Chapter 11: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town
Xu Songrui walked into the inner room and leaned over the cradle. He saw little Fubao with his eyes wide open, gnawing on his toes. When he noticed Xu Songrui, he gave a toothless smile: "Ya~"
Xu Songrui was completely captivated by this chubby little Fubao, whose round face, thick eyebrows, and big eyes made him look like a chubby baby from a New Year painting, utterly adorable.
Unable to resist, Xu Songrui bent down and kissed his chubby cheek. "Little Fubao, do you remember me? I'm your little uncle."
"A!" Xu Zeping, with his round eyes, looked at Xu Songrui innocently. It was undeniable that the person in front of him was handsome, with a long face like his father's, but his eyebrows were long and slender, his eyes clear and bright, and his demeanor matched his voice perfectly.
Although this was their first formal meeting, Xu Zeping had already identified him by his voice.
Seeing his innocent expression, Xu Songrui poked his chubby little cheek with his finger. "Come on, let Uncle check if little Fubao has peed."
For over a month, Xu Zeping had relied entirely on others for feeding, changing, and everything else. He had long put aside his dignity and allowed Xu Songrui to touch his small bottom.
Feeling the wet cloth, Xu Songrui knew the little one had just peed. Skillfully, he took out a clean diaper from under the cradle, changed it, and threw the dirty one into a basket beside the cradle. When Xu Zeli was born, he was too young to help with these tasks.
But when Xu Zerou was born, he was around fourteen years old and helped his sister-in-law take care of Xiao Rou, so he was familiar with the room's layout and skilled at changing diapers.
Xu Songrui picked up Xu Zeping with one hand and grabbed the wet pad from the cradle with the other. As soon as he stepped out of the inner room, he was scolded by Xu Linshi.
"Don't you know what your status is now? How can you be so reckless! If anything happens, how will I explain to your brother?" Xu Linshi scolded while taking Xu Zeping from his arms. "Your task right now is to take care of yourself. You must not touch heavy objects, understand?"
Ruirui had been married for three years without any children. Now, the child in her belly was crucial, and Xu Linshi understood its importance as a woman herself.
Xu Songrui rubbed his nose and acknowledged his mistake.
Seeing his sincere attitude, Xu Linshi softened her expression. "Mother, when we heard you were coming two days ago, I immediately asked Uncle Ayang to keep some fresh grass carp. This morning, I went to the village with Cui Zhu to fetch them. They should be back soon; why don't we wait at the door?"
Xu Songrui knew who Uncle Ayang was—the largest fish breeder in Jiangping Village. In his youth, Uncle Ayang had traveled extensively for business. After an accident left him with a leg injury, he returned to the village to raise fish. No one knew what he fed them, but his fish were renowned throughout Qingshui Town for their plumpness and flavor!
Hearing his mother's efforts, Xu Songrui felt warm inside. "Sure!"
As they stepped outside, they saw Xu Zerou eating stinky tofu from a large bowl, occasionally feeding Cuiguo a piece.
When Xu Songrui caught the smell, he felt nauseous. "Ugh~"
Cuiguo, hearing the commotion, nervously wiped her mouth and stepped back, her ears red and unsure of what to do.
Xu Zerou, holding the bowl, looked up blankly. "Mother?"
Xu Linshi frowned at the mess on her second child's face. It seemed Erlang was right; she needed to teach her some manners and stop indulging her like before.
"Take your stinky tofu to the kitchen."
Xu Zerou noticed her little uncle's pale face and realized the smell bothered him. She smiled sheepishly and quickly carried her bowl and called Cuiguo to follow her into the kitchen.
Cuiguo, relieved that the lady did not blame her, silently vowed to control her appetite next time. How could she share a bowl with her mistress?
Xu Linshi gently patted Xu Songrui's back. "Ruirui, are you okay?"
Once the smell of stinky tofu dissipated, Xu Songrui felt better. "Sister-in-law, I'm fine. I'll be alright after a moment."
Xu Linshi had experienced no morning sickness during her pregnancies and enjoyed all kinds of food. Seeing Ruirui react so strongly to the smell, she couldn't help but worry, having seen women become severely emaciated due to morning sickness.
"Ruirui, is there anything you want to eat? I can ask your brother to bring it back for you."
"Sister-in-law, it's fine. I'm just sensitive to this smell; it's not as bad as you think. Besides, women go through morning sickness and come out fine. As a stronger man, I won't be so fragile."
Xu Songrui smiled warmly, but his words echoed loudly in Xu Zeping's ears...
Morning sickness?
So men really can give birth?
Some things truly need to be seen to be believed. For Xu Zeping, a straight man, the idea of men giving birth was just a rumor, a fabrication used by same-sex couples as an excuse.
He even doubted the conversation between his aunt and uncle, wondering if they were trying to brainwash him.
But today's experience truly shook his worldview...
Men really can give birth.
Thinking of a burly man with a swollen belly, Xu Zeping shuddered involuntarily.
Xu Linshi noticed her youngest shiver and wondered, "Are you cold? That shouldn't be the case."
At that moment, the sweet angel Xu Zerou brought a bowl of warm water to them and handed it to Xu Songrui. "Little uncle, have some water. Grandma said drinking water helps after vomiting. She used to take care of me like this when my tummy hurt."
Xu Zerou once ate too much and ended up with severe nausea and diarrhea.
Xu Linshi thought she had forgotten, but she remembered.
Xu Songrui accepted the warm water, feeling warmth in his heart. He stroked Xu Zerou's hair. "Thank you, our Xiao Rou. You're such a cute and kind little girl!"
Xu Zeping's straight-man worldview was shaken, and his thoughts remained scattered until evening. Just as he was about to fall asleep, a cold, nightmare-like voice drifted into his ear—
"Mother, let me teach my little brother to read."
Xu Zeli stood behind the screen, smiling warmly.
Xu Zeping shuddered again. What does this kid want?
Chapter 12: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town
Xu Linshi looked at her eldest son, who was brimming with enthusiasm. She couldn't bear to dampen his spirits, but teaching a baby to read seemed like a pipe dream.
"Eldest, your brother can't even speak yet. How could he possibly learn to read?" Numerous thoughts raced through Xu Linshi's mind. Perhaps Mr. Guangming had assigned too much homework, and the eldest needed someone to listen, so he chose the youngest, who couldn't even talk? She cautiously probed, "Eldest, do you want to experience what it's like to be a teacher? If that's the case, why not teach Xiao Rou instead? People say that a woman's virtue lies in being uneducated, but I think it's good for women to know some characters."
Xu Linshi's words took Xu Zeli by surprise.
Indeed, people say that a woman or a ge'er's virtue lies in being uneducated, but what's wrong with knowing a few characters?
If Xiao Rou had known how to read and write in his past life, she could have written a letter for Uncle Wu to bring to the Xu family... Perhaps Cuiguo could have stayed by Xiao Rou's side, and with someone to help her, things might have turned out differently.
Cuiguo wouldn't have had her leg broken, and Xiao Rou wouldn't have miscarried.
She wouldn't have died of sorrow, and Mother and Father wouldn't have gone white-haired overnight.
In fact, when they hired a nanny to teach Xiao Rou etiquette, Mother had considered hiring a female tutor to teach her reading as well, but Father stopped it with the excuse that a woman's virtue lies in being uneducated... Thinking about it now, Xu Zeli remembered his own reaction at the time. He had sided with Father and even said a few sarcastic remarks, acting like an old-fashioned fool.
Now, he felt how foolish and stupid he had been.
His husband, though domineering, was a renowned scholar in the capital, skilled in poetry and music!
Teaching one is teaching; teaching two is also teaching, but the subjects would be different.
The youngest would be taught morals, while Xiao Rou would be taught to read.
