Chapter 333 Gift

Pomegranate symbolizes fertility and good fortune.

Just when Song Mo was hoping that Dou Zhao's wish would come true, Chen Jia sent him a few pomegranate ornaments carved from mutton-fat jade.

He couldn't help but pick one up and play with it under the light: "I didn't expect Chen Jia to have such good eyesight. I underestimated him."

His words revealed his praise for Chen Jia.

Dou Zhao couldn't help but reach out and take a "pomegranate" from the box to look at it: "It is carved from a whole piece of mutton-fat jade. With such a mottled color, it was originally worthless. But with the skillful hands of this jade master, he actually used this color to make it into a pomegranate, and it became a jade artifact that can be passed down as a family heirloom. The most rare thing is that there are still four or five similar ones..." She picked up the remaining "pomegranates" and rubbed and played with them carefully, and said, "It should have been split from a large piece of stone... I'm afraid this stone was originally discarded... I wonder which jade master made this? It's really a masterpiece..."

Song Mo and Dou Zhao share the same opinion.

Each of these "pomegranates" is as big as a child's fist. The best quality mutton-fat jade is pure white and flawless. If it is a whole piece of intact mutton-fat jade, even if it has such a mottled patina, it can be peeled off to make several small pendants or even large ornaments. But now they are all made into "pomegranates". It can be seen that although this jade material is large, the jade that can be used for carving is not a whole piece, and the patina has penetrated into the jade material. Even if it is made into a small pendant, it is not of the best quality.

Seeing that Dou Zhao was very interested, Song Mo said with a smile, "Let's ask Chen Jia tomorrow and we'll know who carved it."

Dou Zhao shook his head, put the pomegranate back into the box, and said, "Such an exquisite thing, even if it is not the treasure of the town shop, is a treasure in the hands of collectors. Not to mention that he is a newly promoted deputy of the Jinyi Guard, even if our Dou family runs an antique shop, it is difficult to get such a good thing in a short time - I am afraid that this thing is not legitimate, so it is better to return it!"

"You have a point." Song Mo smiled and put the pomegranate in his hand into the box. "Although the Jinyiwei Zhenfusi's methods are very wild, it is not easy for him, a newly promoted deputy, to get a few pieces of jade."

There is one more thing he didn't say.

Jinyiwei Zhenfusi often does things that are not allowed to see the light. He likes this gift because he hopes it can bring good luck to himself and Dou Zhao. But if it is stained with blood, it is better not to have it.

He called Chen He, handed the item to him, and said, "Let Du Wei check where this item came from."

Chen He left immediately.

Song Mo no longer dared to argue with Dou Zhao, and ordered Gan Lu to help her wash up. After she finished washing up, he insisted on carrying her to the bed, as if she was a fragile glass ornament.

Dou Zhao didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and said, "I'm not sick. I'm not so weak that I can't even walk."

"It's better to be careful." Song Mo smiled, but there was an unyielding seriousness and persistence in his eyes.

Such a Song Mo made Dou Zhao happy and helpless. He also knew in his heart that it would not be easy for Song Mo to change his mind once he made up his mind.

She let Song Mo carry her to the bed.

Song Mo was a little excited. After washing up, he held Song Zhao in his arms and talked.

"Tell me, is it a boy or a girl?" He stroked her dark hair from time to time.

She knew Song Mo would ask this, and couldn't help but laugh: "Do you hope it's a boy or a girl?"

"All good." Song Mo said with longing, "It would be best to have a girl first. People say that it is better to bloom first and then bear fruit. Girls are also careful, and they can help you take care of your brothers and sisters in the future, and they can also help you manage the household... Let's have a few more children, no matter whether they are boys or girls, it would be best if we can have five boys and three girls..."

Dou Zhao sweated profusely: "Is it too much?"

"Not many, not many." Song Mo said with a smile, "We, the Song family, have only a few heirs, and we don't have as many people to help us when we do things as the Changxing Marquis Mansion and the Dingguo Mansion..." Before he could finish the sentence, his voice gradually became lower. Go down.

