Zhuang Pu was whipped by his father, and the flesh and skin injuries on his back were quite serious, and he lay on his stomach for three or four days. On this day, Xianglian came back from outside and said that the old lady came to sweep the dust and visit.

Zhuang Pu counted the day, it should be the twenty-fourth, isn't it the old practice in the house? Therefore, he wanted to take advantage of the busy people in the house and sneak out by himself, so that he could inquire about Mr. Guan and Ayu. But Xianglian saw that the injuries on his body were not healed, so he didn't give it up. Zhuang Pu was annoyed, mixed his tongue and scolded Xianglian, and then smashed the tea bowl and was angry.

Coincidentally, these movements were heard by people outside, and the little girl who was happy to invite the merit reported to the county lord's big girl Baozhu. Baozhu heard this, and hurriedly told the county lord.

The county lord went to Zhuang Pu Courtyard at this time. When he went to Zhuang Puli Courtyard, he took Xianglian to the hall first, and regardless of whether Xianglian had a face or not, he scolded Tongton fiercely, roughly saying that Xianglian is now more and more unable to serve people. Xianglian was aggrieved, knelt down by herself, shed tears, and confessed her guilt and was punished. That Zhuang Pu listened to the county lord scolding Xianglian inside, and he didn't know whether he was angry or willful, so he just shouted: "Get out!" Get them all out! It's all out and it's clean! ”

Therefore, Xianglian burst into tears, her heart was full of grievances, she couldn't hold back her breath, and she began to cry. The county lord couldn't bear it anymore when he saw Xianglian like this, so he said to Zhuang Pu in the house: "You are becoming more and more disagreeable." The old man is not small, and he doesn't let the family worry in the house. Saying that, he went inside again, pointed at Zhuang Pu and said, "Okay, what are you doing when you fall here?" ”

Zhuang Pu turned his head to look at the fragments under the kang, and snorted, his whole face full of sloppy and evil spirit.

The county lord couldn't help him, so he called Xianglian in and asked, "How is your second master's injury in the past two days?" ”

Xianglian came in, wiped her tears and replied that the hematoma had disappeared a little, but she was restless when she moved a little, and she had to shed some blood. When the county lord heard this, he was surprised and said, "What if the medicine Beizi brought is useless?" That medicine is a good medicine for wounds, and after a day or two, the wound will have a new skin, so how can it still bleed? ”

As everyone knows, Zhuang Pu recently ignored the people in the house to steal gold paper and get drunk, the wine was strong, and a lot of heat was trapped in the body, and he lay on his side all day long, less exercise, and the wine could not volatilize, and over time it condensed inside, and mold on the wound, so it was inevitable that he would be swollen, hot and bleeding. Xianglian didn't dare to say this, but said, "Maybe I'll smear less." I'll add some more. ”

The county lord snorted, and didn't pursue anything. At the end, the county lord sat down on the edge of the kang, gently lifted the quilt, and looked at Zhuang Pu's injury, only to see that his back, mottled whip marks, were clearer and thicker than before, red and black. She was full of pain, and sighed: "This time the long memory is not long? Does it hurt? ”

Zhuang Pu didn't answer, and his two eyes rolled to the Tianling Gai.

After a while, the county lord covered him with a quilt and said, "I'll go to your sister in a while, if you are better, go with you." After a few days of not showing her face, it would be bad for the old lady to ask again. ”

When Zhuang Pu heard this, he suddenly turned sideways, and because it was too violent, he rubbed the wound, and he screamed. The county lord and others came to open the quilt for him in distress and wanted to visit, but he changed his appearance again and seemed to be getting better.

Zhuang Puhu grimaced and said angrily: "Don't go!" ”

The county lord's face was annoyed, and he was instantly impressed by Zhuang Pu's face, and said softly: "I don't want you to go either." But if you are all good, I still call you? It's because you're so bad that you hide secretly that you are called to go. ”

Unexpectedly, Zhuang Pu sneered: "What are you going to do?" The jade girl is in the mirror and I can still go on a trip, but the jade girl is not here, what am I going to do there. Sister Na Qi looks at people very well in the day, but she is actually not very good. So I don't want to see her! ”

The county lord suddenly took pity on Yu Qi, in terms of heart, Yu Qi, a niece, came in after being full of life and death, and only then did she hide in peace, who knew that she had encountered these irrelevant things one after another. And he thought, "There must be something hateful about the wretched." Yu Qi himself is such an identity, how can he not know how to keep silent? Why do you still mess with trouble everywhere?

Therefore, the more the county lord thought about it, the more worried he was that Yu Qi's temperament would cause trouble in the future and even affect the mansion.

Now Zhuang Pu refuses to go, the county lord is afraid that the old lady will ask again, so he asked once today, and he covered up the past, and when he waited until the evening, he might not say that Pu'er had not returned? Doesn't this make the old lady worry and find the old lady dissatisfied?

