On a hot day, heat waves roll in. Occasionally, a gust of wind blows, which also stirs up waves of heat.
On this day, even if I stayed in a shaded area, I would still be sweating.
At this time, Manager Zhao had a grimace on his face and a shy belly as he trotted towards the study room in the outer courtyard. As he ran, he took a handkerchief and wiped it on his forehead from time to time.
It's hot. In this day and age, even if you're given a lot of money, no one will be willing to do the work.
When the servants and maids in the courtyard saw him trotting all the way, they all saluted him with their attention. I don't know what happened, but the usually calm steward was running like a cow.
As Manager Zhao trotted, he swept his eyes at the servants with a pair of eyes. The servants were so horrified that they all lowered their heads and refused to look directly at him. They all went about their work.
This is the number one manager and confidant around me. If you offend Manager Zhao, it will not be as simple as a slap in the face. Maybe you will be chatting and gossiping with others in the house today, but tomorrow you will be sent to the mine in the north.
Went to do hard work.
It was quiet at the door of the study, and the two boys who were originally guarding the door were afraid that they had gone somewhere to hide in the cool air.
Manager Zhao paused at the door.
"Sixth Master, it's the younger one... The younger one has something to report..."
After Manager Zhao finished speaking, he listened carefully.
After a while, a deep voice came from inside the door: "Come in."
Manager Zhao breathed a sigh of relief, wiped some sweat from his forehead, stretched out his collar, dusted the hem of his clothes, gently opened the study door and walked in.
As soon as the door was opened a crack, a burst of cool and refreshing air hit my face. My limbs were all numb, and my whole body felt comfortable.
It's so damn comfortable.
How many ice basins should be placed here? Who would want to be troubled outside when staying in a room like this?
Zhou Yanqing was sitting behind the desk and looking through the books. When he saw Manager Zhao coming in, he didn't even raise his head and only glanced at him with his eyelids raised.
Manager Zhao was enjoying the cool air in the room and wished he could take off all the restraints on his body.
He had made up his mind that even if Mr. Liu chased him away, he would linger in this room until noon before going out.
Seeing Mr. Liu glance at him, he quickly collected his thoughts. He walked to the case in a few steps, took out a letter from his arms and handed it over.
"Sir, someone from Qingchuan has come and brought a letter from the old lady."
Zhou Yanqing looked at the letter stretched out in front of him. Perhaps it was because of the hot weather that he held the letter in his arms. It was a little soft and not so firm.
"Let it go. Where are the people?"
Seeing that his master was not in a hurry to read the letter, Manager Zhao sighed. After putting the letter away, he stood aside with his hands down and replied: "The guests have been arranged. The shopkeeper from Qingchuan has arranged for them to eat."
The food was brought to the cupboard. Those who came from home were invited to the guest room to rest..."
As he spoke, he raised his head and glanced at Zhou Yanqing. Then he said cautiously: "This time, Mrs. Six's companion also came and delivered a message from Mrs. Six, saying... that the Thirteenth Young Master suffered from the heat a few days ago and was seriously ill.
After a while, I didn’t even like the food, so I was just thinking about me. See if I can take some time to go back..."
Manager Zhao finished speaking carefully. He quickly glanced at his master and then lowered his head.
His original name was Shitou. He was originally Liu Ye's personal servant. After Liu Ye got married, he followed Liu Ye to the southwest.
Ten years have passed, and now he has a family in the southwest and has given birth to several children. Later, someone gave him a beautiful concubine, who gave him another daughter. The family is harmonious. Now Mr. Liu is again
He was promoted to manager. Apart from his status, his life now is no different from that of ordinary wealthy people outside.
The sixth wife he mentioned was the concubine of the family of the minister of the Ministry of Rites in Beijing. That year, she followed Master Six back from the capital and lived in Qingchuan. Later, the two got married, and Mrs. Yan gave birth to the thirteenth son to Master Six.
The Thirteenth Young Master looks very much like the Sixth Master, and he also has a great admiration for the Sixth Master, but the Sixth Master has not returned to Qingchuan for two years...
Manager Zhao felt a wave of heartache when he thought that his sixth master had been alone in the southwest all these years, with no one around him who knew whether it was cold or hot. As a personal servant, he knew what happened back then...
If that person had become Mrs. Six, maybe Mr. Six wouldn't have a dark face all day long. Mr. Six smiled so happily at that time... But now he hasn't heard Mr. Liu smile for a long time.
Zhao Shitou couldn't help but sigh again as he thought about it.
Over the years, Mr. Liu often secretly inquired about that person's news, and found out that she was doing well, which made him both happy and sad. It made him feel even more distressed. His Mr. Liu should not have lived such a life.
This time he must persuade Master Liu to return to Qingchuan.
After listening to Manager Zhao's words, Zhou Yanqing, who was sitting behind the desk, sighed quietly and leaned back on the chair.
After a long time, Manager Zhao heard Mr. Liu say: "I understand. You go down first. After settling all the visitors, go find some shopkeepers on the counter and prepare all the goods Qingchuan wants."
"yes."
When Manager Zhao heard that his master had no other instructions, he glanced regretfully at the ice basins placed in several corners of the room and went out again with a grimace on his face.
