Xu Xuzhi

Chapter 44

This year is different: the most important new bride in the Shuai's mansion, Ning Jun's momentum is overwhelming, so after Mrs. Shou consulted the old man in the winter moon, she has already started to invite famous troupes and various jugglers to perform in the mansion in advance. Xi Xingsheng’s cross talk, Zou Fuyuan’s storytelling, Liu Hongxia’s Fengtian Luozi, Li Jinshun’s Pingju, Yu Shuyan’s and Yang Xiaolou’s Beijing opera, Liu Baoquan’s and his apprentice Bai Fengming’s Beijing rhyme drum, children and Fengjiu’s donkey shadow play and juggling... no matter what you like Whatever, you can always pick what you like.

Fengjiu heard that Mrs. Shou was drawing up a list to invite famous artists, but thought of one thing, and hurriedly asked Mrs. Shou not to forget to invite Fu Rongxiu, a Cantonese opera actress she knew when she was in Guangdong. As for Feng Jiu, I was really sorry for Xiaocai Red, there is no need to specially support her, she has already become famous and is very popular all over the country.

As soon as the hall started, there was a lot of voices, and the servants of the Ning Mansion and the officers and soldiers of the guards were all beaming, because from today onwards, as long as they are not on duty, they can sit upright directly under the stage like those old ladies and gentlemen, and have a good time. Hear what these famous actors are good at.

The servants on duty still pass around hot towel handles, tea, and snacks at a running price, all of which can be taken at will.

Feng Jiu accompanied Mrs. Ning to watch Feng Tian Luo Zi on the second floor for a while, and the play in the afternoon was the most lively.

After several wonderful performances with their own advantages and disadvantages, Fengjiu saw Fu Rongxiu and immediately waved to her. Fu Rongxiu, who was dressed up more delicately than Huahua, suppressed a smile, and concentrated on shaking her sleeves on the stage—she was playing today. Cui Yingying in "The Romance of the West Chamber" has a beautiful figure, flowing eyes, and a gorgeous singing voice. Feng Jiu was fascinated by it, and suddenly wondered if no one in the audience could understand this Cantonese except herself?
Ning Zheng, who was busy downstairs in contact with a few close friends of the old man who came to visit, suddenly heard Cantonese opera, a little puzzled, moved in his heart, said excuse me, walked out slowly, looked at the Furong show on the stage, Immediately turned his gaze to Feng Jiu's face.

Feng Jiu has always been keen, and soon realized that someone was staring at her, so he turned his eyes and caught Ning Zheng's eyes all at once.

She smiled and gave him a mischievous look, meaning that who of you can understand the libretto, maybe it's me?
Ning Zheng also laughed, of course he didn't know who Tsing Yi was on the stage, but...fortunately, it seems that he doesn't need to care.

Feng Jiu ignored Ning Zheng and concentrated on listening to the play, not forgetting to translate the libretto for Mrs. Ning.

After Fu Rongxiu finished singing and left the stage, Feng Jiu still thought that his own selfishness was strong enough: no one else, as soon as he saw Fu Rongxiu, this person fell in love with him, so he would help if he could.

So, in a sense, Feng Jiu is a very willful person.

Sure enough, Fu Rongxiu's theater troupe became famous because of the New Year's performance in the powerful Ning Mansion. Originally, their troupe leader was able to take over the church far in the northeast not because of financial profit. It's not just for the sake of being famous all over the country, this goal has been successfully achieved.

After they returned to Guangdong, they were very popular, and Fu Rongxiu was also very grateful to Feng Jiu, needless to say.

After listening to the play for a long time, the adults were a little tired, and some people went back to take a rest one after another, waiting to come out to enjoy the fireworks later.

It’s already past Haishi, and it’s not easy for Mrs. Ning to stay awake until this hour. The old man will inevitably yawn again and again. Fengjiu thinks that Mrs. Ning, who is yawning and crying, is very cute, so she smiles and pulls off her handkerchief to wipe her tears. After persuading her in a soft voice for a while, the old lady got up and decided to go back, relieved of her psychological burden.

Fengjiu sent the old man away, and went back to the second floor. He was sitting with Qiaozhi Qiaoxin watching a play and eating melon seeds. Suddenly, he saw Ning Zheng walking up the steps from the first floor to them, bowing his head and whispering in her ear. He asked, "Do you want to go back to your mother's house?"

