[{"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-781":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},2308559,4510,"Chapter 781","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-781",781,"\u003Cp>At precisely noon (after twelve o’clock)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The polo field was empty; no one was riding or striking the ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the large tent at the field’s edge, white steam drifted into the air and vanished as various steamer baskets were lifted open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several maids, under the direction of the head matron, carried trays one by one toward the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the tent,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Jiulang looked at the steamed crab claws served to him, rose, and smiled: “Brothers, these are large crabs carefully selected by my household steward—Gu Er told me these crabs had already been purged of mud and sand in clear water for two full days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Starting on Mid-Autumn Day, I fed them vinegar and soy sauce to dispel the chill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, aside from the vinegar and soy sauce, these crabs are identical to those delivered to your households.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Qiao Jiulang’s words, some in the tent swallowed hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple—they had tasted delicious crab before and now recalled its flavor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Tingye nodded beside him, gestured for Qiao Jiulang to sit, and said: “Jiulang, you’ve gone to great trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone knows crab is cold-natured, so yesterday I specially bought several jars of top-grade Huangjiu from the Dou family! Bring them out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Gu Tingye spoke, his servants brought over jars of Huangjiu marked with water stains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stains were from warming the wine in hot water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Feng leaned forward, eyes wide with surprise: “Gu Er, this is the finest Huangjiu from the Dou family’s main shop—it’s hard to get! My steward tried to buy some too, but he said the new batch sold out the very day it arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Tingye smiled: “Chang Feng, Dou family’s Huangjiu is always in high demand. I only got these jars thanks to family connections.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see!” Chang Feng nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dai Ge, sitting beside Xu Zaijing, glanced curiously at him: “Uncle, what relation does Gu Er have with the Duke Fu Guo’s family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing leaned close and whispered: “Gu Er has an aunt who married into the Yang family—her elder sister is a senior lady of the Dou family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh,” Dai Ge, sorting out the connections in his small mind, nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A maid approached with a tray and placed wrapped items, one by one, on each person’s table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing opened his casually—it was a simplified metal tool set for eating crab.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a gathering; no formal host or guest distinctions existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a clinking of utensils, everyone began eating the crabs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With two nephews beside him, Xu Zaijing ate little, giving most of the meat he picked out to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among this group of noble heirs, using these tools to eat crab was merely for amusement—the real feast lay in the dishes expertly prepared by the chef behind the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dipping the crab meat into a sauce of vinegar, soy, and ginger, Xu Zaijing placed it into Xingzhong’s bowl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Gu Tingye raise his cup, everyone raised theirs and took a sip of Huangjiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk! Truly excellent wine!” Qi Heng murmured, eyes half-closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Qi Heng’s expression, Xu Zaijing’s two nephews exchanged puzzled glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The day before, on Mid-Autumn, they had tasted the Huangjiu given to them by Zhaizhang—and they thought it tasted worse than sugar water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several maids brought over plates of pickled crab.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Jiulang, setting down his cup, looked at the pickled crab and suddenly chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiulang, why are you laughing?” Chang Feng asked, a crab leg still in his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing everyone’s gaze, Qiao Jiulang shook his head, smiling: “Nothing much—just seeing this pickled crab reminded me of an older brother from the Li family of Puzhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Li family of Puzhou?” Chang Bai asked, eyes thoughtful: “Is that the family of the late Emperor’s top imperial scholar, Master Li?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Jiulang gave a thumbs-up: “Exactly, Second Brother—yes, the family of the top scholar Master Li. That brother is his distant cousin’s grandson, named Li Jie.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve always been close with him—I even attended his wedding feast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that’s the case, why does thinking of him make you laugh?” Qi Heng asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Jiulang shook his head, smiling: “This brother is obsessed with pickled crab—and so is his wife! My family’s seafood shop sells nearly half its large crabs to them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xu Zaijing and the others exchanged glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sss! Now that you mention it, this couple really loves to eat!” Chang Feng sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And then—hahaha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he finished, Qiao Jiulang shook his head again, laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Han frowned: “Tsk! Jiulang, what’s gotten into you today? You keep half-speaking and laughing like an idiot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Jiulang waved his hand: “Sixth Brother, let me finish! Two years ago, this brother came to me and ordered a giant jar, half a man’s height.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Jiulang demonstrated the jar’s size, continuing: “He said it was for pickling crab. My steward told me he put hundreds of crab claws inside. After pickling, he and his wife ate a few each day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing and the others said nothing, waiting for the rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But they loved it too much—hundreds of crabs, eaten back and forth, dwindled down to just one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Last autumn, before Lady Li returned to her parents’ home, she made a pact with her husband: when she came back, they’d split the last crab evenly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But when Lady Li returned, she found the jar completely empty. When she asked her husband, he said—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Jiulang bit back a grin: “He said he’d planned to take the last crab out and place it on a dish to admire—but then, pfft—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Jiulang burst out laughing: “The crab, pickled for days, somehow jumped off the dish while he wasn’t looking—zip!—and ran out the door with lightning speed, vanishing into the courtyard in a flash.