The wind is gentle and the fun is endless

On the first night after returning to Xu's house, I slowly lay down on the bed, tossing and turning but unable to fall asleep.

After returning from Heyang and knowing so many stories, Huanhuan felt that she didn't mind Xu Qu going to Yihong Pavilion that much. After all, it was before the wedding, and since the wedding, Xu Qu went back to the house early every day and never stayed out overnight, which made Huanhuan feel impeccable.

Mrs. Xie would personally cook for Xu Qu on his birthday, which shows that the nominal mother and son got along well before. But this stepmother suddenly became the murderer who murdered him and his father. As a victim, Xu Qu must have experienced a lot. Xu Qu was only eleven years old at the time, which made Huan Huan feel that Xu Qu was really not easy.

Unable to sleep, Huanhuan lay on his back, listening to Xu Qu's steady breathing beside him, and could not help but say to himself: "I heard about the process of your poisoning when I went back this time, and I didn't expect it was related to your stepmother and mother-in-law. You have experienced the transition from being able to hear to being deaf when you were so young, and you have to deal with this stepmother whom you love and hate every day. It's not easy for you. Don't worry, I will accompany you to worship your parents-in-law in the future, and I will celebrate your birthday with you." After saying this, Huanhuan felt at ease, turned over, and fell asleep peacefully.

So now, Huanhuan's pity for Xu Qu has prevailed in her heart, which makes her just want to care more about Xu Qu and be better to Xu Qu.

On weekdays, when Xu Qu was at home, Huan Huan would often go to the study to add a cup of tea for Xu Qu or help him grind some rice. She added Xu Qu's sweat towel to her embroidery and occasionally studied what kind of sachet to match Xu Qu's peace locket. Even at night, she would leave her favorite green quilt for Xu Qu to cover, and she would cover herself with the red quilt she didn't like.

As for Xu Qu, Huan Huan came more often, so the door of the study was rarely closed, and even the door curtain was rolled up. Sometimes Huan Huan sat in front of the window to read, and Xu Qu could see her when she looked up from the desk. Sometimes Huan Huan sat in the yard to embroider, and Xu Qu could see her through the raised window, so Xu Qu would raise her head from time to time to take a rest.

Occasionally, their eyes would meet. At first, they would be a little shy and avoid looking at each other. But as time went by, they would smile at each other in tacit understanding. That smile was filled with the freshness of the air and the sweetness of flowers, like a pen in one's hand that could sway and create flowers, or like tea in a cup that was fragrant and mellow.

At noon that day, Mrs. Xie invited Xu Qu, Huan Huan and Xiang Yue to have lunch. Mrs. Xie saw that there was a piece of meat in Xu Qu's bowl, and she was quite surprised and said, "Qu'er, you are actually taking the initiative to eat big pieces of meat!" Xu Qu was so embarrassed that he didn't know whether to put the meat on his chopsticks into his mouth or put it down.

Seeing Xu Qu stopped, Mrs. Xie quickly smiled and said, "This is a good thing. Qu'er used to eat too light food and was a little too thin."

As he spoke, he looked Xu Qu up and down seriously, and said, "Let me see. Hmm, you have become stronger recently. Now that autumn is coming, it's time to put on some weight."

Xiangyue put down the dishes in her hands, glanced at her sister-in-law secretly, and wiped the corners of her mouth gently with a handkerchief to hide the smile on the corners of her lips.

After Mrs. Xie finished speaking, she continued, "Speaking of autumn, your second aunt and sister will soon be back from their hometown. Huanhuan has not met your second aunt and sister yet. Qu'er, take Huanhuan with you and go visit your second uncle's house. By the way, the autumn hunting is approaching, so you should also prepare some new clothes and make a few riding and archery suits for Huanhuan. You young people should participate in these activities more often."

The second aunt and sister mentioned by Mrs. Xie were the wife and daughter of the illegitimate uncle in the family. Huanhuan only saw the illegitimate second uncle once during the few days of visiting the elders after marriage, and never saw him again on weekdays. Thinking carefully, I really didn't see his wife at that time, and I didn't know he had a daughter.

After returning to Xinyuan, she slowly asked Xu Qu about the situation of her aunt and sister. Xu Qu introduced to her, "Every few years, the second aunt would take her daughter to visit the second aunt's eldest sister's house who married far away, and they would stay for several months each time. I heard that my sister's aunt was ill this time, so they didn't have time to come back for our wedding. Also because of my sister's aunt's illness, she and the second aunt stayed longer this time. A few days ago, they wrote that the old lady was better, so they came back."

