Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 789 Green Grass, Your Face Says "Thank You! Thank You Again! 10k Chapters Owed"

Xiguozi Lane

Kang's backyard,

Inside the room, Hu Mama, who came from the Wang family, stood beside Madam Kang and spoke in a low voice.

"Madam, the Wang family sent a total of six carriages. We thought two of them would stop in front of our house, but unexpectedly..."

Seeing the urging look in Madam Kang's eyes, Granny Hu said, "Only one carriage stopped! And even that carriage left after unloading only half of its cargo!"

Hearing Hu Mama's words, Madam Kang's chest heaved violently.

After taking a few deep breaths, Madam Kang seemed to be trying to comfort herself, saying, "After all, the Feng family has a funeral, so those things will probably have to be sent to the Feng family!"

Granny Hu hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.

"Speak your mind," said Madam Kang, frowning.

"Madam, my family lives at the Wang family farm, where the coachman used to work. The two families are on good terms! They passed on a few words to me on their way, saying that life at the farm has been a bit tough for them."

As she spoke, Hu Mama kept an eye on Madam Kang's expression.

Madam Kang blinked and said with apparent emotion, "You've come to serve me, and you've suffered being separated from your children and grandchildren! When my sister-in-law returns to Yingchang Prefecture, I'll have someone send some money back with her."

Granny Hu immediately looked moved and said, "This servant thanks you, Madam."

As she spoke, Granny Hu was about to kneel down on the ground.

"Hey! Granny Hu, what are you doing!" Madam Kang hurriedly reached out to help her up, "It's just a little money, why do you need to make such a big gesture!"

For a moment, the two seemed like a master who was kind and a servant who was loyal, their kindness and righteousness profound.

After standing up, Granny Hu said firmly, "Even if you think I'm sowing discord between you and your sister, Madam, I will still speak out against this!"

"According to the coachman, two and a half cartloads of goods in the caravan were destined for Jiying Lane."

“Jiying Lane?” Madam Kang frowned immediately, clenching the handkerchief in her hand tightly. “Why would the Wang family send such an expensive gift when it’s neither a holiday nor a festival?”

Seeing Hu Mama's expression, Madam Kang said angrily, "Could it be that the Wang family is going to arrange You-ge'er's marriage?"

Kang Yuan'er, the legitimate daughter of Lady Kang, had a terrible reputation throughout Kaifeng Prefecture, making it extremely difficult for her to marry into an official family in the future.

Marrying back into the Wang family became Kang Yuan'er's best option, but her sister-in-law from Kang Wang's family showed little interest.

“Madam is right, that’s what I thought too!” said Granny Hu. “Now that Sheng Erlang has become the third-ranked scholar, his younger sister is naturally in high demand.”

"Tsk!"

Madam Kang clicked her tongue, suddenly stood up, and paced around the room helplessly: "That's not all!"

"I heard from my husband that Hua Lan's youngest son not only became the top scholar in the imperial examination, but also performed a great service by saving the emperor. His future is limitless!"

"If we marry that girl Rulan, the Wang and Sheng families will be even closer. My elder brother and nephew will both benefit from it!"

"I imagine my sister-in-law from my maternal family would shamelessly fawn over her."

Hearing this, Hu Mama, who was standing to the side, looked a little scared: "Madam, the Xu family and the Sheng family are so extravagant now. If we accidentally offend them, we might be in deep trouble."

Kang Wangshi's eyes darted around, but she forced a glare and said, "My father is worthy of being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple! Why would I be afraid of those two families?"

Hu Mama forced a smile and said awkwardly, "But, Madam, that is your own sister." Wang Ruofu's own father is also worthy of being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Kang Wangshi: "Me!"

Speechless, Lady Kang slumped back into her chair, muttering to herself, "What can we do?"

The room remained quiet for a while.

Seeing the fierce look in Madam Kang's eyes, Granny Hu said softly, "Madam, please don't do anything rash! You might not even be able to stay as relatives with her if you're not careful! Miss Yun'er is now a daughter-in-law of the Sheng family!"

