Chapter 240

After throwing the torch into the fire pit, Zhao Xiping immediately turned around. He ran for a while, entered the city gate, and saw Sui Yu and his group still standing there, so he slowed down.

"Go and bring the camel over, and we won't go with you," said Sui Yu.

"Xiaomi said she wanted to go with us to the guesthouse to eat roast lamb, and my brother-in-law wanted to walk there," Zhao Xiping said. "Let's go together and see how they arrange it."

"That's fine." Sui Yu pushed the kid over and said, "Let your dad hold you so you don't get caught in the wind. Untie the sheepskin coat and wrap him up. The kid is sweating from running around."

The last sentence was said to Zhao Xiping.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiping unbuttoned his sheepskin coat, squatted down and embraced the child. He pulled off the child's shoes, held his feet and wrapped them around his back, easily wrapping the three-year-old child in his arms.

A Qiang and Hua Niu stood aside with envy in their eyes. They felt happy just by watching, but at the same time felt a little sad in their hearts. They walked behind with their heads down.

Sui Yu was carrying two shoes and Sui Liang was carrying a small waist drum. He played the drum lightly twice, and when he saw his sister looking at him, he stopped immediately, fearing that she would ask him to learn the drum again.

There were many people traveling together. Sui Yu heard someone talking about the drum sounds just now. She slowly walked closer to listen carefully. A Shui and the others also pricked up their ears to listen carefully. They heard several people praising the drum sounds, and they laughed happily.

When they arrived at the village, Zhao Xiping found that there were many people gathered outside Xiaomi's house. He strode over with the child in his arms. Without waiting to ask, he understood the situation. He heard a quarrel inside.

"Make way, let us in for a moment." Sui Yu stepped forward, pushing aside the crowd and saying, "Today is New Year's Eve, a festive day. It's better to be harmonious and peaceful to bring good fortune. Quarrels and lawsuits are unpleasant and not good. Let's all go back and sit together as a family to talk about happy things. Don't get cold outside."

There was some truth in what he said, and most of the people who were gathered outside the door to watch the excitement dispersed.

Sui Liang walked behind. He asked the neighbors who were watching the excitement in the yard to leave. After closing the door, he led the others into the kitchen to sit down and did not interfere with what was happening in the main hall.

"It's New Year's Day, what are you arguing about?" Sui Yu walked in, took a quick look around, and soothed him, "We're all family, so talk it out nicely. Arguing only hurts the relationship."

She walked over to Xiaomi and picked up the child. The child cried until his voice was hoarse. Hearing him calling for his aunt in a pitiful voice, she lost her temper and scolded him, "You all have a combined age of one or two hundred years. Can't you control your emotions? You become dehumanized when you get angry? Look how scared the child is. Are you all blind and can't you see the child crying?"

Zhao Xiaomi tried to hold the child, but Sui Yu glared at her, dodged her hand, and scolded her, "Do you know how to comfort a child now?"

Zhao Xiaomi covered her face and cried, "Third sister-in-law, their family bullied me and wanted to eat me. How could I care about the children?"

"What's going on? They were fine when I got here." Zhao Xiping walked over to Sui Yu. Huang Lian was carrying two chairs over. He took one and sat down, saying, "Tell me, what's the quarrel about?"

"Xiaomi wanted to buy camels next year, and when my mother heard about it, she scolded her for being careless and never being able to save money, buying whatever she saw." Huang Lianzheng explained truthfully, "Then they started arguing. Xiaomi said the business was hers, and my mother said that without her, my father, and my brother, the grain business wouldn't be possible..."

"Excuse me," Sui Yu said. She looked at Huang's mother and said, "Aunt, you're wrong. The grain business isn't going to fail without you. Whoever my sister marries into will become wealthy. As long as that family isn't extinct and there's help, this business won't fail."

Huang's mother lowered her head and said nothing.

"My third sister-in-law is right. It is a blessing for our family that we can marry the eldest son's wife." Father Huang said.

After someone admitted it, Sui Yu stopped talking and motioned Huang Lianzheng to continue.

"Xiaomi said the same thing. When she got angry, she accused my mother of being greedy and pretending to be nice. She said my family wanted to take over her business..." At this point, he looked at Aning and continued, "She wants to take the children and leave. She thinks our family is not good people and wants to remarry."

"What happens next?" Zhao Xiping asked.

"I begged her not to leave, and my parents also forced her to take the child away. Then she put forward a condition: if we don't want her to remarry, we will separate." Huang Lian was dejected. He didn't understand what Xiaomi was thinking. She had discussed with him before that she would give the business to the second brother with 20% of the profits. Why did she suddenly change her mind and want to separate the family and remarry?

