Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 106 People Come and Go (Subscribe)

When I came, the flowers were blooming and the spring was still cold, but now the snow is falling and winter is covered with cotton.

Time is like the fog in the mountains, visible but intangible, and cannot be retained. Only the memories remain in our hearts.

A semester passed quietly. The children in Grade D finished learning the first volume of the four seasons arithmetic. They have almost mastered the commonly used characters, simple understanding of nature, and basic arithmetic. Next year, they will usher in a new chapter of learning after school starts.

The sky is full of wind and snow, there is no way out, the sky and the earth are the same color, and people and animals alike stay at home and return to their nests to spend this cold winter.

Chen Xuan also changed into a thick cotton-padded jacket and wore a cotton hat, making him look more bloated.

In the Gao family courtyard, Chen Xuan sat by the window reading a book. Beside him was a pot of still green peach saplings, and under his feet was a copper stove with charcoal burning. The severe winter snow was not far away, but the cotton-padded jacket and the stove kept the cold wind out of his body.

Thick snow covered the entire courtyard, and the cleared path seemed to divide the small white world into several irregular pieces.

The courtyard was very quiet, and even the entire Gao family mansion was much quieter than usual. It was not because people were lazy and didn't want to go out in the cold winter, but because the number of people in the Gao family mansion had decreased by about one-third recently.

It’s not that something unexpected happened, but because the main members of the Gao family have returned to their ancestral home and will not come back until after the spring ancestral worship and festival.

The Gao family's ancestral home is not big and cannot accommodate too many people, so Chen Xuan did not go there and stayed in the Gao family compound. What could he do as an outsider there? Could he even go into the Gao family's ancestral temple to burn incense? Besides, Gao Jingming had plenty of people to serve him, and there was nothing important to do during the holidays, so naturally there was no need for Chen Xuan to accompany him all the time.

Old Madam Gao is still alive, so naturally they should take advantage of this period to reunite with their family and enjoy the happiness of family life. However, she has so many grandchildren, and it is not known whether they can all be brought to the house. At the same time, having a house full of children and grandchildren is extremely happy, and seeing the kids running around the house will surely make her have no regrets in her life.

There were still a few snowmen standing in the courtyard that Chen Xuan and his friends had built a few days ago. The laughter and joy seemed to still be ringing in his ears, but now he was the only one left. Xiao Cai and Xiao Ye naturally had to go with him. In this weather, they had to warm Gao Jingming's bed. The life of the eldest young master was so simple and unpretentious. There was no need to envy him, because there was no way to envy him.

Niu Le, who stayed behind, heard that his wife Xiaojuan was about six months pregnant and had a round belly. She was sure to give birth to a big fat boy next year. He was so happy that he smiled every day. He asked his good friends to come to the wedding and have a banquet. Of course, he was not qualified to invite a young master like Gao Jingming, unless he took the initiative to join in the fun.

During this period of time, after deliberately asking questions and reading books to learn, Chen Xuan has a very deep understanding of the human body structure, meridians, acupoints, etc., but he still did not rashly try to practice Zeyuan Jue, thinking that he could take it slow.

Firstly, he subconsciously thought he was not ready yet, and secondly, his daily practice of the Qi-calming and health-preserving exercises was still effective, and he particularly liked that warm and comfortable feeling.

He even thought that even if he started to truly practice martial arts in the future, he would not neglect the practice of calming the mind and nourishing the body.

Others don’t know that Chen Xuan’s low-key physique is actually quite amazing now. In terms of strength alone, he is no worse than a healthy adult, and may even be better. It’s just that he has never shown off.

Moreover, ever since he started practicing the Qi-calming and health-preserving exercises, he has never been sick, not even a minor cold. Even though Gao Jingming had the blessing of the dragon horn pendant, he still caught a cold when the temperature dropped sharply in winter. However, he became full of energy again after a few days of careful care from a group of people.

For poor people, catching a cold is a fatal matter, but for the Gao family, it is not a big deal at all.

"Xuan'er, I've brought what you asked for. Why did you suddenly think of eating 'antique soup'?" Qingdou's figure came outside the Moon Gate, holding a large wooden plate with some dried mushrooms, dried bamboo shoots, tofu, meat slices and the like on it. There were no vegetables, and there was also a small red clay stove with a small copper pot on it.

