Xu Lanyin saw Hu Yi's face relaxed with a smile, and she felt that having her brother at home was also a good medicine to cure her illness.
Xu Lanyin smiled and said, "Well, Mr. Hu is indeed very capable." After having lunch at the Hu family, Xu Lanyin was about to leave.
A maid brought half a pound of tea, saying that it was jasmine tea sent by Mr. Hu and was a new product.
The Hu family usually sends tea in quantities of two or three kilograms, but this time it was only half a kilogram. It must be a rare and good tea.
Xu Lanyin thanked him and took a carriage to Xu's shop to wait for Xu Lanzhou and Zhao Wu.
They didn't return to the shop until the early afternoon.
The two of them looked very happy, especially Xu Lanzhou, who saw the legendary garrison commander Jiang. When Jiang heard that his dream was to take the military examination, he called him over and gave him some words of encouragement.
Zhao Wu was also happy. Today was the first time he had a drink with the county lieutenant, Lord Sun.
Xu Lanzhou asked, "Brother Zhao, Captain Zhang introduced his daughter to you. Does he have any special motive?" He shook his head and said, "I'm really sorry to hear that Miss Zhang looks so much like Captain Zhang."
The Zhang family also lived on that street, and when they reached the intersection, they happened to run into Captain Zhang's wife and daughter. Captain Zhang introduced them to each other, and it seemed that both his wife and daughter liked Zhao Wu very much and looked at him with open eyes.
Zhao Wu felt helpless when the subject came up. He sighed and said, "Years ago, Captain Zhang casually mentioned to me how much dowry his daughter would give her when she got married. He said that whoever became his son-in-law would not only have food and clothing, but also help him achieve the career he wanted. He also said that if the young man was well-educated and intelligent, he might even be able to take over Lord Sun's job when he gets promoted... I played dumb and didn't respond."
Xu Lanyin sighed inwardly, wondering why the more she wanted to avoid someone, the harder it was to avoid him. She said, "Captain Zhang is giving you a tip."
Zhao Wudao, "Someone proposed to me before, and I've already told you that my parents arranged a marriage for me and my cousin when I was young, and I've been looking for them. Captain Zhang should know about this..."
"That's because you haven't found him. He hopes you'll know when to look and stop looking," Xu Lanyin said. "I saw Captain Zhang from a distance the first time. He had a fierce face, was overbearing and difficult to deal with. Although you have someone behind you, they've been here for generations. They can't do anything to you if they try to sneak up on you."
Xu Lanzhou sighed, "If you want to blame someone, blame Brother Zhao for having a face that could bring disaster to the country and not hurrying to find a wife. If you find a good young lady, you should get married right away. No one will be able to take advantage of you. If that girl from the Zhang family really gets her attention," he added, his face wrinkling into a pile, "it would be a shame for such a beautiful flower like you."
Zhao Wu's face became even more bitter.
Xu Lanyin consoled him, "Fortunately, we have a connection with Lord Min and a friendship with Brother Hong, so Captain Zhang wouldn't dare do anything to you openly. You must be more careful on your duties in the future, and don't let him use any tricks on you."
Zhao Wu nodded and said, "I will be careful, and I hope they can figure it out. This kind of thing can't be forced."
Back home, Xu Lanyin pulled out the family's finest porcelain teacup and steeped some jasmine tea leaves. As the mist dissipated, the tea soup, a translucent yellow-green in color, was revealed, with a few white petals floating on top. The tea's fragrance was delicate and fragrant, and every sip filled her mouth with a mellow, lingering aroma.
Previously, the Hu family had sent green and black teas, but Xu Lanyin loved this floral tea, which resembled a tea she had drunk in her previous life. She had already come up with a name for it in her mind. If she ever opened a teahouse, she would definitely promote it as Bi Bo Piao Xue (Blue Waves Floating Snow).
On the eleventh day of the first lunar month, the government office opened its doors. Zhao Wu presented the coroner, Tang, with sheep intestine gloves and four masks made of white linen. Tang was delighted. A body needed examining that afternoon, so he not only took Zhao Wu with him but also gave him a detailed explanation. He also told Zhao Wu he could ask him anything he wanted to know, provided he made him two more pairs of gloves and ten more masks.
Zhao Wu agreed repeatedly and went to the market to buy two pairs of sheep intestines. That night, he and Xu Lanyin cleaned them. The next day, Qin and Xu Lanyin finished making the gloves. A few days later, Zhao Wu bought two more pairs of sheep intestines, cleaned them, and asked Qin and Xu Yinyin to finish them. These were his.
On the 24th, Xu Lanyin heard from Mrs. Hu that Grandma Min had given birth to a daughter the day before. On the 25th, the Min family held a third-day bathing banquet, and although the Xu family was not invited, Xu Lanyin still went with gifts to congratulate.
She first went to the main courtyard to visit Mrs. Min.
Mrs. Min saw that Xu Lanyin's skin was much whiter than before, and she couldn't help but feel moved. She smiled and said, "Miss Xu's skin has become much whiter and tenderer. She looks even more beautiful."
This is what it means to have something to hide.
Xu Lanyin smiled hurriedly, "Thanks to Madam Min, life at home is much better now. I no longer have to go to the mountains to collect herbs or work in the fields under the wind and sun like before. I stay at home every day to cover myself and apply balm, so my skin has become a little whiter." He touched his face and smiled again, "My skin color is considered fair in the countryside, but it is still far behind those ladies from wealthy families like Miss Min."
Madam Min took another closer look at Xu Lanyin and realized she was being overly suspicious. Although this girl had become fairer, her skin was still relatively rough and her pores were larger. It definitely didn't look like she had used the Yuru Regenerating Cream.
She was satisfied and smiled even more kindly. She said, "Nan'er bought you rouge and powder in the capital, from Aifang Pavilion. Apply more often and your face will be more radiant and tender." She also told everyone present how much Old Lady Min liked Min Nan and how she had sent someone to take her to the capital after the New Year for a two-week trip. She also stayed at Prince Ping's mansion for three days.
The people present complimented her and Min Nan again.
After sitting in the main courtyard for a while, Xu Lanyin was pulled by Min Nan to her small courtyard to talk in private. Xu Lanyin was like a supporting actor, making the little girl very happy and leading her to tell many rumors about the capital.
What Xu Lanyin wanted to hear most was about Su Qing and the Wen family.
The little girl didn't mention the Wen family, but talked about Su Qing's recent situation.
Madam Su and Miss Su once again conspired to persecute Su Qing, becoming a laughing stock in the capital and earning a harsh reprimand from Marquis Su. Su Qing was also able to walk around again. At the Marquis of Ping'an's mansion's plum blossom banquet, Min Nan accompanied the ladies and girls from the Shangshu Mansion and saw Su Qing. Many ladies expressed pity and fondness for her, praising her for her commendable filial piety and her beauty and talent.
"...Although Miss Su Er isn't the most beautiful, she's truly talented. Her poems about plum blossoms are excellent. Oh, I never got to know her when she was in Sujia Village. What a pity."
The little girl felt extremely regretful and her lips pouted.
Xu Lanyin comforted him, "You are now loved by the old Princess Ping and the old Lady Min. They often take you to the capital to play. There will always be a chance to make friends with them in the future."
After watching the ceremony and finishing her meal, Xu Lanyin took the rouge, powder, and four pearl flowers that Min Nan had given her and said goodbye. As she reached the front of the county government office, she happened to run into Gu Wangchen who was coming out of the office.
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