Ma Erniang's Splendid Pastoral

Chapter 131

When Ma Chengzu entered the room, he felt a different atmosphere as soon as he entered. He habitually took a first look at Feng Jiangyi, only to see that he took it calmly, as if walking in the breeze.Seeing him, Feng Jiangyi nodded politely, "Master Ma!"

Ma Chengzu nodded lightly in return, and bowed his hands: "My lord, are you looking for me?"

The king of Jin said: "This king appreciates the integrity of the boss very much, and values ​​the honesty of the boss, and is willing to become a family with the boss."

"My lord, you are too flattering to me. A few concubine granddaughters are not worthy of my lord's attention." Ma Chengzu was not polite, but refused.

King Jin smiled, "My lord, the side concubine this king wants to marry is your granddaughter."

Ma Chengzu looked up in shock, "Granddaughter?"

"My lord, don't tell me that you don't have a granddaughter, right? This king has inquired about it. You have a granddaughter waiting to be married." King Jin smiled.

Xia Shiyong didn't expect that King Jin would do this. Wu Yong's own daughter, Wen personally went into battle, he was really willing to let go, in order to win the throne, he really did everything he could.

Feng Jiangyi was like an outsider, gently stroking his beard and squinting his eyes, as if dozing off, no one could see anything from his eyes.

Ma Chengzu hurriedly knelt down, "My lord, this old man is still a guilty minister, so I shouldn't treat you so seriously."

King Jin's face was slightly restrained: "Master Ma, this king is not only giving yourself a chance, but also your Dongping Wang family's chance."

"My lord—"

The olive branch offered by King Jin was so tempting that even Ma Chengzu, who was so rigid and inflexible, was moved, "Restore...restore the original surname?"

"That's right, as long as I ascend the throne, I will immediately pardon the world, not only pardon your crimes, but also restore your original surname."

Ma Chengzu kept choking on his throat and the sound of swallowing was heard by everyone in the room, and no one made a sound.

In Ma's kitchen, Ma Min'er was in a daze, her eyes looking at something.

Seeing her distressed, Shi Chunyue asked the helping aunts and ladies to try not to talk, not to look for her, and let her be alone.There was nothing to do in the kitchen, so he went back to the room to do errands.

After Zhang Nianmei and the others, the little general arrived at Ma's house in one step. After entering the gate, he ran towards the kitchen. Who let the kitchen smell wafting out?
Zhuang Hao smiled lightly, not in a hurry, he took care of the guards and servants around him, and gave orders one by one. After everything was settled, he heaved a sigh of relief. When he saw a wooden chair under the arch, he walked over and sat down. Going to the wooden bench, leaning against the back of the chair, facing the setting sun, the remaining warmth of the autumn sun seems to be still there, making him relax physically and mentally.

Sitting sideways, with one arm resting on the wooden chair frame, Zhuang Hao looked at the clusters of chrysanthemums outside the vegetable bed fence, which were in full bloom at the moment, and the blossoms were as white as snow, which made people feel elegant.

"Hey, Princess, there is someone here!"

Hearing the sound, Zhuang Hao suddenly turned his head, saw the young lady standing in front of her in full dress, immediately stood up and saluted, "Princess, I'm sorry."

Princess Yunbao tilted her head slightly to look at the tall and tall young man in front of her, with a handsome appearance and a refined and indifferent demeanor, when she turned her head abruptly, the surprise in her indifference had a childish simplicity, which immediately attracted her eyes: "You are..."

"General Xia's subordinates."

"Oh—" Princess Yunbao smiled slightly, "What's your surname?"

"..." Zhuang Hao raised his head, as if he felt uncomfortable with this question, but her smiling eyes looked at him heartily.

Princess Yunbao pouted with a smile, "Is it convenient to tell?"

"My surname is Zhuang—"

"Zhuangzi..."

"Incomparable." Zhuang Hao said hastily.

"Let's talk about it." Princess Yunbao looked at the bench, "You like this bench too?"

Zhuang Hao looked towards the bench, "Yes, Princess."

