Xu Xuzhi

Chapter 88
Shuncheng County Prince's Mansion has become the Ning Jun's office in Beiping.Ning Zheng would occasionally go to Huairentang to work, receiving foreign ministers and foreign compradors in Beijing—after all, that was the official office, but he was still used to handling his daily business here.

Because the place is big enough, occasionally people from Fengtian's family come to live in the mansion: although it is not convenient to live in, it is still enough for a stay.

There are several large pottery vats in the yard, where various kinds of lotuses are planted.The glaze color of the tank does not interfere with "snake skin green" and "crab shell green", which are very suitable for the bright lotus. There are also many goldfish in it.

If Ning Zheng hadn't gone on a business trip, every time Feng Jiu brought the two children to play in the mansion, he would always hold one in each hand and let them look down on the scenery in the tank—Ya Ya is still too short, but Long Sheng You can see it on tiptoe—it is the end of August now, and apricot yellow, rose pink, and coral red lotuses are blooming in the tank. The petals are fragrant and quiet.

A few orange, red, purple, blue, silver, and streaky goldfish shuttled happily among the lotus leaves with their light gauze tails. "Gossip"... It is said that they are some common varieties.

No one in the family has any research on fish farming, so naturally the person who gave the fish will do whatever he wants.

Although there is a gap in the beauty of "Lotus Leaf Hetian Tiantian Fish Playing with Lotus Leaf", the small world can also be called interesting.

After a few days, Ke Weili, who decided to send himself to the artillery company, settled down in Beiping. After marriage, Wen Xiuwei, who became very obsessed with fish farming and had a lot of research because of it, was surprised when she saw it. She said that these species are extremely rare. , Some prices are not even lower than a Ford car, and then salivate to go a few.

The couple looked at each other, and then remembered that the fish in the tank was given to Ya Ya by Lu Bu, the director of the Office of the Nanjing Government Office in Beiping, and he repeatedly said that it was worthless...

After taking a nap this day, Feng Jiu brought the two children here, and asked someone to find two five-inch high four-legged stools, and Ya Ya and Long Sheng stepped on them, Feng Jiu watched from the side, and lowered them from time to time. He lifted his head up, for fear that the two big-headed dolls would fall in if he didn't pay attention, and wondered if the remaining one had the cleverness to perform the allusion of "Sima Guang smashing the vat".

Ning Zheng went to Huairentang to receive a French trade delegation today, and the couple agreed to meet here.

After a while, there was some movement from the second entrance door, and the three mothers heard the crisp and long insects.

Yaya and Longsheng's eyes widened, and they looked at Ning Zheng who had just walked in, holding two small cages made of pale yellow sorghum straw, each with a bright green creature jumping around —— Ning Zheng bought a grasshopper for each of the two children. Feng Jiu also caught this thing when he was a child, but it took a lot of time.

Ning Zheng knew that the people of Peiping were experts at playing grasshoppers. Hundreds of years of imperial capital culture had accumulated, and there were dozens of "fen" grasshoppers, that is, artificially bred masters——moisten cripples, mixed noodles Father and son, Ke Guo, Kou Shuangtang...

Ning Zheng knew that his current status was even more unusual, so he didn't dare to say anything in advance: except for the precious goldfish a while ago, and a while ago he casually said on the hospital bed that his wife's birthday party this year would be due to his illness. I missed it, and the result was immediately recorded by someone who cared about it. On the day of Fengjiu's birthday, someone booked a first-class table in Fengzeyuan and delivered it to his ward. What came: a set of sweet white porcelain, silver spoons, ebony silver-tipped chopsticks, and a fairly large red cloth table top.

Except for a birthday cake that used four pounds of butter, which was made by another pastry shop, the dishes on the table are a combination of Shandong cuisine and Huaiyang cuisine, mainly with easy-to-kettle lists, and it is said that Mrs. My favorite braised duck waist, crystal shrimp balls, lion heads... I don’t know where I got the inaccurate information, and I don’t forget to bring a millet sea cucumber porridge to Commander Ning who is ill. The wife shared it, which made the couple dumbfounded.

Such a big battle, as expected, was caught by the tabloid reporters who disguised themselves from time to time and hung around the door of the ward. On the second day, it was published that "Commander Ning was sick and still did not give up luxury. To please his wife, he spent a lot of money." "The report, with detailed quotations, made such a table expensive in Luoyang for a while in the capital.

