Chapter 217: Apology
Outsiders had no idea what happened at the Xu family that night, but Xu Yuran, who was standing at the door, heard his father's roar with his own ears. At that moment, he even felt a strange sense of pleasure.
Perhaps it was because, as the eldest son and future heir of the Xu family, he had always borne too many expectations and scoldings from Minister Xu, while his younger brother Xu Youran was treated with tolerance.
But today, Xu Youran did something so thoughtless that even Minister Xu couldn't stand it anymore. All the Qigong he used to cultivate his body and mind was broken at this moment.
Perhaps only Minister Xu could understand the feeling of him working hard in the front while his two sons were dragging him down.
Sometimes he even wanted to retire and return to his hometown with his family to Qingzhou, but when he thought about the decline of the Xu family after his death, Minister Xu was very unwilling to accept it. It was precisely because of this that he supported the Fourth Prince with great fanfare and left himself no way out. Minister Xu was not unaware of the danger.
Because he knew very well in his heart that only if the Fourth Prince ascended the throne in the future could their Xu family continue to be rich and prosperous. Otherwise, if they only relied on these two idiots, the future of the Xu family would be worrying.
Xu Youran went in excitedly, but came out dejected. When he saw his eldest brother at the door, his expression turned even uglier. He snorted coldly, "Are you satisfied now?"
Xu Yuran felt a strange sense of superiority in front of his brother. He sighed and said, "What can I be satisfied with? We're all in the same boat now."
Xu Youran's expression darkened, and she said with a hint of resentment, "Dad told me not to go out lately. If I have nothing to do, I should just stay home and have a baby. A smart one would be better than anything else."
Xu Yuran's expression became even more strange after hearing this, and he couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for his younger brother. He at least had a son, Xu Zifeng, who was also the eldest grandson that the old man had been training. But what kind of children did his younger brother have?
As one of the parties involved, Su Fengzhang actually didn't know about the fight between the two Xu brothers. However, Minister Xu was a smart man. Maybe he was too smart, so that all his sons were stupid.
Early the next morning, the Xu family's housekeeper came to the door. It was unknown how early he arrived at the Su family's door. He had been waiting quietly outside the gate. When the doorman found him, his body was covered with frost.
The Su family's doorman was startled and hurried in to report.
The doorman was a bit aggrieved about this: "Sir, I'm not being lazy. Butler Xu was standing quietly at the door, making no sound at all. If I hadn't gotten up early and opened the door, I'm afraid I wouldn't have known he was here."
The Su family didn't have many servants, and Su Fengzhang and Su Zhao were quite tolerant of them. However, if anyone dared to disobey the rules, they would be kicked out directly, no matter how much anyone pleaded for them. This was why the doorman was very nervous.
Su Fengzhang didn't blame him, but just said: "I don't blame you, go and invite him in."
Butler Xu quickly came in with his men. As soon as he entered, he bowed deeply with a smile on his face. "Your humble servant greets you, Lord Su. I apologize for interrupting you so suddenly. Please forgive me, Lord Su."
Su Fengzhang knew that he had done this on purpose. He didn't know if the story of Chengmen Lixue would become a hot topic today. Facing the Xu family, he did not relax at all: "Butler Xu came here in person, how dare I blame him."
Xu Shangshu is a seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister. Although he is not the prime minister, he is his immediate superior.
Seeing that he spoke in a gentle voice, Butler Xu thought to himself that his master had guessed correctly. Su Fengzhang was a man of deep thoughts and would never embarrass him in person. However, it was precisely this kind of person that he had to be more careful with.
Steward Xu's smile grew even more enthusiastic as he thought about it. "Lord Su has been promoted to Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. He has excelled in the Ministry and has helped Minister Xu a lot. Now he's Minister Xu's right-hand man and can't be separated from him for a day."
"For this reason, Minister Xu specially asked me to prepare a generous gift. First, to congratulate Lord Su on his rapid rise to prominence, second, to thank Lord Su for helping Minister Xu with his worries and difficulties, and third, this is also a small token of appreciation from Minister Xu as an elder."
Su Fengzhang smiled and thought to himself that what Butler Xu said was quite nice, without mentioning what happened last night at all. If he did not accept the thank-you gift, it would seem that he was narrow-minded and did not know how to respect his elders.
However, Su Fengzhang did not intend to break up with the Su family. There was really no need for that. He smiled and said, "I am grateful for Minister Xu's kindness."
