Rise From the Humble

Smoke curls from the kitchen, chickens crow and dogs bark; the sun sets in the west and the sky is filled with red clouds.

The dusk in Xiahe Village is as beautiful as a fairyland. You will never get tired of it no matter how many times you watch it.

Zhu Ping'an returned to Xiahe Village from Rich Man Li's house in the setting sun. He heard a commotion and noise before he reached the door of his house. From a distance, he saw that there were many villagers surrounding his door.

What's wrong?

Zhu Pingan walked over with doubts. When the villagers watching the excitement at home saw Zhu Pingan coming, they all said hello and made way for Zhu Pingan. Zhu Ping'an also responded one by one and walked in through the road that the villagers left.

Then I saw my grandparents, uncle, and family in front of my house. My mother, Chen, and my father Zhu were also there. My mother, Chen, looked a little unhappy.

The uncle's family was making a noise, but it wasn't with his own family.

After Zhu Pingan said hello to his grandparents, he walked to his parents, looked at the noisy uncle's family, and then looked at the villagers who were full of booing and laughing at jokes, and went to the noisy uncle's family to persuade them.

"Uncle, aunt, and Brother Jun, why are you standing at the door? Go inside. If you have anything to do, let's sit down and have a cup of tea to talk about it."

As the saying goes, family ugliness should not be publicized. Even if the family is separated, there is not a single word of praise in it.

The eldest aunt is teaching Zhu Pingjun to work hard and doesn't want to go in. The uncle listened to Zhu Pingjun's persuasion and nodded politely. The grandmother said something to the eldest aunt, and then the eldest aunt took Zhu Pingjun's arm and followed Grandma entered Zhu Ping'an's house.

As the uncle's family entered Zhu Ping'an's house, the onlookers all said hello to Chen and others and went home.

Zhu Ping'an followed his parents to the last home he entered. When he got home, he found that his uncle's family was still arguing among themselves in the house, and no one could stop them.

From the quarrel of the uncle's family, Zhu Pingan generally understood what was going on. It was mainly about the internal disputes in the family caused by the marriage proposal to Zhu Pingjun. A few days ago, a matchmaker found the eldest aunt and wanted to tell Zhu Pingjun A marriage affair. It is said that the woman's family is not bad, the woman's father is still a scholar, and the family still has a lot of fertile land. He lived a very prosperous life. The eldest aunt was very happy when she heard it, but she didn't agree immediately. When she found her uncle and talked about it, the uncle heard that the woman's father was a scholar. Naturally, I am also very happy. Having a scholar-in-law will benefit me a lot in the future.

In addition, these days, the uncle and aunt are overwhelmed by the happy events of Zhu Ping'an's family, and finally something good happens to their own family. Look, it's so embarrassing for the scholar's family to take the initiative to marry him. This is a high achievement. Both the uncle and the aunt were very satisfied, and the grandparents also agreed. However, Zhu Pingjun didn't think he was right, so he just didn't agree.

In ancient times, they paid attention to the matchmaker's words and the orders of the parents. The uncle and aunt agreed to the marriage in their parents' names. Even if the parents ordered, Zhu Pingjun's cooperation was required. However, this guy refused to cooperate and didn't agree, which led to this noisy scene.

"Jun'er, just listen to my mother's advice and follow Matchmaker Wang to take the money." The eldest aunt advised her earnestly.

"If you don't want to go to Nacai, you won't go!"

Zhu Pingjun raised his head, folded his arms, tapped his feet on the ground, and his whole body swayed.

Nacai is similar to today's blind date, where the man is required to go to the woman's home to deliver gifts. In fact, it is to let the woman's family see how the boy is, and give the woman's family a chance to observe. Of course, at this time, the girl often hides somewhere and watches secretly. This link is very important. It is a key link for the success of a marriage. If the boy performs well in this link, he will be appreciated by his future father-in-law, and the other links after that will be passed smoothly. On the contrary, if you do not perform well, then there will be no chance in the following links, so boys should be active in this link.

Zhu Pingjun was so resolute in not accepting it, so the marriage would not come true. The uncle and aunt were looking forward to this marriage to make the eldest family proud, so they naturally acted hard and soft on Zhu Pingjun.

"Jun'er, how could mother hurt you? The woman's family is doing well. Her father is a talented master, and there are dozens of acres of fertile land in the family. If you marry this girl, you will have no worries about food and clothing in the future. Mother has criticized it , you are a Wenqu star, maybe you should be here, your father-in-law is a scholar, and he can also tutor you in your studies, and you will be the number one in the future." The eldest aunt persuaded Zhu Pingjun earnestly.

