Xu Mingwei and the others returned to the residence with Yang Zhao and immediately expressed their intention to leave.
"Worthy son-in-law, this was not my wish. I also didn't know about today's events." Yang Zhao's face showed embarrassment.
Xu Mingwei nodded, "Father-in-law, rest assured. You are you, the Yang family is the Yang family."
Yang Zhao opened his mouth to speak but didn't know what to say, feeling very conflicted.
He knew that although Xu Mingwei and the others escaped danger today, a wedge had already been driven between them. As for what the future relationship between the two families would develop into, swords drawn or reconciliation, it all depended on each side's choices.
"Ahyuan, about what you mentioned before..."
"Uncle Yang, let's not mention this matter for now."
Xu Mingyuan had discussed with Yang Zhao about having the intention to expand some Xu family businesses to the commandery capital. But at this moment, whether Xu Mingwei or Xu Mingyuan, both harbored anger toward the Yang family.
How could they choose to cooperate with the Yang family again?
He saw them onto the carriage. Just as they were about to depart, Yang Shihui arrived on horseback.
"Brother Mingwei, this is from my grandfather, who asked me to deliver it to your hands."
"Uncle?" Yang Zhao was slightly surprised.
"Precisely." Yang Shihui nodded, then cupped his fists again, "Regarding today's events, please don't blame us, Brothers Mingwei and Mingyuan. The Yang family internally is also full of factions.
Alright, I'll return to report now. Next time if you come to the commandery capital, I'll definitely host you properly."
After speaking, Yang Shihui came hastily and left hastily, not even giving Xu Mingwei and the others a chance to refuse.
"Father-in-law, we'll take our leave first."
"Father, Mother, Elder Brother, remember to take care of yourselves."
"Better to return early and save Brother Chuan from worrying."
Everyone bid farewell. One carriage with several armed guards on horseback headed toward the commandery capital gate.
After leaving the commandery capital, Yang Ronghua held Xu Dewen and asked curiously, "What did my grand-uncle send?"
Xu Mingyuan also said, "Elder Brother, open it and see."
Xu Mingwei's eyes swept over them. He nodded slightly, then opened the wooden box. Inside were two martial arts manuals.
They were precisely one of the purposes of this trip, "Fire Element Formula" and "Innate Fire Virtue Art."
Xu Mingyuan's pupils contracted. Just seeing these two martial arts manuals, he guessed seventy or eighty percent of Yang Wenfeng's meaning.
"Elder Brother, the Yang family has sent compensation."
Yang Ronghua said, "But they agreed to this themselves originally. Wouldn't that not count as compensation?"
"Hmph, as if our Xu family cares about them?" Xu Mingwei's eyes flashed with hidden anger, "I'd love to tear them up directly."
"Don't, Elder Brother." Xu Mingyuan smiled faintly, "If you tear them up, we really would have come for nothing. Why bother? Besides, accepting them doesn't mean we have to let this matter go."
"Moreover, Zhao'er and Wen'er can both use them."
"I don't want to cultivate the Yang family's martial arts." Xu Dezhao's childish voice rang out in the carriage, "They're all Father's defeated opponents. I want to learn from Father."
Xu Mingwei smiled and rubbed his head, "Good, you'll learn the 'Lesser Dragon Elephant Technique' with me."
"Our Zhao'er has ambition." Xu Mingyuan also praised.
…
Dongxi Village, the Xu family.
"Seven days now. Shitou and the others should be returning soon, right?"
Xu Chuan woke this morning and, after pondering briefly, decided to use [Daily Divination] to check on their news.
[Today's divination: Average. Today at the hour of shen, Xu Mingwei's family and Xu Mingyuan will safely arrive home with Yang family martial arts]
"Arriving at the hour of shen, and bringing back Yang family martial arts?"
Xu Chuan was slightly surprised, having thought they would return empty-handed.
What happened?
Forget it, once they get home, asking them will make everything clear.
Xu Chuan sighed slightly, but unexpectedly woke Bai Jing.
"Husband, what's wrong? Sighing so early in the morning. Do you have worries?"
Bai Jing's eyelashes trembled slightly, like morning mist beginning to scatter. Her slender arms encircled him like spring vines, tightly binding Xu Chuan's waist.
