Lu Zheng'an turned a deaf ear to Yu Ji Yuexian's words. Seeing that his 'devil's claw' was still holding his daughter's hand and refusing to let go, he hurriedly reached out and pulled Ji Yuexian's hand away.
"Men and women are not intimate, so don't touch my daughter."
Ji Yuexian was so angry at Lu Zhengan's words that he almost vomited blood. He pointed at Lu Xingyi who was held in Song Huaishu's arms, then pointed at his own nose, and roared: "Your daughter is less than three months old! I, your daughter's Uncle! I just held her little hand, and you said this to me?!"
"What's wrong with that? Aren't you a man?" Lu Zhengan held back his laughter and Song Huaishu raised his eyebrows. Looking at Ji Yuexian, whose face turned red with anger, a smile flashed in his eyes.
Ji Yuexian knew that he really couldn't gain anything from Lu Zheng'an, so he simply didn't argue with him on this issue. He waved his hand and said to Lu Zheng'an: "Okay, okay, let's not talk about this topic. Have you cooked for lunch? I ran over this morning and was a little hungry. I just happened to have a bite at your house. ."
Lu Zhengan saw Lu Xingyi leaning in Song Huaishu's arms, his mouth wide open. He stretched out his hand to tuck the blanket around her body, fearing that she might drink the cool breeze. Then he said to Ji Yuexian without raising his head, "What's the problem? As long as you, Master Ji, don't dislike the shabby food at my house."
After saying that, Lu Zhengan seemed to have remembered something, and immediately turned to look at him and asked, "By the way, what's the matter with you coming here this time?"
Hearing Lu Zheng'an's question, a trace of discomfort flashed across Ji Yuexian's face. He lowered his eyes and hesitated for a moment, then simply stopped hiding it.
"It's okay, isn't Yueqiao back from Shangjing? You have seen my cousin's temper in Linzhou. Now that he is in the hands of the old lady, how can you still let him do whatever he wants? It's wrong, this?" If I wasn't at home every day, I would be punished by kneeling in the ancestral hall. I couldn't bear it, so I simply stayed away."
Ji Yuexian knew that Ji Yueqiao's cousin was spoiled by his second uncle and his second mother. If he really let it go, he would get into trouble sooner or later. It's just that Ji Yueqiao is his younger brother who grew up behind him. Seeing him being punished by the old lady like this makes him feel a little distressed.
With nothing to do at home, Ji Yuexian thought of Lu Zheng'an, so he simply took people on horseback to Hualong Town.
Hearing that Ji Yuexian actually felt sorry for his cousin, Lu Zhengan couldn't help but be speechless. He looked at Ji Yuexian and didn't know what to say for a moment. Thinking that Ji Yuexian was still hungry, Lu Zhengan arranged for Song Huaishu to tell Song Huaishu and simply turned his face and went to the kitchen house.
Although Lu Zhengan would occasionally say a few words to Ji Yuexian, he was still a guest no matter what. In this case, the meal cannot be really too simple.
After thinking about it, Lu Zheng'an steamed half a bowl of rice, stir-fried a plate of scallions and eggs, a plate of hot and sour shredded potatoes, a plate of braised fish cubes, and a plate of fried mutton with green onions.
Ji Yuexian was really hungry. Before Lu Zhengan finished cooking, he was wandering around the door of the kitchen house. When all the food was out of the pot, Lu Zhengan quickly washed his hands and helped Lu Zhengan put the food on the table before he could say hello.
Sitting in the living room of Lu Zheng'an's house, Ji Yuexian looked at Lu Zheng'an and said, "I'm just at your house. If I were to serve him food in any other place, it would cost ten years of his life."
Lu Zhengan, who was helping Song Huaishu pick up the food, couldn't help but shake the chopsticks in his hand when he heard Ji Yuexian's words. Then she glanced at him and said with a faint smile: "I have wronged you, the eldest son of the Ji family, in my house. Then next time, the eldest son, the young master Ji, please don't come to my door, so as not to stain your shoes." "
When Ji Yuexian, who was putting rice into his mouth, heard this, he knew that what he said was a bit inappropriate, so Lu Zheng'an laughed sarcastically and said nothing more.
