BXBX NOVEL Chapter 439 - 439: New Flowers in the Old Tree
Looking at Mr. Qian, who was as smug as a cockroach, Zhao Cai and Li Qing said at the same time, “New flowers bloom on an old tree!”
The two of them laughed. “It’s fine to apologize, but you have to tell us how you found a wife in just two to three months. Could it be that she has been waiting for you?”
Mr. Qian looked at the two of them and hesitated for a long time. “Don’t I have a small courtyard? Before I left, I rented it to a mother and son. Before I left, the granny next door matchmade us. I saw that she was beautiful, so I didn’t dare to respond.
When I came back this time, I saw that she was still living at my house and even told others that she was my wife. She asked the granny next door to mention this again, so I took advantage of the situation and agreed. Unexpectedly, she was a different person after marriage. She was quite a straightforward person initially but after marriage, she interfered in everything and wouldn’t let me sleep unless I washed my feet.”
Li Qing and Zhao Cai looked at him disdainfully. “Aiya! Don’t pretend to be obedient after taking advantage. You should be satisfied that she’s willing to marry an old man like you!”
“I am content,” Mr. Qian replied with a smile.
As they spoke, the carriage arrived at the entrance of the manor. Zhou Jia woke up the three children who were sleeping soundly with the dog on the mat and got out of the car first.
Xiao Bai barked and jumped out of the car. It ran into the courtyard. Yangyang, Maizi, and Maodou rubbed their eyes and sat up.
“Young Master, we’re going to see Little Loach!” Mao Dou said as he jumped out of the carriages. The three of them got out of the car one after another and ran into the courtyard.
When he ran to the courtyard, he saw Zhou Jia, Li Yu, and Mr. Wen chatting with Li Qing and Mr. Qian in the hall in the front courtyard.
Yangyang ran in and bowed to Mr. Wen and Li Yu. He smiled and shouted,
“Grandmaster, Mother, I’m here to see you.”
Mr. Wen smiled and said, “Naughty boy. You were clearly looking for your mother, but you still coaxed me and said you were here to see me.”
Yangyang turned around and held Mr. Wen’s hand. He said aggrievedly, “Grandmaster, I heard that you went to the Three Pure Temples to play. Why didn’t you wait for me to play with you?”
Mr. Wen also looked at him aggrievedly. “Yang’er, I heard that you went to eat something delicious. Why didn’t you wait for me to come back?”
Everyone laughed when they heard that. After Maizi and Mao Dou went forward to greet them, Li Yu said to the three of them, “Go and see Little Loach. He and Little Stutterer have been missing you every day!”
“Yes,” the three of them agreed and ran out.
Zhao Cai brought Han San’s carriage to the row of five houses. He smiled at Han San’s family and said, “Auntie Han, Sister-in-law, this row of houses is habitable. Everything in the house is ready. Make the arrangements yourself.
When you’re done, come and meet Madam.”
Han San looked at the row of five brick houses and happily pushed the two children. “Ling’er, Song’er, quickly thank Uncle Cai.”
“Thank you, Uncle Cai.” The two children bowed shyly to Zhao Cai and thanked him.
Zhao Cai took a handful of copper coins from his pocket and placed them in the hands of the two children. “Take them to buy candy.”
The two children turned to look at their mother. Haitang nodded. “Take it! Uncle Cai gave them to you.”
Old Madam Han stood in the room with the old bedding in her arms and looked at the brand-new mosquito net hanging on the bed. There was brand-new bedding and a straw mat on the bedboard. Old Madam Han bent down and touched the bedding. She watched as her hands sank into the soft bedding. She looked around. There was a cabinet in the house, two bamboo chairs on the table, and the house was spacious and bright.
Old Madam Han’s worried heart suddenly relaxed. She thought about how she had not had a good night’s sleep since she promised her son to write the document. She smiled and put down the hard old bedding. She sat on the edge of the bed and said to herself, “I’m relieved now. It seems that my son has the same judgment in people as his father.”
When Zhao Cai returned to the main room, Aunt Zhang came to report that it was time to eat. Everyone went to eat again. Mr. Qian looked at the dishes on the table and said with a smile, “Home-cooked food is still the best. I’m not used to the food cooked by the chefs in the government office.”
Zhou Jia looked at him and smiled. “Old Qian, you should have brought Madam along to get to know everyone.”
“Mr. Qian, remember to bring her to get to know everyone next time,” Li Yu said with a smile.
Mr. Qian smiled and said, “Madam, I asked her to come. I couldn’t do anything if she was too embarrassed to do so.”
“Let’s eat. It’s normal for a new wife to be shy. Let’s not make things difficult for Mr. Qian,” Mr. Wen said with a smile.
Li Yu pointed at the winter melon pork rib soup, lotus leaf porridge, pumpkin steamed buns, stir-fried rapeseed, fried eggplant… She smiled and said to them, “These are all from our courtyard. There’s a roasted duck with yam seeds and cold chicken nuggets. These are all bought from the village. The pickled vegetables, fish, and large fish are from the lotus pond on the farmstead.”
Zhou Jia smiled and said, “Is there a lotus pond? Why didn’t Ji Xiang say so when he came back?”
Li Yu smiled and said, “It’s at the foot of the mountain.”
Li Qing picked up a piece of spicy chicken and tasted it. After swallowing, he smiled and said, “Yes! Not bad. Old Madam Yun’s dishes have always been lighter. They’re not as delicious and spicy as Sister’s, but Sister, you should eat less spicy food.”
Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia guiltily and argued, “I usually eat very lightly. If you don’t believe me, ask Sir.”
Mr. Wen smiled and said, “Xiaoyu usually eats lighter food than this.
Yangyang glanced at Li Yu. “Mother, didn’t you eat according to the recipe
Granduncle gave you?”
Li Yu felt even more guilty and glared at him without much confidence. ‘Yes, young brat, you’re in charge of your mother. Hurry up and eat. After eating, make up for the lessons that Little Stutterer and Little Loach have missed.”
After dinner, Li Qing and the others went to the garden to pick grapes. Zhou Jia and Li Yu walked around and returned to their room. Zhou Jia hugged Li Yu and sat down. He gently touched Li Yu’s slightly protruding abdomen and bent down to check Li Yu’s feet. He looked at Li Yu and said gently, “Let me see if your feet are swollen.”
“A little. Granny Chen knows how to massage. She massaged me.” Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia guiltily. “Xiao Xi, I just didn’t eat according to the recipe once in a while. I’m not feeling unwell. Besides, Sir is here. I’ll be fine.”
Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu’s feet and didn’t find any swelling. He looked up at Li Yu and said, “Yu’er, you’re really not used to eating a few meals a day. It’s good to change occasionally, but you have to do it according to the amount on the recipe every day. Don’t increase it casually.”
Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia’s affectionate gaze and kissed his forehead passionately. “Xiao Xi, don’t worry. I won’t…’
Zhou Jia reached out and pressed his finger on Li Yu’s lips. He stood up and kissed Li Yu’s lips. “Yu’er, don’t say it. I know. We’ll all be fine.”
Li Yu stood up and hugged Zhou Jia. The couple quietly leaned against each other affectionately. They stood in front of the window and looked at the rose flowers blooming in the flowerbed outside the window under the sun. After a while, they lay down and rested..