Zhou Yanqing looked at the tents stacked high on the table and felt his scalp tightening.
If it were before, why would he need to worry about these things?
I'm afraid that woman had already sorted it out into categories, and it was clear at a glance, and the accounts were clear, so he didn't need to worry about it at all.
Even though ten years have passed, his heart still aches every time he thinks of that person.
After returning from Yizhou that year, he locked himself in the courtyard and was decadent for several months... After he came out, he married Yan according to his mother.
After Yan became pregnant, he went to Southwest alone, leaving Yan with his mother...
That winter, Mrs. Yan gave birth to a son for him. He named him Zhou Wenqing.
When the child was one year old, he returned to Qingchuan.
The child looked very much like him. He was well-raised by his mother and Mr. Yan. He was smart, lively and cute, and very lovable.
He stayed at home for half a year, and when the child could call him father, he returned to the southwest.
At that time, my mother said that there were already several sisters-in-law who were fulfilling their filial piety by her side, and there were many girls and women in the house, so she asked him to take Yan's mother and son to the southwest. At that time, Yan's mother also looked at him with tears in her eyes, looking forward to it.
He could be soft-hearted. And the son in his arms grabbed his hanging hair and screamed happily, hugging his neck and not letting go...
In the end, he left alone.
Southwest is the property left to him by his father, and he cannot let it go to waste. He told himself so.
Every New Year's Eve, he would ask Manager Zhao to prepare several carts with local products and various gifts from the southwest, and send them back to Qingchuan. He also personally selected and selected his son's gifts, sending box after box. He never did.
Which one was wronged?
He always goes back every year before the Chinese New Year. Occasionally, it only lasts for a year. He will stay at home for two or three months before returning. But this time, he hasn't gone back for two years.
He was alone in the southwest, and his mother and Yan always sent him frequent letters.
After receiving it, he would write a letter back to his mother. In the letter, he would instruct his mother to be kind to them and their son.
I just didn't send a letter or a half to Mr. Yan. I didn't even send a verbal message.
Later, letters from Yan gradually became less and less frequent.
Mother's letters always mention her son. He has grown taller, speaks fluently, can recite poems, has a husband to enlighten him, and has been sent to an academy...and so on.
His mother always tried to impress him in her letters, hoping that he could go back and reunite with his wife and children.
There were also occasional flattering messages in his mother's letters. If it hadn't been for her insistence, maybe he would have been married to that person, surrounded by his lovely wife and beautiful children, and living happily in Qingchuan... without having to stay away from home for ten years alone.
In the Southwest…
He hadn't thought of her for a long time.
It hurts every time I think about it.
A pair of orchids hang on the walls of the study room and bedroom. They grow on the cliffs, unique and independent.
Sometimes he could stare at it for a long time without making a sound or eating or drinking.
That person is his deepest regret and the deepest imprint hidden in his heart. If there is an afterlife, he will definitely meet her early.
Zhou Yanqing turned his head and looked at the orchid on the wall, as if he saw the man's light and watery eyes... The corners of his mouth turned up, just like he did when he faced that man countless times.
Picked up the letter on the table and opened it...
In the letter, the mother used her usual tone, asking questions and talking about some family matters, down to the smallest detail. Even the third brother's son, Zhou Wenxuan, had met several girls and told him one by one.
The letter inevitably talked about Mrs. Yan... how she was considerate and considerate, how she treated her mother-in-law with utmost filial piety, and how she raised his only son.
Wen Qing had passed the childbirth examination, and everyone in the family could not help but be overjoyed. Her mother also invited all her close clan members to the house for a feast, hugging her precious grandson and praising her. However, she suffered from the heat last month and was ill for a while.
On the scene, she lay on the bed and called her daddy, which made her feel bad...
In her letters, her mother would always try to please her carefully, saying that she was getting too old and asked him to return to Qingchuan. She said that her son had not seen his father for two years. If he did not go back this year, she would take the decision to pack up the Yan family and their son and send them to Qingchuan.
Coming from the southwest...
Zhou Yanqing closed the letter, leaned back on the chair, and closed his eyes.
Why doesn't he like having his lovely wife and young children by his side?
If it was that person, he would definitely not leave her alone. He didn't care about any shop or property, he just wanted to travel hand in hand with that person and see all the famous mountains and rivers.
He is also a normal man, and he also has desires. But he is not that person. Now in his house in the southwest, he also has two aunts in the backyard, both of whom were given to him by others in the southwest.
He also provided them with delicious food and drinks. He chose a separate courtyard for each of them. Occasionally he would go to their room to rest for a night. But most of the time he stayed in his courtyard or directly in the study.
Rested.
Even if he has fair skin and jade skin, and is panting and moaning, he is not that person...
In the next life, he will definitely open his eyes wide and recognize that person early and never let go. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest support.
power.)
ps: ps: I saw Jiu v Tea urging me to update, and I was very happy to see that there are still people willing to read it. Originally, I wanted to wait for the new book to be released before publishing it, but because the publisher urged me to publish it, I posted it. I’m sorry.
Everyone, I kept you waiting for a long time.
There is only one last chapter left, so it’s over, and the manuscript will be finished today.
