Xue Jiazi

When Xue Xun returned to Jinling, what he saw was the bustling Jinling. There were people everywhere along the way, and there were chess pieces everywhere, chess pieces that he had never seen before. Thinking of what he said in his family letter a while ago, his family Seeing the chess business developed by his son, as well as the competitions, Xue Xun felt extremely satisfied when he saw the excitement.

"Master, it seems that these people are all here to participate in the chess competition. This time, the uncle has done a big thing. Our Xue family has made a big splash this time."

Chang Sui Shunzi next to Xue Xun's face was full of red light, and his face in his 30s was full of joy. No matter how you look at it, he looked like a boy with blood. Many people look up to him for his reputation, but it still has no status in the eyes of those scholars. Unexpectedly, this time, just a competition like my uncle's has attracted so many scholars at once. No matter how I think about it, I feel elated.

Hearing this, Xue Xun was naturally happy in his heart, but he was also the head of the family anyway, so he wanted to keep a reserved look, and just said with a smile:

"As a child, he already knows how to play around. I'm afraid this time it means more of a joke. It's a blessing to have such an accidental opportunity. I can't say he is good, otherwise I guess this kid has a tail. They can all rise to the sky, and I don’t know how to toss them in the future!”

What he said was not very pleasant, and seemed to be demeaning, but the joy in his eyes couldn't be concealed, and he couldn't see it from his long-term follower who had followed him for decades, so he hurriedly gathered together and saved a few more sentences:

"The master knows what to say about the master. If you want the servant to say, the master is definitely a first-class good boy, and his smart brain is not something ordinary people can have. Our family can make such a large amount of business in the capital this time. I have also found a new way to make progress. Isn’t it the uncle’s credit? If you want to say to the slaves, the uncle’s fate is good! He is definitely a rich and powerful man, and he is also a prosperous family. Think about it! Since I have the uncle, The eldest girl followed, and when she was only a few years old, she could share your worries with the master. The library was not just reminded by the master, how many people our family has gained here! The current reputation of the Xue family, I don’t know how much better than those other people. I can still understand so many appraisal skills, which is no worse than the shopkeepers of the pawnshop. How old is the uncle, isn’t this ability a blessing from heaven? Now it’s this parasol again , It’s this chess competition again, one satisfies the palace, and the other makes so many people like it, counting with your fingers, except when the uncle can’t speak, since he can walk and talk, there is nothing that doesn’t benefit the family , isn’t it just a noble man, this is the blessing that God gave the Xue family for generations to accumulate good deeds!”

Being a long-term follower, especially this merchant's long-term follower, you can't do anything else. Speaking nice words is definitely a basic skill. Xue Xun's eyebrows were raised when he heard Shunzi's strings of words, and his heart was shaking. Seriously, it's not like I don't know!It is really not easy to calculate my own son, as expected, Shunzi said, the absolute fate of the Wang family, the Xue family is afraid that it will become more and more prosperous.

Xue Xun's satisfied mood directly affected his physical condition, and the exhaustion along the way seemed to have disappeared at this time. Speaking of it, Xue Xun and Xue Cheng have been taking care of their bodies for the past few years. I don't know how much better the body is than before, but Xue Xun's heart palpitations are actually a problem. This problem is not a disease that can be cured. Because of this disease, Xue Xun has been eating lightly for the past few years, playing Wu Qin Xi every day, and restrained himself. Many of my habits, such as drinking and women, have been abstained one by one, and even learned how to swim, using countless methods that may be beneficial to this heart disease, just like this, it only reduces the possibility of some diseases, You still need to keep medicine on your body. Usually, Xue Xun often thinks, if he suddenly disappears one day, what should he do at home?The child is still young, and the family business is so big, when the time comes, the son will be like a child holding a gold ingot standing on the street, and there will be many people watching. All this, he felt uncomfortable in his heart, and he felt that he must save his life, but now he suddenly had a new idea, he felt that even if he died immediately, this family would not be defeated, because he could trust him Son, by no means a weak child with no responsibility, although he is only seven years old, not yet eight years old, but he can already see that this child's future is not easy.

"go home!"

After saying these three words, Xue Xun felt a strong licking feeling in his heart, eager to see the child who made him feel worthy of this life, satisfied and proud.

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"The master is back, the master is back! Ma San, hurry up, come and drive the carriage over, Sanxi, let the back house know, and Debao will tell the shopkeepers and the second master."

The vermilion lacquer gate was opened, and the old family who guarded the gate saw Xue Xun, their faces were full of surprises, and they hurriedly asked people to inform the wife and uncle, while they called out to them, giving orders, and they followed all the way , sent Xue Xun all the way into the outer study, and greeted people to bring tea and water. He was extremely busy. Looking at the bustle of the house and this familiar place, Xue Xun was satisfied and relieved.

