Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 422: Mother Qi, how can you talk like that? [Thank you! Goodbye! I owe you yuan]

Bianjing
West Fruit Lane
in the middle of the night,
The sound of the carriage driving in the alley was particularly loud.

"Xu~"

Two carriages stopped in front of the Kang family’s door.

Because the Kang family was a family of officials for generations, and the old man of the Kang family who had passed away had served in the court for many years, and like the old man of the Wang family who was enshrined in the Taimiao, he was a giant in the officialdom.

Therefore, the location of the Kang family's house in Bian Jing is much better than that of the Sheng family.

In the past, the Kang family’s courtyard was very large and the gate was solemn.

But a few years after Mr. Kang passed away, the Kang family began to sell the outer courtyards one after another.

The outside world said that it was to collect dowry for the daughter who was about to get married.
Nowadays, marrying off wealthy wives has become a trend in the Great Zhou Dynasty, so this kind of excuse can barely be justified and can fool people who don’t know the couple.

Anyone who married into the Kang family knew that the dowry for the Kang family's daughters was not very generous.

Things were fine before when Kang Haifeng, the head of the Kang family, still held an official position thanks to his ancestors' influence.

Now Kang Haifeng no longer holds an official position.
Not only did he not seek reinstatement,
He also liked to entertain guests at famous restaurants in Bian Jing such as Fanlou and Panlou, and was a frequent visitor to Qiyunlou and Feiyuntai.

He had countless concubines, and Kang Haifeng didn't even recognize some of their children.

Those who can serve as officials in the court are all shrewd people. When they see Kang Haifeng's appearance, they know that the Kang family's decline is unstoppable. Some old friends have begun to slowly distance themselves from the Kang family.

When the Kang family asked people to do things for them, most of the time no one responded, and those who responded were mostly there to make money.

Only Kang Haifeng's wife Wang Ruoyu's natal family, the Wang family, and her in-laws, the Sheng family, could help because of their kinship.

In fact, among these relatives there should also be the Feng family, the family of Kang Wang’s eldest sister-in-law.

But...that is to say, the old lady of the Wang family is still alive!

If the old lady of the Wang family was gone, she would rely on the fact that when Wang Ruoyu got married, she forced her sister-in-law, the eldest lady of the Feng family, to have the mother of Guanyin, the Goddess of Childbirth, to kowtow and pray for her.
The Wang family can contribute ten points of their efforts, but most of them are only willing to contribute three points.

The Feng family, ever since that incident happened, the Feng family has continued to help the Wang family with all their might. The Sheng family is also doing their best, as for the Kang family.

Kang's outer courtyard,
There are two candlesticks in the reception hall.

All the candles on the candlesticks have been lit,

In the candlelight, on one side of the chair in front of the screen sat Kang Haifeng with an angry look on his face, and on the other side sat Wang Ruoyu of the Kangwang clan with a hateful look on his face and his eyes moving constantly.

"Master, Madam, someone from the Sheng family is coming!"

At the door, a well-dressed housekeeper said.

"Mother Qi, who is coming from the Sheng family?" Mrs. Kang stood up and asked hurriedly.

Kang Haifeng also looked over.

"Madam, Lord Sheng and Madam Wang are here."

Kang Haifeng nodded and sat back down.

After Kang Wangshifeng glanced at Kang Haifeng, he threw his sleeves angrily and was about to walk out.

As soon as I walked out of the door, I saw Kang family servants carrying lanterns and walking towards me with Sheng Hong and his wife in the dark.

Following behind Sheng Hong and his wife were Dong Rong and Mother Liu.

When someone comes to you,

Wang Ruofu, who was wearing heavy winter clothes, grasped Kang Wangshi's hand and said, "Big sister, are you okay? Your servants said someone was beaten to death?"

Kang Wang looked at Sheng Hong and said angrily, "This vixen actually wanted to seduce my son."

Sheng Hong, who was standing next to the lantern, shook his head. Wang Ruofu said anxiously, "Big sister, you can just sell this slave girl. How can you let her die?"

Sheng Hong looked at Wang Ruofu with surprise in his eyes.

Kang Wang glared at Wang Ruofu and said, "I just wanted to punish her with ten strokes of the cane, but who would have thought that bitch would be so stubborn."

