When the pears are green

"Your uncle told me. He said that his family has a nephew named Jiang Huan. Jiang Huan has a brown birthmark on the back of his right hand. I just saw it, so I naturally knew that you were Jiang Huan." After the girl finished explaining, she jumped off the carriage swiftly, stood in front of the shaft, and looked at Jiang Huan with a smile.

Jiang Huan subconsciously glanced at the copper coin-shaped birthmark on the back of his hand, slowly moved to the girl's side and asked: "Are you from Bianzhou, the aunt mentioned in my uncle's letter?"

A shy look flashed across the girl's face. She held her long hair that was blown by the wind with her hands and answered, "Yes, I came from Bianzhou."

After hearing this, Jiang Huan approached the girl in an intimate manner and asked, "Can I call you aunt? Is my uncle still in the carriage? Why hasn't he come out yet?"

The corners of the girl's mouth rose unconsciously, thinking of teasing Jiang Huan, so she said to Jiang Huan with a sly smile: "I ate your uncle on the road, he..."

"Mianmian, don't be naughty. Huan'er is still young and can't stand being teased."

A gentle voice came from the car, interrupting Mianmian's words.

Jiang Huan bravely raised his head and asked Mianmian: "Didn't you say you ate it?"

Mianmian touched her nose embarrassedly.

Jiang Qingye lifted the curtain and explained to Jiang Huan with a smile: "Huan'er, your aunt is just joking with you. I am an adult, how can she eat it?"

Jiang Huan turned to look at Jiang Qingye. The boy with a childish face in the past has grown into a young man full of vigor and vitality.

Jiang Qingye jumped off the carriage with a smile, picked up Jiang Huan with one hand, and interlocked his fingers with Mianmian with the other.

The afterglow of the setting sun fell on the three of them, and occasionally a few wisps of willow catkins floated by in the wind.

Mianmian was listening intently to what Jiang Qingye and Jiang Huan were saying, and none of them noticed Song Li, Jiang Qingzhou and Jiang Yao who appeared at the gate of the courtyard at some point.

Jiang Yao walked towards Jiang Qingye with her calves, tugged at Jiang Qingye's sleeve and said sweetly, "Uncle, give me a hug."

Mianmian looked towards the soft and adorable Jiang Yao, broke free from Jiang Qingye's hand, squatted down and asked, "Are you Yaoyao? Can I hold you?"

Jiang Yao turned her head, looked at the unfamiliar Mianmian carefully for a few seconds, then quickly turned around and hugged Jiang Qingye's legs.

Jiang Qingye put Jiang Huan down, rubbed Jiang Yao's little head and explained to Mianmian: "Mianmian, Yaoyao is shy now. When I came back for the New Year, she didn't let me into the house!"

Mianmian smiled and expressed her understanding.

"Qingye, it's windy outside, please take this girl into the house quickly." Song Li, who was watching from the sidelines, interrupted at the right time.

Jiang Qingye quickly picked up Jiang Yao and introduced her to Mianmian: "Mianmian, this is my brother and sister-in-law."

Song Li and Jiang Qingzhou smiled and nodded to Mianmian, who responded with a blushing face.

Jiang Qingye turned to introduce Mianmian to Song Li and Jiang Qingzhou: "Brother, sister-in-law, her name is Su Mian, you can call her Mianmian."

"Mianmian is a good name. Is the word Mian the same as "Mianmian thinking of a distant place" or "Mian" in "The willow fluff is blowing away the branches"? " Song Li asked deliberately as a joke.

Jiang Qingye smiled and replied: "Sister-in-law, aren't these two characters the same?"

"The same?" Song Li asked, pretending to be ignorant.

Su Mian told Song Li softly: "Sister-in-law, it's the same."

"Since Mianmian said it's the same, then it must be the same. I made a few simple dishes, and you can eat them today. You must be very tired after three days of traveling, so go to bed early after dinner." Song Li said as she opened all the courtyard doors and motioned Jiang Qingzhou to lead the carriage.

A few simple exchanges alleviated the nervousness Su Mian felt when he first met Song Li and Jiang Qingzhou.

Song Li first told Jiang Huan to go to the kitchen to pour the warm water in the pot into the ceramic basin for washing, and then led Su Mian and Jiang Qingye, who was holding Jiang Yao, into the yard.

Jiang Qingzhou then led the carriage under the phoenix tree and tied it up.

After washing hands, Song Li led Su Mian, Jiang Yao and Jiang Huan to the main room, leaving Jiang Qingzhou and Jiang Qingye in the kitchen to talk for a few words.

After Song Li arranged the seats, she removed the bowls or ceramic basins covering the plates one by one, and smiled as she told Su Mian to eat quickly.

Su Mian quickly waved her hand to decline: "Sister-in-law, wait for big brother to clear the field."

"No need to wait, we are all family, there is no need to follow so many rules." After Song Li finished speaking, she used a serving chopstick to pick up a piece of stewed lamb chop and put it into the empty bowl in front of Su Mian.

