After politely declining Li Ke and his wife's offer to stay for a meal, the father and daughter left Qin Shumo reluctantly, and returned to Qingshan Village in the evening.

Seeing them coming back, Zhao Cao'er, who was about to have dinner, directly brought his own food over. Seeing that there were fish and meat on the dining table in the big room, he felt that his own food was too shabby, and he hurriedly cooked the stove.

Pan eel.

After not seeing their son and granddaughter for a few days, Mrs. Miao and Mrs. Miao were not allowed to ask about their experiences in the past few days. The father and daughter each supplemented the story and told them in detail about their visit to Sanbao and Qin Shumo.

Zhao Cao'er was most curious about Qin Xiaoxiao's visit to the Qin Mansion to celebrate his birthday. He kept asking questions without stopping, and Qin Chuan didn't even notice Qin Chuan winking at her.

Ordinary people can never imagine what kind of life a wealthy family leads. It is precisely because of this that it attracts people to pry more and more to satisfy their curiosity about unknown things.

Seeing that his grandparents' expressions were expressionless, Qin Xiaoxiao couldn't bear his second aunt's prodding, so he recounted the lively scene at the birthday banquet.

"My dear, we have set up dozens of tables. How many good things will we receive from so many people celebrating their birthdays?" Zhao Cao'er smacked his lips in envy.

After sighing, she looked at Qin Xiaoxiao and asked: "I heard that the wives of wealthy families give greeting gifts to juniors they don't know. Did you receive any good things during your trip?"

Qin Xiaoxiao didn't think much about it, just thinking that she didn't know the rules of giving greeting gifts to wealthy families, so she explained: "It does happen, but this greeting gift is not given casually. The elders must first let the juniors come to the house to see the gift. This meeting gift

Only then can I give it out. I am also a guest celebrating my birthday, so what do they give me as a greeting gift?"

Zhao Cao'er slapped his thigh and said with pain: "So that's it... What a pity. If I really gave it to you when I saw it, how many good things would I have to collect!"

The others were speechless. Qin Chuan also felt embarrassed and cursed: "You are short-sighted. No matter how many good things you get, you won't get a share!"

Zhao Cao'er was not happy and glared: "It's not good to talk about it. If you have the ability, when my mother turns sixty, she can be as prosperous as that old lady, and then she can earn generous gifts for the younger generations in the family.

!”

Qin Chuan snorted: "I don't have the ability to make my mother celebrate her birthday in glory, but the third child in our family did. My father celebrated his sixtieth birthday the year before last. Who is worse than Shili Baxiang?"

Zhao Cao'er shook his head and sighed: "Oh, I don't have the fate of our mother. I am heartbroken that Dabao is so useless. Erbao has been studying for more than ten years and has not achieved anything. If he fails again next year,

You can only go home and dig in the fields like the rest of us."

Qin Chuan was not happy to hear this and retorted: "Compared with children from other families, Dabao and Erbao are more promising. Don't always keep your eyes on the top of your head and look at things you shouldn't."

This is true, Dabao himself is a civil servant, can he still make money by doing business? Is he smarter and more capable than most people? The amount he will take home this year will not be less than last year. If he doesn’t want to have the hard work of running around in the future? He can also buy land.

Be a rich man.

As for Erbao, although he has been studying for many years and failed to become a scholar, he is not a problem in reading and writing. It will not be difficult to find an easy job in the city? He can even borrow Qin He's face and help him find a job in the yamen.

It's a good job, and the future won't be too bad.

Seeing the lively quarrel between the two married couples, who never mentioned Sanbao as his son, Qin Shan snorted dissatisfied: "I think Sanbao is a promising child, and he will definitely win the childbirth examination next year? Do you want to be as famous as our parents?"

? Just be nice to the Three Treasures!"

He felt sorry for Sanbao, his obedient and sensible nephew. Sometimes he couldn't help but think about whether it would have been better for everyone if he had adopted him as his adopted son and raised him as twins with Xiaoxiao.

"Your eldest brother is right. You haven't paid any attention to Sanbao until now? How can you be parents like you!" Mr. Qin has also been dissatisfied with his second son and daughter-in-law for a long time because of Sanbao.

