I want to save one hundred and fifty taels of silver, but I don’t know how long I will have to play music by myself.
It was impossible to borrow money from Li You. She couldn't let him look down upon her before she married him, otherwise she would be unable to hold her head high for the rest of her life, and even her parents would have to suffer in front of her son-in-law.
She dug out her dowry, and inside were several pieces of gold and silver jewelry that Wei Cheng had given her over the years. Many of them had long been used by her to buy medicine for her father's old illness. She was not happy that she sold the things he gave her.
The jewelry was heavy in her arms, and the golden phoenix tail of a nine-tailed phoenix hairpin hung on her finger. A shallow red mark was drawn on her index finger. Pain hit her. She suddenly came to her senses, and tears suddenly filled her eyes. .
This phoenix hairpin was one that Wei Cheng plundered from the Huns' tent when he was resisting the Huns. When he came back that year, he took out the hairpin from his sleeve and inserted it into her head, saying it looked good.
She felt that it belonged to someone else, and she seemed to be loved by others when she wore it, and she never wore it again.
Dense pain spread in the bottom of her heart, and her body felt a little weak. She held on to the table and waited for a long time before she recovered.
After coming out of the pawn shop, she went to the house where she had a tryst with Wei Cheng.
The house faces the street and is not big. There are only two wing rooms, but the decoration is exquisite and elegant. However, Wei Cheng usually prefers simplicity to complexity. Apart from a few books and incense burners and porcelain bottles on the shelves, there are nothing valuable to sell.
When I revisit my old place, every brick and stone seems to still have the breath of that person, everywhere.
Since he said he gave this house to her, no matter when she regrets it, she still has the right to deal with it now.
She opened the door.
Wei Cheng stood in the yard with his arms folded.
Her Adam's apple rolled and her eyes were slightly warm.
"Aren't you going to Cuihua Building today?"
He is tall, nearly eight feet tall, with broad shoulders and narrow waist, and a straight figure. Just standing there makes people feel happy. On the white marble table in the yard, there is a round fan used by Shen Yinxiao, which is used by mandarin ducks playing in the water. , stitch by stitch, revealing ambiguity and lingering.
He turned up the folding fan at will and lifted up the osmanthus branches spreading in front of him with his backhand.
The sun filled the sky with broken shadows, and he came slowly.
There was a smile on his face, but his smile was weak.
"I won't go in the morning."
"Oh, I almost forgot, Cuihua Building is closed in the morning." He said lightly, the round fan in his hand spinning on his fingertips, he used the fan bone to lift Shen Yinxiao's chin, and looked into her eyes inquiringly.
Her eyes were naturally beautiful, the ends of her eyes were slightly raised, and her peach blossom-like eyes were a little more charming for no reason.
"Cried?"
The ends of Shen Yinxiao's eyes were slightly red.
"What are you doing here?" She tilted her head and avoided his hand.
Wei Cheng raised his eyebrows: "Let's see if there's anything left here. It doesn't seem like there's anything."
Shen Yinxiao's face turned red, and the money bag in his hand suddenly felt a little hot.
"You are about to get married. Before you get married, is there anything else you want me to help you with?" He said calmly, "Think about it, this is probably the last time."
Shen Yinxiao's eyes were slightly red and she bit her lip, "No."
"If not, then I'll leave." When he turned around, he passed by Shen Yinxiao and said casually: "Is the person you met that day the one you decided on?"
"Um."
"It doesn't look like much either."
"I think it's very good, better than all the men I've ever met." Shen Yinxiao felt a little depressed.
Wei Cheng paused first and smiled coldly.
Light and shadow floated on the man's body like water waves. He had a very shallow smile at the corner of his mouth. It was so thin that it made people look away. "Really? I'm curious about how good it can be. Don't forget to treat me to a drink then." A glass of wedding wine is worth it for me taking care of you for him all these years."
Shen Yinxiao squeezed the money bag in his hand, suppressed the choking in his voice, and changed the subject: "That day you said you would give me this house."
"Um?"
"Does it still count?"
