The Moon Over Tang Dynasty

Chapter 31 Prepare for unexpected guests

On the eve of Chinese Valentine's Day, a moderate rain drove away some of the heat. Early the next morning, it was another sunny day with a clear blue sky.

Second Uncle An stood in his yard, looked up at the sky and sighed, "If it continues to be sunny like this, I'm afraid the price of rice will go up this year." Mr. Shi replied from the corridor: "Then buy more. It's better to be prepared! It's better than continuous rain. Don't forget, it rained for more than a month that year. How long was the north gate of Fangshi closed? We were not allowed to go out at home every day. What a hassle. Boring."

Recalling the strange practice that year when the imperial court ordered the north gates of all markets to be closed and women not to go out on the streets, thinking that this would allow the sun to show its face, Uncle An couldn't help but laugh: "People in the Tang Dynasty do things really weird sometimes!"

In Liuli's room, Qiniang watched her unblinkingly as she added the last touch of bright red to the picture of Weaver Girl on the fan. She heard her parents' voices outside the window and laughed softly, "That's right. It's sunny today." Come on, it’s better to beg for luck in the evening. Let’s go catch Xizi in the afternoon?”

 Catch a happy child? Thinking of the spider's erratic movements, Liuli put down her pen, shook her head and said, "I'm afraid I have to go out. If you have time, help me catch a few. Speaking of which, I have red hands, so I don't mind begging." "

Qiniang hurriedly picked up the silk fan and looked at it, nodded and sighed: "If your hands are unlucky, how can you be clever? Even for Nv Hong, you can learn much faster than I did. That is to say, practice Gotta be less.”

Seeing that the paint on the silk was slowly drying, Qiniang took the fan in her hand, looked at it in the bronze mirror, and said happily: "I want this one!"

Liuli smiled and nodded. This time she bought a total of seven round fans made of plain silk. She spent two days painting pictures of the Weaver Girl on the fans. There was not much difference between the patterns of the simple ladies, only the colors of their clothes were different. In the end, this The handle was made of pink clothes, and Qiniang took a liking to it at first sight.

The two took the remaining fans to the upper room. As expected, Mrs. Shi was also very happy. Knowing that every woman in the family had a share, even Shi Yilang's unmarried wife Shi Jiuniang and the married An Wuniang both had one, and she laughed even more. With her mouth wide open, she picked a Tsing Yi Weaver Girl, shook it in her hand and said with a smile, "I must hold such a good fan and show it to more people." She picked two more and gave them to An Wuniang and others. Shi Jiuniang sent it over. Not long after, Kang and Mi also got the news and came over to choose the one they liked.

Before noon, Wu Niang and Shi Jiuniang each sent someone to bring back gifts. Wu Niang sent a small engraved silver round sachet, which exuded the faint fragrance of hibiscus. Patterned silk handkerchief. People in the Tang Dynasty, both Hu and Han, loved incense very much, and could not live without it in the house for a while. Although Liuli didn't care about incense on a daily basis, she couldn't help but hang the exquisite sachet on her body. Everyone commented on Shi Jiuniang. After seeing the handicrafts, Kang and Mi did not go back, and the women had a lively meal together.

Liuli glanced for a moment, pulled Kang and whispered, "Sister-in-law, when will the third brother go to the medicine shop in the West Market? I have something to ask the third brother for advice."

Kang asked curiously: "You mean that small drugstore? Sanlang won't go there easily. If you want to buy something, you might as well go to the Valerian store to find him. Today is the festival, and he should be in the store. You can ask him to take you Just go." He smiled and said, "My sister-in-law hasn't given you a gift today, so just pick whatever you like."

Liuli shook his head and smiled: "I'm not lacking anything. I really just want to ask Third Brother for advice."

