Gel makeup

Chapter 32 Looking Back

On the second day, Xiao Yi and Siqing returned from Nanshan Zhiyuan to Nannei, Xiao Yi went to the Taiqing Building to search for a while, and took out some boxes and cages for Siqing to see.Siqing opened it and saw that it was full of good things like longan-sized pearls and suet white jade with warm tentacles. Xiao Yi said, "It was my mother's dowry for Lao Liu." Pointing to several empty boxes, he said , "There are also fourth and fifth children, and they accompany them when they get married."

Siqing said: "Pack it up and take it with you in the afternoon."

In the afternoon, Xiao Yi and Si Qing took a few attendants to Ginkgo Alley, and after inquiring at the entrance of the alley, they found that the house in the innermost was Gu Heng's.This alley is very sparse, there are only two households at the entrance of the alley, and the middle is deserted. Gu Liangfen's family is hidden deep in the alley, which inevitably makes people feel eerie.

Siqing went to knock on the door, and after a while a little maid who had only kept her hair came out and opened the door and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

Siqing smiled and said, "Is this Mr. Gu Heng's house? Is he at home? You will know when you ask him to come out."

"Our husband has gone outside, grandma is here, you wait, I'll tell grandma." The little girl jumped in, and after a while, Yan Mowen picked up her skirt and came out, seeing Xiao Yi and his wife saluting hastily, forced to smile He smiled and said, "Liang Fen has gone out." But he didn't intend to let Xiao Yi in.

Seeing this, Siqing said: "Since he's not here, I'll go and see Jiang's sister. You can talk." Saying this, she smiled at Yan Mowei, turned around and left.Cheng Yingzhou who followed behind thought for a moment, put down the things in his hands and followed.

Now only Xiao Yi, Yan Mowei and Yan Mowei's little maid were left at the gate of Gu's house, Yan Mowei could only say: "The place is so poor, I'm afraid it will make third brother break the knot."

Xiao Yi raised his foot and went in, and asked the maid to take the things in as well.Entering the door, I looked at the small two courtyards, and asked softly, "What happened in these years?"

Yan Mowei did not answer, folded his arms and said calmly: "How did the emperor's grandmother die?"

Xiao Yi sighed, "Sick, unable to sleep at night, old, unable to bear it, it will be gone."

Yan Mowei said: "It's really not good to be away these past few years. Needless to say, Fifth Sister, having a baby is like shutting the door of hell. Sister He's family is very good, why did Xining suddenly disappear in 12 years?"

Xiao Yi's complexion suddenly changed when he heard this.

Siqing walked out, Cheng Yingzhou followed, Siqing turned her head and said, "I don't ask you about the past in Shangyang County, why are you nervous?" Before Cheng Yingzhou could answer, Gu Liangfen walked in head-on, saw Siqing and said with a smile, "What's the wind?" Blow the distinguished guests here?"

Siqing said to Cheng Yingzhou: "Their brothers and sisters have something to say, and our brothers and sisters have something to say."

Cheng Yingzhou understood, and led his people back to the outskirts to set up posts.Gu Liangfen guessed that Cheng Yingzhou's status was not low, so he greeted him and watched him retreat very politely.

"Why are you here? What are you making a fuss about? Do you want to piss off Uncle Fu? Since you are in the imperial capital, and Uncle Wu is also there, it's not like you don't know, what can you do if you tell Uncle Wu?" Waiting for Cheng Yingzhou to go away, Gu Liangfen Immediately changed the smiling face.

Cheng Yingzhou's hearing is really good, and he can still hear it from a long distance.It was the first time in my life that I saw someone dare to talk to Si Qing like this, and I couldn't help but look around out of curiosity.

Siqing said angrily: "I was deceived and came back. I was alone at home at that time, and my cheap old man asked my brother to find me, lied to me that he was dying, and told me to go back to the Imperial Capital to have a look. I As soon as my heart softened, I agreed. Speaking of this, I was angry. In order to deceive me to go back, my father even lied to my brother. The two of us thought he was going to die, so we hurried back to the imperial capital, but he was fine. Yes, you can eat, drink, and watch a show.”

