Chapter 7: The drinking capacity is just a self-imposed prison.
At dawn, the carriage and horses were ready at the gate of Jiang Mansion.
Jiang Suisui got up the earliest and ran excitedly to her parents' bedroom, trying to urge them to get up.
But before she could even touch the door, it opened. She was caught off guard and tripped over the threshold, falling into a familiar and safe warm embrace.
“Daddy!”
"Yeah." Jiang Keyu was wearing a narrow-sleeved floral blue robe with a jade belt around her waist, looking particularly elegant.
He smiled and turned his face to the side. Jiang Suisui immediately kissed him and asked anxiously, "Daddy, when are we leaving for Cricket Villa?"
"Once mother has changed her clothes, we can set off."
Jiang Suisui leaned back upon hearing this and just in time saw her mother coming from behind the screen, calling out in a sticky voice, "Mom!"
Song Baoyuan had a simple and elegant makeup and was wearing a sky-blue embroidered short-sleeved dress. Today, she was wearing a jade bracelet and a pearl hairpin. She was as beautiful as an orchid and walked slowly towards them.
"Mom is so beautiful!" Jiang Suisui twisted her body and tilted her head, as if she was shy.
Song Baoyuan laughed and walked up to her on tiptoe. Jiang Suisui stretched her neck and pouted, kissing her mother on the cheek. Then, as if she had gotten an advantage, she was overjoyed and smiled so much that her eyes could not be seen. "Mother finally smiled."
Jiang Suisui shook Jiang Keyu's shoulders as if to complain, "Daddy, let me tell you, Mommy has been unhappy lately, even though my brother and I are so well behaved!"
"Nonsense."
When Jiang Keyu looked over with a hint of doubt, Song Baoyuan smiled, her eyes only focused on her daughter, and she nonchalantly denied it.
"Mother!" Jiang Chengyou came out of the room slowly, dressed neatly, and ran over happily. When he got to her, he hurriedly stopped, his smile instantly faded, and he clasped his hands together in greeting, "Daddy."
"Yeah." Jiang Keyu responded lightly, expressing her reluctant satisfaction with his honesty.
Seeing this, Song Baoyuan stepped over the threshold first, took her son's hand, walked in front, and turned back to remind him, "Let's go."
"Okay." Jiang Keyu, holding her daughter, followed behind with big strides.
Today is a nice day with clear skies and a nice weather. It's a good day for a trip.
The family rode in the carriage for about half an hour, and the two children each took a nap beside their parents. As soon as they landed, they jumped up and down again.
Qushui Villa is a place reserved for the enjoyment of the nobility. It covers a vast area with mountains and lakes. The air is fresh and the scenery is beautiful in this season.
At the entrance to the villa, Sheng Qiyin seemed to have been waiting for a long time. She was dressed in a moon-white dress with wide sleeves and lily of the valley in her hair, looking extremely pretty.
As soon as she saw the Jiang family's carriage, she happily stepped forward to greet them.
Jiang Keyu got off the carriage first, took the two children, and was about to continue supporting the lady, but was snatched away by Sheng Qinyin.
"Sister Song is mine today, so you can just stand aside!" She naturally took Song Baoyuan's arm and said, "Sister Song, your mission today is to have a good rest. Let's not get involved with those annoying and smelly men, lest they ruin our good mood."
Song Baoyuan was not used to such closeness, but she was held tightly and could not break free without any effort. She was dragged away by her, looking back every few steps.
Jiang Chengyou ran off happily, but Jiang Suisui stayed where she was, holding her hands up, jumping a few times, and calling out coquettishly, "Daddy, hold me!"
Jiang Keyu was too busy to handle everything, so he had no choice but to allow his wife to be taken away. He picked up his daughter and told Liu'an to follow his son who was like a wild horse running away.
Less than a quarter of an hour after arriving at the villa, the family was torn apart.
Song Baoyuan was worried, so she asked Qiao Yue and Qiao Yin to look after the young master, while Sheng Qinyin took her to appreciate the flowers.
Every corner of Qushui Villa is very exquisite. The flower beds are full of flowers, most of which are brightly colored, which are colorful and refreshing to the eyes.
There is also a swing in the flower garden, swinging in such an atmosphere, like a butterfly flying among the flowers.
"Sister Song, how are you?" Sheng Qiyin asked enthusiastically, "Does being here make you feel better?"
Even with such an artistic conception, it couldn't attract Song Baoyuan. She always had her children in her heart. "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Sheng, but I still have to take care of the two little ones. Sui Sui is fine with his father by his side, but Cheng Cheng is naughty and likes to hide from his father. I'm worried that the servants can't keep an eye on him."
"Oh, Sister Song!" Sheng Qiyin raised her voice in dissatisfaction, "Even if you're a mother, you can't just think about your child. The child is important, so are you not important?"
