, it's better to go change clothes. It's impossible that Second Master won't be here to receive the order later."
Duan Mingjing was so happy that he immediately threw away the wooden shovel in his hand, "I'll go right away!"
He stinks so much that he can't be seen by anyone, so he needs to be washed thoroughly.
Duan Mingjing was just about to throw away his job and leave, but suddenly he remembered what Qiao Lan had told him. He said that the job of cleaning the chicken coop would not be left for a day, and she would keep an eye on it.
Remembering the fear of being discovered by his mother when he was lazy and didn't light the fire, Duan Mingjing turned back without taking two steps, picked up the wooden shovel in his hand and quickly finished the work.
Then he rushed back to his home.
Take a shower and receive the imperial edict!
-
When encountering such a happy event, the Duan family was not only happy, but also more cautious and handled all the details in a proper manner.
Mr. Shang usually loves his little daughter very much, and even turns a blind eye to the matter of playing with her daughter in the mud. Now that the imperial envoy has come to the house, he cannot be as casual as before.
He personally put Duan Siyu into clean clothes and warned her carefully, "We are going to have guests at home soon. Please don't make your clothes dirty again. Don't be rude when you see the guests."
The sisters-in-law are currently changing clothes for the children, cleaning the yard and preparing snacks, and they are all in a hurry. After cleaning up the little girl, Mrs. Shang wants to see how her husband is doing, and then goes to the kitchen to prepare.
Duan Siyu nodded obediently, with bright eyes, "Mother, I will be obedient."
Duan Yutao, who was also sitting on the bench in the room, was lowering his head to tie his belt. When he heard this, he raised his head and promised, "Mom, I will take good care of my sister."
"Hey!" Mr. Shang sighed.
Even if her son follows suit, Mrs. Shang will not be relieved.
She told her daughter the same thing last time. In front of her, her daughter promised well, turned around and forgot about it.
Although the younger son is more well-behaved than his daughter, he has no independent opinions and is often led by his younger sister. The two of them even cover up after they have done bad things.
Mrs. Shang raised her hand and patted her forehead. She was still worried about her daughter. She held her daughter's hand and said, "Mom, I will send you to my sister's place. You must listen to her."
Mrs. Shang said, took her daughter to Duan Sitong's house, and entrusted Duan Siyu to Duan Sitong.
Duan Siyu looked at her mother's leaving figure and pulled her sleeves, looking a little disappointed.
Duan Sitong stuffed Duan Siyu with a few pieces of candied fruit, then picked up the little girl and placed her in front of the dressing table.
"How about my sister combing your hair?" Duan Sitong asked, touching Duan Siyu's soft and fine hair.
The little girl is still young, her hair has not yet grown, and she cannot afford too many headdresses. Shang has too many children to take care of, so she only tied her daughter into a simple little braid.
The little girl was busy stuffing candied fruits in her mouth, her cheeks were stretched wide, her black and white eyes rolled, and she finally nodded.
Compared to the joy of the Duan family, Qiao Lan acted much calmer and walked home with the basket in hand.
Mrs. Wang stepped forward and took the basket from her mother-in-law's hand, preparing to put it in the corner. "Mom, the hot water is ready. You can go wash up and change clothes."
"I know, I'll go right away. Don't put the bamboo basket inside for me, just put it next to the rocks in the backyard. I'll need it later," Qiao Lan warned.
After taking the Qiangguo class for several years, Qiao Lan had a room dedicated to storing various tools, which filled up half of the room. Qiao Lan didn't pay much attention to how to put things. She put them wherever there was space, including various bamboos of different sizes.
The baskets are placed together, and the long hoe poles are placed together. They are messy and thin, and they can be used easily.
It’s just that Mrs. Wang has to tidy up every day and tidy them up. Arrange them according to size, with baskets nested one inside another.
It's not that Qiao Lan didn't advise her to use it every day and not to clean it up so diligently, but Wang still does it every day.
Seeing that Qiao Lan was still thinking about going to the fields in the afternoon, Wang could only lament her mother-in-law's favor and disgrace.
I'm afraid that if His Majesty comes to the house today, my mother-in-law will have to go to the fields to farm in the afternoon.
-
When Qiao Lan had almost finished cleaning up, another group of officials from the county came and said that the imperial ministers were at the entrance of the village.
Qiao Lan picked out a pair of clothes that were neither new nor old, and took her family to the village entrance to greet the imperial envoy from the capital.
After everyone stood at the entrance of the village for a while, they saw a group of men riding tall horses walking in front, followed by two carriages.
Qiao Lan squinted her eyes for a while and saw the carriage approaching slowly. The leading horse guard held the reins and walked around beside the carriage. The convoy stopped at the entrance of the village.
Cheng Yao poked his head out of the sedan chair at the back and respectfully invited two middle-aged men in official uniforms out of the carriage.
One was a slightly older man, about forty or fifty years old, wearing a red official uniform, and the other looked at a slightly younger man in green clothes. The middle-aged man in red walked in front, walking towards the Duan family with a smile.
Seeing this, Qiao Lan could only sigh that the paintings in the museum were real. The temperament of the imperial envoy in front of him was very similar to the official in the painting.
The Duan family members hurriedly greeted them. "I have met you sirs."
"You're welcome." The old man's mellow and hoarse voice sounded.
After everyone had greeted each other, Qiao Lan raised her head and looked at the two imperial envoys in front of her, straightening her back.
But I heard the old man in red say slowly, "I haven't seen you for many years. Thank you for your hard work, Mrs. Duan."
Qiao Lan's pupils widened slightly and she looked at the old man in front of her with confusion.
Do they know each other?
The old man seemed to understand the words on Qiao Lan's face and smiled lightly: "Mrs. Duan may not remember me."