"Me too. As soon as I entered the courtyard, I was attracted by this bench. You see, there are clusters of chrysanthemums behind it, which are both interesting and artistic."

"The Princess is right."

Princess Yunbao took a step forward and sat with her skirt up, her pretty face slightly facing the setting sun, "When I return to Beijing, I will also put a bench like this in the mansion."

Zhuang Hao didn't answer, just smiled, and took a few steps to the side.

Princess Yunbao smiled sweetly in the setting sun from the corner of her eye, Zhuang Hao bowed his head in a polite manner.

The dinner tonight was different from the previous ones, it was very grand and not random, all three of the Ma family father and son were invited out of the restaurant, and all the servants in the restaurant were from King Jin.

Outside the restaurant, all irrelevant people were stopped a hundred paces away by King Jin's guards. Of course, the Ma family and the others were aware that they all hid in the kitchen to eat their own meals.

"Finally I can have a comfortable meal." Ma Saburo muttered in a relaxed voice.

Although Ma Dalang didn't say it, he also meant it.

Ma Qifeng shook his head, "Let's not talk about you, even my father can't adapt to this kind of life, I think it's better to live in the country."

Ma Min'er nodded, "Father, you can stay in the country, but elder brother and third younger brother can't, they have to get used to this kind of life."

The Ma Dalang brothers looked at each other, their mouths shrugged helplessly, and they continued to eat with their heads down.

The restaurant was under martial law, Chef Lei took a breath, and stood behind Ma Miner, "Er Niang, I heard that King Jin's daughter is here?"

Ma Miner paused the hand holding the food, nodded, "Yeah."

Chef Lei clicked his tongue, "I heard that King Jin's family is in Qingzhou Mansion, isn't it near here?"

Ma Miner shook her head, "I don't know."

Probably because the topic was too sensitive, Chef Lei thought to himself, didn't ask any more questions, and continued to cook by the stove, not knowing when these big shots would be eating.

I don't know when we ate, but at dawn, Ma Min'er was woken up, "Er Niang, wake up, King Jin is leaving, everyone is below to see him off."

"Oh." Hearing that King Jin was leaving, Ma Min'er got up quickly, dressed and dressed and went downstairs.

In the twilight, at the gate of Ma's courtyard, the guards lined up two or three miles long, and the farmers who got up early to harvest rice stood in the field and watched curiously.

"My old general, Zicheng is leaving, and I will be in the north to trouble you."

"My lord, don't worry, as long as the Xia family is here, the north will be there."

"Good, courageous." King Jin praised loudly.

"Rainbow—"

"Father!"

King Jin said: "You are in Pingding, follow Mrs. Xia, and learn from her how to be a general's wife."

"Oh, Father." Princess Yunbao replied in a soft voice.

Liu Zicheng reached out and patted his daughter on the back shoulder, "My son is tired."

"Father, I don't march, I don't fight, I'm not tired, but you, marching and fighting are tiring, you have to take care of yourself."

"Good daughter, my father knows." King Jin sighed, "Old General Xia, I will leave my son to you."

Xia Shiyong cupped his hands, "Yes, King Jin, please rest assured, the old man will definitely take good care of the princess."

King Jin glanced at Xia Zhen again, "Little General, I am waiting for you."

He raised his hand: "The end will be on standby at any time."

"Okay." King Jin and Liu Zaili disappeared from everyone's sight.

The sky was completely bright, Xia Shiyong turned to the princess and said: "Princess, please follow me to the general's mansion."

Princess Yunbao said: "Okay!"

Standing in the corner, Ma Min'er lowered her head when she heard Zhuang Duan's answer.

Xia Zhen found that Ma Min'er seemed to have something to say, looked at her grandfather, and finally held back.

"Zian, let's go home."

When Ma Qifeng heard this, he hurried forward, "Old General——"

"Disturbed these days."

"The old general is polite."

"I'm bothering uncle." Xia Zhen also saluted and said goodbye.

Standing behind the little general, Zhuang Hao felt someone staring at him, turned his head slightly, met his gaze, and nodded politely as a sign of courtesy.

