Grandma Li frowned, thought for a moment, and then comforted them, "Don't make a fuss yet. Everyone in our family has a clean background and a clear origin."
"The villagers risked their lives to escape famine and came here with us. If our family is doing well, everyone is doing well."
“If something bad happens to our family, it won’t benefit anyone else either, so it might not be as you’re guessing.”
"You know, Hailan Army has been in Xindu for a few days now. Perhaps someone knows Jiayi and is familiar with his affairs in the south, and accidentally let it slip."
These words reminded Tao Hongying and Madam Wen, and they both breathed a sigh of relief.
It has to be said, experience truly matters.
The old lady is old, so she acts with composure and considers things carefully.
"Then let's wait until Jiayi comes back tonight and ask him about it."
Relieved, Tao Hongying remembered that she hadn't bought a roast chicken for her nephew. So she asked a servant to catch two ducks, roast them, and have roast duck rolls for dinner as a substitute for the roast chicken.
As darkness fell, Jiaren, Jiayi, and their brothers returned from outside, laughing and joking. They quickened their pace as they smelled the fragrance in the courtyard.
"Fourth Aunt, are we having roast duck tonight?"
Jiayi asked with a smile, which prompted Tao Hongying to reply with a smile: "Yes, your grandma asked me to buy you roast chicken to satisfy your craving, but I forgot for a moment, so I quickly roasted a duck instead."
"Just eat a bite, and you can have the roast chicken tomorrow."
Jiayi quickly waved his hand, "Auntie's roast duck is a million times better than the roast chicken outside. With roast duck, who would still eat roast chicken!"
Tao Hongying was so pleased with herself that she couldn't stop smiling, and her subordinates became even busier and more efficient.
A short while later, Li Zhensheng and the others also returned.
Only Lord Hou and Li Laosi returned to the dockside military camp.
But the family has a total of twenty members, and when they get together for a meal, it's always a lively and fun occasion.
Jiayi ate one of the two roast ducks, thoroughly enjoying his meal.
After the dining table was cleared away, everyone gathered together to talk.
Old Mrs. Li asked about the rumors circulating outside. When Li Lao Er saw his eldest brother drinking tea and his third brother looking up at the sky, he knew that this arduous task had fallen on his shoulders.
He had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Mother, next year is a crucial year for the Northern Expedition. Some people who oppose the Emperor, or those who do not want the Northern Expedition to succeed, will probably make trouble for our family."
"We have discussed this with the Marquis and would like you to bring your family to Quanzhou for a while, and also to help Jiayi with the selection and marriage arrangements."
"In Xindu, we don't need to worry about our families back home. We're fighting alongside the enemy, so we're not afraid."
Going to Quanzhou?
Grandma Li and the others were stunned when they heard this, but after thinking about it, they felt that it was a good idea.
Everyone knows that Li Zhensheng owns properties such as courtyards and shops in Quanzhou.
Moreover, the boys talked a lot about the scenery by the sea, which made everyone's heart flutter.
Especially for women, there are not many opportunities to leave home. If they could travel thousands of miles away to see the world, it would be something to brag about for a lifetime.
But nowadays, going south is equivalent to seeking refuge, not just leisurely sightseeing.
So Tao Hongying was the first to speak, saying, "Mother, why don't you take the family to the south for a stroll? I'll stay here and look after the house."
"No, Fourth Aunt, you should go south with Grandma. I should stay here and look after the house," Wan'er quickly interjected.
Wenjuan also joined in the fun, saying, "I'm not leaving either. Huan-ge will definitely stay to manage the restaurant. If I stay with him, I can also take care of the family."
"No, you all go to the south. I'll stay. The canteen at Zuoyou Academy can't be left unattended either..." Zhao Yuru waved her hand.
For a moment, the room was filled with noise.
Finally, Li Lao Er coughed twice and said, "Everyone, stop arguing. This trip south is not for fun, but for the preservation and continuation of our Li family."
