Chapter 66 Cousin Heng, I haven’t seen you for many years. Are you doing well?
When they heard Qingquan report that the old lady wanted to see them, the two men holding the books were stunned.
In the end, it was Su Ying who gently shifted her gaze and withdrew her hand that was holding the "Treatise on Febrile Diseases".
Although Du Heng was unable to express his thoughts, Su Ying, who was sitting on the stool with a rosy face, no longer dodged in a hurry as before. This was enough to make Du Heng feel a little relieved, as if he had taken a reassurance pill.
A smile could not help but spread from the corner of his lips. He still looked at her intently and asked in a low voice: "Ying'er, where do you want to put the book?"
Su Ying didn't look up, just looked at the bookshelf on the bottom shelf in front of her, and answered softly: "Here."
These two simple words were like the softest and sweetest response in the world, making him feel happy. He murmured, "Okay."
So I arranged the books as she said.
He originally wanted to help her up, but before he could open his mouth, he heard her call out, "Taoxi."
Taoxi came over and called out "Cousin".
At this moment, Su Ying had calmed down. If it weren't for the slight blush on her cheeks, Du Heng would almost think that the scene just now was just a fantasy in his mind.
"I walk slowly, so please go ahead, cousin, and don't keep grandma waiting."
After she finished speaking, she let Taoxi help her up, and only after Du Heng left did she slowly follow him.
Du Heng saw that she clearly wanted to leave him and knew that she was still hesitant, so he did not force her, nor did he avoid mentioning Taoxi's origins. He simply said, "Let Taoxi help you walk. She was sent here to serve you."
After saying that, he walked out of the library first.
With Taoxi around, he had nothing to worry about. Ying'er was right in reminding him not to keep his grandmother or the guests waiting for too long.
......
Deng Jinniang suppressed her curiosity and nervousness and restrained herself from looking outside the door.
After so many years, she has long had a vague impression of Du Heng as a child.
She only remembered that he was slightly taller than her. When she came in to pay her respects to her aunt, her mother specifically asked her to walk in front of Du Heng. The two met and saluted.
His mother smiled and said, "Go ahead, cousins, go play together for a while." But Du Heng said respectfully, "Aunt, please forgive me. I need to go back to my study to study."
This was the only thing that impressed Deng Jinniang about Du Heng. At the time, she was still young and simply thought this cousin Heng was different. Looking back now, it was truly rare for someone so young to be so calm and restrained.
Later, she heard from her mother that her cousin Heng had won the first place in the imperial examination and passed the imperial examination. Her yearning for him grew stronger and stronger.
She didn't know how many times she had picked up the teacup and lowered her head to sip it. When she put it down again, she suddenly heard someone outside the house announce, "The young master is here."
After hearing the maid's message, she could no longer hold back and tilted her head slightly to look at the door.
At this time, Du Heng lowered his head slightly because the maid lifted the curtain. When he raised his head, his eyes happened to meet hers.
Deng Jinniang felt her heart suddenly jump, and she heard the sound of her heartbeat "thump, thump" in her ears.
She quickly looked away, fearing that others would see her and think she was not dignified enough.
When she saw Du Heng approaching the old lady out of the corner of her eye, she looked up again.
Du Heng lifted up his clothes and bowed to the old lady and Cheng in turn.
Deng Jinniang noticed that Du Heng's every move exuded the gentle elegance of a scholar. But a closer look into his eyes revealed a perseverance not often found in ordinary scholars—a quality only found in those truly tempered.
Compared with the usual thinness of Fujian men, his figure is obviously more muscular, with upright lines showing under his robe, which makes women feel shy when they see him.
"Heng'er, look quickly, who is here?"
Cheng Shi saw Jin Niang couldn't help looking at Heng'er after he entered the room, and she was very satisfied. She knew how good her Heng'er was, but Heng'er was a dull boy. He didn't look away from her after he entered the room, and didn't even look at Jin Niang.
So she stood up, took Jinniang with her, and pushed her in front of her son who had just finished the ceremony.
Du Heng, however, did not lose his manners when a woman approached him. He lowered his eyes and bowed to Jin Niang. Then he turned to his mother and asked, "Who is this?"
Cheng laughed and said, "My silly child, how could you even forget your own cousin? She is Jinniang, your cousin from your aunt's family who lives far away in Fujian. You met her when you were little."
Du Heng frowned slightly, realizing that his mother had emphasized the words "serious cousin" deliberately, as if she was afraid that he wouldn't understand the meaning.
Du Heng suddenly felt unhappy.
At this time, Jinniang's voice sounded softly: "Brother Heng, it's been many years since we last met. Are you doing well?"
Deng Jinniang looked up at Du Heng. Unlike her childhood memories, she was only just taller than his shoulders. Gazing at the tall and straight Du Heng, Deng Jinniang blushed.
She bit her lip, trying her best to be dignified and reserved. She didn't want Du Heng to think that she didn't know the etiquette of a woman from the capital because she came from such a remote place like Fujian.
She then lowered her eyes, bowed towards Du Heng, then slowly raised her head to reveal her beautiful face.
This set of formalities was something she had devised while accompanying her father at the Fuzhou Prefecture School. Due to her father's duties, she had seen many students over the years. Every time she performed this ritual, she would see expressions of amazement in the young students' eyes. It always worked.
But unexpectedly, when she raised her head and looked at Du Heng again, there was clearly no trace of her in his eyes.
He said, "I heard that my cousin would be home with mother, but I never thought she'd arrive in just a few days. I don't know why I haven't received a reply from the mansion. I'm sure she's had a hard journey. Mother, why don't you let her rest for a few days?"
Deng Jinniang had imagined various scenarios for her meeting Du Heng, but she had never imagined him to be so distant. Although he stated every word as fact, she felt humiliated when she heard it.
The journey from Fujian to the capital is quite long, but they arrived so quickly, which clearly told others that their mother was impatient.
She hadn't even received a reply from the Du family, but she had already arrived at their house and knocked on the door alone. There wasn't even a servant to greet her, which was tantamount to lowering her status.
She was exhausted from the journey and looked so embarrassed when she first met Du Heng. Even if her behavior was not inferior to that of the young ladies from official families in the capital, she would only be regarded as an imitator and be laughed at.
Those behaviors and schemes that she had always been adept at were completely incompatible in the capital and in front of Du Heng.
Deng Jinniang suddenly felt ashamed and stood in front of Du Heng, not knowing whether to stand or sit.
Fortunately, the maid lifted the curtain again, and two girls of the same age as her came in, diverting everyone's attention from her.
She was a little confused, but she kept a steady smile on her face as she waited for the two men to come.
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