Chapter 369 Returning to Visit Relatives
After two days of the sweetest days, the couple was in love and in harmony. On the third day, Xiao Xia accompanied his wife back home.

The time to return home is not so fixed. It is usually the third day, the sixth day, the seventh day, the eighth day, the ninth day, or even the full moon day. The key is to make an appointment with the mother’s family in advance.

Because Xiao Xia was going to take up his new post in early September and would be busy packing up, they decided to go back on the third day.

Xiao Xia helped his wife into the carriage, but was surprised to find that the carriage was full of large and small bags.

“This is.”

“My dear, you have to bring gifts to your father-in-law when you go back to your parents’ home. You may have forgotten, so I prepared a little. They are all clothes and jewelry given to me by the emperor and the queen.”

Xiao Xia smiled and said, “I have prepared gifts for my father-in-law, these are for your mother!”

“What gift did my husband bring?”

“Let’s talk about it after we get in the car!”

The young couple got on the carriage, which started and drove towards Lanlingfang.

In the carriage, Xiao Xia took out an envelope and said with a smile: “This is it!”

“what is this?”

“A manor, my manor in Huxian County. I have never been there. It is all farmland and I am not very interested in it.”

Cui Yu was surprised and said, “It’s too expensive.”

Xiao Xia smiled and said, “Most families marry off their daughters with a balanced amount of wealth. The dowry they receive just offsets the dowry, and the burden falls on their son to marry a wife. But your father gave you both the dowry and the dowry. Ten thousand strings of cash! Even for aristocratic families, it’s a heavy burden. Even if your father doesn’t care, what do your two brothers think? Besides, you have a younger sister. We have to understand this worldly wisdom.”

Cui Yu was really touched. As a daughter, she had never thought about the burden on her father, but her husband did.

She hugged her husband’s neck, kissed him hard on the face, and said with a smile: “This son-in-law is good, he is qualified!”

The carriage soon arrived at Cui Mansion in Lanlingfang. Cui Hongzhou, Zheng, eldest son Cui Huan, and second son Cui Ning were already waiting at the door. Cui Mei also came out.

The carriage was stable. Xiao Xia helped Cui Yu get off the carriage. Cui Hongzhou and Zheng came up to greet them. “Welcome home!”

Xiao Xia bowed and saluted, “Father-in-law, mother-in-law, I am honored to meet you!”

Cui Hongzhou stroked his beard and smiled, “Good! Good! The man is talented and the woman is beautiful, and they are of the same age. I am most happy about this.”

Cui Yu brought out seven or eight large bags and said, “Mom, this is a gift from your daughter. Dad has other gifts. All the things I gave you are good things. Keep them well.”

Zheng’s eyes turned red, and she lovingly complained to her daughter, “Just keep it for yourself, why give it to me?”

“This is a gift from my daughter. Please ask the maid to take it back.”

Zheng quickly called the maids to get the things, and the whole family surrounded their daughter and son-in-law and went in.

Cui Yu went into the inner house to reunite with his mother. Cui Hongzhou invited Xiao Xia to sit in the VIP hall, and his two sons sat at the bottom to accompany him.

Xiao Xia took out the envelope and placed it on the table, saying, “This is a gift from my son-in-law to my father-in-law. Please accept it!”

“This is…” “This is a manor I have in Huxian County, about 5,000 acres, all wheat fields. I have never been there and often forget about it. I gave this manor to my father-in-law.”

Cui Hongzhou was shocked and waved his hands quickly, “How can this be possible? It’s too expensive. I can’t accept it!”

“My father-in-law gave the betrothal gift to Xiaoyu. I am grateful and want to repay you. Please accept it.”

“Hey! That’s my gift to Yu’er as a father!”

“This is also my gift to my father-in-law as a son-in-law!”

Cui Hongzhou nodded, “Since you said so, I will accept it. Thank you for your kindness!”

Although the Cui family was a prominent family and had accumulated a lot of wealth, it had too many branches, so the wealth was spread out to each branch. Cui Hongzhou had five older brothers, and the wealth they received was even less. The eldest son did not even have his own house. Cui Hongzhou took out a dowry of 10,000 strings of cash, originally intending to buy a house for his son, but he wanted to save face, so he gave all the betrothal gifts to his daughter, which made his two sons unhappy. Cui Hongzhou also felt a little regretful.

