Qin Yuan then sat down next to Gu Baozhu and dined with everyone.
Gu Baozhu whispered, "Third sister-in-law, it's a good thing you came. Otherwise, sitting there listening to their nonsense would have been so boring."
Qin Yuan smiled and placed a piece of food on her plate, saying, "This is delicious."
Gu Baozhu ate it.
She added, "Originally, Mother wanted to have a proper talk with Scholar Qin, but Sister-in-law Cheng and the old lady from the other side of the house came, and Mother couldn't refuse to see them, so that's how it ended."
Qin Yuan had already roughly guessed the reason.
Upon learning that Gu Baozhu had brought back the Qin brothers, Old Madam Gu naturally stayed to chat, as a sign of closeness. The visits of Madam Dai and a distant old lady were also not to be neglected. Fortunately, the women were all elderly, and there were many children present, so there was no need to be too strict about the separation of men and women, and they mingled together.
Qin Yuan picked up another piece of food and placed it on Gu Baozhu's plate.
Gu Baozhu frowned and said, "Third sister-in-law, why are you only focused on putting food on my plate?"
Qin Heng couldn't help but laugh and said, "My older sister is reminding you to stop talking and eat quickly."
Qin Yuan glanced at Qin Heng.
Qin Heng immediately picked up some food with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, chewing it.
Gu Baozhu couldn't help but laugh out loud.
After everyone finished their meal and chatted for a while, Qin Yuan stood up and said, "Mother, Seventh Sister is going to teach my brother to ride a horse. Let's all go and join in the fun. Mother and the other aunts, would you like to come along?"
Madam Gu immediately waved her hand and said, "Go and have fun by yourselves. Don't think I didn't see that Baozhu has been restless like a monkey for a long time. If we go, you won't have enough fun either."
Gu Baozhu laughed and said, "Mother's riding skills are also good, but she is impatient with coaxing children, and she always pushes the blame onto me."
Madam Gu ignored her and said to Qin Siyuan and Qin Heng, "My youngest daughter is just so disrespectful. Please forgive her."
Before Qin Siyuan could answer, Qin Heng said, "Madam, Sister Baozhu is doing very well. My mother said that the daughters of noble families live the most carefree lives. If possible, I would like my sister to be like her, so that she won't be bullied after she gets married."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Qin Siyuan quickly tried to salvage the situation: "These are just children's words. Every time my second sister comes home, she talks about the trivial things between her and her mother-in-law. It's inevitable that Heng-ge'er overhears and repeats what she says. Not everyone is as fortunate as my eldest sister to have a mother-in-law like the old lady."
Madam Gu smiled and waved her hand, saying, "That's backwards. Not everyone is as fortunate as this old woman to have a wife like your younger sister. Since she married into the Marquis's mansion, everyone, from top to bottom, has liked her and respected her. They say that at such a young age, she knows so much, has such foresight, and knows how to handle people. There are so many good qualities she has that it's hard to list them all. I really don't know how your Qin family raised their children, to produce such a crystal-clear person."
Qin Heng listened with a sigh and glanced at Qin Yuan.
Fearing he might say something inappropriate again, Qin Yuan said, "Look how much Mother praises me, like I'm a fairy from heaven. I'm so embarrassed I can't stand it anymore. Mother, let's go. You two can talk slowly."
Everyone smiled and took their leave.
Madam Gu smiled broadly and said to Madam Dai and the others, "You've all seen it. My daughter-in-law is beautiful, has a sweet tongue, is clever, and is excellent at perfumery. The most popular incense balls sold at Ranxiangju right now are made from her recipe. I had trouble sleeping at night the other day, and she was the one who made the incense for me. That old hag Rong got her incense balls and loves them so much that she praises her to me every day. The plan we discussed before was all devised by my daughter-in-law. This little girl has only been married for less than half a year, yet she has already thought so far ahead for our Gu family. She is also so humble and knows how to behave. We can't love her enough."
Everyone nodded in approval.
Madam Dai said, "That's why everyone says Lord Gu is so lucky. Marrying a virtuous wife brings prosperity to three generations. Besides, in addition to her virtue, Madam has so many other good qualities."
Madam Gu loved it when others praised her third son and his wife, so she ignored the sour looks on the faces of the two old women next to her and praised Qin Yuan again and again.
Qin Yuan led everyone towards Wutong Garden, and Gu Baozhu said, "Didn't Third Sister-in-law want to learn to ride a horse?"
Qin Yuan said, "We just had lunch, and the sun is still strong. Let's go to my place and talk for a while before we go."
Kang Ge'er and Fu Ge'er rarely went to Wutong Garden, so they immediately asked, "Is Third Uncle here?"
Qin Yuan laughed and said, "What, do you miss him, or do you want him to be gone?"
Kang Ge'er said, "I miss him, but I also miss him."
Why?
Kang Ge'er said earnestly, "I'm a little afraid of my third uncle, but I also think it would be great if he would let us ride that Snow-Treading Black Steed."
Xiao Dong said, "If the Marquis were here, he would definitely take us riding. Sixteen said that the Snow-Treading Black Steed is very intelligent. Without the Marquis's permission, no one is allowed to get close. It once kicked and injured a spy who was pretending to be a groom in the northern frontier."
The Gu family had all heard this story. The children, one after another, described the Snow-Treading Black Steed as if it were a heavenly horse descended to earth, perhaps even surpassing the White Dragon Horse that Tang Sanzang rode on his journey to the West.
Qin Heng's heart itched with curiosity, and upon entering the Wutong Courtyard, he asked the old woman guarding the gate, "Is the Marquis here?"
The old woman said, "Madam, masters, the Marquis has not returned."
Qin Heng was very disappointed.
Qin Yuan was also somewhat disappointed, but she didn't show it on her face. She said, "Tell me what you and Xu Tang have been up to these days."
Qin Heng said sullenly, "It's nothing, I just played a few games with him and the local football club. Sometimes he invites my second brother-in-law for tea and drinks, and he brings me along."
Gu Baozhu immediately looked over and asked curiously, "Why is Xu Tang drinking tea and wine with your second brother-in-law? The two of them should have no connection whatsoever. I heard from Sixteen that Xu Tang is not a good person. Do you have some secret? Tell me quickly."
Qin Yuan sighed, rubbing her forehead.
Who says Gu Baozhu is brainless? She's quite pretty.
Qin Heng retorted, "This is a matter between us men, why should I tell you?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Baozhu immediately became angry. She stretched out two fingers and grabbed Qin Heng's wrist, saying, "You're a year younger than me, you haven't even grown your hair yet, and you call yourself a man! What is it that you can't tell me? Let me tell you, I'm the kind of person who holds grudges. If you tell me sooner, you'll suffer less."
Qin Yuan looked completely bewildered: "..."
Kang Ge'er looked at Qin Heng with a pained expression and said, "Brother Heng, you should still tell him. My aunt is really good at this. Even Cheng Ge'er is afraid of her."
Qin Heng tried to break free, but Gu Baozhu's two fingers were as slippery as vines, and he couldn't break free no matter how hard he tried.
At this moment, Gu Baozhu had not yet exerted any force, and he was unaware of the danger. He stubbornly said, "Brother Kang, this is absurd. I, Qin Heng, am a dignified man. How could I be coerced like this?"
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