The Zhou family and the old lady got into the Zhou family's carriage, Xie Ye and Xie Hao got into the old lady's carriage, and the two carriages drove towards the Xie Guogong mansion in an extremely silent atmosphere.
After stepping into the mansion gate, everyone suddenly felt that the mansion of Xie Guogong today seemed different from the past.
The road is still the same road, and the trees are still those trees, but the people passing by are smiling, which makes the atmosphere in the mansion a lot more cheerful.
Today, everyone bumped into each other in the snack street, and they all had their own guilty consciences, so they all chose not to mention it.
Zhou Shi and the old lady didn't say a word on the carriage, and they finally felt a lot more comfortable when they entered the mansion. She followed the old lady, and the more she looked, the more she felt that something was wrong in the house. She stopped a servant and asked, "What's going on today, is there a happy event in the house?"
The servant replied respectfully: "In response to the second lady's words, the third lady explained that the day is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and today she will give out silver rewards."
Zhou shi nodded, the servant received the reward, and it was normal to be happy.
She was about to leave when she heard the next person say: "The third lady also said that those who are not on duty tomorrow can go home and spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with their families."
Zhou Shi was stunned for a moment, and when he lowered his head to see the burden in the hands of the servants, he suddenly realized that he was so happy that it was not for the reward of silver, but to be able to go home and reunite with his relatives.
She felt a little uncomfortable for a while, nodded to let the servants leave, and followed the old lady to the main courtyard.
Walking into the inner courtyard, when I looked up, I was dazzled by the lanterns full of trees.
Xie Guogong's lantern has always been bright at night, but it has never been as bright as it is today. There are many styles of lanterns, and the light paper is very thin, so that the lanterns are exquisite and bright. The bright white light dyed the treetops a warm color, forming hazy halos on the ground. Walking all the way, all the way is shrouded in the halo of lanterns, all kinds of lanterns rotate and shake, interweaving a blurred world of light and shadow.
Zhou Shi subconsciously followed the guidance of the lanterns, and she was dazzled by the lanterns and palace lanterns along the way.
Looking at the hazy light and shadow for a long time makes people feel a sense of loneliness away from the mundane world. People in the outer courtyard are bustlingly returning home, and the inner courtyard seems extremely quiet. floating in the air.
She paused, turned around, and did not know when she had separated from the old lady.
It is estimated that she was fascinated by her eyes and walked along the lantern with her head stuffed.
One last glance at the complicated and bright lanterns, she lowered her head, ready to turn around and go to the second room.
Suddenly, a cheerful voice sounded.
"You help me."
She looked in the direction of the source of the sound, and saw two maids circling around Jiang Shuyao, Jiang Shuyao was carrying her skirt and seemed to be going up the wooden ladder.
Xie Xun followed behind, very helpless: "Let the maid hang up, you have hung up so much, are you still not satisfied?"
Jiang Shuyao climbed up the wooden ladder when the maid was frightened, and turned back in a fake anger: "Why, isn't it good for me to hang it?"
Xie Xun stretched his arms under the wooden ladder, and while protecting it, he said weakly: "It's beautiful to look good, but... Don't you think it's too much? It's all over the house."
Jiang Shuyao took the lantern from the maid's hand, put her feet up and prepared to hang it on the rattan, turned her head, and met Zhou's eyes.
Xie Xun watched nervously under the wooden ladder. Seeing that her movements had stopped, she quickly cheered up: "Be careful, don't fall."
Jiang Shuyao ignored him, with a bright smile on his face, he waved to Mrs. Zhou in the distance: "Second sister-in-law!"
Xie Xun was startled, and almost couldn't help dragging Jiang Shuyao off the ladder: "Didn't I tell you to be careful?"
Jiang Shuyao handed the lantern back to the maid, grabbed her skirt, and jumped down from the wooden ladder.
Seeing this, Xie Xun hurriedly stretched out his hand to protect him, stomping his feet in anger.
The maids were very helpless. The lady climbed so low that she was only half a person tall, so why was she so careful.
After seeing Jiang Shuyao landed and settled down, Xie Xun breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to look here, suddenly changed his personality, and said hello to Zhou's calmly: "Second sister-in-law."
While he was saying hello, Jiang Shuyao was already running towards Zhou with her skirt.
"Second sister-in-law, come with me." She ran over, her eyes were shining brightly with the broken lights, she smiled and grabbed Zhou's wrist, "I went to the second room to find you, they said you haven't come back yet. "Why did you come back so late today?"
That empty heart fell to the real place in an instant, pulling her back to the world from the dreamlike lights.
She was unprepared, and was staggered by Jiang Shuyao.
Jiang Shuyao turned back quickly, and Zhou Shi chuckled softly.
"Second sister-in-law?" Zhou Shi suddenly laughed, Jiang Shuyao was at a loss.
