Golden Branch

Zheng Chi was crying and vomiting, and even made Madam Lou look miserable.

The maids were busy for a while before they finally tidied up the grandparents and grandchildren.

After washing up and changing into clean casual clothes, Zheng Chi let his hair down and let the maid wring it dry with a towel.

"Grandma, I really don't want to stay in the Lou family!"

"Let's go to Beijing early."

His eyes and nose were red, and Zheng Chi looked very pitiful.

Mrs. Lou did not agree immediately.

She already knew the injustice Zheng Chi had suffered and also understood her fear.

However, the marriage between Lou Yu and Zheng Chi is not only about two children, but also about the interests of two families.

The Zheng family, in particular, desperately needs the Lou family as a marriage partner.

The Zheng family had long been in decline, and none of its descendants were particularly talented.

Although Mrs. Lou was born in the Lou family, her father and brother have passed away.

Now, the head of the Lou family is her nephew. They are blood relatives, but there is still a gap between them.

Her sons and grandchildren were separated from Lou Jin by another layer.

Moreover, she is already old. If she does not make plans early, when she passes away one day, the Lou family and the Zheng family will completely cut off contact.

For the sake of the Zheng family, her granddaughter must marry into the Lou family!

Mrs. Lou's plan will not change easily just because of Zheng Chi's crying.

Of course, Zheng Chi is her most beloved child after all. She has treasured him for more than ten years, and Mrs. Lou will not completely ignore her wishes.

After a long pause, Madam Lou said slowly, "Achi, Grandmother already knows about this!"

"Don't worry, Grandmother will never let you down!"

Does Lou Yu really have an abnormal aesthetic? Or is he mentally ill?

Mrs. Lou didn't quite believe it, and was even more unwilling to believe it.

She needs to observe for a while longer.

Mrs. Lou did not agree to Zheng Chi, but she temporarily put aside the letter to Lou Jin.

Look again!

Lets see!

Mrs. Lou wanted Lou Yu as her grandson-in-law, but she didn't want to let Zheng Chi down. She needed time to think of a good way to satisfy both parties.

……

Madam Lou was observant and naturally paid special attention to Lou Yu and the daily interactions between Lou Yu and Wang Heng.

Then, Mrs. Lou was shocked to find that—

Ah Chi was right. When Lou Yu and Wang Heng were together, it seemed that all they did was eat and study food.

"Reporting to Madam Tai, Ninth Lady Wang is here again! She brought a peasant girl named Amian with her!"

"I've inquired about it, and I heard that it's Young Master Lou's birthday in two days, and Lady Wang Jiu wants to prepare some food for his birthday banquet!"

The little maidservant stood respectfully below and replied softly.

Mrs. Lou felt a headache when she heard the word "food".

Why eating again?

That day, Zheng Chi was so full that he vomited continuously and fell ill.

Fortunately, I didn't have a fever, just gastrointestinal discomfort. After taking some medicine and eating a few meals of white porridge, I felt better.

Zheng Chi was already thin, and after two days of tossing and turning, his already pointed chin became even sharper, and his cheeks became a little sunken.

Although the Zheng family always requires girls to be slender and graceful, the emphasis is on "beauty" rather than being infinitely thin.

If you are skinny and look sick, that is not allowed!

Mrs. Lou thought that after Zheng Chi's stomach recovered, she would give her some nourishing soups and porridges.

It just so happens that they are now staying at the Lou family, and all expenses including food and clothing are covered by the Lou family.

The Lou family has all kinds of high-end ingredients such as venison, beef, bird's nest, etc. Mrs. Lou, Zheng Chi and other female members of the Zheng family can eat as much as they want.

During the past few days at the Lou Clan's Fortress, Mrs. Lou seemed to have returned to her pre-married self:

You don’t have to think about money at all, you don’t have to care about the looks of several generations of elders and dozens of sisters-in-law, you only need to care about whether they like it or not and whether they are satisfied or not!

"...The Lou family is still the best!"

Not only is her mother's family wealthy and luxurious, it is completely different from the "noble" Zheng family.

This is how Mrs. Lou's life will be, and she doesn't want her beloved baby Achi to be like this too.

It’s better to marry Lou Yu.

only--

"Dalang's birthday?"

In addition to "food", Madam Lou also grasped a key point in the little maid's words.

She squinted her eyes and thought carefully, then remembered, "May 9th! Dalang's birthday is May 9th!"

Just after the Dragon Boat Festival, we avoided the unlucky "poison day".

"Madam, it is the ninth day of the fifth month."

The little maidservant was very careful and did not forget to ask more questions when she was trying to get information.

Originally, she wanted to take credit from the lady.

Unexpectedly, the Madam herself remembered it... That's right, the Madam is Mr. Lou's elder, how could she not remember his birthday?

