A life of ups and downs is pure joy

"What kind of school is that? Are there teachers teaching painting?" Lin Qinghuan asked.

"He is a teacher who teaches reading and writing, not painting." Lin Qingru looked up and said.

"Then will you accept students my age?" Lin Qinghuan asked seriously.

"Sister Huan'er, you actually want to go to school?" Lin Zhichuan asked curiously.

"Your sister Huan'er has never been to school since she was a child. She is very envious of you guys who can go to school but don't learn knowledge from the teacher well." Lin Qingyao said.

"Why didn't Sister Huan'er go to school when she was a child?" Lin Zhichuan asked puzzledly.

"Because I was disobedient since I was young, I was always sick and had to take medicine. I had no time to study at all. Now I can only envy you educated people." Lin Qinghuan said. Lin Zhichuan nodded thoughtfully and hummed as if he understood.

"Now that daddy is back, you have nothing to do every day, so you can go and learn painting from a master." Lin Qingyao looked at Lin Qinghuan for a while and said.

"I just don't know who to visit. The great Mr. Nangong that my husband mentioned a few days ago is not in Jinhan City, so this matter has been put on hold again. I see so many famous paintings in Juya Zhai. I'll go there tomorrow and see which one is the best looking." Lin Qinghuan said.

"I do know someone. He is in Jinhan now, but I haven't seen him for a long time." Lin Qingyao said after thinking for a while.

"Who is it?" Lin Ancai asked with interest. Xiao Qiannan next to him also looked at Lin Qingyao curiously.

"Who is the elder sister talking about?" Lin Qinghuan asked anxiously.

"Uncle Dong, his painting is not inferior to anyone else's." Lin Qingyao said.

"Who is Uncle Dong?" Lin Ancai asked curiously.

"This is Dong Yuange, the second son of Grand Secretary Dong. You are all a little young and probably don't know him." Lin Qingyao seemed to have a special admiration for Uncle Dong, and she always had a bright smile on her face when she mentioned him.

"Dong Yuange?" Xiao Qiannan cried out, and everyone looked at her.

"Do you know him?" Lin Ancai looked at her and asked.

"Of course I know him. He's such a famous person." Xiao Qiannan glanced at Lin Qinghuan and then muttered.

"You really know Widow Village in the east, Widowers Lane in the west, the Arena in front, and Fengyue Tower in the back. You are the most famous local treasure in Jinhan." Lin Ancai said, and Xiao Qiannan punched him again in annoyance.

Commandant Xiao and Liu Ji also looked at Lin Ancai, who was crying loudly while being beaten by Xiao Qiannan.

"Master, Nan'er seems to be quite familiar with An Cai." Liu Ji said.

"You have to talk to her properly when you go back. Even if they are relatives, they should not be so rude. An Cai is now a young general appointed by His Majesty himself. This kind of fighting is a bit inappropriate." Xiao Bowen said with a frown.

"Okay, I understand." Liu Ji said in a low voice.

Grandma Lin looked at the group of children chatting and laughing at the table below, then looked at Xiao Qiannan and her grandson Lin Ancai who were talking and laughing with their heads down.

"The children of the Xiao family are all very likable, and I especially like the girl Nan'er." After Cheng Ping finished speaking, He Su also looked at Xiao Qiannan.

"My girl has been spoiled since she was young. She is carefree and it's good that she doesn't make our ancestors laugh at her." Liu Ji said with a smile.

"She is a lovely girl. She must be sixteen or seventeen years old now. Is she married to a good family?" asked Grandma Lin.

Xiao Bowen and Liu Ji looked at the old lady with some surprise.

"I haven't promised yet. I always think she is not that old." Liu Ji said.

"My son An Cai is eighteen years old now, and it seems that the two children are very close." After Grandma Lin finished speaking, He Su looked at her in surprise, and Lin Mutang also put down his wine glass.

"Mother, what do you mean?" Lin Mutang looked at his son who was still eating and drinking heartlessly.

"What do you think of my grandson?" Cheng Ping asked Xiao Bowen and Liu Ji.

Liu Ji looked at Old Ancestor Lin in some disbelief. She never expected that he would say this so directly.

"This... Nan'er and Ancai, hahaha, master..." Liu Ji was a little surprised and a little happy, then looked at Xiao Bowen and asked.

"If the two children can really make it, I have no objection. I just don't know whether they have more of a brother-sister relationship or..." Xiao Bowen said.

Xiao Yi glanced at Xiao Bowen and shook his head.

He Su looked at Cheng Ping and said anxiously, "Mother, Yier." She saw that Lin Qingyi was already nineteen years old, and she couldn't let her younger brother get married while her elder sister was still unmarried.

"Okay, okay, I got it." Cheng Ping said with a smile.

Lin Qingyao has decided to visit Dong Yuange in a few days in order to find the most powerful master for Lin Qinghuan.

