The petite woman followed Jin Hewan cautiously. When she reached the entrance, she was still too nervous to go in. She had a delicate bamboo basket slung on her arm.
Xiao Luolan noticed that Wan Niang had brought a strange woman with her today. She looked at the woman standing at the door and smiled: "Wan Niang, have you brought a new friend?"
Jin Hewan pulled the woman behind him to sit in front of him: "She is Mr. Qingshan's wife, Yueniang. I specially brought you many flower designs today."
The petite woman took off her curtain hat, revealing a delicate face. She put the bamboo basket on the table. When she saw the Jiedushi wife opposite, her eyes widened slightly. Then she quickly lowered her eyes, stood up and said, "Concubine." Shenwang Yueniang pays homage to the general’s wife.”
She knew how favored this lady was, so she didn't dare to neglect her, and she was even a little uneasy.
"Yue Niang can just call me Lan Niang. Wan Niang has always called me Lan Niang." Xiao Luolan and Qingshan Niang sat down softly and pushed the refreshments on the table towards them.
Wang Yueniang's heart relaxed a little, and she smiled. After Wanniang picked up a piece of chestnut cake, Jiedushi's wife used a piece of osmanthus cake, and then she ate a piece of red bean cake.
The sound of storytelling gradually began downstairs.
Jin Hewan took out the patterns from the bamboo basket, and several different patterns were presented on the table. Xiao Luolan looked at the vivid and colorful patterns on the table and praised: "What beautiful colors."
"Yue Niang embroidered these all by herself." Jin Hewan handed the hibiscus pattern to Lan Niang: "She likes embroidery the most on weekdays."
Xiao Luolan took it and praised again: "Yue Niang has such skillful hands."
Wang Yueniang's face turned red when she was praised by the Jiedushi's wife, and she said in a thin voice: "If you like it, madam, I can embroider some for you."
"Thank you Yueniang for your kindness." The more Xiao Luolan looked at it, the more she liked it. Hearing Yueniang say this, she curved her lips and said, "But there is still enough time before her birthday. I want to embroider one for my little lady."
Wang Yueniang held the handkerchief in her hand and felt that what Mrs. Jieduzhi said was very reasonable. After all, it was her child's birthday, and it was more meaningful to do it with her own hands.
"Yue Niang, your tricks are really beautiful, can you teach me?" Xiao Luolan asked sincerely.
"Of course." Wang Yueniang quickly replied: "Of course, this embroidery method is not unusual."
"Then thank you Yueniang." Xiao Luolan said.
For the next time, the three of them listened to the story and embroidered flowers. Xiao Luolan sat next to Yueniang, and the silk thread seemed to come alive in her hands. She was very careful when explaining, almost teaching her step by step. Just speaking in a very low voice.
Xiao Luolan studied for a while and felt that Yueniang was really ingenious. She thought of Mr. Qingshan and said with a smile: "Mr. Qingshan has always praised Yueniang for your skill in front of me. Now I see that Mr. Qingshan is still humble."
Wang Yueniang suddenly heard Mrs. Jieduzhi's interesting and gentle teasing, her face turned red and she was at a loss what to do.
She had been invited as a guest by some ladies in the past. Unfortunately, because of her dull nature and her love for embroidery, some ladies from aristocratic families criticized her for being petty and unable to get on the stage. In addition, she was childless, so her mind became more sensitive, so she gradually stopped going out. Live in your own one-third of an acre of land all day long.
When Wan Niang invited her this time, she was actually extremely panicked. What if her husband got a bad impression in front of Mrs. Jiedu because of her? This made Wang Yueniang feel very excited. .
Fortunately, Mrs. Jiedu is not as aloof as the outside world reports.
Wang Yueniang showed her first shy smile when she entered the house. Although she was old, her face was fair, gentle and delicate: "My husband is often busy outside. I don't do much for him. I can only do what I can." little things.”
Jin Hewan couldn't see Yueniang belittling herself, and said, "I worry about everything, including food, clothing, housing, and transportation. It's no longer trivial."
Yueniang said: "My husband is busy with big things, and I don't have much to do at home..." When she saw the bad look on Wanniang's face, she quickly stopped talking.
Jin Hewan was frustrated by Yueniang's cowardly temperament and couldn't rest assured. Fortunately, Mr. Qingshan was an upright man. If her husband had evil intentions, Yueniang would have suffered a lot.
But this person couldn't stand up, so what could she do?
Xiao Luolan found that Wan Niang and Yueniang had two completely different personalities, but he could also see that the two had a very good relationship. Yueniang also cared about Wan Niang's opinion, otherwise she would not peek at Wan Niang from time to time.
"What are you looking at? Don't you want to talk about your tricks?" Jin Hewan turned her head.
Yueniang quickly continued to explain. After listening, Xiao Luolan embroidered a very small hibiscus, but it didn't look good.
