The next page is Xing Ge’er’s words, explaining the situation of the four people in the Su family, a boy who is the grandson of Uncle Su Da, and a boy of the same generation as you and me in Uncle Su San’s family…

　　He said that he really couldn’t pick out the smart ones, and they all looked timid and afraid to talk. He thought he could teach them because they were young, and he didn’t know if four was too many, so he would send them back. As for the two brothers, I felt sorry for them. If they stayed in the Su’s family, the men would eat first, and they couldn’t even fill their stomachs. When they grew up and got married, they would definitely not be able to find a good family. They all had a pitiful life.

　　It’s still possible to pick girls, but my boy is as poor as the Su family, so he really has no choice. When he grows up, he can only marry into an even poorer family, work like a slave for the family and do housework. He will definitely have to work in the fields. If he is exhausted and cannot have children, he will be treated harshly. It will be such a cycle, and the ending is obvious.

　　After reading this, Li Zhouzhou realized that two of the four people were boys.

　　The last page is Xiaotian’s letter, thanking Uncle Li, Brother Zhou Zhou and Lord Gu. He is studying medicine in Ping’an Town. His master said that he will be able to graduate in three years. By then, he wants to open a clinic in Ningsong Town. His master has found a wife for him. He asked his father during the New Year and told him the situation. If all goes well, they can get married next year.

　　They are all happy events.

　　After listening to it, Li Da said, “The letter says it will be paid next year, so it will be this year. Father Xiaotian has finally made it through, and his life is getting better and better. And Guangzong has also become a father, so I have to reply to the letter and ask the caravan to bring it back this year, along with some gifts.”

　　”I know.” Li Zhouzhou took a pen and paper to write. Dad wanted to say it now. The words were on the tip of his tongue, so he might as well write them down now. Anyway, the four children were still eating and there was no rush.

　　Li Da said little, just a few words, congratulations to Li Er on his granddaughter, hope everything is fine, Li Jianan is young and you are right, he should be given two years to study, it is more reassuring to have more money saved at home, I remember you worked hard on the snow on my roof, I will go back to visit if I have the chance in the future.

　　Li Zhouzhou added some words, such as telling his second uncle to let Guangzong’s wife take good care of herself first and not to give birth too fast, as it would hurt her easily. He thought about it and decided not to write “boy or girl, both are fine”, and not to be too biased.

　　Because writing is useless. If Guangzong’s wife is obsessed with giving birth to a boy, it is useless to say it with his mouth, especially since everyone in the village has this idea and will be laughed at if she doesn’t have a boy. Maybe the second aunt will also express some disappointment that her daughter-in-law gave birth to a granddaughter. In any case, the surrounding environment is here and they are far away from each other. Saying a specific change will not have any impact.

　　Li Zhouzhou decided that next time he would ask the caravan to take a letter back to Guangzong’s daughter Jiuyue, a gift that should be a bit expensive and good, like a longevity lock, with Jiuyue’s name on it, to make it look more girly.

　　In this way, if Jiuyue is valued, the second uncle’s family will definitely be affected. If this granddaughter is valued, Jiuyue’s mother will not treat this girl harshly, right?

　　Even if she has a son in the future, this girl will never have a miserable life.

　　After Li Zhouzhou finished writing, he put it aside and tidied it up. Mother Lan said that the young masters had finished eating and washed up, and there was hot water boiling in the pot.

　　”I’ll go and take a look.”

　　The door to the west wing was wide open, and the smell of food had dissipated. When the four members of the Su family saw people coming, they immediately stood in line, their faces clean. Li Zhouzhou couldn’t tell which two were the brothers at all.

　　”Now tell me your names one by one. What is your name? What’s your father’s ranking in the Su family? I’m Li Zhouzhou, so I’m your cousin and uncle.” One of the brothers is the grandson of my eldest uncle, which means he is a generation younger than him.

　　The four of them still had the taste of meat in their mouths after eating. Even during the Chinese New Year, they couldn’t finish a big bowl of white flour noodles, not to mention that each bowl was filled with large slices of braised duck meat, which was so delicious.

　　Before, they could see some meat in Fuxian, but it was all the meat soup and scraps left over from business. The four of them couldn’t even find their tongues to eat the delicious food while holding the bowls. They dreamed that this was not a good life. If they could stay in Fuxian to help Brother Shitou, they would be willing to do anything.

　　But the two men refused to accept them and said they would send them to Beijing.

　　The four of them had never been to Beijing and were really afraid. Beijing was even farther away than the prefectures and counties. But Uncle Xing’er said that if they were efficient, hardworking and listened to their cousin Uncle Zhou Zhou, they would be blessed in Beijing.

　　The four people kept these words in mind. They walked all the way from the prefecture to the capital, their feet became blistered, they slept in the wilderness, and ate dry food and drank cold water only sporadically, yet they persevered.

　　Actually it’s not that hard or tiring, it’s the same as working at home.

