"Sis, sis! Sis! Are you in the room? I'm here for the sweet treat." The loud calls from the big and foolish guy interrupted the tranquility of the two people. Watching the drowsy North sneakily hide behind the screen, Cheng Mo, and the embarrassed explanation from Tong Xi made her chuckle internally. North came back to her senses from the vivid red scenes in her mind and opened the door. The big and foolish guy and Tong Xi were already standing outside.
"Sorry, North. He woke up and made a fuss, refusing to cooperate with Grandpa's needle and medicine. I could only coax him, promising sweet treats if he behaved for his sister. So..." Tong Xi explained nervously.
"No need to apologize. We're all family. You don't have to be so polite, especially with the promise I made to him this morning." North always thought that Tong Xi, raised in this mountain village, resembled those modest and refined young masters. Using the excuse of getting up to fetch the tea set, North brought out three large cups of pearl milk tea and a clay-baked chicken, carrying a basket with them, handing it to Tong Xi. "This milk tea is made with sheep's milk, and adding tea removes the gamey taste. I noticed a couple of days ago they hunted a female water buffalo. Could you get someone to milk her? It would taste even better. But be sure to prioritize safety." North handed a cup of milk tea to the big and foolish guy. "Big Fool, you drink this large cup. Go back with Tong Xi and have this fragrant baked chicken with Medicine Grandpa, okay?"
"Big Fool likes Sis, Big Fool likes to eat clay-baked chicken, and Big Fool will also share the sweet treat with Medicine Grandpa." Tong Xi chased after the foolish guy, holding the basket.
With a heart full of curiosity, Cheng Mo came out from behind the screen, holding a silver-white outer shirt about to change, sitting at the table, lost in thought. Big Fool's voice felt very familiar, but he couldn't recall where he had heard it. So, he began to ask about his situation, "About this Big Fool—"
"North, North, are you in the room? Madam and I came to see you!" Cheng Mo's words were interrupted by Tong Jing's loud voice and the footsteps of several people coming upstairs. He quickly dodged away.
North opened the door to welcome her mother in, who sat on the couch in the small front hall. She turned to the table to pour tea and noticed the silver outer shirt on the table. She inhaled sharply, almost exclaiming out loud. Just as she raised her foot, which had yet to step forward, it suddenly felt as heavy as a thousand pounds!
54. The People from the Huo Family in the Capital Have Arrived
"Xiaobei, don't rush. Come and sit down. Mother has a few things to discuss with you."
"Not rushing at all. I just wanted to pour a cup of the newly made milk tea for Mother to try. I'm coming." North poured milk tea from the teapot on the table and struggled in her mind. She wondered whether to put Cheng Mo's outer shirt into the space. Afraid that the two had already seen the clothes on the table, she didn't think of an alternative. Suddenly, it disappeared, and her clever move turned awkward.
"Oh, Xiaobei, what kind of fabric is this shirt? It's so beautiful. Did you buy it in the county this time?" Tong Jing came over to help serve tea and, upon seeing the outer shirt, picked it up. Alright, no need to struggle anymore. "Why is it a men's shirt? Whose is it? Madam, look, isn't the fabric beautiful?" Jing Jing exclaimed while handing the shirt to Madame Huo for a closer look.
"Oh? Indeed, it's beautiful. However, this fabric is not something an ordinary household would have. It seems to be woven from the silk of the northern celestial silkworms, a tribute from the northern region. Where did Xiaobei get this garment?" Mrs. Huo looked attentively at the fabric and casually inquired, her mind filled with growing curiosity. The recent changes in life at the estate, significantly different from her memories, seemed implausible. According to her husband's account, these changes were brought about by their daughter, who had not yet reached the age of maturity. What had she experienced and encountered during the years away from home? Was it related to her private connections with Prince Mo? Mrs. Huo wasn't sure about the extent of their relationship. Mother and daughter had always been somewhat distant, with Xiaobei showing more interest in her grandfather's medicinal herbs than martial arts training. Now, considering the proposal to marry into the Qiao family, there might be some complications.
"This belongs to Big Fool. When they rescued him, he was covered in scratches and the outer shirt was slightly damaged. Tong Xi just brought him over for some sweets and brought this for me to mend." Xiaobei quickly walked a few steps to hand the milk tea to Mrs. Huo and subtly took the garment back, returning to the table.