In late January, Xu Shi and Xu Qingchuan went to Beijing with the second elder of the Ge family.
Gu Yin and Wang Shi, who got the news, were not busy with anything else that day, and went to the city to pick them up early.
It's just been separated for a few months, and Xu's and others have not changed much.
On the other hand, Gu Yin and Wang Shi were completely different from before in their dress and manners.
Seeing each other from a distance, Xu almost didn't recognize their mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
Mrs. Xu came up and gave Mrs. Wang a bear hug, "Okay, Wang Baoyun, you only said that your family has a firm foothold in the capital, why didn't you say that your family is already prosperous like this?"
Wang Shi was almost knocked over by her round body, and spit out with a smile, "How could anyone be rushing to talk to others about this, wouldn't that be a show off?"
Xu shi let go of her with a smile, and said proudly: "What's the matter? My Qingchuan is now a recruiter, and I'm now her mother!"
As she said that, she lowered her voice and said, "My son won the first title Jie Yuan, and Mr. Wen said that as long as there are no mistakes, there is no problem with being a middle-ranking scholar. But I will tell you this, not Qingchuan. , I'm afraid he will be under pressure, anyway, the child will do his best."
The two of them met and whispered, and Gu Yin also saw Xu Qingchuan who was following behind.
He was still wearing the white scholar's robe he washed before, with a wooden hairpin on his head.
But maybe it was because he did well in the test earlier, and he seemed to be in good spirits.
The two looked at each other and smiled, one cupped their hands and the other had a blessed body, even if they had met.
And behind Xu Qingchuan, is the old couple of the Ge family.
The two of them have never traveled too far in their lives. The piers outside the capital were crowded with people, and they were all dressed neatly, unlike in Hanshan Town, where people on the piers were dressed casually and plainly.
They were very cramped, looking around and whispering softly.
Aunt Ge inevitably muttered: "I said that I should wear the clothes of the New Year, and wear the clothes that I usually work in, so I don't have to embarrass our family."
The two of them came over immediately when they got the news, so they didn't have time to buy clothes.
The letter sent by the Wang family did not state Chen's current identity, but only said that they had met a woman who was most likely their daughter. After all, the Ge family were not very literate, so Xu Qingchuan had to read the letter to them.
Although Xu Qingchuan's character is very reliable, but in the end, the private affairs of the Ge family also involve the Duke of Lu's government, so there is no need to implicate him.
But Aunt Ge thought that the one who could marry in the capital and be met by Wang and Gu Yin would definitely not be a bad family.
Uncle Ge coughed and replied in a low voice: "The clothes for Chinese New Year are big jackets, and the capital is warmer than ours. Do you see who still wears such jackets on the road now? It's a joke when they wear such thick clothes."
Looking up to see Gu Yin, Aunt Ge didn't care about what to wear anymore, she quickly stepped forward and grabbed Gu Yin's hand tightly, and said with red eyes, "Good boy, thanks to you this time, thank you so much!"
Although Uncle Ge didn't say anything, his footsteps were messy, his lips trembled slightly, and he was obviously too excited.
Gu Yin felt sour in her heart, thinking that fortunately this time, the investigation was inseparable, so she informed the second old man. Otherwise, if she doesn't know what to do now, and sees the second old man so excited, she should die of regret.
Although it was written briefly in the letter, Gu Yin knew that the second old man must still be concerned, so without waiting for them to ask questions, Gu Yin led them to the carriage and said in detail, "The lady said she was twenty-six Years old, but she herself can't remember the date of birth, so the age is not accurate. But she remembers that her family set up a stall at the wharf, she was also kidnapped when she was five or six years old, and she also remembered a man named Dalong Cousin, who always bullied her when she was a child."
Aunt Ge's tears fell like beads that had been disconnected from the thread, and she nodded again and again: "Then Ge Dalong was not stingy when he was a child, and he bullied my family when he was a little older. I don't know how many times I talked to his parents... "
After speaking, he glared at Uncle Ge, and Uncle Ge said regretfully, "I blame me, I listened to my mother's nagging, thinking that Dalong is the only male in our family, and indulged him. I will find him again this time. Nan Nan, we will not contact him in the future."
"This is the best way." Aunt Ge turned to look at Gu Yin again, "I know you are a cautious person, needless to say so much, no matter if this time is successful or not, Auntie will take your favor. I just don't know how. Thank u."
