Ye Zelin nodded slightly.
Hua Fushu looked Ouyang Jingming up and down. This cousin was quite young, probably only a few years older than Ye Zelin.
Ouyang Jingming ignored Hua Fushu and just glanced at her lightly.
Then he pulled Ye Zelin aside, put his arm around his shoulders, lowered his voice, and asked, "Xiao Lin, has your wife ever been educated? Is she a blind person with open eyes?"
Ye Zelin also whispered, "Since we got married, I've never seen her write a single word. I guess she can't read."
The two of them were whispering to each other in a very low voice. Hua Fushu listened carefully and could only roughly hear what Ouyang Jingming said. Ye Zelin's voice was even lower than Ouyang Jingming's, so Hua Fushu could not hear it clearly.
Looking at the two people who seemed to be saying bad things about her, Hua Fushu walked towards Ye Songyan, nudged his arm with her elbow, and asked, "Xiao Si, what is Wen Xiazi?"
Ye Songyan glanced at Hua Fushu and coughed lightly. Hua Fushu's attention was all on the two people. She didn't notice what she called Ye Songyan, nor did she hear Ye Songyan's light cough.
Ye Songyan glanced at Ouyang Jingming, then glanced at Hua Fushu before saying, "Second sister-in-law, a blind man named Wen is someone who can't read a single word."
Hua Fushu then turned to look at Ye Songyan, then stared at Ouyang Jingming's back, cursing inwardly, "You're the blind one, your whole family is blind! If I don't teach you a lesson, I'm not Hua!"
After the uncle and nephew finished speaking, Hua Fushu pretended not to hear anything.
Ouyang Jingming welcomed them into the house.
The Ouyang family's residence is a large house with three courtyards, pavilions, hand-paved corridors, moon-shaped caves, strange rocks and flowing water. It is bright and beautiful, quiet and elegant.
Ouyang Jingming led them to the tea room, served them some tea and then invited them to his courtyard.
Ouyang Jingming's courtyard is called Xianyunzhai, a reference to the line "Clouds are carefree, waters are at ease" from the poem "White Cloud Spring." More than twice the size of Penglai Residence, Xianyunzhai is a separate courtyard, nestled among unusual rocks, lush bamboo, and a vibrant pond stocked with koi.
Ouyang Jingming hadn't seen his two nephews for a long time, so he wanted to catch up with them. Hua Fushu didn't join them, but took Sanqiao to the pond to watch the fish.
Nearly half an hour later, a maid dressed in autumn-fragrance-colored clothes entered Xianyunzhai. When I saw the Xiangfei color by the pool, I knew her identity.
The maid walked over to Ouyang Jingming and the others, bowed and saluted, "Your servant Qingdai greets Master Ming, Second Master, and Brother Yan."
Ye Zelin saw that Qingdai was beautiful and charming. She had lost her former immaturity and became more mature and attractive. He thought it was because she had been taught by her great aunt.
A few years ago, he went to Wuyin to visit his aunt's grandmother. When he first met Qingdai, she was still a little girl who would blush when served tea. Now she has become a calm and composed young lady.
He said, "I haven't seen Qingdai for a few years. She seems different now."
Ouyang Jingming said, "Qingdai was taught by Tongniang, so naturally she's different. If she hadn't been born a maid, she would definitely be Tongniang's second best, on par with your mother back then. Which famous lady from Wuyin can compare to her? She studied with my father in her early years and is quite proficient in the art of medicine. Whenever Tongniang has any ailment, Qingdai is the one who treats it."
Ye Zelin was quite impressed. "It's not bad to learn the art of Qi Huang. He might be a great doctor in the future. The Ouyang family's medical skills will have successors."
Qingdai smiled and said, "How can this servant bear such a heavy responsibility?"
Ouyang Jingming said, "You deserve it. You can be considered as Daddy's disciple. Xiaolin's mother and I don't like to learn medicine. Daddy was praised by the late emperor as the 'Supreme Master of Medicine'. It would be a pity if his medical skills were not inherited by anyone."
Qing Dai continued, "Ming Gongzi, let's not talk about this anymore. The Madam has finished chanting and has ordered this servant to come and invite you, the Second Young Master, and Brother Yan to Rongxi Hall."
Ouyang Jingming said, "Tong Niang chants sutras in the Buddhist temple at a certain time every day."
Ye Zelin continued, "If you count carefully, my great-aunt has been chanting sutras for seven or eight years."
Ye Zelin called Hua Fushu over and said to Qingdai, "This is my wife, Fushu."
Qingdai greeted Hua Fushu, "Qingdai greets Miss Fushu."
Hua Fushu just nodded lightly and said to Ye Zelin, "I'm feeding the fish. Why did you call me over?" She still had fish food in her hand.
Ye Zelin said, "Go see my aunt and grandmother."
After hearing what he said, Hua Fushu was very confused as to why Ye Zelin kept talking about his great aunt instead of his grandmother.
Ye Zelin saw her confusion and said, "My great aunt is my mother's aunt and my grandmother's younger sister. My grandmother passed away early, and when she was dying, she asked my great aunt to look after my mother. Later, my grandfather married my great aunt as his second wife. In order to take care of my mother, my great aunt remained childless throughout her life. My mother always told my brothers and me that we must be respectful and filial to my great aunt."
Ouyang Jingming also said: "My biological mother died when I was born, and my father passed away not long after. I was raised by Tong Niang alone."
Hua Fushu never imagined that the situation of the Ouyang family was so complicated, with two sisters marrying the same husband, following the example of Ehuang and Nvying.
However, it is also admirable that this great aunt remained childless throughout her life in order to take care of her sisters' orphans.
No wonder Ye Zelin had told her to be more respectful to his great aunt and grandmother, and not to be like he was to his grandfather.
Ye Zelin and Hua Fushu briefly explained the situation of the Ouyang family. There were not many members of the Ouyang family, only three.
One was his aunt’s grandmother, whose surname was Gao and whose maiden name was Tonghua. She was dignified and elegant, with a kind heart. She usually recited scriptures and seldom went out.
One is his maternal grandfather’s second brother, Second Master Ouyang. This Second Master lives in a separate courtyard and basically never comes to the Ouyang family.
The third one is naturally Ouyang Jingming.
Ouyang Jingming is the only son of Ye Zelin's maternal grandfather's youngest brother. Because his parents died early, he was raised by Ye Zelin's maternal grandfather.
Hua Fushu listened carefully and knew that she would not act recklessly and would definitely respect his great aunt.
Several people followed Qingdai to Rongxi Hall to pay their respects to Old Madam Gao.
Entering Rongxi Hall, everyone saw a silver-haired old lady sitting in the first seat, dressed in brown and red soft silk clothes, holding a round fan with a yellow jade handle and a Ruyi cloud pattern.
This silver-haired old woman was Ye Zelin's great-aunt, Old Madam Gao. Qingdai and Old Madam Gao said, "Madam, Ming'er, Lin'er, Yan'er, and his wife have come to pay their respects to you."
Old Madam Gao said with a kind look, "What greetings are you asking for? Qingdai, please ask the brothers to sit down and not stand."
Qingdai asked everyone to sit down and called the maid to serve tea. Hua Fushu sat next to Ye Zelin. Ye Zelin pointed Hua Fushu to Old Madam Gao and said, "Aunt, this is my wife Hua Fushu." Then he said to Hua Fushu, "Fushu, this is my aunt's grandmother."
Hua Fushu stood up and bowed as usual, "Fushu to my great aunt..."
Halfway through her words, she realized she was performing the male etiquette, but it was difficult to change, so she just went with it and finished her words, "I'm doing well, my great-aunt."
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