Zhou Shi just smiled and didn't answer.
Although Jiang Shuyao was puzzled, she didn't ask in detail, and dragged her forward: "I have all the ingredients ready, let's wrap mooncakes and enjoy the moon tonight. Although it will be fifteen tomorrow, the moon today is already there. very full."
Zhou Shi looked up at the sky, only to find that the moonlight was so bright, it was enough to suppress the lanterns in the house.
"Tomorrow's Mid-Autumn Festival, let's teach the people in the snack street to make moon cakes during the day, and come back at night to eat moon cakes and enjoy the moon, what do you think?"
Zhou Shi nodded in response: "Your mother and I haven't discussed a specific way to sell moon cakes. We make them during the day, but is there enough time to sell them at night?"
Jiang Shuyao was puzzled and said, "I didn't plan to sell moon cakes. Moon cakes cost a lot for ingredients, and they have a lot of sweetness. They usually pay wages. They are reluctant to buy candy, so tomorrow everyone will make them together, and they will share a share, and each person will get a few yuan. , take it back and share it with the family." She smiled with eyes full of smiles, "We give moon cakes to each other, and take the meaning of Mid-Autumn Festival reunion. Let's eat auspiciously and not make money."
Zhou Shi was slightly startled, and Jiang Shuyao led her to the courtyard.
There are various tables and chairs in the spacious courtyard. The tables are high and low, filled with dishes and dishes, and there is a large chopping board on the largest table.
Jiang Shuyao said, "I've prepared all the ingredients. Let's make mooncakes together after we clean our hands." After she finished speaking, she realized that she was only caring about the fun, and forgot to ask Zhou's opinion, "Second sister-in-law, what's going on tonight? If It's okay if something happens."
"What can I do?" Zhou shi shook his head and smiled, and went to clean his hands with Jiang Shuyao.
After returning, the two crowded into a pile of tables and started making moon cakes.
Jiang Shuyao brought the large wooden basin next to it and put it on the table, which contained flour piled up into pointed hills. Pour in the oil, honey and sugar and stir evenly. After the flour becomes a bright yellow powder, you can get started.
The flour with oil and honey is kneaded and soft, and you have to use your hands to slowly knead the scattered crumbs into a ball. This kind of "manual work" Zhou Shi has always been rushing to do, she squeezed Jiang Shuyao away and grabbed the work of kneading the dough.
Whether it is kneading dough or watching someone knead it, it is a very stress-relieving thing for Jiang Shuyao.
Zhou's kneading dough is not like Jiang Shuyao, who likes to press with her body. Her arms are strong enough and she looks very light. The flour seems to understand the words under her hands, and she kneads it into a smooth dough after a while. .
The surface of the dough is golden yellow, with an oily luster, soft and smooth like jade, and it is pleasing to the eye.
Jiang Shuyao saw that it was almost done, and said, "Okay, just put it aside and wait for a while."
Zhou Shi took a break and turned around to clean his hands again.
Xie Xun watched the excitement from the side and said, "Does the skin of the pastry do this?"
Jiang Shuyao said: "Of course it won't be a cookie-cutter approach."
Xie Xun nodded, looked at the dazzling array of fillings on the table, and asked, "What about the fillings, what are you doing today?"
"There are sweet mooncakes filled with jujube puree and bean paste, and salty mooncakes with meat floss, egg yolk filling, and cloud legs. This bowl is filled with lotus seed paste, a filling made of lotus seeds, sugar and oil. It is walnut kernels, almonds, peanut kernels, melon seeds kernels, and sesame kernels. After a while, they are mixed together and cut into diced pieces, and sugar is added. The moon cakes made are called Wuren moon cakes, but some people don't like them, but I think It tastes good."
"Five benevolence?" Xie Xun nodded and said, "I like this name. Benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness are pleasing to listen to."
Jiang Shuyao smiled at him: "You'll have to eat a whole piece when you make it."
Xie Xun said: "Of course." He pointed to another table and continued to ask curiously, "Then what are these?"
Jiang Shuyao recognized him one by one: "This is sweet-scented osmanthus, this is green plum, this is hawthorn cake, candied orange peel, winter melon candy - have you tried it? Would you like to try it?"
How could Xie Xun not agree? He opened his mouth naturally and waited for Jiang Shuyao to feed him.
There were no extra chopsticks here, so Jiang Shuyao washed his hands again, then picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.
Xie Xun stood in front of the table with his hands behind his back, and nodded while chewing: "It's really sweet. Well, not bad."
Jiang Shuyao was amused by his cold face, greedy for candy: "Many people hate winter melon candy."
Xie Xun frowned, very confused: "Why do these people hate everything? They are really picky."
Jiang Shuyao took another piece and stuffed it in his mouth.
He squinted his eyes and was very satisfied with the sweetness of the winter melon candy.
