Chapter 272 So Shameless
The letter that Sheng An wrote specifically for Zhang Zhaodi was also personally delivered to the bamboo weaving workshop by Xu Cuilian.
Zhang Zhaodi was overjoyed to receive another message from her best friend.
After reading the letter, she made a decision without even consulting Zhang Daikui:
She's going to the capital!
Having a baby is such a big event, I really can't feel at ease if I don't personally oversee it.
When Zhang Daikui returned after buying pork, he heard about his wife's decision, and his honest face was full of struggle: "If we all leave, what will happen to the two children?"
The child is too young and easily gets sick if we are not careful. It is not advisable for him to travel such a long distance as to the capital.
Zhang Zhaodi waved her hand: "It's okay, I can go by myself. You can stay at home without worry."
Zhang Daikui's face darkened: "No way!"
Zhang Zhaodi rolled her eyes at him: "Why not? If you don't trust the child, wouldn't it be better to leave him at home to look after him?"
Zhang Daikui hesitated for a long time, then finally blushed and hugged her tightly, nuzzling her neck: "I can't sleep when you're not home."
Zhang Zhaodi: "..."
If you want to go to the capital with her, just say so! Why make up these embarrassing things?
Under Zhang Daikui's persistent pleading, Zhang Zhaodi had no choice but to agree to take him to the capital.
Knowing her son and daughter-in-law's decision, Xu Cuilian looked at them, then at her two bewildered grandsons, and realized for the first time how unreliable the young couple was.
Zhang Zhaodi saw through her mother-in-law's thoughts at a glance and said with a smile before she could speak, "My mother has nothing to do at home, so I'll trouble her to come and see her two grandsons."
After Zhang Zhaodi became successful through her exceptional bamboo weaving skills, she never forgot her parents who raised her.
Last year, she followed Sheng An's example and bought 120 acres of land from a bankrupt small landlord in Huai Shu Village, and asked Zhang's father and two younger brothers to help manage it.
After paying the land tax each year, half of the profits from the land went to their own family, and half went to their maternal relatives.
Mr. and Mrs. Zhang did not want to take such a big advantage of their daughter, fearing that their in-laws would be dissatisfied with their daughter's help to her parents' family, which would affect the relationship between their daughter and son-in-law. They proposed that they give her a few acres of grain each year as a reward for her hard work.
Zhang Zhaodi did not agree and insisted on splitting the profits 50/50 as she wished.
Zhang's parents couldn't persuade their daughter otherwise, and after testing their son-in-law and in-laws' thoughts to make sure they wouldn't hold a grudge against their daughter, they finally accepted her filial piety.
Therefore, the Zhang family is now living a better and better life, and Zhang's mother could not possibly refuse to go to the city to help take care of her two grandsons.
Seeing her daughter-in-law's arrangement, Xu Cuilian had no more reservations and made the decision directly:
“Alright, all four of us will go. I’ll talk to your uncle first thing tomorrow morning and then we’ll set a departure date.”
Soon, Zhang Erkui and Zhang Xiaokui, who were still living in the old house, also learned of their parents', brother's, and sister-in-law's decision.
They were eager to go to the capital to see the sights, but they also knew that the idea was unrealistic.
Not to mention that the pork business cannot be stopped, they all have families to support, so they can't do whatever they want like before.
Fang Yuying and Wang Xiaofang, the two sisters-in-law, also wanted to, but they knew in their hearts that their husbands and in-laws would not agree, so they had to suppress their thoughts and happily packed the gifts that their cousin and his wife had sent to their home from afar.
Hey, this fabric is nice; it can be used to make clothes for men, women, and children.
These two boxes of tea smell good too. I'll bring some back to my parents' house to show off another day.
My cousin and his wife are so generous; they only give me nice things.
What would be a suitable return gift?
Xu Chenglin discussed it with Grandpa and Grandma Sheng, and even had someone calculate an auspicious day for their trip. They decided to set off three days later, on the second day of the fourth lunar month.
With no return date set, business at the shop naturally couldn't continue.
After discussing it, the three of them posted a notice of closure at the entrance of the shop, briefly explaining the reason for the closure, so that customers would not make a wasted trip.
Xu Chenglin then hired bricklayers to seal the main gate and windows to prevent anyone from breaking in and committing crimes.
While dealing with the trivial matters before his departure, news of Xu Jinnian's achievement of becoming the third-ranked scholar in the imperial examination reached Xujiaba.
Along with the news, the good news that Xu Huaining had also passed the imperial examination was also sent.
Through some underhanded tactics, Xu Huaining achieved a good ranking in the imperial examination.
When it came to the palace examination, his essay writing skills were mediocre, and as expected, he was granted the title of Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination).
When Xu Huaining was granted an official position, Princess Shanmin once again secretly intervened, and Xu Huaining successfully stayed in the capital and secured a good job at the Imperial Academy.
The sudden news of two members of the clan being admitted to high school caused a stir throughout Xujiaba, even more so than during the Spring Festival.
Xu Laosi felt triumphant after moving into his new house, and he held his head high as he and Feng Lianhua accepted the villagers' flattery.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, a villager asked the couple when they were laughing the loudest:
"Jin Nian specially sent a message back, asking Cheng Lin and his wife's grandparents to go to the capital for a family reunion. He also specially invited Cui Lian and her family. I heard they will set off in a couple of days. When will Huai Ning come back to pick you two up to enjoy yourselves in the capital?"
The smiles on Xu Laosi and his wife's faces froze simultaneously.
Soon, Xu Laosi shouted, "It'll be here soon! We are Huaining's parents. How could Huaining forget us? Just wait and see!"
Seeing his confidence, those around him echoed his sentiments.
"Yes, that's right. It's not easy for you to support Huaining's education all these years. Now that Huaining has finally made something of himself, he will definitely not forget you. It's only a matter of time before he takes you to the capital to enjoy a life of luxury."
Xu Laosi agreed verbally, but he was very unsure in his heart.
He knew his own family best; he knew exactly what kind of person his own son was.
Looking at the newly built brick house and thinking about where the money used to build it came from, Xu Laosi's heart sank.
After the villagers finished flattering him and left, he bolted the gate, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.
Feng Lianhua sensed something was amiss and felt uneasy: "What if Huaining doesn't come back to pick us up?"
I heard that after passing the imperial examination, the court would grant a three-month leave so that those who passed could return home to reunite with their families.
Now so much time has passed, and not only has my son not returned, but he hasn't sent a single word either. I'm afraid...
Xu Laosi took a deep breath, clinging to hope for his only son: "If he doesn't come back to pick us up, we'll go to the capital to find him!"
"Can the two of us manage?"
Feng Lianhua hesitated, feeling that going to the capital to search for him was not a safe option.
She had never traveled far from home in her decades of life. Before the family split up, she often heard Xu Chenglin talk about the dangers outside, so she was afraid of everything unknown.
Suddenly, she remembered what the villagers had just said, and her eyes lit up:
"Why don't we find out when Xu Lao Er is setting off, and then we can go with them?"
Didn't they say that the cursed lone star asked a friend to escort Xu Lao Er and his party to the capital?
Is it okay to give two more people a ride?
They won't have to pay for any expenses along the way, and they won't have to worry about bandits robbing them on the road.
The more Feng Lianhua thought about this shameless idea, the more feasible it seemed, and she hurriedly gave Xu Laosi a push:
"Go now, if all else fails, go to Xu Cuilian. If she dares to disagree, we'll complain to Huaining and have him punish their whole family!"
Her son was already an official; crushing a whole family of butchers would be easier than crushing an ant. Xu Cuilian dared not disobey him.
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