I wouldn't say I longed for it, but I was definitely curious.
Time wasn't in a rush; the group traveled at a leisurely pace, stopping frequently along the way, and it took them over a month to reach the capital.
Shen Laosan performed his duties as the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review diligently and was praised by the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review several times.
Although he was young, he had gained considerable prestige in the Dali Temple over the past five years. When the soldiers at the city gate saw that it was a token from the Shen family, they did not stop him and let him pass directly.
Lili looked out curiously, and the capital city was indeed as prosperous as the legends said. The streets were three times the size of those elsewhere, and the buildings and houses were exquisite.
The carriage headed towards Seven Star Lane, making two sharp turns. From afar, Lili could see a large group of people waiting at the gate of the mansion.
The Shen family received the news early in the morning. After the servant ran back to report that the group had entered the city, they waited together at the city gate.
Shen Jialuo rode his horse alongside Lili's carriage, noticing her looking happily at the crowd of people who were also eagerly waiting. He asked her, "How are you, Lili? It's been five years. Are you especially nervous?"
Lili asked curiously, "Why are you nervous?"
These are all her family members, why are you so nervous?
Lili wasn't nervous, but the Shen family over there were extremely nervous.
On one side, Old Lady Shen asked the maidservant beside her if her clothes were neat and tidy, while on the other side, Madam Chen helped Madam Yang fix her hairpins.
"Jialuo, I see Jialuo! Isn't that Lili's carriage over there?"
"Those two cars at the very front must be my in-laws', and the one in the front must be Jiawen's."
"Wait a minute, where's Shen Jialu?"
Liu looked around but didn't see a fifth carriage.
Liu muttered, "That brat, he's really obsessed with money."
Having not seen her son for five years, Liu was naturally somewhat disappointed, but as the convoy stopped in front of her, that disappointment immediately vanished.
It's good to earn more money, otherwise where will their daughter Lili get new clothes to wear!
The servants of the Shen household quickly placed the treadmill down and helped the Yang family members down. Old Mrs. Shen immediately went up to them and greeted them warmly: "Oh my, my dear in-laws, it's been a long time! The feng shui of Jiangnan is truly nurturing; you look even younger than before, my dear in-laws!"
Guo replied with a smile, "Not at all, it's all thanks to Lili by my side these past few years. This child is so filial, she makes us old folks happy every day. When we're happy, we naturally look rosy-cheeked."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Old Mrs. Shen turned to help Old Madam Yang up, and then began to show concern for the elderly couple: "Grandpa, Grandma..."
After the two groups chatted and exchanged pleasantries for a while, Lili and Shen Jiawen came over hand in hand. Yang Shi immediately shifted her attention, pulled her daughter up and down to look her over, and then hugged her tightly: "My Lili, you've grown so much!"
For the past five years, the mother and daughter could only exchange a few words through those few letters, or hear from Shen Jialuo that she missed her terribly.
Ms. Yang had always imagined how tall Lili would grow and how long her hair would be from Shen Jialuo's words. Now that she had finally seen her daughter in person, Ms. Yang's eyes welled up with tears.
Shen Laosan hugged the mother and daughter and comforted Yang: "It's the first day the child has come back, you can't cry."
Lili snuggled closer to Madam Yang and said, "Yes, Mother, Lili has grown up to be very beautiful. Mother, your eyes are red, and Lili thinks I've become ugly."
"Pah, pah, pah, how can you talk about yourself like that?" Madam Yang wiped her eyes, finally managing to smile through her tears.
Chen was also crying uncontrollably as she watched her grown-up son. Between sobs, she hit him, saying, "Oh dear, you've grown so tall! From now on, I'll have to stand on a stool to pinch your cheeks! I wonder where your little brother has gone off to. He hasn't written to his old mother in half a year. I bet he's about as tall as you now."
Shen Jiawen was both amused and exasperated, and grabbed Chen's hand to comfort her: "Mother."
Everyone watched with envy at this long-awaited reunion. Old Mrs. Shen and Old Mr. Shen were both gratified and satisfied.
Lili stepped forward and gave a proper bow: "Grandpa, Grandma."
Shen Jiawen was the same, and Old Mrs. Shen nodded repeatedly: "Good, good, good, it's good that you're back."
A large group of people were happily reuniting, but Shen Jialuo was left alone on the outermost edge, ignored by everyone.
Shen Jialuo tried to get close to his parents and tell them he was back, but Shen Laosan was busy comforting his wife and didn't even spare a glance for him.
