Chapter 168 If the Fate Lasts Long (4)

The third sister probably won’t go, but the fourth sister might go.

Sure enough, Ming Yueshu shook her head and said, "Second sister, you know I don't like riding horses or archery, so I won't go."

Riding a horse would cause pain in her thighs and hands.

Mingyue Si hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

"Okay, you can embroider by yourself at home, but don't say I didn't call you." Ming Yuelin looked at the other brothers again, and they all agreed.

She turned around and said to Shi Jianli with a smile: "Sister Shi, there are so many of us, we can definitely have fun with you."

"Thank you for your hospitality."

After playing for an afternoon, Shi Jianli became more familiar with the young men and women in the Duke of Anguo's mansion.

When I went back in the afternoon, I met Yuan Yuhe at the main gate who had just returned from the Prince of Fuguo's Mansion.

"Mother." Mingyuelin spoke first and ran to her side.

The rest of the younger generations also called mother "mother" and aunt "aunt".

"Yeah." Yuan Yuhe patted Ming Yuelin's head, smiled and nodded to the younger generation. Seeing a new face, and remembering what the maids had said yesterday about Qiao Ruoying's niece staying at the mansion for a few days, she asked, "Is this He'er's cousin?"

Shi Jianli left Ming Zhouhe's side, stepped forward and bowed with a smile, "Yes, I'm honored to meet the Duke's wife, the junior Shi Jianli. I heard from my aunt that you've been busy lately, so I haven't been able to greet you since I arrived at your house. I apologize for my inconvenience."

"Let's not be too formal. I've been quite busy lately, and I'm afraid I'll be neglecting you if you come." Seeing her graceful and smiling appearance, Yuan Yuhe felt a little more favorable towards her. "Are you guys going out to play?"

She was born with a good appearance and outstanding temperament.

"Yes, I went to play football with my cousin and my second sister Ming."

"Young people should go out more often. They are half your cousins. Come and visit them when you have time. You have just arrived in Beijing and may not be familiar with the city. If you want to go out for a walk, find Lin'er. She likes to go out all the time and she can't wait for someone to accompany her." Yuan Yuhe pointed at Mingyue Lin.

"Okay, Ming's second sister and I have an appointment to go out together tomorrow."

After chatting for a while, they reached a fork in the road. Shi Jianli said goodbye to Mingyuelin, Yuan Yuhe and the others, and followed Mingzhouhe back to Xifu.

On the way, Ming Yuelin, who was following Yuan Yuhe, said, "Mother, you seem to like Sister Shi very much."

"This little girl is quite pleasant in her conversation. She's pretty and always smiles. She's also your second aunt's niece. How can I not smile more?" Yuan Yuhe smoothed her hair. "Don't you like her too? Calling her 'Sister Shi' sounds so intimate."

"Mother, you don't know, she's a very good archer, not inferior to my third brother. She's also very good at playing qiu, she never fails to grab the ball and hit it. My brothers have lost a lot of balls under her, and there's no way they can't win when they're on the same team with her."

Seeing her excitement, Yuan Yuhe smiled helplessly and shook her head, "I see, you're almost bewitched by her."

"Really?" Ming Yuelin blinked, then added: "So what if she's bewitched? She's amazing."

…

The next morning, he went to Qionghuayuan to chat with Qiao Ruoying. In the afternoon, he had a brief stroll with Mingyuelin. Then Shi Jianli returned to Shi Mansion.

Ming Zhouhe followed behind her.

As soon as I entered the door, I saw Shi Jianan standing in the yard with his hands behind his back, looking around.

Shi Jianli ran over and said happily, "Dad, I'm back~"

"Well, did you have fun?" Looking at his daughter's smiling face, Shi Jianan smiled and reached out to pat her head.

"I'm happy. Where's mother?"

"Your mother is busy."

Shi Jianli suddenly realized something and puffed up her cheeks, "I thought you knew I was coming back today and came out to welcome me home, but it turns out that mother is annoying you."

