Chapter 41 Floating Like a Dream

"I went fishing with my neighbors this morning, but Xiaohua doesn't like fishing, so I came over early." Shen Laibao leaned over and said, "That's Xiaohua's eldest brother Hua Xu." ”

Qin Qin glanced at him again, nodded at him to say hello, and then withdrew his gaze again, "What about Miss Hua?" ”

"Take her second brother to see her foal." Shen Laibao said again, "By the way, we caught a total of six fish, and we just asked the guy to cook them, you haven't had lunch yet, together, the fish is big and fresh." ”

Qin Qin subconsciously looked down at his dirty clothes, raised his head and showed his face again, "No need, I brought dry food." And there's a lot of work to do, and I don't want to keep the moon shining. ”

Shen Laibao also noticed her embarrassment, knew that this was an excuse, didn't say much, and said that he would send a bowl of fish soup over, and then left with Hua Xu.

When she was far away, Hua Xu said, "She looks very young, doesn't your family accept child labor?" ”

The Shen family pays a lot of wages and treats people kindly, so there are many people who are willing to come to the Shen family to work, and they don't want to collect child labor to make up the number, so they are puzzled.

"Originally, I didn't accept such a small one." Shen Laibao paused, thinking that he couldn't spread the news of Qin Qin without her consent, so he changed his words, "It's just an exception." ”

I thought the second half of the sentence would be an explanation, but it still didn't, Hua Xu is a smart person, and he also knew that the little girl's affairs were not easy to say, so he didn't ask again.

But such a young girl does that kind of hard work, and she doesn't have to think about it, and she knows the reason.

It's just that what kind of suffering has made you have such stubborn and firm eyes.

However, when she looked at Shen Laibao, her eyes were completely different, in addition to gratitude, there was also a lack of indifference.

"You helped her?"

"I guess she helped me. When I first arrived at the college, I was framed by several naughty boys, and she was the only one among my classmates who stood up to prove my innocence. ”

Hua Xu nodded slowly, "It's brave, it's commendable." ”

Shen Laibao smiled, "Yes, she was looking for a short-term job later, and my horse farm happened to be short of people, so I asked her to come here." Now she doesn't have to go to the academy, she comes and goes three times a day. ”

The more she listened, the more she felt that she was not simple.

After the horse farm man cooked the meal, the four of them went to eat. Hua Lang saw his sister's foal and was very envious, but he could only wait two years to learn to ride a horse like his brother when he was outside, and he would not be empty if he wanted to raise it himself.

The dishes are fish of various methods, and there are two Shen Laibao for the guys to find a time to cook meat by themselves. He scooped up a big bowl of soup and was about to take it to Qin Qin, Hua Ling saw it and asked, "Brother Noble, don't you like soup?" ”

"It's for your sister Qin."

Hua Ling asked, "Why did Sister Qin come so early today?" ”

"She will come early if you don't have to go to the academy, you always come in the evening, so I don't know about this yet."

Hua Ling immediately moved her legs to the ground, "Then I'll call Sister Qin to come over and eat together." ”

"Little Flower." Shen Laibao called out to her, "Your sister Qin is still busy and has no time." ”

"Oh......" said Hua Ling happily, "then scoop the belly of the fish too, there are few thorns there." There are also these stewed pork ribs, which smell fragrant and must be delicious. ”

Hua Lang asked, "Who is Sister Qin?" ”

"Sister Qin used to be Brother Bao's classmate, although she didn't like to talk to me very much, but she helped Brother Bao and was a good person."

Hua Lang quipped, "The one who helped you Brother Laibao is a good person?" ”

Hua Ling pondered for a moment, "It should be." Seeing that the soup was scooped up and the meat was put into the bowl, she got up to pick it up, "I'll send it, go see Sister Qin." ”

The three of them couldn't resist her, so they let the next person hold it and let her pass.

Hua Ling came out of the clean and refreshing hut, and when she arrived at the hinterland of the horse farm, she smelled the smell of horses, and she hurriedly turned around and said, "Cover the soup bowl, don't smoke the soup." ”

She was in a bit of a hurry, afraid that the soup would be fishy if it was cold, and wanted to find Qin Qin quickly. When she was about to get to the stable, she just saw her come out with the dry straw on her clothes, and she shouted happily, "Sister Qin." ”

Qin Qin paused, and the brightly dressed little girl in the distance stepped on the green grass and walked towards her quickly.