Madam Kang pursed her lips.

She, Madam Kang, was very similar to Old Madam Wang. Although they had two daughters, they both favored one of them.

Old Mrs. Wang favored the eldest daughter, Wang Ruoyu, while Madam Kang favored the younger daughter, Kang Yuan'er.

The reason is the same: the child they prefer is the one who most resembles them.

“You know many people from all walks of life in Bianjing. Take advantage of the chaos of war these past two days and find a few good men,” Madam Kang said resentfully.

Granny Hu anxiously advised, "Madam! You absolutely mustn't do this! If you do this, you'll be tearing off all pretenses and offending people to the death. You could easily end up in jail!"

Seeing the impatient Madam Kang, Granny Hu said again, "Madam, please listen to my advice. Sometimes you don't necessarily have to resort to such underhanded tricks."

Upon hearing the words "underhanded tricks," Lady Kang frowned and did not continue speaking.

Looking up at Hu Mama's expression, Madam Kang tentatively asked, "What? Hu Mama, do you have another idea?"

Granny Hu licked her lips: "Madam, when it comes to vying for a marriage, sometimes it's not necessary to drag someone down; you can also help them go to a higher place."

"What higher place?" Madam Kang asked, puzzled.

"Madam must know that Young Master Qi publicly asked the Emperor for a marriage decree in the palace during the first month of the lunar year!"

Kang Wangshi was taken aback upon hearing this.

"What guesses do you have about the person Young Master Qi is asking for a marriage decree from, Madam?"

Upon hearing Hu Mama's question, Madam Kang curled her lip and said, "Tch—I bet the young master Qi is asking for a marriage with my sister's daughters!"

"Especially her fourth daughter, Mo Lan, who grew up with that bitch surnamed Lin since she was little and learned a lot of seductive skills."

As she spoke, Madam Kang was taken aback: "You mean, you want to find a way to marry Rulan into the Qi family?"

Granny Hu nodded: "Madam is extremely clever! If Fifth Miss Sheng marries into the Qi family, no one will be able to compete with Miss Yuan'er for this marriage!"

"Now the old lady is in charge of the Wang family. If you ask a few more times, the matter will be settled, won't it?"

"In this way, we won't offend anyone! Even if your sister finds out that our daughter is marrying into the Duke's mansion, she might thank you!"

"Hiss—that makes sense! That makes sense!"

Seeing Madam Kang nod in sudden understanding, Granny Hu smiled smugly.

After a while,
Seeing that Madam Kang was no longer nodding, and a look of sudden inspiration appeared in her eyes, Granny Hu's smile vanished, and she cautiously asked, "Madam, what have you thought of?"

Madam Kang smiled and asked, "Granny, what do you think of the Sheng family's fortune now?"

After thinking for a moment, Hu Mama hurriedly said, "Reporting to Madam, Lord Sheng's career is going smoothly, so his family property is naturally very abundant! Moreover, I heard that the business of the eldest branch of the Sheng family is protected by several powerful and influential people, and the business is very large. The annual dividends of the second branch of the Sheng family are probably tens of thousands of strings of cash."

Madam Kang's eyes were full of anticipation: "Yes! Tens of thousands of strings of cash every year, over the years the Sheng family's treasury must be full of silver."

Thinking of Kang Jin, the eldest son of the Kang family who was slightly younger than Kang Yun'er and also wanted to be engaged, Hu Mama asked, "Madam, what do you want?"

Madam Kang nodded: "Yes! Rulan doesn't necessarily have to enter the Qi family! She is the eldest daughter of the Sheng family. If she enters my Kang family, she can't go to the Wang family! I wonder how much dowry my niece will bring then."

"Not only that, as we just said, marrying Rulan will strengthen ties with other families, especially the Xu family! This will be very beneficial for Jin'er in the future!"