Gu Yin hugged Aunt Ge's arm affectionately, and couldn't help laughing: "The lady in front said the same thing. I said it at the time, I miss the pork ribs that my aunt cooked me."
Gu Yin's own craftsmanship is well-known, so there is no need to remember the ribs she made.
But these are obviously coquettish and good-natured words, but they made Aunt Ge feel extremely anxious. She sighed, "When it's settled, I'll make it for you. Auntie will make it for you as much as you want."
Wang Shi and Gu Yin came here in a total of two carriages, one for Xu Qingchuan and Uncle Ge, and the other, a larger one, for their female relatives.
Although the carriage of the British government is not particularly luxurious and eye-catching, it is regulated by the government, and it is much more stylish than ordinary carriages.
Everyone from the Xu family was stupid. When they got into the car, they inquired with the Wang family: "Didn't your family go to the capital to open a restaurant? The capital is so easy to make money? Did you earn so much in less than half a year?"
Wang said: "Okay, there's no need to hide from you now. I'm suffocating. Didn't I just tell you that my son joined the Rebel Army and then disarmed? In fact, he didn't disarm, it's quite useful. !"
Xu Shi still remembered hearing from Gu Ye and other children that Wu Qing intended to watch the gate in the capital. At that time, she felt sore in her heart, thinking that her son was no worse than him, but the bad thing was that he and Gu Yin were the original husband and wife. , No matter how good your son is, it doesn't matter.
"The errand watching the gate..."
Wang Shi smiled and said: "Why look at the gate, he is the guard in charge of the palace, guarding the palace for the emperor!"
Mrs Xu clicked her tongue, "Honey, good you Wang Baoyun, I used to want to beat gongs and drums to tell the whole world about trivial matters, but this time I'm keeping it a secret!"
Wang explained: "At that time, there were still my parents' nephews and nephews in the town, but I didn't dare to publicize it. I didn't have to let them lighten their bones and cause trouble for my family."
Xu shi was not angry at all, but when he heard the words, he nodded in agreement, "That's right!"
Afterwards, they started chatting about family affairs, and Aunt Ge also chatted a few times from time to time, but her eyes were mainly looking out the window, and she was naturally anxious to see her daughter.
The carriage drove for more than half an hour, and stopped firmly at the gate of the majestic British government.
If Mr. Xu hadn't listened to Mrs. Wang on the carriage, his legs would go weak when he saw such a mansion.
Uncle Ge and Aunt Ge were more cautious. They got off the carriage and said, "It's not easy for us to get dirty. We can find another place to live."
Xu shi also said: "Yes, we can just stay in the inn."
Mrs. Wang pulled Mrs. Xu with one hand, and Mrs. Ge with the other, and said with a smile, "You're here and want to run? Let me go home and rest."
Xu Qingchuan and Uncle Ge naturally followed.
Wu Zhong was the only one in the family at the moment, and he also came out to greet him on crutches.
Although the place is different, both Gu Yin and Wang Shi, and even Wu Zhong, who met for the first time, showed great kindness to them.
So everyone entered the room, sat down, and ate a hot tea and snacks, so they were not so restrained.
Mrs. Wang first led Mrs. Xu and Xu Qingchuan to the guest room to rest, while Gu Yin asked the Ge family to stay in the main courtyard. Still forcing the courage to look around, still waiting to see her daughter.
Gu Yin explained: "The lady has a noble status and is not in our mansion right now, but don't worry, aunt and uncle, I will find a way to invite her over."
With her permission, the old couple of the Ge family breathed a sigh of relief.
Aunt Ge was a little embarrassed and said, "Girl Gu, can I borrow your kitchen? My family loves to eat the fried sugar cakes I made. I think..."
Gu Yin said of course, and then asked, "Uncle and aunt have traveled a long way, do you want to take a break?"
Aunt Ge shook her head and said: "To tell you the truth, since I got the news, I haven't felt at ease in my heart. I couldn't sleep well at night, for fear that it was a dream when I woke up. And you also know that my uncle and I had a dream. If you're used to these kinds of work, if you don't do anything, I feel bad in my heart."
Gu Yin didn't force it, and let someone lead them to the kitchen.
The next step is to invite Chen Shi.
