Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 553: Gu Er's flaws do not outweigh his merits [Thank you! Goodbye! I owe you 39k more]

"Ta-ta~"

Molan, who was playing shuttlecock in the hall, kicked the shuttlecock to Yunzai, turned to look at Lin Qinshuang who was talking, and said:

"Mom~ why are you in such a hurry?"

"If Brother Yuanruo and the others come, they will definitely go to pay New Year's greetings to Master Zhuang first."

"Men and women are separated during the feast, and my daughter can't go there, so why does she need to wear a cloak now?"

After saying that, Molan waved her hand to indicate that she would stop playing shuttlecock, and walked to the Luohan chair beside her, sat down and drank tea.

Lin Qinshuang took the cloak brought by the maid, frowned and looked at Molan, and said: "The young master and his friends will go to the Zhuang Academy first, but your sister Hualan will go to the old lady!"

"All my sisters are gone, and you are the only one here. What do you think you can do? Come here quickly!"

Seeing that Molan was still unhappy, Lin Qinshuang advised:
"Mo'er! Your sister Hualan is the second lady of the Marquis's Mansion. She used to make friends with the ladies of high-ranking officials and their wives from wealthy families!"

"This knowledge must be extraordinary! You should watch, listen and learn more from her. It will be good for you in the future, right?"

Molan rolled her eyes, put down her teacup and said, "Mom, didn't you say that my elder sister always has two faces in front of people and behind their backs? What can I learn from her?"

"Besides, if she hadn't backed Jin Anzhai, the housekeeper, Father Quan, would have given it to you long ago. How could Jin Anzhai have a share?"

Lin Qinshuang took a deep breath and said, "My dear Mo'er, Wang Ruofu, that bitch, just doesn't have the ability of Hualan's two faces, so she was suppressed by her mother! And your elder sister's support for Jin Anzhai, your father told me that there are many other considerations! Hurry up!"

"The old lady of the Yu family and Miss Yanran are here too! If you get along well with Miss Yanran, you will have the opportunity to attend any poetry gatherings in the capital in the future!"

Hearing about the poetry gathering, Molan rolled her eyes and said, "Mother is right!"

Zhuang Xuejiu received more than 4,000 strings of cash in tuition every year.
During festivals, both the Sheng family and the other families would give gifts.

In theory, after teaching in the Sheng family for several years, the money saved would be enough to buy a house in Bian Jing.

But Zhuang Xuejiu had always lived in the Sheng family and had no intention of buying a house. He also asked others to bring most of the money back to his hometown to buy property and build a clan school.

Following the path, passing the bamboo forest planted on the roadside and through the Moon Gate, Xu Zaijing and his party arrived at the residence of Zhuang Xuejiu Institute.

The second day of the new year,

There are guests in Zhuang Xuejiu's yard.

Xu Zaijing moved his nose and could still smell the aroma of food and wine.

Probably because they had received the message from the Sheng family, when Xu Zaijing and others entered the courtyard, several middle-aged men were already standing solemnly in front of the house.

Changbai was in front, and he extended his hand and introduced, "Brother-in-law, this is the scholar's eldest son, first son-in-law, and second son-in-law."

Xu Zaijing and others followed Zai Zhang, bowing and calling him "senior brother" and "brother".

Zhuang Xuejiu's son and son-in-law hurriedly smiled and bowed in return.

Master Zhuang has been teaching for many years and has taught many children of nobles and officials. So when he saw Gu Tingye, Qi Heng and others, there was no restrained look on their faces.

After Changbai introduced the relatives of the Zhuang family, he pointed at Xu Zaijing and others and introduced them, "Brothers, this is my brother-in-law Zai Zhang, the second son of the Gu family, and the fifth son of the Xu family."

When Zai Zhang and Gu Tingye were introduced, none of the relatives of the Zhuang family showed any unusual expression.

When Xu Zaijing was introduced, the eyes of several relatives of the Zhuang family lit up slightly and they looked Xu Zaijing up and down.

That’s it.

The eldest son of the Zhuang family extended his hand to invite them in, and said with a smile, "Brothers, please come in. Father is very happy to know that you are here."

"Please." Zai Zhang smiled and extended his hand.

When everyone entered the hall, Xu Zaijing saw several women of different ages sitting or standing in the room.

In fact, there is no need for introduction. The old lady sitting on the chair with Zhuang Xuejiu is the teacher's wife of Xu Zaijing and others, and the three women standing are Zhuang Xuejiu's daughter-in-law and two daughters.

Led by Zai Zhang, everyone bowed and greeted Mr. Zhuang and his wife with a happy new year.

Zhuang Xuejiao nodded with a smile on his face. The master's wife sitting next to him also smiled. She stretched out her hand and said, "Children, please sit down! Serve us some tea!"

"Yes, Master!"

