Chapter 90

The fifth master has always felt that the reason why their husband and wife were able to reconcile was thanks to Shanniang's mediation. And this fifteen-year-old birthday is the first birthday at home since Shanniang left home at the age of seven, and the lord discussed with his wife to hold a birthday banquet for Shanniang.

Shanniang shook her hand when she heard this, and only said that she had already held a ceremony for her, and this birthday banquet could be waived.

Hou Rui smiled and joked to Shanniang: "Don't be limping because you walk, you're afraid of being embarrassed in front of people, right?" ”

Shanniang, who was poked in the sore spot, blushed, stared at him with her neck and admitted, "That's it! What are you going to do?! Hou Rui was so choked that he couldn't speak. Shanniang pestered the old man again and said, "What are you asking some irrelevant people to do?" It makes the family uneasy, and my wife is still tired, and it is not interesting. Why don't I let the kitchen cook some of my favorite foods that day, and we just have a glass of wine behind closed doors. ”

After thinking about it, the old man felt that what she said was reasonable, so he decided not to invite his own family, but only some intimate and intellectual friends. So on August 13, in addition to Yuan Changqing, a "quasi-self-family", there were only the master's best friend Mr. Lin Er's family, as well as a few good classmates of Shanniang.

Xu is grateful for Yuan Changqing's help to her family before, maybe because Shanniang gradually got used to this relationship with him, in short, after Yuan Changqing came back this time, he found that Shanniang's attitude towards him was much better, at least he no longer gave a cold face at every turn as before. Although he failed to calculate the "welfare" of the residential home, fortunately, his "right" to eat Shou Mian was not denied by Shanniang...... There is a saying in later generations, called "abuse is also used to it", so Yuan Changqing said that he should be satisfied.

On August 13, as the quasi-aunt of the family, Yuan Changqing came to the house early to help.

And the first guest he received with the fifth master was Zhou Chong, the fifth prince who was once again an uninvited guest.

This time, the fifth prince came on the imperial mission, so he did not live in the Lin family with Yuan Changqing like last time, but in the official post.

If Zhou Chong insisted on following him to see Shanniang yesterday, Yuan Changqing didn't realize anything, and then watched him scurrying and jumping in front of Shanniang, he suddenly thought of his ambiguous answers when Zhou Chong asked them if it was a "stopgap measure" to get married. So Yuan Changqing subconsciously became vigilant - this stinky boy, could it be that he heard his words, this is some crooked idea to beat his "daughter-in-law"? !

Changed to Shanniang, maybe she took the initiative to run to Zhou Chong and said, "You don't have the idea of beating my daughter-in-law", Yuan Changqing is not that kind of person, in this case, he will only hide it in his heart and do it in his hands, but he can't say a word on that mouth.

Therefore, out of precaution, he will no longer ask Zhou Chong to get close to Shanniang.

Zhou Chong didn't know what Yuan Changqing was afraid of him in his heart, and as soon as he came, he shouted without scruples to "pay homage to the birthday star", which caused Yuan Changqing to frown at him for a while, and said coldly: "Fifth Master forgot what I told you last time?!" ”

Hearing him call himself "Fifth Master", Zhou Chong noticed that he had made Yuan Da unhappy somewhere, so he bowed his head and introspected for a while. After a while, he raised his head and smiled at Yuan Changqing, and said, "Don't give it to Xiao...... Don't make trouble for Thirteen. I remember. ”

So Yuan Changqing kept Zhou Chong firmly by his side, telling him to have no chance if he wanted to slip away, until the Lin family came over.

In fact, the fifth master's attitude towards Yuan Changqing was quite contradictory, and he said that he couldn't look down on him, but between his actions, he had already treated him as his own family, intentionally or unintentionally. When the Lin family came over, the old man wanted to talk to Mr. Lin Er, but at this time, Hou Rui didn't know where he went, so the fifth master casually ordered Yuan Changqing to lead Mrs. Lin and Lin Ruzhi and other female relatives to the back house to find Mrs. and Shanniang.

And it was only at this time that Zhou Chong finally got the opportunity to meet today's "birthday boy" Shanniang.

At this time, Mrs. Lin and Mrs. Lin were talking in the hall, and Shanniang accompanied You Hui and Zhao Xiang'er, who had already arrived first, and a few good classmates were talking and laughing in the wing room.

