The "Coloring Garden" where Mrs. Ji lives is also a deserted place in the county seat, not far from the city wall.

There are already sporadic vegetable patches nearby.

The coloring garden is in these vegetable gardens, the white wall is gray tile, the green bamboo is shaded, in the middle of the bamboo, the partition wall can see the white and pink begonias that bloom all over the tree brocade, the door is not big, but it is very elegant.

Xu Yongzhi was still thirty or forty zhang away from the door, so he led the horse, slowly walked to the door, looked at the bamboo building in the courtyard, and couldn't help but admire.

This belongs to the kind of house that can be called "beautiful", it does not have that kind of luxurious momentum, but it can definitely compare most of the buildings, maybe only his family's house in Linquan Town (that is designed by his mother), can compare with this house, thinking that he lives in the practical watchtower of the mountain inn, Xu Yongzhi can't help but feel a little ashamed of himself, he didn't expect for a while, private houses and inns are two different purposes, he has actually begun to have a competitive heart.

Between men and women, the most afraid is this kind of competition, men see a woman, if it is to praise each other, praise each other, sincerely appreciate each other, that is no desire at all, if you move the idea to take your own home, appearance and wealth to compare with each other, I am afraid that it is to move the mind, move the mind, do business also has a similar saying, called "praise and depreciation is the customer", a person has the heart to buy, but will say, this piece of jade is flawed, if there is no money at all, will shout, Flattering you is selling a work of art.

Ji Xiaohuan stood outside the door and made a deep bow: "Young Master Xu." ”

"Little Ring Girl."

"Xiaohuan is a little unclear and wants to ask Childe. Why did Childe dismount from a distance and walk all the way to the door? ”

"Xu Jin looked at this mansion, looked at the white walls and gray tiles, green bamboo and begonias, and knew that there must be elegant people here, so he was respectful, how to ride a horse and watch the flowers, the sound of horses' hooves abruptly the owner, and missed the scenery of this flower." Xu Yongzhi said.

These two sentences, his words are correct and round, although the tone is not high, but it can be comfortably transmitted to the ears of the people upstairs.

Xiaohuan saw that Xu Yongzhi answered politely, asked the boy to lead the horse to the stable, and took Xu Yongzhi to the hall, above the hall door, Xu Yongzhi handed the sword to Xiaohuan to show that he was a guest. Xiaohuan put away the sword and went to invite Mrs. Ji.

Xu Yongzhi looked at the west wall, ink landscapes, flowers and birds, all of which are of the highest quality, and they are also from a woman's handwriting, which should be the painting of Mrs. Ji, and then look at the east wall, but there are all kinds of complex lines, color blocks, rings, stripes, obscure.

The middle one, looking like a human face, seems to be twisted, can't see the original face, just looking at it, a woman's voice sounded behind him: "Can Childe understand this painting?" It can be seen that he is a first-class wonderful person in the world. ”

When Xu Yongzhi turned his head to look, a woman wearing a very light green thin shirt and a light-colored floral cloth skirt walked over.

She's beautiful.

She looked to be about twenty-six or seventeen years old, she was at the peak of a woman's maturity and beauty, her makeup was thin, to be honest, it was just a courtesy, her face was slightly square, but she had a pointed chin, and her face was small, which made her body and legs appear longer.

The eyes on this face were big and bright, smart and alert, but she hid her cleverness well in that kind of goodwill.

"Xu Jin, Xu Yongzhi, I have seen Mrs. Ji, Xu Jin is polite here."

The eldest lady said a thousand blessings, and said: "I don't know that Xu Gongzi came so early, and there is still a little thing that has not been done, is Xu Gongzi willing to wait for me for a while?" ”

"The big lady is at her own convenience."

Mrs. Ji took a bamboo basket covered with a quilt, walked from the side door to the back garden, and shouted to the courtyard: "You all come out!" ”

Xu Yong's heart was shocked, thinking that his sword was in Xiaohuan's hand, if there were people in ambush behind him, he was afraid that he would suffer, and for a while, what turned in his mind was that fortunately he didn't bring Duan Meimei, but unfortunately he didn't bring Xiaogui or Xu Taishi.

