Chapter 355: That scoundrel Qiao Jiulang [Thank you all for your support! Bowing again!]

Marquis Yongyi's Mansion,

On the road from the second gate to the main mother's courtyard.

Madam Sun and Madam Chai walked side by side, with Chai Zhengzheng and the Xu family's eldest daughter-in-law Xie Shi following behind, and behind them were the maids and nannies of the two families.

Madam Chai said: "Madam, these two boys are a bit presumptuous."

Madam Sun smiled: "At this age, how could they not like fine horses? If they want to go, let them go."

"It just so happens that my Fifth Young Master is riding horses there, and the boys have things to talk about. Let's not worry about them."

"Madam is right."

Hearing Madam Sun's words, Chai Zhengzheng looked in the direction where the two elder brothers had just left, although she could only see the Xu family's houses.

As they spoke, the female guests entered the hall for receiving guests in the main mother's courtyard.

Madam Sun and Madam Chai sat on the two chairs at the head.

Xie Shi and Chai Zhengzheng sat opposite each other on the two chairs at the front of the lower seats.

After they were seated, the maids served tea.

At this time, a maid from the backyard whispered a few words in Madam Sun's ear, and Madam Sun nodded.

Afterward, Madam Chai and Madam Sun sat together at the head, tasted the tea, and said: "Madam, the taste of your tea is unique!"

Madam Sun smiled and replied: "Madam, you flatter me. It's just that a maid in the family previously stayed at the Xiangyang Hou Fu and learned a unique method of making tea."

Madam Chai nodded.

While they were talking, the sound of a small maid greeting them came from the side door of the hall.

Before the words fell, Hualan, supported by Cuichan and wearing a forehead band, walked into the hall.

Seeing Hualan, Madam Chai and Chai Zhengzheng stood up hurriedly and said to Madam Sun with a hint of reproach:

"I say, sister, why did you call this child over!"

Hualan smiled and bowed: "Madam, Miss Zhengzheng, please sit down! I wanted to come over myself. Being cooped up in my own room all the time is really a bit boring."

Madam Sun nodded with a smile:

"We are all women, and we know how uncomfortable it is to be cooped up after giving birth."

"The physician said Hualan's body is good, and her recovery is even better! Besides, the weather is warm, and since she asked, I allowed it."

As they spoke, Madam Chai and Chai Zhengzheng sat down again.

Hualan, at Xie Shi's signal, sat below Chai Zhengzheng.

Chai Zhengzheng stood up hurriedly to let Hualan sit in her seat.

Hualan smiled: "Sister Zhengzheng, you are a guest; how can I let a guest sit further back."

Chai Zhengzheng then sat down reluctantly.

Afterward, everyone talked about topics related to child-rearing.

Madam Chai sat at the head, took a sip of tea to moisten her throat, looked at the complexions of the two daughters-in-law of the Xu family in the hall, and the respectful and loving eyes they looked at Madam Sun with, and nodded secretly in her heart.

The complexion of a daughter-in-law before and after giving birth can represent many things.

Some mean and harsh mothers-in-law just target their daughters-in-law after they give birth to make things difficult for them.

Seeing Xie Shi and Hualan chatting happily, one could see that their lives were very comfortable.

Thinking of these things, Madam Chai smiled and glanced at Chai Zhengzheng, who was chatting below, and said:

"Madam, actually, there is another uninvited request for this visit to the mansion."

Madam Sun smiled: "Madam, please feel free to say it."

Madam Chai looked at Chai Zhengzheng again and signaled: "Zhengzheng, why don't you tell Madam yourself?"

Below,

While Madam Chai was drinking tea,

Chai Zhengzheng was holding Hualan's hand and saying to Xie Shi:

"Sister Xie, I feel that Sister Sheng looks even more radiant than when I saw her before!"

Hualan said somewhat embarrassedly: "How can that be! I've already given birth to a child; how could I look better?"

Chai Zhengzheng: "Really!"

Xie Shi nodded: "Hualan, Miss Zhengzheng is telling the truth!"

After a few words between Chai Zhengzheng and Xie Shi, Hualan felt a bit embarrassed.