Feng Jiu raised his eyes abruptly, and nodded repeatedly while being overjoyed.

Ning Zheng smiled, waved slightly with the two younger sisters, pulled Feng Jiu up, turned around and went downstairs. Feng Jiu gave the two sister-in-laws an embarrassed look, and followed her husband down the stairs obediently; : It is really an outstanding representative of marrying a daughter-in-law and forgetting her sister.Qiao Xin pulled her hand down funny.

The two sneaked out from the west corner gate, and Ning Zheng drove straight to Yanzhi Hutong.

At this time, the street was already empty, and the bright street lamps illuminated the snow-covered road to a silvery white. A pair of red lanterns were hung at the door of every house, and red lanterns purchased by the city government were also hung on the lampposts on both sides of the road. , From time to time, the sound of firecrackers from various households sounded from all around, indicating that someone else is having a New Year's Eve dinner.

Although it is called the New Year’s Eve dinner, the time for opening the meal varies from family to family, but it is Fengtian’s specialty to set off a long hanging firecracker before the meal.

Shuai's mansion opened early, and they ate it just after You. This was mainly because the old handsome was considerate and took care of his mother's habit of going to bed early.

Soon the car arrived at the small corner gate next to the main entrance of Wuling Garden, Feng Jiu hurriedly got out of the car and ran over to knock on the gate, the gatekeeper found out that it was Miss Six, and quickly opened the corner gate happily.

Ning Zheng followed, smiled back at the gatekeeper, rejected his plan to report to Master Tang, and walked with Feng Jiu around the frozen lake in winter, through the thousand-step corridor, and walked to Grandma Feng Jiu's house. to the residence.

At this time, according to the rules of the Tang family, everyone should have eaten the New Year's Eve dinner and were making dumplings.

The rule of the Tang Mansion is that thirty children's dumplings must be made by the family. This is also the rule set by Feng Jiu's mother when the family was not separated.

As soon as they entered, they heard bursts of laughter. All the people in the second room of the Tang family who were working in full swing turned their heads in confusion. When they saw Feng Jiu and Ning Zheng appearing in the room, they were all shocked.

Immediately, Feng Ling and Xiao Buku rushed over screaming, hugging Feng Jiu's arms one by one, and Ning Zheng retreated wisely, otherwise he would have to be pushed aside by Buku's little butt.

Feng Jiu dealt with these two entanglements in a pinch, and did not forget to greet grandma, father, stepmother, eldest brother and sister-in-law loudly. Ning Zheng also followed suit with a smile. I picked up a big chrysanthemum.

Surprised and pleasantly surprised, Tang Du kept saying "nonsense and nonsense", but he still smiled and gave up a space for the couple. The table for making dumplings was put together by two small Eight Immortals tables, with oak wood sprinkled with cloth on it. There are some boards, some jade rolling pins, three pots of dumpling stuffing, and some dough that has been kneaded covered with a wet drawer cloth.

The clever little girl brought a washbasin and fragrant soap to ask the girl and uncle to wash their hands. At this time, Feng Jiu had been released, and the couple rolled up their sleeves to make dumplings with everyone.

Ning's dumplings have a special feature, that is, a handful of small pieces of silver, a dozen pieces of candy and pieces of rice cakes are wrapped in it, which represents "prosperity", "sweetness" and "step by step".

Feng Jiu is good at rolling dumpling wrappers and making dumplings, which is also well-trained by Mrs. Yun since she was a child; but everyone did not expect that Ning Zheng is also very proficient in rolling dumpling wrappers. He explained that his mother often made dumplings when he was young, so he followed suit.

Feng Jiu thinks this is good, otherwise everyone is busy—although it may be mischief if it is not bitter, but it is not very good for his young master to copy hands alone when the table is full.

The efficiency is high when everyone works together. After a while, the dumplings filled up several large curtains. The servants took them down and cooked them. Soon, plates of boiled dumplings were brought up.Thirty's dumplings don't have flower heads, and apart from being boiled, they won't be steamed or made into pan-fried dumplings like in the usual way; Ning Zheng modestly resigned, brought a plate of dumplings to eat, and praised the Tang family in a sensible way The stuffing of the dumplings was well adjusted, which made Mrs. Lu very proud.

