Chapter 45 Return to Beijing

When Shen Yu returned to the manor, she received a letter from Shen Yuandao, in which he told her to return home as he had important instructions for her. She then asked the servant to go to Qi Sui's house and tell him that she would go to Qi's house later tomorrow.

The next day, as soon as Shen Yu went out, she saw Qi Sui waiting outside the door with Changsheng beside her.

"Why are you here so early?" She felt surprised, but she noticed the dark circles under her eyes. "Did you not sleep well last night?"

"Changsheng woke up and started calling me so early in the morning. I couldn't sleep so I had to get up. and I could also send you off."

Changsheng mooed a few times in protest, Qi Sui raised her hand and stroked its head guiltily, not wanting to say that she hadn't slept all night because she knew she's going back to the Shen Mansion.

Facing Shen Yu's worried eyes, Qi Sui felt even more reluctant, so she pretended to be indifferent and said with a smile: "I'm not busy today. I'll send you home and then go back to the Qi Mansion to sleep for a while."

"Okay." Shen Yu didn't took a carriage, instead she chose to travel with Qi Sui. The two of them had walked this road thousands of times before. Every time they came to a farmland, Qi Sui would stop for a moment. Shen Yu felt strange and asked her, "You are very familiar with Yunyan Village, why do you seem reluctant to leave today?"

"These are all places I have walked through together with you. I'm afraid that I will be alone again in the future."

Shen Yu understood that she thought she would never come back after returning to the Shen Mansion. She could not help but whispered to her while smiling, "Qi Sui, I've been away from home for a long time. I'm just going to visit my father and everyone. I'll be back in a few days."

Qi Sui's eyes lit up and she stared at her and said, "Really?"

Shen Yu nodded.

"Then I'll wait for you to come back." Qi Sui held her hand tightly.

After Shen Yu returned to the Shen Mansion, she went straight to the study. Shen Yuandao seemed to be waiting for her. "Father."

Shen Yuandao raised his eyes and said in a calm voice, "It's good that you're back. Go to the courtyard and pack your luggage. You will come with me tomorrow to Go to Beijing."

This trip to Beijing is due to the recommendation of the Governor, and Shen Yuandao was promoted to Chengzhilang, and debriefed in May.

Shen Yu refused without thinking, saying: "Father, I don't want to go to Beijing."

"Yu'er, don't make trouble." Shen Yuandao put down the things in his hand, frowned slightly, and said in a deep voice: "I have indulged you for many days, it's time to be content."

"Father, this daughter is not making trouble." Shen Yu's expression was firm, not as submissive as before, "This daughter and Madam Qi have set up a school, and have been teaching the children to read and write these days. I am very content."

"If you don't come to Beijing, can you stay here for the rest of your life?" Shen Yuandao couldn't understand why Shen Yu, who had been well-behaved and sensible since childhood, would argue with him on this matter. He began to persuade her earnestly, "Yu'er, after you go to Beijing, your father will find a better teacher for you. You will definitely achieve something and have a bright future."

"What is the future that my father thinks of for me?" Shen Yu Look at him calmly, she knew very well that Shen Shu and Shen Jin did not perform well in this exam and failed to make the list, so Shen Yuandao thought of her again. Shen Yuandao said nothing, sighed heavily, and then waved his hand for her to go back to the courtyard.

Shen Yu didn't stay long and quickly returned to Lanting Pavilion, where Aunt Lan was anxiously waiting for her at the corridor. She quickened her pace and almost fell into Aunt Lan's arms, "Aunt, I miss you so much."

"You are so ambitious now! Since you're thinking about me, why don't you think about going home?" Aunt Lan took her hand, looked at her carefully, and finally said with relief: "Fortunately, you didn't suffer."

Shen Yu lowered her head, feeling very upset in her heart, and whispered, "It's my fault to worry you."

"Are you okay these days?" How could Auntie Lan really bear to blame her? Instead, she felt that she was more at ease than before. Shen Yu accompanied her through the winding corridors and told her in detail about her experience of teaching children in Zhizhi school these days. When she talked about Qi Sui, her brows were full of smiles.

"Madam Qi is really kind and considerate, and she cares about you even more."

"She treats everyone very well."

Ruo Wei boiled some hot water, filled them with tea, and agreed, "In my opinion, Madam Qi treats everyone very well but Madam Qi treats the miss the best."

"Ruo Wei." Shen Yu stopped her, and then carefully observed Aunt Lan's expression, "Aunt..."

