Dinner was served in the banquet room. Perhaps because Mrs. Guo and Cheng Chi had different habits, there were fish and meat dishes on the table, all served in small pastel-colored plates, filling the entire table.
Mrs. Guo smiled and called Zhou Shaojin: "Come, sit next to me!"
In this way, she and Cheng Chi sat face to face.
Zhou Shaojin's heart was pounding. He clenched his fists and encouraged himself, and finally he mustered up the courage to sit down.
The maid placed the chopsticks and served the rice.
Don't talk while eating, don't talk while sleeping. Everyone eats their own food.
The room was quiet, with only the crisp sounds of bowls and spoons hitting each other, which made the room seem even quieter and more silent.
Zhou Shaojin was very nervous and didn't dare to look around, let alone look at Cheng Chi's expression.
She knew this wouldn't work.
In order to relieve her nervousness, she had to focus all her attention on eating.
The old duck soup was rich, the small yellow croaker was fresh, the diced chicken was tender, the cherry meat was sour and refreshing, and the green vegetables were light... Zhou Shaojin gradually tasted the flavors and temporarily forgot about Madam Guo sitting next to him and Cheng Chi sitting opposite him, and concentrated on eating.
Cheng Chi, who was sitting opposite, was slightly surprised.
The girl opposite was eating elegantly and happily, with a happy expression, as if what she was eating was not food but some delicacies from the land and the sea.
Is it so delicious
He muttered to himself and couldn't help but pick up a piece of cherry flesh with chopsticks.
It's moderately sweet and sour, nothing special.
He picked up another piece of diced chicken with his chopsticks.
The meat is tender, but just tender.
He drank a mouthful of the old duck soup... Then he had to admit that the little girl opposite him looked frail, but she had a good appetite.
However, what is even more rare is that she has a good temper and doesn't pretend to be a lady holding her heart. She eats when she can... I guess she is also the kind of person who likes to sleep when she can!
Cheng Chi put down his chopsticks with a smile.
Madam Guo asked worriedly, "Is the food not to your liking?"
"No." Cheng Chi said, "I listened to you last time and felt that I should eat less for dinner."
"You're trying to coax me again!" Old Madam Guo said angrily, "I just ask you to go out less and drink less at night, that's all..."
"How could that be possible!" Cheng Chi laughed, "Since you said that to me last time, I have never gone out to drink at night again. You know, I always listen to you the most."
Such an ordinary sentence actually made Mrs. Guo look slightly gloomy and she suddenly fell silent.
Cheng Chi didn't say anything either.
You could hear a pin drop in the room.
Zhou Shaojin slowly moved more gently.
I really shouldn’t have stayed in Hanbi Mountain House for dinner… This meal is so uncomfortable… I can’t talk while eating, and it’s the same if I wait for Uncle Chi to finish his meal and then wait for him outside… That would seem a bit deliberate… I should have stayed for dinner…
Zhou Shaojin was lost in thought and felt that Cheng Chi opposite her seemed to glance at her.
She glanced at Cheng Chi quickly out of the corner of her eye.
He found that Cheng Chi was smiling and asking the maid to make him a pot of tea, and he didn't look at him.
Could it be that I was wrong
Zhou Shaojin pondered over it, and quickly finished the rice at the bottom of the bowl, not daring to add more.
Just then, Mrs. Guo put down her chopsticks, and the maid cleared the table and brought in tea.
Cheng Chi stood up and said to Madam Guo, "It's getting late. I'll go back first. If you have anything to say, just let the maids pass on the message to me."
Hey!
Zhou Shaojin was stunned.
He is leaving now!
Why don't you stay for tea? Have a chat with Mrs. Guo
Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to stand up.
"You kid." Madam Guo sighed, "I haven't seen you for a while. I asked you to come here not because I have something to do, but also because I wanted to see if you were doing well."
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "Xiaoshan Conggui has a lot of maids, old women, and servants over there. What's wrong with me?"
Seeing that she couldn't keep him, Mrs. Guo ordered Nanny Shi to lock Cheng Chi up and kick him out.
Zhou Shaojin suddenly remembered, wasn't he supposed to find a way to talk to Uncle Chi
If two people are traveling the same way, wouldn't it be natural for them to have a conversation
"Madam," she said immediately, "I'm leaving too... it's a good idea for you to rest early!"
It's not winter yet, why do you need to rest so early
Madam Guo didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but after spending some time with Zhou Shaojin, she knew that he wasn't the type to be good at dealing with people, and she liked her gentleness and politeness, so she didn't mind it. She smiled and nodded, saying, "I'll let Feicui take you back. Be careful on the way!"
Hanbi Mountain House is at least half an incense stick's distance away from Jiashu Hall, and it is getting dark, so she has to give a few reminders.
Zhou Shaojin responded with a smile and went out with Feicui.
The evening breeze was blowing outside, making the branches rustle, but there was no trace of Cheng Chi!
Did I come out late and lose him
But it's just that good at kung fu...
Zhou Shaojin's shoulders drooped, and he smiled at Feicui somewhat unhappily, "Sister Feicui, you don't have to see me off. This place is not far from the fourth room, I can go back by myself."
Feicui still insisted on sending her out of Hanbi Mountain Villa before turning back.
