Is it true that one's happiness is based on one's mother's wounds? Zhong Ziyuan was a little confused. Then she shook her head and said very firmly: "Mother, listen to me, since my father has never mentioned the matter of taking concubines, it proves that he has always taken care of you in his heart, the emotions between you, and our small family." If you recklessly propose to let him take a concubine, wouldn't it hurt your father's rare heart! ”

Mrs. Zhong's hand stroking her head suddenly paused, and a trace of hesitation flashed in her eyes. Seeing this, Zhong Ziyuan was overjoyed, so she made persistent efforts and said: "I want younger brothers and sisters, but I will only recognize them if you gave birth to them, and the others have nothing to do with me." And you're only in your early forties, and you've always been well-maintained, so where must you not give birth? ”

When Mrs. Zhong heard this, her cheeks couldn't help but flush. Zhong Ziyuan grinned, and puffed hard: "Have you forgotten our peach blossom beauty pills?" It will sell so well because it is not only a beauty product, but also has the miraculous effect of invigorating blood and warming the uterus. The lady of Li Xiucai's family had an inexhaustible problem because of a slippery fetus before, and some doctors said that she would have a difficult future heir. But after she ate my Peach Blossom Beauty Pill, she didn't get pregnant. If you're willing to eat well for a few months, you'll be able to have a brother or sister for me!" ”

Zhong Ziyuan's words are not all comfort, Mrs. Zhong is only in her early forties, and in this era of extremely short average life expectancy, she is indeed considered to be older. But in modern times, a forty-year-old woman is still living a colorful life, let alone having children. Zhong Ziyuan firmly believes that as long as she takes care of herself, her mother will be able to give birth to her own child. There is no need to compromise and give up the father.

"Alright, alright, you kid is too lenient. I don't feel thirsty after saying such a basket. Sleep fast! Mrs. Zhong's face was slightly red, and although her mouth was thin and disgusted, she began to secretly synthesize Zhong Ziyuan's words in her heart, and it was naturally best if her husband could not let him out.

Zhong Ziyuan knew that she had temporarily dispelled her mother's idea of letting her father take a concubine, she quietly stuck out the tip of her tongue, closed her eyes contentedly and fell into a sweet dream.

Zhong Ziyuan woke up in the afternoon, and she opened her eyes in a daze. I found it quiet in the room. The thin sunlight was divided into bunches through the vermilion lacquer begonia-shaped window lattice, and it shone brightly on the mirror-like bluestone floor of the house. You can still vaguely see the thin dust fluttering around in the beam. Under the window, a few high ones. A pot of delicate camellia flowers is wantonly spreading its branches and leaves, bathing in this rare sunlight, everything seems so quiet and picturesque.

Zhong Ziyuan squinted his eyes and touched his side, and there was still a faint residual warmth in the empty rose-red bedding embroidered with large roses. It seems that the mother also got up not long ago. She withdrew her hand. Comfortably stretched, and then asked loudly, "Who's outside?" ”

With a "squeak", the door was pushed open, and Qing Dai probed in, puzzled: "Miss woke up?" ”

Zhong Ziyuan sat up, opened the lilac-colored gauze tent, and teased: "It's not that your young lady woke up, who else in this house can talk to you?" Qingdai quietly stuck out her tongue. brought a basin of hot water into the house and began to help Zhong Ziyuan dress and make.

Sit at the vanity. Qingdai carefully combed her long hair, Zhong Ziyuan boredly grabbed a pearl hairpin and played with it in her hand, and asked casually, "Master, what is Madam doing?" ”

Qing Dai's stomach was full of words and she was panicking, and when she heard Zhong Ziyuan ask herself, she hurriedly said: "Sister Fang'er didn't know when she left quietly, Master Liu, Brother Liu, and Fu Bo all went to the street to look for it." Before leaving, the lord and his wife were angry, and the lady was staying alone in the warm pavilion at the moment! She won't let us in and wait, and she won't let us wake you up. ”

"Why didn't you say it earlier!" Zhong Ziyuan was shocked, and immediately dropped the pearl hairpin, got up and ran outside the house. Qing Dai followed behind and stomped her feet, and said hurriedly: "Miss, your bun hasn't been done yet."

When Zhong Ziyuan broke into the warm pavilion with her long hair half-draped, Mrs. Zhong did not feel sad alone as she thought, but sat sideways on the couch, focusing on the camellia in front of her. She also had a pair of scissors resting on the small table of the ebony beast in her hand, as well as a pile of severed branches and leaves. Just looking at the many flower bones hidden in those branches and leaves, I know that her heart is not as calm as it seems on the surface.

Thanks to Zhu Fei, there are now blooming camellia flowers everywhere in Manzhong Mansion, which are the best choice for ornamentation, calming the mood, and venting qi. If Zhu Fei knows, with his stingy temperament, I don't know if he will be angry?

