Chapter 573: Gu Er: Flaws Do Not Obscure the Jade [Thanks! Bow again! Owed chapters: 39]

"Tap, tap~"

Mo Lan, who was kicking a shuttlecock in the main hall, kicked it to Yun Zai with one foot, then turned her head to look at Lin Qinshuang, who was speaking, and said:

"Mother~ Why are you in such a rush?"

"When Brother Yuanruo and the others arrive, they will certainly go to pay their New Year's respects to Scholar Zhuang first."

"When it's time to eat, men and women are separated, and as a daughter, I can't go over there anyway. Why would I need to put on a cloak right now?"

After speaking, Mo Lan waved her hand to signal she was done playing with the shuttlecock, walked over to the side, and sat on a Luo Han chair to drink tea.

Lin Qinshuang took the cloak brought by the maid, frowned at Mo Lan, and said: "The young master and the others will naturally go to Scholar Zhuang's courtyard first, but your elder sister Hualan has to go to the Old Madam's place!"

"All your younger sisters are going; what does it look like for you to be the only one here with me? Come over here quickly!"

Seeing that Mo Lan still looked unwilling, Lin Qinshuang persuaded her:

"Mo'er! Your elder sister Hualan is the Second Da Niangzi of the Marquis's household. The people she associates with in her daily life are all noble ladies and official wives from high-ranking, powerful families!"

"Her insight is certainly extraordinary! If you watch, listen, and learn more by her side, it will be beneficial for your future, won't it?"

Mo Lan rolled her eyes, set down her teacup, and said: "Mother, didn't you say that Eldest Sister always wears two faces in front of people and behind their backs? What is there for me to learn from her?"

"Besides, if it weren't for her backing Jin'an Zhai, Father would have given the household management rights to you long ago. How would Jin'an Zhai even have a share?"

Lin Qinshuang took a deep breath: "Good Mo'er, that shrew Wang Ruofu simply lacks the skill of your elder sister Hualan's two-faced nature, which is why she was pressed down firmly by Mother! As for your elder sister backing Jin'an Zhai, your father has spoken to me about it; there are many other considerations involved! Hurry up!"

"Old Madam Yu and Miss Yanran are also coming! If you build a good relationship with Miss Yanran, you will have the opportunity to attend poetry gatherings and elegant assemblies in the capital in the future!"

Hearing about poetry gatherings and elegant assemblies, Mo Lan's eyes turned, and she said: "Mother is right!"

Scholar Zhuang's annual tuition was over four thousand guan.

During festivals and holidays, whether it was the Sheng family or several other families, there were always gifts sent.

Theoretically, after teaching at the Sheng family for these few years, the money he had accumulated was already enough to buy a residence in Bianjing.

But Scholar Zhuang had always lived at the Sheng family and had no intention of buying a residence. Most of the money was entrusted to others to be sent back to his hometown to purchase property and build a clan school.

Following the small path, passing the bamboo forest planted by the roadside, and crossing the moon gate, Xu Zaijing and his party arrived at the courtyard where Scholar Zhuang resided.

The second day of the Lunar New Year.

There were guests in Scholar Zhuang's courtyard.

Xu Zaijing's nose twitched; he could still smell the fragrance of food and the scent of wine.

Presumably having received word from the Sheng family, when Xu Zaijing and the others entered the courtyard, several middle-aged men were already standing solemnly in front of the room.

Changbai was in the lead, reaching out to introduce: "Brother-in-law, this is the Scholar's eldest son, eldest son-in-law, and second son-in-law."

Xu Zaijing and the others followed behind Zaizhang, cupping their hands in greeting one after another, addressing them as "Senior Brother" and "Brother of the same generation."

Scholar Zhuang's sons and sons-in-law hurriedly smiled and returned the greeting.

Scholar Zhuang had been teaching and educating people for many years and had taught quite a few sons of dukes and officials, so upon seeing Gu Tingye, Qi Heng, and the others, there was no look of restraint on their faces.

After Changbai finished introducing the Zhuang family relatives, he pointed to Xu Zaijing and the others, introducing: "Several elder brothers, this is my brother-in-law Zaizhang, the Gu family's Second Young Master, the Xu family's Fifth Young Master, the Young Xiao Xiao Gongye..."

When introducing Zaizhang and Gu Tingye, there was no change in the expressions of the Zhuang family relatives.