Having thought this through, Xu Zeli felt surprisingly relieved. He said with a smile, "Mother, I'm not trying to experience being a teacher. Mr. Guangming told me today that learning involves reviewing old knowledge and acquiring new insights. Teaching my brother allows me to reinforce my own memory while introducing him to the charm of knowledge. It's a win-win situation!"
The eldest, usually playful yet dull, now spoke such profound wisdom. Could it be that he had truly transformed under Mr. Guangming?
Xu Linshi was moved by his words.
But the youngest can't even speak yet. Will it really work?
Xu Zeli, who had thrived in the officialdom, knew more than just having a powerful father-in-law. More importantly, he had learned from Mr. Guangming how to read people's expressions. He saw the doubt in Xu Linshi's eyes and continued, "Mother, Mr. Guangming said that education starts from childhood. If you don't believe me, you can ask Father tomorrow to confirm if I'm lying."
Who was Mr. Guangming? The first person in the Great Jing Dynasty to achieve six consecutive top ranks. Could his words be false?
Bringing up Mr. Guangming, Xu Linshi's rationality crumbled. "Of course not. How could I, an ignorant woman, dare to doubt Mr. Guangming?"
"But Mother is right; it's good for women to know a few characters." Xu Zeli said with a wistful expression. "I heard Mr. Guangming say that many noble ladies and ge'ers in the capital excel in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. So Xiao Rou should read more books too."
"Really?"
"Mr. Guangming said it. Could it be false?" Xu Zeli's face darkened, and he said unhappily, "Mother, you always doubt me. I feel sad."
Xu Zeli planned to lay hints for the future. To pave the way, he needed to convince Xu Linshi now.
Xu Linshi waved her hands, saying, "Of course I believe you. I was just too happy and hurt your feelings. It's my fault. I apologize."
Xu Zeli listened to their conversation from the cradle, feeling a chill run down his spine. This seven-year-old child was indeed extremely cunning, using simple words to draw Xu Linshi into his trap... Her CPU must be overheating.
He decided to feign innocence and obedience until he gained more power.
"Mother, teaching one is teaching; teaching two is also teaching," Xu Zeli said solemnly. "Starting tomorrow, after dinner, I will teach Xiao Rou and the youngest to read. Is that okay?"
"Okay."
When Xu Songshan returned to the room, he saw Xu Zeli leaving.
After the eldest left, Xu Songshan asked, "Xinian, did the eldest come late because he needs money?"
The Xu family, while not extremely wealthy, made a decent living from their teahouse in town and dozens of acres of rice fields in the village. They were considered well-off in Qingshui Town.
The forty acres of prime land were registered under the eldest uncle's name, so there were no taxes, making it pure profit.
The Xu family did not cultivate the rice fields themselves but leased them out. For prime land, landlords typically charged a 30-70 split, but the Xu family gave a 40-60 split to their fellow villagers.
One acre of prime land could produce 400-500 catties of rice per season, medium land 300-400 catties, and poor land 100-200 catties.
Assuming 400 catties per acre, after giving the farmers their share, the Xu family could harvest 240 catties per season.
For forty acres, they could harvest 9,600 catties per season.
With two seasons a year, the total harvest was 19,200 catties of rice.
Currently, rice yields about 70% of its weight in rice, meaning the Xu family could harvest around 13,440 catties of rice annually.
The Xu family consumed at most 2,000 catties of rice a year.
After setting aside 1,000 catties for the eldest uncle, they sold 10,000 catties. At three coins per catty, they earned 30,000 coins or 30 taels annually.
Their teahouse, which featured storytelling, earned modest profits. After deducting expenses, they made about two taels monthly.
Overall, they earned 20-30 taels annually.
Though small, these earnings accumulated over the years, making the Xu family quite well-off.
A wealthy farmer typically earned only 5-8 taels annually.
Thanks to their savings, Xu Zeli received fifty coins monthly.
Usually, he received his allowance on the tenth day of each month, but he often spent it before the end of the month and would borrow from his mother... Though he claimed it was borrowing, Xu Songshan never saw him repay it.
Thus, Xu Songshan subconsciously assumed the eldest came for money.
Chapter 13: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town
Xu Linshi huffed, "So in your eyes, our son is just someone who knows how to spend money?"
Xu Songshan felt a chill down his spine and hurriedly explained, fearing he might be banished to sleep in the study again, "My dear, you misunderstand me. I'm merely worried that Zeli might face financial difficulties with his new classmates at the new school."
Seeing Xu Songshan's sincere words, Xu Linshi was satisfied.
Xu Songshan turned and glanced outside the room. Seeing that all the lights in the courtyard had been extinguished, he closed the outer room's door and windows before walking into the inner chamber. As he walked, he asked, "Zeping, is there something troubling you?"
"Zeping said he will start teaching Xiao Rou and the youngest one from tomorrow," Xu Linshi said proudly. "Our eldest son cares so much for his sister and brother; he always thinks of them first."
Xu Songshan frowned, "Isn't this nonsense? Leaving aside the youngest one, for Xiao Rou, since ancient times, it has been said that a woman's virtue lies in not having talent. A woman only needs to learn embroidery; why should she read books?"
If it weren't for Xu Zeli's words today, Xu Linshi would have been swayed by Xu Songshan's argument and given up her thoughts. But with Xu Zeli invoking the name of Mr. Guangming, Xu Linshi stood firm: "What do you mean by nonsense? Mr. Guangming said that in the capital, ladies from noble families and sons of prestigious households are well-versed in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting! My Xiao Rou doesn't need to master everything, but learning a few characters won't hurt."
"In the future, if Xiao Rou marries far away, knowing how to write can help her send us letters. If she can't write, we wouldn't even know how to communicate our sorrows..."
As Xu Linshi spoke, her eyes welled up with tears, as if her daughter had suddenly grown up and was about to leave.
Xu Songshan feared her tears the most. Seeing her red eyes, he immediately agreed, "Alright, alright, whatever you say. I am being old-fashioned; don't take my old-fashioned ways seriously."
Xu Linshi buried her head in his waist and lightly punched him, "It's all your fault, making me miss my mother."
"Alright, alright, it's my fault." Xu Songshan gently held her fist, "After Mid-Autumn Festival, why don't you take the youngest one to stay with Father-in-law for a couple of days? He missed seeing his grandson due to farm work when the youngest one was born."
Xu Linshi's family wasn't large either, with only her and a younger brother. She was the eldest daughter who married out, while her brother took a wife. It wasn't that her mother didn't have male heirs; they simply couldn't afford to raise twin boys during hard times, and they passed away before their first birthday.
"Mm." Xu Linshi responded softly, feeling embarrassed, thinking about the youngest one nearby and feeling shy, despite being a mother herself.
Years of marriage made Xu Songshan understand her thoughts with just a glance. He quickly gave her an out, "Don't worry, the youngest one is already asleep and hasn't heard anything."
Xu Linshi still wasn't quite convinced and pushed him away, gesturing for him to check.
Hearing footsteps, Xu Zeping immediately closed his eyes and pretended to sleep, fully cooperating.
Sure enough, Xu Songshan stood by the cradle and sighed in relief, "I told you, the youngest one is already asleep."
After Xu Songshan undressed and lay down on the bed, Xu Linshi naturally snuggled into his arms, "Have you thought of a formal name for the youngest one? Calling him 'youngest' all the time isn't ideal."
"I've thought about it for a long time and decided to use the character 'Ping.' The eldest's name was chosen by my elder brother, derived from the idea that a gentleman should harbor benevolence and propriety in his heart. Benevolence means loving others, and propriety means respecting others," Xu Songshan said. "For the youngest, I don't want him to bear such a heavy burden. Health and safety are enough."
Hearing this, Xu Zeping was stunned. Ping... with the surname Xu and belonging to the Ze generation, it would be Xu Zeping.
Was this a coincidence?
Yet it wasn't a coincidence.
