Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 415: If you say toast, you must toast! [Thank you! Thank you again! More words to go]

Wansheng Gate,
On the official road not far west of the city,
Several guards were on horseback, guarding in front and behind the three carriages.

In the relatively warm carriage,

Yunmu, the maid sitting by the window, opened the car curtain a little and looked out.

Looking at the guards outside the carriage, Yunmu said softly: "Brother Zhong, what happened up front? Our carriage has hardly moved for so long!"

The guard tilted his head to look at the carriage window and said, "Miss Yunmu, please wait a moment! I see a convoy ahead, and there are quite a few cavalrymen near the city gate."

Although he couldn't see it, Yunmu still turned his head to look ahead: "Whose cavalry is this? Why are they mobilizing at this time?"

"Look at the flag on the cavalry's horse's back. It looks like the Chinese character 'Xu'! They look dusty and look like they have traveled a long way."

Hearing this last sentence,

Chai Zhengzheng's hand, which was placed on the hand warmer in his sleeve, moved.

Yunmu also nodded and lowered the curtains.

after awhile,

The guard outside the car said, "There's movement ahead!"

Entered the city,
The Chai family's carriage and horses drove straight eastward along the street.

Whenever the cavalry in front of them encountered an intersection, there would always be a few people who left.

By the time they passed through the West Water Gate and entered the inner city, the cavalry team had shrunk by more than half its size.

The speed of the Chai family's carriage gradually increased.

After passing the wide Imperial Street,

The Chai family's carriages and horses were already parallel to the cavalry with their carriages.

When passing another intersection heading south,

"Shut up!"

The driver stopped the carriage.

Yunmu lifted the car curtain again and looked at the horse-riding guards beside him.

The guard looked over and said, "Miss Yunmu, the lady in front is talking to the leader of the cavalry."

Chai Zhengzheng leaned over to the car window and took a look, just in time to see the cavalry leading the way in front of him bowing.

After a while

The Chai family convoy started moving again, but the cavalry and horses next to it stopped aside.

"Girl, why don't they leave?"

Yunmu said softly.

Chai Zhengzheng, who was looking out through the gap, said, "It seems that they are about to turn right and are making way for us."

Yunmu nodded.

When the Chai family's luxurious carriage passed by,

Xu Zaidan, who had taken off his mask when entering the city, followed the sharp guards' gaze, then tapped his horse's belly and headed south with a group of carriages and horses.

Hu Yanjiong, who was following Xu Zaiduan, asked, "Brother, how can Madam Chai greet us?"

Xu Zaiduan rode on his horse, looking at the wine flags hanging in front of the roadside restaurants and the roadside stalls selling chives, walnuts and other things, and said: "Maybe it's because of what happened in Dingzhou."

Hu Yanjiong nodded.

Before Bai Gao surrendered,

When the Chai family sent an able manager to Dingzhou (now Shizuishan) to take over the Wujin Carbon Mine, they specifically went to pay a visit to Marquis Yongyi.

Xu Minghua did his best to make things easier for the Chai family, which saved them a lot of trouble when they took over.

Looking at the busy streets,
Hu Yanjiong sighed: "Bianjing is still the best!"

Talking
The group soon arrived at Quyuan Street.

Xu Zaiduan nodded from time to time to his old friends from the Marquisate who were standing on the roadside.

"Master! Are you back?"

Chu Zhan, who was sitting by the stove under the tarpaulin to keep warm, shouted with a smile.

Xu Zaidan smiled.

"Master, the two young masters didn't go to school today!"

"Why?"

"I heard from Brother Qingyun that this is the last day off before the school closes for the holidays."

Xu Zaidian nodded.

When Xu Zaiduan and Hu Yanjiong arrived at the second gate,
The Xu family's doorman had already run to the backyard to inform everyone about this matter.

After getting off the horse and walking a few steps, they saw Xu Zaijing walking in front, holding a nephew in each hand, and Sun was supported by Zai Zhang and Hua Lan behind him.

Xu Xingdai, one of the two nephews in Xu Zaijing's arms, leaned forward and shouted to Xu Dalang, "Father!"