 After lunch, a few people joked and laughed for a while before going back to prepare the melon and fruit offerings and begging boxes for the evening. Liuli took Xiaotan all the way to the West Market. It was the time when the sun was at its strongest, and there were still some shade trees on the streets. As soon as he entered the gate of the West Market, the heat wave hit his face along with the sound and the smell of powder, powder, and spices. Liuli was still choked until he felt dizzy. Xiao Tan covered her nose with one hand and fanned the wind with the other.

The two of them followed the shadow of the merchant's eaves and quickened their pace. They had just arrived at their Jiavalian shop. They wanted to say hello and then walked over, but shopkeeper Shi stepped out to greet them, "Madam, you're here just in time!"

Liuli couldn't help but be startled, and shopkeeper Shi said: "What a coincidence. There are guests who must see the aunt. I was just about to send the boy to find you."

Because of Mrs. Liu's incident, Liuli has been busy painting these days and has not interacted with customers much: why would anyone insist on looking for her? She couldn't help but frown, "Which guest is it? Do I know him?"

Shopkeeper Shi smiled and said, "It's that Pei Jiulang! I also told you that you would no longer draw patterns, but he said he had other things to do. I thought the aunt might meet him, so I didn't refuse it."

Liuli was shocked. Before she could say anything, Xiaotan had already shouted, "Isn't that Tiansha Lone Star not here for a long time? Why is he here today?"

Liuli glanced at Xiaotan expressionlessly, then said to the shopkeeper, "I'll go right away."

Xiaotan quietly stuck out her tongue and followed Liuli obediently to the backyard studio.

At first sight of Pei Xingjian standing next to the desk, Liuli felt a little dazed: he was still wearing a light-colored t-shirt that was not old, and his calm expression had not changed at all. If Mrs. Wu hadn't told Liuli clearly, she would have found it hard to believe that the man in front of her had experienced such an amazing experience in the past two months. She composed herself and smiled slightly, "Long time no see."

Pei Xingjian's eyes stayed on Liuli's face for a moment, and he smiled, "Pei should have come here a long time ago, but he just can't get away. How are you always, aunt?"

Liuli smiled and said, "Thank you." As she asked him to sit down, she told Xiao Tan to go outside and buy a pot of ice cream.

Pei Xingjian sat upright on the couch, silent for a moment, and suddenly bowed solemnly and saluted, "Thank you, ma'am."

Liuli hurriedly turned aside, thought for a while and said with a smile: "Pei Jun is too polite. I didn't do anything. I just asked Pei Jun to do me a favor. It is God's will that Pei Jun is able to have such an opportunity." It was the fate of Pei Xingjian. The words he said that time were returned to him intact.

Pei Xingjian couldn't help but be stunned. The two of them looked at me and I looked at you, and they couldn't help laughing at the same time. Pei Xingjian then asked, "I wonder when the aunt knew about this?"

Liuli smiled and said, "It's only been a few days. The person who asked me to draw the screen told me that the screen was given to the Holy Emperor, and then he talked about Mr. Pei." Pei Xingjian couldn't help but said: "I wonder if this person is... He glanced at Liuli and smiled apologetically, "Pei was abrupt."

Liuli nodded seriously, "It's indeed a bit abrupt."

Pei Xingjian glanced at Liuli in surprise, shook his head and smiled bitterly, and then said after a while: "Pei also found out a few days ago that it turned out that the screen was the cause of this encounter. He has been feeling uneasy these past few days..."

Liuli waved her hand and stopped what he was saying, "Pei Jun is overthinking. What happens is half of God's will and half of it is man-made. Liuli doesn't dare to covet God's merits, let alone have any intention of injustice. Just imagine, without Pei Did you solve my dilemma last time, or did you refuse to help me write the inscription because you cherish your identity? It is nothing more than the so-called good deeds. Pei Jun is kind and heroic. This encounter is just compensation from God. I hope it will happen in the future. There will be greater blessings.”

 In fact, when thinking about this incident, Liuli herself was a little confused. Naturally, General Pei would not always be an eighth- or ninth-grade Tsing Yi official, but why could she play a small role in his being appreciated by the emperor? Did she push history? Or can history be full of surprises?