"Have someone deliver the clothes, I'll freshen up before going to the backyard."

"Yes, sir."

After a lot of tossing, when Xue Xun arrived in the backyard, it was already time for dinner. Xue Wang was waiting at the second door with his son and daughter. His eyes were red, he wiped the corners of his eyes slightly with a handkerchief, and then saluted, and welcomed Xue Xun into the lobby room.

"The master is back, how is the journey?"

"Okay, it went well, how is the family?"

"Okay, everything's fine, it's just, just..."

After only a long time, Xue Wang was a little hesitant, thinking that her husband had just come back, and whether she would talk about family affairs tomorrow, but when Xue Xun turned her eyes, she couldn't help but start talking again.

"Master, Pan'er has moved to the outer courtyard. I don't even listen to it. Now that you're back, you have to talk about it carefully. How can there be such a son who has a relationship with his parents? It's not caring."

"Oh?"

Xue Xun was a little surprised, and turned to look at his son with a hint of puzzlement on his face.

"Mom knows how to file a complaint."

Xue Pan pouted with dissatisfaction on his face, but at this moment he made a face at his elder brother in front of the little transparent Xue Baochai, presumably because his father finally came back, and the whole family's attention was all on his elder brother. , to show their existence too!Xue Pan ignored her, but met Xue Xun's eyes and said honestly:

"My son is over seven years old. At seven years old, men and women have different seats. My son is also following the etiquette, but he didn't make any mistakes. It's just my mother's reluctance. Let me tell you, you want to have fun, so you might as well have another one with your father." Hurry up, your son is always getting bigger and bigger, and he can't be taken care of by you as a baby boy like when he was a child."

Hearing his son's words, Xue Xun's heart skipped a beat. Really, he was really negligent in this regard. Who let his family have only two children? The rules of the brothers and sisters are looser after all, but this etiquette must be respected Yes, but my son can see clearly.

Thinking about his son's husband, Xue Xun thought in his heart that he might not be the one who said it. It seems that this gentleman is so strict because of his heart, and even his brothers and sisters have to avoid taboos. Woolen cloth!Thinking of this, Xue Xun not only didn't feel angry, but also admired in his heart. Sure enough, his family still didn't do it properly, and it would be better if someone suggested it!

"That's right, Pan'er is getting older. After all, the boy's learning is different from that of his daughter's. He will often walk outside in the future, and he has to avoid many things. If Pan'er has friends in a Bring it to your own yard, it’s not convenient to come to the inner yard, but the outer yard is more convenient, that’s fine, let Pan’er live in the outer yard, anyway, he always comes to pay his respects every day, so it’s not like you won’t be able to see him anymore , why bother so much, in a place where there is no boy who spends his days in the inner court all day long, how can such a child become a talent."

Xue Xun is the head of the family. If he came forward to support Xue Pan, then Xue Wang could only swallow no matter how many words he had. Look at how even his own husband supported his son. Think about it when his natal family, his elder brother also They all lived in the outer courtyard, and pursed their lips. After all, they swallowed the reluctance in their hearts, even Xue Baochai understood. From now on, the elder brother in the backyard could no longer live, and with a trace of sadness in his heart, he silently lowered his head and pouted. She pursed her mouth, a little jealous.

Seeing his sister like this, Xue Pan felt a little distressed, and he didn't care about his parents' expressions, so he hurriedly jumped off the chair, walked up to Xue Baochai, and hugged her up.

"Sister, let's go to school separately. I study the Four Books and Five Classics, piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and you also have to sleep with the housekeeper and so on. You have a lot of homework, right! So we have less time to play around, but it's still a lot of fun. I'm very busy, but my brother promised you that I will often bring you gifts. How about you, can you also make some good things for my brother? My brother wants to have something you made by yourself. The little fat man from the prefect's family has one The purse made by his sister, the elder brother is jealous, wait for the younger sister to learn, and make it for the elder brother, okay?"

Xue Pan is very good at coaxing children. Xue Baochai still likes her brother saying that she is going to school. She likes beautiful things. Those embroiderers are very skillful. She is also willing to do it for her brother, and hearing that other people have a brother but her own brother does not, fearing that Xue Pan will be laughed at, she hurriedly nodded and said with a serious face:

"Okay, you must be a very good one, and don't let them anger you."

Hearing the childish words, the adults around all laughed, only Xue Pan was still serious, stretched out his hand, and hooked fingers with Xue Baochai, and then smiled.

At this time, the woman in charge came to report that it was time to eat, and the whole family sat together with He Meimei and had a reunion dinner.

