Qin Ming took a deep breath, calmed down, then made a puzzled expression and asked:
"Inquiring about something? Brother Xiao, where do you start talking about this? Before today, our two families seemed to have no intersection, right?"
Xiao Chong stroked his short beard and said with a smile:
"Little friend Qin, do you still remember that on the night of the Lantern Festival this year, your mansion was filled with lights, accompanied by thunder?"
When Qin Ming heard Xiao Chong ask this, he couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief, took a sip of tea to calm down his shock, and then said with a smile:
"You're talking about fireworks, right?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chong chewed the word "fireworks" secretly, and then asked with some uncertainty:
"The fireworks that my little friends are talking about are the brilliantly colored things that bloomed in the sky that night?"
Qin Ming nodded slightly, indicating that Xiao Chong guessed correctly.
Xiao Chong stood up overjoyed upon hearing this, raised his hands towards Qin Ming and said:
"Can you please tell me, Xiao, where I can buy these fireworks? Today is my sister's birthday. I want to buy some to celebrate my sister's birthday."
When Qin Ming heard this, he finally understood Xiao Chong's purpose.
As for the sister Xiao Chong mentioned, she must be the famous Empress Xiao in history, Xiao Meiniang!
"That's it. Brother Xiao doesn't know something. These fireworks were made by craftsmen from a certain house. Brother Xiao and Qin live next to each other, so it's fate."
"Brother Xiao, please wait a moment. Qin will order someone to go to the warehouse to get some fireworks for Brother Xiao."
Xiao Chong was overjoyed when he heard this.
"Thank you, little friend. When Xiao returns to the mansion later, I will immediately have someone deliver the money to you."
Qin Ming waved his hand when he heard this and said:
"Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. These fireworks are Qin's birthday gift to your sister. I hope Brother Xiao won't dislike them."
Xiao Chong was moved when he heard the words, and at the same time he admired the young man in front of him who spoke well.
He stood up, straightened his clothes, and saluted Qin Ming.
"A good saying, distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. Let me teach you."
Qin Ming stood up, helped Xiao Chong up, then turned to Si She beside him and said:
"Sishe, take someone to the warehouse to take out half of the fireworks in the house and bring them here."
Si She listened and was very worried. Why did the young master give a birthday gift just now?
Can this birthday gift be given casually?
Qin Ming frowned when he saw Sishe standing there in a daze.
"A snake?"
After hearing this, Sishe came back to her senses. Without any time to think about it, she saluted Qin Ming and said:
"Yes, sir, I'll go right away."
After saying that, Sishe took a maid out of the front hall.
After crossing the threshold and descending the steps, Sishe looked back at the front hall with a worried expression.
[Damn it, wasn’t that family grounded by His Majesty? Why did he escape when he was so good? No, we can’t let the young master get too close to that family, otherwise the young master’s talent and ability to make money may arouse His Majesty’s suspicion. 】
[I have to find an opportunity to reveal the identity of that family to the young master. No, if the young master asks, how did I learn about this news, how should I explain it? You can't reveal your identity, right? 】
Thinking of this, he stamped his little feet angrily.
ah! It’s so difficult to be a slave!
How great it would be if Nujia, like Wan'er, simply followed the young master and became a silly bed-warming maid!
Why!
The maid Dong Xue on the side was startled by the snake's crazy look. She hesitated for a moment and asked cautiously:
"Sishe, are you okay?"
Sishe smiled coquettishly upon hearing this, waved her hand towards Dongxue, and said:
"It's okay, it's okay. Let's go find Nuan...Qingwan to get the fireworks."
On the other side, Qin Ming waited for the snake to leave, and then chatted with Xiao Chong about home affairs.
"By the way, after chatting for so long, I still haven't asked Brother Xiao for his name. It's really rude of Qin."
Xiao Chong bowed slightly when he heard this.
