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  Xia Ershu and his family didn't even have breakfast before they went out to pull weeds. This matter was strange, but no one said anything about it. Also, he had previously gone out with Old Man Xia to talk for a long time, what did they actually say? Old Man Xia didn't mention it, and everyone tacitly didn't ask, just as if the whole thing hadn't happened at all.

  Xia Zhi finished her breakfast quietly and thought to herself, "Today's events are really strange."

  Xia Dagu was preparing to take Changsheng and Zhenzhu back to the capital, planning to set off before noon. Old Lady Xia then told Xia Zhi to hurry back and pack his things.

  "Just bring the clothes you're wearing, don't take anything else. Eldest Aunt has everything." Xia Dagu smiled and instructed Xia Zhi. Old Lady Xia also smiled and told Xia Zhi to listen to Eldest Aunt, that she didn't need to take anything.

  Xia Zhi agreed and came out of the house. La Yue was helping her mother with chores in the main room, saw Xia Zhi come out, and followed her out, then quietly made eye contact with Xia Zhi, meaning she had something to tell her.

  The summer solstice is just like the arrival of the twelfth lunar month in the western wing of the house.

  "Fourth sister, I'm telling you. Do you know why Second Uncle asked us to go out?" As soon as they entered the house, Laiyue grabbed Xia Zhi and said in a low voice.

  Lai Yue asked this, obviously knowing some inside information. Xia Zhi blinked and asked Lai Yue: "What did Second Uncle say to Grandpa?"

  Lazheng was about to speak, when she lowered her head and saw Xia Lin standing beside her with his head tilted upwards, as if listening intently. Lazheng's mouth twitched, and she shooed Xia Lin away: "Xiaowu, I'm talking to Fourth Sister, you go do what you need to do."

  Xia Xia Lin didn't want to leave. Just now, he was playing in the courtyard and saw Lai Yue mysteriously pulling Xia Zhi into the house. He knew they must have something to say, so he quietly followed them in. Usually, Lai Yue and Xia Zhi wouldn't avoid talking in front of him.

  "Sister, I'll just listen, I won't say anything." Xia Lin grasped Lao Yue's hand and solemnly swore that he wouldn't reveal their conversation to outsiders.

  But this time in December, he didn't show any mercy at all, and dragged his chubby little brother out, then turned around and locked the door.

  Xia Zhi laughed and watched as Dongyue threw out Xia Lin and came back. She asked with a smile, "Dongyue, what's going on? You look like you're keeping secrets."

  "Fourth sister... Second uncle told our father that he wants to marry third sister off to our Eldest brother's family as a daughter-in-law." Lao Yue lowered her voice, and with a pair of big eyes, she glanced out the window again, as if afraid someone would approach and overhear what she was saying.

  Xia Zhi was really surprised. It turned out that Xia Er Shu had deliberately called out Xia Lao Ye behind people's backs to talk about this matter. "How... did Grandpa react?"

  "Our dad didn't agree, and told Second Uncle to stop thinking about it and just focus on farming. He said this, but was afraid that Xia Zhi wouldn't understand, so he explained again: 'My father went to find our grandfather, and heard their conversation.'"

  Xia Zhi nodded and remained silent for a while.

  After sharing secrets with Xia Zhi in the twelfth lunar month, she felt relieved and added: "The second uncle didn't eat before going down to earth, he should be ashamed."

  It should be not just shame, but also resentment.

  Xia Zhi returned to the front yard and first told Tian Shi that she would be leaving with Xia Da Gu to return to the city soon. Then, she went back to her own room to pack her things. Both Xia Da Gu and Xia Lao Tai Tai told her just to bring the clothes on her body, which was actually all she had anyway.

  The private belongings of Xia Zhi were pitifully few.

  Sun Lan'er learned of the news and ran over to see her off, helping her pack up. Xia Zhi was packing things while thinking deeply.

  In May's treatment of Changsheng, even she couldn't bear to look at it. Something that happened in the same courtyard, would Xia Dagou not know about it at all, even if she wasn't present at the time? Moreover, in front of Xia Dagou, May's flattery was a bit overdone.

  Even if a woman is not very clever, she will be more sensitive than usual when it comes to her children. Xia Dagu is a smart and astute woman. She must have sensed the meaning of Wu Yue and Xia Ershu.

  In this era, there was no saying that close relatives cannot get married. On the contrary, a sister-in-law becoming a mother-in-law and an aunt becoming a mother-in-law were quite advocated for and considered to be good omens for marriage and family relationships.

  Xia Dagu obviously looked down on May and was unwilling to do such a thing. But the other party didn't say it clearly, and she had no way of refusing. And once the other party said it, with her identity, considering Xia Lao Tai Tai and Xiao Hei Yu Er, she would be even more reluctant to refuse.

