Huizhou,
It had been sunny for the past few days.
The dry air at the end of spring had dropped,
But it was replaced by sultry heat.
Li Zhun sat in the county yamen, waving his fan and approving documents. The page boy handed an envelope to him. He turned it over and saw that it was a letter from Chen Jue again.
This nephew had been a bit diligent in his letters recently.
A few days ago, he sent him a cheap daughter. What was the matter now?
He tore open the letter,
Li Zhun read for a while and suddenly pursed his lips into a smile.
This Chen Jue was a genius since he was young,
It was the Chen Family's greatest pride that they had been able to make waves along the way.
But it was also Old Master Chen's biggest trouble — — this child didn't seem to be fond of beauty.
Was this … … suddenly enlightened?
He wanted him to reject Jing Bei Hou's marriage proposal and say that his youngest daughter was already engaged and would be married within two years?
Where was the engagement?
Whose family was the engagement?
Li Zhun put the letter on the table. It was a little funny — — this child twice in a row,
He asked him for help for a girl.
Sima Zhao's heart.
One had to know that before this, Chen Jue hadn't even sent a single letter of greeting.
Sometimes, he would take his wife to visit his in-laws,
When he met Chen Jue,
That was just an indifferent perfunctory courtesy.
Thinking about it, in the near future, the House of Chen would have a happy occasion.
… … …
In the old residence of the House of Chen,
It was filled with the scholarly air accumulated over the years.
Chen Renshi held the letter,
She was a little excited.
Her heartless son rarely wrote to her,
It was more to write to his father to refute the facts.
As usual,
Even if she wrote to him, this stinky boy rarely replied.
Did the sun rise from the west today?
Eagerly opening the letter, Mother Chen read it seriously.
After reading, she opened the letter on the small kang table and suddenly smiled after a while.
The maidservant stood on the side and glanced at the madam. She asked with a smile, "Madam, what's the happy occasion?"
"Is Master in the house?" Mother Chen asked.
"Yes." The maidservant replied.
"Let's go." The House of Chen got off the kang, put on his shoes and walked out.
When she arrived at Father Chen's study, she slapped the letter on Father Chen's desk and said with a smile, "Your son is finally enlightened."
Father Chen looked up at his wife, put down the book in his hand, and picked up the letter.
"Didn't he just say that he had recently taken a fancy to a girl and asked us to prepare a betrothal gift, saying that it might be useful in the next two years.
He also wants you to stop messing around trying to find a wife for him … "Papa Chen put down the letter and harrumphed.
"Although Jue 'er is disobedient, he won't lie.
There's finally hope for us to hold a grandson. "Mother Chen said, unable to suppress her smile. She was really happy.
"Why are you so happy? The letter didn't even mention which family the girl was from.
I wonder if they are well-matched in terms of social status … "Papa Chen couldn't help but pour cold water on him again.
But Mother Chen still didn't care. "You have high expectations. It's been almost ten years … I don't think so much.
As long as it's a woman, it's fine as long as she can bear a child. "As she spoke, she took the letter from the table and read it twice before folding it and putting it away.
Mother Chen rolled her eyes at her husband, then stepped out of Papa Chen's study with a happy heart. She was ready to show off to her sisters-in-law.
She had hoped that her son was not a homosexual!
He was ready to get married!!!
…
After lunch, Chen Jue was sitting in the courtyard, basking in the sun. When he saw Zhang Tang coming back, he suddenly waved at Zhang Tang. "Come here."
Zhang Tang immediately put on a smile. He had just returned from the stable and fed his horse some delicious food.
He was happily riding the horse. When he saw Lord Chen, it was as if he had seen his family.
Chen Jue tapped the table, and Zhang Tang sat down opposite him with a smile.
"How old are you?" Chen Jue asked.
"Ah?
I'm thirty-nine. "Zhang Tang was a little confused.
"How about your wife?" Chen Jue asked.
"Ah?
She's thirty-six too. "Zhang Tang blinked. What did that mean?
"How old is your daughter?" Chen Jue asked.
"…" Zhang Tang was stunned. If it were anyone else, he would have suspected that the person sitting opposite him had ulterior motives. "The elder one is seventeen, and the younger one is twelve."
"Lend me your wife." Chen Jue said bluntly.
"…" Zhang Tang was speechless.
