Chapter 257 Time Flies, and Time Does Not Wait for Us

Just after nightfall, I had a lively dinner with my family. Chen Heng was left alone by his grandparents and parents. The rest of the family tacitly exited, leaving time for the five of them.

After a brief chat, the topic of grandpa Chen Gaishan inevitably turned to the marriage between Chen Heng and Yinglian. The six rites that should be performed in the early stage have been completely prepared, leaving only the last step of asking for permission.

In this matter, because Chen Heng was an official in the capital before, he had to focus on his eldest grandson's time. Yangzhou is the home of Chen Heng and Yinglian, but Chen Heng cannot rely on His Majesty's favor and frequently asks for marriage leave for himself.

Everyone originally wanted to wait, but Chen Heng took the time to make arrangements. Now that the real master has arrived at his door, it saves the family boss a lot of trouble.

Listening to his grandma's emotion, Chen Heng wanted to laugh for a moment, and then asked his family about the nearest suitable time. It seemed to be a coincidence that Chen Qi found a knowledgeable old man and combined the zodiac signs of Chen Heng and Yinglian to choose a suitable day for the two of them to get married.

Taking the blank paper and looking at it, Chen Heng found that there were two recent days, September 15th and October 3rd. The other days are at the end of November and December. At that time, Chen Heng himself didn't know how busy he would be, so he directly put these two days on the list.

"Did the court say when you should arrive at Songjiang Mansion?"

"It's okay before the end of this month." After hearing Chen Qi's question, Chen Heng raised his head slightly to reply, then lowered his head and began to think.

October is naturally the most generous and suitable month for weddings. After all, getting married is no small matter, and guests from all parties must take their circumstances into consideration.

But thinking that he also had the title of magistrate of Guo County, which was the most cumbersome and troublesome position, Chen Heng was deeply afraid that he would not be able to escape it once he arrived in Huating County.

"How about choosing September 15th?"

Chen Heng frowned and said, time is tight. But there are still a lot of things waiting for him in Songjiang Mansion. Not to mention the port matter, the court's 200,000 taels of disaster relief money are also on their way. This winter, I not only need to be familiar with the affairs of Songjiang Prefecture, but also the situation of various yamen, and make arrangements for spring plowing in Huating County next year.

State affairs come first, so there is no reason for Chen Heng to put private matters first. After hearing this, Chen Gaishan also realized that his eldest grandson had another difficulty. He immediately said: "Now that you have become an official in the court, you should put your affairs first. Ask grandma You to go with your mother tomorrow morning. Let the two families talk clearly, and don't let others think too much."

The family made up their mind, and Chen Qi comforted his son and said, "Don't worry, we have already fulfilled all the etiquette that we should have. On the day of the collection, the betrothal gift carried out from our house had to go around two streets before being given away. When you come to their house, the neighbors will see it and won’t say anything.”

This was the best result at hand. Chen Heng nodded, thanked his family for their busy work during this period, and then stood up to leave.

When we came to the courtyard, it was a good night when the moonlight entered the house. Chen Heng raised his head slightly and looked sideways, and saw that the door panels on Yinglian's window had been removed. Only the wooden window was still closed, with some candlelight shining through.

He paused for a moment, thinking that Yinglian still didn't know he was back. Suddenly, a plan came to his mind and he called Xinda from the side and whispered to him.

After a while, Chen Heng sat in the room and saw Xinda coming in with a few fireworks, and said excitedly: "Brother, where are we going to put these things?"

"Let's go to the courtyard." Chen Heng ran downstairs happily.

The two of them had just laid out their things in the yard. When they saw a strange Xiang Lian upstairs, she ran over excitedly and said repeatedly: "Why did you buy so much? Buy more and have fun."

"You can do it. If you put too much, it will easily disturb the neighbors." Chen Heng cursed with a smile, then took the lit sandalwood and put it next to the sparks.

In a moment, bunches of silver flowers bloomed in the night sky. The sound of fireworks, not too loud or too small, sounds very lively in the silence. When this sound reached Yinglian's boudoir, it also caused the woman who had just laid down to get up curiously and put on her single clothes.

