Xu Yuejia said this, and Xu Yuxuan took a step back, his little face full of resistance.

Xu Yuejia noticed his action, stopped, and asked, "Don't you like this book?"

Xu Yuxuan shook his head.

Xu Yuejia closed the book and said, "So, which one do you want to change?"

Dad is not fun!

He misses his mother.

Xu Yuxuan decisively stretched out her hand to Madam Ji: "Madam, go back."

Aunt Ji: “…”

The eldest aunt, the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law arrived at the Duke's Mansion at 3 p.m. They were covered in dust and frost, and looked quite frightened.

It was really because God had a strange temper. The snow would stop for a while and then fall for a while. In addition, they almost encountered an avalanche before. It was not until the eldest aunt and the mother-in-law won the favor of the Duke's Mansion that their relationship finally came to fruition.

When Lu saw them, she immediately changed her mind and led the two of them directly to the courtyard that had been prepared in advance.

It wouldn't be too late to go to the main courtyard to meet him later in the evening for dinner.

Lu didn't meet her eldest aunt very often, but she only remembered that she was a generous and easy-going person.

At that time, the situation in Shengjing was unstable. The eldest aunt was afraid that her son's studies would be affected, so she moved her family back to her husband's ancestral home and waited for her son to pass the imperial examination before going to Beijing. After her son passed the imperial examination, she got an official position as the magistrate of a county under the jurisdiction of Lingcheng, and then she continued to follow her son to Lingcheng for exile.

This county magistrate has been in office for several years.

If you count carefully, Lu hasn't seen her eldest aunt for five or six years.

Along the way, Lu Xixi said to the eldest aunt: "I asked someone to prepare hot soup and hot water. You and Hui Niang can simply wash up, eat something hot, and have a good rest for half an hour. We will get together as a family in the evening."

Hui Niang is the eldest aunt's daughter-in-law. Her surname is Yao and she is the daughter of the local prefect of Lingcheng.

The eldest aunt had heroic features and was a cheerful person. She said, "I'll do as you say. Hui Niang and I are indeed tired."

The courtyard was the annex where the eldest aunt lived before she got married, but later on Mrs. Lu added some things to the original foundation.

The kang in the warm room was already heated. After everyone sat down, maids came in one after another and served hot tea and meals.

Lu sat beside him.

The eldest aunt drank several cups of hot tea without hesitation. After her body was thoroughly warmed up, she picked up a spoon and scooped up the steaming wontons to eat.

In order to get to the capital as quickly as possible, they even saved the time to boil water along the way and endured it the whole time.

After the eldest aunt ate a few wontons, she saw her daughter-in-law Yao eating slowly, and she couldn't help but frown and said, "Your cousin's wife doesn't eat people, so don't be nervous. And don't you like spicy food?"

The eldest aunt glanced at the bowl of chili peppers on the table and said, "Eat something spicy to drive away the cold."

She specifically asked her niece-in-law to add the chili pepper.

Yao's face flushed, and she hurriedly tugged at her mother-in-law's clothes and whispered, "Mother, stop talking..."

She was thinking that since this was her first time in Beijing and she was staying at her mother-in-law's family home, she had to behave like a lady so as not to embarrass her mother-in-law, her husband, and the Yao family.

Seeing the close relationship between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Lu smiled and said, "Don't be restrained, just treat it as your own home."

With the example of Wen Ye, Mrs. Lu didn't think there was anything wrong when she saw her eldest aunt eating two or three wontons in one bite.

Not to mention adding chili peppers to wonton soup.

Seeing that Lu did not seem to be lying, Yao finally added some chopped chili peppers into the wontons.

The chicken soup wontons are very fresh and delicious even when eaten alone.

But Yao loves spicy food and likes to add some chili or spread hot sauce on everything he eats.

The eldest aunt had almost finished her meal and asked the maid to serve her another bowl of wonton soup. She drank it slowly and chatted with Lu: "Didn't they say Zitan got married again? Why don't you see his new bride?"

Mrs. Lu explained, "He went to inspect the farm in the suburbs on my behalf this morning. I originally thought that after I came back from the inspection, I would rest for a night and be able to catch up with you and Hui Niang to the capital."

The eldest aunt didn't mind this and said, "People can be seen at any time. I don't think the snow will stop today. You can send someone to tell them in advance. There is no need to rush back today."

She was still haunted by the avalanche that had occurred during the day; she heard that it had buried several passing carriages.

