Zhong Niangzi Wanfu

Chapter 10
一
Usually watching fish species flowers and paintings with Wen Shu, Zhong Yan thought that the days would just pass by in such a leisurely way.

Mrs. Zheng had watched Zhong Lan grow up and knew that her engagement was annulled, so she never mentioned Zhong Lan returning home.

However, Chang Huan would sometimes remind her that Wenyi's rural examination was over and it was time to go back if she couldn't find excuses to stay home.

Zhong Lan got a headache when he thought about things at home and kept avoiding the topic.

But she couldn't escape. It was not the Wen family that urged her to go back, but the Zhong family.

Someone from the Zhong family is here - Zhong Qiao, the eldest daughter of the Yue family, comes to the Wen Mansion to take Zhong Lan back.

"Second sister has been bothering Aunt Wen here these days." Zhong Qiao, who was wearing a dark green gown with a long black skirt and a woman's hair bun, smiled and gave Zheng a standard Wanfu salute, with a smile on her face. Her smile was hard to find fault with, she was very much like her mother, Zhong Yan's eldest aunt who came from a wealthy family.

"Miss Zhong, where is this? Sister Yi is here to accompany Sister Shu to supervise Brother Yi's country examination, and Brother Yi has also been honored by Sister Ye in the exam." Mrs. Zheng just kissed Mrs. Zhong and Mrs. Chu He was an acquaintance of Jinlan and was not familiar with the Zhong family's eldest brother, so he only smiled politely at Zhong Qiao.

Zhong Lan saw Zhong Qiao as soon as he entered the door. A trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes, and he and Wen Shu stepped forward to salute: "Eldest sister Zhuang'an."

"Sister Shu is beautiful again." Zhong Qiao first looked at Wen Shu gently.

Wen Shu was also not familiar with Zhong Qiao, so she waited by Zheng's side after Qiao Qiaofu.

"Second sister, you've figured it out." Zhong Qiao stood up and took Zhong Lan's hand, showing the affection between sisters.

"My family misses my second sister very much. Now that Mr. Wen Xiaolang has been elected, when does the second sister plan to go home?"

The corners of Zhong Lan's mouth twitched slightly, and he laughed twice and responded vaguely: "Come on, come on."

The two exchanged a few words in front of Wen's family, Zhong Qiao took Zhong Yan's hand, and excused the two sisters to talk about themselves, so he and Zheng borrowed the backyard of Wen's family to talk.

"Eldest sister, you might as well tell me directly, what are you doing to pick me up in person this time?" Seeing no one around, Zhong Lan smiled at Zhong Qiao, "But what do you want to tell me, eldest aunt?"

"You kid." Zhong Qiao shook his head and sighed, "My mother saw you being annulled by the You family before, so she was so angry that she scolded you."

"Dare I ask if my sister did something wrong when the You family broke off the engagement?" Zhong Lan couldn't help asking.

"Second sister is not wrong," Zhong Qiao held Zhong Lan's arm and said with a soft smile, "So the eldest sister told the younger sister a very good marriage plan, so I came here to tell you."

Looking at Zhong Qiao's appearance, Zhong Lan couldn't help but think of the Yue family.

After marrying the uncle of the Zhong family, the Yue family asked him to purchase land and start a grain business. The business grew bigger and bigger. He renovated the Zhong family's house and recruited slaves. He was determined to make the Zhong family famous in Wuding City and even Danzhou. Guimen,

She also contributed money to provide officials for the first and second houses, so that ordinary people no longer dare to look down on the Zhong family.

As the legitimate daughter of the eldest daughter of the Zhong family, Zhong Qiao was raised as a noble girl by the Yue family since she was a child. The Yue family was very willing to spend money on her and taught her to be proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, although she did not look as good as the Yue family. As elegant and dignified as she is, she is also above average in appearance.

Zhong Qiao married into a high school, and the Yue family also became famous, and they were more willing to boss around Zhong Lan and other juniors in the family.

Zhong Lan has always been the assertive one among the younger members of the Zhong family, and is disliked by the Yue family the most, so the two of them often have harmless verbal conflicts.The same is true of this quarrel.

Zhong Lan came back to his senses and looked at Zhong Qiao who was smiling exactly like Yue Shi in front of him. He frowned and asked suspiciously: "Sister, are you going to be a matchmaker for me?"

"It's not someone else. You've seen him before." Zhong Qiao pursed his lips and smiled, "It's your eldest brother-in-law's second younger brother, Erlang of the Qu family."

"That Qu Erlang who has a birthmark on his face, never talks much, and cries like a child looking for his mother when he doesn't like anything?" Those words were like a bolt from the blue, which shocked Zhong Lan's whole body. I believe this is what Zhong Qiao meant by a good marriage.

