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As soon as Cheng Chi entered the room, this was the joyful scene he saw.
He couldn't help but smile slightly and said, "Are you all ready? We are about to set off! There are so many people here today, and it must be very congested at Mochou Lake. We'd better go early."
"Okay, okay!" Zhou Shaojin said happily, helping Mrs. Guo put on the gold and jade comb.
Mrs. Guo smiled widely, and Zhou Shaojin helped her out of the inner room. She said to Cheng Chi, "Have your fourth aunt and sister-in-law Mian arrived?"
We agreed yesterday that we would go together.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "We're just waiting for you and Shaojin." As he spoke, his eyes couldn't help but look towards Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin stood there with a smile on his face, his eyebrows curved, and he made people happy just by looking at him.
He couldn't help but smile at her and supported Mrs. Guo on the other side.
Zhou Shaojin felt like there was a little bird in his heart, fluttering and jumping happily.
The group met outside Tingyuxuan, and Mrs. Lu and Cheng Ji hurried over.
Everyone greeted them, and Mrs. Lu smiled embarrassedly and said, "It's all my fault. I asked Jiao to change her clothes, and now it's too late!"
Everyone's eyes were on Cheng Jia's bright red gold-woven Hangzhou silk bodice and the lotus seed-sized ruby-red gold hairpin pinned on her peony bun.
Cheng Ji's face turned red.
In such a hot day, although this outfit is gorgeous, it makes people feel too hot and a little inappropriate.
Especially after seeing Zhou Shaojin's refreshing outfit, Cheng Ji wanted to go back and change clothes before coming back.
But Mrs. Guo and Mrs. Guan had already got into the sedan chair, so it was too late for her to change her clothes. She had no choice but to pout and get into the sedan chair with Zhou Shaojin.
The sedan chair moved very fast and soon arrived at Mochou Lake.
There are already a lot of people walking around Mochou Lake.
By the time they got to Qingyan Tower and sat down in the private room on the second floor booked by Cheng Chi, Biyu and the others had served tea and snacks. Mochou Lake was already bustling with people, and the downstairs was already so crowded that it felt like there was no way to get through.
Cheng Ji was shocked and said, "Fortunately we came early, otherwise the sedan chair would have been stuck on the road. I wonder how Zhu Zhu and Gu Shiqigu are doing?"
"Who said it wasn't!" Zhou Shaojin walked over and leaned on the window with Cheng Ji, looking down.
A little maid reported: "The young ladies of the Gu family are here!"
Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Ji went to the door together to greet them.
The three young ladies of the Gu family had the same double spiral bun and wore a scorched cloth boa conch, but the seventeenth young lady's hair was marigold and she wore a ginkgo flower hairpin; the eighteenth young lady's hair was silver-red and she wore a pearl flower; and the twentieth young lady's hair was moon white and she wore a jade flower.
They also brought gifts for Zhou Shaojin, Cheng Ji and Zhu Zhu.
Gu Seventeenth Aunt gave several travel books, Gu Eighteenth Aunt gave several boxes of homemade snacks, and Gu Twentieth Aunt gave several homemade purses. In comparison, Gu Seventeenth Aunt's gift was the most valuable.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but look at the eighteenth aunt and the twenty-third aunt of the Gu family.
The twenty-year-old aunt of the Gu family didn't care and smiled at her generously.
Zhou Shaojin fell in love with the two girls at first sight, and admired Gu Shiqigu very much. He made good friends with the two sisters, unlike her, who had no vision in judging people!
Cheng Ji was overjoyed, but also embarrassed. She took off her jewelry and returned the greetings to the young ladies of the Gu family, muttering quietly, "I didn't expect this before..."
Gu Shiqigu quickly held her hand and said with a smile: "We sisters have never met each other, so we are just having fun. If you are like this, we won't bring anything for you next time."
