However, Meng Ruyi suddenly remembered that when she met Lady Gu a few days ago, the maid beside Lady Gu said something to her. Then Lady Gu could hardly contain the joy on her face and immediately rushed back to the mansion. It seemed that the maid had passed on some news. She just didn't know when General Gu would arrive.
But the Gu Mansion was in great danger now! How come her own family had suddenly been involved in so many troubles!
Meng Ruyi sighed deeply and said to Song Huaizhi, "Let's go, Brother Song. Let's go and have the New Year's Eve dinner first."
"Let's go." Song Huaizhi gave a soft laugh and said to Meng Ruyi, "Tomorrow we'll all go to the temple outside the city to offer incense. Let's see if we can persuade Uncle and Aunt to stay in the temple for a few days."
Meng Ruyi nodded. Song Huaizhi had already done his best by sending a message to the Gu Mansion. Now the biggest problem was to keep the Meng Mansion away from the disputes and try to avoid troubles.
After dinner, Xu Fanglian took out two gold ingots and gave one to Meng Ruyi and one to Song Huaizhi.
Meng Ruyi happily took it. Song Huaizhi originally wanted to refuse, but saw Xu Fanglian shaking her head at him with the gentle smile unique to elders. So he silently accepted it and nodded slightly to Xu Fanglian.
"Mother." Meng Ruyi said to Xu Fanglian, "I had a strange dream just now when I was asleep. It said that I had to go to the temple to get rid of the bad luck."
"What!" Before Xu Fanglian could say anything, Meng Chengliang, who had been silent beside them, was greatly shocked. He said to Meng Ruyi with concern, "Is there anything else? No, no. We'll go to the temple to have a look tomorrow."
Seeing the anxiety on her husband's face, Xu Fanglian also felt anxious. She said to Meng Ruyi gently, "Yuyu, what else did you dream about?"
They couldn't help but believe it. Since Meng Ruyi had almost suffered last time, the couple wished they could hold their daughter in their hands every day for fear that she might get hurt. When Meng Ruyi went out, she must either go out with Song Huaizhi or with the couple. She must never be alone.
"Seemingly..." Meng Ruyi pretended to be in deep thought. She rested her chin in her hand and thought for a while, then said hesitantly, "It said that our whole family had to go? And we must be sincere?"
"Let's go! Let's go!" Meng Chengliang said, "We also have to ask the master in the temple to take a look at Ruyi to see if she has offended any villains."
Xu Fanglian nodded in rare agreement. Looking at Song Huaizhi, she said, "Huaizhi, you come with us too. I'll ask for two amulets for you all then."
Song Huaizhi nodded with a faint smile and glanced at Meng Ruyi.
He found that Meng Ruyi was very good at lying, but when it came to lying to her own parents, all her skills seemed to disappear at once. She even touched her nose nervously several times when she spoke.
The couple began to talk and almost forgot about the two children beside them.
Meng Ruyi sighed and pointed to the pastries on the table for Song Huaizhi, indicating whether he wanted to eat some.
Song Huaizhi shook his head. He knew that she couldn't sit still anymore. He said to Xu Fanglian and the others, "Aunt, Uncle, I'll take Ruyi out for a walk to get some fresh air."
"Okay!" Xu Fanglian trusted Song Huaizhi very much. So she instructed Meng Ruyi, "Follow your Brother Song well."
"Got it!"
Meng Ruyi put on her thick cloak, then stuffed the small hand warmer into her bosom and handed the other one to Song Huaizhi. "Let's go."
As soon as they went out, Meng Ruyi heaved a sigh of relief and sighed to Song Huaizhi, "Finally, we've managed to avoid it."
Song Huaizhi gave a faint smile but didn't answer. He just untied a small brocade bag from his waist, then spread out his palm and put it in front of Meng Ruyi.
"Eh!"
Meng Ruyi didn't expect that Song Huaizhi would give her a gift. So a look of joy quickly flashed across her face. She said to Song Huaizhi, "Thank you, Brother Song!"
Wow! Could it be Shu embroidery again?
Meng Ruyi's heart was pounding. She didn't hide her greedy side at all. She asked Song Huaizhi, "Can I open it now?"
"Otherwise? Do you think I'll just give you a bag?"
Song Huaizhi let out a soft scoff. His expression was rarely relaxed. He also spoke to Meng Ruyi more casually. "Hurry up and open it to have a look."
"Okay!" Meng Ruyi nodded and walked to the wall with lanterns hanging on it to take a look. It wasn't Shu embroidery. But when she pulled open the mouth of the brocade bag, a rare green came into view.
Meng Ruyi was stunned for a moment. Then she quickly turned around, pulled the brocade bag shut and handed it to Song Huaizhi. "No! This is too precious. I can't accept it!"
This should be top - grade jadeite. Meng Ruyi had never seen such a green that was almost black in color. Moreover, since this thing came from Song Huaizhi, it must be genuine!
The smile on Song Huaizhi's lips froze. He stared at Meng Ruyi for a few moments and said indifferently, "You don't like it? Then just throw it away."
Meng Ruyi got anxious and quickly said, "How could I not like it! But it's too precious! Even if you sold me, I wouldn't be worth this much money!"
"Take it." Song Huaizhi didn't want to entangle with Meng Ruyi on this issue anymore. He continued, "The kylin is regarded as an auspicious beast. With your kind of luck, you need this thing more than I do. Don't worry about my money. Your mother and the others gave me hundreds of taels of silver."
Meng Ruyi: "..."
"Little Brother Song." Meng Ruyi swallowed hard with difficulty and tried hard to hold back her desire to rush up and grab the money. "But it's different. You saved me, so it's only right for my mother and the others to give you this."
Song Huaizhi's expression became even worse. He glanced at her indifferently.
Meng Ruyi didn't say a word. She also untied the brocade bag around her waist. Seeing that Song Huaizhi was really angry, she carefully held the gift he gave her, planning to return it to him when she had the chance. "I also have a gift for you."
When she opened the brocade bag, Meng Ruyi sighed. "But compared with yours, it seems so shabby."
Song Huaizhi was speechless. He watched as Meng Ruyi opened the brocade bag and took out the small silver object inside.
Song Huaizhi spread out his hand. Meng Ruyi put the object in his hand and said, "This is just made of silver. It can't be compared with yours at all."
"This koi carp was made by a master I asked Lianqiao to find for me. I hope it can bring good luck to Brother Song."
Song Huaizhi silently held up this small fish and looked at it carefully in front of his eyes. The craftsmanship was ordinary. There was a red string tied to the fin of the small fish with a few knots, which could be tied to something.
"Before my mother gave birth to me, she dreamed of a koi carp. So my nickname is Yuyu. Since then, our family has thought that the koi carp has the best meaning."
Meng Ruyi was really ashamed. Her words were all jumbled up. She just felt that the jade in her palm was so hot through the brocade bag that it was uncomfortable. She didn't expect that Song Huaizhi's gift would be so much more precious than she had imagined. Compared with his, hers was really not presentable.
She lowered her head and looked at her toes.
"Look up." Song Huaizhi came back to his senses. Looking at Meng Ruyi, he said, "Thank you, Yuyu. This is the best gift I've received in so many years."
Meng Ruyi wanted to refute and tell him not to be so polite. But when she looked up, she met his deep, ink - like eyes, which were filled with sincerity without the slightest bit of politeness.
"Okay." Meng Ruyi realized that Song Huaizhi wasn't just being polite, but she still said awkwardly, "I'll make up a better one for you when I have money in the future."
"Sure. Then I'll wait for your gift."