The daughters-in-law and daughters responded, "Yes, mother."

After everyone was seated and served tea, Zai Zhang was the oldest and he did most of the talking.

After a conversation, Xu Zaijing and others learned that the master's wife and her sons and daughters returned to their hometown the year the Sheng family came to Beijing. Now that the affairs in their hometown have been almost settled, they came to Bian Jing.

Of course, there is also a well-known reason, that is, the number of places for successful examinations at all levels in Kaifeng Prefecture in Bian Jing is much greater than that outside Beijing!
While everyone was talking, Qi Heng looked at Xu Zaijing, who was sitting in front of him and kept giving him looks, with some confusion.

This made Qi Heng a little puzzled. While Gu Tingye was discussing academic matters with the eldest son of the Zhuang family, Qi Heng approached Xu Zaijing and whispered, "Brother Jing, why do you keep giving me looks?"

Xu Zaijing glanced at Zhuang Xuejiu and said, "Yuan Ruo, didn't you say before that you had a lot of academic questions? Now that you're here, why don't you ask them now?"

Qi Heng was stunned: "Ah?" Then he nodded quickly and said: "Oh! Brother Jing is right, that's right"

Afterwards, Qi Heng took advantage of a break in conversation to ask questions to Zhuang Xuejiu.

After talking for a while, Zai Zhang learned that Zhuang Xuejiu's relatives were also going to set up a banquet for dinner. After Zhuang Xuejiu answered Qi Heng's questions, Zai Zhang stood up and said goodbye.

After sending Xu Zaijing and others to the door, Zhuang Xuejiu and his family returned to the house.

Backyard main hall,

inside the house,

The two old ladies from the Yu and Sheng families sat on the Luohan chairs at the top, and Hualan moved an embroidered cushion and sat in front of her grandmother's lap.

Wang Ruofu held Xu Xingzhong in her arms and sat down below with a doting look on her face.

Looking at the candied fruit that her grandson in her arms was passing to his mouth, Wang Ruofu smiled and touched Xu Xingzhong's little face, saying, "Oh, my little darling, your grandmother really loves you for a reason!"

As she said this, Wang Ruofu opened her mouth and prepared to eat the candied fruit in her grandson's hand.

As a result, before the food entered his mouth, Xu Xingzhong took back the food he had handed over.

Looking at the grandson grinning in her arms, Wang Ruofu frowned and said with a smile: "Eh? Are you teasing your grandmother, you little rascal?"

"Hehe~"

Looking at Wang Ruofu's expression, Xu Xingzhong grinned evilly.

Wang Ruofu hugged Xu Xingzhong lovingly and said with a smile: "Zhong brother, this boy is smart at first glance!"

Rulan sat on the embroidered cushion beside Wang Ruofu, leaned forward, opened her mouth, and smiled at Xu Xingzhong: "Zhong brother, come, let your aunt have a taste! Ah"

Looking at Rulan who opened her mouth, Xu Xingzhong handed the candied fruit in his hand to Rulan's mouth.

"Wow!"

Before Xu Xingzhong could react, Rulan bit him, and Xu Xingzhong, who wanted to "repeat the same trick", couldn't pull his hand back.

Then, Rulan bit off a big piece of the candied fruit. Xu Xingzhong looked at the candied fruit in his hand which was mostly gone, looked at Rulan again, and burst into tears.

Hua Lan, who was sitting next to the old lady, curled her lips helplessly.

Wang Ruofu was so hurt by her crying that she slapped Rulan on the shoulder angrily and hurried to coax her grandson, saying, "Grandma hit her, Zhong Ge'er, don't cry, ah!"

After Rulan made a proud face at her nephew again, Xu Xingzhong cried even harder.

"Tsk, you naughty girl, don't you know how to give in to your nephew?"

Wang Ruofu glared.

At this time,

Minglan came over with a plate of candied fruit and placed it next to Rulan.

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

After Xu Xingzhong got the candied fruit, he stood up in Wang Ruofu's arms and handed the candied fruit to Minglan, saying, "Auntie, eat it."

Minglan looked at Wang Ruofu and Hualan, who were all smiles, and leaned closer to Xu Xingzhong, saying, "Wow, it's delicious! I ate it, Zhongge, you can eat it yourself."

"Auntie, eat it." Xu Xingzhong continued to pass the candied fruit in his hand to Minglan, and it seemed that he would not give up unless Minglan took it.

"Sixth girl, take it." Wang Ruofu said with a smile.

Seeing Minglan tentatively taking the candied fruit, Xu Xingzhong did not cry but laughed instead.

Seeing this, Rulan poked Xu Xingzhong's arm and said, "You little traitor."

The two old ladies at the top looked at the scene in the hall with a smile.

Madam Yu drank a sip of tea and said to Madam Sheng, "Your home is still warm and lively! My daughter-in-law's relatives are coming today, and I don't want to stay at home any longer."

