Golden Branch

"A year has passed with the sound of firecrackers, and the spring breeze brings warmth to Tusu."

Wang Heng was wearing a brand new bright red jacket and skirt embroidered with gold thread, with a circle of snow-white fox fur at the collar and cuffs.

The fox fur was of very pure color, without a single strand of other colors, and it made Wang Heng's small round face look even whiter and pinker.

She took the wine cup handed to her by Zheng Yi with both hands, smelled the strong medicinal fragrance, and couldn't help but think of the poem Wang Mian recited to her.

"Jiu Niang, this poem is quite appropriate for the occasion. Who wrote it?"

After listening to this, Zheng Yi nodded slightly.

While expressing praise, he also did not forget to ask the author.

Zheng Yi had been with Wang Heng for several months and had already gained some understanding of this little Jiuniang.

The little girl loves to eat and play, but she is very obedient and well-behaved.

He never lost his temper, no matter whether the other person was a lowly slave or the noble Lord Lou Dalang.

She is very calm. Even if others make mistakes or offend her, she will just smile and take it easy.

Jiuniang is good at calligraphy, but she doesn't like it very much.

Due to family rules, I have to practice hard for half an hour every day.

What Jiu Niang really likes should be painting, and she is very good at it.

She was only six years old, but she could paint quite well, both in detailed and freehand style.

For example, after entering winter, Jiu Niang heard from Wang Mian about an elegant interest - the Jiujiu Xiaohan Tu.

That is, draw a plain plum branch with nine plum blossoms on the branch, and each plum blossom has nine petals.

Starting from the winter solstice, one petal is painted red every day.

One plum blossom is dyed every nine days, and when nine plum blossoms are dyed, spring has arrived.

As spring arrives and flowers bloom, the red plum blossoms are also on the map to dispel the cold.

After hearing Wang Mian’s elegant and interesting story, Wang Heng took it upon herself to paint Su Mei.

The plum branches are crooked and as strong and vigorous as the claws of a dragon.

The plum blossom petals are delicate and beautiful, and after being painted, they come alive on the paper.

A girl of six or seven years old has such skills. In addition to her hobby and diligence, she is also extremely talented.

After discovering Wang Heng's true hobbies and strengths, Zheng Yi quietly made plans.

Zheng Yi secretly prepared a lot of drawing paper, brushes, paints and other tools, and also found some ancient and famous paintings from Wang Heng's small storehouse.

In addition, Zheng Yi also secretly wrote a letter to Jiang in Yizhou.

After entering the twelfth lunar month, Wang Heng received New Year gifts from Wang Lin and Jiang Shi one after another.

Wang Lin’s annual gift was rather simple and crude, consisting of money, a large box of copper coins strung together with hemp ropes, a total of one hundred strings.

One hundred strings of cash is neither too much nor too little.

The New Year gift sent by Mrs. Jiang was more thoughtful and contained money, but it was not copper coins, but objects made of gold and silver.

Small gold bowls, gold cups, and silver chopsticks.

It's not big, but it's solid.

Holding them in my hand, they feel heavy, each weighing at least a few ounces.

In addition to gold and silver objects, there was also a box of cinnabar, seven or eight famous paintings, and some cloth and leather.

In addition, there were seven or eight girls under the age of ten.

The only maidservant who came to the manor with Wang Heng was Bai Zhi.

Jiang was not with Wang Heng, but she could imagine how pitiful her daughter was.

Although there will be no shortage of people to serve, having a personal maid is still different after all.

Especially the maid who grew up with the master, when she grows up, she will definitely be the master's most helpful helper.

When Jiang left the Wang family, she was not alone. She took away two maids who came with her as a dowry.

Although the two maids did not grow up together, they had served for seven or eight years, so Jiang was most at ease with them.

When she arrived at the Yang family, she was unfamiliar with the place. Fortunately, there were familiar servants around her, otherwise, Jiang's life would have been even more difficult.

In addition to the two people who were taken away, there was also a concubine of Wang Lin, who was also Jiang's dowry maid.

At that time, she had just become pregnant, and Madam Xie was worried that she could not serve Wang Lin, so she wanted to select a maid from her own courtyard.

Jiang didn't want her mother-in-law to interfere in the affairs of her own courtyard, so she took the initiative and asked the maid who came with her dowry to serve Wang Lin.

Wang Lin did love her, but men can distinguish between love and desire.

Jiang took the initiative, and Wang Lin accepted it with a smile.

Although Jiang was disappointed, she was still happy that she had once again gained the upper hand in this round of competition between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

As for the concubine, she was Jiang's maid, so even though she served Wang Lin and was favored for several months, she did not get carried away.

She still stayed by Jiang's side and only listened to her orders.

Housekeeper Jiang also helped a lot.