In the past few days, the connection between the two families has been entirely dependent on Gu Ye and Feng Yu. The first one was Shiweitian, and the latter Feng Yu said that his grandmother was so angry because of Gu Ye's new play that even Shiweitian was installed nearby. Eyeliner, the two changed the place of the joint again.
Gu Yin asked him to wait for Gu Ye near the palace gate, and asked him to pass on the news that the second elder of the Ge family had arrived in the capital today to Feng Yu.
That night, Mrs. Chen from the Duke's Mansion of Lu naturally got the news.
In fact, like Gu Yin, she knew from Xu's letter that the old couple of the Ge family would go to Beijing in the next two days.
But when she really knew the news, she was still moved to tears.
Feng Yu comforted her and said, "Mother don't cry any more. When I saw my grandfather, I thought it was me being naughty and made my mother angry. I heard that my grandfather worked all year round and was healthier than the elders of the same age. Quite a few, and I don't know if I can stand a blow from them."
Chen Shi was amused by him, "Your grandfather was a very kind person, so why would he beat you?"
When my son was in the military camp, his temperament was like that of children of the same age, and he came back like a mud monkey who often ran out to play.
It's just that over the past year, he has been forced by Qin to become more and more mature, and he doesn't talk and laugh like he used to.
Sometimes Chen Shi thinks of this and is quite sad.
Now that he has been with Gu Ye for a while, and the people are a lot more cheerful, Chen shi is naturally happy for him.
Feng Yu said with a smile, "My grandfather is such a precious mother, so naturally my grandson is also my grandfather's heart."
The mother and son talked for a while, and Feng Yu asked again, "This time my mother is out of the house, do you want me to ask Ah Ye's mother for help?"
Chen shi shook his head, "How can I rely on others for everything? I'll talk to your grandmother myself."
Feng Yu looked at her worriedly, Chen shi stood up and smiled, "Don't worry, mother is not afraid."
She used to envy Mrs. Lu, not the gold and silver that her parents and brothers gave her, but the fact that her family was her solid backing.
Now that she knows that her parents are outside, not only herself and her son depend on each other in the world, she naturally has confidence.
Later, Mrs. Chen went to Mrs. Qin's yard.
Qin Shi was talking to the most useful old mother. The old mother's surname was Zheng, and she was Qin's dowry girl. She had served her all her life and had never married out.
Ironically, although Mrs. Chen is the lady of the country, her status in the manor is far inferior to that of Mother Zheng.
The maid went in to pass the message, and Chen shi waited quietly under the corridor.
Qin Shi only took medicine not long ago, so he had someone open the window to breathe.
Indistinctly, Mrs. Chen heard Zheng's mother say inside: "Old slave can save it, just a little... just keep it... no more noise."
She listened in a confused way. After a while, Mama Zheng came out, and Mrs. Chen entered.
In the past few days, the rumors about Chen's identity are no longer new, and there are fewer and fewer people talking about it. In addition, Feng Yu helped to intercede, so Qin allowed Chen to move in the house.
Seeing the eldest daughter-in-law, Qin Shi still didn't have a smile on his face, and said, "Although your ban has been lifted, but you caused such a thing for our family in the past, if it's okay, don't walk around."
Chen shi whispered softly: "My daughter-in-law has something to report to my mother-in-law, and my daughter-in-law wants to go out tomorrow."
Qin Shi smiled and said without a smile: "The last time you prayed for a blessing. Do you still want to go out this time?"
Mrs. Chen said, "This time, I didn't go to pray, it's my daughter-in-law who wanted to eat for heaven." She sighed again, "I'm ashamed to say that, although I stayed for a whole day last time, my daughter-in-law couldn't find out anything for you. This time, my daughter-in-law wants to make up for it."
"You are enlightened." Qin shi frowned in thought.
The younger son Feng Tao also emptied the first floor of the restaurant and created an elegant house.
With a shy face, Qin Shi posted a message to the people she had made friends with. Those female relatives sold her favors and went with friends.
But it was a lively day on the opening day, and no one wanted to go after that.
Feng Tao came to entangle again, Qin Shi could only write another letter to ask the women's opinions and why they didn't go there anymore.
Those women all replied to her letters, but the letters were all about him. One said that he had a lot of family affairs, and the other said that he was not good at home.
Because of this, Qin shi didn't refuse her.
Later, she thought again that Chen's and Wang's from the British government had met, and it was difficult to guarantee that people would not recognize this trip.