There is no shed on the lawn, and the bright sunlight reflects on the white and ruddy face of the flower bell, and the smile is even more clear and beautiful, like a beautiful jade flawless, like a jade rabbit and a flower.

On the contrary, he stood in the stable, cool and dark, and the sound of horses chewing was close to his ears. She still has straw crumbs on her hands, and her clothes and shoes are everywhere.

Hua Ling had already arrived in front of her, and Hua Ling, who was a head shorter than her, laughed crisply, "Sister Qin, Brother Lai Bao scooped fish soup for you, I wanted to meet you, so I came here." There's also stew, which smells good. Let's go, it's dirty here. ”

She took Qin Qin's hand and wanted to leave, but she broke free in a moment. She paused, looking at her bewildered. Qin Qin smiled, "My hands are dirty, and I haven't finished my work yet, I'll eat when I'm done." ”

Hua Ling thought that Shen Laibao did say this just now, and she no longer insisted, "But the soup will be cold later, so it's better to wait for you to come over when you're done......"

Before she finished speaking, Qin Qin interrupted her words, her brows furrowed slightly, "No need, I'll eat when I'm done." She reached out and took the tray that the servant was carrying, and said with a smile at the end, "You go back, you won't go again, the soup will be really cold, aren't you Brother Laibao and your brother waiting for you?" ”

Her face suddenly sank and suddenly brightened, and Hua Ling chuckled in her heart, "...... Well, then Sister Qin, you eat, I'll go back. ”

Qin Qin smiled and nodded, watching Hua Ling leave, and walked into the sunlight again, even the back was so carefree, it really made people jealous.

When Hua Ling was far away, she walked to the large bucket of manure in the stables and poured it into the bucket with the tray. When she came back, her face calmed down again.

&&&&&

The four of them traveled together once, and they were like close friends, and for the rest of the month, in addition to visiting relatives, they all traveled together. Only when she went to the school field did she not bring the flower bell, she was curious and made trouble twice, so she took her over. Hua Ling sat there for a long time, one time to get a sword, another to get a bow and arrows, so frightened that Mama Ge went home and told Liao. Liao didn't allow her to go again, leaving her at home to read and embroider.

In the blink of an eye, it is late June, and the Hua brothers are also preparing to return to the academy.

Hua Pingsheng estimated that he would be in the next few days, and his wife must soon find him to "settle accounts". Sure enough, in the evening, Liao, who had been busy all day preparing for his son's outing, returned to the house, and when he saw him, he complained and blamed him, "You don't let you read the good Moxiang Academy, you have to send it to a place far away, don't you feel distressed?" ”

Hua Pingsheng smiled, got up and pulled her over to sit down, grabbed her arm and pinched it. It made Liao's itch and pain, and patted his hand, "Big old man." ”

"Then I'll tap it." Hua Pingsheng's strength decreased, and he said, "Don't be angry, next year, I will let them enter Moxiang Academy." ”

Liao glanced at him, full of disbelief.

Hua Pingsheng smiled, "I mean really. ”

Liao still didn't believe it, "The sky is falling." ”

"It's not going to collapse." Hua Pingsheng's voice was softened, "The academician of the Hanlin Academy has returned to his hometown. ”

There are still a few distant relatives of the Hua family who are officials in the court, and businessmen and businessmen also have to look at the face of the government, so the Liao family will also pay attention to it to some extent, and they know who it is when they hear this, but their faces are pale, "So what?" ”

"Academician Nachang is a native of Mingzhou. When Lord Zhizhou heard about it, he personally visited him and invited him to come to Moxiang Academy to preside over the overall situation. ”

Liao Shi understood now, "You mean, he is willing to come to be the cave master, so you are also willing to take Xu'er and them back and send them to the academy?" ”

Hua Pingsheng smiled and nodded, and the next moment he was hugged by his wife, and his voice was much softer, "You must not break your word, otherwise I will have to hate you to death." If you don't say it, I don't want to, and as soon as you say it, my heart itches. ”

"When did I lie to you?"

Liao Shi smiled suddenly, "Are you lying to me less?" ”

Hua Pingsheng thought hard, "It seems to be a lot, but it's not much." He stretched out his hand and hugged his wife to say something more, who thought that Liao Shi was thinking that his son would study here in the next year, so he didn't have to bring so many things, and he was in a hurry to go to the carriage to direct the unloading, and he removed his hand and went outside happily, and he smiled bitterly.

- Well, I should have sued her later.

The Hua family is happy here, but the Shen family is still like an ice cave.