Princess Yunbao quietly withdrew her gaze, dignified and elegant.

Shi Qiuju, who always liked to nest behind the stove, was actually among the crowd seeing Ma's family off. Although she was in the backmost corner, she still walked out of the corner of the stove, out of the self-pity and self-pity of being divorced.

Gu Dun was captured by King Jin to threaten Xia's family, and became an inseparable thorn in his life. This carefree man became timid, and suddenly saw that poor woman. For some reason, he felt pity in his heart. It's... the same... The rough man can't remember Mr. Zhuang's wrinkled words.

After the members of the Xia family left, the entire Xiaowang Village finally returned to its former calm, and the farmers could finally devote themselves to their busy farming activities with peace of mind.

When Ma Chengzu returned home, Ma Zhier was waiting in the hallway, and ran up happily when he saw him, "Grandfather, what does King Jin say?"

Ma Chengzu looked over her head, looked at the two granddaughters standing behind her, and his eyes stopped on the daughter of the third eldest family.

Ma Hui'er was disturbed by the sight, and hurriedly stepped forward to salute, "Grandfather—"

"Hui'er..."

"Grandfather... Father... Hui'er knows he's wrong, and he doesn't dare to come out to join in the fun." Ma Huier hastily admitted her mistake.

Ma Chengzu didn't speak for a long time.

The rest of the Ma family were also wondering if King Jin had accepted Ma Zhier, and they were all waiting by the aisle. Madam Ma saw the old man's gloomy expression, as if something was wrong, and hurried forward, "Master, what's the matter with you?"

"Prince Jin is gone."

"Oh." Mrs. Ma thought to herself, and left as soon as she left, "Then have you had breakfast?"

"I didn't eat."

Hearing that he didn't eat, Mrs. Ma turned her head quickly, "Nurse arranged for someone to bring breakfast to the study for the old man."

"Yes, old lady."

Seeing her grandfather's unhappy face, Ma Rou'er secretly guessed that King Jin must have disagreed with Zhi'er's matter, and when she looked over, Ma Rou'er also vaguely sensed something was wrong, and her face changed, "Grandfather...Grandfather, Then... what about me... what about me?"

Hearing his concubine's granddaughter's voice, Ma Chengzu recovered from his daze, and said to Mrs. Ma, "Hui'er's marriage is settled."

"What?" Mrs. Ma couldn't believe her ears. She knew what kind of man her man was. She didn't care about anything at home except for learning and admonishing the emperor. How could she care about Hui'er? marriage.

Masan and his wife, who stayed aside and were also waiting to hear gossip, couldn't believe it. They looked at each other, and Mrs. Masan quickly stepped forward, "Father, which house did you book for Huier?" It's not ordinary expensive, and her tone is full of excitement.

That's right, women only see wealth, but they don't see the dangers behind wealth. King Jin is going to rebel, what rebellion... Ma Chengzu looked at his granddaughter with some guilt.

"Master, you are talking!" Mrs. Ma cried anxiously.

"It's King Jin. He said that Na Hui'er is the side concubine."

"What?" Everyone was surprised!
Ma San and his wife were happy when they were shocked, Ma Huier was also happy after being shocked, and Ma Rouer was surprised, and smiled knowingly, I have no chance, and you also have no chance, no surprise.

only……

"Grandfather, King Jin is obviously satisfied with me. Why, you want to give Huier the chance?" Ma Zhier's face was deformed in anxiety, and there was still a delicate 13-year-old lady.

Ma Chengzu sneered, "It's been too long since you've been away from the capital, you children even forgot who you belong to."

"The door..." Ma Zhi'er's body softened, that's right, she is just the daughter of a concubine, so what qualifications does she have to be a concubine of a prince, not even a concubine.

"The King of Jin personally said this. I don't want to get married at all." Ma Chengzu looked at the crowd coldly. If he relied on his previous temperament, he would not have to explain so much at all, but the few years of rural life made them They forgot everything in the capital, including the marriage.

Ma Min'er didn't know the connection between these big figures. As for her two cousins, she was expected to be busy fetching water from a bamboo basket and nothing else. There are considerations, and they all have a strong purpose. There is a saying that businessmen can't get up early without profit, and the same is true for these dignitaries.