Su Mian quickly thanked Song Li, picked up the chopsticks and watched Song Li pick up braised fish belly for Jiang Huan and egg custard for Jiang Yao.

Seeing that Su Mian still hadn't touched her chopsticks, Song Li quickly picked up a piece of chicken and put it in her bowl, saying, "Mian Mian, eat quickly, it will be cold soon."

Su Mian then picked up the lamb chops and took small bites of the already soft lamb meat.

In the kitchen, Jiang Qingzhou, who was entrusted by Song Li, asked Jiang Qingye uncomfortably: "Qingye, your sister-in-law and I have rented two rooms in the house next door. Are you going to stay there tonight? Where is Miss Su?"

"Let's go over there too. She won't feel comfortable if we leave her here." After Jiang Qingye finished speaking, the tips of his ears turned red.

Jiang Qingzhou pretended not to see it and invited Jiang Qingye to go to the main hall to eat.

Jiang Qingye sat next to Su Mian and looked at the table full of food. He was deeply touched. This represented Song Li and Jiang Qingzhou's respect and welcome for Su Mian.

Jiang Qingzhou took the porcelain spoon from Song Li and continued to feed Jiang Yao porridge.

Song Li chatted with Su Mian and Jiang Qingye while eating.

Jiang Qingye pondered for a moment and said to Song Li and Jiang Qingzhou: "Brother, sister-in-law, I want to marry Mianmian at the end of the month."

"What?" Jiang Qingzhou looked at Jiang Qingye and Su Mian, whose face was blushing, in surprise.

Song Li pulled Jiang Qingzhou's sleeve, and although she was surprised, she quickly adjusted her thoughts and asked Jiang Qingye and Su Mian: "Qingye, Mianmian, today is already March 21st. In these few days, is it enough time to invite a matchmaker to come to your house to propose marriage and propose marriage? By the way, Qingzhou and I don't know where Mianmian is from?"

"Sister-in-law, I am from Yingzhou. My parents died early. My cousin took pity on me and brought me to Bianzhou to make a living. That’s how I got to know Qingye. Now the relatives in Yingzhou basically have no contact with us anymore. Even if I ask someone to act as a matchmaker, I can’t find a family." Su Mian put down his chopsticks and told Song Li about his family's situation.

Song Li felt sad when she heard this, and regretted asking a question that made Su Mian sad.

Jiang Qingzhou looked at the mole at the corner of Su Mian's eye thoughtfully, and said to himself: "Yingzhou, doesn't that mean he is from the same place as Chen Yuan?"

Jiang Qingye quickly answered for Su Mian: "Brother, Mian Mian's cousin is the eldest brother-in-law of my cousin's husband. Mian Mian works for the Su family."

Jiang Qingzhou nodded in understanding and did not ask any further questions. He thought that since Su Mian did not mention Chen Yuan just now, she must be not familiar with Chen Yuan.

Song Li thought for a moment and agreed, then asked Su Mian with a smile: "Mian Mian, how is your needlework?"

"Sister-in-law, my needlework skills are average, but there is no problem making clothes." Su Mian understood what Song Li meant, and her face turned redder as she spoke.

Hearing this, Song Li put her hand on Su Mian's arm and said with relief: "I feel the same way. How about we work hard for two or three days to make wedding dresses for you and Qingye? Ruyi's craftsmanship is good, but she has two children to take care of, so don't cause her any more trouble."

Su Mian lowered her head and replied softly, "I will follow my sister-in-law's arrangements."

Song Li then instructed Jiang Qingzhou: "Qingzhou, although Mianmian has no family, she still needs a betrothal gift. You should prepare it in the next few days. Mianmian will live here in the future, and you can't let others laugh at her because of this."

Su Mian was filled with gratitude, and her eyes became red unconsciously.

Jiang Qingye secretly held Su Mian's left hand, and Su Mian rubbed his eyes with a smile.

Jiang Qingzhou responded with a smile, and then whispered to Song Lidai about the result of asking Jiang Qingye.

Seeing that no one at the table had picked up their chopsticks, Song Li smiled and told Jiang Qingye and Su Mian to go wash up and soak their feet first, and then go to the house next door to rest.

Jiang Qingzhou helped Jiang Qingzhou and Su Mian, who had just finished washing up, move the large and small bags from the carriage to the main room of the house next door.

After Jiang Qingye locked the gate, he smiled and asked the yawning Su Mian: "Which room do you want to stay in, Mian Mian?"

Su Mian hugged Jiang Qingye and whispered, "Of course you and I live in the same room. Wasn't it always like this before?"

"Be reserved. Before leaving Bianzhou, your cousin-in-law repeatedly told you to be reserved." Jiang Qingye asked Su Mian who was clinging to him with a chuckle.

Su Mian raised her head and half-closed her eyes and said, "I am very reserved in front of my elder brother and sister-in-law. I am so sleepy. Please stop nagging me."

"Okay, I won't nag you anymore." Jiang Qingye said as he closed the door to the main room, picked up the sleepy Su Mian and walked towards the main room.