Chapter 48: Seeing her true feelings. It turns out that she wanted to run away that day. ...
The next morning, Qiu Xuan sneaked off the kang while Zong Xiao was still asleep.
After what happened last night, she finally understood Zong Xiao's intentions. That man must like her and want to spend his whole life with her.
As for her, she said honestly that Qiu Xuan also wanted to stay here and spend her life with their clan members.
So, is her affection for Zong Xiao family or love?
Qiu Xuan touched her burning face and quietly left the house.
She washed her face with the water in the tub, and the coolness made her completely sober.
The things that have been unclear and incomprehensible these days seem to finally become clear at this moment.
She thought about him and worried about him, and felt sad and distressed when she saw him get hurt. Isn't this love? If this is not love, what else can it be?
She was lost in thought when suddenly there was a knock on the door.
The grandmother put her hands in her pockets and called out softly, "Erlang, are you awake?"
Qiu Xuan walked over, opened the door, and asked, "Mom, he's still asleep. What's wrong? Is there something going on at home?"
The grandmother's eyes were full of smiles. Now that her two sons' lifelong affairs were settled, she had nothing to worry about.
The clan mother smiled and said to Qiu Yun, "I came here to tell you that we won't cook for you today. Let's go to the next courtyard to eat."
Yesterday's banquet was so grand that there were so many leftover dishes that they couldn't be finished. The grandmother thought it would be better to have a reunion dinner together.
"Okay, then we won't cook." Qiu Xuan hadn't cooked yet. She looked at her grandmother and asked, "Mom, are you cooking over there? How about I go over and help?"
"The meal is heating up," the grandmother said. "Then you and I can go sit next door and chat for a while. I've already prepared your quilts."
If the grandmother hadn't mentioned it, Qiu Xuan would have almost forgotten about it. The grandmother had said the bedding was ready a few days ago, but she never went to get it.
Since it's so cold this day, the new bedding is just right for use.
Qiu Xuan closed the door and followed her mother to the next courtyard. It was still early, and there was no movement in the wedding room.
The mother took Qiu Xuan's hand and went straight into her room. "Don't worry about them. Let's go to sleep."
There was a kang burning in the room, and it was very warm. Qiu Xuan sat down and took off her thick coat after a while.
"Mom, your room is really hot." Qiu Xuan saw Huai Xue was only wearing a thin undershirt and frowned, "It's easy to get sick if you keep going in and out."
The clan mother really didn't consider this aspect. She just felt that the weather was cold recently and was worried that Huaixue would get sick again, so she not only heated the kang, but also added a stove in the house.
"Then mother will put out the stove in a while." After she said that, the grandmother also felt a little hot.
Qiu Xuan saw the kettle of boiling water on the stove. After a moment's thought, she said, "Mom, I think this stove is a good place to put it. You can have hot water whenever you want. It's better not to heat the kang so high."
"Okay, I'll listen to you." The grandmother smiled and stood up, went to the cabinet, and took out two sets of quilts.
The quilt cover was all new, not to mention the cotton inside. Qiu Yu could tell it was thick just by touching it.
"Thank you, mother. This quilt is really thick. It will definitely keep me warm in winter." Qiu Xuan started praising the quilt, making her grandmother laugh all the time.
"You kid, you're so praised that your mother feels embarrassed." The clan mother patted the quilt and said, "After dinner, you can take it back and spread it on the bed today."
Qiu Xuan thought so too. Even the best quilts are meant to be covered. She replied, "Okay."
In the next yard.
Zong Xiao had a hangover the previous night and when he opened his eyes he felt a severe headache.
Yesterday he blocked a lot of alcohol for Zong Anji. In the end he didn't know how much he had drunk. It seemed like he was walking back. As for what happened afterwards, he had no idea.
He rubbed his head, and after he had recovered his strength, he supported himself with his arms and half sat up. He was used to leaning back, but he fell backwards.
In the past, he slept at the end of the kang, and there was a wall behind him, but today there is nothing there.
Zong Xiao turned his head and saw that the wall was very far away from him, and there was not even a pillow on the place where he usually slept.
Zong Xiao woke up instantly. He didn't sleep in his own place last night... He actually ran to Qiu Yun's side.
He lowered his head and saw that his pillow was right next to Qiu Xuan's pillow, and his quilt was wrapped in Qiu Xuan's quilt.
What on earth did he do last night!
Zong Xiao thought for a long time but still couldn't remember anything.
But it seems that he didn't do anything serious, otherwise why would Qiu Xuan be gone when he woke up?
