After lunch, the Zhang siblings showed no sign of leaving, so Xu Lanyin took them for a stroll down the mountain, by the stream, and in the woods. He didn't take Xu Lanting with him, as he needed to rest.
Summer afternoons are the hottest, the blazing sunlight blinding the eyes and even the cicadas' chirping lazily. But the trees at the foot of the mountain provided shade, and a cool breeze blew by the stream, so the group enjoyed themselves to the fullest.
They looked at the fish smaller than fingers under the cracks in the rocks, picked up two wild duck eggs from a pile of water plants, and caught a few big katydids in the grass before returning to Xu's house.
On the way, Zhang Manniang and Zhang Tiedan had a few words and almost came to blows. Zhang Manniang complained bitterly that her father was only pretending to be sad because her eldest brother had died. He cried bitterly in front of others, but once they left, he turned his face and scolded his wife and children. Zhang Tiedan was so angry that he scolded her loudly and called her a silly girl. Zhang Manniang was so angry that she slapped Zhang Tiedan on the head. Zhang Tiedan blushed and wanted to hit back, but was pulled away by Xu Lanyin.
Xu Lanyin didn't need to hear Zhang Manniang's inner thoughts to know that this girl was honest and would not lie. So, perhaps there was something strange about Zhang Gangdan's death...
The strangeness here isn't the Zhang family's method for killing Zhang Gangdan. The Zhang family has been in the government for generations, and Captain Zhang, with his many years as a captain, possesses exceptionally strong anti-detection capabilities. Zhang Gangdan undoubtedly died from drunkenness. Rather, the question is why the Zhang family was so ruthless in killing Zhang Gangdan. Perhaps the reason is related to the Zhang family's reckless abandonment of decades-long territories and their return to their rural roots.
Xu Lanyin thought about the relationship between Zhang Gangdan and Yiju Restaurant again...
Arriving at the Xu residence, Zhang Tiedan wanted to go home, but Zhang Manniang still didn't want to leave. Xu Lanyin went to invite Xu Yulan over, and together with Xu Lanting, who had gotten up, they played flying chess until late in the afternoon. Only then did Xu Lanyin ask Fifth Grandfather to take the siblings home. She also gave them a basket of her baked snacks and Xu Manniang two boxes of her homemade rouge and lipstick.
Just as Xu Lanyin sent the Zhang siblings away, Xu Lanzhou brought the old lady and Xu Yuan to her home. They had just returned from the county town.
In the morning, they went to the county town and first visited the house. They found out that the second wife had actually hired three servants. Gu felt a pang of jealousy, but she didn't dare to talk too much to the old lady. They enjoyed the servants' service and ate there before going to Xu's shop.
When the Xu family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law arrived at the shop, they discovered that three more people had been hired. Gu was initially furious that so many people had been added but her second son hadn't been able to work there. Later, Xu Dashi told her that a maid had arrived to cook and do odd jobs, ensuring Xu Yuan would have someone to take care of him should he decide to stay longer. When Xu Man grew older, he could also move in.
Gu became happy again. Even if her family didn't buy a house in the county town, her eldest son and his family would become county residents and have someone to serve them.
Old Mrs. Xu was even happier, because the previous generation was not as strong as the next generation.
After returning to the village, the old lady said to Gu, "Go back and tell the old man that I am happy and have gone to the second room to eat. He is angry because he is stupid. How can he be unhappy when his descendants live better than his parents?"
The old lady smiled until her face wrinkled when she saw Qin, and said, "My daughter-in-law is very capable. As a woman, she has earned so much money for the family. The house is large and beautiful. I didn't expect that the descendants of my Xu family would become city dwellers and even wealthy people with servants. In the future, when I have nothing to do, I will go there to stay for a few days and enjoy a peaceful life."
They are welcome to stay at home for two days occasionally.
Qin explained hurriedly, "That embroidery sells so well because the flower bear I painted is so popular. It's said that the flower bear embroidery is the first of its kind in the Daming Dynasty."
The old lady looked at Xu Lanyin with shining eyes again.
Hearing that the old lady was going to have dinner here, Xu Lanyin went to the kitchen to get busy. The Zhang siblings were both big eaters, and except for Xu Lanyin saving some meat for dinner, they ate all the dishes made at noon.
She made a pot of pork and cabbage soup, fried a plate of eggs and leeks, a plate of fish-flavored eggplant, a dish of fried peanuts, a dish of mixed cucumbers, and baked more than a dozen scallion pancakes.
The old lady was eating here, so she couldn't ignore the old man. Qin asked Xu Lanzhou to go to the main room to invite the old man.
After being scolded by the old lady yesterday, the old man was no longer angry that they had bought the house without permission, but he was just embarrassed and deliberately put on a sour face. Xu Lanzhou and Xu Lanting were talking and saying nice things to each other, and Qin would also join in the fun.
Xu Lanyin didn't have the patience to coax the old man, so she didn't say anything.
The old lady talked about how the previous generation was not as strong as the next generation, and said that Xu Lizheng was no match for them now, and his descendants were far inferior to hers. Only then did the old man feel happy.
Zhao Wu did not come back for dinner. He came back at the beginning of the Xu hour.
Xu Lanyin heard the noise and walked out to the small window of the west wing. The window was not closed and the lights were not on in the room. The bright starlight shone in and she saw Zhao Wu washing his face.
Xu Lanyin asked, "Have you eaten?"
Zhao Wu smiled and said, "Not yet."
Xu Lanyin said, "I've left it for you, just wait."
She opened the door to the west wing, lit the small oil lamp, and then went to the kitchen to bring over the four remaining pancakes, a small plate of scrambled eggs with leeks, a small plate of peanuts, and a small plate of mixed cucumbers. There was wine in Zhao Wu's house.
She handed him the small bamboo tube that Mazi had brought back and told him that Captain Zhang and his family were going back to their hometown.
Zhao Wu was also puzzled by the fact that Captain Zhang was going back to his hometown. When he heard what Zhang Manniang said about Captain Zhang, he felt that there must be something fishy going on.
Seeing his still somewhat childish face full of seriousness and solemnity, Xu Lanyin smiled. This child has matured a lot.
Zhao Wu looked at the secret letter in the small bamboo tube again and whispered, "Lord Min hasn't slept well for several days and even took that medicine once. I have no choice but to ask you to go to the provincial capital to help him. He has sent someone to deliver a letter to the Min County Magistrate, asking me to escort you there. We can talk to him about the Zhang family's affairs."
Xu Lanyin is now Minhu’s personal doctor and female legal advisor. Hypnosis is her job and she has no choice but to do it.
She said, "If the men sent by Lord Min leave this morning, they will not arrive in Nanping County until tonight even if they ride at full speed. Tomorrow morning, we will go to the city to deliver a letter to Lord Min. Then we will set off the day after tomorrow. Tell others that I am going to the provincial capital to buy household items for my new home."
That's a good reason.
Zhao Wu continued, "Sister, I want to tell Lord Min my true identity and ask him to visit my elder brother when he returns to the capital, or send a confidant to deliver a letter to my elder brother so that he can know I am still alive."
Xu Lanyin felt that since they were all implicated in the Yiju Restaurant case, and since Min Hu needed his help with both medical treatment and case resolution, and given his relationship with Wen Zhuofeng, he would do Zhao Wu a favor for both public and private reasons. So, he said, "It's a good idea to tell him. If your brother knew you were still alive, life would be more hopeful."
Afterwards, Xu Lanyin talked about her plan to open a teahouse in the provincial capital. This time she could visit the teahouses there and make some preparations.
PS: There will be another update later.
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