Gu Zheng got up very early in the morning, even earlier than the maids and servants, before dawn.
The Gu family was a scholarly family, but due to the unexpected turn of General Gu, they ended up as military officers.
Now, the Gu family is divided into two branches, east and west.
The East Mansion belongs to the eldest master of the Gu family, while the West Mansion belongs to General Gu. The eldest master of the Gu family works at the Hanlin Academy and is a very proper and disciplined old scholar.
Because the West Mansion was a general's residence, a martial arts training ground was built inside. Gu Zheng got up, practiced a round of boxing, and then wielded a spear for a while. His head was steaming with white vapor before he went to take a hot bath.
"Seventh Young Master, Madam said you should have breakfast in the main courtyard. The Third Young Master will also be there."
This servant was given to me by my grandfather; he is of good character.
"Okay, I'll change my clothes and head over."
Gu Zheng's eldest brother is the second oldest, his second brother is the third oldest, his half-brother is the fifth oldest, and he is the seventh oldest.
The remaining numbers one, four, and six belong to Master Gu's family.
In the main courtyard, Madam Gu had already gotten up and finished washing up.
Young Master Gu's wife and Second Young Master Gu and his wife came to pay their respects. They knew that Xiao Qi had returned and were having breakfast together this morning.
"Mother, where is Xiao Qi?"
"Xiaoqi got up early to exercise and came over after washing up."
"Who is it, Xiao Qi?"
Young Master Gu Hui was very surprised and found it a bit unbelievable.
His little Qi used to sleep until noon, but now he's changed his ways and is getting up early to exercise. It's amazing how he's changed so much in just a few days.
“Xiao Qi is different from before, don’t judge people with old eyes.”
Gu Hui passed the imperial examination last year and is now working in the Hanlin Academy as a minor official of the seventh rank.
"Yes, I understand, Mother."
Gu Hui and Gu Zheng are several years apart in age, and they have different personalities. One prefers quiet, while the other prefers activity, and their brotherly relationship is complicated.
"Mother, I'm here."
Eldest sister-in-law, second brother, second sister-in-law.
The room became lively as soon as Gu Zheng entered.
"Xiao Qi, you've grown quite a bit in the past year!"
Gu looked at her younger brother, who was almost as tall as her. He had not only grown taller but also gained weight, though he was a bit darker-skinned.
"That's right. I have a big appetite now, I'm very active, and I've been drinking goat milk for several years. How could I not grow tall?"
Mom, I'm hungry, let's eat.
After dinner, I need to find Shao Yun and the others. Now that I'm in the capital, I must show them the proper hospitality.
Gu Zheng had been active all morning and was really hungry.
"Dinner's ready, dinner's ready, Xiao Qi's hungry."
Madam Gu heard her son's stomach rumbling and quickly told the servants to prepare a meal.
Gu Zheng was a carefree and unruly child, but he had no shortage of the manners expected of a scion of a prominent family.
He ate with elegance, and the sheer volume of rice he consumed, bowl after bowl, one silver thread roll after another, left the Gu family members speechless.
"Little Qi, does your stomach hurt?"
"Mom, my stomach doesn't hurt."
Gu Zheng was a little confused. Why was his mother looking at him with such a worried expression?
"You've eaten so much, doesn't your stomach hurt?"
Madam Gu was genuinely worried; how could she have eaten so much?
“Mom, I’m growing, this is my normal amount of food. Didn’t you see Shao Yun? He eats more than me.”
Furthermore, in the Northwest, my father and eldest brother not only ate a lot, but they also ate very quickly.
Gu Zheng knew that his mother and the others had never left Beijing, let alone seen the real working class, and did not understand what it meant for a half-grown boy to eat his father out of house and home.
"Really? I wonder if your older brother will be able to come back for the Chinese New Year this year?"
When her eldest son was mentioned, Madam Gu became somewhat downcast, and the eldest daughter-in-law's eyes also reddened.
"He should be able to come back. It's still about two months away, who knows? My older brother is already on his way back."
Gu Zheng continued talking without interrupting his meal.
"Mom, I'm full. I'm going to see Uncle Jiang and the others later. I won't be back tonight. I'll bring Shao Yun and the others to visit tomorrow."
"Go ahead, I've had the steward prepare some gifts, take them with you. Bring the Jiang family boys over tomorrow, Mother is also curious about Xiao Qi's friends."
Gu Zheng waved and ran away.
"Mother, Xiao Qi has changed a lot."
"Yes, he wasn't properly guided before he turned ten. After he turned ten, he met good teachers and helpful friends, and his temperament improved."
Regardless, Madam Gu was still grateful to the Jiang family for giving her little Qi another way out.
Gu Zheng left home and traveled smoothly in a carriage to the courtyard where the Jiang family rented a place.
"Young Master Gu has arrived. Please come inside."
When Li Li came out, he saw Gu Zheng, who had just gotten off the carriage, and quickly invited him into the courtyard.
"This is a gift prepared by my mother, please accept it, Brother Li."
Gu Zheng waved his hand, and the servant carried the gifts prepared by the lady into the courtyard. Yun Duo heard the noise and quickly came over to take over.
All of these things need to be recorded in the books.
Gu Zheng ignored all of that and went to find Shao Yun and the others.
"Uncle Jiang, goodnight."
I'm taking Shao Yun out for a walk in a bit, and we'll definitely be back before dark.
Tomorrow, I'll bring Shao Ming and Shao Yun to my house to introduce them to the neighborhood; my mother also wants to meet my friends.
"Okay, go ahead, but don't cause any trouble. Shao Mingfeng has just recovered from his cold, so let him rest at home."
I will visit your residence again tomorrow.
Jiang Shuyun agreed, but since General Gu wasn't home, it wasn't convenient for him to visit.
Shao Ming and his two children must go; otherwise, it would be against etiquette.
There are many places to have fun in Beijing during winter, but the most interesting one is ice skating.
Shao Yun, a child who had never seen snow before, was already overwhelmed by the various activities on the ice rink.
Shao Yun had never even heard of terms like "rushing to catch," "stealing the ball," or "spinning the ball around."
The two spent the whole day at the ice rink and didn't go back until dark.
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