Chapter 217: New Year Greetings (Part 1)

Bin Ju hurriedly explained: "Madam, the Fifth Young Master heard that you were back and insisted on coming to see you. We couldn't stop him..."

The main reason is that Xu Siqi is now a young master, and it’s difficult to deal with him!

Shiyi Niang looked at his clenched fist and asked softly, "Brother Zhe, do you want to give me some candy? Give me the silk candy that Brother Zhe gave you?"

He was held in Binju's arms, with his head lowered, standing there in a daze without saying a word.

Eleventh Lady felt soft in her heart and sighed softly.

Her subconscious rejection must have hurt the child!

Eleventh Lady stood up, touched his head, and her voice became softer: "Brother, do you want to give me some candy?"

Xu Siqi raised his head and looked at Shiyi Niang with some uncertainty.

Eleventh Lady looked at him with a bright smile.

The two looked at each other silently.

Bin Ju said anxiously, "Madam, after you left, the fourth young master wanted to teach the fifth young master how to play shuttlecock, but the fifth young master refused and insisted on coming back. The fourth young master took out some walnut cakes to coax the fifth young master, but it still didn't work. I had to carry the fifth young master back. He refused to go into the house and held the pillars of the corridor in front of the door and refused to leave. We had no choice but to wrap the fifth young master in a shawl and let him stand here with him. When it was time to eat, he still refused to go. Let go. Dongqing and I not only took turns persuading him, but also brought the mutton soup made by Wu Mama on our stove here to coax him into the house to eat... We finally coaxed the Fifth Young Master into the house. I don't know who said that the Madam is back. He flipped over the chair and ran to your room. "As she spoke, her voice gradually became lower. "We were wondering why the Fifth Young Master clenched his fist and refused to let go... We didn't expect that he was holding a candy in his hand."

Eleventh Lady's expression gradually became peaceful and calm. She asked again, "Brother Zhe, are the silk candies that Brother Zhe gave you delicious?"

He nodded, shook his head, and then slowly opened his clenched fist.

Because it was held for too long, the rose-colored silk candy that had melted on the surface appeared in front of Shiyi Niang again.

Eleventh Lady smiled and took the candy from his hand.

Eleventh Lady instructed Binju: "Help him wash his hands, and then find his candy - to prevent him from hiding it on the bed or under the pillow and letting it melt." After thinking about it, she felt that it was not appropriate, and added, "Give him a small box specially used to store things, so that he can develop the habit of putting things in the box."

Binju nodded quickly in response.

Eleventh Lady smiled and rubbed Xu Siqi's head: "Remember, next time you do something, remember to tell me first!" Then she looked at him sincerely and asked what he thought.

Xu Siqi nodded and suddenly said, "Sugar is sweet."

Eleventh Lady quickly smiled widely: "Our brother is really well behaved. Just follow my lead and talk to me like this from now on. Got it?"

Xu Siqi smiled and nodded.

Shiyi Niang asked Binju: "Did he eat?"

Binju said with a bitter face: "I ate two dumplings."

I just haven’t eaten yet…

Eleventh Lady thought for a moment and said, "Are the eldest and second young masters still playing with the Madam?"

When they went to the palace to congratulate, they handed all the children over to Mother Du.

Binju nodded: "When I came, several young masters were catching up on sleep in the fourth young master's room!"

Eleventh Lady smiled and said to Xu Siqi: "Do you want to follow me?"

Xu Siqi nodded repeatedly.

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "What did I tell you just now? Tell me what you want to do, understand?"

Xu Siqi immediately said, "I'll follow!"

"Well, eat the dumplings that Binju feeds you, and I'll take you with me."

When Xu Siqi heard this, he immediately pushed Binju away and ran out.

"Fifth Young Master!" Binju stomped her feet, hurriedly said to Shiyi Niang, "I'll go and take a look," and chased after him.

Amber, who was serving beside him, smiled and said, "Do you really want to keep the Fifth Young Master with you? I'm afraid someone will come to wish you a happy new year!"

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Let the little maid teach him how to play shuttlecock in the inner room."

Xu Siqi was not a clingy child. As long as Shiyi Niang was where he could see her, he would be quiet. If Shiyi Niang was meeting guests in the east room and asked the maid to take him to the west room to play, he would definitely not make a fuss.

After observing for a few days, Amber knew a little about Xu Siqi's habits. After hearing what Shiyi Niang said, she did not refute it. She helped Shiyi Niang change into a pink brocade sash and a dark green skirt with a fringe. Xu Lingyi, who was already wearing casual clothes, walked in: "Are you ready?"

His eyes lit up.

The pink brocade made her face look rosy.

"Okay!" Eleventh Lady stood up with a smile, "But Binju is still feeding Brother Yi - let's wait!"

Xu Lingyi frowned slightly: "It's already so late, why is he still eating? I have to teach him some rules in the future."

"He just got here!" Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "He needs some time to get used to it."

Xu Lingyi said nothing more and sat down on the big kang by the window.

"We also made dumplings on the stove today. How about I bring some over so that you can fill your stomach?"

"No thanks." Xu Lingyi refused without thinking.

Eleventh Lady thought about how he never had any snacks or fruits for his three meals a day, so she didn't force him and sat down with him with a smile.

"Let's go to the Jiang family this afternoon!" Xu Lingyi suddenly said, "Marry off your daughter and marry your wife. Besides, this marriage was arranged by Old Lady Jiang and Jiang Bai, and Jiang Song is not very happy. Our family must be sincere."

