Chapter 9: A Serious Girl
She tilted her head slightly as she answered, and the trembling pear blossom petals on her hair swayed gently as if brushed by the wind, contrasting with the chaotic cloud-like pear blossom pattern on the cross-collared lapel, and paired with a willow green and yellow short shirt and long skirt, it seemed as if spring was about to burst out of her body.
Mingzhao glanced over and saw that she looked serious. He remembered that he had called her "Miss Shi" yesterday. He realized why her address was not intimate and could not help but be speechless.
She is a very serious girl.
Before Mingzhao could ask her to change her mind, he asked the waiter to come in and take the order for his younger brothers and sisters.
Ming Zhouqing met her clear gaze, chuckled, and stopped asking about the address.
Cousin Li was sensitive, and he knew why and understood.
He took the illustrated menu handed to him by the waiter and asked as he selected dishes, "Brother, you haven't told me that the Emperor has assigned you to any position since you came back. Listen to the wind and rain and call you 'Master' now. Which Master are you from?"
"The General in charge of the Central Army."
"How impressive!" Ming Zhouqing exclaimed, "He's a third-rank military officer, the same rank as Brother Ji."
"Well, after this war, the southwestern border will have at least thirty years of peace, and my father and I can stay in Beijing for a long time." Mingzhao's eyelashes were still drooping, and when he raised his eyes, his gaze was as gentle and bright as it was in front of friends and family. "Grandmother is also old, and we can also show our filial piety to her."
"Yes, grandma misses you and dad very much."
There is daylight and night, so you never have to worry about seeing pears.
She listened to their conversation and was slightly distracted. Her fingertips hooked over the jade pendant that was pressed against her skirt. The crystal-clear jade slid into her palm, and the touch was extremely good.
The menu was passed to Ming Zhouqing. Hearing that three of the five dishes he ordered were fish, Ming Zhouqing asked, "Third brother, do you like eating fish lately?"
Ming Zhouhe was turning the page and replied without looking up: "My cousin likes it."
Noticing that the words concerned her, Shi Jianli raised her eyes and nodded, "The fish is delicious."
But she only likes to eat fish that are crystal white and have a sweet taste. She doesn't like small fish because they have too many bones.
Ming Zhouqing sighed deliberately, then laughed and teased, "Alas, before Cousin Li came, Third Brother's daily talk was about what he wanted to play. After Cousin Li came, Third Brother's daily talk became about what Cousin Li likes."
The jade in the palm of her hand accidentally collided, making a crisp sound. Shi Jianli turned her hand over and pressed it on her knees, then sat upright again.
Her eyes curved slightly into a smile, diluting some of the coldness, and she said in relief: "My cousin is the best brother in the world."
Ever since she came to the Anguo Mansion, he has been protecting her closely and even thought about marrying her, but after learning about Zhao Aniu's family situation, he decided to find her a husband who truly loves and respects her.
He took it as his responsibility to take care of her.
Ming Zhouhe tossed the booklet to the waiter, raised his chin towards Ming Zhouqing, and asked with a smile on his lips, "Will your cousin also praise you as the best brother in the world?"
Ming Zhouqing paused, "Are you childish, Ming Zhouhe?"
"Oh, you're jealous."
"Qingqing also praises me as the best brother." Ming Zhouqing couldn't stand his smugness.
Ming Yuelin blinked and interrupted: "I won't praise you. It would be best if I praised you. What if Big Brother gets jealous?"
The second and third brothers were only half a month apart. When they were young, they compared everything and had many quarrels. She was now accustomed to them quarreling in the middle of a conversation.
"I'm not jealous, just praise me." Mingzhao looked at them helplessly and talked to Ji Rangzhou.
Shi Jianli picked up the cup of hot tea, shook it gently in her hand, took a sip, and then took another sip, her brows and eyes looking comfortable.
Ming Yuelin propped up his chin and looked at her, "Sister Li, how come you look so happy after drinking a cup of tea? What are you thinking about?"
The two people who were arguing looked towards Shi Jianli when they heard this, and Mingzhao also shifted his gaze.
Ji Rangzhou glanced at the smiling Ming Yuelin.
Shi Jianli, facing several gazes, glanced sideways at Mingyuelin, and smiled again, "This Mingqian Longjing is particularly sweet."
"Is that all? Sister Li, aren't you too easily satisfied?"
"Yeah." She nodded. "Next time I'm secretly happy, don't tell anyone."
Being looked at by unfamiliar people, she couldn't help but feel reserved.
"Besides, you're much easier to please than me. When you encounter something happy, your face lights up with joy." Shi Jianli calmly returned the topic to her, "You're still so happy after eating a plate of freshly made pastries yesterday."
"Indeed, she came out this morning and kept saying that she would ask Qi Yu to get it for her in the kitchen after she got home." Ming Zhouhe responded.
"It's delicious." She turned to look at Qi Yu, "Qi Yu, remember this, go to the kitchen and get it when you get home."
"Okay, don't worry, girl. I won't forget."
After lunch, Shi Jianli took Mingyuelin to Hua Simeng across the street. She drew a picture while Mingyuelin watched with his chin in his hand.
After finishing the painting, Shi Jianli took the paint and carefully colored it, then raised her eyes and asked the person who was staring at her intently, "Do you like it?"
The most suitable color for spring is pink and green, with willow green and peach red contrasting colors. Bright peach blossoms bloom between the wide sleeves of the skirt, and yellow orioles hold willow patterns and fall on the neckline, showing the vibrant spring scene.
"Drew it for me?" Ming Yuelin blinked and asked in surprise.
"Well, it should look good on you."
"Sister Li, you are so nice!" She happily hugged Shi Jianli's waist.
Hmm...Sister Li has such a thin and soft waist!
Shi Jianli lowered her eyes and saw the pearls and jade swaying in her hair, and the corners of her lips rose slightly.
"Are you going back? It's almost sunset."
It was hard for the active girl to stay with her quietly for so long.
"Let's go back!" Mingyuelin took her hand and pulled her downstairs with light steps.
Shi Jianli handed the blueprint to Lanxing, lowered his eyes, and saw the forbidden steps at his waist swaying slightly, and the spring swallows pecking at the pear.
When I looked up, I saw a clear figure standing not far away, as if waiting.
"Brother, are you waiting for us?" Mingyuelin pulled someone forward and asked with a smile.
"Well, my second and third brothers said they had something to do and asked me to take you back home."
"Okay." Mingyue saw Li pulling him towards the carriage and wondered, "What could the second and third brothers have to do?"
Mingzhao still shook his head and watched them get on the carriage and go to the back one.
After sitting down, Shi Jianli tilted her head and said, "I know."
"Know what?"
"My cousin and the others went to beat someone up. Today he only kicked Qiao Jingchuan once. He must not have felt satisfied." My cousin said he was going to beat him up, so he definitely would. How could he let it go so easily?
"That's right, Third Brother always keeps his word."
The carriage slowly drove towards the Anguo Mansion. In the alley in the distance, Qiao Jingchuan was walking when suddenly his vision darkened. Someone kicked him in the butt and he suddenly fell to the ground in a doggy style.
"Who?!" he said angrily.
Ming Zhouhe snorted in his heart, and hit him on the back with the stick in his hand, the sound was dull.
"ah!!"
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