If Ning Zheng muttered a few words inattentively, there might be someone with good intentions who brought the best-looking one to him overnight.Grasshopper is only used to amuse his daughter and godson, so how dare he make a big fuss.

The two in his hand, he deliberately detoured to the bird market on Tianqiao on his way to work this morning, when he encountered someone hawking on the side of the road, he got out of the car and bought it and left. The supernatant became louder and louder.The price of a pair for half an ocean also shows that the two grasshoppers are "original tunes", that is to say, they are born with this movement——

It is said that the "part" grasshoppers in the capital have the ability to accurately use materials such as cinnabar, copper slag, and rosin to dispense medicine on the key parts of the grasshopper's wings. After such improvement, the voice of the grasshopper is more magnanimous. The more mellow, the higher the price.

Ya Ya and Long Sheng glanced at each other, Long Sheng immediately got off the small bench, and then very intimately helped Ya Ya, whose legs were not so flexible, also get down, and the two ran to Ning Zheng. His eyes were fixed on the small cage in Ning Zheng's hand.

These are two emerald green grasshoppers, with beards and tails, and glass-like black sesame eyes.

"It's done well, and it can be raised until Lidong." Ning Zheng also heard what the grasshopper seller said, so he relayed it to them seriously.

At the root of the imperial city, there is no shortage of all kinds of strange people and hands, who can think about all kinds of things to the extreme, and they don't put in ordinary effort.

For example, the utensils used to hold grasshoppers, straw cages are the most common, and those who are more particular will use small gourds of various colors, and even use pinching techniques to decorate the surface; and gourd hoops can be matched with high-grade materials such as red gold and ivory The degree of delicacy and extravagance of different gourd skin colors can completely write a book to pass on to future generations.

Ning Zheng ordered the servants to go to the kitchen and cut some shredded carrots, took some tender soybean sprouts, and peeled some edamame beans, and brought them over. Watching the sawtooth-shaped chambers of the two grasshoppers cut one off very quickly, and then another one came in, I felt very novel.After playing for quite a while, Ning Zheng hung the two cages on the branch of the pomegranate tree that they couldn't reach, and led them into the dining room for dinner with Feng Jiu.

The two children are not worried about eating, but they can eat for a quarter of an hour. At this time, they heard rain outside, but the sky is still bright, and there is not much cloudiness—it is the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. It's not unusual for a while.

Thinking of their new favorite, the two children became worried, and ran out bouncing around, eager to pick the grasshopper cage from the pomegranate tree.

Ning Zheng and Feng Jiu followed out with a black long-handled umbrella handed over by a servant. Ning Zheng took off the cages and stuffed them one by one, and then led them around the back garden in the rain, planning to Let's eat and go back together.

This season, the hosta flowers planted on the rockery in the back garden have come to an end. In the rain, there are hairpin-like flower buds lying horizontally, like the ethereal body of a white crane, which looks more and more stretched. The fan-shaped green leaves under the flowers, As if he was afraid that the priceless white jade hairpin would fall off, he carefully unfolded the fan and held it securely.

The flowers exude a clear and sweet fragrance, which becomes moist because of being contaminated with the mist. With a little weight, it is easier to penetrate into the bottom of people's hearts, so the hearts of people who smell the fragrance are also like this thin The aroma seems to be scented, a little less tacky, and a little more serene.

The large piece of hosta in front of me is as white as jade, and watery, it is obviously extremely plain, but it is also extremely gorgeous.Feng Jiu and Yaya happily went to pick the flowers, holding them full, Ning Zheng smiled, took out a handkerchief and unfolded it for them.

They then went forward and saw that a wide variety of chrysanthemums were also in full bloom, dark and harmonious.Feng Jiu picked a "Golden Back Big Red" and a "Snow Green Lotus", and put them on for the two children respectively. Long Sheng and Yaya looked at each other and laughed.

Feng Jiu looked around and saw that there was no one else but their family of four, and picked another "Nijin Nine Rings" for Ning Zheng to pin it to Ning Zheng's ear. The mischievous and distorted chirping laughter, and looking at their faces, they can't help but stagger.

"Just grind me."

