That night, Xiao Rui, who had been supposed to come over, missed the appointment, and came to Wan Long, who claimed to have been ordered to come to report and deliver things.

Wan Long came to Xie's house as Xiao Rui's subordinate, and he sent a dim sum box with a conspicuous store number: "Xiao Gongzi originally planned to come over, but before leaving the palace, he was summoned by the prince, saying that Kaiping Wei Youjun had reported and asked Xiao Gongzi to go over and discuss with the generals. Xiao Gongzi ordered the people below to send the dim sum that was ready to be brought to the house as a souvenir, and asked us to compensate Lord Xie, Mrs. Xie, and all the young masters and girls for him, I am afraid that he will miss the appointment today. ”

Xiao Rui had been stationed in Kaipingwei for two years, and he was the next generation of heirs that King Yan had focused on cultivating. Anyway, he usually comes diligently, Wen didn't care, smiled and ordered the girl to take the dim sum and send it to her daughter, and by the way, she called Wan Long to sit down and drink tea.

Wan Long used to come to Xie's house often, but after Xie Pu showed his favor for him, he was restrained by his mother-in-law, and he rarely came. However, he knew in his heart what kind of performance could make a good impression on Wen, and he carefully followed this rule in every word and deed.

Wen didn't expect him to have so many little Jiujiu in his heart, and only asked him about some common topics such as his physical condition and whether he was adapting well to his new errand. Wan Long also followed her tone, chatted about some trivial matters, and then said his request without comment: "Our wife has often told me to come to the house often to ask Master Xie for advice. I thought that Master Xie had just been promoted, but I was afraid that he would be busy and might not have time to pay attention to a junior like me. But my wife didn't listen, and drank again and again and told me to come to the house. Although I was ordered to come to the door today, I am afraid that my family has already reported the news to my wife. I also ask Mrs. Xie to be considerate, and let me stay in the house for two quarters of an hour, and when I return home, I will be able to explain to my wife. You don't have to worry about me, just sit alone. ”

Wen immediately guessed in his heart that this must be Mrs. Wan in order to ensure that the marriage between the two families could be completed, and specially sent Wan Long to the door to offer courtesy, but she was awkward not to tell the child clearly what was going on, which really made people cry and laugh. However, Wan Long is a smart descendant admired by Xie Pu, and she doesn't hate the other party, so she smiled and agreed: "What's this?" Your wife just loves to joke with me. Then he asked Wan Long, "Have you had dinner?" ”

Wan Long shook his head shyly: "Not yet." After a while, I went to the nearby street and found a random noodle restaurant to cope with this meal, and that's it. ”

He didn't say that he would go home and eat, even if Wanjia was next door. Wen immediately thought that there seemed to be a rumor among the people in the family that Mrs. Wan was very mean to her concubine, and knew that he had entered the Yan Wangfu and had a good errand, so she used the excuse that the palace would provide food, and the kitchen at home was not allowed to cook Bandung's lunch and dinner. If Wan Long didn't eat in the palace and came home and wanted to eat some hot food, he would have to pay extra money to buy the kitchen people, otherwise he would have to eat some cold snacks. Although he didn't know how these internal news of the Wan family came to the Xie family, Wen remembered Mrs. Wan's always behavior, and felt that she could indeed do such a ridiculous thing, and sighed secretly in his heart.

At this time, she listened to Wan Long's words, and only felt that he was pitiful, so she took the initiative to say: "My house is so close, why do you want to go a few streets away to find a noodle restaurant?" If you don't dislike it, just stay at our home to eat. Our lord sent someone back to spread the word, saying that he would stay in the yamen tonight to discuss matters, and he would not come back for dinner, and the family planned to deal with each other indiscriminately. Our family Xianzhi and Hanzhi have to eat in the study, so you go over to eat with them, and also tell them some things outside, so that they can know the customs of Beiping City, so that they will not go out and know nothing. ”

Wan Long agreed with a look of surprise and thanked Wen repeatedly. Wen smiled and waved his hand, and asked the people in the kitchen to add a few more dishes to the study, and then passed Xie Xianzhi and Xie Hanzhi to come over to meet Wanlong.

The three boys talked for a while in the upper room of the main courtyard, and then they went to the north study, and after a while, the mother-in-law sent the food in, and the three of them chatted while eating, and the more they chatted, the more they talked, and the meal chatted directly for half an hour, before it ended. After the meal, the three of them drank hot tea and chatted for a while before Wan Long offered to take his leave.

Xie Xianzhi wanted to send him out, but Wan Long politely refused, and persuaded: "The two families are so close, and they often come and go on weekdays, and they are not ordinary, so there is no need to pay attention to these polite and vulgar manners." Brother Xie and Fourth Brother Xie are frail, and it is the first time to spend the winter in Beiping, so it is better to take care of your health. If the wind blows in the night, and one of your brothers has a headache and a fever, is it not my sin? Don't do anything else, otherwise how can I be embarrassed to come to the door next time? ”

He said sincerely, Xie Xianzhi and Xie Hanzhi were persuaded by him, and in turn he escorted them to take the first step and return to their own courtyard. Wan Long went to the upper room of the main courtyard on his own to bid farewell to Wen. Because it was late at night, he didn't enter the house either, and said goodbye directly outside the door. Wen wanted to send someone to send him, but he repeatedly refused. Anyway, he used to come often, he was very familiar with the roads, and the angry wind lamps hanging on the verandahs around him were bright again, and he didn't need anyone to see him off, and he knew how to get out.

Wen thought that Wan Long might be his son-in-law, but he was not too polite to him, and only instructed the people in the front yard to send people to the door of the mansion next door, so as not to have any misunderstanding on Mrs. Wan's side, such as being annoyed that he came home too late. But after leaving the upper room, before going to the second gate, this section of the road can be walked by himself.

Wan Long walked alone in the verandah, and unexpectedly saw a woman wearing a long fur jacket in autumn fragrant silk and fur coming towards him, about thirty or forty years old, and the charm was still there, looking at himself with a little eagerness in his eyes, a little bit of the eyes of the elders when they saw the juniors they liked. He didn't have to think much about it, he guessed that this must be Aunt Jin, the biological mother of Miss Xie San.

Aunt Jin was followed by a girl, carrying a food box in her hand. When they passed by him and nodded to each other, the girl dropped a handkerchief in her hand as if she was careless. As if she hadn't noticed anything, she walked straight behind Aunt Jin. But the lanterns in the verandah shone brightly, and Wan Long could clearly see that the handkerchief on the ground was very large, and one of the corners was knotted, and a slender paper roll was tied to it, and the ink color could be faintly seen.

He immediately understood in his heart, lowered his head and picked up the handkerchief, quickly removed the paper scroll, and turned around to call the Aunt Jin: "May I ask if this is the two of you?" ”