Chapter 5

As the sun set, Xu Qinglian brought her younger brother and sister to Fushouju, where Grandfather Xu lived, to inquire about his well-being. The courtyard was filled with maids and old women, among whom were several strangers with rather nervous expressions, clearly new servants hired by the third branch of the family.

A familiar young maid lifted the curtain, and even before they entered the room, they heard laughter coming from inside. The three siblings passed through the Buddhist hall, circled around a marble screen with a hundred longevity characters, and entered the main hall.

Xu Hao looked up and saw Aunt Wang sitting beside the old lady, smiling and chatting with her. On the other side sat his cousins, and a few important housekeepers stood around to join in the conversation, creating a scene of harmonious joy.

Today, Grandfather Xu was dressed in a plain blue silk robe with a hundred butterflies embroidered on it, wearing a sable fur-trimmed brocade vest over it, and a silver-threaded pleated skirt from Xiang. She leaned back in a master chair made of old bamboo.

On her head was a white jade headband with a gold-threaded white peony, and she wore a pair of South Sea emerald earrings. Her face was lightly powdered, and her silver hair made her look especially radiant.

Seeing her three grandchildren arrive, Grandfather Xu's stern face did not change much, and she nodded slightly.

The three siblings went forward together to greet their grandmother and aunt. Aunt Wang smiled and pretended to help them up, while Xu Qinglian and Xu Hongye walked to the side to join their cousins, and maids brought chairs for them.

Xu Hao was about to turn to find a seat when he heard Grandfather Xu slowly ask, "Hao, how is your recent study progressing?"

Xu Hao was taken aback, thought for a moment, and then replied respectfully, "Grandmother, I have been a bit negligent lately, and my progress has been limited. I know I was wrong."

"Ah!" Aunt Wang looked at Xu Hao curiously and smiled, "No wonder everyone says Hao has become more sensible lately, polite and mature. Indeed, he has become more gentle and refined, unlike the mischievous child he used to be."

"Yes," Xu Hao lowered his head.

Grandfather Xu nodded and said, "You have become more steady, but I fear you are just putting on a show in front of me. Never mind, go back and study hard. Tell your parents that there is good news in the family today, and with so many people and much noise, I have a headache. They don't need to come to inquire about my well-being. It's enough to have Qinglian and the others here. I will keep them for dinner. You can go."

"Yes," Xu Hao, who had originally planned to hide his abilities, now had no such thoughts. He responded and left the main hall.

The women in the courtyard greeted him one by one, and Xu Hao smiled and responded, taking his time to leave Fushouju. As he walked out, he saw a young maid of about twelve years old hurrying over and said, "Third Young Master, the First Young Master asks you to come to the front house."

"Oh, I understand," Xu Hao turned and told Qiuxiang what Grandmother had said. Qiuxiang asked the young maid, "Who is in the front house?"

"A few young masters are there," the young maid answered very politely.

Qiuxiang frowned and said to Xu Hao, "They might be inviting you for a drink. Remember to drink less and return early."

"I know, you can go back," Xu Hao waved his hand casually and walked toward the outer house, recalling some past events as he went. In his memories, when they were young, his eldest cousin Xu Wen would take them all boating, drinking, bird hunting, and rabbit catching, and then the teacher would complain to Grandmother.

Each time, Xu Wen would escape punishment through his clever arguments, while his second cousin Xu Ji studied hard in secret. The fourth cousin, Xu Song, though the most mischievous, was the youngest and often avoided punishment. Only he would be punished every time, and when he returned home, he would be scolded by his ambitious mother.

Thus, everyone thought that the third son of the Xu family, among all the cousins, was the most mediocre, just like his father. However, there was one advantage: every brother and sister was happy to play with him, and he had the best relationships.

"Loss is a blessing," Xu Hao's lips curved into a smile as he thought of the other illegitimate brothers, who were almost invisible in the entire family. Strangely, these illegitimate brothers either died of illness or met with accidents, and none of them lived past fifteen years old.

Xu Hao had no dark thoughts about this. With Grandmother in charge, no one dared to do anything wrong. Of course, if there were any sinister deeds, he would not know about them. In any case, he had no half-brothers or half-sisters, so it was none of his business.

Soon, he left the inner house and saw Lai Bao squatting by the wall in the alley. Seeing his young master come out, Lai Bao quickly got up, patted his buttocks, and came forward.

"Fourth Young Master has prepared a feast. The First Young Master and the Second Young Master are already there, just waiting for you," Lai Bao explained with a smile.

Xu Hao laughed as he walked and said, "It seems the fourth one is doing well."

"Indeed," Lai Bao rubbed his hands in envy and exaggerated, "Fourth Young Master has always been bold. He secretly hired over twenty servants from five families, and received gifts from silver shops and stores, including a thousand taels of silver."

Xu Hao was shocked and stopped in his tracks, asking in surprise, "Really? Isn't that against the law?"

"Of course," Lai Bao said with a grin, "But it's a common practice in the official world. With our prestigious Xu family, there won't be any trouble."

Xu Hao said coldly, "If there is trouble, it won't be a small matter. The fourth one really has a big heart."

Lai Bao was unconcerned and said, "It doesn't matter to you, Young Master. Even if someone reports it, it will be the third branch's problem, not ours."

Xu Hao shook his head slowly, "We are one family, don't be so shortsighted. Do Xu Wen and Xu Ji know about this? What did they say?"

"Nothing much," Lai Bao said with a smile.

"Strange," Xu Hao was puzzled. In such a large family, there were no secrets. If the fourth one's actions were known to the brothers, they would surely have reached the ears of the elders. Why was everyone so indifferent?

Suddenly, Xu Hao's eyes lit up, and he muttered to himself, "Could it be that someone is behind the fourth one? How is that possible? Oh, I see."

Lai Bao was confused and asked, "What do you understand, Young Master?"

"Let's go, let's go, let's go," Xu Hao said three times, and without another word, he walked ahead. Lai Bao had no choice but to follow him, passing through a quadrangle courtyard and arriving at a refined pavilion named Jingxin Pavilion, used to entertain friends and relatives who enjoyed tranquility.

The eaves of the pavilion were already hung with several wind lanterns, and the courtyard was set with several tables. The warm breeze carried the scent of wine and dishes, and a group of attendants, servants, and young boys eagerly awaited Xu Hao's arrival.

Everyone cheered when they saw the third young master slowly enter. Xu Hao looked up and saw his three brothers sitting in the hall.

Xu Hao walked forward unhurriedly, and the fourth brother, Xu Song, dressed in a splendid brocade robe, stood up with a smile and said, "Third Brother, you finally came. We've been waiting for a long time."

Xu Hao smiled and bowed to Xu Wen and Xu Ji, who remained seated, and said, "I went to greet Grandmother. I was oblivious to what was happening outside. What's going on tonight?"

Xu Song pulled him to sit down and said with a smile, "We won't hide it from you, our father is going to be an official, and I, as his son, have made a bit of money. So I invited the three of you for a drink to celebrate."

Xu Wen raised a cup of wine with a strange expression and said, "Come, come, let's drink this cup together."

Xu Hao picked up the wine cup in front of him with a smile and said, "It seems we have a double celebration. Big Brother, this cup of wine should be offered to you first."

"Ah?" Xu Ji was surprised, his face turning red involuntarily, and he hurriedly said, "Where did you hear this? Strange."