He asked slowly, "Does Second Uncle have any other children? What are their names? How old are they this year?"

Xu Qu replied, "My younger sister is my second uncle's only daughter. Her name is Xu Xiangyin. She is slightly younger than Xiangyue and is fifteen years old this year."

A few days later, the Xu family welcomed back the second wife and Miss Xu Xiangyin. Not only did the second uncle, who was usually busy with business, show up, but Mrs. Xie also personally brought Xu Qu, Huanhuan and Xiangyue to greet them at the door.

Xu Qu's second uncle was a middle-aged man of medium build. Perhaps due to his age, he was a little fat, but he was not as potbellied as other old men from wealthy families. His handsome features still showed that he must have been a handsome young man when he was young.

After waiting for a while, a carriage team came from afar. There were five carriages in total. I thought to myself: It’s quite a big deal for this second aunt to come back to her parents’ home.

Soon the carriage stopped in front of the Xu residence. As soon as it stopped, the curtain of the leading carriage was opened, and a graceful lady walked out, followed by a quiet lady. Thinking slowly, this should be the second aunt and sister Xiangyin.

"Haha, Madam, Xiangyin, you are back!" The speaker was Xu Qu's second uncle, his tone full of joy.

"Master, we are back. Sister-in-law, you are so polite that you even brought the children to wait for us here." The graceful lady smiled and then pulled her daughter to Mrs. Xie and the others and said, "Xiangyin, come and pay your respects to your aunt."

The elegant lady bowed politely to Madam Xie and said, "Xiang Yin pays her respects to Auntie!"

Mrs. Xie was also full of smiles. She took Miss Xiangyin's hand, looked her up and down and said, "I haven't seen you for so many days. Come and let me see if you have changed. Yes, you have become more beautiful."

Then Madam Xie pulled Miss Xiangyin in front of Xu Qu and the others and said, "Come and meet your elder brother and your sister-in-law. This is the first time you and your sister-in-law have met."

Miss Xiang Yin bowed to Xu Qu and Huan Huan again and said, "Hello, big brother. Hello, sister-in-law. Because my grandmother was ill, Xiang Yin missed the wedding of big brother and sister-in-law. There is really a reason for it. Please forgive me, big brother and sister-in-law."

Xu Qu said, "You are too polite, sister. I understand that the journey is too long, so you don't have to mind it."

Huanhuan said in unison: "Yes, sister, don't mind it." While observing this sister whom he met for the first time. She was not as gorgeous as Xiangyue, but she had a gentle temperament and soft eyebrows and eyes. She was also delicate and attractive.

After some greetings, everyone returned to the house. Madam Xu asked the nanny beside her to distribute the gifts brought back from her mother's home to everyone one by one. There were food and useful things. Each item was exquisitely packaged, giving people the feeling that it had been carefully selected.

Xiang Yin also took out a piece of embroidery that had been wrapped in layers and came to Xu Qu and Huan Huan, saying, "Big brother, sister-in-law, I specially embroidered a set of pillowcases as a wedding gift for you."

Xu Qu looked at Huanhuan, who immediately understood and reached out to take Xiangyin's gift. She opened the package and saw two red satin pillowcases, each with a pair of exquisite mandarin ducks embroidered on it. If you looked closely, you could see that the embroidery was so exquisite that if you didn't know, you would think it was the work of a skilled embroiderer with decades of experience.

"Did your sister embroider this herself?" Huanhuan asked with some surprise.

Seeing Xiang Yin nodded shyly, he slowly praised: "It looks like an embroiderer with decades of experience, you are so skillful! Thank you, sister, this gift is so good!"

"Your sister Xiangyin is a very elegant lady from a noble family!" Mrs. Xie introduced her to Huanhuan with a hearty laugh. Her second uncle and aunt beside her also laughed, with a hint of pride in their laughter.

Slowly she put away the pair of mandarin duck pillowcases with a smile, and Nanny Zhang came in and said, "Second Master, Madams, Young Master, and Young Ladies, the meal is ready, you may take your seats."

Mrs. Xie then called out, "Let's not just stand here, let's go to the table and have a reunion dinner today." So the Xu family members went to the table one by one, chatting and laughing, and had the reunion dinner.

The loud laughter that came from time to time gradually spread over the Xu Mansion.