At Grandpa Zhen's command, everyone started eating.
As everyone looked at the fish, meat, and fresh vegetables on the table, tears welled up in their eyes, and Old Lady Li wiped her eyes with a heavy heart.
Back when they were still in Lijia Village, during those two years of famine, being able to eat a meal without oil or vegetables on New Year's Day was already a luxury.
Now I can live comfortably in a new house, eating hot meals, with no worries about fish, meat, or vegetables. It feels like a dream come true.
I'm afraid that in the blink of an eye, this beautiful scene will return to what it was before.
Zhen Wanwan remembered that when she first transmigrated, the original owner of this body had starved to death.
If she hadn't carried a spatial supermarket with her, she probably would have starved to death on the road to escape famine.
"Stop standing there! Everyone, hurry up and eat!"
Old Mrs. Li concealed her grief and invited everyone to eat.
The children, who had been drooling, finally waited for the adults to start eating and eagerly reached for their favorite dishes.
Everyone present enjoyed the delicious food.
Life was peaceful and serene in Meizi Village, but outside, things had already become quite chaotic.
At this moment, thousands of refugees gathered outside the city gates of Anqing Prefecture overnight.
The prefect was so worried that he was practically bubbling with anxiety, and he didn't even have the chance to have a reunion dinner with his wife and children.
"Yin Duwei, what should we do? When will the strategist return?"
Prefect Zhang paced anxiously, sighing and looking at Yin Duwei every now and then.
Yin Duwei, whose real name is Yin Shengrong, is in charge of the city's army and is also Zhuyuan's right-hand man.
Despite Magistrate Zhang's anxiety, he remained calm, though his brows were furrowed.
"Why are you in such a hurry, Your Excellency? The refugees from outside have come here just for a bite to eat. Most of them are defenseless commoners. Please follow the usual practice and give them porridge first."
Having made up his mind, Prefect Zhang nodded quickly and said, "Yes, yes, yes! Someone! Quickly go and summon the yamen runner in charge of the grain!"
The refugees outside the city felt a little more at ease after receiving a bowl of hot porridge.
Although the refugees were temporarily appeased, Yin Duwei did not show any joy.
Instead, he looked worried and couldn't stop feeling anxious.
I wonder how my master is doing now?
On the other side, Zhu Yuan went through several life-or-death battles and finally escaped with his life, but his right hand was broken.
He endured the excruciating pain, letting the military doctor apply medicine, his eyes filled with an unprecedented gloom.
This time, he was tricked by someone else and ended up in danger. It seems that the Fifth Prince had planned and plotted against him long ago.
Thinking of this, Zhu Yuan touched his chest, where the pistol Zhen Wanwan had given him was hidden.
In the past few days, he had almost died at the hands of his enemies several times, but thanks to this pistol, he was able to kill them with a single shot at the crucial moment.
No one could imagine how shocked he was!
Following Zhen Wanwan's instructions, he pressed the button on the mechanism, which seemed to generate a significant impact, launching the silver metal outwards.
It pierces straight into the enemy's heart, and the enemy ascends to heaven in two breaths.
Such destructive power is unmatched throughout history!
In the following days, he tried shooting at different distances, and once the enemy was hit, death was their fate.
The power of the pistol terrified everyone and made Zhu Yuan uneasy.
His unease wasn't for himself, but because he was worried about Zhen Wanwan.
If such a powerful weapon were to be released and its origins were discovered by those with ulterior motives, she would likely be in perpetual danger.
This goes against his desire to protect her, and it's the outcome he least wants to see.
Although he was also very curious about where Zhen Wanwan got her things.
As long as she is his wife, he will always trust her and protect her!
Zhu Yuan looked up at the sky, feeling an overwhelming longing for his wife and children who were far away.
He needs to hurry up and resolve everything here so he can better stay by their side.
Thinking of this, a ruthless glint flashed in Zhu Yuan's eyes, and he subconsciously touched the pistol in his chest.
He will take care of things here in a few days.
On the other hand, after the Spring Festival, it was the second day of the Lunar New Year, the day when married daughters returned to their parents' home.
Because their whole family had fled from other places during the famine.
Back when they lived in Lijia Village, Grandpa Zhen and Grandma Li lived there together, and Grandma Li didn't have a strong sense of ceremony when she returned to her parents' home.
Going back to Lijia Village is now impossible.
Wang Cuihua could occasionally return home back then, but now no one knows whether her family is alive or dead.
She could only shed tears and burn incense and paper money for her mother's family in a corner.
This is to soothe the longing for home.
As for Li Zhenzhen, she had long since disappeared. Zhenfu was already being kind by not beating her, so naturally she wouldn't kindly burn paper money for her family.
Therefore, the Zhen family was very united on this day, and no one went out to visit relatives.
However, Grandpa Zhen would occasionally send Zhen Fugui to the village entrance to take a look.
Old Mrs. Li, with a long face, sat down next to me, cracking sunflower seeds and rolling her eyes without any attempt to hide it.
Back in Lijia Village, after Zhen Xiaozhi got married, she refused to step into the Zhen family's gate again, except for the day she returned to her parents' home.
They frankly admitted they were afraid of being associated with poverty, but fortunately they would send someone to deliver gifts every year, which was enough to maintain their kinship.
Now that they have moved their whole family to Guangling County, no one knows whether Zhen Xiaozhi will be the same as before.
Although the two families do interact, most of their interactions are out of respect for Grandpa Zhen.
The three Zhen siblings were already used to their aunt's family's ways, so it didn't matter whether she came or not.
After Old Lady Li rolled her eyes again, Zhen Fugui's joyful voice came from outside.
"Father, Mother! Aunt and the others are here!"
Grandpa Zhen chuckled and said "good" several times, his smile impossible to hide.
Even Grandma Li was surprised and put down her melon seed shells, standing up and walking outside.
Outside, Zhen Xiaozhi looked just as she had when they first met, dressed exquisitely and richly, except that her eyes were now darker.
I don't know why I stayed up late and became mentally exhausted.
"Big brother and sister-in-law, I'm back!"
With the help of her maid, Zhen Xiaozhi slowly walked in, followed by two servants who worked together to carry the things from the carriage into the house.
Grandpa Zhen looked left and right, but didn't see the familiar figure.
Looking curiously at her younger sister, she asked, "Where's Lide? Didn't he come back with you?"
Zhen Wanwan keenly observed that Zhen Xiaozhi stiffened and her expression turned ugly after hearing those words.
It seems there's another reason why her uncle didn't come along.
Zhen Xiaozhi smiled and explained, "No! The Han family head had something to discuss with him, so he didn't come along."
Actually, Han Lide went to the prefectural city for two reasons: first, for the Han family, and second, because he listened to that vixen and accompanied her back to her parents' home!
Zhen Xiaozhi was so angry that she lost her mind, but she was at a loss. Only after being reminded by her maid did she remember that she could go back to her parents' home today.
Not wanting to see the master and concubine being affectionate, Zhen Xiaozhi specially prepared generous gifts and, in front of the two of them, boarded a carriage and came to Meizi Village.
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