After June, when the autumn winds were just beginning to blow, Zhang Zhaoci and Granny Lu, along with a dozen or so guards, Li Yanxia and Li Jialiang, and more than a dozen large carts, embarked on their journey back to the capital in a grand procession.
Because there was no rush, the journey was quite leisurely. It was a time of clear skies and light clouds, with not much rain. Although the sun was still a bit strong, it was very cool to sit in the car with the small curtains on both sides of the windows open.
The carriage Zhang Zhaoci was riding in was custom-made by someone he had hired. The carriage was spacious and the interior was designed according to Zhang Zhaoci's wishes, with thick cotton cushions and a thick layer of coarse cotton cloth on top of the cushions, making it very comfortable to sit in.
Zhang Zhaoci and Granny Lu were in the car with Xu Zhi and Xu Bai. Xu Di was busy running around. Qing Miao, Qing Sui, and Li Yanxia were in the car behind them. In addition to several carloads of luggage and gifts, they had hired a dozen or so bodyguards from a security company to escort the luggage.
Xu Bai, held by Xu Zhi, sat by the car window, watching the scenery outside with great interest. Granny Lu felt the wind was getting a bit strong, so she quickly took him from her and said, "The wind outside is a bit strong. Let's come over and rest for a while."
Xu Bai hadn't had enough of looking and was thinking of peeking through the car window again when Xu Di happened to be riding his horse alongside the carriage. He saw Xu Bai sulking by the window and glared at him, which startled Xu Bai so much that he quickly let go.
Xu Zhi sighed and said, "Why is the little brother so afraid of his older brother? He gets scared as soon as his older brother glares at him."
Zhang Zhaoci said, "Our family spoils this kid, so we need someone to keep him in check. Otherwise, will he really grow up to be climbing on the roof and tearing off the tiles? This kid is very resilient."
Xu Zhi said, "I've gotten used to staying here, and I really don't want to go back to the capital. Mother, are we going to stay in the capital for more than a year before we can come back?"
Zhang Zhaoci said, "Well, you never know. Your brother is taking an exam, so I think it's better if we stay by his side. But we can't rule out other things happening, so maybe we'll be back soon."
Xu Zhi said, "It's so open and free here. In the mansion, I can't do this or that. It's too restrictive. Besides, Sister Li can't come with me. I don't even have anyone to talk to."
Granny Lu said, "Ninth Miss, you're not thinking like that. There are a bunch of your sisters in the Marquis's mansion. You are all from the same Xu family. Even if you're not familiar with each other now, you can get along well and gradually become acquainted. When you all start your own families and careers in the future, you will still be family members who look out for each other."
Xu Zhi thought that what Granny Lu said made sense, but then Xu Zhi thought of the things in her previous life. She was a poor and lonely girl who was ignored in the inner courtyard, while her brother was bullied in the front courtyard. Neither of them had a good ending. But now it was different. Her parents were still alive, her brother was not injured, and he had even learned martial arts from his masters. He was also good at studying and would definitely achieve great things in the future.
Zhang Zhaoci said, "Grandma is right, Xiao Jiu. You should get along well with your sisters. You don't realize it when you're a girl, but once you're all married, you'll know the benefits of having sisters. Not to mention anything else, just think about it: if you suffer grievances in your husband's family and want to find someone to vent to, you'll have someone to vent to."
Upon hearing this, Granny Lu smiled and said, "You can't say that. How can you talk to a child like that? Ninth Miss, when people look at our Marquis's Mansion, they're not looking at any one person, but at all of you. If you sisters have a good relationship, people will naturally say that our Marquis's Mansion has good family upbringing. You sisters will also be respected by others when you're out in public, and you'll be respected when it comes to marriage."
Xu Zhi sighed and said, "Granny, I'm only eight years old. Isn't it a bit too early to talk about marriage?"
Granny Lu said, "Although it's a bit early, we still have to go through the process of finding a match. After finding a good person, we also have to consider their family background and ask around. There's a lot to do. Many families propose marriage early on and then slowly make inquiries."
Zhang Zhaoci felt a bit of a headache. In modern times, a second or third grade elementary school girl would only need to study hard and get good grades. Not only would marriage be a very distant prospect, but finding a boyfriend would also be something she couldn't even imagine. But now, she actually had to start looking for a boyfriend right now and prepare a dowry for him.
Xu Zhi said, "But I don't recognize any of the sisters in the manor anymore. I've been away for several years now, and I've forgotten most of what happened when I was little. Granny, I feel closer to the eldest sister from the Li family than to any of them. What do you think I should do in the future?"
Granny Lu said, "Let's see what kind of temperament they are, and then think about how to get along with them. We can't just throw out all our enthusiasm right away."
Zhang Zhaoci pulled Xu Bai into her arms and said with a smile, "You're playing favorites."
Granny Lu glared at Zhang Zhaoci with a smile and said, "The words may be rough, but the principle is sound. That's the truth. Although we are sisters in the same household, we are not from the same mother. If you feel you get along well, then get along well. If you feel you don't get along well, then you can be polite. Ninth Miss, the Marquis's mansion is very large, with many people and a lot of gossip. Moreover, the relationships within the mansion are very complex. We haven't been in the mansion for several years. Even if we want to be on good terms with others, we have to sort out the relationships first."
Xu Zhi nodded and said, "Then when I go back, I'll treat my sisters like this. Granny, how about I give them the embroidered purses I made as a greeting gift?"
Granny Lu said, "Good, why not? Although it is true that young ladies should not give away their embroidery casually, sisters don't need to be so particular about it."
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