8. Chat
◎Tian family gossip◎
The night was as dark as water, and the moonlight spread across the courtyard. The shadow of the lush old pomegranate tree in the corner swayed, illuminating the three people with different expressions sitting beside the stone table.
As soon as it gets dark, many families who have been busy all day become busy.
In the alley, the child in one family just stopped crying, and the couple in another family started arguing again.
Such noise makes the Tian family seem even more deserted.
On the stone bench near the inside, Tian Nongxi sat upright, trying hard to reconcile the memories in his mind with the person in front of him, while pouring a cup of hot tea and handing it over.
"We only have coarse tea at home, please don't despise it."
Qi Hengan hurriedly took the tea and took a sip. He coughed a few times while covering his fist before saying, "He's a rough guy. He drinks anything."
He was a handsome young man with gentle manners. He would wipe the chair with his handkerchief before sitting down, but he called himself a rough man. In his eyes, the pig butcher at the street corner was probably a man-eating devil.
Tian Nongxi leaned his hands on the table and smiled secretly.
Qi Hengan finally regained his familiar feeling, breathed a sigh of relief, and said with a smile, "My sister has changed a lot."
The girl who always smiled when she saw him in the past, was just stunned when she saw him after a long time today. After being stunned, she gave him an impeccable hospitality.
When talking to him, I no longer blush or stutter.
Qi Hengan was happy for her, but also felt a kind of inexplicable sadness.
It seems... that he no longer recognizes the girl in front of him.
Tian Nongxi lied, "I haven't seen you for a few years, and Brother Heng'an has changed."
"Really? I feel like I'm the same as before."
There are few outsiders in Tianjia Village, and the Qi family is one of them.
When Tian Erniang was ten years old, her parents had just passed away. The Tian family was in an increasingly poor situation and even having enough food to eat became a problem.
That winter, the snow was so heavy that it didn't even reach her calves. Tian Er Niang had just seen off her brother who had joined the army at the village entrance, and was preparing to go home to feed her newborn brother with rice porridge.
The child who had just lost his parents was in a daze, taking laborious steps, one step deep and one step shallow, completely forgetting that there was a mystery beneath the white snow.
When she was about to trip over a big rock, a woman in a snow-white cloak supported her.
Tian Erniang stared at it, thinking that it was the Snow Fairy who appeared in the world to save all living beings.
Until the little boy beside the fairy spoke, and asked her in a childish but sympathetic voice: "It's so cold, is your sister lost?"
The snow-white fox fur that the little boy was wearing looked very warm. There was only a thin layer of fur around his neck, but there were a few beads of sweat on the tip of his nose.
He put the hollow gilded hot water bottle in his hand into her hand, and waited for her to answer with a concerned look in his eyes, which made Tian Er Niang feel a little shy.
She refused the two people's kind invitation to ride in the carriage with her, and the sister did not force her, but just said that she would not take back the hot water bottle no matter what.
When Tian Erniang limped back home with the hot water bottle in her arms, a carriage full of goods was parked next door.
Only then did she realize that they were the new owners of the house next door that had been empty for many years.
Although they were a wealthy family from the capital, they were an orphan and a widow, and there were thousands of inconveniences. The villagers were very helpful, and Mrs. Tian Huang would occasionally ask Tian Er Niang to bring them some firewood and other things.
Every time Tian Erniang went there, Qi Hengan was studying hard under the plum tree. He often handed her one or two candies and smiled at her.
The two have similar personalities, both are introverted and reserved.
Therefore, apart from this, they had little personal relationship and did not talk much.
Two years ago, the mother and son of the Qi family left without saying goodbye, leaving the house empty.
In short, the two of them are childhood friends and are not very familiar with each other.
Tian Nongxi withdrew his thoughts and glanced at the two of them.
One of them was talking and laughing, waiting for her reply; the other one was looking straight ahead, admiring the corner of the table.
She only then remembered to ask, in an incredulous tone: "Do you know each other?"
Qi Hengan had just entered the Tian family's gate when he was finally answered after much calling. Before he could even think about the impatience in the voice, he was sent to open the door.
From then on, my mind and eyes were only on the person in front of me, and only then did I notice that there was someone sitting next to him.
He took a quick glance.
This man had a face as handsome as a jade, and although he was wearing elegant white clothes, he could not hide the nobility between his brows. His pair of auspicious phoenix eyes were slightly lowered, making it difficult to see the expression in his eyes.
Seeing him looking at me, I nodded slightly.
Although they looked so harmonious, Qi Hengan felt uneasy.
Qi Hengan quickly waved his hands, "I don't know this young man at all." He couldn't help but ask, "Is this the scholar who's staying at my house?"
Ruiyang County has developed shipping. Every time the imperial examination is held, thousands of candidates will rush here like a noble crossing the river. Those who arrive late have to stay in nearby towns.
Counting the days, no matter whether I have achieved fame or not, now is the time to return home.
"Yes, but not entirely." Tian Nongxi smiled. "I am staying at my house temporarily, but I am not a juren."
