Gu Chong wrote a letter to his family, called his henchmen Pan Shou and Fan Hua to him, and secretly told him two sentences, and then ordered him to go to Nanjing overnight with a letter. Gu Chong stood under the porch and thought for a while, and an elderly daughter-in-law said, "Master is careful and cold. Gu Chong smiled and nodded, and then slowly returned to the main room.

When I entered the house, I saw my daughter Gu Ying crouching on the table in front of the pane and drawing patterns on the Luohan bed. Gu Chong saw that she was loosely holding two mustaches, and the honey-colored cotton jacket and green onion yellow cotton skirt she was wearing were all new, very bright and bright, and she was also pleasing to the eye with the sewing baskets and pattern paper on the top of several desks. On the other side of the case sat Fan, holding a few colored threads in his hand, which was brightly lit with the previous lamp, and was making a comparison. The color of those branches is very close, Fan looked at the lamp for a while, shook his head, looked at it for a while, still shook his head, but did not call his daughter. Seeing this, Gu Chong couldn't help but laugh, his feet were slightly heavier, making some noise, and then he smiled: "Why do you do this at this hour? ”

The mother and daughter heard him coming, and they hurriedly stopped what they were doing. Fan got up first and gave up his seat, waited for Gu Chong to sit firmly, and then sat down again. Gu Ying got out of bed to say goodbye to her father, and when she saw Gu Chong's signal, she leaned sideways on the edge of the bed and sat down according to Fan's foot.

Fan skimmed the needle and thread, and then smiled at Gu Chong and said: "They are all clothes to be honored on the old lady's birthday this year, and I just agreed on the pattern with Ying'er, so I picked a few branches and prepared to make them." In addition, there are a few embroidery table screens, and we have also set the pattern, which are two bluegrass landscapes that the old lady is proud of. Master is here, why don't you take a look at it and see if it's okay?"

Gu Chong took it, glanced at it casually, and said with a smile: "It's a good painting." It's this painting that has become an embroidered pattern, and it looks more and more handsome and delicate. It is worthy of Yinger's handwriting. As he spoke, he beckoned to Gu Ying, asked her to come over and sit down beside her, and asked, "Can I take the medicine today?" How much is the amount of food, and how much has it increased or decreased compared to yesterday?"

It is said that this Gu Ying is a young daughter who was only born to Gu Chong when he was more than forty years old, and Fan was born on the way to Chengdu with him. At that time, Fan's age was not young, and he was shocked by accidents along the way, and he was born two months earlier than expected. Therefore, Gu Ying was congenitally quite deficient, and in the first few years of landing, he did not get a decoction for a day; until Gu Chong kept filial piety and settled in Changzhou, Zhang Wang helped him find a famous doctor for diagnosis and treatment, and gave him a prescription for daily recuperation, which slowly improved. However, although this Gu Ying's body is delicate, she is soft and well-behaved by nature, smart and delicate, and far from the ordinary, and the love between the husband and wife is like a treasure. Asked her about her diet at this moment, Gu Ying answered them one by one, Gu Chong was satisfied after listening to it, nodded, and said: "There is a Longjing shrimp for dinner today, and Mrs. Cai in the kitchen is not bad." I remember that you like to eat on weekdays, so I asked you to send it over, but can you eat it?"

Gu Ying replied, "Eat." It tastes really good. That is, I ate more during the day than on weekdays, and I used less for dinner, and only ate a few slightly. It's a pity that you can't let it go overnight, otherwise it's better to stay until tomorrow to eat. ”

Gu Chong smiled: "What kind of good things are worth spending the night." Ming'er will tell them to do it again. But how can I eat more at noon than usual?" But then he remembered and nodded: "Yes, your cousin's house came today, and it is rare for relatives to see each other, and it is common sense to be happy for a while." People open their arms, and if they move a few steps around, they will eat more. He asked Gu Ying again: "Have you met your cousin?" this time he is going to stay in our house for a few more days, and your cousins must get along harmoniously." ”

Gu Ying nodded and said, "I've seen it." I just feel that Cousin Xie is different from the last time I met. He tilted his head and smiled: "It's not dazzling, it's not as tall as it was back then, but it has a bit of the appearance of the elder brother of the Zhang family." ”

Gu Chong laughed when he heard this, and said, "Silly girl, how old is he, how old are you?" It's because you've grown taller, but it's said that he's not as tall as before." He stroked her head and said with a smile: "Do you still remember your brother of the Zhang family? He and your cousin of the Xie family are classmates, and the two are close." Your cousin borrowed his clothes to wear when he didn't turn around for a while, and you remembered him?"

Gu Ying said: "Although I haven't seen each other for several years, my brother of the Zhang family treats me the best, and he has sent me a lot of books, pen and ink gadgets. My mother and aunt also used to talk about him on weekdays, why don't I remember?"

Gu Chong smiled: "Okay, okay, I asked the wrong question." I sue you, now that he is also at home, I will ask your mother to take her to your aunt Zhang's place to play a few days after tomorrow. ”

Gu Ying was immediately overjoyed, clapped her hands and said, "Okay, okay." By the way, last time Sister Shumei came to the house, she said that she got a lot of fresh purses in the New Year, but she forgot to bring them, and promised me two, and I have to take it with her this time. ”

Hearing her say this, Gu Chong and Fan couldn't help but laugh. Fan scolded with a smile: "Little debt collector, I know what I want from your sister of the Zhang family." You forgot that she was going to leave the cabinet at the end of this year, and you didn't prepare some purse for her, but asked her for something. But it's upside down?"

