The usually quiet and peaceful courtyard is now tense, divided into three factions.
Amidst raging anger, Jiang Sheng and Zheng Ruqian led the charge, while Wen Zhiyun, shedding tears in a corner, served as the defense.
Xu Mo was completely at a loss, looking at this person and that person, wanting to speak up and coax them but not knowing who to coax first.
There was another group of onlookers, represented by Chang Yan, whose handsome face was full of innocence and kindness.
"Big brother!" Jiang Sheng's voice cracked with anger, "Have you forgotten what you said? Have you forgotten how you taught us?!"
“Of course he’s forgotten, it’s all in the past.” Zheng Ruqian grumbled. “Several years have passed, it’s normal to forget.”
Wen Zhiyun's tears welled up even more. "Big brother, how could you treat Xiao Si like this?"
Xu Mo could barely stand.
Fortunately, these past few years of hard work, from humble beginnings to becoming a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, have tempered my character and given me a better understanding of my younger siblings' personalities.
After a brief moment of panic, Xu Mo quickly calmed down and focused his attention on Xiao Jiang Sheng, who was the most furious and easiest to coax. "It's my fault, but I have my reasons. You're the best girl, you'll understand, right?"
Jiang Sheng's expression froze for a moment, her big eyes darting around, clearly indicating an internal struggle.
Taking advantage of this break, Xu Mo looked at Zheng Ruqian again and bowed solemnly, "Second brother, it was wrong of me to keep it from you, but I just want you to make money happily and don't want you to be restricted every day. Don't worry, I will definitely not hide anything from you in the future, and I will tell you as soon as there is anything."
Zheng Ruqian snorted, looked up at the sky with a disdainful expression, but his demeanor was clearly relaxed.
Xu Mo let out a long breath and looked at Wen Zhiyun, whose eyes were brimming with tears.
Faced with his delicate younger brother, the eldest brother felt a chill run down his spine and could only earnestly say, "It's all my fault, little brother. Don't be angry or hold it against me. You and little brother have always been the same in my heart, without any difference."
"Really, big brother? You're not lying to me?" Wen Zhiyun's tears finally fell slowly. "Big brother is the person I trust the most. I believe every word you say."
The onlookers at the long banquet gave a thumbs up.
That was really clever. On the surface, it seemed like she believed Xu Mo, but in reality, she was telling Xu Mo, "If you keep hiding things from me, I won't believe you anymore."
Xu Mo's forehead was almost beaded with sweat, but he still made sure to assure her, "Don't worry, Xiao Si, there will definitely not be a next time."
Wen Zhiyun then stopped crying and smiled, wiping away her tears.
The atmosphere in the courtyard gradually shifted from tense to warm and peaceful.
Jiang Sheng mumbled something, as if she wanted to say something more.
Chang Yan coughed and pointed to the table, saying, "The braised pork knuckle seems to be cold."
A cold braised pork knuckle tastes completely different from a hot one.
Jiang Sheng immediately forgot what she was going to say and pounced on the big elbow.
Xu Mo breathed a sigh of relief, turned his head, and saw Chang Yan's smiling face, as if he was asking for credit: "Big brother, look, I helped you too."
This clever younger brother!
He was the one who started the trouble, he was the one who tried to protect himself, and in the end, he was the one who came to claim credit.
But Xu Mo couldn't bring himself to get angry.
The purpose of the long banquet was simple: to hope that Xu Mo would not hide the truth, would not fight alone, and would not forget that this was a family of six.
Even though Fang Heng was thousands of miles away, no one had ever forgotten him.
When Jiang Sheng buys clothes for her other brothers, Fang Heng always gets a share.
When they come across delicious pastries, they will write them down in crooked calligraphy, saying that they will take their third brother to try them when he comes back.
The love of family may not be intense, but it permeates the body, skin, and even pores, flowing through all of time.
Concealing information is tantamount to harming someone.
Who would bear to hurt the family they love?
Xu Mo smiled helplessly, finally giving up his last bit of persistence and calmly revealing everything.
At the dinner table.
Jiang Sheng was tearing at the braised pork knuckle. After finally finishing, she put the first chopstick into Xu Mo's bowl, followed by Zheng Ruqian, Wen Zhiyun, and Chang Yan.
Finally, you take a big, fragrant bite.
Xu Mo watched his sister quietly until she showed a happy expression, then smiled and said, "I won't let Zhu Zhi go, but I don't know how to shake the powerful families."
Magistrate Xu taught him to study diligently, his wife taught him to be gentle and humble, and his hardships taught him to be resilient and hardworking. But no one taught him how to scheme and plot, how to be cunning and calculating, or how to understand the intricacies of a noble family.
From Anshui County to Fengjing, he was like a carp in a small river jumping into the sea, relying on his own excellent swaying, but unable to reach the top of the pole and go any further.
Zheng Ruqian understands this feeling best.
In Anshui County, he was able to amass wealth through his cleverness and earn respect through his eloquent speech. In Xieyang County, he was even known as "Master Zheng".
Upon arriving in Fengjing, the locals treated everyone as superior, and the exorbitant prices made people hesitate to even consider it. Even negotiating a partnership required going through many twists and turns and scheming.
But clearly in Anshui County, as long as he is sincere and guarantees the quality of the goods, he can cooperate with Manager Hao and Manager Bai.
Sometimes Zheng Ruqian even wondered if he was too stupid, if he didn't work hard enough, which was why he couldn't stay in Fengjing and gain the respect of the people of Fengjing.
But at this moment, seeing the confusion in Xu Mo's eyes, Zheng Ruqian suddenly realized.
Even the fourteen-year-old prodigy Xu Jieyuan was at a loss, so it was perfectly normal for a small-time merchant who made a living by talking to not understand.
Perhaps it's not that they aren't hardworking or smart enough, but rather that Fengjing isn't a good fit for people from small places like theirs.
But can we leave now?
From a self-esteem perspective, retreating now would be a pathetic escape, a defeat without a fight.
Based on the current situation, Fang Heng will eventually return to Fengjing to seek revenge, and Xu Mo will also have to take the provincial and imperial examinations. Their paths forward will inevitably lead them to this magnificent and prosperous city.
Since we cannot avoid it, we can only fight it.
Whether they are proud Fengjing people or complex aristocratic families, as long as they have enough capital and are resourceful, they will surely be able to win and achieve their goals.
“Brother, you’re not suited to doing things that are hypocritical and deceitful. Your identity will be discovered by the Zhu family sooner or later.” Changyan reached out again and covered Xu Mo’s hand. “Just be yourself, an upright scholar named Xu, and make many friends in the Imperial Academy.”
Xu Mo's long eyelashes trembled slightly as he understood what his fifth brother meant.
Rather than forcing himself to pretend to get close to Zhu Zhi and risk being exposed, it would be better to make friends with more high-ranking officials and dignitaries. With Xu Mo's literary talent and knowledge, it wouldn't be difficult to have a few true friends.
Even if they cannot go through fire and water, they will still speak out for justice.
"As for Zhu Zhi, don't worry too much." Chang Yan smirked. "If a county magistrate can make such a big mistake, how could he not have made a mistake in Fengjing?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the eyes of the boys lit up.
Only Xiao Jiang Sheng scratched his head in confusion and asked, "Fifth Brother, how do you know so much about these things?"
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