Chapter 375 Encourage
Cao Huawen and Zhang Qiongrou are best friends. They often go to the Zhang family to play and met the second young master of the Zhang family once.
Although the second young master of the Zhang family is average in appearance, he is very knowledgeable. He is only nineteen years old and is already a scholar. He plans to take the imperial examination this year and has a high chance of passing the imperial examination.
However, he is very charming and has a sweet mouth. He can't move his feet when he sees a slightly pretty woman. Even an ugly guy can be praised as a fairy by him.
People outside call him Feng Liu Talent.
When they first met, the second young master of the Zhang family praised Cao Huawen. His eyes and words seemed to be the only one in his heart, which made Cao Huawen's heart beat fast. .
Zhang Qiongrou saw that her friend was interested in her second brother, so she tried to connect him. The two families had similar family backgrounds, and Cao Huawen and the second young master of the Zhang family were also a good match. It didn't take long for the marriage between the two families to be settled.
After the horoscopes were combined, the Geng stickers were changed, and after the second young master of the Zhang family had finished his scientific examination, the two families made an engagement, and the wedding was scheduled for the twelfth lunar month.
As for Cao Huajun, he fell in love with the second young master of the Xia family.
Xia Zixing, the eldest young master of the Xia family, is only twenty-three years old this year. He was a young scholar six years ago. He is very knowledgeable and talented. He is a well-known talent in Jiangning City.
He was supposed to come to Beijing to take the imperial examination three years ago. It happened that he injured his leg and spent a few months recovering at home, thus missing the opportunity three years ago.
The year he won the imperial examination, he married a daughter-in-law and is now the father of two children. Madam Xia is also the daughter of a scholarly family. She now stays at home to preside over the middle school and take care of several younger children. Her brother-in-law and her son and daughter.
The second young master is only seventeen years old this year and has not yet married or engaged. The two young masters came to the capital this time to take the scientific examination.
When Mrs. Cao took her three children to visit Mrs. Xia, Xia Zihui, the second young master of the Xia family, happened to come out of Mrs. Xia's yard and met them at the entrance of the yard.
Xia Zihui was calm and decent, respectfully and politely greeted Mrs. Cao, and also said hello to the children of the Cao family one by one.
Seeing that he was elegant and handsome, with a jade tree facing the wind, Cao Huajun's heart was beating like an abnormality, his face was red with embarrassment, he felt blessed slightly, and returned the gift.
Mrs. Cao saw her daughter's expression and was happy in her heart.
The Xia family is a farming and studying family that has been passed down for hundreds of years. The young masters of the Xia family are even more competitive. Each one is better at learning than the last. The second young master of the Xia family is only seventeen years old and is a scholar. If he is admitted to the imperial examination this year, then the Xia family will There is another young boy.
The male heirs of this generation of the Xia family are prosperous and promising. In addition, they also rely on the Chu Yu County Lord who has the Chu family as his backer. In twenty or thirty years, the Xia family will probably develop so much that she The Cao family looked up.
It would be a good thing if we could get married to the Xia family before they developed.
Mrs. Cao was scheming in her mind. After separating from Xia Zihui, the family entered Mrs. Xia's yard.
After bowing to Mrs. Xia and chatting about some domestic matters, Mrs. Cao began to ask Mrs. Xia about Xia Zihui intentionally or unintentionally, and even showed signs of wanting to get married to the Xia family.
Mrs. Xia smiled proudly and complimented the three Cao Huawen brothers accordingly. However, when she looked at Cao Huajun, a trace of disdain flashed in her eyes.
Of course, after she came to Beijing, she heard about Cao Huajun.
"Brother Hui is a good man. He has been with his grandfather since he was a child and was taught by his grandfather. Among the brothers, he is the one whom the old man loves the most."
This means that Xia Zihui's marriage must be decided by the old man.
The old man made it clear from the beginning that no one else in the Xia family, not even Xia Zihui's parents, would be allowed to interfere.
And Mr. Xia went to Jiangnan to see an old friend, and he went there on the eighth day of the first lunar month. He had been there for several months and was not at home. Even if Mrs. Cao wanted to mention the marriage, she had no place to mention it.
Mrs. Cao's face was full of disappointment.
Cao Huajun also looked disappointed and felt empty in his heart.
The family came in a hurry and came back disappointed.
After entering April, the scholars began to feel nervous, reaching the most critical moment.
Zeng Yiran, as well as the eldest and second eldest son of the Xia family, gathered around Xia Shiming all day long to discuss the articles leaked by the former top picks and second picks.
The ladies of the Xia family were also busy buying dowries for Xia Ziqing.
Mrs. Xu tried her best to persuade Mrs. Xia to go to Yusha Pavilion and Cuiyu Pavilion to buy several sets of good clothes and jewelry for Xia Ziqing.
She said as if she was thinking about Xia Zihan's shop, "That shop belongs to Yu Niang. If we don't do business for our own people, shouldn't we do business for outsiders?"
Mrs. Xia Liu looked embarrassed, hesitated for a moment, and said, "It's even harder to go because we are one of our own. If we go, won't we embarrass Yu Niang?"
She paused and then said, "I think it's better to forget it. The things in Cuiyu Pavilion and Yusha Pavilion are expensive, and Sister Qing's dowry money is small, so I'm afraid she can't afford the things there."
