At noon the next day, when Gong Zhuoliang came back from the old lady's courtyard, Hanshu had already prepared exquisite dishes and snacks. Yesterday Gong Zhuoliang asked Xuehua to bring a message back, asking Pingxi to try Hanshu's craftsmanship, so She took a lot of trouble to prepare these things today, hoping to make the young master and madam look good.
Let Hanshu and Ruolan carry the food box, Gong Zhuoliang and Qiao Yingze walked to Pingxi's yard, and saw Xuehua was already waiting outside, and immediately saluted them respectfully, leading them in up the yard.
After passing through the arch, Gong Zhuoliang saw Ping Xi sitting at the table and flipping through some books. After noticing their figures, Ping Xi stood up with a smile and walked a few steps towards them, bowing slightly.
"Young Master Pingxi, you don't need to be too polite."
The last time Qiao Yingze saw Pingxi was the year before last. At that time, he had no chance to get in touch with him and didn't pay attention to him. He just remembered that he was a very beautiful man. Now seeing his fresh and elegant demeanor without a trace of flirtatiousness, he couldn't help but feel a little fond of him.
"To be able to invite the young master and the young lady to have a drink together today is truly a villain's blessing, please."
Inviting the two of them to sit down at a higher position, Ping Xi observed them secretly, as if Qiao Yingze didn't have a deep impression of him, Ping Xi had never paid attention to this young master at all, but when that person came to Qiao Yingze's side Afterwards, I gradually learned about Qiao Yingze's things. For example, his frailty was real, but his temper was not as indifferent as in the rumors, and he was very dedicated and loved his wife... This is why he was willing to do things for this young master sincerely. the main reason.
"Since we are destined to sit together today to taste wine and enjoy the scenery, Pingxi should stop calling himself a villain, and just call you and me?"
Because the same table should not sit in two directions, so while the maids were dividing the dishes and putting the dishes in the hot water steamer to warm, Qiao Yingze took the initiative to say a few words of peace and politeness.
"Since that's the case, Ping Xi is being rude."
Since Ping Xi wanted to know Gong Zhuoliang's identity, she changed her usual attitude of rejecting people thousands of miles away, and no longer strictly guarded against status and status, and quarreled with Qiao Yingze on equality.
"Pingxi, are you reading the magazines of Liang Zeshufang? How do you feel?"
Waiting for the two polite ancients to finish their courtesies, Gong Zhuoliang's eyes fell on the magazine on the table beside him, Ruo Lan cleverly took it over and handed it to Gong Zhuoliang when he saw the date, Gong Zhuoliang looked at the date and found that are the latest two.
"It's very appetizing. Ping Xi really admires the young lady for thinking of a way to 'bind' and 'serialize' these legends. Speaking of which, Ping Xi also saw these two words from a magazine. It’s just that one book is published every ten days, which is really frustrating.”
The bookstore that the man worked hard to develop, I still know a little bit about it, and I really admire the young lady's business acumen, but I heard the man say that the ownership of the bookstore falls on the name of the young lady's younger brother, At that time, Ping Xi thought that the Qiao family was afraid of violating the law of 'officials are not allowed to do business', so they borrowed someone else's name to cover up, but now it seems that things are not that simple.
Otherwise, why didn't anyone borrow the name, but the young master of the Gong family who was similar in appearance to the young lady
"Actually, it's my younger brother's idea, and I made it through experimentation first. Now I see that the results are not bad. During the Chinese New Year, I will order more, and change it to four books per month, with seven days as one issue."
Speaking of the recent increase in the bookstore's profitability, Gong Zhuoliang is also quite satisfied. Although the actual money earned is not much after excluding manuscript remuneration and labor, but its development prospects are good. With more than a dozen major cities in the south and central regions with a relatively open atmosphere, he can take advantage of the New Year to hold a promotional event, sell the popular ones that have already been serialized and sell them in single volumes, and then finish some of them and then took the opportunity to promote and serialize his own work in the magazine, his career would officially be on the right track.
But it's a pity that no one can share his plans and prospects. First, he can't tell others too much about this modern business philosophy, and he can only apply it step by step, which is too advanced. Will not work.
What's more, Qiao Yingze really doesn't have the nerve to do business, just like he can't feel the charm of poetry and poetry. On the side of the ditch, managing accounts and writing scripts, Qiao Yingze is on the other side of the ditch, playing with words and thinking about the administration... each of them is lonely.
"Young Madam's younger brother? But does he also live in Bocheng? I really want to get to know him if I have the chance."
