Bend Over [ 折腰 ] - Chapter 23

[Chapter 23: Lady Xu]

Little Joe immediately rushed to the North House Ear Room to wait for him.

Old Lady Xu had just arrived home, and if she was disgusted, she might not have seen her so soon, but her own appearance always had to be done. When waiting in the ear room, through the window, I saw that there were people coming in and out of the corridor leading to the main room, and the footsteps were constantly sounding. In addition to the servants, there were also some stewards of the Wei family and people who looked like generals in the city.

She waited for some time, the sky was about to get dark, the footsteps in the corridor gradually faded, and a servant woman finally appeared at the door of the ear room, bent down to invite Little Joe over.

Little Joe suddenly felt a little nervous. He fixed his mind and went with the servant to the main hall.

In the past life, when the Twin Qiao sisters finally met, Xiao Qiao listened to some of The words of Big Qiao, and the only person in the Wei family who had not been embarrassed by her, and who would remember to send someone to her room at four o’clock, was Wei Shao’s grandmother. Unfortunately, Lady Xu Shouyuan arrived, and Big Qiao married into the Wei family, and within a year, she died of an accident, and since then, Big Qiao’s situation has become more and more difficult.

It is precisely because of this that Xiao Qiao attaches great importance to the pass of meeting Madam Xu. He didn’t want to be pleased with her. However, as long as Lady Xu and Wei Shao’s mother were different, at least for the next year, it would not be a bad thing for herself.

The layout of the North House is similar to that of the West House where Little Joe lives, and the opening room is even larger. But the furnishings are very simple. Simple to the point of almost simplicity. It is in stark contrast to the East House where Mrs. Zhu lives. In this main hall, the only thing that could bake out the identity of the old lady of the Wei family was a rosewood high bed that needed to climb three steps to meet him when he went in. On each side of the high bed, there is a square table with utensils on it, and behind the high bed is a long screen painted with cloud patterns. Wei Shao’s grandmother, Old Lady Xu, was sitting in the middle of this high bed at the moment.

When Little Joe came in, there were not many people inside. Only a few servants stood sporadically, with Zhong Mi on her side. I didn’t see Lady Zhu and Zheng Shu. Wei Shao was also there, accompanying the old lady’s hand side, and the long sword that rarely left her body every day was placed horizontally in front of the bed.

Wei Shao’s grandmother was thin and thin, dressed in black, her hair was gray, her forehead was wide and her jaw was round, her cheeks were slightly concave, her face was nothing special, and she looked like an ordinary old woman. To Little Joe’s slight surprise, she had only one eye left. The left eye was completely white and had become the color of the snow, and the remaining right eye was extraordinarily piercing and full of energy. Sitting on a high bed, when one-eyed glance over, it made people a little afraid to look at each other.

After Xiao Qiao entered, he saw Madame Xu’s one-eyed eye fall on his body, and his expression was difficult to distinguish between joy and anger. Immediately lowering his eyes, he walked to the high bed on the ground where several kneeling beds had been laid, knelt down on both knees, bowed to Wei Shao’s grandmother on the opposite side, and finally offered a pair of silk soft-soled embroidered shoes.

The room was silent, and no sound could be heard.

Zhong Mi came over and put away her shoes. Subsequently, a maid brought out a red lacquer plate, which contained a four-spirit mutton fat jade bi and a string of gold jade beads with a back pattern.

The four spirits of jade mean auspicious, and the jade beads are gifts from the elders to the younger generations.

“The old lady’s heart, the lady accepts it, get up.” Zhong Mi said.

Xiao Qiao thanked him, then got up and stood behind Wei Shao’s side with his head bowed.

After a moment, she felt that Madame Xu on the bed seemed to be still looking at herself, and she couldn’t help but raise her eyes slightly and look at her.

……

Some time ago, when Zhong Mi returned from Xindu, Madame Xu asked about Qiao Nu. Zhong Mi recounted the fact that she was kidnapped by Chen Rui on her way and the prince captured Shiyi. It is said that Qiao’s appearance is rare, her demeanor is decent, and her character is also good.

It’s a pity.

Finally she added this sentence.

Zhong Mi served around Lady Xu for most of her life, being cautious, easily not saying a word, and expressing her views directly in front of Lady Xu like this, which is also rare.

