Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Battle
This really made Lin Yueying negligent, she just wanted Jin Ling to prepare a good brush, but Lin Yueying didn't expect that this good brush would have to wait for a year and a half!
Lin Yueying couldn't find a suitable excuse to answer Chu Lin for a while, so she pretended to be casual and picked up the tea bowl on the table and took a sip of the tea in the tea bowl.
Chu Lin looked at Lin Yueying, who seemed to have been stepped on by a little tail but pretended to be nothing, he was anxious and happy.
Chu Lin was so anxious that Lin Yueying came to this point, but Lin Yueying still couldn't hide her thoughts.
The matter between Lin Yueying and Yuyu Pavilion, Chu Lin didn't know yet, and even if he knew, it would be just a troublesome matter.
Lin Yuelang, who listened to the words of the two of them word for word, saw that Lin Yueying couldn't answer Chu Lin's words, so he interjected and said, "My sister gave Xingluo that pen just now, why do I feel so familiar?" It can't be the one I gave to my sister, right? ”
As soon as Lin Yuelang's words came out, Lin Yueying, who was still bowing her head to drink tea, immediately replied: "Yes, it's the one you sent!" ”
Lin Yueying caught the olive branch thrown by Lin Yuelang, and continued to quibble: "Anyway, I use the same pen, instead of putting it here to occupy a place, it is better to give it to Xingluo and make the best use of it!" ”
Chu Xingluo, who was sitting next to Lin Yuelang and was still playing with Ban Zhu Wolf Hao, heard what the two of them said, and his interest in playing was instantly gone, for fear that Lin Yuelang would snatch the pen back, so he immediately put Ban Zhu Wolf Hao back into the box, and put the box into his arms with peace of mind.
If it is said that this money belongs to Lin Yuelang, it is reasonable for Lin Yueying to take it from him, but the price of this penny is expensive, where did Lin Yuelang get the money?
Chu Lin asked Lin Yuelang: "Then how did this autumn come to you?" ”
Lin Yuelang blurted out: "I am excellent in my studies, and I was sent by Master Lu, can't I?" ”
If it was really as Lin Yuelang said, this would be reasonable, but Chu Lin still didn't believe what he said.
At night, Lin Yueying, who was before going to bed, took out the gift box given by Chu Lin, opened it and saw that it was a small box carved from white jade.
Lin Yueying took out the small box and gently opened the lid that was covered, which contained scorching red rouge, and there was a faint fragrance of jasmine.
Lin Yueying put the rouge box in front of her nose, smelled the faint fragrance and smiled: "After so many years, Lin still likes the fragrance of jasmine?" ”
Lin Yueying gently pressed the little finger of her right hand on the rouge, gently wiped it on her lips, looked at herself in the glasses again, and smiled again: "Lin, a big man, it's quite desirable to give a gift!" ”
The next day, in front of the curling courtyard, Lin Yueying glanced at Lin Yuelang, who had changed into a fiery red mud and gold fragrance dress, and then looked at the same fiery red and gold-backed red clothes on her body, Mu Nadi immediately turned around and was about to look back at Shu Ge.
Just saw Lin Yueying, who was wearing almost the same clothes as herself, and smiled happily. But before she could take a second look, she saw Lin Yueying turn around and was about to leave, Lin Yuelang hurriedly ran over to stop her: "Sister, where are you going?" ”
Lin Yueying glanced at the clothes on Lin Yuelang's body again, and said shyly: "It's so embarrassing for such a big person to wear the same clothes!" ”
Lin Yuelang also thought so, but compared to what he was going to do next, it was not worth mentioning.
"Look at what my sister said, didn't we always wear the same clothes before? Why doesn't my sister feel embarrassed? ”
"We were all young then, but now it's different, we're all grown up!"
Seeing that Lin Yueying couldn't make sense, Lin Yuelang stretched out his hands and put them on Lin Yueying's shoulders, and directly turned Lin Yueying around with his left and right hands, and pushed Lin Yueying forward: "Okay, okay, everyone knows that we are twins, and no one will say anything about us!" ”
"But ......"
Lin Yueying was still unwilling, but Lin Yuelang didn't want to let her go, and continued to push her forward: "Let's go, don't let my father wait in a hurry!" ”
Lin Yueying was still unwilling, but Lin Yuelang kept pushing her forward, and there was no chance to get out at all, so she could only let Lin Yuelang push her forward.
