On the Sunday after the birthday banquet, Mrs. Huang came to the door early in the morning, and she was brought in by Steward Zhou. This woman is not old, only about fifty years old, covered in silk and satin, dressed in a generous but also tacky, very shrewd person, at a glance you know that she is usually able to speak well.

"Master Zhou, Mrs. Zhou, the old woman came to the door rashly. It's really entrusted by people, and now there is a good family in the house. Mrs. Huang smiled.

"What's so good?" The old man knew it, but he pretended not to know, and wanted the other party to say it himself.

"It's all guests, please sit down and speak slowly. Steward Zhou, look at the tea. The eldest lady took over the conversation and sat down on the sofa with the old man in her arms.

"Master Zhou, the third lady in your house is in the boudoir, and now Li Zhiyuan, who is very famous in Jiangcheng, specially asked me to be a matchmaker for his eldest son, Li Shaowen. I don't know what Master Zhou thinks? ”

The old man has been prepared, and his daughter naturally can't keep it when she grows up, and he has been creating opportunities for Zhilan and Li Shaowen, although he is the best son-in-law in his heart, he is still a little melancholy when it comes to marriage.

"Master Zhou, Master Li and your mansion are right at home, Young Master Li and Ling Yuan can be described as talented men and women. I don't know what else you have to worry about? ”

"No! I don't agree with my sister marrying Li Shaowen! When Mu Qing heard this, he never expressed his position easily, and said loudly in a gaffe.

The old man said with a solemn face: "Qing'er, this is not the place for you to interject!" ”

The eldest lady looked at them.

"Daddy!" Mu Qing retorted, "This is my sister's lifelong event, how can I make such a hasty decision?" I have to ask Sister Arashi's opinion! ”

"What a system!" Master Zhou's anger was uncontrollable, "Since ancient times, the words of the matchmaker of the marriage parents, which turn is the turn to ask your juniors' opinions?" Don't give me back yet! ”

Mu Qing was going to say something. Master Zhou glanced at Steward Zhou and said, "This matter has been decided." Lan'er and Li Shaowen are a match made in heaven. In this family, I am the sky, I have made a decision, and I can't change half a minute! Agui, please go back to the room! He is not allowed to come down casually! ”

"What!" Mu Qing felt the world spinning, "Dad, you can't be so rash as to let Lan'er go!" ”

The eldest lady interjected: "Qing'er, Lan'er has already met with Young Master Li in private, presumably it must be Langqing's concubine who wants you and me." What kind of identity do you have? ”

"Brother Qing, you and I, as Lan'er's elder brother, should bless her. The Li family is indeed the right person, Li Shaowen is an upstart in the city, and her sister will not humiliate her when she marries to be a young grandmother. There was such a big movement downstairs, Yuehua also heard it, he walked up to the eldest lady and said.

Yuehua's words hit him hard in the underbelly. Oh, yes! After all, he is only Zhilan's brother, what position does he have to stop her marriage? I'm just her brother, and I can't do anything! I can only see her being sent to Li Shaowen! He strengthened himself, regained his composure with strong willpower, his hands trembled slightly, and his heart was faintly painful and tearing and bleeding!

He couldn't resist and let Steward Zhou "invite" him into the room.

"Since your young lady has a relationship with the young master of the Li family. Then let's talk better, now let's talk about this family affair carefully......" Huang Matchmaker didn't know the situation at first, but now she has a smile on her face.

The old man asked about the situation carefully, and exchanged the birthdays of Zhilan and Shaowen.

Mu Qing went back to the room, poured himself a glass of sobered red wine, and drank it all, I don't know how today's wine was so spicy after so long, he coughed a few times, threw out the wine glass in his hand in annoyance, and smashed it.

The noise in the living room because of his marriage, and the act of smashing the cup in the second brother's room next door, Zhilan was in his ears. Mu Qing still can't fight for her rights and interests, and with her humble words, it is even more difficult to shake the absolute authority of Master Zhou. She couldn't look ahead too much, only action could change her fate, and she decided to give it a try.

"Wait! Dad, I don't agree to this marriage! Ignoring the obstruction of the subordinates, Zhilan rushed down from the upper floor quickly, bringing a decisive gust of wind.