"Big sister, you are so heavy, it's really hard for you." Lin Qinghuan said a little embarrassedly.

"It's okay. As long as my good sister can inherit my aunt's mantle in the future, I'm willing to do anything." Lin Qingyao said lovingly.

Lin Qinghuan smiled happily, and Xiao Qiannan hesitated to speak.

"What's the matter? Do you also want to become a disciple?" Lin An turned his head and asked.

"I can't draw." Xiao Qiannan said.

"You can take me as your master. I can help you improve your mediocre kung fu." Lin Ancai said proudly.

"Hmph, I don't like fighting and killing." Xiao Qiannan said complainingly.

Lin Ancai glanced at her, smiled, and said nothing more. Lin Yuzhi also returned to the table with several of his brothers-in-law.

"Husband, try this peony and black chicken soup. The ingredients in it are prepared by Sister Mo herself." Lin Qinghuan considerately handed her chicken soup, which had long been cold on the side, to Xiao Yi.

"Okay, it's delicious. You should try it too." Xiao Yi took a sip, then skimmed off the soup oil with a spoon and handed it to Lin Qinghuan.

Lin Qingwan absentmindedly stirred the food on the plate with her chopsticks, and from time to time she secretly glanced at the loving couple sitting opposite her. Wang Xin glanced at his wife, then served her a bowl of soup. Lin Qingwan looked up at him, forced a smile and took it, then put the bowl of soup on the table.

After the family dinner, the Lin sisters got on the carriage to return home.

"Sister-in-law, I'm curious about something." Xiao Qiannan whispered to Lin Qinghuan.

"What's the matter?" Lin Qinghuan asked in a low voice.

"Why did Sister Qingwan keep stealing glances at my elder brother during the whole banquet?" Xiao Qiannan asked. Liu Ji looked at the aunt and sister-in-law in surprise.

"Ah? Did you see it wrong? Third sister must be in a daze." Lin Qinghuan said somewhat embarrassedly.

"I'm very sure because I have been secretly observing her." Xiao Qiannan lowered her voice and spoke into Lin Qinghuan's ear again.

"What secret are you two talking about?" Liu Ji asked.

"My sister-in-law and I have a lot of secrets." Xiao Qiannan said coquettishly to Liu Ji.

"Nan'er, what do you think of the second brother of the Lin family? I see that you two have a good relationship." Liu Ji remembered what the grandmother of the Lin family meant today, and asked tentatively out of curiosity.

"Brother Ancai is a good person, and he is my sister-in-law's twin brother." Xiao Qiannan said with her ears red.

"It turns out that my little crazy girl has grown up! Hehe." After saying this, Liu Ji laughed together with Liu Rong next to her.

"Mother... I'm sixteen years old and not a child anymore." Xiao Qiannan listened to what Liu Ji said and also liked Lin Ancai. Then she smiled secretly at Lin Qinghuan and said.

"Mother knows." Liu Ji touched Xiao Qiannan's head and said affectionately.

Lin Qinghuan also understood what Liu Ji meant and was very happy.

In another carriage of the Xiao family, Xiao Bowen and Xiao Yi were also talking about this matter.

"Do you still mean to prefer the Shen family?" Xiao Bowen asked.

"Shen Qiu is an old fox. Although he openly wants to marry into the Su family, he would not express his position if there is no in-law relationship. He also mentioned privately that he wants to marry into the Empress's lineage, but in a tentative tone. Shen Qiu's wife, Meng, is a cousin of Xiang Letian, and the old fox now frequently visits the Xiang family." Xiao Yi said.

"Back then, I had my eyes on Shen Yue, the eldest daughter of the Shen family, for your second brother. But now that Yu'er has returned to Dayan, it doesn't count anymore. But I think the old lady of the Lin family is not just talking." Xiao Bowen said.

"The Lin family still has a daughter who has not yet been born, and they will be busy with this matter in the near future. Now is a good time to take the lead in forming a marriage with the Shen family." Xiao Yi said after thinking for a while.

He also knew what Xiao Qiannan was thinking, but the Shen family's prominent strength in the literary world was very important to the Eastern Palace.

"I understand. I will ask your mother to take care of Nan'er when I get back." Xiao Bowen said with a frown.

The two carriages of the Xiao Mansion slowly stopped at the door. Xiao Yi stood below and helped Liu Ji down. Xiao Qiannan also jumped down. Lin Qinghuan was about to step off the horse stool, but was picked up by her husband.

"Husband, father and mother are here." Lin Qinghuan said anxiously and embarrassedly.

"It's okay, I'll put you down." Xiao Yi smiled lightly, then gently put Lin Qinghuan down.

Liu Ji and Xiao Bowen looked at the young couple, exchanged a knowing smile, and then called Xiao Qiannan to walk towards Qingyin Pavilion.