In fact, Ping Xi had also heard about Gong Zhuoliang's affairs from that person, but naturally she couldn't reveal it at this time, and she had to pretend that she didn't know much about the two of them.
"He is traveling abroad and has no fixed place to live. When he comes back to Bo City, he will introduce you to him."
Gong Zhuoliang dealt with this problem with a smile, and saw that the maids had already brought small wine jars and began to place them on the table in the middle, so he brought the topic to these wines.
A total of nine small wine jars were placed on the table, and nine wine ladles (the kind that were cast in a small cup with a straight handle) were placed on a plate next to it, and three cups were placed next to each jar. , and on the other side of the table were three sets of mouthwashing utensils. Ruo Lan, Han Shu, and Xue Hua each carried a tray. Seeing Gong Zhuoliang get up and walk to the table, they went behind them to serve them.
"I brew different wines every year and every season. There are grapes, apples, pears, cherries, red bayberries, strawberries, lychees, and peaches. These wines are not intoxicating when drunk alone, but this last jar is mixed with me. It is brewed from the fruit, and it tastes rich and fruity without the taste of alcohol, but even a conceited person like me pours three cups."
Pingxi pointed to several wine jars and introduced them to the two of them one by one. After talking about the last jar, she opened the mud seal of the first jar by herself, then took one from the wine ladle on the side plate, and raised it Pour a spoonful into three cups respectively.
"A good fruit wine should have the true color of the original fruit. The liquor should be clear and transparent. It should also have the unique aroma of the original fruit. It should be sweet and sour, mellow and pure without any peculiar smell. Red or amber is better, the wine is full-bodied and mellow... ”
After Ping Xi filled the wine, she first explained briefly to Gong Zhuoliang and Qiao Yingze, and then the three of them each rinsed their mouths with the utensils in the maid's hands, and took a sip each from a cup.
The amber wine has a rich, mellow and elegant aroma; the greenish-yellow cider has the aroma of apples and the fat of old wine; After drinking a few cups, Gong Zhuoliang didn't see any changes, but Qiao Yingze's face was already stained with a faint blush, and his complexion improved a lot.
"Finally, it's the six-fruit wine. This wine is very easy to intoxicate. The young master and the young lady can just taste it."
After rinsing his mouth again, Pingxi opened the last wine jar, poured half a glass of the mixed fruit wine into each glass, first picked up two glasses and handed them to Qiao Yingze and Gong Zhuoliang, and then picked up the last glass by himself Take a sip.
"Good wine...it really is good wine."
Gong Zhuoliang drank the half glass of wine in one gulp. After the mellow fragrance passed, he felt a heat flow straight to his lungs. It was very soothing but not scorching. He couldn't help but sighed softly, and then noticed that Qiao Yingze's face turned red immediately after drinking it. , Gong Zhuoliang hurriedly added with a smile, hoping that Pingxi didn't notice her "heroic" just now.
Gong Zhuoliang didn't really like the soft juice-like fruit wines before, but the refreshing and powerful mixed wine was his favorite in the end. The little wine bug in his stomach was a little hooked, but Gong Zhuoliang was alone. It's obviously disrespectful for a woman to ask for wine, so Gong Zhuoliang slightly turned his back to Ping Xi, and looked at Qiao Yingze, with the word "want" shining in his eyes.
"Cough, cough cough...it really is good wine, Pingxi, I like this six-fruit wine very much, cough cough, may I have the audacity to ask you for a bottle?"
Qiao Yingze was steaming hot from the last drink, when he saw Gong Zhuoliang pretending to be tender towards him, he coughed out of breath, seeing him rushing over to please him and pat him on the back , Qiao Yingze gave him a funny look, and asked Pingxi for a drink for him.
"Young master, please be polite. Unfortunately, there are not many around here, but there is no shortage of this wine. Xuehua, take out two jars of pear wine, lychee wine and peach wine, and six jars of six fruit wine to the young master. to the yard."
Seeing the little actions of the two, the smile on the corner of Ping Xi's mouth couldn't help but grow stronger. He had been observing the preferences of the two when he tasted wine just now. The fruit wine that these women generally prefer is lacking in interest, only after drinking the mixed wine, the spirit is lost, and the young master never thought of asking for the wine he likes, but he can ask for it for the young lady's preference... Sure enough. Interesting.
"Don't bother, we will send a servant to fetch it later, we thank Ping Xi in advance."
