There was a private seat on the second floor. The young man made tea and retired. A tall man about thirty years old with a long face came up to them with a smile, "Hello Ladies, I am Jiang Xiao, the steward here. I wonder what you two want to see today?"
Cui Xining said: "It will be my grandmother's sixtieth birthday in a few days. Is there anything suitable to give as a gift?"
"What a coincidence, there really is one." Manager Jiang said with a smile: "Yesterday, a statue of the three gods of fortune, prosperity, and longevity was transported from Zhongzhou. It is extremely auspicious to give it to an elder on their birthday."
Cui Xining said: "Bring it here and I'll take a look."
After Manager Jiang walked away, Cui Xining whispered: "The things here are more exquisite than other places, but the prices are quite high. It would be a good gift for grandma."
Cui Xining's father, Master Cui Shida, was not an official and had average talents. He usually managed the Cui family's property and was quite rigid and stubborn. He has been extremely strict with his children since they were young and is quite stingy with money.
In contrast, Second Master Cui Shishuo is polite and open-minded. Third Master Cui Shiren is approachable, and they are much easier to get along with than First Master Cui.
Not long after, two teenagers came in holding four or five mahogany boxes, and Manager Jiang opened the largest one.
"Two ladies, take a closer look."
It is a natural white ice jade statue of good fortune, wealth and longevity, with a rosewood base and an inscription: Good luck and good fortune. All the best, may you be happy forever.
Cui Xining looked at it carefully and asked: "Which master's work is it?"
Manager Jiang said: "It was created by Luo Minsheng, the master sculptor of Zhongzhou."
Luo Minsheng is a famous sculptor in recent years, and his works are particularly sought after by people in the capital.
Cui Xining's eyes showed satisfaction, "Wrap it up for me."
Manager Jiang's smile became friendlier, "You two ladies, there are some trinkets here, you might as well take a look at them together."
The two young men put the boxes on the table, and Manager Jiang took them out. They were a gold hairpin inlaid with butterfly oysters, a pair of emerald pearl earrings with light smoked purple chalcedony, a xiuyu freshwater pearl waistband, and a small and exquisite, bright red agate fawn play piece.
Cui Xining picked up the purple chalcedony dotted emerald pearl earrings and asked Xie Miao, "Do they look good?"
She wore a deep purple jacket with vine grass, and matched it with light smoked purple chalcedony dotted emerald pearl earrings. The depths overlapped and complemented each other.
Xie Miao nodded and said: "It looks good."
Cui Xining said happily: "I want this too."
She lingered on the xiuyu freshwater pearl waistband a few more times, hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "I've made my choice, Xie Miao, what about you?"
Xie Miao was very interested in the agate baby deer, which was about the size of two fingers. It would be a perfect gift for her unborn brother as a toy.
"How much is this agate deer?"
"This is Xizhou red agate. The output is small and the quality is high. Look at it, it is crystal clear and has no impurities. If you go to the black market, it will cost you five hundred silver." Manager Jiang looked sincere, "Here it is only three hundred taels."
Just such a small trinket costs three hundred taels of silver...
If she were the wife of the Prime Minister Cui in her previous life, she would naturally wave her hand and ask someone to wrap it up. But this time Xie Miao is just a weak, helpless, pitiful and poor cousin.
The cousin has no money, and the cousin cannot afford it.
She was crying in her heart, but her face was still tough and she was critical in an understatement, "Well, the quality is good, but the carving is a little sloppy."
*
It was almost noon when they left Baochang Pavilion.
Xie Miao had just taken a few steps when Cui Xining pulled her sleeves and whispered softly: "If you like that agate deer, why not buy it with some money from me first and pay it back to me in the future."
She saw that Xie Miao liked that item, but she didn't buy it because the price was too high.
Xie Miao was startled for a moment, then shook her head and said, "No, but thank you anyway."
Cui Xining didn't try to persuade her. After getting on the carriage, she said, "How about we have lunch outside?"
Xie Miao did not refuse. Firstly, she had already rejected her kindness and it would be rude to do it again. Secondly, it was rare for her to go out and she really wanted to stay outside for a while.
The carriage arrived at Zhiwei Lou, one of the best restaurants in the capital.
As soon as the two of them entered Zhiwei Lou with the maids, they heard a familiar voice in front of them.
"Second Brother, Panyan and I will be the hosts this time. We want to repay you for getting us the horses. You can order as many dishes as you want until you are happy."
Crisp and sweet, this is Cui Xijun's voice.
"Third Miss Cui, what about me?"
Lazy and undisciplined, this is Zhou Niannan's voice.