After they left, Xiao Yi bent down and picked up Lin Qinghuan again, "Now it's just the two of us, your husband can hold you."

"Husband, Huan'er can still walk by herself now, but this baby seems to have no feeling." Lin Qinghuan said coquettishly.

"I don't want you to be tired. I'm busy with work on weekdays and can't accompany you every day. I feel very guilty." Xiao Yi said dotingly as he carried Lin Qinghuan towards Qingbo Courtyard.

"No matter how busy I am, Huan'er knows that my husband treats me very well." Lin Qinghuan said happily with her little face against Xiao Yi's chest.

"Well, you are my wife, the mother of my children in the future, and the person I love the most." Xiao Yi said.

"Well, husband, are you tired? Huan'er has gained weight recently." Lin Qinghuan said shyly. Yun Xiang and Chu Xia lowered their heads and held lanterns in front of them, completely closing their ears and ignoring the couple's quarrels.

"I'm not tired. You're too thin. You'd look better if you were a little fatter." Xiao Yi finished speaking, and Lin Qinghuan gave him a peck on the cheek. "I'll give you a sweet kiss."

After Lin Qinghuan finished speaking, Xiao Yi also laughed.

After the couple entered Qingbo Courtyard, the maids and servants in the room watched the eldest son carrying the young lady from the outer courtyard to the inner courtyard.

"Wow, you didn't carry it all the way back here, did you?"

"It seems like it's all there."

"The eldest master really dotes on the young lady."

"Okay, don't just stand here, it's time to go serve the master." Shuyin walked over and gently reminded a few maids who loved to chat.

In the house inside Qingbo Courtyard, Xiao Yi placed Lin Qinghuan on the soft couch as if he was protecting a treasure.

"Husband, let me massage your arm. You must be sore and tired." Lin Qinghuan stretched out her hand and took Xiao Yi's arm, nodding.

"How much do you weigh? It's not as tiring as when I was young practicing martial arts." Xiao Yi sat down, took the tea handed to him by Chu Xia and took a sip.

Chuxia took the two people's coats out. Yunxiang had already cleaned Xiao Yiming's official uniform and hung it up again. Then the two of them retreated and waited to be called.

"Oh, by the way, husband, do you know Dong Yuange?" Lin Qinghuan suddenly remembered and asked.

"I know. What happened to the son of Grand Secretary Dong?" Xiao Yi asked.

"His paintings are now among the best in Jinhan. Big sister wants to visit him and ask him to accept me as his apprentice." After Lin Qinghuan finished speaking, she blinked her big eyes and supported her chin to look at Xiao Yi.

"Are they familiar with each other?" Xiao Yi asked.

"My elder sister often followed him to play when she was little. I heard that he and my mother were old acquaintances, but they haven't seen each other for many years." Lin Qinghuan said, feeling a little confused.

"So that's how it is. It would be a blessing for you if he could accept you as his disciple. However, this person is arrogant by nature, so it might be difficult to deal with him." Xiao Yi said thoughtfully, and then looked at Lin Qinghuan for a long time.

"My elder sister has been very kind to me since I was a child. Now that she is pregnant, she wants to find the best master for me. I feel a little embarrassed." Lin Qinghuan said with a pout.

"I'll visit him in a few days. It's not appropriate to ask your elder sister to go with me." Xiao Yi said.

"My dear, I won't go. I don't have to worship him. I can wait until Mr. Nangong comes back from his tour and then become his disciple." Lin Qinghuan remembered that Xiao Qiannan said that Dong Yuange seemed to be the counselor of the third prince.

"If you can really worship Mr. Dong, it will be a good thing for you. I didn't think of him before. You have been to Juya Zhai several times, and the current owner is this person." Xiao Yi pinched Lin Qinghuan's face and said.

"Such a great art gallery belongs to him. Is he so powerful?" Lin Qinghuan exclaimed in surprise.

"He didn't enter the officialdom, but he never left the political affairs. He only plied his painting skills behind the ink and wash paintings, but he was able to make the previous dynasty go through ups and downs. He was a very powerful figure, but you, a fool..." Xiao Yi looked at his silly wife and suddenly smiled.

"Husband, Huan'er is very smart." Lin Qinghuan said unconvinced.

"Silly girl."

Lin Qinghuan considerately gave Xiao Yi another sip of tea and looked at Xiao Yi with a silly smile.

"Husband, there will be another happy event in my mother's family in a few days." Lin Qinghuan murmured.

"Is it about your fourth sister?" Xiao Yi moved the chess pieces around.

"Well, Daddy and Grandmother are quite satisfied with Big Brother Li, and Fourth Sister didn't object. She wants to marry a cultured man who is well-educated. Although Big Brother Li has an ordinary family background, he is talented. Daddy and Big Brother have always admired him." Lin Qinghuan chattered.

"Well...he is indeed a talent."