Dressed in a white lining of green clothes, with the bamboo-colored white crane pattern on the cuffs outlined with fine cloud silk thread, the man sitting next to Mr. Shi has a face as fair as jade and narrow, dark eyes.
When he was holding the tea cup, his pupils were slightly startled when he saw Shen Dingzhu.
That look seemed to say: It is indeed you.
"Xu... Mr. Xu." Shen Dingzhu was surprised.
Why did Xu Huaisong come here? !
Mr. Shi walked over with a smile and took the medicine packets from her hands.
"Azhu, some time ago, an ancient painting of colorful phoenixes was taken away from us. At that time, you and I were still guessing who was so generous and bought it directly without negotiating the price. It turned out to be Mr. Xu."
Everyone in the business of calligraphy, painting and antiques knows about the Xu family of Beiliang.
Mr. Shi didn't expect to see Xu Huaisong here. According to legend, he could identify the authenticity of calligraphy and paintings by touching them with his hands.
He said enthusiastically: "I'll get another pot of hot tea, and you can have a good time reminiscing."
Xu Huaisong walked up to Shen Dingzhu and smiled warmly.
"When I saw the touch-up technique, I knew it was you, but I didn't dare to guess. After all, you followed Emperor Jin back to the palace, but..."
He stared at Shen Dingzhu for a moment with his narrow eyes, as if he had guessed something.
Shen Dingzhu was inconvenient to explain, so he just said: "It's a long story, so I won't mention it anymore. Mr. Xu, how long do you plan to stay here?"
She said, putting the medicine bag away.
Xu Huaisong followed her, looking at the medicine she took calmly, his voice was clear.
"I haven't set a time to leave for the time being. I came to Dajin this time to find someone as capable as you to decorate calligraphy and paintings for me. At the same time, I also want to open my business in Dajin."
He wanted to expand the Xu family's business territory. Shen Dingzhu knew that Xu Huaisong was a very business-minded person.
She smiled: "If it were you, this would definitely be possible."
Xu Huaisong looked at her profile, and after a moment of silence, he asked: "I see that Mr. Shi doesn't know your identity, and you want to stay here forever? If you have nowhere to go, you might as well come back to Beiliang with me. You can still repay those family properties in the past." It’s up to you to take care of it.”
Shen Dingzhu raised her long eyelashes, revealing a pretty white face with plump red lips.
She smiled, a little reluctantly: "I won't leave."
Xu Huaisong nodded lightly: "I'm just joking with you, don't worry, I'm actually very happy to see you. I can meet an old friend in such a strange place, but I'm going to bother you these days."
Shen Dingzhu knew that he must have calligraphy and paintings on his body, thinking about the past friendship, and said: "Why be polite to me? If you need help, just tell me."
As they were talking, Mr. Shi came back from the backyard carrying a teapot.
He only heard the last sentence and said with a smile: "Don't bother me, don't bother me, Mr. Xu, we have wanted to learn from you for a long time. If you are willing to reward me, my shop is looking forward to your coming every day."
Xu Huaisong's cold and jade-like face only had a faint smile.
He took out five hundred-tael silver notes from his sleeve and placed them on the counter.
"Shopkeeper Shi, your buddy Azhu, I want to borrow it for a few days. I have negotiated a big deal with the owner of your calligraphy and painting company, and I need her to accompany me. This money is to pay for her lost work, please. Please forgive me."
Mr. Shi was surprised: "So many? No, no, no, no, it's too much for one piece."
Shen Dingzhu was also smiling next to him, with curved red lips: "My monthly salary is only ten taels. If you give me so much, do you have to borrow it for several years? I'm too busy."
Xu Huaisong glanced at her, then turned to Mr. Shi with narrow eyes and said deeply, "Shopkeeper Shi, you are really getting a bargain. Based on her talent, what I gave her is actually far from enough."
The words were lukewarm, but they were like a soft knife, which stunned Mr. Shi.
It's not like he didn't hear it. Xu Huaisong felt that the treatment he gave A-Zhu was not good, and it seemed like he had treated her harshly.
Shen Dingzhu put away the medicine bag and came over to smooth things over.
"You don't understand, all calligraphy, painting and antique shops in Chengzhou charge this salary, and I'm already five taels higher than them."
And the average clerk can only make three or four taels a month at most. Shen Dingzhu didn't come here for money this time, and she got along well with Mr. Shi, so naturally she didn't care about how much money she made a month.
Xu Huaisong then pursed his lips, his tone was indifferent, and he smiled with relief: "I forgot, I still think about that time in the past."
Mr. Shi didn't understand the pun, and Shen Dingzhu also pretended not to understand.
She saw that it was almost noon and Xu Huaisong had no intention of leaving, so she asked, "Master Xu, do you want to stay for lunch?"
