Granny Lu and Qing Sui finished unpacking the luggage they had brought back and prepared gifts for everyone. After Zhang Zhaoci brought Xu Bai back with Xu Di and Xu Zhi, Granny Lu quickly took Xu Bai and said, "Take a shower and change your clothes first."
Zhang Zhaoci said, "I should have come back and changed my clothes before going to the old lady's place."
Granny Lu said, "From now on, when you come back from outside, no matter how urgent it is, you must come back first to change your clothes and wash up before you go to pay your respects to the old lady."
Granny Lu placed Xu Bai on the daybed by the window in Zhang Zhaoci and Xu Rao's room and said, "We're going to stay until next year, what do you think we should do to make arrangements?"
Zhang Zhaoci said, "We don't need the servants the manor provides yet. Tomorrow I'll go to the Zhang family and ask their steward to find a few for us to use temporarily. We came back this time mainly to accompany Di Ge'er in his studies and exams, not for anything else. I don't want to participate in those flower shows or poetry gatherings. Our Xiao Jiu isn't at the age where he needs to be matched with someone. It's better for him to stay at home and not go out much."
Granny Lu nodded and said, "That's what I think too. The princes suffered a big setback in Hexi. Who knows if they'll take it out on us? We should keep the people in our courtyard in check and avoid meddling in other people's business."
The next day, after having breakfast, Zhang Zhaoci called a carriage. It was the same carriage he had brought back from Hexi, but the coachman was from the manor. Zhang Zhaoci, along with Xu Zhi, Xu Di, and Xu Bai, went to the Zhang family.
The Zhang family's original residence has been renovated, and Zhang Zhaoci's elder brother has come to oversee the matter. In recent years, in addition to the medicinal herb business, the Zhang family has also been engaged in the shipping business, opening shops not only in the southern cities but also in the capital.
The eldest brother of the Zhang family knew that Zhang Zhaoci was coming today, and had been waiting at the Zhang family's old house for a long time. When Zhang Zhaoci arrived, the eldest brother of the Zhang family didn't even have time to greet Zhang Zhaoci, and took Xu Bai from Zhang Zhaoci's arms.
Xu Bai was wearing a red cotton outfit today. He was a chubby little boy with fair skin. He would grin at everyone he met, showing off his tiny teeth, and look at them with a happy smile. He was really adorable.
Zhang's eldest brother carried Xu Bai, who was looking around curiously, while Zhang Zhaoci led Xu Di and Xu Zhi along, walking from the front yard towards the hanging flower gate. After passing the hanging flower gate, they entered the Zhang family's backyard.
Zhang Zhaoci sighed and said, "I haven't been back here for more than ten years, and nothing has changed."
The eldest brother of the Zhang family said, "When we were about to leave, we asked an old friend to buy the house for us. We sent a few servants to stay behind so that we could take good care of this house. This is the root of our Zhang family. Going south was just a temporary measure. We will come back one day. Alas, fortunately, we have finally waited for this day."
Zhang Zhaoci asked, "Will my parents come back later too?"
The eldest brother of the Zhang family shook his head and said, "It's not possible for now. The grudge we made back then still exists. My parents can't come back now. Even if I did come back, I wouldn't dare to act as a member of the Zhang family. It's all the head manager who has to handle it."
Zhang Zhaoci nodded and explained her purpose. Zhang's eldest brother naturally knew that his younger sister had not had a very happy life in the Xu family. Fortunately, she was taken care of by the old lady, which made things manage. However, the old lady was getting old, and the Zhang family was now doing everything they could to help Xu Rao, hoping that she could stand up for herself and not be bullied by the people of the Marquis's mansion.
The eldest brother of the Zhang family frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "Can you arrange for people in your courtyard? I'll prepare two pageboys and two attendants for Di Ge'er, and also send an older person to help take care of social interactions. Di Ge'er is back to study and prepare for the imperial examinations, so he needs to focus his energy on his studies. He also needs someone to take care of his daily affairs."
Upon hearing this, Xu Di smiled and said, "Uncle, what you said makes a lot of sense. That's what I was thinking too. It would be great if you could find someone older to come to my courtyard, someone who could also help take care of my mother."
Zhang's eldest brother nodded and said, "That's exactly what I mean. You and your children live in the inner courtyard, but someone needs to help take care of you outside. We can't bring too many people with us. How about this, I'll give you four maids and four rough-working women in the inner courtyard. With Granny Lu around, I feel more at ease. But Di'er, you'll have to be on your own outside from now on. You have to be careful in everything you do. I'll find you a maid who knows some martial arts."
Seeing how thoughtful his elder brother had been, Zhang Zhaoci smiled and said, "Brother, thank you so much. I didn't even think of so many things."
The eldest brother of the Zhang family said, "Your mind is not on these things. You have loved learning medicine since you were a child, and now that your child is so grown up, you are still single-mindedly studying medicine."
Zhang Zhaoci said, "Brother, this is my interest, and even more so, my passion. I will dedicate my life to it."
Zhang's eldest brother waved his hand and said, "If I have something to do in the future, I won't discuss it with you anymore. I'll either go to Granny Lu or Di Ge'er. You wouldn't understand even if I told you. Sigh, things will be better once our Di Ge'er gets married."
Granny Lu smiled and said, "My dear in-law, that's what I was thinking too. It'll be fine once Di Ge's wife enters the family."
At this point, the eldest brother of the Zhang family asked, "Does anyone in the manor know about Di Ge'er's engagement?"
Zhang Zhaoci said, "We just got back, so we're not sure if everyone knows yet. Anyway, the old lady knows, but as for the Marquis, I don't know if he knows."
Zhang's eldest brother said, "Since that's the case, let's talk to the Marquis about this. Di'er is the eldest son of the family, and his marriage cannot be taken lightly in the Marquis's eyes. If he is not very satisfied with the Li family's daughter, you will have to come up with a solution."
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