After the sun rose again, the Zhu family began to get busy.
"Oldest and second oldest, go get everything ready in the kitchen. Take out the rabbits and pheasants that the second oldest caught and cleaned up yesterday."
"Third oldest, sweep the yard again."
"Fourth oldest, go wake up the fourth oldest and ask him to go to the grocery store at the village to buy some snacks, melon seeds, fruits and some wine."
Early in the morning, my grandmother called several daughters-in-law to come and clean up the house.
The ingredients picked yesterday were also processed overnight. Fungus and other wild mushrooms were baked on the stove last night and soaked by my aunt and mother in the morning. The bamboo shoots were also plucked and the other ingredients were processed.
Grandfather rarely wore a blue cloth straight-stitched dress that was 80% new. He was neatly dressed and sat in the middle of the yard smoking a pipe, looking at the door from time to time to listen to the movement.
The straight-stitched gown that my grandfather wore was the main style of men's clothing in the Ming Dynasty. It was a long gown that was cut from top to bottom, with slits on both sides, but the slit in the middle had a hidden hem that covered it. It was one of the more formal clothes for men in the Ming Dynasty.
My great uncle was no longer studying in his room. He was dressed like a student, much more decent than my grandfather, and was pacing in the yard with his hands behind his back.
After a while, my aunt woke up my fourth uncle. My fourth uncle was wearing loose clothes and came out of the room mumbling and laughing.
"Old Fourth, tidy up your clothes. Look at what you look like." When Mr. Zhu saw that my fourth uncle was so careless, he immediately grabbed my fourth uncle and scolded him.
After all, he was my grandmother's favorite youngest son. When my grandmother saw that my grandfather was angry, she immediately came to rescue him.
"Okay, I told the fourth brother's family to call him urgently, you rascal, why don't you pack up quickly, go to the village entrance to buy some snacks, fruits and melon seeds, and get a few pounds of liquor for your father."
Grandmother stuffed a handful of money into the fourth uncle's pocket, and the fourth uncle took it with a smile and stuffed it into his sleeve pocket, repeatedly promising that he would do everything that mother asked.
The eldest brother followed his father and the third uncle to borrow tables and chairs from the neighbors. Although there were two sets of tables and chairs at home, if the great grandfather's family came today, there would be too many people and two sets of tables and chairs would not be enough.
At half past the sun, the sound of horses neighing came from outside, and Grandpa Zhu put down his pipe and walked out like a gust of wind.
"I'm here."
The old man's voice came from outside, and then everyone rushed out, and Zhu Ping'an also squeezed out.
There were three large carriages parked outside, two of which were of the same standard, and one was a larger carriage.
It turned out that not only the great grandfather's family came, but also the great aunt's family. It was very lively. Three large carriages squeezed together to bring the two families here. The two carriages of the same model belonged to the great grandfather's family, and the other larger one belonged to the great aunt's family.
When the great aunt heard that the great grandfather's family was moving to the south to live with the eldest son, she also brought her family to see the great grandfather's family off.
The great grandfather and the great aunt's family were obviously much richer than their own family, and their clothes were more than one level higher. Both families wore the latest styles made of silk. Although the great grandfather's family was engaged in business, the great grandfather was smart and intelligent. After making money from business, the great grandfather went to buy land, bought a lot of land, and spent some more money when registering with the government office, and then naturally became a farmer on the government office's yellow book. If someone objected, the great grandfather would say that I am a landlord, look at how much land I have, what else can I be if not a landlord.
The eldest son of my great grandfather, Zhu Ping'an's great uncle, is doing business in the south. My great aunt is at home with two children to take care of the elderly. The youngest son of my great grandfather, my third uncle, has just started a family and has no children yet.
My aunt is a very enthusiastic and generous old lady. My uncle is like a saw-mouthed gourd and doesn't talk much. His son and daughter are both married. My second uncle has two children, a 12-year-old eldest cousin and a 10-year-old second cousin; my aunt has only one little cousin, who is eight years old this year.
Looking at the clothes of my cousins, the styles and materials are much more novel, and the people who match them are much better looking. Looking at myself, I am so rustic. The only thing Zhu Ping'an can be thankful for is that he doesn't have to wear open-crotch pants, otherwise he will have to hang himself.
The Zhu Family Ancestral Hall was built by the Zhu family after they moved in. Although it does not occupy a large area, it pays great attention to decoration. The whole ancestral hall costs much more than the Zhu family's old house. The ancestor worship was led by the great grandfather. He first read a difficult-to-understand sacrificial text, then burned incense and paper money, and then offered a glass of wine in front of the god. After that, he led his grandfather and the eldest son of his second uncle to put the pork and mutton for the ancestor worship on the altar, chanting and bowing three times and nine times in a very serious manner.
Zhu Pingan followed his brother and cousin, who were led by several uncles to kneel in the yard. Zhu Pingan envied several cousins at this time. They didn't have to follow the ancestor worship, otherwise the delicate girls would definitely get sick from kneeling.
Instead of worshiping the ancestors in such a tedious way, it is better to work hard to bring honor to the family. Of course, Zhu Pingan didn't dare to say these words.
When kneeling on the ground to worship the ancestors, the strange phenomenon appeared again. Zhu Pingan saw the luck again. This time, not only the people, but also the luck pillars appeared above the ancestral hall.
It's really an uncontrollable ability. I have no idea when I can see the luck. I have no clue and it suddenly appears without any defense. The road to free control is long and arduous.
The great grandfather's family and the aunt's family are all covered with white luck, but the strange thing is that there is a strong cyan luck on the white luck column in the Zhu family ancestral hall. This luck occupies about one-tenth of the white luck column. The cyan is the official aura. Maybe the ancestors of the old Zhu family bless a nobleman for the filial piety of their descendants. I just don't know if it is my uncle or myself who is blessed. After all, there are only two of us who can study. But it should be myself. If it was my uncle, he would have passed the examination for a scholar long ago. It has been so many years, and it is not impossible for him to fail the examination for a scholar.
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