Spring is warm and fragrant

Chapter 31
Entering April, cherries from all over the country are ripening one after another.

Dengzhou cherries are famous all over the world for their big red color. Every year when the cherries are ripe, the prefect of Dengzhou will send people to carefully pick the best cherries and send them to the capital as a tribute for the emperor.This year was no exception. As soon as the cherries entered the palace, the emperor distributed them to the court ministers and harem concubines to show his grace. The Lu family and the Chu family shared two baskets.

Chu Xing was on duty at the Shenshu Camp, and when he returned to the Duke's Mansion in the evening, he first went to pay his respects to Mrs. Tai.

His mother died young, and both brothers and sisters were raised by Mrs. Tai, and the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is extraordinary.However, Chu Xing was naturally reticent, no matter how much he respected his grandmother in his heart, he would not say witty words to make Mrs. Tai happy. When he came over, he just sat there and listened to his family chatting with ease.

"I would like to try it. I heard that Dengzhou is a bit dry this year, but the cherries are actually sweeter than last year." The maid walked in with the freshly washed cherries, and Mrs. Tai smiled authentically.

The cherries are stored in the freezer, looking fresh and juicy, and the ruddy color is very attractive.Chu Xing took one and put it in his mouth, it was sweet and sour, cool and delicious.

"Is it delicious?" Mrs. Tai asked expectantly.

Chu Xing nodded, and Mrs. Tai immediately said: "Then eat a few more, and you will be busy outside all day. When you get home, don't be polite to grandma. It's as good as when you were a child. You can reach out and grab what you like. It's not like now, with a reserved attitude. Like a big girl, there are no outsiders here."

The eldest brother was teased by his grandmother, Chu Ying and Chu Xiang laughed.

Chu Sui threw a cherry into his mouth, and looked at his brother opposite him leisurely.

Chu Xing looked at Mrs. Tai, and took another one. After eating this one, no matter how Mrs. Tai persuaded him, he resolutely refused to eat it.In Chu Xing's view, cherries, a small red fruit, are too girly and suitable for little girls to eat. He is a big man, and it feels strange to eat them in front of everyone, although cherries are indeed delicious.

Mrs. Tai understands her grandson's temper and doesn't care about him anymore.

After dinner, Chu Ying graciously wanted to see her eldest brother off, and she lived with Mrs. Tai.

"What's the matter with Yingying?" Chu Xing noticed the strangeness of his younger sister. After he separated from Erfang's family, Chu Xing walked under an elm tree and asked his younger sister with his head down.

Chu Ying likes her eldest brother the most. She is a compatriot of the same mother. She is not particularly cautious in front of Chu Xing, and she pulls her brother's sleeves to act like a baby, "Brother, the dog raised by the old lady of the Lu family has given birth to a puppy. Sister Ah Nuan promised to send me last time." One, she wrote to me a few days ago, asking me to take the time to hug the dog, take a rest on the tenth day of the lunar new year, brother, will you accompany me?"

Ah Nuan...

Lu Mingyu's small figure appeared in front of his eyes, Chu Xing was silent for a moment, bent over and said to his sister: "Brother has something to do that day, Yingying went to tell the second aunt, let the second aunt lead you to visit with Xiangxiang." He didn't want to talk to the Lu family Getting too close, having dealt with Lu Mingyu a lot in the past two months, Chu Xing thought it was not suitable.

Chu Ying lowered her head, clasped her little hands and said, "I don't want to trouble Second Aunt." Second Aunt was very kind to her, but Chu Ying was just too embarrassed to ask Second Aunt.

The younger sister was shy and introverted, remembering her politeness in front of the second aunt, Chu Xing immediately changed his words: "Then let the second brother accompany you." The cousin loves to laugh and talk, and the two younger sisters in the family like him.

"Second brother has to prepare for the college entrance examination, I don't want to disturb him." Chu Ying is a sensible little girl, and no matter how nice her cousin is, she can't get along with her own brother at ease.Looking up, Chu Ying looked at her brother eagerly. If her brother really couldn't leave, she would tell her second aunt, but Chu Ying sincerely hoped that her brother would agree to her.

The little girl's thoughts were written all over her face, and Chu Xing couldn't bear to refuse. He smiled and touched his sister's head: "Okay, brother will accompany you on the tenth day of the lunar new year. Yingying will write a letter to your sister Nuan first. Please ask grandma to send someone to send you to Lu's house." When it comes to relatives, Lu Mingyu has to call his younger sister "little cousin", but it is polite for Lu Mingyu to call him cousin, and it is unreasonable for him to teach his younger sister to call Lu Mingyu's niece.

"En! I'll write right away!" Her brother agreed, and Chu Ying was so happy that she ran back excitedly.

Chu Xing stood under the tree and watched his younger sister, and he returned to his Dingfeng Hall when the younger sister ran away.The weather was getting hotter, so Chu Xing took a bath to wash off his sweat, and then called the steward beside him and told him to prepare a few gifts tomorrow.The three members of Lu Rong's family cured his eyes, but he hasn't thanked him yet.

The steward proposed a few gifts for Lu Rong and his wife, Chu Xing nodded, and while chatting, Mrs. Tai ordered someone to bring a plate of juicy cherries, knowing that his grandson actually likes to eat them.

Chu Xing felt warm in his heart, looked at the plate of cherries, and asked the steward to buy two baskets of cherries one day in advance, and bring them with him that day.

There was no gift for the children, and the manager was considerate, and asked if he wanted to prepare a separate one for Lu Mingyu.

Chu Xing thought for a while, and said: "Tomorrow, you can ask the second girl, and the second girl can give you whatever she wants."

Men and women are not close, since he knows that Lu Mingyu is his future sibling, he shouldn't give her anything in his own name.

The steward nodded, and went to transcribe the gift list first.

Chu Xing glanced at the cherries on the table, and sent the boy around him out to do some errands. After they left, he picked up one and ate it.

The next day, the steward went to buy gifts, and Lu Mingyu received a post from Chu Ying, saying that she came to Lu's house to pick up the dog on the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, and she came with her brother.Lu Mingyu stared at the word "Brother" on the rice paper, a little uncertain whether it was Chu Xing or Chu Sui. The former, accompanying his sister to fetch a dog was not in line with Chu Xing's style, while the latter, Chu Sui should be in the preparatory courtyard right now. try it?
But in his heart, Lu Mingyu still hoped that Chu Sui would come.

When the appointed day came, Lu Mingyu deliberately put on a pair of red agate bracelets given to her by her new aunt, and went to her grandmother's place early to wait for guests.

"Old lady, the third lady, Prince Chu and the second girl are here."

Smiling, Mrs. Zhu told people to invite the guests in quickly.

Xiao glanced at her daughter inadvertently, and saw the little girl with her head lowered and turning the bracelet on her wrist, her mouth pouted high.

Xiao laughed, admitting that he had a little bit of gloating.

(End of this chapter)