Chapter 113
Through Hu Yong'an's introduction, he met Hu's parents and grandparents.
This family is quite nice; they are very warm and kind.
Hu Yong'an was simply bad at dealing with people before, and his family members couldn't possibly be bad either, otherwise he wouldn't be in the state he is now.
"Please sit down."
After exchanging greetings, Wen Shi and his son sat down properly and chatted with Old Master Hu for a few minutes.
Everyone naturally knew him; Hu Yong'an had previously told them about Wen Shi, a young man with a clean background, ability, and potential for officialdom, and they were happy to let Hu Yong'an get to know him.
"I've heard Yong'an mention you before, and seeing you today, you truly are mature and steady. If my Yong'an had even a fraction of your qualities, I would be at ease."
"Brother Hu is intelligent, talented, kind, and a good friend."
When I smelled the hot tea, I wasn't that thirsty, so I took a small sip.
Hu Yong'an, sitting opposite him, felt even more pleased upon hearing this.
The spacious and grand front hall was tastefully decorated. Wen Shi didn't look at it much. He also remembered the house he had built and was trying to get everything ready before the New Year so that his family could move in directly when they came next year.
Have your family members arrived yet?
"It should be around next year."
He didn't hide it when he heard it.
"That's wonderful. With the whole family together, the elders can enjoy the joys of family life."
He nodded, unable to deny it.
Hu Yong'an then got up, said a few words to the elders, and was about to take Wen Shi to his study. Thinking of the good news he had mentioned earlier, he knew it couldn't be as simple as him getting an official position.
As for the child, he was left behind by the old lady of the Hu family.
"Since you're here, have dinner before you go back. We won't disturb your conversation. Butler, take the children to play in the back garden, and call a few of the young masters over. Keep an eye on them."
"yes."
Wen Shi glanced at her son, Wen Leqian, who let the butler lead him away without any apparent displeasure. After arriving at the study, Hu Yong'an mysteriously closed the door and pulled Wen Shi further inside.
Wen Shi became even more curious about what it was, but he didn't show it.
"Brother Wen, do you know of any extraordinary fortune teller in the capital?"
"I've already found out the address; not many people know it. I've prepared the money. Let's find some time to go together and ask him about his future prospects. Will things go smoothly for him?"
"Brother Hu, he might be a fraudster."
Wen Shi reminded him.
"No, I heard from my relative who is an official that this person has been in the capital for several years, but most people don't know about it. There was an official who went to have his fortune told before. His career was originally not going well, but after a certain ritual, his career improved and he was promoted."
Hearing this, he found it strange, but secretly he didn't want to go.
Before he passed the exam, he would at most go to the temple to pray. He knew that God might not bless him, and it was mostly for peace of mind. He knew that things were up to him.
"Let me tell you, Brother Wen, you might not believe me, but there are many swindlers in this world, but there are also many wise men. Do you know my family? My grandfather married many wives and concubines, but in the end, he only had my father. Later, my father did the same thing, taking more than ten concubines, but only I was left."
"In my family, it can be said that there have been three generations of only sons. When I was little, my grandparents and my parents were very worried about me, fearing that I would not grow up safely. At that time, my grandmother went to ask around, and guess what happened?"
"That master not only performed a ritual for me, but also said that I must take good care of myself. If I live past the age of eighteen, then I will definitely be well-off in the future, and my family will have many children."
"Sure enough, look at me now. My dad couldn't finish his studies back then, but I did."
"Moreover, I have many children. I currently have two legitimate sons, one illegitimate son, and a daughter, so I have both sons and daughters. My family will not have to worry about having offspring in the future."
Upon hearing this, Wen Shi smiled helplessly. Hu Yong'an truly didn't treat him like an outsider, telling him everything.
Thinking back to the two children he saw last time, they must be his legitimate sons. He is younger than himself. However, it is true that wealthy people marry early, some as early as fourteen or fifteen. If the family can afford it, it is a lawful thing and there is nothing wrong with it.