Pei Xingjian looked at Liuli blankly, his eyes were extremely deep. After a while, he lowered his eyes and smiled and said, "Pei thinks he is not thin-skinned, but after hearing what my aunt said, he will be completely ashamed."

Liuli smiled and said, "How about we never mention this matter again?"

Pei Xingjian showed a rare look of helplessness: "If my aunt orders me in the future, Pei will definitely obey her orders."

Liu Li thought to herself: Can you help me get rid of the scourge of Mrs. Wei and Mrs. Yang? Thinking of Pei Xingjian's resourcefulness, he couldn't help but say in a serious tone, "To be honest, Liuli might actually ask Mr. Pei for help in coming up with an idea in a few days."

Pei Xingjian immediately said: "Now that Pei is in the palace for a long time, he will not be able to return home for a few days. But if you have something to do, please inform my concierge and he will think of something."

Liuli couldn't help but laugh when she thought of the old man who was the porter at his house, and he was half a housekeeper. He nodded and said, "Now that Mr. Pei is a close minister of the emperor, he will naturally be busier. I hope that Mr. Pei will be promoted step by step in the future."

Pei Xingjian smiled faintly and said, "Gao Sheng doesn't dare to hope too much, but Pei would rather go outside Chang'an to have a look."

Liuli couldn't help but be a little surprised. He wanted to go somewhere else? Aren't the people of Chang'an most proud of this majestic city, and regard being outcast as an exile? However, if he really doesn't want to be promoted, it seems that he will really get his wish in two years...

When Xiaotan delivered the buttermilk, Pei Xingjian asked casually: "Auntie, it seems like you haven't come to the store often in the past two months?"

Liuli glanced at him in surprise, and Pei Xingjian hurriedly said, "Just now I heard the shopkeeper mention it."

Liuli thought for a while and briefly explained the trouble he had caused after making peony valerian for Mrs. Wu. The more Pei Xingjian listened, the more solemn his face became. After a while, he said: "You should be more careful. It's best not to do it again." If you can’t refuse to make silk clothes for Mrs. Wu, you can even pretend to be sick to avoid it.”

Liuli sighed. She didn't want to cause trouble, but sometimes many things happened that she couldn't predict. After a long silence, she finally said: "I just did a few things a few days ago." And somehow, she still He caught the eye of Mrs. Yang.

Pei Xingjian looked at Liuli, his splayed eyebrows slowly wrinkled, "Do you have any relatives outside Chang'an?"

Liuli's heart sank, could it be so serious? After thinking for a moment and shaking his head, Pei Xingjian sighed, "You just said you might come to me if you have something to do, but are you just afraid of getting into trouble?"

Liuli nodded and said nothing. Pei Xingjian muttered: "If Madam doesn't mind the taboo, why don't you say you're sick at home these days, don't go out, and take a look first. Your father also often sends people to inquire if there is any movement. If there is really something difficult to solve, we must Remember to let me know.”

Liuli was startled: the first thing he said was what he planned to do, but the second thing reminded him. As for the third thing, if things really come to that point, he can only hope that this Zhiduoxing can give him more Got an idea.

Pei Xingjian lowered his head and thought for a moment, then gave Liuli a few words, then got up and left. Liuli stood in the yard for a long time, and finally picked up his energy and went out. When he said goodbye to shopkeeper Shi, he said, " If anyone asks me if I'm in the store these days, the shopkeeper will tell me that I'm not feeling well and haven't been here for a long time."

Shopkeeper Shi smiled and said, "I've written it down. People often asked me about it in the past few days, but no one has asked me these days." Liuli was startled and blurted out, "No one has asked about it today?" Shopkeeper Shi nodded. ,"nature."

Liuli looked at the street outside and was stunned for a long time. Finally, she turned around and walked towards the Lucky Valerian Shop she was going to today, but she didn't notice the hesitant expression on the face of Shopkeeper Shi next to her.

 (End of this chapter)