Thursday, February 13, 1642.

Today is the Shangyuan Festival, the last big festival of the Chinese New Year is about to pass, the next step is the opening of schools, the resumption of factories and enterprises, and the 120,000 citizens of the capital Manchester City are about to resume the busy and fulfilling rhythm of life.

Although the green has quietly returned to the earth, the temperature is still only a few degrees above zero, and the frost and snow that may come back at any time, the citizens walking around the streets of the capital are still wrapped in winter clothes.

At noon, instead of riding in her own carriage for government officials, Lu Mei wore a dark brown modern style women's woolen coat and slowly walked down the commercial street in the southern part of Manchester towards her home, constantly staggering past citizen families holding their children or pushing strollers.

Lu Mei is about to turn 31 years old, but she is still single. Whenever she heard the cheerful laughter of children or the gentle conversation between citizens and couples, Lu Mei would involuntarily speed up her pace, or simply turn into the shops passing by, and then continue on the road after being in a daze for a while.

Lu Mei inherited the career of her maternal grandfather, Supreme Justice Zhong Jinshan, and worked in the Cabinet Justice Department after leaving school, and officially took up the post of Deputy Minister of Justice of the Cabinet two years ago, becoming the youngest minister in the Chinese and American Cabinet, and also serving as a law lecturer at an Ivy League university.

When her parents were buried in the rubble and died, Lu Mei was only 9 years old that year, as the granddaughter of Zhong Jinshan and Huang Nian, Lu Mei has always been cared for. Even though there were soon two more orphans in the family, Tang Hannah and Bruno, Lu Mei was always regarded as the pearl of the palm by the second elder.

Big sister Don Hannah. Now he is a senior instructor of the major of the Navy Long Island Naval Academy, and his brother-in-law Hu Huan is also the only marine battalion major commander in the Navy.

Younger brother Bruno is 2 years younger than Lu Mei, has long changed his name to Zhong Kai, after graduating from the law department of an Ivy League university, he worked in the Manchester City District Court, and married Ren Xingai, the eldest daughter of Ren Changle's family, last summer, and started his own family, and now he has just conceived a child.

Whether it's identity, looks, family education, or personality. Lu Mei is the most outstanding girl among the small characters who crossed the crowd at the beginning. But for some reason, she has become a rare leftover girl in a gorgeous and powerful family. Every time she thought of this, Lu Mei could only cry secretly, or she worked overtime desperately to divert her thoughts.

"Xiaomei. How do you walk home today? It's not tiring to carry so many things! ”

When you are in a trance. A carriage slowly pulled to the side. The car door opened, and a beautiful lady stood in front of her with a smile on her face.

"Sister Xia......" hesitated, but Lu Mei still used the title of peer for this lady who was 10 years older than herself according to her personal habit.

Summer and autumn metaphors. He is currently the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the National University of Manchester, and the Chairman of the Carnation Group. Carnation maternal and infant chain services have now spread across most of the country, so that a large number of female labor in the country can be used, and has made great contributions to the social care of pregnant women and newborns.

is different from the technical sullenness of her sister Xia Qiuyun's husband You Qi, Xia Qiuyu's husband is Yang Xiaohua, who took over the position of president of COSCO International Trade Group. In recent years, the income of the two has been rising, and Xia Qiuyu's life has gradually become more and more high-profile.

"Hehe, Xiaomei is really good today! It looks like it's handmade! Xia Qiuyu casually touched Lu Mei's windbreaker with her hand, with a smile flashing in her eyes, "It's a coincidence to see you today, and I talked about you at my sister's yesterday." ”

"Me?" Lu Mei was a little puzzled.

