Hanbi Mountain House was bigger than she had imagined. There seemed to be a yard on the east side of the bamboo forest. She saw a few bright red pomegranate flowers peeking out from behind the flower wall.
Don’t know who lives there
Zhou Shaojin had no intention of prying into what was happening in the eldest house, so she turned around and walked along the path in the bamboo forest towards the upper house.
Who would have known that after going around in circles, all I could see was bamboo, and cobblestone paths led in all directions. I had no idea which road led south and which led north. The scenery I saw was exactly the same, no difference at all.
She actually lost her way!
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but sweat profusely. He searched for a while but still didn't see any other colors.
Another quarter of an hour.
If I still get nothing, I'll have to lose face and cry for help!
She gritted her teeth and chose a path that seemed to be heading east.
The path twists and turns, seemingly endless. In the green bamboo forest, the sound of wind blowing through the branches and leaves fills the ears, and there is no sound of people.
Zhou Shaojin's hands were sweaty.
How big is this bamboo forest
Why had she never known that there was such a large bamboo forest near the Changfang house
How long will it take to get out
Is she getting further away, or getting closer
Zhou Shaojin was so anxious that tears were about to fall.
She tried shouting "Hello".
The slightly panicked voice echoed in the bamboo forest, but it only startled a few unknown birds, which fluttered past her head.
There is a three-way intersection ahead.
Should I continue forward or turn left? Or should I turn right
Zhou Shaojin stood there, undecided, and stood on tiptoe to look around.
In the bamboo forest on the right, a section of pink and white wall and half of a window frame with bright red ice cracks and pasted with tender yellow gauze can be vaguely seen.
The window frames of Hanbi Mountain House are all bright red with ice cracks and covered with light yellow gauze.
She was overjoyed, and while holding up her skirt, she hurried over there, shouting, "Is anyone there?"
Suddenly someone jumped out from behind her and covered her mouth.
Zhou Shaojin was so frightened that he screamed and punched and kicked.
"Don't scream, don't scream!" Someone walked towards her. He was dressed in brocade and gorgeous clothes. He had a handsome face and was tall and handsome. He said in a clear voice, "I'm not a bad person! I'm just passing by the bamboo forest. Don't scream, I'll let Da Su let you go!"
Zhou Shaojin was struck by lightning.
How did she suddenly meet him
Shouldn't he be studying in the clan school at this time
Where is she
Zhou Shaojin shivered as if he had fallen into an icy cave.
The man who was covering her mouth saw that she stopped struggling, and slowly loosened his hand tentatively. When he saw that she didn't move, he let him go completely.
Only then did Cheng Xu see Zhou Shaojin's appearance clearly.
He exclaimed in amazement, and said in astonishment: "I wonder which branch of the family you belong to, sister? I am Cheng Xu from the eldest branch. This is Hanbi Shanfang, where my grandmother practiced meditation. I wonder what your name is, sister? Why haven't I seen you before..."
Zhou Shaojin couldn't say a word.
She felt pain in her bones.
Although she decided that when she saw Cheng Xu again she must smile and greet him as if nothing had happened, she just couldn't do it when she saw Cheng Xu again. The look in Cheng Xu's eyes made her feel creepy, and she instinctively wanted to escape.
Cheng Xu was embarrassed when he saw her face turn pale. He cast a reproachful look at his follower Da Su, then said to Zhou Shaojin with a smile, "Sister, did I scare you? This is all my fault. I didn't expect someone to suddenly appear in the bamboo forest. I'm sorry to be here, sister." As he spoke, he bowed to Zhou Shaojin and said, "Sister, please stop being angry!"
Zhou Shaojin was so frightened that she took several steps back until she heard the sound of branches breaking under her feet, which brought her back to her senses.
Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid!
Nothing happened!
I will definitely be able to save the Cheng family!
She kept comforting herself, hurriedly said, "I'm just passing by the bamboo forest", and ran towards the path to the right without even asking for directions.
"Hey!" Cheng Xu shouted at her back, "Take the middle path and turn the corner to find the back door of the upper house."
Zhou Shaojin paused slightly, thought about it, and finally chose the middle path.
Cheng Xu looked at it and smiled with the corners of his mouth curved.
After walking for less than a shot's distance, Zhou Shaojin saw a corner. Going past it was the back door of the upper house, and there were bamboos planted all around.
Zhou Shaojin didn't dare to walk around and went forward and knocked on the door.
An old woman with a hydrangea head flower came to answer the door, and her eyes widened in surprise when she saw her.
Zhou Shaojin embarrassedly explained his situation.
The old woman immediately opened the door and welcomed her in, saying with a smile as she walked in: "Second Miss, you are not the first person to get lost in the bamboo forest. Miss Sheng also got lost in the bamboo forest before. When the Madam knew about it, she said that she would plant a few trees in the bamboo forest. If anyone gets lost in the bamboo forest again, just walk in the direction of the trees and you will be able to get out of the bamboo forest..."
Zhou Shaojin thanked her gratefully. Fearing that his appearance would alarm Old Madam Guo, he asked her in a low voice if she could help him find a secluded place to wash his face. "I have to go and say goodbye to the old lady later."
"What's so difficult about this?" The old woman enthusiastically led her to a tea room and said, "Miss Sheng used to play outside and didn't dare to let the old lady know, so she washed her hands and face here... Let me look around, there should be the copper basin and scented soap used by Miss Sheng..." She added, "I am clumsy and I am afraid that I might hurt the second young lady's skin. Where is your maid? I will quietly call her in to serve you!"
