Three years have passed since the fall of Tianshui City. It has been quite a while since Zhuxiang fled to the capital with the Marquis's Mansion. Mingyu doesn't believe that the Xu family still doesn't know that Zhuxiang is Aunt Zhu.
Seeing the pride in Xu Mingrui's eyes, Mingyu just smiled, with a steady tone and easy-going demeanor, and nodded, "It's really hard for you to give up your love, when you get married, I will also give you a pearl incense as compensation."
Xu Mingrui's smile immediately turned cold and stiffened on her face. Only a fool would want a maid who could climb onto the male master's bed so skillfully as a dowry! Xu Mingrui was used to being spoiled in the Xu family, so she couldn't stand this. She wanted to get angry as soon as she opened her mouth, but when she saw Mingyu smiling, her pair of black eyes were staring at her coldly. She swallowed back the curse words that were about to come out of her mouth.
Xu Mingrui was very unhappy that she didn't get the upper hand over Mingyu. She took a few quick steps and caught up with Old Lady Xu who was in the front. She took Old Lady Xu's arm affectionately.
Xu Mingye came over and asked, "What did she say to you just now?"
Mingyu shook her head and said evasively, "Nothing, I'll tell you later."
She was a little confused. She had never met this cousin before. They had no grudges in their past lives and no hatred in this life. Why did this cousin show off her power as soon as they met? Thinking back to when Xu Mingrui was in the main house just now, she acted like a spoiled child in front of the old lady. Now thinking about it, it seemed like a demonstration.
When passing a corridor, Xu Changqian pointed at the wall opposite the corridor and asked Xu Changgong beside him with a puzzled look, "Second brother, why is there a wall here to seal off the courtyard over there?"
Xu Changgong hesitated for a moment, looking somewhat embarrassed. Just as he was about to answer, Xu Changliang, the third son of the Xu family, took over the conversation and sighed, "My eldest brother hasn't been home for the past twenty years, so I don't know the situation at home. My second brother sold the yard over there a few years ago."
Hearing the third brother speak, Xu Changgong cried out inwardly, "Not good!" Sure enough, when he looked at the eldest brother, Xu Changqian's face, it had turned from cloudy to overcast. That courtyard was where Xu Changqian had lived before he left home to take up an official position. It was originally the best courtyard in the entire Xu Mansion, but the family had been short of money over the years, and he and Old Lady Xu didn't like that courtyard, so they sold it along with the other courtyards.
Xu Changqian suppressed his anger and walked to the dining hall. Everyone sat down in order. He remained silent and his face was a little livid. He never thought that after nearly 20 years, the Xu family would have to sell their ancestral home to make ends meet. When he left the capital, the Xu family had already declined, but the family had a large house and countless land and shops. How could his second brother have brought them to this point
Mrs. Xu saw that Xu Changqian had a strange expression on his face, so she secretly held Xu Changqian's hand under the table. Xu Changqian then held her hand back, indicating that he was fine.
"Second brother." Xu Changqian spoke in a deep voice, "It was not easy for our ancestors to earn this family fortune. We, as descendants, have no great ability in this lifetime. We do not ask to carry forward the Xu family, but to keep this family fortune. You are also a well-educated and sensible person, and you have been an official for many years. You should know that thrift is the most important thing. Our Xu family is not comparable to those wealthy families. Don't learn from those playboys and squander the family fortune in vain!"
When Xu Changliang heard Xu Changqian scolding Xu Changgong, he was very happy in his heart, but his face was solemn and sad, as if he was confessing his sin. For so many years, the second branch of the Xu family was in charge of the family's income and expenses. He heard the second branch complaining about poverty all day long, selling shops and houses one by one, but Xu Changgong was very generous in entertaining friends and buying antiques, calligraphy and paintings.
How much can the family spend on food and clothing? I don't know how much of the pawned property was embezzled by the second wife. Isn't it just the idea of embezzling all the property before the old lady dies, thinking that the third wife is a fool who knows nothing!
However, Xu Changgong held an official position, so even if Xu Changliang had any dissatisfaction, he did not dare to contradict his second brother. Fortunately, his eldest brother came back in time. If he could unite with his eldest brother and seize the right to run the family from the second branch, the third branch could also make some money before the family assets were sold out. It would be best to separate the family now and let the second branch spit out all the money it had made over the years!
The third son was thinking happily, but the second son of the Xu family was not as relaxed as him. He was relentlessly scolded by his eldest brother in front of the whole family. Xu Changgong's face was as ugly as it could be. After Xu Changqian left, he had been the head of the Xu family for so many years. Who in the family didn't treat him as the eldest son of the Xu family? As soon as Xu Changqian came back, he trampled on his face!
"Changqian, this can't be blamed on Changgong. It's just that the family has not been doing well these years. There are more places to spend money than places to earn money. Changgong and Changliang are both worried about this family!" Mrs. Xu spoke slowly, and it was not difficult to hear the unhappiness in her tone. Xu Changqian had not been home for many years, and I thought he had improved a lot, but I didn't expect him to be so annoying. He found fault everywhere as soon as he came home, as if he had the ability to earn a mountain of gold and silver.
