In front of the hanging flower gate on the west road is an east-west corridor paved with square bluestone bricks. To the east is a Ruyi Gate, which leads to the west gate of the house. To the east is the study room in the outer courtyard of the middle road.
The hallway of Cheng Chi's study faces the hanging flower gate on the west side.
Two unfamiliar boys were on duty in the hall.
They were all wearing dark blue clothes with dark brown edges, the kind of clothes that servants wear. They looked to be about seven or eight years old, with delicate features.
Seeing Biyu accompanying Zhou Shaojin, he hurried forward to greet her. He looked at Zhou Shaojin curiously and quietly, calling Biyu "sister-in-law" in a childish voice and asked her, "Do you have any instructions?"
Biyu explained to Zhou Shaojin, "They were personally selected by Chief Steward Qin from Jinling. The one with single eyelids is called Qin Fang, and the one with double eyelids is called Song Ming. They are both from family servants, and now they serve in the Fourth Master's study. The Fourth Master said that if someone lives in the inner house, they can also run errands."
The two boys were very smart. They stepped forward to pay their respects and respectfully called Zhou Shaojin "Second Cousin".
Zhou Shaojin nodded kindly, thinking of the clear breeze and bright moon.
If the clear wind and bright moon around Cheng Chi are people in mythology, then Qin Fang and Song Ming are servants in reality. The former is like in nothingness, while the latter is in the mortal world... Uncle Chi also walked out of the mystery as if he was stained by the mortal world!
She smiled.
Biyu said to the two boys, "Go and tell the fourth master that the second cousin is here."
Qin Fang's eyes rolled around, and he said, "Master Huaishan said that if the second cousin comes, she can just go in directly, and there is no need to inform her."
Zhou Shaojin was a little surprised.
But Biyu scolded him: "Who told you to call Uncle Huaishan 'Uncle'? Only the head of the family can be called 'Uncle'. Do you understand?"
Qin Fang stuck out his tongue and responded loudly, "I understand. I won't dare to do it again." He looked very naughty, and it was unclear whether he really heard it or was just trying to please Biyu.
Biyu shook her head and walked in with Zhou Shaojin, saying, "Qin Fang is the great-great-grandson of the chief steward Qin. He is very smart, but he doesn't pay much attention to details. Second cousin, please don't take it to heart."
Or maybe she was a very dull person. Zhou Shaojin liked those cheerful and lively children very much. She didn't feel offended, so she smiled and said, "He is still a child and has just entered the mansion. It is normal for him to be naughty. Just teach him slowly."
She thought about the relationship between the Qin family and the Cheng family, and felt that it was too unfair for the Qin family's children to continue to be servants in the Cheng family. And she didn't know what was going on with Ji Ying and Qin Ziping's marriage
Given Jiying's personality and the Ji family's status, Jiying is a spoiled daughter who never bowed her head even when she was a servant beside Cheng Chi. Will he agree to marry Jiying to Qin Ziping
Zhou Shaojin asked Biyu: "I heard that the chief steward here is surnamed Qin. Is it Qin Ziping or Qin Zian?"
"Neither!" Biyu laughed, "It's Qin Ziji. The great-nephew of General Manager Qin!"
Zhou Shaojin was surprised.
Biyu smiled and said, "I don't know what happened. I heard from my husband that Qin Ziji was the second manager of the Jinan branch before, and the fourth master suddenly transferred him to this house to be the chief manager..."
Zhou Shaojin vaguely felt that the appearance of Qin Ziji and Qin Fang was not accidental.
The two men entered the yard.
The yard was quiet. Various kinds of bamboo were planted on both sides of the corridor. When the wind blew, the bamboos swayed and rustled, giving people a sense of coolness.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "This bamboo is growing really well. Is it also left by the Liu family?"
Biyu smiled and nodded, saying, "So the Liu family is called Yunyuan!"
Zhou Shaojin raised his eyebrows.
Biyu smiled and said, "There is a bamboo forest outside the retreat, with more varieties of bamboo than here."
"That's true."
The two of them were chatting and laughing, and when they turned around the bamboo forest, they saw a three-room house with two side rooms. In front of the house was a wisteria vine, with clusters of purple flowers swaying in the wind like weeping willows, which was very beautiful.
Lang Yue was guarding the door.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin hurriedly stepped forward to salute, he turned around and shouted to the inside of the house, "Second cousin is coming."
As soon as the curtain of Xiangfeizhu was lifted, Huaishan walked out, bowed to Zhou Shaojin, respectfully called her "Second Cousin", and personally helped her lift the curtain.
Huaishan was a capable man beside Cheng Chi. Zhou Shaojin was treated so courteously. Zhou Shaojin thanked Huaishan with some uneasiness and went into the house.
The house is full of books.
Sankuo's room was connected to form an open space, with books placed all around.
There was a large desk on the left, a large painting desk on the right, a large blue-and-white porcelain vat in the middle with scrolls that was thick enough for two people to hug, and a zither under the west window. The bow that Cheng Chi had held that day was casually hung next to the floor-length cover on the west side, like an ornament.
Zhou Shaojin felt his palms were a little sweaty.
Only then did she realize that Cheng Chi was sitting cross-legged on the big kang by the east window, making tea.
He was wearing a Taoist robe with a green lotus pattern. The morning sunlight shone on his body through the glazed window lattice, making his eyebrows and eyes look even softer and more handsome.
How can someone be so good-looking!
Zhou Shaojin couldn't take his eyes away.
Cheng Chi couldn't help laughing. While washing the teacup skillfully, he joked with her, "Finally you saw me!"
