Xu Shu stepped out, stretched lazily under the eaves, and took a deep breath: "It's still more pleasant outside. If I stayed in there any longer, I'd think I was starting to smell like an old man... It's much better to be with young people."

Xu Chuanyin rebuked angrily: "Nonsense, where did your filial piety go? How dare you talk about your father like that!"

Xu Shu glanced at him: "You're good at filial piety, but you'd rather throw your father away and cling to Official Xu, calling him father. How about you don't pass your son to me, and you yourself pass to me instead?"

Xu Chuanyin's expression changed.

After finishing his stretch, Xu Shu looked around at everyone: "But now, even passing to me is useless. The Official has already expelled me from the Xu Family, so who will inherit the Xu family's business is up to him to decide."

With these words, everyone exchanged glances.

Xu Chuanxi was half-believing, half-doubting: "Do you really want to give up the Xu family's business?"

Xu Shu smiled, went to a corner of the Du Mei Hall courtyard, and placed his hand on a persimmon tree.

In an instant, the withered persimmon tree, whose green leaves had all fallen, suddenly sprouted new buds. The tender green buds quickly grew into oval green leaves.

Xu Shu took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

After a breath, small yellow four-petal flowers bloomed on the persimmon tree.

Another breath later, the flowers withered and fell, and bright red persimmons formed, the branches laden with fruit bending low.

The branches bent down, as if actively offering the persimmons to Xu Shu.

Xu Shu picked one and tossed it to Zhang Xia, then tossed a second one to Chen Ji, smiling: "A minor trick, may you two newlyweds have a happy life together."

Chen Ji broke open the persimmon and took a bite, finding it soft, fragrant, and sweet. In this winter season, the persimmon tree had truly bloomed and borne fruit.

Xu Shu picked one for himself, and just as the Xu Family members curiously went to pick some, the persimmons on the tree all withered and fell, returning to their original state, not a single one left.

Xu Shu ate the persimmon, his words muffled: "If you had witnessed a thousand cycles of the seasons, you would also understand that fame, wealth, and prosperity are just fleeting. To you, these are blessings from above, but to me, they are burdens of cause and effect. If you want them, take them... However, I need to find a place to eat and sleep."

His gaze swept over the crowd and finally stopped on Zhang Zhuo, his smile exceptionally bright: "Brother-in-law!"

Mrs. Zhang said expressionlessly: "Now it's our Zhang family's burden of cause and effect."

Xu Shu grinned shamelessly: "Sister, I won't freeload. I can work."

Mrs. Zhang glanced sideways at him: "We don't need you to work, but if you dare take Zhang Zheng and Chen Ji to the brothel, don't enter our Zhang family home."

Xu Shu immediately raised three fingers: "I'll go alone, I won't take them. Even when brother-in-law invited me last year, I politely declined."

Zhang Zhuo became furious: "Utter nonsense!"

At this moment, Xu Biao lifted the curtain: "Zhang Zheng, the Official wants to see you."

Xu Chuanxi frowned: "Does the old man really intend to pass Zhang Zheng to the family? We have so many people in the Xu Family, how can an outsider be adopted? We can't let Zhang Zheng go in!"

Xu Biao glanced at him coldly: "I'm just passing along the old man's words. Once you become the head of the Xu Family, then you can command me."

Xu Chuanxi's face darkened.

Official Xu had woken up today intending to discuss matters of inheritance, but at this moment, he didn't call his son Xu Xiuzhe, nor Xu Chuanyin's son Xu Xiubing, but instead called Zhang Zheng... His intentions couldn't be clearer.

Yet at this moment, Zhang Zheng's voice suddenly rang out from behind the crowd: "I don't want to be adopted into the Xu Family."

Everyone turned to look and saw Zhang Zheng standing behind the crowd with his head bowed.

He was wearing a slightly worn dark blue cotton robe, his leather belt loosely tied around his waist. He had come in a hurry, not having even had time to change clothes. He stood there not like a coveted prize but like someone pulled in to make up numbers.

Xu Biao stood at the door, surprised: "What did you say?"

"I said," Zhang Zheng raised his head: "I don't want to be adopted into the Xu Family. In all this commotion, has anyone asked whether I want to be adopted into the Xu Family? Whoever wants it can take it, but I don't want to."

The area in front of Du Mei Hall fell silent for a moment before erupting in hushed whispers, like beans exploding in a pot.

"Is he crazy?"

"This is the kind of opportunity many would beg for, and he's turning it away?"

Xu Biao stepped forward, speaking earnestly: "Zhang Zheng, have you thought this through? As part of the Xu Family, you'd be the master's legitimate grandson. The Xu family's business, connections, and foundation would all be yours in the future."

Zhang Zheng looked at him calmly: "I have a father, a mother, a sister, and a brother-in-law. Sitting at the same table with them every day is enough for me."

Once you are adopted into the Xu Family, you won't be able to spend holidays together, nor can you call your mother 'mother' anymore. Your sister is no longer your sister, and your father is no longer your father.

The family is no longer a family.

Xu Biao turned to Zhang Zhuo: "Lord Zhang, please try to persuade him."