"Dad, Mom, stop arguing and just separate me." Huang Laoer spoke.

Huang's mother wiped her tears, looked at Zhao Xiping, and said, "Captain Zhao, you heard it too. Even if it was my fault at the beginning, can you still blame me for what's happening now? You have three brothers in your family. You're far away, so let's not talk about it. Did your eldest and second brothers split up? Our second son hasn't even started a family yet, and his father and I are still alive, but your sister forced us to kick him out of the house. How could she be such a person? My family makes money thanks to her, but we don't eat or drink for free. She can't bully people by being domineering. You also have a son, and you'll have two and three sons in the future. Let me ask you, can you tolerate your eldest son's wife kicking out the second and third sons who haven't even started a family yet?"

"That can't happen." Zhao Xiping glanced at Zhao Xiaomi and said, "Apologize to your mother-in-law."

Zhao Xiaomi pursed her lips and said nothing.

"This is her fault. You two elders should bear with her for asking to divide the family. Just think of her as hysterical nonsense." Zhao Xiping was angry. He stared at Zhao Xiaomi and said, "Come back with me tonight. My parents are here. If you want to remarry, I won't stop you. Go discuss it with your parents."

"Third brother, don't take it seriously. She was just saying that in anger. We already have children. We have a good family. How can we break up just because of a quarrel?" Huang Lianzheng hurriedly made up for it.

Huang's mother felt less angry when she saw Zhao Xiping was a reasonable person and didn't take sides. She understood that without the support of the Zhao family, or rather, without the backing of Zhao Xiping and Sui Yu, Zhao Xiaomi wouldn't be able to cause much trouble.

"Her third brother, Xiaomi is young, and what she said was just a fit of anger. Don't take it seriously." Huang's mother also softened her tone. "When a family lives together, there are always clashes. Just let it go after a few arguments. Don't mention things like dividing the family and remarrying in the future. It will hurt the relationship and disturb your peace."

"That's true. When two strangers marry, it's fate. It's a destiny given by God, so how can we just break it?" Sui Yu handed Aning to Zhao Xiaomi and said, "Don't threaten me in the future. Try to control your impatience. If there's anything, let's discuss it behind closed doors as a family."

Zhao Xiaomi received the signal, she hugged her child and wiped her tears. When Aning saw her crying, she also shed tears sadly.

"Okay, okay, why are you crying? Just say whatever you want to say. Your third brother and I are here." Sui Yu urged.

"It's fine if we don't split up, but we need to clarify the business matters," Zhao Xiaomi said hoarsely. "It's only been a little over a year, and we've only just made some money, and you're taking all the credit for it. You're implying that I can't run the business without you. You scowl at me when you see me spending money, and you don't even consider that before I married into the Huang family, I was already growing golden grass at the foot of the sand hill, planning to start a grain business back then."

After that, she looked at Huang Lianzheng and said, "If my parents have forgotten, you should remember. If you hadn't helped me plant grass every day, I wouldn't have married you."

"Yes." Huang Lianzheng nodded.

"I dare not trust you anymore. If you continue to get involved like this, maybe in three to five years, this grain business will belong to your Huang family, and I, Zhao Xiaomi, will have nothing to do with it." Zhao Xiaomi looked at her parents-in-law.

Huang's mother was so embarrassed that her face turned red. She was still arrogant in front of Zhao Xiping a moment ago, but now she couldn't even raise her head.

"Second brother, I'm sorry to tell you. I was so angry today that I said I wanted to separate the family. I really don't mean to hate you, so don't take it to heart." Zhao Xiaomi apologized very happily at this moment.

"No, no, don't worry about me, I'm not angry." Huang Laoer was tongue-tied and stuttered when he was excited.

"That's fine. You are capable. Your brother and I also want to help you make money. Mom and Dad, how about this? We will split the profits of the grain business 127. You and my dad will get 10% together, and your second brother will get 20%. When your sister-in-law comes home, she will have to help with the work." Zhao Xiaomi asked.

Huang's father and mother exchanged glances. This was a good idea. When they settled the accounts at the end of this year, after deducting the money for buying the servants, there would still be three thousand coins left. A 20% profit was a lot of money.

"Okay." A smile appeared on Huang's mother's face.

Zhao Xiaomi was also happy. If it weren't for the commotion tonight, this matter would have required a lot of trouble.

Sui Yu patted the footprints on his legs and said, "It's so good to have a good discussion. Isn't it better to settle things peacefully? Don't quarrel in the future. Especially Aunt and Uncle. They are old, why can't they hold back their anger? They made the neighbors laugh tonight. After the night, who knows how many people will say that our Xiaomi has a bad temper. Having a bad sister-in-law will affect your second son's marriage, right?"