Mrs. Lu also had the same idea. Before 3 p.m., the snow was only falling intermittently, but now heavy snow was falling outside.

The roads in the suburbs are difficult to travel on, so it’s better to wait until the snow stops tomorrow before returning from the village.

"Don't worry, aunt. I have already sent someone." Lu replied, "I will just have to ask you to stay at the manor for one night."

The eldest aunt asked again, "How do you get along with Zi Tan, the second wife?"

After being away from Shengjing for several years, many of the aristocratic families that the eldest aunt was familiar with had declined.

The eldest aunt didn't know any of the new nobles who had emerged in recent years, but she still had a vague impression of the Wen family. The official position of the head of the Wen family was not high at that time, but with the foundation accumulated by his ancestors, it was only a matter of time for him to be promoted.

But my eldest aunt doesn't have any prejudice against family background, as long as the children like it, that's fine.

"He's a nice guy, and he's also good to Xuan'er." Lu said objectively, "But he's a little lazy."

After hearing this, the eldest aunt said bluntly, "That's because you are here. The Duke's Mansion has not been divided yet. With a sister-in-law like you who can handle everything properly, there is no need for her."

After all these years, I can still remember what kind of incense she liked.

In fact, before entering the Duke's Mansion, the eldest aunt was a little nervous. Her brothers and sisters-in-law were no longer in the mansion, and her knowledge and understanding of her niece-in-law, Lu, was still a few years ago. In the past few years since she followed her son to be sent away, her contact with the capital has been almost cut off, except for the Duke's Mansion and the Changnan Marquis Mansion.

But now that she had seen it, she could finally rest assured that the Duke's Mansion was still the same Duke's Mansion she remembered.

The eldest aunt said, "You don't have to think too much. Maybe the second niece-in-law likes this kind of life where she doesn't have to worry about anything."

For example, in her case, she handed over all the household chores to her daughter-in-law two months after she came into the family.

Even if the house is only the size of a palm, she is too lazy to take care of it.

Mrs. Lu recalled some of the things that had happened since Mrs. Wen married into the family, and couldn't help but smile: "Aunt's guess was really accurate."

The eldest aunt raised her eyebrows and said, "Hearing you say that, I want to see her sooner."

Lu left only after the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had simply washed up and gone to bed.

After returning to the main courtyard, Mrs. Lu was not idle either. She was going to have dinner in the main courtyard in the evening, so she had to start preparing now.

The tastes of my eldest aunt and my cousin Yao should be added to the menu, and the food they avoid should also be carefully avoided.

After giving these instructions, Lu finally had some time to sit down and rest.

Looking at the thick white snow in the courtyard, she couldn't help but start to worry with Nanny Xian: "If I had known it would snow so heavily, I wouldn't have let Wen go to inspect the manor today."

Mrs. Lu now feels a little regretful. It must be so painful to spend the night in the manor in such a cold day.

Nanny Xian comforted her, "Madam, don't worry. Although the accommodation on the farm is not as good as the mansion, it is clean and tidy. Madam, you only need to endure it for one night. You can come back tomorrow when the snow stops."

Lu sighed: "It can only be like this."

"Oh, right." Lu suddenly thought of something and added, "Go back and find the pure fox fur coat in my storeroom. When my sister-in-law comes back, send Qingxue to deliver it to her."

After all, the reason why Wen was trapped on the farm was because she pretended to be sick.

She should be compensated.

But isn't one fox fur a little short?

Finally, Mrs. Lu said, "I will give you 10,000 taels from the profits of your shop, and I will give you another 2,000 taels from my own pocket, and send them together with the fox fur."

I almost forgot that New Year's Day is coming soon. The Duke's Mansion has many relatives and there are many gifts to be exchanged between them. Although the mansion has already made a list of them, the people below have been asked to prepare them one by one.

But there are bound to be some minor omissions that are not immediately visible.

I can't ask Wen Ye to use her dowry money to make up for the loss when the time comes.

Mrs. Lu didn't know that Wen Ye had already received several wooden boxes with gold and silver leaves from Xu Yuejia, and thought that she only had the 1,200-ounce silver note she had given as a compensation last time.

What good can one thousand taels do?

Nanny Xian replied, "Yes, I have noted it all down."

Wen Ye, who was suffering as Lu said, had just returned from inspecting two other farms.

I did suffer a bit. I ate too much of the messy lunch and felt like crying.

After inspecting two farms in succession, it was already dark. When it was time for dinner, Wen Ye could only watch the two maids eat in front of him.

