Because of this prelude, the atmosphere of the subsequent family dinner seemed a bit dull.
Everyone followed the custom of "no talking while eating or sleeping" and ate with their heads down.
Several of the younger generations felt a little uneasy, so Cheng Xu simply stood up and went to the official room.
Cheng Xu's face looked a little ugly.
Cheng Chi glanced at him calmly, called Huaishan in, and told him: "Accompany me to the official room. The official room on Tingyuxuan's side is a bit dark, be careful of the moss on the ground."
Cheng Xu said hurriedly: "No, no. I can go by myself."
Cheng Chi didn't say anything.
Huaishan waited at the side with his head lowered and his eyes submissive, as if nothing you say would be of any use, and that if the Fourth Master told me to follow him, he had to follow him.
Cheng Xu was furious and glared at Huaishan fiercely.
Cheng Wen looked at him with amusement and said, "Jiashan, you are not a child, and your fourth uncle is doing this for your own good. Go quickly and come back soon. The last dish today is Yipin pot. Didn't you like this dish the most in the past? Be careful not to come back too late because everyone will have finished the soup." Then he said to Cheng Chi, "Chi, my brother Nuo is going to be engaged in a few days. Does the family have any other arrangements by then? If not, I would like the two chefs in the kitchen to prepare two tables of banquets for me. One of the matchmakers for our Nuo's engagement is Mr. Liu from the Mei Mansion, who is now the father-in-law of the Prince of Liangguo, and the other is Teacher Lin. They both have old ties with our family and are considered to be prominent figures in Jinling City. We cannot neglect the two matchmakers."
According to etiquette, on the day of engagement, the matchmaker and the lucky ones should be invited to the house for dinner.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "Just set a date. No matter what arrangements are made at home, focus on Nuoge's engagement party first."
When Cheng Wen heard this, he was overjoyed and thanked him again and again.
Cheng Lu frowned as he looked at Cheng Wen, and couldn't help asking, "Then Master Liu is the matchmaker hired by Cousin Wen, right?"
Mr. Liu has become notorious in Jinling because of the affairs of his daughter-in-law, the third daughter of the Sun family.
Cheng Wen and Master Liu have similar "tempers" and can be called good friends. Although he felt that Master Liu was too ostentatious in this matter, he thought that the eldest daughter of the Liu family was engaged to Zhu Pengju, who was at least one of the most famous people in Jinling City. He did not take Cheng Lu's words as an offense, but said proudly: "We have always had close contacts. This time when Nuo Ge'er is getting married, he will naturally be asked to be the matchmaker. He is also very happy!"
Cheng Lu's mouth twitched slightly, and he was about to speak when his son Cheng Zheng suddenly stood up and said, "Dad, I want to go to the official residence too."
He really has no way to deal with his father!
No one else said anything, but he insisted on standing up.
If there is any shame, it is the entire Jiuru Lane that is embarrassed. The first and second branches are silent, so why should the third branch step forward
Cheng Zheng winked at his servant who was serving beside him, signaling him to keep a close eye on his father and not let him get into any trouble. Then he pulled Cheng Xu, who had been standing there, out of Tingyuxuan.
Cheng Xu couldn't struggle in front of everyone, so as soon as he walked out of Tingyuxuan, he shook off Cheng Zheng's arm and said, "Why did you pull me out here? I don't want to be treated like a five or six-year-old child who needs someone to serve me even when I go to the official room." After saying that, he looked at Huaishan with dissatisfaction, who followed him out of Tingyuxuan.
Huaishan still kept his head down, as if he had heard nothing, and was silent like a sculpture.
Cheng Zheng smiled and said, "Alright, alright! If you don't want others to always treat you as a five or six-year-old child, then don't do things that only five or six-year-old children can do. Is it what an adult should do for you to stand there in a stalemate with Uncle Chi?"
Cheng Xu listened with a twinkle in his eyes, and whispered to Cheng Zheng: "I actually don't want to go to the official room. I just can't stand the atmosphere of Tingyuxuan, so I came out for a walk. It's so troublesome if someone follows me!"
Cheng Zheng didn't expect that Cheng Xu would suddenly speak his true feelings to him.
He thought for a moment and said with a smile, "I'm not going to the government office. You just saw that my father is a straightforward person and says whatever he wants. If I didn't use this excuse, who knows what my father would say to offend others."
Cheng Xu also noticed it.
He pretended to be helpless and sighed, saying, "Forget it, let's sit outside for a while before going in!"
Cheng Zheng nodded: "Okay! I have no objection."
The two of them found a secluded stone bench and sat down.
Cheng Zheng asked about Cheng Xu Qiuwei's experience: "Is the "Arts and Crafts Collection" really published by Mr. Shen Minzhi?"
"How is it possible?" Cheng Xu said rather heartlessly, "If the 'Arts and Crafts Collection' was really published by Lord Shen, why did my second uncle keep silent after receiving it? This is clearly a false news released by those bookstores in order to sell it better. I would like to ask my cousin to tactfully remind Uncle Lu so that he will not be fooled."
Cheng Zheng looked at Cheng Xu deeply.
People in the clan school say that Cheng Xuqing is arrogant and doesn't bother to play those conspiracies and tricks, but now it seems that may not be true.
At least he didn't say anything just now, misleading Cheng Yi from the second house. He also found me to spread the news, slapped Cheng Yi in the face, and established his authority. He was very resourceful.
Cheng Xu didn't care.
Since the eldest and second houses have irreconcilable conflicts, why should he still consider the second house's feelings
He hit the second wife in the face!
Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Cheng Xu smiled and said, "I'm really going to the official room this time."
What does it matter whether it’s true or false
Aren’t everything in this world true and false
Cheng Zheng made a gesture of invitation and said, "Brother Xu, please help yourself!"
Cheng Xu quietly pointed at Huaishan who was standing not far away and whispered, "I wonder if Brother Zheng can help me lead him away. It's really uncomfortable to be watched by him like this."
Cheng Zheng didn't want to help Cheng Xu take the blame, so he smiled and asked, "How do we divert him?"
Cheng Xu whispered to him.
Cheng Zheng smiled and nodded.
The two went to the official residence.
Huaishan followed them not too far away, stood beside the bamboo forest outside the official residence, and watched them talk and laugh as they entered the official residence.
After a while, Cheng Zheng's voice rang out from the official room: "I was originally planning to take part in this year's autumn examination, but I'm not sure. Mr. Zhang from the clan school also thinks I should study for two more years before taking part. But it's better for you, Xu Cousin. You know how to study, and you have the guidance of Uncle Jing and Second Great Uncle. You will definitely pass the autumn examination this time. You must show me your essay when the time comes..."
Everything seems normal.
Huaishan closed his eyes slightly.
Behind the official residence, Cheng Xu looked at the quiet bamboo forest and couldn't help but smile complacently.
Since his grandmother was in a bad mood, he, as her grandson, should go and see her.
It’s better not to participate in this kind of intrigue-filled banquet!
I'm sure if Fourth Uncle knew about this, he wouldn't blame him.
He quickly left the bamboo forest, turned a corner, and walked onto Four Seasons Brocade.
Just as we were about to enter the inner courtyard after exiting Ruyi Gate, someone suddenly appeared at Ruyi Gate as if strolling in a garden.
"Uncle Xu, where are you going? Tingyuxuan's family dinner hasn't ended yet. This is so rude!"
Cheng Xu couldn't help but curse in his heart.
It turned out to be Huaishan.
How did he realize he was missing so quickly
How is the status of the certificate in the official office
Where did he come from
Cheng Xu sneered, "Huaishan, you are just an attendant of Fourth Uncle after all. It's none of your business where I go!"
Huaishan didn't say anything. In the blink of an eye, he approached Cheng Xu and grabbed his belt. He was immediately lifted forward by an invisible force and quickly got out of the Four Seasons Brocade.
Cheng Xu opened his eyes wide.
He knew that the people around his fourth uncle were all very skilled, especially the Qin Zi'an brothers. Da Su learned martial arts from Qin Zi'an.
However, this Huaishan looks even more powerful than the strong and muscular Qin Zian.
He wanted to yell at Huaishan.
But he couldn't open his mouth.
I want to stop and not move.
But I can't move my legs.
Cheng Xu couldn't help but curse Huaishan in his heart.
Huaishan couldn't hear anything anyway, and still looked half dead. He kept "pushing" Cheng Xu to the door of Tingyuxuan, attracting the attention of the people in Tingyuxuan. Only then did he let go of Cheng Xu and silently retreated to the corner where the servants stood.
Cheng Xu straightened his collar and looked up to see Cheng Zheng smiling at him awkwardly.
Since he suffered this loss, Cheng Zheng must be having a hard time too.
Cheng Xu smiled at Cheng Zheng soothingly and turned to look at Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi looked calm and peaceful. He neither spoke to the talkative Cheng Wen beside him, nor paid attention to Cheng Lu who was talking to him. He just sat there eating quietly, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him and the only thing in his eyes and mind was eating.
For some reason, Cheng Xu suddenly felt a little discouraged.
Fourth uncle, always so calm and composed!
As long as Fourth Uncle is determined, I'm afraid no matter what he does, he can't escape Fourth Uncle's control!
Just like when he was a kid, every time he skipped school, it was his fourth uncle who found him.
But how did Fourth Uncle know that he was going to look for Shao Jin
Could it be that he, like his mother, felt that marrying a girl from the Min family was more important to the Cheng family's future
But if a man pins his hopes for his future on another family or a woman, does he still have any future
Cheng Xu was very distressed.
After returning to his seat, Cheng Zheng came over and whispered to him apologetically, "I kept talking to myself for a long time as you said, and I came out thinking you would be far away. By then, Huaishan was gone. I had a vague feeling that he might have gone to look for you, so I looked around for you but couldn't find you. I was afraid that the elders in the hall would get suspicious, so I came back first."
Cheng Xu believed it.
No matter how much his fourth uncle scolded him, he would always give him face in front of people from other families.
After all, he is the eldest son and grandson of the eldest son's family, and the future heir apparent.
"Thank you, Brother Zhengcong." He sincerely thanked Cheng Zheng, "Huaishan didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"
"No!" He talked about the scene after they separated, and whispered with Cheng Xu.
Cheng Nuo looked on with envy.
No matter when or where Xu Congxiong appeared, everyone liked him so much, and there were always people who would pull him aside to talk and flatter him.
It would be great if one day he could be like Brother Xu Cong.
He thought about it, and nudged Cheng Yi, who was sitting next to him, with his elbow, and whispered, "Have you made any progress in your marriage?"
Parents’ orders and matchmaker’s words.
Most people usually don't know which family they are marrying until they get engaged.
The Cheng family was quite relaxed about their children's marriages, usually telling them who they would marry in advance. They were more open-minded towards the girls, letting them look at each other before getting engaged.
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Update... There are typos, I will correct them at noon... I am running away in tears...
※(To be continued)