Golden Branch

"A Mian, tell me, you and Xiao Wuji?"

Wang Heng looked at her shy best friend in front of her and couldn't help but widen her eyes.

I really didn't expect that, after just one day, my bestie would...

Wang Heng could only say, well done!

Xiao Wuji is the man worthy of Amian.

Whether in family background, appearance, talent or character, they are far superior to that of a farmer's son.

Wang Heng didn't look down on Zhou Jiming, but her stance determined her attitude.

She is Wang Mian's good sister, so she will naturally stand on Wang Mian's side.

No matter how you look at it, Zhou Jiming has "let down" Wang Mian.

Wang Mian really didn't like him, but she also paid a lot for him.

Yes!

Zhou Jiming did pay back the money, double the amount.

However, even Zhou Jiming himself had to admit that without the money given to him by Amian, he would not have been able to make a name for himself in Chang'an.

Gold and silver are indeed not elegant things, but without money, Zhou Jiming would not be able to "market" himself at all.

He went in and out of the most luxurious wine shops and tea houses in Chang'an.

The most expensive jewelry and peonies are what they buy.

Without money, how could a peasant from Yizhou countryside like him appear before others in a glamorous and attractive manner, hold grand banquets, and make friends with nobles?

If you are successful and famous, you naturally don’t need money.

There will be wealthy businessmen in the capital who will take the initiative to curry favor with him and then send him large amounts of gold, silver and other valuables.

Zhou Jiming took the money and returned it to Wang Mian double.

He didn't have to spend a penny himself, it was exactly what Amian said, "getting something for nothing" and "laying eggs with borrowed chickens."

The money must be paid back.

What about the debt of favor? How can he repay it?

As a result, Zhou Jiming thought that if he paid back the money double, he and Wang Mian would no longer owe each other anything, and he could then curry favor with the powerful without any burden.

He married a noble princess, but left Wang Mian alone to endure the rumors and the looks of pity or ridicule from everyone.

Is this what he called "settling all grievances"?

Can't clear!

When Wang Heng received the news from the capital and learned that Zhou Jiming had successfully hooked up with Princess Pingyi, she couldn't help but feel hatred and secretly vowed to let Amian marry a better husband!

As a result, before Wang Heng could exert any strength, Amian herself——

That’s Xiao Wuji!

The eldest son of Lanling Xiao family and the heir of Changle Marquisate.

Now he is the prince's confidant. Like Lou Yu, he is a young man that the prince relies on.

Lou Yu was awarded for his military merits, and Xiao Wuji was also credited with quelling the rebellion and building the canal.

Xiao Wuji has not been granted a title yet, not because of insufficient merit, but because the time is not right.

As soon as the canal achieves success in the first phase, the prince will definitely recommend Xiao Wuji for credit.

Xiao Wuji's identity is indeed a bit embarrassing.

Marquis Changle, a mascot.

Even so, Xiao Wuji's starting point is also the end point that countless people will find difficult to reach in their entire lives.

In addition to his status and family background, his appearance is also top-notch.

Xiao Wuzhi and Lou Yu have two different kinds of beauty.

Xiao Wuji is dignified and elegant, while Lou Yu is beautiful but also cold and noble.

They are equally good and each has its own merits.

The most important point is that Xiao Wuji really likes Amian and has never looked down on her because of her status.

"...Yeah! He, he gave me a golden abacus, saying it was a birthday present for me."

Wang Mian was unusually shy, and couldn't help but speak in a choked tone.

Wang Heng didn't tease him. She got to the point: "Golden abacus? An abacus made of pure gold?"

Red gold and abacus, these two things have nothing to do with nobility.

Gold, needless to say, is a vulgar thing of yellow and white.

The abacus, because it is convenient for counting, was promoted by Mr. Shen Du and became popular among accountants and merchants.

Gradually, it became a "mercenary" thing.

When these two things are put together, wow, it's even more vulgar.

Xiao Wuji, a noble and upright son of a noble family, ordered someone to make a golden abacus as a birthday gift for a girl, which shows his openness and sincerity.

"Hmm! Here, look! This is it!"

Seeing that her best friend really grasped the key points, Wang Mian happily took out a palm-sized abacus from her sleeve pocket.

The golden little abacus is not big in size, but very standard.

Each of the small golden beads is as big as a red bean.

You can do calculations normally by gently plucking it with your fingernails or a piece of bamboo.

This is not just a toy, it can also be used as a tool.

I can only say that the person who customized this thing was very attentive.

"It's more than that, Jiu Niang, look—"

Wang Mian liked this birthday gift very much. After receiving it, he observed it carefully and played with it.

Therefore, she was extremely familiar with every detail of this little golden abacus.

She pointed to the corner of the horizontal frame above the golden abacus and said excitedly, "Here, Xiao Lang carved a kapok flower with his own hands."

It implies her name.

Wang Heng continued to accurately grasp the key points of the eldest daughter's words: "Xiao? Lang?"

Yo!

They all call him Xiao Lang directly!

Not some Xiao Langjun!

These two people are not only in love, their relationship is developing rapidly!

Wang Heng couldn't help but suspect that it wouldn't be long before she would have to marry Amian off.

and many more!

Getting married? !

Marriage is never a private matter between a man and a woman, but rather a union of two families.

As the eldest son of a marquisate, can Xiao Wuji decide his own marriage?