She is so miserable.

Dinner was simple, consisting of potatoes stewed with half a chicken left over from lunch, and thick noodles hand-rolled by the chef. The slightly yellow noodles were chewy and tasty.

Wen Ye took two bites and was not satisfied at all.

As the evening approached, the snow fell heavier and heavier, and the ground was covered with snow. There was no way to walk.

After Wen Ye had a sip of wine, he said to Tao Zhi, "Don't call me tomorrow morning. I want to sleep a little longer."

Taozhi said, "Madam, please drink less."

Wen Ye didn't care: "It's just one cup. I was very restrained."

She can drink quite well.

At this time Yunzhi came in from outside. There were not so many rules in the farm. Tonight they both slept at Wenye's place. There happened to be two kangs in the house.

Wen Ye saw her come in and asked, "Have you arranged everything for everyone else?"

Yunzhi replied: "It's all arranged."

Wen Ye nodded and said, "Come over and warm yourself up."

It was impossible for just the three of them plus a coachman to go out of the city to inspect the manor. In addition to her maids and servants, there were also a dozen guards from the Duke's Mansion given by Lu.

Yunzhi came forward and said, "There is one more thing. Someone from the Duke's Mansion came to inform us that the eldest aunt of the mansion has returned to the capital today."

The man who came was a runner from the main courtyard. He was frozen after riding all the way here. Yunzhi asked Mrs. Qiu to prepare some dry clothes, hot soup and hot food for him, and he rested after eating.

"Eldest aunt?" Wen Ye remembered that it was Xu Yuejia's eldest aunt who was exiled with her son.

She seemed to have heard Lu mention before that Xu Yuejia's aunt would return to Beijing to celebrate the New Year this year, but she didn't expect it to be such a coincidence that when she came to the manor, she had already arrived at the manor.

Yunzhi said, "I'm afraid that Madam's wish to stay at the manor for a few days will not be fulfilled."

Wen Ye felt a little regretful, but it didn't matter, she wouldn't only live this year.

Zhuangzi doesn't have legs and can't run.

"Then let's go back after noon tomorrow." Wen Ye said.

Anyway, the goose is stewed in the iron pot, and she must eat it.

Dinner in the main courtyard of the Duke's Mansion was also ready. Lu asked Qingxue to pick up the eldest aunt and Yao to come over.

Xu Yuxuan leaned in Lu's arms, staring at Xu Yuejia who was sitting upright not far away. Once Xu Yuejia cast his eyes on him, Xu Yuxuan immediately dived back into Lu's arms.

Nanny Ji came back without saying anything, so Lu naturally had no idea what happened in the West Courtyard after lunch. She thought that Xu Yuxuan hadn't seen his father Zitan for a long time and felt a little strange.

Seeing the little boy trying to get into her arms, Lu said with a smile, "Xuan'er doesn't recognize his father?"

Xu Yuxuan pouted, wanting to say something but not daring to.

It was the first time that Duke Xu saw him so lively, so he smiled and said, "Don't be afraid, your father won't dare to do anything to you."

Xu Yuxuan stared at the dog's eyes and slowly spoke: "Father, no, I don't want to play, swing."

Duke Xu, who had been waiting for a long time, said: "......"

I don't understand what you are saying.

Isn’t it normal that Zitan doesn’t play on the swing?

It would be terrifying if he played it.

Mrs. Lu guessed it and said, "You want your father to hold you on the swing, right?"

It's probably because Mr. Wen didn't get enough of sitting with him in his arms yesterday. He couldn't find anyone in the West Courtyard today, so he settled for his second brother, but he didn't get what he wanted.

However, after hearing what Lu said, Xu Yuxuan shook his head and said, "Xuan'er doesn't want to think about it anymore."

He couldn't understand what his father was saying.

Now even Lu Shi didn't understand, she looked at Xu Yuejia and asked, "What happened between you and Xuan'er?"

Xu Yuejia said calmly, "Nothing much. I just taught him a few words about how to conduct oneself."

Lu was speechless: "...How old is he, what can he understand?"

The biological father is like the stepfather, and the stepmother is like the biological mother.

What is going on?

Duke Xu also looked at Xu Yuejia in disagreement: "You taught Xuan'er something that Jingrong couldn't understand. No wonder he is not close to you now."

Xu Jingrong, who had just stepped into the room, happened to hear this and thought: ......

His father really understood him.

After a while, Qingxue led the eldest aunt and Yao to the main courtyard.

