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  "That child is so pitiful." Xia Dagu said about Xia Zhi's difficulties in the Xia family. Then she glanced at Guo Shu and told him again how Xia Zhi had helped Xia Lao Tai Tai and Xiao Hei Yu'er. "My mother suffered a lot for me, otherwise I wouldn't have made it... Now it's just her and this little brother that worry me..."

  Guo's uncle's face improved a bit, he raised his hand to stop Xia Dagu from continuing to speak. "It's hard for this sixteen-year-old kid. A dressing box, in our store, would sell for only three or four taels of silver. Our cost is just two taels and a few cents. Giving it to that child is nothing, nothing... This dressing box sells well, both the Wu and Wang families have run out of stock, they want me to allocate some goods to them, I didn't agree... We can get these goods, thanks to our old relationships..."

  Chattering on and on, she talked for a long time without stopping.

  Xia Dagu didn't understand Guo Gufu's meaning, but she had received Xia Laotaitai's instructions to highly value Xia Zhi. Therefore, she just listened to Guo Gufu's nagging and didn't say anything.

  Changsheng pushed open the door curtain and came in, placing the dressing box he was holding in his hands on the kang table for Xia Dagu and Guo Aunt to see.

  Guo's uncle opened the dressing box and saw that inside, in addition to the comb, there was a box of rouge, a box of fragrant powder, and some bright hair ribbons and hair flowers, all very delicate. The things that Xia Dagu had not mentioned in her previous instructions were all prepared by Changsheng.

  Guo's uncle clicked his tongue, looked up at his son, then glanced at Xia Dagu again, and restrained himself from saying anything.

  "Everything is ready." Xia Dagu said and took the dressing box to the west room.

  ……

  "Eldest aunt, is this for me?" Xia Zhi looked at the dressing box that Eldest Aunt Xia was holding in front of her.

  This dressing case is the same style as the one on Pearl's dresser, but Pearl's has pink filled-in peony flowers and this one has bright red filled-in plum blossoms.

  "It's for you. Your uncle was worried that you wouldn't be used to doing things here, so he specially asked me to bring this for you to use. It's the same as your cousin Pearl's." Xia Dagu said with a smile, and then asked Xia Zhi to open the makeup box and take a look. "Take a quick look, isn't it precious?"

  "Sixteen, your aunt and uncle gave it to you, just take it. Open it quickly and see." Little Black was urging Xia Zhi on the side. Xia Da Gu gave Xia Zhi something, he looked even happier than when he got something himself.

  Summer solstice opened the makeup box.

  The top layer of the three-tiered makeup box should be for storing hair accessories, inside which there are a set of combs and brushes, white ceramic bottles of hair oil, red, pink, blue hair ribbons, and hair flowers.

  The second layer should be for jewelry, and the space at the very bottom is slightly larger, with a lock on the outside.

  The entire makeup box is both exquisite and practical.

  Pearl leaned over, took a glance inside the makeup box, and her small face turned slightly gloomy. Summer's aunt didn't know if she had seen it or not, but she ignored Pearl and only asked Summer to put away the makeup box, then told him that those hairpins, hair oil, and flowers were all chosen by her for him.

  "I don't know what you like, so I picked out the kind that little girls like to buy. If you're not satisfied, tomorrow Pearl will take you to the store and you can pick some yourself."

  "Sister, you've picked a good one." Little Black took charge for Xia Zhi, "Sixteen, hurry up and take it, I think this is just right. When I make money in the future, I'll buy an even bigger and better one for you."

  Zhenzhu couldn't help but hum a soft tune beside him.

  Xiao Hei Yu'er heard that and glanced at Pearl. After thinking for a moment, he felt that his niece might be reasonable. "Pearl, I'll buy it for you next time too."

  Zhenzhu's mouth twitched, as if she wanted to force a smile, but ultimately couldn't. As for her maternal grandparents' family situation, she had overheard her parents discussing it in private and was well aware of it. Her maternal grandparents didn't have much money, and they were all getting old; later on, even when her elder uncle grew up, he would still have to rely on himself. Where did he get the money from? He probably couldn't even afford his own living expenses.

  "Xiaolong still knows how to care for his younger female cousins." Xia Dagu smiled and instructed the three children to go to bed early, then left.

  Xia Zhi had seen that Pearl's face wasn't quite right from the beginning, but Xia Da Gu was very sincere and Xiao Hei Yu Er was wholeheartedly enthusiastic, so she didn't decline too much.

  Zhenzhu blew out the candle, and the three children lay down on the kang. Xiao Heiyu fell asleep in a moment. Xia Zhi was also drowsy, but then she heard Zhenzhu whispering softly beside her, something about goods worth three or four silver coins, and how much a comb from Changzhou cost. Xia Zhi secretly smiled to herself, turned over, and went to sleep.