Xu Zeping opened his eyes wide, watching the paper cranes floating in the darkness. It was good that his name hadn't changed; otherwise, adapting to a new name would have been difficult.
"Ruirui, will her in-laws agree to her coming here to rest?" Xu Songshan rubbed Xu Linshi's fingers, a hint of concern in his eyes. In hindsight, they shouldn't have listened to his elder brother's persuasion and should have chosen a more ordinary family.
Xu Songshan had heard rumors about the Zhong family's complicated relationships.
Although Xu Songrui never mentioned it, Xu Songshan had gleaned some clues from Xu Songlin's letters.
Xu Songlin once wrote about a wealthy merchant whose eldest son's wife was secretly given safflower during pregnancy. The wife, being strong-willed, sent the servant to the authorities, demanding justice, claiming the servant wouldn't act alone.
The investigation eventually pointed to the second son's wife...
Due to the failed attempt, and with the merchant's intervention, the second son's wife received twenty strokes of the cane.
Though Xu Songlin didn't explicitly name the merchant, from Xu Songrui's casual mention that her eldest sister-in-law had been given safflower and the timing of her childbirth, Xu Songshan deduced the situation.
Ruirui's eldest brother had no male heir, making Ruirui's pregnancy crucial.
If it were a male heir, the division of the family estate would change significantly.
In the Great Jing Dynasty, according to the law, a legitimate son could inherit seventy percent of the estate.
If the legitimate son had no male heir, the estate would be equally divided between the legitimate and illegitimate sons.
Currently, Ruirui and the Zhong family's main branch were aligned, but if the main branch had a male heir, they would become rivals.
"This depends on you and Elder Brother," Xu Linshi hoped Elder Brother could withstand the Zhong family's pressure. After all, it was safest for Ruirui to give birth at the Xu residence.
Xu Songshan had no direct stake in the matter, as he neither held office nor belonged to a prominent family, free from reputation constraints.
But Elder Brother, as a local official, would find it challenging.
As a wealthy merchant in Dongping County, if news spread that their daughter-in-law went to her natal home to rest, they would be ridiculed for not being able to support their own daughter-in-law. They would likely complain to Elder Brother.
Xu Songshan couldn't think of a good solution and felt troubled.
Xu Linshi understood Elder Brother's predicament and sighed inwardly, "It's late; let's get some rest."
The next morning, Xu Zeli encountered Xu Songshan, who seemed somewhat troubled. Recalling his uncle's morning sickness, Xu Zeli knew the answer: "Father, my leg hurts a bit. Could you please take me to school later?"
Xu Zeli was clear about the situation; Uncle couldn't return to the Zhong family.
In the previous generation, it was because Elder Uncle couldn't resist the Zhong family's pressure that Cousin was not only premature but also suffered from congenital poisoning, leading to poor health ever since.
Chapter 14: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town
Xu Songshan didn't know what his eldest son was up to, but seeing the eager look in his eyes, he couldn't refuse: "Alright, hurry and pack your books. We'll leave shortly."
"Thank you, Father!"
Xu Zeli was about to run off but then remembered he was pretending to have a leg ache, so he slowed down. Realizing that Xu Songshan was watching him from behind, he turned around with an awkward smile.
Xu Songshan didn't take it too seriously; he just shook his head, thinking how childish he still was.
After telling Xu Tangshi what to prepare, Xu Zeli rushed back to his room and stuffed all his homework into his book box, then hurriedly ran out the back door.
The old Xu family residence had two entrances, front and back. The family's carriage was parked at the stable by the back door.
When Xu Zeli arrived at the stable, Xu Songshan had already been waiting for some time.
Xu Zeli hopped onto the carriage, tossed his book box inside, and sat down next to Xu Songshan, smiling ingratiatingly.
"Not pretending anymore?" Xu Songshan hummed lightly. "What do you want from me this time?"
"Father," Xu Zeli, having adapted to his current age, naturally tried to please his father. "Do I look like someone with bad intentions? I just want to spend more time with you. Father, don't think so poorly of me, will you?"
If he could be so natural in his cajoling, he owed it to Mr. Guangming, the old mischief-maker. Liu Quan, the martial arts instructor at Qinghai Private School, was sent by Mr. Guangming's younger brother to protect him. But in reality, it was more like supervision, to ensure Mr. Guangming drank less alcohol.
Mr. Guangming loved drinking since he was young, but he had a low tolerance for it and often got drunk and hurt himself.
Once, he fell into a lotus pond and was only saved by his brother, who found him just in time. Otherwise, he might have drowned.
Mr. Guangming disliked staying in his hometown because of his overprotective brother, who always interfered in his life, making him feel suffocated.
Liu Quan was tall and stubborn, so Mr. Guangming often had no wine to drink.
To get some wine, he would come up with all sorts of schemes, even crawling through walls or pretending to be sick to go out for medical treatment. At first, Liu Quan didn't know that Mr. Guangming pretended to seek medical help just to drink, but one day, Liu Quan had a stomachache and went to the clinic for medicine.
He thought Mr. Guangming was getting acupuncture at Chunhe Hall, so he went there, planning to return together. However, he couldn't find Mr. Guangming anywhere in Chunhe Hall...
Eventually, he found Mr. Guangming drunk at Huangliang Wine House.
Xu Zeli became Mr. Guangming's disciple not just because of stinky tofu but also because he promised to bring him a jar of pear wine every ten days.
Why every ten days?
Because fifty coins were enough to buy one ounce of pear wine.
One ounce was exactly three jars.
Mr. Guangming didn't know that Xu Zeli's promise was due to financial constraints. To get an extra jar, Mr. Guangming used all sorts of tricks, leaving Xu Zeli with no choice but to comply.
Initially, Xu Zeli felt embarrassed as an adult and emptied his pockets. Later, he gave up and acted like a child, throwing tantrums and even threatening to tell Liu Quan the truth.
Whenever Xu Zeli threw a tantrum, Mr. Guangming would deliberately pick on him in class, asking difficult questions.
It was a constant battle of wits between the old man and the child.
"Tell me honestly." Xu Songshan didn't engage in banter. He flicked the reins, and the black horse pulled the carriage out of the alley and onto the main road.
"Father, is Uncle pregnant?"
Xu Zeli observed Xu Songshan as he spoke: "You don't need to hide it from me. I've noticed that Uncle's symptoms are the same as when Mother was pregnant with Xiao Rou."
Xu Songshan was taken aback by Xu Zeli's serious expression. After a moment, he said, "You're just a child. Your most important task right now is your studies. You promised me you'd pass the county examination at twelve, so don't break your word!"
"Father, I won't break my promise," Xu Zeli said solemnly. "Don't treat me like a child anymore. I'm seven years old now, and I should start understanding certain things. Many poor children my age worry about their livelihoods. They can't afford private schools; they struggle to have enough food for three meals a day. A bowl of thick porridge is a luxury."
Hearing this, Xu Songshan looked at him sharply. "Did Mr. Guangming tell you these things?"
"Mr. Guangming said that governing the country isn't just about books; it's also about experiencing the hardships of the people," Xu Zeli nodded. "When I'm older, he suggests I travel and learn about different customs. If I become a scholar-official, these experiences will be invaluable."
Xu Songshan realized that his son had truly matured. His insights were profound, even enlightening.
"My son has grown up, while I remain foolish."
Xu Songshan's words were both joyful and melancholic. Joyful that his son was growing up, but sad that the little boy who once needed his protection was gone: "Did you notice something today, which is why you wanted to talk to me in the carriage?"
"Father, I saw you worried today. I assume it's about Uncle?" Xu Zeli directly addressed the issue.
"Yes, do you have any good ideas?"
"Serve the sick." Xu Zeli's gaze was clear. "Emperor Sheng'an governs with filial piety. Surely, it's reasonable for Grandmother to keep her grandson to serve the sick for a year?"
