It was really too late when she got home today. Qi Jiao's eyelashes fluttered as she said apologetically, "I originally planned to come back earlier, but I ran into Lord Hui when I was going out. I was busy discussing things with him. I should have sent someone to let you know, but I just forgot in a flash..."
She hooked her arm around Pei Xia's and said softly, "Husband, let's go inside."
Pei Xia's smile was a bit bitter. He wasn't mistaken. The attendant Yuan beside Lord Hui had just sent Jiao Niang back.
Jiao Niang could freely enter and exit the magistrate's back residence and had been delayed for such a long time. There must be important matters to discuss in detail.
He stood at the courtyard gate as the sky gradually darkened. People came and went at the end of the long street, but there was no sign of Jiao Niang.
Suddenly, a strange thought welled up in Pei Xia's heart.
Jiao Niang was so outstanding. She shouldn't be confined to the small Lingle County.
Lord Hui and Lady Fang might be the noble people who would help Jiao Niang realize her grand ambitions.
But why did his heart feel so stuffy?
He was afraid that Jiao Niang would soar away and gradually forget about him.
Pei Xia was in a state of unease, imagining hundreds of possibilities.
Then, he heard the sound of carriages and horses.
He smelled the faint fragrance on Jiao Niang's body and saw her standing gracefully in front of him.
He felt as if he had come back to life.
Pei Xia swore in his heart that Jiao Niang was his. No matter what she wanted to do or where she wanted to go, even to the ends of the earth, he would follow her.
Qi Jiao sensed Pei Xia's emotional change and looked up at him. "A Xia, what's wrong?"
She told him the good news. "I made a fortune today."
Qi Jiao chattered on, telling Pei Xia everything that had happened in the afternoon.
Pei Xia originally thought that Lord Hui and Lady Fang, seeing Jiao Niang's excellent cooking skills, would recruit her to work as a cook in their mansion. Maybe in two or three years, she would leave Lingle County and follow them back to the capital.
Unexpectedly, it was just a matter of discussing business cooperation.
It was just a false alarm.
Pei Xia let out a long sigh of relief, and his complexion improved slightly.
He was relieved and sincerely happy for Jiao Niang.
Qi Jiao was a bit tired, but the sparkle in her eyes was brighter than the moonlight.
His Jiao Niang was the most beautiful and radiant woman in the world.
Pei Xia caught his breath and placed his big hand on her slender waist, pulling her into his arms.
He picked Jiao Niang up in one go.
During the short walk into the door, Qi Jiao felt that Pei Xia's steps were urgent and heavy.
He turned sideways and almost rammed the door open.
With a kick of his foot, the door closed firmly, blocking out the boundless night. Only the two of them were left in the dim room.
Pei Xia unceremoniously threw Qi Jiao onto the couch and leaned over.
His heavy and hot breath made Qi Jiao's face flush.
She held Pei Xia's handsome face. "Wait. I haven't washed up yet."
Pei Xia didn't give her a chance to say more and lowered his head to kiss her.
The moonlight shone into the room, casting a frost - white glow on the ground.
The lamp in the room was extinguished. Vaguely, one could see the overlapping shadows on the gauze curtain, intertwined with each other.
*
Husband and wife don't let grudges last overnight.
After Pei Xia learned about Jiao Niang's plan, his feelings of uneasiness faded away with the wind. The two were in harmony with each other's hearts and more in tune.
Everyone around them noticed this change, even the youngest Sanyue.
After work, the whole family gathered for dinner.
Sanyue noticed that Mr. Pei was looking at the boss as if he wanted to devour her.
But when she saw Mr. Pei's cold face turning towards her, Sanyue thought she was seeing things and shivered.
Zheng Huier sipped the soup in small sips while Ye Pa kept picking up dishes for her.
They also noticed the difference between Pei Xia and Qi Jiao. No, it should be said that their relationship had reached a new level.