"…" Zhao Hu, who was standing at the side, widened his eyes as if he had heard something terrible.
"Sir, what are you doing?" Zhang Tang smacked his lips. He had never heard of this before!
How could he lend his wife?
"I don't even have a female elder in my residence. Li Xiao wants to hold her coming-of-age ceremony, and I can't let an old nanny do it. Lend me your wife. After the ceremony, I'll return her to you." Chen Jue said confidently.
Zhang Tang almost laughed out loud. He cleared his throat and nodded. "Sir, you're too kind."
But he didn't hold back at all.
"I'll ask my wife to do it for you. Sir, don't say anything about lending her or not," Zhang Tang said with a smile.
"Are we going to invite some female guests and assistants?" Chen Jue asked, a little annoyed.
"Yes, we'll need to invite a lot of people," Zhang Tang said seriously.
But in his heart, he thought, Lord Chen is serious!
Once his wife enters the House of Chen, she will definitely get first-hand information about Lord Chen and Li Xiao.
Tsk, tsk.
"Ask your wife to draw up a list. I'll invite them," Chen Jue said. He definitely couldn't let Zhang Tang's wife do this.
After all, he owed her a favor. Besides …
Chen Jue glanced at Zhang Tang. This old guy probably can't invite anyone decent.
"Okay." Zhang Tang said with a smile. His tone and expression were quite happy.
If he knew what Lord Chen thought of him in his heart, he probably wouldn't be able to smile.
In Zhang Tang's heart, he was still very happy.
The reason why Lord Chen dared to speak to him so confidently must be because he felt that they were very close.
Indeed, if it weren't for Lord Chen's request, he wouldn't have asked his wife to help others like this.
Thinking of this, the two families would be on good terms.
How good would it be to have a closer relationship with the heroic and wise Lord Chen?
… …..
When he went to the yamen at night, Chen Jue called Wang Yi over and told him some things about the case.
After Wang Yi answered and left, he got in the carriage and went home.
On the way, he passed by a tanghulu stall and bought another stick.
Holding the tanghulu stick, Chen Jue thought that the little girl would finally be able to eat it tonight.
It was impossible that Qiao Fang didn't leave for the north as soon as possible and still came to his residence every day.
In the end, when he returned to the residence and went to the little girl's courtyard, he saw that she wasn't obediently staying in her small garden.
Chen Jue immediately saw Momo Zhang sitting under the setting sun and inspecting the fabric.
When A Liu called Momo Zhang to Chen Jue, Momo Zhang looked at Lord Chen's face. What was wrong with him today?
"Where's Miss?" Chen Jue asked unhappily.
Why didn't she calm down?
"Ah, Lord Chen hasn't returned to his courtyard yet, right?"
Momo Zhang looked at the tanghulu stick in A Liu's hand and hurriedly said, "Miss said that Lord Chen is going to the yamen soon and wants to wait for you in your courtyard."
"…" The anger that he had been suppressing disappeared without a trace. He glared at Momo Zhang, turned around, and walked away.
Nanny Zhang heaved a sigh of relief and glanced at Ah Liu.
Ah Liu also breathed a sigh of relief. He and Nanny Zhang looked at each other, and both of them nodded slightly.
…
As soon as Chen Jue entered the courtyard, he saw the little girl sitting in the small pavilion under the shade of a tree, resting her chin on her hand.
Li Xiao also saw Chen Jue at a glance. She immediately sat up straight and reacted for a while. Then she got up and ran towards him.
She looked like a little wife waiting for her father … waiting for her husband to come home …
Chen Jue saw her running over and reached out to A Liu.
A Liu hurriedly handed the tanghulu stick to Chen Jue.
As soon as Chen Jue took it, he felt that the stick was a little sticky. He frowned in disgust.
Therefore, when Li Xiao rushed over, he did not notice the little girl's red and cute little face, nor did he think of hugging her. Instead, he handed the candied haw to Li Xiao, and then turned to Ah Liu and said, "Ah Liu, Ah Liu, don't worry.
"Warm up the towel and help me wipe my hands."
As he spoke, he disdainfully blew up the fingers that had held the tanghulu stick. It was as if he didn't recognize the sticky fingers as his own.
Li Xiao didn't pay any attention to Chen Jue's condition. She happily took the tanghulu stick and licked it happily, like a child who had received a gift.
