Xia Zhi walked leisurely towards the small kitchen with a bucket of water, and there was a sound of footsteps behind him. Xia Zhi didn't think it would be the servant who turned back to see the joke, she didn't want to be seen by others when she looked embarrassed now. When I looked back, it was Steward Fang standing there.

[Fang Steward? 】 Put down the bucket on the summer solstice.

Steward Fang's gaze moved from the bucket to Xia Zhi, [Madame said please go to the front hall, dinner has been prepared, hurry up.] 】

[Huh? This is not even allowed to enter the main gate, why did he suddenly say that he wanted to eat at the same table, and the first reaction of the summer solstice was that it was not the Hongmen Banquet?

[What are you grinding, hurry up, do you want the old lady to wait for you? ] Steward Fang urged impatiently, paused and said, [Look at your gray face of tossing and turning, remember to change into bright clothes after freshening up, and I like it too. 】

Although Xia Zhi was suspicious, she could only promise to do it, whether it was a mule or a horse that would always pull it out and slip away, she would come to meet the hostess of the Chen family who would embarrass her a lot without meeting for a while.

Xia Zhi, who was redressed and dressed, followed after the Fang Steward, bypassing the west courtyard where Chen Huan lived and came to the main courtyard where the old man and his wife of the Chen family lived. Although it belongs to the same Chen family's mansion, the west courtyard is a natural and elegant style, while the main courtyard gives people a completely different feeling, from the cohesive design of the landscape to the carved railing windows, all of which reveal the simple and atmospheric style. You can judge the character of the people who live in it from the style of architectural decoration you like, but I hope the two of them won't be too difficult to get along with.

When night falls, lanterns lit by the maids are hung high. Steward Fang led Xia Zhi into the front hall and curted his knees, [Old lady, I invited the Xia Solstice girl over. 】

Heh, this is the first time Xia Zhi has heard Steward Fang call her name, obviously it was you and you who spoke before, and I knew what her name was. The summer solstice has to follow suit, otherwise a big hat who doesn't know the number of etiquette will be wronged.

[Since you're here, let's sit down and eat together.] Master Chen, who was in the main seat, spoke, Mrs. Chen had no objection, and Xia Zhi walked to the vacant seat next to Chen Huan and sat down.

Chen Huan briefly introduced the other people present, the main seat was Chen Huan's father, who looked to be in his forties, his clothes were made of fine fabrics, and there were a few white hairs mixed with black hair on his head, although his face inevitably showed traces of time, he could still clearly see the handsome and elegant past, and his attitude was majestic and kind. The half-aged in their thirties next to her are Chen Huan's mother, who is meticulous from hair to makeup, and there is no shortage of headdresses, earrings, jade bracelets, and the posture of a standard hostess of a rich and noble family. On the left sat Chen Huan's eldest brother Chen Heng, he was the only Chen family member who could make Xia Zhi feel enthusiastic, and he greeted her with a smile when he saw her come in, which made her feel inexplicably relieved.

There are maids who come in, and all kinds of dishes are placed on the round table one after another. Xia Zhi, who was already hungry, couldn't help but swallow his saliva when he looked at the delicious food in front of him. I can't take care of the Hongmen banquet anymore, so let's fill my stomach first.

Taking advantage of the gap between serving, Mrs. Chen glanced at Xia Zhi's outfit and said, [You are the person brought back by Ah Huan, and then you can live in our house and serve him wholeheartedly, there is no need to dress up so glamorous and kitsch from time to time. 】

Belch? When Xia Zhi heard this, he glanced at the steward Fang who was standing behind Mrs. Chen, obviously she told her to change into bright clothes, and she dared to set her up here. Steward Fang lowered his head with his hands down, ignoring Xia Zhi's scorching gaze at all.

Xia Zhi catered to the reply, [What Mrs. said is that Xia Solstice remembered. Today is the first time I saw the old lady, thinking that if I wear too plain, it will look bland, so it is better to wear brighter to show respect for the two of them and express the joy in my heart, and I will pay more attention to it in the future. 】

[Sure enough, a small mouth can speak, no wonder Ah Huan can be fascinated like this. It's just that don't always talk about it, but secretly it is yang and yin, and the Chen family can't tolerate such a goblin disaster. Mrs. Chen answered, and her dissatisfaction was overflowing, [Originally, you were not qualified to eat at the table with such an identity, but Ah Huan insisted that I turn a blind eye. But you are from the countryside, and you are still the kind of place that cannot see the light, in the future, I will let Steward Fang teach you the rules, so as not to lose the face of my Chen family. Mrs. Chen is still unrelentingly entangled, as if she is not completely able to gain the upper hand and refuses to give up.

The summer solstice is nameless, is this to ask her to come to dinner, or to specially ask her to speak. But he had to forcibly hold it down, and the outbreak at this time would definitely be detrimental to himself.

[Okay, let's say a few words, let's eat.] When Mr. Chen spoke, Mrs. Chen wanted to say something, but she finally stopped the artillery attack. Xia Zhi was overjoyed in his heart, and he could finally end this unwarranted disaster and eat with peace of mind.

However, Xia at least counted one step, because of the previous water, the palms of his hands were red and swollen by hemp rope. At first, I thought it was nothing, but now when I pick up a small object like chopsticks, I realize that my hands are shaking badly. Finally, Mrs. Chen stopped the offensive, if the food was not clamped and was taught not to understand the rules or something, the gains outweighed the losses, so the whole meal was tasted lightly, and it was enough to fill the stomach a little.

After the meal, Mrs. Chen took Chen Heng's hand and chatted on the side, saying that she had lost weight and hunger in the past few days, so she asked the kitchen to prepare more medicinal meals to nourish the body. Chen Huan and Xia Zhi were on their side. After chatting for a while, Mrs. Chen saw that Xia Zhi was still there, and probably felt that she was an eyesore and affected her good mood to enjoy the joy of family, so she said, [You go back to rest first, I will talk to Ah Heng and them for a while. 】

Xia Zhi couldn't ask for it, so after getting up and saluting, he couldn't wait to follow Steward Fang back to the West Courtyard.

The two maids were carrying lanterns in front of them, the steward was walking in the middle, and the summer solstice was behind the palace, feeling like a little follower. Back at the Lane Bamboo Garden, the lanterns had already been lit here, and the lights were swaying and the porcelain bells were ringing, as if to welcome her back.

Steward Fang said, [It's too late to arrange for the maid to come over tonight, and Madame will make plans tomorrow. Then go to bed early. After saying these words routinely, Steward Fang left with two maids, leaving only Xia Zhi alone.

Xia Zhi, who had no one to talk to, was bored and looked at the night and read a book for a while, and not long after lying down, his stomach rumbled again. But no, this place also has to drink tea and fetch water by yourself, and if you want to eat supper, it's a fantasy to eat, so you can only comfort yourself, it's good to fall asleep, and you don't know if you're hungry when you fall asleep.

Xia Zhi hypnotized himself while recalling various delicacies, and in a daze, he heard someone push the door in. Xia Zhi was frightened, could it be that Mrs. Chen still had a trick to toss her in the middle of the night?