Chapter 253: Returning to the Maternal Family [Thank you all for your support! Bowing again!]

It had been some days since the Beginning of Autumn.

Qingcao was no longer feeling uncomfortable last night.

Now that there were many maidservants in Xu Zaijing's courtyard, he still didn't let Qingcao get up early.

In the courtyard,

When Xu Zaijing put on his clothes and walked out of the room while yawning, what greeted him was the scent of rain lingering in the air.

Sure enough, when Xu Zaijing's body heated up from his morning exercise, a fine rain began to drift in the sky.

"Duo"

"Duo"

Amidst the sounds,

The Li brothers lay somewhat bedraggled on the ground of the horse racing track, panting heavily in the fine rain. Beside them was Qingyun, who could still sit, and further away were Alan and Xunshu, who were lifting stone locks to hone their strength.

Watching Xu Zaijing, who was still throwing short spears unhurriedly, the brothers sighed with a sense of frustration.

"Thank goodness we won't have to meet him on the battlefield in the future."

Hearing the brothers' words, Qingyun climbed up, pulled the two of them up, and walked toward the place where they practiced finger strength.

At the hour of Mao (5:00 AM),

Xu Zaijing returned to the courtyard. Yunxiang, who followed him back, hurriedly let Qingcao help her wipe the raindrops from her hair.

After she changed her style to match her elder sister Huaxiang's, she took Xu Zaijing's book box and followed behind.

After eating breakfast in Sun Shi's courtyard, Xu Zaijing and his elder brother arrived at the Sheng family.

In the past few days, the mischievous Yunxiang and the familiar Sheng family maidservants like Xiaotao had started playing a tacit game:

"Guess who I am."

Zhuang Xuejiu had not yet arrived at the school.

Luzhong and Yunzai looked at Yunxiang, who was not as jumpy as usual and appeared much more dignified and quiet, then whispered to Xique:

"This is Sister Huaxiang!"

Yunxiang, hearing this, tried hard to maintain her composure, forcefully suppressing the corners of her mouth, and imitated her sister by smoothing the wrinkles on her clothes.

Little Xiaotao beside her leaned toward Yunxiang,

"Sniff sniff."

Then she said with a look of intoxication, "Sister Yunxiang, you smell so good too!"

Xique, looking at Yunxiang, whose eyes were full of surprise and who had broken her act, said in surprise:

"Ah? You are Sister Yunxiang?"

Yunxiang could no longer suppress the corners of her mouth and laughed, causing the small ornaments on her head to sway.

Rulan and Minglan, sitting in front, also turned their heads in surprise; they had thought it was Huaxiang all along.

When Zhuang Xuejiu entered the school leisurely,

The sky was still somewhat gloomy.

It wasn't until it was almost time for lunch that the sun shone straight down from behind the clouds.

Cloudy,

A light breeze.

The bamboo curtains used for shade by the school were caressed by the cool breeze, and the colorful threads under the rolled-up bamboo curtains also fluttered along.

In the bright school, whether they were young masters or young ladies, everyone was focused on doing problems, practicing calligraphy, or dozing off.

Seeing this scene,

Zhuang Xuejiu let out a comfortable "Hmm."

While scanning, he saw Xu Zaijing, who had raised his head, his eyes filled with the same emotions as his own.

"Interesting, interesting!"

Subsequently, Zhuang Xuejiu continued to shake his head and appreciate the poetry collection in his hand.

It was just unclear whether he was talking about the poetry,

Or the youth who was in the prime of his life but had such deep feelings about youth in his eyes.

Around this time,

Outside the Marquis Prefecture on Quyuan Street,

A group of people dressed as craftsmen followed a young man dressed as an official's son, arriving at the Marquis Prefecture gate with several fully loaded flatbed carriages.

The gatekeeper hurriedly stepped forward to inquire.

It turned out to be the young master and craftsmen of the Li family, the maternal family of the Lian Guo Gong Prefecture's eldest daughter-in-law.

The gatekeeper, knowing the importance, hurriedly reported to the inner courtyard. Sun Shi personally came to the second gate to receive the young master of the Li family.

