Chapter 666: Sulfur [Thank you! Bow again! Owe 39k]

Zhou family archery shop backyard,

Zhou Tong stroked his graying beard and said, "At such a young age, he actually uses such large stone locks to exercise. It seems his physical strength is amazing and his talent is outstanding!"

After speaking, Zhou Tong also looked at Xu Zaijing with appreciation.

Xu Zaijing was tall and long-armed, and Zhou Tong could see his physical strength and talent at a glance.

Xu Zaijing nodded to the side to show agreement.

Glancing at Xu Zaijing, Zhou Tong bowed and said, "Here, I would like to thank Fifth Young Master for thinking of this old man."

"But, I won't hide it from Fifth Young Master, whether to accept him as a disciple, this old man still has to go and see for himself."

Hearing this, Zhou Niangzi, who was standing to the side, looked at her father with some resentment.

Xu Zaijing smiled, "It should be, it should be."

Zhou Tong's meaning was to first see what the child's character was like.

If the character is not good, the greater the ability, the greater the harm.

After saying a few more idle words, Xu Zaijing stood up to say goodbye.

Zhou Tong and Zhou Niangzi sent them to the entrance of the shop. Looking at Xu Zaijing's back as he went away, Zhou Niangzi said, "Father, if that child's character is not good, you really won't accept him as a disciple? Wouldn't that offend the Young Master of Marquis Yongyi's Mansion? You should accept him into your sect first and then consider teaching him, why say it out loud!"

Zhou Tong carried his hands behind his back and shook his head, "Ugly words are said first, everything is easy to handle. If he really has a low character, should your father teach him or not? If I teach him poorly, do you think others won't see it?"

Zhou Niangzi nodded and said, "Hmm! Father is still thoughtful."

Chai Mansion,

Autumn Sound Garden,

In the warm room,

The three maids, including Miss Yun Mu, performed their duties. Some took the hand-warming stove, some untied the cloak ties on Chai Zhengzheng's chest, and some went to the side to serve tea and drinks.

Fuyi held the hand-warming stove in one hand, took the cloak handed over by Miss Yun Mu with the other, and turned to place it aside.

Miss Yun Mu followed Chai Zhengzheng, stepped on the carpet, and walked toward the inner room.

Sitting on the chair behind the table, Chai Zhengzheng said, "Bring the incense-burning items over."

"Yes, Da Niangzi."

After Miss Yun Mu put the things away, Zhiteng also brought the warming drink over.

Looking at Chai Zhengzheng, who was lowering her head, Miss Yun Mu whispered:

"Da Niangzi, do you want to find someone to ask what Fifth Young Master Xu went to the Zhou family for today?"

Chai Zhengzheng, who was making incense with her head lowered, paused and shook her head.

Miss Yun Mu saw this scene, and there was an unexpected look in her eyes.

Raising her eyes to look at the maid, Chai Zhengzheng smiled, "I thought about it all the way."

Hearing this, Miss Yun Mu to the side raised her eyebrows with a smile on her face.

"He is the legitimate son of the Marquis's Mansion. Going to the Zhou family with gifts today, one can tell that there is something to ask for."

"If it's not the archery advice I guessed, then it is..."

Looking at Chai Zhengzheng, who had only said half of her words, Miss Yun Mu asked suspiciously, "Then what is it?"

Chai Zhengzheng said, "Think about the three disciples of the Old Proprietor of the Zhou family?"

Miss Yun Mu's eyes turned, and she had a look of realization: "Oh! It is..."

Subsequently, Chai Zhengzheng, who was making incense, didn't know what she thought of, lowered her head and smiled lightly.

In the afternoon,

The sun slanted west severely and was about to set.

Near Quyuan Street,

A small courtyard along the street,

"Dong dong qiang! Dong dong qiang!"

The sound of gongs and drums sounded outside the door.

Yuan Feixing in the courtyard looked at Qingcao suspiciously and said, "Sister, what's going on outside the door?"

Qingcao, who was packing her bags, smiled and shook her head, "It's nothing, just some children from the families of the Marquis's old friends who are playing 'Da Ye Hu'."

As she spoke, Qingcao took a string of copper coins from her sleeve and walked toward the courtyard gate.