Huier whispered to Ye Pa, "How about we go out to eat?"
What she meant was that they were such a hindrance.
Ye Pa giggled. "No, we'll just sit here."
He deliberately squeezed into the seat between Pei Xia and Qi Jiao and said in a shrill voice, "Oh, it's so cool here! And the position is great. It's convenient to pick up dishes. Hee - hee."
Ye Pa quickly picked up a few chopsticks of dishes and put them all into Huier's bowl.
He just blocked Qi Jiao's figure.
Pei Xia's gaze was like a knife stabbing at Ye Pa.
Ye Pa couldn't bear it after all. Afraid of Pei Xia's revenge in the future, he quickly sat back beside Huier.
In front of everyone, Qi Jiao deliberately avoided looking into Pei Xia's eyes.
She always couldn't control her thoughts from wandering in that direction.
Pei Xia, with a hint of lust, made her heart flutter even more than his usual calm and cold - faced self.
Qi Jiao coughed twice and found a topic. "Third Brother, when are you going to marry Huier?"
Ye Pa was gnawing on a chicken claw. Hearing this, his handsome fair face turned red. He put down the chicken claw and looked at Huier tenderly. "I'm just waiting for Aunt to come to the city. Then I'll go to her house immediately to propose marriage."
Huier couldn't help but glare at Ye Pa. She reached under the table and pinched his thigh hard. "You're so inappropriate!" Everyone was here.
Ye Pa didn't care.
If you like someone, you should say it out boldly.
Leng Yao and Ye Yun exchanged a smile.
Leng Yao said cheerfully, "In that case, I'll congratulate Third Brother and Sister Huier in advance. If there's anything you need your Second Brother and me to do, just ask."
Ye Pa nodded repeatedly, smiling brightly like a big dahlia on his face.
Ye Pa's wedding was being prepared in an orderly manner.
After all, they could refer to Ye Yun's wedding process not long ago.
Ye Pa was the third son and didn't have much responsibility of heading the family.
He was usually funny, smart, eloquent, and sincere.
So Aunt Zheng had long taken a fancy to Ye Pa as her son - in - law.
Huier's father had passed away early, so Aunt Zheng had the final say on Huier's wedding. The other relatives like Tang Guiniang had no objections.
As a result, Ye Pa and Huier's wedding preparations went even faster.
After a half - month drought, there were finally two heavy rains.
The road was wet after the rain, with remnants of red flowers and green leaves, but it couldn't hide everyone's joy.
A group of people went to Lihua Alley to pick up the bride with gongs and drums. Ye Pa and Huier's new house was temporarily in Shiliu Alley.
After the wedding, the couple would still move to the small courtyard in Lihua Alley.
Huier was Qi Jiao's nominal cousin and her apprentice. Now that she was married to Ye Pa, she had become Qi Jiao's third sister - in - law.
It was a case of relatives getting even closer, but the family hierarchy was a bit confusing.
Huier was understanding and said that she and Ye Pa would address people according to different situations.
Huier still called Jiao Niang "Sister" on weekdays and "Master" when learning cooking in the kitchen.
Qi Jiao gave a generous gift. Comparing with the headdress she had given to A Yao before, she also prepared a lot for Huier.
Aunt Zheng was beaming with joy after seeing it, saying that Huier was lucky and praising Qi Jiao for her generosity.
Qi Jiao smiled. After Huier and Ye Pa got married, their connection became even closer.
They were both her indispensable right - hand assistants and relatives. Of course, Qi Jiao would treat them with sincerity.
After Huier and Ye Pa's wedding, Qi Jiao told them to take a ten - day break and enjoy their newly - wedded days.
The business on the first floor of the shop was temporarily taken care of by Pei Xia and Yindie.
Unexpectedly, Huier and Ye Pa only stayed in the small courtyard in Lihua Alley for one day and came back to work the next day.
Qi Jiao felt sorry and gave them a raise.