Gu Qian's letter was very interesting, and Li Hui felt something was wrong when he read the first sentence.
Even when he was working for the Gu family in Wu County, Gu Qian did not call him his grandnephew. In fact, even though Gu Lanzhi was a distant branch of the Gu family, the Gu family did not regard her as a Gu family member, let alone someone with a foreign surname.
.Gu Qian is a person of friendship. When he recommended him to Juchao County, he did say that he was half a Gu family member, but in that case, he just wanted to dispel his doubts.
The title at the beginning of the letter was grandnephew, which made Li Hui feel weird.
If you think about it carefully, maybe you are overthinking, or maybe Gu Qian is using this title to remind yourself that he and his Gu family are related.
I was nothing before, so I naturally didn't have this need. Now, although I am just a small county magistrate, my status is already different. That's why Gu Qian calls himself this.
The letter also said that the head of the family and Gu Qian went to his home to congratulate his mother in person. This should be true. If Gu Qian went to congratulate, Li Hui would not be surprised at all. But if the head of the family also went to congratulate, it would be a big deal.
It's different. That can only mean that the head of the family, Gu Chun, has also changed his attitude towards him.
Gu Qian said that the Gu family would do their best to help him and serve as his backing. This reminded him that they seemed to already regard him as a child of the Gu family. Otherwise, how could he enjoy such treatment? Use the resources of the Gu family.
It is a privilege only the children of the Gu family enjoy to help themselves with their connections.
Since Gu Qian dared to say this in the letter, it must have been the result of discussion with the head of the family, Gu Chun. Gu Qian would not say such a thing on his own, because Gu Qian would never make the decision privately and weaken the authority of the head of the family. The internal conflict is
One thing, but family interests and the authority of the family head are another matter. Among wealthy families, rules are the most important, and Gu Qian will not break them easily.
Of course, this may be just a polite comment.
The last few sentences of the letter are quite thought-provoking. The kindness such as "When drinking water, remember the source" and "Those who enjoy the shade should remember the tree planters" seem to be reminding themselves not to forget their origins and not to forget that the Gu family gave them the opportunity.
But these few words seemed to be a warning to Li Hui. With Gu Qian's wisdom, he should already know him well after spending half a year with him. Besides, some of the things he experienced in the Gu family, he took the initiative on his own initiative.
He also knew the idea of resigning and preparing to leave the Gu family.
Gu Qian must be aware of his alienation from the Gu family, so he gave this warning.
However, Gu Qian is not a pushy person, but it is not like his character to say such things. Is he so important to the Gu family? Li Huike doesn't think so.
The overall feeling of this letter to Li Hui is quite strange. It is understandable that the Gu family is happy because they have made some achievements in Juchao County and came to congratulate them. But in this small county of ours,
I'm afraid it's not clear that Ling has any great effect on the Gu family, or that there's anything particularly worthy of winning over him.
The Gu family is a big family in the south of the Yangtze River, not a small local family. If a county magistrate is born in the family, it is considered a big deal. The previous generation of the Gu family were all officials in the court, and the previous generation was even more noble.
He is the best official in the court. Even now, there are many people from the Gu family who are serving as county magistrates and county magistrates, and their cousin Zhang Xuan is serving as the prefect, but they do not care enough about a county magistrate.
In addition to the main family, Gu Kaizhi of the Gu family's Nanzhai branch is also a well-known celebrity in the world, and he is on good terms with the top wealthy families in Jiankang. For a wealthy family like the Gu family, there is no need to win over him, just because
I was only promoted to a small county magistrate in Juchao County. This does not make sense.
But in the letter, Gu Qian's words were extremely sincere, and there was a hint of solicitation and reminder from the beginning to the end. He even did not hesitate to play the emotion card, the family card, and gave extremely unusual promises and even vague warnings. This is
Abnormal.
Li Hui was very clear-headed. He felt that something was not right here. Gu Qian was really happy. After all, he recommended him and he also appreciated him quite a lot. He also knew the dangers of coming to Juchao County this time.
Yes, Gu Qian's behavior is quite humane. He must be happy to know that he has saved himself from danger.
But from the standpoint of the family, Gu Qian is sober. There is a high probability that he will not say some of the words in the letter just because he was promoted to county magistrate. The Gu family of Wu County is far from saying those words.
, to win over a small county magistrate. If you really think that you are so great, you are totally wrong.
Li Hui thought about these things over and over again, feeling quite confused and unable to make sense.
Next to her, Azhu was rummaging through the boxes and sorting out the things in the boxes. Her mouth was filled with surprise and admiration, and she was busy. She really had never seen so many good things. There were a lot of silks and satins, shoes, hats, clothing and socks, and eating utensils.
They were all items used by wealthy families that she rarely saw. She was almost dazzled by the selection.
"Huh? Why is this little box so beautiful? What's in it? It's even locked." Azhu asked in surprise.
Li Hui turned around and took a look, and then he remembered that he had not opened the small box that Gu Qingning asked Daniel and the others to bring, so he did not know what was inside. So he stood up and walked over to take the small box to the table.
Ah Zhu came over with the candlestick and looked at it curiously, wanting to know what was inside.
Li Hui fumbled for the key on his body, unlocked it with a click, and gently opened the lid of the carved box. A faint fragrance floated out, which made people feel very comfortable. A plain letter wrapped with five-color ribbons
The Jane was placed at the top of the box, and the ribbon on the plain envelope was coiled into the shape of a petal.
"It's so thoughtful. The ribbons are tied so beautifully." Azhu exclaimed.
