Following the sound, Zhen Wanwan saw a beautiful woman slowly walking out of the hall.
This person is none other than their aunt, Zhen Xiaozhi!
After not seeing each other for two or three years, Zhen Xiaozhi almost didn't recognize the Zhen family!
She had heard that Xinyang Prefecture had suffered from famine two years ago and had been captured by a rebel king this year.
She had assumed that her brother and sister-in-law had long since perished at the hands of the Northern Hu people, until she received a letter from her brother a few months ago.
She then learned that they had escaped from Xinyang Prefecture and were coming to seek refuge with her.
I thought the Zhen family wouldn't be able to come here until at least the end of the year, but they came so quickly!
And they weren't as destitute as they imagined!
Zhen Xiaozhi has been the matriarch of the Han family for many years, and she didn't do it for nothing.
Despite her own thoughts, she still warmly welcomed everyone into the house.
"Oh my! I didn't expect my elder brother and sister-in-law to arrive so early. Why didn't you send me a letter first so that I could have asked Yiyi's father to meet you at the city gate!"
Old Mrs. Li offered a few polite words with a forced smile: "We have our own mouths to ask for directions, why would Master Han need to personally come and meet us?"
Grandpa Zhen hadn't seen his sister for a long time, and seeing that she was doing well put his mind at ease.
"Yes! We're all family, no need to trouble Lide."
Zhen Xiaozhi's smile froze, but she quickly covered it up.
"Everyone, please don't stand here, come inside and sit down..."
Zhen Wanwan followed behind the group with her child in her arms, and casually found a corner to sit down.
I had heard from Grandma Li before that she had only met this aunt a few times since she was born.
The two had virtually no aunt-niece relationship; aside from a few polite words when they first met, she didn't interact with him at all.
Grandma Li sat next to Zhen Xiaozhi and chatted about everyday things, recounting the hardships she had endured along the way.
Perhaps because of blood ties, Zhen Xiaozhi shed a few tears of pity.
"Brother and sister-in-law, you've had a long and arduous journey. I never expected that Xinyang Prefecture would discover something like this!"
"If Lide and I had taken you all with us when we left, you wouldn't have had to suffer so much!"
Grandma Li thought of her clansmen in Lijia Village and sadly shed two tears.
Life is truly unpredictable!
Unexpectedly, the two families met again in this way.
Grandpa Zhen sighed and then asked about Zhen Xiaozhi's recent situation.
"Are you all doing well here?"
Zhen Xiaozhi stopped wiping away her tears, a few traces of sorrow appearing between her brows as she said, "Alas! It was indeed very difficult when we first arrived... Lide followed the Han family head and his family around, making arrangements, and it's only in the last year that things have gotten a little better at home."
After speaking, she proudly raised her head and puffed out her chest, revealing her beautiful features; the years had not left any traces on her face.
Instead, it added to her mature womanly charm, making her seem like the matriarch of a wealthy family.
Grandpa Zhen was happy to see that his sister was doing well in her husband's family: "Lide is very capable! I'm relieved that you're with him!"
When Zhen Xiaozhi saw the frail and aged Grandpa Zhen, she couldn't help but recall things from her childhood, and a pang of sadness welled up in her heart.
She used to resent her elder brother for listening to Old Lady Li's words and arbitrarily marrying her off to a country bumpkin.
So after she gained power, she rarely set foot in Lijia Village, except when her eldest brother went to the county town to find her.
So many years have passed, and the two of them now have great-grandchildren.
She's living a fairly comfortable life now, and seeing her older brother's family struggling so much, she can't bring herself to feel resentful.
After all, she was still very close to her elder brother because of their blood ties!
Grandma Li knew that Zhen Xiaozhi still harbored resentment towards her. Seeing the expressions on the siblings' faces, she sat quietly to the side and did not take the initiative to interfere.
"By the way! Sister, we've come to Guangling County this time intending to settle down here. Do you know of any villages where we can settle down?"
Grandpa Zhen had not forgotten the purpose of their trip, after all, besides themselves, there were three other families waiting for news from them!
Zhen Xiaozhi paused for a moment, then explained, "This... I need to ask Lide."
"But you've only just arrived, why don't you rest here for a few days first, and I'll personally take you to choose a place when Lide is on leave?"
Upon hearing this, Grandpa Zhen was somewhat tempted, but after looking at the room full of family members, he shook his head and refused, saying, "No need!"
"There are three other families who came with us, so it would be better to resolve their household registration issues as soon as possible!"
"I see!" Zhen Xiaozhi lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then called over a servant and instructed, "Go and invite the master back. Tell him I have something important to discuss with him!"
"Yes, Madam!"
Seeing that the conversation had gone on for a while, Zhen Fugui took out the gift he had prepared for Zhen Xiaozhi's family.
"Aunt! This is from your siblings and me to you and Uncle. Please accept it!"
Zhen Xiaozhi was stunned as she looked at the table piled high with gifts.
She thought that once Zhen's family arrived, she would definitely have to undergo a major hemorrhage.
Unexpectedly, her nephews were quite thoughtful and even prepared a gift for her!
She took out the red envelopes she had prepared beforehand and had her maid distribute them to the younger generation present.
The baby was still young, so the maid handed it directly to Zhen Wanwan.
Zhen Wanwan touched the red envelope; there were probably a few coins inside.
Given Zhen Xiaozhi's current wealth, she could naturally give more, but she didn't like Old Lady Li anyway.
He also didn't like Zhen Wanwan and her siblings very much, let alone prepare a generous gift for their child.
Old Mrs. Li's face immediately darkened.
Touching the flimsy red envelope, she felt extremely dissatisfied.
Therefore, she deliberately lifted the sleeve of Tianbao's wrist to reveal a delicate gold bracelet.
Zhen Xiaozhi was deeply shocked when she saw Tianbao's chubby, fair wrist adorned with a very conspicuous gold bracelet.
She looked away and took another look at Zhen's family.
They discovered that the chubby baby in Zhen Wanwan's arms also had an identical gold bracelet.
The women present all wore silver earrings, but Zhen Wanwan wore gold earrings!
The boy's clothes were all made of good fabric.
She was so engrossed in reminiscing that she was lost in her own fantasies about their misfortunes that she didn't notice any of this.
As if she had thought of something, she turned her gaze to the greeting gift she had previously disdained.
Since the fabrics they sent were all the most fashionable materials in Anqing Prefecture, and even had prints!
You definitely can't get it without a few taels of silver!
Thinking of this, he felt like he was giving money to a beggar, so he gave his nephew, whom he was meeting for the first time, two or three coins.
Her ears turned red instantly!
I felt incredibly embarrassed, but at that moment I had no choice but to sit there awkwardly.
Seeing Zhen Xiaozhi's restless state, Old Lady Li smiled with satisfaction.
Holding her sweet baby, she coaxed, "My dear grandson! This is a gift from your great-aunt. Remember to visit her often when you grow up..."
Zhen Xiaozhi's cheeks flushed, and she praised with an awkward laugh, "I didn't expect that after getting married, you would have two such adorable children!"
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