Aunt Lan understood her character best, and comforted her: "If Madam Qi is a person worthy of trust, I am willing to go with you."

Shen Yu's eyes moved slightly, and she covered Aunt Lan's hand and said firmly: "I believe her."

Knowing that Shen Yu would not go to Beijing, Aunt Lan did not say much, but just told her to take good care of herself and come back anytime if she missed home.

In the afternoon, Aunt Lan personally went to Shen Yuandao. Without knowing what she had said to him, Shen Yuandao stopped forcing Shen Yu to follow him. Before Shen Yu left, the housekeeper handed her a letter and a box. Shen Yu sat in the carriage and opened the box. Inside was the title deed of the house and some banknotes, enough for her to live a long and stable life, and the letter in her hand was written by Shen Yuandao to Qi Sui.

In the afternoon, Qi Sui sat in Zhizhi Hall, resting her head lazily, and the children were staring at her.

"Why is Sister Sui here today?" asked a little girl.

"Sister Yu has gone home, I'll take care of you in her place." Qi Sui picked up the poetry collection on the table and selected a few poems for them to copy. The sun slowly set, and a halo appeared on the horizon. Qi Sui was so sleepy that she dozed off. In a daze, she suddenly felt a cloak being drape on her body. She slowly looked up and it's Shen Yu.

"Did I wake you up?" Shen Yu smiled.

Qi Sui stood up straight immediately, and her cloak fell to the ground. She asked, "You're back so soon?"

Shen Yu nodded, and noticed that the children were looking at them. She restrained her expression and said to her. Qi Sui obediently retreated to the side, obediently watched her check the collection of poems copied by the children, and heard her say, "Didn't we learn these yesterday?"

The children looked at Qi Sui in unison, Qi Sui smiled embarrassedly, and said, "Only by reviewing the old and learning the new can we learn thoroughly."

In the evening, after Qi Sui sent Shen Yu back to Zhuangzi, she dared to take out the letter when she got home. This was handed to her by Shen Yu herself.

The system would come out from time to time every day to show its presence, "Host, is this a love letter?"

When Qi Sui heard this, her breathing became rapid. She nervously looked at the handwriting on the envelope, and found out that it wasn't from Shen Yu. She opened the letter puzzled, and after reading it carefully, her face turned pale instantly.

"System, what do you think the county magistrate means? is he telling me to keep my duty and don't have improper thoughts about his daughter?"

But this letter came too late. Qi Sui had already expressed her feelings with Shen Yu, the system said helplessly: "This letter tells you to take good care of Shen Yu, but the words are more polite, which can also scare you."

Qi Sui wiped the sweat off her face and smiled with relief: "You are educated, I will tell you"

After thinking about the system's words over and over again, she looked at the oil lamp and sighed, "My sister is a second-generation official, and I'm just a farmer. You don't understand."

System: "Sometimes it's really helpless to have a host like you."

Since the last time she saw Zhang Wenchi, he has not appeared again. Qi Sui treated that man as if he did not exist and worked hard to run his own fruit and vegetable business. With Liu Quanzhi's restaurant as a starting point, she expanded horizontally and vertically. After half a year, all the restaurant owners along the entire North Street were her clients, and she quickly became famous in Luoshui Town. In addition, the new county magistrate came to Yunyan Village in person to understand the people's sentiments. Qi Sui explained everything to him one by one, which was appreciated by the county magistrate and he promoted it vigorously.

Qi Sui has been very busy these days. One day when she returned to Yunyan Village, she did not walk with Changsheng, but took a carriage with Shen Yu.

Shen Yu was telling her that the children had been performing very well recently, and that many farmers wanted to send their children to the Qi Mansion to study together. Considering that there are more and more children now, she's thinking about whether to set up a school outside.

Qi Sui was so sleepy that she nodded in confusion and said subconsciously: "Yeah... OK..."

Shen Yu did not continue to speak. she looked at her distressedly and leaned her head on her shoulder. After a while, the sound of her gentle breathing was heard in her ears.

The carriage stopped steadily, and Qi Sui finally woke up, her head feeling dizzy, "Are we there?"

"Just arrived." Shen Yu looked at her eyes, which were bloodshot, and she felt distressed.

Qi Sui was pierced by her eyes, and after her spirits were mostly restored, she deliberately leaned close to her neck to sniff and wrapped her arms around her waist. Shen Yu felt ticklish, but she didn't avoid it, so the two of them stayed quietly in this position. The moonlight outside was hazy, and the chirping of insects in the fields was even louder in the silent night.

