Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 407 Go to my warehouse to pick [Thank you! Goodbye! I owe you words]

"Sanlang! Wulang! Are you guys going to the school?"

Gao Yunqing said after bowing.

Xu Zaijing and Zai Zhang nodded in agreement.

Afterwards, Gao Yunqing turned his head to look at the ruins and said with regret: "I had official business to attend to, but now, alas!"

After speaking, he shook his head.

When Xu Zaijing heard this, he looked at Zaizhang and asked, "Could it be here?"

Gao Yunqing nodded with regret: "I'm a step late."

Xu Zaijing looked at the Imperial City clerks who were digging in the ruins from time to time, sighed and bowed, saying, "Brother Gao, please be busy first. We will leave first."

"Sanlang and Wulang will go by themselves."

Leaving the ruins,
Xu Zaijing looked back and shook his head with emotion.

I passed by this place often during the years I studied at the Sheng family.

In the summer, there would be children from Bian Jing selling some unopened lotus flowers and freshly picked lotus leaves nearby.

Among them there may be twin lotus flowers, some real and some fake.

"Sir, last summer, that reckless brother and sister rushed out from around here, right?"

Qingyun asked beside Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing nodded.

"The weather is getting colder and colder. I don't know how the brother and sister are doing."

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing turned his head to look at Qingyun: "What's wrong? Why are you so sentimental?"

Qingyun scratched his head a little embarrassedly: "Master, I don't know either! I don't know why I think about these things."

Zai Zhang on the side said: "It's probably because Qingyun is pregnant!"

"When your sister-in-law was pregnant, I was also having all kinds of wild thoughts all day long!"

After hearing this, Xu Zaijing smiled and looked at Qingyun.

Before, when Xu Zaijing went to the northwest, Qingyun's wife Hua Qing was already slightly pregnant when she saw him off at Ansu Gate.

When Qingyun and Xu Zaijing were chatting on the way, they both implied that they thought they would not be able to accompany Huaqing to give birth to a child. As a result, they came back after only a few months.

Qingyun nodded continuously and said, "Third Young Master is right!"

After he finished speaking, Qingyun smiled again: "It is also thanks to the concern of the Madam and the two ladies that they invited Doctor Ren to diagnose Hua Qing's pulse, otherwise she would not have known that she was pregnant with two babies."

When Xu Zaijing heard this, he couldn't help but smile and said, "Actually, the happiest one is Master."

"I just mentioned it casually, and he started busying himself making a bed for you."

A group of people were talking.
Then we came to Jiying Lane.

After entering the courtyard,

Xu Zaijing and Zai Zhang dismounted from their horses.
Qingcao also got off the carriage carrying two book boxes.

Stand still on the ground,
While handing the bookcase to Zai Zhang's servant, Qingcao looked at Qingyun beside the carriage and said softly, "Brother Qingyun, don't let Sister Huaqing do the sewing. Hua Xiang, Yun Xiang and I have already made everything that is needed."

Qingyun nodded with gratitude in his eyes: "I know, I will give her a few more instructions when I return."

"Ok!"

"Grass, hurry up!"

"Oh!"

Hearing Xu Zaijing's shout, Qingcao took a few quick steps to catch up.

Stepping over the threshold and entering the schoolyard,
As in previous years,
The servants had already put up windproof and coldproof partitions around the Sheng Family Academy.
A cotton curtain was also hung at the door.

Following his master into the school room,

A wave of heat came over me.

The earth dragon was already steaming from the heat of the burning fire.

In candlelight
After putting away his son's bookcase,
Qingcao held Xu Zaijing's cloak and walked to the wooden platform at the back, found her own cushion and sat down.

Looking at the yawning servant of the Sheng family, Qingcao said crisply, "Brother Hanniu."

Han Niu, who had tears in his eyes due to yawning, smiled slightly.

"Brother Hanniu, you look so tired, did you not sleep well?"

Qingcao whispered.

Changbai's servant Hanniu shook his head and whispered, "No, he got up too early today! At the end of Yinshi (five o'clock in the morning), the young master finished his meal and came to the school."

Qingcao nodded and said, "It was early enough. My young master had almost finished his training by then."

Hearing this, Han Niu shook his head.

The school room is very warm.

Although Qingcao was able to take a nap in Yin Bo's wooden house when Xu Zaijing was exercising, and could also take a nap in the carriage on the road, Qingcao still felt a little sleepy, so she hugged Xu Zaijing's cloak and lay on her knees.

Listening to the three young masters' reading and talking in the school like a lullaby, Qingcao, with her eyes slightly closed, had fallen into a state of half-sleep and half-wakefulness.

I do not know how long it has been,

A cold wind blew in.
After dozing off for a while, Qingcao woke up suddenly with great energy.

Looking at Zhique and Buwei who walked to the wooden platform and bowed, Qingcao smiled.

After a while,

Qingcao felt someone touching her arm and she quickly looked over.