When Mr. Zhou came over after washing his hands, he saw Jiang Shuyao feeding Xie Xun candy. Looking at Xie Xun's gluttonous attitude, he couldn't believe that this was the cold-faced uncle she knew.
She stood at the corner and snickered while covering her mouth, and decided to stand here for a while, and wait for the couple to be sweet for a while.
It's a pity that her aunt's laughter was interrupted by a voice from behind before she could officially rise.
"Second brother and sister, I finally found you." Mrs. Xu came from the outside in a hurry, she really didn't look like her.
Followed by the disgraced Xie Ye and Xie Ye behind her, Xie Li carefully persuaded something, with short-legged twins on her tail, looking like a good show.
"Sister-in-law?" Zhou Shi was a little surprised, "what's the matter with you?"
Xu Shi was really angry today. Just now, Xie Ye and Xie Ye came back with an injury on her face. She was so scared that she almost broke the porcelain cup. Mammy said it euphemistically, but Xu Shi understood her meaning in a few words.
My two sons actually went to the river for a fight. After the fight, together with their classmates in the academy, they bullied Qian Shangshu's son and asked him to go to the snack street to buy food for them.
Mrs Xu is a very competent mother, and she has some understanding of the disputes in the academy. Knowing that Qian Shangshu's son is the most learned in the academy, she may have a high self-esteem, and she doesn't deal with Xie Ye and the others. But Xu Shi taught them the words and deeds of gentlemen since childhood, and sent them to the best academies to study. When something happened, they chose to use the method of dating, which really made her furious.
But Xie Ye and Xie Ye felt that they were wronged, and kept talking back: "Mother, you have wronged us, the appointment was made by Qian Zhuzi, ahem, Qian Xiuzhu proposed it, and the side they said lost should promise the other side one. Request, willing to admit defeat, they lose, why is it called bullying if we let them treat?"
Xu Shi could accept that his son made a mistake, but he could not accept that his son had to forcibly defend himself without even knowing where he was wrong.
She has always been gentle and dignified, but this time she was directly angry to the point where she acted at home. Xie Li rushed over immediately after hearing about this, and tried to persuade him to stop him several times.
Xie Ye and Xie Ye saw that Xu was so angry, and they were aggrieved themselves: "Mother, you are right from wrong, and we didn't lie. If you don't believe me, ask your second aunt!"
When Mr. Xu heard the words "Second Aunt", he was stunned for a moment, and in the blink of an eye, he realized that Mr. Zhou was busy in the snack street. Co-authoring with his son and learning how to fight and bully others in the capital is fine, but still embarrassing in front of the Zhou family?
She was angry: "Okay, I'll go ask her now. Hmph, do you think she will protect you like your father? If the second siblings say you lied, then you will kneel in the ancestral hall for me this month. go."
So the Xu family dragged the whole family to the third room, and there was the current scene.
Seeing that Xu's face looked like she was angry, Zhou shi said in surprise: "What's wrong with you, so angry? It's strange that I haven't seen you blushing since I got married."
The two have been accustomed to fighting each other for many years, and obviously have no intention of mocking, but for a while, they really can't change their strength to hide the needle in the cotton.
When Xie Ye Xie Ye argued, Mrs. Xu didn't rest. When Xie Li warmly persuaded Mr. Xu, Mrs. Xu didn't rest. After such a long journey, Mrs. Xu didn't rest.
She said smoothly, "I have something I want to ask you."
The movement here caught the attention of Jiang Shuyao and Xie Xun. Jiang Shuyao was very surprised to see the big family: "Why is my sister-in-law here? Come in quickly, what do you have to say!" It happened to be lively.
When Zhou Shi heard Jiang Shuyao say this, he followed: "If you have any questions, come in and ask again."
Xu Shi couldn't, so he could only enter the inner courtyard of the third room.
As soon as I entered the yard, I was interrupted. What are the tables and bowls set up in the yard?
"Sister-in-law, you just happened to be here. Sister-in-law and I are planning to make moon cakes." She looked at the twins and beckoned to them, "You guys are here too, and I said I'll send it to you when it's done, now it's alright, you guys Do it yourself, it tastes better if you do it yourself.”
The twins knew that Xu was angry, so even if Jiang Shuyao greeted them, they didn't dare to jump too much, staring at Xu's face and hesitating whether to go over.
Xu Shi's anger was dissipated, and his anger was not so great. Seeing the twins' appearance, he was angry and funny: "Your third aunt told you to go there, go."
The twins hurriedly jumped and rushed towards Jiang Shuyao.
Only then did Mrs. Xu turn her head and ask Mrs. Zhou: "Second brother and sister, do you know if my son bullied his classmates in the snack street?"
Mrs. Zhou knew that Mrs. Xu would not let the two of them go. She originally planned to drag the two to see Mrs. Xu, but she bumped into the old lady, and when she came back, she was dizzy and lost her mind. .
