When Zhou Shi returned to the third hospital, everyone was waiting for the moon cakes to come out of the oven.
The sweet and soft aroma spread all over the courtyard. Jiang Shuyao took down the wooden board and used a brush to apply a layer of egg yolk to the moon cake.
Xie Zhao pulled her cuff and asked, "Third aunt, let me brush one."
Jiang Shuyao just handed him the brush when he heard the movement and looked towards the courtyard gate.
As soon as she moved, the others who were chatting also turned around and looked over.
Tonight was like a dream for Mrs. Zhou. Seven years had come to an end, but she never thought that when the day really came, those uneasy feelings were so easily blown away by the night wind on the way back. .
With a relieved smile on her face, she strode towards them.
Seven years are long, and it is not the time that is difficult, but those small irreversible choices. But if someone asked her if she regretted marrying into the capital, she would not know the answer before she stepped into the hospital. But now she understands that her answer is no regrets.
Xu Shi put aside Xie Li, walked towards her quickly, frowned and asked softly, "How's it going?"
Zhou Shi looked at this woman who had been arguing with him for seven years and often stomped her feet in anger, and suddenly felt that everything in the world was really amazing.
She shook her head, but before she spoke, Mrs. Xu nervously tightened her handkerchief: "Don't you, no, did he..."
Zhou Shi burst out laughing, and she said, "The dust has settled."
Mrs Xu took a breath, raised her eyebrows slightly, her joyous expression was hurriedly suppressed before rising, and turned into worry: "Then you..." She knew how infatuated Mrs Zhou had been.
Seeing her cautious appearance, Zhou Shi smiled even more happily: "I'm going home."
Xu Shi was stunned for a moment, and then she laughed as well. She didn't know how to say the extra words, so she could only keep nodding: "Okay, okay." The result was even better than she expected.
Jiang Shuyao also put down the brush and plate in his hand and trotted over, asking, "How's it going?"
Zhou Shi repeated the matter, and Jiang Shuyao also laughed: "Great, second sister-in-law, you can go home."
Speaking of this, her expression became a little sad again: "Mobei, it is very far from the capital."
Xu Shi, who was smiling at the side, also changed his expression, from being happy for Zhou Shi to being reluctant.
"It's not like I'm not coming back. Even if I get there, my boss is still in the capital, and I have to come back to learn the recipe." She shrugged, "It takes two months for ordinary people to stop and go, but I'm different. I'm stronger than most men in the world."
The melancholy that Xu shi had just raised immediately dissipated, and she bickered with her: "What a big tone."
Instead, the Zhou family was used to such a Xu family, and immediately felt comfortable.
Jiang Shuyao breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good. You should come back after my mother gives birth. After all, my mother runs around the streets all day, and it is all up to you to protect her. You can't be without you when the child is born."
Zhou Shi nodded in agreement, and mentioned his plan: "I decided to leave at the end of the month, so that I can celebrate the New Year when I arrive in Mobei."
"So fast?"
"Yes, if you decide to set off as soon as possible, it's like procrastinating."
While a few people chatted one after another, the mooncakes that had been brushed with egg wash for the third time were sent back to the oven.
When the moon cakes were out of the pot, everyone stopped chatting and looked at the moon cakes.
The mooncakes are of different shapes, neatly lined on the plate, the pastry is golden yellow, the raised pattern is reddish-brown, and it exudes a sweet smell.
The freshly baked dessert is the most delicious time. Jiang Shuyao greeted everyone to try it, and instructed: "Be careful of hot."
So everyone surrounded the city and picked up the moon cakes that they had printed with a mold.
Xie Xun's is naturally a huge five-nut moon cake with his handwriting on it.
Jiang Shuyao looked up at him expectantly: "Try how it tastes."
The freshly baked moon cake was held in his hand, the residual warmth was still there, and when he took a bite, the sweet warmth immediately swept through the mouth, and it soaked in the lips and cheeks. It was hard to tell whether it was sweetness or heat. Happiness and contentment.
