Xiao Luolan took her daughter and followed a group of them in. Xiao Qingxue saw people around her and swallowed what she wanted to say.
The Lu Mansion covers a large area, and most of the female family members in the mansion sit on chariots instead of walking.
Xiao Luolan sat on the chariot, holding the carvings on both sides of the chariot tightly with her hands, which hurt her palms.
"Mrs. Xiao." The headmistress of the Lu Mansion smiled and chatted with Mrs. Xiao: "Jieduzhi and my father have important matters to discuss in the middle hall. Why don't we go to the flower garden in the backyard to rest."
"Thank you, Mrs. Lu." Xiao Luolan replied softly.
When they arrived at the flower garden, Xiao Luolan found that it was a small pavilion built in the garden. Xiao Qingxue arrived in a strange place and did not talk too much at will. She only followed her mother.
Mrs. Lu and Mrs. Xiao chatted for a few words, but she felt that Mrs. Xiao seemed a little arrogant, and Mrs. Xiao was also cautious, so she left six maids to wait outside, and she found a reason to leave to let the mother-in-law. Women are alone together.
There were six copper basins filled with ice cubes in the corner of the Huating room, which cooled down the temperature in the room. Fang Yun used a round fan to fan the little master, and Xiao Qingxue asked her to go out first.
Xiao Luolan took off his curtain hat, his face turned red from the summer heat.
"Auntie, the people in the Lu family are so warm to us." Xiao Qingxue sat next to her mother, holding her mother's hand and said.
Xiao Luolan touched her daughter's red face and asked her to move closer to the ice basin. He then took out a handkerchief and wiped her sweat: "Maybe he doesn't care."
In fact, this is good, Xiao Luolan thought, just because he doesn't care, so he can just live up to his reputation and maintain the appearance of being good.
Zhou Shenzhi's son, Zhou Shenzhi, also bleeds half of the Lu family's blood. In any case, when they first met, his attitude toward her was much better than that of Shiliu Lang. The Lu family was Zhou Shenzhi's maternal family, and his maternal family treated her much better. Both mother and daughter were also polite.
Xiao Qingxue blinked her eyes: "How come, Auntie, I think it's because I care about them very much that I behave like this." If you don't care, just send them away casually. Everyone can do superficial skills, but do it carefully. Yes, who says he doesn’t care?
Xiao Luolan rubbed her daughter's head affectionately: "Everything you say is right."
"That's what it is."
Lu Mansion Tide Watching Pavilion.
Faced with his aunt's concern, Zhou Shenzhi said, "I am doing well in the military camp. I have meat to eat every day, servants to serve me, and a separate tent to live in. Don't worry."
Mrs. Lu sat on the embroidery stool, holding Zhou Shenzhi's hand and greeting him like an elder: "Is it hard to train every day?"
Zhou Shenzhi: "Auntie, training is not hard."
Mrs. Lu wiped her tears with a handkerchief and said, "Your mother left early, and Master Jiedushi didn't care about you. Now..."
"Aunt, don't say this again." Zhou Shenzhi quickly stopped his aunt: "I was not sensible when I was a child. My father has been away fighting for many years, but I can't let him worry."
"He can't do that even if he doesn't worry about it." Mrs. Lu burst into tears when she talked about this: "Master Jieduzhi only accepts his adopted son, how can he treat the sons of other people in the Zhou family as his own?" As for my son, it would be too unfair for you to move you to another home."
"Didn't my father come back later?" Zhou Shenzhi felt helpless when he heard his aunt's words.
"Then he can't do this. Because of this, the other brothers of the Zhou family are still having such sweet dreams, imagining that one day their sons can be the sons of Lord Jiedushi." Mrs. Lu said about the early years of Jiedushi It still feels weird for adults to do this.
Zhou Shenzhi is his only son!
At that time, he actually said that he didn't want it anymore, and instead brought his brother's son to raise him.
Although things changed later, this incident still left a psychological shadow on her. The Lu family would never agree to this matter.
Zhou Shenzhi listened to his aunt's nagging, comforted her a few more words, and waited for her to leave.