A burst of children's cheers broke out in the garden, and seven or eight children rushed to Mrs. Ji's side: "Sister Mo, you didn't catch me!" Give me refreshments! Xiaohuan brought a basin and a hand towel and wiped the children's hands, and the eldest lady smiled and gave the trough cakes in the basket to the children one by one, and asked Xiaohuan to send them out.

"It's rude, Childe." Mrs. Ji came back with a smile, "They are all children of nearby villagers, their parents are illiterate, and they are still young, so they can't help the family, so I organized them, taught them to read, took them to play, and didn't want their money." ”

"The eldest lady is really kind-hearted."

"Where, I just like children, but unfortunately I don't have children. It's been three years since my husband died, and only me and Xiaohuan are dependent on each other. The eldest lady said, and gave a stick of incense to the Buddhist shrine in the northeast corner of the hall, and her husband's "Ji Gongxue Tai Baocheng".

"I asked my son to come over today, and I really have something to ask for." The eldest lady asked Xiaohuan to put tea on the table, and the two sat down separately.

"I have been doing business in Angola for three months, and they have never bullied me when they see that my capital is real, but there is one thing that is really distressing. I heard that Shanzitang has been trading here for several years, and its relationship with the government is good, so I want to ask my son to give me an idea. ”

"There is a history of the county yamen, once came to my store, saw Xiaohuan beautiful, fascinated, several times, to ask Xiaohuan to be a concubine, Xiaohuan refused, he wanted to talk to the master's house, I was also helpless, I saw him once, I didn't expect this person to be delusional, and said that he was willing to divorce his wife to marry me, several times to the door, say a few words. I'm a survivor, and I don't know what to do. ”

"Does the eldest lady have any thoughts of remarrying?" Xu Yongzhi asked, he has been solving problems everywhere over the years, and he has encountered this kind of thing most often, so he asked this first.

"I'm the same as Gongzi, I'm also a Chu person, what they like to say in the Central Plains is a big thing, I don't really care about it, a person is dead, and even if he is alive, this man has never really cherished me, he has pitied me, he threw himself into the sea of eunuchs, just thinking about climbing up."

"But some people are worthy of being my husband, my lover, and some people are willing to give me foot washing water, I also think it is too filthy, Qu Yuan is not willing to wash my feet with the turbid water of the waves, I am a good woman, I need to find someone who can understand me and pity me to entrust the remnants of my life." Mrs. Ji said.

"The eldest lady is too right, people should be reluctant, not improvised, should not find someone to marry, how many women can't choose their own husband, women with such conditions, should be well screened and selected, it is right."

Mrs. Ji didn't answer, and smiled at Xu Yongzhi.

"In addition," Xu Yongzhi said, "Big lady, you are young, why do you want to be disabled?" I also have a little bit of physiognomy, the lady's face, and ten years of noble luck, and the excitement is still to come. ”

"Oh, the son can still look at the face, so it's better to show the concubine the palmistry." The eldest lady paced in front of Xu Yongzhi and handed her right hand to his chest.

"Mysterious and unpredictable talent, once tortuous experience, now standing at the crossroads of choice, you are now in a dilemma, suffering from gains and losses, but the next ten years, it is unspeakably expensive."

"Don't worry about the harassment of Dutou, my shopkeeper Xu Taishi is familiar with Shi Dutou, wait for me to let him talk to this person, the county lieutenant and the magistrate are also guests of my Shanzitang, the lady doesn't have to worry about it from now on, as long as she does business with peace of mind." Xu Yongzhi looked at his palm and replied politely.

"Speaking of business, I have heard people say that the softness of the hands is related to wealth, saying that men's hands are like cotton, and there is money without money, and women are like firewood, and they have wealth without wealth," Mrs. Ji stretched out her hand to Xu Yongzhi's hand, "Can I be considered rich?" ”

Xu Yongzhi gently let go of her hand: "This is the saying of Jianghukou, those Jianghu people who tell fortunes on the street, touch the man's soft hand, that must not be a person who does physical work, he himself is pampered, if a woman has hard palms and goes out to buy, it is most likely a powerful character who can work and master the family, and the family will not be short of money, flattering these two types of people, you can get more rewards." ”

"I see," Mrs. Ji nodded, "Childe is really knowledgeable." ”

"I don't dare to be knowledgeable, I'm just more interested in people and human nature, and I like to ponder a thing or two." Xu Yongzhi said.

