Chapter 85 Is Ali at Home?
After sitting down, Madam Du began to greet Shen Tang, asking if the eldest lady was doing well at the Qi family, if the Shen family was doing well, and if the couple were doing well on their way here...
Chen Tang was used to chatting about family matters and answered obediently.
Mrs. Du spoke more, but Mr. Yue spoke less.
While drinking tea, he secretly looked at Chen Tang. Qi Huaijing followed suit and stared at him openly and secretly like a night owl.
The grandfather and grandson occasionally looked at each other and narrowed their eyes slightly.
After lunch, Mr. Yue coughed lightly and sent them back.
"We have come a long way and are exhausted. It is time to go back and rest! There will be a welcoming banquet in the evening. Please come early."
The couple stood up together, and Qi Huaijing took Shen Tang away.
Mrs. Du looked at the two people leaving side by side and slowly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Isn't that good? She's good-looking, and has a good heart. The most precious thing is that children like her. The young couple is as sweet as honey. You stubborn old man, please stop making trouble."
Only Mrs. Du dared to say such a thing. Mr. Yue was not angry, but just put his legs on the table.
"snort!"
Chen Tang had long guessed that Qi Huaijing had his own yard in the Yue family, but when he stepped into the gate, he was slightly surprised.
The Qi family's Wutong Garden was even more spacious and magnificent than Madam Yue's Yujin Hall, with red brocade on the floor and pearl curtains separating flowers, giving off an overwhelming sense of wealth.
Seeing that the Yue family is more prosperous than the Qi family, and that Old Man Yue loves his grandson so much, the yard he leaves for him will surely be even better than theirs.
Unexpectedly, it was just a small courtyard, only half the size of Wutong Garden, and it was decorated in a quiet and elegant manner.
White walls and black tiles, with bluestone in the middle and small gravel paths on both sides. There are no ordinary pomegranates and golden osmanthus in the yard, only a clump of banana trees planted under the window. There is a rose stand by the wall, a few flowers and plants next to the rocks, a flowing spring next to the tall sycamore tree, reflecting dots of light and shadow.
There are three small main rooms with windows in the front and back. There is a couch in the middle, a huanghuali step-out bed on one side, and a sandalwood desk on the other. The half-open window frames let in cool sunlight.
This is where he lived when he was a teenager.
Chen Tang walked around the yard and looked around the house until Qi Huaijing put his arm around her shoulders and wouldn't let go.
"Is it too small? I feel it's just right for me to live here. Now that you're here, it's indeed a little small. It's okay. I'll have someone clean up a new yard tomorrow."
Shen Tang shook his head, folded his arms and supported his chin in thought.
"I don't think it's small. I like it very much. I think this yard...how should I put it? It's very much like you."
Qi Huaijing raised his eyebrows and said, "Tell me about it."
"Well, my home and the yard here are a bit like you. Wutong Garden is spacious and luxurious, very much like the Third Master Qi in everyone's eyes, living a life of luxury and wealth. But this yard..."
Chen Tang looked around again and smiled.
"This courtyard is more like the husband I often see—he is thoughtful, smart, proud, and a little bit eccentric, looking down on the world..."
After Shen Tang finished his comment, he turned around and found that he was a little stunned.
"What's wrong? Huai Jing, what I said... is not right?"
Qi Huaijing shook his head and went to look at the flowers, trees and flowing water in the courtyard.
"The Wutong Garden at home has been pretty much the same since I came home. It has been added and subtracted over the years, but it has always been arranged by my wife. And this small courtyard was decorated by me personally. Although it is small, I put a lot of thought into it. Everyone thinks it is too plain... and you have only been here for a quarter of an hour, and you have seen me and the courtyard so thoroughly."
Qi Huaijing embraced her, his handsome face full of smiles.
"Tangtang, you are my confidant."
Chen Tang smiled, her eyes sparkling.
"Thank you for the compliment."
Qi Huaijing was very happy. He took her hand and went back to the room to rest.
For many days, there was a lot of traveling by car and by horse, and even though it was slow, it was still very tiring.
This time when they went north, the couple did not bring too many people with them. They left Huaping at home to raise the cat and only brought Bailu and Lidong. They were familiar with the place and now they all went back to rest.
The couple rested until the sun was setting. Seeing that it was still early for dinner, they brought some hot tea and snacks, and sat opposite each other in the small pavilion under the flower wall in the courtyard to chat.
The yard was small, so Qi Huaijing asked the servants to go out and personally poured tea for Chen Tang.
"It's a pity that cousin Lingyun is not at home. He and his wife returned to their hometown in the northwest a few months ago to supervise the construction of the ancestral home for my grandfather. Otherwise, they would like you too."
“Oh~~”
Chen Tang took a half bite of the fresh pea yellow.
This is the most seasonal snack in Beijing in spring. Qi Huaijing also likes to eat it because it has no filling.
My eldest cousin is not at home. He has returned to the northwest. So... so who...
Chen Tang wanted to ask in his heart, but he didn't say it out loud. The last time he mentioned it, he was bitten by someone. If he mentioned it again this time, the person would definitely bite even harder.
Qi Huaijing looked at her smiling but silent face and had already guessed what she was thinking. He glanced at her meaningfully.
She wanted to ask.
He knew she wanted to ask.
She also knew that he knew she wanted to ask.
He also knew that she...
…
After a moment of silence, the two looked at each other suddenly and couldn't help laughing.
They both burst into laughter.
Chen Tang laughed so hard that she couldn't eat the pea yellow and choked and coughed repeatedly. Qi Huaijing held back his laughter and poured her a cup of tea, then patted her back to help her breathe.
After the coughing stopped, he slowly spoke.
"Yue Lingshu went to Baoyun Mountain in the suburbs of Beijing to visit her aunt. Her aunt has been weak and sick for many years. Since her cousin got married, she went to the mountain to recuperate."
Haha, you even call me by my full name. She’s obviously my cousin who grew up with me, but you’re so formal.
Chen Tang liked his reservedness.
"Hmm... sounds quite filial."
Qi Huaijing sneered, "If she is really filial, she should go to see her biological mother, not her stepmother."
Yue Lingshu was born out of wedlock and was a posthumous daughter. She was raised in the room of her grandmother, Madam Zhong, since she was young. Her biological mother was probably in poor health and had been recuperating on the Yue family's country farm.
Chen Tang said "Oh", holding the pea yellow in his hand, biting his lower lip deliberately, and asked him vaguely with unclear pronunciation.
"…How are the people?"
Qi Huaijing frowned and shook his head.
"How should I put it... It's like everyone in the world owes her something, it's really annoying."
Shen Tang was happy to see his annoyance.
He emphasized, "We only saw each other more when we were young. After my grandmother passed away, the four of us had our own yards and rarely saw each other."
Chen Tang thought, living in the same house, no matter how little time you have, it’s better than seeing me… and then he suddenly remembered.
"Four? Cousin, cousin, and you, aren't there just three of you at home?"
"The other one is my aunt's younger sister. When she came to Beijing, she often stayed at home to accompany my aunt. We all called her Aunt..."
Before he could finish his words, someone suddenly pushed the gate, walked in, and spoke loudly.
"Ali, Ali! Is Ali at home? Ali!"
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