Peasant Girl Bookseller

Chapter 292 The Opportunity Comes
Mai Xiang looked at the little maid in front of her and wondered, Mrs. Pei would actually send someone here to intercept her, why did she want to find herself?
"Second Mistress, our wife said that she just wanted to have a cup of tea with Second Mistress. There is absolutely no malice."

"Lead the way." Mai Xiang sighed, the one who should come will definitely not be able to escape, if she guessed correctly, the other party must be asking for her, but Mai Xiang doesn't know, what bargaining chip will she use to ask Mai Xiang?
Mai Xiang followed the little maid into a restaurant near the Gongyuan, the maid pushed open the door of a private room, Mrs. Pei changed into a homely and half-worn clothes and sat, with a simple bun on her head, only a simple golden hairpin.

Is this going the civilian route?

"Come on, sit down." Mrs. Pei's tone was indifferent, not overly enthusiastic, but she poured a cup of hot tea for Mai Xiang herself.

Mai Xiang didn't ask much, walked over, sat down, picked up the teacup, and took a sip.

The other party looked at Mai Xiang, and Mai Xiang smiled back.

"Why don't you come to my house?"

"Your home? When?"

When Mrs. Pei heard this, her face softened a little, and she asked, "Didn't your mother tell you?"

"No. But even if she told me, I'm not free. During this time, I'll be serving my husband at home." Mai Xiang was telling the truth, and she didn't intend to get close with Mrs. Pei.

"You, you don't seem to have a good relationship with your mother?" Mrs. Pei asked, staring into Mai Xiang's eyes.

Mai Xiang didn't like the probing eyes of the other party, so she thought for a while and asked, "Is Mrs. Pei interested in our Wan family's housework?"

"No, I'm just curious and want to know why?"

Mai Xiang smiled and said, "Does Mrs. Pei have any sons and daughters?"

In fact, Mai Xiang had already inquired about it. Mr. Pei has only one wife. In front of outsiders, the two are a model couple with deep affection. Mrs. Pei gave birth to two sons and one daughter, and they have already married and separated.

Mai Xiang guessed that Mrs. Pei should be aware of her husband's hobbies, and the reason why she let him go was probably an agreement between the two of them.

Of course, this is just Mai Xiang's guess, the truth is unknown.

However, when Mrs. Pei heard Mai Xiang's question, she looked at Mai Xiang for a few seconds, and then smiled: "No, our family doesn't have such messy things."

"Oh, that little girl really wants to congratulate Madam. I heard that most of the men eat from the bowl and look into the pot. There are not many people who are as clean and self-conscious as Mr. Pei nowadays."

"Eh? Not much." Mrs. Pei picked up her teacup and took a sip to hide her panic. What did the little girl mean by this?Whether she is clear or not.

Thinking of this, she raised her eyelids and glanced at Mai Xiang, seeing that Mai Xiang was looking at her with a slight smile, Mrs. Pei immediately lost her composure.

"Are you really from the countryside?"

"If it's a fake replacement."

"No wonder." Mrs. Pei nodded, but she didn't say what was the reason.

Mai Xiang saw that the other party hadn't talked about the topic for a long time, and she was a little impatient to socialize with her. Just about to propose to leave, the other party suddenly said: "Let's come here first today, and I will invite you out for dinner another day."

Mai Xiang looked at the other party and felt a little surprised. This woman called herself over and said some inexplicable words without any real point. Why?
"Okay, how about I be the host next time. Last time I received a big gift from my wife for no reason. The little girl is still a little uneasy." Mai Xiang later took a closer look at Mrs. Pei's pair of bracelets, at least more than a hundred taels of silver.

"There's no need for this, it's all about returning to the original owner."

"Return it to its original owner?" Mai Xiang understood just after asking, it was a gift from the Jiang family.No wonder Jiang was so dissatisfied when he saw her in those days, but then again, Mai Xiang cost her more than 1000 taels of silver, not bad for the 200 taels.

However, Mrs. Pei's intention is worthy of Mai Xiang's careful consideration.

After leaving Mrs. Pei, Mai Xiang didn't go back to Wan's house directly, but went into the University Scholars' Mansion. She wanted to ask Acton if there was any change in Mrs. Pei recently. Otherwise, what would happen to her with the fat in her mouth? Are you willing to spit it out?
Unexpectedly, it happened that Acton was not at home, but Mai Xiang knew from Amusin's mother that Mrs. Pei had handed over invitations several times since years ago, because Acton left a message and did not let her in. What to say.

Mai Xiang couldn't find the answer, seeing that it was getting late, she had to go home first.

For a few days, Mai Xiang temporarily put this matter down because she was busy with Huai Ci's examination. Unexpectedly, when Mai Xiang sent Huai Ci to the Tribute Court for the last time on the [-]th, Acton sent someone to pick up Mai Ci. Xiang went to the scholar's mansion.

It turned out that Mr. Pei's term of office was about to expire, and this year was in a critical assessment period. If the assessment was excellent, then he was likely to be promoted to a higher level, and the official in charge of assessing him was Acton.

"I heard that you came to inquire about Pei's family a few days ago. Do you know something, or was someone entrusting you to intervene?" Acton asked.