The skin of the moon cake is slightly thin, the mouth is crisp and fine, the fragrant pine is soft and greasy, the skin is soft and sweet, but the filling is firm. The walnut kernels and melon seeds are chopped and mixed with rock sugar to make the filling.
Xie Xun nodded: "Delicious."
Jiang Shuyao has become accustomed to it, everything is delicious in his heart.
But she liked him like that.
"And bean paste stuffing, you try this, I like this the most."
She brought the moon cakes with her hands, and Xie Xun opened her mouth naturally, causing the twins to wink.
Xie Xun took a bite of the bean paste mooncake, Jiang Shuyao withdrew his hand and took a bite himself. The two looked at each other with a smile and chewed together.
Jiang Shuyao likes bean paste, but doesn't like sweet bean paste, so he put less sugar, and the bean paste filling still retains the light red bean fragrance. The outer skin is crisp and soft, and when you bite down with your teeth, you can feel the denseness of the cake skin and the bean paste filling.
"I like this too." Xie Xun swallowed the moon cake, savoring the sweet aroma.
Jiang Shuyao smiled and said, "Wait until you finish eating them one by one and see which one you don't like."
After tasting the moon cakes, everyone enjoyed the moon in the courtyard for a while, and then prepared to go back to their rooms.
After Xu and Zhou said goodbye at the fork in the road, they looked at Zhou's back, but didn't move.
Xie Li came over and reminded: "Madam, the second sibling is gone."
Xu Shi didn't move, just sighed: "I just feel a little embarrassed."
Xie Li also said: "Yeah, who can see clearly when it comes to love." He comforted, "But for the second sibling, it may not be a waste of seven years. Life is often unsatisfactory, but more Most of them are bland, and in these seemingly insignificant and trivial days, whether they are troubled or beautiful, maybe they will be missed in the future."
Xu Shi nodded and finally moved his footsteps.
Xie Ye and Xie Ye walked in front, the twins dragged Xie Li's robe, and the moonlight stretched the five figures very long.
Xu Shi was one step behind, slowly adorning the back, his mind was full of thoughts.
Maybe it was too peaceful tonight, and Mrs. Xu relaxed a lot, and suddenly trotted to catch up with Xie Li: "Husband, I have something I want to ask you."
Xie Li walked forward with the drowsy twins in a robe, looking at them, and said sideways: "What's the matter?"
Xu Shi hesitated for a while, but still asked the most incomprehensible question over the years: "Why have you never taken a concubine since I got married?" Back then, after she got married, she looked at the black-faced husband for a while and was worried. An old-fashioned and strict man does not know how to be considerate of his wife at first glance. She knows that her appearance is not top-notch, and her temperament is also mediocre. Every time she sends a singer to the peak, she will be worried.
Unexpectedly, Xie Li has not only been considerate for so many years, but also rejected all Yingyingyanyan, giving her a marriage life that she did not dare to hope for when she was a girl. She has been puzzled and worried about gains and losses, but she has never understood it until now.
Xie Liti slipped off Xie Yao, who was dozing off, and said with a chuckle, "Do you remember what you said on the wedding night, Madam?"
More than ten years have passed, and the Xu family has even forgotten the process of the big marriage, how can she still remember what she said.
She thought about it carefully, it was nothing more than auspicious phrases, what else could it be
Xie Li looked at her and knew that she had forgotten everything: "I was sleeping in a daze that night, you propped yourself up and whispered to me, 'Husband, please don't blame me, I don't ask For a lifetime of a couple, just to respect each other as a guest, and to be a stable wife. If you can't do it, I will disturb you for the rest of your life. 'How dare a husband forget such a terrible threat?"
After speaking, Xie Yao was too sleepy to stand still, Xie Li squatted down and hugged him, and continued to walk to the big room, as if what he said just now was just an ordinary chat.
