After the meal, Xie Daozhong asked someone to prepare tea in the study outside, but Xie Daoyong ordered the maid to place an ice basin in his room, put down the chopsticks and confessed to Mrs. Qin, saying that it was unbearable to go back to rest, Xie Daozhong was hung in the hall, his eyebrows were locked, and he called in a deep voice: "Daoyong!"

Xie Daoyong turned his face to him, and said, "Hmm": "What else does the eldest brother command?"

He didn't sleep all night yesterday, and today he chatted with the Xie brothers for another day, with a tired expression on his face, and helpless disappointment in his eyes, Xie Daozhong was suddenly frightened by his lifeless appearance, moved his lips, and his voice was hoarse: "Ask the girl to send you a soothing soup." ”

Xie Daoyong picked the corner of his lips and seemed to smile, he raised his hand and bowed his fist to Xie Daozhong: "Big brother, Daoyong has retired." ”

Xie Daozhong did not speak, this scene was almost exactly the same as eighteen years ago, at that time, Xie Daoyong also had such a smile on his face, said goodbye, and never came back.

After he left, the hall suddenly fell silent, Xie Daozhong had already put his chopsticks on the ground, although his eyebrows were loosened, but his lips were tightly pursed into a line, and two deep nasolabial folds were drawn, making the face look more majestic and terrifying. Xie Huai couldn't help but give Wanlan a look, and Wanlan couldn't tell what her father was thinking, and she didn't dare to speak rashly, so she had to pretend not to see it, even Wanxian, who had always been the most lively, was intimidated by this atmosphere, and silently lowered her head to play with the pearl and jade accessories hanging on her clothes, only Mrs. Qin drank half of the soup in a dark and comfortable way, and said happily: "Today's sweet soup is very good." ”

Her tone was pleasant and gentle, driving away the oppressive atmosphere in the room, and Wanlan hurriedly seized the opportunity to answer: "Mother likes it, then ask them to do it tomorrow." ”

"Okay," Mrs. Qin nodded, and raised her chin to Xie Daozhong with a smile: "Serve cold soup tomorrow, your father doesn't like to drink hot soup in this season." ”

Wanlan responded again, and Mrs. Qin put down the soup spoon and wiped her lips with a cloth towel: "Withdraw the plate, your father has been busy with official business all day, and he is tired, so there is no need to come to say hello at night." ”

As she spoke, she turned her face to Xie Daozhong, and asked in a gentle tone, "Do you want to read the book again, or go and have a cup of tea?"

Xie Daozhong stood up, and the whole table immediately got up, he was silent for a moment before he spoke: "Ah Tian go to the tea room and make me a bowl of tea." ”

Wan Tian happily got up and walked out with Xie Daozhong, Mrs. Qin watched them go out, and her gentle tone changed: "Wan Lan, Huai'an, you two come to the main room with me." ”

Xie Huai'an and Xie Wanlan subconsciously exchanged a look, and then they responded together, Xie Huaichang took Wanxian to the side, and when the three of them also went out, he lowered his voice and asked, "Ah Xian, what did you say when you were with your uncle this morning?"

Wanxian recalled carefully and said: "Uncle said that there was a riot in Nanchang, and a French missionary killed the magistrate of Nanchang, and the Empress Dowager Lafayette accompanied more than 300,000 taels of silver to suppress the matter. ”

Xie Huai'an frowned, turned his right hand into a fist, and smashed it into the palm of his left hand: "The rich country is strong, the rich country is strong, this slogan has been shouted for so many years, and a lot of silver has been tossed, but the people are still poor and the country is weak, and the corrupt officials and mediocre people in the capital will be broken in their hands sooner or later!"

Wanxian sighed: "Uncle also said the same, and my uncle also made an analogy with the family, saying that if you can't reform and become strong in time, then you will only get weaker and weaker, and you will destroy yourself." ”

Xie Huaichang was taken aback, and subconsciously repeated: "Family?"