Lu Zheng'an also knew that Ji Yuexian had no other intentions, so he just stabbed him. Song Huaishu, on the other hand, was worried that Lu Zheng'an would be unhappy, so he gave him a worried look.
"You should eat it while my daughter is asleep. You won't have time to eat it when the little devil star wakes up."
Although Lu Xingyi is young, he is really a foodie. Whenever you see someone's mouth moving, you have to clasp it with your hands to see if they like it. You smile but feel helpless.
Knowing his daughter's habits, Song Huaishu didn't dare to grind anymore, so Lu Zhengan gave him a full bowl of vegetables. As soon as he put down his chopsticks, he heard Lu Xingyi in the back room started to howl. got up.
Lu Zheng'an wanted to go over and take his daughter out, but Song Huaishu patted him on the shoulder, reminded him that Ji Yuexian was still there, and got up on his own.
As soon as Song Huaishu left, Ji Yuexian couldn't help but relax a little. Asking? Lu Zheng'an said: "I heard from the old lady that this year your peach trunks are big and have a good harvest. I saw you go to Linzhou before. How many do you have at home now? Have they not been sold out?"
Lu Zheng'an had just taken a bite of rice. After hearing Ji Yuexian's words, he swallowed everything in his mouth and then replied: "They are all sold out."
After the words fell, Lu Zhengan saw Ji Yuexian's surprised look, put down the chopsticks in his hand, and said with a smile: "I'm not lying to you, it's really sold out. Speaking of which, I have to thank you, Mr. Ji." Master, it's because of you that my dried peaches are like this? They've been sold out long ago."
With that said, Lu Zhengan told Ji Yuexian everything about Ma Yuntao's visit. Finally, Lu Zheng'an said with a smile: "Although Shopkeeper Ma is here for you, he generously packaged my dried peaches, which indirectly helped me a big favor."
When Ji Yuexian heard Lu Zhengan mention Ma Yuntao, he already remembered who the other party was.
"These people are really clever, and they actually found you here." As he said that, Ji Yuexian turned to look at Lu Zhengan, "I know you are used to being self-reliant and don't want to rely on the Ji family. But now that you and the old lady have known each other, there are some things that you can't hide from even if you want to. Just like this group of people, if you can use them, you can use them. You don't have to grow in the ground all day long. Just like that, you will be disgraced. Even if you are not doing it for yourself, you should also think about it for your daughter in the future. Give her more in the future? Is it still a bad thing for her to save some dowry? "
Seeing Ji Yuexian's brotherly tone, Lu Zheng'an felt a warmth in his heart and rarely replied.
"Besides, you and Huai Shu worked hard to make those dried peaches. If someone comes to collect them, just give them to them. Those people are not here for you, but the things are decent. You made the Eight Classics, and they can't suffer any loss even if they take it back. What else do you have to worry about?"
Lu Zhengan nodded in response, poked the rice grains in the bowl with his chopsticks, and sighed softly.
"It's not that I'm worried about anything, I just feel uneasy. But I will consider what you said carefully. After all, I have my daughter, so I will have to think more about her in the future."
It was rare for Lu Zheng'an and Ji Yuexian to sit together and talk about this from the bottom of their hearts. They raised their eyes and looked at Ji Yuexian's wrinkled face and advised: "Now that you have said this, I also sincerely advise you. I think you should understand better than me that a big tree attracts the wind. It is not easy for the Ji family to reach today. The more this happens, the more we must control our brothers and family. Otherwise, we will wait until the situation changes. On that day, any seemingly trivial thing may be the trigger for the destruction of the entire family."