"Da Lang is young, so a grand birthday banquet is not appropriate. But he is the head of the Lou family's eldest branch. Even if we don't invite guests, we should still celebrate with our family."

It was a good opportunity to let Achi make a birthday gift by himself, so as to bring the "brother and sister" closer together.

Mrs. Lou spoke casually, secretly calculating in her heart.

Even if it is a family banquet, given Lou Jin's status and the wealth of the Lou family, it must be well prepared.

The money spent during this period... Madam Lou has been the mistress for decades and is used to doing the accounting.

In fact, if it weren't for the fact that she couldn't stay in Hedong for too long this time, only a month at most, Madam Lou would have wanted to take over the management of the Lou's Fortress.

Being a housekeeper...is hard work, but it has many benefits.

Back when the Zheng family was still a family, Madam Lou had managed the household for a few years.

Her dowry was indeed generous, but it was not really enough to spend.

When you are a housekeeper, it is normal to transfer some money quietly.

Even after the "incident" happened, the Zheng family had already become impoverished, and the Lou family had become even more prosperous. The elders of the Zheng family could only swallow their anger and accept it silently.

The Lou family is even richer than the Zheng family at its peak. Even if you are not a long-term housekeeper, you can still make a lot of money by just doing a casual job.

Pity.

After all, Madam Lou was not so shameless as to do so, so she could only sigh at the "banquet".

"Madam, you are wise. I have also made inquiries, and just as you said, the Lou family is indeed not planning a grand celebration."

The little maid was very smart and continued to report.

Mrs. Lou nodded slightly and said nothing more.

She was about to raise her hand to send the maid away when she suddenly thought of something and asked, "Where is Dalang? What is he doing now?"

I seemed to hear the maid say just now that he was playing with Wang Jiu.

Wang Jiu is really not shy. Not only does he come to the fort often, but he also brings outsiders with him.

"The young master is in his Begonia Courtyard, cooking with Wang Jiuniang."

Although the maid didn't know why the lady asked again, she still answered obediently.

Madam Lou pursed her lips, raised her hand and waved, and the little maid hurriedly retreated respectfully.

Mrs. Lou got up and went to the east wing, Zheng Chi's room.

Zheng Chi was still lying on the couch, drinking a bowl of beef porridge, and his complexion looked better.

Not as pale, but still thin.

Mrs. Lou felt very distressed.

At Zheng Chi's age, he should have some baby fat.

Even if the face is thin, it should be tender and plump.

Instead of being like now, there is almost only a layer of skin left on the face, the skin has no luster, and does not have the vitality and health that a child should have.

He has already lost his looks. If he loses any more weight, he will look like a seriously ill person on the verge of death!

"Big Mother!"

When Zheng Chi saw Madam Lou come in, he quickly sat up and greeted her respectfully.

"Ok!"

Madam Lou responded and sat down on the couch.

She took Zheng Chi's hand, and the joints of his small hand became more and more obvious, and it was almost impossible to feel the flesh.

"Achi, are you feeling better?"

"...Much better! I just had a bowl of beef porridge and I feel energetic now."

"That's good!"

"Achi, I know you don't want to be forced to eat, but your cousin is not an unreasonable person. You can talk to him nicely, and I will teach him a lesson. He will definitely not do this again in the future!"

Mrs. Lou thought about it again and again and decided to let her granddaughter try again.

Lou Yu may have some problems, but they are not unsolvable.

The current Lou Yu is no longer the arrogant and wild boy he was two or three years ago. He is well-educated and sensible, and his words and actions are measured.

Mrs. Lou felt that she could reason with him.

Zheng Chi's lips, which were almost colorless, were pursed into a line.

She doesn't want to!

She doesn't want to!

But she knew that this was not something she could decide.

Looking up, Zheng Chi saw his grandmother's loving eyes that showed that she could not be disobeyed.

Zheng Chi hesitated and did not respond immediately.

Mrs. Lou had no choice but to continue, "It just so happens that your cousin's birthday is in two days."

"That girl from the Wang family is here again. I guess she's figured out your cousin's personality and is trying to please him by dragging him along to eat!"

Wang Heng is young, and she and Lou Yu are more like close friends who have played together since childhood.

However, Mrs. Lou wanted to marry her granddaughter to Lou Yu, so she regarded Wang Heng, who was of the same age as her granddaughter, as a competitor.

Lou Yu can only marry her granddaughter, and never marry a young girl from another family.

Wang family daughter?

Humph, his birth was indeed noble, but his parents divorced, his father remarried, his mother remarried, his stepmother did not tolerate him, and he was left on the farm to fend for himself.

How could such a person compete with her Fourteenth Lady?

Perhaps, Wang Jiuniang realized that her situation was difficult, and she finally met Lou Yu, who was willing to play with her, and regarded him as a life-saving straw.