He held the umbrella with his left hand, and held the bud with his right hand, he didn't have time to throw away the flowers, Ruyu's face flushed slightly.Feng Jiu just looked at him with his fingers, and teased with a smile, "Don't be angry, in the Song Dynasty, it was normal for men to have hairpins. If you don't believe me, look at the descriptions of Yan Qing and Ruan Xiaoqi in "Water Margin", and then think about our house. In Li Tang's "The Picture of Returning Drunken in the Spring Society", it is not uncommon for Song Huizong to wear hairpins. In winter, only the emperor and his favorite ministers can afford real flowers. Others have "Xiangsheng flowers". That is to say, the fake flowers are pretty serious—fake flowers are also divided into grades. The guards in the palace are green leaf golden flowers, and the courtiers are Luo silk flowers and pink wisps of golden flowers. Besides, don’t people always say you look good? Let’s see where you can see better.”

"...Does that look good?" Unexpectedly, Ning Zheng didn't make a sound after listening for a long time, and stopped trying to get the flower down. It quickly dropped again.

Feng Jiu was stunned, couldn't help laughing, and continued to criticize him, "It's beautiful, it's so beautiful. If this was in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, if you go out for a walk, our family won't have to buy flowers and fruits. "

Half of Ning Zheng's face turned red. In this way, he is comparable to Pan An who "threw the fruit cart"?Although it is not a glorious thing for a big man to "do things with sex", but his "beauty" can be seen and fully recognized by his wife, he still can't help but feel happy.

After a while, Ning Zheng's flowers were finally picked by his kind wife. Ning Zheng wondered whether these chrysanthemums could be dried and made into chrysanthemum tea. Autumn is here, and chrysanthemum tea can improve eyesight and clear heart. It's inaccurate to say that, let's ask Dr. Wu tomorrow.

Feng Jiu pulled Long Sheng, Ning Zheng was afraid that Ya Ya would get her shoes and socks wet, so he just hugged her with one hand. When he passed the fish tank, he found that the goldfish were jumping up as much as possible because of the rain. They opened their mouths wide. Just stared out with protruding eyes, bowed his body and jumped out of the water, jumped to the highest point and fell back into the water helplessly, making a loud noise, matched with the sky that was not completely dark, faintly The drizzle looked white and bright, lively and very vivid.

Ning Zheng's eyes moved from the body of the goldfish in the tank to the lapel of the goldfish on Feng Jiu's chest involuntarily.Since she became a mother, she changed her past light and elegant dress tones, making them brighter and more childlike.In the past, there were always pearls, emeralds, red gold and other skirts, and gradually they became gold and silver ornaments in the shape of rabbits, birds, deer and other childish animals. Often after attending a dinner party, the second As soon as the photo was published in the newspaper, it immediately became a role model for women all over the country to emulate, just like Mrs. Liang's wife, Wang Huilan.

If Ms. Wang represents a graceful and luxurious middle-aged wife, then Mrs. Ning is a fresh and cheerful image of a young wife and mother.

Ning Zheng noticed the changes in Fengjiu, and knew that she had become a fashion trendsetter—just a few days ago, his good friend, Mr. Jiang's brother-in-law Song Wencheng, asked jokingly about this. What new styles of accessories are you going to wear at the dinner party? Can you let me know in advance?My wife likes it very much.

Ning Zheng cheerfully said that this has promoted national consumption—indeed, Feng Jiu’s new and ingenious ornaments are much more novel than the traditional and old-fashioned shapes of dragon, phoenix, peony, and plum blossoms, and they have also opened up many domestic jewelry designs. teacher's thinking.

While talking, he had just written a very formal official letter to Mr. Jiang with a brush, and accidentally rubbed ink on his palm, so he got up and washed his hands in the sink.After washing, I casually took out a handkerchief to wipe my hands. I felt something was wrong when I wiped it twice. I looked down and found that it was a pink and fluffy bib, not the traditional blue, white and gray men's handkerchief that I always used. It was obviously a young girl. use.

Ning Zheng looked familiar, wasn't this the little handkerchief that Feng Jiu gave Ya Ya to hang down on her chest clothes with a safety pin.

Must have made a mistake when going out in the morning, Fengjiu put his daughter's handkerchief in his pocket.

