Peasant Girl Bookseller

Chapter 143 Empty Promise
Everyone had their own thoughts about this meal, and Mrs. Wan wanted to consider Mai Xiang, otherwise, she would not have agreed to eat this meal in the country, and Mai Xiang had been thinking about it. When the other party does not speak, he can clearly convey his meaning, and try not to hurt the dignity of the two families.

Unexpectedly, before Mai Xiang could speak, Ye Dafu said on the kang table in the next room with the help of wine, "Brother, I heard that your son is already engaged. Congratulations, is the date of marriage set?"

"Not yet. He's only seventeen this year, so it won't be until next year."

"It's better for the elder brother to hurry up. The elder brother is walking ahead of me again. I am still early. My daughter said it was eleven, but in fact she just turned nine years old. The wife next door said that it is not good for a girl's family to get married too early. My daughter will talk about it when she is seventeen or eighteen."

Wan Chengyao understood what Ye Dafu said, my daughter will remarry on the 23th or [-]th, and if your son can afford to wait, he will have to wait until the [-]rd. This is a disguised rejection of Wan Chengyao.

Boys get married later, and generally there are very few who are not married after the age of 20. Is it possible for his son to wait another seven or eight years?

Wan Chengyao didn't really mean to become in-laws with Ye Dafu, he just came here for the sake of his parents' face, how can he say that Wan Chengyao is now a sixth-rank Beijing official, he can still go up Well, no matter how well Mai Xiang put it, she was born as an authentic village girl.

"Yeah, this child is getting older, and there are more and more things to worry about. The second brother can still be free for a few years. My two sons are about the same age, and they are all things in front of me. No, your sister-in-law has already started to go around. I searched for it."

After hearing this, Ye Dafu put his heart in his stomach, raised his cup and said, "Then congratulate elder brother in advance, the family of elder brother has been full of joy and good things in the past few years, I hope elder brother will go higher and higher, and go smoother and smoother. "

Ye Tiezhu on the side was not happy when he heard it. He thought that Wan Chengyao came to apologize this time, because Wan Baocai revealed this meaning. He still values ​​the promise of the two back then, and hopes to keep his promise. And from Ye Tiezhu's heart, he also hopes that Mai Xiang can marry into Wan's family and support Ye's family in the future, but he didn't expect that it was just wishful thinking of the two old people.

Mai Xiang was relieved when she heard the news. She was afraid that the Ye family would randomly decide her life with a matchmaker's order from her parents. It would be several years before she believed that she would not meet a suitable person.

Putting down these messy things, Mai Xiang took the five blessings and eight blessings and started to get busy. She first asked Cao Xueqin to write a "Fu Yunlai" door plaque, let the five blessings hang on the gate, and then hit a few in the open space outside the door. At the same time, a green flag was hung.

In the entrance hall is an exhibition hall, with various handicrafts hanging on the walls, and two rooms in the wing room are reserved for female relatives. Mai Xiang also specially hung the lucky star curtains and wind chimes.

After arranging these things, Mai Xiang made another list, Wu Fu took Ba Fu to the town to purchase several times, Mai Xiang drew up another menu, and asked Cao Xueqin to transcribe it, now everything is ready, just need to pick a good day to open up.

In a blink of an eye, it was the Lantern Festival on the 15th of the first lunar month, and Jiufeng came to look for Mai Xiang early in the morning, saying that he wanted to see the lanterns.

"Where should I go to see the lanterns?" Mai Xiang had no memory of hearing that there were lanterns anywhere, except the capital city.

"I heard that this year, Tong's family in Changning Town and Wan's family in Changhe Town will hold a lantern show. My father and mother said they would take me to stay in Wan's family for a few days. It happened to watch the lanterns. I want you to accompany me there."

"I dont go."

"Mai Xiang, are you still thinking about that? I heard that the young masters of the Wan family are all engaged, and they don't mean that at all. From now on, the two families will only be relatives." Jiufeng wanted to bring a female companion to her. , so I want to lobby Mai Xiang.

The last time I went to Wan's house, old lady Wan sent her two granddaughters to greet Jiufeng, but Jiufeng had nothing in common with the other party, and they didn't like Jiufeng at all, so Jiufeng was bored in Wan's house for several days. It was only this time that she wanted to take Mai Xiang with her, because with Mai Xiang around, she knew she couldn't suffer.

"Grandma, what are you talking about? Those who are engaged or not have half a penny to me? If you want to go by yourself, don't drag me."

Mai Xiang was really angry. Judging from what Jiufeng said, it seemed that Mai Xiang was wishful thinking.

In fact, I don't blame Jiufeng. Jiufeng is just a 12-year-old child who was held in the hands of her parents and elder brothers since she was a child. How could she think so carefully? After all, Mai Xiang is the soul of a 20-year-old adult. Naturally it is different.

Jiufeng had never seen Mai Xiang lose her temper so much to her, and she couldn't get off the stage for a while, standing there, looking at Ye Dafu with tears in her eyes.

Seeing this, Ye Dafu couldn't bear it, thought for a while, and said, "Feng, it's really inappropriate for Mai Xiang to go, so don't mention this matter again in the future. If you want to find a companion, let Mai Huang accompany you there." Bar."

Ye Dafu also saw that he and Wan Chengyao had already talked about it that day, and the two families would walk around as brothers in the future, so he thought of letting Mai Huang go on this trip. Anyway, the Wan family didn't have much interest in Mai Huang.

"Okay, I'll follow the elder brother's order." Jiufeng knew that there was a step and went down.

