Mrs. Liu has been the Qin family's side wife for half her life, and her low-key, tolerant, hard-working and uncomplaining attitude has almost become her label. She doesn't have the usual coquettishness and domineeringness of a noble lady from a wealthy family. She is more like a maid of a close family, amiable, hard-working and kind-hearted.
Two years ago, Qin Shubao "righted her up" on the eve of her departure to Lanzhou. From then on, she deeply understood the meaning of "mother is more valuable than son".
Take today's family banquet as an example. Mrs. Liu, who never sat at the main table and always ate alone, was honored to be seated at the top of the table. Sitting next to her were Qin Mubai and Princess Gaoyang, followed by Wu Meiniang and Zheng Anshun. . As for her favorite girl, Shuang'er, she made an exception and sat at the side table of her mother to eat, pouring her wine and food.
The ancients valued etiquette and lectures. No matter where it is, the location where you sit down to eat cannot be messed up.
Ms. Liu sat at the head of the table, feeling awkward and uneasy. Putting aside his own son, who among the people sitting here is not a first-rate figure in the Tang Dynasty? A princess, the sole heir to the richest man in the world, and a daughter-in-law who has never married, is now also a popular business woman in the Tang Dynasty.
That's not all. Everyone present was vying to toast her. Mrs. Liu was simply flattered!
However, everyone present looked at her matter-of-factly, and they did not show any contempt for her because she was a woman with an ordinary appearance and temperament.
The mother and daughter smiled knowingly from time to time, feeling both relieved and excited. It's not because they are vain or snobbish. The fact that they can sit in this position to eat today is the result of Qin Mubai's hard work. To put it bluntly, they were proud of Qin Mubai.
Qin Mubai was sitting eating and drinking, with Zheng Anshun beside him.
Qin Mubai still has a good impression of Zheng Anshun. This is the first person he has seen since coming to the Tang Dynasty who is truly worthy of the word "gentleman". Together with Li Ke, the three of them worked together to defeat the water ghost gang, adding a layer of friendship through life and adversity. In addition, the three of them have similar personalities, so they can be regarded as close friends.
When he arrived in Xiangyang just now, he heard Su Lianqing's insinuations and nonsense, but Qin Mubai didn't take it to heart. As early as when he first met Wu Meiniang, he had heard that Zheng Anshun had a crush on Wu Meiniang. That is to say, since Wu Meiniang opened the "No. 1 Liquor in the World" store in Chang'an, Zheng Anshun has begun to make various "investments" in Wu Meiniang, including emotional, financial and commercial support. Qin Mubai also It's all clear.
He has never been a narrow-minded man. Whether or not you have confidence is one thing. If a woman can't resist even this temptation and clamors to leave, Qin Mubai will never stay.
A melon that is forced is not sweet. What is yours is yours. If it is not yours, you will eventually leave if you force it to stay.
Just like when Wu Meiniang lost her temper and "divorced" him in Jiangzhou, Qin Mubai wrote a letter of divorce without hesitation. At that time, Wu Meiniang had enough steps to climb down, leaving Qin Mubai and choosing Zheng Anshun. But in the end she didn't. It was from that time that the foundation of the relationship between the two was completely laid, instead of just relying on a marriage contract to bind each other.
Now that such a hurdle has been overcome, what else does Qin Mubai have to worry about? Is there any reason not to believe Wu Meiniang
Zheng Anshun seemed to have deliberately stayed today, and he did not feel out of place in participating in such a "family banquet". He has traveled far and wide, and his greatest strength may be that he can perfectly blend into any environment, so that no one will feel that he is out of place.
After drinking for three rounds, Zheng Anshun said to Qin Mubai: "Brother Qin, when Zheng heard that you were coming, he stopped his trip and stayed in Xiangyang to travel with Qinzhou. I wonder if Brother Qin would mind?"
"Welcome." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Don't you see that there are many women around me, and the yin prevails and the yang declines? Having a wonderful person like Brother Zheng traveling together is a rare thing that you can meet but cannot ask for!"
"Haha!" Zheng Anshun laughed, "Brother Qin is indeed an upright person! To be honest, Zheng has been detained in Xiangyang for more than three months. Firstly, it is to take care of some grain business after the autumn, and secondly... "
Zheng Anshun stopped talking slightly embarrassed, Qin Mubai smiled and said softly: "For Mei Niang, right?"
Zheng Anshun did not deny it and nodded with a smile.
"He's a real man!" Qin Mubai took a sip and breathed in, "Only someone like you is worthy of competing with me for a beautiful girl."
"It's a pity that she still chooses you. She only wants to treat Zheng as her elder brother." Zheng Anshun still smiled calmly.
Qin Mubai nodded and smiled: "Are you disappointed?"
"To be honest, it is."
"Are you ready to give up just like that?"
