▲▲▲Two chapters combined into one, please recommend▲▲▲
Now that the weather is May, the flowers and plants in Ding Chengzong’s courtyard are even more lush. The nearly one and a half acres of the courtyard are filled with clumps of green, high or short, sparse or dense, making full use of the effective space.
. Often when facing a clump of green trees, people feel that they have reached the end. When they turn sideways, they see a new world. When they are in it, they simply don’t know how big the courtyard is.
The bamboos are being repaired, the bananas are blooming, and the green in front of you is dotted with bright red. If you look carefully, you can see that they are ripe and unripe cherries. The sweet sound of birdsong is faintly heard. Lan'er leads the way, not to Ding Chengzong.
Instead of going to the residence, he turned to the path to the left. Not long after walking forward, the fragrance was fragrant, and a large orchid was blooming beautifully in front of him. Next to the orchid, a clear spring meandered away, leading to a small pavilion among the flowers and plants.
The pavilion is not big. It is built in a small water pavilion. The mud is piled into a mound, and the pavilion is built on it. There is not much decoration. The green grass and orchids outside the pavilion are full of wild charm. A small bridge flies over the pavilion from the shore.
In front of the pavilion is a stone table. Ding Chengzong is sitting at the table, looking here. Mrs. Lu steps out of the pavilion and stands on the bank of water, floating like immortals. Looking from a distance, this couple is really beautiful.
A pair of gods and immortals. This scene makes people who know Ding Chengzong's current situation even more sentimental about the fate of the people.
"Ding Hao." A joyous call suddenly came from his ears. Ding Hao's figure was shaken, and he suddenly turned around and saw Ding Yuluo standing under the banana tree, wearing a large-sleeved jacket, a jade-colored skirt, a slender neck, and a crow-like figure.
Her black hair was tied with a jade hairpin, her head tilted slightly to the side, her face full of joy.
Ding Hao happily shouted: "Miss..."
Ding Yuluo stepped forward lightly and told Lan'er: "I'll take Manager Ding over there, and you can urge the second young master."
"Yes," Lan'er agreed and turned back.
Ding Yuluo looked at Ding Hao, with a kind of admiration and kindness in her eyes. She seemed to want to say something, but she stared at Ding Hao, her lips and teeth were slightly pursed, but in the end she only said with a smile: "Brother is waiting, let's go over."
She rolled up her green sleeves, turned around gracefully, and walked briskly towards the small bridge.
Ding Hao also had a lot to say, but when the words came to his lips, he didn't know what to say. As soon as Ding Yuluo turned around and walked away, Ding Hao felt relaxed and a little lost. He only paused for a moment and then quickly chased after him.
Go up.
The bridge was narrow and it was difficult for two people to walk side by side. They were one in front and one in back, separated by only two feet. Mrs. Lu was already waiting at the bridge, but their minds were focused on the water in front of them, and they were speechless.
Ding Hao's eyes turned to the railing of the bridge.
The water under the bridge is as calm as silk. There are two clear figures in it. She is in front and he is behind. You can reach it with your hands, but you can't really touch it. Just like their identities, although they share the same blood.
, but it’s hard to call them relatives. “Is there still a chance in this life to listen to that ‘Second Brother’ voice in the heavy snow?”
Ding Hao sighed and raised his head. The bridge was already halfway across.
After returning from Guangyuan, Ding Tingxun arranged a marriage for his daughter. The other party was also from a scholarly family and a real official family. The family's surname was Xu, and the son of the Xu family was named Xu Molin. Because he was diligent in his fame, he had no time to spare.
He wanted to get married, but as he got older, his family became anxious, so he took a concubine for him and kept two beautiful maids to serve him in his bedroom and food, but the position of the principal wife was always vacant.
It wasn't until he was elected the year before last that Xu Molin started planning for marriage. At this time, Mr. Xu had become an older, late-married young man. He was thirty-four years old, almost twice as old as Ding Yuluo. After being elected, this man's spirit was also very high.
It was so tall that many girls from other families could not catch the eye of Xu Juren, until he met Ding Yuluo, the daughter of the Ding family, at the Bon Festival in July last year. Mr. Xu fell in love at first sight, and then asked someone to come to propose marriage.
To be honest, Mr. Xu is completely worthy of Miss Ding's family, regardless of his status as a scholar or the status of his family. Although the Ding family is the richest man in Bazhou, it is not the most powerful and influential family in Bazhou.
The Xu family is a family of officials and gentry. Although it is not as wealthy as the Ding family, its social status is higher than it.
It's just that Mr. Xu has suffered from polio, and the disease has not been cured well. He walks a little too long and has short legs. People with inelegant posture or ugly appearance cannot be officials. Although he has been elected and enjoys many privileges, he will never be able to become an official.