Towards the end of the month, Mr. Shen was counting the account books in the shop, and Mrs. Shen was calculating the wages of the people in the family this month. They didn't interfere with each other, and they didn't talk to each other, and even the subordinates knew that the two of them had an awkward quarrel, so they stood outside obediently and waited for orders, so as not to be accidentally caught and reprimanded by the two who were quite angry after entering.

Someone outside the courtyard hurriedly came in, and knocked on the door when he arrived, "Master, madam, the owner of the white village of Taozhuang has sent an invitation." ”

Master Shen raised his eyes and didn't move. Mrs. Shen said, "Take it in." ”

Hearing her open her mouth first, Master Shen said, "The non-flowering period, the fruit period has also passed, and the fish is not fat at this time, so it is not possible to invite you to eat." ”

Mrs. Shen handed him the invitation, "Guess, just look at it." ”

Master Shen took it and opened it, opened it, and immediately frowned. He glanced at his wife, paused when the words came to his lips, and then said, "Do you know the interesting stories of Taozhuang that have been spreading all over the past month?" ”

Mrs. Shen said, "Peach Blossom Fairy, and a cool bamboo house, spend Qixi Festival or something together?" I heard that there was a lot of momentum there, and now there is no house, but I didn't expect the owner of Bai Zhuang to have the heart and leave one for our Shen family. ”

"Yes."

"Master Bai Zhuang is ready now, please go to dinner and have a look?"

"No......" Master Shen was a little embarrassed, "He invited us...... Go and stay in a bamboo house for one night and enjoy the cool ...... Spend Tanabata together. ”

Since they are husband and wife, when they hear the words of spending a night together, their thoughts are completely crooked. Mrs. Shen, who had always been intimate in this room, turned uncontrollably red, "What a bastard, who would go to that kind of place, I heard that the house is very close, who would do that kind of thing." ”

Master Shen coughed lightly, "You can also just chat and don't do anything." ”

Mrs. Shen's face turned even redder, and she almost didn't take a bite out of him, "When did you talk to me well, and you talked about staying overnight." Can do something overnight, you, you can't complain that I want to be crooked. ”

"......" Master Shen thought that it seemed to be true, but that was also a long time ago, and he didn't say anything. After a while, he said, "That's not going." ”

"Hmm."

He walked to the door, called the subordinate who had retreated outside to wait for news, and said, "Go and talk back to the owner of Bai Zhuang and say thank you for his hospitality, but I have something to do and can't go." ”

The subordinate said, "Just now, the subordinate of Taozhuang sent an invitation and said a word. The owner of the white village said that he invited Mr. to calculate the fortune of the villa, and the gentleman said that the lord is the god of wealth in Taozhuang, and if the god of wealth does not go, this Qixi Festival will be ruined. For the sake of many years of friendship, I said that you must go. ”

The word God of Wealth was deducted, and Master Shen felt quite pressured. If he doesn't go, he doesn't talk about Tanabata, even in the future, he will offend people. He is not afraid of offending the shopkeeper of a peach village, but he just doesn't want to ruin his friendship for many years. After thinking about it, he said, "Then I'll go." ”

The subordinate was embarrassed again, "Actually, the owner of the white village also said a word......"

Master Shen couldn't help but be furious, "How many words did he say!" ”

The next person shuddered, "That's really it." The owner of the white village said, now the appointment is a pair, if the master is alone, there are pairs of people around, I am afraid that you will be stimulated. ”

Master Shen was speechless for a moment, what kind of broken festival is this, how can there be an old husband and wife celebrating Qixi Festival this year, how can the owner of the white village be so different this time, is it really possessed by the peach blossom fairy. What kind of peach blossom luck, what kind of marriage, it's nonsense when you hear it. Isn't this his usual method, they have all been used by the owner of the white village.

Mrs. Shen heard it in the back room, but she didn't squeak. waited for her husband to come in, and then said lightly, "You don't have to be so embarrassed, you have to take me there, my aunt can't pick it out, and there are many people who are willing to go with you." ”

Master Shen was angry by her words, his temper twisted, and he said, "You have to!" ”

Mrs. Shen glanced at him, and then Master Shen realized that there seemed to be something else in his words, his old face turned red, and he couldn't stay in the house anymore, so he brushed his sleeves and left.

The two argued violently, and everyone at the door heard it.

