The next day, after the court session ended, Meng Anci quickly caught up with Zhao Zhiyuan.
Why have you been so distracted today?
You've misunderstood.
"Something's not right. You're acting strangely." Meng Anci stopped him at the crossroads and whispered, "Were you bullied by my sister?"
Zhao Zhiyuan looked slightly uneasy. "I did it voluntarily."
Meng Anci's heart sank. "Didn't you say you wouldn't marry into another family?"
Zhao Zhiyuan lowered his eyes and remained silent.
Meng Anci's eyes darkened, and he said in a deep voice, "Brother Zhao, I sympathize with your plight. But I have a way to help you marry my sister. Are you willing to listen?"
Zhao Zhiyuan looked up and stared at him intently.
Meng Anci spread out his hands, "Five taels of silver."
Without a word, Zhao Zhiyuan pulled out some silver and slapped it into his palm. "Tell me, anything is fine as long as I can marry your sister."
Meng Anci lightly, "Even a virtuous woman can be won over by persistent suitors. Trust me, I'll pack a bundle and go see my aunt. I'll tell her my sister bullied you, and I won't leave until I'm given a proper title... It would be best if you also brought a rope..."
Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Zhiyuan snatched the five taels of silver back, exclaiming, "Hey, I haven't finished speaking yet!"
Zhao Zhiyuan was both angry and regretful. He shouldn't have believed Meng Anci's nonsense. That kid had been full of bad ideas since he was little; what good plans could he possibly have?
What happened after Shiyan confessed his feelings? Not only did Anzhi ignore him, but the business of the Shi Household Escort Agency also plummeted. Madam Shi tried to see Anzhi several times, but Manager Shopkeeper Shen turned her away each time.
Shi Chong, who had been pestering Anzhi like a mad dog, suddenly became completely quiet and didn't even dare to set foot on Vermilion Bird Street.
What, a virtuous woman can't resist a persistent suitor... Meng Anci is clearly setting him up! Bringing himself here demanding recognition and status, he's practically doomed...
On the other end.
Jin Shanyao sat in the study, braiding a colorful rope in her hands. As soon as Meng Anzhi entered the room, she noticed something was wrong and stopped what she was doing to go over.
He sniffed at Meng Anzhi. "Did you succeed?"
Meng Anzhi's face flushed red. She hurriedly opened a medical book and softly hummed in agreement, "I might be back late these next couple of days..."
Jin Shanyao. "Alright, just to be on the safe side, we should do it a few more times."
"Auntie..."
Jin Shanyao away her voice, picked up the silk thread and continued weaving the five-colored rope. Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci had both been busy with their own things lately and hadn't had a proper conversation with Jin Shanyao in a long time.
"Auntie... what have you been busy with lately?"
Jin Shanyao waved the five-colored rope and laughed, "Make bracelets, and learn to sew clothes with Qing He..."
Meng Anzhi asked in confusion, "Don't you usually hate doing needlework?"
"Isn't it almost Chinese New Year? I was thinking of making you some clothes by hand..." she said, handing over the colorful rope in her hand, "Here, try tying this on, see if it can be tied?"
Meng Anzhi held out her arm to compare, "It's a bit big."
Jin Shanyao smiled but didn't speak. As humans age, their bones become thicker and larger... This was for Anzhi, who was sixty-seven years old. She finished the silk thread, tied a knot, and put it in the drawer.
Pulling Meng Anzhi aside, she said, "Tell your aunt what gift you want for the New Year."
"No... I want Auntie," Meng Anzhi said with a smile, taking Jin Shanyao's arm and pulling over a medical book to lean against her and flip through it. Anyone else would have gotten tired of being leaned on like that by now.
But Jin Shanyao completely oblivious, her back still ramrod straight. Meng Anzhi turned the pages of her book and asked, "Auntie... what do you think I should name my child?"
Jin Shanyao thought for a moment, "Meng Shushu..."
"Uh... that doesn't sound good, let's choose another one..."
"Meng Shugen?"
"No..."
"Meng Shuye?"
"Auntie... is there nothing else besides trees?"
Jin Shanyao thought for a moment, "Meng Senlin..."
Meng Anzhi slapped her forehead. Oh well... let's just ask Anci to name it... The two of them huddled in the study and read for a while when Zhou Xiaosi knocked on the door and came in.
"Master... a woman came into the shop and specifically asked you to come and examine her."
Meng Anzhi put away her medical book, sat up straight, and said, "Auntie, I'm going out to take a look..."
"Okay, go ahead..."