Is he remembering the former prosperity of Duke Dingguo's Mansion and its present decline?

Dou Zhao hugged Song Mo tightly.

"We will tell our children to study hard in the future." She comforted Song Mo gently, "Don't fight and kill all the time. It's easy to get into trouble."

Song Mo felt Dou Zhao's concern, and hugged Dou Zhao hard, responding to her silently.

"When the time comes, I'll ask my father-in-law to enlighten me." He smiled slightly, "Maybe our family will also have a Jinshi."

Dou Zhao laughed, held his hand and snuggled in his arms.

The palace lamp on the small stool beside the bed burst into a few sparks.

Dou Zhao asked Song Mo softly, "Are Fifth Uncle and the others doing well over there?"

"Very good." Song Mo played with Dou Zhao's delicate but not soft hands. "It is said that the Liao King takes good care of him and often sends his chief secretary to visit him. As a result, the people in the guard post are very polite to them. Jiang Fangyuan also secretly started a fur and medicinal material business. Not only does he not have to take money from Haozhou to pay for them, but he can also support himself and manage his own food, clothing and expenses. Oh, Jiang Fangyuan, it's me. My eldest uncle’s eldest son is twelve years older than me. When he was at home, he liked to study and didn’t like to practice martial arts. Because of this, my eldest uncle often complained about him. I didn’t expect that the whole family would depend on him for their livelihood. My second cousin Jiang Fangzhong, third cousin Jiang Fangji, and seventh cousin Jiang Fangqi are all alive. Jiang Fangzhong is from the fourth room, Jiang Fangji is from the seventh room, and Jiang Fangqi is the second son of my third uncle..."

He introduced the Jiang family to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao, however, only felt sad.

Of Jiang Meisun’s four sons, only Jiang Fangyuan, who was studying at home, survived; Jiang Zhusun’s daughter hanged herself; of Jiang Lansun’s three sons, only Jiang Fangqi survived; of Jiang Songsun’s six sons, only the youngest son, who was still an infant at the time, survived; Jiang Baisun left behind the child who still lives in the Tan family and is not included in the family tree…

Only then did she deeply realize how much pain Mrs. May was in, and how strong she was.

Song Mo is a child with the blood of both the Jiang and Song families.

Is that why he is stronger than others?

But as the saying goes, the crying child gets the candy.

Is it because of this that he suffered so much?

Dou Zhao put his arms around Song Mo's neck and kissed his chin.

"What's wrong?" Song Mo lowered his head, with a warm smile in the corners of his eyes and brows.

"It's okay!" Dou Zhao kissed his cheek and said, "There are so many people in the Jiang family."

"Yeah." Song Mo smiled, "There are three families inside and nine outside, a total of twelve rooms, and there are also my aunt and cousins ​​who came back from abroad. I didn't recognize all my relatives until I was nine years old..."

As he recalled those years, his expression was lively and energetic, less reserved than usual and more youthful, just like a boy from the neighborhood, friendly, enthusiastic, genuine... but so handsome.

Dou Zhao pursed his lips and smiled.

Song Mo might never be able to act like a real boy next door in his entire life!

She couldn't help but kiss Song Mo's cheek again.

Song Mo stopped, looked at her quietly, and waited patiently for her to speak.

"Nothing." Dou Zhao said with a smile, "I was just listening to you talking about the Jiang family!"

Song Mo smiled and continued, "I like to go to Shichahai to play ice skating with my fifth uncle the most, but every time my grandmother would be very nervous and ask me to bring all my followers with me. I know that she thinks that there are only my brother and I in the Song family, and she is afraid that something might happen..."

Dou Zhao stared at Song Mo intently, with a smile on her face all the time.

Skin-to-skin blind date, I can make her unable to control herself.

Is this another kind of inability to help oneself?

Song Mo suppressed the excitement in his heart and tried his best to make his tone appear calm and composed.