Li Hui did not speak. He reached out and took out the plain slip and put it aside. Some things covered underneath came into view. A milky white hairpin lay across the middle, emitting a faint and soft luster. The style was for men.
Li Hui gently took it out, held it in his hand, and looked at it under the candlelight. The hosta was gentle and soft, milky white like mist, and one could tell at a glance that it was very precious.
"Who is this, young master? I am giving you such a precious hosta." Azhu asked softly, looking at the hosta.
Li Hui smiled and looked at him: "I don't need a hairpin to tie my hair. If such a precious thing is inserted in my head and falls off, what should I do?"
Azhu insisted on her own thoughts, smacked her lips and said, "I guess a girl gave it to you."
Li Hui smiled bitterly and said, "You know again?"
Azhu curled her lips and said, "I guessed it."
Li Hui smiled and did not answer. He put the hairpin aside and took out a gold sachet with colorful necklaces from the small box. A light and pleasant fragrance emanated from the sachet, fresh and refreshing.
Man, the fragrance that just came out of the box was coming from the sachet.
"Jasmine sachet. It's so beautiful." Azhu said.
Li Huidao: "How did you know it was jasmine?"
"I've smelled jasmine." Azhu pouted.
Li Hui took the sachet and looked carefully. Both sides of the sachet were embroidered with cloud patterns. The golden thread flashed under the candlelight, and the golden light was dazzling. This thing is probably very valuable in terms of workmanship and materials. Gu Qingning was really generous.
.
After sniffing the sachet, the aroma has a refreshing medicinal scent. If you wear this thing on your body, people around you may be able to smell it.
Putting the sachet down, he took out a few Yunjin hairbands, a bone comb, and a bronze mirror at the bottom. The bronze mirror was smooth and shiny. Li Hui picked it up and took a look at himself. He had a handsome face.
Reflected in the bronze mirror, every detail is revealed. The workmanship of this bronze mirror is also extremely meticulous. If the water-polishing of the mirror surface were not extremely meticulous, it would not have such a good effect.
Apart from these things, there is nothing else in the box.
Li Hui smiled bitterly and thought: Does Gu Qingning always give gifts to people with these useless things? She really likes to give people hair ribbons. Last time she gave clothes and hair ribbons, and this time she gave a few more. The little girl gave them
Don't you know how to give gifts? Except for hair ties, none of them are useful.
"Sir, is this girl your sweetheart?" Azhu suddenly asked.
Li Hui was stunned for a moment, glared at Azhu and said: "What kind of friendship? What nonsense are children talking about? The girl who gave me the gift was the girl from the South House of the Gu family. I only know her. I once helped her a little, and she
She promised to treat me to a drink in return, but when I came here later, she probably felt sorry for herself, so she sent these gifts. I have no use for these gifts. They are too expensive and I have to return them later. "
Azhu said: "How can you return it? Don't you know the meaning of a girl giving you a hairpin?"
"What do you mean?" Li Hui said.
"The hairpin is meant to express love. Isn't the hairpin used for tying hair? The girl has fallen in love with the young master." Azhu said.
Li Hui was stunned and scolded: "What nonsense are you talking about? You little girl, what do you know? You are just talking nonsense. She just gave me some random gifts."
Ah Zhu curled her lips and said, "Is that a random gift? I give you the comb and the bronze mirror so that the young master can comb his hair and put the jade hairpin on it. It is a hint that the young master accepts it."
Li Hui was surprised in his heart, but he said: "Don't talk nonsense, how can you, a little girl, be so good at making wild guesses? Can you put this together? Where did you learn these skills?"
Azhu said: "I'm not talking nonsense. Is that girl's name Gu Qingning?"
Li Hui said in astonishment: "How...how do you know?"
Azhu said calmly: "There is a white silk handkerchief in the young master's box, with the word Qingning embroidered on it. I have seen it before. That silk handkerchief looks like it belongs to a woman, so it is placed in the young master's wooden box.
.I didn’t peek. Azhu often packs the young master’s clothes, so I saw it.”
Li Hui was speechless. Qing Ning's silk handkerchief was indeed placed in the box. Of course Ah Zhu could see it. She emptied the box and cage every day, mended and washed it. But just by looking at the silk handkerchief, she could guess that it was Qing Ning who gave her something.
I have to admire her intelligence and a woman's sixth sense.
"Azhu, don't talk nonsense. Miss Qingning and I don't have the kind of relationship you mentioned. She and I are just friends. Don't make wild guesses. It's not good for these words to spread. I'm just a man.
, She is a girl who has not yet left the court, wouldn’t it ruin her reputation if word spread about it? Do you understand?” Li Hui waved his hand.
Azhu smiled: "How could I preach this? Let's just talk about it here. But if the young master doesn't like her, why would he hide her silk handkerchief in a box and take it with him? It's really strange."
"I..." Li Hui wanted to explain, but suddenly found that he couldn't explain clearly.
"Sir, let's take care of things tomorrow. I'm a little sleepy, so I'm going to sleep," Azhu said.
Before Li Hui could say anything, Ah Zhu went out with the candlestick. Soon there was the sound of a door closing in the west wing, and it calmed down after a while.
A month ago, Li Hui asked Ah Zhu to move to the west wing to sleep. The west wing was also tidied up and some bed furniture was added, so Ah Zhu no longer had to squeeze into the same room as Li Hui.
Besides, the weather is getting warmer and the clothes are thin, which is indeed a bit inconvenient. Not to mention Ah Zhu, just because of Li Hui’s vigorous body, it is inevitable to hold up the sky every morning. In order to avoid being seen by Ah Zhu
If there is any embarrassment afterwards, we can no longer live in the same room.