Zhou Shaojin came back to his senses and lowered his eyelids in embarrassment.
"Come and sit down!" Cheng Chi smiled and pointed to the big kang opposite.
Zhou Shaojin walked over somewhat embarrassedly and saw two large pillows on the kang.
She knew that Uncle Chi’s place was the best!
She happily took off her shoes and got on the kang.
Cheng Chi touched her hair lovingly.
The naked admiration in the little girl's eyes made people feel happy, moved, pity and relief.
Fortunately, this little girl fell into my hands... If she had been with someone else, I'm afraid she would have been eaten up until there was nothing left.
He became a little curious about Lin Shisheng again.
What kind of man can remain unmoved by the beauty of a little girl
He must have been an amazing person.
If you have a chance, you should meet this talent.
He handed a cup of tea to Zhou Shaojin and said, "Try it. It's the jasmine tea given by Lord Zeng."
Zhou Shaojin smelled it and was indeed filled with the fragrance of jasmine.
She immediately became interested and said, "Uncle Chi, why don't you plant a few osmanthus trees in the yard? You can make osmanthus flower dew, osmanthus wine, and osmanthus scented tea."
"As long as you think it's good, it's fine." Cheng Chi smiled, with a look of doting in his eyes that could not be missed, and said, "I called you here to let you see what to plant in the house. The craftsmen will bring the drawings later, and you can see if there is anything to add or subtract. Once they are decided, let them start planting flowers and trees."
It's not her house!
Zhou Shaojin was a little dazed.
Cheng Chi didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He patted the pillow beside him and said, "Come here!"
Do you want her to sit over there
Zhou Shaojin was a little hesitant.
Cheng Chi said, "Come and sit here!"
Zhou Shaojin had always been obedient, so he sat down without giving it much thought.
Cheng Chi stretched out his arms, hugged her in his arms, and let her sit on his lap.
Zhou Shaojin's face turned red and he struggled to get down.
Cheng Chi's arms were strong yet gentle, not allowing her to struggle but not making her feel too tight.
He buried his face in her neck and called out softly, "Shao Jin."
The man's unique warmth made Zhou Shaojin's neck turn red.
Cheng Chi held her earlobe in his mouth for a while, sucking and nibbling it.
Zhou Shaojin collapsed into a ball, secretly hating himself for being useless, tears were about to come out.
Cheng Chi reluctantly let her go and whispered, "Silly girl! Are you going to stay with me like this?" He bit her earlobe fiercely and said, "You said you would wait for me for two years. Within two years, I would definitely welcome you in through the main gate in a phoenix crown and red bridal robe. Why did you ignore my words... If it wasn't for marrying you, why would I spend so much effort to buy a house near Chaoyang Gate?"
Is this prepared for her
Didn’t Uncle Chi give her the house in Yuqian Hutong
He also buried a lot of things there.
Zhou Shaojin blinked his eyes, shivering from Cheng Chi's bite. His mind was fuzzy and he couldn't react at all.
Cheng Chi laughed softly.
Shaojin, like a little rabbit.
Tenderness overwhelmed him like a tide.
He kissed Zhou Shaojin.
Her lips and teeth were filled with his pleasant scent, which was like wine, making her dizzy and her mind even more fuzzy.
It was not until he let her go and helped her adjust the hairpins in her hair with a smile that she came to her senses and turned away with a red face.
But Cheng Chi said shamelessly: "I know you don't want to stay in Jinling, and you don't like Xinghua Hutong, so I found a way to buy this house. You don't know how much effort I put in, and you still act like it's none of your business... If you dare to be so careless about our affairs in the future, I will punish you like this!"
Zhou Shaojin was embarrassed and angry, and glared at Cheng Chi fiercely.
There is something charming about a beautiful woman when she is angry.
Cheng Chi laughed softly.
How did this person become like this!
Zhou Shaojin stood up angrily and said, "I want to go home!"
Cheng Chi couldn't help laughing.
Zhou Shaojin was so angry that she did something she had never dreamed of—she stretched out her foot and gently kicked Cheng Chi twice.
After the kick, not only was she dumbfounded, but Cheng Chi was also shocked.
Zhou Shaojin looked at the tears of grievance welling up in his eyes.
It's all his fault... Otherwise, why would I be like a shrew...
How can she behave in front of Uncle Chi in the future
Zhou Shaojin felt completely embarrassed.
She jumped off the kang and ran out as if escaping.
But after running two steps, Cheng Chi hugged him from behind.
"Shao Jin, I was wrong! I was wrong!" Cheng Chi coaxed her humbly, "Don't be angry, don't cry... Um... If you kick me again in the future, I will pretend that nothing happened, okay?"
Zhou Shaojin was so angry that his tears fell even faster. He choked and said, "I, I, I'm not the kind of person with a bad temper..."
"I know, I know." Cheng Chi said hurriedly, "I made you angry... that's why you're angry..." He turned her over, lowered his chin to her head and whispered, "But think about it, if you didn't think I was your closest person, would you treat me like this? You don't know how sad I am every time I see you being so cautious. I just want to pamper you, spoil you, and pamper you like this... Don't I know what kind of person you are? Don't cry, okay?!"
Cheng Chi's voice gradually became lower.
Different from the playfulness and lightness just now, it seems a little heavy.
※
An extra chapter for Tian Xin!
PS: I was so obsessed with drawing the layout for Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi’s new home that I forgot the time. Today’s update is a little late. The update will be even later. Everyone should get up tomorrow morning and read it!
O(∩_∩)O~
※(To be continued)