When Xu Zaijing was introduced, however, the eyes of the Zhuang family relatives lit up slightly, and they scanned Xu Zaijing from head to toe.

After the introductions were finished,

The Zhuang family's eldest son reached out in invitation and smiled: "Please come inside, brothers. Father was very happy to know you were coming."

"Please." Zaizhang smiled and gestured.

The group entered the main hall, and Xu Zaijing saw several women of different ages sitting or standing inside.

Actually, there was no need for introductions; the old woman sitting on a chair with Scholar Zhuang was the teacher's wife of Xu Zaijing and the others, while the three standing women were Scholar Zhuang's daughter-in-law and two daughters.

Led by Zaizhang, the group bowed and cupped their hands to pay their New Year's respects to Scholar Zhuang and his wife.

Scholar Zhuang nodded with a face full of smiles, and his wife, sitting to the side, was even more full of smiles, reaching out and saying: "Children, sit down, sit down! Bring tea!"

"Yes, Teacher's wife!"

The daughters-in-law and daughters responded: "Yes, Mother."

After everyone was seated and tea was served, Zaizhang, being the oldest, did most of the talking.

After a round of conversation, Xu Zaijing and the others learned that the teacher's wife, along with her sons and daughters, had returned to their hometown the year the Sheng family moved to the capital. Now that the affairs in their hometown were mostly settled, they had come to Bianjing.

Of course, there was another well-known reason: the quota for passing the imperial examinations at various levels in Bianjing Kaifeng Prefecture was much higher than the quota outside the capital!

While everyone was talking, Qi Heng looked with some confusion at Xu Zaijing, who was sitting in front of him and constantly winking at him.

This made Qi Heng feel somewhat baffled. Taking advantage of the moment when Gu Tingye and the Zhuang family's eldest son were discussing academics, Qi Heng leaned over to Xu Zaijing's side and whispered: "Brother Jing, why do you keep winking at me?"

Xu Zaijing tilted his head to look at Scholar Zhuang and said: "Yuanruo, didn't you say before that you had many questions about your studies? Now that you're here today, why don't you ask quickly?"

Qi Heng was stunned: "Ah?" Then he hurriedly nodded and said: "Oh! Brother Jing is right, you're right..."

Subsequently, Qi Heng took advantage of a gap in the conversation to start asking Scholar Zhuang questions.

After talking for a while longer, knowing that Scholar Zhuang's family relatives also had to set up a banquet to eat, Zaizhang stood up to take his leave after the Scholar had cleared up Qi Heng's confusion.

After seeing Xu Zaijing and the others to the door, Scholar Zhuang's family returned to the room.

In the main hall of the back courtyard,

Inside the room,

The two Old Madams of the Yu and Sheng families sat on the Luo Han chairs in the place of honor, while Hualan had moved a stool to sit in front of her grandmother's knees.

Wang Ruofu sat in the lower seat, holding Xu Xingzhong with a face full of doting affection.

Watching the candied fruit her grandson held out to her mouth, Wang Ruofu couldn't stop smiling as she touched Xu Xingzhong's little face and said: "Oh my, my little heart, Grandmother truly didn't dote on you in vain!"

As she spoke, Wang Ruofu opened her mouth, preparing to eat the candied fruit in her grandson's hand.

As a result, before the item could reach her mouth, Xu Xingzhong pulled back what he had held out.

Looking at the mischievous grandson in her arms, Wang Ruofu frowned with a face full of smiles and said: "Eh? You little rascal, are you teasing your grandmother?"

"Hehe~"

Seeing Wang Ruofu's expression, Xu Xingzhong chuckled mischievously.

Wang Ruofu hugged Xu Xingzhong tighter in her arms with affection and smiled: "This boy Zhong Ge'er, he looks clever at first glance!"

Rulan sat on the stool beside Wang Ruofu, leaning forward with her mouth open, and said to Xu Xingzhong with a smile: "Zhong Ge'er, come, let Auntie have a taste! Ah—"

Looking at Rulan with her mouth open, Xu Xingzhong held out the candied fruit in his hand to Rulan's mouth.

"Wow!"

Before Xu Xingzhong could react, Rulan took a bite, and Xu Xingzhong, who wanted to "repeat the old trick," simply couldn't pull his hand back.

