Chapter 58: Little Liangshan Arrives at Zheng Fu [Thank you for your support, readers!]

In the dim candlelight,

Sheng Old Madam opened the somewhat thick envelope.

On top was the letter of greeting from her concubine-born son Sheng Hong, written in a respectful tone; the Old Madam glanced at it and put it aside.

Below was a letter from Bianjing; Sheng Old Madam read it by the candlelight.

It turned out that her maternal grandniece was betrothed, and it was the eldest legitimate son of the Gu family, a noble with real power in the Great Zhou Dynasty; if there were no problems, she would be the Daniang of the Hou Fu.

Below that was a letter from the Yu Ge Lao wife, a close friend of the Old Madam when she was a young girl; the letter meant to say something about the Lantern Festival incident.

Yu family Old Madam naturally didn't know that the Sheng family and the Xu family had eased their relationship, but as the maternal family in name of her best friend, she still had to say something.

Seeing the "attack at the lantern festival" in the letter, Sheng Old Madam's breathing quickened.

Fang Mama hurriedly walked over and asked with concern: "Young lady?"

Behind were the contents of "defending herself with a hairpin," "scolding the thieves," and "Empress's commendation."

Sheng Old Madam's breathing calmed down a lot; she closed the letter and whispered: "She is a good girl."

"Young lady, what's wrong?"

Sheng Old Madam briefly stated the contents of the letter.

"Young lady, looking at it this way, having a maternal family is still somewhat effective. You have come to Youyang so many times, and I haven't seen the master write you a letter of greeting before."

Sheng Old Madam didn't say much; how could she not see the change in her status in the Sheng family over these years, she just didn't want to care.

Since Sheng Hong passed the Jinshi, she began to hand over the power in the family; after Sheng Hong became the Quanzhou Assistant Prefect, she didn't manage much.

The Yongyi Hou's only daughter, who was high-spirited decades ago, had been slowly worn down by time, becoming a chaste woman who most followed the etiquette of "husband dies, follow son."

The Old Madam thought that she could live well relying on her title and previous status.

But Fang Mama, who had seen human nature since childhood, didn't think so; since Sheng Hong had the power to manage the household, there were many times when he was compliant in public but opposed in private, treating his own legitimate mother's words as wind in the ears.

Sheng Hong being so cold-hearted also broke the heart of the Old Madam who had exhausted her efforts to cultivate him into a talent.

This was also the reason why Fang Mama knew that the Hou Fu intended to repair the relationship and urged her own young lady to accept it.

The next day.

Wang Shi no longer pulled a long face and appeared in front of everyone in Youyang with some forced smiles.

Although Changbai returned to his old home, he still studied diligently.

And Hualan, with her air of luxury, made the cousins like Shulan in the old home very envious.

On this day, the two old madams of the Sheng family's eldest and second branches were chatting, with Wang Shi, Hualan, Shulan, and others accompanying them.

Li Shi, the eldest daughter-in-law of Sheng Wei, who returned from outside, got a piece of news from the fragrant clothes assembly among the women in Youyang,

"Mother, I heard a rumor at this fragrant clothes assembly."

Everyone looked at Li Shi, and Li Shi hurriedly said:

"Today, the county magistrate's Daniang chatted with us, saying that a year ago, a collapse occurred in a mine in a county not far from us, causing hundreds of casualties."

Sheng Eldest Madam closed her eyes and prayed before saying:

"Ah? Amitabha, how could there be so many people."

"It is said that the wood supporting the mine tunnel had problems; the mine owner used inferior wood to save money." Li Shi replied.

Afterward, she continued: "There is more; it is said that the county magistrate was surnamed Cao, and the clerks under him accepted the mine owner's money, covered up the matter, and sent people to arrest the families of the dead and injured miners, directly saying that the miners caused such a great disaster."

"Ah?" Everyone was stunned.

"There is actually such a person who reverses black and white."

"Truly black-hearted and black-gutted."

Sheng Old Madam asked: "Then how did this matter spread?"

"It was an official passing through this place who learned of it, reported it to the prefecture, and only then did people come to investigate; I heard that the black-hearted gang was almost about to incite a civil uprising!"

"Oh my, heavens, truly dangerous." Wang Shi sighed on the side.

"The clerks in the yamen were all beheaded. The county magistrate was sentenced to exile in the Northwest, and his whole family became criminals." Li Shi said.

"What about those dead and injured miners?" Li Shi's mother-in-law asked.

"The government confiscated the mine owner's home, plus the jewelry confiscated from the homes of the clerks and the magistrate, all distributed to those poor families." Li Shi replied.

"That's not enough; the miners were the pillars of the family; if they fall, the family is destroyed." Fang Mama whispered to Sheng Old Madam on the side.

Li Shi: "Who says it isn't. Although there was some silver, there was no income for treating injuries and seeing doctors at home. I heard that many families' girls were sold to human traffickers."

"Sigh, human tragedy."

Bianjing,

Yongyi Hou Fu,

Xu Zaijing wore a set of newly made clothes, looked at the appearance of the maid Qingcao, and said to Qingyun:

"Let the little girl get into the carriage, I'm afraid she won't see her shadow after walking a few steps."

