Chapter 77: Short Days Have Cold Light

In the wind, the sound of Aunt Feng cursing could be heard faintly.

"You beast who doesn't understand human language!"

Fan Xiucai: ...

Mr. Fan was so angry that his blood boiled and he wanted to rush in and argue.

But the reality was that he waved his fur coat and searched his whole body to find a few shabby copper coins.

The wind was howling. Mr. Fan clenched his palms, grasped the copper plate, and left with gritted teeth.

Mr. Fan's son hurriedly followed, his eyes rolling around, and it was obvious that he had some bad intentions.

After a while, the gate of Feng's courtyard opened again.

Aunt Feng stuck her head out and looked left and right, and after making sure that there was no one around, she let out a long sigh of relief.

This old scholar doesn't look like a good person.

Even his son, who pretended to be a well-behaved man, looked at Xiao Ming with lustful eyes.

Disgusting!

Young Master Sun didn't get any favor from Xiao Ming, so how can this little beast deserve it?

If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beams will be crooked.

Aunt Feng had given up the idea of ​​letting her little son study and learn calligraphy under Mr. Fan.

…

The sky is cold and the sky is green; the north wind blows through the withered mulberry trees.

The thick ice has no cracks, and the short days have a cold light.

The days in winter are extremely short, which can easily give people a feeling that the time passes by quickly.

Three days passed in a flash.

It snowed at night, and everything was white.

This was the first real heavy snow she had seen since she entered the book.

It is not a speck of stars, nor is it muddy water, nor is it as thin as smoke.

Lu Mingchao changed into a thicker cloak, held a hand warmer tightly in his hands, and leaned quietly against the window, watching the children playing happily in the snow with a warm smile in his eyes.

A picture of joy, peace and harmony.

The shy and introverted Ru'an seemed to be freed from the blizzard, her laughter was crisp and hearty, as if she had never been abused and had never been in any shadow.

Yes, at a young age, we should be like the snow all over the ground.

Be upright and clean.

Lu Mingchao withdrew his gaze and turned sideways to look inside the house.

Xie Yan was bent over his desk, carving and drawing on a piece of parchment that had been scraped and washed extremely clean.

The wind blew in through the half-open window, ruffling Xie Yan's long hair that was tied high behind her head.

Xie Huaiqian sat not far from the charcoal basin, reading a book with a frown on his face, while a cup of hot tea curled up on the table beside him.

Perhaps it was the warmth from the charcoal basin, or perhaps it was the steam from the hot tea, but Xie Huaiqian's little face was flushed red.

The heavy snow gave the family a rare opportunity to be together and relax.

"Mom, mom." Xie Jingyi's chubby little face was filled with a bright smile, and she walked towards Lu Mingchao on her short legs.

After taking only two steps, his left foot stepped on his right foot and he tripped and fell into the snow.

He didn't cry, but got up and brushed the snow off his shirt.

"Mother, I pinched a flower."

Lu Mingchao walked out with a hand warmer in his pocket, and carefully wiped the snow off Xie Jingyi's body.

Following Xie Jingyi's chubby little fingers, I saw the vivid flowers pinched on the ground and said with a smile, "Mother Jingyi is smart and skillful."

Next to the flowers are grape vines that Xie Ru'an had piled up bit by bit with snow.

"If you are tired from playing, come inside and rest. It will warm you up."

At this moment, there was a creaking sound as if a carriage was running over snow cotton.

The sound is getting closer.

Lu Mingchao frowned. No one would choose to go into the mountains in such weather, so it was most likely that they came for her and Xie Yan.

As expected.

There was a knock on the bolted door.

Xie Yan heard the noise, had already put away the parchment scroll he had been carving on for a long time, and stood under the eaves.

There was a continuous knock on the door, and Xie Yan and Lu Mingchao looked at each other.

Then, Xie Yan walked along a cleared path to the gate of the courtyard and lifted the bolt.

