Fragrance Returned

Ding Lichun took out a pearl bracelet from under the pillow. The pearls are small and plump.

"My sister turns seven today, and I have prepared all the gifts from my eldest brother. I was thinking of asking someone to take them back, but my sister is here today."

Ding Xiang was so moved that she immediately put it on her hand and said with a grin, "Thank you, brother, I like it."

Ding Lichun just noticed that his sister was missing an upper front tooth. Asked, "Did you leave that tooth under the bed?"

Ding Xiang said, "Throw it under the bed."

Baisha, the boy from the Zhu family who took care of Ding Lichun, brought herbal tea, snacks and melon seeds.

Ding Zhao gave him a wallet with two taels of silver in it, "Thank you for your hard work, brother."

White Shark bowed and thanked him.

The few people exchanged a few words, and Baisha took them to their respective houses. Ding Zhuang lives in the east room, Ding Zhao and his wife live in the west room at the back, and Ding Xiang and Ling'er live in the south room at the back.

This was in someone else's house. It was hard for a seven-year-old girl to sleep in the same room as her father.

After they washed up and changed their clothes, they went to the West Room to talk again.

After a while, footsteps came from outside,

Bai Shark smiled and said, "My general and General Qin are here."

Ding Zhuang and Ding Zhao quickly stood up and walked out of the hall, but Zhang and Ding Xiang did not go out. Mrs. Zhang went to close the door of the west room tightly, but Ding Xiang opened the door a little.

Zhang smiled and nodded her head.

Zhu Qian is a high official, and Ding Zhuang and Ding Zhao have to kneel down to pay tribute.

Zhu Qian took the lead and supported them with both hands, "Old shopkeeper, shopkeeper Ding, don't be polite. Lichun is a good boy. Thank him for saving Quanzi."

Qin Hai said with shame, "Old shopkeeper, shopkeeper Ding, it's the eldest son of my family who caused the trouble. I'm sorry. He was beaten and couldn't get out of bed. When he can get out of bed, he will come to make amends to you."

He cupped his fists and bowed to them.

Ding Zhuang and Ding Zhao bowed in return, "General Qin, you're welcome."

Several people entered the room and Zhu Qian said, "Old shopkeeper, please take a seat."

Zhu Qian's official position was not as high as that of Mr. Sun, and his family background was not as high as Mr. Sun's. However, the Ding family and his son felt that he was more oppressive and felt more nervous.

After being humble, Ding Zhuang was helped by Zhu Zhan to sit on the right side of the Eight Immortals table, while Zhu Qian sat on the left.

Qin Hai and Ding Zhao sat in the first place on the left and right sides respectively, and Zhu Zhan sat under Qin Hai.

The door was opened a crack, no one could be seen, and the sounds outside could be clearly heard.

Zhu Qian's voice is very pleasant, elegant and gentle, unhurried and unhurried. Just by listening to his voice, you would never guess that he is a military general or a former pirate.

Seeing that Mrs. Zhang was a little nervous, Ding Lichun whispered, "Don't be afraid, mother. Although General Zhu is serious, he is a very nice person. Mrs. Zhu also came to see me yesterday and asked people to bring me delicious food every day." "

Ding Xiang's little mouth came close to Ding Lichun's ear and said, "Brother, General Zhu doesn't sound like a pirate at all."

Ding Lichun pinched Ding Xiang's nose with his left hand and whispered, "Don't talk nonsense."

After several men exchanged polite words for a while, Zhu Qian said, "The old shopkeeper's granddaughter is here too? I heard that the little girl is extremely smart."

Ding Zhuang said with a smile, "You made General Zhu laugh. Country kids don't dare to say they are smart."

It was the first time that Ding Zhuang was so humble, which made several members of the Ding family very surprised and not used to it.

Ding Zhuang walked over and opened the door of the west room and said, "Xiangxiang, come out and kowtow to General Zhu."

