Chapter 236 Grandfather only said it was a family heirloom
The old man grabbed another handful of peanuts and placed them on the edge of the charcoal basin, careful not to burn any of them. "You are the wife of the next head of the Xu family, and also the mistress of the Xu family."
"Yu'er isn't home, so there's nothing wrong with you going on such a big matter. Besides, this was your idea, so wouldn't it be great if you could do it?"
Sang Zhixia hesitated and said, "But no one knows me, and I've never met Chen Nianhe."
"Will it be okay if I go?"
"Of course it's possible."
The old man picked out the perfectly cooked peanuts and put them aside. He stood up and went out for a while. He came back soon and said with a smile, "Hold out your hand."
Sang Zhixia had been slapped on the hand several times because of her ugly handwriting. When she heard the words "stretch out your hand", she reflexively spread out her palm, but what she got was a cold sign.
The fingers are long and two fingers wide, with no obvious emblems on them that would look conspicuous.
On the front is the word "Xu" which is restrained but sharp. The back feels uneven. When you turn it over, it looks like seal script or some kind of pattern.
"Grandfather, what is this?"
"It's the Xu family's ancestral order."
The old man said calmly, "The Xu family's Patriarch's Order is divided into two, one in the hands of the Patriarch and the other in the hands of the mistress. This is a rule passed down in the Xu family a hundred years ago, but..."
The old man seemed to consider it for a moment, then sneered and said, "Your grandmother is not capable of great things, and your mother-in-law is weak-willed. Therefore, this token that belongs to the mistress of the Xu family has not been taken out for many years."
It’s been so long that the old man almost forgot that the Xu family has such a thing.
The old man ignored the surprise in Sang Zhixia's eyes and said calmly, "This token is exactly the same as the one in Yu'er's hand. The ink on the back is the Xu family seal. Anyone who knows the Xu family will naturally know your identity when they see this token."
"Girl, from now on, this thing is yours."
If the Xu family was still at its peak, Sang Zhixia would probably be excited for a long time about the light token in her hand.
But the Xu family today is not the Xu family of the past.
Therefore, Sang Zhixia just let out a slight surprise, and then put the token away without any burden.
Isn’t it just a token that can prove your identity?
Gray is not gold.
Even if you get the token, you just need to open a farm and dig the ground. There is no need to be nervous or excited.
Seeing her calm attitude, as if she had only taken two copper coins, the old man said with a smile, "This thing is a family heirloom. It has been passed down for a hundred years and there are only two of them. Remember to keep it well and don't lose it."
Sang Zhixia was concentrating on picking up the peanuts beside the charcoal basin: "Okay!"
Sang Zhixia really didn't take it seriously.
It was not until the day they set out for the Northwest Camp that Lin Yun's face suddenly changed when he saw the token hanging around her waist. He almost forgot the no-etiquette rule that Sang Zhixia had repeatedly emphasized during this period.
Sang Zhixia said with a smile: "Why are you so nervous?"
"We're just looking for someone to talk to, not to cause trouble."
Xue Liu had long since taken off her veil, and now covered her face with a veil. Her gaze passed over Sang Zhixia's waist, and she chuckled softly, "Originally, I was worried about not being able to get in, but since the boss has this thing on him, there's nothing to worry about."
Sang Zhixia's eyes flashed when he heard the voice, and he suddenly became curious about the use of this extra token.
She got in the car and waved to Xue Liu: "Come on, come on, sit down and tell me in detail, what exactly can this thing do?"
The expressions of these people became more cautious for no reason the moment they saw the token, and their conversations were less familiar and casual than before.
Besides verifying one's identity, could this thing have other uses?
Seeing that Sang Zhixia really didn't know, Xue Liu asked in surprise, "Didn't the old man tell you when he gave you this?"
"Grandfather just said it was a family heirloom and told me to keep it safe and not lose it."
Xue Liu was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. He pulled out the small tea table from the carriage, started to wash the tea, and said slowly, "This item is an order from the Xu family's Patriarch. Seeing this item is like seeing the Xu family's Patriarch in person. We should be very respectful."
Sang Zhixia fiddled with the small token with her fingertips and said with a smile, "There are only a few people in the Xu family now. Can these rules be so strict?"
"Who said these are the only people we can use?"
Xue Liulin Yun and others are all die-hard fans of the Xu family. When they saw the head of the family's order, they could guess the old man's intentions, so they did not hide their curiosity about Sang Zhixia.
After Xue Liu finished speaking, Sang Zhixia's face was filled with surprise. "You mean, the Xu family still has some forces outside the village that can be mobilized? Then when we first came to the village, things were so bleak. Why didn't Grandfather and Xu Yu mention it at all?"
I won’t talk about the old man’s silence.
Xu Yu chopped wood and moved bricks in earnest, and his shoulders were rubbed raw for the mere six copper coins a day. Would he have endured this suffering?
Xue Liu placed the brewed tea next to Sang Zhixia's hand and whispered, "Before the incident happened, the young master issued an urgent secret order, forcing all subordinates associated with the Xu family to hide and not travel outside. They were also forbidden to engage in any further business without permission."
"The imperial decree to confiscate the family property in Kyoto has just been issued, and the entire Xu family is under the watchful eyes of countless people. The slightest disturbance would be a catastrophe if it were to get out. The old man and the young master have no choice but to endure it."
Besides, when Xu Yu first entered Luobei Village, he was very upset because of Hongbei's affairs. The old man was so shocked that he couldn't muster any energy. Forbearance was only a temporary solution.
As early as the first time Xu Yu went on a long journey from Luobei Village, he had secretly gathered together the big and small spies and strongholds that the Xu family had set up outside for many years.
Sang Zhixia clicked her tongue and didn't respond.
Xue Liu smiled and said, "The Xu family has been operating for many years, not only in the imperial court but also in the capital. However, during the family turmoil, there were also many traitors who deserved death. After eliminating them, there are not many left now. They are all useful to the young master and have been loyal for generations."
"The old man gave you this token, which means that from now on, you will be like the young master when you are outside. You can mobilize the Xu family's available personnel on your own without anyone's consent. Anyone who sees this token will obey your orders. No matter what you want to do, no one dares to disobey."
In other words, what the old man gave her was the greatest honor for being the daughter-in-law of the Xu family.
In the old man's eyes, Sang Zhixia is no longer a woman in the inner house who is the head of the family, but a person who can stand on her own and make decisions just like Xu Yu.
From now on, whatever Sang Zhixia wanted to do or know, she could easily achieve her wish with this token.
This was of such significance that she herself had never imagined.
Sang Zhixia played with the token on her fingertips and said nothing.
Xue Liu had said almost everything he needed to say, so he calmed down and said no more.
Lin Yun and Song Liu drove steadily, their wheels leaving deep ruts in the snow along the way. It was already afternoon when they arrived at the county town.
The snow piled up so heavily that the carriage could not move any faster.
It will take at least five days to get from here to the northwest camp.
The county town I visited two days ago presented another shocking scene in just two days.
Sang Zhixia looked at the many beggars on the roadside, and the corners of her lips tightened silently.
Opposite where they stood was a restaurant. The door of the restaurant was closed and the entrance was full of beggars.
"Shopkeeper, please be kind. My child hasn't eaten for three days. If he doesn't have anything to eat, he will..."
"Get out of here!"
"A little brat is dead, so why is he blocking your grandfather's way here?!"
A ragged but ferocious man rushed forward, followed by seven or eight thugs dressed in similar clothes, holding sticks and other weapons in their hands, and smashed the closed door of the restaurant!
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