Chapter 152: Jade-like Youth (Two Chapters in One)
Although Tong'an is less than a hundred miles away from the capital, Zhen Wuduo was reluctant to let his precious granddaughter take the risk alone. Although Zhao Shiqing repeatedly assured him that there would be no danger this time, Zhen Wuduo still insisted on going with her.
All the children went out, and the old man didn't want to stay alone in the big house and feel sad. Although Xiuxiu was still left behind, she only liked to apply makeup in front of the mirror, unlike Zhao Shiqing who could play with him.
Zhao Shiqing had no choice but to agree and take the cat, the eagle, his grandfather, and his whole family to Tong'an.
On this day, the usually bustling Zhen residence suddenly became quiet. Xiuxiu went to the street to buy materials for disguise. Dapang was too fat for Xiuxiu to carry, so she left it at home.
Three days ago, Zhen Wuduo sent his older brother Zhang Ye to a nearby private school.
Zhen Wuduo gave the private school one hundred taels of silver, so not only Zhang Ye could go to school, but also Niqiu. All the children in the family could go, but Niqiu didn't want to go to school. He kept putting it off, and now that Zhao Shiqing had assigned him a task, he simply didn't go.
But Zhang Ye had no right not to go, as he was the youngest and children had to go to school.
Therefore, now in this huge house, apart from Menzi, there is only Dapang and Xiaoye running around the yard.
Xiaoye is already a half-grown dog, and it is the most embarrassing time in a dog's life. He is like a thin strip of paper, and he chews on everything he sees. That day, while Dapang was sleeping, he actually chewed Dapang's tail. He was beaten by Dapang and behaved well for half an hour. After half an hour, he ran to Dapang with his tail wagging, begging him to play with him. He looked so shameless, and I don't know who he inherited it from.
The main group is not here today. Looking at the empty courtyard, Xiaoye suddenly realized the heavy responsibility. It is his turn to guard the house today.
Xiaoye became excited and ran around the yard wildly, shouting. Then he dug the ground, rolled over, and urinated. Then he dug the ground again, rolled over, and urinated again.
When the dog started digging the ground, Dapang jumped onto the rockery and looked at the stupid dog below with contempt.
Xiaoye went crazy for a while, marking all the places he liked. When his mission was complete, he remembered Dapang.
When he looked up, he saw that the fat cat was actually on the rockery. Xiaoye also wanted to go up, but he jumped from one stone to another and couldn't go up any higher. There was no way, Xiaoye could only bark at the fat cat.
Dapang has the best temper in the family, but now he is also annoyed. When will this stupid dog grow up? It’s so annoying.
Dapang changed his position, facing the stupid dog with his butt, and was about to fall asleep when he heard a knock on the door.
Just when Dapang wanted to ask Xiaoye to go and take a look, Xiaoye had already run out.
The doorman is finally alive!
The real gatekeeper is called Lao Yu. He is not old actually, not even forty years old, but he goes out to sea all year round, so he is dark and thin, with a weather-frost face, and looks like he is over fifty years old.
Lao Yu opened the door a crack and stuck his head out. He saw a young man standing outside. He was about twenty years old, wearing a blue shirt and a green jade tied in his hair, which made him look even more handsome, like a figure walked out of an ink painting.
Lao Yu narrowed his eyes and was about to speak when he heard a dog barking behind him. The doorman rushed over and fell down because he rushed too fast.
Lao Yu ignored it and stretched out a foot to stop Xiaoye and prevent it from rushing out.
Lao Yu asked, "Sir, who are you looking for?"
Yang Shengqiu looked at the old and mottled gate and the old man with a face full of bitterness and hatred. He suspected that he had come to the wrong place.
The last time he saw Nannan, her clothes were not fancy but not cheap either. In addition, she had easily bought a coffin and a grave for Dr. Yang. Yang Shengqiu thought that her grandfather's family was well-off. Even if they were not extremely wealthy, they at least had a lot of money.
But now it looks like a poor family.
He was puzzled, but his face didn't show it. He remained polite and courteous. "Excuse me, is this the Zhen Mansion?"
Lao Yu nodded: "Yes."
Yang Shengqiu was about to say he was looking for your cousin, but then he remembered the difference between men and women and hurriedly said, "My last name is Yang. When I was young, I was helped by your uncle. I learned that your old man and cousin had come to the capital, so I came to visit."
Lao Yu was almost confused and took him a long time to sort it out in his mind.
"It's really unfortunate that my old master and cousin are not in the capital. They are out of town for business."
Yang Shengqiu sighed silently in his heart. Nannan's maternal family was indeed a merchant family. Nannan had to go with them to do business at such a young age. However, the Shi family was also in business, and Shi's father sold cloth.
