"Make your father proud!" The lady took Xu Siyu's hand and looked him left and right, up and down, with a happy smile flowing from the corners of her eyes to the bottom of her eyes.

Xu Siyu responded respectfully with "yes", his joy beyond words.

The Fifth Lady shouted to the Eleventh Lady, "Have a treat! For such a big celebration, we must have a treat!"

Eleventh Lady smiled and her eyes fell on Xu Siyu.

She didn't care, but Xu Lingyi said that he was just a scholar, not the top scholar. He was shouting everywhere, being frivolous and making people laugh.

She could understand Xu Lingyi's worries.

Xu Siyu still has a long way to go in the future, so it is better to be moderately happy. Too much is as bad as too little. If he fails to pass the provincial and metropolitan examinations smoothly, he will become a laughing stock of some people.

Xu Siyu was very clear about his future life. This was just the first step, the real difficulty was in the back. Life was always like this, only those who persevered to the end were qualified to laugh, and he was not qualified yet.

Seeing Shiyi Niang's eyes on him, he nodded slightly to her. He smiled and said to the lady, "Grandma, it's too early to talk about this now. Why not wait until I pass the imperial examination and attend the Qionglin Banquet to have a good time!"

The second wife, who was sitting next to the old lady, nodded with satisfaction. Before the old lady could speak, she smiled and said, "Not being surprised by honor or disgrace is the true nature of a gentleman. You may pass the imperial examination. Your efforts in the past few years have not been in vain. Even we, the elders, will be happy for you. I would feel a little guilty if I don't help to arrange it." She smiled at the old lady and said, "How about we invite our relatives to have a meal? It will be lively and not so ostentatious!"

The lady laughed when she heard this.

"You two can just discuss it," the old lady said, looking at the Fifth Lady, "Anyway, I had a feast for Chen'er's first birthday." He looked at the Eleventh Lady, "Now that Yu'er has passed the imperial examination, I can't miss my share." Then he said to the Second Lady, "At my age, I am a blessed person to be able to do this. As for me, I just need to eat my fill all day long!" After that, he smiled and touched the head of Jin'er, who was sitting next to him and playing happily with Chen'er, and asked Jin'er, "Jin'er, do you think that what grandma said is right?"

Jing'er didn't hear what the lady said at all. He looked up at her with a confused look on his face.

The lady laughed even more happily.

He held Jing'er in his arms and gave him a big kiss on the cheek.

When Brother Chen saw this, he staggered into the old lady's arms, acted coquettishly, and hugged her neck tightly.

"Oh my!" The old lady pretended to be angry, "Grandma is old and can't stand your torture!"

The fifth lady hurried forward and hugged Chen Ge'er. Chen Ge'er was unhappy, so the lady-in-waiting brought some snacks to coax him. The room was filled with laughter and joy, and it became more lively.

Eleventh Lady said, "In that case, please choose a good day. We'll invite relatives and friends to our house for a meal." She thought of how Second Lady had just refuted Fifth Lady's words, and was afraid that Fifth Lady would lose face, so she asked Fifth Lady, "Fifth Brother's wife, do you want to invite people to a party or something?"

The Fifth Lady looked at the Grand Lady.

"Okay!" The lady smiled and said, "I think we should ask Zhou Huide from the German Music Troupe to sing The Golden Sable."

Naturally, everyone agreed in unison. Mother Du took the almanac to check the date. Eleventh Lady and Fifth Lady discussed who to invite that day, what dishes to use for the banquet, and where to perform opera. Second Lady asked about Xu Siyu's visits to the prefect and his classmates in recent days. Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie were whispering to each other, Xin Jie'er interrupted, Jing'er and Shen'er were playing together, and the room was noisier than during Chinese New Year.

The third master and his wife brought their son and daughter-in-law over.

"I heard that Yu'er passed the imperial examination and became a scholar." The Third Master smiled kindly, while the Third Lady looked a little embarrassed. "I ordered a set of four treasures of the study from Duobao Pavilion as a gift." As he spoke, Xu Siqin smiled and held up a square box wrapped in royal blue satin.

"Congratulations, second brother!" There was envy in his eyes.

Xu Siyu took the box and thanked him with a smile.

Xu Sijian clamored for Xu Siyu to treat him to a meal.

"No matter who is missing, yours won't be missing!" The lady smiled and said, "Come over on the tenth day of August, and we'll drink and listen to opera to celebrate for your second brother!"

"It doesn't count, it doesn't count." Xu Sijian refused, "That's grandma's share. Second brother should at least show some appreciation himself!"

"Okay!" Xu Siyu smiled generously, "I'll express it however you say!"

Xu Sijian's eyes rolled when he heard this.

Jin, who was standing by, became anxious and secretly pulled Xu Sijian's sleeve.

Everyone held their breath and prepared to listen to what Xu Sijian had to say, and naturally saw her actions clearly.

The third lady's face flushed red, and she gently scolded Jin: "What are you doing?"

Xu Sijian also looked uncomfortable. He shook his sleeves and said in a buzzing voice, "Stand aside!"

Jin was ashamed and lowered her head with tears in her eyes.

Fang hurried forward and put her arm around her shoulders.

Jin looked up at Fang with a hint of gratitude in her eyes.