"It's okay, just practice more and you'll be fine." Yueniang comforted her.
Xiao Luolan smiled at Yueniang and said, "Thank you, Yueniang. I'll practice a few more times when I go home."
"You're welcome." Wang Yueniang grabbed her handkerchief and secretly glanced at Mrs. Jiedu. She found that she was really beautiful. She was as gorgeous as a blooming peony. She was mature and plump, but her whole body had a gentle aura.
She just sat there quietly and attracted attention. Even Wang Yueniang couldn't help but look at her several times. When she smiled at her, the room seemed to light up.
"If you have time, Yueniang and Wanniang can come here to drink tea together. I often listen to books here." Xiao Luolan actively invited.
"I will, Lan Niang." Jin Hewan nodded.
Wang Yueniang's voice was still small: "I, I can do it too."
Xiao Luolan's smile grew wider. She saw that Wan Niang wanted to take Yueniang out to relax as much as possible. She also liked Yueniang and Wanniang's temperament. Maybe, they could be good friends.
In the next few days, Wan Niang came often, while Yueniang only came every three or four days. They were not limited to the teahouse, but would go to other places to hang out and have fun together.
Although Yueniang doesn't come often, she is still willing to come out.
Xiao Luolan is sometimes curious about how Wan Niang and Yueniang met.
After all, their personalities seem to be completely different.
However, Xiao Luolan was not someone who wanted to get to the bottom of things. She just let her curiosity pass.
The days go by like this. In the morning, I take care of the common things in the house with Granny Cui. In the afternoon, I will have a party with Wan Niang or Yueniang. In the evening, I go back to the house and cook when I have time. Because my daughter’s birthday is coming recently, she often Around her, Luo Jinhu from Taiyang came two days ago and delivered bills and money. The profit was quite considerable. Xiao Luolan acted as a small treasury for her daughter. When she learned that Luo Jinhu's family was happy, she sent a congratulatory gift. give him.
Zongzhu Zhou has been busy again since the Laba Festival. Xiao Luolan often prepares some delicious late-night snacks to eat with him. Xiao Luolan also pays close attention to the small kitchen in Shenzhi's place and makes sure to warm up the meals every night. .
When Li Fan came, she smelled of medicine. She often dealt with medicinal materials, and even her clothes were stained.
She has her own medicine garden in Zhouzhai, which contains various medicinal materials she has collected.
Xiao Luolan knew who was coming when she smelled the familiar smell of medicine. She turned around in the small kitchen and said, "Doctor Li, do you think the heat is almost done?"
Li Fan stepped forward and looked down at the Four Gentlemen Soup boiling in the pot.
Sijunzi Decoction is suitable for drinking by both men and women, old and young. It is a decoction tonic in winter. It is mainly boiled from Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos and licorice. It can nourish the spleen and stomach and warm the body.
The aroma of the medicine hit his nostrils, and Li Fan smiled and said, "Just boil it for another quarter of an hour."
It was dusk, snow was falling outside the house, and amid the smoke and smoke in the small kitchen, Xiao Luolan smiled slightly and said: "The cooking time last time was over, and it was a bit bitter. Qingxue ate two or three oranges and candied fruits in a row. I can't do it again this time." Got through it.”
"Actually, I was okay drinking it, but she was just squeamish." Xiao Luolan smiled from the bottom of her heart as she recalled her daughter's little wrinkled face when she was tortured.
Li Fan chuckled and said, "My little lady has a sharp tongue."
"She's so delicious." Xiao Luolan prepared a bowl first. Her daughter came back early, so she put the rest on the stove to cool down and warm it up when Sect Master Zhou and the others came back.
Xiao Luolan glanced at the sky. Time passed so fast. She was about to go to Luming Garden to see if her daughter was back when she felt that most of the light outside the door was suddenly blocked.
Li Fan has disappeared, and Clan Master Zhou is standing outside the door of the small kitchen, looking at her. Perhaps because it is approaching dusk, Clan Master Zhou's face is hidden in the shadows, and his expression cannot be seen clearly.
"Scared me." Xiao Luolan stroked her chest and was startled by the silent appearance of Sect Leader Zhou. Did this man walk without making a sound? Moreover, you get off work so early today?
Xiao Luolan felt strange, so she was hugged by Sect Leader Zhou, and her waist was tightened a bit.
"What's wrong?" Xiao Luolan asked softly after waiting for a while, recalling the recent events. There was nothing wrong with her, the house was fine, and there was nothing with her daughter.
Zhou Xu lowered his head and smelled the smell of fireworks on his wife. Without saying a word, he held his wife's neck with his big palm and kissed her, a little too hard. Xiao Luolan put her hand on the table and was startled when she saw the face of Sect Leader Zhou.
I couldn't see clearly in the dark just now, but now I got closer, I found that the veins on Zhou Zongzhu's forehead were bulging, the thick black eyebrows were lowered, the narrow eyes were bloodshot, and the anger was boiling, and only the bright pupils reflected her.