Gudong Soup is actually hotpot, a food style that has existed here for a long time. It is said that it was introduced from Rong State in the south hundreds of years ago. It got its name from the gurgling sound made when many dishes were put into the soup and boiled. Gudong is the homonym of gurgling.

Aomame's face was as red as an apple in the cold winter. After entering the house, she stamped her feet lightly, not because she was cold, but because she was worried that the mud would dirty the ground.

Chen Xuan immediately put down his book and stood up and said, "Sister Qingdou is here. Sorry to bother you. It's cold, so I want to eat something hot."

"What's the trouble? It's my duty. Hehe, how could I possibly give you something raw or cold to eat?" Aomame joked as she put down the tray and started fiddling with the things she brought.

After more than half a year, Chen Xuan and her have become very familiar with each other. She is indeed the senior maid in charge of Gao Jingming's courtyard, and her status among the maids is second only to Xiao Cai and others.

Chen Xuan stepped forward to help and said, "I was a little greedy after eating it last time."

"Let me do it. Go wash your hands first. It will be done soon," Qingdou said as he placed the small red clay stove. It was a little hot, and he subconsciously touched his ear.

Unable to help, Chen Xuan went to wash his hands as he was told, then turned around and said, "Sister Qingdou, the young master and his family have gone to the ancestral home. It's quiet here. Let's eat together. I can't eat that much by myself."

Aomame hesitated, probably thinking that there was nothing important to do next, so she smiled and agreed, "Well, I'll save you from being bored by yourself and take advantage of you."

"Sister Qingdou, you are being too formal," Chen Xuan washed his hands and went to close the door to block the cold wind outside, and put the heater under the table.

There are two stoves on the table and under the table, and the room quickly became warm. The bubbling hot pot emits the aroma of food, which whets people's appetite.

It's a pity that it lacks some of the seasonings that Chen Xuan is familiar with, such as the key chili pepper, but it is also very good. The broth as the base also has a different flavor, and the sauce is made with green onions, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, vinegar and a little mustard. With the winter snow outside, it is so comfortable to eat.

Qingdou would pick up some food for Chen Xuan from time to time, reminding him that it was hot and to eat slowly, and no one would snatch it from him.

While eating, the two of them chatted about some interesting things. Qingdou mentioned that a rumor had spread at some point that several of Madam Gao's personal maids were already past the age of marriage, and if they didn't get married soon, they would be unwanted old maids.

There's no smoke without fire, and this seems to be true. Lately, there have been some "dressed" men of marriageable age wandering around the Gao residence, likely hoping to find a partner. The maids in the Gao family's inner courtyard are well-educated, well-mannered, and even possess some martial arts skills. They're far superior to the girls of ordinary families. Even a scholar with a good reputation would consider them a good wife, and many people are eager to see them.

And the key is that after marrying her, there will be a chance to establish a relationship with a family like the Gao family. Even if you don't dare to ask for help in person when you have something to ask, many people will be hesitant to tell them if you tell them.

In fact, after the last conversation, Qinghe and the others have made decisions after several months of careful consideration. They plan to find a good man to marry, but they haven't met the right one yet and are in a wait-and-see stage.

However, no one intended to become Master Gao's concubine, even though it was a rare opportunity to rise to a higher position, but they felt that doing so would be unworthy of the Madam's kindness over the years.

Mrs. Gao was not disappointed or unhappy about this. Instead, she was happy for them and complied with their wishes. She even said that she would look out for suitable men for them. As a master and servant, Mrs. Gao had done her best.

In fact, to Mrs. Gao, their age is not much different from that of her eldest daughter, and to a certain extent, she treats them as her daughters, so she naturally cares more about their affairs. Putting aside her personal considerations for the future, she actually does not want Qinghe and others to be concubines of her men, as that would be too much of a waste of such young girls.

Chen Xuan was also stunned when he heard the news. In his personal opinion, Qinghe and the others were still young and it was too early for them to get married, but they were considered old in this world, and he could not do anything about it. He could only sincerely wish them to find a good husband.

