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  Summer arrived and asked who had come. The person also couldn't make it clear, and hastily walked away.

  Several children looked at each other in dismay, unable to think of who had come to their home.

  "Let's go back and take a look first." Xia Zhi thought for a moment, then said, "We can always go to the market later, what if something happens at home?"

  Xiao Hei Yu and Lai Yue nodded. They walked back, hitched a ride halfway, and returned to Daxingzhuang when the time was still early. At the entrance of the backyard, a sedan chair was indeed parked. The car had been unloaded, and the big green mule that pulled the car was tied up beside it, eating fodder with its head down.

  "It's your aunt coming!" Little Black Fish exclaimed with surprise, as he had recognized the car as belonging to Aunt Xia's family at a glance. It was still early for the holiday, and Aunt Xia returned at this time without prior notice, which was quite sudden, so when they heard that someone had arrived home, no one thought it would be Aunt Xia.

  Summer solstice will return home to put the basket.

  Tian Shi, Xia Qiao and Xiao Shu Er are all here.

  "Back already? How much did you sell the flowers for?" Tian asked Xia Zhi, her hands stitching the shoe soles, no longer working on that skirt.

  "It's enough for a few days." Xia Zhi replied simply, "My aunt is coming to the backyard, shall we go and take a look?"

  Tian's family saw that Xia Zhi was unwilling to tell her how much money she had made, so she felt resentful. When she heard Xia Zhi mention Xia Dagu, she snorted coldly: "If you're coming, just come. I'm the elder sister-in-law, it's up to her to visit me, not for me to go see her."

  Tian knew Xia Dagu had arrived, and not only did he not go to see her, but he also blocked Xiaqiao and Xiaoshu from going over.

  Xia Zhi felt that Tian Shi was being unreasonable. "A distant guest is a guest, Mother, why must you worry about who comes and goes? You say it's my sister-in-law, but if she doesn't go, then at least let my brother and Xiao Shu'er go over to talk."

  "You're calling her 'Big Aunt' so intimately, what's your relationship with her?" Tian Shi gave Xia Zhi a sideways glance.

  Xia Zhi didn't even bother talking to her anymore, she only asked Xia Qiao: "Big brother, I'm going over, are you going or not?"

  Xiaqiao looked at Tian Shi, but Tian Shi turned her head and ignored him. This attitude was still okay, at least she didn't openly stop him from going. Xiaqiao hesitated for a moment, then said he wanted to go with Xia Zhi together. "I'll just say something and come back," he said to Tian Shi.

  "You've all made up your minds, you can do whatever you want, no need to ask me!" Tian said with a cold smile.

  Xiaqiao followed Xia Zhi out, and turned back to glance at Tian Shi with a look that still seemed to be under a lot of pressure. Xiao Shu'er didn't seem to have any pressure on her at all, happily trailing behind Xia Zhi.

  A young boy stood at the back door, watching a big donkey eat fodder. The boy looked like he was fourteen or fifteen years old, wearing a set of purple Hangzhou silk pants and jacket, with long eyebrows and fine eyes, his face pale, and he was tall and thin.

  He raised his head and saw Xia Zhi and a few others. A smile appeared on his face: "Daqiao, Sixteen, Xiaoshu."

  "Brother Changsheng." Xia Qiao hastily called out.

  Xia Zhi and Xiao Shu'er also followed suit, shouting "Longsheng Ge". It turned out that this young man was the son of Xia Dagu, named Guo Longsheng. Guo Longsheng is 15 years old this year, and every time Xia Dagu returns to her maiden home, he follows along.

  "Brother Changsheng, did you hurry over by carriage? I'll watch the livestock for you, go inside and rest." Xiaqiao said to Guo Changsheng.

  "It was I who drove the car, there's something at home that can't be left unattended, your great uncle didn't come... The livestock doesn't need to be specially watched, I just came out to take a look. Let's go inside and talk. Your great aunt will definitely be happy to see you." Guo Changsheng said, leading everyone into the courtyard.

  Guo Changsheng smiled somewhat shyly and got along quite well with Xia Qiao.

  Upstairs, Mr. and Mrs. Xia were chatting with Eldest Aunt Xia, while Little Black was leaning against her chest, giggling with glee.

  Several children came in, and Aunt Xia was visibly surprised, but also very happy. The children called out to their aunt and then each found a place to sit.

  "The big bridge and little trees have all grown taller. Sixteen is becoming more and more agile." Xia Dagu said with a smile, sizing up the several children.

  "How are Aunt and Uncle doing?" Xia Qiao sat up straight on the ground, asking about Xia's aunt and Guo's uncle. "I heard from Zhang Sheng that Uncle had something important to attend to."

