[{"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-779":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},2308557,4510,"Chapter 779: Clothes, Jewelry, Fun and Tasty Things [Thank You! Again, Thank You!]","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-779",779,"\u003Cp>June 24,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the birthday of the God of Shenbao Temple,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night a heavy rain fell, and by morning the sky remained densely overcast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when the sun rose did the clouds slowly begin to clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By morning,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the sky was a deep blue,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>white clouds drifted lazily with the wind,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the moving clouds occasionally blocked the sunlight, casting patches of shadow on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those standing in the cloud shadows felt an instant coolness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the western gate of Bianjing,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>on the third floor of Wu Tower, not far from Jinming Pond, a cool breeze stirred the curtains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Liang, last night’s rain was just what we needed—this breeze is so pleasant!” Liang Han said comfortably, seated at the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too comfortable, he couldn’t help yawning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re right, Sixth Brother,” Qi Heng nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking, Qi Heng rose and walked to the window, gazing north. After a moment, he said: “Pity—Jingge is stuck at home studying today and can’t see this beauty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Han followed Qi Heng’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their position on the third floor was high; looking north, they could see the clear, beautiful landscape after the rain, beneath blue sky and white clouds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two tall flagpoles in front of Shenbao Temple were clearly visible, their massive paper dolls fluttering in the wind as if alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Wu Tower was nearly two li from Shenbao Temple, today’s crowds outside were so thick that even from the tower, they could hear the distant clamor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Han laughed: “You’re right, Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing at the distant scenery, Qi Heng sighed softly for no clear reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Han, just then tilting his head for another yawn, didn’t notice Qi Heng’s troubled expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng sighed helplessly: “Sixth Brother, why do you look so tired today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wiping away the tear from his yawn, Liang Han shook his head: “Ah, Young Master, you don’t know—I stayed up late last night admiring the rain at Yuqing Temple, then got dragged early by Mother to Shenbao Temple to burn incense. How could I not be sleepy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng looked at Liang Han: “Madam Wu was praying for the Marquis House!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Qi Heng sigh, Liang Han quickly asked: “Young Master, why are you sighing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sixth Brother, what do you think a girl of fourteen or fifteen likes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, you’ve asked the right person!” Liang Han said proudly. “Girls love beautiful clothes, fine and precious jewelry, and fun, tasty things!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Qi Heng nod, Liang Han smiled: “Young Master, are you planning to give something to a girl?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no,” Qi Heng waved his hand in denial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Han smiled as he watched Qi Heng: “Young Master, your expression and words might as well have ‘I have a girl I like’ written on your face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng froze, touching his face in confusion: “How could that be?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Bu Wei, who stood beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bu Wei said nothing, only smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Qi Heng’s expression, Liang Han asked curiously: “Young Master, which girl is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng opened his mouth to answer, but seeing Liang Han’s look, he smiled and changed course: “Sixth Brother, I was just teasing you! I have a cousin coming of age soon—I was just asking what gift to give.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Han’s eyes lit up with understanding: “Ah—I see! Then give jewelry! That way her elders and sisters will all see it. If you give ink or brushes, it won’t stand out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha!” Qi Heng’s eyes brightened; he praised Liang Han: “Sixth Brother, you’re absolutely right!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing beside him, Bu Wei sighed helplessly at Qi Heng’s beaming smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tap tap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone knocked on the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diao Che hurriedly gestured to Bu Wei, signaling he’d go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking to the door, Diao Che looked at the maid and whispered: “What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lady says she wants to take advantage of today’s coolness and play polo at the horse field,” the maid whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But—it just rained,” Diao Che said helplessly, seeing the maid’s frown. “Never mind. Wait outside—I’ll ask the young master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Diao Che closed the door and walked toward Liang Han.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After whispering a few words, seeing Qi Heng smiling, Liang Han grinned proudly: “Young Master, it’s still quite cool today—why not head to the polo field and stretch our legs?