Chapter 194 Tacit Understanding

Zhao Ming took the initiative to bring up the matter of ancestor worship.

He is really rational and can do anything that is beneficial to the Zhao family.

Worshiping ancestors during the Winter Solstice is a major family event. Except for the head of the household and the eldest son of the family, no one can go to the ancestral hall to disturb the ancestors on this day.

Looking at the people of Xiping County who were slowly getting over their grief, resuming production, and able to harvest normally, Zhao Ming knew that no one could stop Zhao Hanzhang.

Even if he is not willing, Zhao must make a choice.

This is when the benefits of living close to each other become apparent.

Zhao Zhongyu was far away in Luoyang. Although he was the clan leader, it was difficult for him to control the Zhao family in Xiping. Of course, he also helped the clan a lot in the court;

However, in these troubled times, Zhao Hanzhang was in Xiping, and she was of greater help to the Zhao family.

When Zhao Ming decided to become the magistrate of Xiping County and provide her with cover, he had actually made the choice on behalf of Zhao's Wubao.

Now that Zhao Hanzhang has been chosen, he must do things well and make both parties happy. He must also help her gain a foothold in the clan so that both parties can cooperate more closely.

This is the same as if you fall in love with a poor boy who is conquering the world, then marry your daughter to him and use the efforts of the whole family to support him.

Zhao Hanzhang's status is better. She is naturally from the Zhao family, and Zhao Ming does not need to find a daughter to marry her.

In order to establish her prestige in the Zhao family, and to bring her and the Zhao family closer, Zhao Ming and her father proposed that Zhao Hanzhang should participate in the ancestor worship instead of Dafang, and take Zhao Erlang with him.

Zhao Song hesitated.

Zhao Ming said calmly: "Father, Sanniang is not an ordinary woman. You can treat her like a man."

Zhao Song understood his plan, "But now her prestige in the clan is not low."

"Except for the day when her uncle was buried, she has never seen the entire clan on other occasions," Zhao Ming said. "This time to worship the ancestors during the Winter Solstice, not only the heads of households will come, but also the children who are studying abroad will come back."

Zhao Song was surprised, "Zitu is coming back?"

Zhao Ming nodded, "Yes, I'll be home soon."

Zhao Song pondered, then nodded, "You have to ask other elders in the clan."

The elders in the clan pondered for a long time, and most of them agreed after Zhao Ming's persuasion. Only Zhao Hu refused to nod.

Zhao Ming left a message directly, "Otherwise I will ask Sanniang to come to Qi Shu to ask, but Sanniang has made mistakes in the past, so Qi Shu doesn't want Sanniang to worship her ancestors?"

Zhao Hu muttered curses at him several times and nodded reluctantly. He was also afraid that Zhao Hanzhang would come to him.

After Zhao Ming was confirmed, he approached Zhao Hanzhang and directly informed her to participate in the Winter Solstice ancestor worship.

After worshiping ancestors during the Winter Solstice, there is also a banquet, which is similar to the feeling of people all over the country welcoming the New Year together.

At first, only members of the Zhao clan participated in the banquet. Later, people from Wubao gathered together to celebrate. Later, people from Xiping County also came to Zhao's Wubao to celebrate. Now it has developed into a banquet with other people. The gentry, scribes and wealthy businessmen of the county would come to Xiping County to celebrate the festival before and after the winter solstice.

Of course, ordinary people can also come. When the time comes, not only Zhaoshi Wubao but also Xiping County will be decorated with lights and colorful decorations, making it a bustling event.

This is the way ordinary people celebrate the festival.

The Zhao family would send out invitations widely and hold a banquet in Wubao to entertain the guests who came with the invitations. Everyone would talk about etiquette, drink wine and compose poems, so it was called a ceremonial banquet!

This year, because the Zhao family's Wubao was surrounded by rebels, many people died. Some elders in the clan wanted to suspend it for a year, but the fifth uncle believed that at this time, it was more difficult to stop. If people see the Zhao family, They are so weak that they think they can be bullied.

