Because Chen Jiangchuan disliked reading, and his grandson Chen Zhong was not good at reading, the old patriarch of the Chen family, after looking at the family's children and grandchildren, decided to give these books as part of Chen's dowry, as a memento for Chen.

Ancient books are priceless. Although Xiao Chenshi is not well-educated, she knows that she can do a lot with these books. Chen Zhong saw that she was preoccupied with these things and thought that it would be a great thing to take this opportunity to isolate the two children from that family. With the incompetence of the Marquis of Pingxi and the greed of Xiao Chenshi, the next generation of the Marquis of Pingxi will not have any outstanding children. The Marquis of Pingxi's mansion will not go far.

Chen Zhong, feeling disgusted, gave Xiao Chen another ten thousand taels of silver, and only then did Xiao Chen stop.

After the two people reached an agreement, they still had to talk to the old lady of the Chen family and the old lady of the Pingxi Marquis's mansion. The two families went back and forth for two months before they finally settled the matter.

Marquis Pingxi did not want to publicize the matter, so he gave his hometown a sum of money and had the old clan chief change the family genealogy. He adopted Zheng Boyuan and Zheng Yuanyuan, the brother and sister, to his second uncle as his heirs. He also removed the three adjacent courtyards at the back of the Marquis Pingxi's mansion and opened a gate in the back wall to serve as the main entrance. Since Zheng Boyuan had not yet returned, he moved Zheng Boyuan's sister, Zheng Yuanyuan, from the old lady's residence.

Chen Zhong and Madam Chen helped clean up the large courtyard and provided some useful old women and maids. Zheng Yuanyuan then lived in the courtyard by herself with some servants.

Xu Di, along with Zheng Boyuan and two guards, headed south. However, Chen Zhong had people follow them along the way, reporting any disturbances in the capital. Therefore, Zheng Boyuan and Xu Di were well aware of the progress of the adoption.

That day, the four of them stopped for a meal at an inn in a county town. Someone came to deliver a letter to Zheng Boyuan. After reading the letter, Zheng Boyuan said to Xu Di, "Things have finally been settled. The family genealogy has been changed, and the courtyards have been divided. From now on, it will be me taking care of my sister."

Xu Di said, "These days are quite nice. So, what are your plans for the future?"

Zheng Boyuan said, "When we go back and pass through the capital, I plan to go back and take my sister with me to Hexi. I've already decided that I will serve under Prince Wei."

Xu Di said in surprise, "Why would you want to join the army? I thought you were going to take the imperial examination."

Zheng Boyuan shook his head and said, "My ambition lies elsewhere. When I was a child, I was with my grandfather, and he said that our Pingxi Marquis started in the army. Our ancestors guarded the border and protected the people of Daliang. They only wished for peace and prosperity for the country and for the mountains and rivers to be safe. It's just a pity that the talents of later generations have dwindled and no outstanding talents have emerged. At that time, I thought that I would also join the army in the future, become a guardian of the people of Daliang, and inherit the wishes of our Pingxi Marquis ancestors."

Xu Di looked at the twelve or thirteen-year-old boy with great admiration. Zheng Boyuan said, "Brother Xu, I have been in Hexi for more than a year and I feel that I should stay there forever. The sky there is higher than the sky in the capital. When I got there, I felt that my heart was much more open and I became much smaller. I hope that I can stay there forever."

Xu Di nodded and said, "You are very lucky. You knew what you wanted to do when you were just a teenager. Do it well and persevere. You will definitely become a great general who guards a region in the future."

Zheng Boyuan smiled slightly after hearing this, but said nothing more.

It was rice harvest time, and Xu Di had bought a lot of rice along the way and then asked someone to transport it back to Hexi. The group enjoyed the scenery of Jiangnan at this time of year while busy with their own affairs, keeping themselves busy and fulfilled every day.

Seeing that it was getting late, Xu Di took Zheng Boyuan and turned back towards the capital. When they passed through Tai'an, they bought gifts and went to his aunt Xu Ru's house.

Both Aunt Xu Ru and Uncle Yue Qingchuan were overjoyed at the arrival of their nephew, Xu Di.

Yue Qingchuan opened a Taishan Academy at the foot of Mount Tai. The academy was full of scholars and candidates for the imperial examinations. Because Yue Qingchuan was the third-ranked scholar in the imperial examinations, many people came to study there. To enter Taishan Academy, one had to take an exam first, and only those who passed the exam could be admitted.

Xu Ru and Yue Qingchuan lived in a three-courtyard house behind the academy. Their four children were Yue Minglan, the eldest daughter who was the same age as Xu Di, and three younger cousins ​​who were studying at the academy with Yue Qingchuan. Yue Minglan, on the other hand, was already betrothed and was now helping Xu Ru with housework and embroidering her dowry in the backyard.

Xu Ru held Xu Di's hand and said with a smile, "The last time I saw you, you were only this tall. It's only been a few years, and you've grown so tall and strong. How are you doing in Hexi?"

Xu Di smiled and said, "Auntie, we are doing very well in Hexi. We are carefree and at ease."

Upon hearing this, Yue Qingchuan said with some disapproval, "Your father wrote to me last time, saying that you plan to take the imperial examination again after two more sessions. When are you planning to come and study with me for two years in peace?"

Xu Di laughed and said, "Oh, Uncle, don't worry, I'll come sooner or later. But right now I have a lot of things to do, so let's wait two more years."

Yue Qingchuan said, "Why do you have to wait another two years? You should take advantage of passing the imperial examination now and come here to study properly for two years. I don't agree with you continuing to take the imperial examination at your age. Many things need to be gradually settled before you can gain new insights."

Xu Di said, "Uncle, I quite agree with what you said. Look at me now, after passing the imperial examination and returning to Hexi, I felt that my mindset was somewhat lacking, so I came out to travel and see the world. Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. Uncle, you always lock yourself up to read, but you can't write any good articles."

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