Water Margin official

"The sound of firecrackers marks the end of the year, and the spring breeze brings warmth to Tusu. Thousands of households always replace old talismans with new peaches."

This poem is called "Yuan Ri", which is a seven-character quatrain written by the great writer Wang Anshi, describing the moving scene of the excitement, joy and renewal of everything on the New Year's Day.

It is worth mentioning that this poem is called Celebrating the New Year, but it actually uses scenery to express emotions. When this poem was written, Wang Anshi became prime minister for the first time and presided over the Xining Reform. It was a time when he was high-spirited and satisfied.

Just as Zhang Zhengdao finished reading this poem, a burst of firecrackers happened to sound. His son Zhang Pingan in front of him was frightened by the sound of firecrackers and burst into tears.

Mrs. Lin quickly put down the dough in her hands, held the child in her arms, hummed a song, and coaxed her up.

Zhang Zhengdao put down the book in his hand and frowned: "This child is really my son? Why doesn't he look like me at all?"

Mrs. Lin spat and said, "Da Lang is talking nonsense. This is not your child, who else could it be?"

Mrs. Wei on the side, holding her face with both hands, said: "Officer, if you say this, it will make my sister sad."

Zhang Zhengdao looked at Zhang Pingan's eyebrows, shook his head and said: "This brat cries when something happens. He has no sense of manliness at all."

Immediately, after looking around at the Yingying Yanyan in the room, Zhang Zhengdao understood something.

I saw all Zhang Zhengdao’s wives and concubines gathered together in this room, making dumplings.

Today is New Year's Eve, which is the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month. No matter the homes of wealthy families or ordinary people, they all have to sweep the door, remove dust and filth, clean the courtyard, change the door gods, hang bells and kui, nail peach charms, put up spring signs, and worship ancestors.

.

At night, prepare offerings of sacred fragrant flowers to pray for a happy new year.

In the homes of scholars and common people, they would sit together around the stove until the end of the day without falling asleep, which is called staying up late.

On New Year's Eve last year and the first day of the year, Zhang Zhengdao was running around and was not at home, so he couldn't feel the spirit of the New Year.

Speaking of which, today is Zhang Zhengdao's first time to "celebrate the New Year" in the Song Dynasty.

Although the Zhang family observes filial piety and cannot put up lanterns and fireworks or set off firecrackers, Zhang Zhengdao still decided to have a reunion year.

On this day, everything in Zhang's house was cleaned and a lot of food was prepared.

In the evening, Zhang Zhengdao gathered all his wives and concubines together to roll out dough and make dumplings to welcome the new year.

At this time, the dumplings were called "wontons" and were only eaten on the winter solstice.

Zhang Zhengdao asked everyone to gather together and make "wontons". Although the girls were puzzled, they did so. Who makes him the head of the family?

Among these wives, Meng Yulou is the only one who knows how to make dumplings, while Mrs. Lin and Mrs. Wei are responsible for rolling out the dough.

Sun Erniang and Zhuo Diu'er were pregnant. They were sitting on the kang, closing their eyes and concentrating. As the baby in their belly got older, their energy was not as strong as before, and they were often sleepy.

Pan Jinlian followed Wu Yueniang, sitting aside and filling small cloth bags with copper coins.

Since staying one night before, Wu Yueniang also ignored the rule that unmarried women cannot live in her husband's house, and came to Zhang's house every now and then.

Early this morning, Zhang Zhengdao ordered people to take Wu Yueniang home, and the family celebrated the New Year together.

Zhang Zhengdao stepped out of the house, and the maids in the mansion were making dumplings outside.

Cook Sun Xue'e, together with Pang Chunmei, Sister Li Gui, Sister Zheng, Furong, Chunxiang, Lanxiang, Ying'er and others, have already made many dumplings, which are densely packed on several tables.

Zhang Zhengdao looked at it carefully and said with a smile: "The package is good."

Sister Li Gui had some flour stuck to her face. She raised a dumpling she had just wrapped in her hand and said with a sweet smile: "Master, can I make this well?"

Zhang Zhengdao nodded in approval and said: "That's right, that's right. From now on, you will make all the dumplings at home."

Hearing this, all the maids couldn't stop laughing!

Sister Li Gui's smile faltered and she pouted, "I can't afford to take care of you, a high official."

Zhang Zhengdao ignored her and just left the room and went to the side room next to him. The saints who had created the heavenly group by himself were also sitting around, laughing and making dumplings.

Seeing Zhang Zhengdao enter the room and seeing Li Jiaoer, who was already pregnant, Han Yinchuaner quickly stood up and greeted him.

"Official man!"

The other four women also put down their chopsticks one after another and stood up to greet them.

I took a look at the dumplings made on the table. They all came in different shapes, but only one circle looked decent. They should not fall apart when put into the pot.

Zhang Zhengdao pointed to the dumplings that were not tightly kneaded in the middle and asked: "Who made these?"