Zhang Zhuo clasped his hands around the leather belt, bowing his head in silence.

Xu Biao sighed: "I know Lord Zhang has ambitions, but the things you want to accomplish, without the support of the Xu Family, will be extremely difficult. Not to mention the Eight Great Merchants, just dealing with the Southern Gentry will take you ten years to survey the land, and the tax silver is even more..."

Xu Biao glanced at Xu Chuanyin and Xu Chuanxi, then looked at Zhang Zhuo: "If the Xu Family declines, they certainly won't assist you."

Xu Chuanxi frowned and said: "What do you mean by this? The Xu Family business belongs to the Xu Family. How can you conspire to hand it over to outsiders? Is this the old master's idea or yours? I want to go in and see the old master!"

But Xu Biao ignored him and continued to stare intently at Zhang Zhuo.

Xu Chuanxi turned to Zhang Zhuo, shouting angrily: "Zhang Zhuo, how dare you plot to steal the Xu Family?"

But Zhang Zhuo raised his head and smiled: "Though I, Zhang, like to take shortcuts, when my son says he doesn't want to, I won't sell out my son. I appreciate the Official's good intentions, but to avoid people talking behind my back, I won't be coming to the Xu Mansion in the future."

Xu Biao was surprised: "Your foundation in the court is already weak, without our Xu Family..."

Zhang Zhuo walked over to Zhang Zheng and patted his shoulder with a smile, then looked back at Xu Biao: "When the second branch of the Chen family sent Death Soldiers to assassinate Chen Ji, Chen Wende came to my Ministry of Personnel as a lobbyist. At that time, I told him, the only true plan in this world is to have lofty ambitions and unite like-minded people; everything else is conspiracy and petty schemes."

He then looked towards Mrs. Zhang: "Lady, the Dragon Gate can be closed now, return the plaque to the Xu Family."

Mrs. Zhang softly replied: "Alright."

Todays, Chen Ji watched the Xu Family's internal strife from the sidelines, initially thinking there would be another struggle for the heirship within the Xu Family, but did not expect Zhang Zhuo and Zhang Zheng to hand over everything they gained.

Mrs. Zhang stepped forward and took Zhang Zhuo's arm: "Let's go, it's time to go back for lunch. There are ribs being stewed at home today."

Xu Shu walked over and hooked Zhang Zheng's neck playfully: "Good boy, your uncle didn't misjudge you. He always believed you had promise!"

Zhang Zheng grumbled: "You're not much older than me."

Xu Shu lowered his voice: "Tonight I'll take you to Baishun Alley, there's a new beautiful official there. We'll sneak in... By the way, do you have Silver on you?"

Zhang Zheng whispered: "I have a little."

The two of them, arm in arm, headed towards the exit of the Xu Mansion, and Xu Shu looked back at Chen Ji and Zhang Xia: "Come on, let's go home."

Zhang Xia rolled her eyes: "You sure act like you're not an outsider here."

Xu Shu laughed: "Look at what you said, dear niece. You can literally change my name to Zhang Shu if you want; it's just a name. It's not really a family unless it's family gathered together, not just a bunch of people with the same surname. Your uncle has wanted to live at your Zhang Mansion for a long time, but your mother never agreed."

They chatting and laughing, crossed the snow out of the Xu Mansion. As they left, Xu Shu took one last look at the grand entrance of the Xu Family, then walked down the stone steps without looking back.

They arrived in front of the Zhang Mansion.

There, they saw a couplet inscribed on the gate, with the first line saying, "To be an official without learning, to learn to be an official," and the second line saying, "To pursue personal gain without skill, the skill lies in serving the nation."

Entering through the main gate, bypassing the screen wall, in front of the Zhang Family's ceremonial door, there were not so many official flags of honor, only a couplet with the first line saying, "In the yard, plant peaches and plums," and the second line saying, "Two things: study and farming."

Xu Shu clicked his tongue in admiration: "This place is more pleasing to the eye."

However, Mrs. Zhang suddenly stopped in front of the ceremonial door, released Zhang Zhuo's arm, and turned back to look at Chen Ji and Zhang Xia.

Chen Ji was a little surprised: "Mother, what's wrong?"

Mrs. Zhang was silent for a long time: "You and Axia should move out."

Chen Ji was startled: "Why?"

Mrs. Zhang turned her head to look into the distance where the Dragon Gate stood, her expression indifferent: "The Zhang Family has suffered from that gate for over twenty years. Your father-in-law has borne the infamy for more than twenty years. Do not do unto others what you do not want done unto you. I should not trouble you with this matter. Tomorrow, I will have your father-in-law purchase a house on Shaojiu Alley for you, and you can move there and live your own life."

Mrs. Zhang did not wait for Chen Ji to speak and continued indifferently: "You don't need to thank me. I still don't approve of you. I just don't want Axia to be caught in the middle."

Zhang Zhuo smiled and said to Chen Ji: "I will handle this tomorrow. If that house cannot be bought back, I'll ensure you have a bigger one..."

Chen Ji suddenly interrupted: "I want to live in the Zhang family."

Zhang Zhuo's words abruptly stopped.