Today is not a big day, and the Mid-Autumn Festival has passed a long time ago. Why did the Chen family suddenly start setting off fireworks? ? Before Yinglian could think about the situation, she opened the window and saw a smiling face facing her, so bright that it seemed to compete with the bright moon in the sky.

At this point, Yinglian still didn't understand Chen Heng's evil idea, and knew that the other party wanted to tell her about his return.

Considering that the appointment was due tomorrow, Chen Heng only nodded at the other party and was not bold enough to ask Yinglian out for a hangout at this moment.

The two looked at each other tacitly, and smiled tacitly.

Yinglian has always been very courageous. Although I have memorized some secular etiquette over the years, I still have the same innocence as when I first met him when it comes to dealing with people. When I saw the fireworks that I usually like most, I didn't shy away from it. I just put my chin in my hand and sat by the window to watch the fireworks rain.

The two men played riddles, which annoyed the Gu family. The old lady just opened the window and saw that it was her son who was causing Qingmeng. She ignored the love in her heart and scolded directly: "You are already an uncle, why do you still remember to mess around all day long? Heng'er, hurry up and stop The fireworks were put out for me."

Yes, yes, the sky is big and the earth is big, my mother is the biggest. Chen Heng quickly extinguished the remaining fireworks, and then took Xinda to his mother's window to plead guilty.

"Go away." Mrs. Gu waved her hands repeatedly, obviously unable to understand the young man's tacit understanding, and scolded her with a black face, "If any neighbor comes to the door tomorrow to question you, I will hold your ears to make amends."

When Chen Heng heard this, he laughed and nodded. Following Gu's instructions, he quickly went upstairs to his room to rest. When he returned to the house, he couldn't wait to open the window. Yinglian was still sitting at the window, her beautiful eyes twinkling slightly, looking at her intently.

"I'm back." Chen Heng said.

"Yes." Yinglian nodded, looked around curiously, and asked proactively, "Where is Sister Lin."

"There are still some things at the capital, and she will come over later. But she asked me to bring you a message..." Chen Heng said with a smile, "She liked the things you gave her before."

"It's good if Sister Lin likes her." Zhen Yinglian was still a little shy when she said this. She felt that she had no strengths and was only a female celebrity who could not get on the stage. When Chen Heng returned to Beijing that day, she specially made some sachets and other items for her daughter's home, and asked Chen Heng to bring them back to the capital for Daiyu.

"Grandma and mother will come to visit tomorrow. Remember to tell aunt not to go to Qiupu Street yet."

"good."

"I have been transferred to Songjiang Mansion..."

The night was getting long, and Chen Heng had many things to share with his beautiful lady. Most of the time he was the one talking, while Yinglian just nodded silently. She has never left Yangzhou, and she has no understanding of the capital thousands of miles away. Thinking that after getting married, I would go to Songjiang Mansion with the other party, I felt nervous and scared for no reason.

But there is no need to worry too much in this long night. As the saying goes, if you marry a chicken, follow the chicken, if you marry a dog, follow the dog. Only when the fate of two people is on the same line can they be called birds in the same forest.

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The next day, Chen Heng got up early. It's not like he went to Zhen's house with Zhou and Gu. Instead, as a student, I want to visit the elders in Yangzhou again.

Wang Xianming will naturally want to see her, and he will attend as Yinglian's elder. After going to Wang's house, Chen Heng went to see Xu Jinhou. Chen Heng intended to ask Xu Jinhou to be his officiant, and the latter readily agreed upon hearing this.

Later, he went to the Yangzhou government office and met with Zhang Shangxian in the name of future advancement. I am from Yangzhou, so it is unreasonable and inconsistent with officialdom not to come and meet the local governor when passing through my hometown.

Zhang Shangxian was a little surprised by Chen Heng's appearance. The two talked for a while in the government office. When they heard that Chen Heng was going to take a job in Songjiang Mansion, he also took the initiative and said: If you have any difficulties, you can ask someone to send a message.

On these occasions, Chen Heng always took Xinda with him. Firstly, I can continue to cultivate my cousin's knowledge, and secondly, I can become familiar with him.

In the future, if it is difficult for me to show up, Xinda will go there for me, which will save me a lot of trouble.

After walking around a few places, Chen Heng turned to a restaurant in the city. Xue Biao had been waiting here for a long time. When the two of them met, Xue Biao joked: "If you come back another month later, my sister and I will go south to Guangzhou."

