Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 1026: Willing

Elder Xu looked at Xu Er’s shocked expression, his eyes narrowed and he angrily said, "What, do you dislike this marriage proposal?"

Xu Er quickly waved his hand: "No, no, hearing what father said, I think this marriage is quite good."

Gu Dexing’s family background is clean, his family receives dividends from the Gu Family’s Business, he is promising, and at a young age has become a student. Except for the fact that his mother died early and his aunt is too shrewish, there is really nothing wrong.

Xu Er just didn’t expect his own father to think of Miss Zhong.

Miss Zhong is the least prominent among the family’s several girls, sometimes he even wonders if his own father has forgotten about this granddaughter.

With a slap, Elder Xu picked up a book, threw it at Xu Er, and scolded: "I know what you’re thinking, thinking I favor the first branch and don’t care for Miss Zhong, right? I admit I am biased, who told Brother Ming to be so good at studying? Our Xu family has produced only one good scholar in several generations; we have to rely on him to enter the scholarly family, how can I not care more for the first branch?"

Then he said: "But even though I favor the first branch, I haven’t forgotten I have several grandchildren. I remember all the things about these boys and girls in my heart, and won’t truly treat anyone poorly."

Speaking of this, Elder Xu took the opportunity to say: "In the future, the family estate will allocate four-tenths to the first branch, and the remaining will be equally divided between the second and third branches. As for the marriage silver for the grandchildren, it will come from the public, the first branch’s descendants will receive an extra two-tenths marriage silver, and the second and third branches will receive two-tenths less. But Miss Zhong is the family’s first granddaughter, and I will personally add an extra two-tenths dowry from my private collection."

Then he looked at Xu Zhao Ming: "Brother Ming is the family’s first grandson and is promising. When you get married, grandfather will also give you an extra two-tenths of the dowry money."

Upon hearing these words, Xu Er and Xu Zhao Ming were shocked; they didn’t expect that Elder Xu would talk about dividing the estate so early.

Xu Er cried, tears falling and said, "Father, I didn’t mean that, you don’t have to do this, I don’t need so much of the estate."

To preserve the legitimate branch, people always value the legitimate eldest branch; historically when the family is divided, the legitimate eldest branch would receive at least seventy percent of the estate, and the rest would be equally divided among all branches.

Xu Er knew he wasn’t favored, his family’s sons and daughters weren’t as promising as the other two branches, he’d long prepared to only take one-tenth of the estate. He didn’t expect his father to give him three-tenths of the estate, he couldn’t help but cry.

"What are you crying for? Look at you being so useless, wipe your tears quickly, I hate big men shedding golden beans, it’s disgusting."

Elder Xu spoke with disdain, but he knew the goodness of his second son; the first branch was in Jiangnan for many years, the ones who accompanied him most were the second and third branches, but the one who cared for him the most was the second branch.

The second branch’s couple has always been prudent and easily satisfied, lacking the ambitions of the first branch’s couple, capable of staying in the old home to live, although he usually didn’t praise the second branch, he wouldn’t treat them poorly.

Xu Er wiped away his tears and said, "It’s my fault, father, don’t be angry."

Elder Xu no longer acknowledged him but looked at Xu Zhao Ming and asked: "Brother Ming, with the family division like this, do you have any objections?"

Xu Zhao Ming immediately stood up after hearing and respectfully said: "Grandfather, you are wise, I am wholeheartedly convinced."

He then said: "As the saying goes, a good man does not eat divided family rice, a man should contribute to building the family’s estate, not covet the family’s assets. Besides, second uncle and third uncle have been serving grandfather for years, and managing the family’s affairs, they have both contributed and labored hard, their three-tenths of the estate are well-earned, I have no objections."

Finally, he added: "I think father won’t have any objections either."

Upon hearing, Elder Xu was very pleased: "You’ve indeed made quite an advancement, grandfather can put half his worries to rest."

Frankly speaking, if Xu Zhao Ming was still as arrogant as before and ignorant of household affairs, he wouldn’t dare let him become an official, to avoid any mishaps and the entire clan being implicated and punished.

"Spend more time with Good Brother An and the others, learn their ways of dealing with people, it’ll be beneficial for you. After you pass the college examination, grandfather will personally take you to inspect the shops and collect rents, letting you see how farmers and townsfolk live."

Upon hearing, Xu Zhao Ming’s eyes turned red; grandfather truly poured his heart into him. At such an old age, he still personally teaches him, fearing he might not understand household affairs, which would make him suffer in the official field: "Yes, grandfather rest assured, I will definitely learn well."

Elder Xu was very satisfied and said to Xu Er: "Second son, go talk to your wife about the marriage with Gu Dexing, if you both are willing, tomorrow bring rich gifts to their home, apologizing and hinting at this matter."

"So soon?" Xu Er was startled, this is a marriage deal, and they are the girl’s family, shouldn’t they be more reserved.

Elder Xu said: "It’s not soon; if it’s any slower, even Gu Dexing will be snatched away."

The affair of three students emerging from Da Feng Village has spread knowledgably to several nearby counties, even the wealthy families in Lin County are inquiring about Gu Jin’an and the others, wanting to recruit them as sons-in-law; our family sees fit, we must act quickly.

Upon hearing, Xu Er no longer dared delay; he immediately stood up and said: "I will go find Ms. Lu."

After saying this, he quickly left the study and found his wife, telling Ms. Lu about Elder Xu’s intention to match Miss Zhong with Gu Dexing.

Upon hearing, Ms. Lu was not very happy, she preferred Gu Jin’an as the son-in-law, therefore said with indulgence: "Husband, Girl Ling is out of the question, can’t our Miss Zhong be the substitute? Gu Jin’an is such a good young man, with such a large family business, if our Miss Zhong can marry Gu Jin’an, I would trade ten years of my lifespan."

Xu Er frowned and said: "What nonsense are you talking? That Zheng Family set their sights on Gu Jin’an, you still want to compete with Zheng Family? Don’t be foolish, Gu Dexing is good."

Ms. Lu was still somewhat disdainful: "He lost his birth mother, only has a widower father, and his foster aunt is such a shrew, if our Miss Zhong marries there, wouldn’t she be bullied by her aunt?"

Looking at the gloomy weather, with a forecast of rain, Xu Zhong thought of asking her own mother if she should send a cape to Xu Ling at the ancestral hall. After all, she is the legitimate eldest branch’s daughter; if she gets sick, her mother, who manages the family’s affairs, would also be resented by the first branch.

Unexpectedly, she heard such words, her face reddened, she lightly knocked on the door, and said: "Father and Mother, I am willing to marry."

Though shy, Xu Zhong is straightforward and decisive, thinking that she was already seventeen, long enough for marrying, Gu Dexing is good enough, better than some wealthy county boys.

And she believes in herself, as long as she manages her life earnestly, she can definitely live well, not inferior to those marrying wealthy county boys.

"Linglong, what are you saying, are you really willing?" Ms. Lu was both gratified and distressed, her eldest daughter was truly too sensible.

Xu Er was very pleased, but he didn’t stay longer, instead, he said to Ms. Lu: "Talk well with Linglong, this marriage is not bad."

After saying this, he left the room, letting the mother and daughter whisper secretly.