"The last time we met was when our son Xu Zheng was a month old. Years have passed since then, and you've grown a full head of white hair."
—The Xu Family of Jiangnan
An elderly man with gray hair poured a cup of tea for Master Hou, as is customary when entertaining guests.
Master Hou also felt a bit nostalgic for the past. Back then, he was in his prime, and the Hou family was just starting out. As a family of embroidery masters, he should have come to visit Master Xu.
Later, they collaborated and became good friends who corresponded with each other.
This time, however, firstly, I was a guest, and secondly, my daughter said so.
"Dad, she's someone's granddaughter, after all. Whether he likes her or not, we still have to see her."
They're in their seventies or eighties; they can't be denied even the chance to see their own granddaughter.
"I heard your daughter is quite capable. Back in the border town, it was thanks to Yingying that Qiushui was taken care of. Your uncle has prepared a small gift for you; take it with you when you go back."
"Thank you, Uncle."
Lady Hou bowed in greeting.
Everyone knew about Lady Hou's widowhood and the fact that her husband had died, so they tacitly avoided mentioning it.
Until, when Master Xu saw the baby in the arms of the Lady of the Marquis, he asked...
"Yingying, whose child is this?"
Upon hearing this, Master Hou's smile vanished instantly. Xu Zheng wasn't home; he was inspecting various shops and businesses in Jiangnan. Qiu Shui was too busy to handle everything, so her capable father had to take care of everything.
Lady Hou smiled and said
"Uncle, this is my youngest daughter, she was just born this year."
The child was well cared for. Logically speaking, a child this age shouldn't be subjected to the hardships of travel, but Huo Xiaolong couldn't resist filling a large bottle with the spiritual spring water for the child.
The old doctor spoke to his young apprentice.
"As long as you don't pour that water up your little sister's nose, you'll be safe and sound on the way, don't worry."
Upon hearing this, Master Xu felt that he might have said something wrong. Should he ask who his father was?
Lady Hou then continued...
“Uncle, this is your granddaughter. We have another matter to discuss with you today, which is to let you see her. Don’t worry, the Hou family has no other intentions. This child’s surname is Hou.”
"..."
"..."
The elderly couple from the Xu family were a little taken aback when they heard this. Indeed, they had received a message from their son saying that he had developed feelings for Hou's daughter.
However, their son had only sent one letter home in the past year. If it weren't for the fact that the Xu family also had business in the border town and that someone in charge of the household frequently saw Xu Zheng and reported it in the letter, the old couple would have thought that something had happened to their son.
Xu Zheng: Busy climbing the wall to take care of the children.
"hold head high?"
After a long pause, Mr. Xu uttered this single word, seemingly still not quite understanding what was happening.
"What are you talking about? It's your son's child, but now it's my child. After all, the two of them don't have any official status, and their household registration is still in the border town."
—Slap.
The table next to Old Madam Xu was slammed so hard it shook, and she addressed the butler outside the door.
"Guards! Bring this unfilial son Xu Zheng back here, and also call back the eldest and second sons and their wives!"
“Sister, there’s no need to make such a fuss. As long as the children are happy, that’s all that matters,” Old Madam Hou advised from the side.
Outside the main room were Hou Xiangxiang and two others, who were dressed in plain clothes today.
The little girl swallowed hard.
"How about the three of us go play in the backyard?"
"I'm already the Prince of Zhenbei, who would still go to play in the backyard?"
“She means it’s lively and interesting,” Dani’er said from the side.
Madam Xu caught her breath, sat back down, took Madam Hou's hand, quietly looked at the baby in her arms, and then said to her.
"It's our fault, Yingying, we've wronged you."
"Don't worry, we old folks have some savings of our own, and we love this child just as much."
"I remember you have a daughter?"
Lady Hou nodded slightly to her elders, and then said...
"Yes, they're playing at the entrance."
"Nonsense, you're almost twenty, a grown woman. You can't just leave her by the door and let her squat on the ground to play like a child!"
Three people were squatting at the door, picking at the mud with small wooden sticks.
"..."
"I'm talking to you, squatting on the ground playing!" Huo Xiaolong hurriedly stood up and pointed at the little girl.
"You're such a scoundrel, Huo Xiaolong."
Looking at the older men, it's clear that Master Hou's dissatisfaction with Xu Zheng over the past year is palpable, as he pours out his grievances to his own father.
“I remember your son Xu Zhengbin as a polite, sensible, and steady child.”
"At first, I knew what he was thinking. I figured it would be fine if the two children's feelings remained just that—feelings. But who knew? Huh? After having a child, he'd be climbing over the wall every day."
"Anyway, this child must be surnamed Hou. He absolutely cannot be raised here with you. Brother, don't blame me for being blunt, but we have very few children, and we only have Xiangxiang as our only daughter, unlike your family, which has a whole bunch of children."
Master Xu had actually been wanting to bring this up earlier. He didn't have a single daughter. Oh, he did have one, but she ran off to the border town and never came home.
So, is it possible to raise this child yourself?
This is also why Xu Qiushui was favored at home. Although she had no mother, Old Madam Xu raised the child very well.
"Brother, let's discuss this. You see, we already have a child, what about the marriage of the two younger generation?"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! My daughter must never leave home again. She should stay at home for the rest of her life and be treated like a pampered princess."
The Xu family was also somewhat different from other families. Before Xu Zheng was born, the Xu family was just an ordinary wealthy merchant family in Jiangnan. The eldest and second eldest sons spent their days leisurely eating, drinking and having fun. It wasn't until Xu Zheng grew up that his outstanding intelligence first made him the head of the family. Later, he assessed the situation and led the Xu family onto the path of becoming imperial merchants.
In his youth, he could have been a handsome, noble, and taciturn young master.
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