However, he really wasn't interested in this, and he had things to do at home. Thinking of this, he lowered his eyes and then said, "Brother Hu, I think you can tell your family that you won't have to worry about having a hard time in the future."
With generations of family wealth accumulated, Hu Yong'an is financially secure. As long as he manages things properly and receives support, and given that he is not stupid and has the necessary education, he will certainly have a bright future.
Seeing that no one believed what he heard, Hu Yong'an sighed helplessly, looking very regretful, but he didn't say anything more.
In the small backyard garden, the branches were bare, the flowers and plants were withered, and there was nothing to see. The housekeeper led Wen Leqian directly to the place where the children studied, which was a room that had been specially fenced off later.
Wen Leqian looked around curiously, and the butler didn't say anything, remaining respectful.
"Sir, the young master's friend is here as a guest. This is his child."
There weren't many children in the family. Hu Yong'an had three sons and one daughter. The two older ones were born to his wife, while the two younger ones were born to his concubine. One was still learning to speak, while the other was a little older and was sitting quite properly.
This is a place that the Hu family specifically designated for their children to study, and they also hired a tutor at a high price.
Hu Yong'an had previously invited Wen Shi to let Wen Leqian come and study, but he did not agree. Wen Shi felt that children need to be trained. At the beginning of their education, going to school is the best option, as it will also allow them to interact with more people.
"Is this a classroom for reading?"
Wen Leqian looked around and found that the room was similar to the one he had in school, except that there was a large bookcase in the back with many books inside.
Of course, his father's study also had a bookshelf, but not that many books.
"Yes, young master."
"Sir, we have guests at our home today. The host said the children can play together, so let's call it a day."
"good."
That's all for today. Don't forget to study when you get back.
The children stood up happily as they watched the man leave.
"Young masters, the master and madam said that you can play together."
"good."
"Brother, we think we've seen him before."
Hu Yong'an's second son suddenly spoke up.
"It must have been when I went to the temple with my father and mother during the Chinese New Year that year."
Wen Leqian listened, but his memory wasn't very clear, as he was still young. However, he was certain he had been to the temple, so he had some recollection of it and nodded subconsciously.
"Butler, bring the ball over, let's play together."
“Nurse, take your little sister back. She’s still so young. I don’t know why you’re making her learn to read. But we can play together, unlike her.”
"yes."
"Please sit down. We'll go play ball in the yard later."
Later, people brought out colorful embroidered balls made of cloth. Wen Leqian looked at them and even touched them. The outside was soft cloth, and he didn't know what was inside, but they still had some weight to them. Before long, the courtyard was filled with the laughter of children. Everyone was running, playing, and jumping, having a great time.
You throw it to me, I throw it to you, we laugh heartily, it's so much fun.
The steward stood not far away, with servants and maids nearby. They watched, and in the cold, the children's clear laughter cheered them up.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, five or six cooks were busy preparing dinner. The messenger had said it had to be lavish, and not only that, but also fine wine.
Even when Hu Yong'an didn't mention anything interesting, he wasn't discouraged. He then took out a few paintings and began to appreciate them with Hu Yong'an.
Among them were two very old paintings. Wen Shi was very focused, as it was the first time in his life he had seen ancient paintings. The figures in the paintings were lifelike, and he nodded repeatedly as he listened to Hu Yong'an's explanation.
Before we knew it, it was lunchtime.
"Brother Wen, we agreed to have a drink together, you can't go back on your word."
"That's definitely not the case."
I'm quite confident in my abilities, and I can easily drink a few cups.
"Let's go have a meal together. The New Year is almost here, and another year has passed."
The Hu family was quite particular, separating men and women. Only the men were in the front yard, and Wen Shi did not bring any female relatives. There was no need to entertain guests in the back yard.
The Hu family not only had separate tables, but also separate meals. Yes, each person had a small table in front of them, which was filled with fine wine and delicacies. Everyone ate their own food, instead of a group of people sitting at one table to eat together.
