Great Tang Idyll

Chapter 127 A Few Affairs In The Hazy Night

The night was hazy, and the lanterns reflected in the water. Illuminating crimson spots on the pavilion, the starry sky in winter.

At Between The Water and Clouds, looking down from the window on the second floor, there was no ice in the artificial lake. The family of the old man who came here a few days ago have arrived too. At first, they thought it was strange. Later, during the day, they saw someone use a charcoal brazier to heat up the surface of the lake, and for areas that were slightly frozen, the ice would be picked up by someone.

At this time, a few lanterns were hung on boats and placed in the lake to illuminate the surrounding, complimenting the lonely pavilion in the middle of the lake, and contrasting with the starry sky in winter. The scenery looked hazy and dreamy.

A little girl of 16 or 17 years old, with double buns on her head, had her small hands on the window pane as she tiptoed her feet and looked down. She blinked her large brilliant eyes that were brimming with curiosity.

"Grandpa, look, look, there are lanterns below, it's so beautiful." The little girl freed up a hand and pointed her arm straight down. She turned her head and said excitedly to the old man.

The old man already knew about the scenery below, but he still stood up, walked behind the little girl and looked at the place where his granddaughter pointed. He touched his granddaughter's head, and said, "I see it, I see it, I think it's good, let's look at this more often in the future."

"Father, are you really going to retire?" After hearing the old man speak, a man who was sitting beside the table asked.

"Kang'er, it's not that I want to retire. This body is not as good as the days go by. Continuing to stay in that position will harm the country and people. It's better to find a place with a good view and enjoy the scenery during leisure time." When the old man spoke, he sounded a little helpless. Seeing his granddaughter looking up at him with a puzzled face, he said to his granddaughter:

"I didn't know which place to go to before, but now I know. It's this place here at the Between The Water And Clouds. Looking at the scenery, and then tasting the delicious food. You can watch the place all day in the future. I don't think they would charge me too much money. The little girl of the Wang family, don't you think so?"

His last few words were directed to Aunt Wang, who was beside him. Aunt Wang didn't say anything, but Da'zao and Xiao'zao, who were serving next to them, nodded together. Xiao'zao was quick to speak, "My lord is correct. In the future, my lord does not have to pay a single coin. Would the Zhang family dare not obey?"

"Hehe, little girl, you must not let the Zhang family hear you speak like this, or you will be driven away. Today's Zhang family is different from the past. Tomorrow, I'll let you see those kids. That way, after the New Year passes, you will have stories to tell when you return."

The old man did not think that the head of the Zhang family would still be as afraid of things as before. Judging by what the Zhang family had done in the past two years, if it was not the head of the family who was capable, then there must have been an expert behind him instructing him.

Aunt Wang didn't think the Zhang family was anything special, and spoke from the side, "My lord, even if the Zhang family is stronger than before, and has a seventh-rank official, they are still nothing in the eyes of other people. When he goes to the Capital next year, won't he still have to stay with the Wang family? Otherwise, who will help him hold the poetry and wine party?"

The old man looked at the manager sent by the Wang family this time, which was Aunt Wang. A look of disappointment appeared in his eyes. He shook his head and said, "If you still think so, don't go to see the children tomorrow. Look at how the Zhang and Wang manors managed their affairs. Is this achievable by ordinary people?"

Aunt Wang didn't dare to contradict the old man, so she could only mumble in a low voice, "It's just a manor. How is it possible that they have great skills? Just a mere 100 residents, and they want to reach the sky?"

Hearing the voice, the old man didn't want to say more. He turned his head and said to his son, "Kang'er, you can also go and see tomorrow. You just got here today, so you still don't know what the Zhang and Wang manors are like. Learn from your cousin. Go hide at Little Luo'shui, and learn about the pier."

"Father, I understand, if the Zhang and Wang manors are different from other places, the people behind them must not be ordinary." The man immediately stood up and said respectfully.

Seeing that his son was so sensible, the old man finally showed a satisfied smile and sat down again. He looked at the hot pot that was still gurgling on the table. He picked up a roll of mutton slice with chopsticks, blanched it inside the pot, and then he dipped it in a sauce. He placed it in his mouth and after he finished eating it, he said,

"This way of eating is really different from other places. The mutton melts in your mouth, and the meat carries other aromas. You can't taste the gaminess of the mutton too. I don't think it will take too many days for this method of eating to become widespread."

"What my lord said is correct. Concubine I have lost a few teeth; I originally thought it was not easy to eat this meat, but I didn't expect that after putting it in my mouth and chewing it a few times, I was able to swallow it already. The chefs at Between The Water And Clouds are also not average." The old lady at the table also blanched a slice and she praised it.

The old man's son immediately blanched two more slices and placed them on the old lady's plate, saying, "Mother, eat as much as you want. This meat is fatty but not greasy, lean but not dry. You should try it."

As he spoke, he gave the old lady another piece of braised pork to the old lady. It was bright red in color, but there was no taste of brown sugar when eaten. White sugar was used to give it a red caramel color. Five layered pork belly meat with three layers of fat was chosen specifically. When the pork was blanched, hawthorn juice was deliberately added in.