At this time, Madam Chai's question came.

Xie Shi and Hualan looked at Chai Zhengzheng suspiciously.

Chai Zhengzheng saw everyone looking at her, stood up hurriedly, and bowed:

"Yes, Mother!"

"Madam, I heard that there is a capable person in the mansion who successfully grew the golden sore medicine from Yongzhou, so I came to ask for advice."

"Mother gave me several farms in the north on my birthday, and I plan to grow this on all of them."

Madam Sun asked with a smile: "Miss Zhengzheng, why did you think of growing this?"

Chai Zhengzheng pursed her lips and said:

"Madam, in my hometown of Cangzhou, there are still some martial artists who are on good terms with my family."

"Previously, when someone was injured and used some of this that my family sent back, they all wrote letters saying that this thing has miraculous effects."

Actually, among these martial artists, most were the families of those experts who previously escorted Chai Zhengzheng.

Now that the strongest young men in their families died under the military formation of Prince Yan's private army, the Chai family naturally has to support them.

"Moreover, now that the imperial court is using troops in the north, growing more of this can both earn more silver and be used by injured soldiers in the army."

Looking at Chai Zhengzheng, Madam Sun nodded with a smile and said:

"Good, Madam and Miss Zhengzheng, just send someone to my mansion!"

"At that time, I will definitely teach you everything I know."

Chai Zhengzheng bowed: "Thank you, Madam!"

The Xu family provides the planting technology, and the Chai family will not give nothing after learning the technology.

When there are results, they will definitely give the Xu family some benefits.

Thinking of these things, Chai Zhengzheng continued chatting with Hualan and the others.

At this time,

A small maid at the entrance announced: "The young masters are here."

Soon, Xu Zaijing, along with Chai Jin and Chai Bo, walked into the hall with smiles.

After the Chai brothers finished their greetings, Xu Zaijing also bowed and said:

"Greetings, Madam Chai, Madam, may you be well."

Then he turned and bowed to Chai Zhengzheng on the side: "Miss Zhengzheng, may you be well."

Chai Zhengzheng bowed with a smile.

Actually, Chai Zhengzheng really did not choose to visit the Xu family today.

She just had the manager of her calligraphy and painting shop look for an authentic ancient calligraphy and painting a few days ago, and then invited a good friend of Scholar Zhuang to appraise it.

Whether that friend of Scholar Zhuang would invite Scholar Zhuang,

whether the Sheng family's study was on holiday today,

was not something she could decide.

Thinking of these things, Chai Zhengzheng looked at her two elder brothers with a smile.

At this time, Chai Jin was talking to Madam Chai, and his words were all about how divine and handsome the Gyrfalcon that Xu Zaijing was raising was.

Noon (11:00 AM)

The Chai family members stood up to take their leave.

If they didn't leave after this time, the Xu family's kitchen would have to prepare more food for the Chai family.

When sending people to the second gate, Hualan naturally did not go.

The Chai brothers got on their horses, and before Madam Chai and Chai Zhengzheng got into the carriage,

Qingcao, who was by Xu Zaijing's side, handed the tea-making method recorded on paper by the Hua sisters to the nanny by Madam Chai's side.

Sending the Chai family members out of the main gate, watching the carriage and horses go far away,

a small servant of the Xu family brought a carriage to the Xu family's gate.

It turned out to be Zaizhang, who had been invited by his good friend Lu Zhang to taste wine at Qingfeng Tower, who had sent someone to send back ten jars of good wine.

Xu Zaijing followed the carriage sending the wine back to the main gate and waved his hand to let Qingyun help unload the carriage.

Qingyun unloaded five jars, and when he was about to unload the sixth jar, he was stopped by Zaizhang's small servant.

"Qingyun, don't move it! The remaining jars of wine, Third Master said they are to be sent to the Sheng family!"

Hearing this, Qingyun stopped his hand and told Xu Zaijing about this in the blink of an eye, which made Xu Zaijing shake his head repeatedly.

Returning to the Chai family.

Chai Zhengzheng got off the carriage with her mother.