Seeing Kang Wangshi's expression, Hu Mama looked troubled:

“Madam, with a family like the Sheng family, their daughters are usually destined to marry into a higher social class! The fact that she was able to marry into the Wang family is only because of our close kinship.”

"I think your sister and the Sheng family will not agree to this."

Madam Kang sneered: "These matters are not up to the Sheng family or my sister to decide."

After saying that, Madam Kang looked at Mama Hu and said, "Didn't you say that there would be a polo match in the west of the city in a few days?"

Granny Hu nodded.

Madam Kang said sternly, "If you want your children and grandchildren to not have to toil in the fields, then you must let Rulan enter my Kang family and Yuan'er marry into the Wang family!"

"After this is done, I will personally arrange for your children and grandchildren to come to Bianjing and serve as stewards in my household, so that I can take good care of you in your old age!"

Seeing Hu Mama's hesitant expression, Madam Kang gave her a slightly enigmatic smile.

Hu Mama had been with Madam Kang for quite some time, and just by looking at that smile, Hu Mama knew that if she didn't agree or had any intention of telling Old Madam Wang, she would be in trouble.

Kang Wangshi would not hesitate to blame everything on herself.

If she hadn't done anything, it would have been better, but she had inadvertently contacted a concubine of the Sheng family.

"Don't worry, Madam, I've done my best to ensure your satisfaction! The only thing is that I need your cooperation, Young Master."

"Don't worry, Granny, I will remind Jin'er."

Several days later, March had passed.

In early April, temples and monasteries in Bianjing (Kaifeng) prepared for the annual Buddha bathing and vegetarian feasts, just as they had done in previous years.

Unlike previous years, the eminent monks of major temples and monasteries in Beijing unanimously moved the venue for the vegetarian feast from the temples to the southeast of the capital, which was the hardest hit by the war.

In fact, the high monks did not do this voluntarily.

The dramatic changes in the palace in late March made the situation clearer. The monks who had been lying in wait in the Daxiangguo Temple were the ones who acted as a bridge between the rebels and the spies of the Northern Liao.

The place where the mastermind of the rebellion, Duke Anguo, and several princely families conspired was a detached courtyard of several Taoist temples in the capital.

Therefore, the Imperial Guards of the Great Zhou Dynasty, who had quelled the rebellion in the city, were ordered to cooperate with the Imperial City Guard to plow through the temples and Taoist monasteries in the capital four or five times in four or five days.

You don't know until you plow it, and once you start, you'll be surprised by what you find.

As soon as the Imperial Guards arrived, they captured many notorious bandits and thugs who had been wanted for years from the temples and Taoist monasteries.

The yamen runners of Kaifeng Prefecture had a hard time dealing with these bandits, but when faced with the heavily armed and menacing Imperial Guards of the Great Zhou Dynasty, these long-time bandits became easy targets for crossbows and spears.

The abbots and masters of the temples and Taoist monasteries who had not yet been held accountable also knew better and quickly and spontaneously raised funds for the repair of residential houses in the southeast of the capital.

In April, eminent monks and Taoist masters prepared various precious ritual implements and offered free prayers to the victims in the southeast of the capital.

Some temples and Taoist monasteries have also set up soup kitchens and provided free soup and food.

Temples and Taoist monasteries do good deeds anonymously, claiming it's a special arrangement by the current government out of compassion for the people.

in addition,

The dramatic upheaval in Bianjing in late March involved not ordinary civilians, but the imperial guards.

The upheaval came too quickly and was too devastating; many families in the neighborhoods where the two sides were locked in fierce fighting perished.

Many houses have been reduced to ruins or become unclaimed homes.

Crown Prince Zhao Fang and the Prefect of Kaifeng jointly oversaw the process of acquiring nearly completed courtyards and numerous unclaimed houses and consigning them to the imperial court for resale at very reasonable prices.

Most of the money earned was to be used to support the widows and orphans affected by this upheaval.

For a time, the streets were filled with gratitude towards the imperial court.