To say that Xue Pan moved to the outer courtyard was really not his whim, it was really the master's intention. According to the master, he is almost eight years old now, and besides learning to study, he should also learn to socialize In terms of human relations, taking advantage of this chess competition, I can make friends with some scholars, which will be good for his future imperial examinations and official career.The younger the friends you make, the more likely you are to become confidantes and helpers in the future.

After hearing the reason given by his master, Xue Pan's first reaction was Jia Baoyu.Of course, the relationship between the Xue family and the Jia family is really not good at this time. If there is any good relationship in the future, he feels that as long as his father is still there, he can still avoid it. Who made Jia Zheng have nothing now? Rongguo Mansion is now the head of the family!Who made Jia Wang's faceless and shameless, and his reputation plummeted!Such a family, as long as it loves a daughter, will not marry into it.

It's just that the old lady of the Jia family is still alive, and the Jia family still bears the honorable name. No matter how poor the second wife of the Jia family is, they are also the heirs of the Duke. Looking for a daughter-in-law among other people, it is very likely that their own family will be their favorite. Whoever makes the family of the four families, the Xue family has a low status!Who made this family the most valuable line of the Xue family!Who made the family rich!With just these three points, he felt that he had to prevent the Jia Wang family from having a fever that day and plotting against himself again.

For the safety of his own family, Xue Pan fully adhered to the principles of fire prevention, theft prevention and Jia family protection, and prepared to block all possibilities in all directions.

He doesn't know whether Jia Baoyu is still being raised by the old lady of the Jia family as a daughter, but just because he doesn't know doesn't mean he has no countermeasures!Since he moved out and lived outside, he has established strict family rules and the concept of etiquette. When he arrives, if one day his family arrives in the capital and Jia's again, when Jia Baoyu enters the back house, his family will It is completely possible to use etiquette as a weapon to avoid many unnecessary entanglements.By the way, I can also step on it, and despise that the rules of the Duke's family are not as strict as their royal merchant's family.

If the Jia family has experienced the toss of the elders of the Jia family, and the old lady can still insist on keeping Baoyu by her side, then waiting for the news to get in hand, she can still go through a lot of tossing, and if she doesn't completely trample on the second room, Xue Pan thinks he will Unable to live in peace, I always feel that my money may fly away.

Of course, this is from a long-term perspective. From a close-up perspective, Xue Pan also has his own considerations. During the time when Xue Xun was not at home, he had long-term contacts with managers, shopkeepers, and accountants. It is not easy for him to enter the inner courtyard, if he still lives inside, it will be very inconvenient for him to come and go, if he lives outside, it will save him some trouble!In a place where he needs to exercise for a while every day, no matter what kind of archery is among the six arts of a gentleman, he also wants to learn horseback riding and other self-defense skills. It is his world.

Speaking of which, judging from the content of what he has learned and the experience of dealing with outside affairs, the ancients said that seven-year-old men and women have different seats. A different meaning for each study life.

Generally speaking, our children are enlightened at the age of six to seven, because a child who can live to this age can basically be sure that the child will be supported. The happy thing is almost a difficult step, a symbol of a person who is about to grow up, start to understand, and start to assume certain responsibilities and obligations.

Waiting for Kaimeng to study, naturally the child needs to have a study room, a wife, his own private space, make friends, and have his own social hobbies. The process of coming out can be regarded as letting people outside know that there is such a child who has stopped in the family, and can start to come out on behalf of the family.

From this point of view, it is not easy for the children of the ancients. Their life expectancy is low and their survival rate is low. This makes every track of their healthy growth worthy of celebration, just like crowning, that is a complete coming-of-age ceremony Same.That means that the child has been able to bear legal responsibilities, and can bear a family, or even a family.

As for girls, when they reach the age of six or seven, they also start to grow their hair. They are no longer children with blurred gender, but need to start learning some things that girls should learn. From this age, to thirteen or fourteen , in the age when girls got engaged in ancient times, these girls need to learn a lot, from female celebrity, rules, etiquette, housekeeping, accounting, even the skills of imperial servants, the means of training servants, etc., it is not easy course.Some people may ask, aren't girls 15 years old and then get married?That's true, but getting married and being engaged are two different things. It's not that they don't advocate flash marriages, but that they can't help it. Marriage in ancient times was more troublesome than modern ones. Starting from wood, it takes time to make jewelry, fabrics, etc. In ancient times, making furniture was all handmade. When it comes to exquisite furniture, it was all custom-made. You need to go to the man to watch the house and measure the size. How much time do you think it will take to get started?For example, the thousand-work bed in the south of the Yangtze River needs a thousand days, that is, three years, and the girl's wedding dress, which also needs to be embroidered by myself, and there are other bits and pieces, what? Drapes, countless sets of clothes, handkerchiefs, shoes, counting all the fingers, may not be enough, all of these need to be done within a few years after the engagement, so it is no longer about whether you want a flash marriage or not. It's something, but it doesn't get up fast at all.