He hurriedly put on his clothes, tidied his bedding, and went to the yard to look for Qiu Yun. However, he searched the front and back yards but could not find Qiu Yun.
He couldn't help but have wild thoughts, but he thought that he had overstepped the bounds last night, which was why he ran away with her.
But where else could Qiu Xuan go? Oh, next door.
Zong Xiao locked the courtyard door and walked directly to the next door. When he reached the door, he remembered that Zong Anji had just gotten married last night.
It seemed a bit inappropriate for him to come here so early in the morning. Just as he was hesitating, the gate was opened from the inside.
Zong Anji yawned and asked in confusion, "Second brother, why are you standing here and not coming in?"
Zong Xiao glanced into the yard, but still didn't see Qiu Yun.
He asked, "Have you seen your second sister-in-law?"
"Here, my sister-in-law and mother are in the kitchen." Zong Anji pointed to him, "Second brother, you just woke up too?"
Zong Xiao walked around him and went straight to the kitchen. Before he reached the door, he heard Qiu Xuan's voice coming from inside.
He felt a little relieved, as long as he was here.
"Mom, why do you have so many dishes so early in the morning?" Qiu Xuan saw the chicken and fish heating up on the steamer and felt that there were too many dishes.
They just had one more person, and they couldn't eat so much.
The grandmother said: "Not much, not much. These dishes were stewed yesterday. If they are left for too long, they will go bad. Let's eat them while we can."
The clan mother was actually too embarrassed to tell the truth in front of Qiu Xuan.
The new bride didn't want to feel wronged on the first day of her marriage. After all, she was the daughter of Liu the butcher, and the dowry alone was so much.
But she couldn't say a single word of these words, as it would hurt Qiu Xuan's heart.
As a mother-in-law, she likes both daughters-in-law, but people tend to be partial to one side, so how can she not be biased?
"Second brother, why don't you go in?" Zong An held the wooden basin and nudged the person standing still with his arm. "What are you standing for? It's so cold."
Zong Xiao lowered his eyes and glanced at him, "Where are you going with the wooden basin?"
"Hey, get some water for my wife. It's cold, let her wash inside the house before coming out." After saying that, Zong Anji carried the wooden basin back to the house.
Zong Xiao looked at him and felt that he was stupid. How could he not be as careful as his third brother and not even think of such a thing?
Zong Xiao did not go into the kitchen. He sat alone in the yard, feeling the cold wind, trying to clear his mind and thinking about what he would say when he saw Qiu Yun later.
"Uncle, why don't you come inside? It's so cold." Huaixue strolled over with her hands in her tucked away, and squatted directly in front of Zong Xiao. She touched Zong Xiao's hand and said in surprise, "Uncle, your hands are so cold."
Zong Xiao himself didn't feel anything, but after hearing what the child said, he rubbed his hands.
"Uncle, come in. Aunt is calling you." Huaixue raised her little hand and pointed in the direction of the main house.
Qiu Xuan was standing by the door holding a steamer with a frown on her face. When she saw him looking at her, she smiled.
"Your aunt called me?" Zong Xiao stood up and took Huai Xue's hand.
His hands were cold, so Huaixue pulled them out directly and didn't let him hold them.
"I called you, I called you twice, but you ignored me, my aunt." Huaixue pouted as if she was complaining.
Zong Xiao really didn't hear it just now. If he had heard it, he would have walked over directly.
Now being watched by Qiu Xuan, his fingertips helplessly touched the corner of his clothes.
"Come in and have dinner." Qiu Xuan shouted again, and went into the house before they came over.
In the room, Zong Anji's newly married wife was already standing by the table. She felt a little awkward and didn't know what to do. She wanted to help but the food was already on the table.
"Sister-in-law." Liu Yueyang raised his eyes to look at Qiu Xuan and called softly.
"Hey." Qiu Yun put the things on the table and said to her with a smile, "I was busy in the yard yesterday and didn't even come into the house to see you. Now that I see you, you are indeed a beauty."
Liu Yueyang has been spoiled by his family since he was a child. His hands are so tender that there is not even a callus. His little face is even white and tender, which makes people like him just by looking at him.
Seeing them standing there, the clan mother hurriedly called out, "Hurry up and sit down! What are you all standing for?"
Liu Yueyang sat down next to Qiu Yun. She secretly glanced at Qiu Yun a few times and found that this sister-in-law seemed to be just as her family said, a nice person without any airs.
"Sister-in-law, just call me Yueyang from now on." Liu Yueyang wanted to talk to Qiu Xuan, so she asked, "Sister-in-law asked my eldest brother to take two boxes of food back home the other day. I don't know what the food was called, but did you make it yourself?"
