Chapter 500: Summer Vacation

Dou Zhao saw Song Mo busy in and out, and he seemed to be a little thinner. He couldn't help but feel a little distressed, and advised him: "Take a break! Twelve Brother's own marriage, don't you worry about it at all? At the very least, you can ask Eleventh Brother to come over and help!"

For this marriage, both the Dou and Ji families decided to keep it simple. The Dou family had a lot of things to do, so what was there for him to do?

This is exactly what Dou Zhao said.

Song Mo smiled slightly, and sat down on the big kang next to the window with Dou Zhao, saying, "It's a pity that you can't go to the summer resort for a while!"

My brother’s marriage is a big deal, so the trip to Xiangshan Villa will have to be postponed.

"Look at what you are talking about!" Dou Zhao stood up with a grumble and helped Song Mo to squeeze his shoulders. "If you hadn't been busying around the Dou family for me, would I be able to sit at home and cool off in the summer?"

"Do you think I want to run outside in such hot weather?" Song Mo sighed, "I'm just afraid that the Ji family will do something weird again."

Or maybe it was because the Ji family was the Sixth Aunt's family, and she treated the Sixth Aunt as her mother, so even though she knew the Ji family was not right, she disliked the Han family even more. However, it would be better to settle Dou Dechang's marriage as soon as possible. Ji Ling was a capable person, and with her in charge of the West Dou, it would definitely not be as chaotic as it is now.

She smiled and said jokingly, "Thank you, Master! When you are free someday, I will treat you to a drink!"

Song Mo smiled and said, "How can I have free time? If you really want to thank me..." Then he tilted his head and pointed at his cheek.

Dou Zhao's face suddenly felt hot.

Ruotong immediately led the servants in the room to retreat.

Dou Zhao then blushed and kissed him on the cheek.

Who knew Song Mo was not satisfied and said, "This doesn't count, I have to give her a good kiss."

What does it mean to give a good kiss?

Dou Zhao was choked with anger. But seeing Song Mo's slightly expectant eyes, she couldn't help leaning over... Song Mo suddenly turned his face... The two of them were mouth to mouth... Dou Zhao's eyes widened... Song Mo had already hugged Dou Zhao...

When Song Mo left, Dou Zhao's face was still as red as fire.

She was pregnant, and although Song Mo did not do anything to her, it was even more ridiculous than if he had done it. She was sweating all over, and hurriedly asked the maid to fetch water for her to take a bath.

Ruotong came in and reported: "The wife of the prince of Yan'an Marquis's Mansion sent someone to deliver a visiting card."

Dou Zhao hurriedly asked someone to bring it in.

An wants to visit her tomorrow.

She sent someone to send the maid from the Marquis of Yan'an's mansion away, and after thinking for a long time, she could not think of anything that required An to come to see her in person. She asked her maid to take the card, and spent the whole afternoon telling stories to Yuan Ge'er.

The next day, An arrived early. She looked a little uneasy, but she sat and drank tea with Dou Zhao for half a day without explaining her purpose.

Dou Zhao was not in a hurry and continued to talk to her in circles. When it was time for lunch, An finally couldn't help herself and said shyly, "I know it's not appropriate to say this, but Marquis Jining has come to our Marquis and our Fourth Master has been sitting in our Marquis's small study and won't leave. If I don't come, it would be too unkind..."

He actually came here for Wei Tingyu's matter!

Dou Zhaoqi asked, "What happened in their family again?"

"Don't you know?" An's eyes were wider than Dou Zhao's, and she said, "Marquis Jining's concubine is pregnant. Not only did your sister take people to give her an abortion drug, she also sold her to a brothel... This news is almost spread all over Kyoto..." She looked at Dou Zhao uncomfortably.

Dou Zhao was both angry and amused, and asked, "What does Wei Tingyu mean? Does he want me to persuade Dou Ming?"

When she said this, An's face turned red like the morning glow, and she murmured, "I know I shouldn't do this. But you don't know that Marquis Jining is a few years older than your sister, and he is the only son. Your sister has no children, and he doesn't want the maidservant in the family to get pregnant. Marquis Jining has no choice. It is said that you are the only one in the Dou family who can control your sister..."

Dou Zhao interrupted An's words unhappily and said, "But it's not right for an aunt to interfere in her brother-in-law's room. Go back and tell Wei Tingyu that he should deal with the sins he committed himself and not expect others to help him clean up the mess." He added, "If you're talking about their family's affairs, don't ask me for help again. If you come to visit me, I will definitely welcome you with open arms."

An felt like sitting on pins and needles after hearing this.

However, Dou Zhao did not mean to blame her.

She knew about the friendship between Wang Qinghai and Wei Tingyu. In their previous lives, these two people had done many ridiculous things for each other.

But Dou Ming's toughness was beyond Dou Zhao's expectations.

She was too lazy to care about these things, so she opened all the storage rooms at home and picked out some jewelry and makeup for Ji Lingze.

The people of the Ji family were very cautious about Ji Lingze's remarriage, and Dou Dechang was afraid that the Ji family would go back on their word, so he asked Dou Zhao to lend Jingui and Yingui to serve Ji Lingze. Dou Zhao thought that the people of the Ji family would definitely not prepare a dowry for Ji Lingze in a formal manner, but he could not let his sister-in-law marry in too shabby a manner. After all, Dou Dechang had twelve sisters-in-law in his generation, and the eleventh sister-in-law was once Ji Lingze's sister-in-law.

Ji Lingze accepted her jewelry without saying anything. However, Su Xin, who went to give the jewelry to her, told her that the Ji family arranged for Ji Lingze to live in a remote courtyard, without any wedding gifts or dowry. Even the things left by Ji Lingze's grandmother were withheld by the Ji family. She also said, "Miss Ji is very stubborn. Jin Gui said that she didn't even shed a tear from beginning to end, and she didn't fight with the Ji family for those things."

