Zhu Hui hasn't been seen for two days since he came to Bo Wenhou's house for a drink two days ago.
Chen Chen also went back south to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with his parents, and now Xue Hong was left alone.
In the past, when he was in Jinling, Xue Hong was busy practicing every day and did not feel lonely. After all, it was only one day. If you sit cross-legged and luck, the time would pass soon.
But now that Xue Hong has reached the realm, hard training is almost useless. The water tank is so big. No matter how hard you work, you can't make the water tank hold more water.
After having some free time, Xue Hong felt a rare sense of loneliness.
Xue Hong sat in the yard, quietly watching the leaves falling, silently.
A servant suddenly came to report: "Master, Mr. Xue Pan, Miss Bao and Mrs. Xue of the Xue Mansion have arrived at the house."
…
In the main hall, Xue Pan was instructing his servants to put down large and small bags of items.
Baochai covered her mouth and smiled: "Brother, what are you doing? Maybe you moved the whole shop here."
Xue Pan: "These are the local specialties I got back. They are not easy to buy in the capital. My eldest brother likes to eat delicious food, so naturally I have to buy more."
Aunt Xue: "What Pan'er said is that although the Marquis' status is everything, he still needs to have the intention."
Xue Hong walked out of the back hall and saw a big face rushing toward him: "Brother! These are some local specialties brought back to you by my younger brother. How do you like them?"
Xue Hong nodded and said with a smile: "Brother Pan is naturally happy because of your thoughts.
But today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, Brother Pan, why do you..."
Aunt Xue explained: "Baochai and Pan'er said that the Marquis would spend the Mid-Autumn Festival alone in the Marquis' mansion and it would be deserted, so we all came over."
Xue Pan nodded repeatedly: "That's right! Now that eldest brother and Baochai are engaged, aren't we still a family? So I took mom and Baochai over here."
Baochai also said: "Husband...Brother Hong, I just saw how pitiful the servants in the house are. Why hasn't the house made any preparations for the Mid-Autumn Festival?"
Xue Hong: "This huge Marquis Mansion is just my master's house, and it doesn't need many people to serve it. This Mid-Autumn Festival is no different. So, except for some servants who have nowhere to go, I will let them go back." We’re at home for the holidays.”
Baochai sighed: "Brother Hong, you always don't know how to take care of yourself. Is there anything wrong with the Mid-Autumn Festival?"
Xue Pan scratched his head: "All the servants have been let home by the eldest brother? Then there will be no cooks to cook, right?
I brought a lot of crabs, how about we steam the crabs and eat them?"
Aunt Xue stood up and tapped her silly son on the forehead: "You! How can there be no reason to just eat crabs during the Mid-Autumn Festival?
In the early years, I often cooked with your father, but after so many years, I don’t know how my cooking skills have improved.
It just so happens that I'll give it a try today. Even if the cook doesn't come home, there's no need to use it. I'll cook."
Xue Hong has an impression of this matter. When Xue Hong was just brought back to Xue's house by Mr. Xue, Aunt Xue was still very young and would often cook dishes for Mr. Xue to taste.
But later, with the birth of Xue Pan, Aunt Xue gradually focused on Xue Pan.
Baochai also recommended himself, stood up and said: "I have also learned some dishes, and I would like to ask Brother Hong to try them together."
Xue Pan was eager to try: "I also studied in the north..."
Xue Hong pulled Xue Pan to sit down: "Brother Pan, please don't make things more difficult or do any harm to us. It's better to tell me about your experience in Beidi.
As for the rest, just leave it to Baochai and... my mother-in-law."
As soon as the word "mother-in-law" came out, Baochai was ashamed, and Aunt Xue was surprised and happy.
The two of them took the maid to the kitchen, leaving only the two brothers Xue Hong and Xue Pan talking in the main hall.
…
In the back kitchen, Aunt Xue, who had just put a dish into a steamer and steamed it, remembered something and burst into tears.
Baochai quickly went to comfort her: "Mom, why are you crying? But you hurt yourself while cooking?"
Aunt Xue wiped her tears and said with a smile: "My dear, Mom just thought of some things that happened when Mr. Hou was a child.
I remember it was the Mid-Autumn Festival of the first year when your father brought Mr. Hou back. When he was young, Mr. Hou neither cried nor made trouble, let alone being very lovable.
Later, I got you two, and every Mid-Autumn Festival, Mr. Hou would take you two, and we were a family of five..."
I have to say that although Aunt Xue is stupid, compared with Mrs. Wang, she can be said to be kind.
No matter how much the dowry people from the Wang family around Aunt Xue tried to sow discord, Aunt Xue never had any intention of harming Xue Hong when she was a child, nor did she treat her harshly.
Baochai comforted Aunt Xue and said, "Mom, it's over now. Hasn't my husband forgive you? Otherwise, with his temper, it would be impossible for him to call Mom your mother-in-law."
Aunt Xue nodded and suddenly remembered what was wrong. She raised her head and asked Baochai: "Husband?"
Baochai instantly turned red from her neck to her face. It was all her husband's fault. She got used to it. Now it's better. It's so embarrassing.
Aunt Xue patted Baochai's hand: "Mom is just a little surprised. People like Mr. Hou have so many pairs of eyes staring at them. They are in a high position, and sometimes even marriage matters are uncontrollable.
I didn't expect that the Marquis would go out of his way to ask Your Majesty for marriage. Now that I see that you two are in love, I feel relieved.
Don't worry, Mom won't go out and tell nonsense. Mom promises, even Daiyu won't tell."
Baochai said shyly: "Mom~"
Aunt Xue: "Okay, okay, Mom won't say anything anymore, let's hurry up. It's time for Mr. Hou and Pan'er to seal the deal."
…
In a room, there is a large round table filled with Jinling dishes.
There are five stools placed around the table, one is empty, and the other four are occupied.
Although Xue Hong did not say it explicitly, both Aunt Xue, Xue Pan and Baochai knew that this stool was left by Xue Hong to their father.
Seeing that the atmosphere at the scene was a bit gloomy, Xue Pan suddenly picked up the wine glass and said carelessly: "Come on, come on! Brother, sister, mom, let's have a drink today."
Baochai: "It's good, but you need a reason to drink."
The three of them all looked at Xue Hong.
Xue Hong picked up the wine glass and looked back at the empty seat next to him. When he looked back, he had a spring breeze-like smile on his face, expressing relief, luck and joy.
"Then respect..."
Xue Hong looked up at the bright moon outside the window and said, "To this bright moon, to our family's reunion."
As soon as these words came out, everyone at the table was moved, and Aunt Xue even had tears welling up in her eyes.
Four glasses of wine and a toast to reunion.
Relieve the past, rejoice to meet each other, and rejoice in the final reunion.