"How did you figure out where to go?" Chen Heng asked as soon as he sat down.

"Escape from the winter." Xue Tadashi shook his body. Winter in the south of the Yangtze River is really too cold. Compared with Yangzhou, Guangdong and Guangxi in winter are simply a wonderful place in heaven and on earth.

Chen Heng heard both envy and jealousy, and said angrily: "Where will you stay in Guangzhou? You can't always stay in an inn."

Xue Biao glanced at Chen Heng with a strange expression on his face, thinking very hard: "Buy it, it only costs a few dollars for a house."

Chen Heng gritted his teeth and only asked the waiter to add two extra dishes before he gave up. Xue Biao made him laugh, and then said to the waiter: "Make another portion of the dish he ordered and send it to Chen's house in the east of the city."

The waiter was nodding his head. Hearing this, he suddenly raised his head and said, "The Chen family in the east of the city? Sir, are you talking about the No. 1 Scholar's Palace?"

Seeing Xue Biao nodding, the waiter hurriedly said jubilantly: "Don't worry, sir, I will make sure the chef prepares this table of dishes well, and I will never neglect the family of the Number One Scholar."

After the waiter walked away, Xue Biao winked at Chen Heng and said, "Are you feeling better?"

"Hahaha." Chen Heng couldn't think of anything to say, so he could only shake his head and pour the wine for the other party. The two turned the topic to Chen Heng again. When he heard that his friend was going to take office, Xue Biao exclaimed: "Brother Qian and Brother Jiang are both magistrates in Songjiang Prefecture. Now the three of you can come together." ”

"That's right. If you had been willing to queue up at the Ministry of Civil Affairs, you could have joined us." Chen Heng laughed. Now that the people in Songjiang Mansion are still in trouble, normal people are not willing to come to this place.

But Chen Heng knew that as long as the sea transportation continued, the future of Songjiang Mansion would only get better day by day.

So when Jiang Yuanbai came to ask Chen Heng, he did not recommend his friend to go to Liubu Lishi, but instead transferred to Songjiang Prefecture to serve as the county magistrate.

Rather than being a low-ranking official in the capital, it is better to work as a chicken head in the local area to train yourself.

"I knew this..." Xue Biao shook his head regretfully, "Zhi Xing, if I go to the capital to seek an official position now, do you think I still have a chance?"

Chen Heng glanced at Xue Biao strangely, "What are you thinking about? You should just calm down and prepare for the exam in three years."

If you go to the capital at this time, except for the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Works, other departments may not even look at Brother Xue.

Xue Biao quickly understood and waved his hand casually and said: "Forget it, let's go sightseeing around. You three are all in Songjiang Mansion, so it saves me the trouble of visiting you everywhere in the future."

Chen Heng smiled and said: "Eat quickly and come with me to Qiupu Street after eating. I heard that Futai has built Qiupu Second Street. I didn't have a chance to see it last time I came back."

"Did you have any other plans?" Xue Biao really understood Chen Heng and asked immediately.

"Hahahaha." Chen Heng just ate the food and smiled without saying anything.

When Chen Heng returned home from playing outside, he received good news from Zhou and Gu. Mrs. Feng understood Chen Heng's difficulties in being an official very well, so she directly nodded and agreed to the wedding arrangement without making any embarrassment.

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On September 15th, both the Chen and Zhen families were decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. Neighbors all knew that the champion was getting married. Some came to help last night, and some came before dawn this morning.

The two families were too close. Xinda, who was responsible for holding Chen Heng's horse, was following the etiquette officer to confirm the wedding route again. After they went out, they would first walk half a circle along the city to the Zhen Mansion to pick up the bride. After that, they would walk on the new road and walk half a circle again to return to the Chen family.

Liu Xianglian was still checking his clothes. He would hold the imperial edict and walk in front of everyone to show that this marriage was personally granted by Li Zhi.

Chen Heng's mentality was more relaxed. His groom's clothes were a formal dress made by the women workers on Qiupu Street. Yes, it was the one that went with him to the capital, but was delayed by the formal dress granted by His Majesty.