"It is said on the rivers and lakes that Xu Gongzi has a deep understanding of human nature, and this time he asked Xu Gongzi for help, and the concubine really found the right person." Mrs. Ji looked delighted.

"By the way, the matter of the bezoar, I brought sixty taels of gold today, please accept it." Xu Yongzhi struck while the iron was hot.

"Childe helped me, how can I ask Childe to spend money on this matter of bezoar." Mrs. Ji had a pair of pretty eyes, all on Xu Yongzhi's face.

"The eldest lady is the dragon and phoenix among the people, Xu Jin is also admired, moved from Jiangnan to the north, where the money is used, I don't know how much, please let the bezoar, it is already your love, this money, still have to be collected." Xu Yongzhi said.

"Hey," Mrs. Ji suddenly changed her title, "Why are you so good to me?" A pair of eyes were hot, all staring at Xu Yongzhi.

Xu Yongzhi raised his head and looked at the beam.

"I've always felt that friendship can be bought while it's cheap. Others are new to the city, or they are in trouble, give more warmth, and they will be able to have a long-term friendship in the future, the eldest lady lost her husband, and moved her family to the north, I am now taking advantage of the weakness to enter and rob while the fire is ......" Xu Yongzhi said.

"Do you like me," Mrs. Ji interrupted.

Xu Yongzhi remembered Xiaogui's prophecy and did not answer for a moment.

"Or do you just think I'm useful and can do business in the future?"

"Are you so warm to everyone? Or are you a person who is full of rain and dew, the sun is shining, and you are indiscriminately gracious? ”

"Are you here with a heart for so-called cooperation and connections, or are you coming for me?"

Xu Yongzhi felt that his throat was dry, since he can remember, his parents have lived a rich life, he has always been surrounded by love and warmth, he feels that it is natural to be good to others, or to be the first to be good to others, he has never been tortured like this.

If someone asks him in Shanzitang, he will definitely say that it is for our cause, for everyone, and for saving more lives, but in front of Mrs. Ji, he can't say "I'm just for the benefit of Shanzitang", because he felt that once he said this, she would be very disappointed.

The control between men and women is often between this thought, if you care about the other person's likes and dislikes, start to want the other person to be happy, or are afraid of the other party's disappointment, you start to become a pleaser. If you become a pleaser, you will become more and more humble, and if you can convince the other person that you don't care, maybe the other person can become the person who fears and pleases.

Men and women are a game of "honest people suffer losses".

Xu Yongzhi calmed down his emotions, "I'm here for you, I'm very curious about you." ”

"Is it just curiosity?" The eldest lady is pressing step by step.

"Big lady, the meal is ready." Ji Xiaohuan's voice saved Xu Yongzhi, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Mrs. Ji restrained her aggressive gaze, "This girl is so ignorant, so, let's take a seat." ”

Xu Yongzhi sat down, only to find that his palms were sweaty just now, he actually cared so much about the woman he had just met, he remembered Xiaogui's words, some women were so tight, and he recited this sentence silently two or three times.

"These dishes are made by me personally, and they are dishes from our Chudi, I heard that Xu Gongzi is from Tanzhou, so I don't know if it suits my taste."

Pork ribs stewed lotus root, fried pork belly with green sesame pepper, steamed small taro, perilla fried courgette, serious Tanzhou flavor.

"I don't dare to compare with Lingtang's craftsmanship, but it's authentic."

"It's delicious." Xu Yongzhi praised. But a question flashed through his mind.

"Why did she compare her skills with my mother? Ah, yes, she must have said this because she knew I didn't have a wife. ”

"It's definitely better than Duan Meimei." The eldest lady suddenly added.

At this time, Xu Yongzhi's doubts disappeared. "Miss Duan cooks northern cuisine, and she makes Hu Cake and steamed buns, which are all very good."

"That girl has broad shoulders and big hips, so she is easy to raise. is not as small as us southern women, they are all born small, and it is difficult to meet the will of the Xu family's gentleman. ”

Xu Yongzhi almost slipped out of his mouth, "I just like small ones", thought about it and quickly swallowed it back, he ate the vegetables with peace of mind, and took two more bites on the rice.

