Li Qinyuan's deceased mother, Mrs. Shen, lived in the courtyard called Jinguiyuan. Although she passed away for six years, the layout of the courtyard is still the same as before. In the past, a woman in her thirties was cleaning the courtyard. on.
Seeing him coming, the woman hurriedly put down the work she was doing, and her colleague called Da An with undisguised concern, "The wind and snow are so big, why did you come here?"
The woman's name was Su Xiu, and she was Shen's dowry maid.
Shen shi was kind and didn't want these old servants who had been with her since childhood to be trapped in the mansion for life. Before she went, she returned everyone's deeds to them. If you don't have a home, you can also take a pen and money, whether it is a small business or keep it for yourself.
After all, everything she could think of had been arranged for them.
So many years have passed, and only Suxiu has stayed. She was married before, but unfortunately, her life was not good. She married her husband and was killed by the bandits. She had no children and daughters, and two old people in the family passed away. With nowhere to go, he simply stayed in the mansion.
Every day, I wipe the tablet for my old master and clean the former residence.
"I'm here to see my mother." Every time Li Qinyuan came back, his mood became a little gloomy, especially today because he was talking about old things. He handed Suxiu the umbrella in his hand, and then walked in alone.
Suxiu knew that he liked quietness, so he didn't dare to bother, and only called a little maid to prepare some tea to eat.
If necessary, send it in.
After waiting for someone to go out, she took the umbrella that Li Qinyuan had just handed her, looked at the closed door, and still couldn't help sighing.
…
house.
Because it is cleaned every day, this house that has been unoccupied for many years still maintains the popularity it deserves. When Li Qinyuan stepped in, he untied the cloak he was wearing outside and put it on the door. on the side screen shelf.
The melons and fruits on the table were all fresh, and a Xiangfei couch not far away was also cleaned up. The pillow embroidered with begonia flowers was still my mother's favorite in the past.
There is an embroidery basket on the coffee table next to it, which is filled with a lot of rags and needles.
Further to the side, near the Dongxuan window, there is an embroidery frame, which is an unfinished portrait of Guanyin before the death of the mother.
Even in front of the dressing table, there was a comb with white jade and flower patterns that she often used.
Li Qinyuan looked at it little by little, and even the corners of the house were not spared. The layout here was exactly the same as when his mother was there... Sometimes, he would suddenly feel that his mother might not have left at all.
She would still lean on the soft couch against the throw pillow and embroidered in female red, and when she saw him, she would raise her gentle eyebrows and smile with him, "Qilang is here."
But in the end—
It's just his delusion.
Even if the place is the same as before, the people who left have left.
Li Qinyuan lowered his eyelashes and did not speak. He planned to change into a pair of soft-soled shoes, so as not to dirty the room.
There are always his shoes here. Although he seldom comes back, but every time he comes back, he will come to his mother and sit for a long time. Just as he is about to bend over to pick it up, he glances over there and there is a pair of shoes.
Son, bigger than his.
His brows narrowed slightly, and his thin lips pursed slightly. After all, he didn't say or do anything, as if he didn't see it, he took his shoes and put them on and walked in.
Same as before.
Li Qinyuan first took a piece of pear blossom incense that his mother liked in the old days and put it in the incense burner of tangled peony and green leaves, then washed his hands, and then walked to the place where the tablet was worshipped, and took three incense sticks from the incense holder and lit them. in the incense burner.
Three wisps of smoke rose, and he just looked at the black-bottomed gold tablet.
The tablet reads "Wife Shen's Morning and Night". Li Qinyuan always felt that her mother's name was not good. It was like she left before she lived the most brilliant life in her life, but she liked it very much... He still remembers when he was very young At the time, his mother hugged him and talked about the situation when he met that person.
If the daughter who has not left the cabinet wants to marry, she will go to a peach blossom farm on the outskirts of the city, go there and ask for a peach blossom sign, then write her name on the bottom, and cast it on the most blooming peach tree.
--
My mother would have been pulled over by someone. When she was in her boudoir, she was gentle and inconsiderate. She felt that when it came to marriage, she obeyed her parents' arrangements.
She was pulled over by a friend, and she also bought a peach blossom lottery for her.
She had no choice but to write her own name and plan to find a secluded peach tree to throw on it.
Who would have thought that when she threw it to the tree, she threw it outside the wall, and her name was written on the sign, so how could outsiders see it? After hurriedly looking for it, I met the man.
Li Qinyuan still remembers that his mother told him.
- "At that time, your father was wearing a Tsing Yi, with jade around his waist, and his face was like a crown of jade. He was no different from those young sons who were out and about, but when he looked up at me, his long and narrow phoenix eyes were like It was the wind and sand that shrouded outside the Great Wall, which made me hold my breath all of a sudden."
- "He didn't ask me anything. Seeing that I was blushing and anxious, he handed me back the flower sign in his hand, and then led the squires away."
