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

Chapter 868 Diligence
Jin Jiashu had been traveling with the Hai family for many days, so he certainly would not miss the opportunity to please the two elders of the Hai family.

Although he was called by the three teachers every day to ask about homework and receive instruction, Xie Wenzai, Cao Gengyun and Lu Bainian were not devils and would not occupy students' time all the time. Occasionally, when they came across a beautiful road, in addition to asking students to compose an article describing the beautiful scenery, they would also go sightseeing nearby to relax. They themselves would also have the urge to write poems and essays, and they would have the need to appreciate the scenery and express their emotions, and there were many such times. Whenever the teachers had their own activities, Jin Jiashu would have free time.

He could wait until the evening to do his writing homework at his place of residence. During the day, he would try his best to seize every opportunity to show his courtesy in front of the Hai family.

It was not easy for him to be alone with Haitang and talk in front of so many people, but if he just went to say hello to the two elders of the Hai family and chat with them, it would be easy.

Hai Xiya often talked with his cousin Xie Wenzai and his two old friends Cao and Lu. Although he did not participate in their teaching activities, he often listened in and was quite satisfied with Jin Jiashu's talent. Such a talented young man would accompany him from time to time, asking him for advice on the ways of the world and economics. He did not look down on himself as a small official of the sixth rank just because he had good relatives and a bright future. The more Hai Xiya looked at Jin Jiashu, the more he liked him.

As for Ma, it was the same reason. Besides, she had heard Chunyu mention the news about the wives of officials in the capital and the social rules of the wives of officials. When Jin Jiashu had time, he would come to tell her what he knew, such as the background and preferences of the officials and their wives who were in power in the capital, as well as the habits and taboos of Tao Yue and the officials he was on good terms with. With this information, she could act freely after arriving in the capital without worrying about accidentally violating someone's taboos because she didn't understand the situation.

Jin Jiashu provided a lot of information that Chun Yu had never heard of. This was a great help!
Ma stayed at the post station that night, and couldn't help but say to Hai Xiya, "Xiao Jin is really careful and thoughtful, and he is very close to us. Today, thanks to his reminder, I would not have known that the wife of the Marquis Cheng'en and the wife of Tao Ge Lao had a private feud. Although it is not a big deal and does not prevent the men of the two families from getting along, if you and I visit those two adults after entering the capital, and say the wrong thing in front of their wives, it will cause trouble for you!"

Hai Xiya also nodded: "Xiao Jin is not bad, he studies hard and has a good personality. He will definitely have a bright future. It's a pity that he is a relative by marriage. People don't know his character, and they will probably criticize and slander him because he is a relative by marriage."

Ma said disapprovingly: "His status as a relative of the emperor is not entirely true. He just has an aunt who is a concubine. But he has not gained any benefits from this aunt. If he wants to take the imperial examination and become an official in the future, he will rely on his own ability. Why should he be looked down upon just because he has an aunt who is a concubine?!"

She lowered her voice and said, "To be honest, I feel sorry for him! If he didn't have such an aunt, he would have a bright future. Because of this aunt, he got into trouble with the Sun family, and now his family is broken up and he is the only one left alive. It would be better if he didn't have this aunt! Anyway, he can still pass the imperial examination without the help of Madam Xu."

Hai Xiya reminded his wife in a low voice: "Don't say that again. This is not Chang'an. There are many people who come from the palace among the people traveling with you. If there are ears on the other side of the wall, wouldn't you be asking for trouble? Why risk offending the noble? Whether Xiao Jin is willing or not, he has to recognize this aunt. He has no other relatives. It's not a bad thing that Madam Xu is willing to take care of him. At least in the future, he will have a foothold in the capital, and no one will dare to bully him because of his poor family background and helplessness. What's more, if it weren't for Madam Xu's relationship, his family would not be targeted by the Sun family, and he would not run to Chang'an and meet our family. We don't even have the opportunity to recognize him, and he may not be able to study under a famous teacher, and he is still being tortured by his father and stepmother in the countryside of Zunhua Prefecture! Some things are hard to predict, and we outsiders can't say anything about it."

Ma thought about it and said the same thing, feeling a little embarrassed.

But she still felt it was a pity: "If it wasn't for Madam Xu wanting to find a noble marriage for Xiao Jin, how nice it would be for Xiao Jin to be our grandson's husband? I saw him talking to Tang Tang at the gate of the courtyard in the evening. They are a talented man and a beautiful woman, what a perfect match!"

Hai Xiya had this thought recently. But there were some things that he could not do anything about: "No need to say more. If those who escorted Xiao Jin heard it and spread the news to Empress Xu in the palace, wouldn't it cause trouble for our Tangtang? The children are all good children, but it's a pity that they are not destined to be together." Is there really no fate?
Ma lay on the bed, struggling for a long time before she whispered, "Well, I actually think Xiao Jin is... a little interested in Tang Tang. Tang Tang also... doesn't hate him."

Hai Xiya was silent for a long time. How could he not notice something his wife had discovered? Fortunately, his two children were well-mannered and knew their limits. No matter what they thought in their hearts, they would pay attention to etiquette in front of others and would not easily give people a chance to talk about them.

After arriving in the capital, when he was looking for a husband for his granddaughter, he probably couldn't find a more ideal candidate for her granddaughter's husband than Jin Jiashu, right? He also felt it was a pity...

Hai Xiya turned over and said, "Stop talking and go to sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow to travel."

Nothing happened that night. The next day, Hai Xiya got up, washed up, had a simple breakfast that didn't taste very good, and went out of the yard. He wanted to go see his cousin and old friends, but he saw Jin Jiashu walking towards him with a basket.

He couldn't help wondering, "Xiao Jin, why are you here so early?" The Hai family stayed overnight at the post station, but Jin Jiashu was not an official, and he had no intention of using his "aunt's" power to break the rules, so he followed the caravan to stay in a nearby inn. Because he brought many coffins with him, he had to spend a lot of time to convince the innkeeper to let him stay. Normally, he should have finished his breakfast at the inn, and then come with the caravan to meet the Hai family. He came so early, was there any special reason?

Jin Jiashu smiled and lifted the cloth covering the basket in his hand. "Last night, I heard from Sister Hai that the chef at this post station has ordinary skills and the food is not very good. I also heard from the chef at the inn that the breakfast at the post station is also casual and perfunctory. I thought that Grandpa Hai, Grandma Hai and the teachers might not be used to that food and it would be bad if they were hungry, so I asked the inn staff to prepare some more fresh cakes and send them over for Grandpa Hai and you to try. If you think it's good, I'll ask the inn staff to make some more and we can take them with us on the road."

How thoughtful!

Hai Xiya remembered that his granddaughter Haitang did complain last night. But the food at the post station was naturally not as exquisite as that at the inn. He and his wife didn't take it seriously at all. They didn't expect Jin Jiashu to send cakes specially...

Such a good child is truly the perfect candidate for grandson-in-law, so why does he need a meddling aunt?

Is it really true that he has no destiny with his granddaughter?
(End of this chapter)