Quick Wear: True and False Life

As soon as Song Nan and Old Jin entered the yard, they saw Mrs. Zhang coming out of the kitchen wiping her hands. She must have been washing vegetables. When she heard the noise in the yard, she came out to see who it was.

"Mrs. Zhang, long time no see."

"Miss Song, Mr. Jin, long time no see." Mrs. Zhang greeted Song Nan and Mr. Jin with a smile on her face when she saw them. She had received news earlier that the three of them had returned, and the two boys were looking forward to it.

"Let's go in and sit down and talk." Song Nan said as they walked into the hall together.

"Mrs. Zhang, don't be in a hurry. Let Lingxi and Song An do it. Sit down and chat for a while." After she sat down, she saw Mr. Zhang busying around, so she greeted him.

"Mrs. Zhang, where are the maids? Why are you the only one busy?" Didn't she remember that there were two maids before she left? She asked with doubt in her heart.

"That girl! Cui Mian's parents were thoughtful. They found Cui Mian's whereabouts and followed her all the way here to redeem her. I saw that they were sincere and I was relieved that the little girl would leave, so I decided to waive the redemption money and send her back to her parents."

"It's not bad for that little girl to have such a home." Song Nan only knew that Cuimian was stolen when she was a child and sold to Madam Zhang. He knew she was very lucky when he first saw her. He didn't expect that she was protected by her parents' legacy. There was such a pair of parents who missed her so much that they vowed to find her and bring her home. He hoped that she would live happily for the rest of her life.

"As for Cuixu, she fell in love with a vegetable vendor in the village and begged me to allow her to be redeemed and marry him. Seeing that she was determined to leave and would not listen to my advice, I waived the redemption money and gave her some dowry to marry her. But I heard that she was not a good person. I don't know if she regretted it later!" Mrs. Zhang felt sorry for Cuixu. She was a smart girl, but her husband had many family members and they were complicated. Moreover, her husband was indecisive and filial, and it was obvious at a glance that he was not a good person.

"As I remember, this girl was sold to your house by her parents! Maybe she lacks love. I don't know what touched her about that man, and she can't let go of that warmth, so she trapped herself." Song Nan replied after listening. He felt a pity in his heart. This girl is quick and good at talking. If she could insist on returning to Qi Shuang's mansion, maybe she could become your subordinate and have an extra capable assistant. However, she voluntarily perished here. It really is a matter of fate and it is hard to influence.

"Since the two girls left, everyone in the family has been busy. Both the academy and the exhibition of heroes provide meals. I didn't sell any more maids to feed two or three people."

"Madam Zhang, we are about to set off again. I suggest that we buy two or three more maids. There are so many people on the road. It is tiring to travel, and we have to take care of the teacher and children. There will always be some that we cannot take care of." Song Nan did not comment on this. After all, Madam Zhang was a quiet person, and this might be one of the reasons why she did not buy more maids. However, for the convenience of traveling, he still made a suggestion.

"Miss Song is right. Let's go to the matchmaker later." Mrs. Zhang thought about it and felt that Song Nan's words made sense. Besides Song Nan and Lingxi, there were only two girls on the road, and she was the only woman there. It was really inappropriate, so she continued.

"Madam Zhang, let's go together later!" Song Nan hadn't taken a good look at Jingyuan Mansion yet, and since entering the city today, she had a special aura attracting her. She had to go and take a look. What was going on?

"Sister, it's time to eat!" Lingxi called out from the yard.

"Girl Song, I'm going to go out for a walk." Old Jin was already bored listening to Song Nan and Madam Zhang's conversation. Now when he heard Lingxi say that the meal was ready, it was even more inconvenient given his situation, so he wanted to go out for a walk.

"I know." Everyone knew that Mr. Jin had been fasting for a long time and had no interest in food, so they didn't feel strange when they heard Song Nan agree. They were used to it.

"Madam Zhang, let's go! Let's eat first." After seeing Mr. Jin leave, Song Nan said to Madam Zhang.

After the four of them sat down, Song Nan smelled the long-lost aroma of food and felt hungry.

"Song An, have you applied for suspension of classes now? How are the two teachers doing?" Song Nan asked, as he had been in Jiangye for a long time and was quite relaxed at the dinner table.

"I stopped yesterday. The teacher and I will complete the handover the day after tomorrow. However, the dean gave Zhang Xi and I each a letter of recommendation from Kyoto Academy."

"It seems like you two are doing pretty well."

"Sister, when we arrive in Kyoto, can we stay for a while longer? I want to go to Minghe Academy to study." Song An said hesitantly. After all, he was not sure whether his sisters' schedule was convenient.

"What's the big deal? It's a good thing that you can go. There's no need to worry at all. Just focus on yourself and stay in Minghe for at least a few years?" Song Nan had no hesitation about the question of time. Song An was an independent person. As long as he had a goal, she would take care of everything for him. He didn't need to take care of herself. Her own affairs were a slow process, so she didn't need to accommodate him any more.

"At least three years!" Song An estimated the current situation. He did not plan to take the imperial examination, and it would be enough to become a juren.

"Then we'll stay in Kyoto for four years. We'll buy a bigger yard to live in first, and then decide based on the situation." Song Nan thought about it, gave himself some extra time, and made the preliminary decision.

"Song An has finished speaking, it's my turn. I just heard in the yard that my sister is going to the dental clinic, and I want to go too." Lingxi is a person who can't sit still. Just when she was in the yard with Song An, she heard what Song Nan and Madam Zhang said, and her heart was restless. Now she has the chance to speak.

"Okay, it's not a big deal, will Song An go?"

"Sister, I won't go. I'm going to meet up with my classmates. I don't know when we'll meet again." When Song An heard Song Nan's question, he told his sister about today's schedule.

"Here, I picked these in the little secret realm. They're suitable for your friends. You can give some as gifts to strengthen your body. Thank you, Sister Lingxi, quickly." After giving the things, Lingxi asked Song Andao proudly.

"Thank you, Sister Lingxi." Song An also knew Lingxi's personality. He took the box, put it down, and thanked her happily.

"Madam, this is for you. This kind of fruit is only suitable for women to eat. It can whiten the skin, nourish the yin and have a certain anti-aging effect." Lingxi then took out another box and handed it to Madam Zhang, and explained, but what she was thinking in her heart was, don't take it with the teacher and the children, otherwise there will be two more gigolos.

"Thank you, Miss Lingxi, for your thoughtfulness." Mrs. Zhang was touched. As soon as Lingxi told her about the benefits of the fruit, she knew it was specially given to her. Every woman loves beauty, so she thanked her happily.

After the four of them finished their meal, Song An went out with a few boxes to keep his promise. His expression of eagerness to go out and share amused Song Nan and others.

"Sister, I'm leaving." Song An waved as she walked.

"Got it, go early and come back early."

After Song An left, Song Nan took advantage of the time when Madam Zhang returned to her room to put the dishes and chopsticks back into the cupboard. After Madam Zhang came back after putting away her things, the three of them went out to the pawnshop to buy a maid.

Along the way, I heard from Mrs. Zhang that the matchmaker who lived farthest from the yard was named Huang. She was a righteous person and not a treacherous or vicious person. Most of the maids and boys in her hands were sold from poor families. Generally, those who passed through her hands were sold to decent families to be maids and servants, and rarely went to dirty places. She went there because of this person's reputation.

"I believe in Madam Zhang's vision. Let's go and take a look." After hearing what Madam Zhang said, Song Nan had no objection to the long journey, so he replied in agreement.