RPAGF Chapter 194 Amazement
Chapter 194 Amazement
Zhang Pingan really didn't expect that he would meet Li Mingxuan again. Although they hadn't seen each other for only half a year, the person in front of him had changed so much.
Not only did he get rid of his previous shabby and poor appearance, wearing a white fox fur coat that looked very valuable and a jade crown, but his personality also changed a lot. He was no longer as cold and aloof as before, but now he had a smile on his face and was as gentle as jade. If someone who didn't know his background saw him for the first time, they would definitely praise him as a handsome young man.
Li Mingxuan then bowed to Zhang Laoer and Xu and said, "Hello, uncle and aunt!"
Zhang Laoer quickly waved his hand and said, "No need to be so polite. I never thought we would meet today."
Li Mingxuan stood up straight and said with a smile: "Yes, I didn't expect that our two families have such a deep bond. Let me introduce you. The person next to you is my wife."
Zhang Ping'an had long noticed the woman standing next to him who was dressed in the same elegant attire. One could even say she was a girl. Although she was dressed very maturely, her face was still very childish. She was no more than sixteen or seventeen years old, with a fair complexion.
After hearing Li Mingxuan's introduction, the woman stepped forward, knelt down and saluted, saying, "Hello, uncle and aunt!"
Looks very gentle and has a good temperament.
Xu was somewhat at a loss and replied, "Okay, okay!"
I was hesitant and didn't know whether I should give a gift, but the relationship between our two families was not very close, and it seemed like I would be at a disadvantage if I gave it.
After thinking about it, he finally gave two worthless big red heart knots. These were made by Wu Ya and Liu Ya when they were bored at home. He tied a very ordinary peace locket in the middle. He originally wanted to go back and give them to the female members of his family.
Neither Li Mingxuan nor his wife showed any disgust on their faces. They smiled, thanked him, and took it.
Zhang Ping'an thought that was the end of it. Based on his previous understanding of Li Mingxuan, he was a very arrogant person with a strong self-esteem and a sensitive mind, and he would definitely not stay any longer.
Unexpectedly, Li Mingxuan smiled and suggested, "Brother Zhang and I haven't seen each other for a long time. Why don't we eat together? I'll order two more dishes. This meal is my treat."
Zhang Ping'an declined politely, "Brother Li, it's been a while since we last met. I'd really like to have dinner with you and have a good chat, but I see you've brought quite a few servants with you, so it might not be very convenient. How about we get together next time?"
Li Mingxuan sat down and said, "It's okay, just let them eat at the table next to you."
A table can seat eight people, but there are only six of them now, with two empty seats. Li Mingxuan naturally sat down and called out, "Waiter, take our order."
"Okay, sir, what would you like to order?" the waiter said enthusiastically, picking up the towel on his shoulder and wiping the table again.
"Give me another tofu stew, a stuffed eggplant, glutinous rice and radish dumplings, and a pot of the best Tieguanyin tea," said Li Mingxuan.
"Okay!" replied the waiter.
After Li Mingxuan finished ordering the dishes, he smiled at Zhang Pingan and said, "Brother Zhang, we are in mourning right now, so we can't eat meat or drink alcohol. But vegetarian dishes are also good. Eating something light is good for your stomach."
Zhang Pingan smiled and said, "Very good, very good, this dish is quite good. I wonder how Brother Li has been doing in the past six months?"
Li Mingxuan shook his wife's hand and said with a smile, "When you moved to the provincial capital, you left in a hurry and didn't have time to attend my wedding. After I got married in October, I went to Tingtao Academy in Yingzhou, the provincial capital. The provincial capital academy closed for vacation early, at the beginning of the twelfth lunar month. I had planned to take my wife home to celebrate the New Year, but as soon as we arrived in the provincial capital by boat, we encountered a large-scale epidemic. I heard that the gates of the county town below were also closed, so we have been delayed in the provincial capital until now. Yesterday, I heard that the gates of the county town were open, so I decided to come back. I was very embarrassed after traveling for several days, so I planned to come to the inn to have a meal, wash up, and pack up before going home."
Xu smiled and said, "That's great! Your family has finally found happiness after all the hardship. So, do you live in the county or in the town below? Where are your mother and brother?"
"Yes, after all the hardships come happiness," Li Mingxuan laughed, then replied, "They are in Yingzhou City. We bought a house there and settled down. It was freezing cold in winter, so we didn't let them come back with us. My father-in-law's home is just north of the county town. We'll rest a bit and then go back directly."
"You have settled down in the provincial capital, that's amazing," Xu was extremely envious when she heard that. She felt a little uncomfortable in her heart, thinking that the boy from the Li family was not even as good as her own son. He couldn't even pass the exam to become a scholar, but he was doing so well.
"Mom, eat the food, otherwise it will get cold," Zhang Ping'an helped his mother pick up a piece of food with chopsticks.
The relationship between the two families is not very close, so it is not good to keep prying into other people's background.
Zhang Laoer also said in a deep voice: "Hurry up and eat the food, otherwise the food will get cold and the oil will solidify."
Xu was not someone who did not understand what was said, so she said awkwardly, "I know, I know."
Zhang Pingan smiled apologetically and talked about his recent situation: "I have been studying at the provincial school since I went to the provincial capital. By chance, I became a disciple of a teacher and met some good classmates. Overall, my life is pretty good."
Li Mingxuan smiled and said, "That's good. I know you've always had good luck."
Zhang Pingan said awkwardly: "Haha, it's okay!"
After having an awkward meal with Li Mingxuan, the two separated. The room the Zhang family booked was on the second floor, and Li Mingxuan booked a room on the third floor.
Seeing Li Mingxuan walking steadily, Zhang Ping'an guessed that his leg must have been treated very well and there were no sequelae.
Zhang Ping'an asked the waiter to bring him some water, washed up briefly, and then went to bed.
The next morning, everyone drove back to the town and first took a detour to Liu the butcher's house. Every household in the town had changed their wedding couplets to white and hung up white banners, but some people had not yet put on mourning clothes, perhaps because they had not had time to do so.
Before reaching the Liu family's door, I saw Maodaner and another little boy playing with spinning tops at the door from afar.
"Mao Dan'er!" Zhang Ping'an lifted the curtain and shouted.
Maodan looked up and around, only then did he see his grandparents and uncle, and he screamed, "Uncle, Grandpa, Grandma, Fifth Aunt, Sixth Aunt."
He shouted and ran towards the mule cart.