"You are still young, it is too dangerous to set off firecrackers." Xu Lingyi explained to Jing'er in a gentle manner and patiently, "But setting off firecrackers is fun. If you really want to set them off, wait until your eldest brother and the others come back and let them set them off with you. How do you think?"

Jing'er felt bad.

He wants to set off firecrackers now.

But when my father talked to him, the old men sitting there all listened attentively but acted casually, just like the maids and old women serving in the house when my mother talked to my father. Whenever this happened, my mother would sit there silently with a smile on her face, and wait until the maids and old women left before talking to my father.

Thinking of this, he imitated Eleventh Lady and stood beside Xu Lingyi with a smile on his face.

Xu Lingyi was a little surprised why his son didn't leave, but seeing that his son looked well-behaved and sensible, he smiled and patted his son's head, then held him on his lap and continued to talk to Dou Ge Lao: "I don't know much about the affairs of the court. I am a man who marches and fights. In my opinion, it is better to let Jinghai Hou take charge - although he is old, the Qu family has guarded Fujian for more than a hundred years, and he has many brave generals under his command. It is the best for him to fight against the Japanese invaders!"

Dou Ge Lao was a little surprised.

The Xu family and the Qu family have been fighting overtly and covertly for a long time. At this time, Xu Lingyi recommended Jinghaihou to fight against the Japanese pirates. What does that mean? You know, if the Qu family really defeated the Japanese pirates, the Qu family's momentum would rise to a higher level, and then the Xu family would be unable to compete with the Qu family... Or, is Xu Lingyi testing his attitude on this matter?

He smiled and lowered his head to drink a sip of tea, but glanced at Elder Liang.

Elder Liang was looking at Xu Lingyi's youngest son with a smile: "Children are all the same, they go wherever there is excitement. Our brother Tong is the same. When my nephew got married, he saw others playing with firecrackers and clamored to play with them too. He couldn't resist, so he had to let his eldest cousin lead him to play. As a result, he threw the lit firecrackers into the yard next door and almost set the other person's woodshed on fire."

Tongger is Lanting's eldest son.

"Fortunately, our yard is big!" Xu Lingyi laughed, "Bring Tongge'er over to play someday! I'm planning to teach Jingge'er a lesson next year, so let him have some fun this year. Next year, we won't be so relaxed."

"Sure!" Liang Ge Lao said with a smile, "I think these two kids can play together." He then said, "Who do you plan to hire as a teacher for your son? Do you want to ask the Hanlin Academy to recommend one?"

"For now, I'll study with my teacher at home." Xu Lingyi said with a smile, "We'll talk about it when I'm older!"

The two of them talked about children, and seemed to have suddenly become much closer.

Wang Li watched and secretly laughed.

These two people, one dug a hole and didn't care about it, and the other didn't want to discuss Fujian affairs with Dou Ge Lao... Dou Ge Lao wanted to use this opportunity to persuade Liang Ge Lao to agree to his recommendation that the Gansu General go to Fujian to suppress the Japanese, but I'm afraid it won't work!

Should I go and join in the fun?

While he was thinking, a servant respectfully reported through the curtain: "My Lord, my lords, the bride's dowry has been delivered!"

Of course they would not go to see the dowry. The servants reported to Xu Lingyi that the banquet in the evening could start.

Xu Lingyi asked Jing'er softly, "Do you want to go and see my sister-in-law's dowry?"

"I want to set off firecrackers!" Jing'er shook his head. "Second sister-in-law's dowry is back, and eldest brother should be back too!" He jumped off Xu Lingyi's lap and looked at him with sparkling eyes. "Then can I set off firecrackers?"

"Okay!" His son was so sensible. He had been sitting on his lap without saying anything. Xu Lingyi decided to reward him. "Let Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu take you to find your big brother!"

"Then how did Big Brother know that it was Daddy who asked me to set off the firecrackers?" Jing'er thought of what happened before and what Manager Bai said, and said, "Daddy has to give me the right cards!"

Xu Lingyi was stunned, then laughed.

I guess Manager Bai used the excuse of playing the same cards to block Jing'er's request to set off firecrackers!

However, this kid is too shrewd. Having been fooled once, he will never be fooled again.

Although the cards are useful, those who do things are not only looking for cards but also for people. If Jing'er is lost, just cast another one!

He smiled and asked someone to get a pair of cards.

Jing'er happily walked out of the side hall and went to the inner courtyard.

Hong Wen was shocked when she saw the pair of cards in his hand, and followed him carefully, fearing that he would lose the pair of cards.

The Xiang family's dowry was placed in the yard in front of the new house for people to see.

There are not many things, but the styles are simple and they are all in sets. They look neat, beautiful and quite imposing.

Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian were not in the new house.

The servant said attentively, "The eldest and third young masters went to the second young master's old residence! Is the sixth young master looking for the eldest or third young master? I will lead the way for you!"

Jing'er ignored him and just walked over to Xu Siyu with the pair of cards.

The managers and servants who passed by all had slightly changed expressions.

* * * * * *

After knowing Jing'er's purpose of coming, Xu Siqin, Xu Siyu and Xu Sijian looked at each other in surprise.

Xu Sijian jumped in front of Jing'er and looked at him with a smile: "You little guy, you are too proud. It's just a firecracker, but you asked for Fourth Uncle's pair of cards."

Jing'er quickly argued, "It was Chief Steward Bai who said that. If you want to set off firecrackers, you have to get Daddy's matching cards!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Xu Siyu told Jing'er: "Don't lose your pair of cards. It would be bad if someone else picked them up!"

Jing'er nodded quickly.

Xu Siqin stood up and said, "Then I'll take Jing'er to set off the firecrackers. You should take a rest first! Tomorrow is your big day. You should get enough rest."