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So he rejected Xu's proposal.
Mrs. Xia San, Guo Shi, raised her voice and muttered, "Sister-in-law, I'm not talking about you. Although your dowry is not much, uncle has been an official for so many years, so why didn't he get a few?" Private money? Are you being coaxed by those foxes? Sister-in-law, you have to keep an eye on your eldest brother, don't be like some people who can't even fight a few foxes and are kicked out of the house." Guo made an insinuation about Sang's scolding. Sure enough.
Mrs. Xu's face turned black with anger and her heart trembled. She pursed her lips and gritted her teeth with a smile, "There's no point competing with those foxy girls. Those cheap maids are just playthings. No matter how powerful they are, they can't climb up." Come on to my sister-in-law’s head.”
"Besides, what man doesn't have three wives and four concubines? I heard that the third brother's concubine gave birth to a daughter for the third brother and sister this time. I haven't even congratulated the third brother and sister for becoming a mother again."
After saying that, she pretended to congratulate Mrs. Guo again. Mrs. Guo was so angry that she really wanted to slap her in the face.
Mrs. Guo sneered and retorted, "You are not as good as you. Aunt Guo and Aunt Zhang gave you two sons in one year. The second wife went from having only a few heirs to having a prosperous heir. This is all due to Aunt Guo and Aunt Zhang. You have to thank them properly.”
Mrs. Xu's silver teeth were almost broken. Just when she was about to ridicule him again, the maid brought over a little boy of seven or eight years old.
As soon as the little boy saw Mrs. Xu, he ran over, hugged Ms. Xu's legs, and looked at her expectantly, "Mom, mom, wherever you are going, can you take Yi'er with you?"
Brother Yi, Xu's biological son and Xia Shiming's only legitimate son. Since he was three years old, Brother Yi has been with the old lady and been taught by the old lady. On weekdays, the old lady will take him with her wherever she goes. , regard him as more important than his own eyes.
People say that children look old when they are seven years old. Xia Ziyi is already eight years old, but she still shows the innocence and simplicity of a four or five-year-old child.
Mrs. Xu didn't think there was anything wrong. Instead, she pinched her son's cute chubby face and said with a smile, "Okay, the weather is nice today and the sun is warm. Mom will take you out to play together."
"Mother, mother, you are so kind."
Holding Xu's thigh, he rubbed his head against her thigh. After enough rubbing, he let go and took Xu's hand. "Mom, let's go now."
"Brother Yi, you took your mother away. Why didn't you see your aunt and uncle here?" Guo's sharp voice reached Xia Ziyi's ears.
Xia Ziyi glanced at her, snorted, and looked to the other side with pursed lips, "Auntie is the worst. She didn't even give me the candy she bought last time. She only gave it to the fourth and fifth brothers. Humph, I don't care about you. .”
Then, he looked angry.
Mrs. Liu looked at Xia Ziyi and shook her head inwardly with regret.
I remember how smart this child was when he was one or two years old. He could memorize the Three-Character Sutra as soon as he learned to speak.
Unexpectedly, this child was raised by several women and died within a few years.
Alas, what a pity.
Mrs. Liu sighed, but at the same time she was happy for herself. Fortunately, her two sons were taught by the old master, so they were so successful and brought glory and face to the Xia family.
If he were taught by the old lady, he might be like Brother Yi and be crippled by the old lady.
"Hey, isn't it just a few pieces of candy? Auntie went to the street and bought a big bag for you so you can eat as much as you like." Mrs. Guo said with a smile.
Xia Ziyi curled her lips and said happily, "Okay, aunt, let's go play with my mother and I. Aunt, don't forget to buy me candy, and a big bag."
A group of people walked outside the mansion and met Xia Zihui who had just gotten off the carriage at the gate.
Xia Zihui frowned subconsciously when he saw Xia Ziyi was with a group of women, "Brother Yi, do you want to go out to play? Have you finished the homework assigned to you by your second uncle?"
Xia Ziyi pursed her lips in displeasure and glared at her second brother, "My writing hand is so sore. My grandmother said I would write it later. She also said that my father assigned too many homeworks and I was young and couldn't finish them."
You are seven years old, still young?
I remember that when he was seven years old, he stayed with his grandfather. He had no time to play at all. He was either practicing calligraphy, reading articles, or memorizing.
Grandfather said that if you want to be a promising official, you must first develop good calligraphy. Without good calligraphy, no matter how good your talent is, you will not be able to impress the emperor.
You know, ministers often have to write memorials, and the memorials will eventually fall into the hands of the emperor. The emperor can judge a person's character based on his words.
If a minister cannot even write well, what qualifications does he have to manage the people of a country? What qualifications do you have to benefit the people?
What qualifications do you have to be a good minister?
For this reason, he practices calligraphy at home every day. Sometimes, he even misses meal time.
Xia Ziyi is the happiest among the brothers. He is protected by his grandmother and has been pampered by his grandmother since he was a child. He can even be lazy when writing.
Now, he even dares to find excuses to disobey his second uncle’s orders.
Huh, if you grow up like this, can you be successful in the future?
Why does his grandmother indulge him like this?
Is it just to raise him to waste?
Xia Zihui thought so much in his mind, but in fact it was just a fleeting thought, less than a few seconds.
(End of chapter)