His reaction was flat, but Xu Shi was as stiff as a thunderbolt.
She stared blankly at Xie Li's back, unable to believe what she had just heard.
After so many years, she only said what she said on the night of the wedding, or when he was asleep, but he heard it clearly, and remembered it for more than ten years? !
She stared at the front in amazement, so Xie Li knew from the beginning that she was not as gentle and uncontroversial as she was on the face? Then he knows all her makeup for so many years
Xie Li turned back, looked at her standing there in a daze, and laughed.
After barely holding back his laughter, he said, "Madam, keep up, the children can't stand it anymore."
Xu Shimumu nodded and ran towards him with his skirt in hand.
After everyone dispersed, the three-bedroom courtyard returned to its usual tranquility.
Jiang Shuyao and Xie Xun didn't want to go to bed immediately after washing, so they simply placed a low stool in front of the threshold and snuggled up to admire the moon.
"Fortunately, Bai Zhi went home. If she is here, she must let me go back to the room, saying that you should be careful about catching a cold while watching the moon at night."
Xie Xun wrapped Jiang Shuyao tightly with a cloak: "This way you won't catch a cold."
Jiang Shuyao arched his head in Xie Xun's arms, found a comfortable position, and looked up at the sky: "The moon tonight is so beautiful, you don't have to wait until the fifteenth to appreciate the moon."
Xie Xun put his arms around her and looked up at the full moon as well: "Yes." He touched Jiang Shuyao's hand with his left hand and clasped her fingers together, "How about we often admire the moon in the future? We don't have to wait until the fifteenth, nor the full moon. , just the two of you, reciting poems against each other, and enjoying wine—"
Jiang Shuyao interrupted her: "Don't embarrass me, when will I sing poetry against me?"
Xie Xun felt that it was very reasonable, and nodded in agreement: "I am responsible for reciting poems and writing poems, and you are responsible for enjoying the wine."
Jiang Shuyao was satisfied.
Xie Xun thought about the second room, and took advantage of the situation to bring up the question that has been tangled for a long time: "Have you ever thought about living in Beijing?"
Jiang Shuyao was puzzled: "Leaving Beijing? Where are you going?"
"I have been to many desolate state capitals when I traveled in the past, and I have seen too many people suffering. I am determined to one day be able to go to those places to be a parent official and do my part for the people. After I have made achievements, I will return to Beijing to assist the prince. I'm not afraid that I will lose my heart after living in Beijing for a long time." He clenched Jiang Shuyao's hand, a little uneasy, "After I married you, I rested my mind, I was afraid that you would suffer with me."
Jiang Shuyao understood immediately. It was estimated that Xie Li's request to be transferred to the prefect of Qingzhou touched Xie Xun's mind. She said, "What kind of hardship are you suffering, will you wrong me?"
Xie Xun said quickly, "Of course not."
"That's the end of it. For me, as long as you live your life well, you don't have to complain. If you go to the north, we can taste authentic mountain delicacies; if you go to the southeast, we can eat a lot of fish. Shrimp and seafood; it's even better if you go to the southwest, where the fruit is delicious."
Xie Xun's inner worries disappeared in an instant, and he shook his head and chuckled: "Why did you immediately think of eating food?"
"Isn't life like this, eating and drinking is my hope. You don't have to worry about me, as long as you follow you, I'm willing to go anywhere."
Xie Xun was silent for a long time, and finally rubbed his chin on Jiang Shuyao's head, and said in a muffled voice, "Thank you."
Jiang Shuyao raised his head, kissed his chin, and smiled, "You're welcome."
She shrank in her cloak, smiling brightly, her eyes full of herself, Xie Xun's heart softened, and he lowered his head to press her lips.
Warm and sweet, you don't want to part when you touch it.
Xie Xun thought so, and did the same, lingering on her lips, making her a little breathless.
