Lady Lu Zhang Wenwan knew that Lu Weiwei was going to see Jewel Magnolia with Chen Caozhi, so he said to Mrs. Wang Xizhi Xi Xuan: "Sister Xi, I'll go out and explain it to you."
Lu Weiwei saluted Xi Xuan and Xi Daomao respectively, and followed his stepmother Zhang Wenwan out of the pilgrim's residence and came to the front hall. Chen Caozhi Four people,, Ran Sheng, Zhi Fahan, and Banli, were waiting. They prepared several bamboo tubes for drinking water and bamboo sticks and mango shoes for traveling.
Zhang Wenwan asked, "Caozhi, how far is it from here to Mount Hua?"
Chen Caozhi said, "Senior Brother Fahan said that we can only go fifteen miles from the trail."
Zhang Wenwan frowned and said, "Thirty miles round trip, it's already the end of the afternoon, Shen Hour has to rush back to Dong'an Temple at the latest, because we have to go back to the city, is it too late?"
Chen Caozhi said, "Aunt Zhang, there is no problem in a round trip of thirty miles in two hours."
Zhang Wenwan said, "I mean Wei Rui, she has never walked such a long and fast journey."
Lu Weiwei quickly said, "Mom, I can do it. Didn't I often travel around before?"
Zhang Wenwan smiled and said, "You used to take more rides and travel less when traveling. You must not be able to drive on the small road to Mount Hua."
Lu Weiwei was a little anxious, fearing that she would not be allowed to go anymore, so he argued. "Climbing the Mountain has to cross the mountain to play, so I go by myself."
Chen Caozhi said, "I promise Aunt Zhang that I will bring Wei Rui back before You Shi."
Zhang Wenwan waved Chen Caozhi forward and whispered, "Then I will entrust Wei Rui to you. You Shiqian will definitely bring her back. If she can't walk, you carry her back." Thinking about it, Lady Lu Zhang Wenwan covered his mouth with his hands and laughed.
Lu Weiwei on the side naturally heard what her stepmother said to Master Chen. She blushed so cutely and didn't dare to raise her head, so she heard Chen Caozhi reply seriously, "Yes, Caozhi will definitely live up to Aunt Zhang's trust."
Zhang Wenwan suppressed laughter and said, "Okay, go and come back quickly, Duan Chu, Zanhua will follow, and be careful to serve Little Lady, do you hear me?"
The two maids Duan Chu and Zanhua responded, "Yes."
Zhang Wenwan looked at Zhi Fahan leading the way. Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei and a group of six people went eastward from the path behind the temple, and then walked back to Xiangkeju. She thought to herself, "Rui'er is very happy now. She can be with Chen Caozhi all afternoon. She has been looking forward to seeing this Jewel Magnolia day and night. As for, in fact, more importantly, I want to be with Chen Caozhi. This infatuated child looks quite pitiful. As for Caozhi, he is really good. Even Xi Xuan praises it. Master Zhi and Wang Youjun also admire Caozhi very much--"
When Xi Xuan saw Zhang Wenwan coming back alone, he asked, "Sister Zhang, where is your wife?"
Zhang Wenwan replied, "I heard that Mount Hua has a different species of Magnolia. She was clamoring to go, so I had to let her go."
Xi Xuan smiled and said, "Lu Clan Lady's love for flowers is known all over the world. It is said to be 'Love-struck Lu Weiwei, Xie Daoyun of the Catkins Verse'. By the way, it was Master Chen who accompanied Young Lady Lu, right?"
Zhang Wenwan smiled and replied, "Yes."
Xi Xuan said, "Such a good kid, they are so in love with each other, it's time to bring them together."
Zhang Wenwan suppressed this concern and wanted to have someone of similar status to tell her about it. Apart from Xi Xuan and Xi Daomao, there was no one else here, so he asked, "Sister Xi, do you really think Chen Caozhi is a good match for my Wei Rui?"