Soon, after a burst of shouting thanks, Qingcao walked back with a smile.

Glancing at her little brother in the courtyard, Qingcao smiled and entered the room with him.

Inside the room,

Qingcao tied the bag and said, "Little brother, being an apprentice in the Li family jewelry shop is something many people can't ask for. You must cherish it when you go."

"Hmm! Sister, I thought I could spend the New Year with you," Yuan Feixing said with a dejected tone.

Qingcao shook her head, "You are not young anymore. Learning a skill to support yourself is the most important thing! With a skill, it's also easy to find a good wife."

"Don't let others know about what happened in your hometown, and don't keep it in your heart, you know?"

"Hmm!" Yuan Feixing nodded heavily.

"Ta ta! Qingcao, are you ready?" Qingyun's voice came from outside the door.

"Brother Qingyun, ready!"

Qingcao said, carrying the bag and walking toward the door.

During the holidays,

Xu Zaijing got up half an hour later than usual,

And often took the three maids to the horse racing track together. He practiced martial arts, and the three maids practiced sword dancing.

During the day, he either read books or finished his homework in the cold study.

During this period, he also heard that,

The apology delegation sent by Northern Liao carried more than a dozen carts of compensation gifts and had already moved into the post house.

On the day of the New Year, which was the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month,

Qingyun took Alan and Xushu to Yichun Lane to bring back the New Year pictures and peach charms that had been ordered to the Marquis's Mansion.

Later, the Lu family sent a few more carts of fireworks.

After Sun Shi kept one cart, the rest were distributed to relatives.

Six or seven days later,

It was New Year's Eve,

The city of Bianjing was decorated with lanterns and colored streamers everywhere.

In the afternoon,

The common people returned home one after another,

Except for the vicinity of a few main restaurants which were still lively, no one could be seen on other streets.

The sky had not yet completely darkened,

All kinds of fireworks and firecrackers began to sound sporadically.

After dark,

All kinds of sounds inside and outside Bianjing began to grow louder.

Huihe Lane,

Duke of Lian's Mansion,

On a two-story wooden building in the inner courtyard,

"Dong!"

A large, bright, and loud firework exploded over the Imperial City. The moment it exploded, it illuminated Xu Zaijing and Lu Zezong on the second floor.

This year, Xu Zaijing was not grounded by the Emperor. After watching the Great Nu ceremony with his sworn brother, he rode his horse around the city and then came to the Lu family.

"Wow! It's really beautiful!"

Lu Zezong exclaimed sincerely.

Before Xu Zaijing could speak, Lu Zezong said again, "Sworn Brother, what do you think these fireworks would look like if they were fired horizontally on the battlefield?"

Xu Zaijing turned his head to look at his sworn brother and smiled, "Zong Ge'er, what do you think?"

Lu Zezong thought for a while and said, "Hmm, hurting people, scaring horses, and also setting fires!"

Xu Zaijing nodded and praised, "Not bad!"

"Sworn Brother, I heard from Grandfather that the sulfur used by our Great Zhou is bought from the Wa country. Is this true?"

The Duke of Lian's Mansion had deep roots with the Ministry of Works, so they naturally understood the ins and outs.

Xu Zaijing was stunned and smiled, "Naturally it is true!"

"One-third of the huge fleets of our relatives, the Pan family and the Bai family, are specifically for the maritime route to the Wa country."

"Many of the large ships are loaded with sulfur."

"Oh!" Lu Zezong nodded, "Why buy it from the Wa country?"

Xu Zaijing smiled. Just as he was about to say that the sulfur from the Wa country was of good quality and high purity, which was convenient for making gunpowder and traditional Chinese medicine, Lu Zezong said again, "Why not occupy the Wa country? Wouldn't that mean we wouldn't have to buy it?"

Hearing this,

Xu Zaijing looked at his sworn brother dumbfounded, then patted him on the shoulder and said, "Zong Ge'er, you... you are still a young man!"

"Sworn Brother, what are you talking about?" Lu Zezong asked.

Xu Zaijing smiled, "Nothing."