When her cheek rested in the hollow of his shoulder, her full head of black hair cascaded down like a dark waterfall.
Xu Chuan turned to look at her and said casually, "I'm just lamenting how difficult it is for aristocratic families to survive for ten generations, a hundred generations, a thousand generations."
"Hundred generations? Thousand generations?"
Laughter dispelled the sleepiness. Bai Jing chuckled softly, "Isn't husband worrying needlessly? What happens after five generations is already beyond what we can consider."
"A human lifetime is only a hundred years. Descendants have their own fortune. What we can do is accumulate more family wealth and establish good clan rules to leave for posterity."
"Perhaps."
Xu Chuan didn't argue with her.
A human lifetime of a hundred years?
What he sought was lasting through the ages, a longevity aristocratic family!
The hour of shen.
A carriage arrived at the Xu family's main residence gate, with three guards on each side of the carriage.
Xu Chuan had been waiting at the entrance.
Xu Mingyuan was the first to descend. Seeing Xu Chuan standing at the entrance, he was somewhat surprised, "Father?"
After Xu Dezhao got down, he rushed into Xu Chuan's embrace, smiling, "Grandfather, we're back. Zhao'er missed you so much."
"Just a few days apart, and our Zhao'er's sweet mouth has grown sweeter."
Xu Chuan chuckled, then looked at the Xu Mingwei couple, "Ronghua, you've traveled a long way. Take Zhao'er and Wen'er to rest."
"Yes, Father."
Yang Ronghua led Xu Dezhao by the hand. Xu Dewen was clinging to her, unwilling to let the maidservants hold him.
After they left, Xu Chuan continued, "You two, follow me to the study."
"Yes, Father."
…
Questioning Heart Courtyard.
After Xu Chuan sat down, he said, "Tell me, what happened in the commandery capital?"
The two brothers looked at each other. Xu Mingwei squeezed his eyes at Xu Mingyuan, and only then did Xu Mingyuan begin to slowly recount their experiences in the commandery capital.
After a long while.
"Father, that's about everything."
Xu Mingwei also handed the wooden box to Xu Chuan, "Inside is the Yang family's inherited martial arts that Father-in-law's uncle sent."
Tap tap tap~
Xu Chuan's knuckles lightly tapped the desk.
The two of them, one imposing through martial prowess externally, the other tactful in all situations but before Xu Chuan, they were as obedient as two-hundred-jin children.
"Shitou, you speak first. What are your thoughts on how our Xu family should treat the Yang family in the future?"
After pondering, Xu Mingwei said, "This trip to the commandery capital made me understand that might makes right. Our Xu family has always repaid grievances.
Ahyuan was right. Gifts are gifts, grievances are grievances. If the Yang family truly comes for someone in six years, I'll make sure they never return."
"Seems you're full of resentment." Xu Chuan said calmly, then looked at Xu Mingyuan, "Ahyuan, your turn."
Xu Mingyuan said, "Our current situation with the Yang family is somewhat similar to our past situation with the Xu family."
"Oh, why do you say so? Weren't the Wu family and others the same?"
Xu Mingyuan shook his head, "The Wu family was different. They wanted to obstruct us because we touched their martial hall's interests. But we had Elder Brother, an innate martial artist before age twenty, and Gu Yiping, the Dragon Elephant Hall Master. Whether in wealth, foundation, or martial prowess, we didn't particularly fear them.
As for the Xu family, when Father was young, they were Dongxi's first great household. They coveted the green jade pears Father had painstakingly cultivated, they wanted to seize our interests.
As for switching to purchasing, I imagine they also considered Father's reputation in Dongxi and their own prestige.
The Yang family is the same. They want to recruit descendants of our Xu family with good martial talent and want Xueji to marry into their family. But they cherish their own reputation, so they use the pretense of cultivation and marriage alliance to strengthen the Yang family's foundation.
At that time, our Xu family couldn't shake the Xu family, and now we also can't deal with the Yang family. Similarly, we can only endure and develop quietly. As for how to treat the Yang family..."
"Continue." Xu Chuan said calmly.
"Maintain non-interference. When we have strength, we can damage their reputation, but we shouldn't make enemies, or rather, there's no need to."
The corners of Xu Chuan's mouth curved up as he shook his head with a smile, "Ahyuan, you're trying to guess my thoughts, aren't you?"