Cheng Chi's gaze fell on Zhou Shaojin's hand, hotter than the summer sun.
Zhou Shaojin's hand could not help but shrink back into her sleeve, but then she thought that Cheng Chi said these words for her own good, so she straightened her back, stretched out her hand, and then, as Cheng Chi said, she clasped her hands together tightly and whispered, "Is, is that so?"
"That's basically it." Cheng Chi said, "When winter comes, make your sleeves longer so that others can't see it." He added, "You need to practice this action well and make it a habit, then it will become natural. Once it becomes natural, others won't be able to see anything wrong with you."
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly.
Cheng Chi said: "Did your father tell you about playing chess with the second branch's ancestor? Did he tell you alone or when everyone was chatting together?"
Zhou Shaojin suddenly became hesitant.
If she said that her father had spoken to her alone, would Uncle Chi think that her father was using her to pass on a message to him, causing him to misunderstand that his father was trying to sow discord between him and the ancestor of the second branch
Cheng Chi suddenly laughed and said gently, "Or do you want to tell me yourself?"
Zhou Shaojin's eyes lit up, and he said quickly, "I wanted to tell you myself."
This way, I won’t be a burden to my father, right
Cheng Chi burst into laughter.
Is this little girl afraid of dragging her father into trouble
However, if Zhou Zhen didn't mean it, how could he say these words in front of his daughter
The look he gave Zhou Shaojin became a little gentler.
There were footsteps outside.
Zhou Shaojin looked in the direction of the voice.
Seeing Qingfeng coming over, he respectfully said through the curtain: "Fourth Master, the master is here."
Zhou Shaojin almost jumped up.
Cheng Xu... What is he doing here
She looked towards Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi's face was calm as he ordered Qing Feng, "Let him in!"
Zhou Shaojin then realized that since Cheng Xu had gone out, it was courtesy for him to say goodbye to the elders when he left and greet them when he came back. It was her own fault for not thinking carefully and not thinking about these things, but she couldn't blame Cheng Xu.
She stood up quickly and said nervously, "Well, then I'll take my leave." As soon as she finished speaking, she felt something was wrong. If she left Xiaoshan Congguiyuan at this time, she might run into Cheng Xu. With Cheng Xu's temper, he might chase her out after a few words with Cheng Chi... She might as well wait until Cheng Xu left before saying goodbye. She quickly changed her words and said, "Can you let me have a cup of tea in your tea room before I leave?" After saying that, Zhou Shaojin looked at Cheng Chi expectantly.
Cheng Chi was slightly surprised.
The little girl looked a little frightened, as panicked and helpless as a little animal cornered by a hunter.
Why is she so afraid of Cheng Xu
This is no longer a simple dislike or hate, but fear.
Cheng Chi was puzzled, but he didn't show it on his face. He smiled and said, "Go ahead! There are still snacks in the tea room. Have a cup of tea and snacks, and then it won't be too late to go back."
Zhou Shaojin glanced at him gratefully, turned around and ran out. But the curtain was still shaking, and she ran in again, blushing and saying, "Uncle Chi, I, I can come to you..." She pointed to the open room on the left, "Can you sit there?"
After she came in, she noticed that the open room on the right was a study, with books and rice paper spread out on the large desk, and the left was a banquet room, which was only furnished with tables, chairs, incense tables, and porcelain. Moreover, Cheng Chi walked out of the open room on the right. She was afraid that there was something in the study that was inconvenient for her to see, so she wanted to take shelter in the banquet room on the left.
The tea room of Xiuqitang is between the two open halls.
Cheng Chi guessed that she might have seen Cheng Xu coming, and if she went to the tea room she would be seen by Cheng Xu, so she had to turn back.
"Sure!" He agreed with a smile and asked her, "Do you want me to ask the maid to bring you a cup of tea?"
"No, no." Zhou Shaojin shook his hands repeatedly.
If she just sat there drinking tea carelessly, Cheng Xu would see her as soon as he came in, so why should she turn back
Cheng Chi didn't force her.
Zhou Shaojin had just hidden behind the floor-length curtain when Cheng Xu walked in.
He was wearing a lake blue plain silk gown and black face shoes with auspicious cloud patterns. He looked high-spirited and smiling.
"Fourth uncle!" He greeted Cheng Chi cheerfully, and before Cheng Chi could say anything, he had already sat down with a smile below Cheng Xu, in the place where Zhou Shaojin had originally sat.
Cheng Chi nodded indifferently and said, "You're back? How's your mentor? Is he still writing poetry every day?"
"Write poetry, write poetry." Cheng Xu smiled, "Not only write poetry, but also recite a poem by Du or Li every day." It can be seen that Cheng Xu's mentor not only knows Cheng Chi, but also has a very good relationship with him.
Then Cheng Xu smiled and began to talk about his experience in Hangzhou: "I went to Wufangzhai with my mother once when I was a child. It hasn't changed at all. I went in and bought some peach cakes, preserved vegetable cakes and the like. I brought some back for my grandmother and you... My mentor's son accompanied me to West Lake, and we met Min Jianqiang and a few companions from the Min family in Fujian." He became excited as he spoke, "He is the younger brother of Min Jianxing, the top scholar in your subject. He is ten years older than me. He passed the imperial examination last year and came to Hangzhou with his cousin. His cousin's brother-in-law is the Tongzhi in Hangzhou Prefecture. He knew that you and his brother were classmates, so he was very enthusiastic about me and left his address, asking me to visit him in Fujian when I was free. He will go to Jiaxing in a few days. The prefect of Jiaxing is his other cousin. We have agreed to meet in Jiaxing, and I will invite him to my home when the time comes.
