Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 705 This girl has a limitless future [Thank you! Thank you again! 38K words owed]

noon,

The sun was blazing.

Quyuan Street,
The Marquis of Yongyi's Residence

Near the pond by the racecourse,
Xu Zaijing stood by the pond with Qingyun, Alan, and the others.

The pond, which was previously surrounded by mud, is now paved with bluestone at the bottom and around the edges, and the gaps between the stones have been filled with mortar.

The pond appears to be about 1.5 feet deep.

"Let the water go."

Xu Zaijing smiled.

"Let the water go!"

Qingyun shouted.

Soon, the clear water flowed down the ditch into the pond.

After the water was full, Xu Zaijing put on his armor with the help of Qingyun and Alan.

Uncle Yin limped over, looked worriedly at the stone-lined pond with his one eye, and said in a hoarse voice, "Jing'er, isn't this a bit too dangerous?"

Xu Zaijing continued fastening his armor, laughing, "Master, don't worry, you can see the bottom of the water from the shore! When I go down, I'll tie a rope around my waist, so if anything happens, the three of them can pull me up."

"Alright then." Uncle Yin nodded.

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded, then put on his helmet and took the fine steel spear that Xun Shu had painstakingly carried over.

Subsequently, a thick hemp rope was tied around Xu Zaijing's waist.

While tying the rope, Xu Zaijing and Qingyun set up a distress signal.

Then, looking at the clear water, Xu Zaijing took several deep breaths and said softly, "Training like this makes me feel like a villain."

Before the bewildered Qingyun and Alan could ask any questions, Xu Zaijing jumped into the water.

"Pfft!"

Huge splashes of water were stirred up in the pool.

After the water surface calmed down slightly,

As Xu Zaijing exercised, the surface of the pool began to sway, as if a giant beast was violently churning beneath the water.

After half an incense stick,

The water surface gradually calmed down.

Xu Zaijing slowly walked out, stepping onto the steps by the pool.

as soon as you come out,

"Wow."

The water on Xu Zaijing's body flowed down to his feet.

Qingyun and Alan quickly went over to them.

Xu Zaijing, who usually only breaks a light sweat after an hour or two of training, is now panting heavily.

"Young master, are you alright?"

Qingyun helped Xu Zaijing remove his helmet and asked with concern.

The others also looked on with concern.

Xu Zaijing shook the water off his head and laughed, "That feels great!"

"It's not hot at all underwater. Apart from the discomfort of holding your breath, it feels much more effective than exercising outside."

"Really?" Qingyun asked doubtfully.

Xu Zaijing nodded emphatically: "Why don't you give it a try?"

"it is good!"

About fifteen minutes later
After putting on his armor, Qingyun took two deep breaths and jumped into the pond.

In just seventeen or eighteen breaths

The rope left on the shore was then pulled three times in a regular pattern.

quickly,

Qingyun was pulled out by Xu Zaijing with one hand holding the rope.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Removing his helmet, Qingyun coughed, spitting out water, and shook his head, panting heavily. He said, "Young Master, how did you manage to stay underwater?!"

"I just choked on my own breath and almost choked to death."

Alan and Xunshu, who had been eager to try just moments before, became somewhat timid after hearing these words.

"Then you should start by practicing holding your breath on the shore," Xu Zaijing said with a smile.

After saying that, Xu Zaijing walked to the pond, tied the rope, took a few deep breaths, and jumped in again.

Another 'storm' erupted in the pool.

When Xu Zaijing stepped out of the water again, before he could even take off his helmet, he heard cheers from the poolside.

"Uncle! You're amazing!"

"Uncle, why did you hold your breath for so long?"

Xu Zaijing turned his head and saw Xu Xingdai standing by the pond with his younger siblings, jumping up and down and shouting.

"Naturally, it comes from hard work!" Xu Zaijing said with a smile.

Previously, when Xu Zaijing received the Great Sword as a reward and went to the Huyan family, he had a breath-holding contest with his brother-in-law Huyan Jiong.

