Qingcheng County is the main traffic artery connecting the north and south of Xirui, and the gray gate is tall and heavy, and it feels like it is old at a glance.

If you don't go to Pingliang County, you don't know that there are so many shops on both sides of the street; If you don't go to Qingcheng County, how do you know that just a city gate can shock people to this point.

After coming here for more than a year, the comfortable life has made my heart as short-sighted as my vision, and it seems that it is not possible to make a difference, not to walk around and increase my knowledge.

Mai Xiaohuan let go of the distracting thoughts in his heart and enjoyed the prosperous and prosperous scene of Qingcheng County.

When I was in Pingliang County, the tallest building was the two-story building of Fuyun Building, and there were two-storey shops everywhere in Qingcheng County, and there were even three-story shops on the street, which were very densely arranged together.

There are almost no vendors carrying burdens and setting up stalls on the main road, and patrolling soldiers shuttle through the streets, and the people and merchants are orderly despite the large number of people.

As the horse-drawn carriage turns around the main street, the cries of small vendors, the bargaining of buyers and sellers, and the greetings and laughter of pedestrians reach the ears, forming a lively picture of the market.

At a fork in the road, Tang Yujun said goodbye to Qu Hao and the Mai sisters, and he invited Mai Xiaofang to the Tang family as a guest. The latter's head shook like a rattle. To be honest, Mai Xiaofang felt a little regretful and nervous as soon as she entered Qingcheng County, and she now wanted to turn around and go back to Shaxi Village.

"My grandmother and mother are very kind, and I will definitely treat you well, go, go!"

Mai Xiaofang still shook her head, she held her sister's hand tightly, and desperately endured it so that she didn't say that she wanted to go home.

Mai Xiaohuan stroked the stiff back of the second sister with her hand, the prosperity of Qingcheng County had long been expected by her, what she was worried about now was whether the Qu family would welcome her? Isn't it a bit too hasty to make this decision to come to Qingcheng County?

There are two weeping willows planted in front of the gate of Qufu, two stone lions on the left and one on the right stand quietly, on the top of the three steps is the gate of vermilion lacquer, and the three words of "County Shoufu" like a dragon are hung directly above the gate.

Hearing the sound of the carriage, a family member had already come to greet him, and the porter trotted inside to report.

"This is my sister Xiaohuan, and she will be the third lady in our house in the future." Qu Hao introduced Mai Xiaohuan's identity to the people who gathered around. Mai Xiaofang was frightened and hid behind her sister, only daring to look secretly.

"Hello everyone, my name is Mai Xiaohuan, this is my sister Mai Xiaofang, we are new here, if there is anything wrong or bad, please bear with me."

"Where? Where? The minions have seen the third lady. ”

Mai Xiaohuan smiled and nodded at the crowd, she couldn't embarrass Brother Qu at this time, and Qu Hao was also very satisfied with her reaction. is neither humble nor arrogant, calm and calm, looks no different from those little girls in Qingcheng County, if the expression is more natural, if the shelf is more sufficient, it will be more like a young lady from a big family.

Qufu has a front yard alone that is bigger than Mai Xiaohuan's house, entering the gate, stepping down the stone steps, and walking on a straight road paved with bluestone slabs leading to the front hall, Mai Xiaofang suddenly felt that he couldn't walk anymore, and he didn't know whether it was better to step with his left foot first, or to lift his right foot first.

Bypassing the antechamber, you will find a garden with a weeping flower door, but unfortunately it is already the end of October, and the best flowering period has been missed, and only scattered flowers can be seen, most of the branches have become bare.

Qu Hao found the housekeeper and asked her to assign two handy, careful maids to the two sisters, take them to freshen up, and then go to see their parents after a short rest.

Mai Xiaohuan nodded obediently, said goodbye to Qu Hao, and followed the maid to the room specially prepared for the two of them.

Soaking in the bathtub with the wafting aroma, Mai Xiaofang breathed a sigh of relief, she discussed with her sister while taking a bath whether she could stay for a while, and she didn't have to go to see Qu Hao's parents!

"What do you say! If you don't see it today, can you hide tomorrow? ”

Mai Xiaofang slapped the water boringly, she regretted more and more that she followed her sister to Qingcheng County, she didn't stay at ease in Shaxi Village, especially after entering Qufu, she had to be careful to breathe, so tiring!

Mai Xiaohuan leaned on the bucket to persuade Mai Xiaofang: "Second sister, are you willing to stay in Shaxi Village for the rest of your life?" I don't want to see what the outside world is like; I don't want to gain more knowledge; I don't want to take my parents around; Don't you want to stay away from grandma and auntie? ”

I think, but ...... How could it be possible to do it on the conditions of your own home!

"I will definitely find a way to change the status quo of our family, and then we will leave Shaxi Village, I have a headache when I think of my grandmother and aunt."

Mai Xiaofang nodded in agreement, she didn't like grandma and aunt either.

"If you want to change the status quo, you must first change yourself, change your concept, meet the challenge, if you don't even dare to see the living, what should you do if you encounter greater problems and more difficult things in the future, or retreat? In that case, don't want to do a big thing in your life, and you can only stay in Shaxi Village in this life and this life. ”

Although she didn't understand her sister's words too much, Mai Xiaofang still understood the general meaning, she was also a person who refused to admit defeat, after thinking about it carefully, she nodded firmly, and she regarded meeting Qu Hao's parents as a test for herself.

