Wealth and glory seek stability

"What are you doing at my house?" Shen Nanxing and Lei Zi just arrived at the entrance of the alley.

Jian Xi didn't understand why Shen Nanxing had such strong malice towards Gao Yunhuai, so she stepped forward to explain, "Brother Gao is here to thank us. We saved Aunt Gao yesterday, and he even brought gifts today. Come in quickly, don't stand at the door, the neighbors will come out soon."

Shen Nanxing has a loud voice and he was talking at the entrance of the alley, which had already attracted a few curious people.

Shen Nanxing came in and looked at Gao Yunhuai with a frown, then turned to Lei Zi with a friendly expression, "Lei Zi, I'll need you to take care of the family in the future."

Lei Zi was always smart. He noticed that the atmosphere was not right and said loudly, "Of course, of course."

"The gift has been delivered, why don't you go back?"

"Brother, why are you like this? It's lunch time now and Brother Gao hasn't eaten yet. I just made some dumplings. You can bring some to Aunt Gao. She's not feeling well. These dumplings are filled with mutton, which is just the right amount of warming tonic." Jian Xi tugged at Shen Nanxing's sleeve, looking puzzled.

Shen Nanxing is not an unreasonable person usually, but he was too rude today.

Jian Xi went to the kitchen to get some oil paper bags, wrapped some boiled dumplings and some steamed dumplings, and gave them to Gao Yunhuai.

"Brother Shen, it seems that there are some misunderstandings about me. I don't know if Gao has done anything wrong. I hope Brother Shen can explain it to me."

Shen Nanxing folded his hands over his chest, turned his head away and said nothing.

Gao Yunhuai was confused. After thinking carefully, he realized that he had never seen Shen Nanxing before.

"Brother Gao, the dumplings are ready. Take them home and eat them while they're hot. I don't have any extra bowls and chopsticks at home, so I won't keep you for dinner."

Gao Yunhuai has outstanding looks and a temperament like pine and cypress, but he is young after all. Although Jian Xi admires him, she has no other thoughts about him. Compared with the two, her adopted brother is more important.

Gao Yunhuai took the oil paper bag from Jian Xi's hand, said a few polite words and left.

As soon as he walked out of the door, Shen Nanxing closed it with a bang.

Gao Yunhuai:......

This was the first time he met someone like Shen Nanxing who avoided him like the plague. He was not ugly and had achieved fame, so although he was not loved by everyone, he was not as disliked as he was today.

And Jian Xi also kept chasing him away. Could it be that his charm has really declined?

Gao Yunhuai carried the dumplings home. Mrs. Gao was watering the flowers and plants. Seeing her son's frustrated face, she couldn't help but be curious, "Yunhuai, didn't you go out to give gifts? Why do you look so bad?"

Gao Yunhuai handed the dumplings to Zhu'er, "This is a return gift from the Shen brothers and sisters. They said they made it by hand. Take it to the kitchen to heat it up and ask Mama Liu to prepare the sauce. My mother and I will eat it later."

"Yes."

After Zhu'er left, Gao Yunhuai expressed his doubts, "Mother, I don't understand. This is just the first time I met the Shen brothers, and he spoke harshly to me, as if we had some deep hatred. Did we have any enemies before?"

Mrs. Gao thought for a moment, "We have never met a family with the surname Shen in our hometown before. What is the name of that girl? She looks very familiar to me. I have been thinking about it since I came back yesterday, but I still can't figure it out."

Gao Yunhuai had already found out Jian Xi's identity when he came back yesterday. "Her name is Jian Xi. She was sold to the Wu'an Palace in the capital a few months ago to serve the Madam, Princess Yongming. As for the money to buy the house, it should have been given by Shen Nanxing."

A ten-year-old girl definitely did not have the money to buy a house in the capital. She looked for someone she knew and learned that Shen Nanxing had just wiped out a group of bandits some time ago and had some money.