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng shook his head: “Wait for Jiulang and the others. It wouldn’t be right without them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Han smiled: “You’re right, Young Master! I’ll go play a bit first, then come back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine!” Qi Heng laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng, bored, stepped out of the room and stood by the railing outside the private chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, the wind had grown stronger, rustling his sleeves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From below, not far off, came a girl’s bright cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng turned to see Liang Han playing polo with a girl on the field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vast field held only two people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bu Wei stood beside Qi Heng and whispered: “Young Master, that girl is a relative of Sixth Brother’s stepmother’s family—she’s surnamed Wan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm, I know,” Qi Heng nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng narrowed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the field, Liang Han and the Wan girl had both halted their horses. Then Liang Han dismounted—and mounted the Wan girl’s horse behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the two of them rode as one, chest to back, galloping across the field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Liang Han’s movements, it seemed he was teaching the Wan girl the proper polo stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes he wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! Sixth Brother, you’re so naughty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the field came the girl’s sweet, playful scolding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching this, Qi Heng froze, lost in thought, a foolish smile spreading across his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough! Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bu Wei’s voice came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng snapped out of his reverie, frowning at Bu Wei: “Huh? What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bu Wei said: “Jiulang and the others have arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed below, where Qiao Jiu was waving and smiling up at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re so naughty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mo Lan clutched a crumpled paper ball, glaring at Ru Lan behind her, who was smirking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Swish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A glance shot over quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing Qi Heng’s gaze, Mo Lan met his eyes, blushed slightly, pressed her lips together, then turned away, fixing her gaze on the paper and brush before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, she couldn’t help turning back to look at Qi Heng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now Qi Heng had lowered his head, writing on the paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Mo Lan felt a pang of disappointment, glanced at him once more, then sat upright again amid Chang Feng’s puzzled stare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, Xiao Tao, who had just served tea to Chang Zhi, was walking back from the front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled at Xu Zaijing, who looked up at her with a smile, then returned to her wooden platform behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qing Cao held a round fan, fanning Xiao Tao, and whispered with a grin: “Xiao Tao, I swear you’re getting fatter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, her free hand pinched Xiao Tao’s arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not!” Xiao Tao frowned, rolling up her sleeve to reveal her plump, pale arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Lan, hearing the exchange, turned and laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the wall,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Tingye turned, smiled at Ming Lan, and said to Xu Zaijing: “Fifth Brother, guess what I saw at Fan Tower yesterday?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?” Xu Zaijing put down his brush and smiled. “Was it Shishi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft—I’m married now! What Shishi? I saw a revolving fan in a private room at Fan Tower!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?” Xu Zaijing paused in surprise, then said: “A revolving fan at Fan Tower? That’s a good gimmick—it’ll draw plenty of customers!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Feng, overhearing, laughed: “How does that fan compare to the one in our study? Which is more exquisite?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Tingye waved his hand and smiled: “About the same! The difference is, the fan’s box underneath is open—metal gears and all are exposed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hiss! Then the key mechanism is visible to anyone?” Chang Feng frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Tingye nodded: “Exactly. I asked the staff at Fan Tower—they said it’s the Ministry of Works’ design.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing smiled: “Second Brother, if someone’s determined to see it, they’ll find a way. Better to let them see it clearly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true,” Gu Tingye nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By July,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the weather was still somewhat hot,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and as school ended,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing, riding his horse, saw stalls along the street selling Mohele, Gu Ban, and Shuishangfu items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boys with lotus leaves on their heads often held lotus flowers for sale in their arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stopping his horse before a stall, Zhaozhang smiled and said, “Little Wu, what do you think of this Mohele?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing nodded. “Brother, this one’s good—looks beautiful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good! Let’s buy a rattle too—your little sister and Dai Ge will surely love it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After buying plenty of items, the two brothers returned to Quyuanjie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky was still bright,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and as they walked toward Sun Shi’s courtyard,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>they could hear the craftsmen in the mansion still hammering away, building the Qiqiao Tower for the coming days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the courtyard gate,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yunjin, just stepping out, saw the two brothers and called out cheerfully into the yard, “Third Young Master and Fifth Young Master are back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Yunjin bowed with a smile and went about her duties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhaozhang entered the courtyard, glanced back at Yunjin’s retreating figure, and smiled: “This maid is called Yunjin, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm,” Xu Zaijing nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She really does resemble Minglan, as your sister-in-law said—especially her eyebrows and eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh,” Xu Zaijing chuckled. “But this maid is much darker than Minglan from the sun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah, true,” Zhaozhang laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the room,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dai Ge and Zhong Ge were overjoyed to see the toys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Xu Zaijing reached to pick up his niece Qing Jie as he usually did, Dan Mama stopped him with a smile: “Fifth Young Master, why don’t you and Third Young Master wash your faces and hands first?