The sisters freshened up and rested for a while, and the maid came to report that Qu Hao was already waiting in the living room outside.

Qu Hao's parents sat on the main seat in the living room, and Mai Xiaohuan kowtowed to Qu Zhiyi and Lin under the guidance of Qu Hao, and also changed his name to his father-in-law.

Lin took a pair of jade bracelets from the maid's hand, put them on Mai Xiaohuan's wrist, and gave Mai Xiaofang a pair of gold earrings as a meeting gift.

Qu Zhiyi gave Mai Xiaohuan a set of pen and ink, and when he saw Mai Xiaohuan looking up in surprise, his always serious face also showed a faint smile. Literati like children who love to read, and the joy and brilliance in Mai Xiaohuan's eyes cannot be disguised.

During the meal, Qu Zhiyi asked about Shaxi Village and Pingliang County, he just wanted to find a topic, and he didn't want the Mai sisters to feel left out. But I didn't expect Mai Xiaohuan to deal with it very decently, and what she didn't know, she told the couple frankly that she really didn't understand.

At this moment, even the Lin family was impressed by her, and she asked the Mai family sisters if they had rushed to the temple fair and went to the temple? Mai Xiaohuan shook her head, she has always been sick and crooked, and she has never even been to Pingliang County a few times. Mai Xiaofang said that she went to the temple with her mother a few years ago, but she had never visited the temple fair.

Lin suddenly found something to do, she asked the people around her to calculate when the next temple fair would be, and planned to take the two girls to go shopping.

After the mother-in-law calculated, she came to report that there were five more days to catch the temple fair, and the Lin family invited the sisters to go together at that time, and Mai Xiaohuan thought that she would be able to go home after staying here for two or three days! Outcome...... Forget it, if you come to it, you will be safe, Qu Hao's parents are willing to keep themselves is better than being disliked by others, isn't it?

In the evening, Qu Hao taught her to read and read in the small living room outside Mai Xiaohuan's residence, and finally under Mai Xiaohuan's repeated urging, Qu Hao was willing to leave. Teaching such students is too fulfilling, and the learning content that takes others to take a long time to comprehend can be understood by Mai Xiaohuan as long as they explain it twice. Even Qu Hao wondered how Mai Xiaohuan's mind was long, he reacted too quickly and was too smart!

Mai Xiaohuan can't help it! The opportunity is rare, she can only take advantage of Qu Hao's teaching herself to study in the past few days, come to a quick course, and lay a foundation for the future.

"It would be good if I didn't take the exam next autumn, you lived here for a year or two, and you didn't dare to guarantee that the eldest brother would at least be able to recognize the words." Qu Hao said regretfully, he really wanted to help Mai Xiaohuan realize his desire to study, but he still had to prepare for next year's autumn exam, and he had more than enough heart but not enough strength!

"I'm already very content, if it weren't for Brother Qu, I wouldn't even know these words, Brother Qu wholeheartedly prepared for the autumn exam is a serious matter, don't worry about me, as long as I learn the beginning, I won't give up easily, as the sister of the future champion, I can't embarrass my brother."

"Okay, then our brother and sister will work together, and when I finish the exam, I will check your learning results!"

Mai Xiaohuan nodded solemnly, he wanted to work hard, not only to realize his personal dreams, but also to let the whole family live the life of their dreams.

The next day, because he wanted to worship the Buddha, Lin sent the big girl Su Yun to take the two little girls out for a walk, they went to the teahouse to listen to the play, watched the juggling, and tasted the snacks of Qingcheng County, but rejected Su Yun's proposal to take the two of them into the embroidery workshop to buy clothes.

My sisters have troubled the Qu family enough, and the clothes on their bodies have only been made for a long time, and no matter how much silk and satin there is, it is useless, can they still wear silk to work and cook when they go home?

In the evening, Sister Mai Xiaohuan cooked by herself, borrowed the rice noodles, meat and eggs of the Qu family, and made a sumptuous meal.

Looking at the exquisite dishes in front of her, Lin couldn't believe his eyes, if Su Yun hadn't assured her that he had seen it with his own eyes, Qu Zhiyi and Lin wouldn't have believed what they said.

Qu Hao also vouched for his sister with his reputation, and he also admitted that he also recognized this sister because of Mai Xiaohuan's ability and motivation. Qu Zhiyi cast an appreciative look at his son, his son's vision is good, and he is worthy of praise.

The next day, Qu Hao taught Mai Xiaohuan to read and write, Mai Xiaofang took the two maids to the garden to collect some flower seeds, and the two little maids also liked the hearty Mai Xiaofang, and gave her some of the flower seeds they had accumulated before.

"Xiaofang, why are you alone in the garden, have these minions bullied you?" Tang Yujun changed into a brand-new royal blue robe, looking very energetic, but it was difficult to hide the aggressive momentum on his body.

Seeing him coming, the little maid was scared away, and the angry Mai Xiaofang chased him around, saying that it was strange, Tang Yujun, who had always been not afraid of heaven and earth, saw that Mai Xiaofang was only chased and beaten, he never thought of resisting or angrily scolding Mai Xiaofang, he really responded to that sentence, brine and tofu are one thing and one thing is down.