56 Chapter 56
◎Meeting an old friend◎
In the Jiang Family Ancestral Hall, Jiang Jingyun held incense and candles and looked at the person standing outside the door: "What are you standing there for? Come in." He didn't know who it was that had been demanding a status from him before, but now he didn't even dare to enter the door.
After hearing this, Xiao Muyan still didn't dare to move. He looked at Uncle Jiang hesitantly.
"What are you looking at me for!" Uncle Jiang's eyes were wide open with a fierce look on his face, but he was afraid that his nephew would be embarrassed, so he slowed down his words unconsciously, "Come in quickly, do you still want me to invite you?" His nephew was determined that this man's daughter-in-law had already entered the house with him, so how could he be used as a stick to break up the couple?
snort! He is quite smart and just picks the good cabbages from his house!
Uncle Jiang stuffed the incense and candles into Xiao Muyan's hands with an unhappy look on his face, and pushed him forward: "Go, follow Jingyun, and kowtow to the ancestors."
The second brother Jiang who was standing next to him looked at his father's hypocritical face, touched his leg which was still aching, and did not dare to protest out loud. He just lowered his head and rolled his eyes quietly.
Unexpectedly, the sharp-eyed Uncle Jiang still discovered it and cursed in a low voice: "Why are you making such weird faces there again? You don't want your other leg anymore, right?"
"It's unfair... I just blinked my eyes." Jiang Erge's heart was more bitter than coptis. He was in his twenties and still unmarried. In his father's eyes, it was an unforgivable sin like breaking the law of heaven. Even his loud breathing was wrong. "It was windy just now, and the incense ash fell in.
"Hmph, don't give me that. I know what you are going to fart as soon as you stick your butt out." Uncle Jiang didn't believe his nonsense and kicked him in the butt. "Go, bring in the paper money and gold ingots outside the door and burn them."
"Oh." Brother Jiang walked out dejectedly, stroking his butt.
After paying homage to their ancestors, the Jiang family came to the tomb of Jiang Laoer and his wife.
This time, without being told, Xiao Muyan picked up the hoe and began to clear the weeds and wipe the tombstone at the grave of Jiang Jingyun's parents.
Seeing how diligent he was, Uncle Jiang's unpleasant expression finally eased a little: After all, it was of some use.
Jiang Jingyun walked to the grave with the offerings, lit the incense and candles, and while burning paper money he silently said in his heart: "Dad, Mom, and the "me" you have never met, I passed the imperial examination and ranked third on the list. I finally lived up to your trust."
"My family is doing well. Jinglin is making a lot of money doing business with his second cousin. Jingfeng is a good student. Maybe in two years, he can pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi for our family. My little sister has grown into a big girl, but she is a little naughty sometimes..."
"We are all doing well. You can just rest assured down there and don't worry about home."
"Oh, and one more thing, I found a male wife, kneel next to me, let me tell you, if you don't like her, you can tell me in your dreams, anyway, I won't listen to your opinions in the end..."
After Jiang Jingyun finished mumbling in his mind, he pulled Xiao Muyan to the tomb and kowtowed three times, then said directly to Uncle Jiang beside him: "Uncle, I just told my parents that they have agreed to my marriage with Xiao Muyan. You are the elder, so I will have to trouble you to help arrange my nephew's wedding later."
"Ah?" Uncle Jiang wondered if he was too old and couldn't hear clearly what people were saying. "What wedding? Who agreed to it?"
"Of course it's my parents." Jiang Jingyun said confidently, "When I was talking about it, they didn't interrupt me at all, not even a whistle, which means they definitely agreed."
Uncle Jiang was so angry that he laughed. For the first time, he had the urge to beat his nephew up.
The Jiang brothers stared in amazement at him as he talked nonsense in a serious manner, and they were all full of admiration for him.
But Jiang Jingyun seemed to be completely oblivious to the strange atmosphere around him. After calmly burning the paper money, he called the three Jiang brothers and sisters and said, "Come over and kowtow to your parents again."
After being called, the three siblings who had been standing there in a daze came to their senses and went over to kowtow three times to their parents as per the rules.
After the worship, Jiang Jingyun pulled his uncle, whose face had become even worse, to discuss: "We have to hold a celebration banquet anyway, why not just hold the wedding at the same time, what do you think?"
Uncle Jiang didn't want to pay attention to him and turned away.
"Hey, uncle, please don't go." Jiang Jingyun shouted behind him, and then he saw the person in front of him walking faster and faster, and his back looked quite exasperated as he left.
Xiao Muyan smiled and stopped him, "Stop shouting, let uncle take a few days off."
Jiang Jingyun squinted at him and said, "You've been urging me to give you a status every day, but now you're not in a hurry anymore?"
"Well," Xiao Muyan smiled and held his fingers together, "I have already met the elders. I can be patient and wait for some time."
"Hmph." Jiang Jingyun snorted coldly, but did not loosen his clenched hands.
The next day, he came to the academy with generous gifts and kowtowed to Master Sun respectfully to thank his teacher for his teachings.
If Master Sun had not been kind enough to help him, he would not have achieved what he has today.
What's more, once a teacher, always a father, so these three kowtows are reasonable.
Mr. Sun proudly helped his favorite student to his feet. "To test the quality of jade, it takes three days to burn it, and to identify the material, it takes seven years. [1] In less than five years, you have become a talent. I am very proud of you as your teacher."
