Seeing that Li Xiangping and Li Xiang'an seemed to be fleeing in panic, Yan Qingqing and the other two were all beaming with joy.
Regardless of their thoughts, Yan Qingqing believed that for a family to develop in the long term, its family rules must be correct and have unexpected and shocking aspects.
Even though those rules may seem inhumane, they are actually quite profound upon closer examination.
Yan Qingqing has already made her decision regarding the family rules, and there is no room for negotiation.
Later, Li Sanniu and Xu heard about this and rushed over excitedly to see it. They said that since they were family, they should also abide by the rules.
Yan Qingqing looked at the two of them helplessly and said, "Third brother, sister-in-law, we have already separated our family, so you don't have to abide by the rules."
Actually, I mainly set these rules for my children.
No rule can be applicable forever; if there are any inappropriate aspects, future leaders can adjust them accordingly.
Upon hearing this, Li Sanniu said, "Second sister-in-law, although we have separated our families, I am still a member of the Li family."
I don't have any great abilities, but I know that the rules set by my second sister-in-law will definitely allow the Li family to go further.
Therefore, I am willing to abide by any rules, no matter what they are.
I can't control the eldest son's side, but we, the third son's family, are willing to stand with our second sister-in-law.
Seeing that Li Sanniu spoke frankly, Yan Qingqing asked Ruyi to fetch the family rules.
In order to manage the workshop, Li Sanniu has actually put in a lot of effort behind the scenes over the past two years.
Li Sanniu used to be completely illiterate, but now he can not only read, but also do accounting without much trouble.
Even Li Xiang'an was impressed by Li Sanniu's sharp mind.
Li Sanniu took it and examined it carefully, then his lips twitched involuntarily.
His second sister-in-law's family rules are indeed quite unique.
Seeing this, Yan Qingqing said, "If even Third Brother himself can't accept it, it's better not to force him."
Since these are family rules, they must be followed generation after generation, and as elders, we must set a good example for them.
Upon hearing this, Li Sanniu quickly replied, "Second Sister-in-law, it's not that I think the family rules are bad, it's just that I feel sorry for not having a daughter."
Upon hearing this, Madam Xu twisted Li Sanniu's ear and said, "You good-for-nothing Li Sanniu, are you lamenting that you don't have a daughter, or do you feel it's a pity that you can't take a concubine?"
Unfortunately, the family rules clearly state that a man can only take a concubine if he is forty years old and has no son.
Although my womb is not very fertile, at least I gave you a son, and you can't count on that for the rest of your life.
If you dare to keep a mistress, that's even worse; you'll be kicked out of the house.
Li Sanniu covered his ears as he explained, "Heaven and earth bear witness, I didn't mean that. I just think my second sister-in-law's family has good rules."
If we had a daughter, we could definitely support her.
I won't let her suffer even the slightest grievance in her in-laws' home.
Xu was good in every other way, except that the topic of children should not be mentioned.
Having only one child, Li Xiangbao, was a hurdle that Xu Shi could never overcome. There was nothing she could do; the ancients believed that having many children was a blessing.
Looking at Xu Shi's appearance, Yan Qingqing thought to herself that it was fortunate that Xu Shi still had Li Xiangbao, and that the child was also promising. If Xu Shi really had no children, she would probably be even more paranoid.
Fearing that the two would argue again over this matter, Yan Qingqing quickly comforted them, saying, "Alright, sister-in-law, that's not what my third brother meant."
With such an outstanding son as Xiang Bao, what are you afraid of?
After hearing this, Xu calmed down and realized that she had overreacted. She said somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, sister-in-law. I just have this problem; I can't stand it when people say I don't have many children."
Yan Qingqing coughed and said, "To be honest, sister-in-law, please don't be angry. Actually, if you want many children and grandchildren, this family rule may not be very applicable."
After all, you only have Xiang Bao as your child.
If his younger brother and sister-in-law don't have a grandson soon, they'll probably get anxious and won't wait until Xiang Bao is forty to take a concubine.
Yan Qingqing understood very well that although she could restrain her sons from taking concubines, she could not restrain everyone else.
Having multiple wives and concubines was very normal in this era.
However, Xu's words made Yan Qingqing look at her in a new light.
Madam Xu began by saying, "The reason why family rules are family rules is that they must have some strict aspects."
Although I hope to have many children and grandchildren, I am not an unreasonable person.
This rule against taking concubines also has many advantages.
Don't laugh at me, my sister-in-law, but San Niu and I aren't very capable, and most girls wouldn't even look at us.
I was thinking of marrying him off to a girl from a slightly higher social class, which would be a great benefit to my grandson in the future.
But girls from higher social classes would never look at someone from a peasant family like ours.
However, with this regulation, things might not be so simple.
Moreover, judging others by one's own standards, if a woman like herself would not want her husband to take a concubine, how could her daughter-in-law possibly agree?
We're all women, why make things difficult for women?
Furthermore, although I have never spent time with concubines, I know that they are all seductive women.
If this man is bewitched by them, and after they have a child, the house becomes a mess, and there's unrest at home, how can this man concentrate on his work outside?
Seeing that Xu had thought things through so thoroughly, Yan Qingqing did not try to dissuade her further. Of course, these family rules also laid the foundation for the Li family's continued growth in later generations.
Before they knew it, it was August, and Yan Qingqing guessed that Li Xiangkang had already entered the examination hall.
Yan Qingqing, who never believed in gods or Buddhas, surprisingly started burning incense.
After helping Yan Qingqing up, Ruyi smiled and said, "With such a devout Madam, the Fourth Young Master will surely pass the exam."
Yan Qingqing felt a little ashamed when she heard this. She was clearly just trying to cram at the last minute, and she didn't know if Buddha could feel her sincerity.
Meanwhile, in the palace, the emperor looked at Li Xiangping's memorial and his lips twitched.
The calligraphy is truly indescribable. In all his years as emperor, no one has ever dared to present such calligraphy to his desk.
He struggled greatly to barely understand what was written on the document.
However, the emperor was quite pleased with the contents. This kind of land indeed had many intricacies; he had never imagined that fertilizer could be made from it.
Their Great Yan Dynasty truly produces a wealth of talented individuals.
The emperor felt a sense of familiarity with the name Li Xiangping, but he couldn't remember who Li Xiangping was.
He then asked Eunuch Xiang, who was standing beside him, "Who is this Li Xiangping? Why does this name sound so familiar?"
Eunuch Xiang laughed from the side, "Your Majesty has a good memory. This is the eldest son of Mingzhao Shuo Ren. His position as agricultural official was personally appointed by Your Majesty."
The emperor then remembered that when he conferred titles upon Yan Qingqing, he had given her eldest son the title of agricultural official because she was a widow and he was considerate of her raising several children. He had not expected that the son would be so capable.
The emperor glanced at the date on the report, frowned, and asked, "Why did it take so long to report such a major event? This is Ling Ziyuan's urgent report from eight hundred li away."
Logically, this report should have been submitted long ago.
When Eunuch Xiang heard this, he stammered and didn't know how to answer.
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