As soon as he finished speaking, a group of servants filed in behind him, each carrying a large red box. A quick glance revealed there were roughly a dozen or so.
Xu Zi was stunned. He turned his head to look at the person next to him, only to see that he was also dumbfounded, and even forgot to wave the folding fan in his hand.
How can there be so many?!
He clearly only prepared three items, so where did all these extras come from?!
The same doubt he felt was also in Xu Zi's heart. The latter's voice was gentle and hesitant as she asked, "These... are all for me?"
Shu Zhan nodded subconsciously, then shook his head.
That doesn't make sense. Without his orders, who would add so many things for him?
He was just thinking about it when he suddenly heard a sound coming from behind him—
"That's right. My son is ignorant and has offended you these days. He has prepared these to express his apology and hopes you will forgive him."
Before you see him, you hear his voice.
Xu Zi looked up and saw a smile playing on her lips, her eyes gentle and kind. The hair ornaments on her head swayed with each step, making her undeniably elegant. Her hands, crossed in front of her abdomen, added to her dignified bearing. She wore a deep red dress, exuding an air of refined elegance.
The person who came was Shu Weishi, the mother of Shu Zhan and Shu Hua.
Xu Zi quickly put down the items in his hands and respectfully gave her a junior's bow: "Greetings, Madam."
Shu Weishi was not at home for a while, and Xu Zi came when she was at the temple praying for blessings, so this was the first time she had seen Shu Weishi.
Shu Weishi's smile remained unchanged, and she raised her hand to help her up, saying, "Miss Xu, you are too kind to me. There is no need for such formalities. Please rise, Miss Xu."
She was the wife of a merchant, while Xu Zi was the daughter of an Imperial Censor. It was fortunate that Xu Zi was behaving like a junior, otherwise she truly wouldn't have been able to accept her bow.
Xu Zi stood up naturally, and somewhat embarrassedly tugged at his handkerchief: "Madam, you can call me by my nickname, Jin Huan."
She suddenly appeared out of nowhere, startling Shu Zhan. He patted his chest, his face still shaken, and said, "Mom, why do you walk so quietly?"
Shu Wei smiled at him dignifiedly, but the smile gave him goosebumps all over.
From childhood to adulthood, whenever his mother gave him that kind of smile, it was never a good sign.
Shu Weishi took Xu Zi's hand and patted it with a smile: "Good child. It's all Zixiang's fault for notifying me too late. If I had known that such a well-behaved girl was in the manor, I would have come back much sooner."
Xu Zi chuckled awkwardly, unsure how to respond.
Shu Weishi naturally changed the subject, pointing to the servants behind her and saying, "These are all things Zixiang prepared for you. Take them with you later as compensation for the lack of care during this time. Quickly, put them on the table, and we'll pack them into the carriage for Jin Huan later."
As soon as she finished speaking, the servants carefully placed the gift boxes they were carrying on the stone table in the courtyard. They were stacked layer upon layer, in seven or eight piles, and when stacked up, they were half a head taller than her.
Xu Zi only glanced at the opened box and saw it was full of luminous pearls.
Doctor Xu holds a high rank, but it's a sinecure. He's not ambitious, so even if his salary isn't low, it won't be very high.
Although everyone in the Xu family was well-fed and clothed, Xu Zi had lived for fifteen or sixteen years and had never seen so many luminous pearls before.
As expected of the top merchant in the capital, he is indeed incredibly wealthy and extravagant. Xu Zi gasped in astonishment.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