At this time,

The Lu family's nanny walked up the stairs and smiled, "Young Duke, Fifth Young Master, the Old Madam asks if you are still setting off the fireworks in the courtyard. If not, come into the house for dinner."

"Setting off, setting off!" Lu Zezong shouted, pulling Xu Zaijing's sleeve.

After playing for a while,

Xu Zaijing and Lu Zezong returned to the house with a smile, smelling of fireworks and gunpowder.

South of Huihe Lane,

South Lecture Hall Lane,

Rong Mansion,

This year, Rong Xian was not at home, and without the main force to set off firecrackers and fireworks, the courtyard was somewhat deserted.

In the warm main room,

"Wuwuwu!" There was the sound of crying.

"It's the New Year, why are you crying here!" Marquis Hou Fu Chang frowned and said angrily.

Marquis Hou Fu Chang's Madam wiped her tears with a handkerchief:

"Er Lang has been out of my belly for so many years and has never left my side! Now he is thousands of miles away in the south, and I don't know how he is doing."

"Is he cold? Is he freezing or hungry!"

Rong Feiyan squeezed out a smile and said, "Mother, the weather in the south is warm; Brother won't be frozen."

Marquis Hou Fu Chang's Madam's crying stopped, "Yan'er, is it true?"

Rong Feiyan nodded.

"That's good. Why hasn't your sister-in-law come over to eat yet?" Marquis Hou Fu Chang's Madam asked.

"Sister-in-law said that the niece and nephew are always crying..." Before Rong Feiyan finished speaking,

Marquis Hou Fu Chang's Madam frowned and said, "Aren't there nannies? Does she still need to do it as an official's wife? Yan'er, why don't you go and see?"

Rong Feiyan pursed her lips, nodded, and said, "Yes, Mother."

Putting on a cloak for cold protection, Rong Feiyan took the maid out of the room.

Today, the courtyard was decorated with lanterns, so there was no need to carry lanterns specifically.

"Dong."

A blast sounded in the distance,

The Rong family courtyard lit up for a moment,

Rong Feiyan looked up, and over the roof, she could only see the corners of the fireworks in the Imperial City.

As she got closer to Rong Xian's courtyard, the crying of an infant reached Rong Feiyan's ears.

When she walked to the door along the veranda, there were no maids standing outside.

"Cry, cry, cry! This evil obstacle only knows how to cry!" Dou Shi's voice came from inside the room.

"Madam, if it doesn't work, add a nanny! One nanny for two infants is really..." The maid's voice came.

"Add what? It's better to starve this evil obstacle born by the lowly maid to death!"

"Madam, it won't work. If something like this really happens, I don't know what the capital will say about you!"

Seeing Xi Bu to the side glanced at Rong Feiyan, whose expression was uncertain, waited for a moment, and then shouted, "Madam!"

Rong Feiyan pretended not to hear the conversation just now, hung a smile on her face, and walked directly toward the room.

After entering the room,

Dou Shi, whose face was ugly, squeezed out a smile at Rong Feiyan.

Rong Feiyan frowned, looked at her howling nephew with some disgust, and said, "Sister-in-law, why is this illegitimate one crying so loudly! Don't disturb my niece."

"It's okay..." Dou Shi smiled.

Rong Feiyan nodded, "That's good. Sister-in-law, Father and Mother invite you to eat. Let's..."

"Oh! Good! Let the nanny come over, hold these two little ones, and let's go to eat and keep watch for the New Year."

The sister-in-law returned to the courtyard where Marquis Hou Fu Chang and his wife were.

Inside the house,

Outside, Dou Shi, who took off her cloak, took the children and maids to Marquis Hou Fu Chang and his wife first.

Rong Feiyan, who followed behind, moved much slower.

Ningxiang to the side looked at Rong Feiyan and whispered, "Da Niangzi, looking at Madam's fierce appearance, why don't we find a nanny for the little young master? If not, let's hold him in our courtyard to raise."

Seeing Xi Bu looked at Rong Feiyan with worry, frowned, and lowered her voice, "Ningxiang, what are you talking about? The Marquis and Madam are both here, and the Da Niangzi is still unmarried. What do you mean by holding him in our courtyard to raise?! If this is done, where will the Dou family's face be?"

"Oh..." Ningxiang was embarrassed.