Duke Xu and Xu Yuejia stood up at the same time and greeted the eldest aunt: "Aunt."

Xu Jingrong and Xu Jinglin also performed the rites of passage.

Xu Yuxuan was a little slow. After her two brothers finished their greetings, she called out in a daze, "Auntie."

The eldest aunt was amused by his cute and silly behavior, and joked, "Xuan'er looks a bit like Zitan, but he really didn't inherit his personality at all."

Her nephew has always had the same expression since he was a child. He does things in a methodical manner and is boring and uninteresting.

Mrs. Lu said, "Xuan'er has been raised by me, and Jingrong likes to come over and play with him. After a while, it's normal for him to not be like Zitan."

Hearing that this was not a good thing to say, Xu Jingrong was unwilling to do it. He opened his mouth to refute, but was blocked by Lu's eyes.

Xu Jingrong: "......"

So he was blamed for everything.

Xuan Di is obviously more like Jing Lin, a little foodie and a little foodie.

When everyone was gathered, Lu asked the maids to serve the meal.

Xu Yuxuan was arranged to sit next to Lu, and Nanny Ji held him and sat on it.

He looked left and right, but didn't see anyone. He immediately asked anxiously, "Mother, isn't she here?"

After hearing this, Lu explained to him in a gentle voice: "It's snowing too hard outside, and the road is difficult to walk on. Your mother will have to stay at the farm for one night before she can come back."

Xu Yuxuan looked up and asked, "How long?"

Lu thought for a moment and chose a way that he could understand and said, "You will be able to see your mother when you wake up tomorrow."

Xu Yuxuan hung his head and nodded dejectedly.

The eldest aunt was amazed at this scene.

She became even more interested in this niece-in-law whom she had never met before.

The next morning, after Xu Yuxuan had breakfast, he urged Nanny Ji to carry him to the west courtyard.

After arriving at the West Courtyard, it was almost noon.

It was freezing cold and snowy, and no matter whether Xu Yuxuan wanted to get out of bed and walk by himself or not, Nanny Ji would not grant his wish this time.

Liu Ya led the two into the main hall and said, "The young master is in the west study. Do you want to go over?"

Xu Yuxuan shook his head and ran straight to the inner room after landing. After searching everywhere for a long time, he finally remembered to ask Liu Ya: "Mother?"

Liu Ya was embarrassed: "The second wife hasn't returned yet."

Xu Yuxuan understood that his mother had not come back yet.

Liu Ya quickly added: "The Second Madam is not here, but the Young Master is here, the Little Master."

Xu Yuxuan pouted and walked slowly to the west study.

Behind the desk, Xu Yuejia was grinding ink.

This time, Xu Yuxuan climbed directly onto the couch and covered himself with the mattress that his mother usually used.

Then there was another familiar look.

But this time Xu Yuxuan didn't want to play on the swing anymore.

Instead, ask: "Where?"

Xu Yuejia put down the ink stick and said without raising her head, "Go to the manor."

Xu Yuxuan tilted his head: "Come back?"

Xu Yuejia estimated the time: "Two hours."

Nanny Ji and Liu Ya, who were waiting on the side, looked at each other silently.

What are the father and son talking about?

Xu Yuxuan seemed to understand, and he slowly shrank into the mattress, leaving only his head exposed, and just waited.

Two hours later, at the manor.

Wen Ye was chasing a goose.

The snow had stopped, but after a day and a night, a thick layer of snow had accumulated on the ground, and wherever you stepped on it, a pit would form.

It was difficult for the geese to run in the snow, and so was Wen Ye.

Yunzhi and Taozhi were helping out on the side and got themselves covered in dirt.

Taozhi said, "Madam, can't you stew a goose instead?"

Wen Ye refused: "I want to eat it, who lets it bite me."

After waiting for two hours, Xu Yuxuan still did not see his mother return, so he complained to Xu Yuejia: "Father lied!"

Xu Yuejia: "......"

Xu Yuxuan finally couldn't hold on any longer, and he fell onto the couch, falling asleep in a daze.

Xu Yuejia carried the person to bed and put him to sleep.

There were only the father and his son in the empty west courtyard.

Far away in a suburban farm, Wen Ye chased the goose back and had a snowball fight with the farmhands' children.

When she was chasing the geese, she changed into a maid's clothes. The children didn't recognize her and had a great time.

It was hot and noisy for half an hour.

Wen Ye finally got to eat the goose stewed in an iron pot that he had been longing for.

Contented.