Chapter 570 - 212: Past Events (2)

Chapter 570: Chapter 212: Past Events (2)

He then recounted some of Xu Suying’s peculiar habits. "There are so many banquets in the Capital City. One day, this family is holding a flower-viewing party; the next day, that family is celebrating their child’s first full month. If the food at a party was good, your mother would wake up at the crack of dawn and wait by your grandmother’s side, just itching to go. But if the food at a banquet was bad, your mother wouldn’t even get out of bed, let alone go visit their home..."

’This whole ordeal seems to have taught her a lesson,’ Xu Shiling thought. ’She’s not picky about her clothes or her food anymore.’ But he couldn’t say it aloud. The mere thought of it made his eyes well up.

If it weren’t for the Yan family’s evil deeds, would his sister, a fine young lady from a wealthy family, have had to suffer for twenty years?

Not only did his sister suffer, but her children were dragged into it as well, looking like poor, pitiful things.

Look at Yao’an—the boy was craving meat so badly he was practically drooling.

Yao’an: That’s not true! It was drool of pure envy!

As a country bumpkin, Yao’an couldn’t even begin to imagine, in his wildest dreams, that people could live such a life.

’How extravagant must that be!’

If he could live a life like that, he’d be willing to wake up before dawn every single day!

Yao’an’s eyes were red with envy, while Chen Song felt as if ten thousand ants were gnawing at his heart.

He had never imagined that his wife’s life had been like that before.

He recalled how, after she married him, she had nearly burned down the kitchen the first time she tried to light a fire and cook. At the time, he had even wondered if he’d made a mistake, marrying a wife based on her looks alone.

But thinking about it now, a high-born lady had accompanied him through a life of poverty, personally humbling herself to cook for him. What more could he possibly be dissatisfied with?

He must have accumulated immense virtue in his past life to have met her in this one.

"Wife, I’ll treat you even better from now on. All the Silver I earn will be yours, and you’ll still be the one to call the shots at home. I’ll work hard and strive to one day earn you an imperial title."

"You’re the one who said it, so don’t you dare go back on your word! You know, marrying me was the luckiest thing that ever happened to you—your ancestral tombs must be smoking with good fortune. Chen Song, if you don’t treat me well, you’ll have me to answer to."

Xu Shiling, who had overheard their conversation: "..."

There were so many retorts he could make, he was left speechless.

’Forget it. It’s not worth the effort to say anything.’

She was a grown woman now; she knew what she truly wanted.

If he, as her older brother, meddled too much, he would just be making himself a nuisance for no reason.

The restaurant delivered the feast, and the family went to the main hall to dine.

While the servants were setting out the dishes, Xu Shiling took a good look at his nephews, his niece, and even his niece’s husband.

As he looked at them, a gratified smile appeared on his face. "Good. You’re all good. You all have a bit of your mother’s grace. You’re all fine children of our family."

Then he encouraged De’an, "It’s alright that you didn’t pass this time. Your cousin Yanhe is already twenty-two this year, and he’s only just now taking the Provincial Examination. You’re still young, and there will be plenty of opportunities. Becoming an Advanced Scholar is only a matter of time."

De’an felt an immense amount of pressure, but could only say with trepidation, "Uncle, I’ll do my best. I’ll do my best."

"Just doing your best isn’t enough; you have to give it your absolute all. Our family has no failures. If you don’t come back as an Advanced Scholar, you won’t be able to hold your head up in this family ever again."

Cold sweat began to bead on De’an’s forehead.

’I’m from the Chen Family, why do I have to hold my head high in the Xu family? If the Xu family really looks down on me, then at worst... at worst, I won’t rely on the Xu family. I’ll just rely on my mother.’

Xu Shiling then looked at Zhao Jing, his eyes filled with pure delight.

"I never would have thought we’d have such a fateful connection. I’ve read your essays—they couldn’t be better. Keep up the hard work, and strive to win the title of Metropolitan Examination Champion at next year’s Imperial Examination."

Zhao Jing cupped his hands. "I will do my best. But the Wei Dynasty is full of talented people. If I truly fail in the Imperial Examination, please do not be disappointed."

Hearing him speak so cautiously, Xu Shiling almost believed him.

But he had read Zhao Jing’s essays. Someone without soaring ambition could never write with such lofty and heroic spirit.

He just chuckled and pointed at Zhao Jing, thinking, ’You rascal, you’re quite the smooth talker.’ But in the end, he didn’t say it. Instead, he just hinted, "If you become the Metropolitan Examination Champion, your uncle has a generous gift prepared for you."

Next, he looked at Chen Wanqing.

Chen Wanqing resembled Xu Suying by five or six parts, and his own mother by three or four.

Xu Shiling looked at her features, filled with emotion. "You resemble your maternal grandmother more than any of your cousins do. When your grandmother sees you, she will surely be overjoyed."

He then recalled what Xu Yanlin had written in his letter—that Wanqing had faced difficult marriage prospects and was nearly beaten to death to be buried alive with a deceased betrothed. The thought made Xu Shiling both angry and heartsick.

Fortunately, his niece had ended up with a good husband. Otherwise, he really would have gone back to settle scores with those other families.

"Child, you’ve suffered. But don’t be afraid. From now on, your uncle is here. If anyone dares to bully you, you tell me, and watch me tear them apart."

Xu Shiling had arrived in such a hurry that the first-meeting gifts he had prepared for the children were still in a carriage out back, and he hadn’t had a chance to bring them out yet.