This year, the quiet and rich past of the two Ouxia families is much better than last year's sadness. Xia Ruixi has his own small family, there are relatively few things to worry about, and he doesn't need to work as hard as last year, so he only went back to the old house on the 30th to have a reunion dinner, returned home that night to keep the New Year, gave red envelopes to the servants at home, and slept until three o'clock in the morning before getting up on the second day.

Early in the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, she and Ou Qingjin took Da'er back to her parents' house, where they saw Xia Ruibei, dressed in green clothes, without fat powder, and with only a silver hairpin on her head.

Xia Ruibei was only taken home on the 29th of the lunar month. When she came back, she only brought Fang'er a girl with her, and Xia Ruixi gave her a few clothes and a few simple silver jewelry. The rest of the things, whether it was her dowry or not or not, were left in the courtyard that Zhao Mingtao bought for her.

Every grass, tree, brick and tile in that courtyard has since become a thing of the imperial court, and it has nothing to do with her. Now she is free, but she is alone, penniless, and has no future, and she can't even support herself.

She lived in the farthest corner of the courtyard of the Xia family, only Fang'er served alone, and after she came back, she only had three dinners with Old Master Xia and his wife, Xia Ruiyu, Chinese New Year's Eve, and the first day of the new year, and the rest of the time, she was tired in her room, either reading scriptures or doing needlework, very quiet.

Mr. and Mrs. Xia did not force her, they greeted her when they came, and they didn't force it if they didn't come, there were too many things that happened before, and that kind of intimate relationship could not be repaired casually. Only Xia Ruiyu always ran to him every now and then, and he was full of sandalwood fragrance.

Probably because she can't have another child, Xia Ruibei shows extraordinary patience and enthusiasm for Da'er. Da'er didn't recognize him very well, and soon led the little aunt who was carrying a pair of bright tiger shoes in front of him, peeling oranges for him to eat, and hiding and hiding with him, smiling and squinting.

Because it snowed for a few days, it was a good time to scatter the grain and support a basket to catch birds, Xia Ruibei and Xia Ruiyu took Da'er to the garden to catch birds and play.

Ou Qingjin and Master Xia went to the study to play chess, Xia Ruixi and Mrs. Xia sat on the kang and gossiped: "Beibei has been like this for the past few days? Or do you like to read the scriptures? Chanting every day? ”

Mrs. Xia said, "Well, I didn't care about her either. Your father and I are old, and I can't care about her other affairs, as long as she lives in peace, her food and clothing are indispensable. I'm just worried that if Rui Yu marries a wife in the future, if I don't get along, I can say that if I die, the family will be in trouble again. She must have had a very hard time. ”

Xia Ruixi smiled: "If that's the case, let her go with me." So can you rest assured? "No matter how Xia Ruibei hurts the heart of the second elder, in the end, she is her own daughter, her blood is thicker than water, and she can't let go of anything.

Her words were in Mrs. Xia's arms, and she got her assurance, so Mrs. Xia put down Xia Ruibei's matter, and happily told her about Xia Ruinan: "The letter I received on the twenty-ninth said that everything was safe, and she gave birth to a big fat boy, and your brother-in-law also got the attention of the Tokyo garrison, and when the world was peaceful, they would come back to visit relatives." On the twenty-ninth day, I was so happy, double happiness. ”

Xia Ruixi said happily: "My sister gave birth to a son again? I'm going to have to prepare some gifts for people to send to Tokyo. Can you tell the samurai about this happy event? ”

Mrs. Xia said: "That's her serious home, how can she not tell it?" Speaking of which, I learned that Mrs. Wu has been sick for a long time, and I heard that she can't get out of bed, so you can go with me to see her another day. It also saves your brother-in-law when he comes back, and he feels uncomfortable. You don't know, the Wu family is poor now, and they have a lot of furniture, and the girl and mother-in-law next to Mrs. Wu have sold a large piece. ”

Xia Ruixi was about to respond, Xia Ruixi brought in a cage of sparrows he had just caught, put down the cage, and said unhappily: "See what she does?" When our family was like that, don't let people come and ask, she walked around when she met us on the street. The most annoying thing is that when you went to the temple to burn incense and pray for your father's blessing, she met you in person and pretended not to know you. Why isn't she afraid that her sister will feel uncomfortable when she comes back? According to me, this is retribution! This kind of old woman deserves her to die of illness and poverty to relieve the hatred in my heart. ”

Xia Ruibei hugged Da'er and then came in, listening to Xia Ruiyu's words, her face turned pale, her eyes darkened, and then she smiled, sat by the birdcage with Da'er in her arms, and caught millet to teach Da'er to feed the sparrows. Is her current miserable state also retribution?

