in spring

Chapter 54
It was completely dark, and the light in the mountain residence was dim, but the resident didn't seem to intend to light an extra lamp.

Seeing that he was writing with that lamp, Chun Ying persuaded him, "Master Nian, let me brighten the lamp for you? This will hurt your eyes."

Zhou Nian paused, raised his head and said indifferently: "You don't need to call me Young Master Nian, my real name is Zhou Nian, and I'm similar to you." Then he laughed at himself, "Maybe I'm not as good as you. You Just call me by my name."

Chunying was stunned, and didn't quite understand what she meant. Since the third young master said he was a child of a family friend, of course he also came from a wealthy family.She said cautiously: "Master Nian was joking, I dare not." She moved the soup cup and snacks in front of him: "The soup is almost cold, so Master Nian should eat first. The letter will be delivered later It’s okay to write again.”

Zhou Nian put down his pen, opened the lid of the soup cup, smelled the enticing scent that was still hot, and smiled bitterly: "Brother You just loves to worry, and there are ginseng slices in the soup? How can I be so weak? "After that, he drank it in small sips.

Chunying looked at his wrist and chin disapprovingly, the bones were almost protruding, thinking that compared to the last time they met, she had lost more than a little bit of weight, and the coat was loose, as if it could fall down when the wind blows. What is it to drink some chicken soup to make up for it?According to her, this person should eat more food and more meat, not just soup.

She moved the snack plate in front of him again: "And this one, you need to eat something real to fill your stomach. It's time for dinner, why don't you see someone bringing food here?" Ruo It wasn't that the third young master asked her to bring food over. When will he be able to eat?

"Someone will send it outside the forest after dark. At that time, my servant Sanqing—that is, the one in black outside—will bring it over." Zhou Nian finished his soup and ate another snack, and said to Chunying. Smiling, "But now I'm full. Little girl, you have worked hard tonight. I have nothing to thank you for. If you don't mind, you can take these snacks."

Chunying refused in surprise: "How can this work?! This is for you to eat. Besides, I have already eaten." She frowned and stared at his thin face: "Are you really full? My The appetite is more than twice as much as yours! If you eat so little every day, no wonder you are so thin! I didn’t understand why the third young master gave you food, but now I finally understand.” She put the plate of snacks on the table again. Pushing it in front of Zhou Nian: "Be sure to finish eating!"

Zhou Nian couldn't help laughing, and was about to say something more, but found that Chunying's eyes were faintly worried, and there was also a hint of distress, so he couldn't help being startled.

In my impression, there was once a little girl who was about the same age, looked at him with such eyes, looked at him, but couldn't say a word... That was his sister, who passed away at the age of 11 , the elder sister who loved him since he was a child and taught him how to read and write... He still remembers that after the interrogation was over, his father was taken directly to the execution ground, and he was separated from his mother and sister. Looking at him, there was only a little more sadness and despair... That was the last time he saw her and his mother. They were sentenced to the church and committed suicide that night.It was only three days later that the news came through from the well-meaning yamen. If the Marquis of Qing hadn't come forward to collect them, I'm afraid they would have ended up dead without a place to bury them.

Seeing that he suddenly fell silent and didn't make a sound, Chun Ying felt a sense of sadness all over her body, and couldn't help feeling a little flustered.Did she say something wrong?Why did he suddenly feel sad?
She asked carefully: "Master Nian, what's wrong with you? Don't you like this cake?"

Zhou Nian raised his head and forced a smile: "No, how could it be?" He picked up a piece of cake and chewed it twice, then stopped again.

Chunying hurriedly asked: "Is it cold? The taste is not to your liking?"

"No..." Zhou Nian forced a smile and ate that piece of cake, "This peanut cake...seems to be a recipe from the palace? I haven't eaten it in over ten years." He picked up another piece and tried hard to swallow it : "Before... my sister loved to eat this..."

Seeing that he seemed to be eating very hard, Chunying couldn't bear it: "If it tastes bad, don't force yourself... have a sip of tea." She turned to pour tea, but found that the teapot was cold, so she hurriedly took it to heat it up, but couldn't help it. I couldn't find the stove, so I looked around the room, only to see a brazier, and rushed over, but the charcoal in the brazier was already burned to ashes.

She stomped her feet anxiously, how could one live in such a cold day, in such an old house, or in a dark place in the bamboo forest, without even a brazier stove? !
Zhou Nian came behind her at some point: "Don't be too busy, this month's charcoal has already been burned, and Sanqing will not have time to get a new one in the future. I have enough soup just now."

Chunying turned around in surprise: "It's not halfway through this month, and the charcoal has been burned out?! Has someone deducted your share?!" The more I think about it, the more I feel that this possibility is very high. Didn't the third young master say that someone has been getting more and more lately? Is it going too far?Even he is still being neglected, let alone this lonely man who lives under the fence?She felt wronged for him: "how can they do this? You live such a life, you will get sick sooner or later!"

Zhou Nian smiled, stretched out his hand to take the teapot in her hand, poured a cup of cold tea and drank it, and said, "I am lucky to have survived to this day, what else can I be dissatisfied with? Little girl, everyone in the Hou Mansion is waiting for you." I am very good, I will never forget this kindness, if there is a day when I can repay it, even if I am smashed to pieces, I will not hesitate."