Both of them could hold their breath for almost half an incense stick's time.

The difference today is that Xu Zaijing is training underwater while wearing armor.

The amount of oxygen consumed by vigorous underwater exercise is vastly different from simply holding your breath underwater.

Seeing the children eager to try their luck by the pool, Xu Zaijing smiled and asked, "Do you want to go into the water?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Xingdai and the others nodded in agreement.

"puff!"

Planting his steel spear into the ground and removing his helmet, Xu Zaijing said, "You can go into the water! But you have to be as skilled as Huyan Bi!"

Xu Xingdai's smile vanished: "As powerful as Cousin Huyan? Uncle, you might as well say you don't want us to go into the water!"

The Huyan family is a family of naval experts, with many skilled swimmers!

Since last year, Xu Zaijing's nephew, Hu Yanbi, has been practicing various skills in the water with two skilled swimmers.

Although Hu Yanbi's skin was often wrinkled from being soaked in water, his sister An Mei felt very sorry for him, but she did not say anything to stop him.

After all, Hu Yanbi will almost certainly join the navy in the future, and he can't do without water skills.

Xu Zaijing spread his hands and laughed, "Well, then, Uncle, there's nothing I can do! This pond is too deep; it would be too dangerous for you to come down."

“Uncle, aren’t you here? We’re not afraid!” Xu Xingdai said.

"You're not afraid, but I am! Let's go somewhere else to play!" Xu Zaijing waved his hand and said.

"Alright." Xu Xingdai reluctantly led his younger siblings and the maids who were taking care of them toward the Falcon House.

Xu Zaijing smiled as he watched his nephews and nieces leave.

My niece is playing like this with her two older brothers; I wonder what her personality will be like in the future.

evening,

The weather is alright.

Yue Fei, who had just returned from the Zhou family, took advantage of the daylight to practice riding horses at the racetrack.

The completed pond naturally caught his attention as well.

After practicing horseback riding, Yue Fei stood curiously by the pond, looking at the several deep holes at the edge of the pond.

He crouched down and measured with his hands, and Yue Fei had a guess in his mind.

At this time,

The sound of hurried footsteps could be heard.
Yue Fei turned his head and saw Alan running towards him.

"So it's Brother Yue Fei! What are you looking at?" Alan breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile.

Before Yue Fei could speak, Alan continued, "When you squatted down, just looking at your size, I thought you were one of our young masters!"

"The Fifth Young Master repeatedly warned us today to be careful that the young masters in the manor might not be able to resist the urge to play in the pond."

Yue Fei smiled and nodded: "I see! Brother Alan, I was looking at these holes, they look like they were made by a spear."

Alan gave a thumbs up upon hearing this: "Brother, you have a good eye! This is where the Fifth Young Master always sets up his steel spear when he comes ashore." "Huh?" Yue Fei was a little confused.

Alan laughed and said, "Today, the Fifth Young Master went into the water wearing a full set of armor and wielded his spear underwater for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

As a son of a military officer, Yue Fei knew how heavy a full set of armor was.

Yue Fei also tested the weight of Xu Zaijing's long spear.

At his age, he is not yet strong enough, so it is very difficult for him to use.

"A full set of armor, underwater, and half an incense stick?" Yue Fei asked in surprise.

Alan nodded: "Yes! I tried it in the water this afternoon, and I couldn't even hold my breath for half an incense stick without armor."

Yue Fei unconsciously shook his head: "Fifth Brother is too amazing."

Yue Fei was naturally gifted, and during this period of training in martial arts under Master Zhou, he gained a better understanding of his own abilities.

But his initial pride was quickly dispelled by the sight before him this evening.

"Brother Yue Fei, if you feel the heat at night is unbearable, go to the well to fetch water to wash up. It will cool you down and make it easier to fall asleep."

“Brother Alan, I know.”

at night,

When the lights come on,

The Sheng family's Shou'an Hall was bathed in the glow of candlelight.

