It's not scary to travel through a book, you can change your fate as a cannon fodder by yoursel

Tian Runze's remarks made Weng Xiaoxiao look at him with a new eye. It was good that he cared about things other than books. She probably was influenced by them in a subtle way.

It's true that he likes to study, but if he doesn't care about anything except books, it will definitely affect his life. If his biological mother was the eldest lady, it would be fine, and someone would take care of everything for him, but as a concubine, he has to pay more attention to everything himself.

"Weng Xiao, our home is not very quiet, so we won't invite you to celebrate the New Year. I'm afraid we won't have time to get together before the New Year, so please go to Zhongshan to appreciate the plum blossoms after the New Year!"

"Brother Ouyang, this is a great suggestion. I heard that it snowed heavily on the mountain and the road leading into the mountain has been closed. We can't go there now. We can only wait until the snow melts. In fact, it would be most beautiful if we could enjoy the plum blossoms in the snow."

“Is it wintersweet?”

The climate in the north and south is different, the varieties of plum blossoms are different, and the flowering seasons are also different.

The flowering time in the north is generally delayed until after the Spring Festival, while in the south, the temperature is higher, and the plum blossoms will bloom one after another in November.

"There are not only wintersweets, but also many varieties, including red plum, royal pink plum, golden plum, water-reflecting plum, green-calyx plum, jade-disc plum, and everything else. They were planted by a prince of the previous dynasty. I like the fragrance of wintersweets the most. It's great to pick a branch and put it in the house."

"I like plum blossoms, too. Where in the city can I find one? I want to get one to add fragrance to my new home."

"Haha, you are not a girl, why do you need to add any fragrance? You are killing me with laughter." Among the three, Ouyang Hua looked the least like a scholar, and his words were extremely heroic.

Weng Xiaoxiao glared at him, "Which scholar doesn't love plum blossoms? Only girls love plum blossoms. If you dare to say that, you'll get beaten."

"Haha, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's my fault for speaking without restraint."

"Don't worry, Weng Xiao. There are always plum blossoms for sale in the city. Just buy a few if you like. There is still some space in your yard. You can plant one next spring."

This was a good suggestion, and Weng Xiaoxiao nodded seriously.

Drinking hot rice wine, eating side dishes, chatting and laughing with friends around, is already a joy in life.

After the food and wine were cleared away, Weng Xiaoxiao made some tea.

"Weng Xiao, leave the recommendation to me. You must take the Tongsheng exam so as not to delay the Xiucai exam."

Weng Xiaoxiao agreed with a smile. Ouyang Hua was a man of integrity and loyalty. "Will the new emperor be given an additional title when he ascends the throne?"

"Maybe. I've heard there's been precedents before."

"So you all have to go?"

"Brother Tian will definitely take the exam next fall. I'm not sure, but I'll probably give it a try anyway."

Tian Runze nodded, "I'm not sure either, but I still have to take the exam, which is held every three years. It's good to gain some experience."

Not only did they have to study, they also had their own social engagements, so after drinking half a cup of tea, they dispersed.

......

Once she decided to take the exam, Weng Xiaoxiao would definitely take it seriously. She would read the ancient Chinese literature, which she disliked the most, all day long. It was freezing cold, so she stayed at home and read.

The test for students of higher learning is about literacy, which mostly involves copying original texts from memory. As long as you are willing to work hard at learning to read, there will be no problem.

The imperial examination is pyramid-shaped, with each level becoming more difficult, and the top scholar being the top of the pyramid.

Once we enter the twelfth lunar month, the New Year is not far away.

"Child, child, don't be greedy, after Laba it will be the New Year.

Laba porridge, after a few days, it will be twenty-three.

Twenty-three, sticky melons, twenty-four, sweep the house,

On the twenty-fifth, I made tofu. On the twenty-sixth, I went to cut meat.

On the twenty-seventh day, slaughter the New Year chicken; on the twenty-eighth day, make the noodles.

Twenty-nine, steamed buns, thirty nights to stay up all night,

Twist and twist on New Year's Day. "

One has to celebrate the New Year alone, so I added a few pots of easy-to-grow rhododendrons and camellias, as well as a bonsai wintersweet, which has a charming fragrance, to the house.

Buy some red paper and prepare to write blessing characters, Spring Festival couplets, and cut window decorations.

You don't need to prepare too much food. Since you don't have any relatives visiting, just simple food, enough to eat, will be fine.

Weng Xiaoxiao wrote the word "Fu" and Spring Festival couplets by herself. It doesn't matter whether they are good or not, they are nice to look at.

Some neighbors even saw it and came to ask Weng Xiaoxiao for help with writing. Weng Xiaoxiao agreed to do this small favor without hesitation.

People who ask for Spring Festival couplets will not ask for them in vain. One will give a bowl of melon seeds, another will give a bowl of rice cakes, and it is a give-and-take relationship.

Weng Xiaoxiao was generous. She would give two candies to children who came to visit her. As a result, the children in the alley would call her "Brother, Brother" non-stop when they saw her from afar. She was very popular with children.

The neighbors are harmonious and Weng Xiaoxiao fell in love with this place after living there for less than a month.

On New Year's Eve, we make dumplings. This custom doesn't exist in the south, but Weng Xiaoxiao has been accustomed to it since she was a child.

Pork and cabbage filling, a classic recipe, simple ingredients and easy to prepare.

The dumplings had just been wrapped and were about to be put into the pot when she heard someone come in from the yard and shout her name loudly.

Weng Xiaoxiao ran out quickly.

The person who came in was a woman in her thirties with a bun on her head, wearing a cotton cloak, carrying a bundle on her back, and leading a horse.

She had never seen this person before and was a little confused. "Who are you?"

The woman looked at Weng Xiaoxiao for a few times and asked instead of answering, "Are you Weng Xiao?"

"Yes, I am Weng Xiao."

"Excuse me, what is Lin Changqing's name?"

Upon hearing this, Weng Xiaoxiao dispelled all her doubts. "His name is Boyu. Auntie, who are you?"

"Haha, that's right. Damn, it took me so much effort to find you. The young master has only been back for a few days, and you changed your house, causing me to search everywhere. I'm a little thirsty, so give me a bowl of water first." The woman tied the horse to the magnolia tree without any hesitation.

Yang Shuo’s people?

This place was right and it certainly wouldn't harm her, so Weng Xiaoxiao went back to the kitchen to get some water.

"Aunt, please go inside and rest first. I'm cooking dumplings. They will be ready soon."

Feng Ping took the bowl and drank it in a few gulps. "No need to rest, you won't be tired. I'll light the fire for you and we can eat quickly. Is what you made enough for two people?"

This person is really straightforward. Weng Xiaoxiao likes it and said with a smile: "That's enough. It's the New Year, and everything is abundant."

The woman nodded in satisfaction, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Feng Ping, you can call me Aunt Feng from now on. My husband is dead, I have no children, no relatives or friends. The young master said that he owed you for saving his life, so he asked me to live with you from now on, both for your company and protection."

this......

What a big New Year gift!

"Aunt Feng, do you know my situation?"

"The young master only said a few words briefly. Let me ask you the rest directly. You, Weng Xiao, are my new master. I only need to listen to you."

He said it so bluntly, as if she had no reason to refuse!

Of course I don’t want to refuse!