Chapter 71 - This was too much of a surprise, he could not handle it

Xiao Yuanshi’s hand that was holding the teacup jolted.

He did not have any dealings with the capital’s magistrate.

Why would he send someone to report something here?

With this thought in mind, he opened his mouth, “Invite him in.”

Soon, a bailiff walked in and bowed first. “Greetings, Senior General Weiyuan.”

Xiao Yuanshi raised his hand with a faint smile on his face. “No need for formalities. What’s the matter?”

He had been conferred the title of Senior General Weiyuan after rising through the rank as a nobody.

On top of being hardworking, he was also very kind to outsiders.

He had always known that these people were difficult to deal with, so he had never assumed airs for a small matter.

He was also very careful in the capital and tried his best not to offend anyone.

The bailiff looked at Xiao Yuanshi and said, “Senior general, your family members and the young master from Zhenguogong’s manor have gotten into a fight. It’s getting very serious now. My master would like you to go and take a look.”

He also didn’t know how to describe the state of his family members to him now.

Xiao Yuanshi almost lost his grip on his cup. “What? My family members? That’s impossible. My family members are still in Nanxi county.”

“But they have a road guide and claim to be your family members. So, please go and confirm it.”

Xiao Yuanshi tightened his grip on the cup and almost crushed it. “Alright, I’ll go with you.”

He then stood up and gave a comforting look to Ge Chunru, whose expression had already changed.

He silently prayed in his heart that it better not be those people from Nanxi county.

Ge Chunru watched as the two of them left the house.

Her originally smiling face instantly darkened.

She had not received any news from Xinghong for more than a month.

Could those people from his hometown really come?

No, definitely not.

Although she silently uttered this, she couldn’t help but have a bad premonition.

Outside South Main Street, the people fighting on both sides had already been pulled away by the people sent by the capital’s magistrate.

When the old Xiao family saw that the capital officials were subservient to that arrogant brat, their hearts instantly thumped.

They seemed to have gotten into trouble.

But it was clearly his fault!

Just as they were thinking of what to do, the bailiff brought Xiao Yuanshi over.

Old Lady Xiao had sharp eyes and was the first to see Xiao Yuanshi.

She immediately sat on the ground and started to cry. “Someone is killing me. I’m the mother of General Weiyuan. You guys are bullying an elderly!”

Xiao Yuanshi, who had just walked over…

Could he turn around and pretend that he hadn’t come?

His heart was even more shocked. Why were these blood-sucking insects here? They still looked so dishevelled, as if they were beggars.

More importantly, the moment he arrived, his mother sat on the ground and threw a tantrum.

His entire face was almost green.

Old Lady Xiao saw that her second son had arrived.

However, he stood far away in a daze.

Other than the surprise on his face, there was also a look of disdain that she could see.

Just like what Shi Qingluo had said, when people become rich, they didn’t want to acknowledge their parents anymore.

Indeed, he was a beast that was worse than any pigs and dogs.

Thus, he looked at Xiao Yuanshi and started crying in grievance. “Second stone (Shi is a family name that also has the same pronunciation as 石, which means stone), you’re finally here. If you come any later, your mother and your nephews will be bullied to death by these people.”

Xiao Yuanshi remained silent. No, I don’t want to come at all.

Standing in front of them, who dressed in coarse clothes and spoke and acted in an uncivilised manner, his face burned even more as his mother called his nickname in front of so many people.

Eldest Son Xiao and the others also looked at Xiao Yuanshi and complained in tears, “Second brother, you’re here. This bunch of brats insulted and bullied us.

“They even insulted you. We’re making a platform for you to show them who you really are.”

Eldest Son Xiao recalled Shi Qingluo’s words.

After coming to the capital, they should try their best to stand on the high ground in everything they did.

In any case, they were fighting because other people were looking down on their second brother.

Xiao Yuanshi uttered under his breath, I really have to thank you all. Why don’t y’all just go and die.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but they were helpless.

These people came too suddenly, and he wasn’t prepared at all.