He kissed her like a wild animal licking his wounds.
Xiao Luolan was confused, what happened? She had never heard of anything big happening.
"I'm hungry. Come back early to see what delicious food Madam made today." Zhou Xu said with a low smile. Xiao Luolan didn't understand how this person could laugh. His eyes and smile looked strangely distorted on his face. of.
"Fried shrimps and five vegetables, roasted mutton, egg and meat soup." Xiao Luolan pointed to the jar: "There is also the Four Gentlemen Soup. If you come back early, you should inform us in advance. I made the rice for Qingxue and me. "
"It's okay, just ask the people in the kitchen to make another one. It's very fast. Madam and I will use it together." Zhou Xu licked Madam's snowy neck.
"If you want to use it together, let's use it together." After Xiao Luolan said this, he hesitated for a while and then gently patted the man's broad back.
Zhou Xu buried his head in his wife's neck and laughed muffledly.
During the meal, Sect Leader Zhou returned to normal, but what was unusual was that Shen Zhi was extremely silent. He and his father sat on opposite sides, still in their previous seats.
When Xiao Qingxue saw that her father and brother had both left work early tonight, she was so happy that she used an extra bowl of rice and said coquettishly to her mother: "Mom, my stomach is full, so I won't drink the Four Gentlemen Soup." .”
Xiao Luolan said helplessly: "If you don't want to drink, just drink."
Zhou Xu's face remained as usual and he said with a smile: "My daughter can drink some sweet soup. As for the Four Gentlemen Soup made by my wife, don't worry, it won't be wasted. I'll drink it."
Xiao Luolan couldn't help but look at Shenzhi. Normally, the soup was served one bowl per person, and Shenzhi also had it. Shenzhi sat on the table like a sculpture.
My daughter left after finishing her meal.
Zhou Xu calmly wiped the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief, exposing the veins of his left hand resting on the desk.
Xiao Luolan realized that this was his sudden and angry move after he finished talking about drinking soup. Unfortunately, Shen Zhi had been eating according to the rules and did not notice it.
What happened to the father and son? Not seeing each other for one day created a estrangement.
After Shen Zhi saluted them and left, Xiao Luolan found that Sect Master Zhou was still sitting on the desk, wearing a cold black suit. When he saw her looking at him, he actually smiled. Under the flickering candlelight, this man had been suppressing His own angry mood.
Xiao Luolan thought for a while and said, "I'll get some after-dinner fruit."
She found Shen Zhi in a small garden. Shen Zhi was not walking very fast, even slower than usual.
Xiao Luolan looked at Shen Zhi's back and found that he didn't even bring the boy or the boy with him today, so he came alone.
"Be careful." Xiao Luolan shouted.
Zhou Shenzhi stood there, then turned around and saluted his mother: "Mother."
Xiao Luolan looked at Shen Zhi, who was tall and majestic. He was troubled again. What should he say? Seeing that Shen Zhi kept his head down, Xiao Luolan couldn't help but said with concern: "I will give you another bowl of soup tonight." You." She handed over the cloak: "It's cold outside, please wear more clothes next time."
Zhou Shenzhi looked at the cloak and realized that his mother had obviously caught up with her in a hurry. She was not wearing any warm clothes. Thinking of the warm meals in the kitchen every night and the warnings when the weather changed, Zhou Shenzhi suddenly lowered his head.
"Thank you, mother." Zhou Shenzhi took the cloak, and the stone lantern in the stone corridor gave off a warm yellow light.
Xiao Luolan noticed that Shen Zhi's eyes were a little red.
No wonder he kept his head down today. Xiao Luolan felt uncomfortable seeing him like this. Although he was not his biological son, Xiao Luolan treated Shen Zhi as half of his own child.
"What happened? Can you talk to mother?" Xiao Luolan said in a gentler tone.
Zhou Shenzhi remained silent.
Xiao Luolan sighed, not knowing anything about the father and son: "Then go back quickly, it looks like it will snow soon."
Zhou Shenzhi looked at his mother, moved his hand down by his side, but said nothing and turned around into the wind and snow.
Xiao Luolan looked up at the snow falling from the sky and felt a weight on her shoulders. The warm temperature instantly surrounded her. Zhou Xu tied his cloak to Madam, surrounding her tightly, and held Madam's hand. : "Let's go back."
Xiao Luolan was a little annoyed when she saw Sect Master Zhou avoiding talking about dinner. Her biggest wish was that her family would be safe and live in harmony.
Zhou Xu stroked his wife's back and held her in his arms. In the darkness, he loved his wife silently.
"What happened between you and Shen Zhi?" Xiao Luolan asked with unsteady breathing, still thinking about this matter.
Zhou Xu put his big palm on his wife's waist, which bulged slightly. He lowered his head, listened, and kissed her, his rough hands covering the soft snow belly.