- "I was not assertive since I was a child. It was always what my parents said, but that time, I really wanted to marry someone, marry him."
My mother also said, "I know that he is a good soldier, and I know that he is out for more than half a year, but for me, as long as it is him, it is enough to have only day and night."
Memories come to an abrupt end.
Li Qinyuan's pursed lips still did not loosen. He still looked at the tablet without blinking. After a while, he opened his mouth. His voice was a little hoarse, especially in this world where the cigarettes were curling. With a somewhat ethereal feeling, "Mother, I'm back to see you."
"I'm very good."
It's like commonplace gossip
, he said very slowly, "I eat well, sleep well, and no matter how busy I am, I won't let myself go hungry. You don't have to worry about me."
"I also met a girl—"
Thinking of Gu Wuyou, a faint smile appeared on Li Qinyuan's indifferent face, and even those cold eyes warmed a little, "She is a very good girl, gentle, considerate, and very caring. I, although sometimes squeamish, but she is the best and best girl I have ever met."
"If you were still here, you would definitely like her."
"
... If you were still there," his eyes were reddish, his voice lower, "that would be great. "
Su Xiu had already finished cleaning.
She was just waiting under the porch, even though the wind was howling, she still heard some suppressed cries, like the indistinct growls of the cubs who witnessed the death of their mother, just like when the lady went.
She listened, and her eyes couldn't help but turn red.
She didn't know how long it took before she heard footsteps coming from far and near.
Suxiu quickly wiped away the tears on her face, and when the person pushed the door out, she greeted the person and said softly, "I have prepared tea and cakes that you liked in the past, do you want to use some? "
"no need."
Li Qinyuan shook his head, probably because he cried a lot, his voice became even more hoarse. When he took the umbrella from the person, he asked, "The banquet outside is over?"
Suxiu was stunned for a moment, and then replied after she reacted: "It's over, the guests have all gone back."
Li Qinyuan nodded and didn't say anything, but before leaving, he said, "It's cold and windy, you should also pay attention to your body, you are the only old person beside your mother."
Just one sentence made Su Xiu's eyes red.
Since his wife left, the seventh young master has also changed his personality. Erlang, who used to love to laugh and make trouble, has become more and more silent. She is uncomfortable, but she does not dare to say anything more. Now that she has heard such a concern, She was finally unable to bear it, and choked: "Slave saves it."
"The old lady and the Marquis treat the slaves well and don't let the slaves suffer."
"Over the years, the slave has followed others and recognized a goddaughter. Now he is also doing some cleaning work on the wife's side. His name is Xi'er, and he is a well-behaved child."
"It's you—"
Suxiu blushed and said, "Have you ever been cold or hungry when you're outside alone? Otherwise..." She hesitated for a while, "Why don't you go back to the manor and live in the manor, and the slave can take care of you."
Li Qinyuan smiled, "I'm so old, where do I still need someone to take care of me?" Seeing Suxiu want to say more, he smiled, "Okay, you go to rest, I'll go see my grandmother, it's time to go. "
"Do you want to leave today?" Su Xiu followed people out of the yard and persuaded, "It's better to stay at home for one night in such a big snowstorm."
"No." Li Qinyuan said, "I have an exam in a few days, and I have to go back to review." Seeing that she had to send it again, he stopped and stopped, "Go in."
His attitude was firm, so Suxiu couldn't say anything else, but looking at his face that was quite similar to the grandfather, she pursed her lips and whispered, "Since the grandfather came back, he has Come and sit down for a while."
Hearing this, Li Qinyuan held the umbrella handle
Tight, the thin lips also pursed.
"actually… "
Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted, "I should see my grandmother, you go in." Li Qinyuan walked out without waiting for anyone to return.
Suxiu looked at his back, her mouth still slightly open.
When Xi'er came to look for her and asked her "what's the matter", she shook her head and sighed. I don't know when the knot in the young master's heart will be solved.
"Go back." She held Xi'er's hand, "I should also read the scriptures to Madam."
Shou'an Hall is where Mrs. Li lives.
The guests had left long ago, and she, the birthday star, was tired after tossing for most of the day. She was thinking of going inside to rest for a while when she heard someone coming from outside and said, "The Seventh Young Master is here."
As soon as she heard it, the tiredness on her face disappeared immediately, and she hurriedly invited people in, and then asked them to buy refreshments and cakes.
When Li Qinyuan took off his cloak and came in, all those things had already been arranged. Mrs. Li was sitting on the bed of Luohan, and when she saw him coming in, she waved to someone, followed with a smile and said, "I asked you to come here just now, how could you? refuse to come."
"How do you know you're here now?"
She said that just now when the ladies and ladies were there.