After some conversation in the front hall where guests were received, they learned that,

It turned out that when the Lu family members came to the Xu family earlier, they saw the Xu family's large courtyard and noticed that some corners of the rooms and courtyard walls were somewhat dilapidated and damaged.

The Xu family might be renovating in the second half of the year, and the Lu family's eldest daughter-in-law, after returning home, directly invited her maternal family to explain what had happened.

Although the Li Daniang's maternal family had ancestors who served as officials for generations, and Li Daniang's eldest brother even held the position of Direct Scholar,

They could be called an official family for generations!

But having a Guo Gong Prefecture's heir, a future Guo Gong, as a nephew, and not having this nephew, had a significant impact on a family.

And from talking with her mother-in-law, the Old Madam of the Lian Guo Gong Prefecture, she also knew that the Xu family was no longer lacking in wealth.

After consulting with her maternal family, the Li family sent their youngest son, leading craftsmen from the clan and subordinates, to the Xu family to help renovate the residence.

The cost of silver was secondary; what mattered was the sentiment.

Since the people and materials were brought, Sun Shi couldn't let them go back and reject their kindness. She could only thank them sincerely and then took this young master of the Li family for a tour of the courtyard.

Therefore,

When Xu Zaijing and his elder brother returned to the prefecture, they saw the Xu family courtyard in a state of busyness.

After the two brothers tidied up a bit, they were called to the front hall by the managing nanny sent by Sun Shi to meet the relatives.

They exchanged names and ages.

Looking at the Li family young master who was only eleven or twelve years older than himself,

Xu Zaijing was somewhat embarrassed and didn't know how to address him. Seeing this, the official's son, named Li Jie, smiled and said:

"Jing Ge'er, no need to be concerned. Although you and Zong Ge'er are foster brothers!"

"However, let's address each other separately. You call me Uncle, and you just call me Brother!"

After Xu Zaijing and Zaizhang looked at each other, they bowed and said, "Greetings, Brother."

The three sat down and chatted further. Xu Zaijing then learned that this youngest son of the Li family had taken the exam in the same year as his brother-in-law and had achieved a ranking in the top ninety of the second tier. He was now serving as a ninth-rank recorder in the Directorate of Palace Buildings.

His immediate superior was retiring in two months, and this person was already slated for a promotion.

While they were talking, a young man came in to report the renovation suggestions from the craftsmen below regarding several parts of the Xu family,

Involving masons, stonemasons, carpenters, etc. This Li family son then left the hall with the Xu brothers to inspect several places.

It was getting late.

Taking the opportunity of the inspection, Li Jie brought the craftsmen to the Xu family's main gate.

The young man who had just come in to report led the craftsmen straight out of the Xu family gate, preparing to leave.

This caught the Xu Zaijing brothers off guard; the Xu family had originally intended to keep them for a meal.

Li Jie also stepped over the Xu family's high threshold. Looking at the Xu brothers' expressions, he pointed to the young man who had just come in to report and said:

"That person is a relative of the Rong family of the Marquis of Hou Fu Chang. His father also served in the Imperial Guard before, but I don't know why he resigned from his position in the Imperial Guard some years ago and used connections to let this young man come to learn a trade."

"It's getting late, we shall take our leave!"

Hearing this, Xu Zaizhang looked at his younger brother with a meaningful expression and said:

"Brother, you should stay for a meal!"

Li Jie bowed and said, "There is still work in the Directorate that hasn't been finished today. I will definitely stay for a meal another day!"

Xu Zaijing, however, smiled and said to the Rong family relative outside the gate:

"This person, I have a close relationship with Rong Xian Ge'er. If you leave again, don't blame me for finding Xian Ge'er to talk about it!"

As soon as these words were spoken, some unpleasant memories related to Rong Xian seemed to surface, and the Rong family relative stopped his steps.

"Please come back! Have a meal at my house tonight."

Saying this, Xu Zaijing grabbed one of Li Jie's arms, and Zaizhang grabbed the other.

Li Jie was accustomed to all kinds of sawing wood and chiseling stone at home, and he felt he had some strength.

As a result, he struggled in vain for a few times before being 'dragged' in by the Xu brothers.

"Two worthy brothers!"

"I won't eat!"

"I still have things to be busy with!"

