Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside

Chapter 1273: Knowing Longing

Luo Huiniang nodded and laughed: "That’s true, they can’t possibly count how many times I chew."

After a while, she asked somewhat fearfully: "Xiao Yu, is Miss Wu really that bad-tempered? What if she starts scolding people? She’s Master Ouyang’s granddaughter, I really can’t scold her back, can I?"

According to Brother Wang and the others, Ouyang Wu has quite a bad temper, always fond of sarcastically scolding people.

Gu Jinli also dislikes Ouyang Wu, and said: "Just ignore her, play with Third Sister. Third Sister is very nice and reasonable, she’s also great at horseback riding and archery."

"I’ve heard Brother Wang and the others say that Third Miss’s archery skills are amazing, hitting targets from a hundred paces away!" Luo Huiniang got excited hearing about this and admired Third Miss: "I’ve heard Third Miss even has her own horse, I wish I could have a horse too someday."

The escort agencies of Great Chu can buy a certain number of horses, but the horses at Luo Family Escort Agency are used for business, so Luo Huiniang can’t get one.

Gu Jinli said: "I’ll get you one in the future, but for now you’ll have to wait."

She and Qin San Lang do raise horses, but those horses are kept in secret and can’t be given away.

"Really?" Luo Huiniang was delighted and continued asking many things about Third Miss and Miss Wu all the way to town, leaving Gu Jinli and Gu Jinxiu talking till their mouths were dry.

"Big Sister, Second Sister, Sister Hui Niang." Brother Cheng heard they arrived and ran out to greet them.

Gu Jinxiu noticed sweat on his forehead and took out a handkerchief to wipe it off, saying: "Running again? Don’t do that, if you sweat through your inner clothes, you’ll catch a cold and get sick."

Brother Cheng laughed: "Don’t worry, Big Sister, Second Sister can make medicine, just take a pill and I’ll be fine. And Second Sister said, children getting a fever is good for the body, it’s detoxing."

Gu Jinxiu shook her head: "Again using this nonsense as an excuse."

Brother Cheng laughed, then ran to find Gu Jinli: "Second Sister, what gifts did you bring for Master and Third Sister?"

Gu Jinli glanced at him and said: "Didn’t you see them last night? Why are you asking again?"

Brother Cheng laughed: "I’m just asking casually."

Then he said to Erqing, who was moving things: "Erqing, let me help you carry these."

Erqing didn’t stop him and let Brother Cheng carry the gifts into the house.

Xiao Ji, Sister Li, and Tong Xiaoxue also each carried a gift as they followed Gu Jinli into the Ouyang family’s home.

The Ouyang family’s servants drove the mule cart into the house and placed it in the stables.

"Master, Master, our family has brought you festival gifts!" Brother Cheng ran into the study yard with a box of new wine, a painting tube on his back.

Master Ouyang heard the noise and quickly sent Ah Song to help: "Quickly go help, don’t let that kid drop my wine."

This little one was carrying a box heavier than himself, running all twisted, looking like he might fall at any moment.

"Hey." Ah Song quickly ran out to help Brother Cheng, took the new wine from him: "Wow, it’s really heavy, brought quite a bit of wine, huh?"

Brother Cheng nodded: "Yeah, twelve bottles, each weighing about two pounds, twelve flavors in total, six of them are newly crafted."

Master Ouyang laughed when he heard this: "Haha, looks like I’ll be having a great Mid-Autumn Festival."

Brother Cheng shook his head: "Master, Second Sister said you’re getting older and plumper, you shouldn’t overindulge. These twelve bottles have to last until New Year’s, the next batch won’t be here until the festival season."

Master Ouyang’s face turned green hearing this: "That Little Xiao Yu sure is stingy, just a bit of wine to last me until New Year’s? There’s almost half a year until then. And who’s fat? I’ve lost weight recently!"

Brother Cheng laughed and teased: "Yes, yes, Master, you’ve indeed lost weight lately, just in a more subtle way."

With a smack, Master Ouyang knocked Brother Cheng on the head: "You brat, you’re learning bad from your Second Sister, always saying things with hidden jabs."

Brother Cheng smiled showing his white teeth, he took the painting tube off his back, and pulled out a painting: "Master, this is the Jin’s painting my brother made, you’ve been wanting to see it, so I’ve brought it for you, have a look."

This Jin’s painting was a name given by Ah Ji, originally my brother was supposed to teach painters at the county government how to do this type of Jin’s painting, but Second Sister stopped him.

Eventually, Second Sister and my brother kept the Jin’s painting for themselves and didn’t give it to others, but they wouldn’t tell me why when I asked.

However, it didn’t interfere with my plan.

"Oh, show it to me." Master Ouyang was very interested in Jin’s paintings, which originated from Da Rong and were more lifelike compared to Great Chu’s traditional painting techniques.

Brother Cheng spread the painting open, and a lively rural scene appeared on the paper.

The figures in the painting were numerous yet lifelike, even Brother Cheng scolding two fat wolves was vividly depicted.

"Good, very good!" Master Ouyang praised repeatedly, staring at the painting for more than a quarter of an hour, making Brother Cheng anxious.

"Master, didn’t you say Third Sister also likes Jin’s paintings? How about I take it to show her, then bring it back for you to look at slowly."

He smiled again: "Big Sister and Second Sister are visiting Third Sister now, if I go there I can enjoy some pastries too... My brother always restricts me, doesn’t let me eat many pastries, I can only sneak a little."

Master Ouyang snorted: "Your brother was right, you’re a glutton."

But Brother Cheng was still a young, adorable, snowball-like kid, Master Ouyang taking pity on him since he suffered hunger while fleeing the famine, eventually agreed: "Alright, take it to Miss Ming to see, and bring it back after she’s done. This painting is nice, I want to frame it and keep it."

"Thank you, Master, I’ll be back soon." Brother Cheng packed the painting back into the tube and ran out.

But instead of heading straight to the back courtyard to see Third Miss, he found a secluded spot, swapped in another painting, and rolled it up with the previous one before heading to the back courtyard.

The second gate to the backyard had Shadow Guards and nannies watching, after listening to his words, an old nanny led him to see Third Miss.

Third Miss was entertaining Gu Jinli and the others in the garden, hearing Brother Cheng was sent by Grandpa to show her the painting, she was delighted: "Jin’s painting? I must take a good look."

Brother Cheng glanced at his Big Sister, Second Sister, and Luo Huiniang, before slowly walking over: "Third Sister, Master really likes this painting, says you can only glance at it before I have to take it back."