Zhong Ziyuan paused, his face sneered, but he didn't know how to open his mouth to comfort. But Mrs. Zhong raised her eyes to look at her, and said with a gentle smile: "Why are you so bothered, you didn't even comb your hair and came here?" ”

Zhong Ziyuan looked at her eyes in a daze, I don't know if it was because she didn't rest well, or because she was broken. Mrs. Zhong's eyelids looked a little puffy, but her eyes, which were bright and soft in the past, were now tired and gloomy, and the thin lines on the corners of her eyebrows and eyes seemed to have deepened a little.

Zhong Ziyuan sighed secretly in her heart, the original pity for Fang'er had quietly turned into resentment. She moved over and sat down next to Mrs. Zhong, leaning her head on Madame Zhong's shoulder, but did not speak quietly.

Mrs. Zhong smiled, and she said calmly: "Fang'er left quietly while everyone was dozing off. When she left, she didn't take anything, she didn't put on her cloak, and even the five taels of silver that had been given to her a year ago were still in the box. Your father was just worried that she wouldn't be able to think about it, so he was in a hurry, so he argued with me for a few words, and you don't have to think about it. ”

Zhong Ziyuan was silent for a while, and said indifferently: "No matter whether my father can get Fang'er back, she can't stay in our house." In the future, even if the mother wants to take a concubine for her father, she must not accept her. Her voice was cold and cold, with a cruelty that she had never seen before.

Mrs. Zhong looked at her in surprise and said, "Why is this?" ”

Zhong Ziyuan's eyes narrowed slightly, and there was a sharp light in his amber eyes. She straightened up, looked at Mrs. Zhong, and said very seriously: "Because she not only moved her mind that she shouldn't have, but also began to play tricks. And her father took pity on her for being fragile and helpless. I'm afraid it's easy to be fooled. If I'm not mistaken, my father will be able to get her back this time. This time it was Mrs. Zhong's turn to look at Zhong Ziyuan and was stunned.

As if to confirm Zhong Ziyuan's prophecy, it was dusk. Fu Bo and they really found Fang'er and brought it back, but Fang'er was carried in by Zhong Jinchuan, Mrs. Zhong and Zhong Ziyuan, who came in a hurry when they heard the news, only to see Zhong Jinchuan's tall and anxious back, as well as the wet hair that fell down Fang'er's arms between his arms.

Zhong Jinchuan's hair was messy, and the cotton robe on his body was all soaked, dripping all the way. He didn't notice Madame Zhong, who was following closely. only raised his voice and commanded loudly: "Aunt Zhu, sister-in-law Liu, you go and boil a big pot of hot water." Then boil a bowl of thick green onion and white ginger soup. Indigo, Cardamom, you two come with me to help! ”

His voice was a little shrill and harsh because of the scorching. And when they had received his commandment, they began to get busy. Mrs. Zhong paused. A hint of gloom flashed in his eyes, and finally he silently followed quickly.

Zhong Ziyuan frowned, she slowed down, and fell far behind. After Zhong Jinchuan carried Fang'er through the moon gate and entered the inner courtyard, she immediately turned around and ran to the kitchen.

Sister-in-law Liu threw a few thick branches and straw into the fire, then picked up a blowing stick, puffed up her cheeks and blew hard, and the originally half-yin flames suddenly burst up. The red flames began to lick the bottom of the huge iron pot.

Brother Liu lifted the wooden bucket and poured the well water that had just been dug from the well with ice slag into the red-hot iron pot. After hearing the sound of "snort", there was no sound.

Aunt Zhu also washed a few pieces of ginger and a handful of green onions, and began to quickly cut them on the board. She didn't forget to mutter: "Fang'er, this dead girl, how to do such a stupid thing." When she was in northern Jinbei, she didn't see her looking for death, but now she finally returned to Chang'an City, and her life was good, but she wanted to seek death. It's also on the first day of the Lunar New Year, phew, bah, bah, it's not taboo! ”

Brother Liu put down the bucket and approached the fire, and took off his wet cotton clothes. Let the red flames scorch his cold body. While twisting the remaining water stains on the cotton clothes, he said with a happy face: "It's not! Luckily, we arrived just in time, when her whole body was immersed in the river, and only a strand of hair was still floating on the surface of the river. Just one step too late, she would die. ”

Sister-in-law Liu, Aunt Zhu couldn't help but marvel when she heard it. Zhong Ziyuan was originally standing at the door of the kitchen, but she only listened to Brother Liu's words, she frowned and walked in. Aunt Zhu was startled, and hurriedly said, "Miss, this kitchen is a mess, be careful of soiling your new dress." ”

Zhong Ziyuan ignored Aunt Zhu, only looked at Brother Liu and asked seriously: "Tell me about the situation you found Fang'er, as well as the experience, seriously." ”

These people in the kitchen have all experienced life and death with Fang'er in northern Jinbei, and naturally have an unusual relationship. Seeing that Zhong Ziyuan seemed to have a bad face, Brother Liu couldn't help but hesitate in his heart, so he turned his attention to Sister-in-law Liu for help.

