Xie Jiang did not go to the Xu family's private room, but went downstairs and walked out.
Yi Yan Geng is truly sick!
To actually have the absurd idea of trying to tell her what to do!
Had she been too indulgent towards this man?
To the point where he couldn't discern his own position.
Although it was already noon, there were still quite a few people enjoying themselves with great enthusiasm. Xie Jiang wandered aimlessly.
Just as she leaned against a large rock and sat down, she felt something nudging her foot. Looking down, she saw a small puppy, only a few months old.
Xie Jiang gently nudged its little head with her finger.
The puppy looked up, then tried to lick her with its tongue.
Unfortunately, it couldn't reach.
Then it began to playfully bite at Xie Jiang's hem.
Xie Jiang looked around, there was nothing nearby, so she plucked a blade of grass and used it to tease the puppy.
The puppy curiously jumped up, wanting to eat it.
Xie Jiang didn't give it, and it looked wronged.
"Are you hungry? Whose dog are you? Doesn't anyone feed you?"
Xie Jiang picked up the puppy, intending to take it back to the inn. "I'll take you to eat something delicious."
Just then, a servant-like figure ran over, looking anxious. Upon seeing the small pet in Xie Jiang's arms, he looked as if he had found salvation.
"Oh my little ancestor, I've finally found you! With so many people around, how could you dare to run off..."
Then he remembered that his little ancestor was being held by someone else.
He looked up at Xie Jiang, completely stunned. When he heard Xie Jiang speak, he finally snapped back to reality.
Had his little ancestor met an immortal?
"Is that your dog?"
"Yes, yes, yes. Thank you, young sir. This is my master's dog, our little ancestor."
Xie Jiang said "oh" and handed the dog over.
The other man's eyes welled up with tears. He hadn't expected this young sir to be so accommodating. He had worried that the young sir might keep the dog for himself, but that was just his own petty thinking.
"Thank you, sir. Thank you."
"What breed is this dog? It's quite cute."
"It's just a common village dog, unwanted. My master took pity on it and brought it home. As we raised it, it became our little ancestor."
Xie Jiang nodded.
The man then carefully carried the puppy away.
Xu Heng Yan, who had just come this way, looked at the retreating figure holding the dog and found him somewhat familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before. However, he didn't think much of it; it was normal for him to recognize someone among the people visiting Xi Hua Mountain today.
"Did you run into someone you know?"
"No, he was looking for his dog."
"Didn't you go to eat with Young Master Yi? Why are you out alone again?"
Xu Heng Yan happened to see her leave alone from upstairs, and her expression seemed not too good. He worried she might have encountered some trouble and came to check.
"Don't mention it. We didn't hit it off, and before we even ate a bite, I was full of anger."
Xu Heng Yan was a bit surprised. Young Master Yi wasn't usually difficult to get along with. But thinking back to the time Young Master Yi had requested to stay overnight, he swallowed his words.
"Do you want to go back and eat something?"
"No."
Xu Heng Yan remembered the pastry stall he had passed by when he first arrived. It should be within her acceptable range, so he turned back to buy a bag.
Xie Jiang sat obediently on the rock and waited. She propped up her face and smiled at him as he walked towards her. Her smile was like the earth coming alive with spring, full of vitality.
Pure and simple beauty.
Xu Heng Yan couldn't help but smile along.
"They are clean and fresh. They can't compare to your cooking, but they'll do to fill your stomach."
Xie Jiang ate only two pieces before returning them to Xu Heng Yan. "Too greasy."
Xu Heng Yan then wrapped up the remaining pastries and put them away.
"Then let's go sit in the teahouse for a while. We can go out to play again when the sun isn't so strong in the afternoon, or do you want to go back to the manor to rest now?"
"I don't want to go back. Let's go to the teahouse for a bit."
Xu Heng Yan also felt that since they had come out, they should play to their heart's content. His siblings Xu Heng Yi and the others always played until dusk before returning.
Xie Jiang reached out her hand to him.
Xu Heng Yan pulled her up.
"You're returning to Ninghe tomorrow. Don't you need to spend some time talking with Miss Shen? Actually, I can go to the teahouse by myself."
She had to first help Xu Heng Yan find a marriage, so she could then give his wife the "green hat."
Shen Qing Huai seemed to be good in all aspects, worthy of Xu Heng Yan.
Moreover, Shen Qing Huai was from the Duke of Liang's mansion.
Xu Heng Yan glanced at her. Why did she bring it up again? "It's not suitable."
Shen Qing Huai was good friends with his sisters. He would just greet her when he saw her.
"A talented man and a beautiful woman, from matching families. Why isn't it suitable?"
"Besides, Miss Shen is accomplished in every way. Among the young ladies in the capital, if ranked by comprehensive evaluation, she is outstanding."
Xu Heng Yan couldn't help but chuckle. What comprehensive evaluation? "Marriage isn't about these things."
"Isn't the purpose of marrying a wife to help you manage household affairs? The legitimate daughter of Duke Liang has been learning these things since childhood."
Xu Heng Yan admitted that she made a lot of sense. Perhaps Miss Shen was indeed a very good candidate for a legitimate wife, but he hadn't considered these issues.
His mind had never been focused on these matters. His grandmother had hinted at it when she called him to Xi Hua Mountain.
Perhaps it was time for him to shoulder the responsibility of being the heir of the Duke of Wei.
But his future wife might not necessarily be Shen Qing Huai. If his fiancée were to be settled as Shen Qing Huai, he would naturally take better care of her.
"In short, I have no relationship with Miss Shen. You should worry less about this matter. Speaking of which, you should be getting married in a few years, shouldn't you? Why don't you worry about yourself first?"
"I think your third and fourth sisters are quite good. How about I become your brother-in-law? Do you think your third sister is more suitable for me, or do you think your fourth sister and I get along better?"
Xu Heng Yan thought seriously, "You're still young, no need to rush..."
Glancing at her changing expression, Xu Heng Yan quickly quickened his pace.
"Xu Heng Yan, what do you mean!"
Xie Jiang raised her fist and chased after him to hit him.
At the nearby intersection, Yi Yan Geng turned and left.
Why did he chase after her!
The ungrateful person was too busy!
She didn't have the leisure to be angry with him at all!
"Return to the manor!"
...
Seeing the kite Xu Heng Yan had left behind in the private room of the inn, the three young ladies of the Xu family couldn't help but want to try flying it.
Young Master Xie also wanted to fly a kite, it must be very fun.
The kite Young Master Xie chose was so cute and majestic. Young Master Xie had excellent taste.
What would go well with a tiger kite? A rabbit or a crane?
Xu Heng Yi rolled his eyes to the sky. Had he never flown a kite before?
Xu Fang Ling glared at him. Third brother was too annoying.
Finally, Xu Fang Zhi chose a goldfish kite, Xu Fang Lan chose a butterfly kite, and Xu Fang Ling chose the longest centipede kite.
Shen Qing Huai and the other girls they met later also picked out the ones they thought were the prettiest.
"Third brother, do you want to pick one too?"
Xu Fang Zhi waved to Xu Heng Yi, who was standing by, looking bored.
Xu Heng Yi was not interested. "I don't want one. Girls play with them..."
Xu Fang Zhi's eyebrows immediately shot up. "Not at all, Young Master Xie and second brother also want to play."
Seeing Xu Fang Lan and Xu Fang Ling also glaring, Xu Heng Yi quickly raised his hands in surrender and stepped forward to pick an eagle kite, which finally satisfied them.
The group then went to the teahouse to meet up with Xie Jiang and Xu Heng Yan.