So, the county lord said to Zhuang Pu: "No matter what your opinion you have about Sister Qi, you can come with me later, meet the old lady, and have the right to kneel down for the old lady." When you're done, you come back and rest, even if you lie down until the sky falls, I don't care about you. ”

Zhuang Pu stared at the roof, but didn't respond.

Seeing that he shouldn't, the county lord slapped him: "Did you hear it?" ”

Zhuang Pu was stubborn: "Don't go!" If you want me to go out, just leave the door open, and I will go out without waiting for my wife to greet me. ”

The county lord was angry, and he said "you" several times.

At this time, the voices of Zhuang Yu and Zhuang Yu came from outside.

That Zhuang Jue talked to the girl outside the door: "Where is Mrs?" ”

I heard a few more words, and in a blink of an eye, I saw Zhuang Yu and Zhuang Yu coming in. When the brother and sister saw the county lord, they saluted first.

The county lord stretched out his hand to Zhuang Yu and Zhuang Yu, wanting to hold their hands. The two of them went over, and put their hands on the county lord's hand.

The county lord said to the two: "Persuade your brother, go to the old lady to say goodbye in a while." ”

Zhuang Yu said: "I heard that when the old lady came, she asked us all to go to Sister Qi's place. Didn't you go to Sister Qi's place? Mrs., Sister Qi has made good things to honor you! ”

As he spoke, he took off the county lord's hand, sat down in front of Zhuang Pu, and said, "Brother, go!" I originally came back to find the fifth sister to ask for rouge to give Sister Qi, and the fifth sister told me that she was going to Jinghua Xie, and she happened to bring it with me. I heard that Sister Qi's Zisu is very good at cooking, so you can taste good food in the past! Besides, your body's injuries are not conducive to recovery, so walk around! ”

Without waiting for Zhuang Pu to speak, the county lord pointed at Zhuang Yu angrily and said, "I haven't learned anything well, I learned like a monkey from your brother." When the old lady came, why did you run away, and you didn't see you for half a day. I think you're trying to be your brother, and you're not taught at all. ”

Zhuang Jue pursed his lips and said, "Madam, I'm not going anywhere." It's going to Sister Qi's place. The day before, I told Sister Qi that I would go over to help on the day of the sweep. If you don't go, won't you be untrustworthy? ”

Immediately afterwards, the county lord and Zhuang Yu persuaded Zhuang Pu a few more times.

Seeing that Zhuang Pu refused to go, Zhuang Yu said: "Brother, if you don't go, if the old lady blames the master, she will beat you again when the master comes back." You can't get better, what are you looking for? ”

This is a method of agitation, Zhuang Yu originally didn't want to speak, but her second brother didn't listen to any persuasion. After thinking about it, she brought out her father's strictness, and also brought out Mr. Guan, who her second brother cared about. Maybe so, the second brother is willing to listen.

Sure enough, Zhuang Pu said: "That's okay, go show your face!" I'll find someone to find after showing my face! My wife won't stop me. ”

The county lord was helpless, and let out a long sigh, which was a matter of concern. Of course, the county lord also heard that the Cao family had handled the matter of Ma Pozi, and now that Zhuang Pu had agreed to the past, they were all happy, so they relaxed their mood. Just mentioned Mr. Guan, the county lord was also surprised, this person is alive and dead, and he really went out of his own house, where did Mr. Guan and Ayu go? Who took it? Is it really as Yu Qi said, it was the people from the Fence Bamboo Garden who got it? Why don't you admit it?

At this moment, the county lord was full of confusion, raised his hand and rubbed his temples, trying to clear himself, not wanting to delve any further; I will think about how to deal with the old lady.

Until the sky is faintly dark.

The mother and son waited a little longer, and asked Xianglian to serve Zhuang Pu to change into old clothes and wear them, and then they went to Zhongfu to thank them.

When I arrived outside the gate of Zhongfu, I saw that the Cao family of Beifu led two daughters and two aunts, and the Qin family of Dongfu led two daughters, two aunts and Huiyuan and others, and the sons of the two houses did not enter. The county lord came from afar, full of novelty.

Zhuang Yu was even more novel, and hurriedly greeted Zhuang Hu and asked, "Why don't you go in, sisters and sisters?" ”

Zhuang Hu glanced at the Qin family, and the Qin family was quite bored and glanced at Hui Yuan, who only bowed her head and stood behind her.

Zhuang Qi and Zhuang Ying stood together, and they didn't talk as lively as before.

In short, the atmosphere is weird.

When the county lord approached, the Qin clan came over first, took her hand, and said, "Wait for you!" How did you come? ”

The county lord was slightly stunned: "What are you waiting for me to do?" You're going to go first. ”

Cao Shi snorted and said, "I'm here to admit my mistake, and I don't have many faces to go in first." Come in, and we will follow behind to cover your shame. After a while, I need you to help me say a few words. ”

After listening to this, the county lord knew that the old lady had visited various mansions today, and there was something unpleasant. Then I looked at the girl standing behind everyone, and there were a few food boxes.

