In the evening, Maqiao's house was bustling with noise and excitement.
The doors were already closed, but many of the commoners did not immediately return to their homes. Maqiao's house was filled with people, and no one cared about the commotion. Because Bad Luck, Huo Minglei, Bōshō, and Su Mohan were also present, who would care about the ban?
Su Fangzheng's face was flushed, and he desperately raised his voice to drown out the noise in the room, "Hey! I told you! I told you! Luckily, I found a Taoist priest to set up an altar, and now our fengshui has improved. Look at Xiaofan and Brother Qiao, they've both become Imperial Guards! "
Auntie Hua laughed, "Su Fangzheng, come on. Brother Qiao has already said that it was thanks to the help of Master Xue from White Horse Temple that they had the opportunity to join the imperial guards. This is the monk's credit, what does it have to do with Taoist priests? "
Su Fangzheng was unconvinced, "Fengshui is mysterious, you wouldn't understand even if I explained it to you. Tell me, how many messy things have happened in the past few days? If it wasn't for me, Bōshō, decisively inviting a Taoist priest to set up an altar and change the fengshui of our place, how could these two children have met a benefactor? "
Bad Luck, Huo Minglei said with a smile, "No matter what the reason is, it's a good thing that our children have become so successful."
Maqiao's mother said, "Brother Huo is right, no matter what, this is a joyous occasion, we have to thank everyone. Our Qiao 'er has finally become successful, his grandfather will be happy in the underworld … "
Maqiao's mother couldn't help but wipe away her tears, and everyone saw this and comforted her.
Many of the shopkeepers and Marquis Wu, who were familiar with Yang Fan and Maqiao, crowded around them, looking enviously at their heroic imperial army uniforms. Taking over Yang Fan's job, Xiao Qianyue, who had just become a shopkeeper not long ago, touched Yang Fan's and Maqiao's uniforms and asked curiously, "Xiao Fan, why is your uniform different from Brother Qiao 'er's? What are your official positions in the Imperial Army?"
Yang Fan said, "As long as a new recruit joins the army, they have to start from scratch, how can they immediately become an official? However, because I made a contribution to defeating the Tubo in the bow-fencing competition, the Empress was very happy, so she made an exception and promoted me to be the chef. "
Xiao Qianyue continued, "I heard that the Imperial Guard has sixteen guards, which guard are you from?"
Yang Fan said, "I'm currently in the Golden Guard, and Brother Qiao has chosen the Dragonmight Army. The Dragonmight Army is full of cavalry, and joining this guard, although I'm a soldier now, I have many opportunities to excel. "
Maqiao said loudly, "Brothers, don't worry, Xiao Fan has made our Xiu Wen Workshop proud, and I, Maqiao, will not be inferior. After joining the army this time, I will definitely train hard in riding and archery, and in the future I will earn great military merits! "
The shopkeepers cheered Marquis Wu, wishing him to become a general as soon as possible. Maqiao's face was full of smiles, and he waved his hand frequently, as if he had already become a great general, looking very impressive.
Jiang Xuning came late, and after she closed up the stall, she busied herself for a while, mixing the noodles to be used the next morning and placing them on the kang to 'wake up'. Only then did she arrive at Maqiao's house. Before she entered the house, she saw that it was very lively, and even the courtyard was full of people. After she greeted each of her acquaintances one by one, she squeezed through the door and saw Maqiao excitedly talking about the bow-fencing competition that day.
"At that time, Her Royal Highness passed the ball to Xiao Fan's horse, and Xiao Fan …"
"Ah! The princess? "
"Of course, don't interrupt me. At that time … what was I talking about? "
Jiang Xuning listened and couldn't help but purse her lips into a smile.
There was an extra lamp in the room, and the light could still be considered bright. Although the light was flickering because of the crowded crowd, it was still possible to clearly see his appearance.
Maqiao was wearing a red battle jacket, a half-body leather armor, a leather helmet with curled ears, and a pair of yellow fat trousers, which were tightly tucked into his battle boots. Just this outfit alone showed a bit of heroic spirit. Looking at him carefully, he seemed to be a bit thinner and darker than before.
However, the biggest change was not in his appearance, but something that seeped out from his bones. He was as usual, boasting and showing off to his companions, but Jiang Xuning could see that he had a different temperament than before. His eyes seemed to be a lot clearer, a lot brighter.
There was a faint stubble on his chin, and he hadn't reached the age where he should grow a beard. He wasn't shaved cleanly, but because of this, he had a bit of a mature man's aura. Jiang Xuning's gaze slid over that moving chin, and then moved to his mouth. Suddenly, her body heated up, and even the tips of her ears heated up.
In the past, this was unimaginable. She saw Maqiao as a brother, but never as a man. Even when he held her hand or touched her body when they were fooling around, she didn't feel anything. But this time … thinking of how he suddenly turned around at the Lantern Festival and that kiss that caught her off guard, she actually felt a little embarrassed.
That kiss wasn't beautiful, and the most she felt was pain. Her cut lips had been slightly swollen for more than a day, but that kiss had a great impact on her heart.
Maqiao gestured as he spoke, and turned his head in her direction.