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the tent, Xu Zaijing and the others burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Chang Bai, usually stern and silent, smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha! No wonder you couldn’t hold it in!” Liang Han laughed. “Clearly, this Li brother couldn’t resist the temptation—he ate it all himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Jiulang nodded, smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing also smiled, raising his cup: “Come, let’s drink to Jiulang’s amusing tale!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To it!” Everyone echoed, raising their cups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After drinking,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing set down his cup and looked at Qiao Jiulang, who was eating: “Jiulang, this is a household matter—how did you find out about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Jiulang put down his chopsticks to speak, but Liang Han waved him off: “Jiulang, don’t answer yet—let me guess! Did one of your maids or old nurses spill the story?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Jiulang swallowed his food, shook his head, and smiled: “No, no—it’s—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pressed his lips together, suppressing his grin: “Lady Li wasn’t foolish—she didn’t believe her husband’s story. She was certain he’d eaten it himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But he stubbornly denied it, claiming he’d heard of pickled crabs that, after waking from their brine, could run away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The couple argued all the way to my family’s seafood shop—my brother insisted my steward confirm this had happened, and that’s how—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That day, the shop was crowded—it became quite the joke.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone chuckled softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, footsteps approached,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several more maids entered the tent with trays of dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng, who had been speaking with Liang Han, glanced casually at the arriving maids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng’s gaze, about to sweep past, froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Duke, I’ve tasted this dish before at Wu Lou—it’s delicious!” Liang Han chuckled beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng blinked, snapping out of his daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! If Sixth Brother says so, I must try it.” He let his eyes drift again over the departing maids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing Qi Heng’s oddness, Liang Han said nothing, but also glanced at the maids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone drank digestive tea, rested for half an hour, then rode their horses around the polo field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, several children like Xingzhong, too young to ride full-speed, were watched over and circled the field several times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the sun dipped low,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone, accompanied by their personal guards and servants, rode together toward the polo field’s gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving the polo field,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Approaching the city gate,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just before parting,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing looked at Xingzhong, seated before Chang Bai’s saddle, and said: “Xingzhong, listen to your uncle on the road!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, I will.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xingzhong has always been sensible,” Chang Feng smiled in praise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng, riding beside them, smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing nodded, turning to look at the Xu family carriage following behind Chang Bai—inside sat Hualan’s personal maid, Cuichan, and other Xu maids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cuichan, watch over Yunjin—if Xingzhong gets sleepy on the way, carry him into the carriage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Fifth Young Master, I understand,” Cuichan said, nodding to Yunjin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke, Qi Heng prepared to glance again at Yunjin when Buwei spoke up: “Young Duke, I notice both young masters are sleepy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng turned back and saw, through the parted curtain of the carriage, his two young uncles yawning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone bowed farewell, and Chang Bai’s party headed south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking half a quarter-hour,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xingzhong, who had already been wild and playful for most of the day, was tired; the horse’s bouncy gait soon made Zhongge’s eyelids droop and fight each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Bai halted the carriage and horse, handing Zhongge to Cui Chan, who waited inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yun Jin, who had been riding alongside, quickly reached out to help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Cui Chan entered the carriage, Chang Zhen, who had been riding beside her, glanced at Yun Jin’s face, then resumed gripping the reins and riding forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seventh Brother, what are you thinking about?” Chang Bai asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Zhen, though young, had steady eyes; he met Chang Bai’s gaze and said, “Second Brother, I was thinking about the young masters who went to the polo field today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Bai paused in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Feng chuckled beside him: “Seventh Brother, you’re young, but you think a lot. Good! Today we met these young masters—when we pass the imperial exams and enter officialdom, they’ll be invaluable connections!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seventh Brother, is that also what you think?” Chang Bai asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Zhen nodded, then shook his head: “Second Brother, I’m thinking of more than what Third Brother said. I wonder—if we didn’t have Master Zhuang as our teacher, could we have met those classmates at all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Bai smiled: “Seventh Brother, your brother-in-law Da and Fifth Brother are our relatives—of course we’d know them. But the two young dukes and the others? We might never have had the chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Zhen nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those few are all the legitimate sons of marquis and duke households—they’ll inherit their titles one day!” Chang Feng added, his eyes gleaming with daydreams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But meeting them is one thing—maintaining lasting ties depends on yourself, your father, and your family,” Chang Bai warned his two younger brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second Brother is right. I’ll remember it well,” Chang Zhen nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Feng pursed his lips: “Second Brother, don’t friendships sometimes transcend family background? Like Xu Wu—he’s recommended many men into the military, and I hear they’ve all risen steadily!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Bai seemed to anticipate this, replying calmly: “Then, would you be willing to befriend Kang’s cousin now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kang Jin?” Chang Feng sneered and shook his head: “No thanks. Kang’s uncle is lazy, and Kang Jin is already old but still hasn’t passed the provincial exam. Sometimes talking to him feels...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He trailed off, embarrassed into silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third Brother, our family still has kinship ties with the Kangs—aren’t those bonds heavier than mere friendships? If you disdain this, what about others?