The Feng family arrived very early. After Xu Zhi had breakfast, she walked around the courtyard twice. Madam Ping of the Feng family, along with her three children and two maids carrying food boxes, entered the Zheng family's courtyard through the main gate.
After entering through the second gate, Madam Ping looked at the courtyard, which had been tidied up quite cleverly, and said to Xu Zhi, "This courtyard looks really beautiful after Ninth Sister has tidied it up like this."
Miao Jie'er was squatting on the ground looking at an orchid that had just been planted at the base of the courtyard wall when she heard her mother's words. She turned around and said, "Mother, Aunt Zheng's family grows beautiful flowers, while our family grows vegetables. How can we compare?"
Ping blushed slightly. He Jie'er, who was standing to the side, glared at Miao Jie'er. Miao Jie'er stuck out her tongue and made a face at He Jie'er. Xu Zhi quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Oh dear, I also want to grow vegetables, but none of us have the skills to grow vegetables well."
Upon hearing this, Miao Jie'er stood up and walked to Xu Zhi's side, took Xu Zhi's hand, and said, "Aunt Zheng, don't worry, I helped my mother grow all the vegetables in our family. If you want to grow some, I'll help you, okay? My older sister and I went to the backyard early this morning to pick the vegetables that were growing in our family's vegetable garden for you. This is the first harvest we've had this year. We'll pick some to add to your table, Aunt."
Xu Zhi, holding Miao Jie'er's hand, said to Ping Shi with a smile, "Sister-in-law, look at your daughter, how come she has such a clever tongue?"
Ping blushed, glanced at Miao Jie'er, and said shyly, "My girl is just good with a mouth."
The cook had already soaked all the dried ingredients for cooking, and the fish that Xi Jing'an had brought back that morning had also been cleaned and were ready to be cooked. In the steamy kitchen, the cook asked the helper to heat the fire under the pot before starting to heat the pot and pour in the oil.
The kitchen and the backyard were separated by a flower wall. Smelling the aroma coming from the kitchen, Miao Jie took a deep sniff and said to Ping Shi with delight, "Mother, Mother, Auntie's family made fried fish, I can smell it!"
Ping's face turned even redder. She wanted to say a few words to the child, but felt it would be impolite to do so in someone else's home. Seeing Ping's embarrassment, Bai Ying quickly said, "There is a small flower bed in our backyard. We all love planting flowers and plants, and we have planted quite a few. Miss and Madam Feng can talk here. I will take the three of you to the backyard to take a look."
After Bai Ying and the two maids that Ping Shi had brought took the three girls to the backyard, Ping Shi apologized to Xu Zhi, saying, "The children are ignorant, I'm really sorry."
Xu Zhi felt that children should act like children, so she advised, "Children should be innocent and carefree like this. Sister-in-law Feng, the child can only stay with us for a few years. We should let the child be as carefree as possible during this time."
Ping sighed and said, "Ninth Sister, I know, but it wasn't easy for my husband and me to get out of the village. We just hope that our children won't follow in our footsteps. Even if they can't find a good husband like the girls from wealthy families, they should still know the proper etiquette."
Xu Zhi nodded repeatedly, and Ping continued, "Our eldest daughter was born in the county. I was already in my mid-twenties at that time. After being married for several years, I had to support my husband's studies, take care of my mother-in-law, and there were several younger brothers and sisters in the family. I was so busy with everything at home and outside that I didn't dare to have a child. Fortunately, my husband was ambitious and found a job in the government office. Things gradually stabilized, and that's when we had He'er. After He'er was born, my husband was busy with government affairs all day long, and He'er suffered a lot with me. When Miao'er and Sui'er came along, life got better, and Miao'er developed a carefree personality."
Xu Zhi was pampered by her family since childhood, so naturally she hoped that girls could live happily with their parents. Seeing that Ping Shi looked anxious and sad because of the upbringing of her three children, she smiled and said, "Sister-in-law Feng, as long as the children are well-behaved, those rules are just icing on the cake. It's not shameful to make the children unhappy because of those dead rules. I think our Miao'er is very good. When she came to our house to play, she thought of me and wanted to bring her best things to give me. Such a sensible and obedient child, you can rest assured, she will never make a mistake in the rules in the future."
After chatting for a while, Ping said, "In previous years, after the Dragon Boat Festival, there would be some gatherings in Miaozhou. It was usually families with children of marriageable age who would go to these gatherings to see which family had a suitable candidate so they could arrange a marriage. I expect to receive the invitation in a few days, and I will go with my sister then."
Xu Zhi thanked her and then asked, "Sister-in-law Feng, are there any famous people in our Miaozhou?"
Ping Shi naturally knew why Xu Zhi asked that question. She mentioned some of the more well-known wealthy families in Miaozhou City, and finally whispered, "These four families live in this alley. Madam Chu is a virtuous woman and doesn't usually associate with outsiders. Her legitimate children are already engaged, and she doesn't care much about her illegitimate children. However, the wife of Master Wan is a very shrewd and charming woman. She attends almost every gathering. Master Wan's wife doesn't come with him. This wife manages all the affairs of the household. I heard that she has never had a child."
Xu Zhi listened and nodded. Ping continued, "There is another family in our city, surnamed Yun. They are a wealthy family that has been rich for generations. What's rare is that the Yun family has always been involved in helping the poor and needy, building bridges and paving roads, and their children are very well disciplined. However, the current dynasty stipulates that the children of merchants cannot participate in the imperial examinations, so the Yun family has never been able to become officials. I heard from my husband that the Yun family has made many connections with officials, and their business in the capital is extremely successful."
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