This kind of thing, once there is a sign, it will happen very quickly. Maybe by next winter, we will no longer see them in the Gao family.

The wind blows the ripe fruits down, and the yellow flowers bloom, waiting to be picked...

The snow outside the window is gradually melting. When spring comes and the new swallows return, the jade mountain flowers bloom on the branches, and the sound of reading aloud can be heard again.

In the new semester, Chen Xuan and his classmates were promoted to Grade C. The daily curriculum also changed. The initial course was changed to question-and-answer sessions, which included poetry and prose. The teacher also began to teach punctuation. The four seasons were changed to comprehensive, which further understood the mountains, rivers, geography, and humanities. Calculation remained unchanged, but the content became more in-depth and complex.

The afternoon courses in music, chess, calligraphy and painting remained unchanged, but the class time was compressed, with two or three classes squeezed out in each semester to learn etiquette.

They were promoted, and naturally there were new children joining Class D. This year, the number of students in Class D increased, and three classes were opened.

As new people come and old people go, most of the faces in the refresher classes are no longer there.

By the beginning of March, the Class A students who had finished elementary school rushed to the examination halls, some were happy and some were sad.

Each county holds one or two examinations for students of higher learning every three years, depending on the actual situation. This year, ten to twenty people will be selected from each county, depending on many factors such as the local population and the affluence of life.

Those who failed the exam shed tears secretly. Some of them faced reality and went home to live a dull life, while others rose up and fought again to make up for what they missed in the advanced training class.

This year's Tongsheng exam naturally had nothing to do with Chen Xuan and the others, and they did not feel the tension of it. But on the tenth day after the Tongsheng exam, Shu Yao found Chen Xuan and came to say farewell to him. He was on the list in Lanfeng County, and now he had the most basic fame and a promising future, so naturally there would be people investing in him. So he was going to Lanfeng County School for further studies, hoping to go one step further and obtain the status of a scholar one day.

Chen Xuan suspected that too many people were killed in Lanfeng County last year, and the deaths of some people naturally freed up a lot of opportunities, which gave some people vacancies on the list.

Many people have seen Shu Yao's efforts, so Chen Xuan naturally offered his sincere congratulations.

When saying goodbye, Shu Yao sincerely encouraged Chen Xuan not to worry about his identity and not to be discouraged, but to work hard to pass the imperial examinations and make a name for himself in the future. Maybe they would have the chance to meet in the provincial capital and take the same exam together, or even go to the capital together to seek fame and fortune.

Chen Xuan knew in his heart that rather than encouraging himself, he was actually looking forward to the future.

Shu Yao didn't come to see him alone. Chen Xuan was just one of them. He had many people to say goodbye to and also wanted to thank the gentleman for his cultivation over the years.

As people come and go, time keeps flowing.

It was also in this year that Chen Xuan bid farewell to Qingyu at Gao's house. The girl who had joked about asking Mrs. Gao to marry him found her home and was allowed by Mrs. Gao to marry far away in early March.

That same month, Niu Le's wife, Xiaojuan, gave birth to a daughter. She cried for days and nearly fell ill during her confinement. It was only when Madam Gao sent her personal maid to visit and comfort her that she finally calmed down...

In June of the same year, Qingping got married, and Qiulai Qinghe also got married.

With heartfelt blessings, they sent off one after another. By the winter of that year, only Qingmei was left of Mrs. Gao's original four personal maids. She had already been promised to someone else and would leave next year. The rest of her time was used to train Mrs. Gao's new maids.

Being in the midst of it, experiencing partings again and again, the initial reluctance is slightly bitter, but eventually becomes normal. In life, everyone is just a passer-by in each other's life.

Another spring has come, and my childhood sweethearts have all gone with their husbands in tears, and one familiar person has been lost.

Chen Xuan and his classmates were also promoted to Class B in Yushan School. That year, Chen Xuan was seven years old and Gao Jingming was ten years old. The school added new subjects. In addition to the rituals, music, books and mathematics that they had studied step by step in the past, archery and charioteering, one of the six arts of a gentleman, also began.

In other words, this was the beginning of their formal martial arts training, and Chen Xuan had been preparing for this for over two years...

(End of this chapter)