Jiayin, however, did not think so. She believed that her brothers were all kind and hardworking men who deserved the best girls in the world.
"My brother is the best! If Sister Peng marries him, she'll be able to eat delicious food every day!"
Grandma Li and Zhao Yuru both burst into laughter. Grandma Li pointed at Jiayin from afar and said, "This little girl is quite protective of her own!"
Soon, the academy was closed for lunch. Jiaren, concerned about his younger brother's marriage, hurriedly returned with gifts.
Seeing his family members all smiles, his anxiety subsided.
He stepped forward, patted Jia Huan on the shoulder, and joked, "Huan-ge'er, you're getting married!"
Jia Huan blushed and after a long while, she managed to stammer out, "Big brother, please don't laugh at me. I'm the second oldest in the family, but I have to get married first. Please don't be angry..."
"What are you saying, you fool!" Jiaren was genuinely happy for his younger brother. "I don't know how much longer I'll be studying, and getting married won't be for another ten or eight years. Are you all going to wait for me and not get married?"
The two brothers stood side by side, chatting and laughing.
When someone came over for a meal, Jia Huan quickly served the dishes, and Jia Ren helped carry them over, completely unconcerned about whether he would get his long gown dirty or whether his familiar classmates would laugh at him for doing such chores.
Jiayin sat on the back doorway, munching on half a cucumber, watching her brothers busy themselves, her big eyes crinkling into crescent moons with laughter.
In the backyard, Li Ge'er was keeping his grandmother company, chattering about the interesting things that happened at the academy. Grandma Li nodded from time to time, expressing surprise or joy, which made Li Ge'er talk even more.
The once thin and silent child seems to have shed his stone-like shell and finally has the joyful look that a child should have!
Grandma Li couldn't help but hug her grandson and gently pat his back. "Li-ge'er, you've been home with your father for so long, have you been enjoying it?"
Li Ge'er paused for a moment, then smiled and hugged his grandmother back, nodding emphatically, "Yes, Grandma, it's so good to be home. I like my brothers and sisters, I like my uncles and aunts, and of course, I like Grandma the most!"
"That's good," Grandma Li kissed her grandson's forehead. "Grow up happily like this. In the future, Grandma will buy a big courtyard here and send Jia'an and Jiaxi here, as well as Cat Brother. Then you can all study together!"
Just then, Zhao Yuru brought over the food and asked, "Mother, are Jia'an and Jiaxi coming to study too?"
Grandma Li replied, "For now, we'll plan to keep it that way. The village school is fine for early education, but if the child wants to succeed, we'll still send him to the academy. Even if he doesn't take the imperial examinations, it'll be good for him to make some friends and broaden his horizons."
“That’s true,” Zhao Yuru nodded. “The coursework at the academy isn’t too rigorous. I see that these students study very easily, but they still produce quite a few scholars and officials in every exam! It’s all thanks to the excellent teachers at the academy.”
Soon, Jiaren arrived, and everyone chatted and ate, creating a lively atmosphere.
After the meal, Jiaren took Lige'er's hand and returned to the academy.
Jiayin sat on her father's shoulders and went to the end of the street to buy freshly made sticky rice cakes for her brothers. When she returned, the carriage was ready.
After giving a few instructions, Grandma Li picked up her granddaughter, got into the carriage, and hurried home.
I told my family I'd be there early and back late, but I was late for one night. They must be so worried...
When passing through Xindu, Jiayin insisted on going to the Marquis's mansion.
Old Lady Li didn't stop them. She led Jiayin to the front of the Marquis's mansion, where the head steward came out happily to greet Jiayin.
The old lady exchanged a few pleasantries with him, but left in a hurry without even entering the Marquis's residence.
Jiayin was a little sleepy from the bumpy carriage ride, so she went into her room and fell asleep.
When he woke up, the Marquis was already standing guard beside him.
"Godfather!" Jiayin rubbed her eyes and climbed onto the Marquis's lap. "Godfather, I want to go out and play!"
The Marquis was both amused and exasperated. "You just woke up, and you're already thinking about going out to play?"
"Godfather, my second brother is getting married, and I want to go buy a bracelet for Grandma!" Jiayin said very seriously, her chubby little face unusually solemn.
The Marquis couldn't understand the little girl's thought process. Shouldn't she be buying a gift for her new sister-in-law? Why was she buying one for the old lady instead?
But my daughter said she wanted to go shopping, so I had to go!
It's not as difficult as plucking stars or the moon; it's just a few steps.
He immediately called in a maid to help Jiayin wash up and change into a new dress. Then the father and daughter went out.
The head steward also abandoned the Marquis's residence, taking only a servant boy and a maidservant with him, and personally followed and served them.
Upon arriving at the commercial street, the Marquis alighted from his carriage and led Jiayin toward the largest jewelry store.
People on the street recognized him and couldn't help but stop and take a second look.
"Is that the Marquis of Xinting?"
"It should be, but why is she with a little girl?"
"You guys are really out of touch. Did you just come back from a long trip? Haven't you heard that the Marquis has adopted the little girl from the Li family of Suijintan as his goddaughter? The Emperor personally issued an edict to make the little girl a princess, with the title of Kangle, and even Suijintan is given to the princess as her fiefdom!"
"What? Is that so? It's one thing to confer a title upon a monarch, but to grant him a fiefdom as well? Don't any of the old ministers in the court object?"
"Of course they objected. I heard someone was talking about it in court this morning. But the Marquis shut them down with just a few words."
"What are you saying? Speak up, speak up now!"
"My lord said, I have fought for the country, risking my life many times, to protect the peace of Jiangnan and the well-being of the people. Isn't this merit enough to earn me a fiefdom? I am ready to die on the battlefield at any time. My only concern is this adopted daughter. I would give all my glory and merit to her well-being and happiness. That would be enough!"
"The Marquis really... spoils this adopted daughter too much!"
"Yes, many people say that the Marquis has no plans to get married and have children, and that the Marquis's mansion will eventually be given to this little girl from the Li family."
"What methods did the Li family use to completely fool the Marquis?"
"I don't know. We've heard that the Marquis treats the Li family differently, but no one believed it. Now everyone knows."
Regardless of what outsiders say, once the Marquis and Jiayin entered the jewelry store, the sharp-eyed head manager quickly went up to greet them.
Upon hearing that he wanted to buy a bracelet, he immediately brought up all the bracelets in the building.
Gold, silver, jade, even coral beads and pearl chains were all included.
The Marquis glanced at them and asked his daughter, "Choosing is too tiring, let's buy them all."
"No, no!" Jiayin quickly shook her head, walking back and forth with her chubby little hands behind her back. "Godfather, you don't understand. When buying things, you have to pick and choose, and finally pick the one you like the most. That's when you're happy!"
The Marquis chuckled and asked, "Isn't it because you couldn't bear to spend the money that you bought one?"
Jiayin's greedy little scheme was exposed, and she stomped her foot in anger, "I'm never going shopping with my godfather again!"
The Marquis laughed heartily and quickly tried to appease him, "Father was wrong. You can buy as many as you want, and Father will pay for them!"
"No, I have my own money!" Jiayin patted her little purse. "I'm a little rich girl, I want to buy it myself!"
The Marquis didn't stop her, but glanced at the head manager, who understood and immediately stepped forward to help with the introduction.
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