Immediately, Rulan bit off a large chunk of the candied fruit. Xu Xingzhong looked at the candied fruit in his hand, which was now more than half gone, then looked at Rulan, and burst into tears with a "waa."

Hualan, sitting beside the Old Madam, curled her lips in helplessness.

This crying pained Wang Ruofu terribly. After giving Rulan a hateful slap on the shoulder, she hurriedly coaxed her grandson, saying: "Grandmother hit her for you, Zhong Ge'er, don't cry, ah!"

Rulan made a face at her nephew triumphantly, and Xu Xingzhong cried even harder.

"Tsk, you smelly girl, don't you know how to let your nephew have his way?"

Wang Ruofu glared.

At this moment,

Minglan walked over carrying the plate containing the candied fruit and placed it beside Rulan.

Rulan understood and gave the largest piece of candied fruit on the plate to Xu Xingzhong, which finally stopped her nephew's wailing.

After Xu Xingzhong got the candied fruit, he straightened up in Wang Ruofu's arms and held out the candied fruit in his hand toward Minglan, saying as he did so: "Auntie, eat."

Minglan looked at the smiling Wang Ruofu and Hualan, leaned toward Xu Xingzhong, and said: "Wow, it's delicious! I've had some, Zhong Ge'er should eat it yourself."

"Auntie, eat." Xu Xingzhong continued to hold out the candied fruit in his hand, looking as if he wouldn't give up until Minglan took it.

"..." Wang Ruofu said with a smile.

Watching Minglan tentatively take the candied fruit, Xu Xingzhong didn't cry; instead, he chuckled.

Rulan, to the side, saw this scene and poked Xu Xingzhong's arm, saying: "You little traitor."

The two Old Madams in the place of honor watched the scene in the main hall with smiles.

Old Madam Yu drank some tea and said to Old Madam Sheng: "Your family is still so warm and lively! Today, my daughter-in-law's relatives came, and I didn't want to stay in the house at all."

Old Madam Sheng glanced at Mo Lan, who had also gone to tease Xu Xingzhong, and said: "How many years has it been? Are you still not used to it?"

Old Madam Yu shook her head: "Before, when the couple was in Xiangzhou, I didn't see them and didn't have to worry! In the past two years, since the couple returned to the capital, I have looked down on those relatives more and more!"

"Greedy for money! Stingy! Snobbish! They have all these traits! Before, they even wanted to scheme against..."

Old Madam Yu glanced at Yanran, her chest heaving, and she didn't continue.

"Speaking of which, I still owe your family a favor?"

"How so?" Old Madam Sheng asked with confusion.

Old Madam Yu sighed and whispered: "Sigh! This is a family scandal! A few years ago, my family received a gold hairpin with filigree work engraved with Yanran's name, sent by Madam Wu..."

"At the end of last year, when I was talking to Madam Wu, I only then learned that it was your nephew's wife who discovered this matter when she went to Xiangzhou, and only then did she entrust Madam Wu to send the item to my house."

"If it had been discovered a year or a year and a half later, I'm afraid not even one-tenth of Yanran's mother's dowry would have remained."

After listening, Old Madam Sheng nodded and sighed, then said: "Yanran is also a pitiful child! I heard that the Gu family's Madam Bai is inquiring about Yanran..."

After Old Madam Sheng finished speaking, Old Madam Yu shook her head slightly and whispered:

"Yanran is somewhat unwilling in her heart!"

Old Madam Sheng: "Why is that?"

Old Madam Yu said: "Last year during Qingming, her grandfather and I were out for a spring outing outside the capital, and it was that boy, the Gu family's Second Young Master, who was galloping his horse wildly, scaring me so much I almost couldn't catch my breath! My husband also grew to dislike this boy!"

"Because of this matter, Yanran blames the Gu family's Second Young Master somewhat, so..."

Old Madam Sheng nodded and said: "I have heard of this matter. But since the Gu family boy returned from Beizhou and was rewarded, quite a few good reputations have spread about him!"

Hearing this, a slight smile appeared on Old Madam Yu's face, and she said: "Yes! My husband also said that this boy is filial. Although he is a bit mischievous, his flaws do not obscure the jade, and it's nothing serious."

Old Madam Sheng also smiled.

When the two old ladies were talking, they did not avoid Hualan, who was to the side, making Hualan's eyes widen like copper bells.

Everyone talked for a while longer, and with the two children Xu Xingzhong and Sheng Changzhen there, bursts of laughter often rang out in the main hall.

