The fragrance of tea in the room is faint, the private room is elegant, and there are three female prostitutes playing the piano and playing music.
Xin Chaoyang and Gu Shiba Niang sat across from each other, their eyes locked in each other's eyes, and Gu Ba Niang had a smile on her face.
"Congratulations, young master..." She smiled and raised her glass with tea instead of wine.
Xin Chaoyang smiled a little forcedly, raised his cup and tasted it briefly.
"What a joy..." he said with a slight smile.
Gu Shiba Niang's expression was slightly condensed. It was difficult to continue talking about this topic. After all, it was a major matter of marriage and there were differences between men and women.
Xin Chaoyang drank one cup of tea after another. The music in the room was melodious, but the atmosphere was extremely dull.
Gu Shiba Niang finally couldn't stand it anymore.
"What? Do people like the eldest young master have any troubles?" She said with a smile, "This is tea, not wine. It can't eliminate worries."
Lingbao snorted at the side and couldn't help but ask: "Which rich lady is the young master talking about?"
Gu Shiba Niang frowned slightly and glanced at her, indicating that she must not be rude.
Xin Chaoyang smiled, "The Zhao family of Hengyang Prefecture, and the Jiankang Qu family."
"Hengyang Zhao family?" Gu Shiba Niang's eyes flashed slightly and asked.
The Hengyang Zhao family, Shen Anlin's maternal grandfather's family, turned out to be their family...
"They are all from wealthy families. Congratulations, young master." She immediately smiled.
Whether it is the Qu family in Jiankang or the Zhao family in Hengyang, they are both official and aristocratic families. These families are very respected and will never marry into merchants. No matter how wealthy merchants are, they will look down upon them.
Unexpectedly, they would propose marriage to the Xin family at the same time. For the Xin family, it was indeed a great joy.
Anyang, however, still looked lonely and poured himself a glass.
"Eighteenth Mother, please." He raised his glass and said.
Gu Shiba Niang took a sip as she was told, and hesitated for a moment before saying, "What's going on? Could it be that this marriage doesn't suit your wishes?"
After saying that, I laughed first, how could this be possible
"What's the use of whether I agree or not?" Xin Chaoyang laughed at himself and looked up at her.
Really unsatisfactory? Gu Shiba Niang was a little surprised.
"I have a crush on someone..." Xin Chaoyang said slowly.
As soon as these words came out, the expressions of Gu Shiba Niang and Ling Bao changed slightly.
However, Xin Chaoyang did not continue talking, but continued to pour tea and drink it himself.
For the Xin family, this marriage is like a golden phoenix falling from the sky. No matter from any aspect, there is no reason to refuse. As the future head of the Xin family, Xin Chaoyang has no choice.
A trace of sympathy appeared on Gu Shiba Niang's face. Xin Chaoyang was not young. She had always thought that people like him were free and easy-going and not bound by external things, but after all, they could not escape the shackles of responsibility.
She looked at Xin Chaoyang, who also looked up, and their eyes met. Xin Chaoyang's eyes showed unspeakable emotions. Gu Shiba Niang was startled, then looked away, lowered her head and picked up the tea cup.
Once again, there was only melodious music in the room and no human sounds.
"How is the young master doing?" Gu Shiba Niang asked suddenly, with a hint of smile in her voice.
"I'm helpless..." Xin Chaoyang whispered, showing a full sense of powerlessness, with a bit of struggle and trembling in his voice.
Gu Shiba Niang sighed lightly, no matter what moment, the interests of the family are the most important. This point, Xin Chaoyang, who dominates the shopping mall, has been deeply imprinted in her soul.
It was understandable and blameless, but why she couldn't help but feel a little cold.
The change in Gu Shiba Niang's expression naturally fell into Xin Chaoyang's eyes, and a complicated expression flashed across his face.
"Eighteen Mother, I hope you don't look down on me because of this..." He raised his teacup and whispered.
"How could it be?" Gu Shiba Niang said with a smile, rolling her sleeves with one hand and holding a cup with the other.
When the tea cup was touched, there was a soft sound.
Not long ago, the man showed his true affection for her during the Mid-Autumn Festival reunion, but she hesitated for a moment and finally raised her glasses.
"I believe."
The sound was still in my ears, but the meaning of the sound of teacups clinking together had completely changed.
"As expected, we are both from the same place in the world..." She couldn't help but smile and said.
Xin Chaoyang looked up at her, as if he wanted to say something more.
"It is a happy event after all, don't make it so sad..." Gu Shiba Niang smiled, cut him off, and changed the topic, "So, which one is the Hengyang Zhao family or the Jiankang Qu family?"
Xin Chaoyang smiled slightly, "Speaking of this, I would like to ask Madam Gu for her opinion..."
