It was already evening when Li Hui returned to Tianshui Lane Alley. He was exhausted from the hard work these days, so Li Hui planned to take a shower, change clothes and rest early.

When taking a bath, Li Hui used a piece of soap. After taking a bath this time, Li Hui felt extremely comfortable. The most unaccustomed thing to Li Hui since traveling through time was that there was no toothpaste and soap, so he could not solve the problem of personal guardianship as conveniently as later generations.

So before taking a bath, Li Hui would occasionally ask Ah Zhu to rub his back because he couldn't get it clean.

This time, Ah Zhu didn’t have to work hard at all. Li Hui put soap on it and scrubbed it up and down with gauze. After rinsing with water, it was clean. Not only was it much cleaner, but the scent of soap and light flower juice still remained.

, it smells very good. If there are any shortcomings, it is that the fragrance is insufficient and the foam is insufficient, which needs further optimization.

But even so, the experience after bathing in person made Li Hui feel comfortable, and he was even more confident that the soap was recognized.

After bathing, the sun had just set and twilight was approaching. Li Hui yawned and prepared to eat something and go to bed to rest. Before he even took a bite of the simple meal brought by Ah Zhu, he heard someone talking loudly at the door of the back yard.

"Let me see where you are hiding this time? Can you let me catch you?"

Li Hui hurriedly stood up and looked at the courtyard door, only to see Xie Xuan striding in with anger on his face.

Li Hui cupped his hands and saluted: "Brother Xie, what brought you here? You're polite."

Xie Xuan had a sullen expression and said nothing, nor did he return a greeting. He entered the room and sat down on a stool, rolling his eyes and staring at Li Hui.

Li Hui smiled and said: "What's wrong? Who has offended Brother Xie?"

Xie Xuan jumped up and said: "Who else could it be? Far away in the horizon but right in front of you. It's you Li Hui. You still ask questions knowingly. I only ask you, do you still consider me, Xie, as a friend? I've invited you several times.

You even refused to show your favor, and even went out of your way to avoid seeing anyone for a few days. What do you think happened to me, Xie Xuan, to make you hate me so much?"

Li Hui smiled bitterly and said: "Where do you start talking about this? How could I avoid Brother Xie? How could I not regard Brother Xie as a friend?"

Xie Xuan said angrily: "You still refuse to admit it. When I invited you to a banquet before, you tried to evade it. A few days ago, I ordered someone to invite you to Wuyi Lane and you didn't want to. My friend Wu Xing came to the capital and specially invited you to go.

We met to keep company and make friends together, but you were nowhere to be seen, and you didn’t even stay in this house. Didn’t you avoid me on purpose? They made me complain, saying that you were arrogant, and that I regarded you as a friend.

But you don't regard me as a friend. I still have to argue with them that you are not such a person and argue with them. Li Hui, just tell me, do you still regard me, Xie Xuan, as a friend? If you have any ideas,

You can say it freely. There is no need to pretend to be sick and avoid me. I, Xie Xuan, am not a stalker."

Seeing that Xie Xuan seemed to be really angry, Li Hui smiled hurriedly and bowed his head and said: "I'm really sorry, Brother Xie, I never expected that things would be like this. I'm just not used to going to banquets, and I'm afraid to give you

Brother Xie is embarrassed and laughed at by the children of those aristocratic families. He definitely didn't avoid you on purpose. If Brother Xie doesn't believe it, I swear to God."

Xie Xuan waved his hands and said: "I don't want you to swear. You don't like banquets, and I don't blame you. But you avoid me, which makes me feel that I am boring you. If so, what else can I say? Mine

My friend came all the way from Wuxing, aren't you embarrassing me?"

Li Huizuo bowed and said: "It is indeed my fault. Brother Xie, please don't be angry. In fact, I am doing a big thing these days. I am definitely not avoiding you. It is true that I don't know the ways of the world. Brother Xie treats me with sincerity, I will come After arriving in the capital, Brother Xie took good care of me. I am so grateful, so how can I be dissatisfied with Brother Xie? Then am I, Li Hui, still a human being? Well, if Brother Xie feels upset, slap me twice to calm it down. Don’t get angry. .”

After hearing these words, Xie Xuan lost most of his anger. But he still said with a straight face: "Why should I hit you? Since you treat me as a friend, tell me the truth. Are you dissatisfied with your current official position? So I feel unhappy in my heart. Do you feel that I, Xie Xuan, am not sincerely helping you?"

Li Hui sighed: "Brother Xie, don't think so. How should I deal with this? I am now in a sixth-grade official position. I am free and comfortable, and my salary is not thin. It's not too late for me to be happy. In the past two months, I have Have you ever been negligent? This time, I did take ten days of leave under the pretense of being sick, but I just had something to do and had no other intentions. Brother Xie, please don’t think so."

Xie Xuan smacked his lips and said: "That's all. You don't need to explain. I just ask you, there is a banquet in my house tonight, and I will treat you. My friend Wu Xinglai will leave Beijing tomorrow, and I will host a banquet for him tonight. Are you going to the party or not?"

Li Hui smiled and said: "Of course I will go. Thank you for your favor, brother. How can I not go? Let me change my clothes and go with you."

Xie Xuan's face softened slightly and he spoke unforgivingly, saying: "Don't force yourself. I, Xie Xuan, don't want to force others. But I won't be happy with the slightest bit of force."

Li Hui smiled and said: "I won't force you. I won't force you. I can't ask for it. If you don't come tonight, I will go to Wuyi Lane to visit you and Mr. Xie tomorrow. I haven't seen Mr. Xie for several months. It would be rude not to visit. .”