"Yes, young master."

Saying this, Qingyun lifted Qingcao into the carriage.

Xu Zaijing stepped on the stool and sat in.

The weather had warmed up quite a bit, and Xu Zaijing also responded to the invitation of the Zheng family's several young masters to go out and play.

Qingyun and the carriage driver sat on the carriage shaft; Xu Zaijing looked at the somewhat cautious Qingcao,

and to ease this quiet atmosphere, Xu Zaijing asked casually:

"Qingcao, was this name taken at the tooth agency?"

"Young master, it was taken after entering the Hou Fu."

"Do you still remember where your old home is?"

"Little Liangshan."

Xu Zaijing paused; familiar with "The Story of Minglan," how could he not know this place.

But he also didn't know exactly when the accident happened.

"Why did you enter the tooth agency?"

"Father died in the mine, elder brother was injured, younger brother was sick, so mother sold me to the tooth agency."

"Was it a mine disaster?"

"Yes."

"Hmm."

Xu Zaijing didn't say anything more, and Qingcao in the carriage didn't speak either, her bright eyes filled with homesickness.

Glancing at Xu Zaijing,

Qingcao opened her mouth and said:

"In my old home, many sisters entered the tooth agency; Qingzhi sister in the eldest young lady's room is from the same village as me; she has no father, mother, or younger brother at home, only elder brother and sister-in-law."

"Was Qingzhi's brother also injured?"

"No, because her sister-in-law was about to give birth, and there was no money at home, so she came with us."

"Hmm."

"Young master, I, can I look outside the carriage?"

"Naturally, look."

"Thank you, young master."

Qingcao knelt and sat in the carriage, lifted the carriage window curtain, and looked at the number one metropolis of the current era with surprise. 【58-79

"Qingyun."

"Yes, Young Master?"

"When we are close to General Zheng's house, we shall walk a few steps."

"As you command, Young Master."

Watching the prosperity of Bianjing, the carriage passed over several bridges and through bustling, lively streets. Smelling the fragrance of snacks drifting by, Qingcao smacked her lips a few times.

When they were about to reach Xingguo Lane, Qingyun mentioned it to Xu Zaijing.

Following the carriage, Xu Zaijing got off and walked a few steps, letting Qingcao get a good look at Bianjing.

The training at the Hou Fu was indeed thorough; although Qingcao's eyes were darting everywhere, she did not fall behind and followed closely behind Xu Zaijing.

After stating their purpose at General Zheng's gate, the Zheng family's descendants soon came out to welcome Xu Zaijing.

There was Zheng Xiao, the youngest brother of General Zheng Jun,

as well as four youths from the Zheng clan: Jiang, He, Hu, and Hai.

Their generation was one lower than Zheng Xiao's, so they had to address him as uncle.

The group entered the residence.

During this time, the Da Niangzi Xie, who was nearing her delivery, also came out to make an appearance and meet their relative.

After drinking tea in the main hall, Xu Zaijing saw the inquisitive looks from the several Zheng family sons and took the initiative to suggest:

"I have yet to see the Zheng family's martial arts arena. Why don't we go for a stroll so I can broaden my horizons?"

The Zheng family sons laughed one after another.

"Let's go, let's go! Let Brother Jing see what we've got."

The Zheng family and the Marquis of Zhongjing were close brothers, and many of their family's sons had joined the army in the north, near Northern Liao.

The atmosphere in the house was generally similar to that of Xu Zaijing's maternal grandmother's house,

so Xu Zaijing was quite familiar with it.

General Zheng Jun, who was home on leave today, watched all this with a smile.

Because the Zheng family had split their household, the martial arts arena was indeed not large, but though the sparrow is small, it has all the vital organs; there was no shortage of all kinds of weapons and equipment.

Zheng Jun was the old general's eldest son and currently held a post in the army. His clan nephew, Zheng He, stood with Xu Zaijing, watching the family servants tidying up the bows and arrows and setting up the targets. He asked:

"Brother Jing, I heard that during the Lantern Festival, you took down five men in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Is that true or false?"

Zheng Xiao was the old general's youngest son. Because the old general was stationed in the north, he had grown up with his own elder brother and sister-in-law.

He was about the same age as Xu Zaijing and also looked at Xu Zaijing with a face full of curiosity,

and the several people beside him, Zheng Jiang, Zheng He, and Zheng Hai, were also full of curiosity.

"False."

Zheng Xiao looked disappointed upon hearing the answer.

His nephew Zheng He, who was beside him, said, "Little Uncle, I told you, how could Brother Jing take down five people at his age!"

"But I heard the uncles in the army say it was five."

"Little Uncle, in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, even if the City Patrol soldiers were useless, they would have walked over. How could they let those thieves run away?"

As the crowd was talking,

Xu Zaijing said, "There was also a thief-hag, whom I kicked in the knee."

The Zheng family sons: Huh?

Thank you all for your support!

Thanks to the respected classmates who gave rewards.

Bowing again.

I only have enough drafts for tomorrow.

Panicking.





(End of Chapter)