"Of course, I was the one who brought them out at the time."
Xu Shi was a little embarrassed, glanced at the two sluggish sons, and said, "Then do you know the ins and outs of things?"
Zhou Shi was about to answer when Jiang Shuyao interjected again: "Second sister-in-law, what are you talking about over there? The dough is awake, come and wrap the moon cakes. Sister-in-law is also here!"
Mrs. Zhou turned back and shouted "Okay", and said to Mrs. Xu as she walked forward, "I don't know the specifics, but after someone inquired about it, I could find out the ins and outs."
She went to Jiang Shuyao's side, and Xu Shi had to follow.
"I heard that the food they brought during the township exam was too delicious, so greedy that the kid from the Qian family didn't answer well, I guess he didn't understand Yuan. The kid from the Qian family made an appointment in an unhappy mood, and then lost, willing to admit defeat. , I went to the snack street and bought them a street food."
Xie Hao corrected: "Half a street, I haven't finished eating yet..." He was swept by Xu's eye knife and closed his mouth.
Xie Ye said: "Mother, do you know now that my second brother and I didn't lie."
Mrs Xu sneered: "So what? This matter could have been resolved properly. You guys insisted on answering his appointment, so why don't you learn to behave like a playboy?"
It's true that the two of them did something wrong. He muttered a few words and bowed his head.
After Zhou Shi finished speaking, he went to Jiang Shuyao's side to prepare moon cakes.
Jiang Shuyao took a knife and was about to chop five kernels. Seeing that they had finished talking, he wanted them to come together to pick stuffing and wrap mooncakes, but only then did he see the wounds on the faces of the two eldest nephews, and their clothes were gray.
She asked Zhou Shi in a low voice, "What happened to them?"
Zhou Shi was accustomed to saying: "There was a fight."
Jiang Shuyao didn't think the matter was too serious. Although the two had reached the age of the imperial examination, they were still immature teenagers in essence, and it was normal for them to fight.
But Xu Shi obviously didn't think so, she said something sternly, Xie Ye Xie Ye raised her head in surprise, then lowered her head unwillingly and sullen.
There are four Chinese-style laws of tolerance: "Everyone has come", "It's not easy", "It's a big holiday", and "It's still a child."
So Jiang Shuyao naturally wanted to persuade her, so she put down what she was doing and walked over: "Second sister-in-law, why are you so angry?" Although tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is barely considered a festival.
Xu Shi was also distressed: "Who wants to be angry with them, but they..."
Jiang Shuyao looked at Xie Ye and Xie Ye, and when he got close, he could see their injuries clearly, and said in surprise, "How can you be hurt like this?" No medication.
She forgot to ask the reason, and hurriedly shouted to Xie Xun: "Bo Yuan, go and fetch the medicine box in the room, it's on the cabinet at the end of the bed." Then she turned her head and said to Mrs Xu, "Second sister-in-law, he The two of them are so injured, let's take medicine first. And this clothes are dirty and torn, so hurry up and change them first."
Xu shi just said: "You can only have a long memory if you are injured."
Jiang Shuyao knew that Mrs. Xu was a gentle person on the outside but was actually tough on the inside, so she didn't persuade him, and took Xie Ye to the east wing on his own: "Let's go, take care of the injury on your face first. Injured?"
Xie Ye and Xie Ye were still struggling, and they didn't say anything because of the pain in the wound. After hearing Jiang Shuyao's question, they suddenly had a sore nose: "No, it's just a few bruises at most."
Jiang Shuyao jokingly said, "Being beaten doesn't slap in the face, they are really ruthless."
Xie Ye and Xie Ye were a little surprised by Jiang Shuyao's attitude. At first, they held their breath to argue with Xu, and didn't think they were wrong, but Jiang Shuyao didn't ask the reason. First, they cared about their wounds, and then talked about it in a joking tone. When things happened, they inexplicably stopped and began to reflect on their mistakes.
Xie Ye muttered: "They didn't ask for good... But who would have known that they were so ruthless, they said it was a fight by the river, my friends and I thought they were joking, but it turned out to be ruthless when they went away. ." That's why they couldn't help but fight back, and if they won, they had to get their breath back.
Xie Xun found the medicine box and was also very surprised to see the injuries on their faces. While opening the medicine box to get the medicine, he asked, "What's going on?"
Xie Ye and Xie Ye were very afraid of Xie Xun, so they didn't dare to twist as hard as they did in front of Xu, so they obediently lowered their heads and repeated the matter.
After he finished speaking, he glanced at Xie Xun secretly, and when he saw his face sinking like water, he immediately trembled, even more frightened than when Xu shi got angry.
Xie Xun sat down opposite them and said coldly, "Why is your kung fu so poor?"
