Not long after Auntie left, news came from Jiangnan.

  The whole family was thrown into an uproar at once.

  The eldest maternal aunt could not withstand this blow and fell ill in bed, the third maternal aunt took charge of the household chores. The third maternal uncle took the second elder brother Yu Chang to Yangzhou to handle the aftermath of the eldest paternal uncle's death, the fourth elder brother Rong Chang assisted the sixth paternal uncle in managing the family affairs, and my grandfather seemed to have aged ten years overnight, lying on the drunkard's chair in his study every day, staring blankly.

  The atmosphere in both the east and west rooms is very depressing.

  These couldn't affect Du Zhao. She still dragged everything she liked into her own house every day. Du Shiying laughed at her: "Not going to visit your sister?"

  "Wang's aunt doesn't like me visiting my sister." Du Zhao pouted, with a face full of indifference, but with a hint of sadness in her eyes.

  Dou Shiying's heart skipped a beat, she didn't say anything, but stretched out her hand to gently stroke Dou Zhaowu's black hair and said in a low voice: "Alright, Daddy will teach you how to write."

  Dòu Zhāo asked Dòu Shìyīng: "When is grandma coming?"

  The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and she hopes to have a conversation with her grandmother during the festival.

  Dòu Shìyīng's eyebrows slightly furrowed as she asked, "Who told you to call Cui Niangniang 'Grandmother'?"

  The cave is dark and gloomy.

  The grandmother should have been called "grandmother" after the birth of Duan Xiao, she has lived with her grandmother since she was sensible, and in her memory, she always calls her grandmother "grandmother", but forgets this one.

  "What else can I call her except grandma?"

  "Call Aunt Cui!" Dou Shiying patiently instructed her daughter, "Your uncle has passed away, everyone's mood is not good, and this year's Mid-Autumn Festival may not be grandly celebrated. Aunt Cui might stay in the countryside to spend the holiday." She then asked her, "Why do you want to see Aunt Cui?"

  Dong Zhaodao said: "They say Cui Ayi can farm!"

  Dong Shiying burst out laughing: "Not bad, your Aunt Cui is very good at serving the crops, her fields have always been the most profitable among our family's several fields." When he said this, his eyes were a bit dazed.

  Perhaps this is the sorrow of being born as a concubine.

  Dong Zhao no longer spoke of these things with his father and instead pulled him into the study room to practice calligraphy.

  That year's August 15th, everyone just shared mooncakes, compared to previous years when they would admire the moon and watch lanterns, it was much more subdued.

  The maidservants were all secretly discussing: "This mourning period doesn't know when it will end!"

  By the end of September, Eldest Uncle's coffin was transported back to Zhending County.

  The Duan family wore mourning attire and half of Zhengding County was dressed in white.

  The county magistrate of Zhen Ding County and the sixth uncle, father personally welcomed the coffin of the eldest uncle at the city gate, while the grandfather and the second lady did not attend the funeral as seniors.

  Dou Zhao met his ninth elder brother Dou Huan Chang, also known as "Lan Ge Er".

  He was sixteen years old, thin and pale, trembling with fear in front of his uncle's spirit tablet as he thanked the mourners, but when he turned around, he rushed into his grandfather's arms and burst out crying: "Dad spat up a lot of blood..."

  His grandfather's eyes were immediately filled with tears, and he hugged his shoulders and comforted him in a low voice: "Good boy, follow Uncle Grandfather to study from now on."

  Dò Huánchāng nodded, and his eyes looking at his grandfather were filled with a deep affection.

  Dong Zhaoleng coldly smiled.

  Grandfather spoiled Father and now he's coming to harm Big Uncle.

  No wonder Dou Huanchang has been studying for nearly twenty years and still hasn't become a jinshi!

  She gritted her teeth and persisted in practicing 300 characters every day.

  Dò Huánchāng was very friendly to Dò Zhāo - just the two of them wore heavy mourning clothes at home.

  He often gave Dou Zhao the delicious food made by his eldest aunt to taste, and Dou Zhao's attitude towards him also gradually softened.

  It was soon the twelfth month of the lunar year, and Dou Zhao's mother was going to hold a minor ancestral worship ceremony.

  Father will wear mourning clothes for three months, while Dun Zhao still has to wear mourning clothes for fifteen months.

  Third aunt came over and discussed with grandfather about finding a new wife for father.

  Since the death of Eldest Uncle, Eldest Aunt was no longer the matriarch of the Dou family. By rights, Second Aunt should have taken charge of the ancestral offerings, but she had to accompany Second Uncle on his official posting and could only return home with her children after settling matters for him. In the meantime, Third Aunt took care of household affairs.

  "Grandfather asked Third Aunt: 'Do you have a good family?'"

  Third Aunt thought for a moment and said, "There's a younger sister of Eldest Sister's side who often came to our house when she was young. She has good character and looks, and Eldest Sister also thinks so. Then there are the Fifth Miss of the Zhū family in East City and the granddaughter of Chen Dàgōng from Nánlóu Village. The Zhū sisters have gentle dispositions and followed their brothers to study for a few years; they're familiar with poetry, music, calligraphy, and painting. I think she can get along with Seventh Uncle. As for Chen Dàgōng's granddaughter, although I haven't seen her before, she has a reputation for being virtuous. The other families either have slightly inferior social status or are of illegitimate birth; I don't think it's necessary to consider them."

  Grandfather nodded, highly appreciating Third Aunt's ability to handle matters: "You've thought this through very thoroughly. It's absolutely out of the question for us to marry another concubine-born daughter. I think we should just settle on a young lady from the Zhu family! The daughter-in-law's natal family is too close, and sometimes that's not necessarily a good thing. Mr. Chen always thinks he's a scholar, but his actions are somewhat pedantic; girls raised in such families often turn out to be rather dull."

