Gu Nanjiao hired two female shop assistants, both literate, and two embroiderers with excellent skills. After training them for half a month and getting them proficient, Gu Nanjiao also asked Manager Yun to help look after the shop.
After packing up with Lü Siniang, they headed to Luoshui County.
After more than half a month of tireless travel, the horse finally arrived.
She rushed back this time, but planned to go to the capital with Lu Yanzhao next spring for the imperial examination. Unless something urgent comes up, she probably won't return. If Lu Yanzhao makes it into the top three, he might bring his younger sister and mother to the capital as well, and she'd like to entrust the Delicious Restaurant to someone she trusts.
Gu Nanjiao didn't go directly to Meiwuzhai. She was exhausted from the long journey and wanted to go home to rest. Lü Siniang didn't stop either and had the driver take her home.
She hasn't had a proper rest in the past three months.
If she went straight back to Meiwuzhai, she would probably be bombarded with questions by everyone there. She was already exhausted and really didn't want to waste her rest time.
She brought back a lot of gifts, and she plans to distribute them to them when they meet tomorrow, as a surprise for everyone.
Gu Nanjiao stretched and yawned as she pulled a key from under the roof tiles and opened the door.
The small courtyard in the county town had four rooms in total; her room was given to Yingniang for temporary accommodation. Gu Nanjiao had no choice but to go into Lu Yanzhao's room.
The room was furnished just as it had always been, clean and tidy. It looked like no one had lived there for a long time.
Gu Nanjiao thought for a moment. Lu Yanzhao had become the top scholar in the imperial examination, so he had to attend many social events and rarely spent time at home. She didn't know when she would be able to see him again after returning this time.
Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore, I'm just too sleepy.
She had barely slept well these past few days. After wrapping herself in the blanket, she felt a strange sense of security and slept soundly and peacefully.
After returning from Yuzhou, Lu Yanzhao did not go back to Meiwuzhai. He was tired from the journey and thought he would go home and get some sleep.
When he got to the door, he was surprised to find that the lock was open.
It's daytime now, and Madam Lu is busy with the Delicious Food Shop business, so she can't be home. Little Sister Lu is at the martial arts school, so she can't be home either. Could the house have been burgled?
Lu Yanzhao carefully pushed open the door and first checked the house. When he saw the packages filling the main room, something vaguely came to mind.
Lu Yanzhao slowly pushed open the door. When he saw a small bulge on the bed, he struggled to suppress his joy.
Who else but Gu Nanjiao could openly lie in his bed?
He strode towards the bedside, his steps slow and deliberate, as if afraid of disturbing the person in bed.
At this moment, Lu Yanzhao was both tired and sleepy, so he simply lifted the quilt gently and slowly lay down next to Gu Nanjiao.
Gu Nanjiao slept for quite a long time. When she woke up rubbing her sleepy eyes, it was already dark. As she got up, she found a pair of large hands around her waist.
Damn it! When did this lecherous fellow get into our house?
Gu Nanjiao immediately kicked the person, sending them crashing down.
A muffled groan came from the ground.
Upon hearing that familiar voice, Gu Nanjiao quickly lit the oil lamp, instantly illuminating the room.
Lu Yanzhao, dressed in a dark blue robe, with ink-black hair and eyes, blended into the dim yellow light, like an elf descending from the night, mysterious and ethereal.
At this moment, Lu Yanzhao was staring intently at Gu Nanjiao, his gaze gentle as water, but he was jokingly saying, "It's been so long, why do you want to murder your husband as soon as we meet!"
"Lu Yanzhao?" Gu Nanjiao thought she was dreaming. She rubbed her eyes and looked into Lu Yanzhao's eyes.
The two stared at each other for a while before Lu Yanzhao got up and asked first, "When did you get back?"
"Just arrived today! And you, why do you look even more tired than me?"
