Chapter 156 Making Friends
"Sister, the red you mixed is so beautiful. How did you do it? The red ink we use to draw plum blossoms is always a little off. Sister Gu mixed it just right, as if the flowers are really blooming on the paper."
The temporary painting is just for fun. No one has any intention of competing with each other. After finishing the painting, everyone will walk around to see how others are doing.
Yue Ya stopped in front of Liumin Yue's painting, and his surprised voice attracted the attention of other noble ladies.
Yin Miaoyin had also finished her painting. She came over upon hearing what she was saying. Seeing the lifelike plum blossoms on the paper, she was also amazed: "Sister, it's not an exaggeration to say that this painting of yours has the style of a master. Your painting skills are so amazing."
Even though Yin Miaoyin knew that her cousin was a hidden talent, she was still surprised to see that her paintings were so good.
The noble ladies surrounded Gu Siqing and praised her paintings highly; even the ladies who were drinking tea on the other side heard it.
After the banquet, Gu Siqing returned to her residence to change clothes and remove her makeup, and Yin Yaoxin came to see her.
"Mother, you are tired today. Why don't you rest in the house? Why do you come here in the cold wind?"
Gu Siqing felt sorry for her mother suffering from the cold, so she asked her to sit closer to the stove to keep warm.
"I watched you grow up, and I always thought I knew you very well. But today, when I saw you painting in front of the ladies, and you painted so well, I realized that I am a terrible mother."
Yin Yaoxin sighed and was also a little surprised: "When did you learn painting skills?"
Gu Siqing thought her mother came at this time for some important matter, and she felt relieved when she asked this.
"My daughter has always been able to paint. I was very interested in painting when I was a child. I often practiced in my father's study when I was young, but my mother didn't know. Later, when I came to Zhou's house, my daughter wanted to hide her talent, so she never touched a paintbrush again."
Coming from the other end of the yard, Yin Yaoxin's hands were a little cold, so Gu Siqing held her hands to warm them up.
"When I first arrived at the Zhou residence, Zhou Baili was willing to play with me. She would ask me to accompany her when she was learning music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Later, she discovered that I was gifted in painting. Whenever I painted something seriously, she would be unhappy and would secretly trip me up."
Gu Siqing shrugged indifferently. After realizing this, she never picked up the paintbrush easily. Even when Zhou Baili wanted her to paint, Gu Siqing deliberately used the brush very clumsily, as if she had not practiced for many years.
"You suffered so much when mother didn't know. It's because I'm useless." Yin Yaoxin raised her hand to touch her daughter's face, but when she thought about her hands that were still a little cold and worried about freezing her, she withdrew her hand.
Gu Siqing, her daughter has always been excellent. She knew it when she was young, didn't she? Later, she experienced the death of her husband and was a little exhausted. She lost her attention to her daughter, so she ignored these things.
Poor daughter, it is only today that she can show her talents without any scruples.
Yin Yaoxin's hand was about to fall, but Gu Siqing caught it, holding her hand and gently stroking his face.
"Mom, don't blame yourself. Your daughter has been able to survive these years because of your love for her. Without you, there would be no daughter."
Both mother and daughter cherish and understand each other, so their relationship has always been very deep.
After this conversation that day, the relationship between Gu Siqing and his mother became closer than before.
After regaining his identity as the grandson of the prime minister, Liu Mingyue still went on business as a man, simply because it was convenient.
That day she was looking at the account books in the study room arranged for her by her grandmother. At noon, Guihua came knocking on the door.
"Let mother and Madam Zhen have lunch first. I still have things to do. You can eat by yourself later."
Gu Siqing said without even raising his head, looking at the last page of the account book.
She thought they were calling her over to the front hall for dinner. Actually, it didn't take much time to finish one page of the account book, but she didn't want to keep her mother and the others waiting.
"Miss, it's not the Madam and the others. It's Miss Yin's friend who wants to see you. Miss Yin is entertaining guests in the flower hall. Please pack up and come over quickly."
Guihua's voice came through the door. Gu Siqing was busy calculating the accounts and didn't understand the meaning of Guihua's words.
"Go and tell Miaoyin and the others to just go and have fun. I'll invite them another day when I'm free."
The master's reply almost choked Guihua, so she had to say, "Miss, they are here to see you. Have you forgotten that the ladies said they wanted to go to your shop to take a look at this matter?"
Gu Siqing paused while fiddling with the abacus, then remembered that there was such an incident.
At the banquet, the ladies were very interested in her shop and said they would come to see her when they had time and ask her to take them to the shop for a visit.
Gu Siqing thought that it was just polite words at the banquet, but she didn't expect them to be serious.
"I was just lazing around in the house and kept you waiting for a long time." Gu Siqing quickly walked into the hall and apologized with a smile.
"There is no wind or snow today, and the sky is clear and the air is fresh. We are bored at home, so we want to go to Sister Gu's shop to take a look. I hope I did not disturb Sister Gu." Yue Ya is worthy of being the daughter of the Minister of Rites. Her tone is soft and her words are very pleasant to the ear.
Looking at the noble ladies who were talking and laughing, Gu Siqing felt as if a fox tail was covering her heart, and she smiled unconsciously: "Miss Yue, you are too polite. I promised to take you to the shop to have a look. If you don't come, I will be sad."
Guihua came over from behind and put a cloak on Gu Siqing. It was obvious that she was in a hurry and didn't even bother to put on the cloak.
Yue Ya and his friends rarely meet each other every day. It's cold these days and they feel bored staying in the house, so they come to see Yin Miaoyin. As for visiting Gu Siqing's shop, it can be said that they did it on purpose but it's also on their way.
When they saw this, didn't they feel warm in their hearts? The last bit of unfamiliarity with Gu Siqing disappeared.
"Let's go, my young ladies. A batch of new goods arrived at the warehouse yesterday, and the boxes haven't been opened yet. You're in for a treat." Gu Siqing pulled Yin Miaoyin and walked in front. Several noble ladies followed with smiles. The group got on the carriage and went to Ruyi Pavilion in a lively manner.
Gu Siqing's statement that a new batch of jewelry and fabrics had just arrived yesterday was true. She had specifically instructed the shopkeeper before that after the new jewelry arrived at Ruyi Pavilion, it should be put into the warehouse first and wait for her permission before unpacking it.
"According to the master's instructions, the box containing the jewelry has been carried to the guest room and is waiting for you to unlock it yourself, young lady."
After the carriage of the noble ladies arrived at Ruyi Pavilion, the shopkeeper had received the news in advance and was already waiting at the door.
"Thank you for your hard work. Just bring some snacks over later. You don't have to follow me." Gu Siqing took the key from the shopkeeper and gave the order, intending to take Yin Miaoyin and others to the guest rooms.
"Why don't you just take out the jewelry and put it on the counter so we can pick it out. It would be very noisy with so many people crowded in the guest room."
Yue Ya looked at his friends who were chatting and laughing, and shook his head helplessly. It was easy to imagine how lively the scene was when the girls were looking at jewelry together.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