  In this case, Xia Dagou can only express her intentions in a subtle way, letting the other party know that it's difficult to retreat and can't speak up.

  Xia Dagu was doing just that, and Old Lady Xia was very supportive of her.

  When Xiaohu came to ask her if she was willing to go to Fucheng, Xia Zhi still remembered the words clearly. Xiaohu's intention to take her to Fucheng was not his own decision, he had personally heard Xia Lao Tai and Xia Da Gu discussing it. Both Xia Lao Tai and Xia Da Gu intended to invite her to Fucheng as a guest.

  Xia Dagu's decision was half due to Xia Lao Tai Tai and Xiao Hei Yu Er, so she was grateful to her. The other half of the reason was to show her attitude: among several nieces, only Xia Zhi was brought back to the city, but not obviously May, who had intentions for Chang Sheng. This was Xia Dagu's way of showing that she didn't look up to May at all. This refusal was very tactful, but also extremely straightforward.

  As she thought of this, Xia Zhi's mind flashed back to her going to the backyard that morning, Wu Yue hastily coming out of the upper house in May, and then Xia Er Niang calling Xia Er back to the east wing. Only after that did Xia Er Shu find Xia Lao Yezi to have a private conversation.

  It wasn't until May that they realized she didn't have a place in the provincial capital, and after discussing it as a family, they understood the meaning of Xia Dagu's refusal.

  But they didn't give up. Xia Dagu's attitude was very straightforward, but after all, she hadn't said it out loud, had she? If Old Man Xia proposed to Xia Dagu, would she dare refuse him?

  Xia Lao Ye Zi must have known the intentions of Xia Da Gu and Xia Lao Tai Tai, so he didn't refuse Xia Er Shu outright. The mother-daughter duo must have discussed taking Xia Zhi to Fu Cheng in front of him. As a perceptive person, Xia Lao Ye Zi would have understood everything after some thought.

  Having thought everything through, Xia Zhi felt a deep sense of emotion in her heart.

  Xia Ershu this time lost both dignity and face, he can't blame Xia Dagu and Xia Laotaitai. If he wants to blame someone, he can only blame his father Xia Lao Yezi. And Xia Lao Yezi is probably even more disgusted with this second son of his.

  Although Xia Ershu's fault is largely self-inflicted, Xia Dagu's cunning and calculation are also not to be underestimated.

  "Is the summer collection ready? Come, I have a few words to tell you." Tian Shi walked over at this time, and with a distracted mind, she flipped through the clothes that Xia Zhi had collected, then called Xia Zhi to the east house to talk.

  Sun Lan'er noticed that Tian Shi had a private conversation with Xia Zhi, and naturally didn't follow. Tian Shi then sent both Xia Qiao and Xiao Shu'er away, leaving only Xia Zhi alone, and instructed him in this way and that.

  The general idea is to let Xia Zhi seize the opportunity, try his best to get on well with Xia Dagu and Guo Gufu, spend more time with Guo Changsheng, follow Guo Changsheng's lead, and win over Guo Zhenzhu.

  "Your aunt's family may not be a big shot, but they're also wearing gold and silver, with slaves and maids at their beck and call. Their shop can make at least a few hundred taels of silver in a year. If you could marry into your aunt's family as a daughter-in-law, then you'll have a life of luxury from now on."

  Xia's words went in through Tian's left ear and out through his right. She wouldn't listen to Tian's "teachings" at all, and besides, Xia Dagu knew Tian inside out - would she be willing to become relatives with him?

  Look at how Xia Dagu effortlessly got rid of Xia Ershu. Tian Shi felt that I was being too kind to her. Xia Zhi thought that if it came down to cunning, Tian Shi might not be a match for Xia Dagu.

  "Are you listening? Mother is doing this for your own good." Tian's eyes were filled with some doubt as she looked at Xia Zhi. She always felt that although Xia Zhi listened to her words obediently, he didn't actually take them in.

  "Mother, I've heard you. Don't worry." But I will absolutely not do what you said. Xia Zhi's attitude is very good.

  Tian felt that Xia Zhi had learned a lot, such as settling down the people in the backyard, but Xia Zhi didn't have much to worry about, or rather, he was too carefree. Tian looked at Xia Zhi and wished she could take matters into her own hands and get things done quickly.

  If Xia Zhi gave her longevity, then her nephew Dabao's wedding and house-building money would be available, and Xia Xiucan wouldn't have to advance wages or borrow money everywhere.

  "Summer solstice, you can rely on your mother. This good appearance is what I gave birth to. Nowadays, you can do all kinds of things, and that's also what I taught you. With these two skills, if you go to your eldest aunt's house without making any mistakes, the matter will definitely be successful." Tian Shi told Xia Zhi, as long as Xia Da Gu doesn't say anything inappropriate about her, when she returns, let Xia Xiu Cai take the initiative to propose marriage.