Qiu Xuan didn't expect that her sister-in-law actually liked the food she cooked, so she happily introduced it to her.
"That thing is called radish cake. It's made with radish and bacon. If you like it, I'll make it for you."
"No need." Before Liu Yueyang got married, she heard from her family that the Zong family's life was not as good as theirs, so it was naturally impossible for her to live the life of a "young lady" after marrying in.
If you want to fit in, you have to do the same things as them.
Liu Yueyang smiled and said, "If sister-in-law is willing, you can teach me when you have time."
"If you like it, I can teach you today." Seeing that she really liked it, Qiu Yu was naturally happy to teach her.
"Then I'm sorry to bother you, sister-in-law." Liu Yueyang found that she was good-tempered, and he couldn't help but speak to her in a more intimate manner.
The two of them chatted back and forth, oblivious to the people around them, discussing how to make radish cake.
Zong Xiao walked into the room and saw this scene.
He said nothing and just sat down next to Qiu Yun.
"This is Yueyang." Qiu Xuan moved aside and introduced him, "This is Zong Anji's second brother. You can just call him Second Brother from now on."
"Second brother." Liu Yueyang called softly.
Zong Xiao nodded, responding to the call of brother.
Seeing everyone present, the clan mother said happily, "With Yueyang's marriage, our family has one more member. We must work together to make a living. Yueyang, if the third brother bullies you, just tell me and I will deal with him for you."
"Thank you, mother." Liu Yueyang's cheeks flushed and he looked up at Zong Anji.
"Mom, what are you talking about? How could I possibly do something like that?" Zong Anji held Liu Yueyang's hand, not feeling embarrassed at all in front of everyone, and swore, "I will never let her suffer any injustice in the future."
Everyone laughed when they heard this, but seeing that Liu Yueyang was shy, no one joked with him anymore.
The family sat around the table and enjoyed their breakfast.
After dinner, Zong's mother didn't let her two daughters-in-law help clean up. She gave all the dishes on the table to Zong Anji.
"Go clear the dishes. Mother has something to tell them." The grandmother held one of them in each hand and said happily, "I've made new clothes for you. Come to my room and take a look."
"Erlang, come here too. It's a good opportunity for you to take the bedding back." Seeing that Zong Xiao was about to slip away, the clan mother called him back.
Zong Xiao had no choice but to follow behind them. He knew his limits and didn't get too close.
After picking up the quilt, he went straight home.
The bedding on the kang was not as thick as the new ones. Zong Xiao thought about taking down the old ones and replacing them all with new ones.
He took off his shoes and socks, got on the kang, and rolled up the old bedding bit by bit.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he lifted the mattress, he saw a small hole in the crack of the kang, and a piece of coarse cloth was exposed in the hole. Without thinking, he reached out and pulled it out.
The silver wrapped in coarse cloth was scattered all over the kang by his force.
The silver looked like it weighed about seven taels, but Zong Xiao knew it wasn't his.
There are only two of them living in this courtyard. If this is not his money, it can only be Qiu Xuan's.
But why did she hide the money here?
Zong Xiao didn't dare to think about it any further. He wrapped the silver and money in coarse cloth and stuffed it back into the hole.
In order to prevent Qiu Xuan from becoming suspicious, he put the mattress back on the old one. Fearing that it would not be warm enough, he put the new mattress on top of the old one.
Only after finishing these things did he have time to sit down and rest.
But as soon as I sat down, many images of Qiu Xuan emerged in my mind.
There was their first meeting in the hunting pit, the day he got married, and the time they went into the mountains and set up a stall together... The last scene stopped at last night.
The things he had been unable to remember suddenly came to his mind.
He hugged her last night, but she...struggled to break free. She must have been unwilling.
Zong Xiao sat on the edge of the kang, rubbing his eyebrows with his hand.
He recalled it bit by bit and finally found that some things in his memory did not seem to match.
The first time they met, Qiu Xuan fell into a hunting pit. She said at the time...she went into the mountains with her father, and she took the wrong path and fell in.
But as soon as he returned home that day, his grandmother told him about the Qiu family's marriage, saying that Qiu Shitou had come to his house early in the morning and wanted to use his daughter to pay off a debt.
Since Qiu Shitou went to his home, it was impossible for him to accompany Qiu Xuan into the mountains.
Since no one was accompanying Qiu Xuan, why did she appear alone in the woods down the mountain?
Thinking of the seven taels of silver just now, an idea suddenly appeared in his mind.
It turned out that Qiu Xuan did not go into the mountains to pick fruits that day. She wanted to go down the mountain to avoid the marriage and run away alone.
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