At this time,

Kang Haifeng in the front hall lifted the door curtain and asked, "Why don't you invite people in instead of talking at the door?"

Seeing Kang Haifeng, Sheng Hong hurriedly bowed and said, "Brother-in-law."

Kang Haifeng rarely smiled at Sheng Hong and nodded, "Brother-in-law, come in and talk."

The four of them entered the front hall and sat down.

After Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu handed the cloaks to their respective servants, Sheng Hong was the first to speak: "Brother-in-law, where is the body of the maid?"

Kang Haifeng was a little annoyed, shook his head and pointed at Kang Wangshi.

Queen Kang gestured to Mother Qi.

Mother Qi looked at Sheng Hong and asked, "Master Sheng, why are you asking this?"

Hearing this, Sheng Hong looked at Qi's mother in surprise and said nothing. He picked up the hot tea and took a sip. While lowering his head to drink the tea, he stole a glance at Kang Haifeng.

Wang Ruofu also glanced at Mother Qi and said, "Mother Qi, why are you butting in when the master is talking? In our Wang family, this is how mother taught you the rules."

Mother Qi bowed quickly and said, "Third Miss, I am a fool. I only think about my daughter. I want to know clearly."

Seeing that Kang Haifeng didn't react, Sheng Hong put down the teacup and glanced at Dong Rong.

Dong Rong bowed and said, "Mother, the master wants me to take a look at the situation so that I can help your family speak and plan."

Hearing this,

Kang Haifeng glanced at Sheng Hong, then stood up and motioned for Sheng Hong to follow him.

When they were not far away, Kang Haifeng whispered to Sheng Hong, "Brother-in-law, can you trust your long-term servant?"

Sheng Hong lowered his head to hide the unhappiness in his eyes and whispered, "Don't worry, brother-in-law. My long-time attendant has been with me for more than ten years. His grandfather is a long-time prison guard. Not only is he good at beating with a stick, he also knows a thing or two about the craft of a coroner."

Kang Haifeng nodded and went straight back to his seat, and Sheng Hong followed him.

"Take him there!" said Kang Haifeng.

Mother Qi glanced at Kang Wangshi and nodded: "Little brother, come this way."

Mother Qi and Dong Rong have already left the hall.
Wang Ruofu glanced at Kang Wangshi and said, "Sister, this maid was accidentally beaten to death. You can just pay her the money she would have earned from selling her body. Why are you mobilizing so many troops?"

Kang Wang raised her head and opened her mouth to say something, but then shook her head angrily: "There are a lot of things going on here, and I can't explain it all in a short time."

"Just say it. My husband and I are here. There is nothing that cannot be explained clearly." Wang Ruofu said heartlessly.

Sheng Hong waved his hand and said, "If Big Sister doesn't want to talk about it, don't ask."

Wang Ruofu looked at Sheng Hong awkwardly.

"Madam, have some tea."

Mother Liu, who was behind Wang Ruofu, picked up the teacup and came to the rescue.

Wang Ruofu hurriedly took it.

after awhile,

Dong Rong walked in and whispered in Sheng Hong's ear: "Master, the man has been dead for several days. His injuries cannot be cured by ten strokes of the cane."

Sheng Hong's eyes moved and he glanced at Dong Rong who had stood up straight.

Dong Rong understood and leaned over again and whispered, "From my perspective, there were at least thirty strokes of the cane, and they were intended to kill someone."

Sheng Hong closed his eyes, frowned, and nodded.

Seeing Sheng Hong's expression, Wang Ruofu asked, "Sir? Dong Rong, what did you say to the Lord?"

Dong Rong looked at Wang Ruofu embarrassedly and didn't reply.

"Brother-in-law, what's wrong? Can't this be done?" Kang Haifeng looked at Sheng Hong and said.

Sheng Hong shook his head and looked at Lady Kang and said, "Big sister asked me and the lady to come here in the middle of the night, but you didn't tell me the truth. I didn't know how serious this matter was, so I couldn't help."

Hearing this, Kang Wangshi forced a smile and said, "Brother-in-law, you are a senior official in the Ministry of Personnel, in charge of the performance evaluation of all officials. If you need any help, can't you ask someone for help?"