Xi Xuan glanced at the white hair on his temples, looked at Lady Lu Zhang Wenwan with a smile, and asked, "Does Sister Zhang think they are not a good match?"
Zhang Wenwan had no choice but to confess. "My Wei Rui is stubborn and identified this Chen Caozhi--"
Xi Xuan interjected. "Have eyesight." Xi Daomao covered his mouth and smiled.
Zhang Wenwan also laughed and continued, "Sister Xi must have also heard that my Wei Rui is not willing to marry anyone else, so she is waiting for Chen Caozhi, Kuaiji Kong clan's son Kong Wang is also very good, but Wei Rui will not consider it at all, Wei Rui has a stubborn temper. If you force her, the consequences will be dire. I think she is really pitiful. Moreover, this Chen Caozhi is not a frivolous person. It seems that she can be entrusted with her for life, so I really want to marry him two. However, my second uncle Lu Shi firmly refused, saying that he would rather Wei Rui never marry than marry Chen Caozhi."
Xi Xuan sighed, "Those men always think about reputation, family status, and official position, but we women are much more practical. As far as character and temperament are concerned, marriage is a lifelong matter. Time is long, and illusory things such as reputation and family status cannot and cannot be relied on. We women only want to find a husband who can treat us well. As for other things, it is not very important. Of course, if we have all these, it will be better."
Zhang Wenwan was deeply convinced and said, "Sister Xi and my respected husband Wang Youjun, as well as Madam Daomao and Master Xianzhi, these are all well-matched couples who are in love with each other."
Xi Xuan glanced at Xi Daomao and said, "Mao'er and I are both wives of the royal family, and we can be said to support each other." After a pause, he added, "In my opinion, it is better for a woman's husband's family to be of a lower family than her mother's, as this will make her more favored."
Zhang Wenwan was stunned, vaguely aware of some of Xi Xuan's pain. Although Wang Xizhi cherished her, the Wang Clan people did not value the Xi family., so it is inevitable that he will suffer some grievances. Thinking about this, Zhang Wenwan is more determined to marry Wei Rui to Chen Caozhi. The dowry will include farmland, money, silk and maidservants. It will exceed the current total of the Qiantang Chen Clan. How can Qiantang Chen Clan not respect and love Wei Rui? Naturally, Wei Rui is in charge, Caozhi As for, you can see that he loves Wei Rui very much, and Caozhi has a good temper. They will definitely be happy, but the second uncle Lu Shi--
Zhang Wenwan said, "Wei Rui If my second uncle doesn't agree, the marriage won't happen, which makes me very troubled."
Xi Xuan asked, "Master Chen is a smart man, what does he say?"
Zhang Wenwan said, "Let my Rui'er wait for him for three years, and I will find a solution."
Xi Xuan nodded and said, "With Master Chen's talent, joining Western Headquarters is worthy of being reused by Grand Marshal Huan. It's just a woman's three years. It's a pity to waste her youth."
Zhang Wenwan said, "Yes, but there is no other way but to wait. Wei Rui refuses to marry anyone else, and now no one comes to Lu Residence to propose marriage."
Xi Xuan smiled and said, "Master Chen is both talented and beautiful. Unless Jiangzuo Great Clans has a more outstanding son, who would dare to propose marriage to the Lu Clan!"
Zhang Wenwan said, "Yes, I'm really afraid that Wei Rui's marriage will be delayed."
Xi Xuan asked, "Young Lady Lu What is your age?"
Zhang Wenwan said, "Nineteen."
Xi Xuan said, "One year younger than me, Mao'er, there is a talented woman in Jiankang who is already twenty years old and is still unmarried. I wonder how her situation is lately?"
Zhang Wenwan knew that Xi Xuan was talking about Xie Daoyun, so he said, "I haven't heard of any marriage news. Xie Clan girl is so talented that no one dares to marry her."