Lin Luan then withdrew his gaze and said leisurely, "I am not talented and do not understand poetry. I can only do hard labor with my brute strength. Fortunately, Miss Tian does not despise me."
"You don't mind?"
"You don't mind my stupidity." Lin Luan smiled, his eyes sparkling, "You're willing to give me a bite to eat."
"A farmhand, a farmhand. He can help me farm." Tian Nongxi quickly took over the conversation. "Grandpa and grandma are old, and farm work is becoming increasingly difficult. I can't handle it alone, so I asked Master Lin to help."
Qi Hengan curled his lips, not saying whether he believed it or not. He just continued the previous topic and asked, "My sister said that I have changed, but I don't realize what has changed. Can you give me some advice?"
Tian Nongxi said evasively, "If it were the old you, you would have just stayed in the study to study after you came back. Even if you were chatting, you would have been restless and would have been talking about going back all the time."
"Then I'll take my leave." Qi Hengan bowed and said jokingly.
"Okay, but you have to answer me a question first." Tian Nongxi's eyes curved, "Is Madam Qi okay?"
Qi Hengan sighed, not knowing where to begin. He simply replied, "I'll be raised in my grandfather's home. Everything is fine. My mother knew I was going home and wanted to go with me, but she was too weak, so my grandfather persuaded her to go back."
Tian Nongxi recalled the Madam Qi in his memory, a woman who looked weak and frail but was strong at heart. Hearing Qi Heng'an's tone, it seemed that he was now suffering from illness, and he couldn't help feeling sad.
"By the way, my mother also asked me to say hello to you and my parents."
Tian Nongxi grinned and said, "Grandpa, grandma and grandpa went to my second uncle's house a few days ago."
Keep silent about other things.
The three of them sat at the table for nearly half an hour, with Qi Hengan mostly talking and the other two listening.
He kept talking about what he saw and heard on the road and interesting things in the capital, but he never mentioned the purpose of returning to Tianjia Village.
Tian Nongxi used the excuse that he had to look after the crops tomorrow, and his words showed that he was tired, so he said goodbye to Qi Hengan.
Qi Hengan wanted to explain why he left without saying goodbye, but he knew that now was not the right time, so he swallowed it down and waved, "See you tomorrow, Second Sister!"
Tian Nongxi accompanied him to the door and turned around to lock it.
Lin Luan walked out of the kitchen, holding a two- or three-layered food box in his hand, and asked calmly, "We've been chatting for so long, are you hungry?"
After saying that, he walked to the stone table and laid out the contents of the food box one by one.
Fatty but not greasy pork belly, spicy and refreshing Sichuan duck feet, five-treasure fresh vegetables to relieve the fishy smell, crystal clear crystal cake, and a bowl of almond and lotus seed soup.
Perhaps it had been placed on the stove, for it was still warm at this moment, and the breeze blew gently, and the fragrance filled the air.
Tian Nongxi took the wooden chopsticks handed to him by Lin Luan and asked in surprise, "Where are the prices so low?"
She only gave him six cents!
"Seeing that you are so slender today, I might as well treat me as you to buy food. Otherwise, how can I pay you since you can't lift the hoe?" Lin Luan said with a smile.
Tian Nongxi wanted to ask more, but Lin Luan changed the subject and smiled confidently, "He loves you."
He didn't say who "he" was, but they all knew who "he" was.
Tian Nongxi lowered his head, took a bite of the pork belly, and said vaguely, "I know."
To be precise, Qi Hengan likes Tian Erniang.
It was so obvious that within a moment of her looking over, Qi Hengan's face turned red and he couldn't even drink his tea.
Most relationships in the world are caused by coincidences. If only he could come back a few days earlier...
Tian Nongxi thought of the sachet hidden deep in the mahogany cabinet in the house.
The word "peace" was sewn on it with exquisite needlework, and dried plum blossoms were placed inside.
She only had the memory, but she didn't know what Tian Erniang was thinking, so she thought the sachet was for good luck.
But now that I know her feelings, I am hesitant.
Tian Erniang also likes Qi Hengan. If she rejects him, what will happen if Tian Erniang comes back after she leaves this world?
Zhuang Zhou dreamed of a butterfly, and the butterfly dreamed of Zhuang Zhou. She really didn't know whether what she touched and felt was true or not, but she instinctively didn't want to destroy this relationship.
After Tian Nongxi finished eating, he went to wash the dishes. By the time he was done washing up, he was extremely tired, but he still found the sachet from the deep of the cabinet.
She carefully touched the stitches and recalled the scene of Tian Er Niang sewing in her mind.
Everything was normal, no sudden blushing, no inexplicable sadness.
It was only her movements, which were faster and more frequent than usual, that betrayed her.
A girl's heart is moved, and even if she tries to hide it, it is difficult to conceal her feelings.
Tian Erniang lay down on the bed, and just as she was about to close her eyes, she vaguely saw the hemp shoes placed in the corner.
And a brand new kettle hanging next to it.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
