Mrs. Lu was not feeling well, so after sitting for more than half an hour, she said she was tired. She repeatedly apologized and went to the back with Old Mrs. Lin to rest and chat. Song came over to greet everyone and said that the men outside were eating and drinking, and she had to go take care of them, so she also toasted three cups and apologized before leaving. Only Lin Yuzhen, Lu Yun, mother and daughter, and several young ladies from the Lu family remained to entertain the guests.

  Several young ladies from the Lu family and those from the Lin family gathered together, chatting and laughing. Meanwhile, Lin Yuzhen was having a hushed conversation with her relatives. After drinking several cups of wine, she became more and more excited, talking about several things, such as how Lu Xiang had drawn a good lot before the exam, had good dreams, and had known all along that he would pass, and so on, revealing her pride and satisfaction without any reserve.

  Luoshi listened with great interest and occasionally asked a question or two, leading Lin Yuzhen to continue speaking.

  Lin San Shao didn't do well on the exam, and Madame Zhou didn't want to hear about it. She changed the subject: "It's still better for you as a daughter-in-law, your second sister-in-law takes care of everything, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the peace."

  Lu said with a hint of sarcasm: "If elder sister-in-law is tired, I can also help. Otherwise, you'll say again that I'm lazy and don't want to help you." Zhou pretended not to hear.

  Lin Yuzhen smiled slightly: "I've lived outside for so many years, I'm used to being free and easy, I don't bother with these trivial matters. She's been at home all these years, she's done all these trivial things until they're second nature to her, since she likes it, wants to do it, and wants to make a name for herself, just let her do it. I couldn't possibly stop her from doing what she can."

  As a result, this remark offended two people at once. Mrs. Chou felt that she was being sarcastically referred to as someone who only handled trivial matters.

  Lu felt she was better than Xing herself, and for a moment both people were somewhat embarrassed and couldn't find anything to say next.

  Taoshi himself didn't know when he had misspoken and offended someone, but this time he understood clearly. He couldn't help but laugh out loud "Ha!" and applaud, saying: "This performer is great, sings well, where did you invite him from? I don't know if his family has any other engagements, if not, I'll invite him to Qingzhou, to celebrate my mother's sister's birthday!" Lin Yuzhen, taking advantage of the wine, hastily said: "You can't invite him! I've already arranged it, he will come again in two days to sing!"

  "What a pity!" Mrs. Tao said with a smile, "The Wu family is also on that day, I thought they would invite us too. Auntie, I'll go to the Wu's house that day, but I came here instead." She saw Lin Yuzhen's arrogant attitude and deliberately mentioned Wu Xiang to provoke her.

  Lin Yuzhen's face didn't show any signs of being stimulated, but instead looked thoughtful and said: "His family is also on that day? How come I haven't heard about it? I was even planning to go there in person to congratulate them that day."

  Lu finally found a way to respond: "You're mistaken, Third Brother and Sister Wu are getting married tomorrow."

  "Ah, I must have remembered it wrong." Then he flattered Wu Xiang a few more times.

  Lin Yu Zhen surprisingly chimed in with praise: "That child is indeed quite good. Really good, really rare."

  Taoist lost interest and lazily turned back to watch the play.

  Luoshi and Lin Yuzhen whispered together, talking happily, both with smiling faces.

  Zhou sat down beside Tao, poured a cup of lychee wine for him, and smiled: "Third brother and sister, I have something to ask you, did you hear anything about Mr. Zhu when you were in the village?"

  "What's wrong?" Tao asked in surprise.

  Zhou smiled slightly: "I heard that many of Mr. Zhu's students have passed the imperial examination, is that true?"

  "Is that so? Isn't your nephew from your mother's side under his tutelage? Lu Xian also studied with him for a period of time. Why come ask me instead?"

