Chapter 190: Green Grass Gets a Beating [Heartfelt Thanks for Everyone's Support

After returning to the Xu residence to wash and groom, Xu Xu Zaijing and his elder brother arrived at the Sheng family home just past the Chen hour.

Xu Xu Zaijing stepped down from the carriage, looked up, and saw that today's sky was not blue but gray, with a biting chill filling the north wind.

Upon entering the lecture hall, Xu Xu Zaijing placed the hand-warmer into Seeing Qingcao's hands, then gently lifted the curtain, only to discover with surprise that Tutor Zhuang was not present.

Xu Xu Zaijing and the other walked in.

"Sheng Changbai, where is the Tutor?"

"The Tutor attended a warming-stove gathering last night, drank wine, and returned rather late; he is low on energy today and instructed us to review our lessons first."

Hearing the voices, Gu Gu Tingye, whose eyes were somewhat blurred, looked up, clearly having been quite drowsy just moments before.

Sitting behind their respective desks,

Xu Zaizhang, who had been in good spirits on the carriage, found his eyelids battling each other once enveloped by the lecture hall's warm atmosphere.

Only Xu Xu Zaijing, having napped for two hours in the Gu family's guest room and thus skipping his morning exercises, remained alert.

Yet drowsiness seemed contagious; within the comfortably warm lecture hall, faint snoring sounds gradually began to rise.

Sheng Changbai in the front row turned to look back; seeing Sheng Changfeng at the very rear with his eyes closed, smacking his lips, Sheng Changbai shook his head, then nodded toward Xu Xu Zaijing, whose eyes remained bright.

By noon, Mama Fang entered the lecture hall accompanying a Sheng family maid delivering lunch, and everyone seated at the desks woke up one after another.

Smiling, Mama Fang squatted in a bow and said, "Young Masters, these dishes are from the Old Lady's small kitchen; Shou'an Hall has also prepared a banquet. Does anyone wish to go?"

Hearing this, Sheng Changbai, Xu Xu Zaijing, and Minglan stood up; Xu Zaizhang and Gu Gu Tingye clearly intended to continue sleeping after eating, while Sheng Changfeng and Seeing Mo Lan did not wish to go, and Hearing Rulan dared not go.

Finally, Qi Heng glanced at Xu Xu Zaijing and also stood up.

Subsequently, the four donned heavy cloaks and proceeded to Shou'an Hall.

Upon arriving here, Minglan involuntarily relaxed.

The Old Lady and the others took their seats.

"Did your elder sister manage smoothly yesterday?"

Hearing the Old Lady's words, Xu Xu Zaijing nodded and replied, "Great-aunt, it went smoothly, largely thanks to the medical woman's superb skills."

The Old Lady nodded, glancing at Xu Xu Zaijing; those four words 'superb skills' conveyed quite a bit.

Observing Sheng Changbai pause slightly with his chopsticks and Minglan glance at him, the Old Lady smiled.

Qi Heng nearby spoke somewhat stiffly, "I-I have gained a younger brother as well."

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled and said, "Let us each address one another according to our own standings."

Qi Heng smiled and nodded; he called Gu Gu Tingye 'Second Uncle,' and calling Xu Pingmei 'Aunt' would indeed place him a generation lower.

After everyone had eaten their fill and consumed some digestif tea in the main hall, the Old Lady waved to Minglan, who entered the Old Lady's bedchamber and emerged carrying two small bundles.

"Your sister Sheng Hualan and Lady Wei Xiaoniang Minglan made these for your elder sister; it is their heartfelt gesture. Take them back with you when you return."

Minglan walked to Xu Xu Zaijing's side, squatted in a bow, and placed the bundles before him.

Xu Xu Zaijing accepted them, nodded, and said, "Great-aunt, on behalf of my elder sister and mother, I offer my thanks to both of them."

The Old Lady smiled and nodded.

Having finished the tea,

In the afternoon, Sheng Changbai, Xu Xu Zaijing, and the other four returned together to the lecture hall.

On the way to the lecture hall, Xu Xu Zaijing noticed the sky growing increasingly overcast.

During the afternoon session, Tutor Zhuang still did not appear.

After classes ended,

Xu Xu Zaijing and his elder brother returned home.

When Xu Xu Zaijing delivered Sheng Hualan and Lady Wei Wei Xiaoniang's gifts to Lady Sun's courtyard, Xie Shi, having just completed her confinement month, was there with her sister-in-law Xu Xu Anmei, visiting the child in Lady Sun's presence.

At dinner time, the Shengjia Sect sent a young servant over, stating that Tutor Zhuang was unwell and the lecture hall would be closed for two days.

Early the next morning, when Xu Xu Zaijing rose to exercise, he stepped out of his room only to discover snowflakes drifting from the sky.

The ground was covered by merely a thin layer, indicating the snow had only just begun to fall.

Nearby, Seeing Qingcao, wearing a cape, held a lantern inside it with her hands; Xu Xu Zaijing frowned as he looked, noticing Seeing Qingcao shiver beside him.