Old Master Hu sat at the head of the table; wealthy families have their rules, which Wen Shi could understand.
Thinking of Yingxiang, Wen Shi felt somewhat troubled. Things that used to seem natural had changed so much. He hadn't forgotten Yingxiang's behavior that day, but he felt that it could be resolved.
Xiao Leqian was lifted onto a chair by the butler. After Old Master Hu started eating, everyone else began to eat as well. Each person had ten dishes on their table, with a variety of styles, but the portions were not that large. Everyone was able to eat their fill without any waste, and most of the dishes were hot.
Wen Leqian picked at his bowl, refusing to let the maid feed him. He held the bowl and ate with great gusto using chopsticks and a spoon, his cheeks bulging.
We played ball together just now, running around in the backyard. He was tired and hungry. Normally, he would eat soon after getting home, but he ate some pastries on the way, so he wasn't that hungry.
After the meal, Wen Shi took his leave.
Wen Shi refused their offer to see them off, saying only that the meal was plentiful and they needed to digest. Hu Yong'an personally escorted him and the child to the door, and the father and son waved to him, signaling him to go back.
"Dad, the Hu family is really big. Their children don't go out to study. I didn't even know you could study at home. They have so many books."
"But it was all a lot of fun. I was really good at throwing the ball just now, Dad. I threw it farther than all of them."
"Their food is quite good. Each person has their own table, which is full of food. Their yard is also big, bigger than our house."
"Dad, when do you think we'll live in a big house and be able to eat so many dishes?"
The two had already walked some distance, and Wen Shi hadn't drunk too much, so he wasn't drunk either. Hearing his son's words, he stopped.
Actually, ever since he left the Hu family, he had been thinking about Yingxiang, but that doesn't mean he was completely distracted and couldn't hear what the child was saying.
He glanced at his son, then hugged him tightly.
A cold wind was blowing, but the two of them were dressed warmly enough that they weren't cold.
“Their family is so rich. I was chatting with someone at school, and there was a guy named Xiaohu who said his family had more than ten rooms and a maid to do the work, but our family only has three rooms. This family must have dozens of rooms.”
Wen Leqian kept talking, and as Wen Shi listened, her feelings suddenly became complicated.
Children aren't that immature. Those who study with him are probably not much older than him, maybe only a year or two older at most.
"It might take us another five or six years."
Wen Shi was being conservative in his calculations; both he and his wife were earning money. He then recalled Yingxiang's earlier words: she was wholeheartedly considering the child's well-being, and so was he.
After saying that, he patted his son's head.
“Dad, the teacher told me that if I become successful, I can buy a big house in the future. Actually, our family is doing quite well. We have three meals a day. Some of my classmates said that after eating lunch at school, they don’t have any food to eat when they go home in the evening. They are so hungry that they often can’t sleep.”
After the little guy finished speaking, he touched his belly, looking very cute.
Wen Shi hadn't held him like this in a long time. Now that she had picked him up, she didn't put him down. Looking at her son, her little face was fair and tender, and her lips were red. He looked extremely healthy.
He's been growing taller lately, and he doesn't feel as chubby as he used to be.
"Dad, do you know why they don't eat dinner at night?"
He said his family was large and he could only eat two meals a day. He also had two younger siblings. He always ate a lot at noon. Moreover, his family only had two rooms, which were smaller than ours.
"His father is a chef at a restaurant, and he cooks very well. His mother makes clothes and can earn some money. Originally, the family had a big courtyard, but his grandparents separated them out and didn't give them anything. His parents say that his grandparents are biased."
“He told me that we had lunch together.”
"Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—Father, you are the most capable."
Wen Leqian said another sentence.
The little guy spoke with great enthusiasm, mostly about his experiences at school. He either rarely spoke or he would talk non-stop once he started. When Wen Shi finished speaking, he frowned but wasn't too surprised.
He wasn't uneducated back then, and there was indeed some competition among them. However, in the county and towns, it was mostly the rich young masters who were popular, while the students from farming families were ridiculed because they were poor and couldn't afford to give good gifts. Some teachers also didn't like them. He belonged to the latter group at the time.