He was allowed to serve as an official, so Mr. Ding hesitated a little, so the matter was postponed for the time being.
Now that the Ding family is facing disasters, the shortcomings of too few connections in the officialdom have been revealed. Ding Tingxun can't help but pick up the idea of marriage again. Although Xu Molin cannot be an official, he is an official after all, and the Xu family is a family of officials and has many officialdoms.
If the two families get married, it will definitely consolidate the Ding family's status. Therefore, after Ding Yuluo returned from delivering food to Guangyuan, Ding Tingxun asked about his daughter's intentions.
That Xu Molin was a member of the Juren family and came from an official family. It could be said that he was a good match. As for his slightly long and short legs and his unsightly walking, it was nothing in Ding Tingxun's opinion. Women are good-looking and men value talent. A man who can be entrusted with him for life is extremely qualified.
Not a skin.
But Ding Yuluo and her father's considerations were naturally different. That Xu Molin was almost twice as old as her, and he was a stupid scholar who only knew literature and ink. He also had long and short legs. How could he like her in her heart? So Ding Yuluo...
After hearing this, she flatly refused. The father and daughter argued over this for a long time, and Ding Yuluo was so angry that she couldn't leave the house, so Ding Hao didn't see her for a long time.
Ding Hao has heard of these things, but he has no way of commenting on them. It is not good to only focus on family status, but a hasty blind date like the one he had with the fourth girl may not be wise. If the person who went there that day was not him, but someone like Ding Chengye, who had a handsome appearance.
, talks elegantly, and the four girls are bound to fall in love at first sight, but Ding Chengye is different from what he looks like, how can he tell it at the first meeting? It will be too late when we become husband and wife.
What is popular in this era is the orders of parents and the words of matchmakers. Under such an environment, blind dates are like playing lottery. There is little hope of winning, but the possibility of losing everything is very real. It is not as good as a marriage where the elderly consider each other's family status.
Stability. It is necessary to be a good match and to be in love with each other. In this era without free love, we can only resign ourselves to fate. In his words, there is no way to have both. But now that she looks happy, it seems that the marriage is over.
Pushed?
Ding Hao was thinking to himself, but Ding Yuluo was walking in front, but she was full of joy. Her eldest brother had already told her that she would work hard to help Ding Hao recognize his ancestor and return to the clan. She also liked this 'second brother' very much. She heard from her eldest brother that her father
He has already made up his mind. As long as the lawsuit at the government office is settled satisfactorily, he will negotiate with Ding Hao to open an ancestral hall and let him recognize his ancestors and return to the clan, becoming the second young master of the Ding family. Ding Yuluo's depression for many days will be gone.
Today, the eldest brother suggested that the brothers and sisters get together first. She immediately agreed and stepped out of her boudoir for the first time.
After crossing the small bridge over the Lingjia River, Mrs. Lu greeted her with a sweet smile: "Yu Luo, Manager Ding, come on, come on, please take a seat."
Mrs. Lu is wearing a green dress from the south of the Yangtze River. She is completely dressed like a lady from the south of the Yangtze River in the late Tang Dynasty. The dress is a gauze shirt with large sleeves and double breasts, with a small waist and a floor-length skirt, and her hair is It was coiled up into a 'frightened swan bun', and a golden branch on top seemed to be flashing. Although the collar of the long-sleeved Luo shirt was not very wide, an attractive ravine appeared on the soft chest that faced the frost and snow. It’s really eye-catching.
Fortunately, the Song Dynasty had just been established at this time, and the legacy of the Tang Dynasty was still there, and no one thought it was strange. But Ding Hao respected Ding Chengzong, so even though he was beautiful, he did not dare to have any lustful thoughts, but he fell in love with her out of pure appreciation. Both eyes refused, so they quickly lowered their gazes.
Ding Yuluo knew about his sister-in-law's dressing habits. Seeing Ding Hao's cautious and polite appearance, he couldn't help but smile to himself: "This man, let's say he is a gentleman who observes etiquette, but when he was in Puji Temple in Guangyuan, he spied on other women taking a bath." He must be so lustful. At this time, there is an opportunity to appreciate her generously, but he is so reserved. I really don’t understand the thoughts of such a man."
"Haha, Ding Hao is here, please sit down quickly and have a cup of tea first." Ding Chengzong was not good at walking, so he just sat at the table and waved to him with a smile. Ding Hao thanked the young lady and Ding Yulao was speechless. After sitting down, he sat down and said: "Ding Hao is just a servant and is in charge of affairs. He cannot afford the young master's banquet. But the young master has a life and he dare not not come."
Ding Chengzong smiled and said: "No matter your status today, you don't have to worry too much, just sit back and relax. Yuluo, Chengye hasn't come yet?"
