Lady Yuan, whom Sun Quan favored, was also unwell.
Those with sharp eyes throughout Jiangdong suddenly sensed an opportunity.
They believed that with the Battle of Red Cliffs over and Cao Cao and Sun Quan having already fought the Battle of Hefei, the overall situation was settled, and both sides needed to recuperate. What remained were just minor skirmishes.
Sun Quan, a young and promising ruler of Jiangdong, was only twenty-six years old. How could he not have a peerless beauty by his side!
Many prominent families in Jiangdong understood that they wanted to cultivate a good relationship with Sun Quan, so they all thought of sending their daughters or sisters to Sun Quan's side.
First and foremost, the Wang family of Langya sent their most beautiful daughter, Wang Dan.
Bu Zhi, a civil official from Jiangdong, had a cousin named Bu Tong who was already famous for her beauty.
These are people with names and family backgrounds.
There were also some families who, in terms of family background, couldn't reach Sun Quan's level, but still wanted to curry favor with him.
What to do? We had no choice but to think of another way to get in through the back door.
They planned to send the beautiful young woman to Fubihai or Yunguangfu, hoping to find a shortcut through Da Qiao or Sun Yi's widow, Xu Shi.
This chaotic and disorderly situation.
Qiao Jingjing completely ignored it.
No matter how much those people try to climb the social ladder, she can stay home and take care of her children.
Furthermore, since Xu Jiao had been sent back to her hometown of Wu County by Sun Quan, and Yuan Shiyi's health had not yet recovered, Sun Quan simply asked his sister-in-law Qiao Jingjing to take care of Sun Deng for a period of time.
For the sake of the child, Qiao Jingjing readily agreed.
Sun Deng came to visit his aunt Qiao Jingjing at Fu Bihai.
Qiao Jingjing is not as petty as Xu Jiao was back then.
Qiao Jingjing treated Sun Deng just as well, taking care of him in the same way. She ate, lived, sat, and taught him the same things. She was principled in important matters and tolerant in minor ones, which is why Sun Deng loved floating on the blue sea.
Like a fish in water.
The third son, surnamed Xu, had a son named Asong.
Since hearing that his cousin Sun Deng had also moved into Madam Da Qiao's luxurious mansion, Fu Bi Hai, Ah Song...
And I've also heard that there's plenty of good food, drinks and fun activities every day.
Lady Qiao actually allowed Ashao and Aden to climb trees, raise birds, walk dogs, catch fish and shrimp, and of course, read books, practice calligraphy, and practice martial arts and swordsmanship.
It is said that two warriors, Lü Meng and Ling Tong, personally taught him archery and horseback riding.
Ah Song was incredibly envious.
Ah Song forced his mother, Xu, to agree to let him come to Fubihai to live and study with his two older brothers.
“Mother, just send me there! How do you know Madam Qiao won’t accept me if you don’t even try? It’s just raising another child. Anyway, Madam Qiao already has one, two, three, and four children, two boys and two girls. One more won’t make a difference! Just send me there! I’m so bored in Yun Guang Manor every day. I’m not interested in studying or doing anything.”
Ah Song's mind was filled with the joyful image of floating on the blue sea, imagining his two cousins going into the water to catch fish and make mud, laughing heartily.
Then he thought of Lady Da Qiao's culinary skills.
No, Ah Song was determined to fight for a chance for himself.
So one day, Xu had no choice but to swallow her pride and send her son, Asong, to the entrance of Fubihai.
Ms. Xu was too embarrassed to ask her sister-in-law to help raise her child.
Sun Quan's reason was perfectly valid: there were no women in his household who could take care of the children.
But what reason did Xu give?
Xu's reasoning only shows that she, as a mother, couldn't keep her son's heart; his heart had flown to the neighbor's house.
But Qiao Jingjing happily welcomed Asong and let him stay, where he played and studied with his two cousins.
Qiao Jingjing then invited Xu to stay for tea and conversation:
“Our Beigu Mountain is so big, it looks lively to others, but only you and I know the truth. You only have yourself at home, and I only have myself at home, and then there are the children. When Axiang was here, it was more lively with everyone running around, but now Axiang is gone, and Mother's health is also sluggish. Not to mention the children feel bored, I feel bored too.”
And another thing! Look at the way those three brothers are together, doesn't it remind you of the eldest brother back in the day, with the second and third brothers?
That scene really did look like it.
Sun Ce's son, Sun Shao; Sun Quan's son, Sun Deng; and Sun Yi's son, Sun Song.
The three boys played together, bickering and laughing, having a great time.
At that moment, Xu wiped her eyes.
Xu was the most resolute and strong-willed.
Back then, Sun Yi was murdered by Bian Hong and the fake Lan, and was hacked to pieces. After committing the crime, Bian Hong and the others, fearing they couldn't cover it up, hid in the mountains. It was Xu Shi who, with her entourage and maids, pursued the murderers for thousands of miles, dragged out Bian Hong and the fake Lan, and beheaded them.
But she really was just a woman.
Xu Shi would rather not be called a heroine; she only wanted to spend a few more years with her husband.
Her husband, Sun Yiying, died young.
Like his elder brother Sun Ce, he was a tragic figure.
Xu Shi stood around her sister-in-law Qiao Jingjing, helping her organize the manuscripts on the desk.
So warm and natural:
"My sister-in-law said she wasn't afraid of trouble, which made Ah Song the happiest. I'm finally able to relax!"
Xu Shi was still happily raising her children together with her sister-in-law Qiao Jingjing, enjoying a wealthy and leisurely life, thanks to the growing affection between them.
Because the burden of the entire Jiangdong region, and the entire Sun family, rests on the shoulders of the second son, Sun Quan.
Because Sun Quan was a man.
Who could blame them when Sun Quan was the only upright and able-bodied man in the family?
The next generation of Ashao, Aden, and Asong are growing up.
With elderly parents to care for and young children to raise, along with his sister-in-law and younger brother's wife—two frail widows unable to care for themselves—Sun Quan had no choice but to exert himself and work overtime to earn a living for his entire family.
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