in spring

Chapter 237 Friends
Chunying looked at Li Xu who was running from a distance on horseback, frowned slightly, feeling a little dissatisfied.The good atmosphere was ruined just like that!

However, as Li Xu got closer and closer, she also noticed the anxious but relieved expression on his face, and guessed in her heart that he probably wanted to find Hu Fei in a hurry.She knew that Hu Fei had a close relationship with him, and they had come and gone frequently since they were teenagers, and they probably had business cooperation, so she didn't have much to say, so she whispered to Hu Fei: "If you are busy, I will go back first." ...Wait until you finish your work..." His face flushed, "Come talk to me again..."

Hu Fei's eyes lit up, and he nodded with a smile. She saluted Li Xufu who was approaching, called "Master Xu", and turned to leave.

Li Xu stared at Chunying's back, and then complained to Hu Fei: "I found you! You haven't gone back for a few days, and I'm almost annoyed to death! But I can't drive him away!"

Hu Fei didn't say much, he picked him up and left: "Let's find a convenient place to talk."

Chunying walked twenty or thirty steps away before turning her head to watch them leave, wondering in her heart: So Hu Fei hasn't been home for a few days?So where does he spend the night every night?Obviously he left shortly after noon...

Hu Fei took Li Xu back to the newly bought small courtyard, took out the horse tied there, and the two of them rode back to the town seven or eight miles away, entered a small inn, and asked Xiao Er for money. After making a pot of tea, he entered the room.

Li Xu looked around, looked at the remaining stains on the table and the cobwebs in the corners of the roof, then looked at the obviously thin bedding on the bed, and frowned slightly: "You just live these few days. In this kind of place?!"

Hu Fei smiled while pouring tea: "There is only one inn here, the beds are clean, nothing else, I just stay here for the night anyway."

Li Xu snatched the cup angrily and drank it upside down, then put the cup heavily on the table: "I know you have endured hardships outside, but you can enjoy the blessings, but you still have to endure hardships, isn't it a shame?! Just now That girl Lu is the reason why you put down the good house in the capital and went to this country to live in a dirty inn? I really don't understand, you are grateful to her for saving you, and spent money to put it away. If the family is redeemed and given some money to live on, it will be regarded as repaying the favor. What’s the point of chasing her every day like this?! Could it be that she still plans to marry her as his wife?!”

He was about to reach for the teapot, intending to drink another cup to quench his thirst, when he heard Hu Fei say: "So what? Isn't she a good girl?" He was so frightened that he almost couldn't sit still on his chair: "What did you say?!"

Hu Fei smiled lightly and said nothing, remembering the promise he just got from Lu Yougui, he couldn't help showing a happy smile on his face: "I am very happy and content now, and when I think that she can't become my wife right away, I hate how life is going. Too slow to make me happier and more content!"

Li Xu gasped, and stared at him: "Aren't you confused?! The Lu family is the son of the Hou family! They are slaves! No matter how good and virtuous his daughter is, she can't be your wife!"

"As long as his family is no longer a slave, even... as long as Chunying is not a slave. This is not impossible. In your clan, there are no serious in-laws who married the maid of the Hou Mansion?"

"This..." Li Xu opened his mouth, sighed, and persuaded him, "I didn't mean to disobey your wishes on purpose, it's really...now that your family is gradually declining, but you yourself have a bright future, bastards like us, It's really not easy to be in your shoes, and it's time for you to rush forward. If you can get a lady from a rich family to be your wife—even if she's a concubine like us—not only can you fight Taking care of the housework will let you have no worries, and it will also give you a helping hand. You are not good enough to search for a wife of a noble birth and a similar age, but you have chosen such a family girl, what are you not confused about?!"

His friend was so angry, but Hu Fei was still calm. He poured a cup of tea from the pot and solemnly delivered it to the other party, then smiled slightly: "I remember when we were young, we whispered together, and you always said that you will marry me later." Wife, you must marry a virtuous and virtuous woman. You don't have to be of noble birth, as long as you can communicate with you and live a good life, that's enough. You don't plan to take concubines and house, you just want to live with your wife There is a pair of people from one generation to the next, and they will grow old forever."

