Taoyao Order

Chapter 1 Overjoyed
Taoyuan County, New Year's Eve.

Fireworks were flying, firecrackers were blasting, and the air was filled with a faint smell of sulfur.

The distant mountains, wheat fields, and peach orchards are all buried in the snow. Only the entrance of this three-entry house is hung with a red lantern. The black door has Spring Festival couplets written by Taoyao's father and is newly posted on the screen wall with the word "福" written by Taoyao's grandfather. , the corridor inside was also hung with lanterns, adding a bit of bustle to the New Year's Eve.

Taoyao's family originally lived in Liudao Alley in the central part of Taoyuan County. Taoyao's grandparents, uncle's family and her own family lived in a small courtyard house.

Until a few years ago, Taoyao's elder brother became successful and became an official in the capital. Although he was only an eighth-rank secretary of the Ministry of Rites, in a small place like Taoyuan County, he was still an official in the capital. So his grandfather gave him money, and they I bought a piece of land in the far west of Taoyuan County and built this three-in-one house.

The house was so big that cleaning the courtyard became a big job. Taoyao's mother and aunt couldn't handle it, so the family bought a few women and servants.

However, Taoyao's grandmother led her mother and aunt to take the initiative in handling the family's New Year's work.

For as long as she can remember, Taoyao has been preparing for the New Year with her grandmother every Chinese New Year. Following the rules of "one pig, two chickens, three fish, four plates and eight bowls", she makes pots of vegetables, arranges bowls for offerings, and puts out all the candlesticks. I took it out of the warehouse and scrubbed it clean, cut the window decoration paper, and then boiled a large pot of paste for the men and children to use to paste the couplets.

My father, uncle, and grandfather were busy writing Spring Festival couplets, writing the word "Fu", hanging bamboo mats, hanging family trees, placing treasure bottles, lighting candles, and then went to hang lanterns, paste Spring Festival couplets, and the word "Fu" all over the house and courtyard. Colored paper.

Every time it is lively and busy for most of the day, but the whole family takes the trouble and enjoys it. The more red tape-like busyness in the memory, it is the flavor of the New Year.

Because everyone in Taoyuan County has the surname Tao, their ancestors settled here hundreds of years ago, and the hundreds of families that have spawned are all relatives for seven or eight generations.

On the evening of the New Year's Eve, after the New Year's Eve dinner, the men went out in groups to pay New Year greetings, while the women stayed at home, chatting with their parents, or playing horse-drawn games and leaf cards, come and go. Often, dogs bark and roosters crow, which is very lively.

Taoyao and her second sister-in-law, Mrs. Li, were coaxing their two little nieces to set off fireworks in the backyard. Suddenly they heard several loud New Year greetings from outside. They could be heard from half the house: "Mother Yaoyao, happy New Year." Ah, congratulations to you."

This voice couldn't be more ripe. It was Aunt Shao'er who had lived next to her home in Liudao Alley for more than ten years.

Shao's husband died a few years ago and she became a widow, but she was a well-known matchmaker in this town. She arranged dozens of marriages in the town.

Her daughter married away and went to Hangzhou. Her son-in-law was a scholar and opened a library to teach in Hangzhou with several famous teachers.Since her husband passed away, Shaw has traveled frequently between the two places, often going to Hangzhou to see her daughter and her grandson.

The relationship between Taoyao and her begins with Taoyao going to Hangzhou Zi Ling Pavilion to learn embroidery from a teacher.

Master Liu of the Purple Ling Pavilion was the most famous embroiderer in the palace in the past. When she returned to her hometown when she was old, she opened the Purple Ling Pavilion. Many ladies from high-ranking officials and noble families came here because of their reputation, hoping to be taught by this master. .

Taoyao has been good at needlework since she was a child. The last time Shao came to visit her, she asked Taoyao to show her grandson a set of clothes for the centenary banquet, so that her handsome brother could show off his skills at the centenary banquet. After being out of the limelight, Mr. Shao was a warm-hearted person. He watched Taoyao grow up and regarded her as half a daughter. He took Taoyao's embroidered handkerchief and sent it to Ziling Pavilion, plus one of her With her Qiao mouth, she praised Tao Yao so much that she was favored by Master Liu and allowed her to come to Zi Ling Pavilion to learn embroidery from his master.

Although it was far away from home, after all, there was an old neighbor like Shao taking care of her, and the opportunity was rare, so Taoyao's parents agreed.It takes two or three years to learn skills.

Every year when winter comes and summer comes, either the servants or brothers from Taoyao's family come to see her off, or they follow the Shao family who go to visit their daughter.

It's just that this year, Shaw's daughter is pregnant again. She said she would stay at her son-in-law's house for the New Year. She should be in Hangzhou at the moment, and she doesn't know when she will return to Taoyuan.

"Second sister-in-law Shao, happy New Year, why did you come all the way here? Come in, come in, come in, warm up on the stove."

Listening to her mother's greeting, Taoyao handed over her two little nieces to her second sister-in-law, Mrs. Li, planning to go in and pay New Year's greetings to Mrs. Shao.

"Happy Chinese New Year to my second aunt." Tao Yao opened a thick felt curtain to block the wind and came in. She was wearing a pink silk jacket and a rose purple cloak with wind fur from fox fur. , this festive outfit made her fifteen or sixteen-year-old face even more delicate and beautiful, "Why are you back?"

Shao took Tao Yao over and sat on the kang: "Hey, Happy New Year Yao Yao, you girl is getting more and more handsome."

While smiling, she said to Taoyao's mother, Sun: "Sister, you have to thank me properly. I have lived up to my trust and found the best marriage for our family. I can't wait until the New Year is over. I rushed back to congratulate you."

(End of this chapter)