Xu Siyu blushed and saw the three people out the door with a slightly embarrassed look.

When he turned back, he saw Wenzhu cleaning things for him.

"Put all these in that carved wooden box, and take them directly to Le'an when the time comes. These are what the Second Young Master usually uses. Put them in that red lacquered and gold-painted iron box, and hand them over to the Second Young Madam's personal maid when she arrives." He explained everything in detail and clearly, for fear that the maids would make mistakes.

Xu Siyu, who was in a good mood, couldn't help but joked: "It seems that someone can't wait to hand over everything."

In the past few years, Wenzhu and Mozhu have been following him everywhere, and they have gradually developed feelings for each other. However, Mozhu is three years younger than Wenzhu, and the two of them serve him together. If someone says something about it, they will never be able to clear themselves even if they jump into the Yellow River, so they have never dared to speak out. They are just waiting for him to get married, so that they can decide to marry off the maids and servants around him, and then they can openly bring up this matter.

"Second Young Master!" Wen Zhu hurried forward to salute, her face already flushed.

Xu Siyu smiled and said, "Don't worry. When the Second Young Madam comes in, I'll ask her to help you and Mo Zhu make the decision."

Although it was not right, Wenzhu couldn't help but smile happily.

* * * * * *

While Xu Siyu and Wenzhu were talking, Hongwen was standing in the hall of the main house in the small courtyard next to Dianchun Hall.

The ladies who came to congratulate had been listening to an opera in Dianchun Hall in the afternoon. Now that the opera was over, they all went to the Flower Hall to sit down. Eleventh Lady, however, was here discussing the wedding tomorrow with the mothers of the managers.

"…the money and grain basin, the red felt for the bride to use when she gets off the sedan chair, the red dates and peanuts to spread on the bed, etc. are all ready."

Eleventh Lady responded with a “hmm”.

The mother in charge said, "The heaven and earth table, gods, incense and candles for decorating the wedding room are all ready!"

"Have you counted the gods clearly?" Eleventh Lady said, "Don't miss one."

"I've counted them," the housekeeper replied. "A hundred copies. Not one less."

After that, the housekeeper said, "The menu for the double-chao Hehong dinner has also been drafted. Would you like to take a look, Madam?"

"We'll talk about this tomorrow!" Eleventh Lady said, "Today we'll only talk about tomorrow's affairs, and tomorrow we'll only talk about the day after tomorrow's affairs."

The mother in charge said "yes" respectfully, and another mother's voice sounded: "The ceremony table and the red satin wedding curtains in the auditorium are all ready!"

The voices of reporting and giving instructions came one after another, without a moment of silence.

It would be better to wait until the Fourth Madam has some free time and then tell her about those servants!

Hong Wen thought about it, quietly left the hall, and went to the bridal chamber.

Jing'er and Chen'er were setting off fireworks in the yard, clapping their hands, and were so happy.

She stood behind Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian with a smile, and saw Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie walking in.

"Where did you two go?" Xu Sijian asked with a smile, "You came in with the dowry, and I couldn't see you in the blink of an eye."

Xu Sizhun smiled and said, "I went to look for my fifth brother. I had said that I would call him to watch the fun when my second sister-in-law's dowry arrived, but I couldn't find him anywhere. It turned out that he went to Dianchun Hall to listen to the opera. I searched for a long time before I found him."

Xu Sijie was a little embarrassed: "I originally promised Fourth Brother, but I forgot it while listening!"

Xu Sijian laughed and said, "You deserve it! Now you can't watch the fun anymore!"

The bride's dowry is brought into the house and displayed in the courtyard of the bridal chamber for the groom's aunts and uncles to see. When the auspicious time comes, the bride's bed-maker will help move it into the bridal chamber and display it. The door of the bridal chamber will be locked and will not be opened until the next morning when the blessed person invited by the groom makes the bed.

"It will be the same tomorrow." Xu Sizhun comforted Xu Sijie and asked Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian, "Have you eaten yet?"

"I have eaten," Xu Siqin said with a smile, "I ate at my second brother's place."

Everyone watched Jing'er set off the fireworks and chatted for a while, then as it was getting late, they all dispersed.

Shiyi Niang hadn't come back yet, so Hong Wen coaxed Jing'er to go to bed. At the beginning of the day, Shiyi Niang came back. She had just kissed Jing'er twice when Xu Lingyi came over.

He smelled faintly of alcohol.

"This little guy is really unexpected." Xu Lingyi sat on the bed and tucked in his son's quilt.

"What happened?" Eleventh Lady sat on the armchair beside the kang.

Seeing that the two seemed to be having a heart-to-heart talk, Hong Wen had no choice but to retreat.

Xu Lingyi told Shiyi Niang what happened in the afternoon: "... Not only is he bold and careful, but he is also persistent in doing things. This is the most valuable thing!"

Eleventh Lady laughed: "It would be great if I had this spirit when I was studying!"

"Don't worry!" Xu Lingyi was very confident. "Doing things is like being a good person. Brother Jin will definitely be able to study well by then."

The two of them sat by Jing'er's bed and talked for a long time. They were both a little tired, so they went back to the inner room to rest.

I got up again at dawn the next day.

Eleventh Lady accompanied the blessed people invited by the Xu family to the bridal chamber and symbolically tidied the bedding and table. Then she lit the longevity lamps. When the female relatives who came to pay their respects arrived, she hurried to the small hall.

She was busy like a top. Finally, she had a chance to sit down and rest when the Imperial Astronomical Observatory had calculated the auspicious time for the sedan chair to be sent out. Qiuyu hurried over and said, "Fourth Madam, something bad has happened. I don't know why, but the Madam asked Madam Du to send the Fifth Young Master back to the main courtyard. She also asked us to watch him carefully and not let him run around."

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