"Third Young Master Zhou, you are just a freeloader and have no right to speak." Cui Xijun's eyes were sly and she smiled: "You can eat whatever my second brother orders. You are not allowed to be picky."
Zhou Niannan had a sad look on his face and said, "Okay, the food from here is really something that everyone can enjoy!"
The outstanding-looking young men and women gathered together laughing and talking, which had already attracted the attention of others, but they did not notice it and walked upstairs while laughing.
"Xijun, please stop teasing Third Young Master Zhou." Su Panyan said softly, "Third Young Master Zhou can eat whatever he wants. I will be the host today. No one is allowed to take the credit."
Cui Xijun turned around and smiled: "That's not possible. We agreed to invite together... Hey, sister Xining and... Xie Miao?!"
The other three people followed her unkind gaze and saw Cui Xining and Xie Miao standing not far behind.
Zhou Niannan's eyes flickered for a moment, and then a hint of sarcasm appeared. Oh great! They followed here, Xie Miao is really evil-minded.
Xie Miao took the initiative to ignore Zhou Niannan and Cui Xijun and looked at the other two people. Not far away, Cui Muli and Su Panyan stood side by side. The handsome man with a slim body and the gentle and graceful girl matched each other in temperament and appearance. They were truly a match made in heaven.
Su Panyan raised her head and looked at Cui Muli. After seeing that his face was unmoved, she calmed down and smiled at Xie Miao from a distance.
Xie Miao received her kindness, but had no reaction.
Of course she couldn't react. Who was Su Panyan? The most cherished legitimate daughter of General Su Yunchen, a well-known talented woman in the capital, and Cui Muli's sweetheart who was hidden deep in his heart and had never told anyone about her.
In short, Su Panyan is Xie Miao's love rival.
In her previous life, Su Panyan first married the Young Master of the Wen family who was engaged to her. Xie Miao didn't realize that Cui Muli had someone in his heart and forced him to marry her by the grace of saving his life. But later, Su Panyan and her husband separated, then she fell off a cliff and passed away. Who knows if Cui Muli married the one he loved back to the Cui Mansion.
Just get married - Xie Miao thought happily: He and Su Panyan were both unhappy in their respective marriages, so it would be a complete success if they could really renew their relationship. She only hoped that Cui Muli would save some face for her, a dead person, and marry again after a few years.
*
Having already met, Cui Xining stepped forward generously and said with a smile: "I didn't expect to meet you here."
Cui Xijun looked back and forth between the two of them, "Sister Xining, why are you with her?"
Cui Xining said: "I went to Baochang Pavilion to buy a gift for grandmother, and asked for Xie Miao's advice to help me."
Cui Xijun snorted from her nose and looked at Xie Miao contemptuously, "She? Sister Xining, you should at least choose someone with vision to help you, advice coming from a small place like this-"
She spoke loudly, and more and more people were paying attention to her.
"Xijun." Cui Muli's cold voice interrupted her, "Enter the private room."
Cui Xijun had no choice but to shut up.
Cui Muli looked at Cui Xining and Xie Miao and nodded in greeting, "Xining, cousin Xie, since we have met, let's go in together."
They were all acquaintances, so Cui Xining didn't hesitate and followed Cui Xijun into the private room. Xie Miao pretended to be deaf and mute from the beginning and walked slowly at the back.
Zhou Niannan deliberately slowed down his pace. After the others had entered, he stood sideways to block Xie Miao and whispered, "Are you following us?"
After the incident at Qingxin Temple, Xie Miao had completely lost patience with him. It was impossible for her to speak, and she could only stomp forward fiercely.
"hiss--"
Zhou Niannan retracted his feet in pain, but before he could stand still, she pushed him again, knocking him to the side like a trembling chicken.
"Xie Miao, you!"
Xie Miao didn't raise her eyebrows and said, "A good dog doesn't block the way."
Zhou Niannan bared his teeth in anger, "Tell me clearly, who is the dog?!"
The many maids and guards behind them who witnessed everything said: ...Miss Xie must be talking about you, Third Young Master Zhou.
*
Zhou Niannan limped in, and people at the square table were already seated.
Xie Miao and Cui Xining sat together, Cui Xijun and Su Panyan sat together, and he sat next to Cui Muli. Well, on his right was the enemy Xie Miao who had just stepped on him.
Just wait for me - he stabbed Xie Miao with his eyes.
Xie Miao was too lazy to pay attention to him. Except for Cui Xining, she felt annoyed when she saw any of the other four people present, and it became even more annoying when they sat at the same table.
