The second last day of the month, continue to ask for pink, strive for ten thousand updates as usual.

  *****

  "Li Xia, we'd like to congratulate you." Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu both congratulated Li Xia on passing the entrance exam.

  Li Xiaofei quickly glanced at Li Shanchang and asked how Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei knew the news so soon. Xiao Hei told Li Xia that it was Xia Zhi who had Longsheng inquire about it, and they all saw the copied list.

  "You've come today, also to congratulate Fenghuai specially, right?" Li Shan Chang asked, a pair of eyes smiling and saying "very good", then turned his head to say to Li Xia, "They're showing great enthusiasm, you must treat them well."

  Li Xia didn't make a sound, he always felt that his father's words had ulterior motives. Of course, he would take good care of Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu, this was not something his father needed to remind him of. His father's meaning should be that he wanted him to work hard and get the first place in the court exam again.

  It's really something that can't be forgotten at any time. Li Xia felt a little suffocated in her heart, but when she looked up and saw Xia Zhi's smiling face, the suffocation instantly dissipated.

  "Father, is this a day off for me? This is the light I borrowed from Sixteen and Old Uncle." Li Xia said with a smile to Li Shan Chang.

  Li Shan's eyes, narrowed to a slit, blinked almost imperceptibly, and then he chuckled. "Alright, I'll give you a day off." It was as if Li Xia would stay in the study room reading contentedly if he didn't give her the day off.

  The undercurrents between father and son were surging, but Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei didn't notice. Because when Li Xia came in just now, he was talking about zongzi, so Xia Zhi pointed to the zongzi in the food box and explained it to Li Shan Chang and Li Xia.

  "I don't know which flavor of zongzi you like, so I made a few of each: plain white zongzi, sweet zongzi, and savory zongzi." Then she told Li Shan Chang and Li Xia that the ones wrapped with white thread were plain white zongzi; the ones wrapped with red thread were savory zongzi, filled with marinated five-spice pork, a salty and fragrant flavor from the south; and the ones wrapped with yellow thread were sweet zongzi, some filled with honey dates and others with red bean paste.

  "Sixteen souls are skillful." Li Shanlong praised Xia Zhi. The zongzi in the lunch box was small and lovely, just looking at it made people feel very pleased, and they couldn't bear to unwrap and eat it.

  Li Shanlong had the servant take down the food box, and by noon, they could heat up the zongzi and eat it. Li Xia glanced at her own servant and gave him a signal. The servant was very clever and quickly followed them out.

  His actions were noticed by Li Shan Chang. Li Shan Chang didn't say anything, but asked Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu if they had any other business, then told them to play freely in the academy. "Today I'm giving Feng Huang a day off, let him accompany you."

  Xia Zhi said that if it's convenient, she would like to meet Xia Xiucái.

  "This is natural." Li Shan Chang smiled and said let Li Xia arrange.

  Li Xia nodded in agreement. Li Shan was busy with his affairs, and Xia Zhi didn't want to disturb him either. The three of them bid farewell and left Li Shan's courtyard.

  Li Xia said, "Let's take Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei to find Xia Xiuciai. Mr. Xia doesn't have class now, he should be in his own courtyard." Since knowing the relationship between Xia Zhi and Xia Xiuciai, Li Xia quickly understood all about Xia Xiuciai's situation at the academy, including his schedule.

  Moreover, he could find Xia Xiuren's residence without a servant to guide him.

  "Sixteen, I've already spread the word about what you asked me to do last time." Li Xia glanced around and lowered her voice to say to Xia Zhi.

  Xia Zhi smiled and nodded, she still trusted Li Xia to handle things. "Li Xia, I'm troubling you again."

  "It's just a small matter." Li Xia smiled, then looked up and down at Xia Zhi again, but turned her head to talk to Xiao Hei Yu, "Old uncle, you're wearing new clothes today."

  "Hmm, it was made by her aunt when she was sixteen." Little Black Fish replied.

  "It looks great, where did you get it done? I'll go there next time to make clothes too." Li Xia said again.

  Xiao Hei Yu said the address and also said that Wang Jia Chou Duan Zhuang and Wang Sao Cai Feng Pu are both pretty good. "The clothes 16 wears were also made there. Li Xia, do you think they look good?"

  Li Xia turned her head again to look at Xia Zhi.

  Summer solstice smile.

  "It's quite good-looking." Li Xia glanced up at the sky and then carefully sized up Xia Zhi.

  Xia Zhi intentionally spread out her arms, allowing Li Xia to take a closer look at the clothes. "It's made quite well. However, Li Xia, you don't need to go outside to find a tailor to make your clothes."

  For a wealthy and influential family like the Li's, their own household is a complete ecosystem. For people like tailors, they shouldn't need to look outside at all. Can anyone be more reliable and obedient than those raised by themselves?

  Xia Zhi's guess was correct. Li Xia's clothes didn't need to be bought or made from outside, and they didn't even need the help of people who sew at home.

  But Li Xia didn't say that: "Sometimes when family members are busy, they also need to find an outside tailor to do things. Sixteen, this color suits you."

  "Really? I quite like this color too." Xia Zhi smiled.