Lin Jinzhuo, who came to the door first, was talking and laughing with Chu Qingyun and the others. And Chu Xingluo, who was behind Luo Jinyu, saw Lin Yueying and the two of them coming out, so he pulled the corner of Chu Lin's clothes beside him.
Chu Lin looked back at Chu Xingluo, but Chu Xingluo motioned for him to look at the opposite door.
Chu Lin followed Chu Xingluo's gaze and looked at the opposite door, but saw that the two of them were wearing the same and different clothes, and they suddenly had mixed feelings. But when he saw Lin Yueying's fiery red lips, he was relieved again.
Chu Xingluo looked at Chu Lin's calm face, and he felt sad for him. Yin Yin and Lin Yueying have a marriage contract with their eldest brother, but no matter how you look at it now, you feel that Lin Yueying and Lin Yuelang are a couple.
When Lin Jinzhuo and Chu Qingyun heard the movement, they all looked inside the door of the Lin Mansion, and saw Lin Yueying and Lin Yuelang walking out side by side.
Lin Jinzhuo looked at Lin Yueying and Lin Yuelang wearing the same and different clothes, Lin was commonplace, and he didn't feel that there was anything wrong, but Chu Qingyun and his wife felt that there was an indescribable feeling.
Lin Yueying saw that everyone was standing in front of the door, and immediately walked out quickly, bypassed Lin Jinzhuo, and when she came to Luo Jinyu, she took her hand and called out cordially, and Luo Jinyu was also very happy to respond.
Lin Yuelang couldn't get used to seeing Lin Yueying and Luo Jinyu so close, so he walked quickly to Lin Yueying's side, took Lin Yueying's hand, and said coldly: "Let's go!" ”
Lin Yueying and Luo Jinyu were about to be pulled away by Lin Yuelang before they could say a few more words.
Luo Jinyu looked at Lin Yuelang, who was polite yesterday, but now she has become so cold again, and there is a trace of bitterness in her heart.
Lin Yueying looked at Luo Jinyu, who was still kind just now, and became a little sad because of Lin Yuelang's appearance, so she shook off Lin Yuelang's hand without thinking about it, and took Luo Jinyu's hand again and said, "I'm with my aunt!" ”
Lin Yueying said, and pulled Luo Jinyu into the carriage of Chu Mansion, without giving Luo Jinyu and Lin Yuelang a chance to talk at all.
Lin Yuelang saw that Lin Yueying was about to leave with Luo Jinyu in tow, and wanted to pull Lin Yueying back, but he was stopped by Lin Jinzhuo without taking two steps.
Lin Jinzhuo knew Lin Yuelang's thoughts, but Lin and Chu were their own families in the end, so they couldn't make a big fuss, so he dragged Lin Yuelang.
Lin Yuelang immediately looked back at Lin Jinzhuo, but Lin Jinzhuo shook his head at him slightly.
Lin Yuelang knew that Lin Jinzhuo was thinking about himself, although he didn't want Lin Yueying to be so close to Luo Jinyu and them, but he couldn't force it, so he didn't catch up.
Chu Qingyun saw Lin Jinzhuo and Lin Yuelang's small movements, but he didn't delve into it: "Brother Jinzhuo, the children are here, it's time for us to set off!" ”
Lin Jinzhuo saw that Lin Yuelang had no intention of catching up again, so he let go of his hand and replied to Chu Qingyun: "Yes, then Brother Qingyun will invite first, and the younger brother will follow!" ”
"Okay, then Brother Jinzhuo is going to follow!"
After Chu Qingyun finished speaking, he glanced at Lin Yuelang, who was still a little emotional, turned around and took Chu Lin and Chu Xingluo into the carriage.
Chu Lin, who had just helped Lin Yueying and Chu Xingluo into the carriage, glanced back at Lin Yuelang, who had also just helped Lin Jinzhuo into the carriage, but saw that he was also looking at himself. Between the four eyes, one eye is like ten thousand people, and the other is as quiet as autumn water......
The carriages of the two mansions walked one after the other, and Chu Xingluo, who was sitting diagonally opposite Lin Yueying, couldn't wait to ask Lin Yueying: "Sister Yueying, after getting along in the past few days, Brother Yuelang seems to be very unfamiliar with us, does Sister Yueying know why?" ”
Chu Xingluo had always spoken to Lin Yueying very directly, but now that he was beating around the bush, Lin Yueying knew that he was taking into account Luo Jinyu's feelings.
