Chapter 137 - 136: So-Called Matrilocal Marriage (Second Update)

Chapter 137: Chapter 136: So-Called Matrilocal Marriage (Second Update)

"We’ve reached this point, Mr. Zhou, there’s no need to pretend anymore."

Xu Jing looked at him with a half-smile and said, "Mr. Zhou, you knew I came to the capital to deliver medicine for the Song Family, so how could you not know that I now have Madam Song supporting me? In fact, Madam Song has mentioned introducing me to other noblewomen in the capital. As the wife of Mr. Song, the people she knows carry a lot of weight, which I’m sure you already understand, Mr. Zhou.

This morning, she sent someone to deliver an invitation for her grandson’s two-year-old birthday banquet at the Song residence ten days from now."

Zhou Qi couldn’t help but smile with some helplessness.

He wasn’t pretending; Miss Xu truly was capable, but facing a giant like the Jiang Family, he was still somewhat uncertain.

Xu Jing continued, "Mr. Zhou, you should first prepare to open a branch in the Western Capital. I want to lay the groundwork with you: I can fully assist Mr. Zhou in re-establishing a branch of Tianyi Hall in the Western Capital. Initially, I can even help out at Tianyi Hall’s branch there, but later, when Xinglin Hall wants to enter the Western Capital, I hope Mr. Zhou can also fully support us."

Zhou Qi nodded, "Of course."

"And also, I hope to cultivate our own doctors at Xinglin Hall. Tianyi Hall has experience in training doctors and knows where to find the best candidates. I hope Tianyi Hall can assist us in this aspect as well."

The reason she’s not rushing to open a branch in the Western Capital is that they currently have no surplus doctors at Xinglin Hall. What would she use to open a branch? Medicine, supplies, and money can be resolved in a short time, but talent requires a certain time cost to cultivate.

Any ambitious medical establishment would want to cultivate its own doctors. Zhou Qi wasn’t surprised by Xu Jing’s request and nodded, "No problem. Recently, we recruited a batch of medical apprentices for training. They are all promising young candidates, and if Miss Xu wishes, you can select a few from them..."

"No."

Xu Jing shook her head with a faint smile and said, "I primarily want to train not male doctors, but female doctors. If Mr. Zhou is capable of finding talented boys, surely you can find talented girls as well."

There are too many capable male doctors in Great Chu. Although Xu Jing is confident she wouldn’t lose in this race, since she’s here and has the ability to make a difference, why not forge a new path and cultivate a batch of capable female doctors?

There is still a high demand for female doctors in Great Chu, whether it be among the noble classes or the common people, as they all need doctors who can focus wholeheartedly on treating women.

Zhou Qi looked at Xu Jing in surprise and, after a moment, chuckled softly, "I won’t hide it from Miss Xu. Our Zhou Family has also been training female doctors in the past few years. As a partner, I must remind Miss Xu that training female doctors is far less straightforward than training male doctors.

After all, women face the issue of marriage in the future, and most women, once married, would not want to continue showing their faces in public. Thus, you might end up losing a female doctor you trained with great effort."

Xu Jing naturally knew this, which is one of the reasons why it’s difficult for capable female doctors to emerge in Great Chu.

Most people believe that women should eventually return to the household. How can they be trained with care when there is this belief?

This issue exists not only in ancient times but is also very prevalent in modern times.

Xu Jing said calmly, "I am naturally aware of this, and I have my ways of dealing with it, but I still appreciate Mr. Zhou’s reminder. By the way, there is one more thing I’d like to trouble Mr. Zhou with. I heard that the Zhou Family has a residence in the Western Capital, and I wonder if Mr. Zhou would mind letting me stay there for a few days?"

Zhou Qi was momentarily stunned.

Mentioning this, Xu Jing was a bit troubled.

The house she’s currently staying in might not have Xiao Yi’s name on it, but it’s still under the name of one of his people. If someone were to investigate, her relationship with Xiao Yi would be exposed.