Seeing Ji Yuexian's frown deepening, Lu Zheng'an continued: "Don't think what I said is unlucky. It is a good thing for the old lady to discipline your brother. Otherwise, when he causes a big disaster, it will be too late to discipline him. "
Lu Zheng'an couldn't help but feel a little distressed when he thought of the old lady with gray hair. There was still half a bowl of rice left in the bowl, but she had lost her appetite after all.
Although Ji Yuexian had always understood this truth, but now that it was spoken from Lu Zhengan's mouth, it made him feel something else. After sitting quietly in the Lu family's hall for a while, Ji Yuexian finally came to his senses after hearing Lu Zheng'an say that he was going to breastfeed the child. He stood up from the stool and said goodbye to Lu Zheng'an.
Seeing this, Lu Zhengan didn't let him stay. After sending him out, he went back to the room to take care of his best daughter.
...
The dried peaches at home were sold out at once. After Lu Zhengan paid out the wages he owed for making dried peaches to everyone, Lu Zhengan became completely idle. And before he knew it, Lu Xingyi was already more than three months old.
As the old saying goes, you can crawl after turning over and over again. However, three months after Lu Xingyi arrived, he had not learned to turn over as the old saying goes.
When Lu Zheng'an had nothing to do, he played with his daughter every day. Gu Yong, who was walking back and forth on the bed like a big silkworm chrysalis, guided Lu Xingyi to learn to roll over with him.
Every time Lu Xingyi lifted the little girl's feet and only turned half of her buttocks, but her shoulders couldn't be turned over, Lu Zheng'an scratched her head anxiously, wishing she could help her directly. Song Huaishu, who was reading on the side, was very angry and laughing.
"What are you so anxious about? I heard from Aunt Changgen that it is normal for her not to turn over in three months. She has little hands and feet and she doesn't have much strength yet. She will be fine when she gets older. ?"
Lu Zhengan's eyes widened immediately when he heard Song Huaishu said that Lu Xingyi was weak. "Is this girl so weak? Last time I put her to sleep, she kicked me in the stomach so hard that I almost couldn't breathe."
Seeing Lu Zheng'an's pitiful appearance, Song Huaishu reached out and held his face and rubbed it gently. "Okay, in order to apologize for the little bad guy Lu Xingyi, I will cook today. What do you want to eat? I will cook it for you."
Hearing this, the corners of Lu Zhengan's mouth curled up slightly, and he stretched out his hand to stop Song Huaishu's waist and pull him in front of him. "What do I want to eat? Don't you know yet?"
After Lu Zheng'an finished speaking, Song Huaishu's face immediately turned red. He quickly released his hand holding Lu Zheng'an's face and tried to get away from his arms.
Seeing this, Lu Zheng'an rubbed his head against Song Huaishu's chest and said to Song Huaishu in an aggrieved manner: "Ever since your big belly caused inconvenience, I have never dared to act rashly again. Well, it's not easy for my daughter to be born. I'm still worried that your body hasn't recovered well, but I still don't dare to move. It's not easy to seize the opportunity in the past few days, and this little girl hasn't disturbed it. I feel like I'll do this again. Go down, I'm really going to get sick from holding it in."
Song Huaishu couldn't help but feel a little unbearable when he heard Lu Zheng'an counting down the "difficulty" of these days. Thinking of the 'good things' that were interrupted by his daughter a few days ago, Song Huaishu was inevitably a little moved.
"But Xingyi is here..."
Lu Zhengan relaxed a little when he heard Song Huaishu's words, and immediately couldn't help but grin.
"When she falls asleep at night, why don't we do it in front of her?"
In this way, the simple Song Huaishu was "deceived" by Lu Zhengan with a few words and lost his mind. That night, after Lu Xingyi fell asleep with his fists raised, Lu Zheng'an, who had successfully transformed, carried Song Huaishu out of the back room. The two of them spent half the night in the main room, and Lu Zhengan, who was satisfied, took Song Huaishu, who was no longer able to move, back to the room.