Xie Ye and Xie Ye were both ready to be criticized, but they didn't want to hear such words, so they looked up at Xie Xun with wide eyes.
Xie Xun frowned, and his expression became colder: "Why, don't you agree? Even if Big Brother didn't ask you to learn martial arts from a teacher, it's not like you didn't learn any kung fu at all. You'd be beaten like this."
They were dumbfounded, so shocked that they didn't know what to say.
Jiang Shuyao came over with a basin of water, and when he saw this scene, he guessed what happened, and it was estimated that it was two people who were confused by Xie Xun's cold face. She held back her laughter and wringed out the veil: "Wipe the ashes on your face first."
Xie Ye and Xie Ye hurriedly took it and smeared them on their faces, grinning in pain.
It was at this time that Mr. Xu came in, and he couldn't get angry when he saw this, and sighed helplessly.
Jiang Shuyao knew that it was time to persuade him, so he walked over and said, "Sister-in-law, although they are wrong, they are too normal to be punished."
Xu Shi did not speak.
Jiang Shuyao repeated the bits and pieces of what Xie Ye said to Mrs Xu: "People of this age can't bear this kind of anger. Besides, it's only been like this in the past few years, so just bear with it. Well, in a few years..." She used her chin to change the position of Xie Xun, who gave Xie Ye medicine with a cold face, "Well, it will look like that."
When the words fell, Xie Xun, who was neither serious nor serious, made Xie Ye gasp, but he was so bitter that he did not dare to speak.
Mrs. Xu was amused by Jiang Shuyao's words, and she couldn't help laughing and crying: "How can someone say that about their husband?"
"I didn't say anything." Jiang Shuyao smiled, "I just think that this is exactly what they would do at this age. Sister-in-law, don't be too strict."
Xu shi shook his head, and his anger was completely gone: "That's it."
Seeing this, Jiang Shuyao hurriedly started another topic: "Sister-in-law, keep the moon cakes, there are many sweet ones."
Mrs Xu rubbed her forehead: "No, Ah Zhao Ya Yao hasn't recited her homework for me today, I..." Having said this, Jiang Shuyao stared at him so much that he couldn't go on.
"Sister-in-law, don't talk about other days, at least today, don't oppress the children."
Xu Shi said with a wry smile: "I also hope that they will become successful."
"I know." Jiang Shuyao patted Xu's hand, "but you still have to be careful."
She took Xu Shi to the courtyard, and the twins had already made moon cakes with Zhou Shi.
They were short and had to stand on the bench to be able to hold the desk.
Zhou Shi held the bright yellow dough in his hand, pressed it into a cake shape, placed the bean paste filling in the center, and then slowly wrapped the cake skin and slowly wrapped the bean paste filling.
The twins stared attentively, their eyes wide, round and bright, looking very well-behaved.
"Do you understand?" Zhou Shi kneaded the dough into a smooth ball and held it in the palm of his hand for the twins to see.
The twins nodded: "Understood."
Zhou explained: "The next step is to mold."
The twins stood on the bench, blinking and listening intently.
Seeing this scene, Mrs. Xu suddenly felt a little soft-hearted. Maybe she was really too strict with the child, and it was time to relax.
Jiang Shuyao took the pot with the mold and put it on the table: "Choose the pattern. There are flowers, grass, and writing, each of which is different." She took it and said, "Oh, yes, there is also this , I asked the craftsman to carve rabbits and tigers, I thought it would be very cute, but I didn't expect it to look a little scary."
They chatted and discussed which mold to use, and Mrs. Xu watched from the side, smiling involuntarily at the corners of her mouth.
Xie Li leaned over quietly: "Madam is not angry?"
Xu Shi said, "Do you think I'm too strict with children?"
"Where will it be." Xie Li took her hand and said warmly, "The love is deeply responsible, and the lady has brought up the four children very well."
At this time, Jiang Shuyao took a large mold from the basin, raised his voice and said, "This is the handwriting written by your third uncle. I think it looks good, so I asked someone to stretch it out and make a mold. Make a big moon cake and print this, It must be beautiful."
Xie Xun came out of the wing just after giving Xie Ye Xie Xie's medicine, and when he heard Jiang Shuyao's words, he was a little embarrassed: "I said don't use that one, it's not very well written."
"I think it's good." She smiled, "Tanhualang's words, how can it be bad?"
Although she was joking, Xie Xun was still very useful. She pursed her lips and suppressed her smile to prevent the juniors from seeing it. She came over and said, "Then just print it yourself, don't print moon cakes to give to others."
Jiang Shuyao said: "I still want to take it to the snack street tomorrow. It's not good to print other people's words on moon cakes."
Xie Xun immediately felt uncomfortable: "Do you really think my handwriting is good-looking, or is it because it is more convenient to use my handwriting?"