Ding Yuluo said: "The time to deliver grain to Guangyuan is getting closer and closer. Chengye is busy making calculations. He should be here soon. I asked Lan'er to urge him again."
Ding Chengzong nodded and said, "Let's drink tea first and wait for him for a while."
Ding Hao thought to himself: "Ding Tingxun changed my apartment for me. Ding Chengzong is having a banquet today. All the brothers and sisters are here, but I am the only one in charge. With all these actions... Could it be that Old Man Ding wants me to recognize my ancestor and return to my clan?"
Ding Chengzong turned around and said with a smile: "Ding Hao, what are you thinking about?"
Ding Hao said quickly: "Oh, it's nothing. I was thinking about the matter in the city. I was trusted by the young master. This matter has not been completed yet, so I am uneasy."
A look of understanding flashed in Ding Chengzong's eyes, but he did not dispel his doubts. He chuckled and said: "If this thing is committed, the worst case scenario is that I, Ding Chengzong, will take the blame and spend a few years in jail. I won't ruin my family. Anyway, I am a useless person, so I am useful..."
Mrs. Lu's expression changed and she said anxiously: "Officer"
Ding Chengzong waved his hand to stop, and poured a cup of tea for Ding Hao. The tea went into the cup, and the aroma overflowed. Ding Chengzong smiled and said: "Come on, this is Long Tuan Sheng Xue, Jian'an's tribute tea. How do you like it after tasting it?"
Ding Chengzong put down the teapot and said with a smile: "Of course, this is just the worst plan. Don't worry about victory, think about defeat first, so that you don't panic when things happen. It's true that defeat is not necessarily the case. If there is no accident with Ding Hao's method, It should be able to protect our Ding family."
Both Ding Yuluo and Mrs. Lu knew why Ding Hao came to the city, but they didn't know what clever plan he used. Their two pairs of wonderful eyes couldn't help but stare at him, full of curiosity. Ding Hao smiled slightly, held the cup and took a sip of tea. But he never mentioned it again.
The four of them were sitting there drinking tea and chatting. After the two cups of tea were gone, Ding Chengye didn't come. Ding Chengzong frowned and said displeasedly: "Is Chengye so busy? Who is going to deliver food during the Dragon Boat Festival today? How can I pay for it?"
Don’t come.”
Ding Yuluo said hurriedly: "I'm going to urge you." She got up and walked to the entrance of the pavilion. She saw Lan'er coming hurriedly, and couldn't help but said: "Lan'er is here, why didn't Chengye come with her?"
Lan'er arrived at the entrance of the pavilion and reported: "The eldest young master, the young madam, the eldest young lady, the second young master said that a batch of ordered grain has not been delivered yet, and he has to rush it, so he went out by car and could not go to the eldest master's place.
At the banquet, please ask your maid to plead guilty for him."
Ding Chengzong's face suddenly darkened. Ding Yuluo glanced at him worriedly, fearing that he would have a fit in the hall, but Ding Chengzong breathed a sigh of relief, suppressed the anger in his heart, showed his face and said: "Forget it, it's rare that he is willing to do some serious work. He already
If you don't have time to come, we'll have a banquet. Lan'er, please go down and the dishes can be served."
There was a wooden basin placed on the stand in the corner of the pavilion. The water in the basin was boiled with calamus and mugwort. Several people used wooden spoons to scoop out the water and wash their hands. Soon the dishes were served in turn, and a basin filled with millet was presented.
Rice dumplings mixed with animal meat, chestnuts, red dates, adzuki beans, etc. arrived. The four of them drank and chatted happily and peeled off the rice dumplings without mentioning anything about Ding Chengye.
After this feast of wine, my ears and eyes were full of heat. The wind in the pavilion suddenly became a little cooler. Mrs. Lu leaned on the railing and looked at the sky and said, "My lord, it seems it's going to rain."
Before he could say a word, the patter of rain had already drifted down. In a moment, the rain became more violent, and the duckweed and lotus leaves were beaten with a "pop-pop" sound. The moisture suddenly spread. The four of them had just eaten wine, and the smell of rainwater
Come, I feel refreshed. Ding Chengzong said happily: "Come, accompany me to the fence and have a look."
Ding Chengzong had already made a wooden wheelchair that could be pushed forward. Of course, there was no need for him to do anything at this time. Ding Hao got up and pushed his chair to the railing. The two of them held the railing and looked outside. The spring rain fell suddenly, and it came and went in a hurry.
Come on, the rain has lightened up now. Looking from the pavilion, you can see a green field in the distance, washed brightly by the rain. Nearby, the water in the pond is scaly and misty.
Ding Chengzong thought for a moment and said softly: "What do you think of the scenery in this courtyard?"
Ding Hao leaned on the railing and looked at the misty green greenery far and near. He nodded and said: "It's very elegant. In the past, when I was outside in the courtyard, I never thought that the back house was such a different world. It seemed that even the landscape was included, making people linger.
