Chapter 408 - 408: Friendship
Zhou Jia flipped through the other invitations and saw that two of them were for Li Yu. One was for the censor, the Feng family, and the other was an invitation from Princess Yichun to Li Yu to the Hundred Garden to admire the flowers. Zhou Jia thought to himself that Princess Yichun was the daughter of the Eldest Princess. Although the Eldest Princess was no longer around, the current high-ranking Princess Yichun had also contributed. The Feng family’s invitation could be rejected, but Princess Yichun’s was not easy to decline.
Zhou Jia frowned and continued to look at the invitations. When he saw a flashy post with a pink peach blossom on the cover, he suddenly smiled.
“Alright! Zijing has also returned to the capital.”
Seeing Zhou Jia’s reaction, Li Qing looked at him in confusion. Zhao Cai smiled and said to Li Qing, “Uncle, Young Master Zijing is Master’s good friend. When he was young, he studied in a private school. Later, they were in Qingchuan together. He followed his aunt back to the capital during the drought.”
Zhao Cai thought about how it was all thanks to Young Master Xia often dragging Young Master out to play in the past few years that Young Master could pull himself together so quickly and open a grocery store and school.
Li Qing was enlightened. “Oh! No wonder I haven’t heard you mention it all these years. Brother-in-law, what is he doing now?”
Zhou Jia looked at Li Qing and smiled. “He should have returned to the capital to participate in the Spring Quarter Examination in the year of the drought. He went to Qi County. Hey! Look, we’ve passed by Qi County a few times, but we’ve never encountered him.”
Li Qing looked at Zhou Jia’s happy expression and was also happy for him.
“Brother-in-law’s reunion with Brother Xia’s old friend is worth celebrating.”
“It’s worth celebrating. I’ll look for him as soon as we get back from the brokerage.”
Zhou Jia recalled the days when he first arrived in Qingchuan. Fortunately, he had this good friend accompanying him and sending him news. It had been so many years. He wondered how he was doing.
The few of them went to the brokerage house and bought two servants. Ji Xiang then brought Gu Yu back to settle down in the new residence.
Zhou Jia returned to the backyard and told Li Yu about Princess Yichun inviting her to admire the flowers on the same day. “Yu’er, this Feng family’s invitation is on the same day as Princess Yichun’s. Reject the Feng family’s invitation. Go to Princess Yichun’s Hundred Garden and walk around before coming back.”
Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia’s worried expression and said reproachfully, “Why are you so worried? It’s just a flower appreciation banquet. Besides, I can still be happy if I go to see the flowers and scenery while pregnant.”
Zhou Jia recalled that Li Yu didn’t know anything about the rank of a Madam and instructed her, “Yes! Yu’er, a first-grade Madam is already a high-grade Madam. There’s really no Madam with a higher rank than you. You just have to greet Princess Yichun. Go and have fun for a while. If it’s not fun, come back.”
Li Yu nodded. Zhou Jia hugged her and said to her with a smile, “Yu’er, do you still remember Xia Tao? He also returned to the capital.”
“Xia Tao?” Li Yu thought for a moment and remembered that when she and Zhou Jia first worked together to sell bags, the man who walked around and asked everyone if they liked them. She smiled and nodded. “Xia Tao, I know that it’s that a little flashy guy?
Zhou Jia replied gently, “Yes! He looks indecent, but he’s actually very upright. He just likes to be fancy when dressing up.”
Li Yu smiled at Zhou Jia. “Alright! It’s worth meeting our old friend. Hurry up and invite him to our house for a gathering!”
“Yes! Go and rest for a while. Ah Qing is going to the banquet later.”
Li Yu’s face was filled with a blissful smile as she pushed him reproachfully.
“Got it. Go quickly! You’re almost as naggy as an old woman.”
“Alright, if I don’t go now, I’ll be despised by my wife.” Zhou Jia smiled and went to prepare the gifts before going to the Xia family to look for Xia Tao.
When he arrived at the Xia family’s house, he saw that the person guarding the door was no longer the old man from before. He handed over the visiting card and soon saw Xia Tao, who was wearing a pinkish-green robe embroidered with silver dark patterns, running towards him with a smile.
Zhou Jia let Little Loach carry the gift box and opened his arms to welcome Xia Tao’s hug. The two of them laughed and looked at each other. Xia Tao smiled and punched Zhou Jia. “Brat, you’re still so good-looking.”
Zhou Jia looked at Xia Tao happily. “You’re still so round and smooth.”
“That’s all I have. You can never surpass me when it comes to that.” Xia Tao smiled proudly and held Zhou Jia’s arm as they walked in. He turned around and looked at Little Loach, who was following behind Zhou Jia. He smiled and said, “Where did you find such a young child to follow you?”
Zhou Jia took the gift box from Little Loach. “So I let the kid who followed me go back to Tongzhou with Ruyi to see his parents. This child is a child my wife raised in Yunzhou Manor.”
Xia Tao took two silver hoes from his pouch and handed them to Little Loach. Little Loach looked up at Zhou Jia, who smiled and nodded. “Take it!” “Thank you, Master.” Little Loach took the silver hoes with a smile.
“Yes! He’s a smart child.” Xia Tao smiled and instructed the servant at the side,
“Take this child to play for a while.”
The servant brought Little Loach down. After Xia Tao brought Zhou Jia into the study and sat down, he smiled and said to Zhou Jia, “Have you really repaid kindness through marriage?”
Zhou Jia looked at Xia Tao proudly. “It’s not easy to find someone you like. Of course, I have to devote myself to her! Let me tell you, my son is already four weeks old. What about you? Why don’t you bring me to the east courtyard to meet your uncle and aunt?”
Xia Tao revealed a sad gaze. “That year, Auntie brought me back to the capital. Auntie caught a cold and left after being bedridden for a year. Then, Uncle suffered from an acute illness. In less than a year, the two of them left. When the mourning period was over, I assumed an official position in Qi County. My wife is already pregnant and returned to her mother’s house yesterday. I’ll bring her to your house the next day to meet Sister-in-law and acknowledge her. ”
“Alright.” Zhou Jia patted Xia Tao and comforted him. ‘When the two old people were alive, they hoped that you could live a good life. If you live a good life, you’ll be living up to their expectations.”
Xia Tao rubbed his face with his hands and looked up at Zhou Jia. “Tell me how you’ve been all these years. I heard that your political achievements are not bad!”
Zhou Jia smiled and sighed. “It’s difficult to finish at a glance. Back then…”
In the Zhou family, Li Qing prepared to go to the Yuehua Restaurant to take a look. Zhao Cai accompanied Li Qing to the Yuehua Restaurant.
Li Qing and Zhao Cai arrived at the Moonlight Restaurant at the end of East Street. From afar, the two-story Moonlight Restaurant had cornices and painted corners. The vermilion paint shone brightly under the setting sun and looked very magnificent.
When the two of them arrived at the Yuehua Restaurant, the shop assistant went forward eagerly and asked with a smile, “May I ask if you’re Young Master
Li Qing glanced at the shop assistant and replied gently, “That’s right.” The shop assistant took two steps back eagerly. “Young Master, please. Young Master Wang is already waiting for you at the Invitation Pavilion.”
Li Qing glanced at Zhao Cai and nodded. He followed the shop assistant in and saw that the interior of the building was fresh and beautiful. When he entered the garden at the back, he saw that the wisteria was in full bloom. Li Qing felt that this place was not decorated like a restaurant but like a garden..