Wang Ruofu was standing aside: “That’s right!”

Sheng Hong glared at Wang Ruofu: "What do you mean? Do you know how many days the person has been dead? You just said it?"

Mother Qi, who had followed Dong Rong into the front hall, looked at Dong Rong in surprise.

"Wasn't he beaten to death during the day?"

Wang Ruofu said this and looked at Kang Wangshi in confusion.

Kang Haifeng clenched his fists and looked at Kang Wangshi, his eyes full of questioning.
Kang Wang looked up at Sheng Hong, met his gaze, waved her handkerchief and said, "I didn't mean to hide it from you, my brother-in-law."

Sheng Hong nodded: "Big sister, you better tell me the truth! With the power of the Kang family and the Wang family, how can you not deal with such a maid?" "You can find my house in the middle of the night, so you can't hide it anymore?"

Kang Haifeng looked at Sheng Hong, patted the handle of the chair and said, "Brother-in-law, just tell me whether you can help me or not!"

Sheng Hong cupped his hands and said, "I did help, but my elder sister won't explain the reason, so I don't know who to ask!"

"Hurry up and say it!"

Kang Haifeng scolded.

Kang Wang pursed her lips and said, "This little maid is not very old. She has two older sisters and one older brother. The two older sisters are the personal nurses of two capable military officers in the capital. The older brother joined the army two years ago and I heard that he also made contributions in the Western Army."

"Before the Lunar New Year, we told the maid to go home for the Lunar New Year. My family kept it a secret. After the Lunar New Year, someone from her family came to say that they must see her the next day. That's when..."

After hearing these words,
Sheng Hong nodded: "Okay, now I know what to do."

Kang Haifeng said, "Well, brother-in-law, can this be stopped? In fact, I have been trying to get reinstated these days. If something goes wrong at this critical moment, all my efforts will be wasted."

"When you first passed the imperial examination, I was the one who introduced you to the sons of officials."

Sheng Hong nodded and said, "Brother-in-law helped me before, I remember that, I will do my best in this matter."

Kang Haifeng said: "Since my brother-in-law said this, I will believe him for a while."

Sheng Hong stood up and said, "If anyone knows about the situation of this maid's family, please ask my elder brother-in-law to have someone talk to my parents. I will ask someone to talk to this matter tomorrow morning after the court session."

"Good good!"

Kang Haifeng nodded repeatedly.

Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu got up and left.

After seeing Sheng Hong and his wife off, when they were getting on the carriage, Kang Wangshi said, "Brother-in-law, let's talk about peace. It's better to give less money."

Wang Ruofu got on the carriage and lifted the curtain and said, "Don't worry, big sister!"

Sheng Hong just nodded.

The Sheng family carriage drove out.

Kang Haifeng, who was standing still, scolded: "Why are you talking about money? We have to settle the matter even if it costs a lot of money!"

Kang Wang gave Kang Haifeng a cold look and said, "The money you are spending is my dowry, not your Kang family's money!"

"Shut up!"

Kang Haifeng flicked his sleeves and turned away.

A small courtyard near the second gate of Kang's family.

In the courtyard house,

The red sparks from the charcoal basin were almost extinguished and could not provide much heat.

on the bed,
Four people, one adult and three children, were covered with one quilt.

The two little ones closest to the adult Su Xiaoniang were sleeping soundly.

Su Xiaoniang, who was lying in the quilt, tucked in the corner of the quilt for her eldest daughter, who was farthest away from her. Accustomed to the darkness, Su Xiaoniang could see her eldest daughter's bright eyes in the darkness. The adult said, "Zhao'er, are you still awake?"

"Little girl, was the maid in my brother's room really beaten to death?"

"You are still young, don't ask this."

"Oh! But. That day I saw that maid being beaten. Did she want to be my brother's concubine? Does being a concubine mean having warm clothes and full food?"

"Ugh!"

In the darkness, Su Xiaoniang sighed, stroked Kang Zhaoer's cold face and said, "Zhaoer, as a concubine, your life will be in the hands of your mistress, and you have no say over your life and death. Do you think I am full?"

The little girl shook her head: "Only during the two days of the New Year can we eat enough."