As for taking a concubine and having some romantic affairs, yes, there are a lot of them, but for King Jin, one, he has no intention of elegance at the moment, and two, Ma Chengzu, the former emperor's rigidity, he has personally experienced After all, how could he touch his granddaughter at will?

Either he made a move, and he gave the side concubine the position. It can be seen that he not only respected Ma Chengzu, but also laid a heavy burden on his way to seize the throne.

Harvesting rice, planting wheat, and planting brassicas, more than a month has passed in a blink of an eye, and before I know it, the cold winter has arrived!
With the king of Jin going south, the martial law in the northern prefectures became less tight, and Ma Miner's business flourished again, and by the end of the year, the profit was actually quite large.

Hey, Ma Miner is still in the mood to make money?Men are about to be abducted by others, hurry up and chase after them!
Hehe... Don't worry, someone has already expressed his opinion on a dark and stormy night that he will not marry unless she is the only one to give her reassurance.

Although I don't know how many variables there will be in the future, at least at this moment, Ma Miner's heart is settled. After another year, she is only 14 years old, and it is too early to think about these things.

It was Xia Zhen who listened to her words. During the winter flooding period, he either fought wars or asked the local government to cooperate in cleaning up the river. He was so busy that he didn't see anyone all winter.

Ma Min'er, who was at leisure, couldn't help thinking about him sometimes, thinking, where is this guy now?

Feng Jiangyi always pays attention to the movements of the capital and the King of Jin. This winter, Ma Chengzu has become a frequent visitor to Ma Miner's house, often coming to him to play chess, chat, and discuss the situation in the capital.

The continuous rain in the south brought the war between King Zhao and the new emperor into a stalemate, and even because the king of Jin went south, the new emperor had to dispatch manpower to prevent the king of Jin from approaching the capital.

It can be said that Longxiang was trapped front and back, and he was attacked from the front and back.

Seeing that the cold spring receded, March became warmer, and April was warm, and large tracts of brassicas covered the slopes of the paths, golden and beautiful.

Fu Xiaoyou looked up at the sky worriedly, "Er Niang, I heard that it has been raining in the south for more than a month."

"Well, I know, I'm worried about this big piece of rapeseed."

"Er Niang, this clip is small and slender, how much oil can it pump?" Fu Xiaoyou watched the flowers gradually recede, and the clip had produced brassicas, but he still didn't believe that this thing could squeeze oil.

Ma Min'er clasped her hands together, "I hope the rainy season will be later, so that we can harvest rapeseed and wheat."

God seems to be doing well, so the villagers in Xiaowang Village harvested the rapeseed, and harvested the rapeseed oil that they could not eat for several years. They were very surprised, "I didn't expect the oil yield rate of the small and thin seeds to be so high?"

Fu Xiaoyou no longer has doubts, "Er Niang, we will plant again next year."

"Ha ha……"

As for varnish, Ma Miner's family was very soft on collecting money, but when the wheat was harvested, the rain began to fall intermittently.

Even after harvesting and robbing, the wheat was still a bit damp. Ma Miner led everyone to dry it in a pit, "It's the only way to do it. Dry a little every day to prevent them from getting moldy. You can grab them in one season."

"Er Niang is right." Father Shi turned to the outside, "The seedlings have been planted, and in autumn, the harvest will be unreal."

"Father, the situation here is pretty good. The little general has dug through a few dry riverbeds. It's been raining for almost a month, and the embankment hasn't been flooded yet."

"It's really true." Father Shi smiled gratifyingly, and said again: "Your father's wedding day is coming soon, I hope that day will be fine, and let your father welcome his new wife happily."

"Yeah, I hope so!"

In the county town of Pingding, the Wu Xu family looked outside the shop again, angrily said: "Why does the sky seem to be leaking, the rain won't stop even if it stops."

The little girl echoed: "That's right, what about the big lady getting married!"

"I want you to talk too much here." Wu Xu glanced at the little girl, "Keep an eye on the shop, I'll take a look at the back."