Zhou Shenzhi took a sip of tea, and the words his father said to him when he was five years old seemed to ring in his ears.
"No one is irreplaceable. If you want to get your things back, just fight for them and grab them."
That's when he realized he wasn't the only one.
Chapter 48 (revision)
Old General Lu took a look at the golden black whip worn by Youzhou Jiedushi at his waist. There was a small hole on the top of the whip handle, and a dark brown sachet was hung with gold wire at the small hole. There was another leather belt around his waist. There was a dark blue sachet hanging on one side. He lowered his head and took a sip of tea. The elder man of the Lu family beside him was fifty years old. Logically speaking, he should call the middle-aged man who was standing in front of the "Thousand Cranes Auspicious Picture" his brother-in-law. , but he still called out respectfully: "Sect Master Zhou."
Lu Jiawulang was a handsome man with a beard, a hairpin on his head, and a Taoist robe. He looked like a nobleman. He was standing next to Jieduzhao and introduced the "Auspicious Picture of Thousand Cranes". As he talked, he touched his long hair. The bearded man on his chest heard his elder brother's words and said with a smile: "Look at how nagging I am. I can't stop talking about Taigong Zhu's paintings. I'm really ashamed. Master Zhou, please take a seat."
Zhou Xu sat in the first place with a smile on his face. He took a sip of tea and said, "I quite like hearing what you said, Wulang. It's quite interesting."
Old General Lu smiled and said: "Since A Xu likes Zhu Taigong's paintings and there is a painting of his "Chongshan Picture" in the house, I will give it to you."
Lu Qilang also laughed and said, "Father is really partial. The last time I wanted to see the "Chongshan Picture", you were not willing to let me take a look."
Old General Lu puffed his beard and glared: "With your frivolous temper, any famous paintings you can preserve will be wasted on you."
Zhou Xu looked at them and said with a smile: "Then I won't be polite."
"Why are you so polite? You're welcome." Old General Lu said, "Tomorrow is the baptism ceremony for the young man and his three daughters. Seeing that you, A Xu, are busy with your career, I only invited Shen Zhi. I didn't expect you, A Xu, to come to Xunjiang as well." Now, I can just go through the Baptisms before leaving."
"Da Lang's third daughter is blessed to have you participate in the third bath."
Lu Chuan's dark face turned red after hearing this. He had been in the army for many years and was granted the rank of General Dingyuan by the imperial court. His first two sons were both born to his first wife. One of them is Zhaowu Colonel and the other is Guangwu Colonel. , are all married and established. The eldest son of the eldest son is six years old. Because they are the maternal family of the young master Zhou, his two sons are not just military officials like other captains, but have certain rights, and In recent years, relying on this status, he has married many officials from aristocratic families in Youzhou, and he has been able to barely support the Zhou family, which has become increasingly large in recent years.
He adopted Aunt Hua last year, and when he turned fifty, Aunt Hua turned out to be pregnant. Lu Chuan was naturally happy. After the child was born, he recorded it in his wife's name, so that he could invite Shen Zhi to attend the baptism ceremony. As for the Inviting my brother-in-law is nothing more than a child's baptism. How can I be qualified to invite the Jiedushi Master?
He invited Shenzhi because he wanted the two families to get closer to each other by visiting each other more often. Because Shenzhi was old and had heavy studies, he didn't visit their Lu family often. Lu Chuan was a little worried about the relationship between their uncle and nephew. The relationship has faded a bit, so I used this opportunity to get acquainted with the relationship.
"Then I will come to participate tomorrow." Zhou Xu said.
General Lu was immediately happy. He smiled and said, "How many days will Asu stay in Xunjiang for a few more days?"
"I still have important things to do, so I can't wait any longer." Zhou Xu replied.
Old General Lu stroked his gray beard and said with concern: "No matter how busy you are with your career, you still have to take care of your health." He drank tea and said: "You have been mostly fighting abroad in the past few years, so you have been a little free in the past two years. , if you find something you like, it’s better to make a decision earlier.”
