Xu Di never brings his work home. Li Yuexi knows that Xu Di is very busy, but she can't help him with his work. She can only follow Chen Zhaoci's instructions during the day, do activities when she needs to, rest when she needs to, take care of her health and the baby in her belly, and try not to cause any trouble.

When Xu Di returned home in the evening, Li Yuexi never asked him about official matters. Instead, she would tell him about what happened at home during the day or tell a joke to make him laugh. However, when Xu Di returned home, he preferred to read to the child in Li Yuexi's belly. He would read those beautiful poems and songs to his unborn child in the gentlest voice.

Li Yuexi has been listening to this story with her family these days and has found that as the family gets along like this, her heart feels more and more at peace. She enjoys her current life very much. Although the courtyard is very crowded, she is indeed very happy every day.

Because they weren't spending the Lunar New Year at home, there was no need to prepare many things. From Li Yuexi to Chen Zhaoci, and then to Granny Lu, it was the first time that they felt the Lunar New Year was very relaxing.

Even in the smallest places, by the end of the twelfth lunar month, people will try to find ways to make money to buy some festive items for the New Year. The elders in the family will also prepare more of the things that they can't eat on ordinary days, so that on the first day of the Lunar New Year, they can eat whatever they want and have a happy day. After all, a new beginning means a fresh start and a new look for the new year.

Zheng Yuanyuan had almost recovered and, hearing that the streets were bustling, insisted on going to see them. Xu Zhi then sent one of her bodyguards with a maid to go to the streets together.

Zheng Yuanyuan didn't return until the sun was almost setting. She was carrying a lot of things, and even the two people who accompanied her were carrying loads of things.

Xu Zhi asked her in surprise, "What did you buy?"

Zheng Yuanyuan showed Xu Zhi the various items one by one, including sugar figurines, pastries, and even some steamed bean buns made by the village aunties and grandmas, saying she wanted to try them.

Thinking that she was making a fuss over nothing, Xu Zhi didn't say anything. When they ate dinner that night, the kitchen staff heated up the steamed buns. Zheng Yuanyuan picked one up, took a bite, chewed a few times, and stretched her neck but couldn't swallow it.

Xu Zhi saw that Zheng Yuanyuan's face was red from choking, sighed, took the dark-colored steamed bun from her hand, and said, "These steamed buns are different from the ones we eat in the capital. Those are steamed with white flour, but these have sorghum flour mixed in. The sorghum flour is a bit chewy, so you can't eat them."

Zheng Yuanyuan felt a little embarrassed because she had bought so much food. Chen Zhaoci said, "It's okay, it's okay. Everyone can share it and have a taste before it's all gone. If there's anything you want to eat, just tell the kitchen and they'll make it for you."

Zheng Yuanyuan blushed and nodded, saying, "I won't buy any more things like that."

Chen Zhaoci said with a smile, "Some of the things on the street are quite good. If you want to eat them, just buy some and come back to eat them."

As they slept that night, Zheng Yuanyuan looked at Xu Zhi, who was sleeping on the same kang (heated brick bed) with her, took out a purse from her bosom, and whispered, "Sister-in-law, before I left, my great-aunt gave me some silver notes. I can't just eat and stay at your family home for free, can I? Here, take these and give them to your aunt, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhi smiled and said, "Since it's for you, you can keep it yourself. Save it up properly, and it will be a considerable sum in the future. How can our family accept your money just because you live in our home? Not only can we not accept your money, but we also have to give you a monthly allowance. Otherwise, people will laugh at my family for being stingy."

Zheng Yuanyuan sighed and said, "Sister-in-law, when I was in Hexi, I thought the people there lived a hard life. But now, looking at it, the people here are living even harder than those in Hexi."

Xu Zhi thought back to when she was very young, she went from the capital to Hexi. At that time, Hexi was still an old city, and the city was not much better than the current county town. The current Hexi city was rebuilt later.

Xu Zhi said, "Back then, Hexi City was actually dilapidated and old. Later, the Northern Di people came and destroyed the city. The current Hexi City is a reconstruction, and in terms of its condition, it's pretty much the same as here."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yuanyuan sat up and leaned against the kang table, saying, "Sister-in-law, I rode my horse all the way here, passing through some towns along the way. Many places are much better than here. Brother Xu is a talented man. He will definitely be able to lead the people here to a better life and build the current county town even better than Hexi."

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhi couldn't help but laugh and said, "You have so much faith in my brother. Okay, I will convey your expectations to him. I hope it will be as you say, and that this place will be even better than Hexi in the future."

The two have known each other since they were very young and have lived together for several years. Their personalities and temperaments have become quite compatible, and sometimes they can understand each other's meaning with just one sentence.

Xu Zhi checked the time and said, "It's getting late, let's go to sleep. In two days it will be New Year's Eve. I heard that the county is going to deliver things to the barracks. Let's buy some and send some over too."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yuanyuan became even more excited and asked, "Are we going to entertain the troops?"

Xu Zhi nodded and said, "Yes, the soldiers in the barracks all came from Yuezhou. Many of them are suffering from water and soil incompatibility. Fortunately, my mother is here and helps with diagnosis and medicine. My brother said that it's almost Chinese New Year, and even if we don't have much money, we should still squeeze out some to buy some fish, meat and eggs to send over so that everyone can have a lively and festive New Year."

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