He said it countless times, but they couldn't remember it in their hearts. He couldn't teach him with sticks every day.

Qin Chuan rubbed his hands and said with an unnatural expression: "Dad, we are so worried about the second and third treasures. We really don't have much energy to take care of the third treasure. Moreover, this child is not close to us. I am afraid that he is not close to us by nature.

.”

This excuse made Mr. Qin not want to talk to them, but for the sake of his third grandson, he had to remind him: "I can't control the evil you have done, but there is one thing you must remember. If the third treasure succeeds in the future, don't be like a leech."

Just stick to him and trick him."

The second couple looked at each other in confusion. They had imagined how they would show off to others when the second and third treasures became successful, but they really didn't think about how they would show off to others when the third treasure became successful.

Facing his old father's stern eyes, Qin Chuan trembled and said hurriedly: "Dad, Sanbao is also my son. I am also happy that he has become successful. I will definitely not do anything to deceive him."

As he spoke, he poked Zhao Cao'er with his elbow: "Do you think so?"

Zhao Caoer curled his lips and nodded reluctantly.

She is not close to San Bao, and she is also San Bao's biological mother. When San Bao becomes successful in the future, she should be filial to her biological mother. Who dares to say that she is a leech?

Mr. Qin glanced at Zhao Cao'er and warned Qin Chuan with a tigerish face: "I am too old to control you for a few years, but a brother is like a father. Without me, you still have your brother. If you dare to forget what I said,

Your elder brother will take care of you!"

When Qin Chuan heard this, the tragic scene of being suppressed and beaten by his father and brother in his early years instantly came to mind, and he assured with a disheveled face: "Dad, don't worry, I will definitely listen to you and I will never dare to mess around.

"

Mr. Qin snorted and stopped talking to the couple.

Qin Xiaoxiao watched it from beginning to end and quietly gave Mr. Qin a thumbs up: Jiang is still hot as he is old, grandpa is mighty!

Seeing this, Mr. Qin narrowed his eyes and patted the back of her head, feeling somewhat comforted.

Of the three sons he raised, the third was the most promising, the eldest was the most popular, and the second was the most heartless. He even married an equally heartless woman, which made him have to worry about them at his age.

Fortunately, the little bastards below are all good. If someone worse than the second child appears, he will not be able to live peacefully in the rest of his life.

After the meal, Lin Qiuniang did not let Qin Xiaoxiao wash the dishes and sent her back to her room to rest. Zhao Caoer held the dishes and chopsticks that she had eaten and wiped clean, and shouted that she wanted to wash them with her sister-in-law, so the two sisters came to the kitchen together.

Room.

After washing only two bowls, Zhao Cao'er glanced outside and lowered his voice and said, "Sister-in-law, you and eldest brother are too big-hearted. How can you let Xiaoxiao go with you?"

Lin Qiuniang stopped washing the dishes and said calmly: "Although your eldest brother and I have raised Xiaoxiao, she is the closest relative who gave birth to her. We cannot break this relationship if we want."

Zhao Cao'er rolled his eyes and thought they were stupid: "You and eldest brother should take advantage of Xiaoxiao's heart to be with you, and force Xiaoxiao to cut off contact with them, otherwise they will trap Xiaoxiao.

What should we do to get her to recognize her ancestors and return to her clan? Apart from anything else, there is so much power over there, how can you and my eldest brother compete with each other!"

Lin Qiuniang was upset when she heard this. She tightened her hands a lot, and the dishes made a harsh clashing sound: "You can't help but force Dabao to study again and take the imperial examination, and I can't force my daughter to do it either. We are both the same.

, I can only admit it.”

Zhao Cao'er shouted: "How can it be compared like this? You and your eldest brother just laugh at a girl. Without her, what hope do you have for the rest of your life? There are many things said in the village these days. I am worried for you and your eldest brother.

!”

Lin Qiuniang frowned and asked, "What did the village say?"

She didn't like the fact that her parents had shortcomings, and she usually chatted with the sisters she was in love with, mostly talking about trivial things about her family. She never noticed that gossip about her family was being spread in the village.