Jiang Xuning's heart skipped a beat. She was actually a little afraid of being seen by him, so she hurriedly lowered her head and squeezed into the crowd beside her mother …
…
It was late at night, and Bad Luck Huo Minglei had given special permission to delay the curfew by two hours. Now that the time was up, the guests all took their leave.
"Qiao 'er, see Xiao Ning and her son off."
Because the two families had always been on good terms, Ma's mother and Pasta's mother chatted the longest. After seeing the other guests off, Ma's mother instructed her son to see them off.
"I … I'm a little tired, so I won't be going. Sister Ning, see you tomorrow."
Yang Fan originally wanted to see them off, but when he saw Jiang Xuning hiding half of his body behind his mother, which was quite different from his usual straightforward and generous self, he actually revealed a little shyness. Yang Fan's heart couldn't help but be moved. He originally wanted to say, "I'll go too!" but at the last moment, he changed it to not going.
Maqiao accompanied Jiang Xuning and Jiang Xuning's mother out together, and coincidentally saw Auntie Hua walking slowly. Auntie Hua's residence wasn't far from the Jiang family's house, so the two old sisters who had lived in the same place for their entire lives walked side by side, chatting as they walked. This time, Maqiao and Jiang Xuning were left behind.
Admittedly, Jiang Xuning's heart was perturbed, and Maqiao also felt a little uneasy when he thought about what happened that night. The two of them walked side by side behind the two old people, their hearts beating lightly. They both lowered their heads to look at the frost-like ground, not knowing what to say.
Sometimes, they would tilt their heads slightly and secretly glance at the person next to them. If the other person also happened to look at them, they would quickly look away when their eyes met. That kind of feeling of bashfulness and timidity was something they had never experienced before, and it was difficult to understand what it was like for a moment.
After turning a corner in front, they would arrive at the Jiang family's house. The Jiang family was the first house near the intersection. Pasta stopped and lowered his gaze. He said to Maqiao somewhat bashfully, "Alright, you should also go back and rest. Tomorrow morning, you still have to report to the army. Don't be late."
"Ah! Then … I'll go back first. "
Maqiao stopped and heaved a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He tugged at the lapel of his military uniform and made a move to leave.
Seeing his uneasy appearance, Jiang Xuning couldn't help but purse his lips into a smile. He softly said, "Ah, you really do look a little like a human now. In the future, when you become a member of the Imperial Army, you can be considered to have jumped out of the small circle of the Xiuwen workshop. Work hard, and in the future, you can make contributions and become a great general. Then, you can come back in style and let me see you. "
Maqiao laughed and said, "Become a great general, ah. There are people who become great generals at a young age, but they are all the children of rich and powerful families. For people like us who come from humble and common families, unless we make an enormous contribution, even if we're lucky, by the time I become a great general, I'm afraid I'll be seventy or eighty years old. At that time, will you still come to see me? "
Jiang Xuning said, "If you come back, I'll go see you. What's wrong with being seventy or eighty years old? Unless you think I'm too ugly at that time. "
Maqiao blurted out, "How can that be? Even if you grow to eighty years old, Little Ning will still be Little Ning. You'll still be so good-looking."
A faint blush appeared on Jiang Xuning's face. She lightly spat and said, "Nonsense. Then wouldn't I be an old demon?"
Looking at her shy and moving appearance, Maqiao suddenly had the urge to kiss her.
Appearance is born from the heart. His impulse immediately leaked out from his eyes. Jiang Xuning faintly sensed it. She slightly raised her head and slightly widened her eyes. Even she herself couldn't tell if the blurred light in her eyes was anticipation, surprise, or fear.
Maqiao slightly lowered his head …
"Little Ning, you …"
Just at this moment, Auntie Hua energetically appeared from around the corner. She saw Maqiao leaning over to kiss her and Jiang Xuning raising her head to welcome him.
Maqiao and Jiang Xuning quickly straightened their bodies. They looked at her in panic and said, "Auntie Hua …"
"Oh … oh! Little Ning, it's getting late. You should go back and rest. Auntie is going home now. "
Being old and shrewd, Auntie Hua was only slightly startled. She quickly returned to normal, as if she hadn't seen this scene at all. Jiang Xuning blushed and responded. Auntie Hua then turned around and left. Just as she rounded the corner, Auntie Hua quickened her steps and quickly rushed back to the Jiang family's front door. She lowered her voice and called out, "Sister, sister, come out quickly …"
After Auntie Hua's interruption, Maqiao and Jiang Xuning only briefly chatted for a while before Jiang Xuning ran back home as if escaping.
Maqiao walked all the way back. His heart was full of novelty. Before, he had never treated Jiang Xuning as a woman, but now he couldn't help but think about her. He thought over and over again, "Xiao Ning … is actually very pretty, diligent, and capable. If I could really marry her and make her my wife …"
When he thought of that kiss, when he thought of Jiang Xuning's thin and soft red lips, Ma Qiao's entire body felt hot, and he actually felt as if he'd drunk wine, causing him to be extremely intoxicated.
In the darkness of the night, a figure quietly stood in the corner of the wall. Seeing that Maqiao had returned, the figure leaned against the wall again. Maqiao didn't notice and stepped into the courtyard …
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