The voices gradually faded away. The craftsmen at the gate looked at each other and returned to the Xu family.

After receiving the report that the people had been kept in the front courtyard,

Hualan tied her sleeves with a sash, supervising Cuichan as she directed the Xu family's Four Departments and Six Bureaus to arrange tables and chairs, serve seasonal fruits and vegetables, pass dishes, and serve food.

The craftsmen in the courtyard were managed by Cuichan.

The three in the hall were personally watched by Hualan as they were served. Having learned so much from her mother and Mama Fang, she could finally try it out today.

Hearing the maidservant serving the dishes say that the fish and meat intestines were running low, Hualan hurriedly ordered another plate to be cut and sent up, then instructed:

"Pick the best, pack it in a food box, and prepare it for the guests to take back."

In the courtyard, Alan, Xunshu, and Hearing Chu Zhan were pulled over by Qingyun to accompany them in eating, drinking, and chatting.

The craftsmen knew it was a Marquis Prefecture, and those who could be brought by Li Jie were mostly sensible and knew their place, so nothing happened like drinking too much and talking nonsense.

The Li Taotie/Chimei brothers—Qingyun hadn't intended to call them, but the brothers saw the liveliness in the courtyard and took the initiative to come over to help.

Because they had to take care of those Bai Gao Kingdom children, the two didn't enter the hall but moved seats in the courtyard to eat and drink.

An hour and a half later,

"Come, have another drink!"

"I didn't drink too much!"

"Cheers!"

Li Jie, who had finished a cup of wine, patted 'Xu Zaijing's' arm with drunken, blurry eyes and said:

"Jing Ge'er, you saved more than just my nephew, you also... also..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Li Jie felt his head spinning, and then his eyes went black.

Zaizhang hugged Li Jie, who was patting his shoulder, and said, "Xiao Wu, come over and help!"

At the hour of Xu (after 8:00 PM),

Xu Zaijing, who was completely fine, stepped down from the carriage and carried Li Jie on his back into the Li family's main gate.

The Li family Old Madam, who came out to welcome them, looked at her drunken youngest son and the fine Xu Zaijing.

After Xu Zaijing took his leave, she hatefully patted the shoulder of her drunken youngest son, who was being supported by his wife.

Li Jie muttered, "Drink! I'm not drunk! Drink..."

At night,

In the courtyard of Li Jie and his wife, there was a chorus of "wa" sounds.

Early the next morning,

After waking up,

After washing up, Li Jie drank some warm, nourishing porridge and looked at the new plate of sliced meat sausages on the breakfast table.

After tasting a slice served by his wife, he nodded and said:

"The taste of this new meat sausage is quite good."

His wife sighed secretly and said, "This was sent by the Xu family together with you last night, husband."

Li Jie thought for a moment, but he no longer remembered what had happened last night.

In the days that followed,

Li Jie went to the Xu family every few days to guide and check, but he never drank alcohol again.

This day,

The autumn rain fell intermittently for a day.

Because of the weather, the craftsmen were resting at home today.

Xu Zaijing returned from school,

Handed the oil-paper umbrella dripping with rain to Qingcao, and lifted the curtain to enter the hall where Sun Shi was.

After these few rains,

The weather was getting colder.

The Xu family members had already changed into autumn robes to keep out the cold. Seeing Xu Zaijing, Sun Shi said:

"Jing'er, you came back just in time. I'm worrying about your sister's Qiongzhi Pavilion and don't know what to do."

Xu Zaijing was stunned and asked:

"Mother, what is there to worry about?"

Looking at Sun Shi's squinting eyes and the expressions of his two sisters-in-law, Xu Zaijing hurriedly said:

"Naturally, maintain it as it is!... On that basis, make some minor improvements and renovations."

"In a few days, at the Autumn Festival, the eldest sister will be returning home. Let her see it, and she'll be so reluctant to leave that she'll wish she could stay another night!"

Since Pingmei married into the Gu family, although someone had been cleaning the Qiongzhi Pavilion, no one had lived there. Lacking the smoke and fire of life, it was ultimately somewhat cold and desolate.

"In the future, your eldest granddaughter will naturally live in this courtyard too."

Hearing this, Xie Shi and Hualan both looked at Xu Zaijing with expressions of being unable to laugh or cry.

