Xu Di said, "Father, I understand."

After receiving the news, Zheng Boyuan began making arrangements for his family that very evening.

Those brought from the capital should naturally be taken with them. Those coming to Hexi later will be hired. When they leave, give them two extra months' wages, explain the situation, and they can be dismissed on the spot.

Zheng Boyuan wasn't too worried about these things; what he was struggling with now was how to arrange things for his sister.

Zheng Yuanyuan is already twelve years old. Yuezhou is located in Lingnan and has always been a place for exile and military service. If she goes there, it will be difficult for her to find a husband in the future. However, not only Zheng Boyuan and Xu Zhi are reluctant to let her go to the capital, but Zheng Yuanyuan herself is also unwilling.

Zheng Boyuan and Xu Zhi invited Zheng Yuanyuan and Granny Wang to the side hall of Xu Zhi's courtyard.

Zheng Boyuan said, "Sister, Granny, I have been transferred to Yuezhou. I will leave immediately after the messenger arrives tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yuanyuan exclaimed in surprise, "Brother, didn't you just get married?"

Zheng Boyuan said, "Getting married has nothing to do with the transfer order. Sister, I want to ask you, what are your plans?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yuanyuan was stunned for a moment before whispering, "Brother, are you not going to take care of your sister anymore?"

Zheng Boyuan said, "Sister, it's not that I don't want to take care of you, it's just that Yuezhou is located in Lingnan, and it has always been a place for exile. You are about to reach the age of marriage, and if I take you there, there will be no suitable marriage partner."

Zheng Yuanyuan was at a loss. She looked at Zheng Boyuan, then at Xu Zhi, and then at Granny Wang.

Xu Zhi said, "Sister, of course I want to take you with me, but it concerns your life's most important matter. Before my husband sets off, let's discuss it properly."

Zheng Yuanyuan said, "Brother, sister-in-law, I don't know what to do."

Wang Mama said, "Young Master, Young Mistress, it would be good if our young lady could find a suitable marriage in the capital, but the situation in the mansion is complicated, and it would be inconvenient for the young lady to stay in the capital alone."

Xu Zhi said, "Granny, what do you think we should do?"

Wang Mama said, "It would be best for the young lady to stay with the eldest young master and his wife. You are her closest relatives. She is gentle and weak, so it would be more reassuring for her to stay with the eldest young master and his wife. As for marriage, we can write to the old lady in the capital to ask for her opinion. Also, we can look into the young master and young lady's maternal family, the Chen family. The eldest uncle of the Chen family is very knowledgeable and can keep an eye out for suitable families for our young lady."

Influenced by Xu Rao and Zhang Zhaoci, Xu Zhi felt that when a girl is looking for a husband, she should choose one that she likes. When the elders in the family find a husband for her, they value the family background and family traditions. Most importantly, they want a mother-in-law who won't cause trouble. Many couples treat each other with respect after marriage, but they lack the deep affection that a married couple should have.

Zheng Boyuan said, "In that case, I will write to my grandmother and maternal grandmother right away. Sister, I will set off tomorrow after I receive the transfer order. You go with your sister-in-law. Don't rush. Take your time packing and then head to Yuezhou."

Zheng Yuanyuan asked in surprise, "Brother, why are you in such a hurry?"

Zheng Boyuan said, "Military orders are absolute, and I have no choice but to obey."

Once only Zheng Boyuan and Xu Zhi were left in the room, Zheng Boyuan bowed to Xu Zhi, startling her so much that she quickly stood up. Zheng Boyuan helped Xu Zhi sit down and said, "My wife, the matter is urgent, and I have no choice but to go to Yuezhou first. I hope you will take good care of everything at home."

Xu Zhi said, "My husband is too kind. We are husband and wife, so naturally we should share the hardships together. My husband, the journey ahead is fraught with danger, so I hope you will be careful."

Zheng Boyuan sat down and leaned close to Xu Zhi, whispering, "My father-in-law has prepared four guards for me. Along the way, my brother-in-law has also helped me find some martial arts figures to ensure my safe journey to Yuezhou. My father-in-law said in his letter that Gan Wenpei, the naval commander of Yuezhou, is a man of integrity who has always been very kind to his soldiers. As long as I can reach Yuezhou safely, I will have escaped with my life."

Xu Zhi listened with trepidation, especially the last part about "escaping death," which made her realize that the journey had been fraught with peril. She thought that Zheng Boyuan was facing such a situation because of her, and her eyes welled up with tears.

Seeing Xu Zhi's reddened eyes, Zheng Boyuan said softly, "My wife, don't worry. I've been through so many storms, I don't take these things to heart."

Xu Zhi wiped her tears with her handkerchief and said, "Husband, we are in the open, while they are in the dark. We must be careful along the way."

Xu Zhi thought for a moment and said, "I will prepare some dry food for my husband that can be stored for a long time."

Zheng Boyuan said, "I have already arranged for the kitchen to make some dry food such as flatbread and steamed buns for us to take with us."

Xu Zhi said, "Then I'll go and fry some flour and rice noodles for my husband, and put them in a cloth bag so they're easy to carry and eat."

Seeing Xu Zhi's red eyes, Zheng Boyuan had no choice but to agree, saying, "Then I'll have to trouble you, my lady."

Zheng Boyuan still has some things to take care of. He has two North-South goods stores under his name in Hexi, which are usually managed by the store manager. Now that he is going to Yuezhou, which is thousands of miles away, he can't take care of things here. He has to arrange people first, and his uncle will have to send someone to take over later.

The kitchen was already bustling with activity. After the dough was prepared, it was either rolled into flatbreads and baked on a griddle, or made into steamed buns. After Xu Zhi came in, she found a small stove with an iron pot on it and started frying noodles and rice noodles.

Xu Zhi learned this from Xu Di. It's excellent marching rations. It's packed in a long cloth bag and carried with you. If you get hungry while walking, you can just take it out and eat a couple of bites to stave off hunger.

After frying flour with lard, put it in a cloth bag and carry it with you. You can eat it dry or mix it with boiling water. It can always fill you up with a meal.

As for the rice noodles, they are made from rice flour ground at home using a stone mill, and stir-fried in the same way as wheat flour. After being stir-fried, they are also put into a cloth bag.