The little girl shrank her head, made a ghost behind the shopkeeper, sat inside the counter, and sighed: "It rains every day, and there is no business."

Mrs. Wu Xu went to the place where the eldest lady kept the dowry, looked through the damp makeup, and reached out to feel it, "Although there is no water on it, it's all damp, which is not good." He hurried to the stove and closed the stove door again. Open it up a bit to dry out the moisture in the room and keep the dowry from getting damp.

In Mo's mansion, Mrs. Liu was cursing again in the living room, "Everyone thinks I'm a dead person, it's raining all over the place, I don't work, I eat my food for nothing, get out and clean the yard quickly, Clean up the garden."

"Husband... madam, is it raining lightly outside?"

"You also know that when it rains lightly, people will be drenched to death. Hurry up and get out, hurry up..." Liu Shi almost stretched out her thick hand to hit someone.

Qin Hong had been waiting for his wife to talk about the preparations for the big wedding, and when there was a chance to speak, she turned around in a fit of anger and went back to the yard.

Seeing her come in angrily, Mo Wanyi asked, "Didn't you say anything again?"

Qin Hong nodded, "Yeah." She shed tears aggrieved, "Mistress, if it wasn't for the fear of others gossip, I really want to have a wedding in Madam's other village."

Mo Wanyi put down the work she was doing, and said with vigor, "I've been through this for so long, and I don't care about these few days anymore."

"But Ma'am, step-wife's wedding post, wedding banquet, etc. are not prepared, and there are less than ten days left, how can we make it in time?"

"Forget it, let her go." Mo Wanyi lowered her head and started sewing again.

"Miss, don't do it, it will hurt your eyes."

"But if I don't do it, what can I do?" I can't get involved in anything about the wedding, so why just sit and think about it?It hurts the body even more.

When Ma Min'er returned home, shopkeeper Peng from the town came over, "Little boss, I heard you were looking for me?"

"That's right, Uncle Peng, my father is getting married in a few days, and the family doesn't have enough staff, so please ask Aunt Peng to come over and help out for a few days."

"Little boss, you are too polite, you should." Shopkeeper Peng smiled and said: "I have already prepared all the seafood and dry goods that the big boss wants for the wedding, and some special mountain delicacies have also been collected."

"Thank you, Shopkeeper Peng." Ma Qifeng nodded in satisfaction.

The light rain was falling, but it didn't affect the enthusiasm of Xiaowang villagers to join in the fun. Shenhou'er brought the last batch of furniture ordered by Ma's house, and the farmers who came to watch stood under the light rain, commenting happily.

"What kind of cabinet is this, it looks simple and practical?"

"It's called a custom-made closet, and it's installed on the wall." Shen Hou'er replied proudly.

"Won't it fall?"

"How did it fall, you just talk nonsense."

"Haha, I haven't seen it before, so I'm worried."

"How many things have you never seen?"

……

The villagers followed Shenhou'er into Ma's house, and took the opportunity to visit Ma's courtyard and wing rooms. The group lowered their heads and whispered, "This courtyard looks magnificent from the outside, and it's also magnificent from the inside."

"Of course, Mr. Ma has a lot of business outside."

"I heard that the daughter is taking care of it."

"Isn't it? I didn't expect having a daughter to be so useful."

Father Shi continued, "You also treat your daughter as a treasure, and raise it like a boy, and I promise to make money for you."

"Oh, daddy, the girl can help me earn money for a few years, but by then it won't be for others."

"Tsk tsk, so don't even think about having such a grand house in your life."

"Father, look at what you said, the son is the same!"

"Then let your son earn it."

Hee hee... Everyone laughed and couldn't think of going on. Even if they tried hard to cultivate boys, no one would be able to make a daughter of Mr. Ma. Who would let them be the descendants of the former emperor's master? Their ancestors are all mud legs. The foundation is far worse.

The place that needs to be reorganized in the house has been tidied up, and all kinds of ingredients for the wedding banquet have been prepared, and now it's time to welcome people.

"Father, are you nervous?" Ma Min'er joked.

