After nearly twenty years, Xu Wanning once again stood at the door of her courtyard.
Her yard was named Lihuayuan by herself.
Because she has been fond of pear blossoms since she was a child. After seeing the grand scene of "suddenly like a spring breeze coming overnight, thousands of pear blossoms blooming on thousands of trees", she could no longer tolerate other flowers in her eyes.
This is the place where she lived before she left the court. The time was very short, only five or six years.
At that time, my father came to the capital, started business, and settled down. They also moved from a small house to this second courtyard. Her courtyard is the second largest after Xu Qian's courtyard.
Not only that, it’s the most beautiful place.
Xu Qian deliberately dug a small pond, built a rockery, and raised a few koi carps. He also planted two osmanthus trees that have been trimmed to look like mushrooms. Under the osmanthus trees is a stone table. Next to the table is a rocking chair.
When Xu Wanning is not out of the palace, she likes to sit in a rocking chair to bask in the sun and read a book. If she is tired, she can also take a nap.
Dozens of pear blossom trees were planted around the courtyard wall. Now in July, green pears the size of small potatoes are still hanging on the pear trees.
Xu Wanning walked around the yard, and Mrs. Lu accompanied her.
Everything is the same as it was six years ago before she left the cabinet, except that all the trees are taller and the leaves are lush.
"After you left the cabinet, I didn't touch anything in the yard. The flowers and plants were taken care of regularly, and the house was cleaned every day. Mom would come over and sit here from time to time, just sitting here, thinking. When you were still at home, you were laughing and making trouble, and my mother felt empty in her heart." Ms. Lu was sensitive and shed tears as she spoke.
"And this pear tree. As soon as October comes, your brother likes to come to you and say he wants to eat pears."
"Is this pear delicious?" Xu Wanning wanted to reach out and touch a small pear, but she was afraid that the pear would stop growing after she touched it, so she had to take her hand back.
"Last year, it was the first time to bear fruit. The fruits were not big, a little sour, and not many. This year..." Mr. Lu walked around under the pear tree and said excitedly: "There are a lot of pears this year, I'm sure." It’s because you know that I, Aning, am back and want to eat pears.”
A gust of wind blew, and dozens of pear blossoms seemed to be swaying with the wind, as if they were responding to what Lu said, and also seemed to be welcoming Xu Wanning.
Several people came to the house again.
Her boudoir was still the same as before, clean and tidy without a trace of dust.
All the curtains, beds, curtains, bedding, everything that could be replaced were replaced. The whole house looked like it was six years ago, but it had a completely new look.
Butler Xu He said from the side: "My master and his wife informed the slave in advance, and the servant immediately changed the things inside. These beds, mattresses, and curtains are all made of your favorite materials. Even the clothes, I don't know what you like now." As for the style and color, I just want to wait for you to come back and choose it yourself. I just went to Jinxiufang to send a message, and they will come over tomorrow to tailor the clothes for the young lady and the young master. "
"And Feng Mingxuan, ask them to bring the latest jewelry and pick out the expensive ones." Ms. Lu was worried and added a few more words: "The more expensive the better."
Xu He narrowed his eyes with a smile. The fifty-year-old housekeeper was also a little more happy because of Xu Wanning's arrival, "Madam, don't worry, all the servants have been notified."
"Aning, look at what you still lack. Tell your mother and ask someone to buy it." Mrs. Lu was afraid that her daughter would not be used to coming home.
Xu Wanning smiled and pulled Mr. Lu to sit down: "Mom, you are fully prepared. Thank you, mom, you are so kind to me."
"You kid, what are you talking about with my mother? You are my daughter." Mrs. Lu said with a smile: "Then just take a look and tell your mother if there is anything missing, or ask her to buy red plums and green apricots. There is a street outside. , it’s very easy, Mrs. Qian will come out.”
"Mom, I have money."
"Your money is your money, keep it all. When Chang'an grows up, there will be many places where you need money to marry a wife and have children!"
Xu Wanning didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Mom, Chang'an is only five years old."
"In the blink of an eye, you have grown from five years old to twenty." Mrs. Lu took out five thousand taels of silver from her sleeves: "Keep this money as pocket money, and my mother will give it to you next month."
Xu Wanning knew she couldn't push it away, so she could only keep it: "Thank you, mother."
"Silly boy, I am your mother. You are not allowed to say thank you anymore. You have a good rest, and mother will go to the house to have a look. Let's have a lot of fun together as a family in the evening."
What Lu was talking about was a family dinner, specifically to celebrate Xu Wanning and Chang'an's return home.
Xu Jia lives in the front yard and has a special yard of his own.
That was where he lived when he was a doctor in the government, and later he was adopted as his adopted son by Xu Qian. He was supposed to move to another courtyard, but he was unwilling to move out of fear of trouble, so he stayed here.
After Lin Hui became a doctor in the government, he could only live in the front yard with a group of nurses and servants because he no longer had a suitable yard. He had a separate room with a pharmacy and study room, and a medicine boy named Ginseng. Already twelve years old.
Because the distance between the two sides was very close, whenever Xu Jia was in the house, he would have dinner with Lin Hui and discuss medical skills while eating.
On this day, as usual, it was time for dinner.
Lin Hui sat down and saw today's meal: "Won't Xu Qian come to eat?"
There are three dishes and one soup on the table, which is his usual meal, but if Xu Qian is here, it will be six dishes and one soup, which proves that Xu Qian is not here to eat tonight.
Ginseng was not surprised to hear him calling the eldest son by his first name. After all, the master was the eldest son’s senior brother, so there was nothing wrong with calling him by his name.
"Master, the eldest son is not coming. The master and his wife are having a family dinner tonight to celebrate the young lady's return home. The eldest son has gone over to have dinner."
Lin Hui picked up the bowl.
Yes, Xu Jia eats here if he wants to, and eats there if he wants to eat there. He can come and go as he pleases. Who makes him the eldest son of the Xu family?
"Master, this fish is so fresh, please try it quickly." Ginseng picked up a chopstick of fish for Lin Hui.
Lin Hui took a bite, but his heart was too sour. He couldn't taste the fish at all.
In the backyard, the family dinner was very lively.
Xu Qian, Lu Shi, Xu Jia, Xu Wanning, Xu Ting'an, and Chang'an sat on the long table one after another. The long table was filled with all kinds of delicacies and fine wines.
Xu Wanning drank a drink.
This wine has a certain alcohol content. Unlike Lihua Zui, it doesn't matter if you drink five bottles. Xu Wanning stopped drinking after one glass.
We were all family members, and no one tried to persuade us, so we just talked while eating and drinking.
Although Xu Qian was an adopted son, everyone did not shy away from him, as if they already treated him as their own son and brother.
Xu Jia can also say a few words on business matters. If Xu Qian thinks the suggestions are good, he will accept them immediately. If the suggestions are wrong, Xu Qian will tell him what is wrong and teach him how to do it as a person who has been through it.
Xu Wanning listened carefully and suddenly said: "Father, mother, brother, I also want to learn how to do business."
