However, when Hong Gu saw Zheng Boyuan's arrangements, she thought that Xu Zhi had already reached the age of coming of age last year. However, Zheng Boyuan was injured at the time, and Xu Zhi was not in the mood. Her family also took Xu Zhi's feelings into consideration and did not hold a coming-of-age ceremony.
Hong Gu pulled Xu Zhi to the backyard and whispered, "Miss, why is the young master staying in the study in the front yard? Isn't this inappropriate?"
Xu Zhi smiled and said, "Hong Gu, haven't we always been like this? I was thinking that after a while, when we spend more time together and our feelings for each other deepen, wouldn't it be better to live together?"
“But if this gets out, you’ll have a hard time making a living here, young lady,” Hong Gu said with a worried expression.
“We’re all family here behind closed doors, how could outsiders know? Besides, my study and Brother Boyuan’s study are in the front and back yards, if anything happens, we can just shout and they’ll hear us soon enough.”
Hong Gu had a hard time explaining herself. She wanted to persuade Xu Zhi to live with Zheng Boyuan. Xu Zhi and Zheng Boyuan had come from the capital and were strangers in Miaozhou City, making them the focus of many people's attention. If people found out that the young couple had been living separately in different courtyards, who knew what they would say?
Xu Zhi held Hong Gu's hand and said with a smile, "Good Hong Gu, I know what you mean, but how long have Bo Yuan and I been together? Hong Gu, you've followed me from south to north, so you know us. Although we've been married for many years, we haven't consummated our marriage because I'm still young. I've decided to wait a little longer until Bo Yuan settles down in Miaozhou City before making any plans."
Someone came to invite Xu Zhi, saying that the wife of Zheng Boyuan's colleague, who lived nearby, had heard that the Zheng family had arrived and came to pay her respects. Xu Zhi quickly ran to the front yard.
Hong Gu watched Xu Zhi's cheerful figure and shook her head before following her into the front yard.
When Xu Zhi arrived at the front, she saw the lady standing in the courtyard. The clerk who had brought Zheng Boyuan over earlier was introducing her to Zheng Boyuan. It turned out that she was Madam Ping, the wife of Feng Shaoli, the registrar of Miaozhou.
Ping looked to be in his thirties. Although he was dressed well, it was obvious at a glance that he had done heavy and tiring work in his younger years.
Upon seeing Xu Zhi, Madam Ping smiled and gave Xu Zhi a curtsy. Xu Zhi quickly turned to return the curtsy. Zheng Boyuan smiled and said, "This is Madam Feng's wife. From now on, we can call her sister-in-law."
Upon hearing Zheng Boyuan's words, Madam Ping laughed heartily and said, "Madam Zheng is truly beautiful. In all my thirty-odd years of life, this is the first time I've ever seen such a stunning woman."
Xu Zhi blushed deeply at the straightforward praise, smiling with pursed lips. Ping Shi took Xu Zhi's hand and looked her over carefully, saying, "Our family has been here for many years, and we know this Miaozhou City very well. If you want to buy anything, just come to your sister-in-law, and I'll help you find a shop on the street." Xu Zhi felt the calluses on Ping Shi's hands, indicating that she was not a pampered person and had to do a lot of housework every day.
Xu Zhi sincerely thanked her, and Ping said, "We've met now. You've just moved in, and you still have a lot to do. I'll go home first, and I'll come back to visit you after you've settled in."
After seeing Ping off, Xu Zhi asked Zheng Boyuan, "This sister-in-law of the Feng family seems to be a straightforward person."
Zheng Boyuan nodded and said, "This Lord Feng only passed the imperial examination back then because of his wife's help. Over the years, Lord Feng has taken his wife with him wherever he goes. People say that the couple has a very good relationship."
Xu Zhi nodded upon hearing this and said, "A man as loyal and righteous as Lord Feng is indeed worth befriending."
Before Zheng Boyuan arrived, he had already found out the basic information about his three main colleagues. He knew that Feng Shaoli came from a poor family, his father had died early, his mother was sick, and he had several younger brothers and sisters. Feng Shaoli was intelligent and talented, and his studies were quite difficult.
To support his studies and advancement, Madam Feng, who had just married into the family, took on the heavy responsibility of earning money to support the family on the second day of her marriage. She worked in the fields and chopped firewood in the mountains, and managed to support Feng Shaoli until he passed the imperial examination.
After passing the imperial examination, Feng Shaoli received help from a classmate and became a county magistrate. Feng Shaoli was a man with a good head for business and helped the county magistrate achieve many political successes.
The county magistrate was the son of a noble family. He had originally gone to the lower levels to gain experience and accumulate merits. After being promoted based on those achievements, he promoted Feng Shaoli and helped him get a job in Miaozhou as the chief clerk of the prefectural government.
The position of chief clerk in a prefecture is actually quite important. Unfortunately, Miaozhou is a rather special place. Due to floods, many people are unwilling to come here. Feng Shaoli stayed in Miaozhou for more than ten years.
After Madam Ping entered the family, she did not dare to have children because of poverty and the need to support Feng Shaoli's studies. It was not until Feng Shaoli passed the imperial examination and became a registrar that she carefully took care of her health and had children. Unfortunately, she had three children in a row, all of whom were girls.
Zheng Boyuan thought about what he had heard and felt that it was good that Xu Zhi was here alone and could get along well with Ping Shi.
It is said that Ping was originally engaged to a man who was not a respectable man and had an affair with a widow. Ping caught him in the act and broke off the engagement. After that, finding a new partner became difficult. Ping was the eldest daughter in the family, and fortunately, she was capable. She helped support the family business and turned her father's small peddler's cart into a small shop. It was this small shop that greatly improved the family's life.
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