  "After the rain, the sky is clear. I also have a few pieces of cloth with this color at my place. On summer solstice, if you like it, I'll send someone to bring some for you." Li Xia said again. The cloth in his house was different from what was sold outside. It was something that couldn't be bought even with money outside."

  "That's not necessary." Xia Zhi smiled and waved his hand, "However, Li Xia, your taste is good. Next time I buy fabric to make clothes, please be my advisor."

  Xia Zhi didn't want his things, which was within Li Xia's expectations. The words he just said were also from the heart, and he couldn't help but say them naturally. Xia Zhi didn't accept it, although it was expected, but still slightly frustrated. However, he quickly found the best way to deal with Xia Zhi again.

  "That's good. Are you going to give me a meal or some pocket money?" Li Xia asked with a smile.

  "Pack a meal and give me some pocket money!" Little Black Fish was first teased into giggles. He waved his small hand, making a generous promise, then glanced at Xia Zhi again.

  Xia Zhi was also amused by Li Xia. "As long as Young Master Feng Huang doesn't mind the coarse food and low wages, then there's no problem."

  "Alright, it's settled then." Li Xia said immediately, he also saw Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu exchanging glances, so he tentatively asked, "Old uncle, sixteen, are you two hiding something from me?" He deliberately ignored Xia Zhi's mention of Feng Huang Er.

  "It's a bit of a thing, let's talk about it in detail after I've seen my dad later." Xia Zhi said.

  The little black fish nodded too.

  Li Xia guessed in her heart, but couldn't guess what it was. However, Xia Zhi had something to say to him alone, and he was very happy, so he nodded happily and said yes.

  As they talked, the three of them walked up to the gate of a small courtyard.

  "It's here." Li Xia said, and took the two children into the yard.

  This is a small quadrangle courtyard. In the sky well, two pomegranate trees have been planted, and they have already set buds. There are also some very ordinary flowers and grasses that are blooming luxuriantly. The small yard is much more delicate than a farmhouse, but it looks very familiar too.

  There is someone washing clothes in the attic.

  Li Xia entered the courtyard and shouted towards the west wing, "Mr. Xia!" There was no response from the west wing, but the person washing clothes looked up. He caught sight of Li Xia at a glance and hastily stood up. "It's Young Master Li who has arrived!"

  Li Xia was taken aback for a moment, then quickly smiled and stepped forward: "Mr. Xia, why are you washing your clothes yourself?"

  Xia Zhi followed closely behind Li Xia, and at this time, she also recognized the man washing clothes as Xia Xiucái. As if afraid of getting his clothes wet, Xia Xiucái was only wearing a simple moon-white robe. He hastily stood up, his hands still dripping with water, and in his smile towards Li Xia, there seemed to be some embarrassment.

  "My clothes got dirty, I happened to have some free time, so I washed them myself." Xia Xiuciai said this as he let Li Xia into the house, "Young master, how did you happen to come over?"

  The voice was just a meal, because at this time, he saw Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu Er.

  The two children were both dressed in brand new clothes, especially Xia Zhi. Xia Zhi, who was wearing new clothes, looked unfamiliar in the eyes of Xia Xiucai. In his impression, his little daughter was just a thin one, always wearing oversized and ill-fitting clothes, because she was thin, her big eyes were particularly prominent.

  The little girl in front of him was slender and lovely, emitting a dazzling but not piercing light all over her body. This was absolutely not the timid little daughter he knew?

  But the little girl in front of me is undoubtedly Xia Zhi.

  "Sixteen? Xiao Long?" Xia Xiuzai's eyes widened in surprise.

  Xia Zhi called out "Dad", and Xiao Hei Yu also shouted "Big Brother".

  Xia Xiuzai was shocked and had many questions to ask, but he still remembered the basic courtesy, so he hurriedly invited Li Xia into the house.

  Xia Xiuzai lived with others in the west wing, he first invited Li Xia to sit in the middle hall, then busied himself pouring water and boiling tea. These things looked like he was also doing very skillfully, but don't know if it's because of being too surprised and nervous, just seemed a bit clumsy.

  Xia Zhi walked over, took the work from Xia Xiucui's hands. "Dad, you go do it, I'll take care of these." Although it was her first time here, Xia Zhi's eyes were bright and her hands moved quickly, and in a short while she had swiftly brewed tea and poured a cup for everyone. Then, she also sat down at the table.

  During this time, Li Xia was talking to Xia Xiuzai about the imperial examination. Seeing that Xia Zhi had finished his business and come over, Li Xia tactfully stood up and excused himself, saying he had something to discuss with Mr. Zhang in the eastern wing of the house next door.

  This is for them to leave space for father and daughter brothers to talk privately.

  After sending Li Xia away, Xia Xiuzai slowly walked back. Let Xia Zhi and Xiao Heiyu go to his room to talk. The furnishings in Xia Xiuzai's room were very simple, except for the things provided by the academy, there was almost nothing else. Xia Xiuzai's bedding was placed on the kang, already very old.

  Just thinking about it, Xia Xiuzai was washing clothes outside by herself. Xia Zhi knew that she had been living very frugally in the academy.

  Xia Xiuzai had Xia Zhi and Xiao Heiyu sit on the kang, while he himself sat in a chair beside his desk.

  "Xiao Long, sixteen, how did you two get here? I was just saying that after being busy for the next couple of days, I would go see you guys."

  (。)