At night, Miss Xin'er was washed by her maid. When she was letting the maid dry her hair with a handkerchief, there was a knock on the door.
After asking who was coming, Miss Xin'er said, "Come in."
Grandma entered the room panting, knelt down by the couch, wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeves, and fanned herself with a fan to cool herself while saying, "Girl, the little one has been found out."
"He..." Miss Xin'er suddenly stopped when she was about to speak, and asked the maid serving on the side to guard the door before continuing to ask: "Where has he gone?"
Mammy held the round fan in front of her chest, leaned forward slightly, and said in a low voice: "Mr. Xiao Silang, first went to the residence of the Minister of Industry, and soon took a lady out of the city. As for where he went, But I don’t know anymore.”
Since the palace of the Minister of Industry was mentioned, the implication was that Xiao Yuan had brought the wife of the Xu family out of the city.
They have been hanging out in places like brothels for a long time, and they have been spies for Xiao Yuan. They have connections in the streets and alleys. If you want to know what happens in Bianjing City, you can always find some clues.
"Xu family? Xu Liu Niang?" Miss Xin'er thought of the promise, and a trace of disdain flashed across her face.
She knew that Silangjun and Xu Liuniang had an intersection, but she never thought that a skinny little lady like Xu Liuniang was worthy of Silangjun.
Mammy stepped forward again and asked, "Mr. Xiao Silang hasn't been to our building for a long time to see you, the girl. Why don't you rush to ask me tomorrow? Mr. Silang likes your piano and music the most."
"You are not allowed to go. If he doesn't come to me, I won't go looking for him."
The flickering candlelight illuminated Miss Xin'er's expression very clearly. She looked proud, as if she was the most dignified lady in Bianjing City.
"Girl, you can't be angry about this matter. We all know that Mr. Shiro is not some dandy like what is said outside. He is a son worth trusting. If you miss it, there will be no one as good as him. .”
Mammy spoke very seriously, for fear that Miss Xin'er would not want to bow her head.
Miss Xin'er lowered her eyes, twisted the handkerchief in her hand, and whispered: "How could I not know that he is a rare son, but he, he will go north to join the army in a few days. There is no point in looking for him now. , it’s better to wait for him to come back..."
"You are wrong. With Mr. Shiro's skills, he will definitely make military exploits wherever he goes. When he comes back, he will no longer be a dandy in Bianjing City, but the son-in-law of the ladies of the capital who can help him with his bare hands. The candidate has been selected, if you don’t catch him now, by then it will be too late!”
Mammy spoke anxiously, and a few drops of saliva spewed from her mouth and fell into Miss Xin'er's black hair. She hurriedly wiped it with her hand.
Miss Xin'er frowned, avoided her grandma's hand, and said she could wash it again later.
Mammy retracted her hand nonchalantly and praised Miss Xin'er for being so clean.
When grandma left, all the sadness on Miss Xin'er's face had faded. She picked at the edge of Pingji and glared: "Yes, I have to hold him in my hands now, he is mine. It’s always mine!”
…
Suzhou still has black tiles and white walls, and there is an endless stream of people coming and going in the streets and alleys.
But Xu Mansion has changed drastically.
Xu Pingyi finally returned to his hometown after a year and a half absence.
The Xu family had already received the news that he was returning home. When he arrived, Mrs. Zhang, Mrs. Ding, Mrs. Zhong and several children were waiting outside the door.
Xu Pingyi got off his horse, strode forward, knelt in front of Mrs. Zhang, and shouted: "My grandson has met his grandmother, his eldest aunt, and his third aunt."
He was still dressed in white, his hair was neatly combed, and he was in good spirits. He could only smell the dust from the dust on his black boots.
With tears in Zhang's eyes, she hurriedly asked him to get up, stroked his arm, and sighed: "Da Lang has grown taller, stronger, and more handsome. You must be exhausted from the journey. Food has been prepared at home. Come back soon." Eat at home, don’t go hungry.”
Zhang's words and expression were full of love for her eldest grandson.
Seeing Mrs. Zhang's love for Xu Pingyi, Mrs. Ding felt uncomfortable all over, but she couldn't show it at all. She put on the posture of a virtuous daughter-in-law and said: "Mom, the old man has come back all the way, let him wash up first so that he can Feel refreshed."
When Mrs. Zhang heard this, she nodded hurriedly and sighed: "Your aunt is very considerate. You should wash up first on such a hot day. Your father is so cruel that he let you go south alone. You got tanned along the way. Come here." People, take Dalangjun to wash up!"
Xu Pingyi smiled and said softly: "Grandma, my grandson will go to pay his respects to his grandfather first, and then..."
"That's right. Let's go see your grandfather first. He has been looking forward to it for many days." After Zhang met Xu Pingyi, she became much more energetic. When she came out of the inner courtyard, she had to be supported by two people. When she went back, there was no one. Even with support, he can walk very straightly.
Xu Pingyi met Mrs. Zhang, and brothers Xu Guyu and Xu Guyule were also there.
He saluted and said, "Da Lang has met his grandfather, his uncle, and his third uncle."
"Da Lang, get up. I have read your father's letter. Have you decided to become an official?" Mr. Zhang asked about this as soon as he opened his mouth. Unlike Mr. Zhang, he would not feel sorry for his eldest grandson when he saw him suffering on the road. It's exactly how a family head should behave.
Xu Pingyi stood up, nodded, and replied softly: "My grandson has decided."
Seeing his firm expression, Mrs. Zhang breathed a sigh of relief.
Xu Pingyi is his eldest grandson. He has been extremely intelligent since he was a child, but he has no interest in studying. Although he was sent to Yingtian Academy to study, he did not take the exam every year. The second wife and her husband were anxious. As the head of the Xu family, he was no less anxious than they were.
The Xu family started as a tea merchant, and the reputation they gained in Suzhou and Hangzhou over the past few decades was not as good as the reputation they gained after Xu Gucheng, a second-class Jinshi, was born in the family.
Just doing business, no matter how good it is, is just like the Du family, being called the richest man by others, and the wife of the family has to be a concubine.
Among the grandchildren, the eldest brother only has one son, and he is still young. The third child is still nursing in his arms.
Now if you want to pass the imperial examination and further increase the reputation and prestige of the Xu family, you can only rely on Xu Pingyi.
At first, he was worried that Xu Pingyi was forced to agree to take the exam. If he was forced, he would not try his best to take the exam.
Looking at it now, it was Changsun who took the initiative to refer to it.
This eldest grandson is his and Zhang's favorite grandson. It is really reassuring to be so successful now.
After a few words, Xu Pingyi went back to the house to wash up.
Early this morning, many little maids came outside the Xu family's door. They all stretched their necks to look inside. You don't need to think too much, they are all sent by the wives of each family to get information.
Xu Pingyi was loved by the ladies in Bianjing. During the days when the academy was resting, there were always several ladies waiting outside the academy gate to admire the jade with him.
Now that he has returned to Suzhou, this enthusiasm has only increased.
It's just that the ladies in Suzhou are much more reserved and won't go to the door to block it in person. Instead, they send their maids to bring tokens. (To be continued.)