Xu Linshi carried the youngest child into the courtyard to bask in the sun and saw Xu Tangshi bent over selecting baskets. In front of her were four or five baskets of various sizes: "Mother, what are you doing with these baskets? Are you preparing to dry beans?"
Xu Tangshi smiled and said, "No, today, Zeli is teaching Xiao Rou to read. He asked me to find some sand to put in the baskets so she can practice writing in the sand before moving on to paper."
Girls can't endure the hardships boys can, and calligraphy requires arm and wrist strength. Xu Zeli didn't want Xu Zerou to suffer, so he planned to teach her to recognize characters first and let her write when she's older.
Xu Linshi didn't understand Xu Zeli's deeper intentions and thought he was trying to save money. After all, xuan paper wasn't cheap; even the cheapest roll cost 200 coins!
Xu Linshi appreciated her eldest son's thriftiness, having experienced hardship herself. If not for her fortunate marriage to Erlang, she might still be struggling in the fields.
"Mother, collecting sand is hard work," Xu Linshi placed the youngest child in a nearby cradle. "Why don't you watch the baby today while I go collect sand with Cui Zhu?"
"How long have you been out of confinement? You shouldn't go," Xu Tangshi said, somewhat exasperated. "I've already arranged for someone to collect the sand. It should arrive soon."
Xu Songrui felt comfortable at her parents' home, sleeping when tired and eating when hungry, without any restrictions.
She yawned as she came out of her room, whining in a drawn-out voice, "Mother, I want to eat egg noodles."
Chapter 15: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town (1)
Xu Tangshi looked at the fading dark circles under Xu Songrui's eyes and felt relieved. When she saw him early that morning with those dark circles, she was quite startled. It turned out he had gotten used to sleeping under fine cotton quilts at the Zhong family's house and couldn't sleep well with the coarser quilt back home.
Xu Tangshi found it both amusing and exasperating. Amusing because although her son had difficulty having offspring, he at least hadn't suffered at the Zhong family's house. Exasperating because this child, eager to return and share good news, hadn't brought anything, causing the two maids who served him to rush back to the Zhong family's house with the coachman to fetch some clean clothes.
"Are you not feeling nauseous anymore?"
Xu Songrui shook his head. "No, I'm hungry, Mother. I want to eat sour fish."
Sour for a boy, spicy for a girl.
Xu Tangshi smiled widely upon hearing this. "There's still some fish left from your Uncle Ayang, but we don't have any pickled vegetables. Let me make you a bowl of egg noodles first. Later, I'll go buy some pickled vegetables, and we can have sour fish for dinner."
Xu Songrui turned to tease the baby in the cradle. "Little Fubao, I'm your little uncle."
Xu Zeping raised his tiny hands and waved them, saying, "Ya~"
Looking into those innocent big eyes, Xu Songrui somehow sensed a hint of insincerity. He wondered if he was imagining things. Upon closer inspection, he still saw only an innocent toothless smile.
Xu Tangshi clapped her hands, dusting off the dirt, and smiled at Xu Linshi. "Xinian, are you hungry? Mother will make you a bowl too?"
"I ate a lot this morning, Mother, so I'm not hungry yet," Xu Linshi replied, just as she was about to say something about Xiao Rou...
Xu Zerou suddenly appeared, raising her chubby little hands. "Grandma, I want to eat! I want to eat!"
Xu Tangshi pinched her soft little face. "Of course, how could I forget our little glutton?"
"Hmph, Grandma is being naughty. Xiao Rou isn't a little glutton," Xu Zerou pouted, her round eyes filled with grievance.
"Grandma made a mistake. Grandma says sorry to our Xiao Rou, okay?" Xu Tangshi smiled and took her hand, leading her towards the back door. "Xiao Rou, let's go see if the old hen has laid any eggs, okay?"
Xu Zerou, being a little angel easily appeased, didn't realize her grandma was teasing her.
As Xu Tangshi and the others left, Cui Zhu and Cuiguo followed them sensibly.
Cui Zhu was instructed to knead dough, while Cuiguo was assigned to wash the dirty diapers.
For a moment, the courtyard was left with only Xu Linshi and the others.
Xu Linshi, unable to sit idle, went into the room and brought out a small basket of sewing supplies. She then started chatting with Xu Songrui while making a lace.
Xu Songrui looked at her exquisite plum blossom lace and couldn't help but be amazed. "Sister-in-law, your lace-making skills have become even more beautiful. How can you say my mother taught you when I've forgotten everything?"
Xu Tangshi came from a wealthy family and was naturally skilled in needlework.
Unlike Xu Linshi, who grew up on a farm and did farm work, she never learned such delicate crafts until after entering the Xu family, where Xu Tangshi taught her stitch by stitch.
Xu Linshi felt a bit embarrassed. In the past, Ruirui was much better at needlework than she was, so she thought Ruirui was being modest. Feeling a bit annoyed, she said, "Ruirui, you've changed. You know my needlework is poor, yet you still tease me. If you keep doing this, I won't be nice to you anymore."
Xu Songrui smiled. "Sister-in-law, I'm not teasing you. These past two years, I've been busy trying to conceive, and I've neglected my needlework. If you don't believe me, I'll make a red pouch for Little Fubao another day."
"You, you're just being naughty," Xu Linshi huffed. "Your body is precious now. If you tire yourself, I'm afraid Mother will tear me apart."
"Haha, Sister-in-law, you've also changed. You dare to joke about Mother. Be careful, I might report you," Xu Songrui teased.
Just as they were laughing, Xu Zerou ran over. "Mother, Little Uncle, Grandma called us to eat egg noodles!"
Xu Songshan watched Xu Zeli's back as he entered the private school, suddenly remembering something. Xinian's pregnancy had always been smooth, without any morning sickness. Why did the eldest say Ruirui's symptoms were similar to Xinian's?
Hmm, could this kid be lying?
Xu Zeli seemed to sense a chill down his spine and immediately turned around, only to see his father staring at him sternly. He quickly put on a flattering smile and hurried into the school.
Xu Songshan pursed his lips; indeed, the kid was lying.
But thinking about the eldest's suggestion, he couldn't help but marvel. The eldest had truly transformed, coming up with ideas they never would have thought of!
The most important point was that these unconventional ideas were beyond the imagination of honest and kind-hearted folk like them.
In their simple minds, they couldn't afford to get sick or pay for medicine. Talking about illness was taboo, a curse no one dared mention.
Watching the disappearing back, Xu Songshan felt somewhat relieved. Hearing such ideas from a child made them seem less rebellious.
By mid-June, the summer heat was intense. Even after the scorching sun set, the evening breeze was hot and dry.
Xu Zeping lay in Xu Linshi's arms, sweating profusely while nursing. The heat dampened his appetite, making him drowsy instead.
Cui Zhu, standing beside Xu Linshi, said perceptively, "Madam, the young master seems sleepy. Shall I hold him while you eat? When I came, Master told me to play with the young master if he wasn't hungry."
Seeing the youngest's drooping eyelids, Xu Linshi didn't insist and gently placed him back in the cradle without letting the maid carry him. The youngest was easy to handle and didn't need to be held to sleep.
Before leaving, Xu Linshi instructed Cui Zhu to fan the youngest. Mosquitoes were already out in June, and the mosquito net for the cradle, which had been treated with mugwort today, wouldn't be usable until tomorrow. Cui Zhu would have to use a palm leaf fan to keep the mosquitoes away.
By late June, the Xu family moved their dining table to the courtyard due to the heat.
The chirping cicadas, gentle evening breeze, and steaming dinner did not irritate Xu Zeli but rather gave him a sense of comfort.
Family happiness filled him with joy.
Of course, it would be even better if the person he cared about could appear before him.
"Mother, why didn't you start eating without me?" Xu Linshi walked gracefully to Xu Songshan's side and sat down next to him. "You didn't have to wait for me. I can manage with a quick bite."