Although the Xiao family is not a large family with many branches and descendants, it has been passed down in the northern border for two generations and has more than ten branches.

Xiao Wuji's marriage is a major event for the entire Changle Marquisate. Will his elders and relatives allow him to marry a peasant girl?

Amian is not even from a poor family or a commoner.

"...Amian, let's unite the clans."

Wang Heng couldn't help but worry when she thought about this. After pondering for a moment, she tried to persuade him again.

"Ok!"

Of course Wang Mian knew that Wang Heng was doing this for her own good.

In fact, Wang Mian had already agreed, but he was a little pretentious.

She might also want to "test" Xiao Wuji -

If she had neither family background nor title, would he still choose her?

The result is, yes!

Wang Mian knew that she shouldn't test people's hearts, but she had experienced Zhou Jiming, and although she didn't say it, she still cared about him in her heart.

She also has her own pride.

If Xiao Wuji didn't value her as a person, she wouldn't choose him no matter how good he was.

Fortunately, Xiao Wuzhi told Wang Mian with facts that he just liked her, Wang Mian, and it had nothing to do with other external factors.

Well, it cannot be said that there is "no connection at all". Wang Mian's talents in business, shipping, and helping him to appease the people finally impressed Xiao Wuji.

Xiao Wuji was not really "unasked for anything", he valued Wang Mian's ability.

Wang Mian: ...I was indeed too demanding.

Being capable is one of my strengths and a part of me.

In fact, the same is true for money, background, status, etc.

She really shouldn't be so pretentious.

After figuring this out, Wang Mian no longer felt awkward.

Let’s unite our clans!

If you can marry the man you love in a glorious way, why do you have to be so depressed?

Deliberately disguising yourself, deliberately inviting others to bully you, and then slapping you in the face?

Sorry, Wang Mian doesn’t think doing this will make things more refreshing.

With this time, why not let her replicate more "black technologies" and make more money?

"In fact, there is no need to unite the clans. Xiao Lang has already convinced the relatives of the Marquis' Mansion."

At this point, Wang Mian smiled sweetly: "He said that their Xiao family is so 'rich' that it's just an empty name. The Marquis' Mansion has long been in deficit, and he is very poor."

As for Wang Mian, he has nothing but money!

In order to support Lou Yu's army, he had spent all his savings over the years.

But the "chicken" is still there, and it can continue to lay golden eggs.

She is not short of money at all.

"He actually said that?"

Wang Heng was not surprised that the Changle Marquisate was short of money.

Many nobles appear to be glamorous on the surface, but in reality they have long been unable to make ends meet.

Being poor is not funny.

What’s funny is that these people are obviously short of money, but they always act like they are noble and look down on vulgar things.

In Amian's words, he is poor but arrogant.

Such people are best at "living off the fat of the land".

Eating other people's food, putting down the bowl, but still complaining that it is not elegant or noble enough!

What Wang Heng didn't expect was that Xiao Wuji actually told Wang Mian so bluntly: I am poor, and my family is even poorer. I will never refuse a wife like you who is the God of Wealth.

He said this with full frankness, which actually made Wang Mian and Wang Heng feel more at ease.

Even if it was really for money, people at least acknowledged Wang Mian's efforts.

Unlike a farmer named Zhou, who spent Wang Mian's money but still looked down on Wang Mian for being just a farmer's daughter doing business.

Wang Heng was a little worried before, fearing that Xiao Wuji and Qi Da were not a good match, and that Amian would be looked down upon if she married into the Xiao family.

However, after hearing what Wang Mian relayed to her about Xiao Wuzhi, she was completely relieved.

Even if other people in the Xiao family might look down on Amian because of her humble background, Xiao Wuzhi would always stand on her side.

As long as a woman has the support and preference of her husband, she can gain a foothold in the inner house.

House fighting has never been a fight between women.

The so-called conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is actually a conflict between parent and child: the mother-in-law does not love her son that much. Not only does she fail to love her son as well as his family, she also bullies her daughter-in-law. She knows that her son is in trouble, but she still makes things difficult for him!

The so-called dispute between wife and concubine is also due to the husband's lack of discipline: as long as he abides by the rules, the wife is the mistress, and the concubine is the property of the family. She has no qualifications and dares not to jump in front of her wife.

"Yeah! That's what he said!"

Wang Mian had the same idea as Wang Heng. It was after hearing what Xiao Wuji said that she became more convinced of him.

The corners of her eyes and eyebrows are full of the sweetness of love. While Wang Mian is happy herself, she also did not forget to care about her good girlfriend:

"Stop talking about me all the time! Jiu Niang, Mr. Lou will be back soon! Your marriage--" Is it time to finalize it?

Before Wang Mian could finish her words, Wang Heng interrupted her: "My brother has indeed returned to the capital and will be returning to Hedong soon."

"It just so happens that I've already sorted out all the accounts for the Lou's Fortress. I'll just wait for my brother to come back and hand them all over to him."

When Wang Heng mentioned Lou Yu, she still affectionately called him "Brother".

But inexplicably, Wang Mian sensed something was wrong.

Jiu Niang, are you trying to distance yourself from Lou Yu?

Return the account book?

She doesn't want to be the mistress of the Lou family anymore? !

Looking at Wang Heng's beautiful face, Wang Mian suddenly shuddered.

She had a premonition that her eldest daughter was courting death...