If Xu Siniang’s identity was exposed, the trouble would be manageable, but she feared that if people found out she was living in Xiao Yi’s house, another wave of rumors would start. Serious rumors can be a lethal tool.

Therefore, as soon as Madam Song asked her to stay longer in the Western Capital, she began contemplating moving out, and now it seems just the right time.

Of course, she couldn’t tell the truth to Zhou Qi, so Xu Jing said, "In the future, if I want to leverage the help of those noblewomen to assist in reopening Tianyi Hall’s branch in the Western Capital, I need a reasonable premise. Otherwise, if we have no familial ties with the Zhou Family, why should I help you so much?

Now, living at your place will give me a good angle for explanation in the future."

Zhou Qi didn’t mind at all. He seldom visited the Western Capital, and the residence there was vacant most of the time.

He couldn’t help but smile slightly as he looked at Xu Jing and said, "Miss Xu makes a valid point. In fact, my mother has considered this too. Initially, my mother wanted to have Xian’er’s engagement with your family to bring our families closer."

"Pfft!"

"Cough... cough, cough!"

The first sound was Zhou Xian, who had just taken a sip of tea and couldn’t help but spit it out, and the second sound was Xu Jing, who choked as she took a small sip from her cup.

Xu Jing, having been choked twice in two short days, instantly felt this was a level of choking she couldn’t bear.

Zhou Xian, originally having a fiery temper, immediately slapped the table and stood up, his handsome face turning red as he said, "Brother, are you joking? You actually... actually want me to marry this rogue woman!"

Zhou Qi kindly reminded, "It’s not marrying, but you joining their family."

"!!!!"

This was even more insulting, wasn’t it!

Is this really his own brother?

"I refuse! Even if you pressure me, Brother, I will not compromise! Who wants to join the household of an ugly freak who doesn’t even dare show her face!"

Perhaps she’s just too ugly, which is why Vice Minister Xiao abandoned her!

Xu Jing’s mouth twitched slightly.

This brat.

Zhou Qi smiled as he looked at him and said, "Now, even if you wanted to join, she might not want you. Moreover..."

He paused, leaving the rest unsaid.

Besides, no matter how you look at it, she is still the ex-wife of that Seventh Son of the Xiao Family. Last time, when he came to treat her wound, the Seventh Son of the Xiao Family did not appear as if he had let her go.

In any case, since then, he and his mother had completely abandoned the idea of sending Zhou Xian over.

Zhou Qi then turned to Xu Jing with a smile and said, "However, although we no longer have that plan, we do have a small favor to ask. We hope Miss Xu can help teach Xian’er well. Since we will definitely have many close collaborations in the future, keeping Xian’er with Miss Xu will also facilitate our two families’ communications. I wonder what Miss Xu thinks?"

Xu Jing: "..."

This is roughly equivalent to a hostage placed with the other side during peace negotiations between two countries.

To be honest, aside from the Zhou Family’s intention to take advantage of this opportunity to hand over their troublesome son to her, Zhou Qi’s proposal is beneficial to her without any harm. Having a young lord of the Zhou Family under her control is tantamount to having a means to balance them.

But... could she choose someone else instead?

No wonder he brought Zhou Xian along for this negotiation. He was waiting for her here...

Zhou Xian, even more agitated, said, "I refuse! Whether it’s joining the family or being taught, I refuse both!"

Yet Zhou Qi didn’t even glance at him and said, "If Miss Xu doesn’t say anything, I’ll take it as your consent. Tomorrow, I’m returning to Anping County, so I’ll leave Xian’er here..."

Zhou Xian, seeing how he was being ignored, felt as if he had suffered a great blow and suddenly bit his lip and shouted, "I’ve had enough! I don’t care what you all do, but I absolutely refuse to stay!"

With that, he pushed away the maid who realized the situation had gone awry and tried to stop him, and quickly ran out.

Zhou Qi’s expression remained unchanged; he even picked up the teacup and took a sip.

Xu Jing: "..."

Is there really no problem with the way these brothers interact?