"What nonsense! How could we start without the head of the household?" Xu Songrui smiled, a hint of teasing in his eyes.
"Eat in silence, speak not during meals," Xu Songshan coughed lightly. "Let's eat."
With the patriarch's command, everyone began to eat.
The tender and sweet fish paired with the tangy pickled cabbage boosted everyone's appetite, and for a moment, everyone except Xu Zerou was immersed in the delicious food.
Xu Zerou whispered to Cuiguo, who was carefully removing fish bones for her, "Sister Cuiguo, I secretly saved some fish for you and Sister Cui Zhu in small bowls. They're in the unused stove in the kitchen. Remember to eat them later."
Hearing Xu Zerou's words, Cuiguo's eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and she quickly lowered her head to hide them. "Thank you, Miss."
Ever since their mother and father passed away, it had been a long time since anyone had thought of them like this.
Xu Tangshi looked at her granddaughter, whom she thought was whispering quietly, with a kind smile in her eyes. This little granddaughter of hers was just too kind.
Xu Zeping had only just fallen asleep when he felt a pair of warm little hands playing on his face, annoying him so much that he was about to start crying. Then, a voice that made his scalp tingle exploded in his ear.
— "Youngest, still sleeping? No more sleeping, get up and study!"
Chapter 16: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town (Bug Fixing)
Xu Zeping opened his drowsy eyes to meet the familiar yet icy gaze of those phoenix eyes, causing an uncontrollable shiver to run through his body. Unlike the warmth in Mother's phoenix eyes, these were cold enough to make one feel bone-chilling.
Seeming to overreact, he quickly tried to cover it up with an innocent and pitiful toothless smile. "Eh?"
Seeing those clear, innocent, round eyes, Xu Zeli's heart trembled slightly. He reminded himself not to be soft-hearted; being soft would only nurture trouble. Xu Zeli bent down to pick up the youngest child and instructed Cui Zhu, who was following behind, to carry the cradle as they headed towards the study.
Passing through the flower hall, Xu Zeli greeted Xu Linshi.
When they arrived at the study, Xu Zerou was already sitting obediently in her seat, with a tray of fine sand and a bamboo stick about the length of a chopstick in front of her.
Xu Zeli motioned for Cui Zhu to place the cradle less than a foot away from Xu Zerou, then placed the youngest child inside. He walked to the small podium, where a square board and several pieces of charcoal were placed.
Cui Zhu knew that not everyone had the privilege to learn, so she quietly left the study and closed the door behind her.
Xu Zeli took out two primers, one being the "Three-Character Classic," and the other the "Thousand-Character Essay." Since the learning directions for the youngest and Xiao Rou were different, their primers naturally varied.
He cleared his throat lightly. "Xu Zerou."
"Teacher Xu, I'm here," she replied. Her grandmother had told her earlier that day that knowledge required devotion, and she must take her studies seriously, without any frivolity or mischief, or else she would get spanked.
Xu Zerou was most afraid of getting spanked. She remembered once disobeying and breaking her father's favorite orchid, which led to a severe spanking by her mother, leaving her sore for three days. Since then, she never dared to break flowers again.
Of course, she also remembered the pain of being spanked.
So she sat obediently in her seat, answering Xu Zeli's words earnestly.
Seeing the little girl sitting there so obediently, Xu Zeli's heart softened. "Today, I will teach you eight characters: 'Heaven and Earth, Dark Yellow, Universe and Chaos,' from the 'Thousand-Character Essay.' It is the third book commonly used for children's education."
The three common primers for children's education are the "Three-Character Classic," "Hundred Surnames," and "Thousand-Character Essay."
For Xu Zerou, the goal was to help her recognize more characters, so he chose the slightly more challenging "Thousand-Character Essay."
As he spoke, Xu Zeli wrote the eight characters—Heaven and Earth, Dark Yellow, Universe and Chaos—on the wooden board with charcoal.
Xu Zerou stared wide-eyed at the unfamiliar characters on the board and, under Xu Zeli's guidance, read them aloud.
After Xu Zerou read the eight characters, Xu Zeli stepped down from the podium, walked behind her, and guided her hand to write the eight characters with the bamboo stick.
After writing them once, Xu Zeli had her read the eight characters again.
Xu Zerou repeated them without any impatience, reciting enthusiastically, "Heaven and Earth, Dark Yellow, Universe and Chaos."
Xu Zeli continued after she finished repeating, "These eight characters mean that the sky is dark blue, the earth is yellow, and the universe is vast and primitive."
"Why is the sky dark blue? Isn't the sky white?"
For Xu Zerou's innocent question, Xu Zeli did not show any impatience. He smiled. "The sky is white during the day, but black at night, right?"
"That makes sense," Xu Zerou scratched her head. "But, Big Brother, oh, no, Teacher Xu, what does 'Chaos' mean?"
"This is a good question, but it involves our mythology. According to legend, there was a great god named Pangu who split the heavens and the earth..." Xu Zeli, not one to give easy answers, deliberately paused. "I'll tell you the story when you've learned all the characters in the Thousand-Character Essay. For now, your task is to study."
"Oh," Xu Zerou said, feeling a bit wronged but not daring to contradict Teacher Xu. She obediently held the bamboo stick and wrote the eight characters repeatedly in the sand while reading them aloud.
While writing, she had to read them aloud as well.
Tomorrow, Teacher Xu would not only teach new characters but also check today's eight characters.
Xu Zeli took the "Three-Character Classic" and walked to the cradle, looking at the drowsy youngest child. His anger surged, knowing this troublemaker always fell asleep during lessons. He bent down and pinched his ear 'forcefully.' "Ahem, you're here to study, not to sleep!"
Xu Zeping, unsure of what this lunatic was doing, did not dare to fall asleep. Sensing the pinch, he immediately opened his eyes and politely cooperated. "Eh?!"
Xu Zeli removed his hand and said sternly, "Today, I'll teach you the first sentence of the 'Three-Character Classic': 'At birth, nature is good.'"
"Eh?" Xu Zeping tilted his head, showing complete ignorance.
Xu Zeli was not fooled and continued, "At birth, nature is good."
"Eh?"
Xu Zeli leaned closer, narrowing his eyes. "At birth, nature is good."
Xu Zeping felt a chill and instinctively followed, "Aaah, aaah, aaah."
Xu Zeli was quite satisfied. "That's right. This means that when people are born, their nature is inherently good."
"Nature is similar, but..."
"Aaah, aaah, aaah."
"This line means that although human nature is similar, it can change due to the environment..."
"If not taught, nature changes."
"Aaah, aaah, aaah."
"If not taught, nature changes means that if not properly educated from a young age, good nature can turn bad."
...
Xu Zerou listened to the echoing responses and wondered if the youngest really understood anything.
Amidst the constant "aaah, aaah," Xu Zerou's ears were ringing. Even as she drifted off to sleep that night, she could still hear the youngest's "aaah" echoing in her mind... Looking at her grandmother tucking her in, she wanted to ask if she could skip studying tomorrow.
But in her grandmother's loving gaze, she fell asleep unknowingly.
In her dreams, the youngest turned into the incessant chirping cicadas on the tree branches, deafening her ears.
Meanwhile, Xu Zeping cursed inwardly, "Aaah, this is madness! Who treats a newborn like this?"
Xu Linshi took the listless youngest child from Xu Zeli's arms and asked with concern, "Zeli, did everything go smoothly today?"
Xu Zeli said nonchalantly, "Everything went smoothly."
Xu Linshi glanced at the lethargic youngest child and felt somewhat skeptical. Was everything really smooth? Why did she feel that the youngest seemed to have lost all will to live?
Chapter 17: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town (Part 17 - Bug Fixing)
Xu Zeping lay in Xu Linshi's arms, his eyes vacant and filled with not just hunger but also a deep sense of humiliation!