The old woman's words reminded Zhou Shaojin.
She said hurriedly, "I'm not as delicate as Madam says, but my maid Shi Xiang is still waiting for me outside. If she doesn't see me and starts to yell, it will be troublesome. Madam, please help me give her a message."
The old woman smiled and replied "OK", and brought in some hot water. After only a bowl of tea, she returned with Shi Xiang.
Shi Xiang was shocked to see Zhou Shaojin's disheveled clothes.
Zhou Shaojin told her what happened without waiting for her to ask, but she omitted the story about her encounter with Cheng Xu.
Shi Xiang couldn't help but feel a little scared and said, "Fortunately, the old lady is still talking to the steward."
This was a close call!
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but feel a little fortunate.
After Shi Xiang helped her wash up in the ear room, she was instructed by the old woman to leave the upper room through the back door.
After a while, Mrs. Guo sent out Qin Shouyue, the chief steward of the eldest house.
Zhou Shaojin was afraid of meeting Cheng Xu again, so he hurried in to say goodbye to Mrs. Guo.
But she was the only one who was anxious while others were not - Old Madam Guo pulled her aside and asked her about copying the scriptures for a long time.
Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to answer them patiently.
But before Madam Guo could finish her question, Feicui walked in with a smile: "Madam, the master is here."
Madam Guo was very surprised, but then she became happy again and said, "Why did he come to my place instead of going to Shen Huai Tang at this time?" Then she instructed Biyu, "He likes to eat tangerine cakes the most. Pack some of the tangerine cakes that the master brought back from the capital a few days ago... and some of the candied golden dates... and the sesame candy... and make a pot of Da Hong Pao. This child, I heard from Ju Mei that he has a cold these days, don't serve him those green teas..."
Biyu smiled and said "OK", then turned around to prepare tea and snacks.
Zhou Shaojin felt uncomfortable all over and stood up to say goodbye.
Madam Guo pulled her aside and said, "It's your cousin Xu. You will inevitably run into him when you copy scriptures in the eldest house." She added, "Although he has a devilish temper, he is very patient with sisters. You don't have to be afraid."
Zhou Shaojin wanted to leave at this moment, so she didn't listen to what Mrs. Guo said. But before she could say anything, the curtain was lifted, and Zhenzhu came in with Cheng Xu.
"Grandma!" He bowed respectfully to Mrs. Guo.
Mrs. Guo looked at him with a smile in her eyes. After he finished his greetings, she introduced Zhou Shaojin to him: "The second young lady of the fourth room's eldest brother-in-law's family, the Zhou family's cousin."
He stepped forward and saluted Zhou Shaojin with a smile on his face.
Zhou Shaojin returned the greeting woodenly, but when she looked up, she saw Cheng Xu, who had his back to Madam Guo, winking at her proudly.
She had no idea what Cheng Xu was so proud of, but she felt that his smile was a little glaring. She frowned without even noticing, and then said goodbye to Madam Guo again, saying, "It's getting late. It's my first day here, and I'm afraid that Grandma will have more questions to ask me, so I'll go back first!"
Mrs. Guo did not keep her and asked Biyu to see her off respectfully.
Zhou Shaojin walked quickly out of Hanbi Mountain House, and only when he stepped onto the cobblestone corridor leading to the fourth room did his mind calm down.
Shi Xiang recalled her meeting with Cheng Xu just now: "... No wonder others say that Mrs. Guo likes Mr. Xu the most. Look at the way Mrs. Guo looked at Mr. Xu just now. She wanted to hold him in her hands for fear of dropping him, and hold him in her mouth for fear of melting him. What's more rare is that Mr. Xu is not spoiled... Cuihuan's brother is on duty at the main gate. He said that Mr. Xu never comes back in the middle of the night. If he goes on a long journey, he will definitely bring local specialties to reward them. Those servants are all trying their best to work in Liangyixuan..."
Zhou Shaojin felt upset after hearing this and took his anger out on him, "What's there to say about other people's business? If you have nothing to do, you can help me and my sister make a dozen or twenty strings of silk threads starting tomorrow. By the time of the Dragon Boat Festival, you can fill them up with purses and give them away as gifts."
Shi Xiang was scolded for no reason and felt a little embarrassed.
Suddenly, a burst of laughter came from the side of the road.
Zhou Shaojin heard a man's voice and her past life experiences came to mind. If it weren't for the fact that the Cheng family had always been very strict with their subordinates, she would have never met a foreign man in the inner courtyard in the more than ten years she had been in the Cheng family. How could she have followed Cheng Ji to the garden alone without any precautions
Her expression suddenly tensed up, she held Xiang Shi's arm tightly, and shouted vigilantly, "Who is it?"
Cheng Xu walked out from the woods nearby, followed by his short, purple-faced follower Da Su.
"My sister acted well-behaved and sensible in front of grandma, but who would have thought that she liked to make up stories about others behind grandma's back!" He smiled at Zhou Shaojin, his eyes as bright as the bright sunshine in summer, "Since my sister and I have the same fate, I will be kind enough to help her keep it a secret."
My dear sister, it turns out that he is a frivolous person!
Zhou Shaojin didn't even bother to look at him, just turned and left.
Cheng Xu laughed behind her and said, "Sister, aren't you afraid that grandma will know that you got lost in the bamboo forest?"
The tone sounded quite stirring up trouble.
※
Sisters, important characters appear one by one...
O(∩_∩)O~
※(To be continued)