In the lantern's faint glow, a gentle blow from the north wind caused Seeing Qingcao's sleeves to flutter several times; Xu Xu Zaijing's gaze hardened.

He beckoned Seeing Qingcao over; as she took a step closer, Xu Xu Zaijing reached out and grabbed her, feeling the nearly empty cotton-padded jacket, his expression turned grim.

"Where is the cotton inside?"

Hearing Xu Xu Zaijing's words, Seeing Qingcao froze and stammered, "Young Master, this servant..."

"What is it?"

"Previously, a letter arrived from home saying my brother was to marry, so I sent the..."

"Why did you not tell me?"

"..."

"How many days has it been?"

"Young Master, this servant has been riding in the carriage at the Sheng family and has not felt cold for five days."

Xu Xu Zaijing sighed and said,

"Very well, I understand!"

Having spoken, by the candlelight within the lantern, he also saw Seeing Qingcao's bare hands gripping the lantern pole; noticing Xu Xu Zaijing's gaze, she tucked her hands back into her cape.

Xu Xu Zaijing furrowed his brows.

"Give me the lantern, go inside, and scrub the fish tank again."

"Yes."

Arriving at the horse track, the Master walked out from the stable, looked at the approaching Xu Xu Zaijing, and asked, "Where is Seeing Qingcao?"

"Scrubbing the fish tank!"

After speaking, Xu Xu Zaijing set down the lantern; Brother Qingyun also approached at this moment, carrying short spears in his arms.

After warming up his body.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

In the personal guards' quarters, Di Jing, Feng Feng Dabao, and several other guards were startled awake by the sounds transmitting through the wall.

The people in the room donned the cotton jackets issued by Hou Fu to the personal guards, and several of them went outside the quarters to the rear of the building.

"Boom!" The sound was even louder.

By the wall,

a tree trunk thick enough for one person to embrace had been cut into a two-foot-high cylinder, with ropes tied to both ends, hoisted by a wooden frame to over a person's height, and placed with its thick end facing outward.

It was positioned roughly where a human head would be.

Currently, several short spears were nailed onto it; the previous booming sounds were caused by the force of the spears transmitting through the trunk and smashing against the wall.

The earlier clanging sounds seemed to occur because the force was not as great as today, so the trunk did not strike the wall.

Di Jing and his comrades exchanged glances: "It's nothing; let's go back."

"I think it's a pity that Young Master possesses such martial arts yet takes the imperial examinations."

"Boom!"

Another short spear flew over.

"What you say is true."

The snowflakes were not heavy but fell continuously; since there was no need to attend the lecture hall, Xu Xu Zaijing practiced until past the Mao hour before arriving at the bathhouse.

At this moment, Seeing Seeing Qingcao had already put on an old brocade cotton jacket beneath her clothes and stood under the eaves at the doorway, holding a large cloak in her hands.

"Hmph! Not entirely foolish."

Seeing Seeing Qingcao lowered her head and dared not speak.

"Where are the gloves?"

"Ouch!"

Seeing Seeing Qingcao received a flick on the forehead and covered her brow.

Xu Xu Zaijing curled his lip and entered the bathhouse: "Once you're done, go to Mother's courtyard to collect another five jin of cotton; tell them I have use for it."

"Yes, Young Master!"

After rinsing the sweat from his body, Xu Xu Zaijing had his hair dried under Seeing Seeing Qingcao's attendance; upon arriving at the Main Lady's courtyard, Sun Shi glanced at Seeing Seeing Qingcao but said nothing.

After finishing breakfast, Xu Xu Zaijing 'packed' a box of fruits and returned to his own small courtyard.

The kang heating system, which was rarely lit in the past, was fired up today.

Xu Xu Zaijing continued practicing calligraphy, while Seeing Seeing Qingcao worked in the inner room to refill the cotton padding herself.

Just as the Si hour arrived,

outside the door,

"Brother Jing! I'm here!"

Xu Xu Zaijing walked around the desk to the doorway, where Gu Gu Tingye and Liang Han were approaching under a young servant's umbrella.

"Why have you two come?"

"Mother said she wanted to discuss matters regarding the wedding day with Wu Da Da Niangzi, so I followed along," Liang Han said, upon which Gu Gu Tingye, standing nearby, nodded.

"Brother Jing, Mother said we should go out and play! Shall we go?"

Xu Xu Zaijing nodded.

"You, stay home and work!"

Hearing their Young Master's order, Seeing Seeing Qingcao nodded with an embarrassed expression.

The three sat in a single carriage and departed from Xu Fu.

Because, like the Xu family, thin cotton quilts were pasted onto the carriage interior, and because there were hot water tanks and hand warmers,

although white snow fell heavily outside, the interior of the carriage remained warm.

"Today let's go to Pan Lou! It's been too long since we ate their Bo Xia Gong."

"Brother Jing?"

Xu Xu Zaijing glanced at Liang Han and said: "Liang Liu Lang, do you, or any of that group of young men close to you, possess anyone highly skilled in bamboo craftsmanship, or in working with copper or iron sheets?"

Liang Han replied: "My family has such people; what is the matter?"