Xu Zeli, that lunatic, not only forced him, a mere infant, to read but also mocked his little pepper by flicking it. Not only did he flick it, but he also ridiculed its size... He even said that if he didn't behave, he would be sent to the palace as a eunuch.
Xu Zeping vividly remembered the mocking gleam in that lunatic's eyes. Ah, he was going mad! If it weren't for the fear of others thinking he was possessed and performing rituals to burn him, he would have humiliated that brat severely!
You're the one with a small pepper, you should be the one sent to the palace as a eunuch!
After exchanging pleasantries with Xu Linshi, Xu Zeli bent down and gently patted Xu Zeping's little face, smiling and saying, "Be good, Zeping. We'll see each other tomorrow."
Xu Zeping was angry but still managed a toothless grin, "Ya ha."
After all, he was still terrified of becoming a eunuch.
Just then, Xu Songshan entered from another room, hearing Zeping's hoarse voice and couldn't help showing concern, "How is Zeping's voice so hoarse?"
Xu Zeli took the opportunity to walk away without looking back, heading to his bedroom.
Xu Zeping grumbled inwardly, how could it not be hoarse? He had been making "ah ah" sounds while reading for an hour with that lunatic.
Despite his complaints, he was surprised to find that he seemed to remember everything. The entire Three-Character Classic and its translation were crystal clear in his mind.
So, starting education early really works?
Xu Linshi watched the eldest sneak out, feeling a subtle unease. "Zeping, weren't you reading with the eldest for an hour earlier?"
"Reading for an hour?" Xu Songshan was puzzled. How could that make his voice so hoarse? If it was just listening to the eldest read, it shouldn't have caused this. The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was off. Did he actually follow along and shout? No matter what, he would check on the eldest tomorrow.
Xu Linshi nodded and undid her robe to feed Zeping.
Xu Songshan turned his head slightly, averting his gaze, and said, "I remember there's some honey from the eldest brother in the kitchen. I'll go make some honey water."
He walked away as if being chased by ghosts.
Watching Xu Songshan leave, Xu Linshi huffed softly. After so many years of marriage, he was still as shy as ever. What hasn't happened at night? Yet he can't bear to look under the oil lamp.
Xu Zeping, having eaten and drunk his fill, was just about to fall asleep when Xu Songshan came in with warm honey water. Before he could drift off, he was forcibly fed a few spoonfuls of honey water.
For the first time, he understood why some children could fall asleep while eating... he was truly exhausted! Halfway through swallowing the honey water, he tilted his head and fell fast asleep, with the rest of the honey water dribbling down his chin.
Seeing this, Xu Songshan quickly caught the dripping honey water with a spoon.
"Zeping will be fine after a good sleep," Xu Linshi comforted softly. "Erlang, don't worry."
The next day, after washing up, Xu Songshan headed to the hall to ask the eldest about teaching Zeping. However, he found no one there. Xu Tangshi told him that the eldest had an urgent matter with Mr. Liu and had rushed out early.
Hearing this, Xu Songshan knew the troublemaker was avoiding him.
Well, well, breakfast can be skipped, but home must be returned to. He didn't believe the eldest could avoid him forever.
Knock, knock, knock.
Less than an hour after Xu Songshan left, someone knocked on the door of the Xu family residence.
"Who is it?"
Hearing the knock, Xu Linshi put down her embroidery and glanced at Cuiguo beside her. "Cuiguo, go see who's knocking."
Xu Songrui calculated the time and guessed it might be Xiao Huan.
Sure enough, before Cuiguo reached the door, a loud female voice called out, "Reporting to the master, it's Xiao Huan!"
Cuiguo recognized Xiao Huan's voice and immediately opened the door.
Two carriages were parked outside the Xu family gate, one in front and one behind.
The front carriage was clearly more luxurious. Although Cuiguo didn't recognize the wood, she could tell from its size and the flowing cloud patterned curtains that it was meant for the master.
As expected, a pair of dark blue silk boots descended from the carriage.
Cuiguo, as a servant, dared not look directly at the master and quickly lowered her head.
Xiao Huan scanned the area and guessed that the master hadn't expected the fifth young master to come personally. She hurried over to Cuiguo and whispered, "Cuiguo, go tell our master that the young master has arrived."
Cuiguo immediately ran into the courtyard.
Seeing Cuiguo panting, Xu Linshi asked curiously, "Cuiguo, why are you in such a hurry?"
"The young master, no, Songrui's husband has arrived!"
Xu Linshi immediately put down her embroidery, her thoughts racing.
A'niang had taken Xiao Rou to the market, and Erlang wasn't home... If it were her father, they wouldn't need formalities, but now it was Ruirui's husband. She feared offending the Zhong family if she received him herself, as it would be inappropriate for a woman to greet a man. It might embarrass her elder brother.
Xu Linshi quickly said, "Ruirui, your husband has arrived. You'll have to greet him yourself and take him to Zeli's study. I'll send Cui Zhu to fetch your second brother from the teahouse!"
Xu Songrui wanted to say it was unnecessary, but then remembered his mother-in-law's strictness.
Xu Linshi patted her hand, "I'm just a countrywoman, so I don't know much. I'm worried about embarrassing you."
"Ruirui, how have you been these past few days?"
Zhong Ye's face lit up with a smile as soon as he saw Xu Songrui, and he eagerly walked over to take her hand.
Zhong Ye wasn't particularly handsome, with his round face and round eyes, but he had a pleasant demeanor that made him quite likable when he smiled.
Xu Songrui's expression was slightly cold, clearly indicating her displeasure: "Why didn't you let us know you were coming? Second Brother isn't home, and only my sister-in-law and I are here."
Zhong Ye looked a bit embarrassed, "We're family, aren't we? I was in such a hurry to see you that I forgot about this. Should I find an inn to stay at now? And then come back after I've formally announced my visit?"
"Are you making it look like our Xu family is turning guests away?"
Chapter 18: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town
Zhong Ye knew that his lack of proper etiquette had led to this scolding and obediently followed Xu Songrui without a word. After so many years together, he understood that Ruirui was currently upset, so he kept a smile on his face, his mind racing with ways to appease his husband.
Xu Songrui led Zhong Ye through the outer courtyard into the study.
The study was now used by Xu Zeli, and his calligraphy adorned every corner.
Upon entering the study, Zhong Ye immediately noticed a family banquet painting hanging on the wall. The realistic style depicted the Xu family gathered for a joyful dinner, their happy smiles touching everyone in the scene... This filled him with an uncontainable longing, causing him to applaud in admiration!
Although the Zhong family was wealthy, Zhong Ye had never experienced such simple joy. In the Zhong household, he only felt daily scheming and manipulation for personal gain, forced smiles, and false pretenses.
Even his relationship with his elder brother was merely a pawn used by their mother in her pursuit of favor and wealth.
Xu Songrui followed Zhong Ye's gaze and saw the banquet painting on the wall. He was momentarily stunned; from the fresh ink marks, it appeared the painting was done recently... and considering they had only been gone for one night, it must have been painted by Zeli!
He knew his second brother could not possibly have that level of skill!
Xu Songrui, raised by a patriarch who believed in the virtue of simplicity, did not understand poetry or art. He instinctively turned to Zhong Ye for help, "Yelang, is this painting good?"
"Very good!" Zhong Ye exclaimed with admiration, "Without twenty years of practice, one cannot paint something like this. Ruirui, who painted this banquet scene? Can you introduce me to them?"
Though Zhong Ye came from a merchant family, he loved poetry and art. If not for the rule that merchants could not take the imperial exams, he would have pursued a scholarly career.
Hearing Zhong Ye's words, Xu Songrui was taken aback, "Yelang, don't tease me. Did you make a mistake?"
Zhong Ye observed Xu Songrui's expression and cautiously asked, "Could there be some hidden meaning in this painting?"