Mai Huang has never had a chance to go out to visit the Zhao family at such a young age, so this time when Ye Dafu asked her to visit Wan's house, she hastily packed her things. She is only a nine-year-old child, and she I don't think so far and so much, I just feel that it is a happy thing to be able to go out as a guest.

"Mai Huang, let me tell you, when you go to someone else's house, you can ask for red envelopes and other things, but you are not allowed to take any other valuable things, understand?" Mai Xiang was worried, and reminded Mai Huang when she went out.

"understood."

"Also, don't ask what you shouldn't ask, and don't inquire about what you shouldn't." Mai Xiang warned again.

"Understood, big sister, do you think I'm still as ignorant as before?" Mai Huang's heart was already jumping for joy, why would he still be interested in listening to Mai Huang's nagging?

Mai Xiang sends Mai Huang away, thinking that today is the Lantern Festival, she abducts to Cao's house, she wants to find Liu Huilan to make some glutinous rice balls together, Mai Xiang misses the taste of hometown.

The Cao family bought a woman a few days ago, sent by Dun Min, from Jiangning, surnamed Liu, who cooks excellent dishes, it seems that the owner committed a crime and was sold, because she was a little too old People are willing to let Dunmin pick it up.

"Grandma Liu, have you made glutinous rice balls?" Mai Xiang asked with a smile when she saw that it was Mrs. Liu who opened the door.

"Not yet, go and see your wife first." Mrs. Liu said in a low voice.

When Mai Xiang heard this, she thought that something had happened to Liu Huilan, and hurried into Liu Huilan's room. Liu Huilan was looking through things, and there were a lot of men's clothes on the kang.

"Master, what are you?"

"Your husband plans to go out the day after tomorrow, so I'll pack my luggage."

"Mr.'s health has just improved a little bit, and he hasn't recovered yet. How can he go out like this?"

As soon as Mai Xiang finished asking, he thought that Cao Xueqin must be thinking about Li's cousin, Li Ding and his wife are both old, and they have no reliance and no source of income in the south, so how can he feel at ease after such a long time? Can you?
Presumably Liu Huilan also considered this point. This cousin of the Li family will not come back for a day, and Cao Xueqin will not be able to relax for a day. It is better to let him go this way. No matter what the result is, he will give up, and she, too. You can feel at ease.

"You tell your husband about this." Liu Huilan said angrily.

"What does Mai Xiang want to tell me?" Cao Xueqin just opened the door curtain and came in, hearing Liu Huilan's complaint.

"I said that I also want to go to the south of the Yangtze River with my husband." Mai Xiang changed the subject. What's the use of her persuasion for something that has already been decided?

After Cao Xueqin heard this, she looked at Liu Huilan, patted Mai Xiang on the head, and said, "Take care of my wife and your younger brother at home for my husband, and wait for my husband to come back. I will take your wife to Jiangnan when I have a chance to play." .”

Mai Xiang turned her lips away when she heard this, and said with a smile: "Sir, you really know how to make empty promises. It's not about going to the capital, but going to the south of the Yangtze River."

Mai Xiang knows how difficult it is to travel far in this era.

"What happened to Jiangnan? Your wife is also thinking about it. If the child is not too young this time, I will take your wife back with you. Don't worry, there will definitely be opportunities in the future."

"Understood, sir, sir, you must go early and come back early. Mistress and junior brother are still waiting for you at home." Mai Xiang glanced at Liu Huilan with red eyes, feeling quite uncomfortable.

I just don't know how Cao Xueqin will arrange for this cousin after she brings her back.
"Master, today is the Lantern Festival. I heard that there are lanterns in Changning Town, why don't we go out together." Mai Xiang wanted to take Liu Huilan out to relax. Anyway, there is already a mother-in-law at home who can help look after the children.

"Don't talk about that." Liu Huilan glanced at Cao Xueqin after hearing this.

Cao Xueqin's face sank for a few seconds, and then he returned to normal, and said, "You can go if you want, don't worry about me." After speaking, he lifted the curtain and went out.

"Master, what is this, sir?" Mai Xiang was a little at a loss, as if she had never seen Cao Xueqin shake her face since she met Cao Xueqin.

"Son, your husband's family has encountered catastrophe several times, and it's all related to the Lantern Festival. In the future, don't talk about this topic."

As soon as Liu Huilan's voice fell, Cao Xueqin lifted the curtain and came in again. Her expression had returned to normal, and she said, "Am I so unbearable? It's been all these years, what else can I not let go of? Mai Xiang, don't listen to your teacher's nonsense. .I have asked Granny Liu to make some glutinous rice balls for us in the south, and make a few snacks. We will also have a good Lantern Festival today. In the evening, I will take you to see the lanterns."

"Really go to see the lanterns?" Liu Huilan couldn't believe what Cao Xueqin said for a while, but she quickly realized that Cao Xueqin was making some compensation for her trip in the future, because he didn't know what would happen when he went out. what.

Thinking of this, Liu Huilan's eyes turned red again.

"Second Master, what are you?"

"No other meaning, don't worry. It's just that I haven't taken you out for a long time. You have suffered with me all these years. The days are just a little bit better. I'm going to go on a long trip again. I don't know yet..."

"I know, stop talking. Mai Xiang and I will prepare food and drinks for you, and we will accompany you out tonight." Liu Huilan hurriedly covered Cao Xueqin's mouth.

"Sir, Mrs. Mistress, it's better for you two to go and have fun, and I won't make trouble." Seeing that the two of them will be separated for a long time, Mai Xiang couldn't bear to disturb them.

(End of this chapter)