Li Xu's anger gradually subsided, but he still had a sullen face: "That's natural. People like us have never seen anything since childhood. My aunt, who is praised by everyone as a good wife and mother, still has many twists and turns in her heart." Well, let alone such a cruel person as my sister-in-law. Competing wives and concubines is the source of restlessness in the house! But what does this have to do with you marrying a girl? I never called you three wives and four concubines!"

Hu Fei sighed: "You think so, why didn't I? It's just that I have another idea in my heart. You know that I have suffered a lot, and now I have worked hard for several years, and I have earned a fortune. If I really ask My daughter, it may not be impossible to ask for it, but if I encounter setbacks and defeat again, will such a woman be able to share the joys and sorrows with me?"

Li Xu was silent, and Hu Fei continued: "When I was in Beijing, I had this idea. At that time, Chunying was still a little girl, but she could help me with everything, not only guiding me, but also taking care of me. I eat and drink, and can do business with me, and she is not afraid of suffering. I did ridiculous things, and she didn’t dislike her, but enlightened me. I was wronged, and she had already defended me before I even said a word. At that time, I thought, if there is such a good wife, no matter whether I am poor or rich in the future, I will be able to deal with it safely. Because I know that the road ahead is not dead, and no matter how difficult it is, there is someone who can accompany me to face it right."

Li Xu was quiet, and finally sighed: "If you think so, I can't persuade you anymore. Although I still think that she is not good enough for you, the way of husband and wife is like drinking water, knowing whether you are warm or not. My aunt also told me to marry a concubine from a rich family, but I finally chose a woman from a scholarly and humble family. Now I can’t live better. Now that you have made up your mind, let’s do this, just You must remember, let the Lu family get rid of this slave's skin as soon as possible."

Hu Fei smiled: "Don't worry, I'll take care of myself. I've already made an agreement with Uncle Lu. I'll marry Chunying again when his family is divorced."

Li Xu put down his glass, felt a little more relaxed, and began to tease: "It turns out that half of the work is done, no wonder you are so happy to leave! But don't patronize the company of your sweetheart, at least be considerate and considerate of my friend. The Fan family came to you three or four I'm back, you are always away, it's not a problem, it's better to go back and meet up earlier. Even if you don't want to make friends with people, you should smooth things over and don't slap people in the face. His family Since you are a rich family and an in-law of the Hou Mansion, if you offend him and let the Hou know about it, you will not be able to help that Miss Lu's family."

Hu Fei frowned: "Forget it, today and tomorrow, I'm going back to the capital, so let's take care of this matter! I may spend my time here later, and maybe buy some real estate here."

Li Xu couldn't help laughing: "Isn't it? Could it be that you plan to settle down here in order to please the beauties?! This is not easy to handle. The nearby farms and forests are either from Nanyuan or the homes of princes and ministers. Where are you?" Looking for a place where there is no owner?! Besides, didn’t the family of Miss Lu of yours be relegated here? They may not stay here for the rest of their lives. If you buy property here and his family leaves, wouldn’t it be a waste of money? ?!"

Hu Fei smiled and said, "I have my own idea, so don't worry about it."

"I don't want to care about it either." Li Xu curled his lips and thought of another thing, "By the way, the third son of the Hou Mansion has been talking to me from time to time these days, and even his father asked me to sit down for a while. Listen to them The tone of your voice seems to be very interested in your affairs. I can't refuse, so I can only briefly talk about your experience in the past few years. I reckon, they must have heard the news that the Fan family wants to win you over. I wanted to come and try it out."

Hu Fei immediately became alert: "You didn't mention the Lu family, did you?!"

"Of course not! It's just that you go out of the back streets and visit Lu's house, but you never hide it from others. Even if I don't tell you, there are quite a few people who know about it. They just need to ask a little bit, and they will know everything."

Hu Fei frowned tightly, thinking "I'm in trouble".Qing Guohou and his son's intentions are unclear. If they were to know about his relationship with the Lu family, they might use the Lu family as bargaining chips in order to achieve their goals.He couldn't help but feel a little regretful, if he had persuaded Lu Yougui to redeem himself earlier, he would have avoided this trouble, but now that Lu's family members have just been demoted, and suddenly they want to redeem themselves, no matter whether they succeed or not, they will startle them.This matter is really tricky!
Li Xu was still wondering: "You have been back for so long, and you haven't done anything recently, why are the two of them suddenly interested in you?"

