When the prince is reborn, he will only hit me if he doesn't hit the wall!

Xufu

Shouantang

Old Madam Xu sat upright and asked Xu Jiangqing and his wife, who were sitting at the bottom:

"Second brother, have you visited your sister recently to get any information?"

Wu looked hesitant and said hesitantly, "Madam, not yet."

"It's been so long, and you haven't even gone to 'visit' yet." Are you two sisters so estranged from each other! ? Or were you just talking about it that day and didn't want to work for the Xu family!

If that is the case, I can honestly say that I am not the kind of mother-in-law that is so difficult to find by a strong man! "

Madam Xu's words were very serious. Xu Jiangqing was a little embarrassed. He turned his head and scolded Wu: "Why are you so slow in coming up with ideas? Are you asking everyone in the mansion to play along with you!?"

Wu hurriedly stood up, knelt down and faced Old Madam Xu, and explained hastily: "No, Old Madam, I was planning to let the third branch meet my nephew recently, but I heard that the third branch of the Xu family had left Beijing for more than a month for some reason!

And my sister, because of her father-in-law, sold her property, and now I don’t know where she lives. I recently asked around, but neither of them has a place to go, so there’s been some delay.”

Wu was so nervous that her forehead was covered with sweat. She did not bother to wipe it off, leaving only long, sticky marks on her powdered cheeks, which looked quite funny.

When the old lady heard her say this, her anger subsided a lot.

These two reasons are irrefutable and it is indeed not her fault.

“Okay, I know you’ve worked hard for the Xu family.

I don't blame you for this, I blame myself too. A few days ago, I seemed to hear that the one from the third room had left Beijing.

I didn't take it to heart, and I just remembered it today. You should get up first, I'm afraid this matter can't be rushed, in the next few days, you should go and find where your sister lives.

If you need anything, the Xu Mansion has people at your disposal."

Yang's expression eased up and she grinned, "Nothing, nothing, old lady, don't worry about it. I have sent someone out. I believe there will be news in a short time."

She then stood up with her hands. Perhaps because she was getting older, Wu's knees felt a little sore after kneeling for less than half a moment.

She looked up at Xu Jiangqing, only to see that he was busy chatting and laughing with Old Madam Xu and didn't notice her abnormality. Feeling a little disappointed, she stood up shakily and returned to her seat.

It was nothing serious, so Old Madam Xu sent Xu Jiangqing and his wife back home early.

On the way back to the courtyard, Xu Jiangqing was still chattering: "You should be more active these days, find your sister as soon as possible, and let the third room girl's marriage be settled as soon as possible.

The New Year is approaching, and there are many things that need to be taken care of in the officialdom. The sooner we can help them get things done, the more likely we will be able to stay in Kyoto."

Xu Jiangqing became more and more excited as he spoke, completely unaware of the ugly expression on Wu's face behind him.

"Master, how can I do this kind of thing all by myself?"

"Why not? Didn't we bring this up? Why are you trying to shirk responsibility now?"

Wu felt aggrieved: "It's not that I'm shirking my responsibility, but matters like these need the permission of the parents and the words of the matchmaker.

How can it succeed just by bringing the two of them together? As for the third brother, shouldn't the master step in and have a say?

If Third Brother doesn't agree, it won't be any use no matter how hard we try."

Xu Jiangqing didn't take it seriously at first, but the more he listened, the more he felt that it made some sense. Indeed, for this kind of thing, only the Xu family was enthusiastic about it. So far, everything, including the reaction of the third brother, was still speculation. They had never thought about what to do if he disagreed.

Xu Jiangqing remained silent. No matter what, he would wait until Xu Yuanshan came back to test his attitude.

Realizing that his attitude just now was a bit cold and hard, Xu Jiangqing breathed a sigh of relief: "I didn't think it through. I will talk to the third brother later."

Seeing that he had softened a lot, Wu lowered her head and said, "It's good that Master knows. I have one more thing that I want to ask for Master's consent."

Xu Jiangqing followed the steps she handed over and asked, "When did it happen?"

"I want to take some silver and bring it back to my sister."

Xu Jiangqing's anger, which he had just suppressed, was about to flare up again, but he swallowed it back when he thought of something: "Why do you need to bring silver when you can just bring some gifts?

Don't you know that every penny of our money is useful? Now this matter has no clue, but we have to lose more money!"

Wu stammered, "The Xu family can't have nothing left, right? He's your eldest brother after all, and the old lady just said..."

"Mom is talking about manpower! Besides, we have to show the Xu family's importance to lure him into the trap..."