Jiang Jingyun smiled and said, "Thanks to your teachings and answering my questions, I am where I am today."
Mr. Sun shook his head.
The master leads you to the door, but it is up to you to practice. This is true for craftsmen and students alike. If Jiang Jingyun had no talent, or was too arrogant and slacked off in his studies, he would not be where he is now.
Mr. Sun is very pleased that his disciple has surpassed his teacher, but he still can't help but give him a word of advice: "The moon waxes and wanes, and the water overflows. You have reached the end of the road of the imperial examination and are about to enter the officialdom. Remember to be modest and cautious, and don't forget your original intention."
Jiang Jingyun heard this and bowed solemnly, saying, "I will listen carefully to your instructions."
Sun Xiucai patted him on the shoulder and encouraged him: "Do a good job and be a good official who works for the benefit of the people."
Jiang Jingyun agreed with a smile and invited the teacher to attend his next celebratory banquet. Sun Xiucai said he would definitely be there.
After that, the two of them discussed the topics of the metropolitan and palace examinations in detail. It was not until dusk that Jiang Jingyun came out of the academy.
He walked a few steps to the carriage waiting outside the door and looked at the person who had been waiting in the carriage: "Are you impatient? I was discussing academic matters with the teacher and unconsciously talked for a long time."
Xiao Muyan stared into the distance without answering.
Jiang Jingyun looked in the direction and found that it was the town's red-light district. He instantly became unhappy and asked with a sullen face, "What are you looking at? Are you so fascinated by the feasting and drinking in front of you?"
The sour tone brought Xiao Muyan back to his senses immediately, and he hurriedly explained: "I didn't look at anyone, I just saw someone you might know, so I took a few more glances."
"Who do I know?" Jiang Jingyun asked in confusion.
Xiao Muyan raised his chin and motioned him to look at the man at the corner.
Jiang Jingyun took a closer look and found that it was someone he knew. "Wow, an old acquaintance."
The man seemed to have been driven out. His hair, which had not been groomed for a long time, was as messy as weeds. His wrinkled clothes were casually draped over his body. He was kicked to the ground and could not get up for a long time.
The madam stood in front of the brothel with her hands on her hips and cursed at him: "Bah, poor bastard, why are you here to drink wine? Why don't you take a piss to see if you are worthy!" After saying that, she pointed a red finger at the guard and said, "Don't let him in again in the future. Guard the door carefully, or you will be killed!"
The gatekeeper Nono said yes.
The drunk lying on the ground seemed not to hear the insults from others. He just silently picked up the wine jug on the ground and staggered away with unsteady steps.
"His family went bankrupt? How did he become like this?" Jiang Jingyun had not paid any attention to this person since the provincial examination and knew nothing about his affairs.
Xiao Muyan shook his head, "I don't know."
"Forget it, let's ignore him and go home. I'm hungry." I was so busy drinking tea at the teacher's place that my stomach is now full of water.
"Why not take this opportunity to beat him up again to vent your anger?" Xiao Muyan looked at him.
"No," Jiang Jingyun shook his head. Stepping on the mud would only dirty his shoes. "Wait, 'again'?"
He looked up at Xiao Muyan and questioned, "It was you who did it in the previous incident at the government school, wasn't it? Well, you've kept it a secret. You said you would never lie to me, you big liar! How many things are you hiding from me?"
Xiao Muyan realized that he had let something slip, and realizing that something was wrong, he quickly hugged the person and said, "It was just that one time, it won't happen again."
"Hmph, you are such a smooth talker. I don't believe you." Jiang Jingyun puffed his face.
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
Xiao Muyan thought his beloved was very cute when he was angry, and he couldn't help but reach out and poke his bulging cheeks. Under Jiang Jingyun's increasingly dangerous gaze, he smiled and explained: "I just wanted to let you vent your anger secretly at that time, but I was afraid that you would reveal the truth in front of others and get retaliated against, so I didn't tell you. I didn't mean to hide it on purpose."
The person in his arms still ignored him, so Xiao Muyan lowered his head and buried it in Jiang Jingyun's neck and said, "I was wrong, please forgive me this time, I won't dare to do it again."
"No." Jiang Jingyun pushed the furry dog's head away and refused with a heartless heart.
Xiao Muyan drooped his eyes and pretended to be pitiful and said, "What should I do to make you forgive me?"
Although he knew it was fake, Jiang Jingyun just fell for it and softened his heart unconsciously. But he couldn't let it go so easily, otherwise this daring man would definitely dare to do something dangerous behind his back next time.
"Ahem," Jiang Jingyun cleared his throat and pretended to be serious, "It's okay for me to forgive you, unless..." He whispered something in Xiao Muyan's ear.
After listening to this, Xiao Muyan raised his eyebrows unexpectedly, "Are you sure?"
"Of course." Jiang Jingyun confirmed and affirmed.
"Okay." Xiao Muyan nodded in agreement.
"Really?" Jiang Jingyun asked suspiciously. He agreed so quickly, could it be a trick?
Xiao Muyan chuckled, "Just as long as you don't regret it."
"How could I go back on my word!" Jiang Jingyun held his head high and chest puffed out, looking determined to win.
"Well, that's no problem. Let's go home now?"
"good."
【Author’s words】
[1] From Bai Juyi’s “Five Poems of Free Talk, No. 3”
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