Cheng Yao sent the two imperial envoys away from Lantian County. When he rode back to the county government office, it was getting late and a lantern was hung on both sides of the door.
Cheng Yao looked at ease and handed the reins to his servant, then entered the yard with his hands behind his back.
The old servant who had been waiting at the door held a lantern to guide Cheng Yao.
The luxuriant grass and trees in the courtyard were surrounded by dusk and the chirping of cicadas. A sound of footsteps came through the wall, and as you walked past the wall, you could hear the voice of a woman on the other side of the wall.
"Mr. Lang!"
Cheng Yao quickened his pace to meet her. As soon as the two met each other, he naturally took the woman's hand and said, "Madam."
Behind the woman were two little girls, each holding a lantern with dim light.
"I thought your husband wasn't going home today!" the woman said in a charming tone.
"How could it be? The two adults left after delivering the imperial edict. I couldn't stay even if I wanted to." Cheng Yao said regretfully. If he had the ability, he would have wanted to have a long talk with the two adults.
There are not many opportunities to interact with court officials.
If the conversation is pleasant, it will also be beneficial to his future career.
"My husband is so young, why worry about not having a chance?" the woman said in a gentle and comforting tone.
Cheng Yao squeezed his wife's hand. How could such an opportunity be so easy? There aren't many families like the Duan family in Lantian County.
Just as he was about to say something, he heard his wife say, "Have you eaten, sir? I asked the chef to prepare some food and wine. Why don't you use some first?"
"Okay!" Cheng Yao nodded.
I was busy greeting several adults today and was on the road the whole time. I drank a lot of tea and didn't eat much.
The couple returned to their small courtyard hand in hand, dismissed the servants on the left and right, and talked privately.
"Mr. Lang, what reward did the capital give to the Duan family?" the woman asked curiously.
"Mrs. Duan was given a title, and some land and houses according to the title, but those rewards are all in the capital. This man's title can be passed down to three generations, but women don't get such treatment. It's a pity..." Cheng
Yao sighed.
If Mrs. Duan's title can be passed on, the Duan family will probably be prosperous for another hundred years.
The woman on the side listened and her eyes lit up.
Cheng Yao looked at his wife and put down his chopsticks, "By the way, don't even think about getting married to the Duan family."
After hearing this, most of the tenderness on the woman's face disappeared, and she asked with some confusion, "Why?"
"My brother is about the same age as Miss Duan's family, and he is a young and handsome scholar. Why not?"
Cheng Yao raised his wine glass and took a sip, "The Duan family is going back to the capital!"
"When we return to the capital, we won't delay getting married!" the woman said confidently.
"No matter how good Ning'er is, she is still an ordinary scholar from Tongzhou. If you were the old lady of the Duan family, would you rather marry your granddaughter to a scholar in a remote place, or would you rather find her a minor official in the capital?" Cheng Yao asked his wife in a calm tone.
.
Cheng Yao knew that the Duan family would be rewarded, but he never thought that His Majesty would be so generous and directly reward the Duan family with a title, or give it to Mrs. Duan.
The Marquis's house is not comparable to his wife's natal family.
He has no friendship with several sons of the Duan family, and now even if he wants to, he can't have any friendship. If the Duan family got rich from Lantian County, it would be better to say that they came back from the capital, and all the familiar people are in the capital.
How could he find an ordinary scholar from the state capital for his granddaughter?
The woman slapped her eyebrows on the table and snorted coldly. "Does Mr. Lang think Ning'er doesn't deserve to be a member of the Duan family if she can't pass the examination?"
When Cheng Yao heard his wife's words, he knew that she was in over her head. He had no choice but to sit next to his wife, put his arms around his shoulders and comforted him, "Ning'er is young and promising, and is knowledgeable and knowledgeable. He will definitely pass the exam."
"But after all, our family is in Tongzhou, which is too far away from the capital. If the Duan family came back from the capital before, the world would be so chaotic, and the whole family would come here. I heard people say that the old lady Duan liked me very much.
Granddaughter, the old man is getting older and doesn’t see his children and grandchildren much anymore, so why would he marry his granddaughter to a place where he can’t see her?”
"Ning'er is very good. He will marry a wife who is in love with him. The title of the Duan family cannot be passed down. If the elders of the Duan family do not take the imperial examination route, the Duan family will fall back into poverty in a few years. Don't look at it.
The Duan family has become rich and powerful with their title, but I don’t know how long this wealth can last!”
After hearing this, the woman's complexion improved a little.
Still sighing, "It would have been nice if I had gone to propose marriage for Ning'er earlier. If I go now, I'm afraid people will look down on me."
Cheng Yao patted his wife's shoulder gently, but his thoughts were completely opposite to his wife's.
He heard someone say that a family in the county went to the Duan family to propose marriage, and that family also produced a young scholar, but the Duan family rejected the offer outright.
The Duan family came back from the capital, and their eyes were not on the common people in the mountains. The old lady who was in charge of the family was capable, so she would naturally choose a good path forward for her grandchildren.
The Duan family's farming in Lantian County is a matter of benefit to the country and the people. As a county magistrate, it is of great benefit to him. As for other things, Cheng Yao did not dare to think too much.
Invariably, it's just not someone they can reach out to.
-
The Duan family, whom Cheng Yao thought was unattainable, were busy with farm work at home.
Qiao Lan planted several acres of melon fields this year, and the cantaloupe she grew was so sweet and fragrant that everyone who tasted it praised it.
However, it is troublesome to plant too many melons. When the melons in several acres of land begin to mature one after another, the harvested melons are quite large. They can be kept for a few days, but if they are not picked for a long time, they will become unpalatable if they are overripe in the ground.
.
There are only so many members of the Duan family, including the farmers on Zhuangzi, and they can't afford to eat melons three times a day.
No matter how good the food is, it cannot be eaten as a meal.
Qiao Lan came up with an idea to take the melon to the county to sell it.
As for who will sell it?
Of course he is the most idle person in the family!
Duan Mingjing did his part!
"Mom, should I go to the county to sell melons?" Duan Mingjing pointed at himself, his face full of disbelief.
His mother has become a king, and he has become the second master of the Duan family again. How can he drag a cart to the county to sell melons on a hot day?
Qiao Lan nodded, "Your two brothers want to study, but they are still young. Do you expect your wife and I to go to the city to sell melons?"
Duan Mingjing hurriedly explained, "Mom, that's not what I meant!" He looked at Qiao Lan with a bitter face, "Mom, in a family like ours, how can a master sell melons?"
Qiao Lan: "You are the master, who is the slave?"
Duan Mingjing was stumped by these words.
Let's talk about Uncle Sun. Uncle Sun and his son did not have a bond of sale and stayed in the Duan family voluntarily.
As for Coach Mo, that’s even more so!
Duan Mingjing could only remind him tactfully, "Mom, is it time for our family to buy some slaves?"
"What are you buying slaves for? Buying slaves and selling melons? That's all. If you don't want to go, my old lady can go by herself!"