Then they saw Buwei pulling the curtain behind them. On the partition behind the curtain was fixed a fine, translucent gauze, through which a faint light shone. Qingcao nodded.

So several people hurriedly got up and rolled up the curtains in the room.

Although the sun has not yet risen,

But the morning light still made the school suddenly brighter.

After the curtains were drawn,
Qingcao and the others blew out the candles on their respective tables and moved them away.

The morning sun,
The light shone through the gaps between the eaves and the trees into the school.

The school is brighter than before.

The cotton curtain at the door trembles,
The three girls from the Sheng family came in with their maids.

Because Xu Zaijing and the others were reading, the three Lans bowed and said nothing, then sat down at their desks.

After helping each girl put things in place, the maids went to the wooden platform at the back.

After a few people greeted each other gently,

Xiao Tao then sat down next to the green grass with the magpie.

Qingcao's palms, which had been in the school for a long time, felt warm. Xiaotao, whose cold cheeks were held by these palms, felt comfortable and squinted her eyes.

After warming Xiaotao's face, Qingcao handed her hand to Xi Que.

The magpie, who had been carrying a box of books all the way from Weiruixuan in the inner courtyard, also smiled as he held Qingcao's warm hand.

Before I could speak,
The cotton curtain at the door fluttered again.
Zhuang Xuejiu came in holding a folding fan.

Everyone quickly stood up and greeted him.

Recently, Zhuang Xuejiao was in a very good mood. He walked towards the table while waving his folding fan and said, "Everyone, sit down!"

"Come on, hand in all the homework assigned yesterday on how to govern your homeland!"

After a noisy
Zhuang Xuejiao looked at a piece of homework in his hand and said, "Changfeng, your homework looks a bit like the one written by Lord Wang, why?"

Chang Feng, who was called, stood up quickly.

Feeling the gazes of Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye and others around him.

Chang Feng: "Scholar, er, student"

After a review of the course,

Everyone was taking a break between classes. Xu Zaijing, Changbai and Gu Tingye, who had been sitting for a long time, strolled out of the classroom and took a walk in the yard to stretch their muscles.

While the scholar was giving the lesson, the servants and maids, who had never had a chance to talk, also started to speak.

Qingcao leaned close to Xiaotao's ear and said, "Xiaotao, why does your daughter look unhappy today?"

Looking at Minglan, who was still writing at her desk and didn't talk much, Xiaotao whispered, "Sister Xiaodie's marriage has been decided. The young lady was a little unhappy when she heard about it."

Qingcao's eyes lit up: "Is it Ni's brother?"

Xiaotao nodded.

After the break, continue with the class.

At noon,
Mother Cui arrived at the school gate with a smile, followed by a maid carrying a tray.

After entering the school, the classmates bowed and greeted each other, and then Mother Cui said, "The old lady asked the kitchen to prepare nourishing dishes for winter."

Being close to the food, Zhuang Xueji, who could smell the aroma of the food, covered up the action of swallowing his saliva by stroking his beard.

Xu Zaijing and others hurriedly bowed to express their gratitude.

Mother Cui personally served the dishes to everyone.

When they came to Xu Zaijing, Mother Cui squatted down and said softly while serving the dishes: "Brother Jing, the old lady asked me to tell you that when you have time later, go to Shou'an Hall to drink some tea to help digestion."

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded.

After meal
Sheng's backyard,
There is no north wind and the afternoon sunshine makes people warm.

Xu Zaijing held the old lady's arm and walked slowly around Shou'an Hall.

"So, Brother Zhu has also made contributions!"

Xu Zaijing nodded at the side: "My cousin would personally go into battle when the situation became critical, hiding the enemy's eyes and ears for such a long time. Both my father and Uncle Cao praised him very much."

"Grandma, why are you asking this?"

The old lady smiled and said, "When I was a child, your great-grandfather often told me about the battles! How to think carefully after each battle, to understand the gains and losses of the battle, to sum up the experience and learn from it."

"In fact, this kind of reflection and review is also useful in life."

Xu Zaijing on the side kept nodding.

"Is your fourth sister okay?"

"Grandma, she's doing fine. She asked me for a foal a few days ago, but it hasn't been born yet."

The old woman was stunned, and then she laughed when she heard Xu Zaijing explain the coincidence of the due dates of her nephew and Xiao Ma, "With such a fate, I have to give it to you."

"Grandma, when do you think my father and my eldest brother will be back?"

The old lady pondered as she walked, and after a while she said, "We need to collect military supplies, arrange for the previous Baigao soldiers to go, and quell some sudden chaos. It will be difficult to come back before the New Year."

"Your great-grandfather also stayed for a long time when he pacified other countries. How many months was it?"

As she spoke, the old lady turned around and looked at Fang Mama behind her.

Madam Fang said, "I remember it was more than four months. The old marquis missed both your coming-of-age ceremony and your birthday."

Hearing this, perhaps recalling the interesting things from her childhood, the old lady smiled with some reminiscence in her eyes.