Everyone moved their chopsticks, and Feng Jiu dipped in the mixed seasoning mixed with soy sauce, mature vinegar and sesame oil. He deeply felt that his own dumplings were the best, um, they were even better than the Shuaifu dumplings he ate just now.

After a while, people began to eat dumplings filled with broken silver, candies and rice cakes.

No matter who eats dumplings with special fillings, the people at the table will applaud, saying that the new year of the person who eats them will be "sweet, rich in wealth, rich in wealth, bright in the future, and prosperous." Cheng Wanli"...a mess of auspicious words.

Unexpectedly, Ning Zheng ate the most "cake". When he finally put down the plate, everyone in the room looked at me and I looked at you, and they all thought it was funny--Ning Zheng was young and already the rank of general. Young Marshal, how can the Ning Army, who commands one of the strongest armies in the Republic of China, "promote every step of the way"?
Ning Zheng was also a little embarrassed, Feng Jiu was watching the excitement with a smile on the side, and suddenly heard Xiao Buku shouting, but this time he shouted "Have a precious son early!"

I don't know if she learned from someone when Aunt Feng Jiu got married last year.

In an instant, the whole room burst into laughter, and Ning Zheng hugged Buku in joy, and put several faces on him, Buku hid his little face on his shoulder embarrassingly, feeling a little proud in his heart.

Feng Jiu blushed—this little white-eyed wolf kept teasing Auntie, did he understand what this meant and just kept shouting?

After staying for half an hour, the eldest brother Tang Fengxian started to make a fuss - after all, she is a married girl, and it is unreasonable to run back to her mother's house on New Year's Eve. After staying for such a long time, it would be unreasonable not to leave.

Tang Feng first took a look at his grandma and father, who looked so loving and demented with a loving smile on their faces. He definitely couldn't say the words to drive people away, so this bad guy, let's do it by himself. Anyway, since he was a child, has he done little?

Of course Feng Jiu knew that Wuling Garden could not stay for long, so he could only say goodbye to everyone and promise to come back in a few days, so he reluctantly left with Ning Zheng.

Tang Du and his wife sent them outside the house together. After seeing the pair of young couples, whose backs were so pleasing to the eye, gradually go away in the night, Mrs. Lu turned around and said to Tang Du with satisfaction: "Master, You should feel relieved this time, look at this uncle, handsome and suave, young and promising, but it really hurts to put Jiu Yatou on his heart."

Tang Du didn't speak, but the uncontrollable smile on his face also showed how much he agreed with his wife's words.

When the couple came back, it was also the time when the Ning Mansion was preparing to set off fireworks.

The fireworks in Ningfu have always been ordered from "Suifeng Yong" Baozhuang in Liuyang, Hunan. The whole family likes their shelf flowers and barrel flowers, and the old man especially likes their box flowers.

"Would you like to put one too?" Ning Zheng had a few small firecrackers spread out in his hands, all suitable for women and children to play with, not so strong, without power and noise, he just took the small firecrackers for his sisters to pick out, Come here now to offer treasures to Feng Jiu.

Feng Jiu raised his eyes and saw that not far away, Qiaozhi Qiaoxin was drawing circles in the air with a lighted flower stick in his hand. The heads of the flower stick were dotted and connected into different shapes against the backdrop of the dark night. , shining brightly, illuminating their beautiful smiling faces.

Qiaoxin noticed that Feng Jiu was looking at them, and happily drew a few circles towards Feng Jiuxu - the third brother purposely went to find the third sister-in-law, and they couldn't go there to be annoying.

Hongji is also setting off a few bunches of flower sticks: he has a relatively quiet temperament, and his favorite fireworks are also quiet.

Feng Jiuhui and the others smiled, carefully looked at the firework in Ning Zheng's palm, and chose a "spinning disc". This kind of small firework is very interesting, and it spins like a spinning top when it is set off. I remember that one year, she and Hutou When I was still young, I wanted to put this turntable in the big kitchen on a whim, but I didn’t realize that the turntable flew onto the chopping board, onto the vegetable cutting block, onto a small copper spoon, and sprayed it everywhere. The dazzling sparks turned all the copper spoons on the ground, and they turned endlessly. If it weren't for the Chinese New Year who couldn't punish the children, the two of them might have to be punished to stand again.

I will never forget that scene for many years...