The more polite you are, the less blame you will get! Especially when you are of Xu Lingyi's status, others will only think you are humble.

Eleventh Lady nodded: "I looked at the account book a few days ago. For such close relatives, the gift is no more than fifty taels..."

"Just fifty taels!" Xu Lingyi said without hesitation, "I'll ask Manager Zhao to pick a few calligraphy and paintings from the warehouse and send them over as well."

Eleventh Lady nodded in agreement, took the T-shaped cards given by the lady and asked Amber to get the painting.

The little maid came to report: "The Fifth Young Master is here!"

"Come in!" Eleventh Lady nodded, and Binju walked in holding Xu Siqi.

When Xu Siqi saw Xu Lingyi, his eyes immediately lit up.

Binju led him to pay his respects to Xu Lingyi. He stood there motionless, looking up at Xu Lingyi. He had completely lost his usual liveliness and looked a little dull.

Eleventh Lady looked at him with amusement and asked, "You finished eating so soon?"

Because Xu Lingyi was there, Binju was very respectful: "I ate nine dumplings!"

Eleventh Lady nodded and smiled at Xu Siyi, "Brother Xu is really good."

Xu Siqi was delighted.

Xu Lingyi frowned: "Why doesn't this child speak?"

After seeing this, Xu Siqi immediately took two steps back, his face tense.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help laughing, and went forward to hug Xu Siyi: "Let's go to the lady!"

"Can't he walk?" Xu Lingyi stood up and said, "Let Binju hold him. Be careful that the child doesn't slip."

It was really hard to hold a three-year-old child, so Shiyi Niang gave the child to Binju as she was told, and said with a smile, "It will take two cups of tea to go to the Madam's place. My brother is still too young."

Xu Lingyi just asked casually.

He has no experience dealing with children.

The first time he became a father, he left with a baby in his belly, and when he came back, the baby could run and jump. By the time of Zhuge, he had already moved to "Banyuepan", and later went to war again...

Eleventh Lady was thinking about going to the Jiang family.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, he just came back from the palace, and the first thing he did was to visit the Jiang family. It seemed that he not only decided to complete this marriage, but also attached great importance to it.

She thought of something that had always been on her mind - the selection of a teacher for her brother.

"My Lord, didn't my second sister-in-law say last time that Brother Qin and Brother Yu are both very knowledgeable and that they need to hire a special teacher? The Jiang family has a school in their hometown, why don't you ask the Jiang family to recommend someone..."

Xu Lingyi shook his head slightly: "After all, our two families have never had a formal ceremony." After a pause, he said, "Besides, the Jiang family's school pays more attention to eight-part essays than poetry and songs. I think it's better to forget it!"

Eleventh Lady thought of what Xu Lingyi had said before, that the deceased old marquis had also stopped the third master from taking the imperial examination. She thought of her time at the Luo family. Both the eldest master and the eldest wife had unanimously told Luo Zhenxing and Luo Zhensheng to learn eight-part essays well to take the imperial examination, and said that poetry and songs were all evil ways. However, the Xu family did the exact opposite, and did not encourage their children to take the imperial examination. You know, in the Zhou Dynasty, only those who came from the imperial examination were the right way to select scholars, and the others were regarded as wild foxes and could not be on the stage. Xu Lingyi had both illegitimate sons and legitimate sons, but there was only one title of Yongping Marquis. The best way to minimize these conflicts is to encourage children to be self-reliant - after all, the fight for the title is a fight for the right to survive, and if other children have the ability to survive, their desire for the title will be much less than those children who cannot take care of themselves.

Eleventh Lady hopes that Xu Siyu and Xu Siyi can support themselves...

"Mr. Hou's idea is really strange." She tried to communicate with Xu Lingyi, "I have only heard of teaching children to study eight-part essays well, but I have never heard of anyone hiring a teacher who dislikes the teacher's ability to teach eight-part essays!"

Eleventh Lady is the daughter of the Luo family and grew up in the inner courtyard, so the views she expressed are naturally the views of the Luo family.

Xu Lingyi said: "We are different from the Luo family."

Eleventh Lady was slightly stunned.

Does it mean that the Xu family is a family of nobles that has inherited the throne from generation to generation?

Xu Lingyi saw a hint of confusion in Shiyi Niang's eyes, and he couldn't help but smile slightly.

No matter how smart Eleventh Lady is, she still lacks some knowledge.

"Since the imperial examinations were introduced, all common families have used them to bring honor to their families. When they enter officialdom, they have the protection of their fellow townsmen, classmates, and fellow students. But it is different for us nobles. We are appointed by the emperor and serve him loyally. Our wealth and honor depend on the emperor alone." Xu Lingyi said tactfully, "We must not be too greedy and lose our manners."

Eleventh Lady pondered over Xu Lingyi's words for a moment before she understood.

For a family like the Luo family, only by passing the imperial examination can the family prosper, so they must learn the eight-part essay. For a family like the Xu family, they only need to serve the monarch well. You have to know that after ten years of hard study, you will be taken care of by seniors with the same experience as you when you graduate. If you don't pass the imperial examination and donate to become an official, you will not be recognized by those who passed the imperial examination, and you will not have a network of relationships with fellow townsmen, classmates, and fellow students in your official career. If you want to continue and do well, the only person you can rely on is the emperor.

Therefore, if the Luo family wanted to stand out, they had to rely on the imperial examination; if the Xu family wanted to stand out, they had to rely on the emperor's appreciation. Because the paths were different, they needed to learn different things.

This is another balancing act that the emperor uses to maintain his rule!

She was speechless.