The old lady looked at her son, then at her granddaughter, and then at the exuberant atmosphere of the room. She laughed happily, and said to the old man, "Master, I heard that there is tension between the new magistrate of San'shui County and the two Zhang and Wang families. How about you try to persuade them? If the magistrate resorts to using some methods, it will not be good for the Zhang and Wang families."

The old lady was a little worried about the Zhang and Wang families at this time. After all, a magistrate was still somewhat competent.

When she was talking, she looked at the person who was in charge of the Wang family. The meaning was self-evident. Aunt Wang also knew why the old lady was looking at her, but she pretended not to know. On the other hand, Xiao'zao and Da'zao became anxious after hearing her words. They looked at each other but they didn't dare to say anything impulsively.

The old man pondered for a while, and said, "Don't worry, it's New Year's Eve. Who would be so insensible that they would cause trouble for others during this time? After the new year, after Zhang Zhong takes the prefecture exam, he would have the title of a Ju'ren. This place is close to the Capital, so he can participate in the Spring exam this year.

In a few months, as long as nothing happens to the Zhang and Wang families, then with the help of the people in the capital, the manors will have nothing to worry about if he is able to show his competency. "

"Father is right. This place is close to the Capital. Once he has the xiang'gong title that permits him to take the exam, he can immediately rush to the Capital, unlike those who live far away and would probably not arrive at the capital until a year after they obtain the xiang'gong title. If something happens on the way, then it would be even more troublesome. However the ranking of his xiang'gong title can't be too low. Dad, how about you help him come up with a way?"

Kang'er also agreed with him. He planned to help the Zhang family so that if his father really wants to live here later, the Zhang family will take good care of him.

The old man smiled and said, "Kang'er, they don't need my help for this kind of task. If you look at the paintings and calligraphy hanging on the wall, you will realize how much effort the Zhang family has exerted. Before the exam, Zhang Zhong's name will be known by everyone.

The technique for growing vegetables in winter has been handed in. In the future, the people living in cold weather can eat more in winter. The Zhang family does not want any official rewards, so it must be that they're doing this to gain a good reputation. "

Kang'er now knew that the manor had made plans beforehand. Since Zhang Zhong's calligraphy and paintings were hung at the Between The Water and Clouds Restaurant, I imagine that it would be no different at the Little Luo'shui. By promoting him this obviously, even if Zhang Zhong was not that talented, he is still better than those scholars who are unable to get help from others even if they beg.

"Humph! I doubt that Zhang Zhong can get first place in the prefecture exam. There's a first place for each prefecture. How many prefectures are there, and how many first places from recent years will arrive at the capital together? Do they think that the Spring exam is that ordinary?"

That Aunt Wang muttered something again. She seemed to despise Zhang Zhong, who was also Zhang Xiao'bao's father. No matter what happened, she would always make a sarcastic comment. However, it seemed like she had no intention of not eating the dishes on the table. She ate as she nitpicked.

Da'zao and Xiao'zao couldn't intercede, so the two of them could only speak in a low voice.

"Da'zao, you will be able to see the little son tomorrow. What do you think the little son looks like? Will he be silly like Zhang Zhong? Will you be too scared to speak in front of an audience like that?"

Xiao'zao thought carefully about Zhang Zhong's appearance, and tried to place the images of Zhang Xiao'bao and Zhang Zhong on top of each other, and she asked Da'zao, who was next to herself.

Da'zao didn't seem to be as imaginative as Xiao'zao, so she couldn't guess what Zhang Xiao'bao looked like. She shook her head and said, "How would I know. The Young Miss of the Wang family should be very fun? I heard that the two met when they first opened their eyes. They insisted on sticking together, and would cry if they were separated. They have been living at the Zhang house this entire time.

If I had such a person since I was a child it would be great. We could play together, grow up together, and if someone bullied me, he would help me out. I would wash clothing and cook for him, and then...then.... "

As she spoke on, Da'zao couldn't continue. Her voice became lower and lower, and her neck turned red.

When Xiao'zao heard Da'zao's words, she was also stunned. She looked at the night scenery outside. After a while, she reacted and smiled at Da'zao, "Da'zao, did you want to grow up with Er'kui from our household? I know what you're thinking about."

"What nonsense are you saying? I'm talking about the Young Miss of the Wang family.Er'kui is so stupid, I don't like him. What does he have to do with me? I never thought about him.

You don't know this, but last month, he went out to do things with the people in the house, but when he returned, he wanted to catch fish. The river was already frozen, and he fell down. Don't you think he's dumb? And in October, he... "

Da'zao denied what Xiao'zao said, saying that she didn't care about that person, but she began to talk about that person as if she was counting the treasures she owned. Xiao'zao was stunned listening to her.

*

A lot of things always happened at night. In Zhang Xiao'bao's yard, Wang Juan rested her chin on her hand and Zhang Xiao'bao had his eyes open wide while he repeatedly tapped his face with his finger. Neither of them want to sleep today.

As time passed, the servants in the yard hurriedly came to the door, and said to the Shi'liu and Ying'tao who were guarding there, "Go and tell the Young Master and Young Miss that Young Master Li is here."