Madam Sheng glanced at Mo Lan who was also trying to tease Xu Xingzhong and said, "It's been so many years? Are you still not used to it?"

Madam Yu shook her head: "Before, they were in Xiangzhou, and I didn't mind them. In the past two years, they have returned to Beijing, and I look down on those relatives more and more!"

"Greedy! Miserly! Snobby! They have all of these qualities! And they were trying to scheme against me before."

Old Madam Yu glanced at Yanran, her chest heaving as she did not continue speaking.

"Come to think of it, I still owe your family a favor?"

"What do you mean?" Madam Sheng asked puzzledly.

The old lady of the Yu family sighed and whispered, "Ah! This is also a family shame! A few years ago, my family received a golden hairpin with Yanran's name engraved on it, which was sent by Madam Wu."

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

"If it had been discovered a year or so later, I'm afraid only one tenth of Yanran's mother's dowry would have been left."

After listening to this, Madam Sheng nodded and sighed, then said, "Yanran is also a poor child! I heard that Madam Bai from the Gu family is asking about Yanran."

After Madam Sheng finished speaking, Madam Yu shook her head slightly and whispered:
"Yanran is a little unhappy!" Old Madam Sheng: "Why is that?"

Madam Yu said, "During the Qingming Festival last year, her grandfather and I went out for a spring outing outside the capital. It was this kid, Erlang from the Gu family, who rode his horse so hard that I almost couldn't breathe! The master also hated this kid!"

"Because of this incident, Yanran blamed Gu Jiaerlang a little, so."

Madam Sheng nodded and said, "I have heard of this. But after the kid from the Gu family came back from Beizhou and received the reward, he also gained a lot of good reputation!"

Hearing this, Old Madam Yu smiled a little and said, "Yes! The master also said that this boy is filial. Although he is a little naughty, his flaws do not outweigh his merits and are harmless."

Old Madam Sheng also laughed.

When the two old men were talking, they did not avoid Hua Lan who was standing beside them, which made Hua Lan's eyes widen like bells.

They talked for a while. With the two children Xu Xingzhong and Sheng Changqi present, laughter could be heard from time to time in the hall.

A maid walked in around the screen, bowed to everyone, and said, "Old lady, madam, some gentlemen are coming."

Madam Sheng smiled and nodded.

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

Molan also stood up, touched her hair with her hands, glanced at her clothes, and looked at the screen at the door with anticipation.

Rulan rolled her eyes at Molan, muttered a few words, and continued to tease her nephew Xu Xingzhong without any reaction.

It was only after Wang Ruofu frowned and glared at Rulan for several times that Rulan reluctantly stood up under the guidance of Mother Liu and smoothed the wrinkles on her clothes.

After a while,
The sound of men talking could be heard outside the house, and the girls in the hall turned their eyes behind the screen.

Led by Zai Zhang, Changbai, Xu Zaijing and others entered one after another.

"Grand aunt, your nephew wishes you a happy new year! I wish you good health and good luck every year."

"Madam, I wish you a happy new year."

Looking at Zai Zhang and others in the hall, who lifted up the hems of their clothes and knelt on the ground, Wang Ruofu, Hua Lan and the other girls quickly stepped aside to make way.

Madam Sheng also stood up from the chair and stretched out her hand anxiously, saying, "Hurry up and get up! You kids are such a jerk! How can you be so polite?"

"Suqin, hurry! Hurry!" As she spoke, the old lady waved anxiously to the side.

After bowing with several other people, Xu Zaijing stood up and looked aside.

There, Fang's mother was walking over with a tray full of purses.

"Mother-in-law/Aunt/Madam, Happy New Year." Everyone addressed her in different ways and bowed to Wang Ruofu.

Wang Ruofu quickly smiled and nodded: "Ah! Good luck! Good luck!"

"Sisters, happy new year."

When everyone bowed and saluted, the girls and their maids bowed in return.

Then, Xu Zaijing poked his head out from behind Zai Zhang and said, "Grandma, we just want to see if the New Year's money you gave us is big!"

Gu Tingye on the side smiled and nodded repeatedly.

The girls in the hall also started laughing.

The old lady nodded at Xu Zaijing helplessly and waved, "Quick, sit down!"

Qi Heng walked to a chair nearby and sat down, then he opened his eyes wide with joy. When he looked at Old Madam Sheng, he glanced at Minglan who was standing and sitting nearby.

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

When she followed the line of sight, wanting to know who was looking at her, she and Qi Heng's eyes met for a moment.

After Minglan saw who it was, she quickly looked away and looked at Xu Zaijing, who was opening his purse and saying, "Let me see how big it is."

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

Nodding politely to Yu Yanran, Qi Heng turned around, picked up the hot tea brought by the maid, and began to drink 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 did not meet Minglan's eyes.

