Tianliangyuan

Chapter 59 The Unmarried Couple Makes Their Official Meeting

Xu Jun'an reacted quickly and said with a smile, "Grandmother is right, but there really is no time tomorrow. Why don't we invite Aunt and Uncle back the day after tomorrow so we can have a family reunion dinner?"

The old lady felt somewhat pleased after hearing these words.

Xu Junfeng quickly added, "Yes, if I go to visit my aunt, she will definitely invite me to stay for a meal. It would be better to invite them over for a family reunion dinner. I heard that Huaizhi is studying at the academy. If possible, it would be best to invite him along as well. We haven't seen each other for a long time."

Xu Junfeng was assigned to the army for training two years ago. He was put through various ranks, from infantry to cavalry, from scout to cook, and remained a common soldier until this spring when he was transferred to Jizhou and became Xie Zheng's subordinate.

Now things are really messed up; his future brother-in-law has become his boss, and Xu Junfeng has caused Xie Zheng a lot of trouble over personal matters because of this.

Wang Ruolan then spoke up, "Alright, I know you're all very kind. I'll send the steward to the Sun residence in a bit, and while he's at it, ask if we need to send someone to fetch Huaizhi from outside the city."

"Mother is always so thoughtful."

Finally, the old lady was pleased; this meal was truly hard-won.

When Xu Zhaozhao saw that the men had gone to the study to talk again, she got up to apologize and then helped her sister-in-law Zhang Shi back.

“I am not so delicate now, Zhao Zhao does not need to be.”

"Sister-in-law, you still need to take good care of yourself during your pregnancy. Mother said she's waiting for you to give birth so you can help her manage the household."

Madam Zhang chuckled: "Mother's ability to manage the household is truly remarkable. I am far inferior to Mother. It would be more appropriate for me to learn from Mother in the future."

Xu Zhaozhao understood her sister-in-law's meaning; she was worried that people would say she, as a new bride, was coveting the power to manage the household.

“Sister-in-law, there’s no need to be modest. My mother called me over to scold me earlier, always saying that I’m too impulsive and can’t settle down. She also said that I should learn from you, praising you for having your own way of managing the household.”

Zhang's smile deepened.

Who doesn't like to be praised?

"Zhao Zhao is also very clever. I heard that your businesses are now famous throughout the capital! Even foreign merchants are eager to do business with your Xiang Piaopiao."

"I don't know anything about what's going on outside. Actually, to say I'm capable would be to overestimate my abilities. I'm just lucky, and I have my mother protecting me, so she assigned me a few clever managers. If I were to run the business myself, I'm afraid it would have closed down long ago."

The two women, sister-in-law and aunt, walked and talked, and soon delivered Zhang's body to her. However, Xu Zhaozhao was in no hurry to leave. Along the way, she took the opportunity of helping Zhang to secretly inject some life force into her body, so that both mother and child could be safe.

“Zhaozhao, I heard about what happened at the Sun residence the other day, but I haven’t known how to comfort you. But since we’re all alone here, I’ll tell you something from the bottom of my heart: try to go to the Sun residence as little as possible in the future.”

Look, even my sister-in-law can see it, so why can't my grandmother see it?

“What my sister-in-law says is true. Mother also doesn’t want me to go to the Sun family’s residence again. Before, when my sister-in-law wasn’t home, she didn’t know that my cousin Huai Zhi and cousin Sun Qian actually wanted to ruin my reputation. After that incident, my mother became disillusioned with my aunt. If it weren’t for the birthday banquet of the old lady of the Sun family, neither my mother nor I would have gone.”

Zhang nodded. She had heard about Sun Huaizhi's so-called mutual affection last time, but she never expected that the Sun family, who were originally relatives, would be so despicable.

If it weren't for the fact that there was still an old lady who couldn't bear to part with her daughter, I'm afraid that given the personalities of the father-in-law and mother-in-law, they could have severed ties with the Sun family directly!

“Good sister, when someone is too outstanding, it’s easy for them to be targeted. The Sun family’s wicked intentions are simply because they think you are exceptional. However, they are too greedy and their actions are not aboveboard, which is truly despicable.”

Xu Zhaozhao knew that her sister-in-law wanted to give her some advice, and she appreciated the favor.

The two then talked about the Jiang family, the Duke of Su's mansion, and so on. Although Zhang didn't go out much, the people around her were capable of seeing and doing things, so they naturally knew about some of the exciting things happening outside.

"It was right that you didn't go with your aunt when Jiang was seriously ill. Just as Mother said, just because your aunt married into the Sun family doesn't mean that everyone in the Sun family is a relative of our Marquis's mansion. If we count them that way, wouldn't we have countless relatives?"

Xu Zhaozhao couldn't help but laugh when she recalled Wang Ruolan's attitude and words that day.

Before Xu Junan even entered the house, he heard the two people's cheerful laughter: "What are you saying, so happy?"

Xu Zhaozhao said sternly, "Hmph, I won't tell you! You even eavesdrop on our girls' private conversations, brother, you have no shame!"

Xu Jun'an raised an eyebrow, then lightly flicked her forehead. Xu Zhaozhao immediately covered it, looking aggrieved: "Ouch, that hurts!"

How could Xu Jun'an not know how much force he had used?

"I have official business to attend to tomorrow, so I won't be going to the Wang family. Your third brother will have to wait until after school to go. You all need to keep a close eye on him and make sure he doesn't get too drunk."

"I know, I know! Little steward!"

Xu Jun'an glared at her, while Xu Zhaozhao lifted her skirt and ran out, saying, "Big brother always bullies me! Humph! Next time I have any good wine here, I definitely won't give it to you!"

Xu Junan was so angry at these words that he laughed.

Zhang also lowered her head and chuckled to herself. The two siblings acted like six or seven-year-old children when they were together.

"You're still laughing! This girl has gotten bolder lately. Maybe it's because her businesses are making a lot of money, so she's become more confident and dares to challenge me!"

Zhang gently placed one hand on the back of his hand: "You're talking nonsense again! Zhao Zhao isn't challenging you at all. She's clearly still a child. She's just being affectionate and throwing a tantrum! You're just saying that, but you still send all sorts of good things to her yard in private, don't you?"

Xu Junan took her hand, and the two smiled at each other, everything understood without words.

The next day at noon, Xu Junfeng went to the Prince of Nanning's residence to pay his respects, so Xu Zhaozhao decided to have her meal at Ziyuan by herself. She didn't like eating with the old lady, feeling that there were too many rules and she wouldn't get enough to eat.

As a result, Xu Junfeng had just arrived at the Prince of Nanning's residence when guests arrived at the Marquis's residence.

Xie Zheng visited for the same reason as Xu Junfeng, but Xu Han and Xu Jun'an were at the government office at the time, so Wang Ruolan had to entertain him.

Wang Ruolan realized that she and Zhaozhao hadn't seen each other for a long time, so she sent someone to call her over.

It's perfectly normal for engaged couples to sit together and have tea, or take a walk in the garden.

Wang Ruolan also specifically reminded Dingxiang to follow them from a distance, so that the two of them wouldn't be too embarrassed to speak.

As a man, Xie Zheng was the one who broke the deadlock first.

"Zhaozhao, there were rumors in the capital that I was cursed to bring misfortune to my family, and coincidentally you fell ill. Didn't you ever think that I was the one who made you sick?"