Jiang Shuyao hurriedly coaxed: "Of course I sincerely think it looks good, especially good-looking. No one else can match it. I will take it tomorrow and show my mother how good-looking her son-in-law's words are."
Xie Xun couldn't bear it any longer, the corners of his mouth curled up, and he muttered in a reserved manner: "Okay, okay, I don't believe you."
When Xie Ye and Xie Ye saw Xie Xun's expression, they looked at each other and snickered, but they forgot that there was still a wound on the corner of their mouth, they grinned and gasped in pain.
The third room was lively, but the Shouning Hall was particularly deserted.
After the old lady took off her hair bun, she sat in front of the bronze mirror without moving.
She is getting old and falls in love from time to time. The mammy is used to it and reminds: "Old lady?"
The old lady returned to her senses and asked, "How's the big room?"
Mammy said: "The eldest lady had a quarrel with the eldest young master and the second young master, and went to the second lady to reason with the second lady, but the second lady was in the yard of the third room, so they all went to the yard of the third room. The person who asked about it just now came back and said yes In the end, there was no quarrel, and everyone gathered in the yard and happily made pastries."
"Make cakes?"
Mammy smiled and said, "Yes, don't you think it's strange, in the evening, the masters, wives and young men of the whole house come together to make cakes..." Speaking of this, seeing the old lady's face in the bronze mirror, she immediately stopped. mouth.
The old lady saw her reaction in the bronze mirror, put down the wooden comb, and sighed: "After so many years, have I ever punished you?"
Mammy was startled, she shook her head quickly and said, "Old Madam is kind, of course there is no such thing."
"Then why are you so afraid of me?"
Mammy was dumbfounded. She is a dowry girl, and she has followed the old lady since she was a child. Before the old lady was married, she was a famous lady in the capital, and she couldn't find any mistakes in her behavior. Therefore, the maids they followed naturally had to strictly abide by the rules, for fear of falling, right? . After the old lady got married, in order to earn performance in front of her mother-in-law, in order to earn face in front of the mistress of the capital, her rules became stricter. The old lady really did it. When she was young, she was praised by the empress dowager, and became the object of imitation of the mistresses in Beijing. When she got older, she became a highly respected old lady in Beijing. The master treats himself so strictly all his life, and the maid naturally dare not relax.
The old lady got up, and the mammy quickly supported her.
She walked to the window, pushed open the window, and the cool breeze swept into the house.
The full moon is bright and bright, and the bright moonlight scatters into the house, making it cold and cold, even more lonely.
"I don't like festivals very much," said the old lady.
Mammy rarely listened to the old lady saying these words, and hurriedly lowered her head.
Staring at the full moon, the old lady seemed to fall into memory, and said softly: "I didn't like it when I was in the boudoir, and I didn't like it even after I got married. Before I get married, I have to compete with my sisters in my family. I can't rest. I was busy hosting banquets and taking care of the feeder, and when I came back I was so tired that I couldn't find the strength to please the grandfather of the country, so I could only watch him go to another courtyard to rest..."
For the first time in decades, when she heard the old lady say these words, she hurriedly interrupted: "Old lady."
The old lady shook her head: "How old are you, I don't care about this for a long time." Her face revealed a confused look, "I always thought I didn't like fun, if not why I always hate every festival? So you Seeing me eating fast and reciting Buddhahood, and making Shouning Hall clean, I wish I would not touch it at all. But I just realized recently that I seem to be thinking wrong."
She closed the window, and the moonlight still came in, illuminating the floor with silver frost.
"It's not that I don't like liveliness, I don't like empty liveliness, especially after the lively scene, the loneliness is really unbearable." She walked slowly to the bed, "After the lively scene when I was young , when I returned to the room, my mother wanted to tell me what was wrong, and left me alone to reflect on the wall; after getting married, the crowd was over, and when I returned to the room, it was still deserted, and the lights in the other courtyard were very bright; when I got old, Outside firecrackers were blaring and everyone was laughing, but I was the only one here, and the juniors ran away after seeing them."
"Sometimes I wonder, if I was born in an ordinary family, and now I am just a hard-working woman, would I have a caring and well-behaved granddaughter like Aunt Hu, and the granddaughter and grandson depend on each other for life. Let the passers-by Gao Gao be envious of Mrs. Shangguo."
Mammy felt uncomfortable in her heart, holding the old lady's hand, unable to say any words of consolation.
The old lady just smiled and pulled out her hand: "What kind of expression did you make? I'm just talking about it. You see, I'm lying on a high bed now, and there are people waiting for me when I go to bed. How many people can't be envious." She closed her eyes and said softly: "Isn't the third daughter-in-law saying that you can go home if you are not on duty tomorrow? You can go back tomorrow too. I have kept you with me all these years, but I never thought of letting you go home during the festival. I didn't even think of this, I'm really ashamed of you."