Xie Xun finally understood the sweetness of tasting her red lips, and held it gently. If there was a seemingly non-existent touch, this kind of temptation was too careful, so that when it touched and separated, it was numb, as if there were butterflies. The apex of the heart is generally fluttering, itchy, and swollen.
Jiang Shuyao wanted to push her away, but he forgot that he was wrapped in a cloak and couldn't reach out, so he could only bear his light kiss.
By the time he stopped, all her strength had already disappeared.
Xie Xun cleared his throat, moved his long legs to cover the strangeness under him, and changed the subject: "Cough, it's late at night, it's time to go to bed."
Jiang Shuyao nodded, Xie Xun wanted to stand up, but was pulled by her: "I'm out of strength, you carry me over."
Xie Xun was stunned for a moment, and one side of his head met her eyes full of water.
Afraid that he couldn't hold back his evil thoughts, he didn't dare to look at it, he picked up Jiang Shuyao and strode inside.
After putting Jiang Shuyao on the bed, he wanted to turn around and turn off the lights, but fell into Jiang Shuyao's watery eyes and couldn't move.
Feeling like he was out of control, he sat on the edge of the bed and pressed her lips again.
This time, Jiang Shuyao was completely out of breath. He wanted to push him away, but he had no strength. His palms touched his chest, which made his heart tingle. to the top of the head.
Her bun was loosened, and the wooden hairpin that casually held her black hair was shaky.
"Can you?" Xie Xun asked.
His eyes are no longer as cold and alienated as they used to be, and they have long been infected with blurred emotions and a sense of oppression.
Jiang Shuyao turned his head to avoid his gaze and nodded.
Xie Xun's fingertips trembled, and he gently pulled the wooden hairpin out of her hair. The black hair scattered and slid gently over the back of his hand, cold as satin.
Then scattered, there are clothes and a house full of spring.
Autumn has passed, and winter has come quietly.
Zhou Shi prepared and packed up again, and finally left before the cold winter came.
On the morning of her departure, everyone in Xie Guogong's mansion got up early and went to the city gate to see her off.
Zhou Shi only felt that this was too procrastination, so he walked all the way and turned back to let them go back.
Facing the parting, Mrs. Xu secretly wiped away her tears a few times, but as soon as she lifted the curtain of the car, she saw Mrs. Zhou sitting on the high-headed horse, looking like she wanted to go out of the city and ride the horse at will, her tears were immediately taken back: "I will send you here. Once, if you leave later, if you want me to send you, I won't send it."
Zhou put down the woman's bun, tied it into a high ponytail, and put on a suit of comfortable clothes.
She rode her horse close to Xu's carriage: "What you say is what you say."
Xu shi took a deep breath and dropped the car curtain.
When they arrived at the city gate, Lin had been waiting here for a long time.
Seeing her getting off the carriage, Mrs Zhou frowned immediately: "Didn't I tell you to keep your baby at home, why did you come out again?" Mrs Lin supported her waist and said, "Can't I send you away when you leave Beijing?"
Seeing her big belly, Mrs. Zhou was apprehensive: "What to give, don't worry, I will send you a letter before opening the store in Mobei, and report the business to you at any time, which will never ruin the reputation of Mr. Lin's food. "
Lin Shi snorted: "I don't have the heart, am I worried about business when I got up in the morning to send you off?"
Zhou Shi said helplessly: "I know you guys are reluctant to bear me, but it's not like I'm not coming back. If nothing else, I'll definitely come back when you give birth. In this way, it's only two or three months away."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mrs. Xu probed from the carriage and said in unison with Mrs. Lin, "Who can't bear you anymore!"
Zhou Shi hurriedly said, "Alright, yes, no."
Mr. Xu got off the carriage and beckoned, and the drivers of the two carriages behind him immediately rode their horses forward.
She said to Zhou Shi, "Just hurry, they will follow slowly."