The key was that they had already caused him such a big trouble the moment they arrived in the capital.

It was too much of a headache.

But he could only brace himself and walk over.

He forced out a smile. “Father and mother, why are you here?”

Seeing his expression, Old Lady Xiao cursed at this unfilial animal in her heart.

As expected, he did not want them to come.

However, a loving smile appeared on her face. “We missed you, so we came to the capital to take a look.”

Shi Qingluo had said that in front of others, she must act like a loving mother.

As long as their second son, this animal, dared to chase them away, the people outside would definitely scold him for being unfilial.

As expected, no matter how much hatred Xiao Yuanshi had in his heart, he could only hurriedly go up and help Old Lady Xiao up. “Then why didn’t you say hello first?”

Old Lady Xiao knew that this beast was questioning them for not writing a letter first, but she pretended not to understand and replied with a smile, “We want to give you a surprise.”

Xiao Yuanshi gasped. This was too much of a surprise, he could not handle it.

Besides, it was more like a startle for him.

At this moment, Xiao Yuanshi didn’t know what to say.

The young master from the public administration house, Xi Rui, said unhappily, “Senior General Xiao, if you want to catch up with them, go home and do it. Now shouldn’t you give me an explanation?”

This was the first time in his life that he had been slapped in the face.

The slap wasn’t painful, but it embarrassed him.

At this moment, he wished that he could bring someone to beat Xiao Yuanshi up.

Xiao Yuanshi felt a headache coming. “Young Master Xi, what kind of explanation do you want?”

He had not figured out the whole story yet.

Xi Rui snorted. “Your family members said that they wanted you to send us to prison, and they even beat me up.”

Xiao Yuanshi gasped, when did these blood-sucking worms in his family become so bold?

They had just arrived in the capital, weren’t familiar with the place, and they dared to beat others and even called him by his nickname.

Eldest Grandson Xiao could not take it anymore. “Second uncle, that’s not true.

“They were the ones who mocked us as beggars first and told us to get lost.

“We already said that we were family members of a general. They even said that you’re just General Weiyuan and shouldn’t treat yourself too highly.

“He actually dared to slander you like that. Of course, we have to help you to vent your anger.”

He really felt that they were wrongly accused. They were clearly trying to help his second uncle.

Shi Qingluo already told them that they were the general’s relatives.

They absolutely could not be looked down upon by others.

Otherwise, how would they be able to survive in the capital in the future?

Xiao Yuanshi looked at them, you guys aren’t helping me vent my anger. You’re just setting me up!

He was the young master of the public administration house.

Those staying in the public administration manor are the maternal family of the empress and in-laws of the emperor.

Although he wasn’t afraid of them, he didn’t want to offend them either.

The key was that he could not afford to provoke them.

He was really going crazy. He gave his eldest brother a cold look and said, “You shut up first.”

Then, he walked to Xi Rui’s side and smiled apologetically. “My family just came from the countryside and did not understand the rules of the capital. Thus, they offended you, young master. I hope you can forgive them.

“I will definitely come to apologise to you another day.” Since he could make it this far, he had to be flexible.

Seeing that Xiao Yuanshi actually went to apologise to that rascal, the old Xiao family members were filled with anger again.

However, they still endured it.

After all, they wanted to stay in the general’s residence for a long time.

Xi Rui saw that Xiao Yuanshi lowered his head.

He had thought that this senior general would stand up for his family. It seemed like he had no guts.

Suddenly, he felt that this was meaningless.

He snorted and said, “Alright, then I’ll wait.”

Hearing his grandfather and father saying that the emperor had blessed Xiao Yuanshi recently, he wouldn’t be so foolish and shed all pretence of cordiality with him.

But he would remember this enmity.

After saying this, he left with his people.

Xiao Yuanshi once again explained to the people sent by the capital’s magistrate that this was a misunderstanding and thanked the guards.

Only then, with a stiff face and under the strange gazes of the surrounding crowd, did he bring the people of the old Xiao family to his manor.