Mr. Shi quickly agreed: "Yes, yes, Xu Dadong's family can stay and have a simple meal."
Xu Huaisong glanced at the backyard: "Do you do it yourself?"
"A Liang can cook it," Shen Dingzhu said, another boy in the shop, "but he didn't come today. Uncle Ren prepared minced meat and vegetable porridge for me."
Xu Huaisong sighed calmly: "I'd better treat you to a meal at the restaurant next door."
After a stick of incense.
The three of them sat in the warm spring-like elegant room. The waiter brought the menu. When he saw that Xu Huaisong was well-dressed and distinguished, he took the initiative to hand over the menu.
Xu Huaisong let Shen Dingzhu watch it by himself.
"I don't understand the food here. You order what you like and I will try it."
Shen Dingzhu did not refuse, and neatly ordered two meat dishes, two vegetarian dishes, and an old duck soup, which Mr. Shi liked to drink.
Everything about this restaurant is good, but the tea served is not suitable for drinking during pregnancy, so the hot tea that Xu Huaisong poured for Shen Dingzhu was kept in front of her without touching it.
During the meal, Mr. Shi took the opportunity to learn more from Xu Huaisong, asking about the preservation methods of ancient paintings and how to deal with high-quality fakes that are still a few years old.
Shen Dingzhu just kept listening quietly, occasionally adding a word or two.
But she discovered that Xu Huaisong seemed to be looking at Mr. Shi, but in fact, he kept using chopsticks to pick up food for her, and even gave her a bowl of soup and placed it in front of her.
Shen Dingzhu couldn't drink any more, so he put down his chopsticks and listened to their chat.
Not a moment.
It was almost time to eat, and after finishing a pot of warm wine, Mr. Shi's cheeks turned red, but he was very happy.
"I benefited a lot from being able to chat with Mr. Xu for a few words!"
Seeing that he was a little drunk, Shen Dingzhu smiled and said: "Uncle Ren, you can go back and rest in the afternoon. I will come and see the store."
Mr. Shi waved his hand: "Let's go back together. I heard it's going to snow heavily at night, so let's close up early."
Xu Huaisong stood up: "I'll go out for a while, and you guys can sit down for a while."
Seeing him leaving, Mr. Shi was lying on the table, but he suddenly straightened up.
His old but not cloudy eyes showed surprise, and he lowered his voice: "Azhu, tell Abo the truth, he is your husband, right? Is the child in your belly his?"
Shen Dingzhu was feeling thirsty and uncomfortable, thinking about going back to the shop to drink her own warm water. She was licking her lips and almost bit her tongue when she heard Mr. Shi's words.
"Uncle Ren!" The beauty's charming face was filled with panic, "Don't talk nonsense."
A year has passed, and Xu Huaisong and Mrs. Xu may even have children.
Shen Dingzhu was afraid that Mr. Shi would say the wrong thing, so he took the initiative to emphasize: "He was my employer. He was kind to me and helped me a lot. However, our relationship is extremely simple. He appreciates my talents and I You need to lean on it to eat, that’s all.”
Mr. Shi nodded: "Okay, okay, I said the wrong thing."
Shen Dingzhu explained again and again: "Uncle Ren, you must not talk nonsense in front of him, otherwise it will not be good for anyone if his wife knows."
Mr. Shi patted his mouth: "Abo knows he was wrong."
Seeing his childlike appearance, Shen Dingzhu laughed, and Mr. Shi also laughed: "Azhu's smile is just beautiful. In fact, what I just wanted to say is that if he is your husband, then I don't want to greet him."
Xu Huaisong's hand that pushed the door to come in slowly stopped.
Shen Dingzhu's doubts came from inside: "What's wrong?"
Mr. Shi sighed: "My child, these days when we get along, I treat you as half a daughter, so I will never forget the day you first came to my shop. You were so thin that your face was smaller than a palm. All you can see is a pair of big eyes, which is simply pitiful.”
"I saw that you were a little embarrassed, and I guessed that you had a conflict with your family. I didn't know whether you left on your own or were kicked out. Later I found out that you were pregnant, and I felt that you might have been kicked out by a man, otherwise How could a woman leave when she was pregnant?"
Shen Dingzhu lowered his eyelashes sarcastically: "My husband is not to blame for this."
Mr. Shi screamed twice: "Silly boy, why are you saying good things for that man? It's the same for men. I'm afraid he's in love with someone else, right?"
"This is a good boss, Mr. Xu. I think he takes good care of you. I'm afraid he has feelings for you, so be good to him."
"If you are willing and he doesn't give up, it will be a beautiful thing for you to be together. The most important thing for a woman is to have a good destination."
