Hearing Pan Jinhua's words, Li Xuming chuckled, "Mother is right."
Li Xushi and Li Xuchang also laughed, saying that it was only right.
"Mother, have you already decided what to do?"
"Just cooperate when the time comes."
Pan Jinhua sorted out her thoughts last night before deciding to start with Xu Yan. If it weren't for Xu Yan, the Xu family wouldn't have caught the eye of the Li family, so dealing with him wouldn't be too difficult. She had indeed already figured out how to deal with him.
"Mother, if my Li family is truly to be exiled, is there any way to save us in the capital?"
"It's not that I don't want to save them, it's that I can't."
Pan Jinhua certainly thought about it. She also wanted to live the life of an old lady, with everything done for her, which wasn't bad at all.
"Why is that?" Li Xushi was always slow to think, but since they were all family, he asked directly.
"Second brother, the imperial court should have been investigating this major case for a long time. They probably already have a lot of evidence. If they can control the ringleader, it will be the day we have our property confiscated and are exiled."
"So that's how it is. Does that mean our Li family can only wait to be exiled? Did Uncle really get involved in the smuggling of salt?"
"Does it really matter?" Pan Jinhua was very calm; she had watched so many TV dramas and knew a lot about it.
“In the midst of political infighting, who can remain unscathed? As members of the Li family, we have enjoyed the wealth brought by your uncle's family, and we must share in the suffering of this exile. We need to get busy now.”
"Yes, Mother," the three brothers replied in unison.
"What about the other members of the family?" Li Xuchang asked hesitantly. The Li family of Nanze wasn't just his own.
Pan Jinhua paused for a moment, then said, “Don’t tell them in advance. A secret that everyone knows is no longer a secret. To prevent any unforeseen events, only we ourselves should know. If everything is arranged properly, we can protect them.”
It wasn't that Pan Jinhua was selfish, but how could she publicize such a thing so openly beforehand?
"Mother is right! As long as we arrange everything properly, we can save ourselves and the Li family!"
Upon hearing Li Xuming's words, they were instantly energized. Yes, saving the Li family meant saving themselves!
Pan Jinhua gave the eldest brother an approving look.
"Time is of the essence, we can't just wait around. If everything is really as I saw in my dream, we should seriously consider a way out."
"Second brother, you are familiar with escort agencies. Send someone to the capital first, but don't communicate with your uncle's family, as they might be watching you. Have someone find an escort agency in the capital, just to handle escorting goods. If they are exiled, follow their route after they set off, and keep an eye on them along the way."
"Wonderful, Mother! But we must choose the right person carefully."
"Second brother, I do have someone in mind. Fang Da's son, Fang Xiang, is young, but he is very thorough in his work, and he is a newcomer."
"Then I'll listen to you, brother. Have him come to my place later." Li Xushi nodded directly. If his brother said someone was good, then that person must be good.
"The third brother has many connections; let's inquire about the Qian family in the next few days."
"Yes, Mother."
"Boss, your mission is the most important. If our Li family really falls, we'll all be counting on you."
Li Xuming and Pan Jinhua locked eyes, and in a flash, Li Xuming understood his mother's thoughts. He gasped, but immediately agreed.
"Don't worry, Mother, I will definitely do my best!"
The group discussed the matter in detail for a while, only stopping when someone outside reminded them to eat.
Li Qingzhang is old enough to be involved in family affairs, but this is the first time he has seen his father so out of control, so he can't help but feel a little worried.
"Brother, it seems like something's wrong with Grandma and the others."
Li Qing was also quite curious about his father's actions just now.
"Don't ask, it's none of our business," Li Qingzhang replied calmly.
"If it's a family matter, how can it be none of our business?"
Li Qing muttered to himself, "My brother is so boring, he won't even cooperate when we're having a chat!"
"What is the Second Young Master saying? Would you like me to hear it?" Instructor He suddenly looked at Li Qing with a warm expression.
Startled, Li Qing sat down on the ground, not bothering to get up, and just chuckled, "Master, he didn't say anything, he didn't say anything at all."
"Get up! Run ten laps around the training ground and then come back and squat down." Instructor He pointed to the outer edge of the training ground and said coldly.
"Master, please stop talking and spare me. I really can't escape."
"Go quickly! If you don't go, I'll tell Master Li."
"Master, you're so mean!"
Li Qing was furious. How could his master complain? He was really angry, but he didn't dare to let Instructor He complain to his father. So he got up and ran around the training ground. To say he ran was an understatement; he was really just walking, since his legs were too weak.
Li Qingzhang was amused by his brother's actions, and Li Qingduan, Li Qingyi, Li Qingtong, and Li Qingjun also couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Master, Jun'er can't hold on any longer!"
Before he could even finish laughing, Li Qingjun's short legs gave way, and he pouted with tears welling up in his eyes.
"Jun'er's legs are so sore and painful."
Coach He was somewhat unable to resist the cute and cuddly child's coaxing, so he avoided Li Qingjun's gaze and coughed lightly.
"Fifth Young Master and Sixth Young Master, rest for an incense stick's time before continuing."
"Master He, I'm fine. Let Jun'er rest."
Li Qingtong immediately replied that he did feel he could still keep going, although he was a little tired, but he could manage.
"Don't talk too much. Just rest when I tell you to, or you'll hurt yourself."
Coach He disagreed, so Li Qingtong had no choice but to dejectedly pull the cheerful Li Qingjun aside to rest.
In the following days, Li Wu's second daughter-in-law indeed gave birth to a daughter, and Li Xushi and others went to congratulate her.
By this time, the three Li brothers had mostly believed it, and it was unclear what they were really thinking. However, they were becoming increasingly busy during the day and were nowhere to be seen.
On July 10th, the news that Registrar Chen had been caught cheating by his wife, Madam Chen, ignited the gossip market in Nanze. The mistress was none other than Madam Chen's niece. It was said that Madam Chen had even slapped her niece several times, and when she tried to tear her apart, Registrar Chen stopped her. The mistress was already pregnant.
The three Li brothers finally succumbed to their anxieties.
After the group informed Pan Jinhua of the news, the three brothers hid in Li Xuming's courtyard and drank until they were completely drunk.
"It's one thing to be so busy these past few days that I'm nowhere to be seen, but how did I end up drinking like this with my own brothers?"
Liu Yun helped the drunk Li Xuming wipe his face, muttering to himself.
"Master is already in his forties, don't still act like a child and don't cherish your health at all."
"Yunniang, I won't, I won't drink anymore."
Li Xuming looked at his wife. They had been married for many years and had gone through many ups and downs together. He never expected that the biggest storm was about to come, and that she would have to suffer with him.
"Thank you for your hard work, Yunniang."
Liu Yun listened to his drunken ramblings, saying that people speak the truth when they're drunk, and that the master valued her highly. Liu Yun's eyes were full of smiles, and even the ends of her hair seemed to exude tenderness.
"You're just saying nice things to flatter me."
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