Tao Hongying chimed in, "Yes, everything's fine in the south, nothing's wrong. It's just that your grandma and I couldn't bear missing you, so we took advantage of the family's fleet returning this time and boarded the ship without telling your uncle."
"No matter what your uncle said, we didn't go down. Your grandmother even pretended to be sick before your uncle would release them!"
Jiayin was slightly relieved, as long as she wasn't summoned back by that person from the palace.
"Mom, where are my brothers? Did you come back with Grandma? Was the journey safe?"
Tao Hongying replied, "Anger used the excuse of returning to report on his duties to send us back. His Foreign Affairs Office has finalized some trade agreements with foreign countries, which he wants to bring back for the court to discuss and issue an official document."
Jiayin was overjoyed; it had been so long since she had seen her older brother.
She said, "Mother, I'm going to check on Fifth Brother. You all rest first, and we'll go home in a little while."
"Okay," Tao Hongying replied, and Old Lady Li lay down again.
Although they didn't ask how things were in Xindu, judging from Jiayin's appearance, they could guess that nothing too dangerous had happened.
As for the future, when they come back, we'll face whatever comes, good or bad, together.
Jia'an, dressed in a dark blue cotton long gown, stood by the dock talking to Li Dayong.
The scorching sun had caused beads of sweat to form on his forehead and his face to turn a bronze-like dark color, but this did not diminish his air of authority.
Having spent so long building the Foreign Affairs Department branch in Quanzhou from scratch, he has matured considerably.
"Brother!" Jiayin lifted her skirt and quickly stepped forward.
Jia'an turned his head, immediately smiled, and stretched out his arms to hug his younger sister tightly.
In my memory, my younger sister was always chubby and adorable.
At this moment, Jia'an saw that his younger sister's face had become thin, and he felt extremely distressed, regretting even more that he had come back late.
"Fu Niu'er, have you suffered? Brother is back, things will be better from now on."
Jiayin tried to swallow back her tears and said to her brother in a coquettish tone, "Brother, we have plenty to eat and drink at home, and Uncle and Sister-in-law treat me well. How could I suffer? I've just grown taller, so I look thinner."
Jia'an ruffled her hair and replied, "That's true, you've grown two inches taller!"
After saying that, he pulled up his sleeve to shield his sister from the sun, and then called to his servant Zheng Wu, "You watch the moving of goods, I'm going back to Suijintan first, and I'll go to the yamen tomorrow."
"Yes, young master, don't worry, we've got you covered," Zheng Wu replied loudly, his face beaming with joy.
No matter where they go, Broken Gold Beach is the place that everyone loves and misses the most.
Now, having returned from the south, and without even setting foot on the Broken Gold Beach, he already felt his body brimming with energy...
Jiayin greeted them with a smile, "Once you're done, head back to Suijintan. When you come back, Grandpa Village Chief is definitely going to slaughter a pig. Remember to come home early for the pig-slaughtering feast!"
Zheng Wu and the others were even happier, and they worked with lightning speed.
The brother and sister returned to the barracks with Li Dayong, and Li Lao Er and Mr. Wen also arrived.
Inevitably, another round of pleasantries and lively conversation ensued.
This wasn't the place to talk, so no one asked any further questions. They simply said goodbye to Li Dayong and went back to the village together.
Unfortunately, Li Dayong had to stay at the military camp and couldn't return to the village to reunite with his family.
But at dinner time, the village delivered half a pig and a bucket of stewed pork by express courier.
He also enjoyed the meal, joining in the fun remotely.
But that's a story for another time!
The carriage wheels rolled on and on, and the people inside chatted about everyday things.
Looking out the car window at the fields, Old Lady Li couldn't help but frown and sigh.
"What's wrong with this year? The drought is so severe in both the north and south. It's making it impossible for ordinary people to survive."
Tao Hongying also said, "Yes, on our way back by water, we encountered three or four groups of river pirates. They were all desperate to survive and had taken the wrong path."
"If it weren't for the fact that most of our men are retired veterans and wounded soldiers, the pirates would have been terrified at first sight. This cargo might really have been lost."
Li Lao Er and Mr. Wen asked a few questions in detail, and Mr. Wen said, "There were some rumors before that people's hearts were unsettled in various places. But the court was too busy to attend to this because of the appointment of the crown prince and the selection of concubines."
So, it seems there's a real possibility that things might get chaotic in the south.
Li Lao Er nodded, "Li Ge'er's place of work is nearby, and he didn't say anything in his letters. Jia Ren lives far away, and his place has always been poor and difficult, I'm afraid..."
"I'll write a letter right away to ask him and remind him so he can prepare in advance."
Old Mrs. Li, worried about her grandson, rarely interjected, saying, "Could some of the veterans from the second village spare some to help Jiaren? If that's not possible, we can ask the head steward of the Marquis's mansion."
Jiayin hugged her grandmother's arm and comforted her, "Grandma, don't worry. When my eldest brother went to take up his post, he brought the most people with him. And Uncle Lao Hei and his convoy also went there before, and they should be arriving soon."
"Oh, Lao Hei and the others have gone!" Old Mrs. Li was pleasantly surprised and immediately felt relieved.
"That's great! Lao Hei and his gang have been traveling for so many years, they're really skilled in martial arts. With them around, we don't have to worry about your older brother."
As they talked, the carriage soon turned onto a dirt road and arrived near the second village.
The villagers, young and old, from Xincun and Ercun, had already been craning their necks and looking out from the bridgehead when they heard the news.
It was Wan'er who brought the child back from the city and stopped here.
As soon as the carriage carrying Old Lady Li and the others came into view, the villagers cheered.
"The old lady is back!"
"Fourth Madam, Fourth Madam! You're finally back!"
Hearing the commotion, Grandma Li and Tao Hongying leaned out of the car window and waved happily to everyone.
When the carriage finally arrived, the village chief strode forward and opened the door.
Grandma Li jumped down without needing any help.
"My fellow villagers, I miss you all so much. How are you all? How have you been lately?"
"Madam, we miss you too! We feel so uneasy living without you in the village!" Aunt Wu tugged at Old Lady Li's hand, expressing everyone's sentiments.
Everyone nodded vigorously and chimed in with their own opinions.
"Yes, yes. Is the old lady going to Quanzhou again this time she's back?"
"Yes, madam, isn't it hotter in the south? Why don't you stay home and spend the summer?"
Old Mrs. Li felt heartbroken upon hearing this and quickly waved her hand to address the crowd.
"Don't worry, everyone. I don't plan to leave this time. I've almost finished dealing with things in the south, so of course I'm coming back to retire."
"Let's not worry about it. Let me catch up. There are plenty of good times to chat about everyday things later."
"My old bones can't take any more of this. Right now, my feet feel like they're walking on cotton!"
"That's wonderful, that's wonderful! The old lady isn't leaving!" Everyone was overjoyed.
Several elderly women, including Aunt Wu, surrounded the old lady and walked towards the village.
One person talks about the changes in the village, another about their children and grandchildren getting married; they really wish they could fill in the information gaps from the time Old Lady Li was gone.
The same was true for Tao Hongying's group; the women in the village could talk more than the old ladies, and they wouldn't say a word less.
As a result, Wan'er, holding the child, couldn't even squeeze to the front.
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