Chapter 20: Reviewing Account Books and Making Plans

Lin Lin Qinshuang had not been permitted to pay New Year's calls; heavily pregnant, she sat comfortably in her own courtyard, Linqi Pavilion, enjoying breakfast.

"I wonder if this child will be a boy or a girl; it had better be a boy, one who will surely surpass the child from Weirui Pavilion."

"Wei Xiaoniang, please set your mind at ease; in my opinion, there is a ninety-nine percent chance the child in your womb is a boy," a maid beside her said obsequiously.

"You are a considerate one; in a while, I shall ask the Master to promote your duties and make you my personal maid-matron."

"Zhou Xueniang thanks the Lady."

Hearing this address, Lin Lin Qinshuang did not correct her but continued tending to the rare green plants before her.

Chen Hour (9:00 AM)

Shou'an Hall,

The concubine Wei Wei Shuyi stood behind the principal wife Wang Shi; Wang Shi's belly was not as large as Lin Lin Qinshuang's, yet she habitually guarded it with both hands, clearly indicating she too was with child.

During the New Year, the children and grandchildren of the subordinate officials under Seeing Seeing Sheng Hong in the Quanzhou bureaucracy would come to pay respects to their elders' direct superior.

Additionally, descendants of meritorious nobles and imperial clansmen who maintained ties with Marquis Marquis Yongyi's Hou Fu and lived nearby would come to the Old Lady's courtyard to offer New Year greetings.

After a morning of exhaustion, the Old Lady could finally rest.

"The New Year calls have been made, and I am somewhat weary; you may all return."

In the main hall, Old Lady Sheng waved her hand at Seeing Seeing Sheng Hong and his wife, then returned to the inner room supported by Mama Fang.

Sheng Sheng Hualan, standing nearby, considerately accompanied the Old Lady as she departed.

Ever since the incident involving Lin Lin Qinshuang, Old Lady Sheng had devoted herself to spiritual cultivation before a green lamp and ancient Buddha; aside from preparing meals for Sheng Sheng Hualan, the Old Lady subsisted on a vegetarian diet while chanting scriptures.

Only the festive atmosphere of the New Year brought some liveliness to Shou'an Hall; ordinarily, it was exceedingly desolate.

Perhaps due to these surroundings, though Old Lady Sheng was in her fifties, her demeanor resembled that of a woman in her sixties.

Gazing at Sheng Sheng Sheng Hualan, who stood before her growing ever more beautiful and dignified, the Old Lady's eyes were filled with deep affection.

"Hua'er, come; starting today, I shall teach you to read the account books. Sister Sister Suqin, bring over the household account books from previous years."

"Yes," Mama Fang replied from the side.

"Cui Ruan, during this period you must keep an eye out for special products from Quanzhou; select a few fine items, pack them, and send them to the capital—not to Jiying Lane, but to the Marquis Mansion on Quyuan Street. With His Majesty's grand birthday approaching, we must not cause the Marquis Mansion to lose face."

"Furthermore, prepare some silver and money for those old servants in Jingcheng."

The middle-aged maid standing nearby assented.

"Hua'er, examine them first; if there is anything you do not understand, ask me."

"Yes, Grandmother."

Jingcheng, Quyuanjie

With the families of military officers under Xu Minghua's command in the north coming to pay New Year's calls, there was naturally another bout of liveliness.

In the afternoon, Xu Xu Zaiduan, the legitimate eldest son of the Hou Fu, led four servants from the estate, followed at the rear by a cargo cart.

On the cart were coal, rice, flour, and meat.

He intended to represent his father in extending condolences and gifts to the descendants of the personal soldiers of Marquis Marquis Yongyi's Hou Fu.

In previous generations, as Marquis Marquis Yongyi's Hou Fu fought on the battlefield, many personal soldiers sacrificed their lives protecting successive Marquises of Marquis Yongyi; numerous orphans and widows among these soldiers' descendants had been settled by the Hou Fu within Jingcheng for easier care.

Among these descendants, those who were intelligent, eager to learn, and had connections entered the estate to serve as servants or stewards.

Some continued to enlist in the military, risking their lives.

Others engaged in small businesses within the capital.

Some entered the estate's farms near Jingcheng to tend the fields.

Others suffered calamities and left no descendants.

Those who became servants or stewards mostly accompanied the only daughter of that Marquis of Marquis Yongyi as part of her dowry to the Sheng family, thus never worrying about food or drink.

Those who remained in Jingcheng would still come to express gratitude during festivals for the rewards bestowed by the Hou Fu, thereby maintaining the ancestral connection.

