Li Laosan, Zhao Yuru, and even Jiaren, who were watching from the sidelines, all felt it wouldn't work.
So they got together and discussed it, and then sent the two boys back.
After dinner, Li Laosan rubbed his hands, looking troubled, unsure how to bring up the serious matter with his mother.
As a result, Old Lady Li spoke first, "Third son, are you thinking of letting the two boys drop out of school and go out to make their way in the world?"
Li Laosan was startled and quickly said, "Mother, please don't say that. If you don't agree, then don't let them go out."
Grandma Li smiled, patted her honest and filial son, and sighed, "Originally, I was a little reluctant to part with them. After all, it's not safe outside, and these two boys are like monkeys. If they get into trouble or run into bad people, the family will regret it..."
"But they're boys, not chickens or ducks raised at home. I'm afraid we can't keep them in captivity. Besides, everyone only lives once. If we can't do whatever we want, wouldn't it be a waste of our lives?"
"Those two lads... let them go if they want to leave!"
Before Li Laosan could respond, Jia'an and Jiaxi had already jumped up and down with loud shouts.
"Grandma! You really agree? We're free!"
"Oh! I want to go out to sea! I want to see what's on the other side of the sea, I want to find the fairy island!"
The two of them hugged each other, as happy as if it were New Year's Day.
Hearing the commotion, the family members all gathered around.
Tao Hongying saw that her mother-in-law's eyes were still red, but the boys looked like this, so she got angry and slapped each of them.
After being punished, the two boys finally realized who was in charge and obediently stayed close to their grandmother, each hugging her arm on either side.
"Grandma, I can't bear to part with you."
"Me too."
The two wanted to learn how to act cute like their younger sister, but unfortunately, they weren't born with that skill. They racked their brains and could only come up with these two dry sentences.
Grandma Li was filled with bitterness, but she was also amused by her grandson's words.
"You two are such idiots! Going out like this, you'd probably get burned as firewood without even knowing it!" Old Mrs. Li grabbed their wrists and said, "Don't think that just because I promised you you wouldn't have to study, everything will be fine."
"In the end, you are still too young. Stay at home for a while, and we will make some preparations for you before you leave."
“Why, Grandma!” Jia’an immediately protested, “We still want to take the next ship back to Quanzhou.”
"Yes, Grandma, there are fleets going to foreign lands during the New Year. We want to buy a boat and go to sea!" Jiaxi was also very anxious.
Before the old lady could respond, Jiayin, who was sitting to the side eating fruit, spoke first.
"Brother, are you planning to buy a boat and go to sea? Do you know how much silver it will cost? How many boatmen and guards will a boat need?"
"I've heard there are pirates at sea. You don't even know how to kill a chicken. If you encounter pirates, you probably won't even be able to withstand one of their blows!"
"Also, my uncle said that our Tianwu silk and tea sell very well in foreign countries. A jar of tea can be exchanged for a gem. Do you want to take some with you? Do you have the silver to purchase the goods?"
"The sea is very rough, and you can easily capsize if you're not careful. Do you know how to observe the weather? You can't eat vegetables for months at sea, and people will get sick and die. Do you know how to avoid this?"
"Once you arrive in a foreign land, you won't speak the language. How will you do business with the locals? Be careful they might mistake you for invaders and kill you on the spot!"
She was full of curiosity, asking a barrage of questions.
But Jia'an and Jiaxi's faces grew increasingly grim as they listened, and they wanted to retort several times, but lacked the confidence to do so.
They knew nothing and had no capital, yet they talked about buying a boat and going to sea; it was indeed a bit too far-fetched.
But they were unwilling to give up just like that!
Relying on his status as the older brother, Jia'an asked in a low voice, "Fu Niu'er, can't you help your brother buy a boat and goods? Don't worry, once we make money, we'll give it all to you. We don't want any!"
Grandma Li and her granddaughter were very in sync, and she quickly chimed in to scold her grandson, "What you're saying is truly laughable!"
"You don't even know how much silver a boat costs, how can you expect your sister to pay for it? Your sister's money doesn't come from thin air. She's already helping you with your allowance, but do you expect her to provide you with capital when you go out to make your way in the world?"
"Aren't you ashamed, being the older brothers? Even if your sister can afford the money, you know nothing. Taking a ship and goods out to sea is just sending yourself to your death. You talk about making money, but you're likely to lose everything!"
Jia'an and Jiaxi looked at each other, and wilted like eggplants after a frost!
They thought they could conquer the stars and the sea simply by setting off.
Who would have thought there would be so much preparation before setting off...
Fearing that her brothers' youthful ambitions would be dampened, Jiayin quickly said, "It's not impossible for brothers to go to sea, but they need a plan. For example, they need to learn martial arts to protect themselves, learn foreign languages, and learn how to navigate ships and observe celestial phenomena!"
"Once I've learned all of this, going to sea won't be a death sentence. I can give my brothers money to buy the best ships and the best goods!"
Grandma Li hugged her granddaughter and laughed, "As long as they can do these things, there's no need for you to spend any money. The family can support them. I'm just afraid that your two older brothers are cowards who only talk big and then change their minds as soon as they hear that this is troublesome."
As expected, Jia'an and Jiaxi fell for the provocation and shouted in unison, "No, we won't change our minds! We're determined to go to sea, and we're not afraid of trouble!"
“Alright,” Old Mrs. Li quickly made the decision, “We’ll make a three-year agreement with you. Within three years, as long as you learn these skills, we will support you in buying a boat and going to sea. We will not stop you!”
“Three years it is!” Jia’an and Jia’xi responded in unison, and stepped forward to give their grandmother a high five.
Jiayin winked at her grandmother, then pulled her two older brothers toward the backyard. "Brothers, come to my room. I'll show you some good things that you'll definitely need when you go to sea."
Seeing the three children enter through the side gate, Tao Hongying finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then she whispered to her mother-in-law, "Mother, I thought these two children would have to make several trips to Quanzhou. I never imagined they were going out to sea. Will they... be able to make it?"
Li Laosan also felt a little regretful, "Yes, Mother, I also thought they would at most follow behind my eldest brother and Jiayi a few times..."
Grandma Li waved her hand, took a deep breath, and said, "Since we're going to let the children roam freely, we shouldn't interfere with where they go. Luckily, Fu Niu'er is smart and helped me keep them in place for another three years."
"In these three years, they should learn as many skills as possible. In the end, it would be best if they could change their minds. If they insist on going to sea... at least they will have the ability to protect themselves."
As Li Lao Er listened, he suddenly felt a little worried, thinking of Jia Ren and Li Ge'er from the academy.
These two kids are also going to Quanzhou for a study tour soon, will they also...?
In the backyard, Jiayin and her two older brothers were eating fruit around the kang table.
Grapes and peaches that were not appropriate to show to outsiders were all happily stuffed into Jiaxi and Jia'an's stomachs.
They had been in the habit of sneaking food with their younger sister since they were little, and not asking where it came from was a basic rule ingrained in their minds.
Even though they were a little frustrated at the moment, it didn't stop them from talking.
Jiayin ate a peach, then ran to the end of the kang (a heated brick bed) to rummage through the cabinet. She then took out something that made Jia'an and Jiaxi forget to swallow the fruit in their mouths...
Served at midnight~~~~
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com