Xi Xuan is still bitter about Xie Daoyun's refusal to marry her son Wang Ningzhi three years ago. She teased, "A girl Zi Cai who is taller will not marry her husband." Are you married? Xie Daoyun is proud of her talents and loves to be competitive. It is tiring to marry such a woman and bring her home. She is afraid that she will die and lose her family. When she was young, she held her breath and did not know the pain of being without a husband and children. When she gets old, she will be miserable."
Zhang Wenwan was silent. Childlessness was another worry for her, and it was not easy to tell outsiders about it. She also knew that Xi Xuan was not mocking her, but she still felt very uncomfortable. She stood up and said, "Sister Xi, please sit down. I will go and pray in front of the Buddha."
Xi Xuan asked, "When will Sister Zhang leave to return to the city? Can we go together?"
Zhang Wenwan said, "Sister Xi, please go first. I have to wait for Wei Rui to come back. I'm afraid it will be very late."
Lu Weiwei, walking lightly on the mountain road, has forgotten her own sorrow and the hardships of her marriage future. The happiness in her heart is now as misty as mist and dense as air, surrounding her whole body. Her happiness is like jewels. Everyone who sees her can clearly feel it -
Lu Weiwei is radiant, with a pretty and rosy face, delicate and cute, wearing a cross-collar spring shirt, exquisite Changle Mingguang Brocade skirt, Black-Silk Shoes, let Chen Caozhi hold her right hand, and walk as light as flying.
Zhi Fahan looked at Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei holding hands and being intimate, and couldn't help blushing and heartbeating. He hurriedly recited "Radiant Light Prajna Sutra" silently to strengthen his heart towards the Buddha. He strode ahead with his eyes out of sight, Banli followed closely behind him.
The two maids Ran Sheng, Zanhua, and Duan Chu followed Banli and talked with smiles. Although Lady Lu had told Little Lady to be careful, Duan Chu and Zanhua knew that Little Lady did not need her and her services now, and wanted Master Chen to take care of Little Lady. The two of them were happy and at ease, staying five or six feet away so as not to disturb Little Lady and Master Chen's intimate relationship with each other.
The mountain road from Tang Mountain to Mount Hua was quiet. Chen Caozhi and his party did not meet anyone else along the way, not even a single woodcutter or hunter. The mountain road is high and low, rugged, with jagged rocks and strange trees on both sides. Wild flowers of all colors are fragrant. In the clear blue sky, a goshawk hangs motionless for a long time. After a while, when I look up again, I see that it has flown without a trace.
In the afternoon of Mid-Spring, the sun was shining brightly. Chen Caozhi felt that the soft little hands of Lu Weiwei in the palms were a little sweaty. His cheeks were blushing and his nose was slightly wet. A trace of sweat is like the tiny dewdrops on the rose petals, which is extremely beautiful. Lu Weiwei's long skirt is dragging on the floor. When walking quickly, you must hold the skirt lightly with one hand. It will naturally be more difficult to walk like this for a long time.
Lu Weiwei saw Chen Caozhi looking left and right on both sides of the mountain road while walking, so he asked, "What are Master Chen looking for?"
Chen Caozhi said, "Looking for thorns."
Lu Weiwei said in surprise, "What are you looking for thorns for?"
Chen Caozhi smiled and said, "Looking for a thorn to prick you."
"Ah." Lu Weiwei said with a red face, "Let me prick you."
Chen Caozhi didn't know what he was thinking of, but his face turned slightly red and he said, "I don't want to give it up." He continued to look for it while walking.
Lu Weiwei smiled and said, "Master Chen, let me change my hand, my left hand is sore."
Chen Caozhi let go of Lu Weiwei's right hand, changed position and walked to the left side of Lu Weiwei, holding her left hand and continuing to move forward.
Going around a hillside, I saw a bush of thorns growing lushly. Lu Weiwei saw it first and shouted, "Master Chen, there are thorns there."
Chen Caozhi said, "Just wait, I'll pick a few thorns." Then he let go of Lu Weiwei's hand and quickly climbed up the hillside.