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing chuckled and touched his face—he’d sweated and gotten dusty on the way home, and hadn’t washed up at his own courtyard, so he was indeed dirty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After washing his hands and face, Xu Zaijing picked up his little sister. As he looked around the room, he noticed a delicate bamboo basket beside his mother Sun Shi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xu Zaijing’s gaze, Sun Shi smiled: “This was sent by Anmei. She heard from Tingyi that girls in the capital have taken to reading storybooks and miscellanies, so she bought some and had them sent over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing turned to his smiling niece and said, “Won’t it be a bit too much to ask Qing Jie—who can’t read a few characters—to read these?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shi frowned at him. “What nonsense are you talking? These are for the Sheng girls to pass the time with—not your niece.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh!” Xu Zaijing stared at the bamboo basket, larger than a usual food box, and said, “Looks like quite a lot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shi nodded and instructed: “Tomorrow, have your brother deliver them. You stay away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?” Xu Zaijing frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your brother is the brother-in-law of the Sheng girls—sending these is fine. But you, still unmarried, sending such things might raise improper suspicions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing thought it over and realized: it was simply that written materials given to girls might cause misunderstandings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing nodded. “Mother is absolutely right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>when Zhaozhang arrived at the Sheng household, he first went to Shou’an Hall and presented all the books to the old lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along with the books came a pair of lotus blossoms growing from a single stem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old lady inspected the books before distributing them—this was more proper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days later,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>on the seventh day of the seventh month,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the Qixi Festival,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>scholars like Xu Zaijing recited poetry before the Qiqiao Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Women and young ladies, meanwhile, threaded needles by moonlight to pray for skill, burning incense in devotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the offering table before the Qiqiao Tower, sealed spider boxes were a must—if the spider inside spun a neat web the next day, it meant success in the prayer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days after Qixi,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>came the Zhongyuan Festival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As usual, Xu Zaijing and his brother took the Hou Fu’s old retainers to Daozhe Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, on the towering mountain of paper money, they offered their ancestral sacrifices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former infantry and cavalry under the Northwest Brave Marquis had fought a battle against the Northern Liao—though they won decisively, many soldiers from Bianjing had died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, before the great mountain of paper money, many families wore white cloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Daozhe Yuan’s abbot made his rounds, the great mountain of paper money was set ablaze again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the flames roared, the wails of grieving families rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thin paper money turned to ash, carried by the wind into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing watched the scene, silently praying: war is cruel—may his father and brother remain safe on the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The already hot weather, standing before the burning mountain of paper money, made everyone feel their cheeks grow warm; sweat poured out and dried quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Xu Zaijing and his brother turned to leave, they touched their faces and felt a gritty texture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the fine salt crystals left behind when sweat dried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way back to the Hou Fu,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the air outside Daozhe Yuan was thick with the smell of burning paper money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yi Xiong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yi Xiong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the call beside him, Xu Zaijing turned to see his sworn brother Lu Zezong riding beside him on Ma Er.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zong Ge, what is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yi Xiong, just now you were staring north—what were you thinking? I called you, but you didn’t respond,” Lu Zezong said, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing shook his head and looked at his nephew Xu Xingdai, who also looked confused. “Zong Ge, nothing. I was just remembering—once, not far from here, I met a few fine men. Now...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xingdai’s eyes lit up—he understood his uncle was referring to the Yue family lord he had visited in Xiangzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Xu Xingdai also glanced north and said, “Uncle, will Yue’s son come to the capital next year?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2343,"2026-06-20T10:32:41.888Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e3fe3531586c9a7cc6fa0883852165b5553515f1e49ca19532b5e92df328042e","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-780","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-778",790,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-the-xu-family-s-son-cover.jpg"]