Chapter 84: Banquet
"I'm punishing him because you... are disobedient. And he's the one who brought you here and I didn't take good care of you, so it's only right that he be punished. Why are you talking back? If you feel wronged, just give him your monthly allowance. Is it worth it for you to kneel down in front of me?" Chang Xixi sneered, took Gu Rongyu's hand again, and went back to the room.
She just sat down on the stool and didn't say anything for a long time.
Gu Rongyu was still trying to coax her, but Chang Xixi immediately lost her temper. She took out the gadgets she bought on the street and talked about her money-making plan. Gu Rongyu was stunned by what she heard. Where did all these wonderful ideas come from in this little head? And they could all be put into action.
The love in his heart was unconsciously tinged with a thin layer of mystery, which made it even more difficult for him to see through the heart of the girl in front of him. He became more curious about her, and then the love followed. He felt that the emotions in his heart could no longer be held back and were about to burst out.
However, he forcibly restrained his inner impulse and told Chang Xixi in detail what the old teacher in the school had taught. He was very happy, as the teaching was indeed very different.
Chang Xixi saw his joy and was glad that she had accepted Zhou Zhiwei's invitation.
The next day.
Early in the morning, the eldest lady sent someone to deliver a well-cut skirt and a bunch of novel pearl flowers, and verbally instructed, "The eldest lady said that you should not bring shame to the Zhou family. Even if you are not the daughter of the Zhou family, you grew up here and represent a member of the Zhou family."
Chang Xixi asked Xiaohong to take the tray and told the person who brought the things, "Go back and tell my wife that I will definitely not bring shame to the Zhou family."
Xiaohong simply didn't understand what the eldest lady meant.
Chang Xixi listened to her words, only questioning her, saying nothing, and dressed according to the rules. She looked at the pearl flowers again, only one bluish-white one was considered plain and elegant. Today, Zhou Zhiwei would definitely wear heavy makeup, and she couldn't steal the show.
The clothes sent by the eldest lady were also the same bluish-pink color as hibiscus, embroidered with small silk flowers. Fortunately, the material was the upper layer, and the flowers were on the neckline and cuffs. It was very grand and dignified, not petty at all. With the flowers, she really looked like a fairy walking out from the newly sprouted tender leaves in spring.
She looked at the golden hairpin on the dressing table and thought it was not suitable for her outfit, so she had to give it up reluctantly.
Gu Rongyu went to school before dawn, so he naturally couldn't see her hesitation, but he seemed to know what Chang Xixi was thinking, so he asked Li Da to give her a plain hairpin. It was made of jade and carved with a plum blossom, which looked particularly simple and elegant.
Chang Xixi liked the hairpin so much just by looking at it that she put it on her head immediately.
If I put on the mandarin duck jade pendant my wife gave me, everything will be complete. Looking at myself in the mirror, I feel okay. I am not outstanding, but I can’t say I don’t dress up either.
Led by Zhou Zhiwei's maid, Li Da followed the two of them to the carriage at the door. The coachman put down the stool, Xiaohong helped Chang Xixi sit on it, and she also got into the carriage. Li Da sat outside with the coachman, and Huanzi swung the carriage and headed towards Zhang's house.
At the gate of Zhang's house, there was a maid waiting to lead the way. When she saw a simple carriage parked in front of the gate, she rolled her eyes to the sky and looked down on people.
"Whose family is this?"
Li Da got off the carriage and said to the maid, "We are guests of the Zhou Mansion, the Chang family of the Gu family from Wanfu Village."
"Are you the... the Chang Xixi who's visiting the Zhou residence? I've been waiting for you here for a long time, and you're so slow. You knew you couldn't find the way, so why didn't you come earlier with your Miss Zhou? You insisted on taking a carriage by yourself."
Chang Xixi, supported by Xiaohong, got off the carriage. Seeing this sharp-tongued girl, she smiled and said, "This girl has great potential. Xiaohong, give her a reward of one or two taels of silver, so that you won't say I'm stingy and can't even afford a reward for showing her the way."
"Yes, Miss." The maid took the silver in her hand and felt it was burning. She wanted to find a hole in the ground to crawl into immediately. She was just mocking the other person for having no money or power. She was just a guest, but she still had to wait here and serve him.
Xiaohong also imitated the maid's behavior just now, looking at people with her nose!
Since she had gone out with the young lady yesterday, she had learned that during the year that the young lady had been away, she had earned enough to support the entire Zhou family. Moreover, she had even bought a small courtyard outside to live in.
The young lady doesn't need to stay in the Zhou Mansion. She can come back to live here because she really misses the master and the mistress, and she looks down on Zhou Zhiwei from the bottom of her heart.
He snorted coldly, then gently helped his young lady in through the side door.
The maid reluctantly led the way. From afar, they could hear bursts of laughter. Everyone heard the footsteps and looked over. Chang Xixi remained calm, "Hello, sisters! I couldn't find the way and came a little late. I hope I didn't disturb your fun."
"Are you Chang Xixi?"
A young lady who used to know Chang Xixi recognized her and exclaimed in surprise.
Chang Xixi bowed as if she were his equal. "Thankfully, you still recognize me. Otherwise, I would have thought no one here would remember me. It's me. I've returned from those wild mountains. I hope you can give me more guidance in the future."
The daughter of the Zhang family was a little surprised to see her so polite and modest. She stood up to greet her and also performed a greeting as an equal. "I asked Zhiwei to invite you and said you would be late. I thought you wouldn't come. Now that you are here, we are all friends from now on."
Chang Xixi didn't bother with formalities and sat down directly.
Zhou Zhiwei was too embarrassed to bear it. She knew that Zhou Zhiwei had sent people here to humiliate her, but there was nothing she could do... In Ruzhou County, only her father held a high official position, and the sisters-in-law could only maintain their relationship by visiting each other in this way.
"Xixi, you're back. Have you been living in the Zhou Mansion? Are you struggling financially and can't make ends meet in the countryside, so you're here to beg for money?"
"I just miss the master and the mistress. I came to the capital to take the imperial examination with my husband. I passed by Ruzhou and was invited by Zhiwei to stay at her house for a few days." Chang Xixi's words made it impossible for them to intervene. She was really too even-handed and they didn't know where to start.
Zhou Zhiwei could only force a smile.
"You're married?" Everyone was surprised. They had never seen a servant girl go to the countryside and come back. Their eyes widened. "Yes! And he's a scholar, very handsome. Did you use your own money to pay for his travel expenses?"
Chang Xixi nodded first, then shook her head. "When we were in hard times, it was my husband who went to the bookstore to copy books to earn money to support me. He is about to take the exam, so I should also contribute."
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