"Alright, alright, if you keep throwing a tantrum, I'll really send you back." Lili pulled him up in an annoyed tone.
Gu Ziqi's eyes darted around, her little face fell, and she hugged her sister with a pitiful expression: "Sister, don't you want Ziqi anymore?"
"How could that be?" Lili pinched his little face, seeing through his little trick, and patiently coaxed him, "Our Ziqi is so cute, who would not want Ziqi? It's just that Ziqi plays here all day long, and I'm embarrassed to explain it to your mother. I'm in a difficult position too."
Gu Ziqi immediately became agitated and stopped pretending to be aggrieved: "Who said that? Ziqi has things to do every day, I don't play all day!"
"Oh, is that so?"
"Really, really!"
Lili nodded seriously, without asking what he had done, but casually said, "My third brother will be coming to stay for a few days. He is very well-read, and his handwriting is truly amazing. I admire people with good handwriting. If only Ziqi were here..."
"Ziqi wants to learn to write with Third Brother!" Before Lili could finish speaking, Gu Ziqi interrupted, "Ziqi will definitely practice writing with Third Brother every day and show it to Sister every day, okay?"
Lili smiled then, and said with delight, "Really? Ziqi is so good, then it's settled?"
"Uh-huh!"
Seeing her daughter coax Gu Ziqi with just a few words, Madam Yang couldn't help but chuckle.
Lili patted Gu Ziqi's head and told him to go play: "How about Ziqi goes to play with your brother Chenye now? I need to talk to your Aunt Yang."
"good."
Gu Ziqi obediently left.
Madam Yang said helplessly, "Ziqi is a well-behaved child, but he's too clingy to you."
Lili poured her some tea: "Kids are always a bit childish."
"And you're talking about him? You're still a child yourself," Yang said casually. "I don't know why this child likes you so much. He follows you around every day, and gets anxious when he can't see you, like a little shadow."
Lili paused, then said coquettishly, "What do you mean, Mother? Lili has always been loved by everyone and flowers since she was little."
"Mother knows, our Lili is kind and beautiful, who wouldn't like her?" Madam Yang lovingly embraced her daughter. "Mother is just worried, Ziqi is, after all, the legitimate son of the Marquis's family, with a noble status. If he stays here too long, who knows what those nobles in the capital will think. Mother is afraid..."
Although Yang was outside the capital, she knew that the waters in the capital were much deeper than here.
Lili frowned slightly and gently comforted her, "It's alright, Mother. Since the young master's wife agreed to let Ziqi stay, she must have made plans. Didn't the young master's wife send a letter last month, telling me to keep a close eye on Ziqi? Isn't that perfect? When Third Brother comes in a few days, he can start practicing calligraphy with him."
"You certainly know how to arrange things for your third brother," Madam Yang said with a smile.
The mother and daughter talked for a while longer. When Yang saw the booklet in front of her, she felt a little melancholy: "There's a chance it will snow heavily this year, and then we won't be able to plant anything in the fields. Fortunately, our grain seeds have all been distributed to other places in recent years, so even if it gets cold this year, Nanlin County won't be like Xixiang County before."
"yes."
The wind was blowing in gusts outside, and it howled across the roof like a mournful horn.
The window trembled in the wind, humming and resonating as if it could not bear the weight.
Yang frowned as she closed the wide-open window, then silently watched the potted plants in the yard being blown about by the wind.
After a while, Madam Yang sat back down next to Lili, seemingly conflicted. She spoke after a long pause: "Lili, tell your mother, when you were so determined to get those grain seeds out so that the people could also grow them, did you foresee this day?"
Lili was taken aback, but she didn't hide anything from her and nodded.
Madam Yang sighed, looking down at the teacup. The tea was clear and still, without the slightest ripple.
"Your eldest brother is currently missing, and as for the fourth brother, he has gone to Xixiang County with Master Sikong to treat the epidemic."
Yang didn't continue, but Lili was able to understand from her unfinished words.
The children have grown up and are gradually developing their own ideas and pursuits. As their relatives, we can only offer our support, but we also feel worried and uneasy. After all, in the eyes of our elders, they are still children no matter how old they are.
Lili didn't know what to say, so she could only reassure her again: "Mom, don't worry. The fact that Big Brother made this decision means he's confident. You know Fourth Brother, he's been interested in this since he was little. Isn't it a good thing that he has the opportunity to go with Grandpa Sikong to get treatment? Don't worry, good people get good rewards, nothing will happen to them."