Seeing his son, Xu Dalang smiled.

He took Xu Xingdai and kissed him.

Although he was pricked by the beard, Xu Xingdai still endured it and shouted to Hu Yanjiong beside him with a smile: "Aunt father."

Hu Yanjiong also laughed.

At this time, Sun came closer and said, "Great! You are finally back."

"Mother/Mother-in-law!"

Xu Zaiduan and Hu Yanjiong each bowed.

Sun stood in front of the two people, looking at their dusty appearance, and took their hands and said, "Come on, let's go into the yard."

Zai Zhang stopped supporting his mother and reached out to the son in Xu Zai Jing's arms.

Xu Zaijing's little nephew leaned into his father's arms.

Xu Zaijing looked at his arms, which were full when he came over but are now empty. He shook his head helplessly and quickly chased after him.

When we were almost at the Matron's House,
Sun stopped, held Xu Xingdai in her arms and said, "Da Lang, go see your wife first!"

Seeing Zai Zhang opening his mouth to speak, Sun shook her head and said, "Shut up, Third Brother! Let your eldest brother go and see for himself!"

Zai Zhang pursed his lips.

Zaidu nodded and said, "Okay! Brother Jiong, you go to your mother's yard first, I'll come over later."

After Hu Yanjiong nodded, he and Sun walked over the threshold and into the yard.

In the courtyard: "Mother-in-law, do I have a new nephew?"

Sun smiled and shook her head.

Hu Yanjiong understood: they are his nephews.

outside the door,

Xu Zaijing walked at the back. He turned his head to look at his elder brother's quickened pace, then entered his mother's yard with the maid.

Xu Zaidan hadn't entered his yard yet.

Then he saw the maid standing at the gate of the courtyard, who had received the message, turned around and walked quickly inside.

"The Crown Prince is back!"

The maid's shouting could be heard faintly.

Enter the courtyard,
Entering the inner room,

Xu Zaiduan saw Xie lying on the bed with a headband on.

Two maids, one holding a wash basin and the other holding Xu Zaiduan's clothes, came over.

After washing his hands and face and changing his clothes, Xu Zaiduan walked to the bedside and looked at Xie who was holding the baby and feeding her. He said a little embarrassedly, "I rushed, but I still didn't catch up."

Mrs. Xie smiled and shook her head to indicate that everything was fine: "Sir, go and see your daughter."

Jaedun took the child into his arms and couldn’t help laughing at the wrinkled baby.

Xie looked at Xu Zaiduan, who was still a little nervous even though it was not his first time holding a child, and said, "Mother said that he looks like Ping Jie'er."

"How did mother know when he was so young?"

Xie smiled and shook her head.

The couple talked for a while.

Xie said, "Sir, I heard that my brother-in-law is here too. You should go to mother's place and keep her company first!"

Zaidian nodded.

The mother-in-law of the Xu family,

Sun sat on the Arhat bed.

Zai Zhang and Hu Yanjiong sat in the first seat on each side of the chair.

Xu Zaijing sat at the back: "Brother-in-law, didn't you say you were going to help the Ministry of Works figure out the hydrology of the river? Why did you come back so early?"

Hu Yanjiong put down the teacup in his hand and said, "When I was cleaning up the Ministry of Works in Baigao, I found a lot of books recording hydrology there. There was also an imperial decree saying that the matter was not urgent, so I followed my elder brother back."

"Brother Jiong, when will you go back?"

Zai Zhang asked.

Hu Yanjiong: "After the Lantern Festival."

Sun smiled and said, "Okay! That's perfect!"

An Mei was expected to be born in the twelfth month, and Hu Yanjiong happened to be at home.

After a while

Jae-dan changed his clothes and came into the house.
The crowd continued talking.
During the conversation, Xu Zaijing learned from his elder brother that
It turned out that most of the people who came back with them were young military officers who had performed extremely well in the war against Bai Gao and were promoted.

After the new year, this group of them will return to Baigao to take up their positions, and then the other group will return to Beijing.

"Brother, brother-in-law, what are the things loaded on the carriages that followed us into the house?" "Xiaowu, the things loaded on the carriages are all the bounties that our comrades in the army who live in Bianjing asked us to bring back."