Mrs. Gao kept murmuring the word "Jian Xi".

"Jane...Jane..."

Sudden.

His eyes sparkled, "Oh, right! I remember now, Jian Xi's father's name is Jian Yu, right?"

Gao Yunhuai didn't know what his mother was thinking, so he told her what he had found out. "I didn't find out that, but the surname Jian is really rare. She and her brother were sold by her stepmother. Their ancestral home is in Jiangnan."

Madam Gao clapped her hands, making a crisp sound. "Jiangnan's words are correct. Your father arranged a marriage for you when you were a child. The family's surname is Jian. They have an only daughter named Jian Xi. You didn't go to their house when you were studying, but your father and I have been there.

Xier looks exactly like her mother, both are beauties. I was wondering why she looked so familiar. Your father passed away a few years ago, and I was busy dealing with it. I sold my property to support your studies. I heard that the wife of that family had a difficult childbirth, so her father married a second wife. I had thought that after you passed the imperial examination this time, I would take you back to my hometown and marry that girl.

"Mother, she is only a few years old, how can I marry her!" Gao Yunhuai interrupted quickly.

Madam Gao ignored her and spoke earnestly, "Son, this child marriage was your father's idea. I also know why the Shen family kid treated us like this. He is Jian Yu's adopted son. I met him when I went to Jian's house the other day. The child has grown up so much. If it were you, you would do the same. We didn't help them when they were in trouble. Now they are living a good life. If we stick to them, they will definitely think we are powerful."

"But..." Gao Yunhuai wanted to say something else.

All the explanations seemed a little pale and powerless. He was not a child and knew what fate a woman would face after being sold. With a beauty like Jian Xi, if she wasn't lucky, her life would probably be ruined.

"Don't say any more. I know everything. Your father admired Jian Yu's talent and thought that he would pass the imperial examination one day, so he arranged this marriage for you. We can't do such a thing as flattering others when they are doing well and ignoring them when they are not. When you pass the imperial examination this time, I will find a way to redeem Xi'er and you can marry her. That girl is just like her mother, kind-hearted and has good character."

Gao Yunhuai now knew the reason for the matter, and he couldn't say a word to refuse. They really owed the Jian family too much. He had not thought of getting married so early, but both morally and emotionally, he should shoulder this responsibility.

He had a hunch that Jian Xi was not someone who would follow the rules.

"I will listen to you, mother. However, I still need to ask the girl about her own wishes. If she insists on not wanting to marry, I hope you won't force her."

Mrs. Gao took out a handkerchief and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and said angrily: "What are you talking about? It's the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words. You'd better keep today's words in your stomach. You are not allowed to tell Xier until you pass the imperial examination." Mrs. Gao knew her son very well. On the surface, he looked handsome and elegant, but at heart he was a mean guy. Once he wanted to do something, he would do any dirty tricks.

"Yes, I understand." Gao Yunhuai originally wanted to confess to Jian Xi and then have Jian Xi reject the marriage proposal, but he didn't expect that his mother would block his way out with just one word.

"You are going to Beijing to take the exam this time. I originally wanted you to come a year in advance so that you could get familiar with the environment. I didn't expect that Xier and his sister would encounter such a big change. If we were here, I would protect Xier even if it meant losing everything. I heard that Jian Yu's second wife, Li, is also a kind person. How dare she do such a thing? When I return to my hometown in Jiangnan, I will definitely seek justice for Xier and his sister!"

"Of course I want justice." A cold light flashed in Gao Yunhuai's delicate eyebrows, which were about half similar to Mrs. Gao.

"Madam, Master, the dumplings are ready."

There were two plates of round dumplings on Zhu'er's tray, which looked plump and cute.

"Bring it here quickly. I must taste Xier's cooking skills."

Mrs. Gao took the handkerchief handed to her by Mother Liu to wash her hands, and couldn't wait to pick up the chopsticks to pick up a dumpling.