"Who are you to disagree with! For so many years, I have provided you with food and clothing, and now that I have grown up and my wings are hard, do you dare to turn the world upside down at home, and forget your kindness? Let me tell you, I have agreed with Master Li on this matter, you have to marry if you want, and you have to marry if you don't want to, there is no need to discuss. Master Zhou summoned Steward Zhou again, "Please take the young lady back to your room, don't let her come down." ”

Zhilan was full of resentment and had nowhere to complain, just when Steward Zhou came close and said, "No, I will leave by myself!" ”

Undoubted failure. She didn't go to her room and knocked on Mu Qing's door.

Mu Qing sat at the table in dismay, a broken glass with wine stains left on it, as lifeless as his people. Seeing that he was sad, Zhilan was even more sad.

"I'm sorry, Lan'er, you and I don't have the ability. Big brother is right, I don't have this right. Mu Qing said lightly, and he could hear him trying to suppress his injuries.

"I know, I tried. It's ridiculous and sad to say, I can't do anything about my own marriage, I'm just a doll who looks passable, and the marriage with Li Dashao, who is in harmony, is my only useful function. The eldest brother is right in Liyuan Pavilion, my father raised me for nothing more than a good price. Zhilan laughed at herself coldly, so you can't see the form clearly? The most terrible thing is that you can see it thoroughly but can't change it.

Mu Qing came over to hug her through the wine: "I'll take you away, okay?" ”

"Brother, where can we escape?" Running away, this was the first time she had the idea of it, and it was quickly denied by herself. Wherever they fled, they were still brother and sister, and it was impossible for the second brother to live by himself for the rest of his life, and I was afraid that there would be a second sister-in-law in the future...... How could she drag down his life? The point was that she didn't have much money herself, and she knew he was the same.

Zhilan calmed down and thought carefully: "I can't be so selfish, I must not pull you away." You will have your own life and you can't be led astray by me. At present, the ownership of Wande will be yours sooner or later, and you must not just walk away and give up this opportunity in vain. If you think about it carefully, my father is right, he has raised us for so long, and as children, we have to serve the family. Thinking about the crisis of Wande Commercial Bank some time ago, if I can do something for you when I get married, it will not live up to your affection. ”

Mu Qing was stunned: "For me?" ”

"Brother, I'm going to get married sooner or later, and when it comes to this matter, it seems that the only one I can choose is Li Shaowen. The current situation is: Dad Gu Nian Big Brother can't really delegate power to you. Once I promised Li Shaowen, I could make Zhihe not an enemy of us. It will do you good to marry him. For you to resolve an external enemy, you can let go and concentrate on dealing with the affairs of your family, today so passive, still can't you understand the situation? I really hope that you can get Wande, no longer hindered, and be able to do what you want to do. Only you succeeded, and I have some hope. ”

Mu Qing was speechless for a long time, but he didn't expect Zhilan to report the idea of "sacrifice". He slowly spoke: "Lan'er, you have grown up and have your own opinions. But I don't want you to sacrifice for my ideals. Compared to Wande, I want you to be happy, not to use your life as a bargaining chip or a bet, if you can find someone who loves and respects each other, and depends on each other, then I will be content. ”

"Brother. Maybe I'm not sacrificing, maybe I can try to get along with Li Shaowen, he's not an uninteresting man. Zhilan remembered that he promised to bring his feelings and knowledge, "Even if the two of us don't have a relationship now, maybe we can get along after marriage." ”

"You don't understand. How can love be mixed with some intrigue? He has no emotional foundation with you, but he is afraid that your weak emotional causeway will not be able to withstand even a small wind and waves, let alone collapse in an anthill. How do you two be equal, how do you stay together? The more Mu Qing spoke, the more excited she became, and she suddenly stood up and walked up to her and said sadly, "If only I hadn't been your brother!" ”

Mu Qing looked at her with complicated eyes, and Zhilan looked at him with four eyes. Mu Qing finally asked what he wanted to say and stopped: "I ask you, if, I mean if, if I don't have the identity of your brother, will you fall in love with me?" ”

His eyes are compassion, love, sorrow, sadness, resentment, guilt, and self-blame...... Her heartstrings were tugged at hard, and his emotions controlled her, and she found herself complicated with her feelings for him: "I think I will." But this premise does not exist at all, you are the big brother I have trusted since I was a child. ”

Hearing her answer, Mu Qing couldn't help but take her into his arms. His arms were still so warm that he could shelter himself from the wind and rain, and Zhilan involuntarily shrank in.

