CH 225

Chapter 225: Seeing Cui Shao Xi

Li Ma understood and smiled, saying: “This old slave was confused.” She quickly instructed the maids.

After a while, Lian Fang Zhou finished her noodles and came to say goodbye to Fang Qing.

Fang Qing shook her hand and smiled: “I know you really can’t stay away from home, so I won’t keep you! We don’t need to talk about those unimportant things between our family. The weather will be warmer in the future, so don’t forget to come and see me again! Remember to bring Qing’er and the others!”

Lian Fang Zhou agreed, smiling.

She laughed and said: “I hired a carriage from the country town and said that I would go back later, so I should go! Cousin, take care!”

Fang Qing nodded: “Okay, you also be careful on the way!” Then she pointed to the things on the table and said: “These are just some ordinary things, since it was your intention to come visit! The flavors of the meat are not bad and were made by our family. There are also some Jiangnan side dishes that were only bought a few days ago, take them back and have a taste!”

After Lian Fang Zhou thanked her, Fang Qing asked Li Ma to lead her out.

Li Ma led Lian Fang Zhou to the gate and sent someone to bring out Qin Feng and Zhang Xiu’er.

When Lian Fang Zhou left the second door, Qin Feng and Xiu’er were already waiting and hurried to greet her.

“Miss Lian is eager to leave, this slave will pack everything away, Li Ma explained as the little servant at the entrance helped bring the gifts to the carriage.

Lian Fang Zhou nodded and said goodbye and the three of them left.

Because Lian Fang Zhou had said that she would leave the house at this time, the hired carriage was waiting at the entrance of the alley. There were a few food stalls nearby, so the coachman had a little to eat. Seeing Lian Fang Zhou and the others come out, he was feeling refreshed.

After putting the things inside the carriage, Lian Fang Zhou gave the servant a reward. The servant knew she was generous from last time and quickly thanked her, pleased.

When Lian Fang Zhou got on the carriage, she let the coachman drive back on his own. After they returned home and Lian Ze and Ah Jian came back, it would be good to prepare for New Years and take a good rest.

On the road, Lian Fang Zhou, Qin Feng, and Zhang Xiu’er chatted and exchanged gossip. Once they got out of Shuangliu county, their speed picked up.

Unexpectedly, they had only gone seven or eight miles where there was the sound of hoofbeats coming form behind them and someone was calling out “Miss Lian, Miss Lian!”

Zhang Xiu’er said ‘huh’ as she straightened up and listened, wondering: “Miss, is this person calling you?”

Qin Feng heard this and added: “The man is calling ‘Miss Lian’, maybe he really is looking for the Miss? Could he be from the Su residence?”

From the Su residence? Where were the people from the Su residence!

Lian Fang Zhou only felt that her head ached. This was clearly the voice of Cui Shao Xi! Why was this guy here too?

The sound of the horse’s hoofbeats were getting closer and the voice was becoming clearer and clearer. Lian Fang Zhou could no longer pretend that she didn’t hear it so she asked the coachman to pull over and stop the carriage.

“With a clatter, the handsome man riding the house, wearing traditional clothing and a fur lined cloak, stopped the horse and leaned towards the carriage window, smiling: “Fang Zhou, is that you?”

Lian Fang Zhou lifted the curtain and nodded, smiling: “It’s Young Master Cui, what are you calling me for?”

Cui Shao Xi could be regarded as Qin Feng’s benefactor so Qin Feng hurriedly got up to salute him: “Young Master Cui!”

Cui Shao Xi only spared him a glance, nodding, before focusing on Lian Fang Zhou. His handsome eyebrows raised, and his long, narrow peace-blossom eyes gleamed so bright, they were hard to look at.

He said unhappily: “Fang Zhou, you are really something! Why did you come and leave so quickly? Fortunately, I heard about it from my cousin when I returned to the house. Otherwise, if it was later, wouldn’t I have to go to Yuhe county to catch up with you!”

He complained but his handsome face was smiling.

Lian Fang Zhou smiled patiently: “I have some matters at home, so I can’t delay! Why haven’t you gone home yet?”

Cui Shao Xi smiled and said: “I went home yesterday but the family was so boring! I brought my grandparents a New Years gift so I could come visit yesterday. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to run into you like this! It’s not a few days away from the New Year, why are you so eager to go back? Stay for a few more days!”

Lian Fang Zhou shook her head and said: “My younger siblings are all busy, I can’t leave my house!” She gave him an impatient smile: “I have to hurry. It’s hard for you to leave the city to see me off, you go back quickly!”

“I—” Cui Shao Xi looked at her eagerly, trying to say something, but then he glanced at Qin Feng and Zhang Xiu’er. It was inconvenient to say it and he was too embarrassed to ask Lian Fang Zhou to leave the carriage. Still, letting her leave like this, he felt unhappy! He smiled and said: “I am not going home until tomorrow. If there is nothing, I will see you home!”

Ciu Yi, who had followed him with a bitter face, was startled and shouted: “Young Master!”

Cui Shao Xi turned around and glared at him, shouting in a low voice: “Shut up! Go back and explain to my grandparents and cousin. Tell them I’m going to visit a friend and I will be back home tomorrow! Go! Fang Zhou is not an outsider, so you don’t need to follow!”

“My lord, no! My master and mistress will kill this slave!” Cui Yi cried anxiously, looking at Lian Fang Zhou imploringly.

Lian Fang Zhou rolled her eyes secretly, wondering: how am I not an outsider? What you said is really illogical!

There was no need for Cui Yi to plead, Lian Fang Zhou would not let Cui Shao Xi follow her on a whim. Her face sank slightly and she said unceremoniously: “No! No one in our family has the time to entertain you! You are still old! Go back honestly, don’t follow along and make trouble!”

“Yes, yes, Young Master, let’s go back first! Why are you trying to join in the excitement in this cold weather? Let’s go back!” Cui Yi wanted to reach out and pull Cui Shao Xi but he didn’t dare.

“Fang Zhou…” Cui Shao Xi gave her a two-point aggrieved, one point distinguished, look: “I, I want to visit your house…”

Lian Fang Zhou was a little bit troubled. Cui Shao Xi had helped her, so she couldn’t treat him badly but who told him not to listen to her?

She softened her face and spoke gently: “Young Master Cui, I don’t mean anything else. On such a cold day, you’ve run out like this! If you catch a cold, you will feel miserable during the New Year! Visit? If you want to visit, you should wait until the spring flowers bloom next year to come!”

Only then did Cui Shao Xi’s face brighten with a smile: “I knew that you, Fang Zhou, wouldn’t treat me like that! Okay, I will see you in a while! By the way, you bought some people earlier, I don’t know if they are enough? Are those people still disciplined? How about I go and help you find ten good ones to send over?”

Lian Fang Zhou felt warm and smiled: “I have already bought ten or so and they are all honest!”

Cui Shao Xi heard that she had bought some more honest people and showed a look of disbelief.

Lian Fang Zhou sighed silently, thinking that he really was a noble son from a wealthy family. He had seen so much of the so-called ‘worship of the high and trampling of the low’ and the ‘slave deceiving the lord’. If someone had no parents, no foundation, no age to generate respect or aid, how could newly bought slaves be obedient?

Seeing his expression, she was not surprised.