Zhang Zhaoci always felt that Xu Zhi was no ordinary girl. That's why, over the years, Zhang Zhaoci, Xu Rao, and Xu Di never demanded that Xu Zhi develop into a certain kind of person. Instead, they let Xu Zhi see for herself, think for herself, and decide for herself what she wanted to do in the future. If Xu Zhi, like girls of this era, decided to depend on a man and live a peaceful life in the backyard, Zhang Zhaoci would also approve. After all, that's how women of this era have all lived.
However, Xu Zhi clearly did not want to live her life like this. She wanted to do something different from others, but she couldn't say exactly what she wanted to do.
At this time, people are actually under a lot of pressure. They don't want to follow the path that others have already paved, but they don't know where they want to go. Some people have all sorts of ideas, but in the end, they can only give up and succumb to the reality that they can't stand.
Zhang Zhaoci was pleased that Xu Zhi had such thoughts, but also felt a little sorry for her. Following the same path as others would be a very comfortable and smooth one, but if she wanted to find a path that no one had ever taken before, that path would inevitably be anything but smooth, and would even be full of thorns, making it difficult to move forward.
The most beautiful scenery is found on the most dangerous peaks. The road is difficult to travel, and the scenery you see in the end is something you can't see on a smooth road.
Zhang Zhaoci said, "So, do you have any ideas?"
Xu Zhi said, "Mother, what do you think? Should I learn how to do business with my uncles?"
Zhang Zhaoci asked in surprise, "How could you have such a thought?"
Xu Zhi said, "The things I want to do require a lot of money, and since it's something I want to do, I can't use the money from my family, nor can I use the money you, Dad, and my brother gave me. This is something I want to do myself, so it's most appropriate to use the money I earned myself."
Zhang Zhaoci asked, puzzled, "So what do you want to do?"
Thinking of her tragic past life, Xu Zhi said, "Mother, I want to establish an orphanage to take in children who have lost their loved ones and have nowhere to go. I want to teach them literature and martial arts, and teach them a skill so that they can have a means of making a living in this world and not be sold into slavery or bullied by their relatives because they have no relatives."
Zhang Zhaoci said, "Why did you suddenly have such a thought?"
Xu Zhi said, "Mother, I've been thinking about this for a long time. I want to do this. I don't know how far I can go, but since I've decided to do it, I'm going to do it well."
Zhang Zhaoci said, "Since it's your idea, we naturally support you."
Xu Zhi hugged Zhang Zhaoci's arm and said with a smile, "I knew Mother was the most understanding person."
Zhang Zhaoci said, “It’s not that I’m being reasonable. I just feel that although you are my and your father’s children, you should have your own lives. It’s good to have ideas, but the difficult thing is to put those ideas into practice and put in your own efforts for your ideas. Children, there is no easy way to do things well. Since it is something you want to do, don’t give up just because it’s difficult.”
Xu Zhi nodded and said firmly, "Mother, don't worry. Now that I've made up my mind, I will definitely do this well."
Zhang Zhaoci gently stroked Xu Zhi's soft hair and said, "Good child, your mother has high hopes for you. You will definitely be able to do what you want to do well."
Xu Zhi will be getting married next February. This will be the last Spring Festival that Xu Zhi will spend at home. Zhang Zhaoci feels reluctant to part with her whenever she thinks about this. After the Lunar New Year, she starts to supervise the servants to make the New Year's goods that Xu Zhi likes to eat, and also to make several sets of clothes for Xu Zhi. The family members are dressed up in a big way under Zhang Zhaoci's orders. The original reluctance that Xu Di and Xu Bai cannot spend the New Year with her has been greatly reduced by this sadness.
Xu Rao couldn't stand it anymore and said to Zhang Zhaoci, "What are you doing? Won't Xiao Jiu be upset if she sees this?"
Zhang Zhaoci said, "But I just can't bear to part with her. Our child will only be thirteen years old next year, and she will be married off to another family. She will have to spend the New Year with them from now on. We have raised our daughter with so much care and hardship, and now she is getting married. The thought of our daughter not being able to spend the New Year at home in the future breaks my heart."
Zhang Zhaoci's eyes reddened again, and Xu Rao quickly handed her a handkerchief, saying, "You're the same. The more you act like this, the more upset the child will be. Just listen to me and do what you need to do."
Xu Zhi naturally saw what her mother had done for her, and her heart was filled with even more reluctance. In the few days before the New Year, she made a chair for Xu Rao, embroidered a headband for Zhang Zhaoci, and made two pairs of socks for Granny Lu. Because she wanted to finish them before the Spring Festival, she secretly stayed up late at night until her eyes were bloodshot. Finally, she finished everything on New Year's Eve.
Because he was far from his hometown, Xu Rao didn't have to perform ancestral rites on New Year's Eve. He went to the government office early on New Year's Eve. Everyone in the government office was on duty before and after the Spring Festival. Xu Rao had to guard the government office every day, for fear that something might happen. Although the imperial court didn't have any requirements for this, Xu Rao still held himself to high standards and strict requirements. He repeatedly emphasized that he should not compare himself with people in other prefectures. He had to make sure that the New Year passed peacefully. Even if something unexpected happened, he had to get to the scene as soon as possible, handle the situation according to the emergency drills he had done, and report to the government office.
Zhang Zhaoci gave everyone in the manor an extra month's wages. Those who lived nearby were sent home to reunite with their families. Those whose entire families had sold themselves into the manor, like the dozen or so Bai, naturally spent the Spring Festival with the Xu family. Zhang Zhaoci prepared red envelopes for them, and after lunch on New Year's Eve, they began preparing a reunion dinner and dumplings to be made at dawn.
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