Wherever there are people, there will be comparisons, even among officials.
Wen Shi said in a serious tone, "Le Qian, no matter what other people's parents do, it's fate that you can study together. You can't look down on people because of this, and you can't bully them. If I find out, I will punish you."
"No, the teacher also mentioned it in class. There was a classmate who liked to bully others, saying that his family was rich and that his uncle was an official. But the teacher also educated him and made him apologize to the person, and he did apologize."
Wen Leqian said with a final smile.
Overall, everyone was very happy. Because they are young, they don't have to sit and read all day, and they have time to play in the yard. A few days ago, there was snow, and everyone played in the snow together, which made everyone very happy.
Children who are not quite grown up don't have that many tricks up their sleeves. What they say is just showing off. Some children are genuinely envious of other people's families.
It is wrong to bully others by relying on one's power. Wen Shi does not want to see his son like that. You know, fortunes can change in thirty years. Some people may seem ordinary, but they may not be so.
Those whose ancestors lived in the capital for generations, even if they fell on hard times, must have had countless connections behind them, otherwise they would have moved away long ago.
"The gentleman said that there are still many farmers in other places who are not getting enough to eat."
You must study hard.
"Um."
It took quite a bit of time to walk back.
After careful consideration, Wen Shi realized that it might not be the right time. He had no worries about food and clothing, but if another child came along, he might not be able to take good care of them.
The child in his arms was almost old enough to write. The first few years of a child's schooling are the most important; a solid foundation is essential. When he got home and saw Yingxiang sitting in the yard, he paused and put the child down first.
"mother."
"My dear, you're back."
Yingxiang hugged and kissed him, gesturing for him to come inside, and then looked at Wenshi.
It was getting dark. Wen Shi didn't say anything and went inside first, followed closely by her. Things always had to be resolved, a tacit understanding between the two of them.
Upon careful reflection, Yingxiang realized she had been too agitated. Wen Shi had never lost his temper in front of her, but that didn't mean he hadn't.
To be fair, he was quite gentlemanly.
"My husband, I'm sorry about what happened yesterday. I was a little agitated at the time. Just pretend I was possessed by a ghost."
“I want to continue running the shop to make money. You know that being pregnant for ten months takes a lot of time. Right now, our lives have finally started to get better.”
After Yingxiang finished speaking, she bit her lip, feeling somewhat guilty. Wen Shi took off his thick coat, turned to look at his wife, and then said, "It's alright, it's all in the past."
Then he said earnestly, "A woman carries a child for ten months, something I can't understand. My wife, after thinking about it carefully, you are right. To be honest, I didn't consider things carefully enough. I heard them say that they want both a son and a daughter, but we can't just think about ourselves. We are a family of three."
"Come here."
Wen Shi sat down on the couch and gestured for his wife to sit next to him.
“I’ve thought about it. You can’t force a child; it’s all about fate. In the past few years, I was focused on my exams and didn’t help you much. Most of the time, you took care of the child. We’re a couple, and it hasn’t been easy for us to get to where we are today. This matter should be put behind us.”
Wen Shi spoke gently, but Yingxiang felt a little uncomfortable listening to him.
"Don't be upset about this. I know you have things you want to do and you don't want to be confined to the inner quarters."
Upon hearing this, Yingxiang burst into tears; he was still thinking of her.
He pulled her into his arms and gently patted her back.
On the way back, he kept thinking that, after considering everything, the current situation, which seemed stable, was not the most suitable time.
Wen Leqian is not quite a child, but he still needs someone to take care of him, so we can't completely let go of him.
She worked long hours to run her business, and before that she was thinking about various plays, she also spent money to buy storybooks. It wasn't easy for her.
Thinking about it carefully, his wife was quite different from most women in the world, but she was truly devoted to him and gave him her all. He really hadn't thought things through before.
In a few years, as life gets better and better, perhaps she won't be as resistant as before. Then everything will fall into place naturally, wouldn't that be better?
