After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 1022 Baozhu Enters Beijing
The two branches of the Hai family will hold three happy events next year. It is impossible for such good news to be completely smooth.

A few days later, Hai Baozhu, who was studying in Yongping Prefecture, arrived with his biological mother, Aunt Qiu.

As the year drew to a close, Hai Baozhu finished his classes for the year and began his New Year holiday. He did not stay in Yongping City for a single day. As soon as he got his holiday, he set off for the capital. Although Yongping was where he was used to living, and his teacher, his wife, and his classmates all invited him to stay for the New Year, he decided to stay with his stepmother and eldest sister to celebrate the New Year, which was the reason for the family to reunite. Moreover, the second branch of the family also came to the capital this year, and his uncle's family was also his closest relatives. There was no reason for him to stay away from so many relatives and only stay in Yongping City with his biological mother for the New Year.

Aunt Qiu had no objection to her son's decision. She was a gentle and honest woman who trusted and appreciated her son's success. She had no ambitions because of her son's success. She knew that if Fang hadn't arranged for her to escape with her son secretly, and had sponsored their lives and schooling for many years, and had kept their whereabouts secret from the Jiang family, they might have been dead long ago. Even if the Jiang family didn't kill them, there would be people in the Hai family who wanted to get rid of Hai Baozhu as soon as possible.

Now that the Jiang family has fallen, not to mention that the Hai family has reappeared, instigating her son to stay away from his stepmother and take over the family business. Her son sneered, and she didn't want to pay attention to it either. She still hated the members of the family back then, who either wanted to kill her and her son or stood by and watched indifferently. What about now that things have changed? Could it be that the cold-blooded members of the family back then have become good people who really care about them? How can they compare to the great kindness of Fang, who has always been thinking about Hai Baozhu's safety and future. Fang didn't even take the property of the Hai family's eldest house, and left it all to Hai Baozhu. Where can you find such a good stepmother? Naturally, you should be more filial and close to her!
Aunt Qiu followed her son to the capital. When she saw Fang, she took out a bundle of new clothes, shoes and socks without waiting for her son Hai Baozhu to complain that his stepmother had decided on his eldest sister's marriage without informing her. She said, "Madam, these are all made by me. There are clothes for you and for the young lady. Please try them on to see if they fit you. Since the young lady's marriage has been decided, when will it be? If the young lady wants to make a wedding dress, I can help her."

Hai Baozhu looked at his mother helplessly. He was about to complain, but he had to soften his tone: "Yeah, when is the wedding date? I originally thought that my sister would not get married so soon. Now I suddenly heard that she is already married, I really can't bear it..."

Hai Baozhu's face flushed, shy but full of happiness and expectation: "Mother originally planned to let me stay at home for two more years to recuperate, and then get married after my body is completely healed, but your brother-in-law... He said that he is not young anymore, and he wants to start a family and build a career as soon as possible. It's the same for me to recuperate after I get married. Then mother can move in with me and take care of me nearby. Seeing that he was sincere, mother agreed..."

"Mother, are you going to move to my sister and brother-in-law's house too?" Hai Baozhu was shocked. "Mother, are you going to live with my sister in her old age? What about your son? When I pass the imperial examination, I will come to the capital to reunite with you. I am thinking of honoring you well then!"

Fang smiled lovingly, "I will just move in with your sister and brother-in-law for two years when they get married, and teach your sister how to manage the household and take care of her health. When you pass the exam and come to the capital, I may not continue to live in their house. When your sister has a child and is too busy to take care of her, it won't be too late for me to go over and help take care of her."

What if he never passed the exam to go to the capital, or if his eldest sister had a child soon after marriage, would his stepmother have stayed in his sister and brother-in-law's home?
Hai Baozhu opened his mouth to ask this question, but hesitated when the words came to his lips. He knew that his eldest sister was his stepmother's only biological child, and it was natural for his stepmother to want to live with her. If he insisted that his stepmother move in with him, it would be like forcing her to leave her own daughter...

Thinking of this, he changed his tone when he spoke again: "What does my brother-in-law's family do? Where does they live? If mother wants to live closer to my sister and brother-in-law, when I go to Beijing in the future, I can also find a house near my brother-in-law's house." Fang smiled and said, "That's great. The Qiao family is the cousin of your brother Baoshun's maternal grandfather's family from the second house, so they are all relatives. This marriage can be said to be a marriage between relatives. The two families are well matched and couldn't be more suitable. It's a pity that the Sun family was in power in the past, and many good officials were killed, and the Qiao family was also destroyed. Now your brother-in-law is the only one left. Fortunately, his family has been rehabilitated and the property has been returned. Your brother Baoshun has arranged for your brother-in-law to work under him, so that your brother-in-law can eat the emperor's food and don't have to worry about the future.

"Now his family has a small farm in the countryside and two houses in Beijing. They plan to live in one and rent out the other. I think the house they live in is in a very good location. Although it is not close to here, it is surrounded by respectable families and there are also bustling markets and streets nearby. I originally thought that after your sister gets married, I would rent a small courtyard near the Qiao family, so that it would be convenient for me to visit your sister. But your brother-in-law asked me to live there directly, which saved the rent. When you pass the imperial examination and go to Beijing to prepare for the imperial examination, you can also rent a courtyard near your brother-in-law's house. The two places are close, so it is convenient for you to come to see me and your sister. If you and your son encounter any difficulties, you can come to us at any time."

When Hai Baozhu heard this, he naturally understood that his stepmother didn't want to live with him. Even if he moved to Beijing to live permanently, his stepmother would prefer to live with his sister and brother-in-law, and let him and his biological mother live in a rented house nearby, so that they could maintain frequent visits but relatively independent lives. This was inconsistent with his plan to be filial to his stepmother. He wanted to object, but hesitated and didn't dare to speak.

His biological mother, Aunt Qiu, was more capable than him: "Do whatever you want, Madam! If Madam is tired of living in your son-in-law's house, you can come back home and live for a while, so that Baozhu can be filial to you. Baozhu will study for the imperial examinations, get married and have children, and many other important matters in the future, and you will have to make the decision! Baozhu is young and knows nothing. Although he has good teachers and good mistresses, they are not as good as his own relatives and elders. Without your help to make decisions, I really have no idea."

Fang also knew what kind of personality Concubine Qiu had. She smiled and said, "Okay, if you trust me, just come and discuss things with me in the future. I can't say I can definitely help you arrange it, but even if you encounter something I can't handle, I can help you find the elders of the second house for advice."

The second branch is now prosperous, with three generations holding official positions and about to marry into the royal family. If she can get their help, Aunt Qiu will feel more at ease.

She asked hurriedly, "I heard that the second house will also be having a wedding next year. Is there anything we can do to help?"

Fang smiled and said, "It's enough that you have this kind of thought. The elders of the second house are capable and will take care of it. No one else needs to worry about it. I am now preparing a dowry for Baozhu, and I also ask the elders of the second house to help. Otherwise, I am a widow, alone in Beijing, how can I handle it?"

This reminded Hai Baozhu, and he quickly took out a small box from his sleeve and placed it in front of his stepmother: "Here are the rents from the fields and the income from several properties sent by my hometown this year. Without the Jiang family taking any profits from it, the amount is much more than in previous years, a total of 567 taels of silver. Your son has kept 67 taels for daily expenses, and the remaining 500 taels are all here. Mother, take it to prepare a dowry for your sister, and ask her to bring more things when she goes out, so that her brother-in-law won't look down on her."