Forget to return."
Ding Chengzong smiled slightly and said again: "Since I linger, do you still want to leave?"
Ding Hao turned his head to look at him, with a look of surprise in his eyes. In his ears, the sounds of Mrs. Lu and Ding Yu chatting and laughing softly at the table, and the sound of water dripping outside the fence, but Ding Hao turned a deaf ear and saw
Seeing the calm smile on Ding Chengzong's face, Ding Hao asked, "To be honest, if the young master and I change places, will the young master stay as a guest?"
"No!" Ding Chengzong smiled and said: "Living under someone else's fence is not a long-term solution; making wedding clothes for others is not something a wise man would do. If I were you, I would seize the opportunity if I had the opportunity. But if you can turn your back on yourself, you
Do you still want to leave?"
Ding Hao's heartbeat was a little fast and he asked: "Young master, what do you mean by turning against guests?"
Ding Chengzong turned his head and looked at the lotus leaves outside the fence that were half floating and half sinking in the water due to the rain. He waved his hands gently and pointed at the plants, trees, water and stones, and said slowly: "If...my daddy, too
It is your father who is willing to open an ancestral hall for you to recognize your ancestors and enter them into the genealogy. From now on, you will take care of the Ding family's business and be the master of the Ding family. Do you... still want to leave?"
Ding Hao was stunned by these words. Although he had already had a premonition, he still did not expect that Ding Chengzong would say it on the spot. He was unable to react for a moment.
Ding Chengzong said slowly: "Dad has been persuaded by me. Although I have not yet informed Chengye, Yan Jiu is an old servant of my father and has always been close to Chengye. He will not miss it. Today, I originally wanted to
Call all the brothers together, let's sit down and have a good chat. I don't want Chengye to have a deep prejudice against you, and finally refuse to tolerate you. He made excuses and refused to come, which has already made his attitude clear. After all, you are a bastard, and you have no foundation.
No, even if dad allows you to return to your clan and recognize your ancestors, it will be difficult for you to do so if he restricts you. However, you don’t have to worry about this matter."
He smiled slightly, slowly raised his head, and said solemnly: "Even if I am disabled, as long as I still have breath, I will still be the eldest son of the Ding family. As long as you nod, I will buy a house in the city."
, move out and live in this long house. The courtyard of the eldest son will be given to you. From now on, I will have no involvement in the affairs of the Ding family, and I will leave everything to your disposal. With this gesture, I will inherit the industry as the second son of the Ding family.
Then there will be no reason or identity to interfere with you!"
"Young Master..." After hearing his decisive statement, Ding Hao didn't know where to start.
Ding Chengzong turned his head and stared at him and said: "If a man is ambitious and wants to work hard for his own family business, he deserves his share. But if he does not care about gains and losses and is driven by his spirit, then he is just a common man who bleeds for five steps and cannot be called courageous.
If I do this, the reason for you to leave is no longer there. To start from scratch, you still have to live under someone else’s roof. I’m giving you this family fortune, so why don’t you want to reject it?”
"Young Master..."
Ding Chengzong grabbed his wrist and held it so hard that it actually made Ding Hao feel a little painful. Ding Chengzong's eyes were hot and he said in a deep voice: "Ding Hao, I really hope you can call me big brother!"
At this time, Ding Yuluo and Mrs. Lu noticed that there was something different between the two of them, and they couldn't help but cast their eyes over them. Although they didn't know what they were talking about, they had already guessed it, and their faces showed a bit of nervousness.
Ding Hao was in a state of confusion. Ding Chengzong's eyes were so menacing that he didn't dare to look directly at him, so he had to look away and said: "Young Master, you...please let me think about it carefully, okay?"
A trace of joy flashed in Ding Chengzong's eyes. His father originally told him not to make any plans about this, but to talk to Ding Hao in person after the Bazhou incident happened. However, he knew that the huge family fortune might not be able to touch Ding Hao.
This person values friendship and friendship, and only by being moved by emotion can the effect be achieved. Now, his heart is in a state of confusion. When his father puts aside his dignity and talks to him, I think...he will agree...
He smiled understandingly, nodded and said, "Okay, if a plan that has been thought about for a long time is suddenly overturned, it will really make people feel at a loss. Naturally, you should think about such a big matter."
Dad actually hopes that you will stay. Yuluo and I also hope that you will stay. Your mother, Miss Dong... will all hope that you stay. Although the matter between you and Miss Dong is full of difficulties, as long as you
After becoming the head of the Ding family, Mrs. Dong Li became extremely courageous. As long as she still wanted to live in the Ding family village, she would never dare to stop her. What you hate will never happen again. What you want
, the Ding family can give it to you, Ding Hao, why do you still want to go?"
