Hu Xu replied, "Because I used to work as a helper in a shop, I got used to it and couldn't change it."
"Working as an assistant?" Wen Huiqi asked, "I never thought that Shopkeeper Xu's bookshop was a place where hidden talents abound."
Xu Jiang smiled and thought: There is no tiger, only a big cat that has not yet returned home.
Thinking of this, she reached for the badge on her waist and traced the majestic tiger head on it.
"By the way, last time I said I wanted my boss to publish a collection of my essays. Thinking of accepting it, I brought it along." Hu Xu handed a stack of wrapped paper to Xu Jiang.
Before Xu Jiang could take it, Wen Hui at the side reached out and said, "May I borrow it for a moment?"
"Of course, it's my honor to have your approval." Hu Xu respectfully presented the article to him.
After Wen Hui took it, she moved it to a low table beside her and opened it to read carefully.
Xu Jiang moved the tea to him and stopped disturbing him.
The three of them sat opposite each other.
Xu Jiang held up the tea and said to Song Qiao, "Madam Song, this is your first visit to my humble shop. I offer this to you and thank you for your willingness to help."
Song Qiao raised his cup and replied, "Madam Xu, you are too polite."
Seeing that Song Qiao was a little nervous, Hu Xu comforted her, "Madam Song, don't be so reserved. There are no rules here. Just get along as you please."
"Yeah." Song Qiao nodded, and his expression was indeed much more relaxed.
Xu Jiang glanced at the two of them, then looked at Song Qiao and made her conclusion.
Song Qiao finished her cup of tea and Xu Jiang pretended not to notice. The next moment, she saw Hu Xu picking up the kettle to add more tea for her.
She simply handed Song Qiao over to Hu Xu's care.
"I'll go get some snacks." After saying that, she called Yin Yin to go to the kitchen.
Wen Hui was engrossed in reading an article, and Xu Jiang left the table, leaving only Hu Xu and Song Qiao.
Hu Xu was afraid that Song Qiao would be bored, so he found a topic to chat with her, "Madam Song, do you really know so many orchids?"
"You don't believe it?"
"It's not that I don't believe it, but I admire it."
Song Qiao's tone softened a bit. "Since I was little, I've been going up the mountains and into the valleys with my father to look for orchids. I've seen a lot, so I've learned a lot. There's nothing to admire."
Hu Xu rarely heard her talk about herself, and was a little curious. "Since childhood? Don't you think it's hard?"
Song Qiao asked back: "Do you find studying hard?"
"It's hard work." Hu Xu said with a smile, "But I'm willing to do it."
This person's smile was full of spring, and Song Qiao couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth, "Me too, I am willing."
Hu Xu's fingers seemed to be scalded as he touched the teacup.
The two of them were silent for a while, and Song Qiao looked up and around. Unexpectedly, his eyes fell on the Xiangshan white rib painting on the wall.
Hu Xu noticed her gaze fixed on one spot and followed it. He was stunned for a moment, then said, "Before the New Year, I saw it blooming festively, so I painted it and gave it to my employer as a gift, symbolizing prosperity. It was my employer who told me it's called the Fragrant Hill White Rib, and that it's rare in the capital and a very valuable flower."
He paused and said softly, "You gave it to me so casually that I thought it was just an ordinary flower."
Although the two had been neighbors for three years, they rarely interacted. Later, Song Qiao's father accidentally broke his leg while looking for flowers. On the way back to the city, the father and daughter met Hu Xu by chance. With his help, they sent the man to the clinic. Later, he also carried Song's father back home, and that's how they became acquainted.
At that time, a Fragrant Mountain White Burley was in full bloom in the yard. When Hu Xu saw it, he praised it casually, and Song Qiao gave the flower to him.
She did not tell Hu Xu what kind of flower it was or how much it was worth, so he treated it as an ordinary plant, happily took it home, and even painted a picture of it.
Later, when I learned how valuable it was, I thought about returning it, but for some reason, after the flower withered, the leaves all dried up, leaving only a shriveled bulb, so I had to give up.
"It's not a casual farewell." Song Qiao was silent for a long time before he spoke.
"What?" Hu Xu was about to ask in detail, but was interrupted by Wen Hui's admiration.
"Excellent article! His discussion of fairness, drawing on the universe, is truly remarkable." Wen Hui, after reading Hu Xu's essay on fairness, could not help but praise it. "He is worthy of being the top scholar. Such writing is not something that ordinary people can produce."
Hu Xu bowed and said modestly, "Sir, your compliment is greatly appreciated."
This article was written after he was inspired by the imperial examination cheating case. He used the way of nature to discuss the importance of fairness from the five aspects of Qian, Kun, country, monarch, ministers, and people.
When this article was first written, it was a bit radical and hasty. It was later revised by Mr. Lu from Qinghuai Township and proofread by Yuan Zu, and it became the article it is today.
It's not his own achievement.
Xu Jiang entered through the small door carrying some snacks and said with a smile, "I heard you praising my writing in the courtyard. Now that my bookshop is publishing another good book, I'm really happy and congratulated."
After she finished speaking, she and Yinyin set up the tea and snacks, then poured a cup of tea to everyone and said, "We should celebrate with such a good book and article. Please."
Wen Hui also raised his glass and said cheerfully, "Manager Xu is right. I should toast to you for your good writing."
The two men toasted Hu Xu together, and Hu Xu hurriedly raised his glass to greet them.
Xu Jiang looked at Song Qiao again, and when she saw Song Qiao holding up the teacup, she smiled and raised the teacup to Wen Hui, drinking with him.
Seeing this, Hu Xu was about to drink with a smile, but he saw Song Qiao handing the teacup to him and gently clinking it with his.
A slight crisp sound made his heart tremble slightly.
Song Qiao whispered to him, "Congratulations."
He was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Thank you."
The two of them drank a cup together.
After reading an article and drinking a cup of tea, Wen Hui was ready to leave. Before leaving, he invited the three of them to go to the orchid garden on the day of Lesser Heat to cool off and appreciate orchids.
Xu Jiang was not in a position to travel around now, so she declined.
Song Qiao would naturally not refuse.
The court took a holiday on the day of Lesser Heat, and Hu Xu agreed.
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