Looking at the two elder brothers who got off their horses on the side, Chai Zhengzheng said:

"Big Brother, Second Brother, do you have any arrangements for the Dragon Boat Festival?"

Chai Bo said reflexively: "Yes!"

Chai Jin on the side interrupted hurriedly: "Those few days, there is a poetry gathering held by the young masters of the civil officials' families, inviting us two to go and take a look."

Chai Bo: "Yes, yes, yes! Poetry gathering!"

Chai Zhengzheng nodded and walked toward the courtyard by Madam Chai's side.

Entering her own Qiusheng Courtyard,

In the hall of the house,

In the porcelain vase, there was a pleasing flower arrangement made of high-quality mugwort, sunflowers, and reed leaves.

Chai Zhengzheng praised it with a glance, sat in front of the bronze mirror, and while letting Fuyi remove her hairpins, said to Miss Yun Mu:

"Go outside and find someone to inquire about where there is a poetry gathering on the Dragon Boat Festival."

"Also, have the maids in our courtyard go and invite the small servants by my brothers' side to drink, and ask a few more questions."

Miss Yun Mu bowed and agreed.

Soon, the maid Fuyi helped Chai Zhengzheng tidy up her home hairstyle again.

Chai Zhengzheng stood up, walked to the study, sat behind the table, looked at the account book, picked up a peach from the fruit plate on the table, took a bite, and nodded with satisfaction.

Evening,

After finishing dinner, the sky was still bright.

Chai Zhengzheng, who was knitting a hundred-knot rope by the afternoon light, heard the maid Fuyi's report, nodded, and said:

"In other words, tomorrow, when it reaches the fifth month, the liveliest place in Bianjing City is Pan Lou?"

"Yes, Miss! I heard from outside that the new top performers of Qiyun Tower and Feiyun Terrace will be decided in these few days!"

"Miss Yun Mu, is the poetry gathering that my brothers are going to also here?"

"Yes, Miss. The small servants of the two young masters said so. The slave also heard that among them, there is one named Fang Niang, for whom both the Sixth Young Master of the Liang family and the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family have stood up!"

Hearing this, Chai Zhengzheng, who was knitting things, stopped her movements and said: "Why stand up for her?"

Miss Yun Mu said: "I heard that previously, a pipa performer surnamed Yang composed a good piece of music, which was related to the Xu Fifth Young Master's aunt's family, and at that time, this Fang Niang was invited to perform."

"Therefore, when this Fang Niang was bullied, the Liang Sixth Young Master and the Xu Fifth Young Master stood up for her."

Chai Zhengzheng nodded and said: "Then Fang Niang plays the pipa very well?"

"Returning to Miss, it is said that it is not inferior to her master, the Great Master Tang."

Chai Zhengzheng pondered for a moment, looked at the sky, put the hundred-knot rope in her hand into the basket, stood up, and walked toward the study.

"Come!"

Time flies,

In the blink of an eye, it was the fifth month.

On the streets of Bianjing, there were more and more peddlers selling fruits, vegetables, reed leaves, mugwort, and other items.

Although there were more peddlers, because the Dragon Boat Festival was approaching, they were not worried about selling things.

Because the days in the fifth month were longer, Xu Zaijing, who had finished school, could still drink some cool drinks with Gu Tingye and Qi Heng in the wine tower by the street.

On the second floor of the wine tower, looking at the busy street outside, Gu Tingye said:

"Zhang-ge is also too unloyal. Now that he has finished school, he goes straight home, and doesn't even have time to accompany us to drink cool drinks!"

Qi Heng nodded in agreement.

Xu Zaijing set down the porcelain bowl he brought himself, which contained the cool drink, and said: "My elder brother is anxious to go back to hold his son; what do you who haven't started a family know!"

Gu Tingye glanced at Xu Zaijing and said: "You haven't started a family either!"

Xu Zaijing: "I..."

Before he finished speaking, a vague loud shout came from the street outside the building, causing a commotion on the street.

The three people in the building looked outside one after another.

Soon, the sound got closer.

"Jing-ge'er, what are they shouting?"

Qi Heng asked while looking outside.

Xu Zaijing's ears moved and he said: "The Royal Army has won a great victory and has already secured Xiazhou!"