There is no impermeable wall in the world, and Shen Laibao, who practiced calligraphy in the house, soon received the news. He stopped writing and asked, "Then will my father and mother go or not?" ”

The servant said, "I should go." ”

Shen Laibao smiled slightly, "Got it, let's go down." When the door was closed, he continued to practice his handwriting.

The Shen family is too narrow, full of people inside and out, hugging each other at every turn, and there is nothing to speak of. Especially after knowing that the rich and noble couple here have sex, the follow-up is cleaned up by the subordinates, and the man has to wash his body, even if he is from the new world, he is shocked.

This should not be considered a conservative and ...... Not counted.

In the future, he will never want to do this, what should have been so good, with outsiders interfering, it will all change.

It is precisely because of this that he wants to find a place for the little couple to talk well, justifiably and without being disturbed.

That's why he asked the owner of Bai Zhuang to send such an invitation.

I hope they can talk there and resolve the contradictions in each other's hearts. That's right...... Shen Laibao suddenly remembered that Mrs. Shen's outfit had also changed. Compared with the Mrs. Hua next door, who is almost the same age, Mrs. Shen's dress always looks too old-fashioned.

A wife can't be beautiful all the time, but it's understandable that a husband wants his wife to wear the right clothes at the right age. On the other hand, probably a woman doesn't want her young and handsome husband to be old and dull.

When Shen Laibao planned how to build a yì Mrs. Shen to change out of her dull outfit, he came back to his senses, when did he pay so much attention to the affairs of the Shen family.

If this continues, he may not be able to make up his mind to go back.

I didn't expect that Shen Laibao, who would make a decision in the future, was already slightly sinking, and this question would always be entangled in his heart until the day he made a decision.

&&&&&

It's not yet July, and the Hua brothers are leaving. The place is far away, so you have to hurry early to get there.

The time is about to pass, and the Hua family, who usually eats at noon, is already preparing lunch. Liao was afraid that his son would be hungry, and the next meal would have to wait until the New Year was approaching, and it would take half a year to leave.

She went to tell the kitchen to cook a few more dishes, all of which her two sons loved to eat, and when she returned to the room to get the money, she blamed her husband. Hua Pingsheng just laughed, didn't talk back to her, and finally said, "Give them the silver in the drawer on the left." ”

Liao opened the box and saw that there were still 100 taels of silver in the money bag, which was not surprising. After a while, he stared at him again, "You actually hid so much private money!" ”

Hua Pingsheng smiled dumbly, "I have always put it there, but you never rummaged through the box." ”

Liao didn't want to ask, so he took the money and gave out a third, "I left some for you, and you are not allowed to drink flower wine." ”

"Good, good."

Lian Sheng assured that Liao would go to his son's room. It's in the same yard, and it's close to it.

At this time, Hua Ling was already in the brother's room to watch them pack up the four treasures of the study, and her mother said that her brothers were not allowed to enter her room, but she could go to her brother's room, although she didn't understand why, it was all the same.

Hua Lang packed up his things first, and at a glance, he saw his sister standing in the house eating candied fruit. He quietly slipped behind her and picked her up, "Lingling!" ”

Hua Ling almost didn't choke the candied fruit into her throat, and Hua Xu twisted her eyebrows, "Second brother." ”

Hua Lang took care of the loss, put her down and patted her head, "The eldest brother and the second brother are leaving again, you have to listen to your mother obediently at home." ”

Hua Ling muttered, "Obviously, you don't listen to your mother." ”

Hua Xu smiled, "Lingling is the most sincere at home." ”

"My little sister is so sharp-toothed, it's all used to you."

The three of them laughed and packed up their things, and after a while, the Liao family came and handed them the silver, and then went out to eat together. After lunch, we chatted for a while, and it was almost noon.

The servants had already loaded all the things into the carriage, and when they came out, Shen Laibao also came to see them off. When the carriage was dusted away and out of the alley, Hua Pingsheng was about to go in with his wife, and when he saw that his daughter was still holding the cat pestle, he called her.

Hua Ling raised her head, her eyes were slightly red, and Liao Shi hurriedly asked, "Lingling, what's wrong with your eyes?" ”

Hua Pingsheng was about to speak, when he heard Shen Laibao say, "Probably the wind blew the sand into the eyes." ”

Hua Ling smiled, "It's all right, mother." ”

Hua Pingsheng smiled lightly, "Let the two children play, let's go in." ”

Liao Shi was not at ease, leaned over to look at his daughter's eyes, except for a little red, he did not see the sand and debris, and then put his mind at ease, "I will come back to take a nap, I play crazy all day, I haven't had a good nap for a long time." ”

"Got it, mother." Hua Ling responded loudly, and when his father and mother went in, he touched the cat in his arms, looked up and asked, "Brother Laibao, you will also go to a far away place in the future, and you will only come back once in half a year?" ”

Studying is definitely not going to, Daddy Shen doesn't know how much he likes Moxiang Academy, and recently I heard that there will be a powerful Hanlin official. However, if you leave the academy in the future, you may go to Mingzhou to continue your studies or become an official in business. Shen Laibao said, "Not yet." ”

"How long is it now?"