"My opinion?" Gu Shiba Niang laughed, "What can I do..."
"I just want to hear your opinion." Xin Chaoyang interrupted her and said in a deep voice, with a bit of sadness in his voice.
Gu Shiba Niang was slightly startled and looked at Xin Chaoyang.
Xin Chaoyang looked up at her and said again: "This is the only choice I have..."
His eyes were shining with undisguised passion. Gu Shiba Niang suddenly felt pain in her eyes. She couldn't help but close her eyes. At the same time, a coldness spread from the bottom of her heart, and her mind suddenly became clear.
So that’s it… So that’s it… The hand on the desk could not help but slowly bend up.
"Miss?" Lingbao noticed the change in her expression and called out in a low voice.
Gu Shiba Niang opened her eyes, and a coldness flashed through her eyes, so fast that she didn't even notice it.
"Eighteenth Mother..." Xin Chaoyang looked over with concern, "Are you okay?"
good? Lingbao bit his lower lip and glared at him angrily. It was all because of you that the young lady lost her composure. Although she did not see this man early in the morning, she did not want to see the young lady hurt, even if her brother was hurt in the end.
"I've been lying down for too long, and I always feel a little weak..." Gu Shiba Niang smiled and stretched out her hand to press her forehead.
"Then it's better to rest more, don't bother..." Xin Chaoyang stood up and said.
"No need." Gu Shiba Niang raised her hand to stop him, "Since the eldest young master thinks highly of me, I will boldly make the choice for the eldest young master."
Xin Chaoyang stopped and stood up, looking at her.
There seems to be a hint of emotion on the peaceful face of the woman in front of me. What is it? She is so smart, she must understand her own feelings, and everything will go according to her expectations.
Is this the right thing to do? Xin Chaoyang suddenly felt an emotion that was difficult to control. In fact, he had been troubled by this emotion for the past month.
No, it shouldn’t be like this. It is necessary to do this. There is no right or wrong.
"Young Master, do you really want me to tell you?" Gu Shiba Niang asked again, stroking the tea cup with her fingers that were a little yellow due to the medicine, with a half-smiling look on her face.
Being stared closely at by those dark eyes, Xin Chaoyang's hands couldn't help but tighten slightly.
"Yes." He spat out one word, which seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.
"I actually don't know much. I just heard my brother talk about it. I'm not very familiar with the Zhao family in Hengyang. Most of them work in the military, but we both know the Jiankang opera masters, not to mention they are our locals. Moreover, Mr. Qu Zongfang of the Qu family has just been transferred to the position of head of the household department..." Gu Shiba Niang said seriously, "Head of the household department... that is a good job, for people like us..."
With her meaningful smile, the businessman will be well taken care of.
"I don't know, which room of the Qu family is she from?" After a slight hesitation, she asked in a low voice.
"Master Zongfang's cousin's eldest daughter..." Xin Chaoyang also replied in a low voice.
The room was silent again.
"That's good...I've also heard about this young lady...I've heard that she's virtuous and virtuous..." Gu Shiba Niang said with a smile.
But this smile was extremely far-fetched in Xin Chaoyang's eyes. He looked at Gu Shiba Niang and said nothing.
"My mother should be going home. Please forgive me for taking leave first..." Gu Shiba Niang stood up and said with lowered eyes. She didn't wait for Xin Chaoyang to get up and walked out first.
His shoulders were slightly hunched, making his back look very lonely.
"Eighteen Mother..." Xin Chaoyang called from behind. He wanted to say something, but was speechless in the end.
Gu Shiba Niang paused slightly, without looking back, and then walked out quickly. Lingbao looked at Xin Chaoyang hatefully again and slammed the door.
Xin Chaoyang stood there, looking at the disappearing figure, a bitterness slowly spreading from the corner of his mouth. He sat down and stared at the empty seat opposite for a long time.
As expected, he once again won a win-win situation, but why, he felt so sad.
Following Gu Shiba Niang, who was walking quickly, Lingbao almost jogged before catching up.
"Miss..." Sitting on the carriage, Lingbao couldn't help feeling sad anymore, his eyes were red, "Miss, if you're sad, just cry..."
Her words came to an abrupt end because Gu Shiba Niang opposite her was smiling. However, this smile was filled with coldness, but there was no trace of sadness at all.
"Am I sad?" She smiled, stroking her rough calloused hands, "Wrong, it doesn't matter who is sad."
Then he raised his eyebrows and smiled at Lingbao, "Bao'er, let's wait and see."
Lingbao was a little surprised by her smile, and then became even more sad. The young lady must be too sad, but she couldn't say it.
"Miss..." She hugged Gu Shiba Niang and sobbed softly.