A maid walked in, bypassing the screen, bowed to the group, and said: "Old Madam, Madam, the young masters have arrived."

Old Madam Sheng nodded with a smile.

Yu Yanran and Minglan stood up, looked at each other, and then straightened each other's clothes.

Mo Lan also stood up, first touching the hair at her temples, then scanning her attire, and looked toward the screen at the door with full expectation.

Rulan rolled her eyes at Mo Lan, muttered a few words, and continued to tease her nephew Xu Xingzhong, unmoved.

It wasn't until Wang Ruofu frowned and glared at Rulan several times that Rulan was reluctantly pulled up by Mama Liu, smoothing the wrinkles on her clothes.

A moment later,

The sound of men talking came from outside, and the young ladies in the main hall also cast their gazes toward behind the screen.

Led by Zaizhang, Changbai, Xu Zaijing, and the others filed in.

"Great-Aunt, your nephew-grandson pays you New Year's respects! Wishing you health and longevity, and auspiciousness every year."

"Old Madam, this boy pays you New Year's respects..."

Watching Zaizhang and the others in the main hall, who lifted their robes and knelt down in unison, Wang Ruofu, Hualan, and the young ladies hurriedly stepped aside.

Old Madam Sheng also stood up from the Luo Han chair, reaching out somewhat anxiously and saying: "Get up quickly! I say, you bunch of children are really something! Why are you performing such a grand ceremony!"

"Suqin, hurry! Hurry!" As she spoke, the Old Madam also anxiously beckoned to the side.

After finishing the kowtow with the others, Xu Zaijing stood up and looked to the side.

There, Mama Fang was walking over carrying a tray full of pouches.

"Mother-in-law/Aunt/Madam, auspicious New Year." Everyone, using different forms of address, bowed to Wang Ruofu.

Wang Ruofu hurriedly nodded with a smile: "Sigh! Auspicious! Auspicious!"

"Younger sisters, happy New Year."

While everyone was bowing, the young ladies and their maids hurriedly bowed in return.

Subsequently, Xu Zaijing leaned out from behind Zaizhang with a smile and said: "Great-Aunt, we just wanted to see if the New Year's money you gave us is big!"

Gu Tingye, to the side, nodded repeatedly with a smile.

The young ladies in the main hall also laughed one after another.

The Old Madam pointed at Xu Zaijing in helplessness and beckoned: "Hurry, sit down!"

Qi Heng walked to a chair to the side and sat down, then immediately opened his eyes wide with happiness. While looking at Old Madam Sheng, he took the opportunity to glance at Minglan, who was standing and sitting to the side.

Minglan, who was smiling at the crowd in the hall, immediately felt Qi Heng's gaze.

Following the gaze to see who was looking at her, she had a momentary eye contact with Qi Heng.

After Minglan saw clearly who it was, she hurriedly shifted her gaze to Xu Zaijing, who was opening a pouch to the side while saying, "Let me see how big it is."

Qi Heng felt as sweet as if he had eaten honey in his heart. When he wanted to look at Minglan again, he was glared back by Yu Yanran, who was beside Minglan.

Politely nodding to Yu Yanran, Qi Heng turned around, picked up the hot tea offered by a maid, and drank it in small sips.

While drinking tea, Qi Heng took advantage of the cover of the teacup to steal another glance at Minglan, but this time he didn't meet Minglan's eyes.

Because Minglan was bowing her head and talking to Yanran.

"Sigh!"

Hearing this sound, Qi Heng's heart shook!

Although he felt some regret in his heart, it hadn't reached the point where he needed to sigh out loud.

After a moment of panic, Qi Heng discovered that the sound was made by his Second Uncle, Gu Tingye, who was beside him.

To the side, Xu Zaijing opened the pouch, and a smile appeared on his face.

Xu Xingzhong leaned out from Wang Ruofu's arms to look at Xu Zaijing. Seeing the smile, Xu Xingzhong struggled a few times and was then helped to the ground by Wang Ruofu.

Walking past his father Zaizhang with his short legs, Xingzhong stood in front of Xu Zaijing's knees and said in a crisp voice: "Little Uncle, whose New Year's money is more?"

As he spoke, Xingzhong also dug into his little clothes and pulled out a large red pouch.

Xu Zaijing took his nephew into his lap and said: "Let me see yours."