Madam Yang nodded: "I will personally go back to Xinghua Village in a few days to let everyone make some preparations. I will also go to the village of Juren to remind your great-grandfather and the others, and I will also bring your third brother over."
"Um!"
“In the summer, this yard was full of children, but now only your fifth brother is left.”
Shen Jiahao joined the army, Shen Jialu took over the caravan and was busy dealing with various shops, Shen Jiaqing went to Xixiang County, and Shen Jiawen stayed by Old Master Yang's side to study.
For a time, only Shen Jialuo remained, causing trouble in Liucheng.
Lili suddenly remembered something: the county magistrate is replaced every three years unless he requests to be reappointed.
Judging by the time, it has been two years since Shen Laosan was transferred here, and he will be transferred away around this time next year.
Liucheng was well-governed during Qin Renjie's tenure as magistrate, and the people lived in peace and prosperity during Shen Laosan's tenure as magistrate.
Water conservancy projects and bumper harvests are both achievements in government administration.
Moreover, although Shen Laosan did not pass the palace examination, he was among the top candidates in the list of successful candidates. The official position originally assigned to him by the palace was the principal officer of the Ministry of Works. If it weren't for Gu Ziyi's intervention, Shen Laosan should have been working in the Ministry of Works.
However, Shen Laosan was concerned about his family, and serving as a county magistrate for three years could also help his career. If he returned to the capital as a county magistrate, he would not only be a minor official, but would likely be promoted. So he returned to Nanlin County as a county magistrate first.
I just don't know what my parents are thinking now. Do they want to continue being leisurely county magistrates here, living a peaceful and quiet life as a family, or do they want to go to the capital, a place full of opportunities yet also full of dangers, to try their luck?
Lili tentatively asked, "Mother, Father's term will end next year. If Father wants to be re-elected, the court will most likely not object."
Because Gu Ziyi was there.
But should we continue to confine ourselves to this small town?
Madam Yang knew that her husband could have become an official in the capital in his first year, holding the position of Chief Clerk. Although it was only a sixth-rank official, it would have been easy for Shen Laosan to rise through the ranks with his talent.
Since Shen Laosan had the ability, Yang Shi naturally didn't want him to stay in this small place as a county magistrate for the sake of the family for the rest of his life.
Madam Yang shook her head: "Your mother had already discussed this with your father. The way Heaven acts in relation to the times is the same; it selects those who are good at speaking out and gives them the opportunity to do so. Your father has the ability, so he should try to compete. A soldier who doesn't want to be a general isn't a good soldier. Your father has studied for so long; he can't just stay here because of us, right?"
"That's what I think too. Besides, our shops here are already saturated. It's time to expand outwards."
Lili had been thinking about buying a few shops in Beijing, and now it seems she can start doing it with peace of mind.
"Little money-grubber, you're already the wealthiest person in our family, and you still think it's not enough?" Madam Yang tapped her round, pear-shaped nose and laughed.
Lili stuck out her tongue: "Who would complain about having too much money?"
Lili had previously asked Xia Ning about opening a shop in the capital.
Now Shen Jialu has integrated those shops and turned them all into a single chain called "Lixiang Pavilion." These shops were originally well-known old businesses, and business is booming.
The caravans of Lixiang Pavilion also began to travel all over the country, searching for new things, and Lixiang Pavilion's business will only get better in the future.
Lili has no business acumen; she owes all her money to luck.
Hehehe.
Her family doted on her, showering her with money.
Pear will never have to worry about food in her life.
After a while, Yunshu and Huangying returned one after the other. Madam Yang was a "sensible" mother. Knowing that her daughter was very busy, she gave her a few instructions and then left.
The two had been running around outside for a while, and their hair was a little messy from the wind. Yun Shu was not afraid of the cold because of her internal strength, but Huang Ying's hands were freezing cold.
Lili pulled the two of them to the charcoal brazier with a pained expression, and the three of them squatted down on the ground and chatted around the brazier.
"Huang Ying, how are things going on your end?" Li Li asked.
“Miss, the Second Young Master said that everything was normal when the caravan was in Xixiang County. It was hot, and everything was normal the day before the caravan left.”
Lili frowned and thought for a moment.
Did it really get cold overnight?
I know the weather is unpredictable, but this is just too unpredictable.
"Has this ever happened before?" Lili asked. "Well... it's like a sudden and drastic change."
Huang Ying grew up in a poor family and never went to school. She had never heard her family talk about this kind of thing when she was a child, so she shook her head and said, "When I was a child in Xixiang County, I never saw this kind of situation. Xixiang County is hot and it only gets cool in early winter. This year is really strange."
