Marquis Pingxi was aware of Madam Chen's actions, but for some reason did not intervene. He knew that the Chen family knew Zheng Boyuan's whereabouts, and since the Chen family was not in a hurry, he had no reason to be in a hurry either.
Chen's eldest uncle was so angry that his eyes turned red. He said, "Boyuan, I will be at ease as long as you can leave that family."
Zheng Boyuan wiped away his tears and said, "Uncle, I have a method here. If we do it right, we might actually be able to get out of that family."
Uncle Chen said, "Tell me about it, and I'll see what difficulties it might be difficult to do."
Zheng Boyuan said, "My second great-uncle had a posthumous child who died before reaching adulthood. I want to be adopted by them, so that both my sister and I can have a way to survive."
After listening, Chen's eldest uncle remained silent for a long time before saying, "That's one way. But in that case, your mother's dowry can't be taken away."
Zheng Boyuan said, "Those are all material possessions. My sister's and my lives are more important. Besides, I've earned quite a bit of money these past few years with my uncle. Uncle, when do you have time to sort out my mother's dowry, especially the estates and shops? Make up the accounts and have a proper discussion with my stepmother. Although she is the second wife of the Marquis, she doesn't have much property of her own. This will affect her children's marriages in the future. What if she had my mother's dowry?"
Upon hearing this, Uncle Chen nodded repeatedly and said, "Alright, then you don't need to get involved. I'll talk to your stepmother. I think there's a good chance we can reach an agreement. I've watched my half-sister grow up since she was a child. She's actually quite greedy. She won't let go of such an opportunity."
Zheng Boyuan said, "And my sister, although the servants around her were all found by my eldest uncle, we still need to make things clear to her. You should make it clear to her that I will definitely earn enough dowry for her, so that she won't have her eyes on my mother's dowry. The most important thing for my brother and me now is to keep our lives safe. It would be best if my sister and I could be adopted by my second great-uncle."
Uncle Chen nodded and said, "Don't worry about that. In this world, as long as you put your heart into it, you will find a solution. I have been thinking about your stepmother ever since she married into the Pingxi Marquis's family. I would say I know her very well, if not completely."
After Zheng Boyuan discussed the matter with his maternal uncle, he continued to disguise himself as Xu Di's servant and followed Xu Di south. Xu Di did not even enter the capital. He wanted to visit his grandmother when he passed through the capital again on his way back. Although the journey was slow this time, he still had to get there before the rice harvest in Jiangnan.
After Xu Di and Zheng Boyuan left, Xu Zhi felt empty inside. When doing things, she would often drift off into her own thoughts. Granny Lu didn't seem to care much. Xu Zhi and Zheng Boyuan hadn't had much contact in private, and Xu Rao and Zhang Zhaoci wouldn't think that their eight or nine-year-old daughter could have any feelings for a man. But Xu Bai didn't think that way.
Xu Bai began to understand Xu Zhi's reaction when she first met Zheng Boyuan. Xu Bai felt that Xu Zhi must have fallen in love at first sight, but because her older sister was a very quiet and gentle person with an outgoing personality, she had been suppressing her feelings. Xu Bai always felt that people nowadays, no matter how old they are, actually mature quite early when it comes to relationships. Otherwise, they wouldn't get married in their teens and have children before they are twenty.
After Zheng Boyuan left, Xu Bai started observing his sister whenever he had free time. She seemed completely devoted to him, and Xu Bai felt that things were getting serious.
Xu Bai didn't want his sister to fall in love so early, and he also felt that Zheng Boyuan's family was too complicated. Xu Bai remembered everything Zheng Boyuan said that day, and after returning home, he often heard Granny Lu and Xu Zhi talk about the old stories of the Pingxi Marquis's mansion. Granny Lu and Xu Zhi naturally didn't think Xu Bai could understand these things, and they didn't hide anything from him when they talked. What Xu Bai heard, plus what he imagined in his mind, made up a pretty good understanding of the complicated relationships in the Pingxi Marquis's mansion.
So many urban romance dramas have naturally made Xu Bai understand that the most important thing for a woman after marriage is her relationship with her mother-in-law. If she has an easy-going mother-in-law, even if her relationship with her husband is a little strained, she can still live a pretty good life. But if she encounters a troublesome mother-in-law, oh dear, that would truly be a living hell. Zheng Boyuan's biological mother died long ago, and his stepmother is no pushover either. Just thinking about having such a stepmother-in-law makes Xu Bai shudder. If his sister really entered the Pingxi Marquis's mansion, wouldn't that be like a little white rabbit entering a wolf's den?
Xu Bai became more and more frightened as he thought about it. Domestic power struggles and palace intrigues were completely unrelated to his family. How could such dark things be something that his sunny and positive family could get involved in?
Xu Bai sat on the steps by the door, his chubby cheeks propped up on his hand, thinking and worrying, his eyebrows furrowed together.
Xu Zhi happened to come in from outside. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Xu Bai sitting on the steps. She couldn't help but go over and pinch Xu Bai's cheek, and said with a smile, "What's bothering you again? Your face is all scrunched up like a bun."
Xu Bai looked at Xu Zhi, sighed, and said, "I'm worried about my sister's situation."
Xu Zhi asked him curiously, "What could possibly be troubling you, sister? Come on, the floor is cold, get up first. I made you some mung bean cakes, let's go to your room to eat them."
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