Ah, Buddhist scriptures, she needs Buddhist scriptures!
Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, Su Panyan took the initiative to break the deadlock and said with a friendly smile: "Xining, what good things did you buy at Baochang Pavilion?"
"I chose a jade statue of fortune, wealth and longevity and a pair of earrings."
"The jade statue of fortune, wealth and longevity? Can you show it to me?"
"Of course."
Cui Xining ordered the maid to open the box and place the jade statue on the table, "Look, what do you think of this jade statue?"
Su Panyan praised: "It's so beautiful, Madam Cui will definitely like it."
The jade statue is indeed good, but because Xie Miao and Cui Xining chose it together, Cui Xijun couldn't praise it and asked instead: "How much silver?"
Cui Xining said: "It was originally seven hundred taels. Manager Jiang said that it was auspicious for grandmother's sixtieth birthday, so he gave it to me for six hundred and sixty-six taels."
"The price is quite reasonable."
"If it weren't for my grandma's birthday, I would also feel bad." Cui Xining sighed deliberately, "It's hard to compare with you. You have second brother, and you don't feel bad even if you spend a thousand taels of silver."
Cui Xijun clapped her hands suddenly. She raised her eyebrows, and said proudly and happily: "My second brother is naturally the best! A few days ago, I took a fancy to a Hanxue horse, which cost exactly a thousand taels of silver, and second brother bought it for me without blinking an eye."
Although what she said was true, she also had the intention of deliberately irritating Xie Miao. Unexpectedly, Xie Miao stared straight at the tea in the cup, as if a monster with three heads and nine legs had grown out of it.
Is she deaf?
Cui Xijun continued her efforts, "Panyan also bought a horse. They are top-notch Hanxue horses. They are much more powerful when riding than those wild horses of unknown origin. So, whether it is a person or a horse, you still have to look at your origin..."
It's peculiar, she points at the mulberry tree and curse the locust tree (t/n: scolding someone indirectly). Everyone here knows who she is targeting.
"Xijun." Cui Muli raised his long eyelashes and said softly: "Don't be rude."
Cui Xijun snorted and calmed down for the time being.
Cui Muli looked at Xie Miao, expecting to see a face that was about to cry as usual, but unexpectedly, that person seemed to be in a daze, and he didn't know what she was thinking.
"Xie Miao?" Cui Xining pushed her gently, "What are you thinking about?"
Xie Miao was pushed back to her senses, cut off the verses she was reciting in her mind, "It's nothing, I'm hungry."
Su Panyan said considerately: "Brother Cui, shall we order first?"
Cui Muli said: "Yes."
Su Panyan said: "Everyone please don't be polite. I'm the host of this table, you can order whatever you want."
Cui Xijun hugged her arm and said with a smile, "You really don't want me participate with you?"
Su Panyan scratched her nose and said affectionately: "Please don't rob me. It will be your turn next time."
Cui Xijun agreed, took the menu, and suddenly stuffed it into Xie Miao's hand. She winked maliciously and said, "Cousin Xie, order first. After all, you can only enter such a restaurant a few times in your life. Don't be afraid. Try to choose something expensive, Panyan will pay for it for you."
Two voices sounded at the same time.
"Xijun!" Cui Xining's face suddenly darkened. She was the one who took Xie Miao out today. She didn't expect to meet Xijun and her group, which caused Xie Miao to be ridiculed again and again. She thought of her indifference and indulgence when Xijun bullied Xie Miao in the past, and also recalled what she said yesterday, "She has been too temperamental in the past, and I will take good care of her in the future."
"Cui Xijun." Cui Muli's tone was calm, but calling out her full name was already a sign of displeasure.
When Cui Xijun saw that the two of them were really angry, she immediately changed her tune and said, "My cousin and I were just joking, right, Cousin?"
She threw the words to Xie Miao, expecting her to maintain a good image in front of Cui Muli and not dare to show her emotions. Unexpectedly, at this time, Xie Miao changed her mind and turned over the menu slowly, saying: "Sister Xijun's joke is so boring. Look, no one can laugh."
Everyone was startled when they heard it: It seemed that the words were correct, but why did they feel that... well, they shouldn't have come from Xie Miao's mouth?
Cui Xijun was annoyed elsewhere: Sister Xijun, Sister Xijun again! What right does she have to call herself sister Xijun!
Before Cui Xijun could get angry, Xie Miao added, "But I quite agree with one thing. If you want to order more dishes, you should order more and enough."
She looked at Cui Xijun and said lightly: "Otherwise, how could we block your annoying mouth?"