"Big sister, how can I say that I am also your sister by blood, how can you be so dishonest?"

After hearing this, Zhong Qiao smiled guiltily: "Although the second uncle has some problems, but regardless of him, as long as you get married, you will be the head wife and mistress of the second wife of the Qu family."

"Besides, the Qu family only has two sons. After a hundred years from my father-in-law and mother-in-law..." Zhong Qiao paused, and the meaning behind his words was self-evident.

"You are not young now. It was because you were related to the You family's baby that they kept you this old. What can we do if the You family is not kind? If you don't get married now, I'm afraid it will be difficult to say good things to you. The marriage is about to happen, what should the sisters at the back of the family do?"

"My mother and I discussed this matter. We have also talked to the second aunt, and the second aunt is also willing. She plans to help the second sister get engaged when she returns. The second sister should think about it carefully."

Zhong Qiao thought he had told Zhong Lan a good marriage that would last a lifetime, so he patted Zhong Lan on the shoulder and said, "I'll wait for you for a day, and we'll go back to Wuding tomorrow."

two

After Zhong Qiao left, Zhong Lan became more and more upset, so he asked Chang Huan to burn wine, and with the help of the wine, he told Wen Shu everything about the Qu family.

"The You family just divorced, and they wanted you to marry so soon?" Wen Shu said angrily, "What's more, it's not like you and I haven't met Qu Jia Erlang. Although we shouldn't care about the concubines, we can't How about I send you a weakling who clings to his mother all day long?"

Zhong Lan didn't say anything, he just leaned on the Eight-Qiao Beauty Chair and stared blankly.

"The second son of the Qu family can't marry." Wen Shu held Zhong Lan's hand with a firm look, "It doesn't matter how famous the Qu family is and how rich it is, you will only get angry if you marry him."

"The Zhong family is not as harmonious as yours. It's not like you don't know who is in charge of the Zhong family now." Zhong Lan rubbed his sore eyes and smiled bitterly, "Do you have a way?"

Wen Shu frowned her delicate eyebrows, and after a long time she made up her mind and took Zhong Lan's hand: "How about I ask my mother to hire someone for your family."

Seeing Zhong Yan's shocked expression, just as she was about to speak, Wen Shu quickly blocked her words: "I know this is a stupid move. But if you can hide for a while, maybe you will find a better one when you go out tomorrow. People also like you, and it saves us trouble."

Looking at Wen Shu, who was racking her brains to think of a way for herself, even if she didn't hesitate to put Wen Yi on her, some warmth flowed through Zhong Lan's chest, warming her cold heart.

But she still pursed her lips and declined Wen Shu's kindness: "Things haven't reached the end yet. I'll think of a way. You wait for my news."

Wen Shu looked embarrassed, but she nodded in agreement and patted Zhong Lan's back gently: "There is always a way."

"If it comes to the end, at worst I'll take you to escape from the marriage."

The two girls looked at each other and smiled, and the atmosphere became more relaxed.

On the last night, Zhong Lan and Wen Shu drank wine and talked until it was slightly light and Wen Shu could not hold on and fell asleep.Zhong Lan didn't feel sleepy, so she wrapped herself in a shirt and went out.

The bright moon has not yet set in the west, and the faint morning light has already spread on the ground.The flowers and plants in the courtyard are still there, with crystal dew hanging on them.

After leaving Wenshu's yard and walking through the corridor, Zhong Lan didn't know where he wanted to go. He just wanted to take a look again and see when he could live forever in the idle time he had enjoyed for more than two months. What about days like this?

She doesn't know either.

"Sister Lan?" A gentle voice brought Zhong Lan back to reality.

Zhong Lai looked intently and saw Shen Feng sitting on a stone bench not far away with a book and staring at him in surprise. His black hair was untied and he was wearing a green shirt hanging loosely on his shoulders. He looked like a scholar alone. Some are thin and sinewy.

"It's Mr. Shen, he got up so early to study." Zhong Lan smiled.

"Sister Lai, why did you get up so early?" Shen Feng put down the book, tied up his clothes, and performed a scholar's ceremony.

"I can't sleep." Zhong Yan sighed, and with the strength of his drink, he became unruly in front of Shen Feng, "I will go home in a few hours."

"I heard from Brother Yi that Sister Lai's family has arranged a marriage?" Shen Feng asked lightly.

"Yes." Zhong Lan gave a bitter smile, "Is it ridiculous? I am the last one to know about my marriage. I really can't do anything about it."

Shen Feng pursed his lips and did not respond.