Song Wencheng on the side folded his arms and shook his head repeatedly, teasing the famous romantic son Ning San, who finally became a daughter slave who was full of daughter stories.

Ning Zheng dismissed the fan on the table indifferently, and Song Wencheng noticed with sharp eyes that the pictures on the plain white fan were also quite extraordinary. If you evaluate it impartially and without emotion, it can be called weird—— —Thick, thin, or flying ink marks across the entire fan, mixed with round or flat circles of different sizes, and "3", "2" and "7" that look like Arabic numerals.

Song Wencheng put his hips on his hips, and said cautiously: "Brother Ning, this can't be the calligraphy of Mrs. Ling, right?"

"Oh, yes, you have good eyesight."

Song Wencheng couldn't help laughing, "You just carry it around for exhibitions?"

"Huh, what's the matter? This is the most useful touchstone - as long as you say 'strength in writing' and 'ingenious composition' without conscience, don't worry about it?"

Song Wencheng was taken aback for a moment, then laughed out loud.

After eating, they went back to the small mansion in Taipusi. After a while, Fengjiu and Yaya each had a string of hostas strung together with cotton thread around their necks.

Before going to bed, Feng Jiu wore an ivory white plain crepe satin pajamas with a hidden crane pattern. Even after bathing, she was still covered with the delicate fragrance of hosta, which was more alluring than any French perfume.Of course it was inevitable, and it made Ning Zheng even more emotional.The hosta flower between Fengjiu's neck was inevitably squeezed, crushed, and the juice flowed out, the fragrance was extraordinary, quiet and intoxicating...

A few days later, it was close to the Mid-Autumn Festival, Ning Zheng was going to Huairen Hall to supervise an official business, the time was very short, there was no other schedule, and then he could go back.

He promised Ya Ya and Long Sheng that he would go to climb the West Mountain today, so the whole family went out with him early in the morning.

Feng Jiu looked at the woods outside the window of Huairen Hall. The sun is very strong this year, and the fruit trees bear fruit early. The crabapple trees outside the window have already borne fruit, and the old brown branches are crooked, and the red, yellow, and yellow round fruits All of them are like small lanterns, which are really beautiful.

The original bright flowers are gone, the leaves have turned green, and the strong sense of autumn is just like that.

"Look, Ruiqing, the fruit has grown really well this year."

Ning Zheng, who had just returned from his official duties, walked up to her and hugged her, bowed his head and kissed her, and asked with a smile, "Why, do you want to eat crabapple fruit?"

In your eyes, am I just so greedy? Fengjiu squeezed the troublesome hand in dissatisfaction, "When my father was still alive, didn't he call me here once? The old man was still melancholy at the time, saying that the old man I can't eat crabapple fruit anymore. That was in the late spring of the 16th year of the Republic of China... time flies so fast."

Ning Zheng was silent, walked around behind her, wrapped his arms around his waist, and put his chin on her right shoulder, and the two of them looked out the window together.

At this moment, two small figures appeared in the field of vision: Long Sheng and Ya Ya ran into the garden as soon as they got off the car, and they were running around in circles in the woods without a shape.After a while, Long Sheng flicked the little black leather shoes on his feet, took off his socks with his left and right feet rubbing each other, and climbed up the crabapple tree facing the couple like a dexterous little monkey.

Wearing a yellow-bottomed red-leaf doll-collar top and pants, Yaya clapped his hands and danced under the tree to encourage his elder brother on the tree. Longsheng proudly picked a few fruits that were close to each other but low-bearing, and compared each other. , carefully avoiding her sister, and threw it on the ground in front of her.

The guards were all young and steady boys. They had just reckoned that even if Long Sheng fell, there would be no danger. After all, the ground in the garden was very soft, so they formed a half circle and watched the fun with their hands clasped and smiling.

Ning Zheng asked in a low voice, "Then how did you respond?"

Feng Jiu touched his hand, the back of which was cool, so he stretched out his hand to cover it, "I said, the crabapple trees in Fengtian Commander's Mansion also bear a lot of crabapple fruits, and the taste is not bad at all...Father is very happy." So far , Feng Jiu still remembers the old man's burst of laughter immediately, as if the depression in his chest was swept away.