"Hey, you're not too young, if you want me to say, women are young for so many years, and they can't afford to delay!" Xia Qiuyu led Lu Mei into his carriage with great care, holding the other party's hand and talking seriously, "I heard that the wife of the military police commander Cheng Peng in the Ming Dynasty has been dead for a year, and he has always been single, although he has four children by his side, but he is also his own person, right?" Cheng Peng is only 10 years older than you, he is honest and has a very stable personality, and it is not a bad thing to be older...... If you think it's appropriate, you, Sister Xia, I'll take the lead. ”

"No thanks, I'll talk about it next time...... I...... I also have to go to the hospital to get the examination report for my grandfather. ”

Lu Mei's heart tightened, and she quickly hung her head and got out of the carriage, and walked away quickly. Looking at the distant figure, Xia Qiuyu sighed softly.

walked several streets in a row, and when she turned around, Xia Qiuyu's carriage had already disappeared, so Lu Mei turned around and walked silently in the direction of home.

……

In the villa manor of the Supreme Judge Zhong Jinshan, it is very lively today, several grandchildren have brought their families to visit the second elder, and the old man Zhong Jinshan, who has only been out of the hospital for a few days, personally cooks at the age of 85 and makes a few specialty dishes for his family, so that a group of nannies and cooks are carefully serving aside, for fear that something will go wrong.

“…… Hey, hey, I guess it's a boy. ”

On the sofa, Tang Hanna was dressed in a military uniform, and there were two dragon and phoenix fetal daughters who were just over two years old next to her, and she herself was extremely presumptuous and touched her younger sister Ren Xingai's big belly through her clothes, this action caused Hu Huan and Zhong Kai who were chatting in the living room to laugh, and Ren Xingai blushed.

"Hehe, such a big person, he still looks like a child who doesn't grow up. Go and get your baby son in from the garden, what if it's so cold outside and freezing? When Lu Mei comes back, we will have dinner! The old man Huang Nian, who was in a wheelchair, also smiled with a wrinkled face.

"He's not small, he has feet, let him come back by himself!" Seeing that her husband Hu Huan wanted to get up and go out to pick up her eldest son, Tang Hanna stopped her very domineeringly.

"Aunt May is back! Buy it for me! As he was talking, Tang Hannah and Hu Huan's 4-year-old eldest son ran into the living room at this time, shouting and holding a set of newly bought building block toys in his hand.

The family's eyes turned to the main entrance of the living room, and they saw that Lu Mei was changing her shoes and coat with the help of the nanny, and a bunch of bought things were piled up at the door, it seemed that she had run a lot of places for this family gathering today. However, judging from the expression, it seems that the love is not good.

"Grandpa, grandma...... Eldest sister...... Bruno and Xingai are also here. Looking around at her family, Lu Mei barely managed to squeeze out a smile.

"Second sister!" Zhong Kai hurriedly helped the pregnant Ren Xingai to stand up. In some ways, in the more than 20 years since Zhong Kai was adopted by the Zhong family, the relationship with Lu Mei's sister and brother is the best.

"It's time to eat!" The old man Zhong Jinshan, the head of the family, came from the kitchen corridor at this time, because the family was reunited, and his long-term sick body seemed to be much tougher.

"I'm a little uncomfortable and want to lie down...... Grandpa and eldest sister, you can eat first. Lu Mei walked through the living room in front of the family and walked towards the stairs, her slightly tired and cold tone made the relatives present slightly stunned.

"Hey...... Everyone eats. You'll see her later. That's right. The family is also coming over at night, and you and Hu Huan are going to entertain you well. ”

Old Man Huang Nian sighed, and had no choice but to glance at Tang Hannah. Zhong Jinshan, on the other hand, silently untied his kitchen coat. The first one walked towards the restaurant.

……

An hour later. The feast is over. Zhong Kai took his wife Ren Xingai and hurried to his father-in-law Ren Changle's house for the holiday, and the Zhong family's living room was calm again.

"Do we need to let others decide their own choices now? This is the most ridiculous thing in this country in twenty years! "After settling the child into a lunch break. When Tang Hannah walked into the living room, she said the words that everyone had been pressing in her heart before, and her face was not ordinary gloomy.