Qin Yuzhi'er replied weakly: "It's the slave's job."

Zhang Zhengdao frowned and said, "You're not good at this."

Qin Yuzhi'er didn't dare to refute, but just replied: "You really can't learn!"

Wu Yin'er came to her rescue and said, "I'm not good at covering up this. How about a senior official teaching us?"

"Yeah, these dumplings are really difficult to make, and they can't be pinched well!" Zhang Xichun said with a sad face.

Zhang Zhengdao picked up a piece of dough, used chopsticks to pick up a little meat filling and put it on it. While demonstrating, he said: "Look at it, pinch it like this, along the edge, see if you can see anything, pinch it firmly bit by bit, and then

Pinch together."

Raising his hand to display the wrapped dumplings in a circle, Zhang Zhengdao smiled and said, "Here, pinch one and show it to me."

Li Jiaoer was the first to wrap one up and said softly: "Officer, is the slave's wrap good?"

"Well, not bad, there is progress!" Zhang Zhengdao praised, then stood up and said: "You pack well, if you pack poorly, you will have to starve."

"Only officials can't bear to starve their slaves!" Han Jinchuan'er gave him a flirtatious look.

Zhang Zhengdao said with a straight face: "Today is an exception. If you can't pack it, you will be hungry!"

After saying that, he got up and left the house.

Li Jiaoer touched her slightly swollen pregnant belly and murmured: "You have a good father."

Qin Yuzhi'er glanced at her enviously and said: "An official has a sharp mouth but a tofu heart."

Wu Yin'er said: "Okay, hurry up and wrap it up!"

When the girls heard this, they all nodded and began to wrap the dumplings seriously.

The room fell silent, but their hearts at this moment were full of sweetness.

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!

Just because the girls never thought that one day they would enter the Zhang family's door, even the pregnant Li Jiaoer and Han Yinchuaner had never had such extravagant hopes.

A month ago, because two girls were pregnant, these girls from the Holy Maiden Troupe no longer had to go to the Lion House to dance.

As the New Year was approaching, Zhang Zhengdao decided to let them live in the Zhang family. After all, they had been with him for a year and a half, and they were very happy to serve him, so let's give them a place!

When the six sisters heard the news, they were all in disbelief. Then they cried with joy. After struggling for more than a year, they finally found a home and happily moved into the Zhang family.

Today is New Year's Eve. Zhang Zhengdao called everyone together to make dumplings for the New Year according to his own custom.

After looking around, Zhang Zhengdao left the house and was going to the backyard to see Mrs. Yu. He happened to meet Mrs. Jia and came back carrying a lantern.

"How are you two mothers?" Zhang Zhengdao asked.

Jia replied: "Jin'er, Sai'er, and Xiaoluan are waiting over there. Everything is fine."

Zhang Zhengdao took the lantern and said, "You go back to the house first, and I'll go take a look."

Jia said: "Thank you, brother!"

Zhang Zhengdao understood what she meant and said with a smile: "We are all one family, so thank you. Let's go back to the house first."

Mrs. Jia smiled sweetly and then went back to the house.

Today, Zhang Zhengdao also invited his mother-in-law, Mrs. Jia, to his home and was chatting with Mrs. Yu in the backyard.

When I turned to the courtyard where Mrs. Yu was, I heard a burst of laughter coming from the house.

When he pushed the door open and entered, he saw Ms. Yu and Mrs. Jia sitting together, chatting about homely matters.

Bai Yulian, He Jin'er, Jose'er, and Mrs. Jia's maid Xiaoluan stood aside, buying some refreshments for the two old ladies from time to time.

"I've seen you two mothers!" Zhang Zhengdao saluted respectfully.

After a period of careful conditioning and Zhang Zhengdao's careful care, Mrs. Yu's body has become much mellower and she has regained some of her former charm.

"Dalang, your mother-in-law is staying here today, go and arrange a room for us," Mrs. Yu said.

Zhang Zhengdao smiled and said: "Just let Yulian prepare."

Mrs. Yu said: "You child, it's hard for your mother-in-law to come to your home and you still don't respect her properly."

Mrs. Jia smiled and said, "This kid, Zhengdao, is very filial."

Since Mrs. Jia married Zhang Zhengdao as her concubine, Mrs. Jia was quite worried at first, fearing that her daughter would be bullied. Every now and then, she would send Xiaoluan, the maid who stayed with her, to the Zhang family to inquire about the news.

Mrs. Jia often felt empty when her biological daughter whom she had raised for eighteen years suddenly got married.

Therefore, when Zhang Zhengdao was not at home, Jia often went back to visit her mother-in-law and told the truth about everything about the Zhang family.

Today, on New Year's Eve, Zhang Zhengdao was afraid that Mrs. Jia would be lonely at home, so he sent someone to take her home and talk to Mrs. Yu.