Chapter 220: Fishing Profits (Part 1)

Xu Lingyi laughed.

From yesterday until now, Eleventh Lady has been feeling a little uncomfortable.

He found it very interesting that his normally graceful wife faltered in front of him.

He really wanted to tease her a few more times, but when he thought about how she was angry, anxious and blushing yesterday, he knew she was very sensitive and was afraid of really annoying her, so he called Chunmo and Xia Yi to come in and help him change his clothes.

Eleventh Lady breathed a sigh of relief.

I didn't expect Xu Lingyi to be such a scoundrel. He said those nonsense without blushing or getting nervous.

She really wasn't used to it - in her two lifetimes, no man had ever treated her like this.

I was even more outrageous. Why did I feel something was wrong and put my hand into his clothes...

You know, Xu Lingyi has never lacked in sexual desire. Not to mention that he has three concubines, even if he likes this little girl in the Manchu Mansion, can I still stop him? He abides by his seemingly stern but well-thought-out arrangement of sleeping with her.

It was just out of respect for his wife. Otherwise, how could Qiao Lianfang not take Qin Yi Niang and Wen Yi Niang seriously and not care about their attitudes at all? You know, even historians, when commenting on the relationship between an emperor and his concubines, would always focus on how many concubines he had with him.

In fact, this also indirectly shows the situation between the two people.

I can only blame myself for being too panicked yesterday. Unconsciously, the part of me that belonged to Moyan hidden deep in my heart emerged again.

Eleventh Lady stroked the plum blossom carved on the poplar wood comb in her hand and smiled self-deprecatingly.

To be honest, I am a bit stubborn and I just can't be a complete Eleventh Lady!

While she was thinking, a little maid came in and said, "Madam, the Fifth Young Master is here!"

She restrained her emotions, and her lips curved slightly, turning into the gentle Eleventh Lady: "Let the Fifth Young Master come in!"

The little maidservant left immediately.

Dongqing and Binju walked in, holding Xu Siqi on either side.

Today he wore a brand new royal blue embroidered jacket and combed his hair into a bun, which set off his fair skin and made his features look even more beautiful.

Seeing Shiyi Niang looking at Xu Siyi, Dongqing explained hurriedly: "We helped Fifth Young Master make clothes for the New Year overnight."

"This color is very good." Eleventh Lady nodded with a smile and asked Dongqing to follow her to Gongxian Hutong. The old woman who brought the news left first - today was the second day of the New Year, and everyone had to go back to their parents' homes to pay New Year's greetings, so as to avoid running into Fifth Lady at the gate.

Dong Qing was not keen on going back to the Luo family, but Shiyi Niang looked like she wanted them to meet an old friend, so she couldn't refuse Shiyi Niang's face. She smiled and agreed, and left the Xu residence through the side door.

Seeing that Xu Lingyi had not come out yet, Eleventh Lady held Xu Siqi and chatted with him, asking him if he had had breakfast, what he had eaten, what was delicious and so on.

Xu Siyi was very eloquent, not like a three-year-old child at all. He answered Shiyi Niang's questions one by one.

As he was speaking, Xu Lingyi came out after washing up.

Xu Siqi immediately became absent-minded, his eyes following Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi didn't pay attention to these. He only saw Shiyi Niang holding a beautiful child with gentle eyes and a bright smile. It was very comfortable to look at, which made him feel peaceful and calm.

"Brother Yu hasn't come yet?" He straightened his sleeves with a smile, and motioned Xia Mo to help him put on the shawl.

Shiyi Niang knew that she was going to go out, so she handed Xu Siyi to Binju to hold, and stood up and said, "You should stay with Brother Zhe!"

Xu Lingyi nodded and took Shiyi Niang and Xu Siqi to the lady dowager's place.

The people from the third house had come to bid farewell to the madam and went to the house of the Earl of Zhongqin. Xu Siyu was standing in front of the madam's kang, watching her tidying up the clothes for Zhege and instructing him on some etiquette. When he saw his father and mother coming in, he hurriedly bowed. Zhege happily called "Zhege'er". When Xu Siye saw Zhege calling her, he looked at Zhege'er and smiled.

