Xu Zhi nodded and said, "Back then, we were worried that you wouldn't be used to marrying someone from so far away. Now it seems that your choice was absolutely right."

Xu Yao couldn't help but sigh and said, "Alas, I made a mistake when I was young and ignorant. Because of this mistake, my family sent me to Liaodong for several years. Do you think those years were wasted? I read a lot of books and thought about some issues over and over again. Later I realized that when a girl is looking for a husband, substance is much more important than appearance."

Having already entered the alley, Xu Zhi asked curiously, "Fourth Sister, what is 'inner substance' and what is 'outer substance'?"

Xu Yao patiently explained, “The substance is the real life you live in this family, especially in the backyard, while the appearance is what outsiders see. Ninth Sister, it’s like when I married your fourth brother-in-law. To outsiders, it seems like I, a legitimate daughter, married a country bumpkin so far away. Everyone would think I’ve made a bad choice. But although the Lin family is a large landowner in Gaoqing, your fourth brother-in-law is a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). Most importantly, your fourth brother-in-law loves me and doesn’t let me suffer any grievances. He strongly agrees with whatever I want to do and does his best to help me. Ninth Sister, tell me, did I make a bad choice marrying your fourth brother-in-law?”

Xu Zhi immediately understood, nodded, and said, "Fourth Sister, you really made the best of a bad situation by marrying my fourth brother-in-law. Among all the families in the capital that are a good match for our family, which family's son can be like my fourth brother-in-law? He can earn a lot of money for you to spend outside, and he treats you so sincerely at home."

Xu Yao said with some pride, "Most importantly, your fourth brother-in-law promised me that there will be no more concubines or maids in the family in the future. He will live a good life with me and our children. It's good for the family to live like this. There's no need to find a few more to cause me trouble."

Xu Zhi laughed and said, "Fourth sister, this is the last thing you're satisfied with about my fourth brother-in-law, isn't it?"

Xu Yao snorted twice and said, "That's how our family is. I grew up in this kind of environment since I was a child. After I got married, I had to endure all the filth I had never experienced before. Your fourth brother-in-law used to have two concubines. Before I even got married, my mother-in-law gave them a generous dowry and sent them away. My mother-in-law told those two concubines that, not to mention my noble birth, I wouldn't even need to consider her face in the future. As for your fourth brother-in-law, my mother-in-law only kept those two concubines in his house because she was afraid he would be seduced by some vixen. Before I got married, she naturally didn't care. But after I got married, they certainly couldn't stay in my house anymore and cause me trouble."

Xu Zhi couldn't help but clap her hands and laugh, saying, "Fourth sister, why does this sound so sour to me? Have you been soaking in a vat of vinegar for days?"

Xu Yao's face flushed red instantly. She playfully slapped Xu Zhi's arm and said, "You're going to die! I came all this way, and this is how you make fun of me?"

Xu Zhi quickly pulled her towards home, whispering in Xu Yao's ear as they walked, "Good sister, your uncle is waiting for you at home, and your elder brother has also come from Dengzhou."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yao asked in surprise in a low voice, "Why did my elder brother come here? Can he leave Dengzhou so easily?"

Xu Zhi pulled her quickly into the courtyard. After the gatekeeper closed the gate, she pulled Xu Yao towards the backyard, saying as they walked, "Something happened in Miaozhou, and my brother came over personally because he was worried."

Wu Muyue and Xu Di were both in Zheng Boyuan's study in the front yard. When they saw Xu Yao coming over, Xu Di quickly stood up and was about to bow to Xu Yao when Xu Yao quickly said, "Big brother, I can't accept that."

Xu Di smiled and said, "Whether I can accept it or not, I must pay my respects to my fourth sister. My fourth sister and her husband brought food and medicine all the way here through danger. On a grand scale, it is a matter of national righteousness; on a smaller scale, it is a matter of deep sisterly affection. I must pay my respects."

Xu Di bent down, and Xu Yao quickly stepped aside. Xu Di said, "Fourth sister, I am truly grateful that you and your husband were able to come this time."

Xu Yao said somewhat shyly, "Big brother, we're all family, I feel a little embarrassed by what you're saying. Uncle, I think it's only right and proper for me to do this, don't you think?"

Although Wu Muyue looked down on the heir apparent, he quite liked the heir apparent's second daughter. He always felt that this fourth daughter had a chivalrous spirit and was always upright and generous in her actions, which suited his temperament very well.

Wu Muyue smiled and said, "Yes, what our Fourth Miss said is very true."

Xu Bai asked, "Fourth sister, didn't my fourth brother-in-law come with you? Where is he?"

Xu Yao stood next to Xu Bai, first measuring Xu Bai's height with her hand, and then said, "Your fourth brother-in-law and your ninth brother-in-law are unloading things at the city gate. Seventh brother, you've grown quite a bit in the past two years. Look, you've even reached me now."

Xu Bai looked at Xu Yao, who was standing tall beside him, and said, "Fourth sister, you are taller than most women, okay? My sister is not short, and you are half a head taller than her. It's only because my fourth brother-in-law is tall that the two of you look so mismatched standing together."

Xu Yao smiled at Xu Zhi and said, "Oh my, our little one has grown up so much! She even knows how to be a good match. Come on, tell your fourth sister, is there any girl who makes your heart flutter?"

Xu Bai was never embarrassed by these kinds of things. He said with a grin, "Fourth Sister, I can tell you're married now. You can really say whatever you want. I'm not a scholar who stays in his study all day. I won't feel embarrassed if you say these things to me. A beautiful lady is sought after by a gentleman. I haven't met a beautiful lady yet, so naturally I haven't met a girl who moves my heart. But don't worry, Fourth Sister, I will make sure you can drink my wedding wine. You'll have to give me a big red envelope then."

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