  "My husband and I are both doing well," Xia Dagu replied with a smile. "There's something going on at the shop, he really can't leave. I reckon he won't be able to come back for the holiday, so I came back early to take a look."

  It means there's something important at home and they won't be able to come back for the holiday, so she took her son back to her hometown ahead of time to pay a visit.

  Xia Dagu didn't say what was going on at home, and Xia Qiao didn't ask in detail. Taking advantage of the gap in conversation, Xia Zhi carefully observed Xia Dagu from the side. Xia Dagu, who was over 30 years old, had fair skin, big eyes, black and dense hair, a tall and plump figure, and it was obvious that she must have been a beauty when she was young.

  Not to mention when she was young, even now she is still a beautiful woman.

  Her voice is very gentle, and some expressions and actions are similar to those of Old Lady Xia.

  Xiao Hei Yu saw Xia Zhi coming and invited him to sit on the kang. Summer Big Sister was talking to Xia Qiao, but she couldn't help glancing at Xia Zhi twice.

  "Sixteen and Little Dragon are like two peas in a pod." Old Lady Xia said with a smile.

  Xia Dagu smiled at Xia Zhi, her smile growing warmer and more sincere. "I think sixteen seems to have changed a bit, she was good-looking before, now she's even more attractive."

  Sitting on the upper kang, he suddenly realized that there was another person sitting beside Xia Dagou.

  She was a clean and tidy little girl, with big eyes, wearing a pink embroidered jacket and skirt, sitting quietly there. She didn't make a sound, just now she had been blocked by the small black fish, so Xia Zhi hadn't seen her.

  "Zhenzhu, don't call anyone yet." Xia Dagu said to the little girl.

  Xia Dagu married into the Guo family and gave birth to a son and a daughter. This is her youngest daughter, nicknamed Pearl, who is only eleven years old this year. Guo Pearl looked at Xia Dagu and hesitantly called out "brother" and "sister", with a sweet voice.

  Xia Dagu's daughter is spoiled, you can tell by her name, she's really treated like a precious gem.

  "Zhenzhu, go and play with your uncle and fourth sister." Xia Dagu instructed her daughter, then politely asked about the Tian family.

  Xiaqiao and Xia Zhi both said that Tian's family was very good. So Xia Dagu didn't ask much more.

  It was at this time that Xia Ershu's family and Xia Sanshu's family also came over to meet with Xia Dagou and chat. Old Lady Xia got down from the kang, and together with Xia Sanxie began preparing food.

  The more people in the house, the more impatient Guo Zhenzhu's face became.

  "Let's go out and have some fun, Pearl," Xia Zhi suggested. Xia Dagu, who was watching from the side, saw that her daughter was getting tired of the crowd and also suggested letting her go out for a stroll.

  Guo Zhenzhu seemed to have thought for a moment, then looked down at her skirt and shook her head at Xia Dagou. She didn't want to go anywhere. Xia Zhi figured it out, the little girl was not only shy, but also disliked the dirtiness of the countryside, so she would only sit with her mother on the kang.

  There were many people in the house, and when summer arrived, they came out of the upper house and stood at the gate.

  In May and July, the effort also came out to see Xia Zhi at the gate, and two people followed him to stand beside Xia Zhi. The two sisters whispered about Guo Zhenzhu's dress.

  "...the golden hairpin on her head hadn't been returned during Chinese New Year, it should be newly bought."

  "The dress she was wearing was made of embroidered silk, which couldn't be found in the town. Last time I heard Juanzi sister say that making a set of clothes would cost several taels of silver..."

  The two sisters discussed for a while, and May asked Xia Zhi: "Xia Shi Liu, has Pearl spoken to you?"

  "I already said so." Xia Zhi replied.

  "Zhenzhu didn't even bother with us. Alas, we can't compare to Fourth Sister, she's the apple of Grandma and Grandpa's eye now." July said indignantly.

  Old Man Xia wanted to teach his second son a lesson, but in the end he couldn't bear to see his son and granddaughter looking so worried all day. It only took one day for him to tell Summer Second Uncle that everything was fine again. With Tian Lai Bao returning to the capital, things gradually calmed down. Although May and July still didn't go out much in the fifth and seventh months, they had already regained their lively spirit at home.

  Some things, the two sisters felt were not enough even when they said it themselves, so they thought about telling Xia Zhi, trying to get Xia Zhi's alliance. Xia Xiucai and Xia Ershu are siblings with the same mother, in their opinion, on some matters, they and Xia Zhi are natural allies.

  Xia Dagu is not the biological daughter of Xia Lao Yezi, but was brought to the Xia family by Xia Laotaitai. She came to the Xia family at the age of six or seven and was raised there for ten years. Through the introduction of her relatives on her father's side, she married Guo Gufu, who ran a grocery store in the county town.

