I had forgotten that the Xia family had a married sister who lived near the Dongchengkou of Yangzhou City. I didn't want to be bumped into by Xia Xinyi while hesitating at the city entrance.
Xia Xinyi was very enthusiastic and had sharp eyes. He could tell at a glance that Qin Huairou looked bad.
"Hey, what's wrong with my brother and sister? You look very bad. Tell me, did Xia Shang bully you again? Get out of the car and go into the house. My sister has some sweet wine brewed with Codonopsis pilosula, just in time for you to drink."
Qin Huairou looked at Xia Shang. She knew that this sister's temperament was not easy to provoke. If it was not necessary, she would communicate as little as possible.
Xia Shang didn't have a particularly bad impression of this sister. Although her temper and talk were a bit unpleasant, she was still a young woman who stayed alone in her empty house. Her resentment and ill-will were understandable, but she was the only one who was in trouble in the Xia family.
I haven't come back to see my parents for a while, which is a bit too much.
Later, Uncle Zhong mentioned to Xia Shang that this sister had a long history of grievances with the family. When she was a child, she was an obedient and sensible lady, with a gentle temperament and few words. She loved embroidery and was very good at needlework.
Such a woman should stay in her boudoir all her life and find a well-matched man to marry when she is old enough. But who knew that when she was fifteen, a seriously injured martial artist sneaked into her family.
At first, the family did not know, so Xia Xinyi secretly treated the man's injuries behind his parents' back.
Perhaps it was God's arrangement, but that man was a young and handsome young man. His charlatanism was completely different from the men around him, and he had a natural attraction for ladies like Xia Xinyi.
Xia Xinyi treated the man's injury, and the man told Xia Xinyi stories about the world.
Unexpectedly, Xia Xinyi was fascinated by those Jianghu stories and secretly had feelings for that person.
When her parents found out, Xia Xinyi actually threatened to fly away with that man to make a career in the world.
How could Xia Shang's parents be so sure? They locked Xia Xinyi in the room and did not allow her to meet that person.
At that time, Xia Xinyi's resistance was very fierce, causing a great turmoil in the entire family. Seeing their daughter's sincerity, Xia Shang's parents had no choice but to allow Xinyi to leave home.
But then news came out that the person Xia Xinyi liked was actually a notorious flower-picking thief who specialized in seducing young girls.
At that time, the prefecture's Yamen tried every trick to arrest this man, but managed to get him injured. He never expected to be saved by Miss Xia's family.
Therefore, the prefect wanted to take Xia Xinyi to task. Xia Shang's father managed everything, and finally agreed with the Yamen Dacheng, and used his daughter to lure the flower picker out, and then execute him on the spot.
Finally something happened, the flower picker finally died, but he died in front of Xia Xinyi.
Xia Xinyi didn't believe what others said, or that her sweetheart was a liar, and she firmly believed that her parents and the government were colluding to act.
That time, Xia Xinyi was heartbroken, and her temperament changed drastically from then on. The hatred for her parents was also planted in her heart at that moment.
After all, this sister is also a miserable infatuated person. She lived a lie and finally got married, but was left alone at home alone.
The last time she came to see Xia Shang, she brought a maid with her, but today she didn't see the maid by her side.
Xia Shang guessed something, but did not ask. He nodded to Qin Huairou: "In that case, let's stay at my sister's house for a while."
Uncle Zhong was reluctant, but the young master had already spoken, so he could only drive the carriage to stop at the entrance of Xia Xinyi's courtyard.
Xia Shang and Qin Huairou got out of the car one after another. Xia Xinyi handed over the umbrella, while Li Zhong tied the horse on the side.
Xia Xinyi's house is not big, just like an ordinary people's house, but the attic in the house is newly built. There is a main hall, guest rooms, and a backyard. There are more than a dozen houses of various sizes, not far from each other, but they all have everything they should have.
Yes. And the room structure is very particular about the construction. You can tell at a glance that a lot of thought and money have been spent.
There is a bluestone path and a flower bed in the small courtyard at the entrance. There is also a small pond for enjoying in the flower bed. Although it is not big, it must be a poetic and elegant residence if it is carefully organized. Unfortunately, the flower bed is overgrown with weeds and the small pond is dry.
There are also many gaps in the bluestone pavement, which is covered with dense grass.
Xia Shang found that the lady beside him was full of surprise. Coming here was far different from her impression.
"Sister." Qin Huairou couldn't help but walked to Xia Xinyi's side out of curiosity, "What's going on at home? This...how did this beautiful yard become so desolate? Where are the people at home? Where are the maids?"
Xia Xinyi smiled stiffly: "Your brother-in-law is not at home all year round. I live alone and have no need for a maid. Besides, I have hands and feet, so I am not used to having a maid hanging around me. Brothers and sisters,
You go sit in the room first, and my sister will make the bed for you. Meanwhile, Uncle Zhong will come back with some food and wine. Don't leave tonight."
After saying that, Xia Xinyi quickened his pace and opened the main hall door, then quickly went to the living room to prepare the bed for Xia Shang and his wife to sleep.
Qin Huairou returned to Xia Shang: "Ms. sir, are we really here tonight?"
"Sister is so enthusiastic, wouldn't it be bad if we left again?"
"Having said that, I always feel that my sister today is a little different from usual."
"What's the difference?"
"I have never seen her so enthusiastic before, and I have never seen her speak so easy-going and polite. I always feel like a different person."
Xia Shang looked at Xin Yi's back and said, "It's fate that's destined to be fateful. No matter how fierce your temper is, it can't be worn out by time. If you see through it, your temper will naturally change."
"Where did my husband come from with this sigh? I am a little tired, so please go into the house first."
She said she was tired, but actually she saw her husband was drenched in the rain, so she took the opportunity to lean on her husband and hold up half of the small umbrella.
When we arrived at the main hall, it was not as magnificent as we had imagined.
To be precise, it used to be magnificent, but now there is only a pear wood Eight Immortals table and a few stools, and a dusty screen in the corner.
Seeing this scene, Xia Shang and Qin Huairou understood each other tacitly. They were still guessing before, but now they have concluded what happened.
Half an hour later, the sky gradually darkened, and the rain finally stopped. There was the sound of "tick-tock-tock" water everywhere outside, and the night sky seemed to have been washed, transparent, and not a single cloud could be seen.
The lights in one of the guest rooms had just gone out, and Uncle Zhong went to sleep first.
In the main hall, a table of simple wine and food had just been placed, and Xia Xinyi was pouring medicinal wine for Qin Huairou to regulate Qi and blood.
"Try it quickly. This is brewed by my sister." Xia Xinyi looked at Qin Huairou with a look of anticipation.
Qin Huairou held the wine glass, her eyebrows almost forming a thin line: "Sister..."
"Brother, so are you. You should try the food in the restaurant on the street. Are you good?"
"Sister!"
Qin Huairou grabbed Xia Xinyi's arm with a serious expression.
"What happened at home? Did you sell everything in the house?" (To be continued)