Chapter 208 Dispute

When they arrived at the front hall, everyone started chatting.

Shen Jinyu felt sad when she saw her son just chatting with the Shen family and ignoring her and Xie Zhenghuai.

Shen Xiuwen looked at Xie Yan, his eyes filled with admiration that could not be concealed.

"Ayan is really good. He can achieve good results in this small county. Now everyone in Beijing praises Ayan for his ability and talent."

Shen Xiuwen's wife, Madam Wei, agreed with a smile: "Yes, if Ayu could be half as sensible as you, your uncle and I wouldn't have to worry about him. Over the past six months, you have taken care of Ayu, and he has become sensible and steady. Auntie wants to thank you."

"You're too polite, aunt. A-Yu is a sensible person, but he is a little too lively compared to his cousins."

"Don't speak well of him."

Shen Yu: His mother is comparing him again. He has been unable to avoid being compared with 'other people's good kid Xie Yan' since he was a child. Now he is no longer the Shen Yu he used to be.

Second aunt Lin smiled and said, "Don't be too harsh, sister-in-law. Look how successful Ayu is now. If it weren't for him, our shops wouldn't be doing so well."

Third aunt Han agreed: "Yes, if it weren't for Ayu, we would have been short of ice in the summer. Fortunately, he gave us a way, so we didn't suffer from a heat stroke this summer."

Shen Yu nodded secretly: Second and third aunts are the ones who understand him.

The subsequent topic was something that the younger generation was not interested in.

After a few young people sat there for a while, Shen Yu took his brothers and sisters of the same generation to visit the garden and choose a courtyard to live in.

Only Xie Yan and a few elders were left in the lobby.

Shen Xiuwen said: “Ayan, to be honest, it is all thanks to you that my uncle was able to be promoted to the position of Shangshu so quickly this time.”

"My uncle relied on his own abilities. I am just a small county magistrate. How can I help him?"

"Don't be so modest. The drawing you sent me earlier, about the suggestion of building a dam, is really good. After I submitted it, everyone thought it was novel. There had never been such a proposal before. The emperor also praised it very much and ordered several prefectures in the south to build dams like this as much as possible. He also ordered people to dig canals where the river flows, in case the dam cannot bear the water again, so that the water can be diverted to the uninhabited mountains."

Xie Yan smiled and said, "Uncle praised the wrong person. I was also advised by others."

"Who is this expert? How can you have such talent? Can you introduce him to us?"

"It's my grandmother's birthday in a few days. She will come to attend."

"Then we'll just wait."

Old Man Shen said, "You are all exhausted from the journey, so go back to the yard and rest first. You will have to stay for a few days anyway, so there is plenty of time to talk."

"Yes, father."

Then he asked his servants to take them to various courtyards for placement.

The others left, but Xie Zhenghuai and Shen Jinyu didn't move. Xie Yan knew they had something to say, so he also sat there motionless.

The smiles on Old Man Shen and his wife faded.

Xie Zhenghuai glanced at Shen Jinyu, and Shen Jinyu said, "Yan'er, are you serious about wanting to marry a farm girl as mentioned in your letter?"

"yes."

"You are so confused. With your family background, how can you marry a peasant girl? You are not a good match and cannot live together. If others know about it, both the Shen family and the Xie family will be ridiculed."

Xie Yan looked at her expressionlessly: "So what mother said in her reply, that she would come to propose marriage in person, was a lie? Was she deliberately stalling for time?"

"I only wrote that I would meet the girl in person, but I didn't say that I would go to her house to propose marriage. Besides, marriage is a matter of parents' orders and matchmaker's words. Your marriage is decided by me and your father. You want to marry a peasant girl, I will not agree."

Xie Yan sneered: "Mother is concerned about me at this time. Where were you when I needed your concern?"

"Yan'er, mother is doing this for your own good."

"Can't I tell the difference between good and bad?"

"That's enough." Old Lady Shen stopped him: "Ayan, go ask the housekeeper to prepare dinner."

Xie Yan responded, stood up and left.

Old man Shen stared at Xie Zhenghuai, and Xie Zhenghuai said, "Madam, I'll go check out the residence and have someone clean it up."

After he left, Old Lady Shen said with disappointment, "Jin'er, I thought you would reflect and improve during the years since A'yan left the capital, but I didn't expect you to have not changed at all.

You haven't seen your son for such a long time, and you don't care whether he eats well, lives well, or works hard. You just refute his marriage. If Xie Qi was an official outside today and you haven't seen him for a long time, would you not care about how he is doing when you see him, but directly accuse him of his faults?"

Shen Jinyu felt aggrieved: "He lives in such a nice manor, he is not thin, and he looks good. You can tell at a glance that he lives a good life. In comparison, his marriage is naturally more important.

Father and mother, did you know that he was going to marry a peasant girl? He is the son of the Shaoqing of Taifu Temple and a top scholar in the imperial examination. Even if he is only a county magistrate now, he is still an official after all. There is no reason for him to marry a peasant girl.

Now Zheng Huai and the eldest brother have been promoted to higher positions, and the second and third brothers are also in the court. With our family background and Yan'er's talent, appearance and character, many noble ladies in the capital would like to marry him. It's just that Yan'er has been away from the capital for too long, and is surrounded by vulgar people, which is why he fell in love with a peasant girl. If I really agree to him, he will definitely regret it in the future.

Zheng Huai and I have already set our sights on Su Yuyan, the granddaughter of Su Taifu. This time she is here to celebrate her mother's birthday. As long as Yan Er and Yuyan are given a chance to get along, Yan Er will definitely like Yuyan, which will also be helpful for his future career."

Old Mrs. Shen shook her head helplessly, but she had just arrived here and didn't want the mother and daughter to quarrel.

Let’s wait until my daughter meets Li Wanyue. My daughter has not seen Wanyue’s abilities yet. Once she does, she will understand why A Yan likes her.

Xie Shuyan and Su Yuyan were walking in the back garden. They saw Xie Yan sitting in the pavilion and walked over.

Xie Shuyan said: "Brother, your manor is nice, the scenery is elegant, and the yard is also very nice. When I get tired of staying in the capital, I will come to live with you for a while."

Xie Yan originally wanted to find a quiet place to be quiet for a while, but he didn't expect these two people to come over again. However, he still loved this sister.

"Okay, you guys can hang out here. I have something else to do, so I'll leave first."

Just as Xie Yan was about to stand up, Xie Shuyan immediately said, "Brother, this is our first time in Anping County. Can you accompany us to visit the county town these two days?"

"I don't have time, let A Yu take you around."

Su Yuyan said sympathetically: "Shuyan, Brother Yan is busy with work and has to prepare for the old lady's birthday banquet. Let's not disturb him. If he has time, he will take you out to play even if you don't tell him."

Turning to Xie Yan, he said, "Brother Yan, go and take care of the affairs of the county government. Shuyan and I will help prepare for the birthday banquet, which will also reduce some of your burden. Otherwise, you will be too tired."