Because Minglan was talking to Yanran with her head down.

"Ugh!"

Hearing this noise, Qi Heng was shocked!
Although he felt a little regretful, it was not to the point of sighing out loud.

After a moment of panic, Qi Heng realized that the noise was made by his second uncle Gu Tingye beside him.

On the side, Xu Zaijing opened his purse and a smile appeared on his face.

Xu Xingzhong leaned his head out from Wang Ruofu's arms and looked at Xu Zaijing. After seeing his smile, Xu Xingzhong struggled for a few times and was then helped by Wang Ruofu to the ground.

Walking past his father Zai Zhang with his short legs, Xing Zhong stood in front of Xu Zai Jing's knees and asked crisply, "Uncle, who of us got more New Year's money?"

As he spoke, Xingzhong rummaged through his small clothes and pulled out a big red purse.

Xu Zaijing held his nephew on his lap and said, "Let me take a look at yours."

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

When Molan leaned over to look at uncle and nephew Xu Zaijing, her sight also swept over Qi Heng. Looking at Qi Heng's handsome smile, Molan felt a little shy and looked at him a few more times.

After exchanging a look with Qi Heng and seeing Qi Heng nodding at her, Molan smiled and nodded in greeting, then reached out to smooth her hair.

"Well, I still get more New Year's money!"

"Ah? Why, uncle?"

"Because my uncle is older than you, he naturally needs more money to compensate for his age!"

"Oh, then does Daddy get more New Year's money than Uncle?"

"Uh" Xu Zaijing was speechless.

Listening to the conversation between the uncle and nephew, Hua Lan looked at the old lady helplessly, smiled and shook her head.

Wang Ruofu's eyes were filled with a look of 'my grandson is so smart'.

At this time,

Qiu Jiang, the maidservant beside Wei Shuyi, came in, bowed, and said, "Madam, Madam, Madam Cui said the banquet is ready, please take a seat, gentlemen."

The old lady smiled and waved her hand, "Children, go!"

So, the unmarried Changbai Gu Tingye and others stood up, bowed and said goodbye.

Zai Zhang took his son over, and Xu Zai Jing bowed and said goodbye.

Then he nodded to Minglan and Yanran who were looking at him, and walked out with everyone else.

Today, Shengjia banquets are divided into several types:

They are the two old ladies of Sheng Yu, Sheng Hong, Wang Ruofu and Zai Zhang Hualan, the unmarried girls and the unmarried boys.

Because Mr. Yu would come to the Sheng family in the afternoon, and Xu Zaijing and others wanted to ask for advice, Changbai and others did not drink, but just had a meal with the drink.

When eating,
Qingcao filled a glass for Xu Zaijing and said, "Sir, Brother Qingyun from the front yard just sent a message saying that Chu Zhan and Alan won the third place in the horse race."

"Qingcao, who is the first?" Gu Tingye asked.

"Replying to the second young master, he is the son of Mr. Wu from the Ministry of Revenue."

"Cousin Liulang?" Qi Heng asked.

"Yes, young master."

Chang Feng at the side said with a smile: "Qiao Jiulang boasted to me before that he would take first place this year! What place did Qiao Jiulang get?"

Qingcao shook her head and said, "Replying to Sanlang, I don't know about this."

Chang Feng nodded and turned to talk to Gu Tingye about something else.

Qingcao continued to stand beside Xu Zaijing and whispered, "Sir, the three of us would like to go and ask Wei Xiaoniang for some advice."

Xu Zaijing nodded and said, "Well! Don't cause trouble for others."

Qingcao smiled and bowed: "Yes, young master."

In the afternoon, there was no wind.

the other side,
Yanran and Minglan, who had small appetites to begin with, drank a cup of drink to help digestion after eating and then left the table together.

Wearing thick cloaks, the two girls left the house and walked arm in arm with their maids in the courtyard, basking in the sun.

Yu Yanran waved her hand to signal the maids to stay away, and then said, "Minglan, just now in the main hall in the backyard, did you feel that Young Master Qi and Second Young Master Gu kept looking at us?"

Thinking about Qi Heng's look before, Minglan nodded and said, "Yeah!"

"These two are so rude! Are they also like this in your private school?"

Minglan shook her head, looked at Yu Yanran with some smile in her eyes, and said: "The second brother of the Gu family is not like this in the academy."

"So what happened to him today?"

As she spoke, Yu Yanran glared at Minglan's amused look, "Minglan, you! If you do this, I...I will ignore you!"

Minglan still smiled with her lips pursed.

Yu Yanran looked back at the maid who was at a distance and whispered, "Minglan, let's not talk about Gu Erlang first. Young Master Qi wasn't looking at me just now. Was he looking at you?"

Minglan's smile froze for a moment, and she shook her head, "I don't daydream like that!"

(End of this chapter)