However, Yang Shengqiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the dilapidated courtyard wall, his heart finally settled down.
So what if Nannan knew the contents of the letter, and remembered the massacre? She was just a merchant girl now, and no one would believe her even if she told others about it.
Yang Shengqiu walked away with ease. In this capital city, Nannan was not even a small stone and could not cause a ripple.
Yang Shengqiu walked a long way and could still hear the barking of dogs. He shook his head and put all of this behind him.
After walking out of the alley, Yang Shengqiu was about to get into his sedan chair when he saw a sedan chair stop in front of his. A young girl came out of the sedan chair and handed a few copper coins to the sedan bearer. The sedan bearer was obviously acquainted with her and said with a smile, "Miss Xiuxiu, next time you need a sedan chair, just come to find us under the big locust tree in front."
Xiuxiu nodded and said crisply, "Okay."
She was carrying a lot of bags in her hands, and when she turned around, she was not careful and bumped into Yang Shengqiu, and the things in her hands fell to the ground.
They were several packets of something that looked like paint. When the paper packets opened, the turmeric-yellow powder splashed onto Yang Shengqiu's robe and boots, instantly staining them with color.
Xiuxiu was startled and apologized hurriedly: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I was careless and stained your clothes. I will compensate you."
Yang Shengqiu always liked cleanliness. At this moment, he looked down at the clothes and shoes stained with paint, and felt disgusted. But when he looked up, he met a pair of eyes as pure as water. The scolding on his lips turned into: "It's okay, the girl didn't do it on purpose. Besides, it's just dirty. You can wash it and wear it again. You don't have to pay for it."
It was not until then that Xiuxiu saw clearly that the person she had bumped into was actually a godlike young man.
So handsome, so elegant, and so approachable.
Xiuxiu blushed and whispered, "How about you change your clothes and I'll wash them for you? This kind of paint is hard to wash off, but I know how to wash it off."
Yang Shengqiu wanted to say no, but he had just entered the officialdom and his salary was not high. It was nothing for a wealthy family, but for him, every ounce of silver he earned had to be spent frugally. The clothes and shoes and socks he was wearing were all bought recently, and he only had two sets to wear. If this set of clothes was ruined, he would have to wait until next month when he received his salary to buy a new set.
Another expense.
Thinking of this, I couldn't bring myself to refuse.
"Then go back and try to wash it first. If you can't wash it, come back and ask the young lady for advice."
It was the first time someone spoke to her in such a polite tone. Xiuxiu felt a little shy, but also a little excited.
She was young. When her parents were still alive, she was the youngest in the family. Whether at home or in the inn, everyone treated her like a child. Of course, people would not be polite to children.
Later, when she lived in Zhaoting Town, all she heard was Chef Zhang's scolding. Not to mention being polite, he didn't even have the most basic respect.
Later, she met Zhao Shiqing and became a member of her team traveling north and south. They were of the same age and would chat, laugh, and play around together. Were they polite? No, laughing and joking was their daily routine.
Therefore, when a young man, as elegant and graceful as a picture, spoke to her in a gentle tone, Xiuxiu blushed nervously, "It's not that I'm asking for advice. I live at the house at the end of this alley. Just bring the clothes over. The responsibility is mine, and I will take full responsibility to the end."
Upon hearing this, Yang Shengqiu was stunned. Isn’t the house at the end of the alley the home of Nannan’s grandfather?
"Is your surname Zhen?" Could this be Nannan's cousin?
Yang Shengqiu secretly looked at the girl in front of him. Although she was wearing a straw hat and a cloth skirt, her skin was fair and delicate, her facial features were pretty, and her smile was sweet and innocent. She didn't look like a maid or a servant, but rather like a girl who was raised in a small family.
Don’t mention it, Yang Shengqiu guessed half right.
For the first fourteen years of her life, Xiuxiu was loved by her parents and sister, and her family was well-off and she lived a stable life. She was indeed as Yang Shengqiu had guessed, a pampered girl from a poor family.
But after she turned fourteen, she lost her relatives and her home. She and her cat traveled thousands of miles and suffered a lot.
At this time, Xiuxiu opened her red lips and said to Yang Shengqiu, "My last name is not Zhen. Are you here to see Old Master Zhen?"
Yang Shengqiu nodded and said, "Old Master Zhen has been very kind to me. I came here to express my gratitude. I didn't expect to arrive at such an unfortunate time. Old Master Zhen is not in the capital."
Whether he was facing Menzi Lao Yu just now or the young girl in front of him at this moment, Yang Shengqiu did not mention what favors Old Master Zhen had done for him.
Don’t mention the past, you can advance or retreat.
Zhen Wuduo and his grandchildren buried his grandfather for him, which was a great favor.