Ning Zheng looked at Feng Jiu happily setting off the small fireworks at first, but he stopped laughing after that, his eyes quietly watched the small fireworks that were spinning happily, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

He took another flower stick, "Put some more on this."

Feng Jiu woke up like a dream, looked at Ning Zheng blankly, and then looked around. In such a short time, most people couldn't bear the cold at night on Fengtian's New Year's Eve and went into the house, including Of the two sister-in-laws, only myself, Ning Zheng, Hong Si standing in the distance, and a few servants were left.

She smiled suddenly: "I want to set off Thunderbolt."

The servants next to her didn't say anything, but they all felt that the third young lady was really courageous. How could a woman set off such powerful fireworks? It would be a trivial matter if she accidentally burned her clothes. Some people were blinded, "No, this is not a joke." Ning Zhenghu raised his face, he had seen Miss Tang Liu act boldly more than once, maybe only cats and dogs in the world could cure her .

"I release it every Chinese New Year in our house, it's fine, I'm very experienced." Feng Jiu said with a smile.

"Your family?" Ning Zheng raised his eyebrows.

Being narrow-minded, Feng Jiu pouted secretly: "My mother's family, it's my mother's family. If it doesn't work, I'll put on your aviator glasses and cotton gloves."

Ning Zheng reluctantly agrees.

Sure enough, Feng Jiu put on the aviator glasses used by Ning Zheng that Qiu Sheng found out from his servants and ran back to the Little Red Building, and with his own cotton hands, he happily ran to a Thunderbolt that they had set up. He lowered his body very skillfully, stretched out one leg, and extended his arm, then quickly lit a short twist, and then hurried back.

Ning Zheng caught her, regardless of her body's unwillingness, pulled off his large ermine coat to cover her inside, and covered her ears, so in Ning Zheng's warm and firm embrace, she He didn't hear many deafening thunderclaps, and what filled his ears was his steady and powerful heartbeat.

Ning Zheng turned his head inadvertently, and saw Hong Si, who was also wearing thick woolen clothes, standing and watching them from a distance. It was too dark to see his face clearly, but the moment he met his eyes, In the end, Kouji still slowly turned his head away.

The finale program on New Year's Eve is to enlarge the flower box lights, "Only when there are fireworks in the year can one enjoy themselves, and there is no joy in festivals without guns."

The servants happily started to put buckets of flowers and shelf flowers all over the floor. Feng Jiu was already satisfied after releasing the thunderstorm that must be released every year.Ning Zheng was afraid that she would be cold, so he hugged her from behind, more tightly than before. Feng Jiu struggled, and Ning Zheng let go a little.

Ning Zheng turned his head meaningfully, and found that Hong Si, who was standing in the distance watching the fireworks, had disappeared.

The couple looked up at the dazzling fireworks in the sky at the same time. Peonies, peonies, and chrysanthemums were blooming in the night sky of the New Year's Eve, like pieces of starlight pouring down, illuminating the dark winter night in the sky.

Feng Jiu felt that since she married into the Ning Mansion, most of the things were satisfactory: for example, Ning Zheng did not force her to have a real bridal chamber; for example, household chores rarely bothered her; Everyone has their own considerations, but her position is detached. There is no need to think about it, there must be the instruction and arrangement of the old man and Ning Zheng; but the happiest thing is that if there is no accident, I can go to college this year...

She couldn't help looking up at him in Ning Zheng's arms. Ning Zheng noticed it and looked around, but no one noticed them, so he lowered his head and kissed her heavily on the lips, "Why?"

Feng Jiu looked at him again, and Ning Zheng found that she liked this action very much today, and this look was the most naughty, so she couldn't help but smile, then obediently lowered her head, Feng Jiu stood on tiptoe and said in her ear: "I think such a day , it's a good time..."

Ning Zheng looked at her bright jade-like eyes, and remained silent for a long time. Feng Jiu waited for a while and didn't get a response, so he ignored him.She is a person who wants to express what she feels in her heart, and she feels relieved after speaking, but she doesn't care about the other party's feelings.

She turned her head to continue to watch the spectacular fireworks in the sky, and suddenly felt a few strands of hot air rushing to her cheeks, bringing bursts of familiar numbness. He said: "My Pleasure." With both arms, he tightened her grip.