Hearing Xu Zaijing's words, Gu Tingye stood up and walked to the window, saying somewhat incredulously:

"Isn't the Bai Gao Kingdom's Iron Smelting Office near Xiazhou?"

Xu Zaijing nodded.

In his heart, he was also somewhat suspicious; the two military commissions in the north of the Bai Gao Kingdom supported them with troops, but they were still broken by the old General Cao, who captured Shi Prefecture and Xiazhou in succession.

While thinking about these things, the shouting outside the window got much closer.

It was indeed as Xu Zaijing said.

Gu Tingye watched the knights who were shouting the good news of the great victory go far away, sat back at the table, and said:

"By the way, Jing-ge'er, has that scoundrel Qiao Jiu borrowed money from you?"

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Hmm, he borrowed it!"

"Heng-ge'er?"

Qi Heng: "He also borrowed it, entrusted to the Sixth Young Master to open his mouth."

Gu Tingye nodded and said: "How much did you borrow?"

Xu Zaijing: "More than five hundred strings."

Qi Heng scratched his head and said: "I went to find my maternal grandfather and found an excuse to borrow money for horse appraisal! In the end, I lent eight hundred strings each to Liang Sixth Young Master and Qiao Jiulang."

Gu Tingye gasped: "So much?"

Qi Heng nodded.

Xu Zaijing looked at Gu Tingye and said: "Second Brother, why are you asking this?"

Gu Tingye picked up the porcelain bowl containing the cool drink and brought it to his mouth, looked at Xu Zaijing and Qi Heng somewhat awkwardly, and took a sip of water: "I..."

Before he finished speaking, Gu Tingye took another sip.

Xu Zaijing interrupted: "Second Brother, you don't want to borrow money too, do you?"

Gu Tingye: "Cough, cough, cough! I am!"

Xu Zaijing asked curiously: "Is it also for going to Pan Lou in a few days?"

Gu Tingye nodded and said:

"I saw that a young lady under Ruan Mama is truly pitiful."

"I was thinking of scraping together some silver to redeem her."

Xu Zaijing looked at Gu Tingye incredulously: "Second Brother, are you sure you are talking about redeeming her, not combing her hair?"

Gu Tingye nodded: "Yes! Redeeming her!"

Xu Zaijing shook his head: "Second Brother, I have something to do, so I'll go first!"

Gu Tingye pulled Xu Zaijing hurriedly: "Jing-ge'er, don't go! Brother, I didn't borrow much!"

Qi Heng also stood up and said: "Second Uncle, you are going to redeem the future top performer; you won't be able to do it without seven or eight thousand strings!"

Gu Tingye stared: "So much!"

Xu Zaijing patted Gu Tingye on the shoulder and said: "Let's go! You don't need Aunt Bai to know; just Elder Brother Yu knowing you dare to do this, he will really break your leg."

Gu Tingye scratched his head: "I thought one or two thousand strings would be enough!"

Xu Zaijing said: "Second Brother, you haven't gone to Ruan Mama's small courtyard with the Sixth Young Master. When we went that year, Ruan Mama said that just lifting the veils of those few young ladies is not something that can be done with the amount you mentioned!"

After speaking, Xu Zaijing stood up first and walked outside.

The maid Yunxiang, who was following, hurriedly took away the Xu family's porcelain bowl.

Watching Yunxiang following behind Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye and Qi Heng looked at each other and said: "This scoundrel Jing-ge'er, he won't understand!"

The fifth day of the fifth month

Dragon Boat Festival,

Near Pan Lou, the precious carriages were like clouds,

Liang Han, who got off the carriage, kept greeting the Bianjing young masters he knew around him.

The fishing carriage behind him was also holding a wooden box containing silver notes.

At this time, his shoulder was patted by someone, and Qiao Jiulang, dressed the same as him, said: "Sixth Young Master, don't fight with me for Yun Niang today!"

"That's natural!"

When the two were talking, a burst of exclamation came from the window on the upper floor of Pan Lou.

The two looked back and only saw the gold chest strap decoration on the chest of a tall and handsome horse.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 356 =====