"Then you should also leave a letter. Do you know that Uncle Fu is going crazy when he can't find you?"

"I left the letter, and the Ye family lost it. You can't blame me, can you?"

"Then you can't tell Uncle Wu when you arrive in the Imperial Capital? Don't look at me. I don't know. The in-laws in your mansion have always been in contact with Uncle Wu's family." Gu Liangfen became more and more angry as he said.

Siqing was silent for a moment and said, "It doesn't matter if I tell you. My cheap old man said he had evidence of Fu Uncle's relationship with Yu Yunhe back then, and threatened me that if I searched for you again, he would let Uncle Fu I can't live in peace, what can I do?"

After hearing this, Gu Liangfen still asked: "Isn't your biological father dead?"

Siqing almost choked to death when she heard this: "Yes, he was dead, so after he died, I had a showdown with that sister from the Jiang family."

"What's the use of you having a showdown with her? She doesn't dare to tell Uncle Wu, it must be you who won't let her."

Cheng Yingzhou's eyelids twitched wildly, thinking that Siqing was about to get angry, but who knew that Siqing had a good temper and explained: "You all cut off communication with Uncle Fu, what's the use of me telling Uncle Wu? Besides, the old man's death is a He is dead, but I haven't figured out whether he has any evidence of Uncle Fu and Yu Yunhe's relationship, how dare he act recklessly? Besides, I have been involved in a lawsuit before, so I was unlucky by whom, so why do I ask Uncle Wu? Ask you to do it What? You can't tell Uncle Wu about my affairs today. One day I get to know the old things, and I will naturally tell Uncle Wu, so don't talk too much."

After hearing this, Gu Liangfen still raised his voice and said, "You are the one who took the co-authorship?"

Siqing didn't show any weakness: "That's not true, no, it's a coincidence, why did you marry a 'dead' person? Co-author me to come out to recognize you, so that everyone will know that you have this opportunity, right?"

Gu Liangfen was annoyed: "Can't you speak well? Open your mouth and shut your mouth to die or live."

"You were the first to say the word 'death' today, and you took the reason. Look at the situation, you know all about Lord Yasukuni's family affairs, so what's the matter with the sister-in-law's introduction? You marry the sister-in-law, Uncle Fu." I don’t know, does Old Man Wu know about my sister-in-law?”

Gu Liangfen said in a low voice: "Do you think she could be accommodated when she returned to her original clan? Her aunt took her out to seek a living, and the clan thought they were gone and ignored her. Her introduction was naturally false, but her aunt later No, no one will know about this anymore. Naturally, we won't tell Uncle Wu, and even Uncle Fu, we don't plan to tell. As you said, the girl from the Yan family is long gone, she is just your sister-in-law. "After saying that, let Siqing sit at home.

Siqing stopped her and said, "The brothers and sisters have something to say, so it's better not to get involved."

Gu Liangfen finally came to his senses, "Which one is here too?"

"How about I can stand and talk to you for two cars?"

Gu Liangfen said "Oh", and Siqing said again, "Her third brother has a good temper, so you don't have to worry. Besides, they must talk about old things that I don't want to know, are you curious?"

"What am I curious about? It's just because of the old affairs of my mother's family. Mo Wei has a heart-to-heart knot, I'm afraid I won't be able to explain it in a few words." Gu Liangfen suddenly looked at Si Qing, "How have you been these years? Are you still used to it in the imperial capital?"

Si Qing thought for a while and said: "Our brother is almost three years old, and he is used to any habits or not."

Gu Liangfen said: "You are different from before. I met your brother by chance before, and saw that you two looked alike, so I had a bad intention to discuss friendship with your brother. Don't say it, the more I look at it, the more I feel that you two look alike .”

Siqing sneered: "Look at your heartbroken look. Didn't you guess my life experience a long time ago, and show me the way I am today?"

It turned out that the two brothers and sisters were fond of bickering since they were young, and Fu Linchuan never restrained them. The two of them have developed a good eloquence through fighting, and Cheng Yingzhou kept rubbing their foreheads while listening.

Gu Liangfen ignored Siqing's strong words and said, "I heard that your sister-in-law is gone, but Mo Wei cried a lot. When I came back to Beijing, Ye's family had already had a funeral, so I didn't go to see Lan Cheng."

