The young man stopped his horse in front of the door of the hanging flowers, turned over and dismounted, and handed the horse to the little man who came to lead the horse after him.

There was a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl standing at the door of the weeping flower, with a beautiful face, holding a purple fox fur embroidered with the Wufu longevity pattern in her hand, and she stepped forward with a smile, and said while putting on a big coat for him: "Uncle is back alone?" ”

Chu Ping nodded in response, took the big coat she put on, and pulled the collar forward: "Grandmother is sick, I have to come back to see, it's too cold, my grandmother will stay with Brother Kuo and Yanran for a few more days." ”

As he spoke, he was about to go inside, when he suddenly heard a noise at the outer door, Chu Ping paused, stood on the steps of the Hanging Flower Gate and looked out, only to see a woman wearing red and green who was arguing with the white steward about something.

Chu Ping wrinkled his brows, and suddenly saw the carriage that stopped beside the white steward, lifted the curtain, and walked down a young girl.

She is dressed exquisitely and gorgeously, her manners are elegant and charming, the sun shines through the first melting snow on her white cheeks, two broken hair is scattered on her forehead, her eyebrows are picturesque, except for a little vermilion cherry lips, it seems that she does not apply powder, but the clean and clear appearance suddenly reflects Chu Ping's eyes.

"Second aunt, forget it, let's go back first, since the old lady is still sick, when the old lady is better, we will come back to visit." Tao Yao stepped forward and persuaded the Shaw Brothers with good words.

Shao Shi was excited by the housekeeper's words, where is he willing to do it.

The big girl beside Chu Ping saw that Chu Ping didn't leave, and she also poked her head out to look out: "What are you looking at?" ”

Chu Ping wrinkled his brows slightly: "I don't know what I'm messing with, Qiu Yue, you go and ask." ”

The maid called Qiuyue should go out, but Chu Ping didn't stop at the door for long, and walked back to the inner courtyard.

The Chu family is a four-entry house, because the family population is not large, the old lady and the old lady live in the main hall in the backyard, and the Chu Ping brothers and sisters should have lived in the front yard and live with the old lady, but the old lady likes grandchildren, so she has been letting the three of them live in the backyard with their grandmother.

Brother and sister Chu Ping were invited to live at their grandfather's house for a few days during the three festivals, and yesterday they heard that their grandmother was sick, so Chu Ping rushed back first, and now the first thing is to go to the old lady of the Chu family to say goodbye.

Chu Ping walked through the verandah, from the front yard to the backyard, the little maid gave the curtain of the main hall felt, and asked Chu Ping to hurry into the house to roast the fire: "The old lady is thinking about the uncle, you will come back." ”

There is a plaque hanging in this main hall, with the inscription "Jiale Hall", and smokeless carbon is burned in the charcoal cage carved in the house, which reflects the warmth of the whole room.

Chu Ping casually untied the big coat on his body and handed it to the maid forsythia on the side: "Is the old lady better?" ”

Forsythia said: "I just took medicine and lay down, and I am already much better." ”

Chu Ping nodded, only then was he relieved, and when his hands were not so cold, Chu Ping walked inside and sat on the small stool next to the bed of the old lady of the Chu family: "Grandmother, are you better?" ”

The old lady of the Chu family was also happy when she saw that it was Chu Ping who came back, and stretched out her hand to pull Chu Ping's hand: "Why are you still in a hurry to come back, if you don't stay at your grandmother's house for a few more days, it will be rare for you to go back." It's so cold outside, it's not freezing. ”

Chu Ping held the old lady's hand and said with a smile: "It's not freezing, you see, my hands are still hot." It's you, what's the cold? ”

The old lady touched Chu Ping's hand and was really warm, so she was relieved: "Hey, I'm fine, it snowed yesterday, I haven't seen such a big snow for many years, go to the yard with your grandfather to enjoy the snow, the wind fluttered all of a sudden, a little sick, the doctor said it's okay, just take two pairs of medicine." ”

"You can enjoy the snow in the house with the stove and ask them to open the curtain, and you don't have to go outside." Chu Ping persuaded, "When my father and mother were leaving, I repeatedly told me to take care of you and my grandfather, you see that it has only been a few days, I went out to play, and you are sick, and when my father comes back, will you not punish me for kneeling in the ancestral hall?" If you take care of yourself, you just feel sorry for me. ”

The old lady smiled and took Chu Ping's hand and patted it: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, we won't let your father know." Our brother Ping is so sensible and filial, but your father, at such an old age, the business under his hand is not well handled, and he has to go to Panyu for the New Year, so he can't have a good New Year with us. ”

Chu Ping comforted: "It's not easy to do business, my father works hard to make money to support this family, don't blame him." ”

"Hmph," the old lady didn't say anything more, but asked again, "I heard that your second aunt's cousin is back?" He was newly promoted last year, so you should get along with him more and ask him more for advice. ”

Chu Ping's eyes dimmed a little, and he only nodded in response: "Hey, I know, the third cousin originally planned to come with me to visit my grandmother, but I heard that my grandmother was sick, so I didn't dare to let him come over, for fear of disturbing my grandmother's recuperation, I have already told him that I will hold a banquet in Tianxianglou the day after tomorrow and invite my cousin to dinner."

My father and mother are not at home, and my grandmother is sick, so I won't let him come to the house to make trouble with you, and then invite my cousin to come to the house to sit when you are better. ”

The old lady nodded and said, "It's okay, Brother Ping, you don't have to be discouraged, you can always be admitted after studying for another three years." ”

The thorn in Chu Ping's heart seemed to be teased again, and with a bitter smile on his face, he only responded: "Yes." Grandmother, you just took the medicine, sleep for a while, and you'll be well soon. ”

Chu Ping settled the old lady to sleep, and then went out of the main hall and went to the east wing where he lived.

The snow crystal outside was dripping from the eaves, Chu Ping stood in the room for a while, then entered his east room, picked up the book on the table and began to read, but the words on the book could not enter his eyes.

At the age of fourteen, he was admitted to Xiucai, and he was full of spirit, which coincided with that year, which was the year of the triennial township examination.

Now that I have been preparing for three years, I went to take the exam again, and my cousin was admitted, but I failed again.

Chu Ping was quite devastated.

Before leaving, his mother Cao said to him that if he studied too hard, he would not read, and he still needed to take over the huge family business in the family.

But Chu Ping was unwilling, he wanted to try again.

Chu Ping reached out and took the teacup next to his table, but found that the teacup was empty.

Chu Ping called: "Qiuyue, pour tea." ”

The house and the courtyard were silent.

Chu Ping put down the book, got up, and took the teapot to the round table in the hall to pour water, but found that the teapot was also empty.

"Autumn Moon, Autumn Moon?" Chu Ping shouted twice.

Outside, a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl Xiao Cui ran in: "Uncle, are you looking for Sister Qiuyue?" She heard that you came back today and went to the second gate to meet you, but she hasn't come back yet, haven't you seen her? ”

Only then did Chu Ping remember what happened in the Weeping Flower Gate just now: "Oh, I asked her to inquire, why hasn't she come back for so long?" ”

Xiao Cui's eyes widened with curiosity: "What did Uncle ask Sister Qiuyue to inquire?" ”