“We have already discussed it with the Marquis. Jiaren and Lige will stay to take the exam, Jiahuan will stay to run the restaurant, the third son will guard the academy's canteen, and the rest of the mother, the two younger brothers and sisters-in-law, the niece-in-law, and the children will all go south.”
"Madam Wen brought Xingxing along, and Huiniang brought her two children as well."
"It would be best to ask Liu's family again tomorrow. Liu Yang is getting married, and I guess they'll be leaving with him too..."
Li Zhensheng and Li Laosan nodded in agreement. Li Zhensheng added, "This matter is settled. No one should say anything more, and it cannot be changed."
Tao Hongying has a quick temper and immediately got angry, "No way! Such a big courtyard can't be left unattended!"
"Besides, the New Year is just around the corner and we'll be exchanging gifts. Jiaren and Lige'er are also taking exams. How can they manage without someone looking after them?"
Li Lao Er and the others all looked at Jia Yin. Jia Yin had no choice but to face the challenge head-on.
“Mother, um... I am a princess and cannot leave my fiefdom without permission.”
"So, I won't be going to Quanzhou with you this time. I'll take care of things at home, so don't worry!"
Tao Hongying's eyes widened instantly; she was even more worried!
Fearing his sister-in-law's wrath, Li Lao Er quickly excused himself, saying he had some documents to write, and left immediately.
Before leaving, he didn't forget to add, "Keep this a secret, be careful someone doesn't try to sabotage it."
Li Zhensheng and Li Laosan also slipped away, calling their sons and nephews to follow them.
The room was left with a group of women, both old and young, staring at each other, all anxious and angry.
Tao Hongying tugged at her daughter's hand, wanting to say something, but knowing she couldn't persuade her, her eyes welled up with tears in her anxiety and frustration.
Jiayin was startled and quickly hugged her mother, comforting her with a smile, "Mother, others may not know, but don't you know?"
"Your daughter is so smart. Even though the Wu family schemed against me before, they couldn't do anything to me. Even if someone tries to harm me in the future, they definitely won't be able to hurt me. Don't worry!"
"Bullshit!" Tao Hongying was so angry when she saw her daughter's nonchalant attitude that she cursed and slapped her daughter twice on the back.
"Your mother hasn't lost her mind from the cooking fumes yet, are you trying to fool me like a child?!"
"You know best who you'll be facing if you stay behind. Do you think a mere girl like you can handle that?"
"Your godfather would avoid that person whenever he saw him!"
“Once your godfather and your father have gone to war, and your second and third uncles are men, they won’t be able to rescue you if you are summoned to the palace!”
Tao Hongying became more and more frightened as she spoke, holding her daughter's hand tightly and refusing to let go, having made up her mind.
"No, if you don't leave, your mother won't leave either."
"Where you are, there is your mother!"
Grandma Li also had a splitting headache. Occasionally, when she couldn't sleep at night, she would think about whether to send her granddaughter to Quanzhou to avoid the situation.
If there's one Wu family, there will be a second.
You might be able to outmaneuver one person in your family, but that doesn't mean you can outmaneuver a second!
It's safest to send the children far away, where they're far from the emperor's reach and don't have to deal with all this intrigue.
But she couldn't bear to part with it, so she didn't discuss it with her sons.
Who would have thought that now, when it really came time to head south, it would be her leaving, leaving her granddaughter to face danger...
"No, no, this won't do! No matter how much we talk about it, it won't work!" Old Mrs. Li waved her hand. "Hongying, Yuru, you take the children and go. I'll stay here and oversee things..."
"Grandma, I don't want to leave!"
"Yes, Grandma, I want to stay."
"I'm not leaving either. I can't leave the cafeteria; I'll stay here and watch the place!"
Zhao Yuru, Wan'er, and Wenjuan also started arguing, and needless to say, the room erupted into a new round of quarreling...
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