Zhou Shaojin was a little embarrassed, but she was often lectured by Old Lady Guo and Uncle Chi, and she was not like before when she was always afraid of being criticized for doing something wrong. So she stood on the side of Gu Shiqi and said, "Today, when everyone came out to play, you gave your jewelry to Miss Gu Shiqi and the others. Your hair is bald and you look messy, which makes the ladies of the Gu family embarrassed. In the future, you will come and visit each other often, so remember to owe them this favor."
Cheng Ji then made arrangements and warmly invited them to go boating at his home in a few days.
Gu Shiqigu breathed a sigh of relief and agreed with a smile.
If Cheng Ji really gave her jewelry to them, and they were no longer wearing any ornaments, people would just think that the sisters were ignorant of the ways of the world.
Zhou Shaojin took several young ladies from the Gu family to meet Old Madam Guo, Old Madam Guan and others.
The three spacious private rooms that Cheng Chi had booked were separated by floor-length covers and screens. To the east were Mrs. Guo and others, and to the west were Zhou Shaojin and others. Cheng Chi was in the private room next door.
Coming out from the east, Gu Shiqigu praised, "Who came up with this idea? Once the screen is pulled, it becomes an open hall, and once the screen is pulled apart, it becomes a separate room - we don't have to worry about disturbing the elders when we talk."
Are you afraid that there's someone pressing down on you, so you can't talk or play freely
Zhou Shaojin smiled, remembering the way Cheng Chi smiled at her this morning, and took the three young ladies from the Gu family to visit the private room in Qingyan Tower.
Gu Shiqi took a look around and was interested in the people selling wontons and soup dumplings downstairs. Gu Shiba was interested in the Suzhou embroidery screen hanging on the wall. Only Gu Twenty-year-old was sitting there drinking tea politely, saying that this tea was the new Mingqian tea that was launched this year: "Superior Biluochun. Each one is one centimeter long. If you don't believe me, you can put it out and have a look."
Cheng Ji opened his eyes wide and asked, "What's the one that's only one centimeter long?"
Miss Gu laughed and said, "Tea? Only the best Biluochun is like this!"
Cheng Ji asked Cuihuan to pour his tea to see if the tea leaves were one centimeter long.
The twenty-sister of the Gu family stopped Cheng Ji with a look of heartache, as if she was wasting the tea, and said, "At least finish your tea before pouring it!"
Cheng Ji drank the cup of tea in one gulp and poured the tea leaves into the tea tray for comparison.
The twentieth young lady of the Gu family was stunned and obviously developed some affection for Cheng Ji, and kept talking to Cheng Ji.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't stop laughing.
Gu Shiqigu smiled softly and thanked Zhou Shaojin: "… It's better than sending me snacks. My aunt even called me over to have a chat yesterday."
"That's good!" Zhou Shaojin felt very happy to be able to help Gu Shiqigu, and smiled, "This is also a coincidence. I didn't expect that there would be a dragon boat race this year, and Uncle Chi went out to watch the dragon boat race, and was able to book a private room in Qingyan Tower."
Gu Shiqigu said optimistically: "Maybe my luck has come!"
The two of them pursed their lips and smiled.
There was a commotion outside.
Zhou Shaojin and Gu Shiqigu looked outside.
The flags were fluttering, the canopies were shining, and they were surrounded by people in front and behind, with guards leading the way.
People from the Duke of Liang’s Mansion have arrived.
Cheng Ji squeezed over.
Gu Shibagu said with emotion: "How majestic!"
Cheng Ji curled his lips in disapproval.
Zhou Shaojin pretended not to see it and said, "The people from the Duke of Liang's Mansion are about to go upstairs. Should we close the windows to avoid any trouble?"
Everyone agreed and half-closed the windows.
After a while, the Lady Dowager and Madam of the Duke of Liang came over with Zhu Zhu.
After everyone went out to pay their respects, the Lady Dowager of the Duke of Liang's Mansion gave Zhu Zhu some reminders such as "don't be naughty" and "get along well with your sisters", and then left Zhu Zhu to go to her own private room.