The old lady sat in a day chair, fanning herself, while Granny Kong sat smiling below her.

After accepting the refreshing drink from Madam Fang, Granny Kong smiled at Madam Fang again.

After taking a sip of her drink, Granny Kong placed the teacup on the table and said, "Elder sister, over the past few days, I've noticed that among your four daughters, the one in your room is the most intelligent."

The old lady smiled and said, "The smartest? Is there a second smartest one?"

Granny Kong nodded: "Yes, the second smartest is Miss Pinlan."

The old lady was somewhat surprised and said, "I thought it was Mo Lan."

Granny Kong shook her head and said, "I think Mo Lan has been going astray since she started following the young lady around."

"Why do you say that?" the old lady asked, frowning.

Granny Kong sighed softly: "The first time she and Pinlan attended my class, she urged Pinlan to adjust their desks and chairs so that they could sit together in the front."

"They made their two younger sisters, Rulan and Minglan, sit in the back, and even called it learning from the outer academy."

The old lady stopped fanning herself and asked, "And what was the result?"

Granny Kong: "The result? That girl Pinlan said that she only got the opportunity to come to my class because of you and Hualan. She shouldn't make decisions on her own; she should listen to my arrangements."

The old lady nodded and said, "Shulan and Pinlan have been taught by my sister-in-law since they were young, and they are both good children. Is that all?"

Granny Kong shook her head with a smile: "That's not all! I've also noticed that Pinlan is getting close to Minglan, who works for you."

The old lady was slightly puzzled: "She's close to Minglan? I thought Pinlan would be closer to Rulan."

Granny Kong understood what the old lady hadn't said: in terms of birth, Pinlan and Rulan were both legitimate daughters, while Minglan was a concubine's daughter.

Granny Kong said, "Rulan and Pinlan do talk, but it seems that their relationship is still a little distant due to the influence of the previous generation's events."

then,

Wang Ruofu was the eldest daughter of the powerful Wang Laoda, while Madam Li came from a merchant family.

The two women were of vastly different social statuses, so Wang Ruofu looked down on Li Da Niangzi, who was trying to please her, from the very beginning.

later,

When Sheng Hong was in Yangzhou, Wang Ruofu and Li Da Niangzi, the two sisters-in-law, had a great unpleasant argument in their hometown of Youyang.

At that time, Pinlan and Rulan were already old enough to understand things, and they could glean a lot from the gossip of the maids and servants.

"It seems that Mo Lan also knows about those things, which is why she tried to win over Pin Lan from the very beginning," Granny Kong continued.

Upon hearing this, the old lady looked somewhat embarrassed and said, "My family is a family without rules, and I am only Hong'er's legal mother. It is not appropriate for me to interfere too much in these matters."

Granny Kong gave the old lady a deep look, her eyes filled with confusion. Then she lowered her head, took a sip of her drink, and said, "Actually, you are more proficient than I am in what I taught you. How come..."

The old lady smiled and waved her hand: "They are not like Hualan, and I am not Hong'er's biological mother! They all have their own biological mothers by their side. If I punish them too severely, there will inevitably be people who go to Hong'er to cry and complain."

"Not only is it a thankless task, but it also doesn't bring as much fame as your teaching."

Granny Kong frowned and shook her head, saying, "Anyone who has seen your demeanor and bearing in your youth would say such a thing."

"I heard a lot of people in Xijing say how powerful the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion is now!"

"That's because they haven't seen how magnificent the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion was back then!"

"Oh!" The old lady waved her hand and shook her head, denying it, "That happened so many years ago, it should have been forgotten long ago! As the saying goes, a hero doesn't dwell on past glories, there's no point in bringing them up now!"

"How is it useless?!" Granny Kong straightened up and said with great disagreement, "I think it's just that they are ignorant and can't recognize a gem inlaid with gold!"

The old lady smiled helplessly.