...So, this kind of maid who has been serving the little girl since she was a child is basically reliable.

As a mother, Jiang was unable to accompany and educate her daughter personally, so she could only prepare everything she could think of and do for her daughter!

There are seven or eight girls, all under ten years old. They have parents and brothers at home. They are not wandering ghosts. If they are well trained, they will be able to serve dutifully.

Jiang did not expect all the maids sent this time to be loyal and capable, but as long as there were one or two who were useful, it would be good too.

She will keep an eye out for her daughter in the future, and if there are any suitable ones, she will continue to send them to her daughter.

Wang Heng hadn't seen her mother for almost a year. If she hadn't asked Lou Dalang to send a letter to her mother three or four months ago, her mother probably wouldn't have known that she had arrived at the village.

Knowing her recent situation, her mother was very concerned and often sent her things.

Of course, it is also possible that in the previous few months, Jiang had not yet gained a foothold in the Yang family. As a concubine with an awkward status, it was very difficult for her to protect herself, so how could she care about her daughter who stayed in her ex-husband's house?

Wang Heng understood her mother's previous "coldness" and was grateful for her subsequent care... Because no matter what the situation was, there was one thing Wang Heng was absolutely certain of -

My mother loves me and cares for me!

Wang Heng also admired and respected her mother.

After receiving the New Year gift from her mother, Wang Heng handed the eight maids over to Zheng Yi.

Zheng Yi directly arranged the person in the outer courtyard, trained him first, and then taught him the rules.

Once it passes the test, it will be sent to the little girl for selection!

People, arranged.

Everything has been put into storage.

Wang Heng liked the paints that Jiang sent her very much. In addition to mixing the colors herself, she insisted on practicing painting every day.

Calligraphy and painting are all Wang Heng's talents.

In terms of literary talent... well, Zheng Yi hasn't discovered it in Wang Heng yet.

In the Zhou Dynasty, which was full of prodigies and geniuses, age was not a shackle; the only thing that limited one's performance was talent!

So, when Zheng Yi heard Wang Heng reciting a poem she had never heard before, she did not misunderstand that it was Wang Heng's masterpiece.

"Amian said that this poem was written by a hermit in the mountains, known as Mr. Linchuan."

Wang Heng answered truthfully.

"A hermit in the mountains?"

Zheng Yi remained silent, but a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.

Haha, Wang Mian is a little girl whose ancestors have all been farming in Wangjiamiao. She herself has never left Hedong, but she can "accidentally meet" a hermit in the mountains?

Or is it that there are talents in Hedong that Zheng Yi has not found?

Zheng Yi has been in Hedong for three months.

At first, she was only concerned about Wangjiazhuangzi and the Wang family.

Then, she secretly learned about several major families in Hedong, as well as some of the most famous celebrities and scholars in Hedong.

In three months, Zheng Yi became very capable. Even though she was alone at first, she used the names of the Yang and Wang families, as well as the money given to her by Jiang and Wang Heng, to slowly build a huge network of relationships.

Through many means, Zheng Yi did not dare to say that he knew everything about Hedong, but he would not miss any person with great talent.

Anyone who can write such a poem must be no ordinary person.

Zheng Yi was not found, but was met by Wang Mian?

Zheng Yi smiled faintly, wow, this girl really has so many secrets!

"...I don't know how my brother is doing?"

"He came to see me that day and didn't seem very happy!"

"The butcher's dish was so delicious, and Amian even told the story of the stone monkey, but brother still had a gloomy face."

"Could it be that his mother treats him badly?"

Just as Zheng Yi was secretly complaining, Wang Heng had already finished drinking the Tu Su wine, looking in the direction of Lou's manor, muttering to herself!

Zheng Yi came to his senses. Lou Dalang? Oh, of course he wouldn't be happy.

Zheng Yi has spies in the Lou family.

Last night in the Lou family ancestral hall, Madam Dugu announced Lou Dalang's new name in public, and the Lou family... was about to be in turmoil.

I just hope Lou Dalang can keep his composure and not be tricked by others.

If you are not patient enough, or are not careful, what awaits Lou Dalang, oh no, Lou Yu, will be an irreversible desperate situation!

That child looks naughty, even cold and violent, but he should not be a fool!

Of course Lou Yu is not stupid.

When he saw Lou Rang walking towards him with a wine cup in hand, he knew that this guy was definitely looking for trouble.

"Thank you, Uncle Eleven."

Lou Yu did not speak ill of Lou Rang directly as he had done in the past.

He even stretched out his hands very respectfully and took the bowl of Tu Su wine.

It is a gift given by the elders and cannot be turned away!

Even though this elder often fought with him, Lou Yu never considered him an elder.

In fact, just yesterday in the ancestral hall, Lou Yu had anticipated that someone would take the opportunity to take revenge.

