Chapter 372 Casual Chat
After talking about Xie Wanniang and the people Jiang Yuan cared about in Mingfu Village, Hao Yu continued to talk about Atai and Xiaomei, "Atai and Xiaomei are doing well too. They had children one after the other, but one was a son and the other was a daughter."
Xie Wanniang asked, "Did Xiaomei give birth to a daughter?"
Ms. Chen nodded, "Fortunately, her husband and mother-in-law didn't have any objections. A relative made a few sarcastic remarks at the baby's one-month celebration, but her husband immediately shut them down."
Xie Wanniang breathed a sigh of relief, "It's good that she wasn't wronged."
Jiang Yuan was transferred to Dinghaiwei, but Atai was not transferred with him, so he is still guarding the border in Baoding Prefecture.
Xiaomei's husband was the same, so the brother and sister kept moving around in various garrisons in Baoding Prefecture.
Chen told Xie Wanniang and the others, "I heard that Atai and his brother-in-law will be promoted one after the other after the New Year."
Now that the Great Wei possesses firearms, the Tatars dare not launch a large-scale invasion. However, they are unwilling to give up this lucrative territory within the Great Wei's borders. Therefore, from time to time, small groups of them will come to burn, kill, and plunder, focusing on quick action and taking what they can and leaving.
Therefore, the main task of the border troops has now changed from guarding the city to patrolling, patrolling those places where small groups of Tatar troops can pass.
Once they spot the Tatars sneaking in to plunder, they pounce on them like hungry wolves spotting their prey, annihilating the enemy.
Atai and his brother-in-law gradually accumulated the qualifications for promotion by constantly hunting down enemies during their patrols.
By the time Chen finished telling Hao Yu about the siblings, it was already completely dark outside.
Considering that everyone had been traveling, Xie Wanniang and Jiang Yuan didn't continue chatting with them, but instead decided to take everyone back to the East Courtyard.
Hao Yu and the others were indeed tired, and they all got up to go back to their rooms to rest. Wang Xiaozhi, however, lagged behind and grabbed Xie Wanniang's hand.
As she walked out with the others, she whispered to Xie Wanniang, "Sixth Sister, there's something I need to tell you, it's about Xiao Yang."
Xie Wanniang nodded: "Sister, please speak, I'm listening."
As Wang Xiaozhi recalled, "A few days before we set off for Beijing, Xiaoyang's parents came to my house, crying with snot and tears streaming down their faces. They said they knew they were wrong and would never treat Xiaoyang like that again. They also said that they had no choice back then, and it was all because they were poor."
Xie Wanniang: ...Has she come up with another new trick?
As expected, Wang Xiaozhi then added, "They also said that they have missed Xiaoyang a lot since they haven't seen him for so many years, and they want to come with us to Beijing to see how Xiaoyang is doing."
Xie Wanniang twitched the corners of her mouth. What did she say? Sure enough, she had come up with another new trick to take advantage of others.
"Good heavens, this infuriated me! I don't know how there can be such shameless people in this world!" Wang Xiaozhi's tone was full of disdain. "I didn't refuse directly, but instead calculated with them the cost of the journey to the capital, the cost of lodging, the cost of food, and the cost of hiring bodyguards. The couple was dumbfounded. They never expected that I would ask them for money."
Xie Wanniang gave her a thumbs up, "Sister, you're really amazing."
Strike at the snake's vital spot; this move struck right at the couple's lifeline.
Wang Xiaozhi's lips curled up slightly, "Xiaoyang's mother is still not giving up. She asked me, 'When you go to the capital, will you have to pay for your own expenses?' Listen to what she said."
“I understood immediately. She wanted you and A-Yuan to cover all their expenses! I told her, ‘What else? We’ve already eaten at my brother’s house and stayed there, isn’t that enough? Do you expect my brother to pay for the travel expenses too? I don’t have that kind of nerve.’”
Wang Xiaozhi was a woman of principle. Even though her family was just a small landlord and their wealth was nowhere near that of Xie Wanniang and Jiang Yuan, she never thought of taking advantage of her younger brother's family in everything.
Just like she told Chen Zhao, she felt that Xie Wanniang and Jiang Yuan were doing them a favor by helping them, and it was their right not to help them. She could be grateful to them if they benefited, but she would not resent them if they did not.
