Chapter 21 The Unlucky Qian Girl
Xu Zhenying had this idea a long time ago.
Given her personality, it was already a stretch for her to bring along the original owner's relatives, let alone such a large family.
Please forgive her for not having deep feelings for these relatives.
She wasn't very good at handling these kinds of family relationships, and she was too lazy to spend her energy on them. Cutting the Gordian knot quickly, dividing the family, she actually felt more confident in making their little family a better place.
The eldest aunt's eyes lit up, and she immediately agreed, "Sixth girl is right. If you keep doing this every day, we dare not join your second branch. If you offend the police, you will die without knowing how."
Without waiting for anyone else to express their opinion, Grandma immediately said viciously, "I'm not dead yet. If anyone mentions dividing the family property again, I'll give them two slaps in the face!"
After saying this, Grandmother glared at Xu Zhenying, wondering why this sixth girl hadn't been smart for a few days and was now talking about dividing the family? If they didn't stick together during this exile, wouldn't they be bullied to death by others?
Xu Zhenying shrugged indifferently.
"What are you arguing about? Your family is the most lively in the whole team! I think you are all itching for trouble!" Several escorts came over dragging shackles and shouted casually, "Put on your shackles and chains, and get ready to set off——"
According to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, all males over the age of fifteen who were exiled from their homes had to wear shackles and leg irons. Several male members of the Xu family, including the eldest sons of the first wife, Xu Huijia and Xu Huining, and her eldest brother, Xu Huiming, were also subject to the law.
Xu Zhenying weighed the shackles privately with his hands and found that they weighed at least 20 to 30 kilograms.
As soon as she put it on, Xu Huiming was pressed down and couldn't stand steadily.
As the only son of the third wife, Xu Huiming was highly expected by Xu Degui and Miao from a young age, hoping that he would achieve academic success like his second uncle. Consequently, he spent his days confined to his study, unproductive, absorbed in the reading of sages, which left him somewhat frail.
Miao Shi only wished she could take his place, her eyes filled with heartache and worry: "My son has suffered..."
Xu Zhenying said, "Dad, big brother, let's leave it like this for now. Once we're on the road, we'll find a way to remove these shackles."
Xu Degui dismissed it as his second daughter's nonsense and shook his head, saying, "Ying'er, don't take any risks. According to the law, these shackles can't be removed except for eating and sleeping. We've already displeased the escort, so I'm afraid he won't give us any trouble along the way. Don't worry, this thing isn't heavy, and farmers are strong, so this little hardship won't matter."
Xu Huiming also said, "Don't worry, sister. I'm a man after all. I can't be so weak as to endure such a small hardship. Don't worry about me and father. Just take good care of mother and Ah Mei."
Xu Zhenying knew that they would not believe anything he said, so he had to remain silent, but in his heart he was thinking about how to find a way to remove these shackles.
Xu Zhenying also noticed that the Fang family was special among this group of people.
When they were seeing them off, several groups of people came from the Fang family, and the gifts they brought were even more varied. The escort even tacitly allowed someone to prepare four ox carts.
Not only did the Fang family members not have to wear shackles, but Old Man Fang and Old Lady Fang also had a carriage to ride in.
This is not exile at all, it's more like traveling.
But others turned a blind eye.
Only my aunt and uncle were muttering a few words nearby, but they were stopped by my second uncle with a shout.
Xu Zhenying figured out some tricks.
It seems that the Fang family has a high possibility of recovery. Otherwise, those escorts would not have always respected Mr. Fang.
If one really reaches a high position like Mr. Fang, it is normal to have ups and downs in one's official career. Zhang Juzheng even experienced three ups and downs, but it did not prevent him from becoming a famous official.
The administrative system of the Great Zhou Dynasty is like a big tree with luxuriant branches and leaves. Its roots are intricately connected to each other, mostly disciples, in-laws, and relatives. If the roots are not removed, the tree will eventually return.
Fourth Aunt distributed the things, and the third room received four straw raincoats, a bag of pills wrapped in brown paper, a few sets of clothes, three or four days' worth of mixed-wheat steamed bread and dried meat, some rice and flour, a few pairs of straw sandals, etc.
Xu Meixiao also knew the current situation and said sensibly, "Sister, I can help you. Carry me... Mei is very strong—"
"Okay, okay, our A'mei is the best." Miao was naturally reluctant to let the six-year-old child do the hard work, but she still gave her the lightest straw sandals and hung them around her waist with a rope.
Xu Meixiao frowned, somewhat unhappy with Miao's perfunctory response, "Mom, I'm strong, I want to carry the heaviest thing."
"Okay." Xu Zhenying gave her a few more changes of clothes and said seriously, "Although these are not the most important things, they are the most important. If we lose them, we will have nothing to wear. Ah Mei, you must protect them well."
Xu Meixiao solemnly carried the bag on her back. The small girl was instantly pressed into a small ball. Her cheeks puffed up to help her bear the weight, and she kept muttering to herself, "Sister, I will definitely protect the bag!"
After that, she leaned close to Xu Zhenying's ear and whispered, "Sister, don't worry, I'll bring it with me when I go to the toilet."
Xu Zhenying's lips curled up, and he couldn't help laughing, praising her: "Amei is awesome."
As a result, the team stopped less than an incense stick's time after they started walking.
The Xu family and their companions were at the end of the group. Xu Zhenying looked back and saw a carriage approaching them. A thin, delicate-looking girl with a bitter expression stepped out of the carriage.
The girl was followed by a little maid. Both the master and the servant were carrying bags and looking around.
There was a commotion in the team, and the escort signaled the main group to stop.
Xu Zhenying watched from afar as her aunt and her family approached. They exchanged some words, but her aunt's face was filled with joy. The driver of the carriage then abandoned the girl and went back.
Soon, Miao, who had been gathering information, returned, revealing only that the girl's surname was Qian and that she was the fiancée of Xu Huijia, the eldest wife. The Qian family, true to their word, had refused to break off the engagement even when the Xu family fell on hard times, and had personally sent someone to bring the Qian girl over.
Xu Zhenying was stunned for a moment and couldn't help asking, "What...what does she want?"
Miao shook her head repeatedly. "That girl has a miserable life. She lost her parents at a young age. I heard she lives with her uncle and aunt. I'm afraid she has no say in her marriage. Such a young girl was only given one piece of luggage. You can imagine that her uncle and aunt are not easy to get along with."
Xu Zhenying said, "No wonder I saw my aunt smiling so happily just now."
Miao coughed softly. Although she shouldn't say these words, she felt that Xu Qingying was no longer as timid as before after being imprisoned. She seemed to have matured and grown up a lot. She couldn't help but have more faith in her. Things that she shouldn't have said before, she didn't have so many scruples about now.
"I heard that Master Qian left her a large sum of money. Your aunt must be very happy."
Xu Zhenying raised his eyebrows and couldn't help but take another look at the girl from the Qian family.
But she was as thin as a willow, as if a gust of wind could blow her away. She was pretty, but her face was very pale, a sickly paleness that looked like she was suffering from chronic malnutrition.
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