Feng Jiu smiled "Card Card", leaned his body closer to his arms, and the two of them folded like one person.Feng Jiu saw a young footman climbed up to the five or six-story watchtower at the southernmost part of the commander-in-chief's mansion, holding a long bamboo pole in his hand, raised a huge box lamp high on the pole head, and then I also used a long incense stick to light the fuse hanging below, and the box lights were lit instantly, and then the sets of lights hidden inside fell one by one, colorful and vivid.

This is the last box light of the New Year's Eve fireworks display.It is said that it is a flower box lamp, it is better to say that it is a kind of drama box that can play drama: the lamp is covered with lamps, covering a full twenty floors, and each floor is a folklore or drama story that Fengtian people are familiar with.

The first small stage staged tattoos of the mother-in-law, the characters were lifelike, and their gestures and gestures were described very delicately. After a while, the drama of serving the country with loyalty and loyalty was over, and the first small stage was also burnt down, with soot and sparks falling like raindrops Next, Feng Jiu was feeling melancholy, and with a "bang", another small stage fell and stretched out, and the second play started, this time it was Magu's birthday celebration, followed by a big havoc in Tiangong, Nezha Naohai, and Liang Hongyu's belt Bing and Mu Guiying are in command... It's really amazing that there is the hottest drama in recent years, "Sister Yang's Complaint".

Just as he was seeing the wonderful thing, he suddenly heard an angry "Okay!" from not far away, Feng Jiu turned his head and saw that the handsome man who came out of the brothel again at some point was applauding and taking the lead in applauding , and did not forget to tell Hong Fu who was smiling happily beside him, "Reward! Big reward! Three thousand oceans!"

This handsome old man was just waiting to see the box lamp at the finale. If he really played it in his heart, then he would definitely spend a lot of money, and he would not be lenient in rewarding him.

It took a full cup of tea to finish the performance of this magnificent big flower box lamp. Feng Jiu rubbed his eyes unsatisfactorily and yawned again. Eating New Year's Eve dinner, watching a movie, and going back to my mother's house to make dumplings. After a busy day, I am tired enough.

The fireworks are also over, and the last event on New Year's Eve is over, and those who want to sleep can go to sleep in peace.

Ning Zheng immediately said: "Sleepy? Let's go back." Feng Jiu said hello, and looked around again, but the old man disappeared again.

And most of the servants don't sleep: all year round, they can play mahjong and leaf cards openly in these few days, and they can also gamble on a small scale. They are looking forward to this time. All right.

Ning Zheng still hugged Feng Jiu, and the two walked back. When they got to the door of the Little Red Building, she suddenly felt moved and looked to the north: there was a lantern hanging on the watchtower, and there was a figure standing there, He was wearing an otter fur hat and a black fox fur robe, and he was looking at the Phoenix Tower not far away, and he didn't know what he was thinking—a generation of heroes, even in New Year's Eve It will be so lonely.

Ning Zheng also saw it, paused, and then told Feng Jiu to go in first, and he would be back in a while; Feng Jiu didn't go in right away, but resisted sleepiness and waited patiently for a while.She watched as another slender and tall figure appeared next to the lonely short figure on the observation deck. It was like two black silhouettes, standing silently under the faint light, not far away from each other. Not close, Feng Jiu wonders if the hearts of the father and son can be closer than before at this moment of saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new?

Feng Jiu went back to wash up, yawned and fell asleep all day long. In the half-dream and half-awake, she suddenly felt a pair of pyrotechnic hands covering her cheeks, Feng Jiu's subconscious suddenly remembered something, and she was confused Don't forget to ask: "Did you burn paper for mother-in-law?"

The rule of Fengtian is that during the period before the handover at noon on New Year's Eve, paper money must be burned for the deceased relatives. Usually, the men burn the paper; but there is no such rule in the Tang family. In the past, the eldest brother led the eldest sister to go with her every year. In the garden, my mother’s favorite Xinqiting burning house, my eldest sister was missing last year, Feng Jiu thought to himself, who will my eldest brother go with this year?
"It's burned, I went to burn it with my father."

Then I heard Ning Zheng's low-pitched laughing voice, "Father said you're good at giving birth... You little rascal, how many good things from our old Ning's family have you eaten for nothing? Spit it out."

Saying that, a mouth soaked in the aroma of fruit wine was covered, gently covering the ruddy lips of Fengjiu who had fallen asleep again.

(End of this chapter)