Shen Jialuo tried to join the conversation between Old Lady Shen and Lili, but Old Lady Shen was holding Lili's left hand and Shen Jiawen's right hand, showing concern for them, leaving no room for Shen Jialuo.
"No, then I'll leave."
Finally, it was Old Man Shen who pulled him back: "Go away, go away, don't ruin the atmosphere here."
Shen Jialuo: "........."
oh.
The news of the Yang family's return to Beijing had not yet spread, and the Shen family did not even know the true identity of the Yang family. Although the Yang family still had a house in Beijing, they naturally had to live in the Shen family's house for the time being.
The Shen family had made preparations well in advance. Old Mrs. Shen and her sisters-in-law accompanied them, personally leading the Yang family to their courtyard. Naturally, Lili could only be accompanied by Shen Jialuo.
Lili's yard is right next to Shen Jialuo's, which Shen Jialuo fought hard for back then.
Even the decorations and furnishings in Lili's courtyard were all arranged by Shen Jialuo.
"Hehe, the courtyards of the other brothers were also personally arranged by your younger brother, but they are not as exquisite as Lili's." Shen Jialu chuckled.
Shen Jiawen raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Fifth brother, so all you've done these past five years, besides dominating the kids' gang, is tinkering with this kind of stuff?"
Shen Jialu blushed deeply, feeling a little embarrassed and too ashamed to admit that he also missed his older brothers, which is why he took on all the chores.
A real man shouldn't be so coy, but the thought of personally arranging the yard made him feel a bit awkward, like a young girl in love.
"I was just bored, it's not something I did specifically."
Shen Jiawen chuckled: "Thank you, Fifth Brother. You're very kind. I'm sure Eldest Brother and the others will like it too."
"Oh," Shen Jialuo replied awkwardly.
After settling her things, Lili and Shen Jiawen, led by Shen Jialuo, strolled around the mansion.
When she arrived, she had noticed that the families in the neighborhood all seemed to have some background and were all prominent and wealthy households.
For example, in the Jiang family next door, the only person Lili knew of was the Minister of Personnel.
At the time, Shen Jialuo said that it was through the Xia family that they were able to find such a house. But today, seeing it for themselves, they realized that the location was excellent, quiet amidst the hustle and bustle, and the neighbors were all high-ranking officials and dignitaries.
Presumably, besides the Xia family, someone else also contributed to this house.
Lili smiled, pursing her lips.
In fact, the two didn't communicate much during those five years, and they didn't even exchange more than a few letters.
Every year on their birthdays, the gifts they prepare are delivered to each other on time.
"Lili, what are you thinking about? I said we should go to Zuixianlou for dinner. We definitely have to eat at home today, so let's go to Zuixianlou tomorrow. What do you think?"
"Drunken Immortal Pavilion"
Why does this name sound so familiar?
"Yes, Zuixianlou is the best restaurant in the capital. I go there several times a month!"
Lili didn't think much of it and said, "Okay."
"Then it's settled. Tomorrow morning I'll take you for a stroll around the streets, and then we'll have lunch at Zuixianlou!"
Shen Jialuo had spent several years in the capital, so neither of them had any objections.
With the children returning and more people arriving, the vast Shen Mansion finally came alive.
After a lively family dinner that evening, Lili finally began to realize that she was going to live in Beijing from now on.
Lili was quite amazed, comparing it to how someone who grew up in an urban village could suddenly cross social classes and buy a house in Beijing's Second Ring Road ten years later.
Although the Shen family now has the rules of a wealthy household, they only abide by them when dealing with outsiders; everyone is very casual in front of their own family.
By sheer coincidence, the Shen family's dinner table is still filled with laughter and joy over the years.
Perhaps influenced by the lively atmosphere, Old Master Yang also said a few words: "Jiawen will be taking the imperial examination this autumn."
The Shen family was overjoyed to hear this.
Of the Shen family's sons, only Shen Jiawen is academically inclined. If Shen Jiawen could follow in the footsteps of the third son, the Shen family would certainly give him their full support.
Of course, the Shen family wouldn't put pressure on their child. Their child was excellent in every way, but there are so many excellent people in the world.
Shen Jiawen has been studying with Grandpa Yang for years, and the Shen family's first reaction was to say that there was no need to put too much pressure on him. Whatever the outcome, that's fine. He is still the best child in the Shen family.
Firstly, although Mr. Yang was learned, he was not a professional teacher, and the Shen family was afraid that if Shen Jiawen did not perform well in the exam, Mr. Yang would blame himself.