Shi Jienan remained calm after being exposed by his daughter. He argued, "Nonsense! Your mother just can't take care of me. I can't disturb her."

Ming Zhouhe arrived in front of Shi Jiannan at this time. He bowed and said, "Zhouhe greets uncle."

"Don't be so polite." Shi Jianan turned to look at him and patted his shoulder. "Zhouhe is as tall as me now. When I saw you a few years ago, you were only as tall as my waist. Not bad, not bad. Your shoulders are quite strong. Did your cousin's visit to the Duke's Mansion cause any trouble to your father and mother?"

Shi Jianli snorted lightly, a little dissatisfied, "I'm not a troublemaker. I'm liked by my aunt and cousin, okay? Dad, please don't smear me."

Shi Jianan shook his head helplessly, "I really can't say a word."

Ming Zhouhe glanced at the father and daughter and replied, "Uncle, what are you talking about? My cousin's visit only brings joy to our family."

"Then I'm relieved." Upon hearing this, Shi Jianan thought that his nephew was quite good at talking, and said with a smile, "Since you're here, why don't you let your uncle treat you to a meal before you go back? The chef here came from Duzhou and is an expert at making local dishes. You should try some Duzhou cuisine."

Ming Zhouhe nodded without hesitation: "Okay, sorry to bother you, uncle and aunt."

The three of them went to the inner courtyard, Shi Jienan and Ming Zhouhe walked behind, and Shi Jianli walked briskly into the house.

Qiao Ruowei had just finished her work and was taking a break to drink tea. When she saw Shi Jianli come in, she smiled and asked, "Have you had enough fun?"

Shi Jianli came over to sit beside her, rubbed her head on her shoulder, and said coquettishly: "I haven't played enough, but I missed mommy, so I came back."

Qiao Ruowei pinched her soft cheek and asked, "Did you come back alone?"

"My cousin brought me back. Dad invited him to stay for dinner, and he agreed." Shi Jianli poured herself a cup of tea. "Mom, have you bought a shop?"

"I'm looking. It's hard to buy a shop in the capital. It's not like when we first went to Duzhou. Most shops were running at a loss and wanted to sell." Qiao Ruowei looked at her gently. "Since you're back, come with me to go shopping tomorrow."

My daughter is smart. She has taught me everything she should be taught and she knows how to do things she should do. She even surpasses me.

"Today, my second sister Ming and I went shopping and found a shop by Taiyuan Lake that was having trouble running its business. I heard that a third-rank official wanted this shop and was putting pressure on it. Daddy is a second-rank official, and now the emperor is using him. That official doesn't have any complicated relationships behind him, so we can start with him." Shi Jianli supported her face and poured Qiao Ruowei another cup of tea.

"I've already told the shopkeeper that I'll meet with his boss tomorrow. Taiyuan Lake has been very busy lately, with restaurants and inns all around. I need to think carefully about what kind of shop I can open there."

Qiao Ruowei smiled and said, "It's a coincidence that we're going out for a trip. Let's go and take a look tomorrow."

After the family of three had dinner with Ming Zhouhe, Shi Jianli sent Ming Zhouhe out and said, "Cousin, you know the way now. If Ming Ermei wants to come, please show her the way."

"Okay." Ming Zhouhe nodded and got on the carriage under Shi Jianli's smiling gaze.

When they arrived at the Duke of Anguo's Mansion, it was getting dark and they heard the sound of horse hooves. Ming Zhouhe turned around and saw Ming Zhao coming back with Tian Feng and Tian Yu.

After getting off their horses, the two brothers bumped into each other, and Mingzhao asked, "Where are you coming back from?"

"I was invited to have dinner at my cousin's place." Ming Zhou walked into the mansion with him. "Brother, are you so busy that you've only just returned home?"

Thinking of the cousin he mentioned, Mingzhao tilted his head slightly to look at him, "Well, I just came back not long ago, and there are a lot of things to do in the army."