Listening to Xu Xingzhong's childish words, everyone in the main hall looked at the uncle and nephew with smiles.

When Mo Lan leaned out to look at Xu Zaijing and his nephew, her gaze also swept to Qi Heng. Looking at Qi Heng's handsome smile, Mo Lan felt a bit shy and looked a few more times.

Making eye contact with Qi Heng, and seeing Qi Heng nodding at her, Mo Lan smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, reaching out to smooth the hair at her temples.

"Hmm... my New Year's money is still more!"

"Ah? Little Uncle, why?"

"Because Little Uncle is older than you, so naturally I need more money to press down the years!"

"Oh... then is Father's New Year's money more than Little Uncle's?"

"Uh..." Xu Zaijing was speechless.

Listening to the conversation between the uncle and nephew, Hualan looked at the Old Madam in helplessness and shook her head with a smile.

Wang Ruofu's eyes were even more full of the expression, "My grandson is truly clever."

At this moment,

Qiu Jiang, the maid beside Wei Shuyi, walked in, bowed, and said: "Old Madam, Madam, Mama Cui says the banquet is already set, please invite the young masters to take their seats."

The Old Madam waved her hand with a smile: "Children, go ahead!"

Consequently, the unmarried Changbai, Gu Tingye, and the others stood up, cupped their hands, bowed, and took their leave.

Zaizhang took his son, and Xu Zaijing also bowed and cupped his hands to take his leave.

Subsequently, he nodded to Minglan and Yanran, who were looking at him, and walked out with the others.

The Sheng family's banquet today was divided into several types,

Namely, the two Old Madams of the Sheng and Yu families, Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu, Zaizhang and Hualan, the unmarried young ladies, and the unmarried young men.

Because Old Madam Yu would come to the Sheng family in the afternoon, and Xu Zaijing and the others had to ask for academic instruction, Changbai and the others did not drink alcohol, but just had a meal with drinks.

While eating,

Qingcao poured a cup of drink for Xu Zaijing and said: "Young Master, just now Brother Qingyun from the front courtyard sent word that Chu Zhan and Alan and the others won third place in the horse race."

"Qingcao, who was the winner?" Gu Tingye asked.

"Replying to the Second Young Master, it was the son of Minister Wu of the Ministry of Revenue."

"Cousin Liang Liu Lang?" Qi Heng asked.

"Replying to the Young Xiao Xiao Gongye, yes."

Changfeng, to the side, smiled and said: "Before, Qiao Jiulang boasted to me that he would take first place this year! What place did Qiao Jiu get?"

Qingcao shook her head and said: "Replying to the Third Young Master, this servant does not know."

Changfeng nodded and turned to talk to Gu Tingye about other things.

Qingcao continued to stand beside Xu Zaijing and whispered: "Young Master, the three of us want to go find Wei Xiaoniang to ask for some instruction."

Xu Zaijing nodded and said: "Hmm! Don't cause trouble for others."

Qingcao smiled and bowed: "Yes, Young Master."

In the afternoon, there was no wind.

On the other side,

Yanran and Minglan, who didn't have much of an appetite, left the banquet together after eating their fill and drinking a cup of digestive drink.

Wearing thick cloaks, they left the room. The two young ladies, with their respective maids, walked arm in arm in the courtyard, basking in the sun.

Yu Yanran waved her hand to signal the maids to stay further away, then said: "Minglan, just now in the main hall of the back courtyard, did you feel that Young Xiao Xiao Gongye Qi and the Gu family's Second Young Master were always looking at us?"

Thinking of Qi Heng's gaze earlier, Minglan nodded and said: "Hmm!"

"These two people are truly rude! Are they like this when they attend classes at your family's school?"

Minglan shook her head, looked at Yu Yanran with a smile in her eyes, and said: "Second Brother Gu is not like this at school."

"Then why is he today..."

As she spoke, looking at Minglan's teasing eyes, Yu Yanran glared: "Minglan, you! You are like this, I... I won't talk to you anymore!"

Minglan still pursed her lips and smiled.

Yu Yanran looked back at the maids who were at some distance and whispered: "Minglan, not to mention Gu Yuan Erlang, just now Young Xiao Xiao Gongye Qi wasn't looking at me, is he... toward you?"

Minglan's smile stalled instantly, and she shook her head: "I wouldn't have such a daydream!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 574 =====