Meanwhile, Chu Mingzhu was unaware that she had lost another batch of men and was busy writing a letter to her brother Xiao Yi to inquire about his well-being!
She guessed that the person delivering the items would arrive soon, and Chu Jinyu should have arrived as well. She was instructing Xiao Yi to be stricter with Chu Jinyu, to teach him the Chu family's marksmanship and military strategy, and to train him to become independent as soon as possible and restore the Chu family's glory.
Little did they know that Chu Jinyu was nestled next to Xie Yushu, sleeping like a little pig, and was snoring softly!
Although Xie Yushu returned first, she did not fall asleep and waited for Xie Tianqi and the others. It wasn't until midnight that Xie Tianqi and the others returned. Lu Shi and the others were already fast asleep. The group of them met briefly in the side room, learned the outcome of the matter, and then left it at that.
As long as Chu Mingzhu doesn't cause trouble in the near future, once her manor is developed and the staff is trained, it won't matter who she sends!
The group slept soundly for half the night. The next day was the day to invite guests. The family got up early, ate breakfast, and then several male members of the Xie family went to relatives' homes in the clan and various villages to invite people over for lunch in the afternoon. They also arranged for people to collect gifts, write gift accounts, and help with cooking and serving the food for the wedding banquet the next day.
The women stayed home steaming buns and cooking rice, preparing the staple foods in advance so that they could save a lot of time by heating them up in a large pot the next day.
The Xie family was bustling with activity. Old Mrs. Xiao and Xie Yujiao couldn't contain their desire to show off, so they went to Xie Yujiao's house to boast.
Xie Yujiao's parents and Xie Dafu's family were feeling annoyed when they heard Old Mrs. Xiao's shrill scream.
"Oh! My dear in-laws, are you home? I've come to see you!"
When Xie Yujiao's grandmother, Ma, saw that Xie Yujiao and Xiao Yan were also there, her heart skipped a beat, and she frowned.
"What is she doing here when it's neither a holiday nor a festival! Could it be that Yu Jiao has also been divorced by her!"
Do they think Yu Jiao is easy to bully? If she doesn't give me a straight answer, I'll tear her apart!
Xie Yujiao's mother's expression changed upon hearing this, and she hurriedly went out to ask.
"What brings you here, Mother-in-law? Come inside!"
Seeing the expressions on the faces of Old Madam Xiao and her entourage, Xie Yujiao's mother, Zhu, felt that things weren't as her mother-in-law had described, so she put on a smile and ushered them into the house.
Grandma Xiao deliberately held the two bags of pastries high in her hand, showing them off proudly.
"Isn't this because our second son has made something of himself!"
You want to find me a princess as my wife!
"Well, yesterday the princess specially sent someone to visit us, bringing several boxes of good things. I was thinking about my aunt-in-law, and since Yu Jiao was also homesick, Yanzi and I accompanied her to come and see her."
As she spoke, Old Mrs. Xiao went into the inner room.
At this time, when in-laws visit each other, they usually go to see the elders first. So everyone went straight into Grandma Ma's house, where the whole family was there. Grandma Xiao then gloated for a while.
"Oh my, you guys didn't see that? The princess's carriage was so tall, and it even had flowers carved on it!"
That big black horse was taller than a person, and its shiny mane looked like it had been fed a lot of grain!
The princess only sent one of her maids over, but you wouldn't believe how lavishly she was dressed, with gold and silver hairpins adorning her hair, and she was accompanied by four guards carrying large swords!
That grandeur surpasses even the ladies and young women of the city!
They even brought us a whole cartload of food and supplies. Look at these pastries, they're made like flowers! I specially brought you two boxes to try!
"You all have such good judgment in marrying Yujiao into our family! You'll be living a life of luxury! There's no girl for miles around with a better life than her!"
The Xie family members were both jealous and pleased upon hearing Old Madam Xiao's condescending words!
I'm so jealous of Old Madam Xiao, who's like a shrew, yet she raised such a successful son who's even going to marry the princess. How infuriating!
What pleased her most was that, after all, her daughter was now a daughter-in-law of the Xiao family. With the Xiao family's prosperity, her daughter was now a young mistress of an official's family, and she wouldn't miss out on the benefits from her maternal family. Zhu immediately pulled Xie Yujiao to the warmest spot on the kang (heated brick bed) and showered her with concern and affection, calling her her precious darling and coaxing her with sweet words. This made Xie Yujiao overjoyed, her chin held high in her hands.
"Father and Mother, don't worry. Once we have connections, it will be much easier for my husband to pass the imperial examination and become an official. When he becomes successful, he will also arrange jobs for our brothers. They will definitely be more successful than those two little brats, Xie Tianqi and Xie Tianming!"
Xie Yujiao harbored resentment towards Xie Yushu and would seize any opportunity to kick Xie Yushu while she was down!
Grandma Xiao was instinctively unhappy that Xie Yujiao was siding with her own family, but when she thought about how successful her fourth son was, and how it would be great for her family to arrange some jobs for Xie Yujiao's family, she didn't show it.
Xie Yujiao's words truly touched the hearts of Xie Dafu's family, and Xie Dafu's face beamed with joy.
"Oh, that's wonderful! Yu Jiao is so promising; I have hope for the future!"
Xie Dafu complained as he spoke.
"My dear in-laws, you have no idea! Sigh!"
You were right to divorce that slut Xie Yushu; she's a troublemaker!
She was useless and ran away from her man. You divorced her, and to make matters worse, she shamelessly dragged the clan down. I was thinking of expelling her from the clan for the good of the people, but she used money to buy land and instigated her father to join a branch of the clan!
This has made me, the clan leader, the villain for no reason!
Those who don't know better would think that I, as the clan leader, can't tolerate my own nephews and nieces!
"Alas! I have no one to confide in about my suffering!"
Xie Dafu never mentioned that they were eyeing the job that Xie Tianqi and his brother wanted.
Whether it's mentioned or not, it doesn't prevent Old Madam Xiao and Xie Yujiao from seeing Xie Yushu.
Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Xiao immediately spoke arrogantly.
"Hmph! I knew she was no good!"
That spendthrift slut doesn't even deserve to bear the surname of the Xiao family!
Our Xiao Yi is now a great general, and only a princess like her is worthy of our family's honor! What is Xie Yushu anyway!
I've wanted to teach her a lesson for a long time, but she's been acting arrogantly because her two brothers work in the government office.
But now, I'm not afraid of her at all. My son is a great general; crushing her is as easy as crushing an ant!
Xie Yujiao was filled with resentment at Xie Yushu's constant dominance over her, and seized the opportunity to fan the flames.
“Mother, Xie Yushu has bullied us a lot. She even instigated the village chief to slap us in the face. My eldest sister also got a beating because of her. If we don’t avenge this, won’t others think we’re afraid of her?
Furthermore, Xie Yushu bought land in Xiejia Village and wanted to build ancestral graves and an ancestral hall, and even made her father the clan chief. Everyone knows that my grandfather is the clan chief, and her father is also a clan chief. Isn't this a slap in my grandfather's face?
"You and my grandfather are related by marriage. She's blatantly betrayed him. Isn't this a blatant disrespect for you and for me, the young mistress of the Xiao family?"
Old Mrs. Xiao had not been able to gain any advantage over Xie Yushu several times, and she originally wanted to use Xie Yushu to establish her authority. With Xie Yujiao's instigation, she immediately transformed into the old lady of the General's Mansion, patting her chest and vowing to avenge her in-laws!
This was exactly what Xie Dafu wanted. Xie Dafu and his family immediately went to settle accounts with Xie Yushu, confronting the families who had caused trouble for him.
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