The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 67 Official land becomes private land

On the Double Ninth Festival on September 9th, Shang Mingshu finally saw Cheng Mian, whom she hadn't seen for almost a month. The young man with high spirits was back again.

It is their custom to climb mountains and worship ancestors on Double Ninth Festival. Shang Jinliang waited until the worship was completed before setting off for Hangzhou.

Shang Mingshu got up early in the morning to make the Chongyang cake herself. Shang Wenshu and Shang Zishu cut small red paper flags by hand and inserted them on the Chongyang cake to replace the dogwood to ward off evil spirits.

In addition to small red paper flags, they also cut five-colored paper into flags and erected them in the courtyard to celebrate the Double Ninth Festival.

Since Shang Mingshu was thirteen years old, Shang Jinliang would wait for Shang Mingshu's Double Ninth Festival cake every year to give to relatives and friends, which meant longevity.

The kitchens of all sizes were busy together, and the servants in the mansion were also coming in and out, trying to deliver the Chongyang cakes and rice dumplings as quickly as possible. The Chongyang cakes in Cheng's mansion were the last basket that Shang Mingshu made for her family to share, and she personally carried it to Cheng's mansion.

"Third Madam." Cheng Mian, carrying two jars of wine, met Shang Mingshu at the gate. Seeing the box in Shang Mingshu's hand, he couldn't help but raise his lips and raised the jar in his hand. "This is the chrysanthemum wine that my eldest sister-in-law asked me to send to your home. It was brewed by my second brother himself."

"Give it to me." Shang Mingshu reached out to take it.

Cheng Mian didn't let go: "Third Lady, please wait for me."

He handed the wine to the servant and quickly ran back to the house with the food box brought by Shang Mingshu.

To pay homage to their ancestors, they all returned to their old house in She County. The house was not very big, and Shang Mingshu could vaguely hear the conversation between Cheng Mian and Cheng Qin.

"How could you leave Sanniang outside the house?" Cheng Qinsheng asked angrily.

"The wine is heavy. I will send Sanniang back with me. I will stay at the Shang Mansion for dinner. You don't need to prepare it for me."

"You...how can you stay at someone else's house on Double Ninth Festival..."

"We are not just bystanders, we are a family."

Soon, Cheng Mian jumped out. Seeing his agility and lightness, Shang Mingshu really believed that he was well again.

Jumping out of the screen wall, facing Shang Mingshu, Cheng Mian quickly straightened his clothes, holding up the corner of his robe and walked up to Shang Mingshu in a refined manner, snatching the wine jar from the servant's hand: "Third Lady, I will take you home."

Shang Mingshu pursed her lips, smiled and nodded.

"Third Madam, I've been detained at home recuperating from my injuries..." Cheng Mian considered his words carefully, wanting to explain, but found that no explanation would be effective. "I want to write you a letter, but I'm afraid you'll think I'm frivolous..."

My second brother said that only scholars with impure intentions would be so shameless as to secretly correspond with the young lady behind their parents' backs.

He was dissatisfied and couldn't control his emotions.

After thinking carefully, he was worried that if Mr. Shang and his wife knew about it, they would misunderstand Shang Mingshu, so he gave up the idea. However, in more than half a month, he wrote a box of letters, but did not send any of them.

"Is your injury healed?" Shang Mingshu asked softly and concernedly.

"It's fine, it's fine. No scars left at all." Cheng Mian nodded hurriedly. "Third Lady, shall we go to the temple fair?"

There will be a three-day temple fair on the Double Ninth Festival. Devotees go there to worship the Bodhisattva King Zhou. The temple fair is bustling with stages set up for opera performances all night long. Many farmers in the surrounding areas also bring in ingenious and rare items to sell.

Shang Mingshu likes to join in the fun, provided there are no huge crowds.