On this day,

It was the second day of the Buddha Bathing Festival.
Nearly twenty days have passed since the upheaval in Bianjing, and the city has returned to its former prosperity.

After the dredging, the canal was full of water and various boats came and went in an endless stream, with their horns being called out from time to time.
The streets along the riverbank were bustling with traffic and people, and the sounds of hawkers soliciting customers were incessant.
Ordinary people and wealthy households were either leisurely or busy, and people would occasionally stop and linger in front of the stalls or restaurants.

Most people's lives have returned to normal, while others have simply gotten used to the changes in their lives.

In the early morning, dark clouds gathered in the sky southeast of Bianjing.

At noon, dark clouds drifted over Bianjing.

The Marquis of Yongyi's Residence

Xu Zaijing's courtyard
By the window in the study with the best light, Xu Zaijing stood with his arms outstretched, a book still clutched in one hand.

"Sir, it's done!"

Yun Xiang, who was measuring Xu Zaijing's back with a tape measure, said softly.

After humming in agreement, Xu Zaijing continued reading. Just then, Qingcao, carrying a small bamboo basket, walked in through the courtyard gate. Seeing Xu Zaijing by the window, Qingcao smiled and waved.

Upon entering the study, Qingcao proudly presented a bamboo basket, saying with a smile, "Young Master, these are apricots that Brother Qingyun brought from the estate."

"Hmm. Eating too many apricots isn't good for you, the three of you should take it easy."

Qingcao smiled and said, "Don't worry, young master! We know what we're doing."

As they were talking, Hua Xiang came in, took the bamboo basket, and went to wash the apricots. Qingcao stood aside and said, "Young Master, Brother Qingyun said that the Zou family on the street is moving away!"

"Oh?" Xu Zaijing looked up from his book at the green grass: "Where are you moving it to?"

Qingcao said, "They said they're moving to southeast of Bianjing, where there's a house at a reasonable price. And since Madam Zou's husband is a former soldier, he's not afraid of what people in the market say."

Xu Zaijing smiled.

Bianjing is the most desirable place in the world, and land prices are extremely high; every inch of land is worth its weight in gold!

There are houses for sale in southeastern Bianjing, but for some reason, there are rumors circulating in the city that these houses are haunted by evil spirits and vengeful ghosts.

Ordinary people who don't know any better might believe it, but anyone with a discerning eye can see at a glance that it's a rumor used to scare people into buying property.

After all, the fewer people buy, the lower the price, and some wealthy households can buy more houses. As long as they wait a few years, the value of the house will double.

As if struck by a thought, Xu Zaijing closed the book in his hand and placed it on the table, saying, "Qingcao, let's go take a look."

"what?"

Qingcao paused for a moment, then glanced at Xu Zaijing with an ambiguous look in her eyes.

"What are you thinking about?" Xu Zaijing asked with a smile.

"Uh, young master, I was thinking the weather is not good. I'll go get two oiled paper umbrellas. Please wait a moment!" Qingcao said as she quickly left.

"Find another purse and fill it with a few gold and silver ingots."

"Understood, young master."

When Qingcao came out carrying a purse and two oil-paper umbrellas, Xu Zaijing was waiting for her under the eaves in the courtyard.

Upon seeing the green grass, Xu Zaijing walked outside with his hands behind his back.

"Young master, wait for me."

On the way out of the mansion,
Qingcao, carrying a purse and holding an oil-paper umbrella, glanced at Xu Zaijing every few steps.

"Speak your mind, is there anything wrong with your young master's face?"

As Xu Zaijing spoke, he took a paper umbrella from Qingcao's arms.

Qingcao asked in confusion, "Young master, how did you know that I had something to say?"

"It's written all over your face."

"Oh—" Qingcao glanced at Xu Zaijing and then said cautiously, "Young Master, you went to see Lord Shen and Madam Zou move and had to give a gift. Was it because of Miss Rong?"

Before Xu Zaijing could answer, Qingcao added, "It's been circulating in the streets these past two days."