After struggling for so long, although both of them were a little tired, they didn't feel sleepy.
Recalling Ji Yuexian who came and left inexplicably, Song Huaishu couldn't help but sigh.
"Sometimes it's really not easy to think about Mrs. Ji. With the status of the Ji family, we have to be careful every step of the way, even if we are walking on thin ice. If the descendants in the family were like Mr. Ji, it would be okay. It is obviously extremely shameful for Mrs. Ji to discipline her personally. Thinking about it is really a headache."
Lu Zhengan put his arm around Song Huaishu's shoulders and helped him tuck the cup behind his back. He felt relieved when he saw that there was no air leakage.
"The Ji family's conditions are too favorable and they spoil their children. If you ask me to give them three acres of land each, let them work in the fields. They are so tired every day that they go home and fall asleep. Do you think they still have it? I don't have the energy to go out and cause trouble."
Song Huaishu couldn't help laughing after hearing Lu Zheng'an's words. "It's so easy as you said. It's the treasure in the hands of parents. How could you let them suffer such great suffering?"
After hearing Song Huaishu's words, Lu Zhengan's eyes widened immediately. "The hardship of farming is much better than the hardship of being in prison in the future, right? Didn't you see the arrogant look of Ji Yuexian's little cousin? I guess when you see the real person, you won't Do you think so?"
After saying that, Lu Zhengan reached out and patted Song Huaishu on the back, and coaxed: "Okay, don't talk about the Ji family. We will start pruning the garden tomorrow. It should be busy for a few days. You are alone. Is it possible for me to be busy taking care of my daughter? How about we take mother over and take care of her for a few more days?"
"That's okay, but Xingyi is also easy to take care of. As long as you have enough to eat, you can play, and you don't cry much." Song Huaishu leaned in Lu Zheng'an's arms, thinking of his ordinary daughter's well-behaved appearance, and couldn't help but seduce him. The corner of his mouth curled up.
"That's right, I almost forgot to tell you that my ex-son's Aunt Changgen came and said that Uncle Changshan's family in the village was marrying his daughter-in-law on the sixth day of October. Didn't his family also do it when our daughter was celebrating her full moon? Is there someone here? You should also return the gift, right?"
Lu Zheng'an almost wanted to close his eyes, but when he heard Song Huaishu's words, he immediately opened them again. "When we made the contract and celebrated the full moon with my daughter, people came to his house."
As he said that, Lu Zheng'an counted the days silently in his mind and saw that there were only a few days until the sixth day of October. Then he turned to Song Huaishu and said, "Then let's go down the mountain tomorrow and ask Aunt Changgen what they added to me. Then we can follow the general trend and get the same thing." "
Although the conditions at Lu Zheng'an's home are good now, the gifts given to people doing business in the village should not be too outrageous. When Song Huaishu heard what Lu Zhengan said, he also had a plan in mind, so he agreed and fell asleep.
Early the next morning, when Song Huaishu dressed his daughter, Lu Zhengan had already filled the water tank in the kitchen room and even put breakfast into the pot.
Song Huaishu stuffed Lu Xingyi into Lu Zheng'an's arms, covered his mouth and yawned, and said, "Does it take a while for breakfast? When I was dressing her just now, I wet the bedding again. Now the sun is shining It's okay, I'll pull out the mattress and hang it up to dry."
Upon hearing Song Huaishu's words, Lu Zheng'an was a little dumbfounded. Lu Xingyi stretched out his hand and looked at him, saying hello, and smiled and scolded: "You little brat, you wet the mattress again. When your father gets angry, I'll see if he doesn't spank you." ."
Lu Xingyi looked up at Lu Zheng'an, thinking that she was playing with her. She chuckled, stretched out her small hand and grabbed Lu Zheng'an's big hand that was touching the tip of her nose, and then pulled it into her mouth. deliver.
Knowing that Lu Xingyi was a little hungry, Lu Zhengan looked at the big pot that was already steaming, stood up, poured the freshly squeezed goat milk into the casserole, and put it on the charcoal stove under the eaves for her to warm.