When Zhou Chong came in, Lin Ruzhi was taking the congratulatory gift from the maid and handing it to Shanniang. After Shan Niang thanked Lin Ruzhi, she handed the gift to Wufu and received it. Zhou Chong took a step forward, took out a box from his arms and handed it over, and said with a smile: "This is my congratulatory gift." I wish you a day every year, and a future every year. ”

Shanniang didn't shirk either, smiled and accepted it, and was just about to hand the box to Wufu when she returned her hand, when she heard Zhou Chong say: "You take it apart and see if you like it." ”

Unlike Western customs, since ancient times, Chinese etiquette has not been willing to open gifts in front of the owner. Shanniang, who was reading a Western travelogue, couldn't help but glance at Zhou Chong, and while taking back the small box from Wufu's hand, she joked to Zhou Chong: "I didn't expect His Royal Highness Fifth to learn Western etiquette." ”

"What are you doing so unfamiliarly?" Zhou Chong raised his eyebrows dissatisfiedly, "Why don't you call me 'Fifth Brother' like Aru." ”

Yuan Changqing, who had been standing silently by the door, suddenly narrowed his eyes and raised his eyes to look at Shanniang.

His gaze was like an entity, and Shanniang immediately felt it. She glanced up at him, then turned back to Zhou Chong and smiled: "Why do I want to call you 'brother', I always think you are younger than me." ”

Here, Yuan Changqing immediately relieved the corners of his eyes with satisfaction.

Shanniang glanced at him again and rolled her eyes at him, that means, I'm not for you! So Yuan Changqing bent the corners of his eyes at her.

The silent communication between the two did not let anyone see the slightest clue.

Lin Ruzhi has always been an anxious child, and when she saw that Shanniang was holding the small wooden box for a long time and didn't open it, she went over and pressed Shanniang's shoulder and said, "Open it and see, what kind of treasure is it......" Before the words fell, she suddenly turned her head to look at Shanniang, "Have you grown taller?" ”

At this time, Shanniang was standing against the edge of the couch. Yuan Changqing raised his eyes and saw her and Lin Ruzhi standing together, looking like they were already as tall as Lin Ruzhi. And when she first met her in the woodcraft shop, Shanniang was about two fingers shorter than Lin Ruzhi.

Shanniang blinked, looked down at the feet of her skirt and smiled, "Have you grown taller?" No wonder I feel like the skirt is a little short. I think it's because of my leg injury. ”

"Fool!" You Hui, who was snorting melon seeds on the side, threw her the melon seed shell and said with a smile: "When I came last time, I thought you seemed to have grown taller, and I wanted to ask you, but then I forgot about it." He added, "You will know by comparing it with me, we were both the same height before." ”

So, the girls forgot about the opening of the gifts, and compared them there.

This comparison surprised Shanniang, she had really grown about an inch taller - and at this time in her previous life, she should not have started to grow taller. Could it be because I broke my leg and asked my wife's bone broth to make up for it?!

The girls made such a fuss, Zhou Chong was dissatisfied, and hurriedly shouted: "Didn't you say to see my gift?" ”

Shanniang then remembered, hurriedly raised the small box in her hand, and was just about to open it, Yuan Changqing suddenly pressed on the box, and said, "There will be a while before leaving the banquet, why don't we guess what is in this box." I guess it's an East Pearl. ”

Shanniang shook her head, flipped the box, and said, "How old am I, I don't dare to accept such a valuable gift to me." She didn't see Zhou Chong's face suddenly becoming a little embarrassed, and guessed: "I guess, probably Hua Tian or something." ”

"I'll check it." Lin Ruzhi took the box and checked it, and said, "It's not very heavy, and it's not big, you can hold it in your palm, it can't be a jade carving thing, right?" ”

You Hui and Zhao De'er both thought it was fun, so they also took the box and checked it, each guessed once, and then the heads of several girls were all gathered together and watched Shanniang open the lid of the box.

Inside is indeed a dragon's eye big East Pearl.

"Ah, I really asked Senior Brother Yuan to guess right!" Lin Ruzhi shouted.

Yuan Changqing smiled slightly, took a step back, and once again hid himself behind others. After he made such a fuss, he turned Zhou Chong's gift into a game, that is, he gave a mountain of gold, and in the eyes of Thirteen Er, it should not be something worthy of her attention......

- What a black-bellied Yuan Da!

And his rare smile happened to fall into the eyes of Zhao Xiang'er and You Hui, and the two of them were stunned, and they couldn't help but have red hearts for a while......

Not to mention this nymphomaniac duo. Shanniang closed the box containing Dongzhu again, handed it to Zhou Chongdao, and said, "This is really too valuable, I can't accept it." I'm still young, and I can't stand such a heavy courtesy, so I understand it. ”

Zhou Chong was willing to take it back, and said with his hands behind his back: "It's nothing, it's just an East Pearl." The gift I gave to someone in the capital was much heavier than that. "Indeed, when he was in the capital before, he was interested in a girl, and hundreds or thousands of taels of silver gifts could be given out without blinking, and this Dongzhu was really nothing compared to those gifts.