Ding Xiang slid out of bed and walked out. She raised her eyes and glanced at the man, then quickly lowered her gaze.

The man is about forty years old, very tall, with wheat-colored skin, handsome features, deep and resolute eyes, elegant and deep temperament, and a short beard on his lips and chin.

He was not wearing a military uniform, but was wearing a set of black gold-woven trousers, and his hair was tied on top of his head with a hosta. He was dressed very homely, and he had a pleasant agarwood fragrance.

Even his elegant dress and peaceful voice could not hide the toughness and vicissitudes emanating from his body. This kind of aura made Ding Xiang a little frightened.

She walked carefully to him, knelt down, kowtowed and said, "Xiangxiang has met General Zhu."

Zhu Qian lowered his eyes to look at Lilac, trying his best to conceal and suppress his inner excitement. He grabbed his robe with his big hand on his knee and wiped the sweat from his palm.

They look so much alike, more like her than Fang'er, eldest aunt, and third aunt.

Zhu Qian said, "Get up."

The sound was calm, without any ripples.

Ding Xiang stood up and Zhu Qian pulled her to his side.

The medicinal smell on the little girl's body was even stronger, mixed with a hint of familiar fragrance.

Zhu Qian's heart beat wildly a few more times.

A smile appeared on his lips, and his tough breath softened a little.

He glanced at Ding Xiang for a few times, then turned to Ding Zhuang, "I heard from Zhan'er that this child looks a bit like a little girl. When I saw her today, she really did look like her."

Zhu Qian was a little disappointed when he didn't see anything else in Ding Zhuang and Ding Zhao's eyes.

Ding Xiang didn't think much about it. There were many similar people in the world. He boldly asked with a smile, "Can I meet her?"

Zhu Qian's eyes narrowed, with a hint of sadness. He said softly, "My little girl passed away nine years ago. If she had been alive, she would have turned twelve this year."

Ding Xiang's face froze, she made a fool today.

Ding Zhuang and Ding Zhao both pursed their lips in embarrassment.

This can't be blamed on Xiangxiang's recklessness, but it's Lichun's fault for not telling her family such important news. We should also blame Zou Qing for not introducing the Zhu family in detail.

Seeing the embarrassment of the Ding family, Zhu Qian added, "It has been so many years and I have let it go, but my wife still can't let it go..."

Feeling that he said something he shouldn't have, he coughed, picked up a brocade box on the table and handed it to Ding Xiang, "Take it and play with it."

Ding Xiang bent her knees and said, "Thank you, General Zhu."

Take it with both hands.

Zhu Qian said again, "Go in and play."

Ding Xiang walked into the west wing and pouted as soon as she closed the door.

Why would I ask that stupid question?

She sat on the bed and opened the brocade box. Inside was a small red gold toy, about three inches high, with an inch-thick base. There was an awl-like gold pillar in the middle, with two naked children on both sides bending their bodies. The top was connected to the top of the gold pillar, and the two Feet on the chassis.

The child looks like a Western child at first glance.

What kind of toy is this?

Lilac took it out and turned the golden pillar, and the sound of music came from the base.

It turned out to be an ancient music box.

The sudden sound startled Ding Lichun and Zhang, who looked straight at this strange thing.

Mrs. Zhang was surprised, "Why is there someone playing the piano inside?"

Ding Xiang loved it so much that she laughed softly and said, "This is a music box. Oh, I saw it in Tao Weng's book. It is a toy of foreigners. When the clockwork is turned, music can be heard inside... Oh, music The sound is the sound of silk and bamboo.”

Zhu Qian must have snatched this stuff from foreigners.

This dynasty did not implement a maritime ban, so there were not only exotic goods coming from the Silk Road, but also exotic goods coming from the sea. Because the risks are higher at sea, things are more expensive to cross the ocean.

This thing is currently a luxury item in Europe. It costs tens of thousands of taels to travel across the ocean, right?

Lilac couldn't put it down.