Three Generations of a Family

"Xiao Mei, go to Steward He and collect twelve hundred taels in banknotes." Chang Haowen raised a brow slightly and spoke calmly.

"Yes, Young Master."

The maidservant at the side immediately left the room and returned shortly afterward.

Money and goods were exchanged without discrepancy.

Xu Mingwei also breathed a sigh of relief, gaining a deeper appreciation for his younger brother's abilities.

A few movements of his lips, and they had sold it for an extra two hundred taels.

That was no small sum for the Xu Family.

"Young Master Chang." Xu Mingyuan clasped his fist and said, "In a few days, my family will be opening a fruit and vegetable shop on Changle Street in the West Market. If you have the time, please come and honor us with your presence."

"Green Jade Pears will be sold then. Young Master Chang may buy some and try something fresh."

"If I have not yet left Qingjiang, I will certainly come join the festivities."

Xu Mingyuan nodded, and the two soon took their leave.

Once the two had left.

The maidservant named Xiao Mei glanced at the tiger hide and suddenly said, "Young Master, our residence does not lack such things. Why give them so much face?"

"As for Green Jade Pears, we even have an entire orchard."

"They may be precious in Qingjiang County Town, but in our Prefecture City, Green Jade Pears cannot be considered any rare treasure."

Chang Haowen chuckled. "Different places, different standing. Naturally, they cannot be lumped together."

"In barely ten years, the Xu Family rose from ordinary common folk to its present scale. Their methods are anything but simple."

"Aren't they merely nouveau riche?"

Xiao Mei was somewhat dismissive as she continued gently waving her jade fan.

"Whether they are nouveau riche depends on their descendants. If those who inherit the family enterprise for three generations are all shrewd, then one generation can forge the foundation of a prominent family."

Chang Haowen suddenly turned to look at her, a faint smile playing on his lips. "What do you think of those two today?"

Xiao Mei tilted her head and thought for a moment, then smiled. "They are both quite handsome, but not as handsome as Young Master."

Chang Haowen smiled and scolded her teasingly. "You shallow little girl, what am I to do with you?"

"Hehe."

Xiao Mei stuck out her tongue and giggled twice. "If I really had to say it, Xu Mingyuan is very quick with his tongue and has a clever air about him. His elder brother is rather dull, sitting there like a log the whole time. So boring."

"Xu Mingyuan is second in line, while his elder brother is the eldest legitimate son of the family. Naturally, different things are demanded of them.

Look at my Big Brother. Is he not also of a reserved disposition? Whenever he sees me, he merely exchanges a few simple pleasantries. He rarely opens his heart and chats freely."

"That's true." After thinking it over, Xiao Mei nodded in surprise. "Every time Xiao Mei sees the eldest young master, she is frightened from the bottom of her heart."

"With such an eldest legitimate son, the Xu Family has enough to pass down its legacy. At the very least, their generation of brothers will continue to flourish and rise."

"And—"

"And what, Young Master?"

"I am somewhat envious of them. Though they do not have halls filled with gold and jade, they treat each other with sincere hearts. Unlike the legitimate descendants of certain great families, who are born into brocade swaddling clothes, never knowing that threads of calculation have long been sewn into that silk and gauze."

"Even if they do not wish to guard against it, they have no choice."

"Is that so? How come I never noticed?"

"Silly girl, if you could see it, then you would be a young miss rather than a maidservant."

"I like being Young Master's maidservant. I want to serve you for the rest of my life." Xiao Mei chuckled twice, one hand sliding from the back of her neck down to her chest.

Chang Haowen grabbed her soft hand and gave it a light tug.

Caught off guard, Xiao Mei let out a soft cry. Half resisting and half yielding, she fell into the space between his thighs.

"That Young Master Chang is quite extraordinary. He should not be from Qingjiang. With such bearing, he may come from the Prefecture City."

As they walked down the street, Xu Mingwei spoke in a low voice.

"I thought the same as you, Big Brother. That is why I kept in touch with him. I hope these connections will benefit the Xu Family in the future," Xu Mingyuan replied.

"In this regard, I am inferior to you."

"Haha, Big Brother, Father has kept you by his side and taught you all along. How could you be worse than me? Just look at how properly Father handles his relationships with those around him."

"I am not even two or three parts out of ten as shrewd as Father."

"It is only that you have focused most of your energy on the Martial Dao."