Si Qing said: "The Shen family is blind, a good girl must marry into the Ye family. The Ye family is muddy from the stone lion at the entrance to the pond behind."

As soon as Gu Liangfen heard this, he understood that Siqing had never forgiven her Ye family, so he stopped talking.

The conversation between Xiao Yi and Yan Mowei was obviously not as relaxed as Gu Liangfen's brother and sister. When the little maid came up to serve tea, Yan Mowei said, "Yutang, go and see if there are any dim sum you made earlier?"

When the little maid stepped back, just as Xiao Yi was about to speak, Yan Mowei said: "She grew up with me, it doesn't matter."

Xiao Yi nodded and couldn't help but look around.Seeing that there are no partitions between the three rooms, there is a large pear blossom case in the middle, full of books and scrolls of various colors.On the wall hangs a picture of hibiscus in Qiupu, and the panes are pasted with lotus-colored gauze.To the east is a small silk screen, blocking the wooden steps, and in front of it is a red sandalwood shelf, with a pot of orchids growing, but unfortunately it is not in flowering period, but the leaves are bright green.

"Third brother," Yan Mowei said in a calm tone, "I was wrong that day, I shouldn't have talked to you like that. I thought about it carefully, and the last few years have been the most comfortable years for me. , just so that you don’t have to look forward and backward, and be careful everywhere. Thinking about it, it’s not easy for the third brother these years, and it’s the situation today, and the things in the past should be gradually figured out.”

Xiao Yi listened but didn't speak.

"I would like to ask, is Fourth Sister okay?" Yan Mowei suddenly asked.

The "fourth sister" in her mouth is the first emperor's fourth adopted daughter, Princess Xianju, who married the son of Han Xunli of the Dingnan Domain a few years ago.

Xiao Yi was very surprised: "She is fine."

Who knows that Yan Mowei sighed: "This is really strange. Among these old friends, a good person like Fifth Sister is gone. She is fine." Shen Huanhua died early, and she was very sad uncomfortable.

Xiao Yi still didn't answer.

"This girl from the Ye family doesn't know about Sister He's past?" Yan Mowei asked.

Xiao Yi reluctantly said: "I understand what you mean, but she knows that it will only increase troubles, so I have my own opinion." He also said, "Seeing that you are doing well, I feel more at ease. Yuanxi married his wife, you should listen Say it? Her wife..."

"My affairs, since my aunt is gone, only my husband knows about it. Now you and this girl from the Ye family know about it. I discussed it with Liang Fen. For example, if I am dead, no one should tell, Big Brother Shen I haven't seen your new wife, she doesn't know anything about me."

Xiao Yi nodded and said, "That's right. Yuan Southwest has gone, let's talk about it when he comes back."

"Third brother is really for my own good, so he should treat me as dead. Not long after I came to Beijing, Liang Fennan went to sell goods in a few days, and I also went with him, so I won't live in Beijing. Speaking of which, I haven't been there yet. South." Seeing Yutang bring the snack, Yan Mowei got up and took it and put it on the desk, "I'll take what my aunt left for me, thank you third brother. It's better that we don't meet again in the future. Grandmother Although it is gone, the kings of Duankang'an are still there, and I am the daughter of a criminal minister."

Xiao Yi couldn't help taking a step forward and said, "Sixth sister, we..."

Yan Mowei smiled and said: "Third brother, none of the female family members of our Xiao family can pass the threshold smoothly. Aren't you happy for me that I married a bosom friend?"

Xiao Yi's expression was complicated, Yutang suddenly entered the room and interjected, "I saw Mr. come back at the door, and he was talking with that lady."

Yan Mowei felt that he and Xiao Yi had nothing to say, so he said, "Then invite them in to talk."

When Gu Heng brothers and sisters came in, everyone couldn't help talking about the etiquette, because when they asked about their ages, Siqing and Yan Mowei were born at the same time in the same year, the same month, the same day, and at the same time, Siqing laughed and said: "My sister-in-law screamed so loudly, but I can't tell them apart. The age is the same, so just call the name."

