Zhang Zhaoci disagreed. Her opinion was that wherever Xu Rao was, their family would be there too. As Xu Rao's wife, she couldn't just take the children and run away when the city Xu Rao was guarding was in danger. That would shake the faith of the people in Hexi. Only if the Xu family's banner stood firm in Hexi would the people of Hexi have more confidence to follow Xu Rao in guarding Hexi.

Since Zhang Zhaoci is unwilling to leave, then let him stay. However, we must also consider the worst-case scenario if he stays.

Xu Di is still hiring people to dig tunnels. The tunnels under his own courtyard are already extensive, and he is continuing to dig tunnels into the nearby courtyards. Many families in the city are also doing this. This was proposed by Xu Rao. If they really reach the city walls, they can still use the tunnels to fight against the Northern Di people. Haven't you seen how the people of Jizhong defeated the invaders armed with guns and cannons by using tunnel warfare?

Everyone is silently preparing for a war that may come or may not come at all.

The Xu family's courtyard remained as peaceful as ever. Zhang Zhaoci had already checked her belly and found that she was carrying a boy, who seemed quite lively. He moved around a lot, especially before meals, and Zhang Zhaoci could even see the shape of his little feet on her belly.

Xu Di watched in surprise as his mother's belly swayed from side to side, back and forth, as if it were filled with water.

Xu Di asked, "Mother, this looks scary. Was it like this when you were pregnant with me?"

Zhang Zhaoci said, "You're not like that at all. You were such a good baby in my belly. I could even stand on the operating table when I was pregnant with you. You were so good to me even when I was tired, which saved me a lot of trouble."

Xu Di said, "Then why is this like this? Look, it keeps moving around, it's never still for a moment."

Zhang Zhaoci said, "It's just a few children's problem. Your younger brother is a very lively child, so you'll have to keep a close eye on him in the future."

Xu Di sighed and said, "Why is it a boy? It would be so much better if it were a girl. Boys are never as pretty as girls. If you have a naughty one, you'll be so angry you'll die."

Zhang Zhaoci said, "Every child is an angel. You can't say that. Boys should be more resilient. Come here, touch him. In the future, you should say nice things to him. Don't think he can't understand. He can understand."

Xu Di scoffed and said, "Mother, what are you saying? He's still in your belly, how could he understand?"

Zhang Zhaoci said, "Then why do we still advocate prenatal education? Just listen to me. When he comes, tell him a story, read some poems, or tell him what you did today. The more you talk to him, the more he will recognize you when he is born."

Xu Di said, "These should be done by my father."

Zhang Zhaoci said, "Isn't it because your dad has a lot of things to do? Look how long it's been since he came back. Let's be understanding and not bother him with things at home if we can avoid it. Here, take this book and read it to me first."

Xu Di glanced at it; it was the Analects he was reading. That book was one that Xu Rao had read before, and it already had many annotations written on it, some of which were originally written by Xu Rao, and some of which were written by Xu Di himself.

As Xu Di flipped through the book, he said, "These things are all difficult for me to read. How can I read them to the little brother in your belly? Mother, how about we write some nursery rhymes and children's songs and make a booklet? We can compile them ourselves or use the ones we already have. We can use them when I have children in the future."

Zhang Zhaoci said, "This is quite good, but I don't remember those nursery rhymes and children's songs from your childhood."

Xu Di said, "You didn't take care of me much when I was a child. I remember I spent most of my time at my grandfather's house. My grandfather told me that he took me to the military camp when I was two or three years old. I remember we still have a photo of me taken at the military camp."

Zhang Zhaoci said, "Your father and I actually feel quite indebted to you. We didn't take care of you much when you were young, but you were still so promising. You were always the kind of child that everyone admired. Because of you, we were always envied by our colleagues and friends."

Xu Di said, "I feel like I've come to repay the kindness of you and my father. Otherwise, how could you have raised me so smoothly? I just don't know if the one in your belly is here to seek revenge or to repay a debt of gratitude."

Zhang Zhaoci gently patted her belly and said, "No matter what it is, it has already come to our family and will be our baby from now on."

Summer passed and autumn came again. Xu Di was still busy harvesting crops at the farm. Every year, the chili peppers in the fields could be harvested twice. Xu Di took the time to process the chili peppers, then packed them up and had them taken away by the people sent by Sister Wei Lang. As soon as the weather got cold, the hot pot restaurant's business started to pick up.

Instead of serving other dishes at the hot pot restaurant, Wei Lang's eldest sister opened another restaurant specializing in various dishes made with chili peppers. The head chef was a chef born into the Wei family. Because he loved cooking, the Wei family sent him out to learn how to make various dishes. After completing his training, he returned to the Wei family and worked in the main kitchen. Wei Lang's eldest aunt needed a master chef who could cook to research new dishes, so she thought of this master chef and invited him over.

Such a family member is undoubtedly loyal, and in addition, her cooking skills are truly excellent. After studying the dishes for more than half a year, she has already mastered the art of cooking. The eldest sister of the Wei family opened a restaurant called "Lazi Village" in the most prosperous area of ​​the capital. It is said that as soon as it opened, customers flocked in and the business was booming.

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