"It is inconvenient to visit you today. Please ask Steward Xu to report back to Minister Xu after you return. These are all things I should do. I really cannot deserve Minister Xu's gratitude. However, Minister Xu has taught me a lot, and I am deeply grateful."
The two of them were very polite to each other, just like a master and disciple with a deep relationship.
After everyone left, Su Fengzhang opened the gift box and raised his eyebrows. He thought to himself that the Xu family was very generous. He wondered how much money they had swallowed from the national treasury during the years they had occupied the Ministry of Revenue.
Su Zhaoshi also got up early. When she heard the noise outside, she didn't come out. She waited until the guests left before coming over. When she saw it, she was also surprised: "Why did the Xu family send such a big gift? Feng'er, is it okay for you to just accept it?"
Su Huihui and Liu Neng also came to join in the fun. They were amazed by what they saw, especially Liu Neng, who had never seen these things before and his eyes widened.
Su Fengzhang picked out a jade pendant and handed it to Liu Neng. Liu Neng subconsciously looked at Su Zhaoshi, who just smiled kindly. Liu Neng then accepted it and said thank you with a smile.
When the child first came to the Su family, he was a little cautious, but when he found that Su Fengzhang treated him very well, and Su Zhaoshi and others were also sincere to him, he gradually became much more cheerful than before.
"If I don't accept it, there will be trouble." Su Fengzhang said with a smile, rummaging through the jewels inside, and said with a smile, "A few days ago, I was talking about preparing a dowry for Huihui, and now someone has delivered it to my door."
When Su Huihui heard this, she quickly said, "Second brother, leave these to mother. I don't need them."
Su Zhaoshi appreciated her daughter's filial piety and said, "I am already an old woman. It would be a waste to keep her with me. I will give it to you when the time comes."
Seeing their lively conversation, Su Fengzhang felt that the Xu family had done a good thing. He smiled and said, "I won't interfere. Whoever likes it can take it. After all, there are only a few women in the family."
Aunt Bai would never accept it. As a concubine, and now relying on the original wife's legitimate son for a living, Aunt Bai always kept her distance. Although she knew that Su Zhaoshi and Su Fengzhang were both kind people, she still felt in her heart that people should not be greedy, otherwise it would be a great loss if they were disliked.
After hearing this, Su Zhaoshi's original excitement gradually disappeared, and she became bored. Su Huihui looked up at her face and asked worriedly, "Mom, what's wrong with you?"
Su Zhao snorted coldly, glanced at her own son beside her, and said, "There are only three of us women in the family, and it's because some people keep dragging their feet and refusing to get married."
Su Fengzhang coughed, and seeing that Su Huihui not only didn't help but also laughed secretly, he couldn't help but glared at her: "Mom, didn't we discuss this matter? Why are you bringing it up again?"
Su Zhaoshi said, "Look at how lively the Xijunwang wedding was a few days ago. His Majesty married so many couples at that time, but why didn't he remember you?"
The more Su Zhao talked about this, the more anxious she became. She reached out and tapped her son's arm, asking, "Feng'er, I'm not urging you, but you're already twenty-two. How long are you going to delay this?"
"Look at your friends around you. Which one of them is not married with children? Don't you want to have a hot meal every day when you come back from the government office..."
Su Fengzhang reminded her, "Mom, I have hot meals to eat now that I'm back."
Su Zhaoshi said angrily, "You know clearly that mother didn't mean that."
Su Zhao glanced at Su Huihui, who quickly said, "Mother, second brother, I'll bring the things in first. Aneng, come and help me."
After saying that, he quickly left with Liu Neng.
After Su Huihui left, Su Zhaoshi said, "With a wife, you can come home tired every day and still have someone to talk to, chat with, and warm your bed. You can also have a few lovely children."
"Mom..." Su Fengzhang rubbed his brows, thinking that he probably couldn't escape what happened today.
He hesitated for a moment, feeling that he couldn't keep fooling around like this. As he got older, Su Zhaoshi would surely become more and more anxious. He explained, "Mother, I just want to find a wife who is in tune with me and someone I can talk to."
"Instead of having to deal with family matters after returning home, the two of us talking at cross purposes, lying in bed together, with nothing to talk about except the children."