When the lady saw the two of them being so affectionate, she laughed.

Xu Lingyi, however, frowned and scolded his brother: "Did you call me 'Brother'? You should call me 'Fifth Brother'!"

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Zhege wilted like an eggplant hit by frost, and murmured to Xu Siyi, "Fifth Brother". When Xu Siyi saw Xu Lingyi's stern face, he was so scared that he hid beside Shiyi Niang.

The lady shook her head and tried to help: "It's New Year's Day, why are you scolding me? Why don't you say something nice?"

Xu Lingyi hesitated to speak, looking helpless about the lady's interference.

Shiyi Niang looked at him and smiled as she carried Zhege'er off the kang: "It's getting late, let's get up early!"

Xu Lingyi took the opportunity to step down, and stood up to say goodbye with Shiyi Niang and the child.

As soon as I walked out of the yard, I ran into Xu Lingkuan and the Fifth Madam.

After everyone greeted each other, Xu Lingkuan and the Fifth Madam went to the Madam's place, while Xu Lingyi and the others went to Gongxian Hutong.

The Luo family's door was decorated with bright red lanterns, antithetical couplets were posted, a bright red "Fu" character was pasted on the door, and red ropes were tied around the corners of the walls and the flowers and trees in the yard, creating a festive atmosphere.

The old woman from the Xu family who brought the news arrived earlier than them, and Luo Zhenxing and the eldest grandmother quietly greeted them at the hanging flower gate. When they saw Xu Siyi, they both looked at him.

Eleventh Lady remained calm and asked the three children to bow to Luo Zhenxing and the eldest grandmother according to the order of elders and youngers, and accepted the New Year's money from them.

Luo Zhenxing took them to meet the eldest master and the eldest wife.

The eldest grandmother whispered in Eleventh Lady's ear, "I thought that the child would eventually go to her parents' house, so I told Mother tactfully. Mother was satisfied knowing that the child was raised under Aunt Qiao's name."

The first wife is concerned about the interests of the brother. Since his interests are not harmed, there is nothing to worry about!

Eleventh Lady nodded and went to the main house to pay her respects to the eldest master and the eldest mistress.

The eldest master stayed to talk to Xu Lingyi, while the eldest lady, Shiyi Niang and the children stayed in the eldest wife's room.

Mother Xu gave the children New Year's money on behalf of the eldest wife.

When Xu Siwei came, she stared at the child with her eyes, and scared Xu Siwei so much that he was unwilling to come forward no matter what.

Eleventh Lady frowned as she looked at him, stepped forward, took Xu Si'e's hand, and helped him to accept the New Year's money.

The fourth grandmother standing by laughed out loud immediately, took out a red envelope and stuffed it into Xu Siyi's hand: "It's from fourth aunt." She then greeted Xu Siyu: "Is this the second young master? He's so handsome." She gave a red envelope each to Xu Siyu and Zhe Ge.

After she made such a fuss, the atmosphere in the room became lively again.

It seems that my fourth sister-in-law is also a smart person.

Eleventh Lady looked at him and nodded secretly in her heart, then gave Brother Xiu the New Year's gift money that she had prepared long ago.

Brother Xiu accepted it with a smile on his face. Just as he bowed to Shiyi Niang and said "Happy New Year", Brother Zhe pulled him over and pointed at Xu Siyi and said, "This is my fifth brother!"

Brother Xiu looked at Xu Siqi curiously: "He looks like a little girl."

Zhege immediately corrected him: "He is a younger brother, not a younger sister." He pointed at Xiuge and said to Xu Si, "This is the eldest cousin. Call him eldest cousin quickly."

He was so serious, like a little adult, that all the women in the room started laughing.

Fourth Grandma laughed especially heartily: "Fourth Young Master, Brother Xiu is not Fifth Young Master's cousin, he is his elder cousin."

Only then did Zhuge realize his mistake and smiled embarrassedly.