Fortunately, Sister-in-law Liu's mind was not confused, she hurriedly stomped her feet and said, "Miss asked you to say, why don't you hurry up and say it, what are you doing!" Brother Liu said in a whisper.

It turned out that after Zhong Jinchuan, Fu Bo, and Brother Liu went out, they once drove a carriage aimlessly to search the nearby streets and alleys. Because today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, every family gathers at home for reunion, but the streets are very deserted, and those shops, restaurants, post stations, etc., are all closed. Sitting in the carriage is very convenient at a glance.

The three men were already coarse-hearted, and after looking for a long time and not finding anyone, the three of them remembered to go to the canal. After all, there was no cover on the river, and if she really wanted to die, this rushing canal was a very fast and convenient place to find death.

Sure enough, he didn't go far by the canal, and Brother Liu saw Fang'er's peach-colored embroidered shoes neatly placed on the grass on the bank, and when he looked again, there was still a strand of hair floating on the river not far away. The three big men suddenly panicked, Zhong Jinchuan and Brother Liu couldn't even take off their clothes, and immediately went into the water to touch them. Fortunately, Fang'er is petite, and the water level that is devastating to her only reaches the shoulders of Zhong Jinchuan and Brother Liu. So the two worked together and lifted Fang'er out of the water.

After listening to Brother Liu's narration, Aunt Zhu sighed, and only muttered and scolded the stupid girl, how could she really run out and do stupid things. Zhong Ziyuan smiled coldly, and said meaningfully: "Stupid? Hmph, she's not stupid! Zhong Ziyuan flicked his sleeves and walked out.

After Zhong Ziyuan left, Brother Liu scratched his head and said puzzledly: "Fang'er ran to commit suicide by throwing herself into the river in the New Year, which is already pitiful enough." How can I see that Miss is still very dissatisfied with Fang'er! ”

Sister-in-law Liu poked him in the head with hatred, and said hatefully: "You're stupid!" You can't see anything so obvious! ”

Aunt Zhu hurriedly stretched her neck and said anxiously, "What's the matter?" Tell me about it! ”

Sister-in-law Liu whispered a few words in her ear, and Aunt Zhu immediately widened her eyes, and shouted incredibly: "Fang'er, a dead girl, actually has such a mind, I really didn't see it before, no wonder Miss's face is so ugly!" ”

"Not really!" Sister-in-law Liu looked anxious and said, "It's just that she made a fuss today, and I really don't know if it's a blessing or a curse in the future!" ”

Zhong Ziyuan pondered all the way and came to the side room where Fang'er lived. After taking a deep breath, she lifted the curtain and stepped inside. The room was not as busy as she imagined, and the two extremely hot brass charcoal basins in the corner made this small room warm as spring.

Mrs. Zhong was sitting on the long collapse, rubbing her forehead weakly. She had a brand-new kang table at hand, and there were some small bits and pieces on the table, velvet flowers, head ropes, purses, rouge, and the like. There was also a small half bottle of pale yellow osmanthus oil in the middle, which was smoked by the heat of the charcoal basin, and the whole room was filled with a fragrant fragrance of osmanthus flowers.

Zhong Ziyuan's expression suddenly became a little dazed, and she suddenly remembered that this bottle of osmanthus oil seemed to have been bought for Fang'er by herself. I remember that the vendor who still sells hair oil said that this osmanthus oil can nourish the scalp and make the withered yellow hair plump and dark again. Unexpectedly, in just a few days, most of this bottle of osmanthus oil has been used, no wonder Fang'er has always had a strong fragrance of osmanthus recently. After walking for a while, Zhong Ziyuan regained his thoughts and cast his eyes on Fang'er lying on the couch.

Fang'er had changed into clean clothes, covered with a thick quilt with blue background and broken flowers, her eyes were tightly closed, and she didn't know whether she was asleep or in a coma, and there were two semicircular pale cyan marks under her eyelids. Xu was frozen fiercely before, and her face was very ugly at the moment, and her thin lips were still showing a touch of embarrassed bruises.

Qing Dai was holding a large handkerchief and twisting her long wet hair, while Cardamom picked up the wet clothes she had changed on the ground and prepared to go out. Zhong Ziyuan said lightly: "Cardamom, except for my father's cloak, all the rest are thrown away, dirty!" (To be continued.) )