Xu Zaijing, holding an oil-paper umbrella with his hands behind his back, took a deep breath of the pre-rain air and said, "Yes and no."

Although she didn't understand what Xu Zaijing meant, Qingcao still nodded: "Oh."

The master and servant talked as they walked out of the mansion.

Along the way, whenever they encountered Xu Zaijing's servants, they would greet them with smiles and bows.

After all, their young master was the top scholar in the imperial examination, and there were rumors in the city that their young master was going to marry the legitimate daughters of two prominent families in Bianjing.

As servants, when asked about their origins outside the mansion, as long as they said they were from the Yongyi Marquis's mansion, many people would immediately surround them to flatter and inquire.

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded in greeting, and soon arrived at the main gate.

Some distance from the Hou Mansion, there are still many old friends setting up stalls on the street, and business seems to be quite good.

When Xu Zaijing came out with Qingcao, many people smiled and bowed, their expressions no different from those of the servants in the Marquis's mansion.

Some of the customers at the roadside stalls come to Quyuan Street just to sit down, hoping to have the chance to see Xu Zaijing.

But Xu Zaijing actually left the mansion and appeared on Quyuan Street, and these people didn't know what to do.

After all, given Xu Zaijing's achievements and the rumors circulating in the city, even a glance from Xu Zaijing carried an indescribable meaning.

After watching Xu Zaijing nod and walk away, a customer at the stall whispered, "I never expected Wulang to be so gentle, refined, and approachable."

Around the stalls sat two or three middle-aged men with a similar demeanor to Old Master Bai from Yangzhou, accompanied by capable bodyguards.

Upon seeing Xu Zaijing pass by, the middle-aged men initially looked quite surprised, then shook their heads with regret, as if they had missed out on a very profitable deal.

Four carriages were parked at the entrance of the Zou family courtyard; one had a carriage bed, and the rest were flatbed carriages.

People were constantly going in and out of the courtyard.

in the yard,
"Brother Duan, you're so strong! You managed to carry such a heavy table all by yourself." The girl's clear voice rang out.

A boisterous laugh rang out: "Hehe, little sister, this is a piece of cake! Heh—"

Another voice said, "Hey little sister, stop feeding my brother Duan carrots! Even though he's strong, you can't really treat him like a donkey!"

"Old Geng, what are you saying! Who's the donkey!"

Hearing the conversation inside, Qingcao couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.

At this moment, the long table that everyone in the courtyard had been talking about appeared in front of the master and servant.

"Hehe, little sister," Xiao Duan, who was still looking back at Zou Xiaomei, didn't notice the threshold under his feet.

When I lifted my foot, my toes hit the threshold.

"Watch out!" the girl in the courtyard shouted urgently.

"Ouch!"

Xiao Duan, who had lost his balance, cried out in surprise. Just as he was about to fall, he felt a tremendous force coming from in front of him.

When he looked closely, he saw a young nobleman leaning on a long table with one hand, looking at him with a smile.

"Let me do it."

"Master Xu, Fifth Young Master!" Xiao Duan called out, dumbfounded and somewhat stammering.

As Xu Zaijing reached out and deftly placed the long table from his shoulder onto the carriage, Xiao Duan hurriedly called out into the courtyard, "Brother Shen, sister-in-law, the top scholar, Young Master Xu, has arrived!"

Zou Xiaomei, who was following behind Xiao Duan, had the same dumbfounded expression as Xiao Duan.

"what?"

in the yard,
Wearing old clothes, Shen Congxing and Madam Zou asked questions as they quickly left the house.

Seeing Xu Zaijing step into the courtyard, Shen Congxing and Madam Zou exchanged a glance. The couple, as if in unison, wiped their hands on themselves and walked towards Xu Zaijing.

"Fifth Young Master, why have you come here?"

Shen Congxing, who looked like a living terracotta warrior, chuckled and cupped his hands in a silly manner as he asked.

Madam Zou, who was standing nearby, also quickly gave a curtsy.

