"This village is called Zheng Family Village. It's nestled in a mountain valley, more than ten miles from the nearest town. It's very quiet and secluded. If you need their help, have Ye Shan and Dong Mei deliver a message. You're too young now to easily gain their respect. I'll take you there another time. Also, the jade pendant I gave you earlier is a token to prove your identity," the Marquis instructed.
Jiayin nodded quickly, understanding perfectly well.
Ask yourself, even if a three- or four-year-old child is very smart, who can easily develop a sense of obedience?
On the contrary, maintaining an air of mystery and starting with small things, accumulating knowledge over time, makes it easier to gain people's trust.
Especially for these artisans, starting with their skills can win their hearts.
As for skills, with her small courtyard and half a room full of books as a foundation, it's not a problem at all.
Of course, that's all for the future. For now, she wants to be a child and enjoy her happy childhood!
Some things can be done again, and some things can be undone, but time cannot be turned back. The childhood she finally regained will never happen again!
"Godfather, I'm sleepy, I want to sleep!" Jiayin yawned and hugged her godfather's neck. "I want to hear you tell me a story, a story about killing barbarians!"
The Marquis couldn't help but laugh and tapped her little nose.
Even the smartest little baby is still a baby; eating, drinking, playing, and sleeping are always the most important things for them...
The next morning, after breakfast, the Li family's courtyard was bustling with activity.
For no other reason than that Li Laosan's family, Jiaren, and Lige'er were going back to Luo'an.
I can't miss too many classes at the academy, so taking two days off is already an extra favor from my teacher.
In addition, the food stall has been open for so long that students especially love it and come to eat almost twice a day. If it is closed for too long, the students will be disappointed.
Zhao Yuru hugged her niece and said to her mother-in-law with a smile, "They are all children studying away from home. Their families are not around, and life is not easy for them. We take care of them more often, and that makes us happy."
“Yes, that’s how it should be. Our family isn’t short of money these days, so it doesn’t matter how much or how little you earn. But when it comes to selling food, you have to be true to your conscience. If you can also take care of these children a little, that would be even better.”
The old lady patted her most honest and hardworking daughter-in-law and said, "You two should also be frugal with your food, drink, and clothes. Whether the boys are studying or getting married, they all have families to support. Don't make yourselves suffer too much just to save money."
Zhao Yuru blushed. She had noticed this when she came back that she and her third brother were the only ones dressed simply, both in worn-out clothes.
Outsiders who don't know the situation might think that their family was being mistreated by their mother and brothers!
She quickly replied, "Mother, I'll make several more nice outfits when I get back, and I'll also wear the hairpins and bracelets."
"That's right!" The old lady smiled broadly, pointed to the busy Jia Huan, and said, "Jia Huan has gotten used to living in Luo'an. Look how happy he is when he heard that we're going back!"
Zhao Yuru smiled with a hint of pride, "The students all like the dishes Jia Huan makes. Occasionally, when Jia Ren is busy, or when a teacher in the academy orders food, he will go to the academy. Perhaps because he visits the academy more often, I think his personality has become more lively. Recently, he has even been reciting poems and practicing calligraphy with Li Ge'er."
"Good, as the saying goes, 'One is influenced by one's company.' Opening a shop in Luo'an was definitely the right decision!"
"Yes, Jia Huan isn't cut out for studying, but it's always good to learn a few more words."
"Jiaxi has been doing well in his studies lately, so don't worry about him. He's also very caring towards Maoge and Jia'an, and he's acting like a good older brother."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law talked a lot and were both reluctant to part, but they still had to set off early, since they were still more than forty miles away from Luo'an.
The family saw the carriage off, and even after it disappeared from sight, the old lady kept looking around before finally sighing.
When life was hard, children and grandchildren were still around; now that life is better, it's not so easy to gather them all together.
She turned to take her granddaughter back, but noticed that the brocade the granddaughter was playing with was very delicate, so she asked, "Who made this for Fu Niu? The craftsmanship is really good!"
Jiayin's eyes darted around, and she smiled but refused to speak. She struggled to get down from the ground and said, "Grandma, I'm going to go play with my aunt!"
After saying that, she ran off to the Cui family's courtyard.
The old lady smiled helplessly, "This child has grown up, and we really can't control her. She's practically worn down the thresholds of several courtyards."
Tao Hongying was on her way to the other side of the valley when she heard this and comforted her mother-in-law, "Mother, Fu Niu is very clever, don't worry about her, let her play by herself, you should rest."
"Okay, you go ahead and do your work. I'm fine, I'll just go to the vegetable garden, pick some vegetables, and dry them in the sun."
The old lady waved her hand, urging her daughter-in-law to hurry up and get busy.
The weather is great today. The fruit on the mountain hasn't ripened yet, and the melon patch has been completely harvested. Apart from the valley, there's not much to do.
Therefore, the villagers rarely had any free time, and after talking to the village chief, many of them went to the city together.
Lord Hou and Li Laosi secretly led their men to Yunhe Town to check on the progress of the corn and potato planting.
With the autumn harvest approaching, he made sure he was well-informed so he could report to the emperor.
Li Yong wanted to make amends to his pregnant wife, so he didn't go with her. Instead, he borrowed the Li family's carriage and took Hui Niang to the city to buy things.
In the past few months, after being ravaged by war, he was no longer the frail young master of the Yan family. Not only was he much more robust, but his face was also tanned to a bronze color, and his walk and speech carried the fierce air of a soldier.
Even familiar acquaintances wouldn't recognize him without careful observation!
Hui Niang wore a veil. Because of her pregnancy and the need for nourishment, her figure was no longer as slender as before, and she even appeared somewhat broad-shouldered and thick-waisted.
The couple looked quite well-matched, like an ordinary couple, and they weren't afraid of being exposed.
The Li family usually took good care of Hui Niang, sending her food every few days, as well as cotton fabric, needles and thread, and various other items suitable for making clothes for the children.
In the past few months, Hui Niang has been busy preparing the baby's bedding, hats, clothes, shoes and socks.
Li Yong, the father, wanted to do something for his child but didn't know where to start. In the end, he decided to buy his child two pairs of bracelets and two longevity locks.
Hui Niang was already very happy to have her husband by her side, let alone going shopping together and arranging things for the children. She was filled with sweetness.
The young couple went into a small jewelry store, picked out their items, and spent over thirty taels of silver.
Li Yong suggested, "Yesterday was Fu Niu's birthday. You gave her a dress, but I haven't given her anything yet. This girl is a little money-grubber. Let me pick out a little trinket for her."
Hui Niang readily agreed, and Li Yong pointed to a string of beads made of golden fruit and asked the shopkeeper to take it out and show it to her.
These beaded necklaces are very popular in the city lately.
Most of them are hollow fruits of various colors made of gold and silver, strung together, with colorful tassels hanging from the bottom, which are hung around the waist of little girls, making them festive and beautiful.
The price is a bit high, after all, it's made of gold and silver and the craftsmanship is exquisite.
Hui Niang felt sorry for her husband who worked so hard to earn military pay, so she said, "Our child is still young, so why don't we return the gold bracelet and just keep the two longevity locks?"
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