  "They're a family of merchants, your father is a scholar, and with the favor your eldest aunt owes our family, it's a done deal." Madam Tian said, also instructing Xia Zhi to stay at her eldest aunt's house for as many days as possible. "If your eldest aunt wants you to spend the holiday there, then spend the holiday there. Stay for more days, don't rush back."

  Xia Zhi felt that Tian Shi's words were getting more and more, with no intention of stopping. She deliberately looked out the window at the sky, then reminded Tian Shi: "Mother, my eldest aunt said she wants to hurry on her way. If you can't bear to part with me, I won't go."

  "How can you not go!" Tian immediately urged Xia Zhi, "You're so useless. Hurry up and go, it's really delayed, your aunt won't even see you."

  It wasn't until the summer solstice that he was able to slip away and return to the west wing to fetch his things.

  Sun Lan'er had folded her few clothes neatly and wrapped them in a small bundle with an old white-bottomed embroidered package with a pattern of peony.

  "When are you coming back?" Sun Lan'er was reluctant to part with Xia Zhi.

  "I'll probably be back by Labor Day. At that time, I'll come back with my dad." Xia Zhi had already made plans in her heart and didn't tell Tian Shi about it, but secretly told Sun Lan'er. "Lan'er sister, when I'm not around these days, you take care of yourself. My mom is still okay towards you. If anything happens, just tell her, or if not, go to the backyard to find my grandma."

  Whether it's Tian or Old Lady Xia, they are all people that Sun Wangshi has to give face to.

  Sun Lan nodded.

  Xia Zhi looked at Tian Shi in the east house and didn't come over, so she took out all her private money hidden deep in the cabinet and packed it into a bundle. Then, holding the bundle, she came out.

  Tian Shi, Sun Lan'er, Xia Qiao and Xiao Shu'er saw her off at the gate.

  "Remember what Mother said." Standing at the door, Tian's family repeatedly instructed Xia Zhi.

  At the back door, Guo Changsheng was helping Xia Sanbo with the sedan chair. In the upper house, Xiao Heiyu had already put on his going-out clothes: a red plain jacket, brand new green thousand-layered cloth shoes, and on his head was still a red tassel tied into a happy and auspicious topknot, and in front of his chest he wore a longevity lock.

  When Xia Zhi walked in, everyone's eyes fell on her. Xia Zhi didn't wear the skirt made by Tian Shi for her, because she didn't like it and it didn't match. She didn't have a suitable outfit to go with that new skirt. She was still wearing her old cyan bamboo fabric jacket, which didn't fit well but was the only one without patches.

  Several people's eyes showed a sympathetic expression. Xia Zhi's family had fields, and her father, Xia Xiucan, made money in the prefectural city, but she was not as good as an ordinary farmer's daughter. At least others have a set of good clothes to go out.

  "It's all my fault, I was busy and forgot." Old Lady Xia hurriedly called out to Xia Zhi, then took out a new set of clothes from the cabinet and handed them to him. "Your aunt made them for you. I didn't expect your older cousin to arrive so early, they were rushed a bit. Try them on quickly, see if they fit?"

  She took the clothes from Xia Zhi and looked at them. The top was a stand-up collar, big lapel, and straight sleeve shirt with a hawthorn red background and small yellow flowers printed on it. The bottom was a pair of loose-fitting pants made of the same fabric.

  That day, Old Man Xia told Old Lady Xia to make a piece of clothing for each of them and Jia Yu. Old Lady Xia took charge and used the small floral fabric that Second Uncle Xia had brought back to make a pair of pants for Jia Yu. Then she bought this piece of crabapple red fabric and had it sewn into a suit of pants and jacket for Xia Zhi.

  Everyone was watching Xia Zhi, letting her quickly change her clothes.

  The summer solstice is a time of great affection, and it's hard to refuse. She picked up the clothes and compared them, feeling that they should fit well. Old Lady Xia not only sews well but also cuts clothes skillfully. For such loose-fitting pants, she doesn't need to take measurements at all, and can make them very fittingly.

  "It fits." Xia Zhi said it fits, then folded up this new set of clothes and said to keep them for wearing when going out after arriving at the prefectural city.

  Everyone thought she had a new dress that was hard to come by, so she couldn't bear to wear it. Therefore, no one dared to say anything, but secretly sympathized with her even more.

  In fact, summer solstice is just too lazy to go out and change clothes again.

  Tian's family gave her a good appearance. She didn't care about it actually. She would rather not cross over to this era. Even if she had to come to this era, she would rather have a good family environment than a good appearance. As for new clothes or old clothes, she also didn't care much. If there were conditions, she was willing to wear good clothes; without conditions, whatever she wore was fine.

  This point, Xia Zhi is a bit different from other little girls.

  Others just sympathize with Xia Zhi, but Old Man Xia sees everything in his eyes, and he values Xia Zhi even more.

  (。)