Giving him a deep look, Qu Xiaojue lowered her eyes and continued her previous work, saying softly: “This matter need not be reported to me. Since you’ve come personally, just have Qu Shan go.”
She agreed so easily.
Glancing at the thick stack of papers like letters on her right side, Xu Wanzhi’s eyelids slightly raised – the things this woman had to handle seemed quite substantial.
“Thank you.”
Nodding towards her, Xu Wanzhi turned to leave. Just as he stepped out, he heard Qu Xiaojue’s low voice: “Husband, is there nothing else?”
“Hm?” He turned back, seeing Qu Xiaojue sitting upright and looking at him, seemingly waiting for him to say something. He honestly shook his head: “I have nothing else.”
Raising her eyes, Qu Xiaojue moved her eyebrows and said: “Since there’s nothing, if husband wants to express gratitude, clean my study before leaving. The tea is getting cold; when you go out to instruct Qu Shan, bring a new pot.” She tapped the teapot, indicating he should take it.
“Don’t you have many servants?” Xu Wanzhi raised an eyebrow and immediately countered.
She looked at him with a meaningful smile: “Husband, this is a study. How can servants casually enter?”
Xu Wanzhi had more contact with the servants of the Qu household today. After asking a servant for a watering can, he noticed the servant’s astonished expression.
He smiled politely and made the request again, and the young servant hurriedly ran to fill a full pot of water, afraid he might dirty his hands or wet his clothes, even wrapping it in an old cotton cloth.
Xu Wanzhi murmured a thanks, took it and walked towards the windowsill to water the potted plants.
The potted plants didn’t need frequent watering; they were originally quite resilient plants, and the soil in the pot was not dry. He was probably just looking for something to do. Xu Wanzhi didn’t mind, carefully estimating the water amount and gently watering the two pine trees, stopping when he saw the soil was moist.
As he turned with the pot, Qu Xiaojue had just finished his work. Seeing him about to leave, he stood up and said, “It’s noon. Stay and have a meal.”