It turned out that two small open halls were newly built behind Gu's house, and when Gu Liangfen came in, he led everyone to sit in the halls.Siqing saw that the roses in the small garden were in full bloom, with a pleasant fragrance, like a red glow, so she said, "This place is good. You don't need to burn incense, the fragrance of the flowers will intoxicate you."

Yan Mowei said: "A few days ago, Liang Fen also said that the weather will get hotter in a few days. Looking at the brightly red garden, I feel even hotter. If I want to pull it out, I will plant bamboo."

Siqing said: "The terrain here is low, and the humidity is too heavy to plant bamboo."

Yan Mowei said: "I will go south in a few days, and I won't ask him to bother."

Because there was nothing to say for a while, Siqing found a reason to speak with Xiao Yi, only Gu Liangfen sent it to the door, and Yan Mowei went back to the room alone and cried a lot.

Gu Liangfen sent the two of them back, locked the door, and heard the sound of footsteps going away, knowing that the servants who followed Xiao Yi and his wife for defense all retreated from around the house.When he entered the inner room, he saw Yan Mowei's tears were still there, and he wanted to say a few words of comfort, but Yan Mowei wiped away his tears and said: "Speak up, and forget about my worries."

Gu Liangfen nodded and said, "It's true...seeing is worth hearing a hundred times."

Yan Mowei said: "I guess he has a lot of things on his mind, and he can't tell anyone. I just hope he treats your sister well."

Gu Liangfen asked: "How do you say that?"

Yan Mowei said, "You didn't come out from everyone, so how do you know the dark things going on there?"

"Speaking of this," Gu Liangfen recalled Siqing's words, "it sounds like Siqing and her father are at odds."

Although Yan Mowei wanted to leave the imperial capital as soon as possible, Gu Liangfen was delayed in the middle of the capital, and the two of them failed to go to the south in the spring.It is extremely hot as soon as the summer enters the summer, and people who suffer from heat stroke every day, double-flowered mung beans are in short supply.Yan Mowei was weak, so Gu Liangfen discussed with her that it would not be too late to go south after a while.

It was too hot that day, so hot that it was difficult to sleep, the servants of He Shizhi's mansion got up early to open the door, took off the latch, but the door was pushed open by itself, and then a corpse came in lying on its back, which made the servant scream loudly .He Shizhi's only son was woken up in a nearby small building. The eldest was impatient and threw open the long window and shouted, "Damn, what is the name of the ghost in the early morning?"

The servant raised his head and said, "Master, Master, there is a dead man leaning against the door of our house."

Young Master He was furious when he heard that, and he yelled as he put on his clothes: "The girl is dead? Why don't you come to serve your master and I get dressed?" The maids rushed in, "Who the hell has lived enough? Put the dead at the gate of Lao Tzu's house? Don't you hurry up and report to the master?"

The onlookers rushed to report to He Shizhi.

When He Shizhi arrived, the corpse had already been carried into the gate of the mansion. He Shizhi and his cronies and staff looked at each other and couldn't help but exchanged glances.He Shizhi's face was like gold paper, and the young master of the He family said: "Who the hell did this immoral thing, look at me..."

"Shut up!" He Shizhi stopped drinking, "Get lost!"

Young Master He was afraid of his father, so he went upstairs cursing.

He Shizhi ordered: "Collect the funeral well, maybe someone has no money to collect the funeral, so doing such a thing, even if our family has accumulated some virtue, don't spread any gossip." After finishing speaking, he led his staff to the West Garden Talk in the hexagonal pavilion on the water.

The staff said face to face: "This is placed on Ye..."

He Shizhi said: "Be careful not to cause any more trouble."

The aide said: "Ye Xiang's death was indeed not caused by us. It has been more than half a year, why do we have to..."

He Shizhi said: "I don't know...but nothing is absolute, so be careful."

This time, Gu Liangfen was taking care of leaving Beijing, and at the same time braved the scorching heat to open the restaurant at the entrance of Yizhong Alley and entrusted it to the staff.Since Gu Liangfen settled in the Imperial Capital, his business affairs have been supported by his family friend Wu Zhenying, and he himself has sung poems and wines with a group of officials from the Gushan Society, and he has flourished in the Imperial Capital.