Sharp light gleamed in Xu Mingyuan's eyes, making them shine brightly. "If the Xu Family is to take another step forward, we will ultimately need a powerful Martial Artist to stand guard. Look at the Xu Family. They produced a First-class Martial Artist, and that alone let them run rampant in Dongxi Village for over twenty years."

"Even with Father's wisdom and talent, he could only bow his head and play the lesser man."

"However, those days have come to an end."

Hearing this, Xu Mingwei smiled knowingly and answered, "Yes."

Xu Mingyuan suggested taking him around to look at more places, but Xu Mingwei shook his head and declined, saying there was no rush.

Afterward, he left through the city gates, mounted his horse, and returned to Dongxi Village.

Xu Mingyuan and the others had won over quite a few independent fruit and vegetable sellers in the West Market, but they had only agreed to sell produce to them. As for paying rent or leasing stalls, no one had agreed.

He knew this matter had to be done step by step, so he did not force the issue.

The shop they had purchased covered a sizable area, but more than half of it was intended for stall displays.

Since no one had agreed for now, they could only seal it off temporarily.

The remaining space was enough to display all kinds of fruit and vegetables from the Xu Family.

Before long, the opening day for the Xu Family's shop was set.

Xu Mingyuan sent invitations to several connections he knew.

Everything else was manageable, except for the Green Jade Pears.

Xu Mingyuan feared that once the Xu Family learned his family would no longer sell them Green Jade Pears, they might make things difficult for them, perhaps even use force or come cause trouble on opening day.

For this matter, he made a special trip home to discuss it with Xu Chuan.

However, Xu Chuan told him not to worry about it and to return to the county town to prepare for the opening.

Xu Mingyuan naturally trusted him and obediently returned to the county town.

He purchased a two-courtyard residence in the North District near the West Market, using it as the Xu Family's residence in the county town.

In the blink of an eye, it was time to harvest the Green Jade Pears.

Only one day remained until the Xu Family shop opened.

Naturally, the Xu Family knew nothing of the Xu Family's moves in the county town. As expected, Xu Mao arrived at the Xu Family home with seven or eight household guards.

Xu Mao was the eldest son of the Xu Family's Third Master.

The Xu Family's Third Master was growing older, and he had handed the purchase of Green Jade Pears over to him several years ago.

Arriving at the Xu Family's entrance.

Xu Mao surveyed the place for a while, contempt showing in his eyes.

A middle-aged steward beside him stepped forward and whispered, "Eldest Young Master, the Xu Family is no longer what it once was. In Dongxi Village, their reputation is now no less than our Xu Family's."

"Do not forget Third Master's instructions before he left."

"I know. I will be polite to Xu Chuan."

Xu Mao responded impatiently, but added inwardly: If he knows what is good for him.

The middle-aged steward glanced at him a few times and sighed faintly to himself.

They were both nearing forty, yet he and Xu Chuan were as far apart as earth and sky.

The way he spoke and handled matters was like some teenage greenhorn, utterly heedless of the consequences.

"Is the Xu Family Head home?" The middle-aged steward put on a smiling face and called out loudly.

The moment his words fell.

A boy and a girl came out. The girl held a white cat in her arms, its crimson gold eyes watching the people in the courtyard.

They were Xu Mingxian and his elder sister, Xu Mingshu.

"Who are you?" Xu Mingxian asked warily.

Hearing the voices, Bai Jing hurried out from the inner room. Upon seeing the visitors, she smiled. "So it is Young Master Xu and the Xu Family's steward."

"My husband and the others have gone to pick Green Jade Pears. They will probably not be back for a while."

"So that is how it is. Then we shall wait in the courtyard."

"All right."

Bai Jing nodded, then brought out two chairs for Xu Mao and the middle-aged steward.

Xu Mao stared at the docile white cat in Xu Mingshu's arms. Seeing its crimson gold pupils, he was astonished. Where did this unusual white cat come from? If I brought it to the county town and presented it to County Lieutenant Yang, he would surely be delighted.

"Girl, let me have a look at that white cat in your arms."

Xu Mingshu turned her head away and ignored him, continuing to play with the pet in her arms.

"Heh, so ill-bred. Just as expected of the spawn born from wild children."

The moment Bai Jing heard that, anger appeared on her face. She snapped, "Young Master Xu, mind your words!"