  The Guo family was an old household in the city, and for generations they had run a small grocery store, making them a very ordinary family in the city.

  Xia Dagu was not only good-looking, but also very skilled at dealing with people. After marrying into the Guo family, their small grocery store's business got better and better, and in the past two years, they even expanded the storefront, earning over 100 taels of silver per year. Because of this, Xia Dagu also gained a reputation for being a lucky wife.

  It can be said that the Guo family's life has only prospered in recent years, and they are considered a relatively well-off family in the prefectural city. In the eyes of the villagers, the Guo family's food, clothing, and expenses are quite impressive.

  May and July looked at Pearl's dress and felt a little envious, so they came out to talk to Xia Zhi about these things.

  Xia Zhi also felt that Pearl was not a gentle and kind person, but she couldn't agree with the sarcastic remarks about May and July. So, she simply said: "She just greeted me. She's not familiar with us, and she's not a talkative person anyway. What are you guys babbling about 'red people' for? Are you dissatisfied with her or with me?"

  May and July both knew that the Tian family's affairs had subsided, thanks to Xia Zhi's efforts. Moreover, these two sisters secretly admired Xia Zhi in their hearts.

  "Don't worry, Sixteen. We wouldn't have any opinions about you." May hurriedly said, "You must have noticed, Pearl looks down on us."

  "Say a few less words, you think too much." Xia Zhi glanced at Wu Yue.

  In July, he turned his head and saw Changsheng and Xiaqiao walking over, so he hastily pulled on Wu Yue's sleeve. Wu Yue understood, and immediately changed the subject.

  "What are you guys doing standing here?" Xia Qiao walked up to them and asked.

  "There are many people in the house, let's go out and let my grandfather and eldest aunt talk. " May immediately smiled and asked Guo Changsheng, "Brother Changsheng, don't you feel stuffy in the house? Let's sit here, it's bright and cool."

  Facing Guo Changsheng, Wu Yue's cleverness and ability to handle affairs were revealed in May.

  Inside the old Xia family's gate, there are two large gate piers with paintings of a bountiful harvest. Over time, they have become somewhat blurred. However, sitting under them to enjoy the cool air is still very comfortable.

  Xiaqiao accompanied Changsheng, and everyone sat together on the stone pier under the gate.

  In May, she chattered with Changsheng, first saying that Changsheng had worked hard and asking what time he had left in the morning. Then she asked about Uncle Guo. Because Uncle Guo was busy with the goods in the shop and couldn't come to Daxingzhuang, Wu Yue naturally asked about the business of Guo's grocery store, and gradually involved the daily life of the Guo family.

  It's even more rigorous than checking the household registration. Xia Zhi took a look at Wu Yue and felt that although she was young, she already possessed the skills of seven aunts and eight aunts.

  Changsheng is quite honest, and from his words, Xia Zhi also understood some things, such as Changsheng having studied since childhood, but not doing well. Guo Shu sent him to study without expecting him to take the imperial examination, just so he could recognize more characters, understand literature, and later take over the grocery store and be able to keep accounts.

  Changsheng's calculations have been going well, and he has also started helping his father with the grocery store business.

  Talking about the grocery store, it's inevitable to bring up some human relationships and daily necessities. As May listened, her eyes became brighter and brighter. She was talking to Changsheng on one side, while instructing Qiyue beside her: "Go get that new red cushion we made at home, and put it under Changsheng for him to sit on, so he won't catch a chill."

  July also loved to listen to Guo Changsheng talk, so she didn't want to move. May quietly pinched her arm and glared at her with a sideways glance. July reluctantly got up and left, but came back after a while, carrying a small cushion made of peach-red floral fabric.

  This fabric looks familiar to me in summer.

  In May, busy getting up, took the cushion from her sister and handed it to Guo Changsheng. "Brother Changsheng, look at how careless we are. This cushion is new, Brother Changsheng don't dislike it."

  Guo Changsheng was not as particular as his sister, but when May brought the cushion in front of him, he hastily stood up and said no. "May, you use it yourself. I don't need it."

  "Brother Changsheng is still being polite to me." In May laughed and exerted herself, she bent down and put the cushion on the stone pedestal for Changsheng. Because she was standing very close to Changsheng and he wasn't on guard, when she bent down, she almost fell into his arms. Fortunately, she quickly stood up again, but Changsheng's face still turned bright red.

  Next, in May, when he asked him what was going on, he became somewhat evasive. May just giggled non-stop, very happy, occasionally glancing at Changsheng from under her eyelids, making the young man even more flustered.

  Xia Zhi felt that the atmosphere was a bit off, and she also felt a little uneasy. She stood up and said something to Chang Sheng before walking out of the gate. As soon as she walked out, Xia Zhi saw a head on top of her own wall, which suddenly withdrew.

  (。)