Qin Heng was perplexed: "I’ve recited all the books I was supposed to today, even Si Yuan said I’ve been doing exceptionally well lately."

Before he could finish his sentence, Qin Jijiu interrupted: "Don’t think you’ve achieved something just because you composed a doggerel in the competition. Si Yuan praised your quick wit and mentioned that you’ve made some progress by compiling poetry collections with the Doctor recently, but what is that? Just a tiny bit of progress, and you’re already showing off? Are you trying to get yourself bitten by speaking so boldly?"

Qin Heng retorted: "Brother Xu invited me to play ball together. I played for a while today, and I’ll have to go back to studying tomorrow. Is that such a big deal? Even Brother-in-law said that Brother Xu is well-informed, humorous, and can gain appreciation from the nobles, even though he hasn’t read much but plays ball very well."

"Listen to him!"

Qin Jijiu’s finger trembled slightly as he pointed at Qin Heng.

Mrs. Cui was also alarmed.

"Son, when did you meet this Brother Xu? Is he a decent person?"

"Why wouldn’t he be a decent person?" Qin Heng replied: "He’s from the Xu family, the maternal family of Sixth Master Gu’s departed wife. The Xu family holds a title, but with many young men in the family and not enough positions, he had to find his own way. Now that his sister is a favored concubine in the King Jin Mansion, he’s also elevated, and because he’s good at playing ball, he plays in the Prince Qi Mansion and even appeared before the Emperor. The Emperor even praised his skills. Although he doesn’t hold an official position, in the future, officials might count on him to say a few good words to the Emperor and the Prince and open some doors."

His words were smooth.

It seemed he had heard it often and took it to heart.

Qin Jijiu snorted and said: "Such people rely on connections to be hangers-on, and you’re impressed? I’d be utterly ashamed."

Qin Heng got angry too and said: "Didn’t the brother-in-law you respect also think highly of him? If it weren’t for Brother-in-law, I wouldn’t know these things."

Mrs. Cui hit him lightly: "How can you speak to your father like that? Look at you, just met this Xu fellow, and you’re already contradicting your parents for him."

Qin Heng quickly pleaded: "Mother, it hurts, could you be gentler?"

After all, she couldn’t bear to hurt her son, so Mrs. Cui stopped her hand.

Qin Jijiu angrily tossed him a piece of paper.

"Your elder sister wrote this, take a look."

Qin Heng was puzzled, but he took it and read it. His face changed dramatically afterward, "How could it be like this?"

"What do you think people are getting close to you for?"

Qin Jijiu laughed coldly: "The Xu family has long fallen, with many in the family and only one title left in the last generation, and even that’s barely anything. They’ve tried every sort of trade in the streets. To them, you’re just a little lamb to be dragged to their mouths, and they might think you’re too meager."

Qin Heng was silent for a long time, clearly impacted.

Qin Jijiu didn’t pay him any mind.

After a while, Qin Heng said softly: "Then I really should keep in touch with him and see what he’s really up to. If he has any ill intentions, I’ll be on guard and report any misconduct to Si Yuan and Brother-in-law ahead of time. After all, I’m just a student now, and my studies aren’t heavy. Moreover, even if I study hard for twenty years, I may not necessarily become a Scholar."

Qin Jijiu was speechless.

Mrs. Cui asked: "Are you capable?"

A true man is always capable.

Qin Heng stood straight with his chest out.

"Why wouldn’t I be? Gu Baoshu isn’t much older than me and was quite brave the other day on the field. The women of the Yelv family are strong and assertive, and she almost got trampled by a horse but didn’t embarrass Dingbei Marquis. I’m still a man. Do they think they can bully me because I’m young? Throughout history, heroes have arisen from the young."

Qin Jijiu slammed the table, "This is absurd, what business do you have interfering in adult matters? Don’t speak of this anymore, I’ll inform your second sister and brother-in-law myself."

Qin Heng said quietly: "It’s a shame you’re my father and have read so many books. Didn’t you read that it’s easy to dodge an open arrow, but hard to defend against a hidden one? If I suddenly stop associating with Xu Tang, he’ll surely suspect we’re on guard. Just like Elder Sister said, with the work he’s involved in, he can find many people to assist him. If one plan fails, he’ll devise another. Do you know what schemes he’ll concoct to harm people? Si Yuan’s future can’t tolerate the slightest mistake. Didn’t you often say that in our generation, Old Qin Family only produced this one scholar?"

With this, Qin Jijiu was at a loss for words and waved his hand: "Go ahead and play ball for now."

After he left, Mrs. Cui worriedly asked: "Why did you let him go?"

"There’s not much danger in playing ball today, and he’s aware of it himself. What he said just now made sense. Qin Heng helping Si Yuan will make Si Yuan remember this favor in the future. Moreover..."

Qin Jijiu hesitated for a moment and said: "Your second son-in-law has really become quite unsuitable, valuing such people. Perhaps he’ll turn out to be a shameless person in the future?"

He increasingly looked down on Lin Ziqi in his heart.

Mrs. Cui angered, "I know you only hold the eldest son-in-law in high regard. You look down on the second because he’s not wealthy. He helps at the Marquis Mansion, and you say he’s sycophantic and opportunistic. He treats the Xu family well because we’re in-laws, and you say he’ll be shameless in the future."

"Unreasonable woman."

Qin Jijiu angrily got up and walked out.

Mrs. Cui, still unreconciled, shouted at his back: "Remember, both you and your eldest daughter picked this son-in-law first."

Qin Jijiu paused for a moment, then strode away.

Mrs. Cui, upset, sat down heavily, hit her knees, and cried out angrily: "What a curse, having to settle for such a poor and shameless one, I’m utterly ashamed."

The poor and shameless son-in-law Lin Ziqi, on the other hand, highly esteemed Xu Tang.

He said to Qin Wan: "Brother Xu is very perceptive; he’ll surely become someone notable in the future. Sixth Master Gu looks down on the Xu family, wanting to break ties over a bit of money; he’ll regret it in the future." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Tens of thousands of taels, how can that be a small amount?"

Qin Wan couldn’t help but retort.

Lin Ziqi frowned: "Why are you fixated on money like Sixth Master Gu? We’re all in-laws, helping each other is the right thing. Gu Family has been wealthy for so many years; what is tens of thousands of taels to them? Arguing with Xu family over such an amount shows a lack of regard for poor relatives, doesn’t it?"

At this point, Qin Wan also realized that Lin Ziqi was probably using an analogy, guarding against her scolding his dear cousin and his beloved old mother rummaging through her room while she was at her parental home.

So, she sneered: "As they say, don’t fear poverty, just a lack of ambition. This saying clearly doesn’t apply to someone like Brother Xu."

Lin Ziqi’s expression turned somewhat displeased.

Qin Wan continued sarcastically: "I think for my husband to say such things, he must be a generous person. My father says Brother Heng might not amount to much in the future. When you, as his brother-in-law, succeed, don’t be stingy with Brother Heng."