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Sun said, "It's not too late today, Duan'er, go and deliver them to those who are close to our house first."

"Yes, mother."

"I'll go with my brother."

Xu Zaijing stood up and said.

Sun waved her hand and said, "Wait a minute!"

He turned to look at Hu Yanjiong and said, "Jiong'er, I won't keep you here! Your mother-in-law and An'er may be waiting anxiously at home. You brothers should go together."

Hu Yanjiong stood up and bowed: "Yes, mother-in-law."

finished,

Everyone walked outside.

He mounted his horse at the second gate,
Hu Yanjiong went to his own house, while Xu Zaijing followed his elder brother to deliver the reward to the homes of his comrades in the army who lived closer to Quyuan Street.

The reward includes silk and silver.

The things given and the addresses of each family were written on a piece of paper.

Xu Zaijing delivered the gifts along the way and discovered that two of the families still had signs of funerals. When they saw the reward, both adults and children had a look of surprise on their faces.

In the afternoon,

The sun sets in the west,

After this incident, Xu Zaijing felt a little depressed when he returned to Quyuan Street.

After all, it is a national war. Even if the war involving hundreds of thousands of people ends quickly, there will be a lot of deaths!

After taking out the piece of paper with the address from his sleeve and looking at it, Xu Zaijing handed it to Qingyun and said, "Tell the manager below that when our family's shop or workshop is recruiting workers in the future, we should give priority to those two families."

"Yes, son."

Qingyun didn't ask which two families they were from, and just put the paper in his arms.

When we were almost back at the gate of the mansion,
Xu Zaijing saw Chu Zhan talking to a man dressed as a soldier.

Seeing Xu Zaijing and Qingyun riding over, Chu Zhan grabbed the soldier who was about to go find the gatekeeper of the Marquis's Mansion and pointed at Xu Zaijing.

When Xu Zaijing approached, Chu Zhan said excitedly: "Sir, this soldier said there is a letter from the mansion."

Hearing Chu Zhan's words, the soldier hurriedly bowed.

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Where did it come from? Who is it for?"

The soldier said, "Reporting to the yamen, they came from Wushang County in Liangzhe Road."

Seeing Xu Zaijing nod, he stretched out his hand and gave it to him.

Qingyun didn't say anything.

Riding on the horse, Xu Zaijing said, "Go to the gatehouse and give this man half a guan of hard work money."

"Yes, son!"

After saying this, Xu Zaijing nodded to the soldiers and entered the mansion.

Chu Zhan smiled and walked towards the concierge.

Xu Zaijingyuaner.

The sun has not yet set,

The main room with floor heating was very bright.

Seeing Xu Zaijing bringing Qingyun into the room,

Standing next to the big fish tank, Qingcao, who was pinching fish food to feed the fish, turned around, squatted slightly and smiled, "Young Master!"

Xu Zaijing walked over to the shiny fish tank, looked at the fish inside and said, "Feed less. I think they are getting a little fat."

As he spoke, he handed the bamboo tube with the address slip to Qingcao: "Here, this is the letter from Wushang County."

Qingcao was stunned, put the porcelain cup of fish food aside, clapped his hands, and took the bamboo tube with some embarrassment: "Sir, please tell me and let me get it myself."

Xu Zaijing untied the finely braided cloak string tied in front of him and said, "If you have anything else, tell me. Don't act on your own and get cold like last time."

Qingcao pursed her lips embarrassedly and nodded.

As he spoke, Xu Zaijing handed the cloak to Yun Xiang who was walking over and walked towards the study room.

When Qingcao opened the bamboo tube containing the letter, Huaxiang wanted to lean over to take a look, but was pulled away by Yunxiang.

sunset,

The courtyard became much darker.

"Miss Qingcao, the mistress asked Wulang to go eat."

A maid whispered at the door.

"Sister, I understand. I'll go tell the young master right away." Qingcao replied after reading the letter and putting it away.

On the way to the Matron's Courtyard,

Xu Zaijing glanced at Qingcao who was carrying a lantern and asked, "What's the happy news?"