Lin Yueying, who didn't know what was going on, couldn't answer for a while, and was afraid that saying the wrong thing would make Luo Jinyu unhappy, so she replied euphemistically: "I don't know, that kid is so ruthless, I've asked him these days, but he just won't answer." There's no way, who made him so expensive now, I can't ask more. ”
Expensive? Is Brother Yuelang such a conceited person?
Chu Xingluo was puzzled: "Is Brother Yuelang such a self-righteous person?" ”
Lin Yueying saw that Chu Xingluo had misinterpreted what she meant, so she explained: "Didn't your brother Yuelang want to participate in the imperial examination at the beginning of February of the lunar year?" Daddy said, big things are not so important! So now that everything is up to him, isn't he just expensive? ”
Chu Xingluo crossed his hands in front of his chest and replied thoughtfully: "Yes, after all, the imperial examination is only once every three years." If Brother Yuelang is unfavorable in the imperial examination this time, then he will have to wait for three years! ”
Lin Yueying nodded in response, agreeing with Chu Xingluo's words, but Luo Jinyu, who was sitting in front of Lin Yueying's right, stretched out her hand and patted Chu Xingluo's head a little harder, and said a little angrily: "You kid, can't you read your brother Yuelang, okay?" ”
Chu Xingluo was a little dazed by Luo Jinyu's sudden beating, and he was still puzzled just now, so he was aggrieved again.
As soon as Luo Jinyu finished speaking, Chu Qingyun stopped her and said, "Eh, the child just said casually, what are you doing beating the child?" Besides, whether Yuelang can be admitted or not depends on his learning qualifications and talents, so which is Xingluo who says that he will be admitted if he is admitted, and if he says that he will not be admitted, he will not be admitted? ”
Luo Jinyu heard Chu Qingyun's words, and did not regain Xingluo's anger, but stared at him with a smile: "Master, this year's imperial examination invigilation, does the master have a share?" ”
Luo Jinyu stared at Chu Qingyun so suddenly, Chu Qingyun was already a little uncomfortable, and her words made Chu Qingyun even more uncomfortable, so she immediately shook her head and said: "Madame, you can't talk nonsense, the imperial examination is a national event, how can it be who I want to pass, who can pass?" If this is found out, the sin is not small! ”
Luo Jinyu listened to Chu Qingyun's answer, and no longer smiled, but looked at Chu Sheng with some disdain: "Any national major event is a trivial matter that is not worth mentioning compared to Yuelang!" ”
Luo Jinyu's willful words caught Chu Qingyun off guard, but made Lin Yueying feel more cordial. It turned out that in Luo Jinyu's view, his sister and brother were more important than national events.
Lin Yueying supported her body with both hands, sat next to Luo Jinyu, took Luo Jinyu's left hand with both hands, and said, "Auntie, don't worry, no matter what misunderstanding that kid has about Chu Mansion, this door is on the other side, and after a long time, even if there is a big misunderstanding, there will be a day when the ice releases the previous suspicions." ”
Luo Jinyu, who was still a petty person just now, smiled when she heard Lin Yueying's words, and patted the back of Lin Yueying's hand with her right hand: "This aunt knows, but what did he misunderstand about us?" Your uncle and I both treat the two of you as our own children, and we are no less good to you than Lin'er and Xingluo! ”
Luo Jinyu said, feeling sad again.
Chu Xingluo, who was watching from the sidelines, listened to what Luo Jinyu said, and then looked at Lin Yueying, with an unhappy expression: Yes, no, my father and mother have cared much more about Sister Yueying and Brother Yuelang over the years than the eldest brother. And I, as for it, is completely superfluous!
Chu Xingluo sneered self-deprecatingly and stopped looking at Lin Yueying.
Lin Yueying really couldn't answer, so she comforted Luo Jinyu and said: "It's okay, I'll ask him again after the Yuelang Imperial Examination is over, and if he still doesn't say it then, I'll hang him up and torture him, I will definitely be able to ask!" ”
"No, you can't!"
