When Xu Xinning and the others arrived at Xu Xialian's house, they saw the old couple from the second branch of the Xu family and Xu Dongmei sitting in the main room without any politeness.
While cracking sunflower seeds, Xu Dongmei launched into a tirade against Xu Xialian.
"Sister, you seem to be living a good life. I just took a walk around your yard, and wow, so much meat! They say hunters never have to worry about meat, and now I believe it."
"Sis, these sunflower seeds are great, they smell so good! Did you buy them or did you roast them yourself? My two boys love eating sunflower seeds. Pack some for me when you get home. And these peanuts too, the candy is nice too, give some to your nephew. Sis, you wouldn't be so stingy, would you?"
"Were those two your husbands just now? They're really handsome. But sister, do you know which husbands your two children are with?"
"You're really a lucky fool. Who knew there would be such a kind family in these mountains?"
"Sister, you have no idea how I got through it. Forget about meat at home, we were lucky if we could eat wild vegetable dumplings and be about 60% full every day. And my two sons!"
Xu Dongmei's tears came easily, her acting was very convincing. She wiped her nose, wiped her hand on her pants a couple of times, and continued, "Sister! Haven't you seen your two good nephews? They're so thin they're just skin and bones. They've forgotten what meat tastes like. If they saw all the meat in your family, they'd be green with envy. Sister! You won't just abandon your two nephews, will you?"
At this moment, the second wife coughed lightly twice.
Xu Dongmei immediately received the signal, her eyes darting around as she said, "Sister! Ada and Amu have finally made it through. Now that you've moved here, you can finally take care of them. Look at them, they're so thin and pale, their backs are hunched, and their hair is almost all white. From now on, they'll have to rely on you. If I didn't live so far away, how could I bear to let them suffer like this?"
“Look, look, what are they wearing? It’s getting cold and they don’t even have a decent cotton-padded coat. Sister, why don’t you get them two? You’re the most filial, you’ll definitely feel bad if your mother and father suffer.”
Xu Xinning had expected to see a tense scene, but she was surprised to find it so peaceful.
Xu Xinning turned to look at Mu Jingheng, and Mu Jingheng immediately knew what Xu Xinning was going to ask.
Mu Jingheng said softly, "When they first arrived, they cried so hard, scolding their second aunt for being unfilial. We were going to have them escorted out, but Old Master Xun still welcomed them in, saying that today was a good day and there was no need to spoil the mood for unnecessary people."
Xu Xinning gave a thumbs up and said, "Magnificent!"
Mu Jingheng chuckled and squeezed Xu Xinning's hand, saying with a smile, "Old Master Xun is a capable man; they shouldn't be able to cause any trouble."
Xu Xinning shook her head: "Not necessarily. A scholar can't reason with a soldier. My second wife and aunt are notoriously stubborn."
Mu Jingheng: "But we still have our grandparents, right? Dealing with those three old folks is a piece of cake."
Xu Xinning was conflicted; she wanted them to make a scene, but she also didn't want them to. In short, she was getting more and more eager to watch the drama unfold.
Xun Shichou seemed unable to join in the atmosphere between Xu Xinning and Mu Jingheng, and feeling anxious, he tugged at Xu Xin's sleeve.
Xu Xinning looked down and asked, "What's wrong?"
Xun Shichou, as if presenting a treasure, asked hopefully, "Sister...would you like to go to my study?"
Xu Xinning smiled and took Xun Shichou's hand, saying, "Great! I heard you have good handwriting?"
Xun Shichou blushed, a rare occurrence for him: "It's just so-so!"
Just as Xu Xinning and the other two were about to pass through the main room on their way to Xun Shichou's study, Xu Dongmei stopped them.
"Ningning, Ningning, why don't you greet your aunt? I heard Ningning has become successful and is going to university in Kyoto. You really need connections to get ahead. Otherwise, how could a country girl from some remote corner of the country end up in a university in Kyoto?"
Xu Xinning smiled and didn't care about Xu Dongmei's words. Having connections was a skill in itself; otherwise, why didn't Xu Dongmei have any connections?
She's proud of her connections!
Mu Jingheng was unhappy. His wife was able to go to university entirely on her own merit. Not only could she go to university, but she would also be teaching university students soon!
Seeing that Xu Xinning didn't care about her words, as if she had won a battle, Xu Dongmei pursed her lips and said, "Is this Ningning's man? Why does he look like a pretty boy? I heard he's an educated youth. Can he support himself? Is he being kept by my older brother's family?"
The Xu family is very protective of their own. They can criticize Xu Xinning, but they don't like it when they talk about Mu Jingheng like this: "Aunt, your family lives by the sea, right?"
Xu Dongmei laughed: "How did you know? You've been to our house? How could I forget?"
Xu Dongmei's in-laws did indeed live by the sea. The men in their family were hardworking and would go to sea every now and then to catch seafood and send it to the seafood purchasing station of the supply and marketing cooperative. They were considered to be well-off in the village, so their house was also quite nice, a brick and tile house with whitewashed walls.
Xu Xinning said with a half-smile, "No wonder my aunt is so nosy."
Xu Xialian couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Xu Dongmei, unaware of Xu Xinning's meaning or what Xu Xialian was laughing at, continued, "Ningning, can you still get a university spot? My sister-in-law is about your age and quite pretty. If she goes to university too, she might be able to find a government official. By the way, Ningning, why don't you find a high-ranking official in the capital? If you marry one, you can get your two younger cousins to go to the capital too."
Xu Xialian smiled and looked at Mu Jingheng, thinking that Xu Dongmei was really blind to his greatness. Didn't she see that Mu Jingheng's overall demeanor was that of someone important?
Although Xu Xialian was not very knowledgeable, she saw from Yang Chunqin and Xu Xinning that as long as a woman is strong, her life will definitely be colorful. A high status in her husband's family is an advantage, while a low status in her husband's family will not have much of an impact on them.
Xu Xialian now greatly admires Yang Chunqin and her daughter, and is consciously or unconsciously imitating their behavior.
Before Xu Dongmei could say anything more, Xu Xinning interrupted, "Please sit down, we have something to do and won't be able to keep you company any longer."
After saying that, Xu Xinning ignored Xu Dongmei's displeased expression and took Xun Shichou's hand and left, with Mu Jingheng following immediately.
Xu Dongmei muttered, "She has no manners at all. I don't know how my brother and his wife raise their child. They spoil this little girl rotten. Let's see how she lives when she gets married."
Xu Xinning and Mu Jingheng are both martial artists, so they have very sensitive hearing and heard everything Xu Dongmei said.
Xu Xinning glanced at Mu Jingheng teasingly, as if asking: How am I supposed to live when I get to my husband's family home?
Mu Jingheng said softly, "In our family, you are the authority."
Xu Xinning was amused by him, and her mood brightened up as well.
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