Before I had time to visit the side courtyard behind the attic, the maids downstairs began to come up and urge me: "Madam, Madam, the patriarch's wife has arranged a family banquet, and asked the slaves to invite Mistress over."
Chu Nanzhi and Liu Yun quickly put on the shoes for the quadruplets, went downstairs together, and returned along the same path. When they arrived at the living room in the outer courtyard, they saw a middle-aged woman in the room, followed by a young woman.
.
Lin Tingzhen put down the tea cup in his hand, stood up quickly and introduced: "Nan Zhi, these are your aunt Zhou and cousin Jin Hui."
As soon as Chu Nanzhi bowed her body towards the mother and daughter, Ms. Zhou grabbed her hand and wouldn't let go.
When they met for the first time, Mrs. Zhou was not at all unfamiliar and said with enthusiasm: "My niece, my aunt has heard of your name a long time ago. I just got to meet you today. It's really not easy. I'll be home later."
Please eat more, my aunt has prepared a rich meal for you today."
"It's really troublesome for Auntie."
Seeing how enthusiastic she was, Chu Nanzhi felt a little anxious.
The temperaments of this woman and Lin Tingzhen are simply carved out of the same mold, and it really fulfills the old saying, "One family does not belong to the same family".
Lin Jinhui was also acquainted with her. She followed her mother, Zhou, to pull Chu Nanzhi. She happily started to praise her: "My sister-in-law is so beautiful. If our home wasn't too far away from brother Jinxiao's previous home, I would really like to visit her every day."
Let’s go see you.”
"We will be neighbors from now on. Your sister-in-law is very powerful. You should learn from her and come to your sister-in-law's house more frequently."
Ms. Zhou was not polite. After giving her daughter some instructions, she calmed down and asked Chu Nanzhi for instructions: "Niece-in-law, don't think your sister-in-law is naughty. I heard from Dalang's wife a few days ago that you want to move back. Chao Si
I've been waiting for you to come over, just in time to be Jin Hui's companion."
The mother and daughter kept talking one after another. Before Chu Nanzhi could reply, Liu Yun took over the conversation again: "I heard that your son came to Beijing a few days ago. Now we are the only two mothers in the family, right?"
"Yes, my mother-in-law."
Zhou left Chu Nanzhi and went over to pull Liu Yun affectionately. She smiled and replied: "Jinyi's master is about to leave office. Isn't the position of the county work chief vacant? His master thinks that my Jinyi
He is a down-to-earth person, so I recommended him to the capital at the beginning of the year, hoping that Jinyi would inherit his mantle. It has been months since I thought about it, but I think there will be news soon."
"My in-laws are from a family of pottery artists, and my son has become the county's chief industrial officer, which is worthy of his reputation."
"Well, how can you compare with Jin Xiao? If you want to say good things, it has to be Jin Xiao. My family will be very blessed in the future."
Zhou helped Liu Yun talk while starting to walk out. The maids followed them with lanterns to light the way.
Seeing this, Lin Jinhui also grabbed the corner of Chu Nanzhi's clothes and gestured with a smile: "Sister-in-law, let's get there quickly."
"good."
Chu Nanzhi led the quadruplets to help Lin Jinxiao and Chu Wenbi, and followed everyone towards Lin Tingzhen's home.
The distance between the two families is actually door to door. When you leave the house, you can see the main entrance of the patriarch's house.
Lin Jinxiao ordered Lin Tingzhen to lead Chu Wenbi into the courtyard first, and waited for Chu Nanzhi to unlock the door. He deliberately slowed down and stayed behind with her, and reminded her in a low voice:
"Today, the family banquet organized by the clan uncle will have separate seats for men and women. I will take the eldest treasure and the third treasure to the front hall. The second treasure, the fourth treasure and you will go to the backyard. The third uncle's uncle is also in the backyard. You should be more careful."
Just now at the county government office, Chu Nanzhi heard Lin Jinxiao warning his third uncle Lin Yuan. He thought that the Chen family and his daughter dared to come to the county to cause trouble today because they were instigated by the Chen family.
Today, Mrs. Chen and her daughter have lost face in front of the people of the county. As an aunt, Ms. Chen will definitely be a little resentful.
Chu Nanzhi looked at Lin Jinxiao with a smile, nodded and said, "Don't worry, I won't embarrass her."
"I'm afraid you'll suffer."
Lin Jinxiao's bright peach eyes flickered slightly, and he said with some worry: "These women in the county are not as simple as the country people, especially the old ones like the Lin family, who are used to relying on their old age, so you don't need to pay attention to what they say later.
"
After thinking for a while, he added: "I have just mentioned the matter of the maid to my uncle, so you don't have to worry anymore."
"You are very considerate of everything."
Chu Nanzhi looked at him, and the pretty boy's recent thoughtfulness was really touching.
Lin Jinxiao sighed softly: "I arranged for you to live in the old house. Naturally, I want to make your stay more comfortable and not make you feel wronged."
"You still have to accept the kindness you deserve. I don't want people to think I'm a tigress, after all."
We have now reconciled.
Looking around at the little guys surrounding her, she couldn't find it easy to say the last sentence clearly.
Lin Jinxiao did not answer her words, but smiled with a hint of bitterness on his face: "Let's go in."
Then they each led the two little guys into the patriarch's mansion.
Entering the courtyard, the first thing that catches the eye is a row of slightly simple reverse-seat houses. Five or six men stand on the eaves at the head of the house, holding lanterns in their hands, standing solemnly in a row.
The trembling firelight illuminated the courtyard particularly clearly.
Walking along the side rooms in the outer courtyard, female envoys of various sizes were scattered everywhere, holding lanterns and surrounding them, and surrounded the group of people as they headed to the main hall.
Outside the main hall, Lin Jinhui, who was waiting at the door, saw the figures of Chu Nanzhi and the children. She led two maids to greet them with smiles. She enthusiastically hugged Chu Nanzhi's arms again, looked at Lin Jinxiao and vowed: "
Brother Jinxiao, my sister-in-law will leave it to me, and I will bring it back to you intact after dinner."
"Um."
Lin Jinxiao stared at Chu Nanzhi deeply, smiled tenderly, and then led Dabao and Sanbao into the main hall.
Lin Jinhui led Chu Nanzhi, mother and daughter to the main hall to meet several elders, and then went straight to the backyard.
"Most of the uncles and uncles from my uncle's family are out of town, but they are the uncles and aunts who are all gathered together. After all, the people my father invited to join me today are not outsiders. Sister-in-law, don't be cautious."
Lin Jinhui carefully observed the surroundings, then suddenly stopped and leaned in front of Chu Nan Zhi's ear, whispering: "Second uncle, third uncle are very nagging. My sister-in-law must not look down upon them when she sees them."
Chu Nanzhi was stunned when she heard this. This sister-in-law didn't seem like a gentle and dignified lady. She would do such a harmful trick to her when they first met.
Seeing that there was no one around, she inquired playfully: "How do you treat these elders when you see them?"
Lin Jinhui put her hands behind her back, shook her slim wicker waist and smiled coquettishly: "Of course they respect me every inch and I respect them every inch. If they scold me once, I will return ten insults to them."
Sibaolin Ruijia counted on her fingers and said with a suspicious look on her face: "Aunt, what if they scold you ten times?"
"."
Lin Jinhui frowned blankly, then looked at the little guy with a warm smile: "No, your aunt is not easy to mess with."
As soon as she finished speaking, a gorgeously dressed woman in red came out to greet her enthusiastically. She walked with charming little snake steps, her cherry-red mouth gently twisted and asked: "Second sister, it's my sister-in-law who's here."