Xu Bai was anxious, but seeing Ah Jin's serious expression, he could only quickly wash up and then go to the kitchen to find something to eat.

Xu Zhi had been staying in her own yard. She had just eaten breakfast. Bai Ying said that Xu Bai had just gotten up and gone to the kitchen to find something to eat, so she went to the kitchen as well.

These past few days, the kitchen has been keeping hot soup and meals readily available, because sometimes the people in the mansion are too busy to come back for meals. Xu Zhi had the cook prepare a large pot of bone broth, using whatever bones they could find – pork leg bones, beef bones, or chicken bones – and simmered them in one pot to make a rich, creamy broth that tasted delicious. When someone came to eat, she would take a piece of dough that had been rested for a while, roll it into chewy noodles, ladle the rich bone broth into a small pot, cook the noodles, and then sprinkle some finely chopped scallions and cilantro on top. If someone liked spicy food, they could add a spoonful of the prepared chili sauce. The chill from her damp clothes dissipated after eating this large bowl of hot, spicy soup noodles.

When Xu Zhi arrived, the cook was already rolling out the noodles. Xu Bai helped watch over the small pot that was about to be used for soup noodles. The delicious bone broth inside made Xu Bai feel hungry. While helping the cook tend the fire, he said, "Sister Zhao, your cooking is so delicious. I've only been in Miaozhou for a few days, and I've already gained several pounds."

The person who cooks probably loves to hear the diners say that their food is delicious. Zhao's wife smiled and was busy with her work. Without looking up, she said, "It's rare that Uncle Qi likes it. Have an extra bowl later. I made a lot of pickled vegetables. I'll cut a bowl for you and season it with sesame oil and vinegar. I guarantee you'll eat another half bowl."

Xu Bai has always been a talkative person. Hearing what Zhao's sister-in-law said, he naturally went along with it, praising the delicious food in Miaozhou and the fresh and delicious fish from the Miaozhou River. He kept coaxing Zhao's sister-in-law to say that once the water receded, she would go to the riverbank to buy fish caught by locals and cook Xu Bai the famous whole fish feast.

Seeing Xu Zhi come over, Xu Bai quickly found her a stool and let her sit next to him in front of the stove, saying, "It's warm here, sister, come and sit down."

Zhao's wife was truly envious of her husband for having such a considerate and handsome younger brother. After rolling out the dough into a thin sheet, sprinkling it with a thick layer of flour, stacking it up, and cutting it into thin noodles, she said to Xu Zhi, "Madam, you are truly blessed to have such a brother from your family."

Xu Bai waved his hand and said, "Sister-in-law Zhao, I'm nothing. My older brother is the real role model. I reckon he'll be able to come in person this time."

Thinking back to when Xu Di secretly went to Liaodong by sea to rescue his father, Xu Zhi sighed and said, "I still don't want my elder brother to come. He's so far away. He can't easily leave his post. If he comes, no one will have a handle to attack him."

Xu Bai watched as Zhao's wife put the noodles into the pot, licked his lips, and said to Xu Zhi, "Sister, how about we make a bet on whether our eldest brother will come or not?"

Xu Zhi smiled gently and said, "What's the point of gambling on this? My brother is going to have to make this trip anyway. I just don't want him to go through all that trouble and risk."

Xu Bai shook his head and said to Xu Zhi, "My sister, our eldest brother is just that kind of person. From childhood to adulthood, whenever we were in danger, he was always the first to rush over. He has a very strong sense of responsibility and is very protective of his own. Anyone he puts on his side is someone he will protect, and he will protect them no matter what difficulties they encounter."

Xu Zhi breathed a sigh of relief and said seriously to Xu Bai, "We are very lucky to have such an older brother. Sometimes I feel tired for him. How much energy does he have? He has to worry about everything."

Xu Bai thought of his older brother, who had given him a somewhat frightening feeling. Upon reflection, he realized that it was truly remarkable that his brother had managed to achieve so much.

The cook, Sister Zhao, had already cooked the noodles and finely chopped several kinds of pickled vegetables she had prepared, seasoning them with sesame oil and vinegar. Even Xu Zhi, who was standing by, ladled herself a bowl of bone broth and ate several bites of the pickled vegetables.

After Xu Bai finished eating, he was about to go to the city gate. Xu Zhi was very reluctant for him to go. She had already checked the gate in the morning. The road from the gate to the city gate was on higher ground, and there were only some slightly low-lying areas with some water. She figured he wouldn't get his shoes wet walking to the city gate. However, the sneak attacks that had occurred in the middle of the night had left Xu Zhi feeling uneasy. She was afraid that Xu Bai would be ambushed on his way to the city gate.

Ah Jin said she would accompany Xu Bai to the city gate, so Xu Zhi had no choice but to take Hong Gu and Shi Liu to the second gate. Before Xu Bai even left the house, Miao'er from the neighboring courtyard ran excitedly from her own gate. Seeing Xu Zhi, she happily called out, "Brother Xu, where are you going?"

Xu Bai stopped happily when he saw Miao'er and said, "I'm going to the city gate. Is there something you need at this time?"

Miao'er waved the purse in her hand and said with a smile, "I've been free these past few days, so my sister taught me how to make purses. This is the first purse I've made, and I'm going to give it to Aunt Zheng."

Xu Bai smiled and pointed to the courtyard gate, saying to Miao'er, "Your Aunt Zheng is inside. Go on over. Have you had breakfast yet? Zhao, the wife in the kitchen, made me a bowl of hot noodle soup. It was delicious. If you haven't eaten, ask your Aunt Zheng to have Zhao make you a bowl. It's very comforting to eat something hot."

Xu Bai has been getting along quite well with He'er and her two sisters these past few days. Xu Bai is a childlike person and always gives in to them. He'er feels that she is too old to see Xu Bai and the others often. Miao'er is about six or seven years old and is a cheerful and playful person. Sui'er is too young. Over the past few days, it has been Miao'er who has been able to play with Xu Bai the most.

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