At the age of Mrs. Li, what I want to say is hope, in addition to family harmony and healthy children and grandchildren, I want to find a good daughter-in-law for my grandson, let him have a caring person to accompany him, and not wait for her in the future. Now, she is alone, but her grandson usually refuses to attend any banquets, and only comes back on her birthday.
But when you come back, you can avoid it.
I used to be able to deceive people when I was young, but now that I have learned to be smart, how can I still deceive people
Li Qinyuan's emotions are almost cleaned up at this time, at least it won't let people see that he is in a bad mood, so he is very strange, even the grandmother who has always watched him grow up can't detect his hidden emotions, why? How could that little girl find out his mood so accurately
It was only a stunned moment.
After being greeted by the maids and wives, he sat next to Mrs. Li, took an orange and peeled it off, and said casually, "There are so many ladies and wives here, what does it look like when I come here?"
"You child, you know exactly what I'm talking about." Mrs. Li patted the back of his hand helplessly, and said angrily, "You're sixteen this year, even if you don't want to get married so early, it's time to look good. ."
"I saw that the few ladies who came here today are all good, especially the girl from the Yang family, who is gentle and decent."
"That child in the Li family is not bad either. Speaking of which, you played with her when you were young."
"…grandmother."
Li Qinyuan's tone reluctantly dragged his tone. Just as he was about to speak, he saw the dark red embroidered forehead that she was wearing. Thinking of what the little girl had said to him with her eyebrows curled up just now, his eyes followed suit. Bent a little.
"What are you looking at?"
Mrs. Li followed his gaze and stroked her forehead, and when her fingertips touched the forehead, she smiled, "This forehead was given to me by the fifth girl from the Dingguo Mansion. ."
"Today her grandmother took her on this trip in person,
Said to thank you for saving her family's Xiao Wu and Xiao Jiu. "
Speaking of this, she couldn't help frowning and said: "I don't know who spread the news, that the child in Leping is arrogant and domineering, I saw it today, but he is really a good boy, he doesn't say anything about his appearance, and he loves to laugh , those natural smiling eyes make people feel good when they look at them."
Mrs. Li is a short-term caregiver.
She liked the little girl in her heart, so she couldn't see others saying her bad, thinking of those rumors outside, she became angry, "A good girl, I don't know who is so bad-hearted, and all those rumours spread out.
Angry rumors. "
He sighed again: "I don't know which kid will have the fortune to marry her back home in the future."--
Li Qinyuan never thought that his grandmother would suddenly mention the little girl's marriage, he couldn't help coughing, which boy, your grandson...
However, he was embarrassed to mention it now.
Mrs. Li originally wanted to talk to him. Seeing his appearance, she paused and said with concern, "What's wrong? Is it freezing?"
"No."
Li Qinyuan cleared his throat, shook his head, and handed her the orange in his hand, "It's too hot in the room, and my throat is a little itchy."
Mrs. Li said, "Then you should drink more water." Then she instructed the people around her, "Go and remove a few pots of charcoal fire."
Just as the maid next to her was about to answer "yes", she was stopped by Li Qinyuan, "It's alright, it'll be fine after a while, what did you just say?"
"Just now?"
Mrs. Li was interrupted like this, but she didn't talk about the charcoal fire anymore. She thought about it, and then she remembered what she was going to say, and smiled: "I was thinking of the Leping Full Moon when your mother was still holding her. You went to see her."
Li Qinyuan was startled, obviously not aware of this.
"You were still young, how can you remember this?" Mrs. Li smiled again when she saw his slightly startled look, "You just knew how to talk at that time, when my mother and I took you there, your parents still I can't shout clearly, but I will call my sister."
"Looking at Xiao Leping, you grabbed her hand. After making someone cry, you cried too, but made us all laugh."
Speaking of these old past events, the smile on Mrs. Li's face was as if she couldn't come down. Seeing that this grandson who was indifferent to everything was still stunned, she talked about another matter with great interest. On the year of Leping's third birthday, you had to go with your mother, and when you got there, you said you wanted to marry Leping as a daughter-in-law."
"Oh, right… "
She suddenly said again, "You even kissed her then."
Li Qinyuan stood up in shock this time, and stammered, "What, what? I, I kissed her?"
Mrs. Li didn't expect his reaction to be so big, she laughed for a while before she took his hand, and said angrily, "It's all about my childhood, what are you worried about? Your mother has a good relationship with Leping's mother, Leping has not been born yet. When we were there, they really thought about getting a doll to kiss or something."
"pity… "
Thinking of Wang's ending, she couldn't help sighing again. These happy old events became silent for a while. After a long time, she said in a low voice, "That child in Leping is also pitiful. Without her mother, although her stepmother is good, she is separated by a layer of belly."
--
"I just hope that she can marry a cold-hearted husband in the future, take good care of her, and don't let the little girl have such a hard time."
Li Qinyuan remembered the little girl's life experience and what she said to him today, and he also fell silent. After a while, he replied softly, "Yes."