Xu Rao slurped his feet into the foot basin and said, "Is this how it is now? There's no industrial foundation at all. Do you still expect to make a spring?"
Zhang Zhaoci said to Xu Di, "Xu Di, I remember you got a mechanical engineering degree in college. So, can you make a spring?"
Xu Di said without looking up, "Mother, you really think highly of your son. We have nothing now, how can I make anything? I'm like a skilled cook without rice."
Zhang Zhaoci sighed and said, "I knew all that money you spent on your education back then was wasted."
Xu Di was unwilling. He put down his pen and said, "Mother, just because it doesn't work now doesn't mean it won't work in the future. When we get to Hexi County, I'll find an experienced master to guide me and we'll figure it out properly. Maybe we can actually figure it out."
Zhang Zhaoci sighed and said, "I really miss those days when we could go wherever we wanted. Look at us now, it's such a hassle to go out. We have to think about and bring everything ourselves."
Xu Rao looked at Xu Zhi, who was staring at him and his wife with wide eyes, and said, "What are you saying in front of the child? I think this is fine. You bring everything yourself, just like going on a picnic. We'll catch a pheasant for Xiao Jiu and bury it in the fire to make beggar's chicken. I guarantee Xiao Jiu will eat it with grease on his lips."
Xu Di laughed and said, "That's the only advantage now. They don't check your hunting spots for wild animals. If you're capable, you can get anything you want to eat."
Zhang Zhaoci said, "It's getting late, you two should go to sleep. I need to cuddle with our little Jiu to sleep."
These past few days, Zhang Zhaoci has been sleeping in the master bedroom with Xu Zhi in his arms, while Xu Rao sleeps on the couch in the study across the way. As for Xu Di, he sleeps in his own room in the east wing.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhang Zhaoci tidied up her belongings. She decided to bring all her silver notes and other valuables. However, she felt that there was no point in bringing her valuable jewelry, as the courtyard was still reserved for her family. Therefore, she needed to organize some things, lock up what needed to be locked, and hide what needed to be hidden.
The storeroom was filled with heavy furniture. Zhang Zhaoci had already looked at it and locked the storeroom door. Under the bed, she took out a large sandalwood box and a few inconspicuous pieces of jewelry, as well as some ordinary trinkets. Since she would be considered an official's wife in the future, she would sometimes have to give gifts when meeting people, so Zhang Zhaoci needed to prepare in advance.
To be honest, Zhang Zhaoci was really worried about leaving this large box of things in the mansion. He was quite afraid that his family was going to be harmed because of this box of things. Was someone after them who had their eyes on the money?
Zhang Zhaoci was busy packing his luggage and thinking about these issues, so he didn't get much rest at night. When the father and son saw the tired look on Zhang Zhaoci's face, one of them quickly wiped his feet and the other put away his calligraphy brushes. After they finished tidying up, they went back to their own rooms to rest.
Xu Zhi leaned against her mother's chest, taking a deep breath of her mother's scent. After closing her eyes, she could ignore the words she had just heard that she couldn't understand. She didn't care about anything else. As long as her parents and brother were alright, then there was no problem.
When Xu Zhi woke up in the morning, there was no one beside her. She dressed herself and got out of bed. She saw breakfast on the table outside. Her parents and brother were not there. Standing at the door of the main room, she saw her parents come out of her brother's room.
Seeing Xu Zhi standing at the door, Zhang Zhaoci quickly went over and picked her up, saying, "Xiao Jiu is awake. Come on, let's wash our faces and have breakfast first."
Xu Zhi noticed that her parents didn't look well and was a little puzzled, but not seeing her brother, she asked, "Mother, where's my brother?"
Zhang Zhaoci said, "Your brother ate too much last night and got a stomachache, but Mother has already given him medicine, and he'll be fine in a bit. Letting him eat whatever he wanted is a lesson for him. Our Xiao Jiu mustn't be like your brother in the future. Don't eat things given to you by strangers, remember?"
Xu Zhi nodded quickly, and Xu Rao said, "Should we tell the Marquis about this?"
Zhang Zhaoci said, "What's there to say? No need to say anything. I'm here. I'll take Xiao Jiu to the old lady's place in a bit and tell her that this matter still needs her to make the decision for us."
Xu Zhi was a little confused. Why did the old lady have to make decisions for her brother's stomach upset? Thinking of the accidents that happened to her parents and brother a few days ago, Xu Zhi's expression changed immediately.
Seeing that Xu Zhi's expression had changed, Xu Rao quickly comforted her, saying, "Xiao Jiu, don't be afraid, it's alright."
Zhang Zhaoci said, "We need to leave now, otherwise I would tear those people apart alive."
Xu Rao said, "Alright, alright, don't be angry anymore. Go to the old lady's place later and see how Granny Lu is doing. We still lack an elderly person by our side. With Granny Lu with us from now on, everything will be fine."
Xu Zhi struggled to get off Zhang Zhaoci and then took her short legs to Xu Di's room.
Xu Di was lying in bed with moxa sticks on his stomach. He didn't look well. When he saw Xu Zhi come in, he said, "Little sister, I'm fine. Don't worry. I'll go with you tomorrow."
Xu Zhi held Xu Di's hand, her eyes brimming with tears, and said, "Brother, you must get better soon."
Xu Di was furious. After returning to his room last night, he started having stomach pains. He drank some hot water and went to the toilet twice before falling asleep in a daze. However, he started having a fever in the middle of the night. Fortunately, Qing Sui and Qing Miao would be on night duty on the kang in the outer room of their room. Xu Di woke them up, and the two girls, seeing their young master's condition, quickly went to call Zhang Zhaoci and Xu Rao.
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