"Well, if I say, after all these years, who still cares about who they are? What do you do with all that gossip? Hu Huan also echoed his wife's words, and was very disdainful of some inexplicable views within the traversal.

"Major Elson is a rare and excellent captain in the navy, and his father, Admiral Andrew, is also a noble soldier, if he is not worthy of Lu Mei, then how bad is this country!" Tang Hanna grabbed an apple angrily, looked at it for a while and threw it aside, showing a serious expression to the two old men who had supported her for many years, "This is an abnormal state of mind, grandpa, are you also trapped inside?!" ”

"Your grandfather never meant that, what nonsense!" The old man Huang Nian interrupted his adopted granddaughter's angry words, and at the same time his voice softened, "Over the years, there have been many people who have come to talk about family affairs, but Lu Mei's child can't look down on any of them, so the rumors and rumors have spread out of nowhere...... In fact, sometimes I also think, it's not a big deal, it's all children born and raised by parents, there is no difference......"

"There are many people who oppose Major Elson's pursuit of Lu Mei, and I heard that even General Bai Jun agrees with this view, so Major Elson also retreated. Others thought it was a family status gap, but we knew it very well. In fact, they just can't accept Lu Mei marrying the so-called 'native'. But looking back, it has something to do with them?! It's not their daughter who is married, it's really funny to worry about it! Grandpa, grandma, in fact, we don't have to deal with these at all, as long as Major Elson and Lu Mei are sincere to each other, it's no problem at all! Hu Huan remembered that when he pursued Tang Hannah, he had similar improper thoughts about his "rival in love" Ai Wen, and his face couldn't help but blush slightly.

"They are all adults, and their true hearts are tied to themselves, not to others! The child thought that he was not worthy, and Lu Mei thought that others would say cool things. They each misunderstood their lives. Zhong Jinshan, who has never expressed his stance on this matter, finally slowly expressed his opinion at this time.

"It's best if the kid can get into the bag, but we can't post it ourselves......" Although the old man Huang Nian has slowly looked at it over the years, he is still a little hesitant.

"Sir, ma'am, Major Elson is outside the door asking to see you."

While the family was worried about Lu Mei, a European nanny walked into the living room and respectfully saluted the family's long skirt.

Everyone turned their heads in the direction of the main entrance and looked at each other.

……

Elson's visit to the Zhong family continued until near dusk, and during this time, Lu Mei stayed in her bedroom and kept the door closed.

The curtain was slightly exposed, and I saw that outside the gate of the manor in the distance, Tang Hannah and Hu Huan were bidding farewell to Elson, and the latter looked up slightly in the direction of his bedroom after giving a military salute.

The distance was very far, and it was not clear what expression the other party was, but Lu Mei closed the curtains at this moment, turned around and took a step, cried wow, and then fell on the bed and sobbed.

I don't know when the door opened, Tang Hannah walked in and sat next to Lu Mei.

"Sister......" Lu Mei wiped her tears and lowered her head.

"Haven't figured it out yet? As Major Elson said just now, I hope I will convey to you that he will be transferred to the Caribbean Fleet tomorrow and will not return until the end of the year. Don Hannah touched her sister's long hair, and her voice was very calm, "Someone said goodbye to his father, General Andrew, I heard that it is the daughter of William, the old mayor of West Point, who is only 20 years old this year, and she is also very beautiful......"

"Ahh Lu Mei's whole body trembled, and a pair of big eyes looked at the blonde sister in front of her in disbelief.

"However, Major Elson himself refused, saying that you would be unhappy in this way, and everyone felt that Major Elson had made the right choice." A hint of cunning flashed in Tang Hanna's eyes, and she slowly stood up, "Major Elson will be on duty on the ship tonight, and he will leave early tomorrow morning, if you don't persuade him to give up, I can help you convey it." ”

“……”

After staying for a few seconds, Lu Mei stood up abruptly and began to rummage around in the closet, looking at her sister looking like she was in a hurry to go out, Tang Hannah smiled. (To be continued......)