Chapter 68 The Xie Family Doesn’t Keep Idle People
In the dim morning light, a gentle breeze blew through the woman's green clothes, ruffling her hair.
Zhao Hu stared at her with an indifferent expression. Seeing that she had her hair in a bun, his brows furrowed slightly. "She looks young, how come she's married?"
"Master Zhao, you and this woman..." Shao Dong spoke hesitantly, not daring to inquire about his master's private affairs, but not knowing whether he should check Su Cheng's background.
"Cloud-patterned jade pendant, son of an old friend." A trace of melancholy flashed across Zhao Hu's eyes, and he lowered his eyes. "Go check."
Shao Dong was relieved after receiving the order, and said, "Yes."
"Uncle, this is a small wooden sword I carved myself. Keep it with you. It will keep you safe and sound." Xie Chen placed the palm-sized wooden sword in the man's hand, his small face filled with worry. "My mother said you'll be gone for two months. Don't forget to write home."
"Uncle, uncle, I cooked two eggs for you. Take them with you on the way." Xie Cuicui raised her little face and said earnestly, "When our potatoes are ripe, uncle will be able to come back."
Xie Suzhou looked at the two babies who had just grown to his waist, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly. "I'll take the wooden sword, and leave the eggs to your mother. Don't worry, Second Uncle will definitely come back before the crops are ripe."
"What do I need eggs for?" Su Cheng glared at him and forcefully stuffed the eggs into his hands. "The child cooked them for you, just take them. Why are you being so shy?"
Xie Suzhou laughed dumbly and had to compromise, "Okay."
A man in coarse linen clothes ran up to him and whispered, "Xie Xiucai, we should set off now. We can't miss the time."
"Got it." Xie Suzhou nodded, turned his head to look at his third brother standing at the back, and said with a slightly opened mouth, "Jinyu, take good care of the family."
Xie Jinyu's eyebrows curved, and she rarely looked serious, "Don't worry, second brother."
Xie Suzhou packed up his belongings and got back on the carriage.
"Let's go."
The wheels turned slowly and drove towards the village entrance. A corner of the curtain on the side was lifted up, Xie Suzhou leaned out, and the woman's figure gradually became blurred.
"Acheng, remember to reply—"
It’s like a husband going on a long journey telling his wife to remember him.
The next moment, all the men, young and old, beside the car started laughing.
Noticing Du Heng's teasing look, Su Cheng's face flushed and she turned and ran back to the yard.
The curve of Xie Jinyu's lips froze. He glanced at the carriage meaningfully, then followed the woman and left.
Before lowering the curtain, Xie Suzhou inadvertently glanced at the carriage parked in the distance. His brows slightly frowned, and suspicion flashed in his eyes.
"Xie Xiucai, don't look anymore, there's no one in sight!"
Hearing the teasing of the person beside him, Xie Suzhou curled his lips slightly and said softly, "Brother Sun Po, my family..."
The bearded Sun Po chuckled, looking heartless. "Don't worry, Mr. Xie. My husband has made all the arrangements. Someone will secretly protect your family's safety."
"The man who got on the carriage is most likely her husband." Zhao Hu raised his eyes and stared at the carriage as it drove away, his expression cold. "I'll get off and take a look."
"Yes." Shaodong pushed the driver aside, took down the footstool himself, and helped Zhao Hu get off the car.
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Xie Family Courtyard
Xie Cuicui pouted and sat in the yard picking vegetables.
Yan Ci was not idle beside her either. He stirred the clear water in the basin with his slender fingers and put the vegetables picked by the little girl into the water to wash.
"Ouch!" Du Heng's hair stood on end when he saw the big and small being so harmonious. He quickly reached out his hand and said, "My dear, this isn't something you should do. Leave it to me."
"Mr. Du, you're welcome. I'm dining at the Xie family, so I should help out." Yan Ci glanced at the little girl beside him, pursed his lips and smiled, "Cuicui told me that the Xie family doesn't keep idle people."
"Little ancestor, you..." Du Heng was so frightened that his face turned pale. He reached out and poked her head, "This is nonsense!"
