Xu Rao, Xu Di, and Zhang Zhaoci all stood up. Xu Rao thanked the old lady, who then invited everyone to sit down and eat.

After several rounds of dishes, Xu Rao mentioned that his whole family was going to take up their posts. Madam Hou paused, holding her chopsticks, and said, "Don't the wives of officials who go to other places usually stay at home to serve their parents-in-law?"

Zhang Zhaoci said with a smile, "Mother, isn't my sister-in-law here at home? Sister-in-law, I'll have to ask you to take care of things at home from now on."

Zhang Zhaoci's words left Lady Hou speechless. Everyone knew that Zhang Zhaoci was a troublemaker, and over the years Lady Hou had been afraid of encountering a repeat of the incident where Zhang Zhaoci caused a scene in the kitchen. Fortunately, no one in the household caused trouble, and she didn't cause any either. But this time, she was going to take up her post with Zhang Zhaoci, and Lady Hou was not happy about it at all.

With a large household comes many people. In a family like the Marquis of Yongning's mansion, there are a lot of mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. Everything is done by mutual favors and backstabbing. In the mansion, one must abide by the rules. Not to mention the morning and evening greetings, even the daily social interactions are a headache. Everyone knows that going to take up a post in another place may have good or bad conditions, but it's free. Although there are some who dislike the conditions of the place where their husbands are to be appointed and are unwilling to go, they use the excuse of serving their parents-in-law at home, but in fact they don't want to leave their comfortable environment. But the smart ones are really willing to go. Once they go, they will be the relatives of officials, and then people will look at them with disdain. How carefree would that be?

The old lady was shrewd and knew why. She sighed and said, "Third Master and his wife have had a hard time all these years. Besides, they've never been apart since they got married. I think they should go together. As for the two children, it's better to travel than to read ten thousand books. It would be good for them to go and broaden their horizons."

The old lady usually doesn't speak, but once she does, it's a done deal.

Xu Rao and Zhang Zhaoci, along with their two children, knelt before the old lady and kowtowed three times earnestly.