And this less than seven years, from the age of seven to thirteen or fourteen, is the time for this girl to learn all useful skills. Think about the huge study plan, think about the needs of this big family girl after she gets married. You are right, I can only say that these seven years are really tight, and it is really not easy to learn everything and learn well.

Not everyone is like the Jia family, who treats girls as pets and raises them as Yangzhou skinny horses, and not everyone is like them, dragging girls until they are fifteen or sixteen and not telling them. Those who love their daughters, even if they are not hurting their daughters, but for the sake of fame, will not do so.

Therefore, in Xue Pan's view, the so-called living apart at the age of seven is entirely because of the difference in the content of their studies, in order to better restrain their tempers and let them study with peace of mind.

Of course, no matter what Xue Pan thinks in his heart, no matter how many years after his Xiao Jiujiu fights, this is something later, the key is that now he has moved, and his father is back.

When the meal was over, Xue Xun ignored his tiredness and took Xue Pan to the courtyard where he lived now, saying in his mouth:

"If you haven't kept up, let your father take a test to see how you've improved."

"Yes."

Xue Pan didn't dare to talk back, seeing that Xue Xun didn't know where he was going for a moment, he simply went to the front to lead the way, and waited until he arrived at Xue Pan's room. As soon as Xue Xun came in, he began to look around, looking east and west, Xue Pan I immediately understood in my heart that I was here to see his study, and I was obviously worried. I was afraid that my living would not be as comfortable as before, and I had to see it with my own eyes to be at ease!

Thinking of this, Xue Pan felt warm in his heart, couldn't help getting closer to Xue Xun, stepped forward and pulled Xue Xun's sleeve, licked his face and said:

"Father! Good father! Look, my son has just moved here. There is nothing else. Mom has cleaned up the house very well, but I always feel that the yard is a bit empty. Look, should they give it to me?" I plant some things in this yard, such as a tree or something, which is convenient for shading and looks comfortable!"

Hearing his son's rambunctious words, Xue Xun couldn't help but want to kick him:

"What kind of sunshade, what kind of comfort, I see, your butt is itchy, maybe you want to climb a tree again? Don't give me a moth, it's a business to study well, by the way, what kind of big competition are you, how did you raise it?" ?”

Knowing his son is better than his father, he still doesn't know his son's restless temperament, he can't be used to it, he hastily picked up a new topic, and didn't give Xue Pan a little time to act coquettishly, and Xue Pan straightened his expression immediately, very He seriously took something from the desk and handed it to him:

"I know what father wants to ask when he comes back, son. The process and thoughts of this matter are all written down. Take a look, is there anything inappropriate? Since father is back, it is naturally father who decides this matter, son I just want to follow along to see and see. The master said, it’s time for me to go out and gain some knowledge. By the way, my son will also participate in this competition, so I can take the opportunity to see if it is possible to make friends with a few people."

Xue Pan was very sensible and serious about this matter, and knew that it was not appropriate for him to come forward because he was young, so he simply took it all out and taught it to his father, and said his request calmly, which was neither abrupt nor reasonable. Xue Xun couldn't help nodding his head, waiting to open the booklet, seeing his son's handwriting that was obviously very progressive, Xue Xun was even more satisfied:

"You have really made progress now. The word has a certain shape. It seems that I am not here, and you have worked hard. In this case, let's relax for a while. I will let you try it, but don't delay your homework."

In Xue Xun's eyes, nothing is as important as studying. Fortunately, he is somewhat knowledgeable and knows how powerful his connections are, so he naturally won't stop his son from thinking like this.

Looking at Xue Xun who looked tired but still smiling very satisfied, Xue Pan couldn't help but leaned forward and said a heartwarming sentence:

"Father! My son is very powerful. Just wait until your son is successful. I will make you happy every day. Earn a lot of money and spend it as you like."

No matter how their children are, as long as they are parents, they like to hear such words, and Xue Xun is the same. Hearing Xue Pan's sensible, caring, and filial words, he couldn't help softening, and stretched out his hand to rub his son's chubby Head, very pleased to say:

"Okay, dad is waiting, waiting to enjoy the blessings. Dad is not short of money. As long as you are promising, dad will be happy even if he eats chaff."

After talking about it, Xue Xun already had tears in his eyes, and he couldn't help thinking in his heart, it would be great if this child was born a few years earlier, even if it was five years earlier, I'm afraid he can feel at ease at this time.However, such a child is easy to find. It is not in vain to be so filial, so smart and sensible.