Zhou Xu understood what Old General Lu meant, and he smiled and said, "This is natural."
Old General Lu also smiled and said: "Let's eat here at noon. Shen Zhi's favorite food has been prepared in the house. The old lady has been busy decorating it before dawn, so we can't live up to her wishes."
Zhou Shenzhi lifted up his robe and walked into the central hall, followed by General Lu's two sons, Lu Siheng and Lu Siyuan. Although the two behind him were older than the young men in front, it was obvious that the young men in front were the main ones among the three.
Zhou Shenzhi said with a smile: "Then I'm going to have a feast today." After that, he said to the two men behind him: "First cousin, second cousin, let's go to the kitchen later to see what my aunt has done. food."
His attitude was cordial, familiar, and unceremonious. He treated the Lu family as if he were at home. Everyone in the Lu family present had smiles on their faces. They were very happy for their nephew to get close to them. The higher the position of the Jiedushi master, the more they obtained. The benefits are also greater.
General Lu said: "Be careful, we can't set fire to the kitchen this time."
Old General Lu laughed loudly. Zhou Shenzhi was a little helpless when his uncle mentioned the embarrassing things he did when he was young. He was young and ignorant at the time, so why did his uncle still remember it?
Lu Siheng, the next heir to the Lu family and the eldest son of General Lu, also laughed: "Father, Shen Zhi burned down the kitchen that winter because he wanted to make noodles for his uncle's birthday and wanted to practice in advance, so he drove all the servants away. I went out and accidentally burned down the kitchen."
As soon as these words came out, General Lu's heart skipped a beat. He knew how naughty his nephew was when he was a child and how disobedient he was. At that time, the relationship between father and son was in jeopardy. For this reason, the Lu family often took Shen Zhi into his home. In the Lu family, a son-swapping incident later occurred, which frightened the whole family.
General Lu glanced at Sect Leader Zhou and found that he seemed to have only heard one interesting story about his son, and seemed not to care about the uncle's title in his eldest son's mouth. He felt a little relieved.
Although Clan Master Zhou is his brother-in-law, his sister has been dead for nearly twenty years after all. The in-laws between the two families are only his nephew. As Clan Master Zhou’s position becomes higher and higher, their Lu family also becomes more and more mature. It was difficult, and for this reason, his father took in more concubines, and later gave birth to several children. When they grew up, the sons and daughters of the Lu family almost always regarded Zhou Shenzhi as the most important.
Even when he went to the military camp, his nephew had a few people from the direct lineage of the Lu family at his disposal. The battlefield was blind, and the Lu family had to shed more or less blood to protect their only nephew, and they were able to stand firm by his side.
The Lu family has always been a strong supporter of Zhou Shenzhi! Everyone knows this and they don't have to hide it.
"Shen's filial piety is commendable." Zhou Xu said with a smile.
When Zhou Shenzhi heard this, his expression did not change at all. When he was six years old, he could not make noodles, but they were just a ball of dough. Not only did it look ugly, but it was unpalatable to eat, so he asked a servant to throw it away. It was a trivial matter. How could my father know about it when he was busy fighting Turks?
Zhou Shenzhi turned around and bowed and said, "I only wish that my father is well."
Old General Lu knew the purpose of Sect Leader Zhou's visit. Seeing that the matter was almost settled, he led everyone in the Lu Mansion out of the central hall after a few casual conversations.
Cui Shizi coughed lightly. He picked up the tea cup and took a sip to moisten his throat. There were ice cubes everywhere in the central hall, which formed a strong contrast with the hot weather outside. The sleeve stove gave him a light temperature. Zhao Seeing that he was afraid of the cold, Qingshan suggested, "Cui Langjun, let's go out and bask in the sun together?"
Cui Shizi glanced at the hot summer sun and coughed: "Okay."
One of them fanned, and the other went out with a sleeve stove.
The door was closed.
Zhou Xu lowered his head and took a sip of tea.
Zhou Shenzhi stepped forward and said after a while: "Thank you, father."
Zhou Xu looked at his son: "Thank me for what?"
