Sunlight shone through the branches and leaves of the trees and shone on the green stones in the alley, sprinkling the figures and smiles of the three with a golden hue. Looking from afar, it was like the joyous scene of old friends reuniting in the spring of February.
"… Because of the promotion that year, I followed my father to Bianjing … My father is now in charge of the Ministry of Revenue … At that time, I had just arrived in Bianjing and was unfamiliar with the people and the place. I was also ignorant and made quite a few jokes. But then again, the atmosphere of the capital is indeed different from that of Jiangning. At this time, it is hard to say clearly. If Brother Ning is free in the future, you must find time to visit Bianjing. At that time, I can also be your host and do my best as a host …"
"Actually, when I went to Bianjing, the most surprising thing was... meeting with Brother Wang. Actually, Brother Ning may not know, but Wang... Brother Wang grew up in Bianjing. He was the real host. When I went there, I received a lot of care from Brother Wang. Haha... Oh, looking at Brother Ning, it seems like you don't remember much about the things that happened here in the past... "
The chatter continued, and the one who spoke was the enthusiastic Yu Ho-chung. His words more or less proudly expressed his father's official status. The head of the Ministry of Revenue was a secondary sixth-rank official title. It wasn't a high position, but to the common people, it was a high position that they could only look up to. For a bookworm like Ning Yi, it was likely that he would not be able to reach it even if he studied for a lifetime. And because his father was an official in the Ministry of Revenue, as long as he was a bit more resourceful and had some connections, it would not be difficult for Yu Ho-chung to get a position in the future.
Everyone talked for a while. Yu Ho-chung also noticed that Ning Yi did not seem to have too many memories of the past. Otherwise, he would probably have some impression of this Miss Wang. He said a few words, and then casually asked about the recent whereabouts of a certain person nearby. Naturally, Ning Yi had no clue, but he smiled and said, "Do you still remember Chen Sifeng? I graduated from high school last year, and now I'm also working in the Ministry of Revenue. When Brother Ning goes to Bianjing, we can find him for a gathering. "Presumably, that Chen Sifeng was also someone Ning Yi knew in the past.
The three of them talked and laughed. Yu Ho-chung probably thought that Ning Yi had failed in the imperial examinations and was living a poor life. Moreover, he was in front of a woman named Wang, so he occasionally showed a sense of superiority. In fact, this was human nature. After all, everyone had a desire to show off. If one were to give face to others the moment they met, unless he was a rare gentleman, he would be someone like Puyang Yi who believed in the teachings of a merchant. Of course, to be honest, in front of people like Puyang Yi, as long as you were prepared for your own position, it would be very easy to get along with them. Ning Yi liked him as well. However, Yu Ho-chung was obviously just an ordinary person. It was not unusual for him to show off occasionally. Ning Yi only found it interesting to watch.
However, what caught people's attention was a woman named Wang, who did not speak much. Throughout the whole process, she had basically been smiling at the side. She felt a little nostalgic towards the small alley around them and the things that Yu Ho-chung occasionally talked about. When Yu Ho-chung talked about the past, she would occasionally chime in with a sentence or two. The rest of the time, she would listen quietly. This kind of response was standard and not unusual. However, what caught Ning Yi's attention was that every time Yu Ho-chung showed off, if it was only about himself, she would smile and nod, adding flowers to brocade. However, if it was incidentally to stand out or secretly ridicule Ning Yi, her gaze would always stay elsewhere. She would show a slightly absent-minded look and would never give any hint to chime in.
This was very interesting.
In a normal banquet or gathering, there would always be a host, or there would always be someone who was valued. When someone showed off and showed off, the host would chime in, and the other party would feel very honored. However, if the two guests had opposing attitudes, how to maintain a neutral attitude, whether to appear fair or to smooth things over, and not to make someone hate you, this was all a very profound knowledge.
This woman did not care about her old friend's bragging. She would even show an attitude of pride to praise the other party. However, if Yu Ho-chung wanted to use a subtle method to belittle Ning Yi in front of her, she would use this subtle method to maintain her independence and not participate in it. Of course, because she was more familiar with Yu Ho-chung, she would not carelessly interfere with him. She had a good sense of likes and dislikes, as well as closeness and distance.
If she only showed this subtle method once or twice, then it was something that ordinary people could do. However, if she could do it every time, then it would be very thought-provoking.
This woman should have a very good upbringing. She should also have … a circle that was enough for her upbringing to be tempered and displayed. To be honest, in this day and age, there were not many opportunities for women to show their faces in public. For example, his own wife, Su Tan'er, had a good upbringing. In a certain circle, she could play with money and power, and had a good grasp of people's hearts. However, compared to this woman in front of him, Su Tan'er seemed to be a little sharper. In some aspects, she was still not tactful enough.
Among the women he knew, Jin'er and Yun Zhu had been in a brothel before. They had also been tempered in this aspect, and both of them had ways to deal with other people's relationships. However, Jin'er was relatively lively. She often used her vitality to push away the ill feelings in other people's hearts. On the other hand, Yun Zhu was gentle, but she was noble and aloof on the inside. After spending a long time with her, it was hard to avoid feeling the tenacity and sharpness inside. This woman's simple smile made Ning Yi feel a similar temperament as Puyang Yi.