Gu Shiba Niang laughed and patted her to comfort her, "Fool, why are you crying? It's our turn to cry." She looked out at the street through the screen window, her smile condensed on her lips.
Yes, anyone can cry this time, but she will never be the one crying.
As the days passed slowly, Peng Yizhen's reputation became more and more famous, and Gu Shiba Niang also began to prepare medicines one after another.
After finishing ten doses of medicine that day, I sat down in the study and read the travel experience written by Gu Hai. Lingbao hurried in.
"Miss, the engagement invitation from the Xin family..." she said, holding an invitation in her hand.
After hearing this, Gu Shiba Niang put down the letter and stretched out her hand with excitement, "Quick, let me see..."
Lingbao handed it over with some reluctance, "Miss, it's back to Jiankang, so we don't need to pay attention..."
Gu Shiba Niang had already opened it, glanced at it, and laughed.
"As expected." She smiled happily and clapped her hands.
Lingbao was startled and looked at Gu Shiba Niang worriedly. The young lady must be laughing instead of being hurt...
"It's pretty quick... We will get engaged on October 23rd, the official day of Jiankang. On October 25th, we will have a small banquet in the capital..." Gu Shiba Niang looked at the invitation in her hand and smiled, "This is specially done for me... "As he said it, he nodded, "Not bad, I'm interested."
"Miss..." Lingbao became more and more confused by what she said, "Do you really want to go?"
"Of course, I've been waiting for this day." Gu Shiba Niang smiled and stood up energetically, "Go, call the housekeeper and prepare a generous gift."
Lingbao stood depressed and didn't move. He took the invitation and looked at it, and couldn't help but be stunned.
"Miss, that person is engaged to be...the Zhao family..." she shouted, waving the invitation card hurriedly.
Gu Shiba Niang had already stepped out. After hearing this, she turned back and smiled, "Yes, it's exactly what I wanted."
"But, Miss, you didn't mean to let him choose a composer..." Lingbao said in confusion, stamping his feet angrily, "This bad guy is still coaxing Miss..."
Gu Shiba Niang laughed, "That's wrong, Lingbao, he is really making me happy by doing this."
She laughed and left, personally ordering the housekeeper to prepare the gift, leaving Lingbao standing there with a puzzled look on his face.
On October 25th, Xin Chaoyang, a newly wealthy man from the Beijing medicine shop, hosted a wedding banquet for his friends from Beijing. As a new star who has risen in the medicine shop world in the capital in a short period of time, visitors naturally gathered at the first call. The Xin family mansion purchased in the capital was bustling with activity. , because it is not an engagement banquet, so the traditional engagement ceremony will not occur, but everyone will get together to have a meal.
"She is the legitimate daughter of the Zhao family in Hengyang..."
"The Zhao family in Hengyang is extremely powerful in the military..."
"So what if you're in the army? It's not as good as the Jiankang Qujia..."
"Do you know that the in-laws of the Zhao family are from the Shen family of Jiankang..."
"The Shen family? Fuyuan Duke Shen family?"
The hall was crowded with people, and there was a lot of discussion. Suddenly, the host at the door loudly announced: "Mrs. Jiankang Gu's congratulatory gift has arrived."
Hearing this name, the noise in the hall subsided and everyone looked outside the door. There were rumors in the medicine industry about Xin Chaoyang and Gu Shiba Niang. Because of the cooperation with Da Yousheng, everyone thought that Mrs. Gu would definitely cooperate with the Xin family forever in the future. Unexpectedly, Xin Chaoyang suddenly got engaged.
It seemed that that speculation was false. Otherwise, if Xin Chaoyang chose someone else, Mrs. Gu would have turned against her. How could she send congratulatory gifts in person
However, this result is what everyone is most happy to see. This great pharmacist finally belongs to more than just Yousheng.
While thinking about it, Gu Shiba Niang had already stepped in. She was well-dressed and full of smiles. She was greeted by greetings wherever she went.
Xin Chaoyang walked over to the crowd and saw Gu Shiba Niang, his heart suddenly thumped, and he felt an ominous premonition.
This feeling was so absurd that he couldn't help but shake his head and look at Gu Shiniang again, who was coming towards her across the crowd.
This girl had a bright expression, a smile like a flower, and a light in her eyes that he had never seen before. This light was as bright as a sharp spear.
"Congratulations, young master." Gu Shiba Niang stood in front of him and saluted with a smile.
"Thank you for coming..." Xin Chaoyang said in a low voice with his eyes twinkling.
A smile appeared on Gu Shiba Niang's lips, and she looked at him meaningfully, "Wherever I am, I have to come."
Xin Chaoyang looked at her, silent.