Because the old lady had tasted it in Xifu, the county lord didn't think about bringing food. At this moment, his face was flushed, and he said to Cao's family: "Why did Mrs. mention so much? The old lady didn't go to you? ”

Cao sighed and said, "I went." Now there are so many big guys, how can they eat it. I'm stocking up on some in case I don't have enough chopsticks. ”

The county lord thought this was the case, and with an "oh" sound, he turned his eyes to see the Qin girl's suitcase, which was slightly smaller than the Cao family. The county lord didn't ask, but Zhuang Hu said: "The old lady said that the pickles are delicious, let me bring some." No, I picked it up. ”

The county lord blushed and said, "I didn't have any, I brought a bunch of children to eat and drink." So he said to the orb, "Go back and get ready, and bring a few boxes." ”

Before the jewel moved, Cao came over to hold her and said, "Ouch, madam, what are you going to!" The old lady sweeps the dust and visits, why? Sifu is the son of her old man, and it is said that the mirror flower Xie Qi is your daughter, you can't learn from the old lady, and you also visit the girl and eat with your mouth? What else to mention! Don't be busy. You please. ”

As he spoke, the Cao family invited the county lord to get started first.

Zhuang Yu and Zhuang Pu heard it and laughed.

The county lord stared at his two sons fiercely, and then asked Zhuang Hu: "The one from Nanfu is here?" ”

Zhuang Hu replied: "I heard that I went in." ”

The county lord nodded, and then raised his hand to ask the Qin clan and the Cao clan to take a step. The Qin clan and the Cao clan didn't dare to move, so they politely invited the county lord first. The county lord gave in again. Zhuang Pu, who was behind him, was a little unaccustomed to it, after all, this kind of cumbersome stuff only literati like to do, and now it has become popular among concubines, so he shook his sleeves and sighed that the drill bit was advanced, regardless of the people behind.

Later, Zhuang Yu didn't dare to be as rude as his brother, so he followed his mother and the county lord to ask for a concession, half pulling and half pulling, and finally let the Qin clan advance, and then, the county lord and the Cao clan stepped in side by side. Down, the girls' brocade skirts are light, swimming like fish, and they look much happier than just now. The aunts and girls followed last.

Arrived outside the gate of Jinghua Xie Yuan.

There, the girls were waiting under the door, and when they saw the wives coming, they all squatted and saluted, and invited.

When I entered the courtyard gate, I saw Zhuang Pu standing in the courtyard, but he didn't enter the house, and Mei'er at the old lady, what are you talking about laughing. The other wives and sisters were gone, but the county lord felt very swelled. When everyone went up the steps to the house, the county lord moved slightly to pull Zhuang Pu.

Zhuang Pu shook off his hand and said, "What is Mrs. doing here!" I came and went, and I didn't run. You're afraid I'll run, so hurry up and lock me up with chains. Lock me up all your life, and I'm not afraid that I will overturn your sky. ”

The county lord said angrily: "Confused things! Who won't let you move around? Standing here at this time, you're not afraid of freezing, what else can you compare to? He raised his eyes and looked at Mei'er, and his eyes were incomprehensible.

Mei'er touched the county lord's gaze, and was shocked, and quickly lowered her eyebrows, clasping her hands and waiting.

The county lord said: "You have come in and pestle here, and the old lady will beat you carefully." The day and day two that are not serious are more and more unruly. Let's get inside! Talk to the old lady and be careful with your words. ”

Zhuang Pu snorted and went up the steps.

The county lord waited for Zhuang Pu to enter the house, then turned his face to face Mei'er, and said, "I heard that the old lady bought a fruit tree from the south and came back to plant it, and did it arrive at it?" ”

Mei'er replied: "How can the wife know, the old lady has just decided this matter!" It's bayberry, and I told people in a letter that it won't arrive until the end of the New Year. It blooms in February and March, and it won't be long before it bears fruit. ”

The county lord smiled slightly, and said: "How can I know, but the person you entrusted can't help but speak, no wonder others talk strangely, what do you want Yangmei to come back for, who gave the old lady the idea?" ”

Mei'er pulled the corners of her mouth and said, "The old lady's thoughts, how can we guess it." One day it is said that the pipa fruit is healthy, one day it is said that the towering pineapple is sweet and delicious, and the other day it is said that the ginseng fruit in the north grows auspicious. I don't know how I thought of bayberry. ”

The county lord smiled: "Bayberry can also bloom and bear fruit in Kyoto? Isn't that the land of the south where the rain and the sun can grow and reproduce? ”

Mei'er Huan said: "How do you know if you don't try? In case of results, my wife will be able to eat a fresh meal. ”

The county lord smiled faintly, lifted his robe skirt, went up the steps, and when he reached the steps, he said: "It blooms in February and March, and there are no roots to grow. In the day, it is better for the old lady to eat apples than those green and red fruits, which are not stained or sour, and they want to be safe and auspicious. ”

Mei'er's face was red and hot, and she replied, "Yes!" ”

The county lord said no more and slowly went into the house.