Mammy shook her head: "What did the old lady say..." She looked up and saw that the old lady had closed her eyes, so she stopped talking and quietly retreated.
The owner of Shouning Hall fell asleep, but the third room was still lively.
Jiang Shuyao and a few children in the big room pressed mooncakes together, Mrs Xu and Mrs Zhou were in charge of kneading the cakes, Xie Xun and Xie Li were in charge of stealing the fillings, and a group of people quickly made a large plate of mooncakes.
Zhou challenged to make the moon cake into a shape with a thin skin and a large filling, so he didn't get too excited with the five kernel filling in his hand. The skin was wrapped here, and the filling was exposed there again. Making moon cakes was hard to gnash.
Xu Shi didn't know whether to laugh or cry, seeing Zhou Shi's temple hair hanging down, she used her pinky finger, which had never touched the oil surface, to pick it behind her ear.
As soon as he picked it up, his movements froze.
Zhou Shi was puzzled and looked up at her.
Mrs Xu glanced at the far door, Mrs Zhou turned her head to look, and found that Xie Lang was standing at the gate of the courtyard, as if he wanted to come in.
She darkened immediately.
"Why did he come here, it's a disappointment." Zhou Shi said.
Xu Shi was a little hesitant to speak, and hesitated for a while before saying, "He should have something to say to you."
Zhou looked at Xu in surprise. Regarding her and Xie Lang, although Xu shi didn't say anything, but she has always been on her side, how did you change your attitude today?
Mrs Xu said, "Would you like to... go and chat with him."
Zhou Shi put down the dough in his hand and frowned at Xu Shi.
Xu Shi sighed: "You believe me once, he has something important to tell you."
Mrs. Zhou didn't want to see Xie Lang, but Mrs. Xu said so, and she didn't want to be angry with Mrs. Xu, so she wiped her hands with a dry cloth and walked towards the courtyard gate.
Xie Lang was a little happy to see her coming, but he quickly suppressed it: "I have something to tell you, can we find a place to sit down and talk?"
Zhou Shi said impatiently, "Isn't there enough to talk about? It's just those nonsense over and over again."
Xie Lang smiled bitterly: "I promise, this is our last conversation."
Zhou Shi waved his hand and stepped out of the hospital door: "Okay, this is what you said. After today is over, don't bother me in the future."
Xie Lang's footsteps froze, and the wry smile on his face couldn't hold back.
The two sat down in a nearby pavilion, and as soon as Mr. Zhou sat down, he said, "Come on, I have to rush back to make moon cakes."
If possible, Xie Lang wanted to ask her how she was doing recently, but he understood that Zhou Shi would only leave impatiently after hearing this.
So he could only skip the words that he had held back for a long time, took out two things from his arms and put them on the stone table.
Zhou Shi frowned at him.
He pushed the booklet on the stone table in front of Zhou Shi.
"What is this?" Zhou shi reached out hesitantly and picked up the tissue paper on it.
When she unfolded it, the impatience on her face suddenly shattered, leaving only surprise.
She stared at Xie Lang with wide eyes, and when she saw him nodding, she shifted her gaze back to the tissue paper again.
The three words "letting wife's book" are very eye-catching.
Perhaps only when she was shocked would he have a chance to say something. Xie Lang felt bitter in his heart, he never thought that one day he would struggle to find a chance to even talk to her. He said: "These years, I've been ashamed of you. I owe you a lot, whether I admit my mistakes or apologize, no matter how much I say, I can't make up for it."
Zhou Shi closed the paper, feeling unreal as the dust settled.
Xie Lang did not dare to look her in the eye, he pushed the booklet in front of Zhou Shi, this time without saying anything, Zhou Shi took the initiative to pick it up and open it.
"Edict?" Zhou shi read the words in the booklet with one glance and ten lines, and asked in disbelief, "Qingzhou...you, are you going to Qingzhou?" Qingzhou is the most desolate place in Mobei.
"Yes." Xie Lang looked up at her, his smile finally no longer bitter, "I have discussed with A Sheng, she said that she is willing to follow me to take office, trapped in Beijing, she will never see the records in the book She lives in the desert and can't appreciate the different customs and customs. She really wants to go to Mobei to see, and then I will send her to Zhou's house. If she misses me, she can also be sent to Qingzhou to see me. ."
Zhou Shi was too surprised for a while, and did not respond for a while: "Wait, compared with your current official position, the Qingzhou prefect is demoted and released. What did you do?"
Xie Lang chuckled, when she was so confused, she seemed to be back to the way she was when she first met.
"This is what I asked for from the sage." The smile on Xie Lang's face faded, "You can follow me when you take office after the new year, or you can go earlier, or say it's reconciliation, and continue to be my wife. It's all up to you to act as a person."
Zhou Shi put down the decree, his mind was in chaos, and he didn't know how to respond.