Su Zhaoshi obviously didn't understand her son's idea, so she asked, "As time goes by, we'll naturally be able to talk. If you like a talented and learned daughter-in-law, I can help you find one."
"When a couple gets along without nagging about family matters, that's what life is all about."
Even in modern times, there are probably many marriages where the couple has nothing to talk about except their children. But precisely because of this, Su Fengzhang felt more and more disgusted in his heart. Call him pretentious or naive, but when he thought that his closest wife could not understand him at all, he felt extremely scared and anxious.
Maybe it's not just Su Huihui, he, the second brother, also has a fear of marriage. Could this be the reason why he has never been single after achieving success in his previous life?
Su Fengzhang still patiently explained: "Mom, this is different... I, how should I put it, I just want to find someone who shares the same ideals and who I can talk to about other than just the daily necessities."
Su Zhaoshi was panicked when she heard this. It would be better to tell her that the emperor had been dragging his feet. "Feng'er, you don't sound like you're looking for a wife, but rather a colleague."
"What do you mean by like-minded? Are you still looking for a female official? We don't have female officials in the Great Zhou Dynasty."
Su Fengzhang also fell silent. It was true. The limitations of the times meant that he could never find his ideal wife. In fact, he could also choose to marry a virtuous woman of equal social status. He had thought so before.
But since when did he become opposed to that kind of marriage?
Su Zhao looked at his expression and asked, "Feng'er, do you already have someone in your heart? That's why you say these words to deal with your mother. If you have a girl you like, mother will not refuse."
"Mom, really not." Su Fengzhang explained helplessly. There was no one around him. He was so busy in the past few years that he had not seen any women except his family members. The only exception was Prince Cheng.
When Su Fengzhang thought of Prince Cheng, his face became a little strange.
Su Zhaoshi, upon seeing this, became even more certain of her thoughts and advised, "Which girl have you taken a fancy to, or is there something wrong with that girl? Has she been engaged before? Or has she been divorced? You've always been a chaste person, so it's impossible for you to fall for a woman from a brothel, right?"
"Mom, it's really not true. I don't have any crush on anyone." Su Fengzhang emphasized again, "What I just said is what I really think."
Su Zhaoshi became even more desperate upon hearing this. She slapped his arm and cursed, "You're going to drive me crazy! What do you mean by soulmates and shared ideals? Where are you going to find a woman who shares your ideals? Are you planning to be a bachelor for the rest of your life?"
Su Fengzhang said with a broken jar: "There's nothing wrong with that. It will keep my ears clean and the house quiet."
Su Zhaoshi became even angrier and cursed, "Bullshit! I will never agree to this. If you don't marry, how will you have children? Who will take care of you in your old age and see you to the grave?"
Su Fengzhang touched his nose. Su Zhaoshi had always loved him, especially after he passed the imperial examination and became an official. She was even more obedient to her only son Su Zhaoshi. This was the first time she scolded him like this.
"Mom, I have Aneng. Besides, I have Lanzhang and Huihui. I won't have to worry about having no one to take care of me in my old age."
Su Zhaoshi said angrily, "How can that be the same? You are young and ignorant now. When you are older, you will know the disadvantages of having no children. Not to mention anything else, you won't even have someone to break the pot for you."
Su Fengzhang thought to himself that he would be dead by then, so he didn't care whether anyone smashed pots and burned incense or not. However, looking at Su Zhao's face, he thought it was better not to provoke her. After thinking for a while, he smiled and said, "Mother, it's time for me to go to the government office. I'm leaving first."
Su Zhao really wanted to grab her son and continue talking to him, asking him to correct this bad habit that came from nowhere, but she couldn't delay him from going to the government office, so she had to give up for the time being.
But Su Zhao was thinking that she would have to have a good talk with Su Fengzhang after he came back. Hasn't it been like this for thousands of years, generation after generation, with men staying outside and women staying inside? Why is it not possible for him?
Then she thought about how Su Dianli had scolded her for being narrow-minded when he was still alive. He never liked to tell her about outside affairs, and his words were full of disgust. She suddenly felt that the upper beam was crooked and the lower beams were crooked. It must be his father who passed this bad habit on to her, and now it has become worse.
At this time, Su Zhaoshi didn't want to think about the fact that Su Dianli did not delay in getting married and taking concubines. Besides, this man had been dead for so many years and he didn't care much about his youngest son back then. How could he influence Su Fengzhang, who had his own ideas?
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