The Double Ninth Festival was a grand event, and it was also after the autumn harvest. People rarely had a few days of leisure, so on such a grand occasion, they would inevitably go to the temple fair. Shang Mingshu only pondered for a moment, showing no reluctance at all. Cheng Mian immediately sensed that Shang Mingshu didn't want to go to the temple fair and immediately changed his mind: "Or climb a mountain?"

There were quite a few people climbing the mountain, but it wasn't as crowded as the temple fair. Shang Mingshu nodded decisively: "Okay, let's go climbing."

Cheng Mian was indeed beaming with joy, almost dancing. It didn't matter where he went or what he did, as long as he was with Shang Mingshu.

As expected, Xiao Yu invited Cheng Mian to have breakfast at her home. When Shang Wenshu and Shang Zishu heard that the two were going to climb a mountain, the two sisters tacitly said that they had made an appointment to go to the temple fair.

The nearest high place to them was naturally Huangshan. When they first arrived at the foot of the mountain, from afar, the rolling hills looked like a sleeping giant beast crawling. Going up along the winding mountain road, they saw pine trees of various shapes along the way.

Some branches are strong and vigorous, with the vicissitudes of time; some leaves are lush, like a big umbrella, as if God has given them the mission of sheltering living things from wind and rain.

They encountered many pedestrians on the road, mostly men in groups of three or five, with few men and women traveling together. When they reached the mountainside, they both agreed to rest. Cheng Mian chose a large rock that was convenient for sitting, cleaned it, and invited Shang Mingshu to come forward: "Madam San, please rest here for a while."

Shang Mingshu did not refuse. She sat down and took the water bag handed to her by He Sui, drinking it in small sips. Cheng Mian was also good at martial arts, which Shang Mingshu only learned at the literary gathering.

Looking at the thin young man, Shang Mingshu always thought he was a weak scholar.

"The results will be announced in a few days. Brother Cheng, are you confident about this imperial examination?" Shang Mingshu started the conversation.

After moistening his lips with water, Cheng Mian said confidently, "My ranking won't be high, but getting on the list won't be difficult."

He had been awake for such a long time, which was enough for him to review his essay for the imperial examination, the examiner's preferences, and many unspoken thoughts. He had not performed well under the circumstances that day, but he was confident that he could pass.

As long as he can pass the examination, he can continue to prepare for the next spring examination.

He must show his true ability, strive to be the best, and make sure to get a good ranking!

"In three days, I will go to Hangzhou with my father and will not be back for more than a month. I will not be able to share the joy of passing the imperial examination with Brother Cheng." Shang Mingshu had to leave early so that she could come back before Lin Yuanyuan's wedding.

"Mrs. San is going to Hangzhou?" Cheng Mian felt a little disappointed, but then he cheered up again. "I'll write to you after the results are announced."

"Okay, I'll pick out a gift for my third brother when I get to Hangzhou." Shang Mingshu didn't know what to prepare now. Although Cheng Mian was confident, there were still variables before the results were announced, so it was not a good idea to prepare gifts in advance.

"I'm waiting for Sanniang's gift." Cheng Mian's confident smile made his handsome face particularly charming. The sunlight fell on his face, and even the autumn day had a warm temperature.

"Let's continue climbing the mountain." Shang Mingshu stood up and moved forward.

Near noon in autumn, there are still clouds and mists on the mountains. The peaks in the distance are looming in the clouds and mists, like jade palaces in heaven.

The sunlight penetrated through the clouds and mist, shooting out golden pillars.

On the top of the mountain, looking out into the distance, you can see layers of forests in all colors.

Red like fire, yellow like gold, green like jade, interweaving to create a colorful picture.

It had been a long time since Shang Zishu had been to the place where she discovered the tea trees. Shang Mingshu happened to walk not far away. She had planned to take a look, but when she and Cheng Mian arrived, they saw three or five people standing in front of the cliff from a distance.

When several people saw Shang Mingshu and the other two approaching, one of them stepped forward and held out his hand to stop them: "This is a private area. Outsiders stop here and are not allowed to go any further."

(End of this chapter)