The whole family travels through time and space, and the three of them struggle together

"North wind blows snow at the beginning of the fourth watch, auspicious signs from heaven and the end of the year.

Half a cup of Tusu is still unopened, and a small piece of grass is writing peach charms in front of the lamp.

On New Year's Eve, a heavy snowfall occurred. Zhou Sisi, reminded of the poem "New Year's Eve Snow," sat on the kang and led Zhi and Heng in reading the poem. As they read, she lamented, "Thank goodness it snowed on New Year's Eve. If it had snowed yesterday or the day before, Xinrui and her gold hairpin gift would have frozen to death." Fortunately, they had prepared in advance, which allowed them to handle the situation perfectly.

-

A day ago, on the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, was also Qi Xinrui’s gold hairpin gift.

Zhou Sisi got up early, carefully selected a beautiful dress, took a small gift she had prepared herself, and went to Minister Qi's house with her family.

Although the Chinese New Year was just one day away, Minister Qi was the head of the Ministry of Revenue after all, and there was a constant stream of carriages coming to present gifts.

Seeing this, Zhou Dajiang exchanged a glance with his wife, thinking, "Maybe we shouldn't have come." Just as they were about to back out, Qi Yuanwailang came out. Seeing Zhou Dajiang, Qi Shoucheng quickly stepped forward and pulled him aside, saying, "Zitao, you're finally here. Come on, let's talk inside!"

For today's banquet, Mr. Qi did not invite many close friends, and most of those who came to give gifts were there for Minister Qi.

Madam Qi followed suit and invited Chen Xiuying and her mother into the inner courtyard as well.

When Qi Xinrui saw Zhou Sisi coming, she excitedly pulled her into her boudoir.

Qi Xinrui's boudoir was warmly decorated, with silk curtains and draperies fluttering gently, reminiscent of a soft dream. The walls were covered with poetry, calligraphy, and paintings. A few green bamboo branches nestled in an antique ceramic vase added a touch of tranquility and elegance to the boudoir.

After yesterday's performance, the relationship between the two had obviously warmed up several degrees. Qi Xinrui was no longer worried about today's performance and chatted casually with Zhou Sisi.

"Sisi, your dance yesterday was so beautiful! Can you teach me?"

"What's the big deal? Of course you can. As long as you don't mind the simple movements, it's totally fine."

Qi Xinrui shook her head. "No, no, I'm not afraid of you making fun of me. My hands are very flexible except when I play the piano. Otherwise, I'm often laughed at for my uncoordinated limbs. I think I'll have to learn that dance you did yesterday for a long time."

Zhou Sisi smiled and said, "In fact, the most important thing about dancing is to find a sense of rhythm, just as natural and smooth as the flow of water. So, how about I teach you to dance and you teach me to play the piano?" This way she would also have an instrument to play.

"No problem!" Qi Xinrui took her hand and clapped it, "Look, it's stamped, guaranteed to be valid!" Then the two of them laughed.

After laughing enough, Zhou Sisi asked, "You were playing the piano so well, why do you suddenly want to dance?"

"This is a long story. Our Empress advocated that women should study more so that they could develop both virtue and talent. So she opened a private school for girls in the capital, aiming to popularize female education.

Those of us who had relatives serving as officials in the court basically all went. This was originally a good thing, but since the granddaughter of the Minister of Rites entered the school, things completely changed.

A relative of hers also teaches at a private school, so she acts like she's the boss, and everyone has to give in. She demands to be at the top of the class in every area. If you're better than her in any subject, you're in trouble. And since she can't play as well as I do, she's always trying to make trouble for me.

Knowing I wasn't good at dancing, whenever there was a competition at the private school, the final punishment would always be dancing. In the past, I'd been teased by them a few times for my stiff limbs.

So, I want to learn a dance first, just in case."

Zhou Sisi fell silent after hearing this. "School bullying happens everywhere." After thinking for a moment, she asked, "Will she come today?"

Qi Xinrui smiled bitterly, "She probably won't come. She doesn't like me, so why would she come?"

Zhou Sisi's eyes rolled, "In that case, let's take the initiative today."

Qi Xinrui looked puzzled, "How do you take the initiative?"

Zhou Sisi smiled slyly, "What's the best way to relieve our anger? Of course, it's to make her pain point more painful, then we'll be relieved.

You can send someone to invite her and tell her that you will dance today. She will definitely be fooled and come to watch the fun.

There's still time before noon, so we can arrange it first. By the way, will Cui Xiaotang and his sister come today?"

"meeting!"

"That's even better. Ask someone to keep an eye on them and invite them to the backyard when the brother and sister arrive.

Let me first teach you some simple but beautiful-looking movements.

When it comes to the performance, you perform the talent you prepared earlier first and save the small town ballad for last.

At that time, you will play the song first, let Cui Haotian sing with you, and I will sing; then, the second time we will go directly to the chorus part, Cui Haotian will play the flute, you come out, I will take you to jump with an umbrella, and my brother will sing, just like yesterday.

If the granddaughter of the Minister of Rites saw that you not only play the zither well but also dance gracefully, she would definitely be furious. This is called giving someone a taste of their own medicine."

Qi Xinrui hesitated for a moment, then her eyes became firm, "Okay, let's do it!"

So Qi Xinrui gave the maid some instructions, asking her to bring the Cui brothers and sisters to the backyard as soon as they arrived.

She used this time to let Zhou Sisi teach her a few simple moves and the positions of the two when dancing. This time, Zhou Sisi mainly wanted to set off Qi Xinrui, so she put her in the main position and herself in the supporting position.

Qi Xinrui had seen this dance yesterday, and after Zhou Sisi changed her movements, even her uncoordinated movements were not very obvious.

Moreover, after the Cui brothers and sisters arrived, Zhou Sisi asked the maid to call her younger brother. After Cui Xiaotang learned that Zhige'er had joined, she said that she wanted to sing too.

The little girl had a clear and loud voice. Zhou Sisi thought, "That's perfect. There's also an opera part. I'll teach you and you can sing it."

So, when the little granddaughter of the Minister of Rites mentioned by Qi Xinrui arrived at the scene, she saw this scene.

A Jiangnan town, a scene of small bridges, flowing water, willow leaves, a stage, and a pavilion, is shrouded in mist and rain. Two graceful girls, holding umbrellas, stroll along the bridge. Suddenly, one's umbrella accidentally knocks the other's golden hairpin into the arms of a young man on a boat...

First comes the crisp sound of the guzheng, then the graceful sound of the flute, then the clear and ethereal female voice, accompanied by dance, tender children's voices and finally the sound of opera, which directly brings people into the spring scene of the ancient town.