Zhou shi rolled over and dismounted, came to her, puzzled: "What do they do? I don't need anyone to wait on my way."
Xu Shi was a little awkward: "It's not to serve you, it's a parting gift I prepared for you. They are the shopkeepers I'm used to, and they are good at reckoning, and their hometown is in Mobei, so I thought about letting them Let's follow you, and it can be regarded as fulfilling their homesickness."
Zhou Shi rubbed his head: "Why do I want to settle accounts?"
Xu shi glanced at her when she heard the words: "If you don't bring the accountant, you have to find someone else, and it may not be suitable. If you don't say anything else, do you still think you can't settle the account yourself?"
Zhou Shi replied, "Why not?"
Xu Shi couldn't help it, and sneered: "Do you think I really don't know what you've been doing with your accounts over the years?" Little trouble, so many years have not been too boring.
Zhou Shi felt guilty and stopped talking.
Xu Shi said: "And it's not all for you, it's more because they have done a lot of credit and have always wanted to return home, so I'll let them go back, you can use them if you need them, and forget them if you don't need them. ."
Zhou shi nodded, and the two fell silent.
Over there, Mrs. Lin also had two large wagons pulled over and introduced to Mrs. Zhou, "They are all useful things. The list is here, you can take a look at it on the way."
Jiang Shuyao walked over with Lin's hand, and took out a thick booklet from his sleeve: "Second sister-in-law, this is my cooking experience, from the beginning to now, I hope it will be useful to you." , rushing every day, writing straight for more than a month.
Zhou shi took it and saw the dense handwriting inside. At this time, his heart finally rose.
Her voice was a little dull: "Thank you."
I want to say too much, if I go on talking, I will never be able to move.
Lin Shi was older and understood this truth best, and said to Zhou Shi: "Okay, let's go, and now we can go to the Beijing suburban post station to have lunch."
Zhou shi nodded, returned to the horse, looked back at them, and neatly climbed the mountain and mounted the horse.
"Then I'm leaving," she said.
The three nodded: "Be careful on the road."
Zhou Shi smiled, raised his whip, and rode his horse away.
The high horse galloped, and the wind blew her clothes and her hair fluttered. In the blink of an eye, it turned into a small dot and disappeared into the distance.
Lin pursed his lips and muttered: "I just went out of the capital and rode like a tiger. I don't know how crazy I must be when I go back to Mobei."
Xu Shi agreed: "It's not."
After speaking, the three fell silent again.
Lin beckoned: "Let's go, let's go back."
Xu Shi and Jiang Shuyao nodded and were about to turn around when Jiang Shuyao covered his mouth and suddenly retched.
Lin Shi was taken aback: "What's wrong, did you drink too much cold air?"
Before Jiang Shuyao could answer, he retched again.
Xu hurriedly called the maid to bring hot water.
Jiang Shuyao took the water bladder and took a sip of hot water, and her stomach finally felt comfortable. Just as she was about to say "I'm fine", she retched again before making a sound.
When she calmed down, she met Xu and Lin's bright eyes when she got up.
"What, what's wrong?" She was a little scared.
Lin said, "Have you ever been disgusting before?"
Jiang Shuyao was puzzled: "It's a little bit of a thing these days. I guess in winter, I always drink cold wind and get cold air in my stomach..." Speaking of which, he really couldn't stand Lin's and Xu's bright eyes, "What's the matter with you guys? ?"
Lin Shi was a little excited. He supported his lower back, touched his belly and said, "Are you married with your son-in-law?"
Jiang Shuyao was startled: "Mother!" She glanced at Xu Shi, her ears reddened.
But Mrs Xu said to Mrs Lin, "It seems so."
"What is it?" Jiang Shuyao was confused.
Lin Shi burst out laughing, grabbed her hand, and led her to the carriage: "Silly girl, what can it be, you have it!"
