Hidden golden branches

Chapter 16 Gift
  Chen Zhao's servant Min'er came forward with a black lacquer box in his hand and bowed in greeting: "Min'er has met Miss."

"Hey, Min'er is tanned too." Chen Rong said when he saw Min'er who was as tanned as his eldest brother.

On the sixteenth year of the year, Min'er was wearing a blue cotton bundt. She was only wide but not tall. She glanced at Chen Rong with her round eyes, and then lowered her head in embarrassment: "Yes, Miss."

The master is already tanned. As a slave, he follows his master all day long. How can he not be tanned?

After Grandma Zhong finished handling the trivial matters in Jinxiu Courtyard, she heard the sweeper below say: The eldest young master is here. Busily arranging his clothes, he came in and greeted Chen Zhao: "I have met the eldest young master. The eldest young master has worked hard all the way!"

Aunt Zhong wore sandal-colored armor and a red gold bracelet as wide as a finger on her wrist. She has kind eyebrows and kind eyes, and her hair is neatly tied into a bun with a hairpin combed by two rows of emerald jade.

Chen Zhao hurriedly and politely helped Grandma Zhong to her feet, and said warmly: "Grandma, please get up."

Aunt Zhong then greeted the little maid Zhui'er to serve tea and fruits.

Chen Rong took the black lacquer box from Min'er. The first thing that caught his eye was a small brocade box wrapped in velvet. The brocade box was made of silver and gold-plated, with some green pine and southern red inlaid on it, so he carefully Open it, and you will see a huge golden pearl.

It is about the size of a pigeon egg, with a smooth and delicate luster, without any growth lines, and is perfect.

"It's so beautiful!" Chen Rong exclaimed.

Chen Zhao knew that his sister liked it. This was the end of his disaster relief work. On the eve of his return to Beijing, he and Ji Yuxian took half a day off and hurried to the neighboring Dianhai Town to buy clam beads.

Dianhai Town is the most famous pearl pool in the Wei Dynasty. It is rich in Dongzhu and is the origin of tribute pearls.

Chen Zhao didn't expect that he would get a diluted treasure - the golden Dongzhu.

Surprised, but there was not enough money in the wallet. Just when he was regretting it, Ji Yuxian, who had come with him to buy gifts for his family, took out his wallet, and the two of them spent everything they had and finally bought the treasure.

At that time, Chen Zhao said to Ji Yuxian: "Master Ji, when I get back, I will return the silver to you immediately."

The two of them treat each other as brothers in private and use their official titles when going out to do business.

Ji Yuxian smiled slightly, waved his hand and said: "Brother Chen, you and I have been friends since we were young. We are as close as brothers. Your sister is my sister. How can you repay the favor? Why don't you just see it outside?"

Huh?
  There’s nothing wrong with that!
  Chen Zhao felt at ease and asked Ji Yuxian to pay the balance in advance.

I just felt a little guilty in my heart. Originally, I came here to buy gifts to honor my mother and please my sister.

After Yinzi bought himself a gift, Ji Yuxian returned empty-handed.

Afterwards, Chen Zhao also felt something was wrong.

Ji Yuxian is one year older than him, so why does he still call him "Brother Chen"? This is something I have never done in the many years I have been with him.

Furthermore, his biological mother died early and gave him no biological sister. He only had two stepsisters and a concubine born by his stepmother.

How could he come here to buy beads for his stepmother and stepsister?
  Ever since Ji Yuxian returned from his training in the frontier, whether he was a member of the royal family or a nobleman from an aristocratic family who wanted to propose marriage to him, he had rejected them all.

The smart Chen Zhao suddenly recalled that whenever Ji Yuxian saw his sister Chen Rong, his eyes would look at her with tenderness and affection.

On the other hand, when Sun Yi saw Chen Rong, he was mostly perfunctory and impatient. Chen Zhao suddenly realized that as a man, how could he not know that those eyes were exactly the way a man looks at his beloved woman.

It's exactly the same as when your father sees your mother.

But he ignored her every time because his sister liked that thief Sun Yi!

Tsk, another big-tailed wolf. I want to take away my own little white sheep.

However, it is better for her little white sheep to be taken away by Ji Yuxian than the aloof and arrogant Sun Yi who doesn't love her.

Ji Yuxian is a humble gentleman with graceful appearance, graceful as a green bamboo, and outstanding literary talent!
  It's a pity that my sister is already married to a famous woman, so what's the use of admiring Ji Yuxian?
  Haha!

Unexpectedly, the arrogant and arrogant Sun Yi actually broke off the engagement.
  Chen Zhao's mind was flying wildly, while Chen Rong only focused on looking at the gifts. She saw that there were some local trinkets from Tongzhou in the black lacquer box, including small clay figurines, pearl shells, tortoise shells, amber, agate and small colorful stones. .

"Thank you, brother, these little stones are also very beautiful!" Chen Rong said happily, playing with the jade-like colorful stones in his hands, looking at Chen Zhao with a smile, and said coquettishly: "Brother, such beautiful colorful stones , I would like to give a few to Yue Wanting, okay?"

When Chen Zhao heard Yue Wanting's name, his ears turned slightly red, and he said in a doting tone: "Well, my brother gave it to you, it's yours, you make the decision."

"Okay!" Chen Rong then hurriedly asked Cuizhu to put away the huge golden east bead.

Standing behind Chen Rong, Cuizhu looked curiously at the colorful pebbles in Chen Rong's hand and responded: "Okay." He took the golden beads from Chen Rong's hand, carefully held them in his palm, and quickly walked into the inner room to find them. I made a small box to put it in, then put it in a carved rosewood and gold lacquer jewelry box, and locked it in the bottom drawer of the huanghuali and mother-of-pearl dresser.

Chen Rong played with those worthless but beautiful little stones in his hand, and he did not forget to greet Chen Zhao: "Brother, drink some sour plum juice and eat a piece of cake."

"No, brother, I still have something to do. I'll go to my parents' place to have lunch together later."

Chen Zhao felt comforted in his heart, he still has a conscience, my eldest brother is usually not loved by you. My eldest brother stayed up half the night last night to teach you a lesson for that wolf-hearted thing. Even now, my hands still hurt.

However, I feel very comfortable!

"Okay!" Chen Rong grinned, took Chen Zhao's arm with his little hand, and said flatteringly: "Brother, my sister will take you out."

The corners of Chen Zhao's beautiful lips curved, and his voice became clearer: "Okay."

Growing up, Chen Zhao hated the way his sister acted coquettishly and flatteringly towards him. The corners of her mouth curved into a beautiful curve, and her heart became soft. I really want to pick her up and hold her high like I did when I was little.

The two brothers and sisters were chatting and laughing as they walked to the gate of Jinxiu Courtyard. When they looked up, they saw an eighteen or nineteen-year-old figure who was somewhat similar to Chen Zhao. Only a pair of crescent-shaped peach blossom eyes with slightly upward corners highlighted his handsome face. She has an aura that is very different from Chen Zhaoying's, and is slightly more feminine.

This handsome young man with affectionate features is none other than Chen Rong's second brother, Chen An, the concubine of the Chen family.

Chen An wore a jade white shirt. He seemed to like this kind of loose clothes very much. The soap-colored lace is elegant and elegant, and the expression on the face is light. Jade-colored face, red lips and white teeth. He has a slim figure and has the demeanor of a young man from an aristocratic family.

"Brother is back!" Chen An's eyes lit up when he saw Chen Zhao, and he greeted happily.

When Chen Zhao saw his younger brother in a good mood, he nodded and said, "Well, are you here to see my little sister?"

"Yes, brother."

(End of this chapter)