Chapter 602 A Dream of Youth 134
The main purpose of this banquet was to let outsiders see Qiu Yu and know that she was alright. Of course, it also served to deepen the relationship between Qiu Yu and the ladies. Moreover, the ladies would also come here to see if there were any girls present who caught their eye. If so, they could take things further.
"OK."
Xie Ning was unaware that the flower-viewing banquet also implied a matchmaking aspect, and even if she had, it wouldn't have mattered to her, since she wasn't old enough for that yet, and she was currently struggling with how to make more friends, so this banquet came at just the right time.
Before going to the appointment, she had to accompany her mother to Qingfeng Temple.
At first, Xie Ning didn't understand what it meant, but after seeing the "coincidental" meeting with Madam Zhao and Miss Zhao, he looked thoughtfully at Xie Qi, who was lost in thought.
Although she felt Xie Qi was still young, in other people's eyes, the child was old enough to be considered for marriage.
Madam Zhao held Chen Wanniang's hand and smiled, "I had heard of Madam Xie before and was thinking of inviting you to my residence for a gathering. It is truly fate that we meet here."
Chen Wanniang smiled and didn't mention the agreement between the two families at all.
After chatting for a while, the two went into the hall to discuss the Dao with the abbot. Chen Wanniang turned to Xie Qi and said, "Qi'er, you take Bao'er and Miss Zhao to admire the jasmine. We'll go over there later."
Xie Ning's gaze swept around the two of them, and she resigned herself to standing between them.
"I heard from Uncle Zhao that Sister Huilan also likes to read. I wonder what books she reads?"
Xie Qi doesn't talk to women much, especially since he hasn't realized he's being set up with a woman yet. He only thinks he's taking his two younger sisters to admire the flowers. Therefore, Xie Ning has to take the lead in starting a conversation.
Zhao Huilan wore a snow-white lotus-colored silk skirt, over which she wore a plain-colored jacket embroidered with butterflies and flowers. Her hair was simply tied into a bun and held in place with a glass butterfly hairpin.
Dressed in simple blue robes, with a delicate and refined appearance, she was elegant and otherworldly.
Hearing Xie Ning's question, he turned his head slightly and chatted with Xie Ning about the books he usually read. His gaze would occasionally sweep over Xie Ning and stop on Xie Qi, and the tips of his ears turned slightly red.
It was clear that she understood the situation today.
At first, she would focus on listening to Xie Qi talk about these articles, but as she talked more and more with Xie Ning, Zhao Huilan's attention was inevitably drawn to Xie Ning, and the look of amazement in her eyes grew stronger.
"Young Miss Xie is so young, I never knew she possessed such talent."
Xie Ning realized that she had accidentally said too much. She was supposed to guide the conversation between the two people, but she had inadvertently become the main character.
"Ahem, I just like Sister Huilan, I enjoy reading."
Seeing Xie Ning address her as Sister Huilan, Zhao Huilan also changed her form of address, "I've also heard that Sister Ning's medical skills are very impressive. If she weren't intelligent, she wouldn't be able to excel in both fields."
Even though Xie Ning secretly wanted to talk to the two of them, Zhao Huilan was not interested and only wanted to talk to Xie Ning. "Sister Ning, do you like poetry? I have collected a few books of poems about flowers and plants, and I think they are very good. Would you like to take a look?"
"OK."
Speaking of flowers and herbs, Xie Ning couldn't help but extend the conversation to medicinal herbs. Pointing to the jasmine flowers with their emerald green leaves and jade-like blossoms, he said, "Jasmine is fresh and fragrant, elegant and pure. When made into flower tea, it can be drunk in spring and summer to dispel cold and relieve depression."
Its aroma is faint and sweet, rising to the top of the head and descending to the lower abdomen, dispelling all stale and foul air from the chest and clearing away impurities.
In other words, it soothes the liver, relieves depression, regulates qi, and alleviates pain.
Zhao Huilan listened attentively. She only knew the beauty of flowers and plants, but she did not know that they also had so many uses. As a result, she admired Xie Ning even more.
These daughters of officials were more than just beautiful in their clothes; they were also skilled in other areas, such as poetry competitions, painting, flower arranging, music, and dance.
If you don't have any special talents at a banquet, you'll be ridiculed. Although she felt that Xie Ning's medicine was a bit unorthodox, it didn't diminish her admiration for him.
After all, she herself was talented, having read the Four Books and Five Classics, and was adept at composing lyrics and prose. Xie Ning, on the other hand, had studied much more deeply than her and had many insights that she had never thought of or heard of.
Xie Ning was also somewhat surprised by Zhao Huilan's talent, because not only could she compose poems, but Zhao Huilan could also do what Xie Qi, a scholar, could.
"Does Sister Huilan study at home on her own, or does she have a tutor?"
“My mother hired a tutor for me. When I was a child, I studied at my maternal grandparents’ house with my cousins.”
She loved reading, but didn't enjoy discussing poetry with her sisters only in the inner courtyard.
She could also offer some advice and even suggestions on solutions to the problems her father encountered.
My mother is a good person, but she wants to be like my father. They both went to school, so why can't they put their knowledge to good use?
Zhao Huilan reached out and plucked a jasmine flower, then tucked it into Xie Ning's hair. She looked up at Xie Qi and asked softly, "Young Master Xie, what do you think of Ning's medical practice?"
Xie Qi, who had been merely a background figure the whole way, only occasionally chiming in when he was interested, said indifferently, "As long as Bao'er likes it."
"What if there is criticism from the outside world?"
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