She certainly wouldn't bring that couple to cause trouble for Xie Wanniang and Jiang Yuan just because the trip to the capital wouldn't cost her anything.
They were just the parents of a girl from the same village whom Xie Wanniang had kindly helped. What right did they have to take advantage of Xie Wanniang and Jiang Yuan so brazenly?
If she really brought them here, how confused must she be?
She sighed and said, "After I made a round of veiled insults at them, they left reluctantly. But who knew that they would come to me again just two days later, asking me to deliver a letter to Xiaoyang."
Wang Xiaozhi said helplessly, "I couldn't refuse such a small thing, so I agreed. As a result, they just stayed at my house and wouldn't leave, saying that no one in the family could read and write, and asked Chen Zhao to help them write. What kind of thing are they doing? They want us to deliver messages, and they want to take advantage of our little bit of writing materials, and they didn't even say a polite word, as if we are obligated to serve them."
In those days, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were all precious items. When villagers asked scholars to write for them, they would always give them something as a token of their gratitude, such as a few eggs or some rice or flour. In short, it was all out of goodwill.
But they were different; they didn't even offer a polite word, let alone give us anything.
Wang Xiaozhi became increasingly angry as she spoke, "I reckon they still resent me for not agreeing to bring them to Beijing with them."
Xie Wanniang patted her, "They're just a pair of fools blinded by greed. Sister, there's no need to be angry with them."
After receiving the letter from Wang Xiaozhi, Xie Wanniang said, "I will pass the letter on to Xiaoyang. She knows what to do."
Wang Xiaozhi nodded, "Alright, then I won't worry about this."
After seeing Wang Xiaozhi and her group off, Xie Wanniang took the letter to Xiaoyang's room. "This is a letter your parents asked Sister Wang to bring to you."
Xiao Yang took the letter, her expression remaining calm. She had already guessed what was going on when she saw Wang Xiaozhi looking hesitant, and now that her guess was confirmed, Xiao Yang wasn't angry; she just found it amusing.
She opened the letter and quickly read it through. Since it was written by Chen Zhao, her parents didn't say anything harsh. It was just a message about missing their daughter, how hard they were working, and how they hoped she could help out.
Setting the letter aside, Xiao Yang looked up and whispered to Xie Wanniang, "I'll send something back with me and write another letter, but that's all I have."
Xie Wanniang looked at her and nodded gently.
When they first arrived in Dinghai County, she had already freed Xiaoyang from slavery.
Not only Xiao Yang, but also Haitang, before her marriage, she changed Haitang's social status to that of a good person.
For them, a good household registration might only represent dignity and freedom, but for their children, it means more possibilities for their future.
They could choose to study for the imperial examinations or pursue other livelihoods they desired, instead of being born destined to be slaves or servants.
She truly puts herself in the shoes of those around her. Under her influence, Xiao Yang is no longer the weak, pitiful, and helpless little girl who could only let others decide her life and death.
She was diligent and hardworking, and learned a lot of skills. She also had her own ideas. If the world were not so unfriendly to single women, especially young and beautiful single women, she wouldn't even need to continue relying on Xie Wanniang.
Therefore, Xie Wanniang was not worried at all that her biological parents would be blinded by a few kind words.
She patted Xiaoyang on the shoulder and said, "Do whatever you want. No one can criticize you for this."
One should not forget one's roots, but one should not be manipulated by others using kinship and filial piety. As long as one has done one's duty, one can have a clear conscience.
Xiao Yang nodded, put the letter away, and felt a sense of clarity and determination in his heart.
She knew that her current good life was hard-won, that Xie Wanniang had been good to her, and that her parents' so-called regret and longing were just empty words. They were only putting on this attitude because they had ulterior motives.
If she were still the same as before, unable to bring them any benefits or allow them to take advantage of her, they wouldn't be acting this way now.
After seeing Xie Wanniang off, Xiao Yang washed up and climbed into bed, closing his eyes.
She thought she had to pack all the things she was going to give to her older brothers and sisters separately, so that her two older sisters wouldn't get anything after the things were returned.
Compared to her parents, brother, and sister-in-law, her two older sisters truly had a very difficult life.