Yuan Changqing took a step forward, took the box from Shanniang's hand, stuffed it back to Zhou Chong, and said: "I said it earlier, this is different from the customs of the capital, this gift is nothing in the capital, but it is too valuable here, even if she is willing to accept it, I am afraid that Mr. Shuyi will not accept it." You take it back, don't make it difficult for Thirteen. ”

Lin Ruzhi also said: "Yes, the people here are much simpler than in the capital, and the contacts between people are only love and righteousness." For example, I gave my thirteenth sister a collection of Western stories. Holding Shanniang's arm again, he smiled again, "Isn't my sister very interested in Western things lately?" I asked my eldest brother to help me find it, so I don't know if my sister will like it. ”

"Of course I like it!" Shanniang smiled, turned her head to look at Zhou Chong again, made the mistake of "being a good teacher", and taught him the same as teaching her younger brother: "Aru's courtesy is very good." You gave me too expensive gifts, first, I didn't dare to accept them, and second, even if I did, I couldn't afford to return the gift, aren't you embarrassed for me. ”

Lin Ruzhi said with a smile: "Fifth brother is not short of this money. ”

"It's his business whether he lacks money or not, but I lack this money to return this gift." Shanniang smiled.

"I didn't ask you to return my ......," Zhou Chong said depressedly.

"How can you not return the gift?" Shanniang smiled, "Etiquette is still exchanged, there must always be exchanges, and mutual reciprocity is the best." If I return the gift lightly, it will make people think that I have the intention to take advantage of you. Why do you bother me like this? ”

Zhou Chong opened his mouth and wanted to say, "I don't think you're taking advantage of me", but Yuan Changqing suddenly interjected and said, "'Courtesy is light and affectionate'." Gift-giving is just an expression of affection, and it is good to have affection, but it doesn't have to be too expensive. If the gift is too precious, it will make the recipient feel uneasy. ”

Zhao Xiang'er, who had always been a nymphomaniac to him, suddenly flashed her starry eyes and said, "What about Senior Brother Yuan? What are you sending thirteen? ”

Shanniang looked at Yuan Changqing and said with a smile: "I didn't tear it down either." ”

"Let's tear it down." Yuan Changqing smiled slightly and retreated behind the people again.

Shanniang looked back at him again. She realized that he seemed to be more willing to hide himself in a corner that no one else noticed - no wonder they were at odds with each other in their previous lives, but what she loved most at that time was the attention of others......

She sighed in her heart, and turned back to Sanhe to gesture. Sanhe went out for a while, and then came in with a small box.

Coincidentally, that small box looks like the twin brother of Zhou Chong's small box, the size and size are exactly the same, but the color is different. Zhou Chong's precious red sandalwood is carved, and Yuan Changqing seems to be just ordinary wood, but it is just brushed with a layer of oily black paint.

"Open! Open it! Lin Ruzhi and You Hui, Zhao Xianger and others urged for a while.

Shanniang looked at Yuan Changqing, then lowered her head and opened the box.

Inside is a round silver object, the surface carved pattern looks very Western, at first glance it is not a domestic product.

"What is this?"

You Hui didn't recognize it, but Lin Ruzhi recognized it, and said, "It looks like a Western pocket watch." ”

"Yo, this should be quite expensive." Zhao Xianger said.

Shanniang looked up at Yuan Changqing.

Yuan Changqing was also looking at her. Standing by the door in the backlight, his eyes were deep, looking calm and indifferent, as if he had given her such a valuable thing as he deserved.

Shanniang has never told anyone, in fact, she has always liked these Western clocks, especially the regular and steady ticking sound of the clocks. She had always slept very lightly, waking up easily at the slightest movement, with the only exception being the ticking of the clock. Even when she occasionally has insomnia, she can quickly fall asleep listening to this sound......

It was rare to encounter such a desirable gift, and Shanniang hesitated for a while. Her eyes went back and forth between the pocket watch and Yuan Changqing, and suddenly closed the lid of the wooden box - whatever! He is not Zhou Chong, who is uncertain, and being able to give such a valuable gift must indicate that he has the financial resources. Besides, it was only the ...... he owed her in his previous life.

"Thank you." She smiled and handed the wooden box to Sanwa.

Zhou Chong was stunned, and was just about to say that Yuan Changqing's gift was much more valuable than his Dongzhu, when he suddenly saw Shanniang and Yuan Changqing glancing at each other.

The two of them opened their eyes at the same time, and Zhou Chong suddenly understood a truth - it turned out that it was not that he couldn't accept too expensive gifts, but that the love between him and Thirteen'er was not strong enough for her to accept this expensive gift without psychological pressure......

It's just that there is no one between her and him, is it between her and Yuan Changqing? !

Doesn't it mean that this marriage is a "stopgap measure"?

Zhou Chong was confused.