  Zhou smiled wryly and glanced at Lin Jianrong and Lin Jianyin, who were huddled together whispering to each other. She said in a low voice, "Do you have any idea about what's going on with A Rong?" Why are you suddenly concerned about this? Tao gave Zhou a sideways glance and smiled casually, "She still has her fifth brother, no rush. By the way, what do you plan to do about Fifth Miss? Have you thought it through?"

  Zhou's face flashed with determination as he said in a low voice, "Alright. Just wait for Yizhi and A Rong to settle down here, I'll take care of her."

  Tao's wife was startled and laughed in a low voice: "Who is it? So fast? Eldest sister really does things without revealing her true intentions."

  Zhou smiled slightly and said in a low voice, "It's similar to what happened with your family's A Yin. It hasn't been decided yet." I'm telling you this, but don't go spreading it around, or I'll come looking for trouble. Tao was shocked again - could she just give up on Lu Xie like that? Just the other day, she was fighting tooth and nail with the second wife over him, so how could things change so suddenly? She didn't dare ask directly, so she probed cautiously, "I thought..."

  "Zhou said seriously: 'Why? Don't listen to nonsense.'"

  Tao looked at Zhou's appearance, then glanced at Luo and Lin Yuzhen who were getting along well, as well as Lu Yun and Lin Liu who were chatting and laughing together. Suddenly, she realized that she had lost and had to settle for second best. So, she felt a little smug, thinking that fortunately her family had never had such thoughts. Lin Jirong also had no experience with such lively scenes, otherwise he would be very embarrassed now. She also thought disdainfully that only someone like Luo, who was two-faced, could match Lin Yuzhen's taste.

  Before long, Lin Dajie, who was getting bored, sent someone in to ask if everyone wanted to leave. The crowd felt that it wasn't interesting anymore and had someone go invite Old Lady Lin. The whole family then left in a big group.

  As they approached the second gate, someone coughed heavily. Lin Jinrong turned her head and saw Lu Lun standing in a small pavilion by the side of the road, holding onto Lu Xiu with one hand and smiling at her. Indeed, just as Lin Wu had said, Lu Lun was dark-skinned, fat, and short, his forehead gleaming brightly from being sunburned.

  Lu Duan still looked pale and weak, wrapped in a jacket, like a bean sprout, with no energy, tightly clinging to Lu Yun, staring at the crowd with a pair of eyes that had no sparkle, his face expressionless.

  Lin Yuzhen was half drunk and in high spirits, so she said: "You two, just standing there smiling foolishly, haven't you come to pay respects and greet your elders?"

  Lu Duan seemed to shrink back, but Lu Lun was overjoyed at the sound. He grabbed Lu Duan's collar with one hand and dragged him over, making him bow neatly to everyone. Taking advantage of the adults' farewell, he slipped over to stand beside the girls, gazing at Lin Jingrong with a smile: "Fourth sister, long time no see! Why haven't you come to my house to play for so long? I saw little Seventh Brother outside earlier, and he's not as fun as last year. When I gave him a cicada, he even sneaked glances at the adults' faces."

  Lin Qi sneered, "Little Seventh is now enlightened, writing and reading books. Who still dares to remember the cicada? Unlike some people, fourteen years old, still single-mindedly remembering the cicada, climbing high and low every day, neglecting their duties, afraid that they can't even finish one book."

  Lu Xian's eyes flashed with a hint of annoyance, and she glared at Lin Qi with disgust. She clenched her black fist menacingly and warned: "Scram, short and fat white girl! Don't come over here to provoke me! Or I'll beat you into a pig head!"

  Lin Wubao burst out laughing. Lin Qi was furious, stomping her foot and saying, "You're dead, you black fatty, you dwarf! How dare you say I'm short? You're the one who's a pig head, a hairless black pig head! Look at you, you're only one year older than my fourth sister, and you're just as tall as her. Aren't you ashamed?"

  Lu Xun carefully measured Lin Jinyong, walked to her side and compared with her, seriously saying: "Indeed, she is taller than me. But she's a girl, now growing up a bit faster is normal, then she won't grow anymore, until I grow, what's the big deal!"

