Summer is over, and everyone knows what that means: the grass on the grassland has withered, the livestock have nothing to eat, and the people on the grassland will come to harass them.

Every year there are several battles, some minor and some major. So, whether it's Yanmen Pass, or even Hexi County, or further afield, or the several passes and border towns along this border, everyone is starting to prepare for winter.

Looking at the huge county government office, Zhang Zhaoci said, "I think that when that time really comes, this place will be the target of those people's attacks. Granny Lu, do you think it's necessary for us to buy another house outside?"

Granny Lu said, "There's no need for that. The county town is only so big. If we really take Yanmen Pass, the enemy that comes won't be just a small group. Even if we hide in a civilian house, it won't be safe. We'll probably have to evacuate before then."

Zhang Zhaoci nodded repeatedly. Granny Lu said, "We can make two cellars, not just to hide some valuables or grains, but also some cabbage and radishes."

Zhang Zhaoci said with a smile, "What they said really makes sense. Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure. I didn't know that until I lived my own life."

Zhang Zhaoci is very busy with work, while Xu Rao not only has stable working hours but also summer and winter vacations. Xu Rao usually does the grocery shopping and cooking for the family. Even though Zhang Zhaoci has been married for almost thirty years, she still doesn't know how to buy groceries at the market.

Zhang Zhaoci said, "Granny, since we're going to do it, let's get started right away. I don't know anything about this, so why don't you take the trouble and help with the arrangements?"

Granny Lu liked Zhang Zhaoci's efficiency, but seeing her only wanting to focus on her medical skills and not wanting to care about anything else, she felt exhausted. Being respected was one thing, but why did she feel so frustrated?

As a result, before they could even start making arrangements for the next day, an uninvited guest arrived at the Xu family's residence.

The man was in his forties. He didn't look very well, probably because he had been traveling through rough and unpaved roads. However, he had a good constitution, and even so, he still gave the impression of being a very refined person.

Zhang Zhaoci went to the front hall, saw the person who came, and after carefully examining him, he was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Third Brother, Third Brother, is it really you?"

The person who came smiled and said, "Little sister, it really is me."

Zhang Zhaoci's eyes immediately reddened, and she grabbed the person who came and said, "Third Brother, where have you all been all these years? I just want to find you, but I don't know where to look."

The visitor was Zhang Zhaozhi, Zhang Zhaoci's third brother from her maternal family. He pulled Zhang Zhaoci to sit in a seat in the front hall and said with a smile, "You're a mother of two now, how come your tears still come so easily?"

Zhang Zhaoci rubbed her eyes and said, "How are Father and Mother? How are Third Brother, Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law? And Second Brother and Little Brother, after you married me off, you all left. Where did you go?"

Zhang Zhaozhi laughed and said, "Look at you, you still have the same temper. Let me have a sip of water and calm down before I talk to you slowly."

Zhang Zhaoci quickly pushed the teacup on the table toward him, watched Zhang Zhaozhi take a sip of water, and urged him to speak quickly.

Zhang Zhaozhi had no choice but to put down his teacup and say, "Everyone is doing well, and your parents are doing well too. After your wedding, we left the capital overnight. We first went to Tongzhou, took a boat to the seaside, and then took a sea voyage to a remote island overseas."

Zhang Zhaoci said, "I just felt that you must have gone over there. But as a lady of the inner quarters, I couldn't even go to look for you. These past ten years have been so painful for me."

Zhang Zhaozhi said with a smile, "Our family had no other choice but to do this. Fortunately, God left us a way out. When my eldest brother went to sea on a ship, we passed by there. After the accident, we thought of many places and felt that that place was more suitable for our family to live in, so we brought our family members there."

Zhang Zhaoci asked, "How are your parents' health?"

Zhang Zhaozhi said, "The climate there is humid and hot all year round. Actually, to be honest, it's not too bad. You know, although Dad isn't very good at treating illnesses, he's quite good at maintaining health. Over the years, he's been making medicinal meals for the family. Now the whole family has adapted to the environment there, and our health is still pretty good."

Zhang Zhaoci nodded repeatedly and said, "That's good, that's good. Third Brother, how did you find this place?"

Zhang Zhaozhi said, "Our family has actually been keeping watch over you in the capital. The Marquis's residence is a big target, so we didn't dare to go there to look for you. Later, we received a message saying that your whole family had come here, so I rushed over to see you."

Zhang Zhaoci knew that coming from the southern islands was a long way, thousands of miles away. Nowadays, people travel by boat, car, or at the very least, by horseback. To travel this far would be an extraordinary ordeal.

Zhang Zhaoci looked at Zhang Zhaozhi with heartache. Zhang Zhaozhi smiled and said, "I didn't suffer much on the way. Our family's ships have been running all along. Back then, my eldest and second eldest brothers were traveling outside. My younger brother and I, along with other relatives, knew each other. Later, when my eldest and second eldest brothers were too busy, I helped transport goods from the southern ports to the north. This time, it was just a coincidence that it happened in the Yuhang area. After receiving the letter, I quickly set off from there and came directly here."

Zhang Zhaoci said, "Alright, Third Brother, let's stop talking for now. You go and wash up and rest. I'll have someone call your brother-in-law back, and we'll have a proper get-together tonight."

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