But it doesn't matter if you recognize it, the left and right are Chen's face is dull.
And she wasn't afraid that the Chen family would make a fool of herself and ruin her family's reputation. Anyway, the whole capital knew that the Chen family was an unworthy person. Even if it was really ugly, she could shirk that it was Chen's own wanting to go, and it had nothing to do with her mother-in-law. If there are too many lice left and right, I am not afraid of biting, and the business of my own restaurant is more important.
"Then go ahead and give Zheng's mother ten taels of silver. This time, you must find out useful information."
Chen shi nodded in agreement, thinking bitterly in his heart that she had respected Qin shi like her own mother in the past, so she didn't want to lie to her.
Right now, she just lied a few words, and she coaxed the Qin shi to treat her with a rare sympathy.
After leaving Qin's yard, Chen went to find Zheng's mother.
Mother Zheng has a separate yard. Although she is very proud in the mansion, she is a servant, so there are no other servants in the small yard.
Chen shi passed unimpeded.
Mother Zheng was talking to a young man in his early twenties in the room.
That man was Mother Zheng's godson, and he was also a small butler in the front yard of the Duke of Lu's mansion.
When Mrs. Chen entered, she happened to see Zheng's mother handing a small paper bag to the little steward.
Feng's mother was startled by her arrival, and the little butler tucked the paper bag into his sleeve at once.
"Why did Madam come here?" Mother Zheng stood up unhappy.
Chen explained a few words, and Zheng's mother took Qin's pair of cards and went to Gongzhong's account room to get 12 taels of silver and hand it over to her.
When Mother Zheng returned, her godson was still waiting in the yard.
"The madam saw it, the godmother saw it..."
Mother Zheng sneered: "What can Madam do? Don't say that she didn't hear anything. Even if she knew, what kind of trouble could she find? This is an errand explained by the old lady. After it's done, it's yours of course. benefit."
The little butler breathed a sigh of relief and cupped his hands: "This is the godmother supporting her son. The son will keep it in mind, and he will definitely handle this errand beautifully."
…
In the morning of the next day, Gu Yin, who had taken a day off, naturally went to eat to work in the sky.
She and Chen's feet arrived. This time, she didn't let Chen go upstairs and invited Chen to go to the massage department in the backyard.
The massage department was quiet and had many wing rooms. The two found a room to talk to, and at the same time, Gu Yin asked someone to pick up the old couple from the Ge family.
Knowing that she would see her parents soon, Mrs. Chen became restless immediately, looking out the window from time to time, and brushing the shattered hair on her temples from time to time.
Two or three quarters later, the old couple from the Ge family were picked up.
Gu Yindu heard Song Shiliu's voice outside. She stood up and took two steps, but found that Chen Shi hadn't moved.
She was shaking all over.
In the blink of an eye, Song Shiliu came in and said, "Madam, I've brought someone for you."
Gu Yin beckoned her to the side and made a silent gesture towards her.
Outside the door, Uncle Ge was walking quickly in front of Aunt Ge, but when he got to the door, he didn't dare to go in.
Aunt Ge said what are you afraid of
But her voice also had a vibrato.
Uncle Ge hurriedly lowered his voice and said, "In front of Nan Nan, you have to save some face for me."
Chen shi also adjusted the time when he spoke, and went out to greet him.
The three finally met.
Aunt Ge looked at her from head to toe, and wished she could read every strand of her hair. While watching, she cried out of breath and said incoherently, "Mother's nan, a little bit. Nothing has changed... No, no, it looks better than when I was a child. Mother... Mother made you your favorite fried sugar cake, would you like to take a bite?"
The day before, when Aunt Ge arrived in the capital, she made the fried sugar pancakes, and before they even saw her head, the sugar pancakes were eaten by them. What I have taken out now is the one that was just fried this morning.
Chen Shi replied "Okay" in a nonchalant manner, and immediately took the oiled paper bag, opened it, and ate it.
The sugar cake is golden yellow, crispy and crunchy, and the sugar filling in the hollow is soft and delicious.
Chen's has eaten many delicious delicacies over the years, but no matter what, they can't compare with the taste of this fried sugar cake.
The familiar taste filled her mouth, and she sobbed: "I remember one year for Chinese New Year, my mother fried two for me. I had to show it off in front of Dalong. He robbed me of both sugar cakes and made me cry. for a whole year."
