After saying goodbye to Xu Chen, Qi Surong changed clothes at the village next door and then returned home, just in time for dinner.
At the dinner table, Qi Surong sat with a dignified posture, spoke little and did not lose etiquette.
Father Qi glanced at her and suddenly asked, "Where have you been today?"
Qi Surong was secretly surprised and replied: "I just went out for a walk."
"Going out for a walk?" Qi's father glared at her, "You didn't even take Ping'er with you, and you didn't even ride in the carriage. Where are you going alone?"
Qi Surong lowered his head, as if he was ready to listen.
"Don't think I don't know?" Qi's father scolded, "During this period, you are always running away, your whereabouts are secretive, and you are becoming more and more unbecoming!"
Qi Surong continued to remain silent.
"Tell me honestly, where have you been? What have you done? Who have you met?"
Qi Surong thought for a while and said cautiously, "Dad, do you still remember the Miss Zhang we met at the Lakeside Pavilion?"
"How about remembering?"
"Since that time, Miss Zhang and I have become good friends and talk about everything. I went out to see her recently."
"Really? Then why don't you even bring a girl with you? What should you do if you are in danger alone?"
"Dad, I don't take Ping'er with me just to avoid attracting attention as much as possible. After all, it's not suitable for us to interact too closely with others now, lest we cause trouble to them."
Father Qi's face darkened and he said displeasedly: "Then you should have less contact with others!"
Qi Surong wisely did not refute.
"Although we are down and out, we have not lost our decency. You used to be very disciplined when you went out, but what do you look like now? If your reputation is ruined in the future, how will you please your husband after you get married?"
Qi Surong silently cursed, "Father, you still don't know that a guy who claims to be her fiancé has sneaked into your daughter's boudoir uninvited countless times. It's worse than having no rules." . You don't have to worry about this at all!
"Listen to me. From now on, stay at home, do embroidery, practice piano, and don't go out for me." Father Qi put down the bowls and chopsticks, got up and prepared to go back to the room. When he reached the door, he turned back and said, "Now The weather is getting cooler, so be careful about catching wind chill.”
"Well, don't worry, daughter. Thank you for your concern."
After Qi's father left, Qi's mother said, "Your father is right. It's cold and windy outside, so it's better to go out less often to avoid getting sick."
"It's up to you." It's almost winter, and Xiuzhuang's business has also entered the off-season. You can slow down other chores first, or stay at home to spend more time with your parents.
In the days that followed, Qi Surong stayed at home and did not go out again, but occasionally she would secretly visit the village next door. Yuan Xi was responsible for helping her collect intelligence, and gradually mastered some skills, becoming more and more handy.
However, he was still young after all, and Qi Surong hoped that he could learn more, so he asked someone to buy back many books for him to read.
As they get along with each other during this period, she can clearly feel that Yuan Xi's attitude towards her has changed. Even if she fails to help him get revenge in the future, she may not be abandoned by him. But since she agreed, she doesn't want to break his promise. . However, Zheng Shida is not an easy person to deal with, and long-term planning is needed to deal with him.
Soon after, she received another letter from Xu Chen, which mentioned that he would officially accept her as a disciple, and she could arrange her study time by herself. Along with the letter came an identity document.
Zhuo Fan was born in the third year of Zhenyou and was a native of Xialing. Both parents died in the thirteenth year of Zhenyou's reign. Two years later, he entered Beijing and studied under the scholar Xu Chen...
With this identity, you can avoid a lot of trouble when traveling in the future. As she comes into contact with more and more people, she needs to be more careful.
The cold winter came quietly in peace. The first heavy snow fell for two days. The ground in the north was covered with a thick layer of snow, and the frost was overwhelming.
Some people are happily preparing New Year's goods, while others are gritting their teeth and enduring the cold and hunger.
In the original Qi Mansion, every room had a heater, so there was no need to worry about being frozen in winter. Nowadays, heating has become a problem in this simple house.
Most rich people burn charcoal, but charcoal is expensive and ordinary people cannot afford it.
Although the Qi family now has some spare money, they still have to spend it sparingly. What's more, the sales of charcoal are basically monopolized by the rich, and it is difficult for ordinary people to buy it even if they have money.
The Gu family sent a few bags of charcoal, but Qi Surong didn't want to rely on the Gu family throughout the winter. Of course, she couldn't watch her family being cold. Soon, she thought of a good way to keep warm, which was the Kang bed.
The kang is simple to make. You only need to use adobe to build a square platform with a chimney. It is practical, convenient and saves money.
