Mr. Xu and Xu Yonghong can be considered to be close friends regardless of age difference. At the beginning, Mr. Xu was demoted to the northwest to raise horses because he offended the then Taifu. It was because of Xu Yonghong's care for him that he was able to survive in the northwest and wait until the situation in the capital changed, and then he took advantage of the opportunity to be promoted.
The relationship between the two families has always been good, but it is not shown on the surface.
After pouring a cup of tea for Xu Yonghong, seeing Xu Yonghong hurriedly straighten up, Mr. Xu waved his hand and laughed: "How can a dignified Duke be so humble?"
"What Duke?" Xu Yonghong smiled bitterly, stretched out his hand to hold the cup of tea, looked at Old Xu and shook his head: "My father died in battle to protect the emperor, and the title was demoted in the blink of an eye, and it was demoted in my hands. I am too ashamed to face my ancestors."
After a moment of silence, Xu Yonghong sighed.
Old Xu laughed: "It's meaningless to endure the anger for a while and argue about the length of the moment. You did a good job this time. If you really confront the Song family head-on, how can you beat them?"
After all, the Song family was the maternal family of Emperor Yuanfeng, and they had made great efforts to help him establish his empire.
It goes without saying who Emperor Yuanfeng will favor.
It was precisely because of this that Xu Yonghong felt even more unwilling. He did not answer, but simply said, "Although it is difficult, there will always be a way."
Mr. Xu smiled but said nothing. Instead, he asked him, "I heard you started to change the regulations?"
He was demoted from a Duke to a Marquis. Apart from other things, the plaque had to be changed, even the stone lions had to be replaced, and the rings on the door also had to be kept in mind. He had to get busy early.
Speaking of this, Xu Yonghong's mood became even worse. He hummed, put down the tea heavily, and then looked at Old Xu: "Old Xu, let me be clear, I will never stop fighting with the Song family from now on. Can you give me some advice?"
The room was quiet for a moment. Xu Shun frowned, as if hesitating.
Xu Yonghong saw it all and said calmly, "I have such a deep hatred with the Song family. Apart from other things, Song Heng is a vindictive person. He will definitely keep a close eye on me..."
He seemed a little anxious, and said with a gloomy face: "Besides, his life experience now seems to be full of doubts. Let's not talk about the mine in the northwest, just talk about what happened in the past..."
Old Xu gave Xu Yonghong a sinister look.
The look contained warning and teasing, Xu Yonghong immediately shut up, and after a pause, he said: "Mr. Xu, you should also think of a solution."
Old Xu snorted, and after looking at Xu Yonghong so hard that he couldn't bear it any longer, he turned his head away, feeling a little guilty, and then he said, "Look at you, I always say that you are too impatient. Whenever something happens, you always say things that cannot be said. If you say too much, it will become true."
Xu Yonghong was actually a little scared.
He didn't say any more about this, leaning back in his chair and nervously watching Mr. Xu pour the tea.
"What happened back then is too long ago. Besides, they were Japanese pirates. How can we investigate them?" Old Xu raised his hand and motioned Xu Yonghong to continue. After Xu Yonghong took the tea, he continued, "But what you said is that we really can't do nothing. Tell me, given the emperor's love for the Song family, how can we defeat the Song family?"
As soon as Xu Yonghong heard it, he knew that Mr. Xu had an idea.
He quickly perked up and said politely, "I'd like to hear more about it."
Mr. Xu smiled and said, "I heard that Song Xiangyu is going back to his hometown in the countryside to avoid the world."
Xu Yonghong seemed to be thinking about something.
After listening to what Mr. Xu said, he was in high spirits and all his irritability disappeared.
He couldn't help but smile and bowed to Mr. Xu: "You are really far-sighted. Yonghong is ashamed of himself."
Mr. Xu smiled but said nothing.
Xu Yonghong suddenly thought of something and whispered, "Mr. Xu, who among the four, five and two people now can compete for that position?"
He pointed to the east.
Mr. Xu suddenly smiled and looked at him deeply. "Why are you asking me this? Last year, the harvest in the northwest was one third less. Where did the money go? Do you think I don't know? You have made your own choice. Isn't it too late to ask me now?"
Xu Yonghong was waiting for him to say this, and immediately said, "It's because the children are too hasty, don't know the limits, and are eager to achieve success, that's why this happened. I will make up for your share, and I won't let you down at all."
Mr. Xu did not comment.
That means no objection. Xu Yonghong knew what was going on. He talked to Mr. Xu for a while with a refreshed spirit before getting up to say goodbye.
As soon as he returned home, he heard the news that Xu Rui had woken up. He immediately became even happier and went to the backyard without saying a word.
Mrs. Xu was feeding Xu Rui porridge. When she saw him coming back, she hurriedly gave up her seat: "My son asked to see you as soon as he woke up. I said you went to Xu's old home..."
Xu Yonghong had already sat down and was looking at Xu Rui.
The father and son looked at each other, and Xu Yonghong slowly reached out his hand and patted Xu Rui on the shoulder, asking him, "Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere else?"
Xu Rui shook his head with red eyes, called out "Dad", and choked up to admit his mistake: "I'm sorry, Dad, it's all my fault. I didn't take good care of my brother and underestimated the enemy..."
To the point that the Duke's Mansion has now become a joke.
Xu Yonghong smiled, his expression was very gentle: "Forget it, it's all in the past, there's no point in talking about it anymore. You are doing well now, which is enough for me and your mother."
In Xu Rui's eyes, Xu Yonghong had always been stern. He had never been so gentle. Seeing him like this, Xu Rui felt even more uncomfortable. He lowered his head and couldn't speak.
Xu Yonghong naturally understood what his son, who had always been proud, was thinking. He patted his son on the shoulder and said, "Alright! Man, why are you crying like that? Your brother is dead. If you really have the ability, you should cheer up now, heal your wounds and avenge him, otherwise he will really die in vain."
Although Xu Rui was weak, he immediately responded excitedly after hearing this, and then swore in a deep voice: "I will never let Song Heng have an easy time!"
Madam Xu looked at the father and son with satisfaction, and waited until this moment to interrupt: "My Lord, you went to see Elder Xu, what did he say?"
Speaking of Mr. Xu, Xu Rui immediately turned around and looked at Xu Yonghong very seriously.
If we could get Mr. Xu to take action against the Song family, then the situation would be much more certain.
Xu Yonghong exchanged seats with Mrs. Xu and sat on the lower chair. He said in a brisk tone, "Mr. Xu gave me an idea. I think it's very good. I will arrange someone to do it later."
After talking for a while, Mother An knocked on the door and came in. Seeing Xu Yonghong was also there, she hurriedly bowed first. When Xu Yonghong waved his hand, she said, "Mr. Zhang San has gone home with Miss Zhang."