Seeing Song Huaishu squatting by the courtyard wall and washing the urine ring, Lu Zhengan held his daughter with one hand and poured half a basin of warm water into her special small earthen basin to wash her face. At the same time, he also used a fine cotton cloth to help her put the urine in her mouth. All cleaned up.
After Lu Zheng'an washed Lu Xingyi, the goat's milk on the charcoal stove was almost warm. He asked Song Huaishu to help him get a bowl and pour out the goat milk. Then he moved a small stool to sit at the door and started breastfeeding his daughter.
Lu Xingyi is a tight-lipped person, and when he smells the smell of goat's milk, he starts to get anxious. Lu Zhengan was afraid that she would spill the goat's milk in the spoon.
He directly grabbed her wrist with a big hand and then brought the spoon to her mouth.
After the little girl drank the goat's milk, she immediately became satisfied and calm. Song Huaishu shook the water droplets on his hands and couldn't help laughing when he saw Lu Zhengan's "execution"-like breastfeeding method.
"You are really good at it. I think what will you do when she is older? One o'clock?"
"How can a grown-up like me control a child?" After saying that, Lu Zheng'an also laughed for a while, and then said to Song Huaishu: "The rice in the pot is ready, please take the salted duck eggs. Come out and take a dip in the cold water. I don't have time to cook today. When my daughter is full, what do you want to eat? Let's cook again."
"Didn't you boil the salted duck eggs? That's enough. When the girl is full, you put her on the small bed and give her something to play with."
As for Lu Xingyi, it was Song Huai who brought more books. He was afraid that Lu Zhengan would not be able to figure out Lu Xingyi's habits, so he couldn't help but explain a few more sentences.
"I know, you should serve the food first."
After Lu Zheng'an and Song Huaishu had tidied up the house, they packed some things for Lu Xingyi and carried her to Lujiacun.
At this time, the people fetching water and grinding noodles in the village were busy. Seeing Lu Zheng'an and Song Huaishu carrying their children into the village, everyone seemed particularly enthusiastic. Looking at Lu Xingyi, who was looking around with his eyes wide open under the blanket, he couldn't stop praising him.
Lu Zheng'an and Song Huaishu chatted a few words with everyone, and felt that there was a lot of wind in the village, so they walked to Lu Changgen's house with their children in their arms.
When the three of them arrived at Lu Changgen's house, Lu Yang was sitting under the eaves, holding a dustpan and pulling out the peanuts that had just been harvested this year.
Hearing the footsteps, Lu Yang raised his head and looked towards the door. Seeing that it was Lu Zheng'an and Song Huaishu coming with their children in their arms, they hurriedly threw the dustpan on the ground and walked a few steps to greet them.
"Oh, I was just about to pick up the peanuts and send some to you, but by chance you came over. It's windy today. Come and sit in the house with Niuniu in your arms, and I'll wash my hands."
Lu Yang was already very fond of Lu Zheng'an and Song Huaishu. Later, after Lu Changgen did business with Lu Zheng'an, his attitude became even warmer.
"It's okay. It doesn't matter if you wear thick clothes for the girl." Lu Zheng'an hugged Lu Xingyi and followed Lu Yang to the kitchen house. Seeing Lu Yang scooping water to wash her hands, she asked directly: "I heard. Huai Shu said, Uncle Changshan's family is having a wedding, will my aunt give it to me? Has his family followed the ceremony?"
"Come on, your uncle gave their family ten dollars." Lu Yang replied while wiping his hands.
Not many families in the countryside are wealthy, so being able to spend ten dollars as a gift to a neighbor is already considered rich.
"I'm just asking how much money you've given me here. After all, you and Uncle Chang Gen are elders, and I can't go past you."