"I heard Brother Shen moved to a new house, so I came to check it out." After Xu Zaijing finished speaking and chatted for a few more minutes, a voice came from outside: "Huh? Why is no one doing any work?"

As Qingyun reached the door, she looked at Xu Zaijing in the courtyard and asked curiously, "Young Master, what brings you here?"

Qingcao smiled and said, "Brother Qingyun, young master, come and take a look. After all, Brother Shen is..."

Before Qingcao could finish speaking, everyone in the courtyard laughed good-naturedly.

After all, Shen Congxing was under the command of Rong Xian, Xu Zaijing's future brother-in-law.

"Qingyun, you've come at the right time. Hurry up and help," Xu Zaijing said with a smile.

"Yes, son."

Just as everyone was about to continue,

suddenly,

Madam Zou walked quickly toward the gate, grabbing a wooden stick as she went.

Xu Zaijing turned his head and saw that it was Zou Da Niangzi's two younger brothers who were stepping one foot into the threshold.

Seeing his older sister's expression, Zou Ming and Zou Chu were about to turn and leave.

After giving Xu Zaijing an apologetic smile, Madam Zou said sternly, "If either of you dares to back down another step, see if I don't break your legs!"

Seeing Madam Zou dragging her younger brother outside and swinging a stick wildly, Shen Congxing smiled apologetically and said, "Fifth Young Master, please forgive my rudeness."

Zou Xiaomei, standing to the side, looked at her brother outside the door with annoyance, as if they had embarrassed her.

Xu Zaijing smiled and said, "It's alright, everything's fine."

Shen Congxing nudged Zou Xiaomei and said, "Tell your older sister to stop hitting her. We still need to move! Fifth Young Master is here. What kind of behavior is this?"

"If you're going to fight, wait until tonight."

"Oh, oh!" Zou Xiaomei ran out quickly.

After a while,
Madam Zou returned carrying a broken piece of wood. After entering the courtyard, she smiled apologetically at Xu Zaijing: "Fifth Young Master, I'm so sorry. You two, go and get to work."

Looking at the Zou brothers clutching their buttocks, Xu Zaijing said, "Madam did the right thing."

Upon hearing this, the Zou brothers looked at Xu Zaijing with a friendly and even somewhat admiring gaze.

Before going inside to move things, Xu Zaijing overheard Zou Ming whispering, "This young man is truly remarkable, marrying two noble ladies. We are so envious."

"Yes!"

Xu Zaijing smiled and said to Qingcao, "Don't bother with that. Hurry up and go to the mansion. Have the gatekeeper send over some waterproof tarpaulins, straw hats, and raincoats."

"Yes, young master." Qingcao handed the purse and umbrella to Xu Zaijing and then quickly ran outside.

After a flurry of activity, the items in the yard were loaded onto the truck and covered with a tarpaulin.

As Shen Congxing and the others were preparing to leave, a light drizzle began to fall.

After exchanging pleasantries,

"Fifth Young Master, we shall take our leave now."

Wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, Shen Congxing bowed and finished speaking, then nodded towards Qingyun and Qingcao.

Madam Zou, who was standing to the side, also smiled and gave a curtsy.

Xu Zaijing, holding the umbrella, smiled and nodded: "Have a safe journey."

As Shen Congxing and his wife turned to leave, it is unknown what Shen Congxing said to Madam Zou, but Madam Zou was so amused and embarrassed that she turned around and glanced at Xu Zaijing before punching Shen Congxing hard in the stomach.

The rain intensified.

In Xu Zaijing's view, Shen Congxing actually carried Madam Zou onto the horse, and the couple rode a horse in the rain, gradually disappearing into the distance alongside the caravan.

"Zou Ming, you still want me to beat you up? Keep laughing like that!"

"Big sister, your brother won't do it again."

Hearing the conversation coming from the rain, Xu Zaijing smiled, shook his head, and said, "Let's go back to the manor."

(End of this chapter)