Hearing this made me feel much better.
"I know you're doing this for a better life for us in the future, so don't cry."
After hearing this, he cupped his wife's cheeks and gently kissed away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"I'll be on leave in a few days, so we should go shopping. Let's make a list in advance so we don't forget. It's almost Chinese New Year, and we should be happy."
Yingxiang nodded, and that was the end of it.
It's exciting to talk about, but in this era where there was no direct contraception, we really couldn't be too sure of anything. Life is full of surprises.
She tried her best to adapt, but that didn't mean everything would go as planned. She regretted her impulsiveness at the time, perhaps because things had gone relatively smoothly before. She knew she had to be more careful about this in the future.
Communication is still very important. She also made mistakes, but fortunately he is a reasonable person.
Wen Shi had always been a good husband in her eyes. Not long after the marriage, he took her out. Otherwise, she would have had a lot of trouble with Liu Shi in that house. It wasn't that she couldn't win, but she had a lot of worries that she couldn't get rid of, and it was also upsetting.
Before, I would give him five out of ten points, but now I think even twenty points is too little.
Yingxiang leaned against him, hugging his waist, and slowly came to terms with it, realizing that one shouldn't be too extreme or absolute in life.
"Today, I took Leqian to visit Brother Hu's house. He ate quite a lot. If he opens a food stall in the future, we won't have to cook for him anymore."
Yingxiang smiled after hearing this, deeply moved.
Believe it or not, her next shop is going to sell food and drinks, with drinks being the main focus since they have a higher profit margin. She has already started preparing some snacks to go with drinks in the kitchen.
As for the brewing order, that's also available; it's generated from the sign-in process, of course.
Wen Shi was still considering her feelings, but her views were not suitable for this era, and he might not be able to fully understand them.
It's good that things have moved on; neither of them holds a grudge, and there's no need to damage their marital harmony.
Wen Shi held his wife in his arms. In his heart, he also thought that people change every year. Right now, Yingxiang was engrossed in her career, which was not a bad thing. She was working hard with him, and in some ways, she would be much faster than him alone. It was all for the good of this family.
It's exhausting to fight for your children all by yourself. He did that for many years, and things only got better after he got married.
"The land under my name is exempt from taxes."
He suddenly said that.
Yingxiang was taken aback.
"Aren't they all full?"
Wen Shi smiled and said, "I am already a Jinshi*. Although I am registered as a landowner, if I buy my own land, the grain I grow will also be exempt from taxes."
"Right now the weather is good, so farming won't bring in much income, but my family is coming soon, so this is the safest option."
"It's better if they don't come to your shop. There are so many people, you probably can't accommodate them all. It's not worth it if it causes a rift between the brothers."
"We have a few hundred taels of silver in savings, enough to buy a few acres of land. If we don't have to pay taxes on the harvested grain, we'll have a place to live, which is alright. We can keep enough to eat, and we can sell the rest for a little money, though not much."
After Yingxiang finished speaking, she looked at Wenshi and said, "Not paying taxes can really save a lot of money."
The land was under Wen Shi's name, and it would definitely belong to his son in the future. Yingxiang didn't care too much about it. Taking out the money was also to help them build a better future.
The seeds are currently being planted for the Wen family, but this will save them a lot of trouble. Since it was agreed upon in advance, there's nothing to worry about.
“We don’t need to pay for it. My dad has money. They must have made money in the past few years. We just need to agree on it in advance and put it in writing.”
Wen Shi didn't intend to take advantage of his brothers. After thinking it over, he realized that he only needed his second and fourth brothers. He didn't need to worry about the eldest and fifth brothers, as they wouldn't take this path and wouldn't buy much land.
"I'll take care of this, you can rest assured."
Yingxiang nodded. She trusted him; she was sure he could handle things at home.
Take, for example, when he passed the imperial examination, Old Man Wen put him in charge of the household and even gave him money. Now that he's an official, he's definitely a man of his word.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