  In the east house, after Zhang Sheng left, Xia Dagu and Guo Gufu also blew out the lights and went to bed.

  "Alas, this Changsheng is a big spender, I don't know who he takes after. This family business will eventually be handed over to him, how can I rest assured?"

  "Long life and good eyesight."

  "Uncle Guo sighed again: 'It's just that you're too kind-hearted and your hands are too soft.'"

  Xia Dagu knew why Guo Gufu said this, so she consulted with him: "My mother's family is just a few people, and no one usually comes to bother us. Just these two children came this time, and it's unknown when they will come again next year. I've talked to Zhangsheng's mother, and we can't treat them unfairly."

  "I didn't let you lose two children," said Uncle Guo in a low voice.

  "This is what I had in mind. Today, give a dressing box to Sixteen. If you really can't bear it, I'll give you the money." Xia Dagu's tone was still calm and flat, without any anger.

  Uncle Guo however sensed something was off: "What's with 'your money, my money', aren't they all just our family's money? I'm not such a petty person, you're saying this isn't frustrating?"

  "Alright, alright, you're not stingy, so don't mention this matter again." Xia Dagu smiled and stopped talking about giving money. "... Apart from that, I also plan to make a set of clothes for Xiaolong and Shiliu, which won't cost much either. Then there's nothing else to spend on. The two kids are just like having two more chopsticks at home. I still have some face in this family."

  "What nonsense is this! Whatever you say, whatever you say."

  The couple chatted for a while longer about family matters before finally settling down.

  Early in the morning, Xia Zhi got up and opened her dressing box. She only took out the comb and used it, leaving everything else untouched. Xia Dagu came over early to see them off and was delighted to see that Xia Zhi and Xiao Heiyu were all packed up neatly.

  Xia Zhi returned the dressing box to Xia Dagu. "Dagu, I can use the comb and hairpin, so I'll keep them. The other things are of no use to me, it would be a waste if you gave them to me."

  As he spoke, Xia Zhi glanced at Pearl with the corner of his eye. Pearl was sitting in front of the dressing table combing her hair, but her ears were listening to the movements on Xia Zhi's side. Hearing Xia Zhi say this, her face looked a bit unusual.

  Yesterday, Xia Zhi happily received the items, but this morning she didn't want them anymore. Xia Zhi's reason seemed plausible, saying that she liked them at first sight and took them, but now when she needs to use them, she finds they're not needed, so she returned them to her.

  But how could Xia Dagu believe such words. She wasn't unaware of her daughter's temperament. Xia Dagu still had a smiling face and didn't go to look at the pearl, she just stuffed the dressing box back into Xia Zhi's hands again.

  "What's the point of being so careful? You're like this even with your aunt, she'll get angry."

  Xia Dagu's attitude was one of intolerance and refusal. Xia Zhi hesitated slightly, but Xiao Heiyu had already taken the dressing box from her hand and placed it on the kang. "Sister, don't bother with Sixteen. I'll handle her."

  "It's supposed to be like this." Xia Dagu smiled and went to the kitchen to see about breakfast.

  The little black fish drooped its eyelids and only said two words to Xia Zhi: "Hold on."

  Xia Zhi nodded silently. If she said anything more, Xiao Hei would definitely explode, and someone would be in trouble then.

  The breakfast at Xia Dagu's house is relatively simple, with millet porridge, steamed buns filled with pork and pickled vegetables, fried peanuts, salted duck eggs, and two or three small dishes.

  Guo's uncle hastily finished his meal and took Changsheng to the front. Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu had their meal, then sat together in low voices discussing matters.

  "What are you two whispering about?" Xia Dagu asked with a smile, and then told the two children, "Today Changsheng has something to do. You two were tired from taking the bus yesterday. Today, stay home and play, and tomorrow let Changsheng take you out for a stroll."

  Xia Zhi said to Xia Da Gu: "Auntie, I and Uncle want to go out for a stroll by ourselves."

  "How can that be!" Xia Dagu immediately said, "This is not a rural area, the surrounding villages are all related. You two can go anywhere without any problem. This prefecture city is big, with many and mixed people, there are all kinds of people. If you get lost outside, encounter bad people, what will you do?"

  "We won't go wandering around everywhere." Xia Zhi smiled and consulted with Xia Da Gu, "I and Old Uncle just want to go take a look at Wen Shan Book Academy."

  Xia Dagu understood: "Sixteen, do you want to go see your father?" Xia Zhi had just arrived in the capital and wanted to go see Xia Xiucan, which was reasonable.

  "My father is probably very busy. I'll just go to the academy and take a look, it won't delay my father's important business." Xia Zhi said. She wanted to go to the academy to handle some things, whether or not she saw Xia Xiucai was secondary. But this couldn't be said to Eldest Aunt Xia.

  The little black fish also chimed in, saying they absolutely wouldn't wander off and get lost. Moreover, they planned to bring Da Qing along. With Da Qing around, they weren't afraid of encountering bad people.

