PUGPF – Chapter 175

Chapter 174: Lodging (3)

Raws: https:// book. qidian. com/info/3391187

All credit to original author: Yi Yi Lan Xi

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Zhang Qing’s tone was extraordinarily polite, with an additional two points in his smile to please. Lian Fang Zhou was slightly surprised but understood his meaning in a blink of an eye.

This was loving the crow, loving the— no it should be respecting the crow, respecting the house.

Lian Fang Zhou laughed and said, “It just so happens that breakfast is almost ready. Brother Zhang might as well stay and have some together!”

Zhang Qing naturally wanted to stay but he was afraid that Cui Shao Xi would be upset, so he smiled vaguely and quietly glanced at Cui Shao Xi.

In fact, Cui Shao Xi did not want outsiders around to be an eyesore— don’t ask him where the feeling of ‘outsiders’ came from, it was just how he felt! The Lian family was his own and everyone else was just outsiders.

But thinking about it, Li Zheng was the biggest official in the village. It was good for Fang Zhou’s family to be closer with Li Zheng’s family!

He smiled politely at Zhang Qing and invited: “Yes, just stay and eat together!”

It was a real honor to be invited by Young Master Cui, himself. Zhang Qing’s eyes burst with bubbles and his mouth almost reached the roots of his ears. He nodded and laughed: “Okay, okay! It’s better to respect fate!”

“Come sit in our room and wait for a while,” Lian Fang Zhou smiled.

Cui Shao Xi hummed and asked, “Ah Ze, Qing’er, Che’er, and the others?”

Lian Fang Zhou nodded and said: “They’ve taken the oxen and donkeys out, I let Qin Feng and Su Zi Ji go with them!”

Cui Shao Xi found this very agreeable, so he nodded and smiled: “This is natural!”

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Cui Shao Xi and Zhang Qing sat down in the room and Lian Fang Zhou poured tea. She added some charcoal to the brazier and smiled, asking them to wait for a little white, before she went back to the kitchen.

In the room, Cui Shao Xi and Zhang Qing talked lightly about nothing important. Zhang Qing was flattered and spoke cautiously. He wanted to think carefully before he spoke. Who knew how Cui Shao Xi felt but Cui Yi was impatient enough on his behalf!

Cui Yi couldn’t help but yawn quietly, glancing at Cui Shao Xi in puzzlement. What was wrong with his master today? Why had he suddenly changed his temper? If he had run into such a boring person previously, he would think nothing of flinging his sleeves and leaving.

However, looking at his expression, though he looked calm, he was actually already irritated.

Why did he have to endure this…

Finally, there was a loud noise from the yard. It was Lian Ze and the others returning. Cui Shao Xi, like a prisoner sensing his freedom, relaxed and sighed inwardly. He stood up and laughed: It’s Qing’er and the others, let’s go see what they are up to!”

Although Zhang Qing did not think there was anything interesting about this, he still laughed and followed him.

With Lian Fang Qing and the others, the atmosphere finally relaxed a lot and Cui Shao Xi no longer felt the need to escape.

After a while, Lian Fang Zhou and Third Aunt finished preparing breakfast and started serving, smiling.

Today, they had made hand-rolled fried noodles stir-fried with diced eggs, minced meat, garlic, diced mushrooms, and some soy sauce to add a fragrant taste. They blanched and sliced the winter celery, cabbage sprouts, and kohlrabi for side dishes along with a bowl of boiling hot pepper oil. Topped with finely chopped chives, the preparation was very rich.

Such a meal in the country, even if it was a holiday, was very rare.

Everyone smiled and praised the smell of the various ingredients mixed together.

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Even for the relatively wealthy Li Zheng, this kind of food was hard to come by. Zhang Qing swallowed twice subconsciously and couldn’t help but secretly glance at Lian Fang Zhou a few times. Her heart had climbed up to her wealthy relatives. Sure enough, her family was going places!

Third Aunt and Lian Fang Zhou finished serving everyone and let Cui Yi and the other servants go into the kitchen to eat.

After a lively breakfast, Lian Fang Zhou politely thanked Zhang Qing, saying that she needed to see Young Master Cui off, so she couldn’t stay to entertain him.

Although Lian Fang Zhou was half Zhang Qing’s age, for some reason, Zhang Qing suddenly felt in awe of her. He didn’t dare look down on her. Hearing what she said, he politely said his goodbyes and left with a smile.

When he returned home, Zhang Qing quickly told his father all that he had seen and heard. Zhang Li Zheng couldn’t help but sigh, thinking that the second branch of the Lian family was really rising to the top!

“It’s no wonder. It’s hard to stay poor when you climb into such a family! Please who just stretch out a little finger are better than us! Alas, this is just fate, you can’t hate it!”

Sighing for a bit, he then said sternly to Madam Niu and his family members: “Let’s close the door and keep this to ourselves. Remember this in the future, don’t offend the Lian siblings! Ah, it you can help them, help as much as possible! If you see anyone bullying them, say a few words! If you hear bad gossip, help set things straight! Do you understand me?

Zhang Qing, Madam Niu, and the others all quickly agreed.

The fifty taels of silver, the incomparable set of bedding, including the soft and warm cashmere blanket, had all completely impressed Madam Niu.

Zhang Li Zheng nodded, gratified at their quick agreement.

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Suddenly he shouted ‘oh!’ and slapped his thigh, saying regretfully: “The cotton seeds were all arranged by our family. What a pity, I forgot to talk to Young Master Cui about this!”

“Father,” Zhang Qing said with a smile, “it just so happens that Young Master Cui asked about this and mentioned that Fang Zhou and her family needed more and more help. I took the opportunity to let him know we have been helping her.”

“Really? Haha, good, good!” Zhang Li Zheng smiled, feeling very pleased.

At the Lian house, Lian Fang Zhou urged Cui Shao Xi to get into the carriage: “Let’s go, let’s go to the fields and take a look. Then you should go back quickly, take advantage of the early morning!”

Cui Shao Xi was reluctant but seeing Lian Fang Zhou’s determination, he got into the carriage.

Lian Fang Qing and Lian Che also wanted to go and climbed into the donkey cart together.

Seeing this, Cui Shao Xi hurriedly said: “Why don’t you ride in my carriage? It has enough room, anyways!”

Lian Fang Zhou smiled and said, “No, you just ride in peace! We are used to traveling like this. Your carriage is so clean, don’t get it dirty!”

What else could Cui Shao Xi say to this? When he tried, Lian Fang Zhou said first: “You really don’t have to be so polite, isn’t it better for everyone to be at ease?”

Cui Shao Xi smiled at this and nodded, smiling: “Well, then I will ride in the donkey cart too!”

At his words, Ah Jian glanced at him. Why was this young master rushing to ride in the cart with them? It was so strange! Before Lian Fang Zhou could speak, Lian Fang Qing and Lian Che agreed very enthusiastically, and quickly offered him the best seat.