Liu Mingzhi listened to his younger sister Liu Xuan's slightly suppressed and choked words, and his heart felt as if he had been stabbed by a sharp knife.
Raising his hand to gently comb the little girl's messy black hair, Liu Mingzhi said in a soft voice: "Okay, big brother, let me tell you, which story do you want to hear?"
Liu Xuan held her eldest brother's arm and gently turned over, finding a comfortable position and snuggling up to the crook of his eldest brother's legs as if she were a child of six or seven years old.
"Tell me about the first Snow White story you told Xuan'er that spring.
After so many years, Xuan'er still vaguely remembers some of the content, but most of it has been forgotten.
Brother, please tell it again to help Xuan'er recall her childhood."
Liu Mingzhi smiled and nodded, squinted his eyes and recalled the content of the story he told Liu Xuan that year, and said loudly: "A long time ago, in a distant country, there lived a very beautiful little princess."
"Her skin..."
"With the help of the dwarf, they finally lived a happy life.
Xuan'er, what other stories do you want to hear? Brother will tell you next."
"Brother, just watch and tell me. Xuan'er can't even remember the names of many stories..."
"Master, eldest lady, the master and his wife have sent me to look for you. The reception banquet that the master has prepared for the eldest lady has been laid out and is waiting for you to return."
Liu Song's slightly inappropriate voice sounded a dozen steps behind the brothers and sisters, interrupting Liu Xuan's next words.
Liu Mingzhi turned around, glanced at Liu Song behind him, and replied softly: "I know, I'll be there right away."
"Yes, I will leave first."
"Xuan'er, brother can tell you the story at any time later. Let's go back to eat first. Don't let the old man and mother down."
Liu Xuan was silent for a long time, then she put her hands on the grass and pushed herself upright.
"Okay, but Xuan'er wants you to carry me back, my eldest brother. In order to get back in time to attend your son's wedding banquet, my little sister rushed back to the capital from Danzhou, which is 800 miles away.
Along the way, we either slept in the open or went without three meals a day, which was a lot of hardships. Now that we are finally home, Xuan'er doesn't want to move at all."
"No, you are so old and you still need your elder brother to carry you. If word gets out, let's see how you can get married."
Liu Xuan snorted and slumped down on the grass as if she was weak and boneless.
"Hmph, if you don't carry it, then my little sister won't go back. Anyway, if I get hungry, let's see how our father will deal with you."
Young Master Liu hesitated for a moment and squatted down with a painful look on his face: "Oh! Isn't it okay that big brother is afraid of you? It's just this once, it won't be the same next time, come up."
"okay."
Liu Xuan happily agreed with her pretty face, and nimbly jumped from the ground to Young Master Liu's back.
"Ride a big horse! Drive! Drive! Run quickly, run quickly."
Liu Xuan is a twenty-six-year-old beauty, but she shouts childish words like a child of several years old.
However, Liu Xuan's appearance not only did not give Liu Mingzhi a delicate and artificial feeling, but instead made him feel the innocent side of the little girl's true feelings.
Just like those evenings when the sun set twenty years ago, I carried my little sister on my back and played in the garden of Jinling Liufu.
It's just that compared to those years ago, both he and Liu Xuan are no longer young.
The young man who was in his prime in the past has entered middle age, and the little girl with pigtails has grown into a slim and stunning beauty.
Maybe this time after carrying my little sister, it will be the last time, and there will be no future.
"Brother, when you get back to the front hall, you must not talk about Xuan'er's marriage in front of your parents. After hearing this, they will probably start nagging Xuan'er again."
Young Master Liu smiled cheerfully: "Don't worry about this, I don't need you to ask, big brother knows it.
When you were not at home, your eldest brother occasionally mentioned important issues about your marriage to the old man. The expression on our old man's face was like that of our grandfather who passed away after being resurrected.
My eldest brother hasn’t eaten enough and is feeling exhausted, so he doesn’t want to be bored.”
"Brother Stinky, how can you say that about your grandfather? If there is a soul in heaven, our grandfather would have to come and talk to you in the middle of the night if he knew that your eldest grandson dared to arrange his words like this."
"Hey, hey! You stinky girl, please stop talking nonsense."
"Hahaha, it's obviously you who started talking nonsense!"
"Big brother's fault is all big brother's fault. Let's not talk about this anymore. Let's talk about other topics."
"Okay, what are you talking about?"
"Let's talk about the more interesting things you have seen in the world in the past six months."
The brother and sister Liu Mingzhi walked toward the front hall talking and laughing. When they were more than ten steps away from the front hall, the brother and sister heard the slightly cheerful voices in the hall.