If this is accomplished, the first wife will also benefit. Why is it that only our second wife has to contribute money and effort? Won't they also benefit in the future?"

Xu Jiangqing was enlightened after listening to Wu's conversation: "Yes, why? In the future, the first and second wives will benefit, but we are the only ones who contribute money and effort! Why?

My elder brother's official position in Kyoto is much higher than mine, so the amount of silver he needs will be no less than mine."

Seeing that he had figured it out, Mrs. Wu stopped talking.

"I'll talk to my eldest brother about this. You go and prepare first. I'll try to get him to make up the difference."

"Okay sir."

Mrs. Wu smiled and followed Xu Jiangqing back to the courtyard.

Just then the servant came with a message that Xu Yuzhang had arrived.

"Zhang'er is here. He has been studying very hard recently. I haven't taken a good look at him recently."

Mrs. Wu attached great importance to her eldest son. Before she even sat down, she stood up and walked out: "Zhang'er, is there anything wrong?"

Xu Yuzhang just stepped over the threshold and bumped into Wu. "Mother, I want to stay at Zero Degree to study for the next spring exam. I recently heard about the Yujin Academy in Kyoto, which has a very good reputation. So, I want to..."

"Everything about studying is a big deal. Come on, go into the house and talk to your father."

Xu Yuzhang nodded, walked forward and bowed to Xu Jiangqing: "Father, I..."

"I have heard you. You don't need to say more. Studying is a very important matter. I believe in your vision. If you want to go, your father will allow you to go."

Xu Yuzhang was overjoyed. He didn't expect Xu Jiangqing to agree so easily. "Thank you, Daddy. Thank you, Daddy!"

"Nothing, as long as my son studies hard, it won't matter if he passes the imperial examination. By the way, how much is the tuition fee for this academy?"

"Eighty taels of silver..."

"what!"

Xu Jiangqing jumped up from his official hat chair and said, "When I was sent to an official post outside, I only needed ten taels, or at most twenty taels. How come it's so bad in Kyoto!"

Xu Yuzhang was also a little uncomfortable, and replied with a stiff upper lip: "Dad, Kyoto is a prosperous place in Beixuan, with countless dignitaries. Yujin Academy is not the best, it is just a medium-level one... Only princes and nobles can enter the first-class academy, and the tuition fee is at least one hundred taels."

"Is this still the middle class? A hundred taels for a first-class academy?"

Why didn't he grab it?

"But, I heard that they didn't need so much silver in the first place. It's just that in recent months, I heard that the prices of books needed for the imperial examinations have skyrocketed. They've become much more expensive. Many academies have no choice but to buy them, and they can only increase the tuition..."

"Even if the books are required for the imperial examination, why would they cost so much? Could it be that the academy took a kickback?"

"I heard a thing or two. It seems that something went wrong with a bookstore in Kyoto. The books I needed could only be bought in that bookstore. I don't know the other details."

Xu Jiangqing pondered for a long time and gritted his teeth, "Even if that's the case, it's not just my family that's spending this much. Zhang'er can't delay his studies, so eighty taels is eighty taels. After all, if he passes the imperial examination, the reward should be more than eighty taels."

Mrs. Wu breathed a sigh of relief, for she was worried that Xu Jiangqing would ruin Zhang'er's future because of his stinginess with money.

At this moment, Wu's personal maid came to report: "Madam, there is news about your sister at home."

"Really? Where does she live?!"

"In Xijiaomin Lane."

Dead branches and broken scenery, Xijiao Minxiang

When Wu's toes touched the ground, she was shocked by the desolate scene before her.

Gray walls and earthen tiles, dead vines and leaves, and birds flying everywhere. It was hard to imagine that her sister, who was born to the same mother, would live here.

Thinking back to the time when she married into the Shangshu Mansion, if her husband was still in office, she should be the Shangshu's wife today.

However, unfortunately, he got involved in the officialdom struggle and stood on the wrong side, which led to his defeat today.

Wu sighed, ordered the maid beside her to hold the gift box on the hem of her skirt, and carefully avoided the dirty mud on the ground. She was unwilling to look down in disgust, but just looked around and asked the maid beside her: "Where does my sister live?"

The maid bowed her head, supported Wu and led the way: "Madam, follow me."

After passing several low huts and broken walls, we finally came to a simple courtyard built with earthen walls and green hedges.

Although it is simple, it is clean and tidy. There are dead vines entwined on the green hedge, and I don't know whether they are flower vines or fruit vines.

