Chapter Sixty: Guarding the System

  Wu Shandao said, "During the Dragon Boat Festival, I accompanied my mother to Kyoto to visit my father. It's been a while since we've seen each other." Then he added, "Sixth Uncle is now in the Ministry of Justice observing politics, and during the Dragon Boat Festival, we even ate zongzi together."

  Dong Shiying also passed as a Shengyuan scholar.

  "Is my father all right?"

  "It's pretty good." Wu Shan smiled and said, "I think I've gained a bit of weight compared to when I was at home." After finishing speaking, his eyes rolled around, and with a sly expression, he said: "I also have some good news to tell you all..." The tone dragged on, leaving everyone in suspense.

  Dòu Déchāng ignored him.

  Dong Zhengchang smiled and said: "What good thing? Are you going to Kyoto?"

  "This is a good thing!" Wu Shan said disapprovingly, "I'm now at home, don't know how carefree and happy I am. Once under Father's eyes, every day not writing 5,000 characters, can't put down the pen."

  "Wow, so many!"

  Wu Shan smiled and said: "From tomorrow on, I will also go to your Duan family's school to study!"

  Dòu Zhèngchāng was stunned for a moment before he came back to his senses.

  "How come you suddenly want to come to our house to study?" Dou Dechang asked in surprise, "Does your aunt allow you to leave home?"

  Wu Shan's mother was a stepmother. Wu Songnian's first wife died early without children, and Wu Songnian only remarried after passing the imperial examination to marry Wu Shan's mother, Bi Shi. Bi Shi also came from an official family and had vowed in her youth not to marry anyone who wasn't a scholar-official. She was already twenty-three when she married out, and it took another three years before giving birth to Wu Shan, so she doted on the two children especially. In order for Wu Shan to follow his uncle, a scholar-official from their hometown, to study, she preferred to stay in her hometown rather than follow Wu Songnian to Kyoto for his official post.

  "My father has a leg disease," said Wu Shan. "Now that he's older, it's not easy for him to walk around. My mother is worried and wants to go to Kyoto to take care of my father. But she can't put her mind at ease about me either. It just so happens that during the Dragon Boat Festival, I met Sixth Uncle at Fifth Uncle's house, and Sixth Uncle said that if Father is willing, he'd be happy to have me study with them, under the care of Sixth Aunt. Both Father and Mother thought it was a good idea, and Fifth Uncle even wrote a letter to Madame Tai about it. This time, Mother came specifically to bring me here to study."

  They just knew Mrs. Wu had also come.

  "This is great, this is great." Du Zhengchang laughed with a smile.

  Dòu Déchāng suddenly grabbed ōu Shàn's neck: "You rascal, you've finally fallen into my trap!"

  Wu Shan laughed loudly and made a bowing gesture with his hands: "Great hero, spare my life!"

  Everyone burst out laughing.

  Dòu Qǐjùn and his younger brother Dòu Qǐtài went in one after another.

  "What's this for?" they laughed.

  Pang Jixiu told about studying and reading books at the Dou family's house.

  Dòu Qǐjùn and Dòu Qǐtài urged Wū Shàn to treat them to a meal.

  Wu Shanda waved his hand: "Today I have a share."

  Pang Jixiu's family ran a teahouse, and after they got together with the Wang family, they also opened a wine house and a pawnshop. Ya Wen said that since he was young, he had been hanging out in these places, and his family had raised a group of idle helpers, so eating, drinking, and having fun were his specialties. Upon hearing this, he immediately said: "Let's go to Jingfuchun. Every summer, they make river fresh ice bowls, with lotus seeds, water chestnuts, and fresh chicken heads all grown in their own ponds. The ordinary chicken heads are only picked when they're old and then sold on the streets, but the young and tender ones aren't even harvested because no one wants to waste them. However, Jingfuchun's ice bowls have the most tender chicken heads, which are cooked until they're light yellow and served with fresh walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts, all placed on a bed of tender lotus leaves... just looking at it makes people feel refreshed and delighted..."

  On a scorching summer day, before he even spoke, several people had already started drooling.