Among his many enemies, Lou Rang might not be the one who hated him the most, but he was the most impatient and the first one to jump out.

So, at this moment, seeing Lou Rang stand up, Lou Yu instantly became alert.

He even guessed that there might be something else mixed in this bowl of Tu Su wine.

For example, insects, urine, etc.... ahem, the reason why Lou Yu knew so clearly was mostly because he had done this before.

He has many "little cuties" in his yard.

Snakes, insects, rats, ants, scorpions in spring, toads in summer, crickets in autumn, and...

and many more!

A thought flashed through Lou Yu's mind quickly.

It was just too fast and he didn't catch it.

But, inexplicably, I felt a strong sense of unease in my heart.

He suspected that the bowl of Tu Su wine in his hand might not be Lou Rang's ultimate goal.

Tu Su wine is just a decoy, the real killer move is yet to come.

What is it?

He can't just do it directly.

If it were in the past, Lou Yu would easily get angry and then fight with Lou Rang without caring about anything.

As for the Lou family, everyone was concerned about Lou Jin, the head of the family, and they did not dare to restrict him with the rules of "superiority and inferiority".

Even if he, a nephew, sat on the building and let his uncle beat him up, no one would try to stop him.

Even Madam Cui could only coax and persuade her in a gentle tone.

It’s not that the masters of the Lou family are useless, but that Lou Jin and the secret guards he left for Lou Yu are too powerful!

I can’t pull it!

I dare not fight, and I cannot win!

But now, Lou Dalang has become Lou Yu, and Lou Rang and other people in the Lou family probably think that Lou Yu has become a poor little guy who is easy to bully.

"Humph, have they forgotten that Ye Ye still has secret guards?"

Lou Yu sneered secretly.

Although there is support, it is not as good as before.

Lou Yu decided that he would not easily hand over the handle to others.

Lou Rang wanted to take revenge on him, so the best he could do was add some stuff to the Tu Su wine.

He doesn't dare to poison!

As long as he doesn’t die from eating it, Lou Yu can endure it!

Thinking in his mind, Lou Yu picked up the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

When the brown wine is finished, the bottom of the wine cup is exposed.

"Ugh~"

When Lou Yu saw what was at the bottom of the wine cup, his stomach instinctively churned.

It turned out to be a gecko's tail.

Lou Yu's face turned pale, and the food in his stomach had already flowed back into his throat. He gritted his teeth and swallowed it back.

Isn’t it just a tail? My father said that in the wild, when people are extremely hungry, there is nothing they can’t eat, including snakes, insects, rats and ants.

Lou Yu tried desperately to control the churning in his stomach, and the veins on his neck and forehead bulged.

His deep eyes were filled with ruthlessness, like an enraged wolf.

But after a moment, his face returned to calm.

"...Tusu wine is excellent, thank you very much, uncle!"

Lou Yu raised his head and looked at Lou Rang, and his gaze also returned to calmness and indifference.

Lou Rang was stunned for a moment. How could this little beast not have an attack?

Didn't he see it?

Or, he doesn't know what it is?

That's impossible. The other young men may not have seen it, but Lou Dalang, who tinkers with these things all day long, must know it.

"Da Lang, oh no, it's A Yu, you really should thank me. This bowl of Tu Su wine I gave you is very special. I specially added some treasures to it."

Lou Yu did not make a fuss as he wished, so Lou Rang simply continued to tease her.

He deliberately smiled jokingly, "That's a very tonic thing. If it were someone else, I wouldn't be willing to give it to them, uncle."

Lou Yu pursed his lips and tried hard to raise the corners of his mouth.

He didn't say anything, but still "smiled back", so it wasn't considered rude.

Or maybe it was other young masters from the Lou family who were really curious and came over while saying "what treasure?"

Then, there was a roar that shook the roof off:

"Ahhh! It's a gecko!"

"Oh my god, it's a gecko!"

Several children screamed one after another.

The women sitting in the main hall were also drawn to her attention.

Especially Dugu, she had long seen Lou Rang take the initiative to find Lou Yu, and she had also long heard about the "grudge" between this uncle and nephew.

Dugu couldn't help but worry: Today is New Year's Day, will Shiyilang fight with Dalang?

Alas, I just hope Dalang doesn’t make mistakes. Shiyilang is my uncle and a respected relative.

If the younger generation beats their elders, it is unfilial.

Afterwards, seeing from afar that Lou Yu was quite respectful, Dugu finally felt relieved.

But then, I heard a few children shouting "Gecko".

Dugu was a woman, and even though she had suffered a lot, she was still afraid of things like geckos, snakes, and toads.

"Ah! Gecko! Snake!"

"Oh my god, Lou Dalang, did you fucking release those disgusting things of yours again?!"

As the children screamed, geckos, snakes, mice and other animals suddenly appeared from all directions...