"Madam, Master Xie's Biao and Master Su's Biao are here to greet you, and they are outside the door."
"Invite them in quickly."
Xie was cheerful and seemed very happy.
The servant girl bowed to accept the order, turned around and went out.
Soon, two young men came in.
I saw the young man on the left dressed in fine clothes, suave and suave, with a smile like a spring breeze on his face, but a little greasy.
This one is Xie Xian, son of the Xie family.
The one on the right, wearing a washed-white long gown, is thin, tall and straight, with a clean demeanor, facing the eyes of everyone calmly.
No need to guess, this person is Su Zheng, son of the Su family.
Xie Xian said, "Meet my aunt!"
Su Zheng said: "See Madam!"
Xie smiled until his eyes narrowed, "Okay, okay, let's sit and serve tea."
It has long been heard that the Su family is down and down, and it gets worse every year.
Seeing it with my own eyes today, Mrs. Xie seems to be in a good mood after drinking a bowl of iced sour plum soup in the dog days.
The more desolate the Su family, the better, so as to reflect her blessing. She is the Bokesu family.
"Sanlang, Second Girl, hurry up and meet Young Master Su's Cousin. My first cousin should not be alienated just because he lives far away."
Xie smiled and looked kindly.
Gu Jiu knew what kind of thoughts were hidden in his heart.
He just wanted to hit her and Gu Ting.
Look, my uncle's family is so down and out, what else can you two brothers and sisters rely on.
By the way, let's set off the wealth of Xie's family and lose Su Zheng's face.
"I met cousin Su, thank you cousin."
Gu Jiu stood up, gracefully. It's just a sick face, looking very weak.
Su Zheng's eyes were calm, and he looked at Gu Jiu twice more, "You are welcome, cousin! Is your cousin in good health?"
Gu Jiu smiled slightly, "Thank you cousin for your concern, I'm much better after taking the medicine."
"That's good!" Su Zheng breathed a sigh of relief.
Xie Xian squinted his eyes, glanced at Gu Jiu brothers and sisters, and then said loudly: "Father asked me to greet aunt on his behalf, how is aunt?"
Xie smiled and said: "Your father is interested, I am in good health. Yue'er, Shan'er, this is your cousin Xie Xian."
Gu Yue raised her brows and laughed, "Brother Xie came to the door for the first time, is there a gift?"
"You child, how do you talk?"
Although Xie scolded, there was a smile in his eyes. The family doesn't need to see outsiders, and can joke around casually.
Xie Xian smiled and said, "Of course I brought a gift."
Gu Yue became happy, "Meet my cousin!"
Gu Shan was polite, followed Gu Yue, greeted Xie Xian, and gave Su Zheng a little blessing.
Su Zheng returned the gift.
Xie Xian was very good at chatting, a few words made Mrs. Xie laugh out loud, and the atmosphere in the room became lively.
It immediately brought out the embarrassment of Gu Jiu, Gu Ting, and Su Zheng. The three of them are outsiders, redundant.
Gu Jiu and Su Zheng were quite calm.
But Gu Ting seemed very uncomfortable, looking for an opportunity to interject, "Madam, I'll take Cousin Su down to settle down."
Xie's expression was indifferent, "It's time to settle down early. Sanlang, take Master Su down, don't neglect the guests."
Su Zheng stood up, "Thank you Madam. I'll come back another day to say hello to Madam."
"Young Master Su is polite." Mrs. Xie smiled.
Gu Ting couldn't wait to leave the upper room.
Gu Jiu also took the opportunity to say goodbye.
Mrs. Xie didn't keep her, and only told her a few words, "Second girl, don't go out next time if you are not well. If the condition gets worse, the master should blame me for not taking good care of you."
"Thank you for your concern, my wife. I will definitely take care of my health and live up to my wife's wishes."
Mrs. Xie waved his hand, "Go down! If there's anything you need, just ask someone to come over and talk about it."
"I listen to my wife."
Gu Jiu led the maids out of the upper room.
After passing the garden, Gu Jiu stopped suddenly.
She looked back at Jiang Yan, "What's your name?"
"Slave Jiang Yan has seen the girl."
Gu Jiu nodded, "I'll call you Yanzi from now on. Xiaocui, take Yanzi back to Zhilan Courtyard to settle down. Qingmei and Qingzhu follow me around."
"The sun is high, is it alright for the girl?" Qingmei asked with concern.