Wei Cheng smiled and nodded: "Of course, I don't mind if you use this house as a wedding residence."
Shen Yinxiao laughed angrily: "Yes, but before that you have to transfer the house deed and land deed to me."
His smile did not diminish but grew, "I don't know where I have thrown the house deed and land deed. Don't worry, you can live here as long as you want, but... you can't sell it."
There was something in his words. Shen Yinxiao's eyes overflowed with tears. He gritted his teeth and forced back, with a calm expression on his face: "Okay, I will use this house as a wedding residence when the time comes. Don't forget to come for the wedding banquet."
"Actually, if you want to sell this house, you can."
Wei Cheng took a few steps closer, slowly pushed her closer to the wall, raised his hand to put her between his arms, and lifted her chin, "Keep following me, maybe I will find the house deed and the land deed. I will also If you can give me a larger villa, it will be on Changle Street in the east of the city, and arrange servants and maids for your parents to enjoy their old age."
"You can think about it."
"What if I say no?" she said with difficulty.
The offer was tempting, but she was tired of it.
Wei Cheng turned around and left without looking back, leaving behind a figure that gradually disappeared. Until no one could see him anymore, Shen Yinxiao seemed to have been drained of all her strength and leaned against the wall. She unconsciously picked off the moss on the wall. , the tears in his eyes flowed down uncontrollably.
When I returned home from Cuihua Building in the afternoon, I discovered that Li You was also there.
Li You rolled up his sleeves and followed Father Shen around the millstone, grinding soybeans.
The two of them were talking around the millstone and didn't know what they were talking about. They only knew that Father Shen's face was rosy and his expression was relaxed and natural. He didn't look nervous and gloomy the day before. The two of them were actually talking and laughing. Father Shen was usually submissive, but towards Li You he was. Li You talked nonstop, pointing at the millstone while talking, Li You looked serious, listened attentively, and did not miss the movement of his hands.
The two had only met a few times, and they already got along well.
Mother Shen was busy in and out of the kitchen. Meat was burning on the stove and the aroma filled the air.
When Father Shen saw her coming back, he smiled happily and waved to her to sit down.
"Yin Xiao! The silver is found!"
"What's wrong?"
"Thanks to Da Lang. Da Lang told me today that I found out that the haunted house cannot be rented in the first place. It is not allowed by law. If we go to sue, we will definitely win. Da Lang went to find the owner of the shop today. , I found out that the person who rented my shop was not the real owner of the shop, but a domestic slave in the name of the owner. The real owner of the shop knew about our affairs and said that he would return the money to us, and also helped us give the money we borrowed. The money was repaid with interest!”
Shen Yinxiao was stunned.
"Thanks to Da Lang..." Father Shen patted Li You on the back, the admiration on his face was self-evident.
"Uncle, you're so polite. It's just a little effort. Thanks to the kindness of the Lord, if you need anything in the future, just ask me." Li You nodded humbly.
"Speaking of which, the owner of this shop is also reasonable and kind-hearted. It's just that our family owes him such a huge favor and we don't know how to repay it..."
Father Shen sighed.
Li You raised his elbow to wipe the sweat while scattering the soybeans, "That young master is indeed very impressive and seems to have a good background."
"We can't afford to offend such people." Father Shen sighed.
Shen Yinxiao took the handkerchief and handed it to Li You, but his hands were stained with soybean juice and were very dirty. He was a little embarrassed for a moment, not knowing whether to accept it or not.
In just one day, Li You helped the Shen family solve a big problem. Now Shen's father and Shen's mother were very pleased with Li You. They looked at the two of them with a smile and felt that it was good for them to get married now.
Li You's face turned red and he had nowhere to put his hands. Shen Yinxiao was also a little embarrassed. She had to raise her hands stiffly to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
"Excuse me, is this the Shen family?" A greeting from outside the courtyard interrupted the awkward atmosphere between the two.
"You are..." Father Shen nodded: "Here it is."