"His companion took us to a small restaurant next to the West Lake. Although the restaurant is small, the beggar's chicken and fried bells are very authentic. It's called 'Juyinghui'. If you go to Hangzhou someday, you can go and try it..."
Peach cakes, preserved vegetable cakes and the like were just like the breeze passing by Zhou Shaojin's ears, but the four words "Fujian Min Family" weighed heavily on Zhou Shaojin's heart.
After many twists and turns, the Min family in Fujian finally appeared.
In her previous life, she often wondered who the girl who was supposed to marry Cheng Xu was? Was she so good that Yuan Shi would rather suffer a loss than accept her
In this life, she alienated Cheng Lu, which led to rumors, and Cheng Xu was sent to Hangzhou, where she met someone from the Min family in Fujian... Was it destined that the young lady from the Min family was Cheng Xu's true destiny
Zhou Shaojin leaned silently against the floor-standing room and sighed softly.
Cheng Chi sat there quietly, drinking tea slowly, but he was calm and majestic, with a dignified demeanor, as if he could stay like this forever.
Cheng Xu started to feel a little nervous when he saw this.
He stood up and said goodbye: "Fourth Uncle, I'm leaving now. I'll come to see you another day."
Cheng Chi nodded and called Qingfeng to send Cheng Xu out.
Zhou Shaojin let out a long sigh, walked out from behind the tent and said goodbye to Cheng Chi.
Seeing that she was no longer as pale and fragile as before, Cheng Chi said, "I'll let Jiying take you back!"
Having already made Cheng Chi laugh at her, how could Zhou Shaojin still have the nerve to ask Cheng Chi to send someone to send her back
She politely declined, "This place is not far from Jiashu Hall, and we can get there in a short walk. Please don't bother Miss Jiying."
Cheng Chi did not comment.
Zhou Shaojin didn't dare to stay any longer. He knelt down to greet him, said goodbye to Cheng Chi, called Shi Xiang, and left Xiuqitang.
But what she didn't expect was that Cheng Xu, his servant Huanxi and his follower Dasu were actually standing in the pavilion outside the gate of Xiaoshan Congguiyuan.
Cheng Xu looked a little confused, as if he was troubled by something. Dasu and Xiai stood respectfully behind him, not daring to breathe.
Why hasn't he left yet
Zhou Shaojin muttered to himself and had to turn back to Xiuqitang.
Shi Xiang asked, "Miss, what should we do?"
Zhou Shaojin said helplessly: "We can only leave after he leaves."
They waited for Cheng Xu to leave.
Lang Yue passed by the corridor for some reason and greeted her with a smile.
Zhou Shaojin was startled and looked outside quickly.
Fortunately, Cheng Xu was talking to Dasu and Huanxi and didn't notice the commotion here.
Zhou Shaojin took a deep breath and made a gesture to Lang Yue to keep quiet.
Lang Yue smiled and turned into the Ruyi Gate on the right side of the corridor.
Zhou Shaojin felt it was too unsafe to stand here, so he told Shi Xiang, "Let's go to Uncle Chi."
In case Cheng Xu finds out, she has a place to hide here.
They went to the large hall at the back.
Cheng Chi was standing in the hall talking to Huaishan. When he saw Zhou Shaojin, he glanced at her as usual, continued talking to Huaishan, and then looked up.
Zhou Shaojin knelt down and saluted, his face as bright as the morning glow as he murmured, "Cousin Xu is at the door..."
Cheng Chi didn't ask anything, and said, "Then come in and sit for a while!"
Zhou Shaojin was overjoyed, thanked Cheng Chi, and entered the open hall.
Huaishan nodded slightly and stepped back.
Zhou Shaojin returned the greeting awkwardly. Seeing that only Cheng Chi was in the room, he couldn't help but whisper, "Uncle Chi, did you know that Cousin Xu would be waiting for me on the way?"
"No." Cheng Chi said simply, "I saw Cheng Jiashan sitting in front of me just now, his eyes rolling around like he was looking for someone, so I guessed that he might have heard the news and came to find you."
That’s why Uncle Chi asked Jiying to take her home!
Zhou Shaojin felt mixed emotions and said softly, "Uncle Chi, then please ask Miss Jiying to take me home!"
She didn't know why Cheng Chi asked Ji Ying to take her home, but she believed in Cheng Chi's decision.
He said that if he asked Jiying to take her home, Jiying would definitely be able to get her back to Room 4 smoothly.
Cheng Chi said "hmm" and told Qingfeng to call Jiying over.
The breeze went away.
Cheng Chi pointed to the armchair where Zhou Shaojin had just sat and said, "Sit down for a while. Jiying should be here soon."
Zhou Shaojin thanked him with a smile and sat down again.
She found a blue-covered booklet on the square table.
Zhou Shaojin thought of the scene in the hall just now and said anxiously: "Uncle Chi, am I disturbing you? Otherwise, I'll just wait in the corridor."
Cheng Chi said "Oh", glanced at the blue booklet on the square table, and said, "It's okay, it's the account book from Huai'an, I've already finished reading it."
※
Yesterday, my sisters in the group wished me good luck in writing, but today I got stuck~~~~(>_