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Chang Bai’s words, Chang Feng nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mentioned Jingge—he’s recommended many into the military, but advancement there demands courage and skill. Haven’t you heard from your brother-in-law about the fallen soldiers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you lack good birth and fail at your studies, even if someone recommends you a post, how can you be sure you’re not just a stepping stone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If someone sincerely helps you build your future, but you fail and bring trouble upon yourself, aren’t you betraying their earnest efforts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Bai stared straight at Chang Feng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Feng lowered his head: “Second Brother is right—I was mistaken. No matter the connections, first and foremost, one must have ability.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage rumbled on,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and the group entered the city gate, heading toward Jiyin Alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Sheng household,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>they dismounted, and Yun Jin followed Cui Chan toward Shou’an Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because tomorrow was the Autumn Festival, Hua Lan and Zai Zhang had come early to Jiyin Alley to stay at the Xu household and host Ping Mei and An Mei, who were visiting their parents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So today they would stay at the Sheng household and return to Quyuanjie tomorrow morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Shou’an Hall,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Ruofu frowned at Zai Zhang: “Son-in-law, even when dining with friends, you must take care of your health—how could you drink so much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Lan, seated before the old lady, gave Zai Zhang a reproachful glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zai Zhang, sipping his hangover soup, smiled: “Mother-in-law, I’ll remember.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the “interaction” between Zai Zhang and Hua Lan, Wei Shuyi, standing beside Liu Mama, smiled too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Ruofu nodded, glancing toward the doorway: “Where are Bai and the others? Why haven’t they returned?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rulan pouted: “Mother, you say you’re waiting for Second Brother, but you’re really waiting for Zhong’er, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Wang Ruofu turned and glared at Rulan, tapping her forehead: “You talk too much!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Lan, seated beside Hua Lan, covered her mouth and giggled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second and Third Brothers are back,” a maid announced from outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the room turned toward the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Bai and his two brothers entered the room, with Cui Chan holding the child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandmother, Mother, we’re back,” the three brothers bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Ruofu nodded, rose, and walked to Cui Chan, gazing at the sleeping Xingzhong in her arms: “Did he fall asleep on the way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Chan smiled and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve carried him all this way—you must be tired. Let me take him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Lady,” Cui Chan, her arms aching, smiled and handed Xingzhong to Wang Ruofu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my, Zhong’er, my little darling!” Wang Ruofu hugged her grandson, beaming with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the drowsy Xingzhong in her arms, Wang Ruofu grinned: “Zhong’er, awake? Look where you are. If you’re sleepy, go back to sleep—Grandma’s here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandma,” Xingzhong murmured sleepily, then closed his eyes again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Wang Ruofu sat holding her grandson, Liu Mama and Wei Shuyi behind her leaned forward to look, then smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Mama needed no explanation; since entering the Sheng household, Hua Lan had always treated Wei Shuyi kindly, and Wei Shuyi naturally wished Hua Lan happiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Ruofu’s expression, everyone lowered their voices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Feng described the people they met at the polo field; Chang Zhen, at Hua Lan’s prompting, recounted the brothers’ polo match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing about polo, Ming Lan’s eyes lit up as she looked at Chang Zhen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old lady’s gaze kept drifting to Yun Jin, who stood beside Cui Chan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing her grandmother’s attention, Hua Lan seized a pause in conversation and smiled: “Yun Jin, come here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Yun Jin stepped forward and bowed to everyone,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Lan said: “Grandmother, look—this maid from the Hou Fu, who does she remind you of?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like Sixth Sister,” Rulan said with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yun Jin quickly lowered her head: “This maid is plain-looking and ashamed—how could my face compare to Sixth Miss’s?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Appearance comes from one’s parents; if there’s resemblance, it’s fate,” Wang Ruofu smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the hall nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old lady smiled: “Lady, you speak wisely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Lan smiled: “Grandmother, Mother—before, the twin lotus that Fifth Brother gave you? It was Yun Jin’s elder brother who found it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old lady and Wang Ruofu exclaimed in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Lans and Chang Bai’s three brothers stared at Yun Jin in astonishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Shuyi’s eyes widened in disbelief—she knew the Anzhai had kept many twin lotuses; she never imagined this maid was connected to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To have such talent—your brother and sister must be blessed! We’ve all benefited from your fortune,” the old lady nodded with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yun Jin hurried to say: “Grandmother, you flatter me. My brother and I owe our fortune to the Hou Fu. Now my brother has a steady post in the navy, and I’m grateful to Fifth Young Master beyond words.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Lan whispered a few more details beside the old lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A humble origin, yet a filial child who helps her parents,” the old lady said solemnly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandmother, you flatter me,” Yun Jin bowed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Tao, listening to the conversation, glanced between her mistress and Yun Jin, then whispered to Danju beside her: “Danju Sister, this girl’s eyes are just like our mistress’s.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danju nodded: “Only her eyes. The rest doesn’t match—she’s shorter than our mistress, and her skin is darker.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Tao nodded vigorously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2811,"2026-06-20T10:32:41.888Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","47e51c5e274230c8aee0befdaa6c4f63838d06aef98903a7ca0a2f3bb7f4b377","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-782","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-780",790,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-the-xu-family-s-son-cover.jpg"]