  Dong Qitai hastily said: "I'll go call Fourth Brother over."

  In the generation of Qi Zi, Dou Qijun was the fifth in line, Dou Qitai was the sixth in line, and the fourth in line was Dou Qiguang, who was the second son of Dou Yuchang and the cousin of Wu Shan.

  Since Wu Shan invited us out for dinner, how can we possibly leave him behind?

  Dòu Zhèngchāng went to report to Tai Furen.

  A plump and fair woman with a round face, smiling very kindly.

  She is somewhat worried.

  The second lady smiled and said: "Don't worry, with Zhi Ge following him, and being in Zhending County, nothing will happen."

  Dòu Qǐjùn passed the imperial examination as a xiucai last year.

  Bì Shì's heart was slightly at ease.

  The second lady had arranged for several honest and reliable house servants to accompany Du Zhengchang and others to Jingfu Spring.

  Jingfu Chun's shopkeeper saw that they were from the Dou family, so he hurriedly offered them the best room and personally introduced the menu on the side. There was also Pang Jixiu interjecting with jokes, creating a lively atmosphere.

  "Shall we go to Tianzhuang tomorrow and see Fourth Sister?" Wu Shandao said as he was eating his ice cream.

  The noise in the room suddenly stopped, and everyone's eyes fell on him.

  Wu Shan's eyes sparkled, and he said in a hasty tone: "On such a hot day, I heard that Cui's aunt's Tianzhuang has everything. We can use the excuse of visiting our fourth sister to go fishing, swimming, and eating fresh lotus leaf rice... how interesting! It's better than being cooped up at home every day."

  Pang Jixiu's heart was racing, and then he heard Du Dechang grin: "Great! Let's go to Aunt Cui's place to swim."

  Dong Qiguang never goes anywhere except for reading books. If Ou Shan didn't invite him out today, he definitely wouldn't have come.

  Looking at the dazzling sunlight outside, even he was moved, let alone others.

  "That's settled then," said Duan Qijun. "One of you go and inform the old lady, I certainly can't go myself, if I do, this matter will definitely be ruined."

  Everyone couldn't help but laugh.

  "I also can't go," said Wu Shan, "my mother still has to stay at the Duan's house for several more days."

  "Then I'll go and say it!" Dou Qiguan hesitated, "I'm just afraid that the old lady won't agree."

  "Fourth Brother is a straightforward person." Duan Qitai chuckled and said, "If Fourth Brother goes to speak, the Old Mistress will definitely respond."

  As expected, Tai Furen immediately agreed.

  A group of people went to Tianzhuang in a mighty and majestic manner.

  Dou Zhaozheng was crouching on the case drawing new-style shoe patterns for his grandmother when he heard a noise, and everyone jumped in fright.

  "Stop right there! Don't go down to the river. Just rest in the courtyard and I'll have someone make you lotus leaf rice to eat."

  A few kids who can sit still, with a splash they are going down the river.

  Watching as they couldn't be stopped. Du Zhao called in the attendants who had followed him: "All of you go to the riverbank and stand guard, with one person stationed every few steps." He also called Hong Gu, "Go to the village and find a few good swimmers to stand guard by the river, and pay them two taels of silver per day. If all the gentlemen are safe and sound, each of you will be rewarded with another two taels of silver. If someone drowns, twenty taels of silver will be given for rescuing one person."

  Hong Gu immediately went to the village and found several strong and healthy men.

  Dòu Zhèngchāng saw someone standing guard beside him and played even more recklessly.

  Pang Jixiu quietly got ashore with a clever move, saying he was tired and wanted to go home to get a drink of water.

  Those family members would naturally not be on guard.

  Pang Jixiu saw the quiet and peaceful courtyard, thinking about whether to enter the house directly or stand in front of the open window and shout - he knew how to deal with those women who relied on selling smiles, but didn't know how to deal with a ten-year-old girl, especially one whose value was not low. He had no advantage when facing her.

  The open window frame suddenly transmitted a voice: "...my sister likes it the most, I think my fourth sister will definitely like it too, so let's also buy a bottle for the little servant. Does it smell good?"