Granny Kong continued, "Minglan is not only attentive in class, but she also knows to write down what I say in her notebook."

As she spoke, Granny Kong stretched out her hands and mimicked the motion of writing, saying, "Seeing Minglan like that reminds me of when we first entered the palace and had nannies giving lessons, how you studied!"

Seeing the old lady's surprised expression, Granny Kong turned her head and said, "Ru'an, bring it here so your young lady can take a look."

"In the future, if this sixth daughter marries well and gains a good reputation, when others ask, sister, don't forget to say it's because I taught her well!"

The old lady smiled and said, "I didn't expect her to marry into a high-ranking family! I'll be content if Minglan can find a good family and live a peaceful life!"

Granny Kong didn't reply. She glanced at the old lady with an inscrutable expression, then picked up her teacup and took a sip.

quickly,

The old lady took the colorful booklet from Cui Mama's hands, and shook her head with a smile: "This booklet is quite big!"

After glancing at it a few times, the old lady said, "These are all stupid methods! Her three older sisters don't need to do this!"

Granny Kong laughed and said, "As the saying goes, a bad pen is worse than a good memory! How can you be so stupid? Miss Pinlan was copying notes from Minglan!"

"Besides, in ten or twenty years, without this booklet, who will remember what I said?"

The old lady stroked the leather cover of the booklet with her fingers and said, "Minglan only goes to you for instruction because of her fifth sister. You don't need to worry about her; just let her be!"

After listening, Granny Kong said calmly, "I just say one compliment to the girl in your room, and you immediately criticize her!"

"What? Sister, you've grown old, and your heart has grown old too?"

"Can't you even see which girl in the family has a bright future?"

"To tell you the truth, I think your sixth daughter has a very promising future, it's limitless!"

Turning her head to glance at the old lady who looked surprised and curious, Granny Kong took another sip of her drink, feeling quite at ease.

The old lady's maid, who was standing nearby, also glanced at her and asked softly with a smile, "Granny, what makes you say that?"

Granny Kong smiled at Mama Fang but didn't say anything.

After glancing at the old lady again, Granny Kong said smugly, "Suqin, I'm not trying to make things difficult for you! This matter mainly depends on whether your young lady wants to know."

See here,

Mrs. Fang glanced at the old lady with a hint of helplessness.

The old lady thought for a moment, then looked at Granny Kong with some confusion.

Granny Kong, holding a teacup, her eyes full of smiles and inquiry, seemed to be asking with her eyes: 'Sister, do you want to know? If you want to know, ask me.'

The old lady didn't ask any questions. After pondering for a while, she finally said helplessly, "Since you see things so clearly, then I'll listen attentively."

Upon hearing this, Granny Kong proudly raised the teacup in her hand.

Seeing this, Madam Fang quickly smiled and walked over to add some beverage to Granny Kong's teacup.

"Hmm, that's more like it," Granny Kong said with a smile.

After saying that, Granny Kong looked at the old lady and said, "Sister, do you remember when I first came to your house, several boys from the school came here to see me?"

The old lady nodded and said, "Of course I remember."

"Do you remember the way the young master of the Qi family looked at me?"

Upon hearing this, the old lady shook her head and looked at the two mothers, Fang and Cui, after all, it had been more than half a month.

Both mothers thought for a while. Mother Fang shook her head, while Mother Cui said, "Grandma, I remember that young Master Qi was smiling the whole time that day, so he was obviously in a good mood."

Granny Kong looked at Mother Cui approvingly and said, "Not bad."

"The way Young Master Qi looked at me that day, he was clearly in a good mood. He was so happy, of course, not because he saw this old woman. Sister, can you guess what it was because of?"

Before the old lady could answer, Granny Kong continued, "At the time, I was also a little puzzled and couldn't understand it, but after seeing your sixth young lady, everything became clear to me!"

In one sentence, the old lady understood what Granny Kong meant.

The two mothers, Fang and Cui, exchanged a surprised glance.

(End of this chapter)