Chunying was startled, and then felt annoyed, what did he mean by this?He wants to thank Hou Fu, why should he say it to her?Is this being polite to her?She was arguing for him, what does it have to do with her if the Hou Mansion treats him well? !Well, since even the client doesn't care, she doesn't have to worry about it!

She straightened her face and said: "Master Nian has finished eating, so I will take my leave first. If you have a letter to send to the third young master, please finish it quickly!"

Zhou Nian was a little surprised, but he has always been gentle and polite, and he didn't care about the little girl's sudden indifference and rudeness. He turned back to the table and wrote the reply letter to Li You, sealed it in an envelope, and Handed it to Chunying, and said with a smile: "I went back to see your third young master, and sent me a message. Thank you for thinking about it, but don't send things over in the future. Let the old lady know, and you will be sullen again."

Chunying put the letter in her sleeve, and while packing the food box and tableware, she said sullenly: "The third young master has made up his mind that I will often send things over. Seeing how thin you are, don't worry about it." You can eat whatever I send you!" Looking back and seeing his thin clothes, he couldn't help talking: "Put on that cotton padded jacket that was just delivered, if you get sick from the cold, wouldn't it be more humane?" Trouble?!" After saying that, he lifted his foot and was about to leave.

Zhou Nian hurriedly called her to stop, but didn't speak, only looked at her a few times, and then smiled slightly: "What's your name?"

"Lu Chunying." Chunying replied stiffly, seeing his gentle attitude, she lowered her voice a little embarrassedly, "Everyone calls me Chun'er."

"Chun'er, I can tell, you are a good boy." Zhou Nian turned around and walked to the desk, rummaged for a while, found a seal stone, and walked up to Chunying with a smile, "You and Brother You are both Good intentions, how can I not know what is good or bad? I will trouble you in the future, this is my little care, don't dislike it, keep it for fun." Then he handed the seal stone to Chunying.

Chunying looked at the seal stone, the whole body was dark yellow, but it was translucent, as if oil had been condensed, smooth and delicate, half of it was carved into the shape of a beast, and half of it was engraved with verses.She has never eaten pork, and she has seen pigs running. Isn't this the Tian Huangshi, which is worth a thousand dollars in modern times?Zhou Nian herself is still wearing old clothes, it is difficult to even eat and keep warm, and there are not many valuable things in the whole house, why give this to her?Is it possible...

Chunying had a sore nose, and said bluntly: "I don't want it!" Regardless of Zhou Nian's reaction, she ran out, all the way to the outside of the bamboo forest.The strange man in black named Sanqing was sitting on a big rock with a dim round lantern at his feet. He heard footsteps and turned his head: "Get out?"

Chunying ignored him, and ran straight forward, feeling so depressed that she wanted to shout, so she ran faster and faster.It's just that it was completely dark, and there was no light around, so she could barely make out the road with the help of the moonlight, and accidentally stumbled and dropped the food box.

There was some pain in the ankle. After Chunying massaged it a few times, she suddenly wanted to cry, but she also thought: Why should I cry?It's just a limp.She barely stood up, turned her ankles slightly, and felt that she could barely go, so she packed up the food box and left.

She just ran for the road, and she didn't know where she ran. Looking around, she recognized the hill and knew that she was walking in the opposite direction. She was already near the pool, so she quickly found the road and walked towards the garden gate Come.

She had come to play with Shi'er and the others two or three times during the day, and she roughly remembered the way to go. Turning around a flower garden, there was a rockery.She remembered that there was a pavilion behind the rockery, where she and Shi'er Xia He once rested their feet, and after passing the pavilion, they only had to walk a little further to reach the gate of the garden.

She lifted her foot and was about to turn around the rockery, but saw a person sitting in the pavilion, and the clothes seemed to be Qing'er from Huanhuaxuan.She paused, feeling a little embarrassed.

Ever since Qing'er and Chen'er had a fight and was fined and grounded again, she has been silent for a long time. Occasionally, she wanted to continue serving the third young master as before, but she was always dismissed with excuses. It's disgusting, so I've been shrinking in my room recently, and rarely go out. Now it's late at night, how can I appear in such a place?It was very cold in the pavilion, she must have been eating the wind there, right?

Chunying is hesitant to continue walking. If she moves forward, she will definitely be discovered by Qing'er. The last time, it seems that she and Shi'er did not speak for her. It seems not very kind. Seeing her, I always feel guilty .

While Chunying was hesitating, suddenly a person walked into the pavilion from the opposite side, and smiled at Qing'er, "Why is Qing'er and sister sitting here?" The voice sounded familiar, and Chunying quietly hid behind the rockery to take a peek and recognized Qing'er. That's exactly the girl I've seen once.

Isn't she the second young master's concubine?When did you have friendship with Qing'er?

Qing'er must also find it strange, she glanced at Duo girl lightly, and said nothing.

Duo girl laughed and pushed Qing'er: "Look at you, what are you guarding against? We also grew up together in this mansion since we were young, why? Just because I served the second young master, you gave birth to me Is it okay? I still remember that when you were young, you were bullied by other children, and I scolded you back for you. If you really turned against me, it would be too hurtful!"

Qing'er was also a little embarrassed when she heard the words: "It's not because of this, it's just...we haven't spoken for a long time..."

"Then it's time to have a good chat." The girl pulled her up, "Come on, my aunt is in the concierge, there is a fire and hot tea there, let's go there and chat." Qing'er left.

Chunying came out from behind the rockery, feeling a little worried in her heart.

(End of this chapter)