　　But when they followed the manager to the gate of the courtyard and came in, the four of them became scared and panicked. This house was so big and grand, and it sounded even more beautiful than the houses of the big masters in the town. They were so clumsy and knew nothing, what would happen if they were sent back for being useless?

　　So I sat down nervously when told to, and was told to eat until 80% full – I didn’t understand what 80% full meant, but after finishing a bowl of rice even though I was still hungry and greedy, I didn’t dare to ask for another bite, and I just washed the dishes when I was told to.

　　When the four of them were questioned, they timidly gave their names one by one.

　　Cao’er, Goudan, Shuanzi and Xiaohe.

　　Cao’er and Xiaohe are brothers, Cao’er is thirteen and Xiaohe is twelve. Xiaohe is the grandson of his eldest uncle. Goudan is Xiaohe’s uncle, and they are both from the eldest branch of the Su family. The eldest Su is the oldest and has the most children in the family, a bunch of them.

　　Shuanzi is from the third brother’s family.

　　The two boys were about fourteen or fifteen years old.

　　After asking the names, Li Zhouzhou confirmed with them and let Cao’er and Xiaohe sleep in this room. The two boys next door slept in another room. After they went to the bathroom to wash up, he helped the two brothers wash and combed their hair thoroughly.

　　”Cao’er and Xiaohe, wash first.” said Li Zhouzhou.

　　The two little ones followed Li Zhouzhou obediently.

　　The bathroom at home was in the wing next to the west wing. Mother Lan had already prepared a large bucket of hot water, soapberries, and a bath scrubber made of loofah.

　　Mother Lan was surprised to know that these two were brothers. She couldn’t tell at all. Then they didn’t leave after adding water and he asked her to serve the two young masters.

　　”Just call them by their names. I’ll do the washing. Mother Lan, boil some more hot water. I think one bucket is not enough. Bring the basin here as well. Wash them first in the basin.” Li Zhouzhou has experience in how to wash.

　　When he worked in the fields, he was as dirty as a mud man. If he just soaked in the bucket, the water in it would be wasted. He first used a wooden basin to fill with hot water to scrub it several times, then soaked it in hot water and rubbed it. After applying the soapberry, it became clean and refreshed.

　　Mother Lan closed the door and went out.

　　Cao’er and Xiaohe were both well-behaved. They took off their clothes when asked to do so very quickly. Knowing that they were given a bath, they did not dare to ask Li Zhouzhou for help, saying that they could wash themselves.

　　”There’s hot water in this basin. Rub each other’s hair together twice.” Li Zhouzhou rolled up his sleeves and took a look at their hair. It was dry and yellow, but also tangled. The comb couldn’t comb it out, and there were white fleas and lice on it. It would take a lot of time to clean them one by one.

　　”Shall I twist both of your hair first?”

　　The two are still young, so it doesn’t matter if the hair is cut shorter.

　　Cao’er and Xiaohe naturally had no problem with this and nodded quickly.

　　After all the cleaning, Mother Lan carried the dirty water buckets and took out one bucket at a time. It took more than half an hour for Cao’er and Xiaohe to be washed clean from head to toe.

　　The two were wearing clean clothes, and their hair was long enough to be below the ears. Although it was frizzy, their scalps were refreshed and no longer itchy. Two skinny little faces and two pairs of big eyes looked at Li Zhouzhou. Although they couldn’t say anything clever, their expressions were full of gratitude.

　　”Go outside to the yard to dry your hair.”

　　Li Zhouzhou said.

　　It was the boys’ turn, so Li Zhouzhou couldn’t wash his hair. He asked his father to help him. “There are too many lice in their hair. I can’t comb them out, so I’ll just pinch them out first.”

　　Li Da meant the same thing. There is Fubao at home, so he has to wash him thoroughly.

　　The Li family’s yard spent the whole morning in washing and cleaning.

　　On the other hand, Gu Zhao also felt restrained when eating at a banquet in the palace, because all the officials present were of higher rank than him, much higher. He sat at the back, but for some reason, there were still people who came to greet him. Most of them were senior and older, and they were his elders, and they put on airs and praised him.

　　It’s not a small talk. Small talks are exchanges of polite compliments, and now it’s like the Chinese New Year, when relatives and elders at home praise you: you have a good final grade this time, you performed well, and you have a bright future, etc.

　　Gu Zhao only needed to be a humble, low-key and respectful junior, smile and respond, “You are right, you are right.” These simple words of agreement would do.

　　But smiling is also very tiring.

　　Gu Zhao was sitting with second brother Yan and Du Ruoqi. When the emperor was not here yet, the banquet was held outdoors and the officials and princes were relatively relaxed, without so many rules. After all, the name of Emperor Kang Jing’s banquet was “a lively and lively family gathering between the monarch and his subjects.”

　　Now, only officials arrived in the morning. The princes arrived a little later. When the emperor arrived around noon, the banquet began. There was eating, drinking, singing and dancing performances, and birthday gifts from the princes. The previous part was almost over. The emperor left first, and before leaving, he asked all the ministers to relax and have fun together. The officials did not really come to the banquet, so they stayed for about half an hour and then left the palace one after another.