Lu Weiwei didn't know what Chen Caozhi was going to do with the thorns. Of course it wasn't to prick her. He climbed up the hillside and called out, "Master Chen, be careful not to prick your hand with the thorns."
Chen Caozhi responded, "I will be careful. You wait for me below. I will come down soon."
Lu Weiwei then stopped and saw Chen Caozhi walking to the thorn bush, carefully picking thorns, picking one and pinning it on the lapel of his robe. He picked several thorns in a row, and suddenly stopped picking them. He seemed to have been pricked in his hand by the thorns. He was putting his fingers in his mouth to suck and spit -
"Ah, I was pricked by a thorn!" Lu Weiwei ran up quickly.
Chen Caozhi has turned around, with his fingers still in his mouth, and said vaguely, "It's okay, let's go down."
Lu Weiwei stepped forward and pulled Chen Caozhi's finger out of his mouth. At first glance, he saw that the slender white finger was wet, and there was a small puncture mark on the top of the finger. There was no blood at first, but after a while, bright red blood beads oozed out -
Without thinking, Lu Weiwei grabbed Chen Caozhi's hand, put the finger into his mouth, and sucked it -
Chen Caozhi was stunned, looking at Lu Weiwei's sunken cheeks and pursed lips due to sucking, and could also feel the delicate tip of his tongue gently licking the small puncture mark on the top of his finger--
Chen Caozhi feels great tenderness. This is his beloved girl, who also loves him with all her heart. He must love and protect her for the rest of his life.
Lu Weiwei sucked for a while, then spat out the saliva mixed with blood. He still held Chen Caozhi's finger, stared at the puncture mark, and said, "Don't come out again, don't come out again--"
The blood was obedient, and sure enough, it no longer overflowed. Lu Weiwei looked at it for a while and confirmed that the blood had solidified. Then he raised his face with a smile on his face and said, "I used to get pricked by thorns when planting flowers. Just suck it and it will be fine." Zhang's pretty face suddenly burned up. She had forgotten to avoid taboos just now because of her concern. Then she realized that sucking Master Chen's fingers like that was very embarrassing. She quickly let go of Chen Caozhi's hand, turned around and walked down the mountain quickly.
Chen Caozhi shouted, "Watch the road carefully, don't fall." Follow him quickly.
As soon as the two people walked down the mountain path, Ran Sheng, Duan Chu, and Zanhua had already come back. After walking for a while, they saw that Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei did not follow them, so they walked back to look for them.
Duan Chu saw four or five thin thorns pinned to Chen Caozhi's clothes, and asked curiously, "Master Chen What are you doing picking these thorns?"
Chen Caozhi said, "It's for your Little Lady. Come on, Duan Chu can help and fold the hem of your Little Lady's skirt by four or five inches--"
Duan Chu squatted down in front of Lu Weiwei and folded up Lu Weiwei's skirt four inches as instructed, revealing the white stockings.
Lu Weiwei knew Chen Caozhi's intention of picking the thorns, and watched as Chen Caozhi squatted down in front of her, pulled out the thorns from the skirt one by one, and pinned them to her folded skirt--
Lu Weiwei felt sweet in his heart and reminded, "Master Chen Be careful, don't prick your hand again."
Chen Caozhi said "Hmm" and pinned the five thin thorns to the skirt of Lu Weiwei's skirt, so that Lu Weiwei's skirt would be four inches shorter and she would not have to hold the skirt with one hand when walking.
Chen Caozhi straightened up and said with a smile, "Young Lady Lu is now a rose with thorns, no one dares to approach it."
Lu Weiwei smiled "gegge", walked a few steps, felt a lot more relaxed, and said, "Very good, thank you Master Chen, let's continue on our way." Wait for When Ran Sheng, Duan Chu and Zanhua walked to the front, she naturally held Chen Caozhi's hand and swung her other hand rhythmically, looking brisk and comfortable.