  Third Aunt smiled and stood up: "Then I'll go greet the people from various families. Who do you think should come to take a look on your side?"

  Since Auntie Ding was humiliated in the hall, she claimed to be ill and refused to come out. The original servant girl Autumn Fragrance who served Auntie Ding now attended Grandfather instead.

  Grandfather was also somewhat embarrassed, thought for half a day, and said: "You just help make the decision."

  Third Aunt smiled and walked away.

  Dong Zhao was leaning over his desk made of huamu wood drawing when he heard this news.

  This house will soon welcome a new mistress, and she will also have to move out of the main room.

  Later, her mother's breath will become thinner and thinner in her life.

  She felt somewhat disheartened when she thought of these things.

  Only I don't know where Father will place her?

  Let's get back soon and let the maids start packing!

  Xi Duan is now short of a hostess for the Zhong family, and once the marriage between the two families is settled, the young ladies will likely be married into the family soon.

  Dou Zhaofang put down his pen and gently exercised his sore wrist.

  Father furrowed his brow and went to grandfather's place.

  "I don't want to remarry." He looked straight at his grandfather, his eyebrows filled with a determined persistence, "I want to give Gu Qiushou three years."

  "Preposterous!" Grandfather was furious, "How old are you now? How can you still be so ignorant?! You're the only son of our family, not thinking about quickly carrying on the family line for the Duan family, but instead learning from those dissolute rascals to be a wife-guarding widower... Do you even know what responsibility is? What duty is?" Grandfather was so angry that his whiskers were twitching, "There's no room for discussion in this matter! I'll get your third aunt and the other families to set a date soon, all you need to do is wait for the wedding!"

  Dou Zhaoyi, who was eavesdropping at the door crack, almost fell down.

  Next May, Wang Xingyi will be reinstated.

  The king's family will still have to work in the government, and they absolutely won't let their daughter become a concubine.

  If the father remarries before next May, the Wang family will either leave Du Ming at the Du's house and let Wang Yingxue return home; or they will send Wang Yingxue three feet of white silk to force her to hang herself; or they will send Wang Yingxue to a nunnery to spend the rest of her life under the cold lamp of an ancient Buddha.

  If Father does not remarry before next May...

  In his previous life, Wang Xingyi always felt that he owed a lot to his wife and children. After becoming rich and wealthy, he only lived with his old wife and never got involved with other women. He was very loving and protective of his children, doing his best to satisfy all their needs. Especially when it came to Wang Yingshuang, not only did her fiancé break off the engagement, but she also had to sacrifice her own marriage plans to help support the family, which made Wang Xingyi even more doting on Du Ming and Du Xiao than he was on his own grandchildren.

  If she had guessed correctly, Wang Xingyi would definitely find a way to let the Duan family make Wang Yingxue legitimate.

  That would make Wang Yingxue her stepmother again!

  No, no!

  This kind of thing can never be allowed to happen!

  The father must remarry before next May.

  Down with Wang Yingshuang!

  Father's attitude was firm: "Dad, if you're not afraid of offending the Zhū family, then just arrange a marriage with them. Anyway, on that day I won't show up at the wedding hall, and even if Miss Zhū marries in, I won't pay attention to her."

  "You're still rebelling!" Grandfather's face turned purple with rage, "Bang" went the sound of him smashing the teacup in his hand to the ground, "You'd better not show your face again, or see if any young lady from a respectable family can even step through our door!"

  "Father!" The father suddenly knelt down in front of his grandfather, choking with sobs, "From now on, I will listen to you in everything, just agree to this one thing for me! I know I'm the only son of the family, and you got me when you were over 40 years old, just hoping to have fun with your grandchildren and inherit the family business. Just let me be willful one last time! From now on, I will follow the rules, study hard, take the imperial examination, and bring glory to the Duan family, and have many descendants. Father, please agree to this one thing for me!"

  Father knocked his head on the ground for grandfather with a "thud thud thud" sound.

  That sound was like a knock on Duo Zhao's heart, making her feel stifled for a moment, with a hint of sourness.

  Why is it now?

  Not early for his mother's sake, nor late for his mother's sake, but just at the time when Wang Xinyi is about to recover!

  In your previous life, didn't you hastily marry Wang Yingshuai before Mother had even lived a full hundred days? Why do you want to be a good person in this life?

  It's useless to know now what should have been done before!

  Now she has everything arranged, but her father jumps out!

  What's going on here?

  Dòu Zhāo was both anxious and angry.

  A hesitant voice came from grandfather's side: "You've been waiting for her for a year... that can be considered as having done your duty..."

  "Dad, Dad," his father knocked his head, his voice grew louder, "I only ask you for this one thing, I only ask you for this one thing!"

  Dong gazed at his son's dark forehead and let out a long sigh: "If you want to guard, then guard! However, next year's imperial examination must be passed for me..."

  "Thank you, Dad! Thank you, Dad!" The father's face was full of surprise.

  Dou's face was icy cold, and when he touched it, his hand was full of water.

  ※※※※※

  In a few days, the Zhū family sent someone to deliver a message to Third Auntie, saying that Fifth Miss Zhū thought her father was a man of great loyalty and righteousness, and she was willing to wait for him for three years.

  The grandfather was overjoyed and personally selected a few sheets of jade paper from the warehouse, two inkstones, and a box of lake pens to be sent to Zhu Ju Ren by the housekeeper, praising San Bo Mu for her keen eye in judging people.

  Third Aunt puckered her mouth and smiled, asking Father: "Are these eight characters correct or not?"

  His father didn't make a sound, but his tense expression relaxed.

  Third Aunt took the letter with Father's birth date written in eight characters and went to various homes.

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  O(∩_∩)O~

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