[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son":3,"chapter-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-20":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Am the Xu Family's Son",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2307798,4510,"Chapter 20: Reading the Ledgers and Making Plans","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-20",20,"\u003Cp>Lin Qinshuang was not permitted to pay New Year visits; she leisurely ate breakfast in her courtyard, Lin Qige, her belly swollen with child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wonder if this one will be a boy or a girl—better if it’s a boy, one who will overshadow the Weirui Pavilion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Madam, rest easy—I’m certain nine out of ten this child is a boy,” said the maid beside her, flatteringly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re thoughtful—I’ll ask the Master to promote you soon, make you my personal maid-mother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xue Niang thanks Lady.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qinshuang heard the title but made no correction, quietly tending to the rare green plants before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>9 a.m.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shou’an Hall,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Concubine Wei Shuyi stood behind Lady Wang, whose belly was not as large as Lin Qinshuang’s, yet she instinctively cradled it—clearly, she too was with child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the New Year, the descendants of Sheng Hong’s subordinates in Quanzhou’s officialdom would come to pay their respects to their superior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some descendants of noble and imperial clans, who had ties with Yongyi Marquis House and lived nearby, would also come to pay New Year respects at the old lady’s courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long morning of exertion, the old lady finally had a moment’s rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The New Year visits are done; I’m tired. You may all return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sheng’s old lady waved to Sheng Hong and his wife in the hall, then returned to the inner chamber under the support of Fang Mama.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Lan, attentive as ever, followed the old lady inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the incident with Lin Qinshuang, the old lady had taken to quiet Buddhist devotion; except for Hua Lan’s meals, she ate only vegetarian fare and chanted sutras.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the festive atmosphere made Shou’an Hall lively; otherwise, it was always desolate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps due to her surroundings, the fifty-something old lady looked more like a woman in her sixties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Hua Lan, who had grown increasingly beautiful and poised before her, the old lady’s eyes filled with tenderness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hua’er, come—starting today, I’ll teach you to read the household accounts. Suqin, bring the household ledgers from the past few years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” replied Fang Mama beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ruan’an, pay attention to Quanzhou’s specialties over this period, select a few fine items, pack them, and send them to Bianjing—not to Jiyin Alley, but to the Marquis House on Quyuanjie. The Emperor’s grand birthday is near; we must not let the Marquis House lose face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, prepare silver to send to the elders in Bianjing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged maid beside her responded, “Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hua’er, look first—if you don’t understand, ask me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Grandmother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bianjing, Quyuanjie\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the families of Xu Minghua’s northern subordinates coming to pay New Year visits, the Marquis House was once again lively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the afternoon, Xu Zaijing, the Marquis House’s eldest legitimate son, led four servants, followed by a cart laden with goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cart carried coal, rice, flour, and meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was there to visit the descendants of the Yongyi Marquis House’s personal guards on behalf of his father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In past generations, the Yongyi Marquis House fought on battlefields, and many personal guards died protecting successive Marquises; among their descendants, numerous orphans and widows were settled in the capital by the Marquis for easier care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those descendants who were clever, studious, and well-connected became servants or stewards in the household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some continued to join the military and risk their lives,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>others ran small businesses in the capital,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>some worked the fields in the Marquis House’s nearby estates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some perished without heirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who became servants or stewards mostly followed the Yongyi Marquis’s only daughter as her dowry into the Sheng household, and thus never lacked food or drink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who remained in the capital still came to pay thanks during festivals, out of gratitude for the Marquis House’s gifts—this helped maintain the bond with their ancestral patrons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the bustle, Xu Zaijing was thinking of other things; daily, he accompanied Sun Shi and often overheard conversations at Ningyuan Marquis House and Yongchang Count House, learning the Emperor’s grand birthday was approaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could present a gift the Emperor would truly appreciate, and please him, perhaps he might receive rewards—like Gu Er, who had been granted an imperial golden spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without a reward, a thoughtful gift could make the Emperor remember your favor, helping the family elders and clan members advance more smoothly in their official careers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the next morning, while practicing martial arts with the Marquis House’s stablehand, Xu Zaijing was distracted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stablehand quickly noticed Xu Zaijing’s state; limping behind him, he swung his staff and struck Xu Zaijing’s buttocks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you can’t focus on training, you might as well stand aside,” the stablehand rasped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Master, I’m sorry,” Xu Zaijing immediately refocused and began practicing spear techniques with full concentration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Xu Zaijing finished his spear practice and stood in the open field practicing bow and crossbow, the stablehand, while feeding his horse, asked: “What were you thinking about just now? In all the time I’ve trained you, I’ve never seen you distracted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, I was thinking about what gift to present to His Majesty for his birthday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? You’re a loyal subject indeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I only wish to give His Majesty a gift he’ll cherish, to help my father’s official career.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, a filial son as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I also wish to leave an impression on His Majesty, to build my own future leverage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, that’s the honest truth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, you’re clearly skilled—do you have any ideas?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing’s limping master patted Ma Er’s head, then walked beside Xu Zaijing and glanced at the distant target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You ride your mount well and shoot with such precision—given your youth, you yourself are a lucky omen, a fine enough birthday gift.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really, Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course it’s true. Lately I’ve noticed your strength has increased greatly—you’re ready for a heavier hunting bow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tomorrow I’ll find you a few good bows; pick one and train with it. Time is short—just master aiming exactly where you shoot, and that’s enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing his master’s words, Xu Zaijing had a sudden flash of insight—he recalled something he’d seen in videos from his past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then said: “Master, beyond hitting the target, what if, after shooting one target, it triggers a mechanism to drop or launch another object, and I shoot that one too? Wouldn’t that be better?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a clever idea—but too difficult. I don’t recommend you train for it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stablehand paused, then continued: “The timing of falling objects is too brief. If your arrow is too slow, even with anticipation, you’ll miss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, if I can master such a difficult skill, won’t it be even more useful on the battlefield as the Marquis House’s third son?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, do as you wish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Xu Zaijing spoke, his master said nothing, gazed at his nephew Gao Yun in the distance, thought for a moment, then waved him over: “Go to the training ground and bring me a shield.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, what are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you’re determined for the battlefield, you must train a personal bodyguard. From now on, when you practice archery, Gao Yun must stand before the target!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing: “Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, he thought: Is this man’s thinking really that advanced?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isn’t this modern trust shooting?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where a comrade stands beside the target while the shooter fires at it;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or, hundreds of meters away, hiding inside a plastic target dummy’s armpit, pretending to be held hostage, letting the shooter aim at the dummy’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This trains not only the psychological resilience of the person being shot at, but also the shooter’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The method is advanced, but the goal is the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a personal bodyguard fears arrows, how can he protect his lord?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he reconsidered: perhaps ancients had less exposure,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but they were never foolish or stupid—if they were, they’d have been wiped out by natural disasters and human calamities long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there are typos, please kindly point them out, dear readers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything is awkward or ambiguous, please let us know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1337,"2026-06-20T10:32:38.675Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ffa38ee54f396824810b7753eafb914561ef02f35a74e6bf393cbcf20d775c08","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-21","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-19",790,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-the-xu-family-s-son-cover.jpg"]