Amidst the bustle, Xu Zaijing was pondering other matters; having frequently accompanied Sun Shi and often visited Lady Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion and Yongchang Count's Mansion, he had heard conversations revealing that the Emperor's milestone birthday was approaching.

If he could present a satisfactory gift at the Emperor's birthday banquet, pleasing His Majesty, he might receive some reward, just as Gu Er had received an imperial bestowal of a golden spear.

Even if no reward was granted, a thoughtful gift could ensure the Emperor remembered his loyalty, smoothing the official careers of his family elders and clansmen.

Thus, the next morning, while practicing martial arts with the Hou Fu's groom, Xu Xu Zaijing was somewhat distracted.

The groom quickly noticed Xu Xu Zaijing's state; limping, he approached Xu Xu Zaijing from behind and struck his buttocks with a staff.

"If you do not practice with full concentration, you might as well stand aside," the groom said hoarsely.

"Yes, Master, I was wrong," Xu Xu Zaijing hurriedly gathered his thoughts and began practicing spear techniques with intense focus.

After Xu Xu Zaijing finished his spear practice and stood in the open ground practicing archery, the groom, while feeding the horses, asked, "What were you thinking about just now? In all the time I have taught you martial arts, I have never seen you lose focus."

"Replying to Master, I was contemplating what grand birthday gift to present to His Majesty."

"Oh? You are indeed a loyal subject."

"I also wish to present His Majesty with a satisfactory gift, hoping to add some assistance to my father's official career."

"Hmm, you are also a filial son."

"I also hope to leave an impression in His Majesty's mind, adding some chips for my own future."

"Tsk, that is indeed the honest truth."

"Master, I see that you possess great ability; do you have any ideas?"

Xu Xu Zaijing's limping master patted the horse's head, walked over to Xu Xu Zaijing, and glanced at the arrow target not far away, saying:

"The fact that you can ride your mount and still achieve such accuracy, mastering such archery skills despite your young age, is itself an auspicious omen and qualifies as an excellent birthday gift."

"Really? Master?"

"Naturally it is true; these past few days I have observed that your strength has increased considerably, so you can now use a larger hunting bow."

"Tomorrow I will find several good bows; you must focus on practicing with one specific bow. Time is short; if you can train to the point of hitting wherever you aim, that will suffice as mastery."

Listening to his master's words, a flash of inspiration struck Xu Xu Zaijing's mind, recalling things he had seen in videos from his previous life.

Then he said, "Master, besides simply hitting the target, I was wondering: after striking one target, could we trigger a mechanism to make other objects drop or fly out? If I then hit those emerging objects, wouldn't that be even better?"

"Your idea is not bad, but it is far too difficult; your master does not recommend you practice this."

The coachman took a breath and continued, "The time the objects remain airborne is too short; if the speed of your arrow is too slow, even if you anticipate it correctly, you will easily miss."

"Master, if I can master something this difficult, then later, as the third son of Hou Fu, won't it be even more useful to me on the battlefield?"

"Very well, then have it your way."

"Thank you, Master!"

After Xu Xu Zaijing finished speaking, his master did not reply; instead, looking at his nephew Brother Qingyun not far away, he thought for a moment before beckoning to Brother Qingyun and saying, "Go to the martial arts field and fetch a shield."

"Yes."

"Master, what are you doing?"

"Since you aspire to the battlefield, naturally we must cultivate a personal guard of tooth-soldiers to stand before you. From now on, whenever you practice archery, Brother Qingyun must stand in front of the target!"

Xu Xu Zaijing: "Ah?"

Yet in his heart he was thinking, Is this person's thinking really so advanced?

Isn't this modern trust shooting?

The kind where a comrade stands beside the target while another comrade shoots at the target;

And also the kind where, from several hundred meters away, one crouches under the armpit of a plastic target dummy to simulate being held hostage, letting a comrade shoot at the dummy's head.

This trains not only the psychological quality of the person facing the gunfire, but also the psychological quality of the shooter.

The training method may be advanced, but the purpose of the training leads to the same result by different paths.

If a personal guard of tooth-soldiers fears arrows, then how can they protect their own general?

Thinking again, perhaps the ancients saw a bit less,

but the ancients were never foolish idiots; if they had been, they would have long ago been wiped out by natural disasters and human calamities.

If there are any typos, respected readers are requested to catch the bugs.

If there is anything awkward or ambiguous, readers are requested to point it out.

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(End of Chapter)