In comparison, he seemed to prefer her staring at him with such concentration and without distraction.

※※※※※※

At dawn the next day, Gu Yu came running over.

"Brother Tianci, I'm going to Liaoning. Do you have anything for me to bring to Master Wu?"

He was wearing a black fox fur jacket and looked very happy.

Song Mo handed a few letters to Gu Yu, and then handed him a large bundle: "The letters are for your fifth uncle, and the bundle contains food and some commonly used plasters prepared by your sister-in-law for you."

Hearing that Dou Zhao had prepared something for him, Gu Yu said "Oh" a little uncomfortably and let the follower beside him take over the package.

Song Mo had to give Gu Yu some advice and go to see him off in person.

Chen Qushui asked to see Dou Zhao.

He looked a little hesitant: "Tan Juren's wife is here to visit you..."

The implication was to ask her whether she wanted to see him or not.

Dou Zhao was very surprised.

The people from Tanjiazhuang wanted to see her. Was it because of the child?

She hurriedly said, "Please come in!"

Chen Qushui invited Mrs. Tan to the small flower hall.

Mrs. Tan is about 40 years old, with fair skin, a plump figure, and a round face like a silver basin. She smiles before she speaks, making people feel friendly just by looking at her.

"The seventh son of our family opened a fruit shop in Kyoto. He will get married in a few days, and I came here to help on the orders of the old lady." She looked at Dou Zhao with a smile, appearing friendly and easy-going. "Duan Gongyi returned to Zhending a few days ago, and the old lady just learned that you married into the Duke of Ying's Mansion. Thinking about that when the old lady celebrated his birthday, you specially sent a gift. The old lady asked me to bring a gift over to wish Madam and the prince a happy marriage and a long life together." As she spoke, she took out the gift list.

It was just a thin piece of paper, and the gifts given were some exquisite but inexpensive gifts such as hanging screens and porcelain.

Dou Zhao couldn't help but mutter in his heart.

I gave the gift to Old Lady Tan to thank the Tan family for their help. Why did the Tan family give me the gift?

While thinking, I heard Mrs. Tan laughed and said, "I heard that the Duke of Ying's mansion had a robbery a few days ago? I wonder if those thieves have been arrested? Our old man knew about it and kept praising the prince for his extraordinary strategy and said he was a man who would accomplish great things!"

A man of extraordinary strategy? A man who can accomplish great things?

Dou Zhao couldn't help but sneer in his heart.

This Mrs. Tan is really good at making up stories. Even she has heard that many people outside are afraid of Song Mo's methods, saying that Song Mo is vicious and ruthless, and has deep plans. Especially those people in the underworld, they change color when they hear about it...

The thought flashed through her mind and she was slightly stunned.

Could this be the reason why Mrs. Tan came?

Not for the sake of seeking good, but just to avoid suspicion!

Dou Zhao was moved and said with a smile, "Mrs. Tan is too polite! I wonder if Mrs. Tan came alone this time or with Tan Ju? The prince has gone out for something and may not be back until the afternoon. Mrs. Tan, why don't you stay for dinner before going back?"

Mrs. Tan smiled and said, "I'm here alone. Please ask Madam to ask our old man to say hello to the prince on his behalf! The seventh brother is waiting for me to go back and help, so I can't stay long. I will come to visit you next time I come to Kyoto!" After saying that, she stood up and was about to say goodbye, with no intention of contacting Song Mo.

Dou Zhao understood.

She smiled as she saw Mrs. Tan out, comforting her: "The prince is a nostalgic man, and you and I are from the same hometown. When the madam comes to Kyoto, she must come to our house and visit."

"Of course, of course!" Mrs. Tan smiled brightly, bowed to Dou Zhao, and left Yizhitang.

Dou Zhao breathed a sigh of relief.

This Song Mo caused chaos in the whole world, and even Tan Jiazhuang couldn't sit still, so he came all the way to show his goodwill.

She shook her head helplessly.