"I'm not wrong. That's what mother says to brother when he's not working." Xie Cuicui pouted even higher, with a look of reproach on her face. "I heard Aunt Liu say before that working together as a man and a woman is less tiring. Cuicui has always been with Uncle Yan!"
Yan Ci was so happy with her words that he shook his head gently at Du Heng, "Mr. Du, it's okay. I get along well with this kid."
Seeing that Yan Ci was not at all unhappy, Du Heng felt relieved. Just as he was about to go back to the house to sort out his herbs, he heard two footsteps behind him.
"Is anyone home?"
Shaodong leaned forward to look into the yard and shouted.
"Grandpa, they're not from our village." Xie Cuicui turned her head to take a look, then whispered to Du Heng, "Go back to the house and hide."
"Who is it?" Su Cheng put down the ball of yarn in his hand and walked out of the west room. Seeing the unfamiliar face, his brows furrowed slightly. "Who are you?"
"My lady, my master's surname is Zhao. He was originally going to the capital. He passed by here and wanted to ask you for a bowl of water to rest his feet." Shao Dong patiently made up a lie with a kind smile on his face.
Zhao Hu stared at her silently for a while, then took out the purse from his waist and handed it to Su Cheng, "Is this money enough for two bowls of water?"
Su Cheng looked at the bulging purse and immediately smiled. He took it without hesitation and said softly, "Xie Chen, go and pour two cups of tea for the distinguished guest."
"Hey." Xie Chen responded and ran out of the west room with holes on his clothes that had not been mended.
Yan Ci glanced at the two of them and calmly dealt with the vegetables in the basin. He had lived in Dingbei since he was a child. Except for a few close officials, no one had ever seen what he looked like. However, he had portraits of all the officials in the court and even the women and children in their families.
He recognized the person at a glance.
He is eight feet tall, has a square face and a scar on his right eyebrow.
Assistant Minister of War, Zhao Hu.
Shao Dong took a sip of warm tea and said calmly, "Young Madam, you look young, but I didn't expect you already have a son and a daughter."
Su Cheng curled her lips into a smile, but didn't respond. She glanced at the silent Zhao Hu beside her and said softly, "Looking at the way you two are dressed, you don't look like ordinary people. Why are you going to the capital?"
"Going to Beijing to do business."
Without waiting for Shao Dong to respond, Zhao Hu suddenly spoke, looking at her with a scrutinizing look in his eyes, "You look familiar to me. I wonder if there was a woman named Tian in your ancestry?"
"Tian..." Su Cheng frowned, recalling his original mother's surname, which was indeed Tian. "Do you know my mother?"
Zhao Hu took out the cloud-patterned jade bracelet and stared at her face, his eyes fixed on her. "Is this jade pendant yours?"
Su Cheng lowered his eyes and looked at the jade bracelet lying in his palm. His expression changed slightly. "I pawned it. How did it end up in your hands?"
"This jade bracelet is a family heirloom. The cloud pattern on the inside is proof of this. My eldest brother once secretly gave it to a mistress. Later, he took his wife and children on a trip. During a rainstorm, a landslide occurred. All three members of the family died that rainy night, and not even their bodies have been found."
"When I rushed back to the capital to handle the funeral, I wanted to look for the whereabouts of the concubine, but I found that she had already fled. I only knew that her surname was Tian and she had a daughter." Zhao Hu's expression was cold and resolute, and he could remain calm even when talking about the death of a loved one. "Now this jade bracelet appears in your hands again."
Su Cheng frowned slightly and exchanged glances with Xie Jinyu in front of the east room door.
The cloud-patterned jade bracelet was passed down to Yao Suer by her biological mother. If what the man said was true, Yao Suer was the concubine's daughter.
But I was the one who took over this jade pendant. My name is similar to Yao Suer's, and my biological mother's surname is also the same... How could there be such a coincidence in the world?
Seeing her silence, Xie Jinyu slowly stepped forward, blocking most of her body, met the man's hawk-like eyes, and smiled gently, "After so many years, why do you have to look for that mistress?"
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