Zheng Anshun smiled, raised his glass and said, "Does Mr. Zheng look like that shameless and shameless person? He would rather demolish ten temples than ruin one marriage. In fact, Mr. Zheng had no hope from the beginning. He just went along with it. Do what you think you should do according to your own mood, and when the time comes to give up, you will have no regrets and a clear conscience.”
"Haha!" Qin Mubai raised his glass and laughed, "In this way, you and I, brothers, can be regarded as a 'gentleman's fight'! If a woman like Mei Niang doesn't have a man to fight for her, wouldn't it be against her? Defiled? Come on, Brother Zheng, have a drink!”
The two of them had a drink together.
Princess Gaoyang on the opposite side saw it, curled her lips and said: "How shameless! Two grown men, talking about women in front of us, fighting and robbing us, do they think we are objects? They also boast that gentlemen flatter each other. , I really can’t stand it!”
Wu Meiniang's face had already turned red, a pure red color, and her heartbeat was a little fast. She never expected that Qin Mubai and Zheng Anshun would discuss these matters in front of her so calmly. Hearing what Princess Gao Yang said, she even smiled bitterly and said hurriedly: "Princess, Zheng Anshun is a true gentleman; as for Mu Bai... I won't say anything!"
"Hehe!" Princess Gao Yang's eyes turned mischievously, she turned to Wu Meiniang's ear and snickered, "Meiniang, are you attracted to Zheng Anshun? Haha, you want Hongxing to cheat on you ?”
Su Lianqing said this, but Wu Meiniang didn't take it seriously; but when it came out of Princess Gaoyang's mouth, it seemed that it changed instantly, not to mention it was in such an environment!
Wu Meiniang was immediately frightened, "Stop talking nonsense!"
"Haha! The more nervous you are, the more you want to do it?" Princess Gao Yang smiled like a devil, winked and said, "Okay, okay! I just like to watch such a good show! Come on, come on! I want it." Look at Mu Bai’s expression!”
"..." Wu Meiniang was speechless, shaking her head and smiling bitterly, with a rare nervous flush on her face. She has long been aware of Princess Gaoyang's naughty and weird ways. Unexpectedly, after not seeing her for just a year or two, her "skill" has obviously increased significantly. I really don't know what she has done and learned in the past two years with Qin Mubai. Anyway, she didn't learn even half a thing, and she just filled her stomach with bad things.
After the banquet, Princess Gaoyang, Wu Meiniang and Shuang'er accompanied Mr. Liu for a walk in the backyard, admiring a flower garden tended by Wu Meiniang herself. Over the years, she has been successful in business, and her luxurious life has not worn off Wu Meiniang's diligence and aura. There are no rare and precious flowers and plants in the flower garden, just simple grass and trees, and some are wild flowers on the roadside. But after being trimmed and arranged by her hands, it becomes a garden of spiritual energy.
Colorful and exquisite workmanship are not the right words to describe it. Unique taste can often turn the ordinary into the magical. If they hadn't known that this flower garden was created by a weak and slender woman, anyone who had been around the world for a few years and had some qualifications and background would think it was the work of some reclusive celebrity or someone from the forest garden. It is like a piece of light ink landscape, but also like a soul separated from the dust dancing.
In the past few years since he became an official, Qin Mubai has gained a lot of knowledge. Even the Royal Forest Garden, served by the best masters in the world, did not give him such a stunning feeling. It was gorgeous but not greasy, and could withstand scrutiny and careful appreciation.
not easy.
In an instant, Qin Mubai almost looked at Wu Meiniang with admiration.
Maybe being together every day is like boiling a frog in warm water, but I don't think there is any special change. After one year of separation, Wu Meiniang seems to have undergone tremendous changes.
What changes happened to her? Qin Mubai couldn't explain for a while. Since entering the house, the two of them have not sat together and said a word. The occasional hurried eye contact is mostly about the pain of lovesickness and the endless friendship.
It is nonsense to say that Qin Mubai is not eager to move right now and longs for all these people in front of him to disappear so that he can hold Wu Mei Niang's hand and hold her in his arms. Obviously, Qin Mubai also saw Wu Meiniang's urgency and passion in her eyes.
Every second now seems to be a little difficult.
Zheng Anshun was a smart man. He and Qin Mubai admired the flower garden and drank tea for a while before saying goodbye and leaving. It was agreed that he would be the host tomorrow and invite Qin Mubai and others to his mansion in Xiangyang. Qin Mubai agreed, and he said goodbye and left.
It was getting late, and Shuang'er took the maids of the Qin family to wait for her mother to rest. Today she will stay at Wu Meiniang's place, and everything has been prepared.
Only Qin Mubai, Princess Gao Yang and Wu Meiniang were left on the spot, drinking tea and chatting about innocuous gossip. The atmosphere became subtle for a moment.