"You want to go back to Mobei, but you have concerns and can't leave. Now you don't have to. A Sheng will follow me, and you don't have to worry about your identity. Of course, if it's inconvenient to do things with Li's wife, you don't have to deal with it. People mentioned that we were divorced."
Seeing Zhou shi raised his eyes to look at him, Xie Lang laughed at himself: "Don't worry, since I gave you a letter to let go of my wife, I won't bother you any more." Ying, you don't have to worry about what plan I have, if you can't believe me after getting married, please remember me before getting married, and go home with confidence."
The word "home" suddenly made Zhou shi's nose sour. She suppressed her tears, shook off her complicated thoughts, and said, "You don't have to ask for a transfer for me."
Xie Lang laughed: "Not only for you, but also for myself."
After the night is over, the two may no longer be able to sit and talk face to face. Xie Lang's Adam's apple rolled, suppressed the grief in his heart, and tried his best to appear decent: "I have lived a smooth life in my life, and my family and studies have been smooth, but the only setback I encountered was when I traveled to Mobei. you."
Seeing that Mrs. Zhou was about to speak, he hurriedly connected: "Don't scold me in a hurry. I'm pampered, and even if I'm traveling, I'm not bad for food, clothing, housing, and transportation. I'm not like the third brother, who is serious My teacher, lived like an ascetic. After I arrived in Mobei, I still ate fine food and fell asleep with a soft blanket until I met you on the street that day. Since then, my life has been turned upside down by you.”
"The trip to Mobei is just to gain some knowledge and improve one or two talents. When I arrived in Mobei, I never experienced the suffering of border crossings, nor the bitter cold of winter, and the poems I wrote were just irrelevant. Even so, I will return After the capital, it will still be praised by everyone and won the reputation of a great talent." After Xie Xun finished speaking, he couldn't help shaking his head and sneering.
Zhou Shi did not answer, and he continued: "In my life, I have been a nobleman born in the capital, and the romantic life in the book, if it weren't for you, I might have been so confused and never met. What is the other side of the world. You took me to drink strong wine, saw the desert, hunted wolves, saw the bright moon at the border, worshipped the burial grounds of soldiers... You clearly gave me a chance, but I didn't catch it Live, choose to return to the capital, get an official position, and re-indulge in the romantic situation."
Zhou Shi didn't love him anymore, but she still felt pain in her heart.
"I think, I missed it seven years ago, and I shouldn't miss it again seven years later. I used to eat fine delicacies in Mobei, and now I follow the people to eat bean rice and dry buns; I used to live in a prosperous place. In the street market, now I go to the poorest place to observe the people's feelings. I don't have to do my best to do a good job in the official position. If I stay here, it will be nothing more than promotion, but I can't step on the ground in my life. After arriving in Qingzhou, I may try my best and not be able to do the prefect, but this is what one should pursue in life, isn't it?"
Zhou Shi was silent, and the atmosphere was a little stagnant.
After Xie Lang gave her the wife letter, those indecisiveness and tossing and turning disappeared together, it seemed that time had flown, and he was back to the personable and carefree Xie Erlang who used to be: "Ruoying, I have not really I understand the love between men and women, all I have learned and seen are the fireworks in the book, but I understand the real friendship, you are the most indispensable friend in my life, meeting you is a great blessing in my life, I have lost you ,I'm very sorry."
Zhou looked up: "I don't want your apology."
Xie Lang laughed: "This is you." He smiled and said, "If you want to go back to Mobei, go back a year ago, so that you can have a New Year's holiday with your family, I will be here in the capital. You can take care of it for you, and you can just go. It’s better to go back early, after all, the food in Mobei is really difficult to eat. When I arrive in Qingzhou in the future, maybe I can still touch your light, and I don’t need to eat those gritty dry buns. already."
Zhou Shi said: "If you want to be beautiful, Qingzhou is very far from Zhou's house, and it will take at least a year or two to pass on food."
Xie Lang said: "I know." The food can't be passed on, and it's hard for people to see each other. Maybe if we say goodbye today, when we meet again, things will be different.
The two did not speak, and the pavilion fell into an unbearable silence.
Xie Lang hoped that the silence would stop for a while, so that he could spend more time with her, but it didn't go as expected, Zhou Shi took a breath, stood up and prepared to leave.
Xie Lang looked up at her and happened to meet her line of sight.
"You know I'm not going to thank you for all this, do you?" she asked.
Xie Lang replied, "I know."
"You know that I still hate you, right?"
"I know."
Zhou shi nodded and left the pavilion without a trace.
Xie Lang still maintained the posture when she left and sat for a while. He didn't move until the wind picked up, and put the objects on the stone table into his sleeves.
He looked up at the sky, the full moon tonight was extremely bright, so bright that it would make people's eyes sore.
He murmured to the moon: "You know that the last sentence on the last side will be remembered for a lifetime, right?