The younger generations of Mingyu's generation sat at another table, separated only by a beaded curtain. When they heard the conversations at the adults' table, the atmosphere suddenly became tense. The slightly older ones, Xu Mingye, Mingyu, Xu Mingrui, and Xu Mingyun, all lowered their heads and held their breath, listening quietly to the movements at the next table.
Only the three half-grown boys from the Xu family didn't care what was happening outside and continued to quarrel and fight with each other, just for the chicken legs or snacks on the plates. The table was splashed with soup and water, showing no manners at all.
Mingyu glanced with disgust at the three kids' greasy hands, who were still fighting with each other, which really made her lose all her appetite.
After hearing what the old lady said, Xu Changqian immediately said in a serious tone, "Mother, my second brother is no longer a child. Our children are all grown up now. It is precisely because of the difficult financial situation that we need to increase income and reduce expenditure. It is the best policy to find a way to preserve our ancestral property. Otherwise, when my second and third brothers and I are gone for a hundred years, how can we face our ancestors in the underworld?"
Mingyu lowered her head, but in fact she was trying hard to hold back the urge to laugh out loud. This was extremely funny, clearly accusing Old Lady Xu of not disciplining her son well, ruining the family business, and not being able to face the ancestors after death! This father had always taught her and Xu Mingye to respect their elders and observe etiquette, but when it came to talking back to elders, Xu Changqian was obviously very experienced!
Sure enough, Mrs. Xu's expression immediately fell, her face turned ashen, and she looked angry but had no place to vent, and she was seriously hurt.
Seeing that his own mother had also been defeated, Xu Changgong gritted his teeth and endured for a long time before he put on a respectful attitude and said, "Big brother taught me that I am incompetent. Fortunately, big brother is back." It's good that you're back. You've been left with a mess, and I'm just waiting to see you add money to it!
Mrs. Hu from the second wife was very unhappy when she saw her husband being scolded and the couple from the third wife just watching the show from the sidelines. She pinched her throat and said with a sad face, "My eldest brother has not been home for many years and doesn't know the difficulties of the family. The price of rice in the capital alone is several cents more expensive than that in the surrounding areas. My husband and third brother are both scholars, so they don't know how to do business. The rest of the family are just women like us, who don't understand either! During the year when the capital was besieged, the family really tried every means to protect the safety of the whole family even if it meant spending money. The business in the shop was not good... Fortunately, my eldest brother came back, otherwise our family would really not be able to survive!"
Mrs. Li, the wife of the third room, saw that Mrs. Hu was so good at singing and acting that she couldn't help but snort from her nose. It was the third room that couldn't make ends meet! Without income, the money in the family was in the hands of the second room. On weekdays, Xu Changgong was generous when entertaining friends. When the third room wanted some pocket money to buy more new clothes, Mrs. Hu refused and kept crying poor.
Seeing that his second brother had given in and admitted his mistake, and his second brother's wife had spoken, Xu Changqian had to give face to his second brother, nor could he not give face to his second brother's wife whom he met for the first time. He nodded and said, "Rice is expensive in the capital, and it's not easy to live in a big city. It's hard for you to take care of the household affairs all these years!" This was to give Xu Changgong a way out.
Xu Changgong forced a smile on his face. The three children at Mingyu's table were still fighting and arguing. Xu Changgong was angry and glared at the three boys, shouting, "What are you doing? You useless things!"
In an instant, Mingyu's table fell silent.
Old Madam Xu felt sorry for her grandson being scolded. She clapped the armrest of the chair beside her and said unhappily, "Why are you yelling at them? Boys need to fight and play to keep themselves healthy. Otherwise, it would be better if they just stay quiet like a girl."
The three naughty kids were probably used to being yelled at by the second eldest son of the Xu family on a daily basis. When they heard their grandmother come to intercede for them again, they were quiet for only a short while before becoming restless and noisy again, which made Mingyu and Xu Mingye very upset.
After finishing the meal, Mrs. Hu and Mrs. Li, along with a few maids and servants, led Xu Changqian's family to the cleaned-up yard. The servants who stayed behind to "help" pack the luggage observed for a long time, but could not see what was in the four boxes that Xu Changqian brought back. They were just some old clothes and bedding. The servants wanted to take another look, but were politely asked to leave by Mama Liu and Lixiang.
Looking at the narrow yard, Mingyu couldn't help but sigh. It was so depressing to have seven of them squeeze into such a small yard. Thanks to Second Aunt who had an attitude of "giving the best yard in the house to eldest brother's family to live in" all the way, as if they were really taking advantage of her. It really made her feel uncomfortable.
At this point, Mingyu finally understood why her father had not been home for nearly twenty years. If she had a stepmother and brothers like this, she would not want to go home either!
It was not until the sun was setting that Xu Changqian came back. Seeing Mingyu standing in the yard, he said to Mingyu, "I have asked your second uncle and third uncle. Now the wife of the Marquis's mansion lives in her parents' home in the capital. I will go to visit her the day after tomorrow." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to subscribe and reward on Qidian Mobile Network (). Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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