"Probably...... Ten years. ”

Hanazu counted, and it seemed like a long time. She reassured, "That's good! ”

Shen Laibao said with a smile, "Xiaohua, you should also prepare things to go to the academy, the day after tomorrow will be the first day of the seventh month." ”

The long-forgotten thing suddenly struck, diluting the pain of Hua Linggang and her brother's separation, she nodded, "I'll go later, let's go together to feed Xiaoyun and Feiyang in the afternoon." ”

No matter what, I come and go in a hurry, that's why I'm so carefree. Shen Laibao smiled, "Well, go ahead." ”

When Hua Ling entered, he also returned to the Shen family's mansion. When I entered the courtyard, I saw the two grandmothers who were waiting for my mother come out, and the two of them suddenly flashed to the side and waited for him to pass. Shen Laibao stopped in front of the two of them, tilted his head and whispered, "Is it done?" ”

"That's it."

Shen Laibao got the exact answer and went back to the house.

Today is not a market day, and there are not many people on the streets. It was the coachman who drove the car for the two brothers, and since he hurt people in the downtown area, the coachman has never done anything out of the ordinary, and the car has been driving smoothly and slowly.

Hua Lang thought of the long distance, and after a full stomach, he was easily sleepy, so he yawned and rested in the carriage after a while.

The car was shaky, the light in the carriage was insufficient, and there were no books to read, so I looked at the outside scenery and silently read the articles I memorized in the morning.

The car was slow and leisurely, and when it came to the end of the street, suddenly a cake shop flashed in Hua Xu's eyes.

The bakery has a small façade, so people sitting under the sign can see it at a glance. Hua Xu recognized the person as the little girl who had fed the horses at the horse farm last time, and had seen her twice at the horse farm later, but she had not spoken. He sat up straight and looked out the window.

There were a lot of baked cakes piled up on the table, and it seemed that no one came to buy them because of the hot and dry weather. She sat behind a long table and read, and there were traces of flour on her hands. The crowded streets didn't seem to affect her in the slightest, and she was very focused.

"Stop."

shouted to stop the car, Hua Xu came back to his senses, why did he shout to stop. Hua Lang, who had just fallen asleep, also opened his eyes, "Huh? How to stop. ”

As if he had to send an arrow, Hua continued, "I'm going to buy something." ”

He got out of the car and walked to the cake shop, "I'll buy baked cakes." ”

The people who were reading the book did not answer, as if they did not hear. He suddenly couldn't bear to be disturbed, and turned to leave, when someone suddenly rushed out of the back room. He heard the movement and turned around, and then saw a woman rushing towards Qin Qin and kicking her. Qin Qin didn't expect it, and even fell down with a stool.

"What a book! You can't even hear someone want to buy bread! I really don't know why your uncle has to provide for you to study, how good it is to give me that money! ”

Hua Xu had never seen this kind of posture, and he didn't react for a while. By the time he reacted, Qin Qin had already stood up without saying a word, as if she was afraid that the woman would tear up her book, so she pinned it directly to her waist, rubbed her arm and came over casually. When he found out that it was him, he looked embarrassed, "Do you want to buy cakes?" How many? ”

When the woman saw that she was obediently going about her business, she went back to the house. Hua Xu asked for ten baked cakes before saying, "That's your mother?" ”

"Hmm." Qin Qin didn't want to say more, and said, "Where are you going?" ”

Hua continued, "It's not to play, it's me and my brother going back to the academy." ”

Qin Qin was stunned, and Hua Xu said again, "Your hands are okay, right?" ”

"It's fine." Qin Qin is not good at talking, and finally held back a sentence, "The road is safe." ”

Hua Xu nodded, glanced at her hand again, and then took the cake and got into the car. Hua Lang thought he had bought something, but when he saw that it was a cake, he suddenly lost interest, yawned and fell asleep again.

――I really wanted to wake up, so I went to the academy, rolled into bed, and went back to sleep.