After Jin Shanyao left, she took out a booklet from the drawer and continued writing; this one was for Qing He.
Article 36: Anzhi is prone to dizziness upon waking, so warm porridge should always be kept on the stove, and she should not be allowed to get up on an empty stomach.
Article 37: Anzhi dislikes crowds and noise. If there are too many guests at home, you should help shield her and leave her a quiet place.
Article 38: Anzhi likes to drink hot tea in winter, so a pot of it should always be kept warm and she should not be allowed to drink cold beverages.
Article 39: Although Anzhi is stubborn, she is extremely protective of Anci. If the two have a minor disagreement, do not take sides; gently persuade them to reconcile.
Article 40: Anci always forgets the time when he is reading, so a soft pillow should be placed behind his back and he should be urged to get up and move around every half hour.
Article 41: Anci is a clean person and his clothes should be changed and washed frequently, especially the cuffs and collar, which should be washed until they are clean.
Article 42: Anci dislikes people touching his books. When tidying up his study, one should handle them gently and avoid disturbing the pages.
Article 43: Both siblings are afraid of being alone. If one of them goes out at night and does not return, a light must be left on until he or she returns.
As he was writing, he suddenly remembered something, took out six hundred taels of silver and two red bracelets from the drawer, and got up to go to the kitchen.
" Qing He... are you Qingzhou Prefecture the Chinese New Year this year?"
Qing He sat on a small stool, picking Douzi as she said, "It's fine whether I go back or not... What's wrong, Master? Is something the matter?" She would Qingzhou Prefecture with Meng Anzhi during the spring planting and autumn harvest, so she didn't miss home.
Jin Shanyao squatted down beside her, picking through a handful of Douzi. "Your sister and Xiaosi?"
Qing He casually pulled over a small stool and handed it to her, glancing at the door as she whispered, "My aunt agreed, saying that Xiaosi is promising... it just means that the two of them will only see each other a few times a year if they're separated."
Jin Shanyao understood immediately, "I'll talk to Anzhi when I have time and ask her to transfer Qing Yang over here..."
Qing He quickly interrupted, "No way! My sister finally got the job as the second-in-command. If she loses her job because of Zhou Xiaosi, she'll definitely have a falling out with him."
Jin Shanyao, and after a while called out, " Qing He..."
Qing He waited for a long time but didn't hear the next sentence. "What's wrong, Master?"
How long have we known each other?
Qing He casually tossed the good Douzi into the basin, saying, "It's been almost eleven years..." Her movements suddenly stopped, and she said in alarm, "Master... my indenture is about to expire, you don't want to terminate it, do you?"
Jin Shanyao and said, "What are you thinking? A twenty-year contract, it won't be that quick..." As she spoke, she clapped her hands and took out six hundred taels of silver from her pocket and handed it to her.
"Here you go... three hundred taels each for your and your sister's dowry."
Qing He was stunned. The silver note felt like a hot potato; she didn't know whether to keep it or throw it away. "Master... I don't even have a fiancé yet. Isn't this dowry too early?"
"It's too early..." Jin Shanyao pulled a red string from her sleeve, "Stretch out your hand..."
Qing He did as instructed.
Jin Shanyao the red string around her wrist, examined her carefully, and then smiled, "To ward off evil and bring good fortune... Just wear it like that, don't take it off."
Qing He held up her wrist and giggled foolishly, "It's so pretty... Master, did you knit this yourself? I didn't see you knit a red one."
"I made this a few days ago, your sister has one too... When you bring it over for the New Year, don't ask your sister for it, understand?"
"I know, I know..." Qing He was not as attentive as Qing Yang. She smiled foolishly all day long, and had no other thoughts on her master's family.
Jin Shanyao gazed at her smiling face for a long time before speaking, " Qing He, Anzhi and Anci have never had any family around them since they were little. Don't be fooled by their silence; they have the deepest affection for you. Now that the contract is up... could you continue to stay at home, even without signing a contract of servitude?"
"What are you saying, Master?" Qing He covered the red rope with her sleeve to keep it clean. "What I fear most right now is that you won't use me when the contract expires. As long as you're willing to use me... I'll stay in the Anzhi Hall for the rest of my life, by your side."
Qing He chuckled, then looked up at Jin Shanyao and asked, "Want some egg pancakes? I'll make you some..."
Jin Shanyao chuckled and reached out to ruffle her hair. "Go pick your Douzi..." she said, then got up and left.
Qing He exclaimed, "Master... I just washed my hair this morning, and you've gotten it all dirty."