Gu Jiu smiled, and said, "It's okay. I haven't gone out for a long time, so you can play with me while you're in a good mood today."
"yes!"
Gu Jiu took green plums and green bamboos through the garden and came to the gazebo in the atrium to sit down.
Qingmei and Qingzhu only thought that Gu Jiu was tired from walking and sat down to rest.
Little did they know that Gu Jiu came here specially to wait for someone.
It's not a year or festival, Xie's father and son suddenly came to the door, there must be something wrong.
Gu Jiu felt a little uneasy.
The maidservants around her couldn't get any news from outside the inner courtyard.
On the elder brother Gu Ting's side, except for one Li Chuan, who is quite clever, the other servants don't need to mention it.
After much deliberation, Gu Jiu decided to cooperate with Cousin Su.
With just one look, she knew that Cousin Su had a clear mind.
Many words need not be said clearly, he can understand the meaning behind her words.
Considering the conflict between the Su family and the Xie family, cousin Su would also like to know why the Xie family and his son suddenly came to the door.
However, in order for Cousin Su to help inquire about the news, he must first create an opportunity for Cousin Su to get close to Xie's father and son.
Not long after Gu Jiu sat down, a young man walked into the atrium.
Gu Jiu stood up, "I met fourth brother."
The fourth brother Gu Jiu mentioned was named Gu Yu, and he was the elder brother of the same clan.
Mr. Gu was sent to Jinzhou to serve as the governor, so it is natural to promote the children of his family.
Gu Yu is more promising in the clan, and he is also motivated.
When Mr. Gu took office, he brought him by his side to train him.
Gu Yu looked at Gu Jiu in surprise, "So it's the second sister. The second sister is in good health?"
Gu Jiu smiled softly, "Thank you for your concern, brother four, it's much better."
"Second sister will take good care of her health. If there is nothing else, I will leave first."
Gu Jiu said: "There is something I want to ask Fourth Brother for."
Gu Yu's face was calm, "Second sister, please tell me. If you can help, you will definitely help."
Gu Jiu frowned, and smiled, "Thank you fourth brother. Cousin Su's family came to the door, but he hasn't settled down yet. Can fourth brother please settle cousin Su's family in the courtyard next to Xie's father and son?"
"That's all?"
Gu Jiu nodded, "Trouble fourth brother."
Gu Yu said: "I will arrange for this small matter. The second sister's health is critical, and the sun is shining, so let's go back first."
"Thank you, brother four, for your concern. I'll be back in a while."
Gu Yu looked at Gu Jiu meaningfully with his eyes, and then left.
When the people walked away, Qingmei said: "Did the girl come here on purpose to wait for Master Gu Yu?"
Gu Jiu smiled and didn't say yes or no.
"Let's go! Follow me to see the third young master."
"Won't the girl go back?"
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Cousin is definitely still with brother, I'll go over and talk."
After finishing speaking, Gu Jiu lifted the hem of her skirt, stepped down from the gazebo, and walked towards the courtyard where Gu Ting lived.
…
"Brother, Cousin Su, what are you talking about? I was still at the gate of the courtyard when I heard my brother's loud voice."
Gu Jiu walked into the room with a smile on her face.
"Sister, why are you here? The sun is so strong, can your body bear it?"
Gu Jiu smiled softly, "Brother, don't worry about me. I neglected Cousin Su in the upper room before, please forgive me."
Su Zheng said, "Cousin Xiaojiu is polite."
Gu Jiu sat down on the chair.
Qingmei brought her a cup of hot water.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Haven't asked my uncle and aunt if they are okay?"
Su Zheng said calmly, "Thank you cousin for your concern, everyone in the family is fine."
Gu Jiu looked sad, "A few years ago, my grandfather passed away. At that time, my brother and I were still young and couldn't help ourselves. We couldn't pay respects to our grandfather's spirit. It was really unfilial."
Su Zheng said calmly: "Cousin Xiaojiu, don't blame yourself, we all understand your difficulties.
It's a pity that the family situation is not very good, so I can't help my cousins. Just don't blame us. "
Gu Jiu said sincerely: "All these years, uncles and aunts have worked hard."
Su Zheng smiled, "It's not hard! But my cousins, it's not easy for you to make a living under Mrs. Xie's hands."
Gu Jiu nodded, "Actually, it's not easy for everyone."
After a pause, Gu Jiu asked the question that he had always been concerned about: "Did cousin come to Jinzhou on purpose this time?"