Qiao Yingze smiled a little embarrassed when he heard the words, knowing that Pingxi had seen the real preference of the two of them, but Gong Zhuoliang's eyes moved, looking at Pingxi faintly with thought, wondering what he could do? Didn't seem surprised at all, like it was a given that I would like this blend.
After tasting the wine, the three of them went back to their seats and sat down. The maids arranged the warm dishes and bottled their favorite fruit wine respectively. The three chatted while drinking, but This time, Gong Zhuoliang didn't directly order the mixed wine, but changed to a bottle of wine that he was more used to.
Ping Xi had been in the theater troupe for ten years, and he had seen and heard too many people and things on and off the stage. Just to mention a few of them, Gong Zhuoliang and Qiao Yingze, two of them, were trapped in the theater since they were young. The people in the Shenzhai compound were full of curiosity, but Qiao Yingze was less interested in this aspect. Gong Zhuoliang, who came through, hadn't even walked the streets of Bocheng in a 'down-to-earth' way, so at this time, he was very speculative in chatting peacefully.
And Qiao Yingze didn't feel annoyed when he was left alone. Instead, he served Gong Zhuoliang with snacks and poured wine for him. He took care of him with great joy. The three of them talked and laughed until the sky darkened. It's not convenient for Pingxi to do activities in the mansion, so they made an appointment to meet in this courtyard next time, and then they left with a lot of interest.
"Young master, your smile and words today are more than the sum of the usual months. It's great."
After seeing off Qiao Yingze and the others, Xuehua stopped Pingxi who wanted to help her clean up together, and looked at him with a misty smile in her eyes.
Ever since Big Brother Shi who rescued her arranged to come in to serve Young Master Ping Xi, Xue Hua seldom saw Young Master Ping Xi smile. He always stayed alone, reading books, brewing wine, and playing the piano. Everyone is alienated and indifferent, only brother Shi can make him change his face, but he often gets angry, but since he met the young lady, the young master seems to have a lot of energy, and today he seems to be a different person.
"Really? You have worked hard today, go to bed early at night, and don't have to come over to serve."
Ping Xi smiled faintly, glanced at several jars of fruit wine, finally picked up the jar of six fruit wine, turned and went upstairs.
"yes."
Seeing that Ping Xi took away the five fruit wine that he rarely touches, Xue Hua looked at his back in surprise, and then snickered from the corner of her eyes, thinking that tonight would be the day when Big Brother Shi would sneak here.
It seems that you can prepare more dinner tonight and send it to the young master's room, which is usually not allowed by the young master.
Pingxi's yard is at the edge of Qiao's Mansion. Behind the tall courtyard wall is an alley. It was night, and a black figure emerged from the wall of another house in the alley. It was confirmed that there was no one around. Afterwards, that person stepped on the wall and leaped firmly into Pingxi's yard. He grabbed a tree trunk and fell to the ground very coolly. Then he flew to the small building in the lake without leaving. Stairs, directly stepped on the decorative birdcage railing to the second floor, opened a window and slipped in, the whole process seemed to have been rehearsed many times calmly and neatly.
"Ping Xi."
As soon as Shi Kang entered the room, he saw Ping Xi sitting beside the piano stand composing a new score. From the corner of his eye, he saw two sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table, and an open jar of Liuguo wine. His eyes couldn't help but brighten up, and a surprised smile immediately appeared on his usually calm and handsome face.
"Just one bowl."
Ping Xi put down the sheet music in his hand, got up calmly and walked to the table to sit down and prepare to eat. He was not afraid that Shi Kang would be hurt by drinking too much, after all, it was just drunk but not hurtful. He didn't want to give Shi Kang Opportunity pretended to be drunk and lingered on, preferring to sleep on the table all night.
"This is the entire manuscript of the story you want to see. I will put it here with you first, and I will take it back when the next issue is about to be printed."
Taking out the manuscript wrapped in paper in his arms and putting it on the table, Shi Kang looked at him a little flatteringly, then poured himself a bowl of Liuguo wine and took a sip in enjoyment.
"Thanks."
Ping Xi politely thanked her, then lowered her head and ate her meal without saying a word, but because Shi Kang was holding the wine bowl and looking at her in a daze was too annoying, Ping Xi quickly finished eating He stood up and prepared to go back to the house, as for Shi Kang to listen to persuasion or not, it was up to him.
"Pingxi, have you met the eldest young master and young lady today? How are they? Are they easy to get along with?"
Seeing that Pingxi got up to leave, Shi Kang quickly put down his wine bowl and reached out to grab his sleeve, carefully dragging that person back to his seat.