"Hey, it was Xiao who was negligent. His surname is Xiao, his given name is Chong, and his given name is Zi'ang. By the way, little friend, as far as Xiao knows, this house has been vacant before. I think I bought it recently."
"Is my ancestral home from Chang'an?"
Qin Ming shook his head and said:
"A certain person is from Lantian County. He is in Lantian on weekdays and occasionally comes here to stay for a few days."
...
After a while,
Sishe returned to the front hall, saluted Qin Ming and said:
"Sir, the fireworks have been brought to the door."
Qin Ming nodded slightly.
"Well, thank you for your hard work."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chong put down his tea cup, bowed to Qin Ming and said:
"Thank you, little friend Qin, for your hospitality. It's getting late, so Xiao will take his leave."
Qin Ming stood up and tried to persuade him to stay:
"Brother Xiao, you haven't had breakfast yet, right? Why don't you have breakfast at home before leaving?"
Xiao Chong waved his hands quickly after hearing this.
"Thank you for your kindness, little friend. If Xiao has been out for a long time, my sister may be worried if she doesn't go back. After celebrating my sister's birthday, Xiao will definitely come to thank me."
Qin Ming nodded when he heard this, expressing his understanding.
Then Qin Ming personally escorted Xiao Chong out of the front hall. After the group arrived at the door of the mansion, Qin Ming waved to Qin Da and said:
"Ada, take a few people with you to help Mr. Xiao deliver these fireworks to Mr. Xiao's house. When you arrive, remember to demonstrate how to set off the fireworks with the servants of the Xiao house."
Qin Da patted his chest and said with a smile:
"Young master, don't worry."
When Xiao Chong saw this, he cupped his hands towards Qin Ming and said:
"Thank you. My friend, please stay."
Qin Ming cupped his hands and said:
"Brother Xiao, walk slowly."
After sending Xiao Chong away, Qin Ming led Si She towards the backyard.
Along the way, Qin Ming was recalling Xiao Chong's information.
Xiao Chong, named Zi'ang, is thirty-five years old this year, single, his ancestral home is Lanling, and he is the eleventh child in his family. Empress Xiao's younger brother or cousin is most likely a direct descendant of the Xiao family.
With these messages, that's almost enough.
What Qin Ming is now struggling with is whether to ask Xiao Changxi after returning home, whether this is the Xiao Chong she came to Chang'an to find.
If this is true, what is the relationship between Xiao Chong and her?
Brother and sister?
If Xiao Chong is her brother, then wouldn't she be Empress Xiao's sister?
So will Yang Zijun’s Yang be Sui Yang’s Yang?
Damn it, it's been so long and it seems like I've never asked Xi'er if Zijun's biological father is still alive.
If her biological father is still alive, then...
It’s scary to think about it!
The more Qin Ming thought about it, the more melancholy he became, and his heart felt like a mess. On the one hand, he hoped that Xiao Changxi could find her relatives, but on the other hand, he was afraid that after she found her relatives, she would take Yang Zijun away from him.
For a time, Qin Ming fell into a dilemma of worrying about gains and losses.
Sishe followed Qin Ming and saw that his face was turning green and white, and he was a little confused.
"Sir, what's wrong with you? Why do you feel like you're a little worried?"
After hearing this, Qin Ming came back from his chaotic thoughts, forced out a smile, and said:
"It's nothing. Maybe I drank a little too much tea just now and my stomach feels a little uncomfortable."
Sishe became a little anxious when she heard this. She hurriedly approached Qin Ming, held his arm, and said anxiously:
"Young Master, I will help you back to the house first. Later, I will send people to Xuandu to watch and invite Taoist Master Sun back to show you to the Young Master."
Seeing Si She's anxious look, Qin Ming felt warm in his heart. He stretched out his hand and patted the back of Si She's smooth and tender hand.
"No need to trouble Dean Sun. Please sit with me in the corridor for a while."
Sishe nodded upon hearing this, and then carefully helped Qin Ming to sit on the corridor.
.......