It was just similar, but it didn't mean that she was that good. Of course, it was impossible to understand a person in a few words. Ning Yi chatted with his two "old friends" for a while. When they turned to leave, a figure walked out of the slightly dilapidated courtyard door. "Ah, son-in-law, you are here."
It was Xiaochan, who had already finished cleaning the room. She came out while wiping the beads of sweat on her forehead. She was dressed in a small flowery coat today. It seemed that she had the temperament of a pretty daughter from a humble family. When she saw the two people talking to the son-in-law at the door, she made an "uh" sound and stood behind Ning Yi. Xiaochan was also beautiful. When the two people saw her, they were slightly stunned. Then, Yu Ho-chung smiled and said, "Oh, this is sister-in-law?"
The woman with the surname Wang was still dressed in men's clothing, so she first bowed. "Is this sister-in-law?"
The titles of sister-in-law and sister-in-law probably made Xiao Chan very vain. Her eyes swiveled, and amidst her slight surprise, there was also a bit of happiness. Afterwards, she looked at Ning Yi, and leaned towards him: "Uh, no, I'm son-in-law's servant girl, my name is Chan 'er. You two … young masters are?"
"We are old friends of the Young Master Ning. I used to live there …" Knowing that she was a maid, there was no need to solemnly introduce her name. After greeting them, Xiaochan didn't say much. They chatted for a while more before Wang and Yu finally turned to leave. Ning Yi and Xiaochan watched their backs. Xiaochan said, "Son-in-law remembers the past? Oh, that's right … that Young Master Wang is a woman. "
"Even a fool can see that." Ning Yi smiled and patted her head. "I don't know her. It's just that they used to live here and remembered me. So, they came to greet me. They probably remember this courtyard …"
This courtyard looked really shabby at this moment. The lintel on the door was shabby. It had only been two months since the end of the year, but there were no wedding paintings or couplets hanging on the door. It was out of place with the surrounding houses and courtyards. Ning Yi looked at himself. There were dust and stains on his clothes, and he couldn't help but shake his head and smile. Xiaochan looked around and thought of something. She said, "Xiaochan will ask someone to renovate the courtyard tomorrow." She thought for a while and smiled. "I really want to know what son-in-law was like here before …"
"I heard that he was a bookworm …" Ning Yi smiled and looked at Xiaochan. "Don't say that you don't know. You know it better than me. Didn't Tan'Er choose me because of this … now that the goods aren't right, she must be regretting it … Tsk, poor Xi Junyu …"
"Hee, that's because Miss has good taste … and Chan'Er didn't dare to speak at that time. Miss was very serious at that time …"
The little servant girl began to chatter about the interesting things that happened before the marriage. The two turned and walked into the courtyard.
On the other side, Wang and Yu went through the courtyards one by one. In fact, when they left Jiangning, the two were still young. Although they had some memories now, they only remembered some of their childhood companions here. Yu Ho-chung was relatively more familiar with them. He left for a while and knocked on a few doors according to his memory. When he ran back, a woman named Wang was looking inside the courtyard that she used to live in. However, that courtyard had long been occupied by someone else. Yu Ho-chung smiled. "I don't remember too many people from the past. When I asked just now, I actually knew one of them. After chatting for a while, I asked about that Xiaoning. Guess what?"
He kept her in suspense. A woman named Wang didn't ask directly. She just lowered her head and thought. "That servant girl of his is very beautiful. Her clothes are also very good. I'm afraid that she won't live in that courtyard for the next few years?"
"Yes, the person I knew just now didn't live here for long, so I'm not very clear. I only remembered when he pointed at that courtyard. He said that the owner of that house had married into his family. The woman's family is a cloth merchant. I heard that they are very rich. At that time, it was quite lively …"
A woman named Wang looked in that direction. "That's not bad …"
"Cough, I was a little forgetful just now. I shouldn't have asked him about the imperial examinations. Since he's a son-in-law, I think he won't be able to take the examinations … It's just that it's hard to imagine that he would marry into his family. Sigh …" Yu Ho-chung sighed.
"In life, there will always be situations where we can't do as we please …"
"Uh, I'll come back in a few days. I'll ask cousin about those people. Oh, Shishi, why don't we invite him out for a gathering in a few days? We can just meet as good friends. Maybe it will be beneficial to him? "
As Yu Ho-chung said this, his eyes were fixed on the woman named Shishi. However, she smiled and shook her head. "If you and Chen Sifeng invite him out for a gathering, it will definitely be beneficial. With my status, and he marrying into my family, it's better not to cause trouble for others. Moreover, I'm just passing by. I came back to have a look out of interest. I don't have any plans to return in glory. Back then … I didn't talk much with him. In fact, I'm not familiar with him … "
As soon as she said this, Yu Ho-chung laughed. "That's true. Then … let's do it this way …"
As the two spoke, they turned around. A moment later, their figures disappeared at the end of the alley.
This chance encounter didn't stay in Ning Yi's heart for too long. He didn't expect that the three of them would have another chance to meet each other not long after. When he returned home that afternoon, he saw Qin Siyuan's eldest son, Qin Shaohe, who had been waiting for a long time at the Su family. He was only visiting as an ordinary person and not as an official. Otherwise, he didn't know how lively the Su family would be.
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