In the backyard, in Jiayin's room, Jiayi, Liuyang, Jiaxi, and Jia'an sat around the kang (a heated brick bed).

Various snacks, fruits, and treats were placed in the middle of them.

In short, Jiayin brought out all the delicious food she could find for her brothers.

Jiaxi and Jia'an were chatting excitedly with their younger sister, their eyebrows practically flying up.

Jiaxi, munching on a mooncake, waved and exclaimed, "Little sister, there really are fish as big as houses and turtles as big as washbasins in the south! I even rode one around! If Uncle hadn't caught me, I would have been taken to the sea!"

"Me too, me too!" Jia'an followed closely behind, equally excited. "Sister, didn't you see those foreigners? Red eyes, blue eyes, blond hair, they look just like ghosts!"

"They speak with a rolled 'r' and the things they bring out are really interesting; they're things we don't have here!"

"I even replaced your box with one that sings by itself. It's all in your luggage. I'll get it for you after the cargo is unloaded at the dock!"

Jiayi and Liu Yang had been on the boat several times and were much calmer. After they finished eating and drinking, Jiayi took out an old booklet from his pocket.

The booklet was clearly frequently read and the edges were worn.

Jiayi handed it to his younger sister, smiling as he said, "Little sister, I've found everything you needed. But there are a few that weren't marked, which means I haven't found them yet. I'll keep looking for them for you later!"

"Thank you, brother!" Jiayin hugged her brother's arm, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with a smile.

You should know that she drew this booklet herself, which included fruits such as mangoes and lychees, fish and shrimp from the sea, spices from the southeast, and so on. It was a very large and complicated collection.

Finding them one by one and bringing them back was a huge undertaking.

Jia Yi, who was always considered reckless by his family, actually patiently found almost everything for her.

What is this? This is the love a brother has for his sister!

"Brother, I've come up with a lot of delicious ideas, I'll make them all for you tomorrow!" Jiayin quickly offered her treasures, which made Jiayi nod with a smile.

Jiaxi and Jia'an, afraid of leaving them behind, also joined in the clamor.

"You can't be biased towards your sister!"

"We helped too!"

“Okay, I’ll have them all!” Jiayin waved her chubby little hand generously. “And I’ve also prepared a gift for Brother Liu Yang.”

After saying that, she called Shui Ling to go to the Ye family's courtyard next door and fetch the newly made saber and dagger.

Sure enough, Jiayi and his brothers immediately erupted in joy.

"This is just as good a knife as Uncle Dayong's!"

"It's definitely the same! Uncle Dayong wouldn't let us play that round, but we'll have it too from now on."

"I want this dagger, wrapped in sharkskin!"

Men are inherently combative, regardless of age.

After distributing their new weapons, the Jiayi brothers couldn't wait to go out and conquer the world and the seas!

Unfortunately, the Li family still had a pillar of strength. Before they could utter any boastful words, Old Madam Li arrived in time, slapped each of them, and dragged them all to the front to eat.

After dinner, the back door was closed, and with no women in the front yard, it became the domain of the Li family's men, young and old.

In the side room, the hot spring pool was splashing and churning.

After everyone had washed and changed into clean clothes, uncles, nephews, fathers and sons gathered on a large kang (heated brick bed), chatting animatedly until they finally fell into a deep sleep in the middle of the night!

When you wake up in the morning, the sun has risen, and the Mid-Autumn Festival has arrived.

The academy had a two-day holiday, but there were still evening classes last night, so it was almost noon when Li Laosan and Zhao Yuru brought the children back.

Before the carriage even reached the village entrance, Jiayi, Jiaxi, and Jia'an sat on a big tree, looking around. As soon as they saw a shadow in the distance, the brothers shouted loudly.

So Jiaren, Lige'er, and Maoge'er also jumped out of the carriage.

The brothers ran around and gathered together, hugging each other and jumping around, all overjoyed.

Jia Huan came out of the yard, wiped the water off his hands, and smiled憨厚ly.

He had originally intended to call his older and younger brothers to come inside quickly, but he was dragged along to the orchard to play together.

Jiayin, this precious darling, naturally wouldn't be left out.

Now that her brothers have all gone home, she no longer needs to grow legs.

She was either sitting on this brother's shoulders or leaning on that brother's back, her heart bubbling with happiness!

Hearing the commotion outside, Old Lady Li came out and saw only her son and daughter-in-law. She couldn't help but laugh and said, "Where have these boys gone off to play again?"

Zhao Yuru stepped forward and hugged her mother-in-law's arm, replying, "Mother, it's a rare holiday, let them have their fun. I heard Jiayi and the others are back. Even Jiaren, with his steady nature, didn't sleep well last night."

Li Laosan also said with a smile, "Yes, Mother, I'll do any chores. The children are all grown up now, and it's not easy for them to get together."

Grandma Li was both amused and exasperated. "You two, I only say one thing, and you two say a hundred! I'm their grandmother, how could I stop them from being close?"

After saying that, she pulled her son and daughter-in-law, "Come on, hurry up and come inside. You said you were going to do some work, so you can't be lazy today! This year is a lively festival with many people, so let's cook some more good dishes."

Aunt Wu and Dazhu's wife, among others, also came back for the festival, but eager to get home, they quickly dispersed after a few words of greeting.

In the orchard, the trees are laden with fruit, so heavy they seem about to break the branches at any moment.

Compared to before, it has been exposed to the sun for another half month, and the sourness and astringency of the fruit have decreased a lot, and it is already about 50% sweet.

Jiaren and the others casually picked some fruit, wiped it on their clothes, and started eating it with gusto.

Jiaren, Lige'er, and Maoge'er talked about the big and small things happening at the academy; Jiaxi and Jia'an talked about their experiences in Quanzhou; Jiahuan talked about the restaurant business; and Jiayi talked about the hardships of sailing...

The brothers gathered together, eating and laughing, and they had so much to talk about.

Jiayin nestled among her brothers like a little panda, rolling around happily.

Such happy times never seem to last long!

When the sun was high in the sky, Li Laosi found his way down the mountain and shouted, "Jiaren, bring your younger siblings home for dinner!"

The boys quickly gathered their things, brushed the grass off their clothes, and then carried their sister home.

Tables had already been set up in the Li family's courtyard.

Uncle Village Chief and Aunt Wu, Uncle Zhao and his family, Hui Niang and her husband and their child, Mr. Wen and his wife, Lord Hou, Doctor Zhang, Chief Escort Liu and his wife and their child...

In short, there were more than thirty people gathered together.

Logically speaking, on days like these, one should eat at home.

But Grandma Li was happy that all her children and grandchildren were gathered together, so she wanted to make it a big celebration and simply brought everyone over.

Dayong and Huiniang are considered half a son and daughter-in-law of the Li family. The village elders, Uncle Zhao, and Doctor Zhang are also considered elders of the Li family.

The Liu family and Mr. and Mrs. Wen are practically one family!

Needless to say, the children all swarmed around him and fawned over him as soon as they returned!

The east and west rooms, plus the main room, were set up with three tables for men, women, and children...