Song Baoyuan was stunned.
"Besides, think about your own childhood. Which child wants to be watched by adults while playing? You want more company, but maybe the child will find it annoying."
Sheng Qiyin said quietly, "Sometimes there's no need to think too highly of yourself. You think you're important, but in reality, you're redundant."
She looked up to the sky and sighed, "If children are like this, men may be like this too."
After a pause, she quickly said, "Of course I'm not saying that Second Brother finds you annoying. He... did tell you in advance that he wanted you to relax today and not worry about them."
Sheng Qiyin smiled and said, "You can enjoy the flowers here leisurely, and they don't have to be so restrained. Isn't this killing two birds with one stone?"
Song Baoyuan found her words harsh, but had no way to refute them.
She had thought her husband was serious and old-fashioned, and that was his nature. But he had never smiled so heartily in front of her, his wife.
The scene on the night of the Flower Festival was like a seed that took root and sprouted in her heart. Even though Song Baoyuan told herself not to think too much, she could not stop the scene from appearing in her mind again and again.
"Okay, Sister Song." Sheng Qiyin pushed her to sit on the swing, "Just enjoy the beautiful scenery in front of you and don't worry about anything else."
Flowers are blooming and fluttering in the wind.
The scene before our eyes is not limited to this. There are also children laughing in groups of three or two, couples walking hand in hand, and friends enjoying the flowers together... They walk through the flowers, which is so harmonious and beautiful.
Song Baoyuan sat alone for a long time, and she didn't even know when Sheng Qinyin left her.
*
There is a bamboo raft by the lake. Jiang Suisui has never seen such a boat. He doesn't want to take a small boat, but insists on taking this one.
"I want it, I want it!" she begged coquettishly.
Jiang Keyu was worried about the danger, but he also didn't want to make his daughter unhappy. Thinking that with him around, nothing serious would happen, he agreed.
He carried his daughter onto the bamboo raft and sat on a bamboo chair. Just as the boatman was about to leave the shore, he suddenly heard a crisp "Wait!"
Jiang Keyu looked up when he heard the voice and saw Sheng Qiyin. He looked around and asked, "Where is my wife?"
Sheng Qiyin trotted onto the bamboo raft, skirt in hand, and sat down beside the father and daughter before answering, "Sister Song wants to be quiet and doesn't want anyone to disturb her. So I must be tactless, so I'm bothering you."
She reached out and pinched Jiang Suisui's ear, "You two must be too noisy on weekdays, so mother wants to be alone!"
"I didn't!" Jiang Suisui retorted loudly. After thinking for a moment and feeling guilty, she added, "It was my brother who was making the noise!"
Jiang Keyu was helpless and gently pinched her daughter's face. "Then next time brother makes a noise, you have to remind him, okay?"
"Yeah!" Jiang Suisui nodded honestly.
The boatman used the pole to steer the bamboo raft into the lake and then down the river. When the water was swift and fast, the raft would be submerged in the lake.
Jiang Suisui took advantage of her father's inattention and stepped on it, then giggled as if she had succeeded in doing something bad.
Her shoes and socks were instantly wet. Jiang Keyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She pressed her to sit on her lap and asked, "Is it cold?"
"It's fun!" Jiang Suisui tossed her legs around, splashing water on her father's face. "I want to play more!"
"It's cool." Jiang Keyu reached into the lake and felt the water temperature for a moment.
Jiang Suisui swayed left and right, switching back and forth between acting coquettishly and throwing a tantrum, "Yes, I want to play, Daddy! I want to play!"
"Just let her play." Sheng Qiyin chimed in, "It's so hard to get out and play, so of course the most important thing is that she has fun."
Jiang Keyu hesitated, and his daughter kept shaking his arm.
"Forget it." He finally gave in and took off his daughter's wet shoes and socks, then tied her skirt and pants above her knees.
Jiang Suisui stepped onto the bamboo raft barefoot, laughing excitedly every time water dripped, and kept stepping.
Jiang Keyu was afraid that she would lose her balance, so she held her collar from behind so that she could be lifted up if she fell to the left.
With his father backing him up, Jiang Suisui became more and more fearless. Not only did he play with the water by swaying left and right, he also scooped up water and threw it backwards to "attack" his father.
Jiang Keyu was completely defenseless and washed her face directly.
Seeing him in such a mess, Sheng Qinyin covered her face and laughed.
"Sui Sui!"
Compared to the seriousness with which she addressed her son, Jiang Keyu was more helpless when addressing her daughter, and thus was unable to calm Jiang Suisui down at all. Instead, it only made her more aggressive, constantly scooping and throwing water, provoking her father.
Since she was already wet, Jiang Keyu didn't hesitate. She left the chair and knelt on the bamboo raft. While holding her daughter in her arms, she used her wet hands to shake water onto her face to tease her.