Xie Xuandao: "Huh, my fourth uncle said you are too arrogant. You are more arrogant than him."

Li Hui was ashamed and accused him again and again. He didn't expect Xie An to think so, so that was a big problem.

The resentment in Xie Xuan's heart was also vented, and he said in a deep voice: "Then I will wait for you in front, and you will come after you change your clothes."

Li Hui nodded in agreement, and Xie Xuan strode away.

At this moment, Ah Zhu nervously came out from the side and asked hurriedly: "Which one should the young master wear? Or the old robe?"

Li Hui shook his head and said: "Wear the new one. I will just change myself. You go get a box and put a dozen yuan of soap in it. I will take it to Xie's house."

Azhu was stunned and said: "What are you bringing that for?"

Li Huiyi smiled and said: "Silly girl, can you miss the opportunity to sell goods at your door? Xie Xuan came just in time, otherwise I would have to go to Xie's house to sell goods tomorrow. Mr. Xie is really a good man. He brings water when he is thirsty. Give me a pillow if you feel sleepy."

Ah Zhu's mind was buzzing. He was still worried that he would be looked down upon when he went to Xie's house tonight. The young master actually thought of selling soap. Without thinking much at the moment, he quickly picked up a square wooden box and took ten Put a few pieces of soap in it and wrap it in floral cloth.

When Li Hui came to the door, Xie Xuan was already waiting on a white horse. There was an empty horse beside him.

Seeing Li Hui come out with a package, Xie Xuandao: "What is this?"

Li Hui smiled and said: "To express my apology, I brought some gifts to Mr. Xie and everyone in the house. Brother Xie also has a share."

Xie Xuan curled his lips and urged Li Hui to get on his horse, and the group left out of the alley in the dusk.

…

In Wuyi Alley at dusk, lanterns have been lit. A row of lanterns illuminates every corner of the alley. The bluestone streets are still open and quiet. When you enter the alley, you are immediately isolated from the noisy people by the river, as if you are two separate people.

world.

Soon after, they arrived in front of Xie's house. Xie Xuan and Li Hui got off their horses, and their servants took the horses away.

When he was about to enter, Xie Xuan grabbed Li Hui.

"Brother Li, if my fourth uncle says something about you later, please don't contradict me. For my sake," Xie Xuan said in a low voice.

Li Hui said hurriedly: "How dare you, I am rude."

Xie Xuandao: "No, my fourth uncle likes to nag. He even scolds me. Just understand."

Li Hui nodded repeatedly. Xie Xuan added: "By the way, there are female relatives tonight. My sister will also attend, as well as several cousins ​​in the family. You have an idea."

Li Hui was startled and felt hot in his heart. He thought: He must be talking about Xie Daoyun. Wouldn't it be possible to see her beauty? This is the most famous woman in the Jin Dynasty in later generations, and she is known as the most talented woman. Unexpectedly

You can see it so soon.

Seeing Li Hui wandering around, Xie Xuan patted him and said, "Don't worry, my sister won't embarrass you. In short, whatever she says, just bow your head and say yes. Don't contradict me. For my sake."

superior."

An ominous premonition arose in Li Hui's heart. Hearing Xie Xuan's words felt a little off. Could it be that tonight was a public trial? Specifically for him?

"Brother Xie, don't worry, I won't contradict you even a little bit," Li Hui said.

Xie Xuan nodded, and after taking half a step, he pulled Li Hui back.

"By the way, my good friend Wu Xinglai... also has some connections with you. Well, if we talk about embarrassing things, please be patient. For my sake, okay?"

Xuan whispered.

Li Hui is already feeling bad. It seems that tonight's banquet at Xie's house is a little unusual. Xie Xuan did what Wan asked him to do, which is really heartbreaking. It seems that he went from Xie's house to Xie An and then to Xie

Xuan's friends have all caused their dissatisfaction. What on earth did he do to cause such public outrage? Some monks Zhang Er were confused.

The banquet was held in the Yunshui Hall of the second entrance of the Xie family. This was an exquisite flower hall, much larger than the third flower hall that Li Hui went to last time. Obviously this was a place where foreign guests could be entertained.

There is a row of long cases in the hall, separated on both sides, and a thick futon is placed behind the cases. The ground is covered with a light velvet carpet, which makes no sound when stepped on.

When Xie Xuan and Li Hui arrived, there was no one else in the hall, only some male and female servants were playing with snacks and fruits, and bringing in wine jars, bowls and chopsticks.

Xie Xuan said to Li Hui: "Brother Li, please take a seat first. I will go change my clothes and then invite my fourth uncle and the others. Just drink tea and wait."

After saying that, Xie Xuan went away like last time, leaving Li Hui standing in a daze in the flower hall. Fortunately, an old servant greeted Li Hui to sit down behind a case, made tea for Li Hui and said: "

Invite the young man to drink tea and wait a moment. If you have any instructions, just tell me. The masters and gentlemen will be here soon."

Li Hui cupped his hands and thanked them, and had to sit back and wait, watching the servants and maids shuttle back and forth, setting out dishes, wine cups, bowls and chopsticks. Everyone was busy, but Li Hui was the only one who was in a daze, watching them come and go.

The sky outside the hall turned completely dark, and the lights inside and outside the hall became even brighter. After Li Hui took a few sips of tea, he heard the voice of the old slave on the corridor outside the hall.

"Master Zhang, please take a seat. The master and others will be here soon."

"It's okay, you can do it yourself, I'll wait in the hall." A rich man's voice came.
Chapter completed!