Poverty is only one aspect; another is that they have to deal with a lot of difficulties and troubles from their in-laws' elders and relatives.
Like Xie Wanniang, Xiao Yang only wanted to take care of those who were genuinely good to her, such as her second brother and her two older sisters.
While pondering these things, Xiao Yang drifted off to sleep.
Nothing happened that night. The next day, Jiang Yuan continued to go to work and attend court as usual, while Xie Wanniang started to entertain guests.
Xie Wanniang took everyone to visit all the famous tourist attractions, delicious restaurants and taverns, and renowned acrobatics and opera troupes in the capital.
Of course, she also kept track of the children's learning progress. Chen Baoshu was sent to the Xie family on the third day after arriving in the capital. She personally supervised Chen Baotang's progress in memorizing medical books. As for the other children, she could arrange corresponding teachers for them, no matter what they were learning.
An'an and Linlin have been especially happy lately because many children of similar age have come to their home. Not only do they have companions when studying, but they can also get together with their friends and play some large games that they couldn't play when there were fewer people.
These two kids have had it tough. With Jiang Yuan's repeated transfers, they've been forced to separate from their friends twice already.
Fortunately, Xie Wanniang had taught them to be very adaptable. No matter where they went or what kind of children they met, they could quickly become friends with them.
However, this time when they moved to the capital, the situation was somewhat different from before. Because the environment in the capital was somewhat special, Xie Wanniang did not let her two children play and make friends with other children as she did in Baoding Prefecture and Dinghai County.
After arriving in the capital, she only attended two banquets outside the capital: once at the residence of the Duke of Du and the other at the residence of the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.
The matriarchs of both families are old acquaintances of hers. It's fine for her to visit once, but if she goes too often, some people might start to have more ideas.
Xie Wanniang didn't want to provoke anyone's sensitive nerves during a tense situation, so she simply stayed home as much as possible.
As for those who invited her to banquets with various ulterior motives, or sent her invitations to visit her, she refused them all without exception.
What made her feel fortunate was that the Crown Princess, like the Crown Prince, was very composed; otherwise, Xie Wanniang would have been in a real predicament.
After all, even if Jiang Yuanming was clearly one of the emperor's reliance for the crown prince, the emperor would certainly not like the couple being too attentive and proactive in front of the crown prince.
The concept of "ruler and father" has always been paramount. Even for emperors, who are rarely seen as having familial affection, they are first and foremost emperors, and only then fathers.
Before he officially relinquishes his power and authority, those of them, as his subjects and sons, still need to be mindful of their conduct.
After all, throughout history, there have been unfortunate princes who, due to their arrogance, lost everything just when they were about to succeed.
Fortunately, their crown prince did not become arrogant or careless because he was about to ascend the throne. On the contrary, he became more cautious, humble and tolerant.
Working for such a person is undoubtedly worry-free, not to mention that he has a powerful backer—his father, the emperor, who is eager to give him the throne.
Those in power were shrewd, and those below were also mostly intelligent. Other princes who coveted the throne couldn't find any other way to eliminate the crown prince, their biggest obstacle, so they went all out to poison, assassinate, and create "accidents."
Although their dancing had annoyed the emperor, this level of annoyance was clearly not enough to make him want to kill them.
This is why the emperor only provided more support to the crown prince, rather than directly keeping an eye on his other sons.
Xie Wanniang pondered that the emperor probably felt it was normal for the princes to be ambitious, after all, they were only one step away from that position, and as their father, he had deprived them of the opportunity to compete from the very beginning, which was already very unfair to them. Under such circumstances, he really couldn't be too harsh on them.
As for whether his leniency towards his own son was based on his cruelty towards other people's sons, the emperor most likely wouldn't have been aware of that.
Although he was a good emperor, he was not entirely without limitations in his thinking.
As someone born and raised in a feudal dynasty, and who also personally established another feudal dynasty, he would naturally agree with the view that "all actions, whether thunder or rain, are the emperor's grace."
He didn't find it strange that guards and servants died protecting his son (the crown prince) during the struggle for the throne. In any case, his son had certainly provided them with ample monthly stipends and rewards during their lifetimes, as well as posthumous pensions and funeral expenses. Even if those people died, it could be said that they died a worthy death.
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