Some of Zhu's in-laws also came to watch the dragon boat race.
Mrs. Guo told them to go and have fun by themselves: "Stop having to serve us old ladies!"
"It depends on what you said." Gu's Seventeenth Aunt was very good at responding, and said with a smile, "Are you afraid that we will disturb you here?"
Everyone chatted for a while and went west.
Zhu Zhu immediately relaxed and said, "I'm dying of heat," and was about to take off the royal blue gauze jacket embroidered with peonies and butterflies and drink tea in just a small shirt.
Zhou Shaojin and others were shocked.
Zhu Zhu said disapprovingly: "There's no one else here!"
Zhou Shaojin hurriedly said: "The young ladies of the Guo family haven't arrived yet!"
Zhu Zhu pouted and said, "The guest should follow the host's wishes. They are well-mannered and won't say anything!"
This is really a gentleman deceiving others with his own methods!
Zhou Shaojin didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
There was the sound of gongs and drums outside, and someone shouted, "Quiet, quiet, folks, our father and mother official, Lord Wu, has something to say to you all."
Zhu Zhu took off his jacket in a flash and rushed to the window wearing only his undershirt.
The two maids she brought with her acted as if they didn't see anything.
Everyone had no choice but to follow her and go over to watch the fun.
It was such a hot day, and Lord Wu was wearing a full set of official uniforms and talking in a hoarse voice. They were too far away to hear clearly.
Zhu Zhu immediately lost interest and said, "So this is what Magistrate Wu looks like! The eldest daughter of the Wu family looks a bit like him. Otherwise, he probably wouldn't have been able to marry Mrs. Wu."
Zhou Shaojin felt that what Zhu Zhu said made sense and smiled sweetly.
Zhu Zhu took her arm and went to talk to her side: "Do you know that I am going to marry in Baoding?"
Zhou Shaojin nodded and said softly: "I heard Uncle Chi talk about it."
Zhu Zhu's eyes turned red, and she whispered, "I didn't expect my father to be so hateful. He said he would marry me off far away. No matter how I begged him, it was useless. I don't know what kind of family the Fan family is. They said they were honest and upright, but who knows if they were just pretending? There are so many people in this world who pretend to be good and sell dog meat! I don't know who is so wicked to arrange this marriage for me?"
Even Uncle Chi was scolded.
Zhou Shaojin felt uncomfortable and said, "Don't blame others all the time. You haven't married yet, and you haven't even seen the Fan family. How can you make such a hasty decision? Besides, your father is more knowledgeable than you. He sent people to investigate secretly and also took a look himself. He won't push you into the fire pit, right? You should calm down and don't have prejudices against others. If you are really worried, send someone to check it out yourself."
"That's why I came out." Zhu Zhu said, "Otherwise, how could I be in the mood to watch the dragon boat race? Shao Jin, isn't your father the prefect of Baoding? I want you to ask for me!"
Zhou Shaojin could understand her panic and agreed readily.
Zhu Zhu told her his plan: "… She is my wet nurse, and there is another one who was given to me by my mother as my companion since I was a child. When we go there, just ask your father to send someone to help me find the way and run errands. I will give you a generous reward."
"Why are you saying all this?" Zhou Shaojin asked, "Why didn't you bother with these things when you invited me to see the lanterns?"
Zhu Zhu smiled embarrassedly and said, "It's my fault. I will never mention thanking you again."
"That's it!" Zhou Shaojin smiled and was about to ask Zhu Zhu in detail if there was anything else he could help her with, when outside, gongs and drums sounded and the dragon boat race began.
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Sisters and brothers, the transition chapter, the story is about to begin... O(∩_∩)O~
Guess what happened next
※(The novel "Jinlingchun" will have more fresh content on the official WeChat platform, and there will also be 100% lucky draw gifts for everyone! Open WeChat now, click the "+" sign "Add Friends" in the upper right corner, search for the public account "qdread" and follow it, hurry up!) (To be continued)