Feng Jiu felt that something hot and humid slipped behind her ears, she shrank her neck, and leaned her back closer to her arms behind her, Ning Zheng was sure that the guards would not dare to turn around and look into the room casually, so she boldly With her earlobe in her mouth, she mumbled, "My Jiu'er is always so considerate...thank you."

"I'm homesick, I miss Fengtian." Feng Jiu's voice was low, and it was only at this moment that she realized that she had been in Beiping for more than three months, so she would be homesick too.

"I'm sorry. If we're busy for a while, we'll definitely go home for the New Year."

"Well, good..." The rest of the words were swallowed by Ning Zheng who turned her around slightly.

Although she is often kissed like this, and she was obviously more intimate last night, Feng Jiu is still emotionally surging and dazzled.She thought wildly that although she was in a foreign land, being able to see each other often was a kind of compensation, and it could be called "the east corner of the lost mulberry harvest".

After a while, the two children ran back, Ning Zheng drove the car immediately, and the family went to Xiangshan, which is located in the western suburbs of Beiping, which belongs to the Xishan Mountains together with other nearby mountains.At this time in Xiangshan, the hundred-year-old cotinus cotinus all over the mountains and plains has not turned red much, and the five-cornered maple is still green. The highly praised red leaves of Xiangshan have not yet reached the season when they can show their most beautiful side.

But in early autumn, it is pleasant to be able to climb high and look far away.

Ning Zheng's family entered the east gate, first saw the "Qingweile" pavilion, then climbed over the reindeer slope, passed Jingcui Lake, and went straight to "Senyuhu", which is recognized as the best place to have a bird's-eye view of Beiping City. .

Climbing to the middle of the mountain, Yaya was too small after all, and soon tired, so he stamped his little feet and opened his hands to let his father hug him as if running on the spot.Ning Zheng squatted down with a smile, and carried her on his back. Ya Ya, who had been a little wilted, immediately regained his spirit, and directed his father forward with a flick of his small arms.Long Sheng looked up at his sister, unmoved, and rejected Feng Jiurang's proposal that the guards behind him also carried it on his back, and insisted on climbing up by himself vigorously.

Xiangshan used to be the royal garden and summer resort of the previous dynasty. From 70 years ago to the beginning of this century, it was robbed and destroyed twice by the Eight-Power Allied Forces. Have you ruined it?
Feng Jiu thought of the "Kandong Prefecture" in the Northeast - it had been occupied by the Japanese for more than [-] years, and the dignified Chinese wanted to go to Dalian, Jinzhou and Lushun, but they had to use a passport.

She sighed slightly, when will these invaders be driven out of China?Her sigh can only be in her heart. She knows that this is a rare time for Ning Zheng to be pure and clear. If he doesn't say anything, it doesn't mean she doesn't know that the domestic situation has not improved. Generals of military power, if you don’t trust me, I won’t trust you; if you don’t trust me, I won’t trust you.

There are still internal turmoil and endless fighting, when will we be able to work together to fight against the enemy and foreign aggression?

When they arrived at "Senyuhu", they climbed more than 200 steps, and an octagonal pavilion appeared in front of them. They entered the pavilion with sweat and sat down. Yaya also came down early and took his father's hand to climb over the last steps. At this time, cheering and lying on the railing together with Long Sheng, the four of them greedily looked at the Beiping City below them, as if they had discovered for the first time that the design of this city was so wonderful: symmetrical, majestic, and gorgeous.

Such a beautiful capital city belonging to the Chinese people, I really hope it can continue to be grand and prosperous for thousands of years.

Feng Jiu wiped the sweat off the two children's brows, and suddenly remembered something, turned to Ning Zheng and said, "The Mid-Autumn Festival will be celebrated in a few days. Grandma, sister-in-law, and fifth lady all said that they would come to Peking to celebrate the festival together."

Ning Zheng smiled comfortably after hearing this: "Okay, everyone can have a reunion festival." Because there are too many things in recent years, the family has not gathered together for a long time.

Feng Jiu said with a smile, "Well, I miss them, it will be so lively then."

Ning Zheng said nothing, just stretched his head towards her, Feng Jiu smiled, and then wiped his sweaty brow as well.Ning Zheng was satisfied, and hugged her tightly from behind. Together, they looked towards the gray-blue distant mountains, looking forward to the joy of being reunited with their families.

However, this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, the Ning family still failed to get together.

(End of this chapter)