At this time, Zaizhang also walked in from outside the door, looking at everyone in the hall and asking with a smile:

"What are you talking about?"

While others were talking, Xu Zaijing glanced at his second sister, Anmei.

Perhaps because she was getting older or because autumn had arrived,

In these days, Anmei was rarely as jumpy as she had been in previous years.

"Sister, I haven't seen you ask me for skin-moisturizing glue these days. You haven't been playing all the time, have you?"

Hearing Xu Zaijing's words, Anmei rolled her eyes at him and continued to stroke the somewhat chubby cat beside her.

"Jiong Ge'er said before that he would send two young birds over in a few days. You must tie the two cats up! Lest they swallow the young birds."

As soon as Xu Zaijing spoke, everyone's attention in the hall was focused on Anmei, especially when Huyan Jiong was mentioned.

This made Anmei's melancholy lessen a bit, and she became a bit more embarrassed.

After the meal, Anmei was pulled by her two sisters-in-law to talk a lot, mostly words of enlightenment from those who had gone from being young ladies to Madams.

The next day,

The craftsmen began the renovation and maintenance of the Qiongzhi Pavilion.

Before the eighth month, the Qiongzhi Pavilion was renovated to look brand new, and a small pavilion was built in the courtyard.

After that, every time Xu Zaijing finished his morning exercise, he would see the craftsmen near the horse racing track. They began to renovate the largest horse racing track, stables, and other places.

In the first ten days of the eighth month,

The Autumn Festival was approaching.

Because the main body of the stables was to be renovated on this day,

When Xu Zaijing and his elder brother rode their horses to the Sheng family, in order to make room, they also brought his four incomparably divine horses to the Sheng family.

Fortunately, it was still early, so it didn't cause any chaos or onlookers.

However, the Bianjing commoners hired by the Bianjing Street Department to clean up were sweeping fallen leaves on the side of the road early in the morning and saw this rare sight.

On the high fire-prevention watchtower, the fire-prevention soldiers who saw Xu Zaijing's group and their several divine horses pointed at Xu Zaijing,

Causing the fire-prevention soldiers in the courtyard below to crowd to the roadside, watching Xu Zaijing and the others, praising the divine appearance of the horses from time to time.

Xu Zaijing and his elder brother bowed to signal, gently urging the horses to walk a few steps faster.

Further ahead, the soldiers in the military patrol posts, which were located every hundred paces on the road, were quite familiar with the Xu family young master who got up early to study, bowing and paying respects from time to time.

Qingyun and the others mostly nodded in return.

When resting and eating at noon,

Minglan heard from Xiaotao that Yunxiang had come to the Sheng family riding a divine horse. Minglan shortened her nap time, and before class in the afternoon, she specially went to the Sheng family stables to look at the horses.

When returning to the school, she secretly clicked her tongue; such a tall horse, her polo stick couldn't even reach the polo ball.

After school in the afternoon,

Zhuang Xuejiu announced that tomorrow was the Autumn Festival, and there would be a day off.

At this time, the sun had not yet set. When Xu Zaijing's group returned, it was much livelier than when they came.

On the road, there were Bianjing wealthy squires who bowed and asked whose family they were from, how much gold and silver would it take to part with the horses, etc.

Arriving at the Marquis Prefecture, they placed the horses in the brand-new stables.

Xu Zaijing and his elder brother sent the festival cakes and festival wine sent by the Sheng family to Sun Shi's courtyard.

Yunxiang was still carrying a wooden box from "Li He Jia" in her hand; that was the fresh fruit Xu Zaijing had specially sent Qingyun to buy inside the Liang Gate at noon.

On the day of the Autumn Festival,

At the hour of Mao (around 6:00 AM),

A reward was sent from the palace.

It was a large bowl placed in a wooden box, containing various delicacies cut into small, thin slices with an excellent taste.

After receiving the reward, without eating breakfast, Xie Shi and Hualan took their leave of Sun Shi, took a carriage out of the prefecture,

And returned to their respective maternal families.

Half an hour after the two Madams left,

The carriage of the eldest daughter-in-law of the Ningyuan Marquis Prefecture also entered the Xu family's main gate. Pingmei also returned to her maternal family.

