"Let's not talk about this anymore. I can't leave. Go to the county town to buy things so your father won't find out."
“Okay,” Huang Shan had already guessed this would happen, and immediately agreed with a smile, “Don’t worry, Mother, I will definitely pick the nicest colors to buy.”
"Don't make it too bright, keep it simple. If they don't accept it, you can take it back for yourself."
"Okay, I understand."
He also felt that people who were used to seeing nice things might not appreciate jacquard satin, but he couldn't afford not to prepare it.
The two families already had a strained relationship; if they arrived empty-handed, the other family might treat them even worse.
After thinking for a moment, Sister-in-law Huang gave her two more taels of silver, saying, "Buy some pastries too. One bolt of cloth is too little; it's not presentable."
"clear."
After discussing it, the two immediately split into two groups.
The next morning, Butler Cao brought back a bucket of fish, each one only the size of a palm, but very plump.
"Butler, where did you catch the fish?" Huang Xiaosan asked curiously.
"In the rice paddies," Steward Cao couldn't suppress his smile, "I never knew rice paddies could actually raise fish. This old servant has truly broadened his horizons."
"My mother said that fish will taste better in another half month, after the rice flowers bloom. It's still too early now."
"I see," Butler Cao frowned, "Should this old servant put them back?"
"No need, just catch them all. Let's taste them first and then we'll know the difference. Let's send them directly to the kitchen and have the cook cook them all. Let you all try them too. Remember to save a few for soup; Doctor Gu and Liu An like to drink it."
"This old servant understands, Third Young Master, please go and attend to your business."
"Okay, I'll be going now."
Ji Quan, who was standing nearby, was astonished when he heard their conversation.
"Young master, can fish be raised in rice paddies?"
It's amazing that these fish didn't eat the rice seedlings.
"Yes, and there are many benefits. Not only can it generate income, but it can also reduce pests and increase production."
"How amazing!"
"It's nothing, you'll see later."
As his horizons broadened, Huang Xiaosan gradually realized that his family was unusual.
For example, wine, formations, and even seemingly ordinary vegetables.
Han Yi was willing to use a lot of ice to send people on horseback to fetch these vegetables from the prefectural city.
Ji Xuan would also occasionally try to send tribute to the palace in a roundabout way.
Even ancient doctors said that long-term consumption of these substances could prolong life.
I used to think the chickens and ducks at home tasted good because we were willing to feed them. Now I think it was probably because we fed them too many rotten vegetable leaves that improved their meat quality.
He wasn't confident about doing business at first, but after realizing these things, he suddenly realized that he was sitting on a mountain of silver, all he needed was the courage to dig it out.
Upon hearing this, Ji Quan suddenly felt that he had made a fuss over nothing.
In fact, he had been following Huang Xiaosan around for the past few days, and almost every day he found it unbelievable.
The farmland was cultivated by a group of soldiers, the unassuming steward was dispatched from the imperial estate, and the eccentric old doctor was actually a former imperial physician...
He always felt that the world had undergone tremendous changes without his knowledge.
After careful observation, it was discovered that this situation only occurs when it is related to the Huang family.
"Understood. I will try my best to control myself in the future and not be so easily surprised."
“It’s okay, you’ll get used to it after a while,” Huang Xiaosan said, understanding this feeling very well. “I used to feel uncomfortable too, but I gradually got used to it.”
After experiencing his own family's situation, Huang Xiaosan felt that even if the sky collapsed and the earth cracked, he would remain calm and composed, like an old dog!
I don't know why, but I just have this confidence.
As the two walked and talked, before they reached the village entrance, they heard a shout, "Xiao San, quickly tell them that we are family and put the knife down."
"Cousin?" Huang Xiaosan's eyes narrowed when he saw who it was. "What are you doing here?"
Huang Shan did not answer this question. He looked at the soldiers in armor with apprehension and some fear. "Xiao San, why are there soldiers here?"
“They were sent from above,” Huang Xiaosan said, then turned to Fang Han to explain, “Brother Fang, this is my cousin from the next room, and the one next to him is my aunt. Don’t stop them yet.”
“Okay,” Fang Han nodded gently, “You take them with you and don’t let them wander off.”
After saying that, he left with his men.
Huang Shan was slightly dissatisfied when he heard that Huang Xiaosan had not explained to him.
He always felt that his cousin didn't respect him and was no longer as warm and polite as before.
Suddenly, I felt a little uncomfortable.
Knowing the gap is one thing, recognizing it is another.
"Auntie, cousin, what brings you here?"
After speaking, he glanced almost imperceptibly at the things the two had brought, and a feeling of being unsolicitedly kind arose within him.
"It's been a long time since I've seen Grandma and Second Aunt," Huang Xiaosan's casual attitude made Huang Shan a little uneasy. "I've come to see them today."
After saying that, he deliberately glanced at his cousin's reaction.
But Huang Xiaosan was no longer the same as before, and he didn't notice anything amiss.
"I'll take you in."
Huang Xiaosan hesitated for a moment about whether to turn the person away, but after thinking about it, he decided against it.
The past events have little to do with them, so it's not good to go too far, and we also need to consider the old lady's feelings.
"Xiao San," Huang Shan asked tentatively, "will these soldiers stay here to guard the place indefinitely?"
"Maybe, you never know what the future holds."
The ambiguous answer made Huangshan frown.
He still wants to maintain their relationship regularly, now...
Aunt Huang, who was standing to the side, was still in shock and hadn't recovered yet.
They were on their way, almost at their destination, when suddenly a group of soldiers with broadswords appeared and surrounded them. It was terrifying.
"Hey mistress, could you tell them not to stop us next time?"
“They have imperial orders to carry out, and I cannot interfere with their work.”
"Isn't this your home?"
Upon hearing this, Huang Xiaosan explained helplessly, "My family only has one yard."
"Xiao Chuan is not a marquis, let him speak."
Upon hearing this, Huang Xiaosan narrowed his eyes, "Do you think the Marquis can act with impunity?"
These words left the two speechless.
They desperately wanted to say yes, but they also knew they absolutely could not admit it.
In the end, he silently followed Huang Xiaosan up the mountain.
When Jiang Nuan heard that the two had arrived, she paused in her work on the array, quite surprised. "Why are they here?"
"I don't know," Xie shrugged. "Grandma has already passed away. Mother, would you like to go out and take a look?"
Xie was also surprised.
"Let's go take a look."
Jiang Nuan neither disliked nor liked either of them.
There's something going on here, so it's good to go out and see what they're up to.
The atmosphere in the side hall was somewhat strange.
After a short while, Sister-in-law Huang cautiously asked, "Mother, are you alright?"
"Call me Auntie," Old Mrs. Huang corrected, then nodded lightly. "I'm fine, nothing messy, and I'm living a comfortable life. I have maids to serve me, and my mother-in-law to chat with, so it's not boring."
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