This suit was so exquisitely made that it would be a pity to leave it alone. It happened that Yinglian was also from Qiupu Street, so she just accepted this kindness. After all the preparations were completed, Chen Heng rode on a tall horse and circled the city with his relatives and friends.

They kept knocking and hammering all the way until dusk, when the guests filled the whole street. The Chen family was not big, and Chen Heng's reputation in Yangzhou was too high. Not only did a large number of people come from Qiupu Street, but also from various businesses in the city, scholars from the academy, officials from the government office, and relatives from Shanxi Village.

The Zhen family did not have many relatives, and Feng was unwilling to invite Yinglian's grandparents to the scene, leaving only Wang Xianming and his wife, the Xue family brothers and sisters, and the new friends from Qiupu Street as guests of the bride's family. But the two families were so close that everyone sat together and could not tell who was who. They just watched the fireworks one after another until the newlyweds entered the bridal chamber. (Note 1)

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After the three-day return ceremony, Chen Heng could no longer wait in Yangzhou. He and Yinglian packed up a bit, said goodbye to the elders at home, and took Xinda and Liu Xianglian to Songjiang Prefecture.

Liu Yanzhang, the governor of Songjiang Prefecture at that time, had also been waiting for him for a long time. The official from the government office just told him the news from the post station, and he estimated the time. On the day Chen Heng arrived in Songjiang City, he led the officials of various classes and departments to wait for Chen Heng's carriage at the city gate.

Xinda, who was driving the carriage, saw the excitement at the gate from a distance. He hurriedly let go of the reins and let the horse run slowly. He said to Chen Heng in the car: "Second brother, there are people at the city gate, and it seems that they are here to welcome you."

A voice of "know" came from the car. Chen Heng began to check his clothes. He did not wear an official robe today, but was still dressed like an ordinary scholar.

Yinglian, the bride beside him, was a little nervous and didn't know what to do later.

Seeing this, Chen Heng smiled and comforted her: "Just sit in the carriage and relax."

"Okay." Yinglian, who had dressed up as a lady, nodded hurriedly, and stretched out her hand to smooth the corners of her husband's clothes.

"The one coming is the carriage of the newly appointed prefectural magistrate and top scholar Chen."

Hearing someone in front of him asking loudly, Xinda hurriedly replied: "It is my master in the carriage, and you are..."

"Songjiang Prefecture Magistrate Liu leads six departments and six classes of yamen runners. The county magistrate and the chief clerk of Huating County are here to welcome you."

After shouting each other's names, when Xinda parked the carriage, Chen Heng got off the carriage and walked towards Liu Yanzhang who was coming. The other party had already led the people behind him to greet him, raised his hand and smiled, "Master Chen, I finally let you come."

Chen Heng was also a little surprised by the other party's enthusiasm, and smiled and returned the greeting, saying: "Thank you for welcoming me, old master. I am very nervous and have caused trouble to my colleagues."

While speaking, Chen Heng returned the greetings to everyone one by one. There was a sound of "I dare not, I dare not" at the scene.

Seeing that the state Tongzhi, who was deeply loved by the emperor, was not domineering. Liu Yanzhang was also relieved in his heart. He was an old man who was about to retire. He was afraid that a flying monkey would come and cause him some unnecessary trouble.

After Chen Heng finished greeting the officials present, Liu Yanzhang took the initiative to extend his hand and said, "The government office has prepared a small banquet. Lord Chen has come a long way, why don't we move to the government office first and have a chat while eating?"

"The elders order, and I will obey them."

Before officially handing over the official documents and official seals to the government office, Chen Heng lowered his posture and regarded himself as a junior. A group of people walked towards the government office with laughter and chat. When they arrived at the end of the place, Liu Yanzhang had already called Chen Heng's courtesy name very intimately.

"Chixing, come, come, come and sit down."

The welcoming banquet for guests was set up in the government office, with lights on and doors closed. Chen Heng sat at the head of the banquet under Liu Yanzhang's hospitality. In front of him were a group of officials in blue and green official robes.

Note 1: I was scared of Jin when I wrote about the wedding in the bridal chamber last time. Novice driver, let me omit it here. I will write a sequel later and post it in the related works.

ps: My nephew caught a cold, so I took him to see a doctor, and I came back to correct any typos and other mistakes. Ahhh, it wasn't easy!