"Lan'er......" Mu Qing whispered unwillingly. He guided her with his hand, lifted her chin, and couldn't help but want to kiss her.

Zhilan woke up like a dream, pushed him away, and tilted his head to the side.

"You think I'm not as good as Li Shaowen, do you?" Mu Qingsuo's kiss was interrupted and said gloomily.

"Nope." Zhilan broke free from his embrace, turned away from him, and muttered, "You're my brother...... We can't do that, oh my! ”

This sentence pierced his heart hard. Mu Qing's eyes were red, and she couldn't hold back her tears. He slowly hugged Zhilan again, and said to himself: "Lan'er, let me hug you again." Brother will never be again......"

Zhilan couldn't stop snorting, and tears fell from her back.

The Zhou family made an exception and left Huang Matchmaker for a light meal. Mu Qing didn't have much of an appetite. The eldest lady knew Yuehua's heart very well, and specially mentioned at the dinner table that Huang Matchmaker should go to Qi's house to say goodbye. Mrs. Huang didn't expect that there would be another gain on this trip, so she was overjoyed and agreed. The old man thought about it, and it was time for Yuehua to settle down and acquiesce. Yuehua was elated and ate one more bowl of rice than usual.

The old man asked Yuehua to pay the account. Fortunately, Yuehua was prepared and secretly asked his henchman Li Yi to settle the account. He is no longer frightened, and he can cope with it easily. The old man checked it, and there were no major mistakes.

Mrs. Huang was really fast, and the old man quickly received a reply from the Qi family. Originally, the Qi family hesitated, but Mrs. Huang maneuvered around it several times, but the old lady Qi and the old man did not let go. However, the fourth lady Yuchun insisted on agreeing to this family affair for her daughter Qi Shan, so that the old lady and the old man gave in and finally agreed.

Zhilan listened to Mrs. Huang's eloquent narration, but she didn't expect that the sick and crooked Mrs. Yu at the birthday banquet was so resolute, Master Qi is not a person who is easy to compromise and give in!

Yuehua was very happy to achieve her wish, the eldest lady was also relieved, and the old man was also deeply pleased.

The old man asked Steward Zhou to take Mrs. Huang down to receive the reward, and she thanked her and left. For the first time, the old man and the eldest lady sat down to discuss Yuehua's affairs.

After dinner in the evening, Zhilan took the initiative to invite Muqing Garden for a walk.

Mu Qing said with emotion: "I don't know how many opportunities you can still walk with me like this, it's really a matter of fact." ”

Zhilan said: "After I marry into the Li family, you should also consider your life's events." I don't have a suitable person to take care of you, I'm not at ease. ”

"Hmm. I know. Mu Qing said lightly, unlike before, he was not repulsed by this issue, and he was not enthusiastic.

The two of them stopped talking, and walked towards the lake one after the other. Zhilan can't change her habits, and when she sees a stone, she has to step on it. She walked a few steps under her feet, Mu Qing saw her intentions, and hurriedly grabbed her and said, "I want to stand on the stone by the lake again, I have been like this since I was a child." How can I save you several times? ”

"Once I almost fell into the water, you saved me?"

Mu Qing felt speechless, originally he planned to hide this matter deep in his heart, but he said it unintentionally, and he was silent.

"Brother, why don't you tell me directly. For so many years, I have always wanted to find the person who saved me and thank him well. ”

“…… Nothing to say. Mu Qing looked at the lake in the distance, reflecting the bright moonlight, a pool of clear light. Zhilan suddenly felt that his attitude was separated by a thick barrier, and he was no longer as intimate as before. She misses the days when she was unrestrained with Mu Qing. Just now, the two of them could still talk without saying anything...... But there is no solution to the identity problem, if only they were not brother and sister! This thought came to her more than once, and without exception she rejected it: how could such a ridiculous idea be!

Mu Qing stared at her face, bitter. He looked at her infatuatedly. Even though he swore in his heart that he would let go of her and start over. But it's easier said than done, but it's hard to do. He loved her madly, even if he knew that she was his sister and was about to marry Li Shaowen, he didn't lose the slightest. He looked up at the bright moon in the sky, and silently prayed in his heart that he would bury this love deep in his heart and take care of her as a brother until she got married.

His heart was much clearer.