The four people turned around and saw a man who looked like a soldier standing at the entrance of the courtyard. Behind him was a tall horse. Immediately sitting was a man in black, high crown and brocade clothes. One person and one horse had their backs to the yard, as if they were carefully admiring the scenery on the roadside. , the horse's fur was smooth and shiny, its hooves were strong and its body was black, and it snorted impatiently.
The soldier showed his waistband, clearly revealing the clan emblem of the Wei family in Youzhou, and said impatiently: "My master happened to be passing by and wanted to take a rest here. Open the door quickly."
Father Shen and Mother Shen suddenly panicked and quickly got up to greet him.
Father Shen wiped his hands casually on his clothes and opened the courtyard door for them.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please come in quickly, please come in quickly. It's a good time, young master. The family has prepared a meal. If you don't mind, let's eat some together."
...
Shen Yinxiao watched stiffly as his father and mother bowed to Wei Cheng.
Seeing Li You's indifferent expression as he bowed to Wei Cheng, Shen Yinxiao finally understood.
That street is the private property of the Wei family.
Wei Cheng, surrounded by Shen's father and Shen's mother, walked in slowly and casually looked around at the somewhat simple and shabby little courtyard. His eyes turned around. Shen Yinxiao's shocked eyes met his playful eyes, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly. , raising his eyebrows half-smilingly.
Li You seemed to notice something and blocked Shen Yinxiao unintentionally.
"Second Young Master Wei."
"Li You?" Wei Cheng's smile faded a little.
"Exactly."
Shen Yinxiao seemed to have been caught, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat. Fortunately, Shen's mother patted her and warned her softly: "Don't go and serve the food yet!"
Shen Yinxiao grasped at straws and followed Shen's mother to serve the dishes, going in and out, deliberately not looking at the person.
Her face burned red.
She had no idea why Wei Cheng came to her house even after she thought. He had never taken her to any crowded place, nor had he taken her to meet his relatives or friends, nor had he ever accompanied her home.
Even when she once intentionally mentioned that she wanted him to go shopping with her, he refused.
"My relationship with you can only be in bed."
The whole yard suddenly seemed like she was naked and mutilated, being scrutinized by him as he walked in.
It is difficult to sit or stand at ease, as if there is a ray on the back or a lump in the throat.
Especially when she saw Wei Cheng drinking the daughter's red that Shen's father had collected for many years with ease, while Shen's father was timid and reserved, Shen Yinxiao felt even more irritated and depressed.
She didn't want to see her parents unable to hold their heads up in front of Wei Cheng.
"When will the Second Young Master Wei's people come? How about I hire a carriage to take the Second Young Master back?" Shen Yinxiao said.
"No need." Wei Cheng looked at her deeply and then looked at Li You next to Shen Yinxiao. "Where does Mr. Li work now?"
Li You may be the only person here who is not restrained. Everything he says and does is polite and polite. Father Shen knocked over his wine glass because of his nervousness and spilled half the wine on the table. Li You quickly wiped and tidied it up with his hands and feet. Wei Cheng, who sits still and is as steady as a mountain, is much more approachable.
Li You didn't know what he wanted to say, so he replied: "I can't talk about being high. I just make a living. Now I open a private school and teach a few students."
"It turns out to be Mr. Teacher."
His tone was casual, as if he was chatting, but for some reason it always made people feel oppressed. Mother Shen and Father Shen had long since dared not speak. Li You also felt a hint of arrogance in his words, so he didn't say much.
"How much does Mr. Li's monthly repair cost?"
Li You paused, a little confused.
"I have domestic slaves in my family, and some of them are smart. I wanted to send them to study, but I didn't have time to pay attention. I happened to meet them today. If Mr. Li is willing, I and these domestic slaves will be here in a few days. Just send it to your husband’s private school.”
Li You nodded and smiled with relief: "Since we are the second master of Wei, we naturally don't need to accept the money, so we should repay Yin Xiao's favor."
Yin Xiao was a little surprised and turned to look at him.
Father Shen and Mother Shen looked at each other and straightened their backs unconsciously.
Wei Cheng still had a smile on his face, but the smile was cold and there was no warmth in his eyes.
"Oh? Are you returning the favor? Who are you to her?"