Uncle Ge wiped his eyes and said, "I remember it, and so does my father. It wasn't long before my family set up a stall on the wharf, and business was not good at that time, and there was no money for you to buy new clothes and good food for you during the Chinese New Year. , I'll just fry you some sugar cookies. That's... that's your last year at home."
Aunt Ge choked and said, "You must know that we have to be separated for so long. My mother didn't let you go to the dock to help you. Blame me, blame me, for not being optimistic about you."
Uncle Ge also burst into tears, "Our family's nan-nan looks so good-looking, I should have known, I should have known! I'm sorry for you, nan-nan."
The second old is both self-blame and remorse.
"Father, mother!" Chen shi called to them in a trembling voice, "Let's not talk about that, we are still together after all!"
The family of three finally came to their senses. They were not dreaming, but really reunited again!
They hugged together and cried.
Gu Yin and Song Shiliu looked at each other and their eyes were hot.
Song Shiliu whispered in a nasal voice: "Madam, I love your noodles the most."
When such a sentence came out of nowhere, Gu Yin didn't react.
Song Shiliu continued: "If I lose it one day and don't remember my wife, and my wife makes me noodles, I'll know."
Gu Yin was both sad and funny, "How old are you, you still need to eat to remember me? Besides, what have you lost, now you are the little housekeeper in our family second only to my mother."
Song Shiliu smiled embarrassedly.
Later, Gu Yin let the Chen family and the Ge family speak in the room, but she herself avoided it with discernment.
Aunt Ge held her back, wiped her tears and said, "What are you avoiding, silly child? Could it be that you still treat yourself as an outsider?"
Mrs. Chen also followed: "Yes, Madam recreates my kindness to me. There's nothing I can't listen to."
Gu Yin was invited by them to stay, and then the Chen family and the Ge family got together and didn't say anything they couldn't tell anyone.
The life of the old couple of the Ge family has remained almost unchanged over the years, and they can finish in a few words.
It's the Chen family, no, she doesn't need to use the surname of the former juggler class teacher anymore. From Aunt Ge's mouth, she already knows her original name - Ge Zhuer.
Ge Zhuer's situation over the years has been very tortuous. She knew that if she didn't say these things, her parents would not force her, but she didn't know how to worry about it in private, so she said everything in detail.
Hearing her working in the juggling class to make a living and working as a cook in the military camp, the second elder of the Ge family was so distressed that his whole face wrinkled.
But later I heard that she and the general were in love and gave birth to a smart son.
Only then did the old man smile, and his eyes reddened with relief.
"Later, at the beginning of last year, His Majesty established a new dynasty, and the general was awarded the Duke of Lu for his military exploits."
Having said this in one breath, Chen shi stopped.
If you go on, if you don't lie, your parents will definitely feel more and more uncomfortable when they hear it.
And Aunt Ge didn't know this, so she asked tentatively, "But because of our low status, if we meet each other, it will affect you and our good grandson?"
Uncle Ge glanced at her disapprovingly, and said, "Why do you ask that?"
He smiled at Ge Zhuer again, and said, "If we can get you back, your mother and I will not dare to ask extravagantly. It's okay if we don't recognize each other, and don't let the children know that there are grandfathers like us. You all All right, you can come out to meet us once in a while, or have someone send us a message to let your mother and I know about you. That's great!"
Aunt Ge also nodded and said, "Yes, that's what I meant."
Ge Zhuer's heart was both sour and soft, she wiped away the tears that fell unconsciously, no longer her usual weak appearance, but her eyes were firm: "No, my parents are my parents, if I don't Recognizing you, isn't it vain to be a woman?"
Aunt Ge was afraid that she would swear and swear, so she hurriedly covered her mouth.
The two elders still need to persuade her to think about her child's future even if she is not for herself.
At this stall, Gu Ye led Feng Yu over.
When Feng Yu entered the house, he knelt down to the second old man, kowtowed squarely, and said loudly, "Grandson Feng Yu has seen his grandfather and grandmother."
Although the second elder of the Ge family just said that he would not let the children know, but when he is such a handsome and well-behaved grandson, he still loves him.
But later they saw their hands full of wind and frost because of years of hard work, and they all retracted their hands.
Feng Yu grabbed one of them with one hand, tightly, firmly, and clenched.