Chang’an Peasant Girl

"Aren't you talking nonsense? Time is squeezed out. If I don't do anything else, can't I just read with you here?" After a pause, she smiled again, "I think reading with you is more interesting than doing other things. More, I have never seen anyone who likes reading as much as you do. My fourth uncle also likes reading, but he has never read it as much as you do."

"However," she said, darkening her eyes, "It's also because of his poor health. Even if he wanted to, he wouldn't be able to watch for long and would need to take a rest."

"So," her eyes lit up again and she smiled again, "You have to exercise well and don't be like my fourth uncle. It's really not good for him to do that."

Tao Mingqing responded lightly: "Yeah."

After Tao Mingxiang left, Tao Chengyin was angry for more than half a month before he regained his mood.

As soon as his mood recovered, Tao Chengyin didn't care what Tao Mingxiang was doing outside, but he really pretended that Tao Mingxiang did not have a daughter, and began to think about the marriage of Tao Mingqing, his son.

On this day, December 13, Tao Chengyin called Tao Mingqing to the study.

"Qing'er, the Chinese New Year is coming soon. Dad wants to arrange a marriage for you before the Chinese New Year. What do you think?"

"father"

As soon as Tao Mingqing opened his mouth, Tao Chengyin made a serious face: "If you run away from home too, my father will treat you as a child!"

Tao Mingqing was helpless, "Dad, what did you say? It's fine. Why should I run away from home?"

Tao Chengyin hummed: "If you are not satisfied with the marriage I have arranged, what else can you do for it?"

Tao Mingqing was even more helpless, looking like he was begging for mercy: "Dad"

Tao Chengyin then softened his expression and said, "I won't make a reservation for you directly. Tomorrow, the son and daughter of a minister of civil affairs will hold a plum appreciation banquet, and some officials and young ladies will be invited to attend. We I also received the post. You should go too. I heard that their plum blossoms are really blooming and they are very beautiful. You go, firstly, to see if you can take a fancy to any girl, and secondly, take this opportunity. Make more friends.”

After a pause, Tao Chengyin couldn't help but warn: "If you fall in love with a girl from any family, you must come back and tell dad that many people want to betroth their daughters to you. If dad is not afraid that you will also run away from home, dad will I’ve just arranged a wedding for you, so why don’t you go see it yourself?”

Tao Mingqing didn't know what to say.

"If you are too embarrassed to go alone," Tao Chengyin added, "just take Fang'er with you. Fang'er will be fine anyway."

After a pause, Tao Chengyin sighed again: "Qing'er, dad is worried about your marriage now. Dad really wants to finalize your marriage before the year. Among those official ladies, based on your status, you No matter who you get engaged to, it’s all high stakes.”

It can be seen that all those who go to appreciate the plum blossoms tomorrow are the children of officials older than Tao Chengyin.

Tao Mingqing didn't want to go, but his father mentioned this, so he could only say: "Yes, Dad."

On the second day, December 13, Tao Mingqing took Tao Mingfang to the Ministry of Civil Service to appreciate the plum blossoms.

On this day, Su Yuxin happened to come to Tao Mansion to look for Tao Mingqing. When she found that Tao Mingqing was not there, she asked people in Tao Mingqing's courtyard where Tao Mingqing had gone.

A maid quickly reported back: "The young master took the sixth lady to the house of the Minister of Civil Affairs."

"What are you going to do at the official house?"

The maid said truthfully: "The plum blossoms in the plum grove of the Minister of Civil Affairs are all in bloom, and they are very beautiful. So I invited some officials and young ladies to come to enjoy the plum blossoms, and also sent a message to the young master and the sixth lady."