Because when my father Xu Minghua and my mother Sun got married, the old lady's parents were still alive.

Over the years, Xu Zaijing has heard his parents talk about how important the old lady was in the hearts of his great-grandparents.

"Then we will miss the Spring Festival again."

Listening to Xu Zaijing's words, the old lady smiled and said, "When your father retires, he will have plenty of time to spend the holidays with you."

After strolling for a while, Xu Zaijing accompanied the old lady back to Shou'an Hall.

Watching Xu Zaijing leave the hall,

The old lady sitting on the Luohan bed raised her legs and said to Fang Mama beside her: "This Liu family girl's marriage sounds very good to me!"

Mother Fang took two steps holding her handkerchief and said, "What the old lady said is true. Although the Ni family boy failed the college entrance examination, he has his brother-in-law, the Viscount Zhu family, and the Xu family as his protector, so he will have a good future."

Mother Cui, who was sorting the tea sets not far away, also smiled and said, "Why did that Madam Ni fall for Xiaodie?"

The housekeeper who came to the old lady helped her cross her legs on the bed. While she was fixing her skirt, she said, "Xiao Die can read, write, knit and embroider while being with Wei Xiao Niang."

"She's a good girl no matter where she is!"

Afterwards, Mother Fang placed the tortoise shell and copper coins that the old lady used for daily divination on the small table above the Arhat bed.

The old lady sorted out the papers and brushes herself and said, "The Liu family girl has no parents and no brothers or sisters. She is literate and knows how to behave. When she enters the Ni family, she will not take advantage of her family to become powerful."

Mother Cui nodded: "What the old lady said is right! This way, if there is any problem in the Ni family, Mrs. Ni will also be able to speak up."

"I heard from Madam Liu that this Ni family boy is a very hard-working student in the Li family academy. Although he failed the exam this time, if he has a good reputation in the future, he might even be able to get an imperial decree."

Mother Cui finished helping the old lady tidy up and stood aside.

"Jingle-ding-ding-ding-ding."

The old lady shook the tortoise shell, looked at the copper coins scattered on the table, and said with a smile: "When Xiaodie starts to go through the formalities with the Zhu family, you and Madam Liu who is beside the eldest lady will accompany the Wei family to come forward."

"Hey!"

Mother Cui responded with a smile.

She had taken care of Sheng Changmai in Imayashi before and had stayed there for a long time. She had a good impression of the diligent and kind-hearted Xiaodie.

"Pick a piece of good material from my warehouse, add two hundred strings of cash and give it to Wei's family. That will be our token of appreciation."

Mother Fang also responded with a smile.

In Yangzhou, when Hualan was planning to marry into the Yuan family, the old lady was prepared to give Hualan 800 taels of silver in cash alone, regardless of the land, shops, jewelry and gold.

Later, when she came to Bian Jing and married into the Xu family, the old lady bought her a lot of more things, although Hualan didn't use them much.

later,

Because of the matter of Jin Buhuan, Hualan came to her mother's house to "seek sponsorship",
Wang Ruofu contributed two thousand strings of cash, and the old lady contributed at least six thousand strings of cash.

After the interest was settled, the old lady's wallet became much fatter.

Therefore, although Xiaodie was just a maid in the Sheng family and received a monthly allowance, the old lady still asked Mama Fang to prepare two hundred strings of silver.

It is hard to say how valuable the good materials in the old lady’s warehouse are.

Of course, to some people this amount of money may seem like too little, to others it may seem like too much.

The sun sets in the west,

Sheng's family went to school,

In the city of Bianjing preparing for winter,
The streets are still very busy.
The carts and donkeys were carrying all kinds of winter vegetables and grains.

Xu Zaijing returned to Quyuan Street.

It's not too dark yet.
He returned to his yard with the green grass,
Xu Zaijing took off his cloak and put it in Hua Xiang's hand, then gave the scarf to Yun Xiang. He looked at Qingcao who was putting down the bookcase and said, "Qingcao, when you got on the carriage at Sheng's house, you said Xiaodie's marriage was settled?"

Qingcao: "Yes, yes, sir! He is Madam Ni's younger brother. He said that he would start to officially set the date when Lord Zhu comes back."

Hearing the conversation between Xu Zaijing and Qingcao, Yunxiang and Huaxiang looked over in surprise.

Xu Zaijing smiled and shook his head, "Ha, it's actually him."

"Sir, I think..."

Qingcao said hesitantly.

Xu Zaijing waved his hand and said, "Miss Xiaodie was kind to you in Yangzhou before. You can pick a few more items from my warehouse and send them to the Sheng family. It's my token of appreciation."

"Yes! Son!"

Hua Xiang and Yun Xiang stood aside and hurriedly tugged at Qingcao's sleeve.

"Young Master! Yun Xiang and Hua Xiang also learned needlework and embroidery in Sheng family's Jin'an Zhai a few months ago," Qingcao whispered.

"Both go!"

"Thank you, sir!"

The three maids all bowed with a smile.

(End of this chapter)