After hearing Lu Zheng'an's words, Lu Yang couldn't help but sigh at Lu Zheng'an's thoughtfulness. "Actually, it's not that much. Speaking of which, the conditions at home are better this year. It's all thanks to your help. Your uncle and I will remember your kindness."
Song Huaishu, who was wiping his daughter's saliva, heard what Lu Yang said and hurriedly advised: "I have told my aunt so many times, don't always say this. If you really talk about this, then what? So what if you and Uncle Chang Gen took care of the political security these years? What do you think?"
Upon hearing Song Huaishu's somewhat anxious tone, Lu Yang immediately compromised. "Okay? Okay? Okay? No more, no more."
Lu Zheng'an, who was hugging Lu Xingyi, couldn't help laughing when he saw Lu Yang's appearance. "What happened before? You didn't listen to what I said to you. Now, okay? There will always be someone who can persuade you."
In fact, after Song Huaishu finished speaking, he also realized that his tone was a bit too strong. Just as he was about to make amends with Lu Yang, he heard Lu Zhengan gloating and teasing Lu Yang from the sidelines.
"I, I don't mean to kill my aunt, it's just..."
Seeing that Song Huaishu's face turned red in anxiety, Lu Yang couldn't help but laugh.
"Okay, okay. I know what you mean, let's go to the main room to talk. Isn't it boring when we are all crowded in the kitchen?"
Lu Yang pushed the two of them into the main room, grabbed some peanuts and put them on the table for Song Huaishu to eat. "It's new this year. I see you haven't planted any this year. Take some back when you leave, and ask Zheng'an to get some sand for you to fry and eat in the winter."
"I made it last year, but I didn't control the heat, so it was overcooked. My mouth was a little bitter when I ate it, and in the end I peeled it all out and fed it to the chickens."
Mentioning what happened last year, Song Huaishu couldn't help but smile. Looking at Lu Xingyi babbling in Lu Zheng'an's arms, I couldn't help but sigh that time flies by so fast.
"By the way, aren't you going to give the Changshan family a gift? Today happens to be the second day of October. It's a good day. You should go as soon as possible."
After hearing Lu Yang's urging, Lu Zhengan only remembered this. He stood up and stuffed Lu Xingyi into Lu Yang's arms, and said, "Auntie, I almost forgot if you didn't hurry. I'll go first and come back later."
Seeing Lu Zheng'an leaving in a hurry, Lu Yang couldn't help but smile. "It's rare for this political security to have a moment of forgetfulness."
After saying that, Mrs. Lu Yang turned to look at Song Huaishu, and couldn't help but ask: "Did that young master from the Ji family come again yesterday? I heard Mrs. Ge said that she came with several people on horseback. Yes. You said their family is also quite strange. Isn't it comfortable to live in a high-rise courtyard? And they always run to your house. "
"The old lady remembered Xingyi, so she asked him to come over and have a look."
Lu Xingyi has been feeling sleepy since he woke up in the morning. Nestled in the quilt, he couldn't help opening his mouth and yawning. Being shaken gently by Lu Yang, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
Seeing that Lu Xingyi was sleepy, Lu Yang's voice became much softer. "Hey, Mrs. Ji's family is right. Your family is really nice. Zheng'an can be stubborn sometimes. You should try to persuade her more."
Hearing this, Song Huaishu nodded. "I know what Auntie said. I plan to take Xingyi to Ji's house for a walk during the Chinese New Year this year."
"Hey, that's right. Although we are not people who rush to take advantage of others, it is not good to always have people stick to us. Besides, the Ji family is always the elder, and the old lady is not young either. It's not good anymore? It's going back and forth."
After Lu Yang finished speaking, he calculated in his mind how many months it would be until the New Year this year. Thinking of the last Mid-Autumn Festival, several families gathered together and it was very lively. Then he suggested to Song Huaishu: "During the Chinese New Year this year, why don't we still spend time together? Besides, there are quite a lot of things to prepare for the New Year. It's not convenient for you to have children. Please discuss it with your mother. We'll figure it out together when the time comes."