"Go back and rest quickly." Qi Sui forced herself to cheer up and leaned her head on her shoulder. The white neck was right in front of her, and she couldn't help but press her lips against it. Shen Yu was frightened by the two warm touches and cried out softly, but her body froze and she didn't dared to move. Qi Sui quickly separated from her and apologized, "Don't blame me, sister. I couldn't help it."

The moonlight shone on Shen Yu's body through the car window, like a layer of light gauze, and she lowered her eyes slightly and said softly, "It's okay." Qi Sui felt her heartbeat stop for a moment. She pretended to cough and clear her throat, saying, "Sister, you should rest early. I'll go back first."

As she stood up, Shen Yu grabbed her hand, Qi Sui turned and looked at her, but she didn't speak. Qi Sui slightly bent down, leaned towards her, and gently touched her lips, like a dragonfly touching the water. She smiled very brightly: "See you after dawn!"

Shen Yu smiled back and nodded: "See you after dawn."

Qi Sui slept exceptionally well that night.

The next day, Qi Sui found Cheng An, and Ying'er also came. In the main hall, all three of them had smiles on their faces. Cheng An looked at Ying'er, Ying'er looked back at Cheng An, and Qi Sui looked at the two of them. She couldn't laugh anymore and finally spoke, "Let me talk about something serious."

Cheng An stopped smiling and said seriously, "I also want to talk about something serious." Then he looked at Ying'er again, and Ying'er lowered her head shyly.

Qi Sui raised her hand, "Then you speak first?"

"First come, first served, it's your turn to speak."

Qi Sui didn't play Tai Chi with him anymore, and said, "I've thought about it and now I've laid a foundation in North Street, and there are also West Street and South Street, but there are too few restaurants and teahouses on these two streets, so I plan to rent a shop on each street and run it for a long time."

Cheng An thought for a moment, then expressed his concerns, "If so, who should take care of it these shops?"

Qi Sui quickly sorted out the current personnel allocation. There were not many people around her that she could trust.

"Only a careful and steady person can manage a shop." Cheng An added.

Qi Sui really thought of a suitable candidate, "Then I know who can be in charge."

Cheng An looked at her doubtfully, but she was confident and couldn't stop smiling.

Qi Sui raised her hand and reminded him, "It's your turn."

Cheng An came back to his senses, took Ying'er's hand, and said softly, "At the end of the year, Ying'er and I will get married."

Qi Sui was silent for a long while, then she reacted, stood up and pointed at them, eyes full of surprise. She paced back and forth, speaking incoherently: "How... not... ah! Getting married so soon? I'm not even married yet! I'm so envious!"

Ying'er covered her mouth and laughed softly, saying: "Don't be anxious, Madam Qi. There will be that day."

"In short, this is a great joyous event!" Qi Sui clapped her hands and said happily.

The three chatted for a while, but Qi Sui mainly asked them about the matters related to marriage. It's the first time for Cheng An, so he didn't know much about the matters, so he told her: "I will go home and ask my parents, and then I will I'll tell you when the time comes."

Qi Sui said hurriedly: "Okay, okay! Now it's September, the big day is approaching, I have to prepare a big gift."

"It's good that you can come, no need to bring anything extra." Cheng An Seriously.

Qi Sui smiled and said, "I thought you would drink my wedding wine first, but I was the one who drank yours first."

The three of them smiled and dispersed. After Qi Sui sent them out of the house, she turned around and walked quickly towards the yard. At this time, Shen Yu is taking the children to the yard to appreciate flowers and recite poems, trying to understand the beauty and feelings in the poems written by predecessors through real objects. Qi Sui hid on the side where they couldn't see her, waiting quietly, following Shen Yu's figure with her peripheral vision. She slowly appeared after Mother Song had set the table for dinner.

Shen Yu sat at the table, eating slowly, but she couldn't ignore Qi Sui's eager eyes. She put down her bowl and chopsticks and asked her, "Do you have something to tell me?"

"Can't I look at you if I have nothing to say?" Qi Sui said aggrievedly. She lowered her eyes, then moved closer to her and said, "Sister, I can never get tired of looking at you."

Shen Yu couldn't stand the teasing, her cheeks quickly turned red, and she turned her head away and ignored her.

Qi Sui waited until she finished her meal, then took her to the yard, saying, "Sister, you know, I have never been able to appreciate flowers since I was a child."

Shen Yu did not expose her, and followed her wishes. She told her some poems and anecdotes, but Qi Sui was only focused on looking at her.