  Xia Dagou hesitated, and just then Changsheng came in from outside and overheard their conversation.

  "Otherwise, I'll send my uncle and Sixteen over," Changsheng said.

  Xia Zhi just heard Xia Dagu say that Chang Sheng had something on his mind, so he didn't want to bother him. "Just tell us how to get there and we'll go slowly."

  "Wenshan Academy is in the east of the city, it's not close from here. You two little kids can't make it there on foot." Xia Dagou said as she glanced at Changsheng.

  Changsheng said again that he wanted to send Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu'er over.

  Xia Zhi thought for a moment, if she didn't let Chang Sheng send her off, Xia Da Gu would definitely not be at ease letting her and Xiao Hei Yu go by themselves, even if they were accompanied by Da Qing. But she had to leave early for Wen Shan Academy, there were some things that couldn't wait.

  "Or else, let's do it this way." Xia Zhi thought of a perfect solution. "Brother Changsheng can send us to Wenshan Academy and then come back, so he won't be delayed from his own business. I and Uncle plan to stay at Wenshan Academy for a day, and when we return in the evening, my father will definitely have arranged everything for us, and Brother Changsheng won't need to pick us up either."

  Send two children to Wenshan Academy, and the rest don't have to worry about it. Xia Dagou thought this method was not bad, so she nodded.

  Xia Zhi took the purse, Xiao Hei Yu led Da Qing, and the two children followed Zhang Sheng to the front yard. The horse carriage was already ready, it turned out that Zhang Sheng was originally going out.

  "First send you two to Wenshan Academy, then I'll go and take care of things." Sitting in the carriage heading east into the city, Da Liu drove the carriage while Changsheng accompanied Xia Zhi and Xiao Heiyu inside.

  The curtain of the carriage did not fall, and Xia Zhi looked at the scenery on both sides of the street while secretly memorizing the road. Da Qing lay on the crossbeam of the carriage, looking left and right, and occasionally sniffing with his nose. He was also very good at remembering roads.

  Changsheng followed Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu Er to introduce them to the prefectural city.

  "There are two big surnames in our prefecture, Old Uncle, Sixteen, you know that?"

  "I know." Little Black Fish answered hastily. He wasn't clear about anything else, but he had heard of this matter. "It's East City Li and West City Tian, right?"

  "That's right." Changsheng smiled and carefully told Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu about the origin of this sentence.

  The two most famous and influential households in the prefecture city are the Li family, who are known for their scholarly heritage. The ancestors of the Li family were two brothers who both passed the imperial examination and became officials in the imperial court. The older brother rose to the position of Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion and became the chief assistant to the emperor, while the younger brother became the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief and was later appointed as the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, one of the most powerful officials in the imperial court.

  The two brothers later retired and returned to their hometown, where they jointly established a private academy to teach the children of their family. This is now known as Wenshan Academy. The descendants of the Li family have been passing down the tradition of studying for imperial examinations from generation to generation. Although none of them became prime ministers after the two brothers, more than ten of them became Hanlin scholars, and each generation had officials who held high-ranking positions in the imperial court.

  Now, the Wenshan Academy is no longer just a family school of the Li family, but also accepts students from all over the world. The descendants of the Li family have been thriving in the city for generations, with many branches and leaves. Because they mainly live together in the east of the city, they are called Dongcheng Li.

  Xichengtian is the second largest household of the Li surname in the prefectural city after Fucheng.

  In terms of wealth and population, the Tian family is not inferior to the Li family. The reason why they are ranked after the Li family is that the Li family has a noble origin, while the Tian family originated from business. Nowadays, many young men in the Tian family also take the imperial examination route and become officials in the court, but overall, their foundation and main wealth still lie in commerce.

  Almost all the big shops in Xicheng are surnamed Tian, and Li and Tian families are intermarried, with a complex network of relatives. East City is rich and wealthy, while West City is rich and noble.

  "It seems that this prefecture is indeed the world of the Li and Tian families." Xia Zhi nodded slightly after listening to Chang Sheng's words.

  As they spoke, the carriage had already entered the eastern part of the city and soon arrived at the entrance of Wenshan Academy. Wenshan Academy, as its name suggests, was named after being built on Wenshan Mountain.

  According to Changsheng, Wenshan was not originally called Wenshan, but rather Qiushan, because the mountain is not high. It was two ancestors of the Li family who took a liking to this place, planted trees extensively on the mountain, and enclosed the surrounding land to establish an academy. They thought Qiushan sounded unpleasant, so they changed it to Wenshan. The academy was also called Wenshan Academy.

  The path into the mountain is a bluestone road that can accommodate two horse-drawn carriages side by side with plenty of room to spare.

  Xia Zhi made Long Sheng stop the carriage at the gate of the academy.

  (。)