Chen Jue sat at the stone table and allowed A Liu to wipe his fingers. He finally had the mood to look at the little girl's face.
Then, he saw Li Xiao licking the tanghulu stick without stopping.
She stuck out the tip of her tongue and licked it. She took back the taste of happiness and stuck out the tip of her tongue again to lick it …
She licked until the corners of her mouth were covered in tanghulu and her lips were glistening …
Chen Jue swallowed his saliva. Was the tanghulu stick really that delicious?
"Why did you come here and wait for me?
Did something happen? "Or … did she miss him?
As Chen Jue thought about it, he sat up straighter with an expectant expression on his face.
In the end, Li Xiao didn't say anything like 'I miss you'. There was also no suspicious blush on her face.
On the contrary, the little girl even forgot to eat the tanghulu stick. She rolled her eyes and handed the tanghulu stick to A Liu. Then, she slowly nuzzled towards Chen Jue from the other side of the round table.
She really had something to ask the Lord.
"…" Chen Jue looked at her bashful appearance. When she was about an arm's length away from him, he reached out his hand and poked her forehead with his finger to stop her from coming closer.
"What do you want?" Chen Jue stared at her bluntly.
Li Xiao blinked and looked at him. She lowered her eyes, then raised her head, lowered her eyes again, and raised her eyes again to look at him.
Chen Jue tapped her forehead with his finger. "Hurry up and say it."
The little girl licked the tanghulu stick from the corner of her mouth and tilted her head cutely. She softly pleaded, "Lord, can I not learn the rules?"
Her big eyes blinked and blinked as she looked at him. Her voice was soft and slow, just like a daughter who loved to act coquettishly!
She was a daughter!
She didn't look like a delicate wife at all.
Chen Jue sighed. Looking at her delicate appearance, he felt a headache coming on.
"You have to learn the rules. You don't have to use them only when you're of marriageable age. They'll be useful for the rest of your life.
You're not allowed to be lazy. "He couldn't help but take out his handkerchief and wipe the corners of the little girl's mouth.
"But … how can I be useful in the future? I'm going back to the Li Family Village." She still wanted to bargain.
Momo Zhang was too fierce. It was tiring to learn the rules. Moreover, she really felt that it was useless. She would rather read more books and learn some detective knowledge.
"Just do as I say!" Chen Jue refused to back down.
Li Xiao pouted her lips. "Can't I not learn?"
"No," Chen Jue said.
Li Xiao rolled her eyes and stole a glance at A Liu.
Ah Liu looked at Li Xiao innocently. Then, he suddenly felt a kind of atmosphere that made him shy.
A Liu thought for a moment and turned to walk out of the courtyard. He was going to inform the Cookmaid that dinner would be served in Lord Chen's courtyard and not at Little Plain Garden.
After A Liu left, Li Xiao turned to look at Chen Jue. She took a step closer and gently tugged at Chen Jue's sleeve. "Sir, I don't want to have a coming-of-age ceremony either."
"Why?" Chen Jue asked.
"My brother … I feel that we shouldn't do this.
Moreover … parents must be present at the coming-of-age ceremony. My mother is gone and I haven't found my father … "She raised her head and thought for a moment. Suddenly, she said," Sir, you can't be sitting in the seat of honor and play the role of my father, right? "
"…" Chen Jue almost choked. He stared at the little girl in disbelief.
The little girl looked at him innocently.
She did it on purpose, didn't she?
She said that on purpose to anger him, didn't she?
Li Xiao didn't seem to notice. She blinked her big eyes and looked at him with a puzzled expression that said, "What's wrong?"
"You have to have a coming-of-age ceremony!
You have to learn the rules! "Chen Jue poked her head." Sit back down! "
Li Xiao rolled her eyes. Suddenly, she stuck her head out and kissed Chen Jue on the cheek.
Chen Jue dodged instinctively, but the little girl's soft lips still brushed against his cheek.
It was ticklish and cool.
"Li Xiao!"
Chen Jue unconsciously raised his voice. He looked at the innocent girl in front of him in disbelief.
"Sir!"
Li Xiao was so frightened that she took a few steps back and walked to the other side of the table. But she still didn't give up. "My dear Sir, please don't make me learn the rules, okay?"
"…" Chen Jue couldn't believe what he just heard.
This little girl … actually learned how to bargain with him?!
And … she used a kiss to bargain????