Princess Gaoyang rolled her eyes mischievously and glanced left and right at Qin Mubai and Wu Meiniang, who had their own ulterior motives. What was very mischievous was that she would not leave and kept chatting with them. This made the maids behind her snicker.
Even a fool can imagine how much a pair of lovers longing for the world of two after a long separation. But Princess Gaoyang refused and insisted on staying here to be a big light bulb.
After a while, Qin Mubai became a little annoyed and said bluntly: "Gao Yang, why don't you go to bed?"
"Oh, just go, just go." Princess Gaoyang pretended to be stupid and nodded, hugged Wu Meiniang's elbow, and said coquettishly, "Meiniang, it's so cold today, Xiangyang doesn't have a kang, right? We Would you like to sleep together?”
Wu Meiniang's face immediately turned red, but she could only nod: "Okay..."
Qin Mubai suddenly felt itchy with hatred. Princess Gao Yang is already an "old fool", and she has never had any "in-depth" communication with Wu Meiniang. Today is a great opportunity, and this guy actually comes out to disrupt the situation!
"Mei Niang and I still have some important things to discuss." Qin Mubai said seriously to the maids, "You guys, wait for the princess to rest first!"
"I don't want it!" Princess Gao Yang immediately shouted, hugging Wu Meiniang tightly, "Qin Mubai, don't think that I don't know what you want to do! Hum, hum! In short, Mei Niang is mine tonight, Don’t even think of a bad idea!”
Wu Meiniang suddenly blushed to the root of her neck and wished she could dig a hole in the ground and get in.
Qin Mubai was also so angry that he really didn't know whether to laugh or cry - only a stupid person like Princess Gaoyang could say such a thing. Is there anyone who could pierce the window paper so barbarically? It’s really worse than beating a mandarin duck with a stick!
"Okay, I'm really afraid of you!" Qin Mubai said almost through gritted teeth, "Meiniang, let's talk tomorrow! You guys go to rest early, I'll go to Pang Fei's place."
"Ho!" Princess Gao Yang became more and more embarrassed and said with a sly smile, "Do you want Pang Fei to take you to look for flowers and willows?"
"It's you!" Qin Mubai stood up dumbfounded, smiled at Wu Meiniang, and said softly, "It's cold and the night is dew, get some rest early."
"Well..." Wu Meiniang smiled sweetly and nodded gently.
Qin Mubai turned around and left. Wu Meiniang watched him leave with reluctance in her eyes.
Princess Gao Yang smirked, raised her hands exaggeratedly in front of Wu Meiniang to interfere with her sight, and said with a smile: "Looking at your eyes, you are so straight, do you want to drag him back? Haha! Mei Niang, tonight you He belongs to this princess!”
For a moment, Wu Meiniang really didn't know what to say. She was helpless and couldn't help laughing: "Princess, I haven't seen you for a year, and I am no match for you. From now on, I will listen to you both inside and outside." ”
"Hahaha!" Princess Gao Yang laughed so triumphantly that she was too triumphant. She put her arms around Wu Meiniang's waist, showing a man's greedy and lustful expression, and said with a sly smile, "Don't even look at it. How have I practiced in the past two years? Do you want to learn, hehe!"
"Princess, please forgive me for saying disrespectful words..."
"Hehe, tell me!"
"Your shameless look really has the charm of Mu Bai!"
Qin Mubai walked out of Qinxian's shop, still shaking his head and smiling bitterly.
It's still late at night, and the city of Xiangyang is bustling. More than a year ago, thanks to the care of "Yangdi Mausoleum", Xiangyang's industrial, commercial and tourism industry developed rapidly, and now it has become a famous and prosperous city in the south. When I revisited the old place a year later, it was obvious that the prosperity and liveliness of the past had reached a higher level and could not be compared to the same.
Walking around among the endless crowd, Qin Mubai was actually in a good mood. In the past few years, it has indeed been rare for me to be as free and relaxed as I am now.
Suddenly among the crowd, Qin Mubai saw the back of a familiar man in front of him. Carrying a heavy load, he walked slowly and leisurely.
Qin Mubai was curious for a moment, but couldn't remember where he had seen this person. So he pushed through the crowd and chased him.
The man obviously noticed that Qin Mubai was chasing him, so he deliberately quickened his pace and walked into the sparsely populated streets.
Qin Mubai was curious and alert: Who is it? Do you have to lead me to a secluded place
The man carrying the burden walked into a dark alley but stopped, put down the burden, and still turned his back to Qin Mubai, obviously waiting for him.
Qin Mubai stopped and looked at it carefully, but due to the light, he couldn't see clearly. So he asked: "Who is your Excellency, so familiar to me?"
"General Qin, long time no see." The man turned around slowly.
Qin Mubai was immediately surprised: "Why is it you!!!"