When Xu Rao heard that his daughter had fallen in love with Zheng Boyuan at first sight, he was speechless and sat in the swaying carriage with Zhang Zhaoci, exchanging bewildered glances.

Zhang Zhaoci sighed and said, "Alright, now that we know who it is, we'll have to help them deal with it from here on out."

Xu Rao said, "Tell me, at Xiao Jiu's age, do you know the difference between liking someone and wanting to marry that person and live a normal life with them?"

Zhang Zhaoci said, "Whether you know it or not, Xiao Jiu's marriage needs to be put on the agenda. If she really can't live comfortably in the future, we can always get a divorce. It's not like we can't support her."

Xu Rao said, "Look at you, this matter is not even settled yet, and you're already talking about divorce. I'm worried that our daughter might fall for this guy at first sight just because she likes his looks. What if she doesn't get along with him after they live together? Wouldn't that be another ordeal for the child? I'm not that old-fashioned, thinking that once you're married, you have to stay together forever. I just think that it's a bit hasty for such a young child to make such a hasty decision about the rest of her life."

Zhang Zhaoci also sighed and said, "I understand the reasoning, but this is the social atmosphere now, and neither you nor I can change it. All we can do is adapt to local customs and hope that our children can live a better life in this environment, just like other children."

Xu Rao remained silent for a long time, then slapped his thigh and said, "Alright, I'll go back and find the Zheng family boy. He was adopted by his great-uncle, and there's no one else in his family besides him and his sister. He can decide his own marriage."

Zhang Zhaoci asked, "How is the child now?"

Xu Rao said, "When Wei Lang came last time, he specifically mentioned him to me, saying that he was not afraid of hard work and always put his all into everything he did. Last winter, when some people came from the grasslands to harvest hay, he went with them and was very brave."

Zhang Zhaoci said, "Thinking about it, the child is also pitiful."

Xu Rao said, "Who can disagree? Children like this are the most endearing. Not only do they risk their lives to build their future, but they also have a younger sister who needs their support. He was a child who grew up in luxury, and only he knows the hardships he has endured since then."

Zhang Zhaoci said, "Then tell me, what will happen to him after he becomes our son-in-law?"

Xu Rao said, "I haven't thought about that. Let's go back and talk to him about it."

Because I had something on my mind, the walk felt much faster.

Back at their home in Ganzhou, the servants had already tidied up the house and heated the kang (a traditional heated platform bed). Zhang Zhaoci asked Madam Li to stay for the night before leaving, but Madam Li, who had been through a lot, said that Ganzhou and Hexi were only half a day's journey apart, and it wasn't even lunchtime yet. She urged them to hurry home, as she had been away for quite some time and missed the little courtyard dearly. Zhang Zhaoci understood her feelings and didn't try to keep her any longer.

After lunch, Xu Rao arranged for someone to go to Hexi to invite Zheng Boyuan over.

Zheng Boyuan had been in the army for several years and had been promoted from an ordinary soldier to a captain. His younger sister, Zheng Yuanyuan, still lived in Hexi. Xu Zhi often corresponded with her and naturally knew that she was now able to manage that small courtyard very well.

Zheng Boyuan was stationed at Yanmen Pass and could only return home for one day every two weeks. Since Zheng Yuanyuan was a girl, Zheng Boyuan asked someone to invite two nannies from the capital to come over. Both nannies had no children of their own, and Zheng Boyuan had already made arrangements with them to take care of them in their old age and see them off in death, and to provide for their funeral rites after their passing. This was the most important thing, and it was because of Zheng Boyuan's promise that the two nannies traveled thousands of miles to come to this frontier.

With the companionship and guidance of the two nannies, Zheng Yuanyuan's originally quiet, reserved, and even somewhat withdrawn personality improved a lot. Two more maids were added to the household to serve her, as well as two more guards and gatekeepers. This was all mentioned in Zheng Yuanyuan's letter to Xu Zhi.

After lunch, Xu Zhi returned to her courtyard and sat upright at the kang table, looking at the gifts she had brought back from Beijing for Zheng Yuanyuan. She wondered what her parents would do after she had confessed her feelings to them.

Even though Xu Zhi was a generous person, she couldn't bring herself to ask her parents how they should handle her relationship with Zheng Boyuan. Xu Zhi naturally knew that Zheng Boyuan hadn't arranged a marriage yet. Zheng Yuanyuan had mentioned in her letter that several girls from Hexi had taken a liking to her brother, but her brother felt that since they hadn't yet achieved any merit or military achievements, the two of them wouldn't have any security. So he hadn't given in.

Xu Zhi knew that the families Zheng Yuanyuan mentioned were all well-known in Hexi City. Xu Zhi wondered if, even though her parents had invited him, he would decline the invitation because he hadn't achieved much yet.

Xu Zhi was upset and didn't know what to do to relieve her distress. She realized how good her brother Xu Di was. If her brother were here, she could tell him her worries and he would say something that would help her think more clearly.

Not to mention Xu Zhi's anxiety in the backyard, Xu Rao and Zhang Zhaoci in the front yard were also discussing how to talk to Zheng Boyuan after inviting him to their home.

Xu Rao knew when Zheng Boyuan would return home each month, during which time he would be in the military camp. So the person he sent went directly to Wei Lang and told him that he had brought back some things for Zheng Boyuan from the capital, and that he had some private words to say to Zheng Boyuan, asking Wei Lang to release Zheng Boyuan for him.

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