  Pang Jixiu hastily tiptoed over.

  All that can be seen is a small, chicken-egg-sized, crystal glass bottle on the kang table, with a gilded lid and an amber-colored body. Luxury shines through amidst the elegance.

  He was shocked.

  This is Western perfume.

  He busily looked around inside the courtyard.

  Saw Wu Shan's face still with a few childish smiles.

  He's still so young and already has the nerve to hit a woman!

  No wonder he wanted to come to Aunt Cui's *** Tianzhuang to play!

  Pang Jixiu handed over the perfume, and then heard Du Zhao say: "Thank you, Wu Sige, this perfume smells great." Then she accepted the perfume with a smile and asked about Wu Shan's trip to Kyoto.

  "Kyoto is indeed a place under the emperor's feet, a land of prosperity and abundance. Not only are there many people and treasures, but also the streets are wide enough for four horse carriages to run side by side..." Wu Shanxi excitedly told Du Zhao about Kyoto, while Du Zhao smiled and sat quietly, listening intently, her thoughts drifting far away.

  Next summer, find an excuse to bring grandma to our home for a few days, so grandma won't have to get up early to water the melons, and maybe she can avoid sudden death.

  This time when you come to Tianzhuang, bring back the sweet dew and plain silk to the East Mansion!

  Also want to go see Tuo's daughter-in-law. I heard she and Cui Si are getting along very well, the people in the Cui family also like this honest and down-to-earth daughter-in-law, now she has already established herself in the Cui family...

  A sudden commotion came from outside.

  Dou Zhaozhen remembered the group of people in the river and hastily stuck his head out from the window to shout at Hong Gu: "What's going on?"

  Hong Gu held one hand and carried a chicken in the other as she walked out of the kitchen, saying hastily: "I'll go take a look."

  Dong Zhao urged Wu Xian: "You go take a look too?"

  Wu Shan exclaimed "Oh!" and ran out.

  After about half an hour, Hong Gu came back.

  "Miss, fortunately I found a good swimmer standing by the river," she said with a pale face and fear, "Young Master Guang can't swim, and when he was playing with Young Master Tai, his foot slipped and he fell into the water... If it wasn't for the people on the riverbank being quick-witted, Young Master Guang almost didn't come up."

  Dong Zhao let out a sigh and said sincerely: "I hope they have learned their lesson and won't come to swim again."

  Hong Gu replied repeatedly.

  They came with high spirits but left in low spirits.

  Cao Cao returned to the Duan manor after dinner at the village of Tiazhuang.

  At night, grandma pointed at the rose dew on the kang table: "Where did this come from?"

  "Wu Jia's fourth brother sent it." Duan Zhao said calmly, "He said he went to Kyoto and brought back a gift."

  Grandma held it in her hand and watched for a while, then put it back in its original place without saying a word and went to rest.

  Two days later, Dou Qijun came to visit Dou Zhao: "Thanks to the arrangement of the fourth aunt that day, otherwise there would definitely be an accident."

  Although he is a junior, his age is the largest, and he is the only one with a meritorious name. If something happens, his responsibility will be the greatest.

  "Just be careful, that's all." Duan Zhao smiled and said, "You don't have to worry about it."

  Dòu Qǐjùn solemnly thanked Dòu Zhāo.

  A few days later, Wu Shan and Dou Qiguan came to thank Dou Zhaodao: "This matter was proposed by me. If the old fourth had three longs and two shorts, how could I see the fourth elder sister?"

  Dòu Zhāo had no choice but to be even more modest.

  Wu Shan came again several times under the banner of gratitude.

  Grandma always kept him for dinner and asked about his family affairs in detail. Once, Duan Zhao even heard Hong Gu say to Grandma: "Bi Shi is a person with great ambitions, warm and polite to others, very gentle..."

  Dong Zhao sensed his grandmother's intention and was somewhat at a loss for words.

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  I rush to finish my writing every day, and my wife's aunt says, "You're like a double grabber." I think her description is both simple and vivid... If you like this work, welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.