Zhou Shaojin went to Jiashu Hall listlessly, thinking that Cheng Chi had finally gone to Hanbi Mountain House, but she couldn't find a chance to say a word to Cheng Chi. Even if she stayed in Hanbi Mountain House to copy scriptures in the future, she might hardly meet him... Fortunately, she didn't tell him that she wanted to copy the "Amitabha Sutra" to offer to the Buddha, otherwise, even if she copied scriptures in Hanbi Mountain House, she still wouldn't be able to see Cheng Chi.
I have to think of a way to find out more about Uncle Chi.
Otherwise, if someone like her knows nothing and just relies on luck, she might end up causing trouble!
She thought of Ah Zhu asking her to go to the temple fair on July 15th.
Although she had politely declined at that time, if Ah Zhu still insisted on posting for her, she would still go... At least she could find out something about Uncle Chi.
Thinking that the Mid-July Festival was only two or three days away, Zhou Shaojin's mood became bright again, like the sun after the rain.
She was talking to Shi Xiang: "… Is it too late to buy river lanterns now?"
When visiting temple fairs, people usually release river lanterns.
Shi Xiang smiled and said, "Let Ma, the chief steward, think of a solution?"
Manager Ma is a capable man!
Zhou Shaojin nodded, and stopped unexpectedly, his eyes wide open, his face full of surprise.
Shi Xiang's heart skipped a beat and she looked in the direction her gaze went.
The fourth master who had just disappeared was now standing under a big tree not far from them. A little Taoist boy dressed in green gauze stood beside them, looking at his nose with his eyes and his heart with his nose, like a clay sculpture of a Bodhisattva.
What is going on
Shi Xiang hurriedly looked towards Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin looked confused.
Didn’t Uncle Chi go back to Conggui in Xiaoshan
Why is he standing here
Are you waiting for someone or something
The thought flashed through his mind, and despite such a good opportunity, Zhou Shaojin became a little hesitant.
Uncle Chi is a bit like a mysterious dragon that is hard to find.
If he was really waiting for someone here or had something to do, I wonder if Uncle Chi would be angry if he just barged in like this
She really wanted to talk to Uncle Chi, but her purpose was to hope that he would believe what she said and warn Cheng Jing through him.
If this causes Uncle Chi to be disgusted, wouldn't it be counterproductive
But if she just passed by Uncle Chi like this, when would she be able to talk to him again
Zhou Shaojin was hesitant and in a dilemma.
Cheng Chi suddenly laughed and said, "You rushed out in such a hurry, didn't you have something to say to me? Why? When you saw me, you didn't say a word. Did I misunderstand you?"
Zhou Shaojin was stunned, and then overjoyed.
It turns out that Uncle Chi was waiting for her here!
She hurried forward.
But when she stood in front of Cheng Chi, she found that she was only as tall as Cheng Chi's shoulders, and she had to tilt her head back to see Cheng Chi's expression clearly.
This made her feel very uncomfortable, as if... she had become very small and weak in front of him...
She was a little at a loss.
Secretly regretting being too close to Cheng Chi.
She hoped that he would treat her like an adult... instead of acting like a child in front of him... Who would take a child's words to heart
Zhou Shaojin quickly took a few steps back and straightened his back.
Cheng Chi looked at it and couldn't help but burst out laughing.
The little girl is really interesting.
Sometimes he is happy, sometimes he is sad. In terms of emotions, he is clearly still a child, but he insists on pretending to be an adult.
Thinking of the way she ate... He couldn't help laughing again and asked, "What do you want from me?"
Zhou Shaojin had already thought about what to say.
But this was somewhat different from the meeting scene she had imagined... In her imagination, they should be drinking tea in Madam Guo's banquet room, Uncle Chi chatting with Madam Guo, and she serving on the side. When Madam Guo asked about the household affairs, she would take the opportunity to tell her about Wan Tong, and everything would happen naturally... But now... She couldn't just say nothing because the scene was different, right
She couldn't help but cough and said, "When I was at Gu's house, I met Ah Zhu, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Liang's mansion. She said that Uncle Chi accompanied her father and brother to Beijing, and also mentioned Wan Tong... Ah Zhu said that Liu Yong is very powerful now... Uncle Chi, you have to be careful!"
Cheng Chi was stunned and looked into Zhou Shaojin's eyes.
The clear big eyes are bright and moist, like water-soaked gems without any impurities.
Cheng Chi sneered.
I... have become accustomed to thinking too much... She is just a little girl, knowing a few words, she wants to warn him...
"I understand!" His tone softened involuntarily, and his smile became brighter. "Duke Liang once mentioned this to me, but I felt it was too complicated and declined."
Zhou Shaojin felt relieved and breathed a sigh of relief.
That’s good, that’s good!
Cheng Chi laughed.
That smile was as bright and dazzling as the morning light that parted the dark clouds. It dazed Zhou Shaojin for a moment and she couldn't help but laugh too. She was smiling all the way back.
Zhou Chujin asked curiously, "What happened? Why are you so happy?"
Zhou Shaojin laughed, put his arm around his sister's shoulders, and said, "What else do you want? I'll do it for you!"
"Oh, our second young lady is going to be the God of Wealth!" Zhou Chujin teased her, "What else do you want?"
"So what if I become the God of Wealth?" Zhou Shaojin joked with his sister, "I have two hundred taels of silver in my personal savings."
Zhou Chujin couldn't help laughing.
There was laughter and joy in Wanxiangju.
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I am really not good at math... I miscalculated the pink votes... This is today's extra update... O(∩_∩)O
Keep asking for pink votes...
※(To be continued)