Madame Xu then asked again, “It’s a pity” what to do. Zhong Mi said that the old lady herself saw it and knew it.

Madame Xu was a little dismissive at the time. But now, seeing this daughter of the Qiao family with my own eyes, it suddenly seemed as if I had an epiphany. I didn’t expect the Qiao family to raise such a rare beauty. It really shines. When I first came in, I saw a lot of people like Mrs. Xu, and I also felt that my eyes lit up.

Looks fall to the second. Lady Qiao’s demeanor was quite into Mrs. Xu’s eyes.

In this life, the more people have in the first half of their lives, the more complex the experience, and when they are older, many ideas will slowly change, and they prefer simple and quiet things.

Things are like that, and so are people. So this is also why the older people are, the more they tend to like children.

When Madame Xu looked at Lady Qiao, she noticed that she suddenly raised her eyes and looked at herself quickly.

Madame Xu’s one-eyed eye immediately caught her gaze. Not cowardice. Just a slight uncertainty. Other than that, it’s bright and calm.

When Mrs. Xu looks at people, the first thing she often looks at is the other person’s eyes. It is not unreasonable to judge people by their appearance. The god of the eyes is also one of the human appearances.

She intuitively had a crush on someone with such a look.

On the contrary, some people, such as her daughter-in-law Zhu Shi, Lady Xu has not been able to develop a good feeling for her. This also starts with the first look of the eye.

When her husband wanted to hire Zhu Shi for her son, Lady Xu was worried about her origins and was a little reluctant at that time. However, the husband insisted that Zhu’s father had a life-saving grace for her husband, and Lady Xu finally reluctantly accepted.

At the first sight of Zhu Shi, although she was dressed appropriately and her every move was also a taught demeanor, Lady Xu was not satisfied with this daughter-in-law.

When Zhu Shi looked at her, the look in his eyes was the kind of look that lacked confidence and was eager to please her.

No matter how decent the dress, and then the behavior that conforms to the rules, with such eyes, it is inevitable that it will fall into the grade.

So this one doesn’t look good, and it has continued until now.

The only thing that made Lady Xu look up at Zhu was that her stomach was still quite contentious, and she gave birth to an extremely outstanding grandson to the Wei family. Mothers are precious. This is probably the reason why Madame Xu has always tolerated Zhu Shi and turned a blind eye and followed her.

When Lady Xu made the decision and let her grandson Wei Shao marry Lady Qiao, it was naturally considered.

Outsiders in the know, including her grandson Wei Shao himself, thought she was here for Yanzhou.

In fact, she has her own other considerations. It’s just that others don’t know.

……

Lady Xu glanced at Xiao Qiao again, and saw that she had lowered her eyes again, standing behind her grandson Wei Shao, and the two of them looked like a pair of Bi people.

She said the first words since Xiao Qiao came in: “Zhonglin, I have seen my granddaughter-in-law, and I like it very much.” After a day of walking, I was tired and wanted to rest. You take her back. Wei Shao

got up from the bed and said respectfully, “Sun Er has retired.” Grandmother rested earlier. Tomorrow morning the grandchildren will visit again.
Madame
Xu nodded with a smile.

Wei Shao stayed and walked outside. Xiao Qiao bowed to Lady Xu and said goodbye, and when he turned around to leave with Wei Shao, there was a sudden sound of footsteps in the corridor outside, and then a voice rang out: “Grandmother returned, but I couldn’t go out of the city to meet me, and I came late, I really shouldn’t have!” Grandmother don’t blame me for not being filial—”

As little Joe seemed to hear the sound somewhere, a man appeared at the door, and then strode into the threshold.

Little Joe looked up and winced slightly.

It was such a coincidence that it would be the man surnamed Wei who had met in the framed red shop during the day! Only at this moment, the man didn’t seem to see himself, and his eyes fell on Wei Shao in front of him, as if he had a light, and then he smiled and walked quickly towards Wei Shao.

Wei Shao also had a smile on his face and strode toward the man, the two of them seemed to be very familiar.

Little Joe stopped where he was, watching the two men greet each other there, laughing incessantly, like good brothers.