"It's okay. We just have to deny it. We were just joking. If anyone gossips about her outside, I will go to her house and tell her off." Huang's mother promised. With Sui Yu's words, she would definitely not let Zhao Xiaomi's reputation be ruined.

"It's getting late, let's go back." Zhao Xiping stood up, looked at Zhao Xiaomi, and said, "Don't even think about going to eat barbecue now. I'm afraid there will be only sheep skeletons left when we get back. Go wash up and go to bed. Take the children back on the second day of the New Year, and I'll have someone roast some sheep for you."

Zhao Xiaomi smiled brightly. It felt so good to have her brother and sister-in-law as her support.

"Don't roast the lamb. Come to my house on the third day of the Lunar New Year. I'll have Lianshan buy a lamb tomorrow and stew half and roast the other half." Huang's mother stood up to see them off and said, "I'm so sorry to have you all so tired and worried tonight. It's Lunar New Year, such a beautiful day."

"We are all family, so we should keep our differences." Sui Yu went to lead the camel and said, "Aunt, we are going back now. We will come back to pay New Year's greetings on the third day of the Lunar New Year."

"Okay, okay." Huang's mother walked him to the door.

Watching the camel running out of sight and the sound of its hooves fading away, she sighed softly, wondering what all this fuss was about.

"Don't mention what happened tonight when you go back. Your grandma and grandpa are old, and they can't sleep if they have something on their mind. It's better not to let them know." Sui Yu instructed.

The others nodded in agreement.

"Oh!" Sui Liang sighed suddenly, "It's so troublesome. Having a family is so troublesome. There are so many things to deal with. There are so many right and wrong things, and so many things to think about."

He sat in the kitchen listening tonight, and was really afraid that the wife he married would be greedy for his sister's family wealth, which would cause discord among his family.

"It still depends on whether a man's heart is right. If you were someone who could handle things, your wife and I wouldn't have a quarrel." Sui Yu said, "When have we ever had a quarrel in our family? As long as you can handle things clearly, your wife and I can get along well."

"I won't get married." Sui Liang muttered, "Sister, don't try to drive me away. I want to live with you. When the little guy gets married in the future, I will take care of his children."

Zhao Xiping suddenly laughed.

"Little guy, can I help you raise your son in the future?" Sui Liang asked loudly.

"Okay." The kid answered loudly.

"You two should shut up." Sui Yu said with disgust.

A Shui and the others also laughed.

"There's someone in front," said Kurban.

"Why are there people outside at this time? Could they be going to the teahouse to join in the fun?" Sui Yu also saw a flickering fire not far away.

Zhao Xiping was driving the camel in front. He held down the cub's head and asked, "Who's in front?"

Finally someone showed up. Sui Hui stood up trembling. She stopped in the middle of the road, following the sound of hooves in the darkness, and asked, "Is it Sister Yu?"

I haven't heard this name for a long time. Sui Yu let out a long sigh. It's so lively tonight.

"Cousin, why are you here?" Sui Yu stopped the camel and asked, "You're looking for me? Why aren't you waiting at the guesthouse?"

"I went to the Qianhu Office first, and then came here. Your servants said you hadn't returned yet, so I came here. I was in a hurry to go back, so I just said a few words and left." Sui Hui didn't have time to exchange pleasantries. She asked anxiously, "I heard you've been out of seclusion, but have you seen my brother?"

After so many years, she still missed Sui Wen'an. But if Sui Liang suddenly left without saying goodbye, Sui Yu thought she would also be worried and ask people everywhere to find out his whereabouts.

"No, the farthest I went was to Kucha, and I didn't see any monks along the way." Sui Yu shook his head.

Sui Hui was not disappointed when she heard this. She took out a cloth bag from her arms, and as she moved, the bag made a few jingling sounds.

"I heard that we can ask a caravan to look for people and things. Here are some of my jewelry. Could you please keep an eye out outside the customs and ask for news about him?" Sui Hui's voice trembled. She was cold and wanted to cry. She took a few steps closer, stuffed the cloth bag into Sui Yu's hand, and begged, "Sister Yu, you are the only one who saw what he looked like when he left. I beg you."

Sui Yu clenched her hands. The cloth bag was still warm, but she felt as if she had been scalded. She immediately let go and threw the bag to Sui Hui.

"I don't want your jewelry. Can you find bamboo slips with writing on them in Hu Jianguan Mansion? I want to learn to read. Can you help me copy some words? Anything will do."

Sui Hui was worried at first, then happy. She nodded and said, "Yes, I can write a few articles for you myself. But what if you can't read?"

"I have my own way."

"Okay, I'll wait for you at the back door of the mansion at noon on the fifth day."