After the restaurant fired its cannon that day, there were so many guests at the door that the whole alley was packed to the brim.Famous incense is burned in the private room of the restaurant, and there is a round table of red sandalwood and mother-of-pearl under the bead curtain.The bonsai of mountains and rocks, calligraphy and paintings of famous artists are embellished, which shows the elegance of the owner.

Most of the calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall were gifts from the famous people who came to join us today. The middle one was written by Xu Wenchang, the new Minister of the Household Department.

Gu Liangfen gave a hasty greeting in the lobby, and went upstairs to the private room to accompany these Shanzuo bosses.Before entering the room, he was held by Xu Wenchang outside the bead curtain.

"Brother Gu, how is old Mr. Fu?"

Gu Liangfen was very cautious, and only replied: "Fu Shibo has traveled all over the world, and he has not heard from him for many years."

Xu Wenchang nodded, and said again: "Brother's business in the Imperial Capital is indeed prosperous, but you really plan to abandon literature and go into business?"

Gu Liangfen's mentor, Linchuan, was originally a famous scholar in Jiangzuo, and he was also a family friend with Xu Wenchang's teacher and Yue's family.After Gu Liangfen came to Beijing, Xu Wenchang built up this friendship with him, and proposed several times to introduce Gu Liangfen as a teacher, but Gu Liangfen never let go of his promise.

Gu Liangfen leaned against the porch pillar, folded his arms and smiled, the hilt of the long sword he was carrying happened to block between him and Xu Wenchang.

"Brother Xu, have you ever heard a saying, 'Those who see through, escape into the merchant's door; those who are confused, die'?"

Xu Wenchang suddenly changed color.

Gu Liangfen stretched out his head to see that the people in the room were composing poems, and said to Xu Wenchang: "I found Xu Xi's painting a while ago, and I think this painting is suitable for the newly built small open hall in the mansion. Let them drink first, Xu Brother, how about going to see the painting with me?"

Xu Wenchang reluctantly said: "There will be a banquet at my house tomorrow, my brother can come."

Gu Liangfen smiled and said, "Sister-in-law's birthday is over, so I should congratulate you."

Mrs. Xu celebrated her birthday, so she also sent a post to invite Jiang Feng.Although Jiang Feng didn't like to deal with these things, he didn't want to be too independent, so he also prepared a congratulatory gift and went to Xu's residence.Unexpectedly, the car stopped suddenly on the road and did not move for a long time.

"What's going on here?"

The boy who followed the car reported back: "There seems to be a market ahead, and it is blocked at the intersection."

Jiang Feng said: "Then let's go around Wazi Street."

Wazi Street is a place where the wind and the moon gather in the imperial capital. There are fewer people during the day, only the door of the Cangchun Building at the street entrance is open, and colorful flags are flying.The sound of silk and bamboo can be heard faintly, and the girls who greet and see off are all wearing tulle shirts, and their voices are delicate and melodious.The couplet at the door is "Paper the window with white paper to listen to the snow, and the red stove is on fire to not hide the spring".

Jiang Feng smiled: "What an elegant and tame couplet." Then he put down the curtain.Huaying was curious, and raised the curtain to look out again.

"Look, ma'am, isn't that Young Master He? Why are you dressed like this?"

Jiang Feng lifted the curtain to see that He Shizhi's youngest son was wearing a plum red straight embroidered, silver red tulle gown, a gold beam crown, and a jade belt. He Shizhi was standing under the plaque of the Cangchun Tower, embracing a beautiful woman in green. make fun of.

Jiang Feng slammed down the curtain and smiled: "I heard from Mrs. Cheng Ping that the two young masters in front of He Xiang didn't take care of them. It's only natural for this youngest son to spoil him alone."

But Huaying pouted: "Look at his frivolous appearance, the powder is thicker than the girls, and the lipstick is so red, he looks like a monster."

The boy following the car said, "Li Shun in Xiwen, there used to be Tan Lang who painted powder, and today Mr. He wants to follow suit—it's a pity that he is a mud monkey, no matter how you apply it, he can't catch your eyes."

(End of this chapter)