Seeing that this person was indeed here to see Old Master Zhen, Xiuxiu said, "Sir, what is your name and address? When Old Master Zhen comes back, I'll tell him for you."
"My last name is Yang, Mu Yiyang, also known as Yang Shengqiu."
Xiuxiu was startled. Yang Shengqiu? She had heard of this name before. Firstly, he was the top scholar, and secondly, Zhao Shiqing had mentioned him.
"So it's Yang Zhuangyuan. Don't worry, I will tell the old man when he comes back."
When Xiuxiu looked at Yang Shengqiu again, there was a bit more admiration in her eyes.
There was no way, she was surrounded by poor students, and Shen Wangxing, the only one who had studied seriously, never picked up a book again after following them.
So now seeing Yang Shengqiu, the top scholar, Xiuxiu felt like she had seen the God of Literature descend to earth. Oh my God, she has made it big, she has seen the real top scholar!
"It's just a small name. I'm sorry to make you laugh. You live in the Zhen Mansion, but you are a relative of the Zhen family?"
Xiuxiu knew that Yang Shengqiu was an old friend of Zhao Shiqing, so he was not an outsider.
She smiled and said, "My last name is Su. I came here with the Second Miss. By the way, the Second Miss is Old Master Zhen's granddaughter."
Yang Shengqiu was stunned: "Second Miss? There is also an eldest lady in the mansion?"
Xiuxiu remembered what Zhao Shiqing had said: they must not tell anyone that they were from Liangdi, and without her permission, they must not reveal that her last name was Zhao.
If you can't mention Liangdi, then you can't tell Yang Shengqiu that there is no eldest lady, but there is a princess.
She hurriedly said, "The old man has many descendants, and the second young lady has an older sister."
Yang Shengqiu nodded and understood that the so-called eldest lady was actually the daughter of the Zhen family.
Yang Shengqiu lost interest, chatted with Xiuxiu casually for a few words, then got into the sedan chair and left.
Watching the blue cloth sedan completely disappear, Xiuxiu's heart began to flutter. Was this a sign of joy?
She didn't know how she walked back. It was just an alley, but it took her twice as long as usual to get home.
At this time, Zhao Shiqing had already arrived in Tong'an.
Just as they were about to find an inn to stay in, Zhen Wuduo waved his hand and said, "What kind of inn are you staying in? An inn can never compare to the comfort of home. Let's go home!"
Zhao Shiqing was stunned. There was a home in this small county town?
"Grandpa, you also have a house here?" Zhao Shiqing blinked her eyes with stars in her eyes. Grandpa is so rich.
Zhen Wuduo pointed at herself and said, "It's not me who owns the house, it's you who owns it. Grandpa had nothing better to do, so he had houses built for him in several counties near the capital. They are all yours. Whether you marry into a family or marry someone else, these will all be yours."
Zhao Shiqing was so moved that she was in a mess: "Grandpa, you are so kind. I will be your little cotton-padded jacket for the rest of my life."
Zhen Wuduo nodded with satisfaction. It was still a good idea to have a small cotton-padded jacket. It was just a few houses. If it were his sons, they would probably complain in their hearts why he didn't buy houses in the capital. The houses in the county town could never compare to those in the capital.
But his little girl was very happy. She didn’t have to stay in an inn wherever she went. How great was that.
Tong'an's house is a small two-story courtyard. It's not a big place, but it's well-organized. He even has a big yellow dog to guard the house.
Zhao Shiqing whispered a few words into Ah Huang's ear, and Ah Huang wagged his tail and followed her wherever she went. He wished he could quit his job and follow her back to the capital.
Xiao Yao was so angry that he rolled his eyes. He finally didn't have to face Xiao Ye, that stupid dog. Who would have thought that there would be another Ah Huang in Tong'an.
Ah Huang followed Zhao Shiqing, but he was not idle. He talked about the gossip of other people, whether it was what he saw with his own eyes or heard from other dogs, whether it was true or false, he told Zhao Shiqing everything.
Zhao Shiqing was deeply moved and really wanted to capture all of his children and let Ah Huang train them.
Ah Huang is the gossipy person in her mind.
Ah Huang has already talked about the family living in the alley in front. Because of the tofu beauty on East Street, their home is in turmoil. The couple fights every day and can't take care of their children, let alone their dog. Their dog ran away from home with the children and hasn't returned home for three days.
Zhao Shiqing asked hurriedly, "Oh, could it be that he was abducted by some kidnapper?"
Ah Huang said he didn't know.
At this time, one of Jiang Han's guards came trotting in: "Second Miss, the steward surnamed Jin has entered the city and is now living nearby."
Zhao Shiqing asked hurriedly, "Living in an inn?"
The guard shook his head and said, "There's a tofu beauty on East Street. Manager Jin lives in her house."
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