Luo Jinyu hurriedly interrupted Lin Yueying and said: "Yuelang is just willful, if you have something to say to him, you don't need to be tortured." Besides, if this is a good fight, how can it be good? Just ask, even if he doesn't say it, it's okay! ”
Lin Yueying just wanted to adjust the atmosphere in the carriage, but she didn't expect Luo Jinyu to be so nervous, so she lowered her tone and said, "Okay, don't fight, don't fight." If it's not for me to serve, wouldn't Yuelang be even more powerful? ”
"Yes, yes."
Luo Jinyu let go of Lin Yueying's hand, brushed away the hair on Lin Yueying's forehead, looked at Lin Yueying's watery eyes, and said softly: "You are sisters and brothers, you should help each other and take care of each other, you can't fight, you know?" ”
Luo Jinyu's gentleness, Lin Yueying was powerless to resist, so she obediently leaned on Luo Jinyu's shoulder and nodded in response: "Okay!" ”
Chu Xingluo, who was listening to the two of them talking on the side, couldn't help but get goosebumps when he saw Lin Yueying so well-behaved. And Chu Qingyun, who was rare to see Luo Jinyu so sad, also looked at Luo Jinyu distressedly.
Chu Qingyun didn't want to know why Lin Yuelang hated Chu Mansion so much, but what he was more worried about was that Lin Yuelang looked at him yesterday.
Chu Lin, who was sitting next to Chu Xingluo, had been looking at Lin Yueying, who was sitting opposite him, and listened carefully to every word she said. His calm face was like a snowflake that slowly fell to the ground, and he couldn't hear a single movement.
Lin Jinzhuo, who was sitting in the carriage behind, looked at Yuelang who was still sulking worriedly.
Ten years ago, Lin Yuelang and Lin Yueying still went to Chu Mansion to play as usual, but a quarter of an hour was not enough, but Lin Yuelang came back alone, and since then he has been staying at home and no longer stepping into Chu Mansion.
At that time, no one cared about Lin Yuelang's abnormality, thinking that it was just a child who had a conflict and didn't want to meet, but Lin Jinzhuo at that time was obsessed with Liu Shiling's affairs, and he didn't care about Lin Yuelang's abnormality, until he left the imperial capital with him silently......
No one is born a bad boy, Lin Jinzhuo was afraid that Lin Yuelang would make a wrong step and make Lin Yuelang regret his life, so after thinking about it, he cleared his throat and said to Lin Yuelang: "Father knows what you think, but you still don't make too much trouble with your eldest uncle and aunt, give yourself a leeway, and give your eldest uncle and aunt a leeway." In this life, it's better not to leave regrets! ”
Lin Yuelang knew that Lin Jinzhuo was thinking about himself, but the mustard in his heart, where did he say that he could let go of it?
Lin Yuelang looked at Lin Jinzhuo and smiled slightly: "Father, don't worry, Yuelang is measured!" ”
Although Lin Yuelang said so, his current every move can't deceive people.
Lin Jinzhuo looked at Lin Yuelang's hand on his knees and slightly grasping the hem of his skirt, and knew that he couldn't let it go so easily. But Lin Jinzhuo didn't say anything about Lin Yuelang, after all, some things still have to be decided by Lin Yuelang himself.
The carriages of the two mansions walked slowly, all the way to the door of the Yin Kingdom Mansion.
The maidservant waiting in front of the door saw that the carriage of the Chu Mansion was coming, and hurriedly got down from the door to greet her aunt and uncle.
Chu Lin, who got off the carriage first, stood up a little forward, and after Chu Xingluo got down from the carriage by himself, he walked back again, stretched out his arms, and wanted Lin Yueying, who came out after Chu Xingluo, to help his arm and walk down, but Lin Yueying directly grabbed Chu Lin's palm with her left hand and came down.
Lin Yueying was accustomed to this move, but it made Chu Lin entangled.
Lin Yueying got down from the carriage and also stood beside the carriage, and after Chu Lin helped Chu Sheng off the carriage, she stepped forward and helped Luo Jinyu down with Chu Lin.