Dou Zhao couldn't help but sigh.

In her previous life, she wanted to marry into the Wei family. Just like Ji Lingze, she wanted nothing except the things her mother left her. She just wanted to leave the Dou family as soon as possible.

She discussed with Song Mo and bought two small farms for Ji Lingze.

Dou Dechang was adamant and refused to accept it.

Dou Zhao said: "Would you rather watch your sister-in-law come home empty-handed and not be able to hold her head up among her sisters-in-law in the future?"

Dou Dechang gratefully accepted the land deed and sent someone to deliver it to Ji Lingze.

On the second day of June, the Dou family's sedan chair quietly took Ji Lingze out, and firecrackers started to "crackle" when they left Yuqiao Hutong.

Ji could only shed tears when she saw this. Fortunately, it was Ji Yong who came from the Ji family to send the bride off, so Ji Ling saved some face.

Three days later, when Ji Lingze came back home, my grandmother hosted a banquet in Housi Hutong to entertain him.

Ji Ling was grateful for everything the Dou family had done for her and treated her grandmother with great respect. Dou Dechang also felt for the first time that he was a member of this family.

Dou Zhao couldn't help but sigh with Song Mo privately: "This can be considered a win-win situation!"

Song Mo smiled and nodded, then took Dou Zhao's hand and said, "I'll take you and Yuan Ge'er to Xiangshan Villa tomorrow, right? Do you want to ask Lao Anren to go with you?"

Dou Zhao nodded repeatedly, thinking that his grandmother should enjoy her old age and go out and see the world while she was still able to move.

My grandmother was a little hesitant.

She never wanted to be a burden to her children and grandchildren, and she didn't like to go out much.

Song Mo advised her: "Shou Gu will take the child alone. I don't feel relieved without you to help!"

My grandmother laughed when she heard this and then agreed happily.

Ji Ling personally helped his grandmother pack up her things.

Grandmother was very happy. She patted Ji Lingze's hand and gave her a pair of mutton-fat jade bracelets.

Ji Ling saw that the bracelet was flawless and knew it was a valuable item. He refused to accept it, but his grandmother said, "Just take it. I have some old things here that I found myself. I originally intended to give them to your mother-in-law, but I didn't give them away. I don't think Ming Jie'er would be interested in them. You and Shou Gu can share them!"

He treated her with all his heart and treated her like his own granddaughter.

Ji Lingze's eyes were red. When Dou Zhao's carriage came, she helped her grandmother out of the Chuihua Gate.

Dou Zhao greeted Ji Lingze with a smile, exchanged a few words of pleasantries, then got on the carriage with his grandmother and left the city.

Out of consideration for Dou Zhao's health, the carriage moved very slowly and did not arrive at Xiangshan until dusk.

As soon as I got down, a cool breeze blew over me.

Grandma couldn't help but take a deep breath and said with a smile, "This is a great place!"

Yuan Ge'er also struggled to jump out of his nurse's arms and ran to the side to pull some foxtail grass.

Dou Zhao hurriedly asked Ruozhu to carry Yuan Ge'er back, and said, "Be careful of the bugs in the bushes that may bite you."

Yuan Ge'er tilted his head and said, "This is the road. Everyone is walking on it. There are no bugs. They won't bite me."

"You're still right!" Dou Zhao listened to his son's clear voice, his chest seemed to be flooded with warm water, and he gently patted Yuan Ge'er's little butt.

Yuan Ge'er chuckled.

The steward and the maids who came to greet him all laughed, and the steward even praised Song Mo, "Master is really smart!"

"It's just that I spoke too early." Song Mo waved his hand indifferently, but his smugness and joy could not be concealed between his brows.

The steward and the housekeeper's nanny exchanged glances, and respectfully led Song Mo and Dou Zhao into the villa.

In the middle of the yard there is a huge grape vine, with lush branches and leaves, full of green grapes, which makes people feel less hot just looking at it.

Grandma liked it very much and said with a smile: "It would be even better if we put a table here."

The steward immediately said attentively, "Mr. An is right! I will go and move the eight-immortal table over here."

Song Mo knew that his grandmother still kept the living habits of the farm, so he simply asked, "Do you want to put the dinner under the grape trellis?"

"Okay!" Grandma was indeed very excited.

Dou Zhao went back to the house with a smile, washed up, and had dinner with his grandmother under the grape trellis.

The evening breeze blows, filling the yard with the fragrance of hosta flowers.

The chickens and ducks are all raised by the villa itself, and the vegetables are just picked from the garden at the back, so they are fresh and delicious.

It was Yuan Ge'er's first time to eat out. He was very excited and insisted on picking up the chopsticks himself. However, his hands were small and weak, so he dropped the chopsticks on the table after a few times, making the table full of soup and even Song Mo's clothes were stained with oil spots.

Dou Zhao hurriedly called the wet nurse over and asked her and Yuan Ge'er to set up another table alone.

Song Mo refused to give in and said with a smile, "He just wants to have fun. Just ignore him and let him have fun. Boys should not be too obedient. It's better to have some fun."

Grandmother smiled lovingly and said, "Boys should be taken care of by their fathers. Shougu, please don't interfere."

The two of them joined forces to suppress Dou Zhao.

Yuan Ge'er became even more unscrupulous and used a spoon to scoop rice grains everywhere.

After finally finishing dinner, the clever steward had already prepared a cool bed and watermelons soaked in well water. They sat on the cool bed, eating watermelons and chatting.

Dou Zhao breathed a sigh of satisfaction, hoping that the days to come would be as cheerful, warm and satisfying as today.