Old memories

I forgot that there is a married sister in the Xia family who lives near the east entrance of Yangzhou City. I didn't want to be bumped into by Xia Xinyi when I was hesitating at the entrance of the city.

Xia Xinyi was very enthusiastic and sharp-eyed. She saw that Qin Huairou looked bad at a glance.

"Hey, sister-in-law, what's wrong with you? You look very bad. Tell me, did Xia Shang bully you again? Get off the car and come in. I have sweet wine soaked in Codonopsis pilosula, which is just right for you to adjust."

Qin Huairou looked at Xia Shang. She knew the temper of this sister. She was not someone who was easy to provoke. If it was not necessary, she would communicate as little as possible.

Xia Shang didn't have a particularly bad impression of this sister. Although her temperament and her tongue were a bit unpleasant, she was a young woman who stayed alone in an empty room after all. Some resentment and thoughts were understandable, but she didn't come back to see her parents when the Xia family was in trouble, which was a bit excessive.

Later, Zhong Bo mentioned to Xia Shang that this sister had a long-standing grudge with her family. When she was young, she was an obedient and sensible lady from a noble family. She was gentle, taciturn, loved embroidery, and had great needlework skills.

For such a woman, her life should be spent in the boudoir, and when she reached the age of 18, she would find a man of equal status to marry. But who knew that when she was fifteen years old, a seriously injured martial artist sneaked into her home.

At the beginning, the family was unaware of it, and Xia Xinyi secretly treated the man's injuries without telling her parents.

It may be arranged by God. The man was a young and handsome boy, and his martial arts spirit was completely different from the men around him. He had a natural attraction to a lady from a noble family like Xia Xinyi.

Xia Xinyi treated the man's injuries, and the man told Xia Xinyi stories about the martial arts world.

Xia Xinyi was fascinated by those martial arts stories and fell in love with the man.

When her parents found out, Xia Xinyi threatened to run away with that man to make her way in the world.

How could Xia Shang's parents agree? They locked Xia Xinyi in the house and forbade her to meet that man.

At that time, Xia Xinyi resisted very violently, causing a big disturbance in the whole family. Seeing their daughter's sincerity, Xia Shang's parents were reluctant to agree to Xinyi's departure.

But who knew that at this time, a news came out that the person Xia Xinyi liked was a notorious flower thief in the world, who specialized in seducing young girls.

At that time, the prefectural government used all means to arrest this person, and finally got him injured, but he never thought that he would be saved by Miss Xia.

Therefore, the prefect wanted to punish Xia Xinyi. Xia Shang's father tried every means to make an agreement with the government, and finally agreed with the government to use his daughter to lure out the flower thief, and then execute him on the spot.

Finally, something else happened. The flower thief died after all, but he died in front of Xia Xinyi.

Xia Xinyi didn't believe what others said, didn't believe that her lover was a liar, and was determined that her parents and the government had colluded to put on a show.

That time, Xia Xinyi was heartbroken, and her temperament changed drastically. The hatred for her parents was also planted in her heart at that moment.

In the final analysis, this sister was also a miserable infatuated person. She lived in a lie at the beginning. She finally got married, but was left alone at home.

The last time she came to see Xia Shang, she brought a maid with her, but today she didn't see the maid around.

Xia Shang guessed something, but didn't ask. He nodded to Qin Huairou: "In this case, then stay at your sister's house for a while."

Zhong Bo was reluctant, but the young master had already spoken, so he could only drive the carriage to stop at the entrance of Xia Xinyi's house.

Xia Shang and Qin Huairou got off the car one after another. Xia Xinyi handed over an umbrella, while Li Zhong went to tie up the horse.

Xia Xinyi's courtyard was not big, it was an ordinary courtyard, but the attic was newly built, with a main hall, guest rooms, and a backyard. There were more than a dozen rooms of different sizes, not far from each other, but everything was there. Moreover, the structure and construction of the rooms were very particular. You could tell at a glance that it took a lot of thought and money.

There was a bluestone road and a flower bed at the entrance of the small courtyard. There was also a small pond in the flower bed for appreciation. Although it was not big, it would be a poetic and picturesque residence if it was carefully organized. Unfortunately, the flower bed was overgrown with weeds, the small pond was dry, and even the bluestone road surface had many cracks, covered with dense green grass.

Xia Shang found that the lady beside him was full of surprise. It seemed that this place was far from what she remembered.

"Big sister." Qin Huairou couldn't help but walk to Xia Xinyi's side. "What happened at home? How come this... this nice yard has become so desolate? Where are the people at home? Where are the maids?"

Xia Xinyi smiled stiffly: "Your brother-in-law is not at home all year round. I live alone and don't need a maid at all. Besides, I have hands and feet. I'm not used to having a maid hanging around. Sister-in-law, please go into the house and sit down first. Sister will make the bed for you, and ask Uncle Zhong to buy some wine and food. You must not leave tonight."

After saying that, Xia Xinyi quickened her pace to open the main hall door, and then hurried to the living room to prepare the beds for Xia Shang and his wife to sleep.

Qin Huairou returned to Xia Shang: "Husband, are we really here tonight?"

"Sister is so enthusiastic, it would be a pity if we leave again?"

"That being said, I always feel that sister is a little different today than usual."

"How is it different?"

"I have never seen her so enthusiastic, let alone such easy-going and polite words. I always feel like she has become a different person."

Xia Shang looked at Xinyi's back: "Fate is unfortunate, it is destined by heaven. No matter how fierce the temper is, it can't be worn out by time. Once you see through it, your temper will naturally change."

"Why are you sighing, husband? I'm a little tired, let's go in first."

She said she was tired, but in fact, she saw her husband getting wet in the rain, so she took the opportunity to lean on her husband and hold half of the small umbrella over.

When she arrived at the main hall, it was not as magnificent as she had imagined.

To be precise, it used to be magnificent, but now there is only a pear wood eight-immortal table and a few stools, and a dusty screen in the corner.

Seeing this scene, Xia Shang and Qin Huairou understood each other. They were just guessing before, but now they have determined what is going on.

Half an hour later, the sky gradually darkened and the rain finally stopped. There was a "tick-tick" sound of water everywhere outside. The night sky seemed to have been washed, transparent, and there was no trace of clouds.

The lights in a guest room just went out, and Zhong Bo went to bed first.

In the main hall, a table of simple wine and food was just set up, and Xia Xinyi was pouring medicinal wine for Qin Huairou to regulate qi and blood.

"Try it quickly, this is brewed by my sister." Xia Xinyi looked at Qin Huairou with expectation.

Qin Huairou held the wine glass, her eyebrows almost knitted into a line: "Big sister..."

"Brother, you too, try it and see if the dishes in the street restaurant are good?"

"Big sister!"

Qin Huairou grabbed Xia Xinyi's arm with a serious expression.

"What happened at home? Did you sell everything in the house?"