The patriarch of the Xu family and grandfather of Xu Nian. He is 48 years old and once traveled with a merchant caravan for two years, earning silver before settling down. He rose from apprentice to shopkeeper at a fabric shop but left two years ago to work the fields with his sons. He is pragmatic and believes the imperial examination is the only way for commoners to change their fate. He is eager for his eldest son Xu Yaozu to pass the exam to secure the family's future and considers sending grandchildren to study if successful.