Gu Shiba Niang sat down at the table with a smile and greeted the familiar drug dealers. During the dinner, Xin Chaoyang's eyes fell on Gu Ba Niang from time to time. Seeing her smiling happily, Xin Chaoyang frowned slightly. He already knew what this girl was thinking. She is restrained and does not show her emotions, but being able to do this is amazing, unless she is not sad at all...
is that so? Xin Chaoyang's hand holding the wine glass couldn't help but clenched tightly. How could this be possible? Obviously…
Gu Shiba Niang suddenly waved to him.
Putting away his thoughts, Xin Chaoyang walked over. Gu Shiba Niang left the table and looked at him with a smile beside the pillar in the hall.
"What's the matter?" Xin Chaoyang looked at her with a smile and asked in a low voice.
Gu Shiba Niang also looked at him with a smile, "I have prepared three pieces of brocade for you, with a thousand taels of silver on them, and another set of hair and face for the lady... Do you like it?"
Xin Chaoyang looked at her without saying a word, with a hint of heartbreaking tenderness in his eyes, and nodded.
"Oh, there's another big gift." Gu Shiba Niang smiled, stood a few steps over, and motioned for him to come over.
They were so close that they could clearly hear each other's heartbeat.
Xin Chaoyang leaned forward and looked at the girl's jade-like face.
"I'm telling you..." Gu Shiba Niang whispered, with a ghostly light shining in her eyes, "In three years at most, the Hengyang Zhao family will be defeated..."
Thinking like a flash of thunder in his ears, Xin Chaoyang's expression changed drastically and he looked at Gu Shiba Niang.
The smile on Gu Ba Niang's face was still thick, revealing her thin teeth, which were shining white. She hooked her hands, approached Xin Chaoyang again, and whispered: "...I believe you have analyzed my Gu family very well, Qu Although there are high-ranking officials in the Gu family and the Zhao family, my relationship with the family is very poor. Furthermore, my brother is a minor official who offends the powerful and is disliked by the emperor. Naturally, he cannot be compared with these two families. Of course, I know…"
As she spoke, she patted Xin Chaoyang's shoulder gently, "I know that the Qu family is still better than the Zhao family in detail, but you chose the Zhao family over the Qu family because of my feelings... I thank you. Your intention... did not choose the woman I like as my wife. It is indeed good that you can do this for me... but you chose the wrong one. No, it does not mean that you chose the wrong one. It's just that... you are unlucky..."
Xin Chaoyang's face was already livid. He looked at the girl in front of him, his smile was still as bright as a flower, but the sound of her smile was already full of chills.
She knew, she knew, she actually understood it all, and it was so clear that it was chilling to the bone.
She was just a teenage girl, how could...how could...what kind of heart and what kind of eyes could she see the world's people so clearly, so thoroughly that it chilled her to the bone.
He had been thinking about relationships for more than ten years, and he had been very comfortable with them for more than ten years, but he felt naked in front of this girl.
"Don't deny yourself..." Gu Shiba Niang said with a smile, "Actually, I didn't think so much at first. I shouldn't have done it at all. You shouldn't have asked me to choose your marriage for you..." She said with these few points. She looked at him sympathetically and said, "I've done it...it's better to go too far than it is...but I believe that after this incident, the young master will never make this mistake again in the future, and his talent will definitely be further improved, which is gratifying..."
Xin Chaoyang looked at her, the expression on his face changed, he moved his mouth slightly and made a low sound, "Why?"
Gu Shiba Niang looked at him, her eyes were like deep pools.
"You have feelings for me, but they are not worth the greater benefits. I won't blame you if you just walk away. It's just that you shouldn't want greater benefits while not letting go of my vested interests..." She said slowly. Xu said, "...Not everything in this world can be a win-win situation...and...I hate it when others plot against me...especially when they plot against me emotionally..."
Xin Chaoyang looked at her and remained silent.
"I can't say whether you are a good person or not, but I, Gu Shiba Niang, am really not a good person..." Gu Ba Niang stood a few steps away, looked at him, smiled, and bent her hand in front of him, "... I have claws...If you mess with me, I will hurt others..."
Xin Chaoyang looked at the girl in front of him with a sinister smile. The gentle and peaceful aura in his eyes disappeared, revealing a beast-like violent aura. He had seen this aura before. She looked at the Jiankang Medicine Guild Hall that day. This was the case with everyone in Baohe Hall. This was the case with her at the Grand Medicine Fair that day when she faced Mr. Dong.
Now, in front of him, she finally showed such anger. She stretched out her hand and scratched his face mercilessly.
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It feels so good to finish it in one go. I wrote it happily and you read it happily too! I really want to write it to the end in one go, but it seems there are still a lot of things to do, haha