  Lin Wu blinked his eyes and stared at Lin Jianrong and Lu Xun, suddenly saying: "Lu Wuge", didn't you say last time that you had something to give to my fourth sister?

  Lu Xun rolled her eyes: "It's just a bird, it's been dead for a long time. What else can you do with it? It's all your fault, you never came. Otherwise, the bird would have landed in your hands and might not have died." And then she blamed Lin Wu: "I told you to bring it back for her, but you didn't want to. Now you're talking about it again?"

  "Thanks for your concern, Fifth Brother. I've been quite busy lately." "After I returned from the Zhuangzi, my mother said I'm grown up and won't let me run around anymore." Lin Jinrong slightly broke out in a cold sweat and hid behind Lin Jinyan. Lu Xun seemed to be several years younger than others in some ways, treating her like a childhood playmate, but in other people's eyes, it would probably give rise to other thoughts.

  Lu Xuan disappointingly rubbed his head: "They say growing up is no fun at all. I'm out of here!" He then turned around decisively, carrying Lu Xian and left without looking back.

  Not far away, Lu Xun playfully threw something into Lu Yan's collar, and Lu Yan let out a sharp cry, frantically chasing and hitting Lu Xun. Lu Xun laughed loudly and ran towards the depths of the garden. Lu Yan was like a thin tail, shaking and swaying as he chased after him, and in an instant, the two people disappeared from view.

  Is that how it ends? Watching the backs of Lu Xun and Lu Mian, then looking at Lin Wu's face with a hint of hidden thoughts, Lin Liu's eyebrows and eyes with a subtle smile, Lin Qi's face full of spoiled willfulness... Suddenly, Lin Jian felt far, far away from these childhood companions. She was standing here, but she could never go back to the past. Even those carefree and happy days in the countryside, were for her, stolen moments, an unaffordable luxury.

  On the way back, Lin Wu and Lin Jianrong sat in a car together. As they got closer, Lin Jianrong suddenly smelled a strong smell of wine on her body. She thought to herself that she had drunk quite a bit but didn't have this smell, so she said: "Fifth sister, did you spill wine all over your body?"

  But Lin Wu suddenly glared at her with red eyes and said, "What business is it of yours?"

  Lin Jinyong furrowed his brow and turned away, ignoring her.

  Lin Wu sat for a moment, and then suddenly buried her face in the seat and started sobbing. Lin Jin-yin hastily persuaded: "Fifth sister, what's wrong with you? If there's something on your mind, just say it. Crying like this will be heard by outsiders, who knows what they'll think."

  Lin Wu covered his face and cried stubbornly.

  Lin Jinyong guessed that she probably knew that things didn't work out with Lu Xianyao, so she was heartbroken and used the wine to pretend to be crazy. She ignored her and only called Lin Wuyi's maid: "You come in and see what's wrong with your young lady? We haven't provoked her."

  Niū jiàn zài chē wài tīng dé qīng chǔ, máng jìn lái fú zhù lín wǔ de jiān bǎng, xiǎo shēng qiào dào: "Gū niáng kuài bié kū le, wài miàn tiān tīng jiàn le, yī bó xīn gěi tài tài zhī dào."

  Translation:

  Niu Jian heard it clearly outside the car and hurried in to hold Lin Wu's shoulder, softly advising: "Miss, don't cry anymore, someone outside has already heard, and will tell Madam.

  Lin Wu suddenly waved her hand away and cried even more sorrowfully.

  Lin Jian watched with a cold eye, thinking to himself, he had just walked out of the fire pit, and yet he thought he had jumped over it?

  One

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  I have something to do in Kunming and will be back around the sixth day of the new year. These days I can only ensure continuous updates, but adding more is not very realistic, after all, we need to guarantee quality first. However, once I'm back, I'll make up for it, so don't hesitate to vote with your powder tickets, feel free to vote if you want to, and I'll be very motivated, hehe.

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