Xu Siqi looked at the unfamiliar smiling faces in the room and seemed a little frightened. He looked around at a loss, and only when he saw Shiyi Niang beside him did he calm down.

Eleventh Lady sensed his uneasiness, stepped forward and touched his head, then pointed at Brother Xiu and said with a smile: "This is your eldest cousin."

Only then did he gently call out "Cousin".

"Fifth cousin has such a nice voice!" Brother Couch's eyes widened.

"Of course." Brother Zhe looked very proud, "He is my fifth brother." He added, "Do you have any pancakes in your room? He loves pancakes the most!"

"No!" Brother Xiu seemed a little embarrassed, "But we have walnut crisps, chestnut cakes, and silk candies. They are all delicious. Especially the chestnut cake, which we make ourselves." He straightened his chest and said, "Aunt Eleven also likes to eat it when she is at home!"

Then he looked at Shiyi Niang eagerly, as if seeking her support.

How could Eleventh Lady hurt the child's self-esteem? She nodded immediately and said, "Yes, our chestnut cake is soft, sweet and delicious."

After hearing this, Brother Xiu pecked his head like a chicken eating rice: "I didn't lie to you! Eleventh Aunt also said it was delicious."

The eldest grandmother laughed when she saw this. She thought that the eldest wife was ill and it was not good for the children to stay here, so she called Aunt Hang to "take the young masters to the east side room for some snacks."

Mother Hang smiled and said "yes", but Brother Xiu said loudly: "No, no, Fifth Aunt hasn't come yet. We haven't received the New Year's money from Fifth Aunt yet!"

Everybody was laughing so hard.

A little maid came in and reported: "Fifth Aunt and Fifth Aunt are here!"

When everyone heard this, they laughed even harder. Qian Ming and Wu Niang, who had just entered the room, laughed so hard that they were scratching their heads.

Fourth grandmother explained: "Our brother Xiu is afraid that he will be depressed without the support of his fifth uncle and fifth aunt!"

Qian Ming laughed when he heard this and immediately took out red envelopes from his sleeves: "One for each person!" Brother Xiu happily took them all.

Brother Zhe was a little reserved.

Brother Xiu whispered in his ear: "Fifth Uncle is the best. Don't be afraid."

Only then did Brother Zhe pick up the phone and thank Qian Ming softly.

Qian Ming looked at him with a very gentle gaze and asked him, "Why didn't you see Lord Hou?"

Brother Zhe stood respectfully with his hands down: "Dad and Grandpa are talking in the study."

Qian Ming nodded with a smile, then handed red envelopes to Xu Siyu and Xu Siqi.

Xu Siyu thanked her indifferently, and Xu Siyi ran to Shiyi Niang and handed the red envelope to her.

Wu Niang looked at it and exclaimed, "Oh!" Then she said with a smile, "It seems that this child has a connection with Eleventh Sister."

After hearing this, Qian Ming coughed heavily a few times, then sat on the small stool in front of the eldest wife's bed and asked about her daily life.

The first wife had lost a lot of weight and still had difficulty expressing herself. Seeing Qian Ming speaking softly and caringly, her eyes slightly moistened and she nodded continuously. Mother Xu, who was helping the first wife answer the questions, also had tears in her eyes and treated Qian Ming with a more respectful attitude than she had just treated Xu Lingyi.

Brother Xiu took Brother Zhe to ask Wu Niang for New Year's money.

Wu Niang was well prepared. She took out the red envelopes with a smile and gave them out while joking with Da Nai: "When the eldest sister-in-law was pregnant with Brother Xiu, the god of wealth was worshipped in the house, right?"

The grandmother blushed and said, "I have spoiled this child."

Wu Niang covered her sleeves and laughed.

A maid came in and reported, "The twelfth lady, the fifth concubine, and the sixth concubine are here!" Qian Ming hurriedly stood up and left.

The eldest wife looked at him and said with difficulty, "Come and play," and signaled Mother Xu to send him off.

Qian Ming leaned over and whispered a few words to the first wife before being escorted out the door by Mother Xu.