July is the hottest time of the sweltering summer.
Everything in the world seemed sweltering in the heat, lacking any vitality.
Outside Xindu, in Guojiazhuangzi, Guo Wenhao, dressed in a moon-white long gown, was walking under the shade of a tree with his one-year-old daughter in his arms.
The little girl is chubby and adorable, especially her big eyes, which curve slightly when she smiles, like crescent moons, bringing joy to everyone.
Madam Guo came in from outside with her maid. Seeing the father and daughter so close, she couldn't help but smile and said reproachfully, "Master, it's so hot, don't hold Jiaojiao anymore! This child is like a little furnace, I can't even hold her!"
"It's alright!" Guo Wenhao waved his hand and said with a gentle smile, "You go about your business. I finally have a day off, so I'll spend more time with the kids."
He came from a scholarly family and became a third-ranked scholar in the imperial examination within two years of the new emperor's ascension to the throne. He then entered the Hanlin Academy to compile books and has become increasingly refined and gentle, exuding elegance and grace in every gesture.
Even after being married for many years, Mrs. Guo couldn't help but blush and quickly went inside.
She was the daughter of the Zhou family. Because her uncle became the headmaster of the academy, her family had been planning to ask him to find her a good husband at the academy.
Her uncle agreed, and she studied hard to learn calligraphy and painting. She not only became proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but also developed excellent embroidery skills. She often made clothes and shoes for her uncle and aunt.
Before the Li family left Xindu, the youngest son of the Li family was favored by all the unmarried women because he did not take a concubine.
She had also secretly considered which of the Li family's sons was her age.
As a result, the Li family withdrew to the south overnight, leaving her disappointed and anxious for a long time.
Later, the previous emperor passed away and the new emperor ascended the throne, and chaos reigned everywhere.
Her uncle told her to wait a little longer, as there were better candidates.
She could only wait patiently, and finally, this wonderful marriage came about.
Her husband was a third-ranking scholar in the imperial examination, a man of exceptional literary talent and outstanding character, and both his parents had passed away!
To be in charge of the household right after entering the family—this is a marriage that no woman could ever dream of.
She wasn't even afraid of gossip; she married into the family only two months after her engagement.
Worried that the Guo family lacked resources, her family prepared a generous dowry for her.
Just as she had guessed, the Guo family didn't have much money.
But a month after the wedding, many congratulatory gifts were sent from Quanzhou.
There was a shop contract and a letter among them.
Then, the steward of the household went to the city to take charge of the shop, which specialized in selling novelty items from overseas. Everything was extremely expensive, but customers flocked to the door.
The family only takes 20% of the profits as hard-earned money, but even that 20% is surprisingly substantial.
Over the years, he bought a courtyard and a shop in the city, expanded his estate, and also bought out 100 acres of fertile land in the surrounding area...
Originally, Zhou's sisters would often gossip behind his back, making fun of him for marrying into a poor family. Now, they're all green with envy!
Madam Zhou came to her senses and looked out the window while flipping through the account books on the table, but her husband and daughter were nowhere to be seen!
"Where are the master and young lady?" she asked the maid beside her.
The maid replied, "Just now, the young master came in from outside, saying he was hot. So the master took the young master and young lady out. A carriage was prepared in the front yard. I heard they went to Broken Gold Beach to pick Jade Melons."
The maid smiled, secretly relieved that her masters were all kind.
If the master brings back a jade melon from Broken Gold Beach, those of them who serve him closely will definitely get two pieces.
In this hot weather, the thought of a cool and sweet jade melon makes everyone happy!
But she didn't see that the smile in the mistress's eyes faded slightly...
The melon fields of Suijintan are definitely the liveliest place in summer.
Every household would send their horse-drawn carriages three times a day just to buy a few big, green jade melons to take home.
Therefore, the path from Xindu to Suijintan has been widened considerably to facilitate smoother traffic.
The old village chief and Uncle Zhao and others went south, and the person in charge of the village was replaced by Uncle Wang, who was over sixty years old. He was a smiling old man, warm and kind, and could say a few words to anyone he met.
Guo Wenhao, with his five-year-old son and one-year-old daughter, had just gotten off the carriage when Uncle Wang greeted them with a hearty laugh.
"Young Master Guo is here! Oh dear, the young master and young lady are here too!"
The address "Young Master Guo" instantly transported Guo Wenhao back to the past, to the carefree days when he used to go in and out of the village with the Li brothers.
He led the children in bowing, "Uncle Wang, the children are clamoring for a jade melon. I brought two jars of wine; I wonder if we could exchange them for a jade melon?"
"Of course we can exchange them!" Uncle Wang laughed heartily. "You're practically family to us in the Li family. You can come and eat here every day, even if you bring me wine, it's fine."
"Come on!" Uncle Wang hoisted the chubby boy onto his shoulder and called out, "I chilled a jade melon with well water in my shack this morning. I'll cut it up and give it to you to quench your thirst."
The group walked through the melon field and arrived at the shack.
Uncle Wang deftly pulled a glistening, jade-green melon from a large wooden tub in the corner, prompting cheers and applause from the children.
Uncle Wang was even happier. He took a three-foot-long knife and split the jade melon open, revealing the bright red flesh inside!
In a few quick movements, the jade melon was divided into small pieces. The two children took the largest and reddest part and couldn't wait to start eating.
Just then, more people came to buy melons, and the villagers couldn't keep up with them all, so Uncle Wang quickly went to help.
Guo Wenhao lifted his long robe, sat on a straw mat, enjoying the cool breeze as he slowly ate watermelon, and suddenly all the restlessness in his heart disappeared.
Recently, the imperial court has begun to assign personnel to Jiangbei again.
He felt it was time to go back!
He returned to the place where he was born, to the ancestral home of the Guo family, and to the place of sorrow where his parents and relatives died.
He was once weak and incompetent, once lost and helpless, but now he has grown strong enough to shoulder the responsibility of reviving his family.
The ancestors of the Guo family must be watching him from heaven, waiting for him!
only……
He gazed into the distance at the princess's mansion, half-hidden behind the trees, and at the distant village, the busy villagers, and the peaceful and beautiful scene. He sighed softly in his heart.
He had thought about it many times: marrying the girl he loved and living with her on this land for the rest of his life.
But he carried the heavy burden of reviving his family, and he didn't want to drag her down with him.
Her family wouldn't agree either, as they wouldn't want her to suffer.
So, thinking about it is ultimately just thinking about it...
When I wrote to Quanzhou last time, I heard that she and her husband climbed Lao Jun Cliff, the highest and most beautiful mountain in Tianwu, and even stayed there for a month.
Without the burdens of family or the responsibilities of worldly life, there is only freedom and a life of doing whatever one pleases!
He was envious, and also happy for her.
Some connections quietly passed through his world and then drifted away.
He didn't complain, only felt regret...
I hope that in the next life, there will be a chance for them to meet as children, accompany each other as they grow up, and then grow old together.
He cherished all her beauty and innocence; he openly and honestly possessed and participated in all her joys and sorrows...
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