Qingcao pursed her lips a little embarrassedly, then smiled at Xu Zaijing and said, "Sir, I have a nephew too."

Xu Zaijing raised his eyebrows and said, "Very good!"

"Why haven't you sent money home in the past few months?"

Qingcao looked at the road under the lantern and said, "My Lord, every time I send something, I have to spend money. My family told me to save some money before sending it back."

"Ok!"

Xu Zaijing didn't say anything more.

In fact, the monthly salary Qingcao received during the years she was with Xu Zaijing was not worth as much as the things that the Marquis of Xiangyang had given her as a reward and kept in Xu Zaijing's warehouse.

When Qingcao first got those things, he also thought about sending them back to his hometown, but Xu Zaijing stopped him and stored them in the warehouse.

After all, after Qingcao came to Xu Zaijing, she sent three taels of her monthly allowance back home and kept only a little for herself.

More than thirty taels a year is enough for my brother and sister-in-law in Qingcao’s hometown to eat and drink even if they don’t do anything all year.

It would be better to treat the jewelry given to her by Marquis of Xiangyang as treasures.

Thinking of this, Xu Zaijing walked to his mother's yard.

Sit down at the dinner table,

When the eldest brother Zaiduan came back, Sun's face smiled a lot more.

Xu Zaijing sat below his third brother and said to Xu Zaiduan, "Brother, you look much more mature now that you have grown a beard!"

Jaedan touched his cheek and said, "Haha, yeah! I feel more powerful now that I have a beard! The people below look at me differently."

Zai Zhang nodded: "Then I'll try it too."

Xu Zaijing looked at his third brother's face and laughed when he thought about how he looked with a beard.

Zaiduan put a hand on Zaizhang's shoulder, looked at Xu Zaijing and said, "By the way, Xiaowu, when I went to deliver things to people this afternoon, I heard that many people's merit evaluations have come down?"

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Yes! Brother, you have been promoted to Wuyi Doctor."

"What about you?"

"Me? Gongwei Lang~" Xu Zaijing said indifferently and glanced at Zai Zhang at the same time.

"Oh! Tsk!"

Zaiduan clicked his tongue and patted Zaizhan's shoulder.

Zai Zhang listened to the conversation and put his hand on Xu Zai Jing's shoulder. He turned around and said to Zaiduan, "Brother, do you think Dai Ge'er is obedient after you came back?"

Zaiduan: "Be obedient! How could my son not be obedient? Where is Zhongge'er?"

Zai Zhang patted Xu Zai Jing's shoulder and said, "Looks more naughty than Dai Ge'er. Oh~ worry!"

Xu Zaijing shook his shoulders and shook Zai Zhang's hand off.

Sun: "Ahem!"

Seeing her three sons looking over, Sun gave Zaiduan and Zaizhan a cold look and said, "Eat!"

After dinner,

After drinking some digestive drinks, they talked for a while.
The sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren all returned to their own homes.

Sun sat in front of the dressing table and let Mother Zhu help her tie her hair into a bun.

Looking at the bronze mirror and thinking about the scene at the dinner table, Sun said softly, "Jing'er's two brothers are really..."

"Out of control."

In the twelfth lunar month,

Several newly promoted military officers under Xu Hou, such as Lu Junyi and Wang Yan, have returned to Beijing for several days.

Early this morning,
They received an invitation from the Xu family and were invited to a banquet at Fanlou.

noon,

Before meals,

Xu Zaijing and He Guan rode horses and accompanied a carriage with a "Lu" sign to the foot of Fanlou.

upstairs,

Lu Junyi looked at the boy who came out of the carriage downstairs and asked, "Who is in this carriage?"

"There's a wooden plaque with the word Lu on it! Judging from his age, he should be Wulang's sworn brother, the young master of the Duke of Lian. General, am I right?" Guo Kui on the side replied.

Xu Zaidan, who heard the conversation, came over with pumpkin seeds in his hand.

Following Guo Kui's finger, I glanced at
When I saw the boy smiling and waving his hand,
"Crackling"

Zaiduan clenched the pumpkin seeds in his hand tightly.

(End of this chapter)