"What's wrong?" Jiang Shuyao was pushed by her and did not dare to struggle, for fear of touching Lin's pregnant belly, "Mother, be careful."
Xu Shi covered his mouth and smiled and said, "What else can I do, of course I'm pregnant."
While Jiang Shuyao was stunned, Lin shi had already instructed the driver: "Go back to the residence, and drive the horse more steadily, the more stable the better."
Xu and Lin swept away their previous malaise, and they were even more excited when the doctor confirmed that they were pregnant. One asked someone to send a letter to Xie Xun, and the other set about preparing for a miscarriage.
After Xie Xun received Lin's message, he thought that something was urgent, and hurried back to Duke Xie's mansion.
He ran to the main courtyard without breathing, and when he saw people coming and going, he was very busy, and he was even more anxious.
When he stepped into the door, he was relieved to see Jiang Shuyao sitting on the chair safe and sound.
Before he could ask, Jiang Shuyao spoke first: "Bo Yuan, you can't go out this year."
"Huh?" Xie Xun ignored her words, but looked at her up and down first, and said worriedly, "What's the matter, what happened?"
Jiang Shuyao said: "It's not an accident, it's just that I'm pregnant."
Xie Xun nodded: "It's fine if there's nothing wrong, if there's nothing wrong - wait, what did you say?"
Seeing his silly look, Jiang Shuyao couldn't help laughing, and raised his voice: "I said, I'm pregnant."
Xie Xun Bingshan's face was completely shattered, ecstasy welled up in his heart, he stood bewildered, he wanted to hug her but didn't dare to get close, but in the end Jiang Shuyao threw himself into his arms, and he caught it tremblingly.
"Be careful." He said tremblingly.
Jiang Shuyao laughed even more happily: "You are too stupid." I didn't expect Xie Xun to be today.
Xie Xun was helpless. He held her shoulders to keep her from arching, and then he returned to the cage and began to ask carefully: "Did the doctor read it? What did you say? What should I do? What should I pay attention to? No, I shouldn't ask you, you Sit down first, don't sit on the bench, go and sit on the slump..."
Rumbling, enough to foresee how tense he will be in the next ten months.
Jiang Shuyao is pregnant, Xie Guogong's mansion wants to celebrate, and the snack street also celebrates. The shops, breakfast stalls, and snack shops are all celebrating. Half of the capital is in joy and peace. Discussing what to give to the baby.
All over the capital, Xie Xun was the only one who was nervous.
The excitement continued until the New Year's Eve. When the New Year's Day arrived, the excitement doubled. Firecrackers rang out in unison, and a new year came.
After the first snow fell in the capital, the capital was covered in silver.
Jiang Shuyao huddled in Xie Xun's arms to enjoy the snow, and fell asleep after a while, which made Xie Xun extremely worried: "Why have you been getting more and more energy-less recently?"
Jiang Shuyao was speechless: "Pregnant women are like this."
Xie Xun didn't believe it, and reached out to take the booklet next to him and read through his notes.
As soon as it was opened, it was forcibly closed by Jiang Shuyao.
Xie Xun was helpless, so he could only put down the book, put his arms around her, and continue to watch the scene with her.
The wind and snow outside the window gradually stopped, and the charcoal basin in the house was still burning vigorously. Xie Xun looked at the white snow outside the window, thinking about how to refuse Jiang Shuyao's request to go out to play in the snow later.
Just waiting for him to think about the reasons, Jiang Shuyao hasn't opened his mouth yet.
Looking down, the man in his arms fell asleep at some point.
Xie Xun shook his head, chuckled lightly, and carried her to the bed.
After a while, the wind and snow picked up again, and the snowflakes fell on the ice crystals, forming ice ridges on the eaves. Outside the window, the snow was blowing, and the cold wind was rustling, but the house was peaceful and quiet, except for the light breathing and the light sound of turning pages. Ruixue Zhao has a good year, and the coming year will be a happy year.