"Why are you always staring at me?" Shen Yu didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Qi Sui looked away, suppressed the evil thoughts in her heart, and said, "I want to ask my sister for help." Then she told Shen Yu about opening a shop, "I want my sister to manage the shop for me. When the shop makes money, my sister can use half of it to set up a school."

Shen Yu felt stunned, She didn't expect that she wasn't talking in her sleep last night. "Did you hear what I said last night?"

"I heard it clearly. My sister wants to set up a school outside the mansion. I think it's possible." Qi Sui smiled and said, "Sister, just think of it as helping me manage the accounts. When I marry you in the future, the accounts in the mansion will also be under your management."

Shen Yu lowered her head and whispered, "It's too early."

Qi Sui said seriously: "I'm anxious, but it will be over soon." She smiled again and said, "Speaking of this, Cheng An is getting married at the end of the year, and we will go to the wedding together!"

Shen Yu is really happy for Cheng An and his family, so she began to discuss what gift to give.

In Zhang's house, Zhang Wenchi is leaning on the couch, his elbows resting on the table, looking very relaxed. He always had the most popular fruits on the market at hand, and he would ask his servant to go to North Street to buy some every day.

The steward led two people in. Zhang Wenchi raised his eyes lazily and said with a smile, "Fourth Master has been running all the way, you must be tired."

The fourth master sat at one side and said loudly, "It's not hard! Master Zhang gave me money easily. I will do my best."

Zhang Wenchi faked a smile and glanced at the steward, who understood what he meant and said to the fourth master, "Sir, please come this way."

After the fourth master left, only Zhang Wenchi and Qi Changsheng were left in the room.

At the beginning of the year, Qi Cheng was exiled. Qi Changsheng sold his land and followed the officials all the way. He had to make a lot of arrangements along the way and was even robbed. He had no choice but to hand over the money to save his life. After experiencing many hardships, he became haggard and decadent.

The fourth master asked along the way and finally found Qi Changsheng in a village or town and brought him to the Zhang family. Zhang Wenchi looked at his distraught appearance, handed him some fruit kindly and said, "You are Qi Sui's second uncle, I should treat you with courtesy."

When Qi Changsheng heard Qi Sui, his mind instantly became clear and he met his eyes. Seeing that he finally responded, Zhang Wenchi stood up and handed the fruit to him personally, saying, "Eat some fruit to moisten your throat."

Qi Changsheng looked at him and hesitated for a long time before deciding to pick up the fruit and eat it.

Zhang Wenchi asked him, "Is it sweet?" Without waiting for his answer, he said, "These are all made by Qi Sui."

Qi Changsheng paused, spit it out, and looked at him viciously, "What are you up to? You might as well say it directly."

"Are you so annoyed with her?" Zhang Wenchi didn't seem surprised, but rather satisfied.

Qi Changsheng avoided answering. When he arrived at Zhang's house, he knew that Zhang Wenchi must have a reason to find him. After thinking it over, he asked, "What are your intentions?"

"No hurry, you stay in the mansion first, and you will definitely help in the future." Zhang Wenchi sat back on the couch.

Qi Changsheng sneered: "Why should I listen to you?"

Zhang Wenchi's eyes turned slightly colder, fixed on his face, and said: "You will listen to me."

At this time, several servants suddenly came to the door and directly put Qi Changsheng in a sack.

"Lock him up in the woodshed and don't let him starve to death."

At night, Qi Sui took a brush and clumsily drew patterns on paper. She was always dissatisfied, and after changing several sheets of paper, she finally got a satisfactory pattern. She raised it high and asked the system: "How about taking a look?"

"I think Changsheng would sigh after seeing it."

Qi Sui rolled her eyes unceremoniously and said, "You are so tasteless. You don't even appreciate my peerless painting."

System: "So what are you drawing?"

"Ring!"

The next day, Fang Chunhan looked at the drawing in her hand, then glanced at Qi Sui, and after careful consideration, she dared to speak: "Young lady, what you drew is... This thing is very unique, and it may be difficult to find in Wanbao Pavilion."

Qi Sui said hurriedly: "No, I want you to help me make this thing according to the blueprint."

Fang Chunhan looked at the blueprint carefully again and said: "The young lady wants to make What shape will it be?"

Qi Sui told her the idea in one go, and Fang Chunhan finally understood it and said, "It turned out to be a ring, so it's not difficult to do it."

"Then I'll have to trouble Madam Fang to take care of it. This thing is very important to me." Fang Chunhan folded the drawing, smiled and said, "Madam, don't worry. I won't let you down."