Let's say that Ruan Jiao was recognized as a goddaughter by the county and his wife, and sighed in his heart, thinking that his life would be better in the future. Therefore, I lived in Huangfu for a few days, making rouge cream, teaching Mrs. Huang makeup, and chatting and shopping in my spare time.

On this day, Ruan Jiao was pounding the peony fragrant leaves soaked in honey water in the house, and suddenly saw Mrs. Huang's little girl, Ming'er, holding a bird's nest and smiling into the room.

Ruan Jiao hurriedly got up and took the bowl in her hand, smiling and thanking her.

"Miss Ruan, you're polite, this is what a slave should do." Ming'er said with a smile: "Madame is busy cooking dinner in the kitchen herself, let me send a bird's nest to the girl first, I'm afraid it will take a while for dinner." ”

"Madame, she, cook herself?" Ruan Jiao asked curiously.

Ming'er nodded: "That's not the case, I usually cook, but I only cook one or two dishes that my lord likes to eat, today is different, she makes this dish alone, congratulations to the master for his promotion." ”

"Master, he's been promoted?" Ruan Jiao tugged at her sleeve and asked urgently.

"Not so! The court issued an order, because the lord has been in office for three years, has been well governed, and has won the hearts of the people, so he has been promoted to three levels in a row and transferred to Jiangsu to serve as the assassin. Ming'er smiled proudly.

"Oh, oh, congratulations to the lord and the lady." Ruan Jiao said with a smile.

Ming'er was leaving, Ruan Jiao followed: "Sister, since it's such a good thing, I'm bothering my sister to take me to the kitchen to see Mrs., and let me congratulate me in person." ”

"My stupid sister-in-law, my godmother is trying to come over and call you, come to me, your godfather was called to socialize, only our mother and sister are left, this good big table of dishes is finished, he just left, it's really unpleasant, let's eat, just leave a bowl of duck wing porridge for him to make supper." Mrs. Huang came over and took Ruan Jiao's hand and smiled.

Ruan Jiao hurriedly gave a salute and congratulated the master on his ascension.

Mrs. Huang smiled and hated her politely, but she took her hand and came to the restaurant, after the meal, the girls offered mouthwash tea, Ruan Jiao naturally rinsed her mouth, returned the teacup to the girl, and did not forget to say thank you.

Mrs. Huang's face was surprised, her eyes became more and more puzzled, and her mouth opened a few times, but she didn't make a sound.

"When do you and Madame plan to leave? Ruan Jiao might help Madame? Ruan Jiaoyin asked.

Mrs. Huang returned to her usual color and said with a smile: "Jiao'er, some time ago, the godmother has sent someone to the Gu family with the post to invite the old lady Gu and the uncle of the Gu family to come to the house as guests, by the way, I asked them if they are willing to let you recognize us as godparents, and they replied that they are all willing, in this case, I want to ask you, are you willing to follow the master to Jiangsu?" ”

When Ruan Jiao heard this, she didn't know how to answer for a while.

If you speak from the heart, since the death of her father, these days have been the most lively days she has lived, and she is not willing to follow the master and his wife to take office.

But if you really want to leave, there is always a concern in your heart that you can't let go.

One is because Mrs. said before that the eldest lady of the Gu family is a Beijing official, although he has nothing to do with the master, he is always a colleague, and he always has to take care of face, and it is not good to take people away like this.

Second, Ruan Jiao also remembered Gu Ming's name in her heart, and in the past three years of coming to Gu's house, thanks to his secret care, she has lived quite comfortably. She was very grateful for his friendship with her.

This coldness made her leave like this, and she was really reluctant.

Mrs. Huang saw that she hesitated and didn't answer, so she smiled again: "Good boy, I know that you are afraid of causing trouble to the master and me, so let's do it, I am secretly telling you that the godmother has a shop that sells rouge gouache in the county, saying that it is doing business, but in fact, it is just my selfishness, just to be able to use the new rouge gouache everywhere at any time without attracting people's attention, and causing trouble to the master." Now it's my wife and a little maid watching, they all want to go with me, how about leaving this shop to you to take care of? ”

As he spoke, he took out a deed from his sleeve and pushed it in front of Ruan Jiao, and asked her to accept it with a smile.

"How can this be! Godmother, I can't help it, how can Ruan Jiao dare to accept such a generous gift from my godmother! Ruan Jiao hurriedly knelt down to give a salute and excused herself again and again.

Mrs. Huang pulled her up, hugged her into her arms, shed tears, and choked up: "Jiao'er, I like you very much in my heart, I really want to take you with me, but you know, the bigger this official does, the closer the connection with the capital, although the eldest master of the Gu family is only a six-grade privy secretary, but he is a close minister of the official family, and he is in charge of the affairs of the officials. Master, he can't afford to offend. ”

"Godmother, my lord and your heart for Ruan Jiao, Ruan Jiao understands, you just have to set off for the post, if it is fate, your daughter should visit herself to fulfill her filial piety." Ruan Jiao lay in her arms and couldn't help crying.

Let's say that the mother and son have been talking for a long time, and Mrs. Huang personally sent her back to the room, served her to sleep, and then blew the lamp and left.