"Ahhh!" Jiang Suisui screamed with excitement and started a water fight with his father.
Not long after, Sheng Qinyin joined the battle and helped Sui Sui "subdue" her father.
"Look how happy that family of three is having." Passersby and their companions on the bridge exclaimed.
The bamboo raft was about to cross the bridge when Jiang Keyu was splashed in the eyes by her daughter who was not gentle enough. She blinked to ease the pain.
"Don't move, second brother." Sheng Qinyin extended a helping hand and wiped his eyes with her sleeve, while also blocking his view of the scenery on the bridge.
On the arch bridge, Song Baoyuan stood quietly with an expressionless face, watching silently and listening clearly to the words of passers-by.
After crossing the bridge, Jiang Keyu blinked and looked up at the sky. She subconsciously stepped back, afraid that he would see her.
At this moment, Song Baoyuan felt that she was in a much more miserable state than they were as they were all wet.
Even his normal steps of leaving seemed like fleeing in panic.
She left the flower garden because she was still worried about her children and... She didn't know where they were, so she walked aimlessly.
Song Baoyuan didn't know whether she should be thankful or not, because the laughter of the two little kids was very recognizable, so she was attracted from afar.
Sui Sui had a lot of fun just now, and so did Cheng Cheng in front of him.
Song Baoyuan walked alone to the straw pile and saw the outgoing Jiang Chengyou and some unfamiliar children playing in the mud. Sometimes they were having mud fights, sometimes they were catching loaches, and sometimes they called Qiaoyue and Liuan to play Eagle Catches Chicken.
If she showed up suddenly, it would really seem to disturb them.
Her legs were tired from walking too much and stiff from standing for too long, but Song Baoyuan still persisted, walking in the opposite direction, faster and faster.
She shouldn't worry unnecessarily and shouldn't feel that they can't live without her.
Now it seems more appropriate to say that I can't live without them.
No matter what purpose Sheng Qinyin had in saying those words to her, it became an undeniable fact.
But she doesn't want to be that kind of person.
"call."
Song Baoyuan was running out of breath.
Not knowing where she was, she looked up and saw pavilions and waterside terraces everywhere, leading to all directions.
She found a small, deserted pavilion nearby and sat down, leaning against the eaves, breathing deeply. The cool breeze brushed against her face, relieving the heat.
Suddenly, a tomboy who looked about eight or nine years old appeared in my sight. She was dressed simply but cleanly.
Her body was covered with palm-sized gourds, her steps were hesitant, and her expression was conflicted.
Most of these children were the sons of servants who worked in the villa. They often sold small items to outsiders to supplement their family income.
She was so loaded with things, with no empty space, and her face flushed, as if she was tired. Song Baoyuan couldn't help but feel soft-hearted, and patiently asked, "Selling gourds?"
"Grain wine." The tomboy walked over quickly after hearing the question, but she was still visibly reserved. "Sister, sister, would you like to buy a pot to try? It's brewed by my mother, and it's delicious."
liquor?
Song Baoyuan was stunned.
"How much?"
"Eighty coins a pot."
"Okay." Song Baoyuan poured some change from her purse and handed it over.
The tomboy quickly took off the gourd from her body, wiped it clean with her sleeve and presented it to him.
After exchanging it for silver, he felt a little embarrassed, "This, is too much."
She couldn't find it.
Feeling exhausted, Song Baoyuan didn't want to waste any more words and just said, "No need to look for it."
“Thank you, sister!”
As if she was afraid that she would go back on her word, the tomboy turned around and ran, and the gourds on her body collided with each other, making a tinkling sound.
Song Baoyuan watched her run away until she disappeared.
The breeze blew through the four-cornered pavilion, lifting her hair, covering her fair face, and her half-open eyes that showed a little confusion.
The gourd in her palm looked awkward, and she unconsciously twirled the red string on the gourd, her expression dazed.
In the past, the family hid all kinds of wine, and she had no strong curiosity, but her father insisted on telling her not to drink secretly. This aroused her rebellious heart, and she sneaked into the wine cellar and tasted all of them.
Almost died drunk in the wine barrel.
Later, I didn't learn my lesson and often drank too much.
However, since her parents passed away, she has never touched a drop of alcohol, even when she got married, became the mistress of the house, became pregnant and gave birth to children, and was a loving mother.
The last time was on the wedding night.
"elder sister!"
Accompanied by the sound of ding-ding-dong, Song Baoyuan turned around in surprise and saw the tomboy coming back from the other direction.
The tomboy gasped and said sincerely, "This wine is very intoxicating. If you get drunk here alone, it will be very dangerous."
Song Baoyuan laughed dumbly, "Thank you for your reminder, but I can drink a lot, don't worry."
After she said this, she was stunned.
She can really drink a lot, so there's no need to worry.
She has always been confined in her own prison.
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