Hu Fei couldn't say it was because he broke into the study of the Hou Mansion to save Chunying, so he could only vaguely say: "Maybe it's because I heard the wind and knew that I have friendship with the inner minister in the palace."

"Then you have to be careful." Li Xu leaned closer and said in a low voice, "The Fan family sent two maids here that day, but you were not here, so I asked his family to take them back because you were not here. Brother You from Houfu My son came to talk to me, and I also asked if you have ever married a wife, but you have an engagement. I see, his family may intend to arrange a marriage for you. If you make up your mind to marry Miss Lu, you have to do it early. Just be prepared."

Hu Fei frowned even tighter, and couldn't help but get a headache.

When he returned to Lijiazhuang, Chunying had already eaten, and when she saw him, she came up to him and asked, "Have you eaten? Can I make you a bowl of noodles?"

Hu Fei smiled and said, "I haven't eaten yet, so there's no need to bother. If there are steamed buns and noodles, just give me two."

Chunying gave him an angry look: "Always eat these things, how can there be nutrition?! I don't know how to take good care of myself! Sit down, I'll give you noodles!"

Hu Fei smiled and took the bench and sat aside, resting his cheeks on his hands: "Then you do it, I will watch you do it."

Chunying blushed, bit her lip, went straight to get the noodles that had been cut in the morning, boiled a pot of boiling water, put oil on the noodles, added salt and chopped green onion, looked back at his slightly thin chin, touched it again Only the egg was beaten, and after a bowl of chopped green onion and egg noodles was ready, I held it in front of him, and said in a low voice, "Just eat as you go, and when we move, I will prepare delicious food for you. "

Hu Fei stared at her, smiled, took the bowl, looked for chopsticks, and began to eat in big mouthfuls.Chunying stood by and watched him eat, her heart was as sweet as honey, and seeing that his forehead was sweating, she took out a handkerchief to wipe it for him.Occasionally, the two looked at each other, then blushed and smiled slightly.

After washing the dishes and pouring another cup of strong tea for Hu Fei, Chun Ying took another small bench and sat down, and asked, "Master Xu came just now, but did I need you in a hurry?"

Hu Fei pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's nothing important."

Chunying said angrily: "Don't coax me, he is like that, something must have happened! What are you doing without telling me? Also, you left after noon these days, why would he say you didn't go home? You Where do you live these days?!"

Hu Fei rubbed his head in embarrassment: "I live in a small inn in the town, and the time I have free is to negotiate with people about the house. I think that every day I come from Beijing, it will take a lot of money." It was very inconvenient for a few hours, so I simply didn't go back."

Chunying sighed: "Then you don't have to hide it from me? Although the town is close, there may not be a good inn. How is your stay? If you don't feel well, you'd better go home. The weather is getting colder, I don't want you to blush for..." "For...staying with me, you don't pay attention to your body and exhaust yourself..."

Hu Fei's heart moved, and he quietly held her hand: "It's okay, I'm fine. I just... want to see you a few more times, and stay with you for a while..."

Chunying blushed, quickly glanced around, and whispered: "Father and mother are still in the room, and Uncle Wang is also taking a nap, don't let them see..." After finishing speaking, her face flushed again.

With a smile on his face, Hu Fei just held her hand and didn't let go.Chunying was sweet and shy at the same time, and felt a little uneasy. After a while, she stabilized her emotions and said: "I know what you mean, but if you have something urgent, you can go back and deal with it first. I don't want you For me, the business was delayed."

After Hu Fei thought about it, he also felt that it would be better to settle the matter and avoid worries, so he nodded: "Okay, then I will go home for two days, you...you have to wait for me to come back."

Chunying glanced at him, pursed her lips and smiled, and ran into the house with her hands free, but immediately stood by the door and winked at him: "Go and do your own business, I'll move the house first, and wait for you to come..." Finally The three words were barely audible, and she quickly retreated behind the door.

Hu Fei was startled for a moment, and then showed a bright smile.

(End of this chapter)