Chapter 284 - 284: Distributing Gifts
Wu Yaqing first licked it with her tongue. It was ice-cold. A chill assaulted the tip of her tongue. “Wow, it’s so cool. There’s also the fragrance of pears.”
Chu Qingzhi said, “This is made with pear juice.”
Wu Yaqing asked curiously, “Qingzhi, you are so smart. We use ice in the house to cool down, but we never used ice to make food.”
Chu Qingzhi said, “This is made in my workshop. You can go and take a look.”
Wu Yaqing was really curious and could not sit still anymore. “Then I’ll go now.”
Chu Qingzhi nodded. “Go ahead.”
Ge Lihua took the ice cream bar and took a small bite.
It was sweet, cold, and fragrant. She couldn’t help but smile. Her smile was like the first black orchid that bloomed in the early winter. It was extremely beautiful.
Chu Xujin happened to see this smile when he walked in. He felt as if his eyes were dazzled by a light. “Are you girls eating ice cream bars?”
Chu Qingzhi waved at Chu Xujin. “Third Brother, come and sit.”
“Okay.” Chu Xujin smiled and sat on the chair.
Chu Qingzhi sized up Chu Xujin. His skin had become more tanned, which made him look even more handsome. There was always a smile on his face, and he looked especially easy to get along with. “Third Brother, have you recovered?”
Chu Xujin nodded. “I’ve completely recovered after recuperating for a month and a half. It’s all thanks to Hongjun and Linjiang’s meticulous care.”
Chu Qingzhi said, “I’ll reward them properly.”
As they spoke, the two of them drove the carriage back. “Master.”
Chu Qingzhi walked out. The carriage was already parked in the courtyard.
“The two of you, move the things in the carriage into the house.”e
The two of them replied readily, “Alright.”
When Chu Xujin heard this, he quickly came out to help.
Ge Lihua walked out while eating at an ice cream bar. With so many people helping, she didn’t have to do anything and stood at the side to watch.
After a while, Tang Jinghong also woke up and walked out of the room. There was a faint blackness under his eyes. It was obvious that he had not rested well. “Qingzhi.”
Chu Qingzhi turned around and smiled. “You’re awake?”
Tang Jinghong nodded. “I’ll go wash my face.”
“Go on.”
After moving the gifts, Chu Qingyue, Chu Qingshuang, Chu Xuyuan, and Chu Xuyao happened to return.
Ning Yuting had returned to the capital to prepare for his wedding and was not in the Chu Village.
“Fifth Sister.”
“Fifth Sister.”
“You’re finally back.” The four of them immediately surrounded Chu Qingzhi excitedly.
Chu Qingzhi hugged Chu Qingyue and Chu Qingshuang. Then, she touched Chu Xuyuan and Chu Xuyao’s heads. “1 missed you all too.”
Chu Xuyao said childishly but seriously, “If you hadn’t come back, I would have ridden Fu Bao to the northern border to look for you.”
Chu Qingzhi laughed. “Do you know the way?”
Chu Xuyao stammered. “I… I can ask around.”
Everyone could not help but laugh.
“Come, come inside.” Chu Qingzhi called everyone to the central room. She was about to give everyone gifts!
Soon, everyone gathered.
The long table where they ate was filled with gifts. The scene was spectacular and everyone had a look of curiosity on their faces.
Chu Qingzhi handed a long box to Grandpa Chu. “This is the tobacco pipe I bought for you. I hope you like it.”
Grandpa Chu didn’t have any other hobbies. He just liked to smoke. Giving him a pipe was a good thing. He was about to change his old pipe anyway.
“Qingzhi, I like it very much.” Grandpa Chu opened the box and took out an exquisite copper pipe.
Chu Qingzhi picked up a small box. Inside was a pair of suet jade bracelets that she had taken out from the secret room of the Princess Consort of the northern border. “Grandma, this is for you.”
When Granny Chu saw the white jade bracelets, she did not dare to reach out to take it. “Qingzhi, is this very expensive?”
Chu Qingzhi smiled and said, “It’s expensive but you are not allowed to refuse it. I specially chose it for you.”
Granny Chu carefully took the jade bracelets and smiled. “In the future, I’ll pass down this pair of jade bracelets as family heirlooms.”
Chu Qingzhi took out a large box and opened it. “This is for Father. It’s all made of meteorite iron. It won’t break even if it’s used for a lifetime.”
Chu Rong liked to do carpentry work, so Chu Qingzhi bought him a set of good carpentry tools. There were chisels, saws, and so on. They were all needed for carpentry work. It was a whole set with a dozen types of tools.
Chu Rong was extremely touched when he saw the box of tools. “Qingzhi, I like it so much. Thank you.”
Chu Qingzhi smiled and took out another gift. “This is for Mother.”
“Thank you, Qingzhi.” Li Qingyu was all smiles as she opened the box expectantly. There was a jade comb and a jade gold hairpin. They were especially beautiful. “Qingzhi, these are very expensive, right?”
Chu Qingzhi smiled and said, “You asked the same question as Grandma. It’s a gift from your outstanding daughter, so it’s naturally expensive.”
Li Qingyu nodded repeatedly and couldn’t conceal her joy.
Next, Chu Qingzhi gave the gifts to her siblings, Shen Ruyue, and Li Zhangjie.
The family servant, Li Zhangjie, held the box and was extremely excited. “There’s one for me too?”
Chu Xuhua liked Li Zhangjie very much. He reached out and patted the young man’s head gently. “Hurry up and thank Fifth Sister.”
Only then did Li Zhangjie realize that he had been so excited that he had forgotten to thank her. “Thank you, Sister Qingzhi.”
“You’re welcome.” At last, Chu Qingzhi gave Yuan Hongjun and Bao Linjiang their gifts. “Take a look later.” Although it was good stuff, it would make Li Qingyu and the others afraid.
“Yes, Master.” This made the two of them even more curious.
When Wu Yaqing saw this scene, she thought to herself, Why don’t I liven things up a bit more? She went back to her room to take out a purse and announced loudly, “I have something to give everyone too.”
Chu Qingzhi glanced at Wu Yaqing’s purse and hurriedly said, “Yaqing, you don’t have to do this.”
“No, you are wrong. 1 have to,” Wu Yaqing said as she opened her purse and poured out a handful of gold nuggets. She placed them on the table so quickly that Chu Qingzhi couldn’t stop her.
The people in the palace liked gold very much. The Chu family should like them too, right?
Everyone was dumbfounded.
They had never seen so much gold at one time.
Everyone was attracted by the gold, but Shen Ruyue, Yuan Hongjun, and Bao Linjiang’s eyes flickered as they realized that this girl’s identity was probably not ordinary!
Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong held their foreheads. Gold nuggets were usually used by consorts or princesses in the palace to reward palace maids and eunuchs. Wouldn’t she be exposing her identity if she poured out so many gold nuggets like this?
Seeing that no one was taking it, Wu Yaqing asked, “Isn’t it too little?” She poured out another handful.
Chu Qingzhi was speechless.
“Yaqing, your gift is too expensive. Hurry up and put it away.” As she spoke, Chu Qingzhi walked over and took Wu Yaqing’s purse, putting the gold nuggets back.
Seeing this, Wu Yaqing realized something and felt guilty.. “Qingzhi, I…”