Back in the bedroom, Master Huang had already come back, was half-lying on the bed reading a book, saw her come in, put down the book, got up and sat on the stool in front of the dresser with her arm, and stood behind her to rub her shoulders.

Because he saw that her eyes were pink and smooth, slightly red silk, and knew that she had cried, he sighed and said: "Min'er, this is nothing to do, you just relax, we will leave some property for her, so that she will not suffer anymore." ”

With his words, Mrs. cried again, picked up a handkerchief to wipe her tears, and choked up: "Master, this child must be uneasy in the Gu family, I really want to take her away, our two daughters are not close to the capital, it is so easy to meet such a child who knows books and gifts, knows cold and hot, but can't be the master, how can you let me let go of my heart!" ”

Huang Yun hugged his wife from behind and smiled bitterly: "Don't worry, madam, work harder for your husband, two years at most, end your foreign appointment, go back to the capital to take up your post, and then our family will be reunited." ”

Mrs. Huang looked up at him: "Master, there is something that is not strange, I am worried that Jiao'er didn't tell us the truth." ”

Huang Yun lowered his head to look at her, reached out and tucked the hair on her face behind her ears, and said with a smile: "What's the matter?" ”

"After dinner tonight, the tea is served by Qing'er, the girl is dizzy, mistakenly thinking that you are at home, serving mouthwash tea, you know that in the past three years in Michigan, my habit of gargling after meals has changed, but you haven't changed. But Jiao'er, the kid didn't even ask, so she naturally took it and rinsed her mouth, don't you say it's strange? It's that you don't believe me, I guessed right, look at her appearance and figure, her life experience is by no means as ordinary as she said. Mrs. Huang said.

Huang Yun was stunned, stretched out his hand to twist his beard, and nodded slightly: "If this is the case, there is indeed something strange, if it is really a rich family in the countryside here, there will be no habit of rinsing one's mouth after meals at home." The habit here is to drink tea after meals, and only the official eunuchs in the capital have the habit of rinsing their mouths after meals. ”

"Not so! However, we have also lived in the capital for many years, and we have been here for three years, and I have not heard of any court officials surnamed Ruan returning to the township. Mrs. Huang said.

Huang Yun smiled and said: "Madam, Xu is just used to doing business in the capital, so he has learned some habits, everyone has already passed away, so why bother to pursue it, besides, this girl has been living in the Gu family since she was a few years old, and her parents didn't have time to tell her about these things, so there is really no need to think about it." ”

Mrs. Huang pursed her lips and burst into tears: "Master, then you have to promise me that you will return to the capital in three years at most, and when the time comes, you will join Gu Pingzhi and let me take Jiao'er to my side." I fell in love with that child, and felt that she was the little third child I left early, and if the little third child was alive, she would be so old. ”

"Okay, good, according to you, all according to you, just go to bed in wide clothes?" Huang Yun made a compilation, smiled, and saw that it aroused his wife's sadness, and hurriedly said a few boudoir jokes to make her happy.

Mrs. Huang was shy when she heard this, blushed, and took a few mouthfuls before taking off her hairpin and wide clothes.

There was nothing to say all night, and early the next morning, Ruan Jiao packed up her things and came over to say goodbye.

But the lady refused to let her go back, but left her to stay for another two days, some of which were not, and gave her two large boxes full of things, and then personally sent her home.

On the car back, Mrs. took out the deed again, stuffed it to her, and said with a smile: "Jiao'er, you just have to take it, although you don't necessarily have to open the shop, but you have a little industry, it's always good, and if there is anything, just write to me and tell the master, even if it is far away, there is a way to instruct the county lord here to help." ”

Ruan Jiao rested her head on her shoulder, trying to hold back her tears.

"Jiao'er, I fell in love with you at first sight, really when you are my biological daughter, and somehow, I am reluctant to part with you, but there is no way, you are patient for two years, not me bragging, now the master's career is smooth, this is just to add some qualifications after returning to Beijing, Bo a better place. In two years at most, we will have to return to Beijing, and then I will arrange someone to pick you up and live with us. Mrs. Huang swore to her.

When Ruan Jiao heard this, she only cared about tears, but she couldn't say a word.

While the two were talking, the carriage galloped all the way, and stopped in front of Gu's house an hour later.

Four or five horseback riders got off their horses, shouting and carrying things, and six more girls got out of the car first, beat the curtain, and helped the lady and the lady to get out of the car.

The Gu family had already prepared, and the old lady led everyone at the door with a smiling face and bowed down to greet her.

Mrs. Huang got out of the car, and the old lady wanted to kneel down to give a salute, but she was held up by the girls, and then said with a smile: "Mrs. Gu is polite, Mrs. Ben snatched love with a knife and recognized a goddaughter, it was a big crime, should I accompany the old lady." ”

"Madame's words are serious, and it is her blessing to be able to get Mrs. pity, and it is also the honor of our family." Old Lady Gu hurriedly flattered.

The two talked in official words and entered the courtyard.

Mrs. Huang and Mrs. Gu sat in the front hall for a while, ate tea, and said that they wanted to see where the young lady lived. and nasty things.

The old lady was humble and personally led her to the house where her aunt and grandmother lived.

Ruan Jiao followed in to take a look, and couldn't help but be surprised, she had only been back for more than ten days, and this place was so new that people didn't recognize it.