"Shen Feng." Zhong Lai suddenly thought of something and took two steps forward suddenly, "You said in Chengshan that you would be punished by me. Although you saved me then, I still wanted to make trouble unreasonably."

"Why don't you propose marriage to our family before the Qu family does." Zhong Lan said half-jokingly, but his cheeks were as red as a cloud and his eyes were full of determination and perseverance.

"My eldest aunt is now in charge of the Zhong family. She always has a hand in everything that happens to our children. I have not liked being arranged by her since I was a child, and she does not like me disobeying her decisions. Now it is even more fierce. "

"I don't want to follow the arrangement and marry into the Qu family, let alone Wen Yi. Fortunately, you can't suffer much in this matter. I don't expect to be able to share the case with you. I just ask that you can protect me this time. , I will repay you in the future by making a knot of grass and a ring on my head."

"I'm begging you this time. I will find a way for myself to settle down and make a living. When you find a woman you like or a suitable woman, I will go down to court and ask for her. I will not miss your career."

Zhong Yan took a step closer to Shen Feng every time he said a word. After he finished speaking, he walked to Shen Feng's side. The hot breath with a slight aroma of wine breathed on Shen Feng's neck, and his eyes like torches burned his heart.

three

Zhong Lan didn't know how he got back to the hospital, and he completely forgot who he met and what they said. He only vaguely remembered seeing Shen Feng.

I couldn't think of the reason for the moment, so I just thought it was a dream caused by drinking too much wine.

Zhong Qiao's carriage moved quickly and returned to Wuding City within a day.

Back to the Zhong Mansion where he had been away for more than two months, Zhong Yan was in a daze.

As soon as they returned home, Zhong Qiao took her to greet the Yue family.

With pines, bamboos, orchids and chrysanthemums, a small pond and flowing water, Mrs. Yue's courtyard is quite arty.

When the two arrived, Ms. Yue was leaning on the porch and looking at flowers.

"Sister Lai is back." Mrs. Yue smiled slightly, "Are you getting used to living in the Wen family?"

Seeing that Mrs. Yue's face was calm, and she must have lost her temper, Zhong Lan breathed a sigh of relief and said slightly: "Auntie is well, I'm sorry for your concern."

"While you were not at home, your mother and I finalized a marriage for you, and we will get engaged on the eighth day of the next month. You are already a grown-up. You are the eldest girl in the family, so the family will make a good arrangement for you."

"Then, thank you, auntie." Listening to Yue's tone that left no room for maneuver, the palms of Zhong Lai's sleeves became slightly sweaty.

Back in the room, Zhong Lan lay on the black carved yellow pear wood table, tugging on Chang Huan's sleeve: "What should I do?"

Chang Huan stroked her girl's back distressedly, but there was nothing she could do.

"Second sister!" A childish voice came, causing Zhong Lan to frown. She knew without looking that it was her biological brother who had always been very close to her eldest son and the only male in the Zhong family, Zhong Nan. .

"What to do?" Zhong Lan asked angrily, not in a good mood.

"Did the second sister bring something delicious and fun for Anan when she came back this time?" Zhong Nan held up an exquisite Tiangong ball in his hand. At a glance, he knew it was a fashionable thing from Danzhou Jiqiao Pavilion, "This is a big My elder sister brought it to me, did the second elder sister bring anything else?"

"Fuck you, have you read the book I asked you to review when I left?" One of the reasons why Zhong Lan doesn't like Zhong Qiao is that Zhong Qiao always dotes on Zhong Nan, and he will buy whatever he wants without any bottom line.

When Zhong Nan heard about reading, he instantly felt guilty: "Grandma said it's still too early for me to learn to read. It won't hurt to work harder when I'm older."

"Do you know how many Wen Erlang passed in this provincial examination? You are already ten years old, so it's still too early?" Zhong Yan said angrily, "Are you begging for a beating again?"

Zhong Nan curled his lips and was about to cry.

"Cry?" Zhong Lan sneered, "Cry once and copy the book one more time. I'll count. You can cry."

"You just came back. Why are you angry with your brother? He is not as close to you as Sister Qiao, so you still don't care for him." Mrs. Chu entered the door, hugged Zhong Nan in her arms, frowned and said .

Being choked by his own mother's soft temper, Zhong Lan couldn't help feeling aggrieved, but it was useless to talk about it for ten years. After a while, he just said: "I just want to ask mother, does mother really agree with this marriage in the Qu family?"

Mrs. Chu felt a little guilty and didn't look at Zhong Lan. She just said, "I think your aunt is right."

Just one sentence made her feel a little sour, so she stopped talking.

(End of this chapter)