However, as soon as the carriage door opened, stepping down besides Pingmei was Gu Tingyu.

Pingmei handed her son in her arms to Sun Shi while asking:

"Mother, where is Zaizhang?"

Hearing Pingmei's question, Sun Shi said with a smile:

"Like your husband, he accompanied his wife back to the Sheng family."

Xu Zaijing and Anmei bowed to their sister and brother-in-law, and the maidservants behind them also squatted and bowed. Gu Tingyu nodded with a smile.

Everyone went to Sun Shi's courtyard together. Sun Shi coaxed her grandson in her arms while greeting Gu Tingyu and Pingmei to eat breakfast.

After finishing breakfast,

Pingmei looked at her mother, whose eyes were glued to her grandson, and said with a smile to Xu Zaijing and Anmei:

"I heard before that the house was being renovated. Come, show me what it has become. Mother?"

Sun Shi waved her hand while holding the child, signaling not to delay her from loving her grandson.

After the few looked at each other and smiled, they walked out.

By the door, Qingcao, who had already eaten quickly, was holding Qingzhi's arm and talking to Qingxia.

Seeing the Xu family siblings coming, Qingcao and the others hurriedly stood straight.

Pingmei looked at Qingcao, then at the Huaxiang sisters behind her, nodded with a smile, and teased her younger brother.

Pingmei was held by Anmei's arm, and the sisters walked out of the courtyard.

Along the way, looking at the Marquis Prefecture that was different from before, Pingmei felt quite a lot.

When they arrived at the Qiongzhi Pavilion where she grew up, she hesitated and looked at Gu Tingyu.

Subsequently, everyone entered the courtyard.

Pingmei looked around and asked suspiciously:

"Other than becoming new and having an extra pavilion, there's no change!"

"Xiao Wu's idea, saying he wanted to make you linger and stay for a night!"

Pingmei looked at the courtyard with a smile, then looked at her younger brother:

"How did you grow up so big in the blink of an eye!"

Xu Zaijing said with a smile:

"Hey hey hey! Sister, why are you really sighing! If I don't grow up, how can you marry your brother-in-law!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Pingmei glared at Xu Zaijing, and her leg under her skirt had already kicked out.

Xu Zaijing twisted, but didn't dodge, and was kicked.

Passing through the backyard and making a detour,

Everyone arrived at the horse racing track.

Alan and Xunshu, who were walking the horses, hurriedly came to pay respects, beside them pulling two divine horses with complete saddles.

Gu Tingyu, standing beside Xu Zaijing, looked at the pond where he first came to fish at the Xu family from afar and said:

"You still understand your sister; she said before she came that she must ride these two divine horses of yours."

Pingmei smiled proudly, entered the horse racing track, stepped on the stirrups, and rode the divine horses with Anmei, one each, walking around the horse racing track.

Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingyu looked at Pingmei riding the horse in the distance, feeling quite like Pingmei had returned to the appearance of before she was married.

Anmei, riding on the horse in the field,

Looked at Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingyu, who were dazed on the sidelines.

I don't know what she whispered to Pingmei, but the sisters laughed on the horse's back.

Before lunch,

Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingyu returned to their courtyard and talked about things related to the imperial examination in the study.

Sun Shi and her daughters discussed topics about Bianjing gossip and what to give birth to in the next pregnancy, as well as matters related to not letting Xiao Wu be obsessed with female beauty.

At noon, Zaizhang rode back to the Xu family and had lunch with his sister.

In the afternoon,

Sun Shi, who hadn't loved her grandson enough, was teary-eyed.

The wooden box of fresh fruit Xu Zaijing bought yesterday finally came in handy.

Clean and fresh gourds and sweet dates were taken out of the wooden box by the Xu family and stuffed into the pockets of Sun Shi's grandson's clothes.

Bai Daniang knew about this, so the pockets of the clothes her eldest grandson wore were extra deep. The gourds and dates sent by one grandmother, two uncles, and one aunt were all stuffed in.

Xu Zaijing also stuffed a few more into the boy's pockets on behalf of his father and brother far away.

Looking at the child's bulging appearance, Sun Shi felt much better.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 254 =====