"You are Mr. Xie Yan, right?"

"I am a servant of the county magistrate's wife."

The visitor introduced himself and behaved politely without any arrogance.

Xie Yan thought to himself that the maid in the lead had her hair tied up very neatly and was wearing gold and silver jewelry, which made her look very respectable. She must be a very respected servant of the county magistrate's wife. She was thinking a lot, but she didn't show it on her face. She nodded slightly and said, "I am Xie Yan. I wonder what you want to do?"

The maid bowed her head and said with a smile, "Walking in the snow to look for plum blossoms is a great and elegant thing in life. Madam has specially arranged a plum blossom viewing banquet at home and invited all the scholars and ladies from Changhe County."

"My lady heard that you were acting neither humble nor overbearing in the county hall, and she was attracted by you and wanted to take this opportunity to see you."

"Thank you, my dear. Here is the invitation."

The maid took the gold-stamped invitation from the maid beside her and handed it to Xie Yan with both hands.

Xie Yan frowned slightly. No matter how reasonable and sensible the maid's words were, he just didn't believe them.

The magistrate of Changhe County has always been a person who does not do anything without benefits.

The wife of the county magistrate naturally did not dare and could not disobey the county magistrate's wishes.

I’m afraid this post is from the county magistrate.

Lu Mingchao stepped forward, holding his cloak tightly, and took the gold-stamped invitation. "The county magistrate's wife has invited me, how can I not go?"

It is a custom not to hit a smiling person. The maid sent by the county magistrate's wife to deliver the invitation was humble and courteous from beginning to end. She was very humble and took the approach of retreating, leaving her no chance to refuse.

She has to accept the invitation even if she doesn't want to.

"Hello, Madam Xie." The maid raised her head slightly, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and then she quickly lowered her head, looking well-behaved and honest again.

She is indeed a young lady who was raised in the Yongning Marquis Mansion in Shangjing City.

Beautiful and spiritual.

It is invaluable.

Lu Mingchao smiled and said in a gentle voice, "It's my turn to say hello to you."

"I wonder if the county magistrate's wife is inviting me alone or my husband and I to the plum blossom viewing banquet?"

Since we have invited many scholars and wealthy ladies, there must be separate seats for men and women. It would not be impolite to bring Xie Yan along.

The maid smiled and replied, "You can go with me."

"To be honest, Madam Xie, your brother, Mr. Lu Yao, is also among the invited guests."

"I'll be waiting outside. After you and Mr. Xie change your clothes, you can take the carriage."

Lu Mingchao saw two horse-drawn carriages parked in the open space.

One carriage was relatively small and simple, with dark blue curtains, while the other carriage was much more exquisite and spacious, with fine embroidery on the curtains.

Lu Mingchao's eyes flickered. "It's freezing cold, how can I let you wait outside? If you don't mind, you may come in."

The maid readily agreed.

The maids were drinking hot tea in the main hall, while Lu Mingchao was changing her clothes and tying her hair into a bun in the next room.

After the last hairpin was inserted into the bun, Lu Mingchao asked softly, "Ayan, who do you think was the author of this?"

Xie Yan had already made up his mind, "I'm afraid that Master Sun Zhiye doesn't have the ability to make the wife of the county magistrate obey his orders."

"Going to the capital?" Lu Mingchao understood the elegant meaning from the sound of the strings.

The servant's attitude was indeed too humble and proper; she must have been given special instructions.

Xie Yan shook his head. "If someone came to the capital, he wouldn't have gone through so much trouble."

"The leopard in the tube is not a feast for the rich."

"My second brother and I are here too, don't worry."

Lu Mingchao smiled and said, "I'm not worried, I'm just curious about what the county magistrate's wife's son is up to."

"But, mother will have to take care of several children again."

After Xie Yan had packed up, Lu Mingchao put on his cloak and walked out.

Plum Blossom Appreciation Banquet】