Xu Bai smiled without saying a word. After Zhang Zhaoci understood what was going on, she said, "When your sister-in-law arrives, you can discuss it with her and your sister. Anyway, this is all the stuff Mother has. You can discuss how to divide it up."
Xu Di and Li Yuexi came over. When Xu Bai heard his request, Xu Di glanced at him. Xu Bai felt a little uneasy, but he still couldn't let go of these things. He puffed out his chest and said, "What I said is no problem. Even if I'm not married now, my mother can help me keep it safe. When I get married in the future, I can give it to my wife. We are all my mother and father's children. It's not reasonable for you to have things to share while I don't."
Zhang Zhaoci said, "Okay, okay, you can have what you want."
Looking at the things on the kang table, Li Yuexi said, "Mother, I already have quite a lot of things, so I'd better not take them."
Zhang Zhaoci said, "This is something I prepared especially for you. Why don't you want it? You don't need it now, but you can keep it and give it to your child when you have children."
Li Yuexi nodded and divided the things on the kang table with Xu Zhi and Xu Bai.
After dinner, Zhang Zhaoci and Xu Rao invited the children to sit on the kang (a heated brick bed). Bai Wei served them a pot of herbal tea, which Zhang Zhaoci had prepared himself using Chinese medicinal herbs. Drinking it after dinner would help with digestion.
After taking a sip of the sweet and slightly sour tea, Xu Bai smacked his lips in admiration and said, "Mother, this tea is really delicious."
Zhang Zhaoci said, "Since it tastes good, I'll make more later and give it to your sister-in-law to keep. If you want some, just ask your sister-in-law."
Li Yuexi can be said to have watched Xu Bai grow up. She helped the Xu family take care of the children when Xu Bai was young, so her relationship with Xu Bai cannot be regarded as a typical uncle-in-law and sister-in-law relationship.
Li Yuexi quickly agreed after hearing her mother-in-law's words. Xu Rao said, "In a few days, our family will be separated. Your mother and I will take Xiao Jiu and Granny Lu to Ganzhou, while Xu Di will take Yuexi, Xu Bai, and a few cousins to Tai'an. Children, we are separating this time so that we can each do what we should do."
The children nodded, and Xu Rao said, "We should write more letters and have them delivered by the post station. I estimate that my business in Ganzhou will be completed in another two or three years. Then we'll see where we need to go next. As for Xu Di, the year after next is the year of the imperial examination. We need to make the most of this year or so and strive to pass the exam with flying colors."
Xu Di nodded, and Xu Bai asked, "Father, what about me? Do you have any requests for me?"
Xu Rao smiled and said, "Yes, how could we not? Our little Qi, you must study hard and practice martial arts with your brothers. Whether you become a top scholar or a general in the future, you must become a man who stands tall and upright."
Xu Bai said, "Dad, aren't your expectations of me too low? You only ask me to do this?"
Xu Rao said, "Is this easy to do? Child, never underestimate anyone. There are plenty of people who are more talented than you, and even more who are more hardworking than you. Study hard with your brothers, don't be naughty, study well, and practice your skills. That's what I want for you."
Xu Bai nodded and asked Xu Rao, "Father, am I a person who is easily proud?"
Xu Di sneered and said, "You just realized that now? It's only because you don't have a tail. If you had a tail, wouldn't it be wagging its tail all the time? You need someone to keep you in check so you don't wag your tail so often."
Xu Bai listened to Xu Di's words and sat with his head down, so his expression was not clear. Zhang Zhaoci smiled and hugged Xu Bai into his arms, saying, "Our Xiao Qi is proud because he has the right to be proud. Look, he is good-looking, has a good personality, is good at studying, and is good at martial arts. Among so many young masters in our capital, whose child can compare to our Xiao Qi?"
Xu Bai blushed a little after being praised by Zhang Zhaoci, and said shyly, "Actually, there are still many things I haven't done well enough."
Xu Rao smiled and said, "Since you know you haven't done well enough, then think carefully about where you didn't do well enough. Everyone says no one is perfect, but you still have to do your best in everything you do."
After dinner, Xu Rao led his family to the old lady's courtyard. Ning Shi and Wu Shi were already there. Seeing Xu Rao's family arrive, the old lady smiled and said, "Tomorrow, our Di Ge'er will be returning to his parents' home with his wife. Have you prepared the gifts?"
Ning said with a smile, "Grandmother, it was prepared a long time ago. I added 20% more to the homecoming gifts that my sisters-in-law and I gave back then."
The old lady smiled and nodded, saying, "It should be added. Back then, our household wasn't as well-off as it is now."
Sitting in her seat, Wu remained silent, but in her heart she was thinking that all she had done all day was to save face for this illegitimate son's family. She wanted to avoid it, but this concerned the Xu family, and as their grandmother, if she were to offend them, they would only say that she was being unreasonable. Wu felt a tightness in her chest, unable to breathe properly, and she felt extremely uncomfortable.
How could Ning not understand her mother-in-law's thoughts? Ning always felt that her mother-in-law was living a muddled life. Which family doesn't have illegitimate sons and daughters? There wasn't a family like the Yongning Marquis's mansion in the whole capital. Even though the Marquis had Xu Rao with Concubine Zhu, he had never entered Concubine Zhu's courtyard in all these years. Even Xu Rao, it was said, was raised by the mansion's wet nurse from a young age.
Aunt Zhu only sees him a few times a year. If he were a smart person, he would have already won Xu Rao over to his side. But instead, she argues with the Marquis every day because of Aunt Zhu. No matter how tolerant a man is of a woman, there is a limit. In all these decades, Wu Shi's grandson has gotten married, yet she still throws a tantrum over this. It's truly laughable.
The old lady nodded and said to Xu Di, "Tomorrow morning, after breakfast, take your wife directly to Tianjing Hutong. You don't need to come here specifically to kowtow to me. Your wife has just married into this family, and she's leaving her parents all of a sudden. She's bound to be anxious. We need to take good care of her, understand?"
Xu Di smiled and took the old lady's arm, saying, "Grandmother, thank you for your teachings. I am two years older than her, and I will definitely take good care of her. You can rest assured."
The old lady gently patted Xu Di's hand and said, "Grandma is getting old, and all I think about is you. I hope you can get married and live a good life with your wives, have more children, and then your lives will be prosperous."
Looking at Zhang Zhaoci and Xu Rao, the old lady said, "You two have been back for so long, and I haven't even had enough time to kiss you. You have to leave again. I'm reluctant to part with you, but I know I can't stop you from achieving great things. Take care of yourselves while you're away. You both have daughters-in-law now, and in another three or two years, you'll be holding your grandchildren. Time really flies by."
Xu Rao and Zhang Zhaoci stood up to listen to the old lady speak. The old lady smiled and waved her hand, saying, "Sit down, sit down and talk."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