"Oh, Xiaoxiao has forgotten his roots. After finding his biological father and mother, he doesn't want to take care of you anymore. He also said that Xiaoxiao will leave sooner or later and become her official lady." Seeing that Lin Qiuniang didn't know anything, Zhao Cao'er told what he knew.

.

Lin Qiuniang's face was livid: "Xiaoxiao never said she was leaving, that's not what they said at all!" After that, she stared at Zhao Cao'er and asked: "I didn't mention Xiaoxiao's birthday celebration to the Qin Mansion to outsiders.

I don’t even know how they knew it.”

When Zhao Cao'er heard this, he didn't dare to look at her: "Who, who knows, maybe when we were talking about this, someone happened to be passing by nearby, and this person listened."

She didn't mean to tell it everywhere, it was just that the old sisters in the village came to chat with her, and she said it for a while. Besides, this is not something that cannot be said. Xiaoxiao's life experience has been spread early, even if there is no birthday greeting

No matter what, they still think so.

Lin Qiuniang knew it, but she didn't bother to get to the bottom of it. She just said: "Recognizing your ancestors and returning to your clan is a matter of no trace. If someone asks you in the future, just tell her so directly. If she doesn't believe it and spreads rumors everywhere, let her

Come to me and I will make it clear to her."

Those venomous people in the village have driven people to death, and if they are allowed to spread rumors, their daughter's reputation will be ruined.

"Ah, oh, ok, I understand." Zhao Cao'er knew Lin Qiuniang's temperament and saw that she was already angry at this moment, so he didn't dare to say any more for fear of burning himself.

Thinking about Qin Xiaoxiao not receiving the greeting gift, does that mean that the Qin Mansion does not want to recognize her at all, otherwise it would be great to take this opportunity to let her meet the guests and fully confirm her identity as the Miss Qin Mansion.

Lin Qiuniang didn't care what Zhao Cao'er was thinking. After the dishes were washed, she sent them away and filled a basin of hot water herself and brought it to Qin Xiaoxiao's room.

Seeing that the lamps were lit in the room and her daughter was holding a book and reading fascinatedly, she smiled and put the basin on the ground: "Xiaoxiao, you must be tired after a long day's journey. Come and take a warm bath."

After soaking in the water, I went to bed early to rest, and it won’t be too late to read this book tomorrow.”

Qin Xiaoxiao quickly put down her book and walked around the desk: "Mom, I have hands and feet, how can I ask you to bring me foot-washing water!"

Lin Qiuniang smiled and said: "What are you afraid of at home? No one will make irresponsible remarks."

"I'm not afraid of what outsiders say, I just think you are too good to me!"

Qin Xiaoxiao hugged her mother's arm and shook her, pulling her to the bedside and sitting down. Then she walked in with the still steaming basin and put it in front of the bed: "Mom, we haven't soaked our feet together for a long time.

, let’s just go together today.”

Naturally, Lin Qiuniang would not refuse and said yes with a smile.

Qin Xiaoxiao helped her take off her shoes and socks, then sat on the stool in front of the bed, put her feet in, and sighed happily: "It's more comfortable at home, and you can't soak your feet in an inn."

Lin Qiuniang knew that she was dissatisfied with the inn's basin being dirty if too many guests used it, so she didn't want to soak her feet. She couldn't help but smile and said, "It's because you haven't suffered much since you were a child. If I ask you to try not washing for a few months, you

Then you won’t be too dissatisfied with one thing or another.”

Qin Xiaoxiao said with a smile: "So my life is good. With parents like you and me, there is no girl in the whole village who is more blessed than me."

Lin Qiuniang laughed and scratched her nose: "I won't forget to flatter you even after I soaked my feet!"

"Oh, you can tell!" Qin Xiaoxiao made a face: "Don't you like my flattery too?"

Lin Qiuniang said helplessly: "I like it, you little flatterer!"

Seeing that her mother was completely happy, Qin Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to tell her another important thing: "Mom, this time I went to the capital and I met Brother Li."

Lin Qiuniang suppressed her smile and asked softly: "Did Mr. Jing bring up that matter again?"
To be continued...