“Shi Yuan, I finally see you back!” Grandmother also said that if you want to take root in Dai County, you will not return! Madame Xu on the bed seemed very happy to see this man coming, and smiled.

This man’s name was Wei Yu, and when he heard Lady Xu speak, he let go of Wei Shao, walked to the bed and smiled: “Grandmother’s sixtieth birthday, Shi Yuan’s legs are broken, and she will climb back.”
Madame
Xu smiled. Wei Yu knelt on the pier where Xiao Qiao had just knelt, saluted Lady Xu, and when he got up, his eyes just saw Xiao Qiao cast a glance, and then turned to Wei Shao and smiled: “Second brother, when I was in Dai County, I heard the news of your big wedding.” Could it be that this one is…”

He paused and looked at Little Joe.

Wei Shao returned to Xiao Qiao’s side and smiled, “Exactly.” After saying that, he said to Xiao Qiao: “He is a cousin, he has been leading the army on behalf of the county before, a few years older than me, and I have always regarded him as a brother.” Your name is Uncle Da.

Xiao Qiao glanced at Wei Yu and saw him standing in front of him, with a smile on his face, and his two eyes were on his face, and he couldn’t see any abnormality. Remembering the scene when I met outside during the day, I don’t know why, but I still feel some discomfort in my heart. But there was no expression on his face. Just smiling and following Wei Shao’s words, he greeted him and called out “Uncle Da” (大叔).

Wei Yuluo returned the salute and still talked to Wei Shao, and the two of them talked a few more words, and then Qi bid farewell to Lady Xu. After walking out for a while, the good brothers walked side by side in front of them, and they didn’t know what to say, there was a burst of laughter, Xiao Qiao followed not far behind, until he reached the fork in the road leading to the West House, stopped, Wei Yu said: “Second brother, you and I have not seen each other for a long time, today finally meet, how can we not have wine?” And come and have a drink, how?

Wei Shao hesitated slightly, then smiled, “Just what I want.”

Wei Yu laughed loudly, “Are you afraid that you won’t give up this flower-like new sister?” It’s rare to be happy today, and I don’t care about you a lot. And go have a drink first! After saying that, he looked at Xiao Qiao: “Younger sister, I haven’t seen Zhonglin for a long time, and I dragged Zhonglin to have a few drinks.” Rest assured, you will never be doomed. Send him back to you later. Xiao Qiao was

slightly embarrassed in his heart, and glanced at Wei Shao, who stood there, his eyes did not look at himself, and his expression seemed to be a little stiff.

Uncle joked. Just go. Little Joe answered.

“Younger siblings are not weird. Zhonglin, and gone! Wei Shao

smiled and followed Wei Yu a few steps in the direction of the front courtyard, suddenly turning back and glancing at Xiao Qiao.

Little Joe had turned and headed for Westinghouse.

……

It was too late, and Wei Shao had not yet returned.

He didn’t return, and Little Joe naturally couldn’t sleep alone first. You can only sit and wait.

She stood under the lamp, thinking about the people and things she had encountered during the day.

Wei Yu really impressed her. If nothing else, just from the surname, it is also puzzling.

Since he and Wei Shao are cousins, why is it that he is also surnamed Wei?

……

Xiao Qiao learned later that Wei Yu’s life was actually quite tortuous and secretive.

Wei Shao once had a little aunt named Qingyun, who was the daughter of Lady Xu, and thirty years ago, because of an accident, she was abducted by a Xiongnu man of considerable status when she was in the border city. It was not until three years later that Wei Shao’s father took his sister back. But when she came back, I realized that she was five or six months pregnant. The family then asked the little aunt to beat the fetus out. The aunt refused, forced to die, And Lady Xu had no choice but to let her. When he did not want to give birth, he unfortunately died of a bloodslide.

Mrs. Xu loved this little daughter very much, and the loss of her beloved daughter made another eye for the bone and blood she left behind.

When people can accept a Han woman who has been abducted by the Hu people, they will never treat a child with Hu blood equally. Lady Xu was naturally reluctant to send the child to the Xiongnu, and after thinking about it again, she let the child follow her mother’s surname, and raised him with her own hands, saying only that his father had entered the Wei family and had died.

Very few people know about this past. Lady Xu had never mentioned half a word to Wei Yu.

[End of This Chapter]