The lady saw it, her lips curled up slightly, and she waved to Jin: "Good child, come to grandma!"

Jin was a little hesitant, but Fang gently pushed her.

She walked hesitantly in front of the lady.

The lady took her hand and said to Xu Sijian, "Why, your wife can't control you? Did you go out with those guards to have a good time and drink and not come home until midnight?"

"No, no!" Xu Sijian waved his hands repeatedly, "My colleague had a son a few days ago, I just drank a few more glasses..." Then he glanced at Jin, "She keeps nagging!"

Jin lowered her head, showing a somewhat aggrieved expression and remained silent.

The lady saw this and said to Jin with a smile: "That's your fault. It's normal for a man to drink a few more glasses when he is out socializing. You should serve him well, but how can you keep nagging him? Don't do this again in the future. If you do this again, grandma will be unhappy!"

Jin hurriedly assured the lady: "...I've made a note of it. I won't dare to do it again!"

The old lady said "hmm" and turned to talk to the third lady: "... Let's go to Lingqiong Villa to enjoy the moon on August 15th. The weather is bad this year, and the sweet-scented osmanthus is not as fragrant as in previous years. Yizhen didn't make sweet-scented osmanthus wine, but made green plum wine. You can try it then."

The third lady replied "yes" somewhat reluctantly.

Since Xu Sijian got married, the lady never invited her to the mansion except during the Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival. Even if she came to the mansion for something, she would only stay for lunch occasionally, never for dinner. She had no chance to find an excuse to stay overnight in the Yongping Marquis's mansion.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but ponder secretly.

It seemed that the Madam was determined to separate her from the family. Since she was going to be a mother-in-law, she might as well come to greet her on the first and fifteenth day of every month. She would not have to get up early every day and rush to Hehuali through several streets like now, and she would not be able to deal with household affairs in time. The maids should ask Fang for instructions if they had any matters...

The third lady made up her mind and discussed it with the third master on the way back.

Before she could finish her words, the Third Master's face had already sunk: "Is this what a wife would say? Do you want Qin'er's wife and Jian'er's wife to follow your example?"

These are very serious words.

The third wife's face changed, and she said guiltily: "I was thinking that Brother Qin's daughter-in-law is about to give birth..."

The Third Master's expression lightened slightly, but he still shouted: "Don't say such things again!"

The third wife nodded in agreement and got off the carriage. She turned back inadvertently and saw her youngest son standing by the shaft and talking to the people in the carriage with a somewhat flattering look on his face.

She couldn't help but feel angry.

The eldest son pretended to obey her but actually disobeyed her, and the youngest son was a coward. Nothing at home went to her satisfaction.

She couldn't help but shout "Jian Ge'er".

Xu Sijian was so frightened that he left Jin behind and quickly ran to his mother.

"What are you doing?" The third wife's face turned pale. "Where is your wife? Why hasn't she gotten off the car yet? Did she sprain her ankle? Do you want me to send a maid to carry her down!"

As she spoke, Jin got out of the carriage quickly. Hearing the words, she trembled with fear, her face full of panic.

The third lady snorted coldly and turned to enter the hanging flower gate.

Xu Sijian looked at Jin with frustration and complained in a low voice: "Look at you, you made mother angry again!"

Jin was very ashamed.

If she hadn't been so petty just now, how could she have made her mother-in-law angry and put her husband in a difficult position!

Thinking of this, her eyes turned red: "It's all my fault!"

"Forget it!" Xu Sijian looked at her with some reluctance, "I shouldn't have said that to you in front of the aunts!" Then he sighed, turned around and walked into the room.

Jin stood there and couldn't help stamping her feet.

Someone burst out laughing.

She looked back in surprise.

See Fang's smiling face.

"I finally understand what it means to say one thing and mean another!" Fang said jokingly, "I was so worried all the way here, and even wanted to come over to persuade you. Who knew you were already so sweet to me?" Then she sighed, "It turns out that I was just being sentimental and worrying in vain!"

"Sister-in-law!" Jin said coquettishly, pulling Fang's arm. "How can you tease me like this!"

Fang smiled, then her expression straightened and she said softly, "Sister-in-law, this is my mother-in-law's personality. Don't take it to heart." She seemed to be trying to comfort her.

"I know!" Jin nodded, "My father-in-law lost his job, and my mother-in-law has been unhappy. I won't take it to heart." Then she smiled and pulled Fang, "Let's go to the main house! Otherwise, my mother-in-law will lose her temper again!"

Fang smiled and said "hmm", then was led by Jin into the inner courtyard.

* * * * * *

Xu Lingyi carefully read the name on the bright red gold-stamped paper, then raised his head and asked, "Did you delete Jiang Yunfei's post?"

Eleventh Lady put down her needlework and said, "This is a family dinner. I feel it is inappropriate to invite Jiang Yunfei."

Xu Lingyi nodded with appreciation and handed the bright red gold-stamped paper to Shiyi Niang: "Let's follow this arrangement!"

Eleventh Lady responded with a smile.

Xu Lingyi patted the cushion beside him and said, "Come, sit over here and talk!"

Eleventh Lady sat over and asked: "What do you want, Lord?"

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I deleted and revised it several times, it’s a little late, sorry!

O(∩_∩)O~