"I'm illiterate, how would I know any hidden meanings?" Xu Songrui laughed and shook his head, "Judging by the time it was painted, the artist can only be Zeli. Zeli is just seven years old; this must be a casual sketch. How could it be as impressive as you say?"
"Is this true?"
"Why would I lie to you?"
Zhong Ye clapped his hands. "Ruirui, our nephew might become a great master someday! I've seen many paintings, and this one ranks among the top five!"
Seeing Zhong Ye's conviction, Xu Songrui no longer doubted him.
Just as he was about to speak, Xu Songshan hurried in, his face flushed and breath still ragged, "Fuyuan, I didn't know you were coming today. My apologies for not greeting you properly."
Fuyuan was Zhong Ye's courtesy name, and close friends called him by it.
Zhong Ye felt embarrassed and said, "Second Brother, your words make Fuyuan blush. It's my fault for not following proper etiquette."
As they exchanged pleasantries, Xu Songrui quietly left the study and instructed Cui Zhu to bring tea.
After Cui Zhu delivered the tea, Zhong Ye and Xu Songshan began discussing business.
Xu Songshan stirred his tea and calmly asked, "Here to take Ruirui back?"
"Yes," Zhong Ye smiled ingratiatingly, "Ruirui is my husband after all. Staying at her parents' home for too long might make people think we mistreated her."
Xu Songshan understood the implication—people might think she was sent away because of mistreatment.
He snorted, "It's been years, but Fuyuan's eloquence has improved. Running the business has certainly honed your skills!"
Xu Songshan's words made Zhong Ye realize he had overstepped, offending his second brother-in-law. He quickly apologized.
"Second Brother, I spoke out of turn. Please forgive me!" He stood up and bowed to Xu Songshan, "I didn't mean to offend you."
Xu Songshan was not petty; he was simply making a point. He hadn't discussed matters with Ruirui yet, so he wouldn't decide for her. He stood up, helped Zhong Ye up, and said, "Ruirui's pregnancy is still unstable. Don't upset her with these words. If anything happens to Ruirui, our family won't stand idly by!"
With that, Xu Songshan turned to leave.
Zhong Ye hastily pulled out a letter, "Second Brother, please don't be angry. I have a letter from my elder brother for you."
Xu Songshan took the letter and said, "I suddenly remembered unfinished business. I can't stay."
Watching Xu Songshan leave, Zhong Ye felt ashamed for using those words. He knew Second Brother was delaying, no matter how persuasive he was, Second Brother would find fault.
Thinking about the family issues, he felt frustrated. Concubine Bai and Concubine Lin had been whispering in his father's ear about the harsh treatment of Ruirui in Dongping County...
To save face, his father had argued with his mother, blaming her for driving Ruirui away. Even his upcoming deal with the Qiao family in Prefecture City was threatened if he didn't bring Ruirui back.
Zhong Ye rubbed the teacup, his eyes darkening. He knew Ruirui was safest at her parents' home, where harmony reigned.
But the business was still mostly controlled by his father, leaving him with no choice but to endure.
When Xu Songshan read his brother's letter, his chest tightened. Dongping County had not seen rain for three months, and the harvest would likely be poor... With a population of 200,000, the county's grain reserves might not suffice for the winter, necessitating a loan from the Zhong family.
Xu Songshan clenched his fists, understanding the letter's message: prioritize the greater good over personal feelings.
After burning the letter, he opened the window, letting the hot wind cool his mind. His thoughts turned to Xu Zeli, wondering what the troublemaker would do.
Chapter 19: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town
Achoo~
Xu Zeli sneezed, and his wrist trembled, causing a drop of thick ink to splatter onto the xuan paper.
"Hmph, is it so unwilling for you to spend more time with this old man?"
Before Xu Zeli could speak, the elderly man beside him, with his grizzled beard, spoke mockingly, his wise eyes unashamedly challenging.
Xu Zeli looked at the seemingly ascetic and lean old man beside him, feeling helpless. Today was the once-a-decade day for smuggling wine... because he had rushed to complete his homework, he had forgotten about this matter.
Because of this, the old man had not spared him any trouble during class today.
He had been asked to recite passages from the Four Books all the way to the Five Classics, with questions far beyond the syllabus. Seeing that he indeed struggled, and accompanied by the astonished looks of his classmates, the old man finally relented in class.
Relenting in class did not mean he would spare him afterward. Sure enough, before Xu Zeli could step out of the schoolhouse, he was detained under the pretense of playing chess.
After detaining him, he didn't mention chess but instead said that his younger brother's birthday was next month and requested Xu Zeli to copy a Buddhist scripture as a blessing.
Xu Zeli tried to decline by saying his handwriting was ugly, but Liu Huaizhi immediately retorted, "If your handwriting is ugly, then there are few people in the world who can write well!"
Liu Huaizhi's words were not false. In his previous life, Xu Zeli had spent nearly a decade with Liu Huaizhi to master such elegant handwriting. Whether it was Liu style or the official script used in imperial examinations, he displayed great mastery.
In his previous life, his literary talent was not outstanding. He barely passed the examination for the juren degree thanks to his impressive official script, which was square and smooth, with black ink evenly applied.
Of course, he only learned this after passing the imperial examination and becoming an official, when his father-in-law mentioned it. That year, the chief examiner was Academician Fang from the Hanlin Academy, who had some acquaintance with his father-in-law.
During a drinking session, Academician Fang revealed that a candidate had written exceptionally well, leading to his exceptional promotion...
That candidate was none other than Xu Zeli.
Academician Fang's love for good handwriting was well-known; he could spend three months pestering a scholar just to have them write a poem for his painting!
Naturally, after entering the bureaucracy, Xu Zeli was often called upon by Academician Fang, and he never refused due to his gratitude.
Everyone envied his beautiful handwriting, unaware of the ten years of daily practice, countless worn-out brushes, and the half-blackened pond outside his teacher's house...
Yes, in his previous life, Xu Zeli was taken as a disciple by Liu Huaizhi.
Unlike the current students, he was formally apprenticed to Liu Huaizhi, treating him as a father figure.
Later events involving the youngest one led to the teacher being implicated and his reputation tarnished.
For Xu Zeli, Liu Huaizhi felt a deep affection, despite his many secrets and unanswered questions. His admiration for the boy remained unshaken.
The graceful Liu style handwriting was a testament to his youthful talent. If he weren't present, one might think it was written by a twenty-year-old!
To achieve such skill required at least ten years of practice. Yet, this boy hadn't even reached ten years of age.
Xu Zeli had considered hiding his handwriting when he first entered school, writing clumsily, but Liu Huaizhi saw through it immediately. His strong arm and steady hand made his handwriting too stable to be so sloppy...
"Mr. Liu, you're being unreasonable," Xu Zeli said, putting down his brush and looking firmly at Liu Huaizhi.
Feeling a bit uneasy under Xu Zeli's gaze, Liu Huaizhi touched his nose and changed the subject. "Remember to bring me some pear blossom wine tomorrow. I want two jars."
Xu Zeli sighed, deciding to be frank. "Mr. Liu, honestly speaking, it's not that I won't bring you two jars. It's just that my monthly allowance is fifty cash, which is exactly enough to buy one liang of pear blossom wine, or three jars. Your request has depleted my savings over the years... So if this continues, I'll have to copy books to earn some money."
Xu Zeli was a typical scholar, unwilling to bend for material gain.
Liu Huaizhi initially thought it was a good idea but then reconsidered, realizing it would be a waste of such fine handwriting.
"How about this? I'll give you the money, and you can bring me the pear blossom wine."
Xu Zeli looked at Liu Huaizhi speechlessly. "Mr. Liu, don't you remember? Since Master Liu Quan caught you drinking last time, he's been managing your finances. You need to submit a request for any expenses. Where will you get the money?"