As a secret guard, Yun Shu had heard all sorts of things and observed the world. She had heard something: "I heard that there was a year in the north when it was extremely hot, and people were still wearing summer clothes even in winter."
Lili got tired of squatting, so she simply plopped down on the ground.
The two people's conversation left Lili puzzled again. She had some knowledge of climate, but how could she understand such a strange climate?
Forget it, never mind.
"Sigh, let's think about what to do next. I'm always uneasy about this epidemic. I'm always worried about Fourth Brother and Grandpa Sikong..." Lili said with a bitter face.
Yun Shu comforted her, "Miss, don't worry. Doctor Sikong's medical skills are superb. The Fourth Young Master has been studying under Doctor Sikong for many years. Perhaps this is a test for the Fourth Young Master?"
"It's better to avoid this kind of test; you might even lose your life."
Lili still had a bitter face.
Yun Shu and Huang Ying exchanged glances. Yun Shu left the stage, and Huang Ying took her place.
Huang Ying said, "Miss, think about it. Besides, when it comes to epidemics, ordinary doctors really don't dare to act rashly. With such kindness from Physician Sikong and the Fourth Young Master, I believe Heaven will bless them."
“That’s true.” Lili nodded thoughtfully.
The legendary physician Sikong once said that when he was young, he went to a border town with his master to treat an epidemic.
During that plague, Physician Sikong witnessed Wufanman kill the people he had personally saved, leaving Physician Sikong with many obsessions.
This is also why some of the renowned physicians went to Xixiang County without hesitation as soon as they heard about this matter.
"Okay, okay!"
Pear jumped up in a flash. How could Little Sun Pear be bothered by such things?
Physician Sikong and Shen Jiaqing are blessed with good fortune; why is she worrying so much?
Lili put her hands on her hips, thought for a moment, and then walked out with a flourish, waving her hand to signal the two behind her to follow: "Come on, let's go buy some things!"
A quarter of an hour later, Lili appeared in various pharmacies of all sizes in Liucheng, followed by her two maids, Yunshu and Huangying, and several guards.
"Shopkeeper, I'll take all the surplus medicinal herbs you have in stock, as many as you can get!"
With a flourish, Lili pulled out a stack of silver notes.
This is the same Huichuntang pharmacy where Lili came with Granny Shen to sell Ganoderma lucidum when she was two years old. The manager has never changed; it's still Manager Li.
When the Ganoderma lucidum was sent to the prefectural city, it was Zhou Wukui, who was then the prefect, who took it to present to Bai Yu, who was staying at the prefectural government.
Although Bai Yu didn't want it.
However, Zhou Wukui bought Ganoderma lucidum from Huichuntang, which earned Huichuntang a lot of fame at the time.
Over the years, Manager Li had become quite familiar with Lili. Now that Lili was the daughter of the county magistrate, he didn't hesitate when he saw that she wanted to buy medicinal herbs. He immediately told his servants and apprentices to go to the storeroom to check the inventory.
"Miss Shen, do you have any specific medicinal herbs you require?"
"No, I want anything you have. If it's something precious that you're reluctant to sell, I'll pay more."
"Not at all, how could I be reluctant to sell!" Manager Li chuckled as he mentally calculated the money he could earn, his smile becoming even more genuine.
Huichuntang is a large pharmacy, so it naturally has plenty of medicinal herbs. However, there are also many patients who come to Huichuntang to get medicine, so a portion of the herbs are reserved, and the rest are all bought by Lili.
Huang Ying directed the servants from Huichuntang outside to load everything onto the magistrate's carriage, saying, "Be careful, don't bump or knock anything over!"
The guards who had been sent to other pharmacies to purchase medicines also brought over the pharmacy's servants, each carrying a full armful of medicinal herbs, and they all loaded them onto the cart.
Lili watched with satisfaction as the carriage was filled to capacity, not at all bothered by the money she had spent.
Well, what's the use of just worrying? Let's be more practical and send some medicinal herbs to Grandpa Sikong and Fourth Brother.
They must be really short of these things there, and I don't know what kind of medicinal herbs they need, so I might as well send them all over.
The more Lili thought about it, the smarter she felt.
Shopkeeper Li stared in disbelief: "Miss Shen, if I may ask, what is this...?"
News of an outbreak of disease in a village in Seigo County had not yet spread, and the people, unlike them, did not have well-informed spies, so they naturally did not understand what Riri was up to.
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