"No, mother, you are saying that I am the star of Wenqu, why should I rely on them? Haven't you heard that mountains will fall when relying on mountains, and water will flow when relying on water, and you have to rely on yourself."

Zhu Pingjun shook his legs, his face was full of confidence, and his spirits were high.

Wenquxing descends to earth?

Looking at Zhu Pingjun, who was dangling his legs, with high spirits and a face full of confidence that he could ride a tiger down a mountain and catch a dragon in the water, Zhu Pingan felt a group of mud horses whizzing past his head. In other words, when I visited Mrs. Sun last time, Mrs. Sun was still lamenting that Zhu Pingjun's rotten wood was indestructible, and the village's evaluation of Zhu Pingjun was quite negative.

Listening to Zhu Pingjun talking nonsense: relying on mountains, mountains will fall, relying on water, water will flow, and you have to rely on yourself.

In Zhu Ping'an's heart, he wanted to correct him for no reason: the mountain will fall if you rely on it, the water will run if you rely on it, and you can't do it if you rely on yourself. How good is this! ! ! Of course, Zhu Pingan would not say it.

"On your own? You are waiting to drink the northwest wind." The uncle told the truth in a fit of anger.

"Oh, why can't I rely on myself? Isn't it because of me that someone wants to get married to our family this time? My mother just said it, Matchmaker Wang said it herself, saying that the girl took a liking to me at first sight!"

Zhu Pingjun raised his head with pride on his face.

"Then why don't you go?" The uncle looked angry.

"Why should a man be without a wife? I haven't gone on a blind date yet, but the daughter of a scholar's family fell in love with me at first sight. When I go to the examination room next year and pass the exam, I will be selected as a scholar, a scholar, etc. The daughter of a scholar's family"

Zhu Pingjun said, with a look of disdain on his face.

Well, he must have been overwhelmed by the sudden surprise. Zhu Ping'an was a little speechless. Brother Jun took the imperial examination too easily, and said that the imperial examination was like one held by his own family.

Moreover, Zhu Ping'an was still very confused about the matchmaker Wang Matchmaker told Zhu Pingjun. It’s not that I look down on Brother Jun, but a simple analysis of the facts. Brother Jun has accomplished nothing now, and his reputation in the village is not good. His uncle has not passed the exam every year. The woman is from a scholar family, and her family still has dozens of acres of land. You can definitely find better fertile land, but why did you fall in love with Brother Jun at first sight? Love at first sight and so on are all nonsense in novels, especially in the feudal Ming Dynasty, women were raised in boudoir, especially those of scholars. , etiquette must be stricter, then there will be a chance to catch a glimpse of Brother Jun outside, unless

Thinking of this, Zhu Pingan asked his eldest aunt without leaving any trace, "Auntie, did Matchmaker Wang say that the girl fell in love with Brother Jun at first sight?"

When the eldest aunt heard this, she looked proud and said, "That's not good. Matchmaker Wang swore to God that that girl fell in love with your handsome brother at first sight. She also swore that if she told a lie, she would give me ten taels of silver. .”

"Auntie, well, before agreeing to this marriage, you should go and inquire about this girl privately. If it's good, I believe Brother Jun will go." Hearing this, Zhu Ping'an had a strange look on his face, and he wanted to Stop talking.

The matchmaker was trying to cover up everything.

Zhu Ping'an vaguely guessed that the girl from the scholar's family must have a physical problem. If his guess was correct, she might be blind in one eye. Otherwise, you should be able to find something better. Of course, I can't say these words casually. In the Ming Dynasty, a woman's reputation is more important than her life. I can't say unfounded words casually and irresponsibly.

If the uncle's family had agreed hastily and later found out that his new daughter-in-law was blind in one eye when she got home, they would have gone to the matchmaker to reason with her, and the following conversation would probably have happened.

Auntie: "Old Wang, the daughter-in-law you introduced to my Jun'er is blind in one eye! You compensate me for the matchmaker's money and give me an extra ten taels of silver. What you said at the beginning was that if you tell a lie, you will come to me. Ten taels of silver!"

Matchmaker Wang: "One eye is blind."

Auntie: "You lied to us. Why didn't you tell us and give us the money?"

Matchmaker Wang: "Why didn't I tell you? I told you at that time that that girl fell in love with your Jun'er at first sight!"

After Zhu Pingan reminded the eldest aunt in a kind and subtle way, the eldest aunt looked at Zhu Pingan in a strange way, feeling that Zhu Pingan might be jealous that her Jun'er had found a good marriage.

"Um."

So the eldest aunt just dealt with it and didn't pay attention to Zhu Ping'an's words at all. In her heart, she was all about the girl's family.