Unexpectedly, this son-in-law was sensible and actually gave him a manor of 5,000 acres to compensate for the loss of the previous dowry. Now family harmony was restored, which made Cui Hongzhou very happy.

The two sons, Cui Huan and Cui Ning, looked at each other with joy in their eyes. A farm of 5,000 acres meant an annual income of 5,000 strings of cash.

At this time, the maid came in and served tea. Cui Hongzhou asked with a smile: “When will my dear son-in-law take office?”

“It is scheduled for early September. I will be ready to leave when the official appointment comes tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Are you two uncles interested in serving as officials in Longyou or Hexi?”

Cui Hongzhou’s heart moved. This was indeed an opportunity. He said to Xiao Xia, “Brother Yu’er was previously the magistrate of Longyou County in Meishan County. He was a senior magistrate of the sixth rank. He served as a magistrate for five years. When his term was over, he was transferred back to the capital. He should have been promoted one level, but because it was the transfer order issued by Prince Yong, he was affected by the suppression of the Cui family and was not promoted. He was transferred to the position of Dali Temple Sizhi. It was a bit unfair to him. If the virtuous son-in-law can report to the emperor, it will be fairer, if not promoted.”

Xiao Xia smiled slightly and said, “There is one advantage of being an official in the Western Regions, that is, you can get promoted quickly. Father-in-law knows Pei Xuanji, right? He is the son of Pei Ju, and he is the prefect of Zhangye. Originally, he was just a county magistrate. He was transferred to Zhangye to serve as the prefect, and was promoted from the sixth rank to the fifth rank. He was transferred back to Chang’an after only two years, and now he is a fifth rank official in the Ministry of Works. This is the way to get promoted!”

Cui Huan couldn’t help but say, “I heard that the military government has been reformed now!”

Xiao Xia nodded, “Now the General Administration Office in the Central Plains has been withdrawn, and the counties in the border areas have been changed to the General Administration Office. The military and politics are integrated. The Chief Secretary of the Office is the former Chief Secretary of the County. Hexi, Longyou and Shuofang are set up as the Grand Military Governor’s Office. In addition, there are two major military governor’s offices in Yunzhong and Beiping. The chief secretary and the chief secretary are recommended by the Grand Military Governor and appointed by the court. If you are willing, I can recommend me as the Chief Secretary of Zhangye General Administration Office. Once I conquer Tuyuhun, Zhangye will have the opportunity to make meritorious service as a logistics. As long as you have military merit, you can be transferred back two years later and you will be a fifth-rank official.”

Cui Huan was overjoyed. As long as he stayed for two years, he would have the opportunity to be promoted to the fifth rank. Of course he was willing to do so. Cui Huan looked at his father with expectation.

Cui Hongzhou stroked his beard and smiled, “I’ll discuss this matter with your second uncle.”

Second uncle Cui Hongsheng is the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. If he agrees, then once Xiao Xia recommends him, he can be appointed directly.

At noon, the family had lunch happily. After lunch, Cui Hongzhou invited Xiao Xia to sit in his study room alone.

The maid came in and brought tea. Cui Hongzhou said slowly, “I heard a piece of news that the emperor might move the capital. Is this news true?”

Although the decision to move the capital to Luoyang is still top secret, it has actually spread outside. The source of the news is that Yuwen Kai is renovating Luoyang. Luoyang was renamed Dujidao and is presided over by King Qi Yangling. These signs all point to moving the capital.

Xiao Xia pondered for a moment and said, “I don’t have any definite news at the moment, but I know that moving the capital to Luoyang has always been my grandfather’s long-cherished wish. My father told me that he wants to complete my grandfather’s unfinished business, which includes moving the capital to Luoyang. So moving the capital to Luoyang is certain. The key is when and how to move the capital. I personally tend to think that it is more likely to be moved next year, and I won’t use the word “move the capital” because it will irritate the Guanlong nobles. Instead, I’ll use “visit the Eastern Capital”. Chang’an will still be the capital.”

Cui Hongzhou laughed, “My dear son-in-law, what you said is very wise. The capital has not been moved, but the emperor has come to the East Palace.”

The two chatted for a while, and at this time, news came from the inner house that Cui Yu was about to return home.

Xiao Xia stood up and said goodbye, then took his wife back home in a carriage.

(End of this chapter)