"Even if you can't stand it, the Marquis and Madam should speak, and he should be raised at the Madam's knees," Seeing Xi Bu continued.

Rong Feiyan took a deep breath, nodded, and said, "You are right, let's go, let's go over."

Hearing this, Seeing Xi Bu breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly followed.

Jiying Lane,

Sheng Mansion,

Since the eldest branch came to Bianjing, the Sheng family has been very lively every New Year.

In front of the main hall in the front courtyard,

The boys and girls of the two branches gathered together, watching Changwu and Changfeng set off firecrackers and fireworks in the courtyard.

"Sixth Younger Sister, the cart of fireworks sent by Eldest Sister looks different from the ones bought..."

Before Rulan finished speaking, Changfeng covered his ears and ran toward this side quickly.

Then there was a burst of firecrackers.

"Third Brother, let me light one, let me light one!" Pinlan to the side reached out to Changfeng.

"Here."

Changfeng smiled and handed the burning incense stick in his hand.

After Dongrong set up the fireworks, Pinlan rushed over excitedly.

After retreating a few times, Pinlan lit the fuse.

When she ran back quickly, the bright fireworks sprayed out and illuminated the courtyard.

Beside,

Sheng Changzhen held Wei Shuyi's hand, glanced at the fireworks, and then looked at his little mother's face.

Wei Shuyi, who noticed the gaze, reached out and touched her son's somewhat cold face, and smiled, "Is it beautiful?"

Changzhen looked at Wei Shuyi's eyes illuminated by the fireworks, rubbed her warm palm, and nodded heavily, "Hmm!"

When Minglan and Rulan were also talking and wanted to light firecrackers.

Sheng Hong and Sheng Wei stood beside their respective mothers.

Looking at the rising fireworks, Sheng Wei raised his voice, "Mother, our son-in-law has said that you and the aunt are old and it is not good to smell this too much. Let's go in!"

Sheng Hong, who met the eyes of Lin Qingshuang beside Seeing Mo Lan in the courtyard, turned around after hearing this, "Brother Wei is right. Mother, health is paramount. Shall we go to the backyard?"

"Good!"

The two old madams nodded with a smile.

Returned to the backyard,

It was much quieter around,

The smell of gunpowder from firecrackers and fireworks was almost non-existent.

Sheng Hong and Sheng Wei accompanied the two old madams to chat in the room in the backyard, while the maids and nannies were busy serving food.

After playing for a while,

Everyone returned to the inner courtyard.

After sitting down at the large dining table,

Sheng Hong suggested with a smile that the children should recite a poem at the table.

Under the refusal, Changwu stood up first, stammered and recited a poem, and then sat back in his chair.

Sheng Hong looked at his son with a smile, "Changbai, you come!"

Wang Ruofu looked at Changbai with hope, and Rulan to the side said, "Mother, are you still pinning your hopes on Pei Erge?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Wang Ruofu turned her head and glared at Rulan.

Rulan curled her lips, "Pei Erge won't change; he will definitely still..."

Before she finished speaking, Changbai cleared his throat, bowed slightly to the elders at the table, and said loudly, "Desiring to know the ending year, the youth can still be praised!"

When Changbai recited the first sentence, Rulan looked at Wang Ruofu with a "See, I told you" expression, which made Wang Ruofu curl her lips endlessly.

Changzhen, who only showed a head at the table, nodded repeatedly like a little adult, not knowing what he understood.

The first day of the New Year,

Xu Zaijing went to pay New Year's greetings to families near Huihe Lane as he did the year before last,

And naturally saw many young ladies from many families.

When entering the palace from Donghua Gate with the Lu family,

Lu Zezong pulled Xu Zaijing, who was talking to the Lu son-in-law, and said, "Sworn Brother, Little Uncle, look quickly."

Xu Zaijing looked not far away as requested, and saw the Marquis of Xiangyang standing in front with a smug look, followed by Qi Heng, who had a bitter face and was holding a child in each hand.

Moreover, the Marquis of Xiangyang walked very slowly, bowing from time to time to talk to the noble families nearby.

Seeing Xu Zaijing's group, he even waved to this side with a smile.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 667 =====