Although Luo Jinyu let the two of them help him down, he still said with a smile: "Look at you two children, I'll get out of the carriage, I don't need the two of you to help me, I don't know what happened to me!" ”
When Lin Yueying heard Luo Jinyu say this, she hurriedly stuck to Luo Jinyu, and said sadly: "Yueying just wants to stick to her aunt!" ”
Luo Jinyu was overjoyed when she heard Lin Yueying's words, withdrew the hand that was on Chu Lin's arm, looked at Lin Yueying and said, "This is what you said, aunt can write it down!" ”
Lin Yueying only heard Luo Jinyu's superficial words, but she still nodded stupidly. And Chu Lin, who knew exactly what Luo Jinyu was talking about and was completely ignored by Luo Jinyu, was happy and worried on the side.
Chu Xingluo thought that Chu Lin was ignored by Luo Jinyu and was sad, so he came to his side, raised his hand and patted Chu Lin on the shoulder, and persuaded with deep feelings: "I thought that I would be snubbed by my mother, but it turns out that my eldest brother will too!" ”
Chu Lin thought that Chu Xingluo would say something, but he didn't expect that he felt that he was being ignored by Luo Jinyu.
Chu Lin didn't bother to explain the reason to Chu Xingluo, so he let Chu Xingluo think wildly.
Lin Feng, who was driving the carriage, followed the carriage of the Chu Mansion to the Yin Kingdom Mansion.
Lin Feng, who came to the Yin Kingdom Mansion again, looked at the people waiting in front of the door, and was still so unfazed, but it was the first time he came to Lin Yi, and after taking a small bench from the back of the carriage, he also looked at the gate of the tall and majestic Yin Kingdom Mansion from time to time.
Lin Yuelang, who got off the carriage first, intimately helped Lin Jinzhuo get out of the carriage, and then came to the door of the Yin Kingdom Mansion together. But when they heard the conversation between Lin Yueying and Luo Jinyu, Lin Yuelang was immediately displeased, but Lin Jinzhuo patted Lin Yuelang on his hands, signaling him not to show that he hated Chu Mansion too much.
In the back garden of the Yin State Mansion, in the water pavilion with red pillars and green tiles, the Fan family, who came first, surrounded Cen Yuluan with the Luo family, talking and laughing.
changed into a red crane top, with a peach and red crane flying bottom, Xiao Ange with a double cloud bun, sat on Ji Xun's lap, and took a peeled orange from Ji Xun's hand, he didn't eat it, but struggled down from Ji Xun.
Ji Xun didn't force Brother Xiao An to stay, so he gently put her on the ground.
As soon as Brother Xiao An landed, he took small steps, staggered to Cen Yuluan, handed the oranges to Cen Yuluan, and said to Cen Yuluan in a milky voice: "Great-grandmother, eat oranges." ”
Brother An's fleshy little appearance is already very pleasing, and her milky words are even more likable.
Luo Jinmin, who was sitting on Cen Yuluan's left side, bent down slightly, and smiled at Brother Xiao'an: "Our Brother Xiao'an is really a good child, he knows how to honor his great-grandmother at a young age!" ”
Xiao Ange couldn't fully understand Luo Jinmin's words, but he also responded with a smile.
Cen Yuluan took the orange that was twice as big as her fist from Brother Xiao'an's hand, touched her head again, and said to Brother Xiao'an with a smile: "Our little Brother An is so good, we all know that I think about my great-grandmother, and my great-grandmother also has good things for our little Brother An!" ”
Su Xiting, who was standing behind Ji Xun, heard that Cen Yuluan wanted to give something to Brother An, so she hurriedly opened her mouth and politely refused: "Grandmother, Brother An, a child, where can I use any good things?" Besides, Brother An doesn't know what a good thing is, and in the end it will only make her miserable, and her grandmother gives her good things, it's a pity! ”
Brother Xiao An is Su Xiting's heart, Su Xiting can't wait to give Brother Xiao An all the good things in the world, but she doesn't want Cen Yuluan to break the bank every time.
Cen Yuluan saw Su Xiting's refusal, so he said politely: "Your child has seen his grandmother, Brother An is the eldest granddaughter of our Yin Kingdom Mansion, and it is natural to use good things!" ”
Su Xiting's thoughts, Luo Shaoqing couldn't be clearer, but he didn't stand up like Su Xiting and politely reject Cen Yuluan's kindness, but put his hands on Su Xiting's shoulders, signaling that she didn't have to be too outside.
Cen Yuluan turned her face to the left, and Mama Wan, who was standing behind her, hurriedly leaned down and listened to Cen Yuluan's words.