"My father-in-law, my mother-in-law, you are so old and it is really a sin for you to make such a long journey to the capital."
"Hey, father-in-law, you are telling the truth, aren't you? My grandson's wedding day, let alone the capital, even in Beidi, Xinfu and Beifu outside the pass, we, the old couple, have to catch up.
Just come over for the banquet.
Besides, our old couple has been bored in Jinling for these years and our bodies are almost rusty. This time we can go to Beijing to attend our grandson's wedding and also exercise our bodies.
Such a good thing that has the best of both worlds, how can it be said to be hard work!"
"Hahaha, my father-in-law is still as open-minded and upright as ever. Come on, let's drink tea to moisten our throats first. After Zhi'er and my girl come back, we two brothers will have a good drink.
Time is ruthless! Since the last time we said goodbye, we brothers haven’t had a good drink and chat together for two years. We must not get drunk when we meet again today."
"Okay, brother, you have already opened your mouth. Brother, why should I not drink? Just as you said, we will not return until we get drunk."
Liu Mingzhi put Liu Xuan down from his back outside the hall, waved to his little sister and hurriedly walked towards the front hall with a smile on his lips.
As soon as he entered the hall, Liu Mingzhi saw his father-in-law Qi Run and mother-in-law Mrs. Qi reminiscing with his old man and mother respectively. He glanced at the four people who were talking and laughing. Liu Mingzhi hurriedly bowed and saluted.
"My son-in-law pays homage to his father-in-law, and pays homage to his mother-in-law.
Earlier, I was enjoying the scenery in the garden with my little sister. I didn't know that you two were visiting and could not come in time to see me. I hope that my father-in-law and mother-in-law will not blame the child for being rude."
Liu Xuan, who was following her eldest brother, saw this and hurriedly gave her a blessing.
"My little daughter Liu Xuan pays homage to Uncle Qi, and pays homage to Aunt Qi."
Qi Run, Mrs. Qi and the old couple hurriedly stopped reminiscing with Liu Zhi'an and his wife, and stretched out their hands to give a virtual support to the brother and sister.
"No problem, no problem, no courtesy."
"Girl Xuan'er, please forgive me."
"Thank you, father-in-law, mother-in-law."
"Thank you Uncle Qi and Aunt Qi."
"Mother-in-law, please stop standing. Let's sit down and talk."
"Okay, okay, sit down, sit down."
Brother and sister Liu Mingzhi walked to the seats below Liu Zhian and sat down one after another.
"Father-in-law, mother-in-law, you two have worked hard all the way for Chengzhi's child's marriage.
Previously, I thought of sending guards to Jinling to pick you two elders up to the capital, but when I thought that raising an army and mobilizing a large number of people would be too public, I had no choice but to go all out on your own.
My son-in-law is unfilial and has made you two suffer."
Qi Run waved his hand casually: "You did the right thing. If you really sent the Imperial Guards to Jinling to pick up our old couple, we would really feel uncomfortable.
Along the way, we, the old couple, were driving and enjoying the beautiful scenery on the road. Not to mention how comfortable it was.
We appreciate your filial piety and appreciate it with our hearts."
Just as Liu Mingzhi was about to speak, noisy footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall, and a large group of people headed by Qi Yun walked into the hall.
"My child, Qi Yun, pays homage to his father and mother."
"Child Qiya pays homage to her father and mother."
"..."
"Grandpa, grandma."
"Grandpa, grandma."
"Little aunt, you are back too."
Qi Run and his wife looked at the large family in Young Master Liu's house with expressions of relief and joy, and once again stretched out their hands to support them a few times.
"Children, no gifts, no gifts."
"Thank you dad, thank you mom."
"Thank you, grandpa and grandma."
Liu Zhi'an looked at the large group of juniors who had gathered in the hall in an instant, and happily stood up and walked to Qi Run and his wife.
"My father-in-law and my mother-in-law, knowing that you two are here, I arranged the banquet to welcome the wind and wash away the dust in the main hall. Now that the whole family is here, let's move in together!"
"Okay, okay, listen to your father-in-law."
"Okay, my father-in-law and my mother-in-law, please go first!"
"Please."
Liu Mingzhi looked at the wives, children, and children walking towards the outside of the hall, and stretched out his hand to tug Qi Yun's sleeves.
"Yun'er."
Qi Yun, who was talking to Liu Xuan, immediately stopped and turned to look at Mr. Liu.
"Husband, what's wrong?"
Liu Mingzhi gestured to the pavilion outside the hall.