Lu Yanzhao didn't answer Gu Nanjiao's question, but asked directly, "I heard you went to the capital with Bai Luochen?"
Gu Nanjiao "..."
Why ask such a fatal question the moment they meet? Shouldn't he have asked something like, "Is Jiaojiao tired?" or "How's the shop doing?"
Besides, she and Bai Luochen were just traveling together; the people who went to the capital with her were Fourth Sister and Manager Yun.
Regardless, they ultimately went to the capital together, but because of Bai Luochen's stop-and-go approach, she and Lu Yanzhao missed each other.
Gu Nanjiao felt a little awkward and suddenly changed the subject: "Congratulations on passing the imperial examination with top honors!"
Lu Yanzhao remained silent, his gaze towards Gu Nanjiao deepening as he slowly moved closer to her.
Just then, Lu Xiaomei's voice rang out from inside and outside the courtyard: "Hey, has a thief broken into the house?"
Mother Lu glanced at it suspiciously: "Doesn't look like it?"
Yingniang glanced at the luggage in the courtyard, then at the light on inside the house, and smiled, covering her mouth: "Godmother, the family must have returned home."
Lu's mother called from outside the door, "Yanzhao, is that you back?"
Upon hearing the sound, Lu Yanzhao abruptly turned his gaze away and went out with Gu Nanjiao.
"Jiaojiao, you're back too? Oh my, I've missed you so much!" When Lu's mother saw Gu Nanjiao, her eyes lit up, and she opened her arms to hug Gu Nanjiao with great joy.
"Mother, I miss you too!" Gu Nanjiao returned the hug.
"You've lost weight!" Mother Lu touched Gu Nanjiao's cheek, her face full of concern. Then she said happily, "Jiaojiao, you must be starving. I'll go make you something to eat."
"Mmm!" Gu Nanjiao nodded with a smile, feeling quite warm inside.
Lu's mother hurriedly went to the kitchen to cook, and Yingniang, carrying a lot of ingredients, also went to the kitchen to help.
Lu Yanzhao's lips twitched, and he whispered in Gu Nanjiao's ear, "With you here, Mother can't even see me anymore."
“That’s right, that’s right. Sister-in-law is now the treasure in Mom’s heart, Mom’s sweet little cotton-padded jacket.” Lu Xiaomei winked at Lu Yanzhao and didn’t forget to tease Gu Nanjiao.
Are you two jealous?
Lu Yanzhao remained silent, while Lu Xiaomei ran up to Gu Nanjiao with a playful laugh and hugged her, saying, "How could I be jealous? My sister-in-law is also my treasure!"
Lu Xiaomei clung to Gu Nanjiao, refusing to let go. Lu Yanzhao's gaze darkened, and he couldn't help but clear his throat, saying sternly, "Lu Wanning, your sister-in-law has been traveling all day and is exhausted. Don't keep carrying her!"
Lu Xiaomei let go and scoffed, "My brother's always jealous. Fine, fine, I won't hug your wife. You can hug her to your heart's content tonight!"
Gu Nanjiao blushed upon hearing this and glanced at Lu Yanzhao somewhat awkwardly.
Fortunately, it was dark, so no one could see her blushing.
Lu Yanzhao suddenly said sternly, "What do you mean by 'hug me to my heart'? Where did you learn these words? From now on, you're not allowed to read those messy novels."
Lu Xiaomei pouted, looking somewhat aggrieved: "You only know how to criticize me. I saw my sister-in-law peeking at the words in the storybook earlier, why didn't you say anything to her?"
The younger sister stomped her foot and ran to the kitchen.
In the courtyard, Gu Nanjiao awkwardly tried to scratch the ground. She used to enjoy reading storybooks when she had nothing to do, just to pass the time. Lately, she'd been incredibly busy and hadn't had any time to read them.
How did this young lady get dragged into this?
Will Lu Yanzhao misunderstand and think she's reading those stories about humming, hehe, and hugging?
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