Then she continued, "I also heard the mistress scolding the maid sister, saying that she was a lowly embryo, just like those born by those little women, she was born a lowly seed. Mother, am I a lowly seed?"

in the dark,
Su Xiaoniang was speechless for a long time.
When Kang Zhaoer was about to fall asleep, she heard her biological mother say, "Zhaoer, no one is born lowly, and no one wants to be a proper lady, but one must first live."

"Go to sleep."

Early the next morning,
The sky is still dark,

It was probably the time when Xu Zaijing had finished his training.

Kang Family Courtyard

Someone got up, and the cold air seeped into the quilt, causing the two little sleeping children to snuggle up to their mother's arms.

"Little girl, I'm going to fetch some water for the maid in my elder sister's room."

"Sister, wait for me, I will go with you."

The little boy in Su Xiaoniang's arms said as he was about to get up.

"I don't need you. I can go by myself. If Sister Yuan'er is in a bad mood, you will be implicated. Don't let me worry."

Having said that, Kang Zhaoer left the house.
Feeling the chill in the early morning of the second day of the New Year, Kang Zhaoer tightened his clothes.

As a concubine's daughter, Kang Zhaoer had to serve Kang Yuaner, the second legitimate daughter of the Kang family.

Although there is a disadvantage of being beaten by Kang Yuaner, there is also an advantage of not having to suffer from the cold.

Kang Zhaoer managed to eat half a leftover cold meat bun in the morning and managed to hold on until noon.

At noon, when Kang Zhaoer was helping the kitchen maid bring lunch to the small courtyard near the second gate where his mother was, he happened to see someone entering the reception hall under the guidance of Mother Qi, and it seemed that they were coming from the backyard.

The reception hall,
There were two well-dressed ladies sitting on chairs.
There are no wrinkles on the light and dark decent clothes,
You can tell at first glance that it’s worn frequently, not just kept at the bottom of a box and worn only when needed.

The two women had very unfriendly expressions, with anxiety in their eyes, and a hint of confidence.

Seeing the low-key middle-aged man led by Madam Qi, the two women stood up and said to Madam Qi, "Madam Qi, is your lady still not coming out today?"

The middle-aged man who followed in bowed and said, "Mother Qi, let me take care of this, you go and do your work!"

"Who are you to let her go? Let my little sister come out!"

The woman in dark clothes said.

"My dear ladies, please listen to me. If what I say is not reasonable or you feel that what I say is wrong, there is no need to rush to find Madam Qi."

"Look at your demeanor, I think it's a bit unfair for you to call me 'little man'! Who are you?"

Another lightly-dressed woman said.

"Thank you for your compliment, madam. I am just a small steward in the household of Master Liu from the Dali Temple."

"Well, please tell me!"

The light-colored woman continued.

The middle-aged man had a sad look on his face: "To be honest, your sister seduced the young master of the Kang family, and something went wrong when she was punished, and she has passed away."

"what!!!"

The two women looked horrified.

“You, you guys!!!”

"Okay! Now we will go to Kaifeng Prefecture and ask the government to give us an explanation!"

The middle-aged man hurriedly said, "Ladies, please listen to me for a few words."

"I know that you are a housekeeper beside the eldest lady of the Guo family outside Xishuimen, and you are a housekeeper beside the second eldest lady of the Fu family, and you have some relationship with the old servant of the Feng family of Chengguogong."

"Your younger brother is also making contributions to the Western Army now."

The two ladies looked at each other, as if they had expected this.

The woman in dark clothes said, "Then let's talk to the government about the matter of the Kang family's mistress lending money at high interest!"

Hearing this, the middle-aged man's eyes were shocked, and his face seemed to have known about this for a long time.
"Hey! Madams, why do you have to tear each other apart? Since you two know and can inquire about this matter, you must know which family the eldest lady of the Kang family's sister belongs to."

"We know the Sheng family!"

The woman in light-colored clothes said.

"Do you know which family the niece of the Kang family married into? Let me tell you, it was the Xu family of the Marquis of Yongyi!"

"You two don't want your brother's hard-earned achievements to go to waste, right?"

As he spoke, the middle-aged man took out a piece of paper.

"This is the money that the Kang family is going to pay as compensation. I'll need to look for girls in the future, so why not use this money to buy some property to make it easier to discuss marriage?"

(End of this chapter)