"Find the most skilled artisans and have them go to Pan Lou; I have something to do."

After hearing Xu Xu Zaijing finish speaking, Liang Han lifted the carriage curtain, allowing a gust of cold wind mixed with snowflakes to blow inside.

"Go, summon our family's master bamboo artisan, coppersmith, and blacksmith to Pan Lou!"

After traveling for three ke, they arrived below Pan Lou.

A huge bamboo-colored tower blocked the falling snowflakes; Xu Xu Zaijing and the other two disembarked from the carriage,

the waiter at the entrance hurriedly lifted the curtain,

Liang Han and Gu Gu Tingye had already walked inside,

Brother Qingyun, who had followed on horseback, brushed the snowflakes from his body and came to Xu Xu Zaijing's side: "Young Master, I will go over there to buy some meat buns."

Xu Xu Zaijing glanced in the direction Brother Qingyun indicated, where several ragged children were shivering while begging by the roadside.

"Do you have much silver money on you?"

Brother Qingyun nodded.

Xu Xu Zaijing nodded and entered Pan Lou.

One shichen later, people from the Liang family arrived at Pan Lou and were led upstairs by the young servant attending Liang Han.

After a quarter of an hour, the Liang family's master bamboo artisan and copper/iron smiths departed Pan Lou, carrying the 'takeout' Bo Xia Gong.

Upstairs, Liang Han and Gu Gu Tingye stared at Xu Xu Zaijing in utter bewilderment.

"Brother Jing, what exactly are you up to?"

"You'll find out in due time! Come, the meat is cooked!"

As the three chatted, a steward from Pan Lou entered the room: "Upon learning that several honored guests were present, our proprietor specially instructed this humble servant to deliver this lamb wine."

Liang Han smoothly cupped his fists and said, "Please convey our thanks to your esteemed proprietor!"

Once the steward had departed, Liang Han set down his chopsticks in frustration, remarking, "Truly flavorless and dull! Diao Che, go to Cui Ruan... never mind, go to Qiyun Pavilion and summon two good-looking musicians."

"Yes, Young Master!"

As Diao Che went out, Brother Qingyun entered the small room with a smile; Xu Xu Zaijing glanced over and said, "Over there, there's still a seat."

Brother Qingyun nodded.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Diao Che led two women wearing veiled hats and brocade-cotton robes to the third floor of Pan Lou, entering the small room.

Soon, a melodious ensemble of xiao flute and zither filled the room.

Wei Hour, exact mark (2:00 PM)

The snow ceased falling,

The Street Administration Office began ordering people to sweep the snow,

The swishing sound of snow-sweeping drifted up to the upper floors; Xu Xu Zaijing donned a large fur-lined cloak and approached the small room's window,

After pushing open the window and gazing out, he saw that every rooftop in his field of vision had turned white, a vast expanse clad in silver.

Watching the common folk sweeping snow below, Xu Xu Zaijing beckoned to Brother Qingyun; after speaking a few words with him, Brother Qingyun exited the small room.

After admiring the snowy scenery for a while longer, just as Xu Xu Zaijing returned to his seat, Pan Lou servants carried out two large buckets of hot soup to ward off the cold.

Having eaten and drunk their fill,

The three of them squeezed into a single carriage for the return journey,

While on Brother Qingyun's horse, food boxes containing the Bo Xia Gong ingredients and meat dishes were secured on either side of the saddle.

Inside the carriage, Gu Gu Tingye asked softly, "Liang Liu Lang, the skills of those two musicians were truly superb."

"Naturally."

Glancing at Xu Xu Zaijing, Liang Han remained silent,

But when he looked back at Gu Gu Tingye, he winked his left eye.

Gu Gu Tingye paused for a moment, then nodded.

Xu Xu Zaijing closed his eyes: 'Sigh, Brother Ye, your next round of planking has been secured.'

Returning to Quyuan Street,

They arrived at Sun Shi's courtyard,

"Greetings to Auntie Bai, greetings to Auntie Wu."

"Brother Jing, did you have fun playing with Liang Liu Lang and Brother Ye?"

"We had fun; Liang Liu Lang even found..."

"Ahem..." Liang Han shot Xu Xu Zaijing a look.

"... even found craftsmen from the Liang family for me."

"Brother Jing, are you about to create something new again?"

"Yes."

The three main ladies arrived at the second gate of Marquis Marquis Yongyi's Hou Fu,

Bai Shi said, "Sister, then it is settled; on the day Yuan Yuan Erlang fetches his bride, Sister Wu and I will send people over."

"Mm!"

After speaking, the two main ladies returned to their respective homes.

The following day,

The Liang family craftsmen delivered the items Xu Xu Zaijing requested to the Xu residence.

Xu Xu Zaijing casually picked one up to test it; hmm, the elasticity was quite good.

Also,

Rare Dragon Pearls are so hard to get!

If there are any typos or awkward passages, respected readers are kindly requested to point them out without hesitation!

(`) Heart fingers

Thanks to Beija Orange for the 500 reward

Thanks to Nv Mei for the 100 reward

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(End of Chapter)