Liu Huaizhi scratched his head, realizing it was true.
Taking advantage of the moment, Xu Zeli advised, "Mr. Liu, excessive drinking is harmful to your health. You are already in your sixties, so you should drink less pear blossom wine."
Liu Huaizhi glared. "So you think I'm too old?"
Xu Zeli felt a pang. This old man was as stubborn as ever, always throwing tantrums when the topic of alcohol came up.
Forget it, it's getting late. Time to go back for dinner.
But just as he opened his mouth, Liu Huaizhi interrupted, "I've been craving capital city noodles these days. Liu Quan hired a chef from the capital who knows how to make them. Want to try?"
Despite Liu Huaizhi's dry tone, Xu Zeli felt warmth in his heart.
He knew the old man disliked noodles, but he remembered Xu Zeli's fondness for capital city noodles. A casual remark about wanting to try them had been remembered by the old man.
Xu Zeli didn't expose the old man's intention and gladly accepted.
The Xu family was accustomed to Xu Zeli being invited to dine with Mr. Liu, so they understood when he didn't return for dinner.
Everyone in the Xu family took pride in Xu Zeli being favored by Mr. Liu.
Of course, Zhong Ye was unaware of this. Seeing Xu Songshan frowning at the table, he assumed the tension hadn't dissipated and tried to break the silence, unaware that Xu Songshan was thinking of ways to get his eldest son to willingly offer advice.
Tonight's banquet was initially planned to be separate seating, but Zhong Ye insisted on a round table, saying they were all family and shouldn't be so formal.
Chapter 20: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town
After the evening meal, the relationship between Xu Songshan and Zhong Ye had eased up, no longer as stiff as before. Xu Songshan took the opportunity to suggest escorting Zhong Ye back to his room.
Zhong Ye looked at Xu Songrui with pleading eyes. He hadn't even had a chance to talk much with his husband, so why did he have to go back to his room? No, he didn't want to.
Xu Songrui said appropriately, "Yelang, you must be tired from the journey. It's best to wash up early and rest."
When Xu Songrui spoke, Zhong Ye had no reason to argue and followed Xu Songshan reluctantly.
Xu Songrui returned to her family home and stayed in the same room she had before her marriage, located in the Xiheyuan where Xu Songshan and his wife lived. As for Zhong Ye, Xu Songshan arranged for him to stay in the Donggen courtyard, which was once occupied by the eldest uncle of the Xu family before he entered officialdom.
Just like how Xu Zeli now resides in the westernmost room of the western wing in the Donggen courtyard, closest to the study.
Zhong Ye was placed in the middle room of the western wing, next to Xu Zeli's room.
As for the servants who accompanied Zhong Ye, Xu Songshan arranged for them to stay in the servants' quarters of the Donggen courtyard, all male servants, so there was no need to separate their rooms.
The two maids serving Xu Songrui lived in a small adjacent room to hers, ready to attend to her needs at night.
Xiao Huan, while making the bed, said enviously, "My Lady, I truly envy you. Even after marriage, your family still keeps your maiden room for you. Unlike me, once sold into the Zhong family, I lost all contact with my own family."
Before Xu Songrui could speak, Xiao Xiang chimed in, "You shameless girl, don't forget your place. How can you compare yourself to our Lady?"
Xiao Huan had a round face with baby fat when she smiled, and she was only fourteen years old. Xiao Xiang, on the other hand, had sharp features and was seventeen or eighteen, clearly very capable and a trusted aide of Xu Songrui.
The three of them had a harmonious relationship. Xu Songrui wasn't angry with them and got up to put on an outer robe. "Finish tidying the room. I'll go to the Donggen courtyard to see your master."
"Yes!"
Knock knock knock
Upon hearing the knock, Zhong Ye immediately dismissed his servants and tried to contain his excitement. "Is it Ruirui?"
"It's me."
"My Lady, good evening."
As Xu Songrui entered the room, she encountered Zhong Ye's servants. She recognized them both as his confidants.
Seeing Xu Songrui nod, the two servants respectfully left.
Before Xu Songrui could sit down, Zhong Ye eagerly embraced her waist and said dejectedly, "Ruirui, these days apart, I've missed you so much. It feels like you don't miss me at all."
Xu Songrui pushed away Zhong Ye, who was nuzzling her neck, and said disapprovingly, "Stop nuzzling me; I'm hot."
Although reluctant, Zhong Ye released her waist and looked at her with a pained expression, clearly feeling wronged. "Ruirui, will you come back with me? Here, we can't even live together as husband and wife."
Xu Songrui held his hand and placed it on her abdomen. "Yelang, you know that our child is safest here in the Xu family. In the Zhong family, we still have several thorns that haven't been removed, and we don't know whose side they're on."
Not yet three months along, Xu Songrui's abdomen was still flat. Although Zhong Ye couldn't feel their child yet, his expression softened, and his voice was filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry, Ruirui. I'm too useless to protect you."
Xu Songrui rubbed Zhong Ye's hand. "It's not that you're useless, but Father is too biased."
Thinking back to the incident with the eldest sister-in-law, Xu Songrui remembered it vividly. If not for Hua Yu's luck, she might have died at the hands of the second sister-in-law. Even so, Hua Yu was born weak and survived only through immense financial support.
The safflower incident not only weakened Hua Yu but also caused significant harm to the eldest sister-in-law. The doctor had said that her chances of conceiving again were slim.
Despite this, Zhong Ye's father only punished the second sister-in-law with twenty strokes.
Such a heinous act would have led to immediate expulsion in the Xu family!
The waters in the Zhong family were deep, but Xu Songrui couldn't reveal too much to her sisters-in-law, lest they worry excessively.
Zhong Ye clenched his fists, silently vowing to become stronger to avoid being controlled.
"Yelang, Dongping County hasn't seen rain in three months. I understand my elder brother's difficulties," Xu Songrui said, having experienced the complexities of the interplay between officials and merchants over the years. "If my elder brother cannot restrain your father, find a way to let me stay in my family home for three full months to ensure the pregnancy is stable."
After three months, the pregnancy would be more secure, making it harder for them to cause trouble.
"Alright!"
Xu Zeli had just stepped off the carriage from the Liu family and hadn't even had time to return his books to his room when Cuiguo informed him that the master wanted to see him in the study!
Xu Zeli handed his book box to Cuiguo and hurried to the study. Through the window, he could faintly see Xu Songshan's thin figure under the oil lamp. Xu Zeli coughed twice. "Father, it's me."
Hearing his voice, Xu Songshan's smile faded. "Come in."
"Were you detained for dinner by Master Guangming tonight?" Xu Songshan asked, feeling anxious.
"Yes, Father. Cuiguo said you had something to ask me. What is it?" Xu Zeli didn't waste time on pleasantries, having already expended considerable mental energy dealing with the old man today. He preferred to get straight to the point.
Xu Zeli's directness made Xu Songshan uncomfortable. He stood up, feeling awkward, knowing that this was a matter for adults, yet he was involving his eldest son. He paced back and forth, finally deciding to speak. "Dongping County hasn't seen rain in three months. This year's harvest isn't ideal, and the county granary won't suffice to help the poor through winter. Do you have any solutions, Li'er?"
Xu Zeli pondered for a moment before responding, "Father, there are two possible solutions, each with its own challenges. Let me explain them, and you can decide which one is suitable."
Xu Zeli had heard about the drought in Dongping County from his previous generation, but he was too young then, and the eldest uncle managed it well, allowing the people to survive the disaster. Thus, the memory wasn't deeply ingrained.
He couldn't understand why his youngest uncle, who had been staying safely at home during pregnancy, suddenly returned to the Zhong family. Now, he realized that the eldest uncle must have made some sort of deal with the Zhong family, forcing the youngest uncle to return.
Xu Songshan, upon hearing this, brightened up. "Father is all ears."