"Well... Shi Kang, what did you think about that matter?"
Ping Xi really wanted to shake off Shi Kang's hand and walk away, but knowing that this man was determined to tangle with her, she didn't bother to get angry with Shi Kang anymore, so she simply sat back and talked to him clearly.
"I don't want to get married, I won't go back!"
Shi Kang's smile froze when he heard this, and then he forced a smile as if he was afraid of making Ping Xi unhappy, but his tone and eyes were very firm.
"Hasn't Mrs. Shi already engaged you?"
Speaking of Shi Kang's mother, Ping Xi's softened heart hardened again. For the aunt who deceived his parents, took away the inheritance left by his parents, and sold him into a theater troupe, Ping Xi I can't forget my hatred for her in this life.
"When I left home, I said I would never go back. I sent someone to explain to the woman a while ago. I will not admit this marriage. Pingxi, you believe me!"
He clenched Pingxi's sleeve tightly and did not let go, Shi Kang really wanted to pull this man over and kiss his lips, but Shi Kang didn't dare to do so, he was afraid that Pingxi would really hate him.
They had been such good childhood sweethearts for eight years, but they turned against each other overnight. After that, Shi Kang searched for him for a year, and guarded him for more than ten years. Until today, in Shi Kang's world, there is no one but Ping Xi. There is no room for anyone.
"Shi Kang, love and filial piety can't be both, I won't give up revenge for you, you... you'd better go back and get married."
Unable to break free from the sleeves being pulled by Shi Kang, Ping Xi simply pulled his belt and let him pull off his outer shirt, and then turned back to the back room without looking back. Looking at the wall with a complex expression, he pursed his lips.
"I won't go back to get married, Ping Xi, I won't go anywhere except by your side."
Putting his arms around Pingxi's outer shirt and giving a wry smile, Shi Kang picked up the wine bowl and drank it to himself, thinking a little angrily, you were obviously able to take revenge with the power of the county king, but you endured it for me , why can't you honestly admit that you like me!
"You stupid stone..."
Hearing the man's drunken muttering and complaints, Ping Xi let out a soft sigh, both helpless and relaxed.
It is because of Shi Kang's infatuation and Shi Kang's persistence that Pingxi can't be cruel to take revenge on the Shi family, and because of this, she hates herself even more for being weak. How can this knot be untied? Moreover, both of them are men. When they were young and frivolous, they could think they had a soft spot, but could they really betray their relatives and stay together for a lifetime without children
Inadvertently, everything that she saw during the day resurfaced in front of Pingxi's eyes. How far can those two people... go
After XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, Gong Zhuoliang and Qiao Yingze met Pingxi twice again, and when it entered November, they moved to Hot Spring Village outside the city again. During this period, the relationship between Mrs. Qiao and Mrs. Qiao became even worse. Seeing that Jingshu's belly is getting bigger and bigger, someone in the house is chewing the tongue of the adoption again, but this time the old lady doesn't seem to take it seriously anymore, let them talk more and more clearly, and still He said a lot about why the wife doesn't want to see the first young master and the second young master, and wants the second young lady to run the house as soon as she enters the house.
At first, Mrs. Qiao didn't take it seriously, but then the rumor spread to the outside. It was only when Mrs. Qiao was laughed at when she was visiting relatives before the Chinese New Year that she realized that she had been rumored to be such a virtuous and unkind person. She was so ashamed She hid at home under the pretext of recovering from illness, and dared not go out again. The old lady told her so harshly again, and in the end she really fell ill with anger. She didn't recover until Qiao Yingze and the others came back a year ago.
Mrs. Qiao was persuaded by her servants to drop her burden and quit. She wanted to see the old lady's jokes. The old lady took back the power of the family for a while, but after all, she was too old to keep up, so she had to work hard to be the daughter-in-law. Zhuo Liang, he can only rely on what he saw and learned last year to manage the year, and in addition to the various New Year activities at the bookstore, he has lost a lot of weight when he finally passed the year. , not even enough time to sleep, let alone have that leisurely tease.
It wasn't until the tenth day of the lunar new year was over, Mrs. Qiao couldn't sit still and took back the power, and the bookstore was completely on track, that Gong Zhuoliang was finally able to rest for a few days and sleep soundly.
On the morning of the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, after Gong Zhuoliang was awakened from his sound sleep by Qiao Yingze, he suddenly felt that the place below was wet and cold. He dazedly stretched his hand into his trousers, and slowly realized what had happened...