Zhou Shenzhi stopped talking. There were some words he couldn't say. He had long known that there was a Mrs. Xiao beside his father, and she seemed to be quite fond of him. The success of Taiyang's prescription and the cowpox method could make this Mrs. Xiao in the mysterious world. The state's reputation is great, her father has already built momentum for her, and the rest is just a matter of time.
He came to Xunjiang to attend his little cousin's baptism. When his father found out, he took Mrs. Xiao to the Lu Mansion as a guest. He told his mother's family, and it was fine if the two families knew about it. They respected him and expressed their respect for Xiao. Madam's attention, the Lu family is his maternal family after all.
If my father lets the building boat sail away directly, I believe there will be rumors about it soon.
If his father was angered by the bastard thing Shiliu Lang did and the boat passed by the Xunjiang River without visiting the Yue family and his children, the minds of the Zhou family would be ready to move again.
Although he could press it, it was annoying to see.
Zhou Xu looked at his son who looked a bit stubborn inexplicably, and suddenly laughed when he saw that he was not too far away.
Zhou Shenzhi raised his head and glanced at his father, wondering why he was laughing.
Zhou Xu touched the stubble of his beard and muttered to himself: "That bowl of noodles is actually quite delicious, but it's a bit overcooked and the bottom is a bit mushy. There's also too much salt, so it's a bit cold to eat in the winter. "
Zhou Shenzhi's eyes widened slightly, and he turned suddenly to look at his father who was striding away.
Didn't he let his servant throw that bowl of noodles away?
How could my father eat it? Was that servant sent by his father? It's cold in winter, so the bowl of noodles would have been frozen into a lump by the time it was delivered to Langge...
The door creaked shut again, and Zhou Shenzhi was stabbed by the golden light of the black whip on his father's waist. The light and shadow intertwined, and the young man's stiff and straight back seemed to be bent and had not moved for a long time.
Outside the flower garden pavilion, six beautiful maidservants were waiting not far away.
Xiao Luolan was stunned for a moment when he saw Cui Langjun coming.
"Cui Langjun, please sit down." Xiao Luolan greeted Cui Langjun, who was not in good health. Xiao Qingxue looked at his white hair curiously. Although she had seen it many times, she felt like it every time she looked at it. Very peculiar.
They were at the back window of the pavilion, and on the desk was a sketch that Xiao Qingxue drew when she was bored, which was the flowers outside the window.
Cui Shizi knelt down on the jade mat opposite the desk. He had never seen such a novel painting technique before. He became interested, looked at it carefully for a while, and praised: "This painting technique is really unprecedented."
Xiao Qingxue blushed when she was praised. She learned sketching just like that. It was an ordinary hobby, unlike other art students who delved deeply into painting.
"Qingxue painted it." Xiao Luolan felt that her daughter's painting was very good and decent. When Cui Langjun praised her daughter, a soft smile suddenly appeared on her face. She got up and removed the ice cubes around the desk. The pot was moved far away, and when he came back he brought a soft cushion.
"Cui Langjun, the jade mat is cold, it's better to sit on a soft cushion."
Cui Shizi noticed Mrs. Xiao's behavior and heard Mrs. Xiao's caring words. He took the cushion and sat down again, with a smile on his face that became as warm as jade.
Getting along with Mrs. Xiao is always so refreshing.
Xiao Qingxue poured a cup of tea for this handsome white-haired uncle. Seeing that he had been looking at her crude painting, she blushed and said, "I'm not good at painting. Cui Langjun, if you want to learn, I can teach you. You can Being so smart, it will definitely take a long time to learn." She has been attending sketching classes for a long time and has quite a wealth of theoretical knowledge. It is also beneficial to have a good relationship with Cui Langjun. According to Tuoba Mu, Cui Langjun He is the number one counselor around Sect Leader Zhou.
Cui Shizi put down the drawing paper, shook his head, and said to Madam Xiao: "This is the first time I have seen this painting technique. Madam Xiao gave it away as soon as she said so. Although I am moved, I have nothing to give back to you. It is not appropriate." ,inappropriate."