When she had an idea, she immediately called for a few craftsmen. After explaining it, she asked them to make a kang in each room.
After hearing this, several craftsmen were very surprised and admired Qi Surong's ingenuity.
Qi Surong said hurriedly: "I didn't create this."
However, she did not know who created the Pankang, but she was certain that it came from the life wisdom of ordinary people. When she was down and out in her last life, she relied on this to survive several cold winters. She is very grateful to the old man who took her in. Now she has promoted Pan Kang in advance, which can be considered a benefit to the people.
After having the kang head, the Qi family really felt much more comfortable, and it was even warmer than the stove they used before.
Gu Jinyun was originally a little depressed that Qi Surong refused his help, but after seeing Kangtou at the Qi family, he immediately found those craftsmen and gave some to his family.
"Brother, my sister-in-law is really amazing." Gu Yufeng exclaimed, "How could she come up with such a wonderful way to keep warm?"
"She said it wasn't her fault."
"But has anyone seen her before?" Gu Yufeng said plausibly, "I guess the sister-in-law-to-be just doesn't want to be famous. Her family is in a place of suspicion and needs to keep a low profile."
After these days of contact, Gu Yufeng's attitude towards Qi Surong has changed from resistance to admiration. Whether it is her character or ability to deal with things, people can't fault her. Especially the song "Hug the Fragrance to Death", it couldn't be more aura, can it
"Yes." Gu Jinyun responded noncommittally, looking at the white snow outside the window, his thoughts had already drifted to East Street Eternal Lane...
Pan Kang is simple to build and quickly spread in the surrounding area. Although Qi Surong said that Pankang was not created by her, the craftsmen still attached this name to her.
The common people may not care about which official gets promoted or which poet writes a masterpiece, but they will remember the people who brought them benefits.
Qi Surong gradually gained a good reputation among civilians.
In addition, Qi Surong allocated another sum of money to buy two sets of thick clothes and some rice for the beggars to survive the winter.
On New Year's Eve, the family put up door couplets, hung lanterns, and cooked a sumptuous meal. The Qi family sat together and ate the reunion dinner calmly and warmly.
Although it was simple, Qi Surong felt very satisfied. In the last life, the first year after the Qi family was kicked out of the Qi Mansion, they lived a more miserable life than ordinary people. His father was suffering from alcoholism, his mother was seriously ill with typhoid fever, and his brother had no one to take care of him. Others were afraid of avoiding him, so the Gu family was willing to help.
Nowadays, there is wine and meat on the table, and the family’s faces are full of smiles. If there were no threats from the dark, Qi Surong felt that it would be good to live an ordinary life.
During the New Year's Eve vigil, my parents went to bed after the party was over. Su Bao was young and had no one to play with, and he fell asleep before he was born.
Qi Surong sat alone at the door of the room, looking at the white snow in the courtyard, reflecting the light of the lantern, bringing a bit of warmth.
At this moment, there was a gust of wind in her ears. Qi Surong looked back and saw Gu Jinyun appearing beside her in fluttering white clothes. At first glance, he looked like a ghost.
"Do you want to scare people to death in the middle of the night?" Qi Surong scolded in a low voice.
Gu Jinyun sat next to her and handed her something: "New Year's gift."
Qi Surong took it and saw that it was a box of exquisite pastries, which were still steaming and smelled very sweet.
Her eyes lingered on Gu Jinyun's slightly damp clothes and snow-stained shoes for a moment, and then she looked up at him.
"Eat it while it's hot," he said.
"Yes." Qi Surong twisted a piece and put it in his mouth, then handed the food box to him: "Let's eat together."
"good."
The two of them just sat on the steps, enjoying the snow and eating cakes quietly.
Qi Surong suddenly felt ice at the corner of her mouth, and a snowflake fell on the pastry, which she ate together.
When I raised my head, there was light snow floating in the sky, flying as lightly as feathers, and falling silently into the embrace of the earth.
"Jinyun..." Qi Surong turned to look at Gu Jinyun, and was about to say something, but was interrupted by his face coming closer.
The dragonfly's kiss seemed to be filled with endless tenderness. He stared at her quietly, seeing her clearly in his eyes.
"I'll celebrate the New Year with you next year."
"good."
"I'll spend every year with you from now on."
"… good."
Gu Jinyun kissed her again, passionately, and promised a future on this snowy night.
She couldn't resist this kind of tenderness. Even though she was afraid of losing, she couldn't help but want to sink...