In order to please Lou Yu, he even ate and drank to his heart's content, turning himself into a ball!

You really have no spine!

Mrs. Lou was definitely taking her anger out on others – how could Lou Yu, a young man, have such strange preferences? Such a distorted aesthetic?

Like to feed?

Are you keen on making people fat?

Madam Lou didn't understand, and didn't want to respect her. Unfortunately, she couldn't do anything but blame Wang Heng - she was trying to please others, speak sweet words, and fawn on them, which was disgraceful!

There is definitely nothing wrong with our own children. Even if they do, they are probably influenced by the bad kids outside.

Madam Lou was even more hostile to Wang Heng than Zheng Chi.

Madam Lou was eager to have her granddaughter surpass Wang Heng and replace Wang Heng to stand next to Lou Yu.

Zheng Chi: ...No! I don't want to! I'm afraid of being forced to eat again!

Unfortunately, facing his grandmother's serious face, Zheng Chi couldn't say the word "no" at all.

She bit her lower lip hard, and after a long while, she slowly nodded: "Yes! I, I will listen to my mother!"

Zheng Chi climbed up from the couch, changed into clothes for going out, and headed towards Haitang Courtyard with the little maid.

The courtyard of Haitangyuan is very large, with two entrances.

Lou Yu specially had a small kitchen built, and Wang Mian was directly responsible for the kitchen layout, furnishings, etc.

Wang Mian: ...Humph, don't you hate me? When you encounter problems, you still come to me?

Wang Mian was secretly proud and arrogant, but she didn't dare to refuse.

He carefully decorated a large kitchen for Lou Yu, with a row of stoves and an oven.

There are also many kitchen utensils, and Wang Mian also designed a complete set according to the standards of later generations.

At this moment, Wang Heng and Wang Mian were sitting together, watching several strong maids beating cream with the egg beater "designed" by Wang Mian.

Lou Yu was sitting by the window with a book in his hand, basking in the sunshine, either looking down at the book or looking up at the fat girl.

Lou Yu didn't care at all about what Wang Mian said about the birthday cake.

He would allow them to act recklessly in his yard, mainly because Wang Heng liked it.

Moreover, the birthday cake should be extremely delicious - anything produced by Wang Mian must be a top quality product, and this has been certified by the fat girl herself.

The fat girl will definitely like the new food that Wang Mian has made.

"Amian, I seem to smell the aroma of eggs and milk!"

"Hmm, the cake base should be almost done!"

The aroma of the sugar and oil mixture is overbearing.

As wisps of hot air wafted out of the oven, the sweet aroma unique to the bakery instantly spread throughout the kitchen.

Zheng Chi smelled it as soon as she approached the kitchen. Although she was not greedy for delicious food, she would still be attracted by it.

Especially after being hungry for a few days, even though you have just eaten, your taste buds are still stimulated.

"It smells so good!"

Zheng Chi was attracted by the aroma of the cake and almost forgot his fear of Lou Yu.

Lou Yu frowned. Why did this bean sprout come again?

Didn't I succeed in scaring her?

I heard he was sick!

It's only been a few days and it's popping up again?

Also, that soft, subtle "It smells good" just now was probably said by her, right?

How come she was also tempted by the smell of the cake?

That won't work!

That's the fat girl's.

Lou Yu would never allow anyone to take away the fat girl's delicious food.

"Achi, you're here! Have you had breakfast yet? The chef has made egg custard, steamed buns, and some newly developed buns and steamed buns... Come and try them all!"

Lou Yu stood up and took the initiative to greet him.

He did not mention any cake at all, but instead ordered everyone to bring out the daily meals prepared by the kitchen.

The large kitchen is divided into two rooms. The inner room is the stove and other operation rooms, while the outer room has tables, shelves, etc.

The table is large and long, and can seat nearly twenty people.

Such a big table was filled with twenty or thirty cups, bowls, plates and dishes.

Zheng Chi took a glance and his face immediately lost all color.

What do you mean?

My cousin wants me to eat all of this?

"...Um, cousin, I've already had breakfast!"

"Hey, you can eat more after using it! Look at you, you've become even thinner. You should eat some more!"

"No! No need!"

Zheng Chi was really scared. She didn't even care about etiquette. She said, "Cousin, I have something to do, so I'll leave first," and left in a hurry.

The way he fled was as if there was a mad dog chasing him.

Lou Yu watched Zheng Chi leave, curled the corners of his lips, and sat back down with satisfaction.

Wang Heng & Wang Mian: …

……

The ninth day of the fifth lunar month is Lou Yu’s tenth birthday.

The Lou family did not hold a big banquet, but just held a family dinner.

A certain prince: ...Family dinner? After all, I'm Lou Yu's "brother" too!

PS: It’s the end of the month, I’m asking for a monthly ticket?(^?^*)