Outside the General’s manor, Gu Zhenshan stood before the carriage, inspecting the goods.
“Didn’t I tell you to buy more pork ribs? Your sister’s family is large, why did you only buy two ribs? Will that be enough for anyone?” Gu Zhenshan reprimanded.
A drop of cold sweat trickled down the butler Cao’s forehead. “Young General, look at how much you’ve bought already, two full carts! The weather is getting warmer day by day, and pork won’t stay frozen. If it can’t be eaten, won’t it spoil?”
“Excuses!” Gu Zhenshan glared at him. “In my heart, my sister is the most important. What are two carts of gifts compared to that?”
Butler Cao: “……”
“Then, then shall this servant go buy more ribs or something?”
“No need. You’re dawdling. Let’s just take these!” Gu Zhenshan waved his hand, mounted his horse, and led his subordinates towards the Yun manor.
Meanwhile, Xiao Xi Tian was at home, playing with Han Chi Jiao and Xiao Xin Ling, kicking a ball and playing rubber band.
Due to a lack of hands, she had also called Jin Xiao Lou, Gao Jing De, and Yun Xiao Bao over.
“Little ball, kick it with your feet, twenty-one for the lotus flower, two-eight two-five-six, two-eight two-five-seven, two-eight two-nine thirty-one……”
Xiao Xin Ling chanted the rhyme as she jumped, her face brimming with youthful energy.
Seeing this, Han Chi Jiao’s eyes widened, and she became incredibly excited. “Haha, hahaha, I never expected you people in the Central Plains to have such toys. They’re so much fun……”
In ancient times, there was no rubber, and thus no rubber bands. Xiao Xi Tian had no choice but to find a hemp rope, tie it into a loop, and then they could jump.
“Sister Han, do you want to try?” Xiao Xi Tian asked with a smile.
Han Chi Jiao had already been itching to try. She instructed Jin Xiao Lou and Gao Jing De, who were holding the rope, “Make it higher for me, it’s not challenging enough when it’s too low!”
Xiao Xi Tian: “……”
Starting with such a difficult level, can you handle it?
So, Gao Jing De and Jin Xiao Lou pulled the hemp rope higher, securing it under their armpits.
At this height, most people couldn’t jump.
Han Chi Jiao rolled up her sleeves, walked to the hemp rope, let out a “Hey!” and then sprang up from the spot.
“Wow, Sister Han is jumping so high!” Gao Jing De praised.
Xiao Xin Ling pouted. “The higher you jump, the harder you fall. Just watch and see……”
Perhaps influenced by the mood, as soon as Han Chi Jiao sprang up, her ankle got tangled in the hemp rope. Not only could she not jump freely, but even landing was difficult.
“Ahhh! Help! I don’t want to fall and become a pig’s head!” Han Chi Jiao screamed.
Everyone: “……”
Why did you have to jump so high?
Just as Han Chi Jiao was about to fall headfirst and make intimate contact with the ground, a figure suddenly flashed over, scooped Han Chi Jiao up by the waist, spun her around in mid-air, and then landed steadily on the ground.
“Brother Kong is here!” Xiao Xi Tian shouted.
Kong Xing Zhuo looked at Han Chi Jiao with a resentful expression and said grumpily, “If you don’t have the skill, don’t take on the job. What if you scrape your face?”
Han Chi Jiao’s beautiful eyes sparkled, her heart pounded, and her small mouth pouted. She burst into tears, “Wuwuwu, you scared me to death, wuwu!”
Kong Xing Zhuo: “……”
“Don’t cry!” Kong Xing Zhuo wiped away her tears, bent down to untie the hemp rope from her ankle, and said, “I’ll buy you candied hawthorn later!”
“Really, really?” Han Chi Jiao sniffled.
“Of course, it’s true!” Kong Xing Zhuo took her hand and walked out with a smile. “Do you want the hawthorn ones, or the crab apple ones?”
“I like both, hehe!”
Xiao Xin Ling: “……”
When did those two get together?
It felt inexplicable.
Yun Lao Si, oh Yun Lao Si, why aren’t you back yet?
“Sister Xin Ling, are we still playing?” Xiao Xi Tian asked.
Xiao Xin Ling pouted. “Yes, it’s even better without that annoying person. Hmph……”
Showing off their affection will lead to a quick demise. Look at how smug they are.
Xiao Xi Tian, however, felt that Brother Kong and Sister Han were a good match. At least their personalities complemented each other.
Han Chi Jiao was a straightforward and open person, while Kong Xing Zhuo was meticulous and caring. When they married in the future, they could even have a mixed-race baby.
Just then, a burst of laughter came from the front courtyard. “Haha, Sister, you’re getting younger and younger. Look, all these fabrics are what I bought for you. This is the color that fashionable ladies in the capital are wearing now!”
Xiao Xi Tian blinked her big eyes. “Hmm? Uncle is here?”
A moment later, the main hall was crowded with people. Gu Zhenshan sat happily in a chair, holding Yun Lao Tou’s hand and chatting. “Brother-in-law, why didn’t you tell me when you came to the capital? I would have had Butler Cao send someone to pick you up……”
Yun Lao Tou smiled helplessly. “We left in too much of a hurry, we didn’t tell anyone!”
“Brother-in-law, your brother-in-law has avenged you. That scoundrel Shen Du Cai almost beat your Huaihua to death. Oh, she was whipped so badly there wasn’t a good spot on her body……” Gu Zhenshan said.
Upon hearing this, Gu Shi quickly stood up. “Is Huaihua alright?”
If she had known this would happen, she should have brought Huaihua to the capital to save her from such suffering.
“That girl was blessed and had a strong life, she pulled through!” Gu Zhenshan sighed, then suddenly remembered Xiao Jin Feng. “Speaking of which, His Highness Ming is also quite infatuated with her. In such cold weather, he didn’t even wear a cotton coat when he took Huaihua to the county town to see a doctor. His ears were frozen when he returned……”
Who would have thought that the high and mighty His Highness Ming would fall in love with a country girl?
Consort Xian had such high expectations for him, yet her son was so unpromising.
Gu Shi smiled and said, “I always thought Young Master Xiao was a good person, and Huaihua is fortunate. She has worked for our family for so many years, and it’s finally time for her to enjoy some good fortune.”
Gu Zhenshan grunted and looked at Gu Shi. “Sister, pack your things later and come live with me at the General’s manor. I’ve even prepared a special boudoir for Sweet Baby……”
The General’s manor was Gu Shi’s home. Although many unpleasant things had happened there before, since they were in the capital, Gu Shi had to go back and take a look.
“Zhenshan, there’s no rush for this. We might be staying in the capital for a while. We’ll visit in a few days!” Gu Shi said with a smile.
Gu Zhenshan looked displeased. “Then Sister, you must promise not to go back on your word……”
“I won’t go back on my word!” Gu Shi said, torn between laughter and tears.
Just then, Chu Jiang Tun and Xiao Jin Heng walked in side by side.