Secondly, the Shen family doesn't care how well their child gets a good ranking. As the saying goes, if the child is a good child and does well on the exam, the Shen family will consider it a stroke of good luck. If the child doesn't do well, the Shen family will just say that they have enough money to support him.
Lili chuckled, "Grandma, don't you know Third Brother? He's been praised by Dad since he was little!"
Old Shen nodded: "Yes, Jiawen is a natural talent, and with his grandfather personally teaching him, he will surely make a name for himself in this autumn examination."
"Oh, Grandma, that's not what I meant. I don't understand these things. I just wanted you to know that no matter how capable the children of the Shen family are, they are all good children of the Shen family."
Old Mrs. Shen's hair had started to turn white at some point. No matter how good life was now, it couldn't withstand the marks of time, and the wrinkles on her face were getting deeper and deeper.
Old Mrs. Shen spent most of her life working hard, cultivating the land, raising three children, and watching her sons get married and have children. The Shen family gradually became what it is today.
Life is good when you don't have to worry about money or food, but what Old Lady Shen wants most is for her children and grandchildren to live a happy and carefree life.
Everyone was moved, and in the end, it was Old Lady Shen herself who broke the atmosphere, and the family happily resumed their meal.
On her first night in the capital, Lili tossed and turned on the tatami mat for a long time, unable to fall asleep, perhaps because she wasn't used to the less humid air in the south, or perhaps because she was having trouble sleeping in the same bed.
The sound of a gentle breeze rustling the leaves outside the window was as loud as thunder in the quiet night.
Through the pink gauze curtain, Lili inexplicably stared at the window inside the room. For some reason, she felt a strange, tingling sensation, as if ants were running through her heart.
Huang Ying is on night watch today and is sleeping in the side room. If Li Li calls her loudly, she can come over to chat and relieve her boredom, thus alleviating her "insomnia" tonight.
Guessing that Huang Ying was already dozing off, and perhaps not wanting to disturb her rest, Li Li lay on the bed for a while without calling out to her.
Unable to fall asleep, Lili could only lie on the bed staring blankly at a blue dreamcatcher hanging at the foot of the bed.
That was a birthday gift from Gu Ziyi when she was twelve years old.
It has a light blue net, adorned with white feathers and a small bell.
It's a very simple style, but very exquisite.
Most importantly, Gu Ziyi made it herself.
Gu Ziyi didn't say that he made it himself, but Lili could tell.
Moreover, he must have studied for a long time and done several exercises before finally producing the one he was most satisfied with.
Things made with heart have warmth and soul. The value of handmade products lies not in the product itself, but in the time that the person who made it spent on it.
The window was closed, and no wind was blowing in, but Lili seemed to be able to see the dreamcatcher swaying back and forth, and she could hear the tinkling of bells.
Lili stared at the dreamcatcher, and the corners of her lips unconsciously turned up.
As she laughed, Lili suddenly realized that the imagined bell sound had, at some point, stopped being just a figment of her imagination and was now a tangible reality.
It wasn't until Lili saw the feathers swaying gently that she realized what was happening. She scrambled up and looked through the gauze window at the previously closed window.
A small crack appeared in the window, and Lili saw a hand with distinct knuckles reach in. A piece of yellow paper was tossed in, floating lightly and slowly to the ground.
Then, the hand seemed to pause on the windowsill for a moment, then withdrew and closed the window again.
Lili's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
How strange, she wasn't scared at all.
It was as if she knew that the hand belonged not to anyone else, but to someone she knew and trusted very well.
Lili lifted the gauze curtain, put on her shoes, walked to the window, squatted down, and picked up the yellow paper.
The yellow paper was covered with strong, vigorous handwriting, so familiar it couldn't be more so.
"The moonlight is so bright, would you do me the honor of a chat and we can admire the moon together?"
Lili laughed out loud. She said it was a question, but the person was already at the door; wasn't she just assuming the girl wouldn't refuse?
Lili, with a mischievous thought in mind, took the yellow paper, walked to the window, stuffed it back through the small gap, and immediately closed the window tightly.
"It's late, and I need to rest. Please come again another day."
Lili pressed her hand against the windowsill, intentionally preventing the other person from opening it.
Sure enough, the person outside gently lifted the window but couldn't budge it. They leaned against the windowpane softly and pitifully, saying, "It's so chilly outside if I'm not admiring the moon. Could you spare me a cup of hot tea?"
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