Back then, Xu Shao also owned an estate in the suburbs of Beijing, but unfortunately, it was sold off early on. That estate was carefully selected by the Wu family, who bought it for Xu Shao to keep in reserve.
Zhao Sixing took the thick stack of silver notes home and went straight to his mother's courtyard.
Xu Shao was looking through her dowry list. There were very few items left on the list, and Xu Shao felt a great sense of regret no matter how she looked at it. If she hadn't pawned these things back then, how much silver they would have been worth! Unfortunately, there's no going back in this world.
Seeing Zhao Sixing enter with a joyful expression, Xu Shao dismissed the servants in the room. Zhao Sixing sat opposite Xu Shao and said happily in a low voice, "Mother, I saw my cousin this afternoon. He gave me a sum of money, more than ten thousand taels."
Seeing Zhao Sixing so happy over ten thousand taels of silver, Xu Shao felt even more regretful. When she married into the family, she had tens of thousands of taels of silver in her private savings.
All that was too painful to recall, Xu Shao could only suppress the bitter regret in her heart and ask him, "What is Xing-ge'er planning to do?"
Zhao Sixing tentatively suggested, "Mother, how about we buy a manor in the suburbs of Beijing? It doesn't have to be very big. Once the manor is bought, we can send two households of servants to manage it. We're tired of living in the manor, so we can go to the manor for a few days to relax."
Upon hearing Zhao Sixing's words, Xu Shao asked him, "Why would you have such a thought, Xing-ge'er? Wouldn't it be better to buy a house in the capital with the money?"
Zhao Sixing said somewhat embarrassedly, "Mother, I will be taking the provincial examination next year. I was thinking that after I get married, I will go to the estate to study. The estate is quiet."
Thinking about how hard it is to study, Xu Shao said to Zhao Sixing, "Xing-ge'er, you are the eldest grandson of the Marquis's family and will inherit this family business in the future. You really don't need to study so hard."
After listening to Xu Shao's words, Zhao Sixing pondered for a while before saying softly, "Mother, our Marquis's Mansion hasn't had any proper positions for many years. Grandfather is now a Marquis, but when Father was a Marquis, I didn't know what life was like in this mansion. Mother, I'm thinking of relying on my own abilities to fight for a title and earn a title for you."
When Xu Shao looked at her eldest son, who had always been weak, and saw the light in his eyes when he talked about earning her an imperial title, her nose tingled and her eyes reddened.
Seeing his mother like this, Zhao Sixing quickly helped her with a handkerchief and said, "Mother, I know that you have had a hard time these past years. I am about to get married. In the future, not only will I take good care of you, but you will also have your daughter-in-law to take care of you. Please put your mind at ease and wait to enjoy your happiness."
Xu Shao dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, sniffed, and took Zhao Sixing's hand, saying, "Xing-ge'er, do you think I was wrong? I could have lived a good life with you, Yan-jie, and Shen-ge'er, but I was blinded and confused, and I've made myself a laughingstock."
Hearing Xu Shao say this, Zhao Sixing felt a little sad. His mother, whom he thought was elegant and dignified, was actually denying him like this.
While it is important to reflect on oneself regularly, it is a very painful thing to deny oneself in this way.
Thinking of her experiences over the years, Xu Shao was overcome with grief, and tears streamed down her face. However, she suppressed them. Zhao Sixing could only hear his mother gritting her teeth, letting out a few very low sobs from her throat, but she suppressed them again. Finally, she bit the handkerchief in her hand, lowered her head, and her body trembled.
Zhao Sixing was at a loss, then felt sad. He raised his head, suppressed the tears in his eyes, and gently patted Xu Shao's back, saying, "Mother, it hurts me to see you like this. What kind of people are my maternal grandfather and uncle? Anyone they value is naturally no ordinary person. I have met the Zhou family's daughter. She is beautiful and generous. I like her very much."
Upon hearing Zhao Sixing's words, Xu Shao suddenly raised her head, but then lowered it again, seemingly remembering something. Her sobs grew louder, making Zhao Sixing feel even more distressed.
Zhao Sixing sighed and said softly, "Mother, please don't say that. I'm all grown up now. How can I let you be left without anyone to rely on as before?"
Xu Shao wiped away her tears, raised her head, and said, "Xing-ge'er, your mother doesn't want you to be ridiculed by the people of the capital because of your marriage. The people in the capital are all opportunistic and will only look down on you if you don't have anything to show them. Putting aside our social standing with the Zhou family, what does Miss Zhou have to offer? She comes from that small place in Liaodong. Has she learned proper manners? Can she handle the social situation of our eldest grandson's wife? Xing-ge'er, your marriage is not so easy."
Seeing that Xu Shao had regained some spirits, Zhao Sixing gently comforted her, "Mother, how could I not understand all this? But even if we married the best young lady in the capital, what good would it do? Mother, my understanding is no match for yours, and my maternal grandfather's and uncle's, especially my uncle. He helped me choose this marriage, and my third uncle acted as matchmaker. With them as guarantors, what do you think I have to fear?"
Seeing her child so thoughtfully comforting her, Xu Shao felt a pang of sadness. Holding Zhao Sixing's hand, she said through teary eyes, "But Xing'er, this is too unfair to you. Mother always thinks that my Xing'er is the best child, and the wife he marries should also be the best."
Hearing his mother's words, Zhao Sixing couldn't help but laugh and said, "Mother, you're making me feel ashamed. I'm not as good as you say. I'm just an ordinary person. I'm worried about next year's provincial examination. I just hope that I can pass the provincial examination and become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination) so that I can bring honor to my mother."
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