The uneven earth and stone ground had been swept countless times, and there was not a speck of dust in the gaps between the bricks and stones. The house was low, and there was not a single blade of grass on the gray stone walls.

"Yes, my sister always likes to be clean and tidy."

He raised his hand to signal the maid to come forward and answer the door. Soon, a woman in a coarse cloth skirt and a slightly haggard look came up, stroking her chest and answering in a trembling voice: "I am here."

He walked slowly to the door, looked up and stared at Wu outside, and was dazed for a moment: "You are... the second sister?"

But he was not overly panicked, inferior or timid, and still greeted her calmly and peacefully: "We haven't seen each other for many years, how did you find yourself here?"

The woman's name was Wu Minmei, and she was Wu's elder sister.

"Sister, I haven't seen you for many years. I didn't expect you to be 'secluded' here. It's so hard for me to find you."

Wu Minmei smiled, as if she didn't hear the sarcasm in her words. She moved two rattan stools and placed them under the jujube tree in front of the house.

"Since you are here, you should make yourself at home. Sit down. We haven't seen each other for a long time. I'm sure you must have some reason for coming."

She had a gentle and generous demeanor, and would not be easily swayed by a few words. She stroked her skirt, sat down, and looked at Wu with a calm expression.

Wu was a little angry. She had fallen into such a situation, but he could still talk to her so calmly. Shouldn't he feel ashamed of himself when he saw her wearing silk and satin, and feel uneasy when he saw her wearing gold and silver? ?

It was a waste of all the effort she put into dressing up to come here today.

If my parents were still alive, I wonder how they would feel when they saw their eldest daughter, whom they were most ashamed of, reduced to this state.

It was like a punch on cotton, and Wu's inner vanity was not satisfied.

I was still thinking that I had something to tell her. If I explained this rare marriage to her, she would surely cry bitterly and be full of gratitude, right?

Lifting the hem of her bright Shu brocade skirt, Wu sat opposite her and said, "I came here today to discuss something with you, sister. But you don't have to worry, it's not a bad thing, but a good thing."

"Good thing?"

"Yes, I heard that your sister has a son and a daughter. They are both over the age of marriage and cap."

Wu Minmei's expression became a little calmer, but there was a hint of sharpness in it, as if she was a hen who foresaw the danger and was ready to protect her chicks.

His voice became much colder: "What do you want to do, sister?"

Wu Minmei was extremely alert. If someone was insulting her verbally, it would be fine, but if someone was planning to take advantage of her children, that would be impossible!

“Don’t be so nervous, sister. I told you it’s not a bad thing.

To make a long story short, among the young ladies in our Xu family who are of marriageable age, one is the only daughter of the third wife.

Her name is Xu Xianyue.

Her father has no official position in Kyoto, but——"

Halfway through her words, Wu pretended to smile embarrassedly and said, "He is a merchant, so his daughter is a merchant's daughter."

She first showed off her status as the daughter of the Xu family, and then belittled the merchant family of the third branch.

"This is very embarrassing, sister, don't you think?"

"Everyone is a treasure in the hands of our parents. Why should we be embarrassed? Besides, it has nothing to do with you, my sister."

Wu was frustrated. Seeing that she didn't take the bait, she suppressed her anger and pretended to be sorry, saying, "We in the mansion are quite distressed about her marriage.

The eldest master of the Xu family is an official in the imperial court, and ordinary people look down on him. However, because his younger brother is from a merchant family, he is neither too high nor too low. Seeing that this girl who has passed the age of marriage has still not been proposed to, this has become a headache for the Xu family. "

Wu Minmei was about to open her mouth to refute, but Mrs. Wu did not give her a chance to speak: "I thought that good things should be kept within the family, and this kind of good thing reminded me of my sister.

I remember that my sister's eldest son is preparing for the imperial examination, and I think he will also take part in the spring examination next year.

Look at them, one is talented, the other is rich, aren't they a perfect match made in heaven? That's why I came to find you, sister, to tell you about this good news, what do you think?"

Wu Minmei sneered in her heart, match made in heaven?

Not to mention that she had self-awareness at the moment, what was their situation? How could they bear to leave their precious daughter, who was so precious and spoiled, to suffer in such a place?

She was once a daughter, and now she is a mother. If you put yourself in their shoes, you will probably find that the other party's parents are also unhappy about this.

Her sister has grown older over the years, but her brain is still a mess and she doesn't know what to do!

Wu Minmei had no intention of talking to this stupid sister, so she stood up and said coldly: "It's getting late today, and the food at home is coarse, so I won't keep my sister.

Sister, you should return to your Xu Mansion and never set foot in this lowly place again."