"My lord, I want to know what your conclusion is?" Mai Xiang asked.

"Son, you can just call me grandfather. You and I don't need to treat each other like this. If you have anything to say, just say it." Acton now treats Mai Xiang as his granddaughter.

"Grandfather, Mrs. Pei had a cup of tea with me a few days ago, and a few days ago, when we met for the first time, she gave me a pair of bracelets worth 200 taels, but she didn't intercede with me directly."

Mai Xiang then told what she knew about the Wan family and the Pei family. If she guessed correctly, the Wan family had given the Pei family tens of thousands of taels of silver over the years.

"To be honest, I had a pretty good impression of Mr. Pei. Although I have heard some indecent rumors about him, they are just rumors. However, if you really want to investigate this bribery, the Wan family may not I can't escape. I think that pair of bracelets is her hint to you." Acton stroked his beard, pondered for a while, and said.

If it only involved Wan Chengyao, he wouldn't be in a difficult situation. The problem is that at this time, it is the time when Huaici will take the exam. If he wins the gongshi, then the Jinluan palace exam will definitely be a stain on him.

Mai Xiang was dumbfounded when she heard it, she really didn't think so far, she just thought it was a simple greeting ceremony, who knew there were so many complicated twists and turns in it?
"Grandfather, since he is taking bribes, it must be more than Wan's family. Moreover, I have a very bad impression of Mr. Pei. I always feel that he is a bad guy who hides deep, a big bad guy." Mai Xiang salivated when he saw Huai Ci The appearance of three feet feels disgusting.

Acton looked at Mai Xiang, and Mai Xiang turned his head away, "Anyway, he is not a good person and cannot be promoted."

"You still have something to hide from me?"

"I, I, no." Mai Xiang didn't want to confess Huai Ci, it was too humiliating.

"Okay, I get it, no matter what he offended you for, I hope I can seek justice for you." Acton promised Mai Xiang.

"Thank you grandfather for making it happen." Mai Xiang was not pretentious, knelt down and kowtowed three times.

Because she understood that if Huaici really had the strength to deal with Mr. Pei, it might not be a year of the monkey.If Acton didn't stop him this time, he would be a second-rank official soon, and even if Huaici could win a first-rank, he would be a seventh-rank official. In 30 years, this is still a situation where everything is going well and there are backgrounds and connections.

Seeing that Mai Xiang was so solemn, Acton knew in his heart that the child must have something to hide. Thinking of those rumors, Huai Ci's face, and Wan Jia's bribery, he couldn't help but think about that. .

"Son, get up, I understand, don't worry." Acton helped Mai Xiang up.

After coming out of the scholar's mansion, Mai Xiang went back to her mother's house again. Unexpectedly, all the Ye family members went back to the countryside. It means that the child is fifteen, and she must pay homage to the Bodhisattva for Huaici. In addition, the Liu family will also go back to do the calculations for Jiufeng. Horoscope, see if this marriage is compatible.

Mai Xiang went back to Huaiyuan to look at the birch leaves. Seeing that the sky was almost getting dark, she returned to Wan's house and found Mrs. Pei sitting in the upper room joking with the old lady.

Just as Mai Xiang was about to salute and say hello, Jiang stepped forward and took Mai Xiang's hand and said affectionately, "Daughter-in-law Zhiyuan, why did you come back after being away for a long time? Have you eaten yet? Do you want to make up with some snacks first?"

Mai Xiang wanted to pull her hand out, but the harder she tried, Jiang's grip became tighter, so Mai Xiang had to give up.

"Ma'am, is there any happy event today?" Mai Xiang had no choice but to accompany her on the show.

"Hey, what can I have a happy event? Of course it's Zhiyuan, and if he comes out after another day tomorrow, he might be a tribute. Isn't that a happy event?"

The old lady was happy when she heard this, and waved to Mai Xiang, Jiang had no choice but to let go of Mai Xiang, and Mai Xiang sat beside the old lady, that is, opposite Mrs. Pei.

"Why is Madam free to come over today?" Mai Xiang asked with a smile.

"I happened to drop by here today and passed by your house. I remembered that I had a good time talking with the old lady last time, so I went in to see the old man. I just told the old man. Don't think I'm reckless. I came here uninvited. .” Mrs. Pei smiled gracefully.

"Where, please still not move." Naturally, the old lady would not simply think that the other party really just came to see her.

"By the way, I just heard from your mother that you are going to send your husband-in-law into the examination room again. I didn't expect you two to have such a good relationship. It's really enviable."

"Perhaps I can still believe what others say. Mrs. Pei's words are a little insincere. Mr. Pei and Mrs. Pei have been married for decades. They are really enviable model couples." Mai Xiang laughed.

"Old lady, your little granddaughter-in-law is really eloquent. No matter what you say, she will always have a set of words waiting for you."

"That's right, this kid has nothing else wrong with him, but he's stubborn when he speaks straightforwardly." Jiang added from the side.

"Okay. Let's stop making fun of the child. I wonder if I can have the honor to see your new house?" Mrs. Pei asked.

The old lady and Jiang were taken aback when they heard this, did she come here specially to find Mai Xiang?
(End of this chapter)