"Listening to the old man eating wine and watching the young man eat are really two great pleasures in life." The eldest lady said.

"What do you mean by that?"

"As the saying goes, listening to the old man eating wine, the old man eating wine, will tell a lot of old things, stories, gods, ghosts, demons and foxes, all-encompassing, life experience, is also very rare; When you watch young people eating, you will feel alive and vibrant, and you will be full of longing for vitality. Xu Gongzi, you are such an energetic teenager, and I suddenly have an envy for you in my heart. ”

Xu Yongzhi put down the bowl.

"I want to be you, to experience your life, your life, your family."

"She's interested in my family!" Xu Yongzhi felt ecstatic in her heart, but she vaguely felt that she would mean something else.

"I also want to be you, experience your life, your joys and sorrows, live in seclusion in this coloring garden, sit quietly for a month, and avoid the disturbances of time." Xu Yongzhi's words came from his heart, in the past five years, he was too tired and tired.

Mrs. Ji gave Xu Yongzhi a bowl of soup, "Are you in a hurry to go back and rest, I heard that you will leave tomorrow." ”

"Actually, I'm not in a hurry, the lady should still have something."

"If you promise to come today, I won't arrange anything."

“……”

"It's a pity."

"What a pity?"

"I'm a widow, and I'm a few years older than you. If I were a young girl like Duan Meimei, I would never be stupid enough to let you come to me and let you see such a bold and fiery woman. If I were a seventeen-year-old girl, I would only do everything I could to pursue you, keep you, take you, and let you live or die, all in my hands. ”

Xu Yongzhi buzzed in his head, and when he heard the self-evaluation of the eight words "bold and blazing like fire", he couldn't agree more, Mrs. Ji's confession was so naked, even in troubled times, it was clear, and there was no need to test and doubt it anymore.

And the sentence "Let you live and die, it's all in my hands" made his heart also a deer.

Mrs. Ji stretched out her hand and held Xu Yongzhi's hand.

"You refuse to touch my hand, you are a gentleman, you are a well-bred son. But I'll let you pinch it, my hands are hard, and I've been a hard-working woman since I was a child. ”

"Sure enough...... It's a pair of hands that have worked hard. ”

"My grandfather was a prefect, but when I was eight or nine years old, my father lost all his money in gambling, and my grandfather died of anger, and every time my father won money, he would bring different women home, and when he saw that I was in the way, he would into the street, and I would be among the neighbors. One day, I went to play with the neighbor's little brother, and when it was time to eat, no one at home gave me food, and the neighbor's aunt said to me, Mo Yuan, you go home, otherwise your family will be in a hurry. I said Auntie, no one in my family is in a hurry, they don't care about me anymore. ”

"It turns out that your name is Mo Yuan."

"Well, next to the woman, one is a woman, not a Ti riding Ti."

"I later learned that their family was afraid that I would eat their food. I'm just dangling in the streets, dangling, the lights are shining on the streets, and that's my home? ”

"I went to my mother, and my mother remarried a businessman, and she told me that your father is a bastard, and sooner or later he will sell you to Gou, or maybe she will spoil you."

Mo Yuan's tears rained down at this time, and Xu Yongzhi held her hand tightly.

"Okay, Sister Mo Yuan, it's all over, now, here, now, it's very good......"

"Now it's good?"

Mo Yuan took a step back, looked at Xu Yongzhi with round eyes, and looked up and down.

Usually Mo Yuan is like a clever and light deer, but at this moment, she is more like a cheetah ready to attack.

"Xu Yongzhi, you said it wrong, it's not good now, the next moment is good!"

Mo Yuan held Xu Yongzhi's face and kissed Xu Yongzhi vigorously.

Before this incident, Xu Yongzhi had always felt that he would resist, but his body was very honest, and he also kissed Mo Yuan hard.

The two of them were willing to separate for a long time, and Xu Yongzhi muttered: "Sure enough, this moment is very good!" ”

"You are not allowed to call me Sister Mo Yuan again, let alone call me a lady."

"Call me Yuan, Yuanbao............"

At this time, I suddenly heard a thunderclap-like shout outside the hospital:

"Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law! My sister called you home for supper! ”

The voice of the urn is angry, the silly boy Duan Zishou is here!