Mrs. Xia scolded Xia Ruiyu: "Do you think she did a good job?" Since you don't do well, you still have to do the same thing as her, isn't it exactly the same as her? What she does is her business, and what we do is ours. She is also your sister's mother-in-law after all, and she is also your elder, and you don't like it and shouldn't scold her like this. ”

Xia Ruiyu smiled and said, "I understand." What do you mean is that she is my sister's mother-in-law, and it's not your life-or-death business, let's go, first, we can shame her, and second, we can earn a reputation for our family, give my sister a long prestige, and make my brother-in-law feel comfortable, and turn better for my sister. Then remember to wear the best clothes, wear the best jewelry, and give generous gifts! ”

Mrs. Xia couldn't laugh or cry at what he said, so she grabbed a red orange on the kang table and threw it at him: "I heard this kind of thing, your nephew is sitting next to him, and he is not afraid of teaching the child badly." ”

"He's too young to understand. But when he grows up, I'm going to teach him the same way. Xia Rui caught the orange flexibly, then peeled it off and fed it to his mouth, and said with a hippie smile: "Xie Niang's reward, what a sweet orange." As he spoke, he broke half of it and handed it to Xia Ruibei: "Third sister, you can also taste it, it's so sweet." ”

Xia Ruibei was about to excuse herself, but she forcibly stuffed a petal in her mouth.

Xia Ruiyu tilted his head to look at her and smiled: "Sweet or not?" ”

Xia Ruibei said softly: "Sweet, very sweet......"

Xia Ruiyu said: "I remember that you love to eat Huanghua's oranges, and you didn't buy them this year." In the future, when it is too peaceful, I will buy it for you to eat. As he spoke, he tore open a petal of orange and fed it to Da'er, and the two adults and the other laughed and laughed.

Xia Ruixi looked at this situation and smiled at Mrs. Xia. Mrs. Xia was worried that after she died, Xia Ruibei's life would be sad. Now it seems that as long as Xia Ruibei is in one day, Xia Ruibei's life will not be sad.

Xia Ruiyu is growing rapidly.

When they went home in the evening, Xia Ruixi and Ou Qingjin talked about it and said with a smile: "Ruiyu learned a lot from Mu Fei." It's still playful, but it looks accessible, so I'm relieved. ”

Ou Qing said solemnly: "Why is it all taught by Mu Fei?" How long has he been following Mu Fei? He's been with his father and mother, and I've been with me for the longest time, okay? There are a lot of people who I taught him. ”

Xia Ruixi coughed lowly: "Yes, your second brother-in-law has the greatest credit." Mu Fei just taught him some hand and foot kung fu, didn't he? Since that day she said that the transportation method of wrapping fish in a wet cloth was taught to her by Mu Fei, Ou Qingjin couldn't listen to her say good things about Mu Fei.

Ou Qing was bored for a while, he also felt funny, shook his head and said: "Mu Fei, this guy, said that he was coming back at the end of the year, and this year has passed, why don't you see his figure?" ”

Xia Ruixi tilted his head and said, "Maybe he'll be back in two days." Ou Qingjin sighed: "It's been a long time since I've talked with him all night, so I've had a good drink." We always annoyed him to do things, but he never complained, and it was a blessing of his life to make this friend. ”

"Hmph, the blessing of a lifetime, that's for you. For me, it's a lifetime of trouble! Outside the carriage, a voice suddenly remembered after a long absence.

Ou Qingjin happily lifted the curtain, and saw Mu Fei Hangerlang, dressed in brocade, sitting on the wheel, squinting at the two of them and smiling.

"Are you rich?" Xia Ruixi pointed to the maroon brocade robe on his body and smiled. It's rare to see him dressed like this, and I have the impression that he has always been dressed in a white-washed blue cloth or gray cloth.

Mu Fei sat in the car and reached out to touch the hosta on his head: "You only saw the clothes on my body, but you didn't see the hosta on my head." That's what it's worth. ”

Ou Qingjin took the hosta from his head and looked at it in the light of the lantern: "Well, yes, it's about worth two hundred taels of silver." Are you willing to buy this thing, are you really rich? ”

Mu Fei said: "Now you are making a fortune. In a blink of an eye, he saw Liang'er covering his mouth and snickering, so he said, "Liang'er, what are you laughing at?" Wait for you to cry later! ”

Liang'er disagreed: "Mu Gongzi, don't worry!" During the Chinese New Year, the slaves and maids will not cry. ”

Mu Fei said excitedly: "That's good! Xiao Liang'er, how much money do you have in deposit? ”

He had always had no fight, and Liang'er was much bolder in front of him, so he rolled his eyes: 'What does it matter how much money I have to do with whether I cry or not?' "It's related, it's too big!" Mu Fei's eyes glanced at Xia Ruixi: "What about you, how many private rooms do you have?" ”

Xia Ruixi glanced at him: "Since it's a private room, I naturally won't tell you." ”

"Yes." Mu Fei touched his head, "I made a bet with you, I must make you two cry tonight, I bet a thousand taels of silver, what about you?" Think for yourself. ”

Xia Ruixi was about to speak, he stretched out a finger and nodded on Da'er's head: "It can't be less than one thousand taels." I don't have the money to pay my godson for the New Year. ”

Ou Qing pressed his finger down: "Say what you have quickly, don't pretend to be a ghost." Are you short of money? Who returned the 20,000 taels of gold given by others intact? is so generous, but to squeeze the poor. ”

Mu Fei exaggeratedly shouted: "You are poor? This is just deceiving others. Can't fool me, bet or not? Don't regret not betting, I'm leaving! ”

Xia Ruixi and Liang'er were tickled by him: "Okay, let's bet." If we hadn't cried, you wouldn't have to pay the bill! Get your money out first! ”

Mu Fei smiled: "It won't be without you." I bet you're going to cry, and you're going to cry! ”