Zhao Ming also thinks so, so this year's banquet will be held as usual, and the post has been sent out.

There are many girls of the right age in the clan. By the winter solstice, those who are not filial piety in the family have passed the three-month period and can be called relatives, so the clan has been keen on making new clothes recently.

Mrs. Wang also made two sets for Zhao Hanzhang, one was a dress and the other was regular clothes. Although she said she would not attend the banquet, she was sitting at home. If someone came to visit, she couldn't turn away the guests, right?

Therefore, clothes, shoes, socks, etc., must be prepared.

Unfortunately, after a military rebellion in Xiping County, the business suffered a big blow, and there were very few merchants coming, so the aunts and uncles could not find good fabrics.

Suddenly I met a Sichuan businessman from out of town, and he brought such a fine Sichuan brocade, and it was inevitable that he would be moved.

Zhao Hanzhang made an excuse to exit the hall. He didn't find Tinghe, so he waved to a little maid and asked, "Where is Tinghe?"

The little maid lowered her head and said, "Sister He went out to select wood on the order of the girl."

"Oh, yes," Zhao Hanzhang knocked on his head: "I forgot, I asked her to pick out the wood for the loom, then go ahead and invite Master Chang... the people around you, just Said I wanted to ask about Shu Brocade."

The maid agreed and hurried to the front yard.

As soon as Chang Ning heard the maid's report, she asked, "Are there any guests in the house today?"

"Yes, Madam is here with several ladies from the clan."

Chang Ning understood. He hesitated for a moment and felt that based on his understanding of Zhao Hanzhang during this period, their girl was not a generous person.

The most valuable goods among Zhuan's goods were the Shu brocade and silk satin, and only a few pieces were worth the cartloads of cotton wool.

So he pondered for a moment and then called a clerk. He followed him to negotiate the price with Zhu Chuan. He also made the account book, and he knew the price best.

"If the girl asks about the price of Shu brocade and silk, she will add 30% to the price."

The clerk opened his mouth wide and his face turned red, "Isn't this bad?"

Chang Ning glared at him and said: "I haven't changed the price on the account. If you meet the girl alone, then quote the price truthfully. If you meet the girl in front of everyone, then increase the price by 30%."

The clerk agreed and went with the maid to meet Zhao Hanzhang in the backyard of the county government office.

How could Zhao Hanzhang escape and see him alone? So he went directly to the auditorium, and as soon as he entered, he was locked in the eyes of the ladies.

He paused and stepped forward to salute.

Zhao Hanzhang asked with a smile, "Master Chang and Mr. Zhu have negotiated the price and bought all his goods?"

The clerk lowered his head and said "yes".

"Is there Shu brocade and silk in it?"

The clerk responded: "There are eight pieces of Shu brocade and six pieces of silk and satin, all of which are of the highest quality. The rest of the fabrics vary."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and ordered: "Go and bring all the Sichuan brocades and silks, my ladies will choose."

Zhao Hanzhang's words gave the ladies great face. The ladies were very happy and couldn't help but straighten their backs and become even more arrogant.

After receiving the paperwork, I bowed down to make arrangements.

Zhao Hanzhang winked at the little maid and asked her to bring the servants in the house to help.

The Shu brocade and silk satin were quickly brought up, and Zhao Hanzhang asked someone to carry the desk to the center of the auditorium. The Shu brocade and silk satin were placed one by one on the desk, so that people could see it at a glance and better appreciate and select.

Aunt Qing reached out and touched a piece of rose-red Sichuan brocade, and exclaimed: "The patterns on it seem to be born from nature, they are so beautiful."

It's a pity that they can't wear it now. In the next six months, the Zhao family will try their best to wear plain clothes. And although this color is good-looking, it actually doesn't fit the current aesthetics and is too bright.