"There are a bunch of children, they are all old men, why not be nervous?" Ma Qifeng gave his daughter a look, don't think he doesn't know, the child joked himself again.

"Haha..." Ma Min'er's eyebrows twitched, "Father, you are more flavorful than little fresh meat. You are a mature and charming uncle. How many little ladies are staring at you!"

"Do you want to be beaten?" Ma Qifeng stretched out his hand to hit her, and the daughter ran away with a smile, and ran to the door, "Aunt Guo, you are here!"

"Yes!" Mrs. Guo Li glanced at the angry big boss, feeling sore in her heart, "I'll come over and ask if there is anything I can help."

"Yes, Aunt Guo, but not today, can you come over the day after tomorrow?"

"can."

"Thank you, Aunt Guo."

"Second Niang is too polite."

Ma Min'er said: "Aunt Guo, I have already brought a letter to Brother Daping, and we will have a wedding wine together then."

"Okay, okay!" Guo Lishi smiled vigorously, "I don't have anything to do today, so I'll go back first."

"Okay, I'll see Aunt Guo off."

"No, no, you are busy." Guo Lishi turned around and left in a hurry.

Ma Min'er glanced at her father, they could see what Guo Li was thinking, but...

Ma Qifeng lowered his head and sat on the chair without saying a word.

Ma Min'er turned to him, "Father, let's pray that she can also find a good husband who knows both cold and hot."

"Yes." Ma Qifeng nodded, "Your Aunt Guo is a good person, and a good person should be rewarded."

"Yes, good people should be rewarded."

But marriage and life are not just because people are good enough to be together, Ma Min'er said: "I'm off to work."

"Go."

In the Mo mansion, Mo Huaien has been urging Liu to prepare various matters for his daughter's wedding, but the results were not satisfactory. He was so angry that he did it himself, sent wedding stickers to the housekeeper, ordered the ingredients for the wedding banquet, and other trivial matters.

Mo Shaolin came back two days before his sister's big wedding, and found that his father was taking care of it, and his depressed mood finally healed: "Sister, I have read it, and my father prepared it very well."

"Brother, treat Dad better in the future."

"Well, I see." Mo Shaolin was a little sad, "Sister, I hope you marry a good man so that you can live a happy life."

"Then you can live a happy life. I heard Mrs. Wen say that even if you are in love, there are always some things in life that are not satisfactory. You have to be happy to live well."

"Sister, is Mrs. Wen's wife?"

Mo Wanyi waited, "Yes."

"That's good, and I can say something intimate to my sister."

"I heard from Mrs. Wen that the Ma family asked her to come here often." Mo Wanyi, who had a gloomy face, always felt happy when she talked about the Ma family.

"The Ma family has a heart."

Whether it is good or bad, the eighth day of August is indeed a good day. Even the rain that has been raining for many days has stopped, and the sun is shining. Although the weather is hot, it brings hope to people who have been raining for more than two months.

In the yard of Ma's house, everything that needs to be prepared has been prepared. In the yard of the kitchen, several long chopping boards are filled with all kinds of dishes, just waiting for the auspicious time to be put on the fire.

The sumptuous dishes attracted the children of the village to wander around non-stop. They either peeked quietly, or loudly said that they were going to eat the dish on the table. It was very lively.

In the front yard, the villagers sat and stood, waiting for the noon banquet to have a big meal, but at this moment, they were watching the groom go to pick up the bride.

Ma Qifeng, who is getting married for the second time, should be very calm according to reason. For some reason, this big wedding is more grand and grand than the first time. It looks deserted, like now...

Through the crowd, Ma Qifeng looked at his sons and daughters. The eldest son was helping him entertain guests, the eldest daughter was taking care of various matters, the younger son was chatting and laughing with the neighbors, and the younger daughter was entertaining the aunt and daughter-in-law with a kind face.

How can he be loved by his children, even if he finds a stepmother for them, they will all be happy, lift their robes, lift their feet and lightly jump on the tall horse to welcome the bride, Ling Niang, believe me, children It must be very happy.

(End of this chapter)