Gu Ying hurriedly argued: "I obviously embroidered two handkerchiefs with her, and I also made colorful velvet hydrangeas with five blessings. It was all because my mother said it was not good, so she didn't give it away. ”

Fan smiled: "It's still a strong argument." Don't you know that your aunt of the Zhang family has the best needlework, and your sister has also obtained her true inheritance? With a handkerchief like yours, you are not afraid of other people's jokes when you give it out. Work with me and make a few more good things!"

Seeing her mother and daughter smiling and arguing, Gu Chong couldn't help but interject: "Ying'er is still young, so she does a few things, and it's all a matter of love." Who can pick her? Besides, I think Ying'er is doing a good job. Seeing that Fan immediately glared at him, Gu Chong hurriedly said to Gu Ying: "It's not too early, you go back to the room to rest first." I'll talk to your mother again. On the other hand, he raised his voice and called the maid to pass the grandmother outside to come and escort the young lady. Gu Ying smiled and got up to salute her father, and said goodbye to her mother, then exited the main house and was hugged by a group of maids and women and went back to her room.

Fan saw his daughter smiling and left the room, and had to stare at Gu Chong a few more times, but in the end he was helpless, lowered his head and picked up the silk thread. But he felt that the light was dim, but Gu Chong moved the light, and said to himself with a smile: "It's night, if you really want to get it, it's not too late tomorrow." He also said, "Although it is the old lady's birthday, it is enough to make a dress with your own hands." What are you doing with those embroidered tables? You are often weak, your spirit is short, and you are busy with many household chores, although the grandfather's birthday is in Layue, the project is still in a hurry. It's too much work. It's better to give up this one and find something else to make up for it. ”

Fan Shi was overjoyed when he heard this, and he put away the needle and thread in his hands, but he couldn't help but say: "Master is compassionate, how can I not know? But I was stupid, and I counted from head to toe a few times, and I could barely catch my eye on this idea." We don't often serve in front of our elders, and we do our filial piety on this trip a year, so how can we excuse ourselves from doing our hard work?"

Gu Chong said: "If you insist on saying so, that's it." But you still have to take care of your own body, and don't be injured by fatigue, otherwise it will worry me, that is, worry the elder, and lose the original meaning of filial piety. ”

Seeing that his face was serious and biased, Fan couldn't help but laugh, and then hurriedly covered it with his hand, and his mouth was full of promises. The husband and wife looked at each other, and they felt more and more amused, and finally they both laughed. The two laughed for a while before stopping, Fan Fang called someone to come over to change shoes and socks with Gu Chong, and waited for him to clean his face, and he personally removed the crown for him, loosened the hairpin bun, and put a piece of clothing on his shoulders, while asking: "Can the master write the letter with Nanjing?"

Gu Chong nodded and said, "I have already called Pan Shou and Fan Lai to send them overnight." ”

Fan replied casually and handed him a cup of tea to nourish his mind and sleep peacefully. Gu Chong took it, and saw Fan standing with a hesitant face and moving his mouth, but he wanted to speak and stopped, so he asked, "What, there is something to say?" After thinking about it, he said: "I know, you still worry about your nephew's affairs." But what's so bad about opening your mouth and making you hesitate?" raised his hand, pulled her to sit down on a stool beside her, and said, "You are his serious aunt." He came in such a hurry, you should ask a few more questions. ”

Fan smiled: "The master saw it." The nephew came in such a hurry, although it is a serious etiquette to greet the uncle of the Zhang family, but in the end, there should be a reason. ”

Gu Chong sighed: "What can be the reason? It can't be because of anything else, it must be that Nanjing has started to kiss him again." ”

Fan Shi suddenly said in surprise: "My nephew is also twenty-two this year, and he is not a child, is he still ashamed of this, and he can't avoid it? And at this age of my nephew, in our family, let alone discussing relatives, he should have married a wife and had children, and he should have started to spread his branches." If it weren't for the filial piety of the old lady of the Xie family in the previous two years, how could it be delayed until this time?"

Gu Chong said: "What you said is right, my nephew is not shy and shy. ”

Fan said: "If it's not for this, then how can you avoid it? It can't be that he is a young man from a famous family, and he is afraid that he will be restrained by his family, right?"

However, Gu Chong didn't smile, shook his head again, and said, "It's not this." ”

Fan frowned, hesitated for a while before saying: "I vaguely heard two years ago that Mrs. Gu's family once showed a young lady to her nephew, and all parties were originally good and there was no dissatisfaction, but the girl was not blessed, and she died of illness at a young age. Because of this, the nephew has a pimple in his heart, and he has always been reluctant to mention the matter of marrying over the years. ”

Gu Chong shook his head, grabbed the teacup and took a bite, and then said, "He does have a pimple in his heart." But if things turn out to be as you heard, then it's all right. Seeing that Fan was taken aback, he sighed: "My nephew does have such a person in his heart, and he is also prevaricating his family affairs for her." However, the one in his heart did not die of illness. Not only did he not get sick, but he also married a wife early, and now he has both children and daughters, and the family lives in harmony and happiness. ”

When Fan heard this, he became more and more surprised: "There is such a thing?" and asked, "It turns out that the master knows who she is?"