Old Man Xu initially wanted to intercede on behalf of his eldest son, but after hearing his second son's final words, he hesitated. He felt his eldest son was too impatient; they had just bought him a house. How could he bring up the matter of the second stone right away? He had to wait. Furthermore, he felt that Yin'er didn't have the ability. He should wait until his second son became familiar with the high-ranking officials in the provincial capital before he could ask for help.
Although Old Lady Xu was reluctant to part with her second grandson, she was even more afraid of bringing disaster to him, so she quickly said, "Ershi is still young, let him work hard in the county government first. Once he does a good job and has the ability, we can talk about transferring him there."
Xu Qingming and his wife blushed and dared not say anything.
A few people discussed again that Old Man Xu and the first wife were not ready yet and would go to the provincial capital later, while the second wife would leave on the 28th of this month.
The second wife would not sell the courtyard in Xiaozao Village or the house in Nanping County. She entrusted Li Jindou and his wife to bring people to clean up the house regularly, and also asked them to help take care of the remaining fields.
Li Yudou had already passed the examination for Tongsheng, and Xu Qingyan promised that he would help him if he could enter the officialdom.
On the 27th, the Xu family held a banquet at their old house and invited Xu Zhiniang's family and Xu Daya's family back.
The old lady also took out the gifts Xu Qingyan had given her and distributed them among the families. Since her eldest son's family was going to the provincial capital with them to enjoy a better life, she didn't want her daughter to suffer any loss this time. The cloth and other items were divided into three parts: one for the old couple, one for the eldest wife, and one for Xu Zhi's family. Of the two hundred taels of silver, the old couple kept one hundred taels for their retirement and gave fifty taels each to Xu Qingming and Xu Zhi's mother.
Seeing Xu Daya's eyes full of reluctance, Xu Qingming and his wife gave them another thirty taels of silver they had just earned.
Qin did not come back that day, so she asked Xu Lanzhou to secretly give Xu Zhiniang fifty taels of silver and some jewelry.
Early in the morning on the 28th, Xu Qingyan and Xu Lanzhou rode out of the Xu family's gate on horseback, followed by a horse carriage and three mule carts.
Xu Qingyan bowed and said goodbye to his neighbors and relatives who had come to see him off, and headed towards the city gate. Outside the city gate, some officials, relatives and friends were waiting to see him off.
Xu Qingyan dismounted again and said goodbye to them, and the group of carriages and horses headed towards the provincial capital.
Qin opened the curtains and saw Nanping County receding into the distance, tears welling up in her eyes again. This familiar landscape had given her a warm home and allowed her to live peacefully for eighteen years.
She once thought she would hide here for the rest of her life, but now she has to leave. She once thought the man outside the car would stay here with her until he turned forty and grow old together.
But now, he has an additional wife and a daughter, and he has to go to the capital to pursue his career and serve as an official in the same court with the man who harmed her and her mother... Who knows what will happen in the future?
If her identity is discovered, she will die, but what about her children?
Xu Lanyin knew that Qin would be sad, so she and her daughter rode in one car.
She hugged Qin's arm and said, "It's not far away. If you miss the countryside in the future, I will come back with you to live for a while."
Qin said, "Mother is very scared and always feels uneasy..."
Xu Lanyin whispered to her, "Don't worry, mother. Even if that matter is exposed, father and I will find a way to protect you and save our family. Besides, you've been away for so long, it's not easy for people to recognize you."
The original owner's memory of this place was not very good, and Xu Lanyin had not lived here for long after traveling here, so she did not feel much reluctance to leave Nanping County, but was more looking forward to her future life.
In the evening, the group of carriages and horses entered Feng County. Because Xu Qingyan was a fourth-rank military officer, they did not stay in an inn, but instead stayed in a safer post station.
I heard that this place is close to the famous Longxing Inn. After dinner, Xu Qingyan took Xu Lanzhou and Xu Lanyue to take a look there.
Nothing happened that night, and early the next morning, everyone headed towards the provincial capital again.
At the beginning of the afternoon, a group of carriages and horses finally arrived at the gate of Xu's family in the north city of Ningzhou Prefecture.
Ding Gu opened the door and happily greeted his master. He said with a smile, "I knew that the masters would be back in the next two days, so I have already cleaned up the house."
After entering the hanging flower gate, Ding Gu said, "Master Zhao and Master Li moved next door the day before yesterday. The west wing has been cleaned out and the back door has been blocked."
Finally coming back here, Xu Lanyin felt very at home.
Hanako was unfamiliar with the place and barked, only to see Mazi flying over from the next door. Hanako was overjoyed and stopped making noises, starting to play with Mazi.
Qin ordered Ding Gu, "Go to Minfu and bring Ting'er back. I miss him."
Xu Qingyan hurriedly said, "After I finish washing up, I will go to the Min Mansion with gifts to thank Lord Min in person, and then take the child back."
Min Hu came from an aristocratic family, and Xu Qingyan himself was a high-ranking official, so Xu Qingyan didn't dare to carelessly send someone to pick up the child. Min Hu was about to leave the government office, and when he arrived at the Min Mansion, he would just go home.
Xu Lanting did not know Xu Qingyan, so he was accompanied by Xu Lanzhou.
Xu Lanyin continued, "Tomorrow is a day off. I'm hosting a party at home. Please invite Lord Min and Jia'er to have lunch. I miss Jia'er."
It's already the end of the month, and Little Star must have been taken away.
Xu Lanyin went to see the west wing; it was completely tidy and clean, with nothing in it. He then had Ding Gu, Ji Zhu, Wang Feng, and the others move her bedroom belongings to the north room of the west wing, and the things in the side rooms to the living room. The south room would become Xu Lanyue's bedroom. Currently, her room had no large ornaments, only two boxes and a couch. Tomorrow, someone would go to the carpentry shop to make furniture.
After moving the furniture, Xu Lanyin eagerly checked the treasures and banknotes in the secret compartment, and then put the other half of the treasures and 30,000 taels of gold bars in there, stuffing the secret compartment completely. She thought, I have to find a way to make another secret compartment. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Qin prepared a menu for the servants to prepare, and then went to the restaurant to buy some dishes. In the evening, she would invite Zhao Wu's brothers, Xu Dashi's family, and Wang Sanni's siblings to her home for dinner.
As the sun sets, Zhao Wu, who has just left the yamen, comes pushing Li Luo.
Li Luo had gained some weight, his smile was bright and his complexion was rosy and healthy. Although his legs were hidden by his long gown, it was clear that they were much thicker than before.
When Li Luo saw Qin for the first time, he stood up and performed the greetings as a junior using his crutches.
Zhao Wu also discussed with Qin, "Aunt, our family lives next door to the west. From now on, we will eat at your house morning, noon and night. We will pay for the food. It's too lonely for the two of us to eat at home."
His words made Li Luo blush.
Qin smiled and said, "Even if you didn't tell me, I would have invited you to my house for dinner. You don't have to pay for the food. It's hard to calculate the money between our two families."
Zhao Wu didn't hesitate and nodded.
Soon, Xu Dashi, Li, Xu Yuan, Xu Man, Wang Sanni and Wang Jincai arrived one after another.
They were waiting for Xu Qingyan and his son, so they were not in a hurry to eat.
Li Luo wasn't familiar with those people, so he and Zhao Wu went to the east wing while they chatted in the main hall. Qin was chatting with Xu Dashi's family, while Wang Sanni was discussing the teahouse with Xu Lanyin.
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