Cen Yuluan said to Mama Wan: "Go, bring the Qianye that Weike sent over a few days ago." ”
"Yes."
Mama Wan answered, turned around and went to Jintuantang, and after a while, she took a small box carved with a crape myrtle flower.
Cen Yuluan took the small box from Mama Wan's hand, took out a gold bracelet tied with three gold bells of different sizes from the box, and said, "This is the bracelet sent by Weike, and the sound is like a thousand leaves, so it is named Qianye." Put this Chiba on Brother An's hand, so that we can know where Brother An is anytime and anywhere. ”
Luo Shaoqing heard Cen Yuluan say this, and thought of Lin Yueying's delicate flower tied at the end of her hair: Isn't this similar to the beautiful flower tied to Yueying at the end of her hair?
Ji Xun picked up Brother Xiao An, and was just about to take over Chiba from Cen Yuluan's hand, but was picked up by Fan Ruojiao, who was standing on Cen Yuluan's right side: "Uncle holds Brother An, let Ruojiao come!" ”
Ji Xun knew that Fan Ruojiao had good intentions, so he didn't refuse, and gently raised Xiao Ange's left hand with his left hand, and asked Fan Ruojiao to gently put Chiba on Xiao Ange's left wrist.
Brother Xiao An felt that his wrist was cold, so he looked at his wrist, and saw that between the bells colliding, there was a sound like a thousand leaves, and he liked it all of a sudden, so he turned his wrist, and the sound like a thousand leaves was even more gloomy.
Everyone saw that Brother Xiao An was having such a good time, and they were all amused by her.
After Fan Ruojiao put on a thousand leaves for Brother Xiao An, she refilled the tea for Cen Yuluan and sent it to Cen Yuluan.
Cen Yuluan looked at Fan Ruojiao, who refilled the tea for herself, and after taking the tea bowl from her, she asked Fan Ruojiao: "Ruojiao is almost eighteen this year, right, can you choose your mother-in-law's house?" ”
Fan Ruojiao didn't think Cen Yuluan would mention this problem, this is a problem she doesn't know how to face now.
Fan Ruojiao replied to Cen Yuluan: "I've seen a few, but none of them are Ruojiao's favorite." ”
This is also Luo Jinyuan's headache.
Luo Jinyuan continued Fan Ruojiao's words: "I don't know if this kid is too high-minded, or unwilling, after watching several, this kid doesn't agree, I don't know if I want to continue to look for her!" ”
No matter what Cen Yuluan says, she can be regarded as reading countless people, and she also sees Fan Ruojiao's thoughts, but she can't let Fan Ruojiao continue to be stubborn.
Cen Yuluan put down the tea bowl, gently took Fan Ruojiao's left hand and stroked it: "Such a good child, it's good to pick and choose." But one day, if you really meet a suitable person who also likes you, you have to grasp it, after all, feelings are such a thing, come when you say it, and leave when you say it, you know? ”
Luo Shaoyuan, who was standing next to Fan Ruojiao, was already displeased when he heard Cen Yuluan ask about Fan Ruojiao's family, and now he was even more unhappy when he heard Cen Yuluan's words.
Cen Yuluan said that the head was the Tao, and there was something in the words, so that Fan Ruojiao couldn't continue.
Luo Jinyuan saw that Fan Ruojiao didn't answer Cen Yuluan's words, so she answered Cen Yuluan for Fan Ruojiao: "Mother, don't worry, this child is clever, if that person really appears, Ruojiao will definitely grasp it!" ”
"That's the best!"
Although Cen Yuluan replied, he still didn't worry about Fan Ruojiao. But Fan Ruojiao is also her granddaughter no matter what she said, and Cen Yuluan couldn't say anything, so she didn't ask again.
The maid who was waiting at the gate of the garden, when she saw Chu Sheng and the others coming, turned around and came to everyone and reported: "Old lady, old man, madam." The eldest aunt, the eldest aunt and the third aunt led a few young masters and young ladies to come! ”
Luo Jinmin faced to the left and said to Fan Liaochen, who was sitting on his left, "Brother Qingyun is late this year!" ”
"Alas, it's not too late, isn't there a lot of people this year?"
Fan Liaochen responded, turned around and looked at the gate of the garden, looking at Chu Qingyun and the others who had just walked into the back garden.