After Chen Zhaoci brought the children in, he quickly kowtowed to the old lady. The old lady stretched out her hand and said, "Oh, oh, no need, no need. We're all family. There's no need to be so polite. Come over here and let me see you."
Chen Zhaoci quickly sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), next to the old lady, took one of her hands, and said with a smile, "Grandmother, I feel like you're getting younger and younger. Look at your complexion, it's much better than when we left last time."
The old lady's smile widened, and Ning, who was sitting to the side, joked, "Look, look, our Third Madam is really something. Since she came back, the old lady's smile has become much better."
Chen Zhaoci said with a smile, "Of course, I am the old lady's favorite granddaughter-in-law. With my return, the old lady is naturally very happy."
Chen Zhaoci and her sisters-in-law often joked around. When Chen Zhaoci said this, the other wives didn't say anything. Only Madam Wu frowned slightly. Madam Wu had always looked down on her illegitimate daughter-in-law. Originally, she simply ignored their whole family. Later, the woman she had always considered a rival disappeared without a trace. Madam Wu then ignored Xu Rao's family even more. No matter how capable Xu Rao was, no matter how knowledgeable Xu Di was, they were still illegitimate children of the Marquis's family. Sooner or later, this Marquis's family would belong to her son.
It must be said that it was precisely because of Wu's indifferent attitude that Xu Rao's family lived a relatively worry-free life in the Marquis's mansion. The old lady and the Marquis, who knew the inside story, had nothing to say about Xu Rao and Chen Zhaoci. Originally, the ladies in the mansion were not very close to Xu Rao's family, but later, because Xu Di led them to become rich and live a comfortable life, they had more money and did not care much about many things.
Xu Bai took off his shoes, went to the kang (a heated brick bed), hugged the old lady's neck, and said with a smile, "Grandma, Grandma, let me tell you, I went to Changbai Mountain with my uncle and bought a hundred-year-old ginseng in a village on the mountain. I brought it back to you. I'll bring it to you after I've packed my things."
Upon hearing this, the old lady was overjoyed and pulled Xu Bai into her arms, saying, "Oh my, our Bai-ge'er even brought me a gift back! Grandmother has truly not spoiled our Bai-ge'er for nothing."
Xu Bai smiled and nodded, saying, "Of course, Grandmother, don't worry, while I'm in this mansion, I'll come over every day to keep you company and chat."
The old lady hugged Xu Bai tightly again and said, "That's wonderful! With our Bai-ge'er here, things will be lively here at Grandma's place."
After kissing Xu Bai, the old lady held Xu Zhi's hand and felt a pang of heartache for a while before saying to Ning Shi, "Tell the kitchen to prepare more delicious food. Look at our Bai-ge'er and Jiu-yatou, they both look thin. Now that they're home, they should eat more and make up for it properly."
Ning agreed, and Chen Zhaoci said with a smile, "Grandmother, look at you, it's as if these two children are starving because of us. They're growing taller and taller, so of course they're getting thin."
The old lady waved her hand with a smile and said to Ning Shi, "Let them go wash up first. They can all come to my place for dinner tonight. I remember I bought some seafood a couple of days ago. Our Bai Ge'er likes to eat fish, so tell the kitchen to cook a fish."
Ning agreed to all of them, and Chen Zhaoci took the children to her own courtyard to wash up.
Looking at the courtyard she had left more than two years ago, Chen Zhaoci sighed and said to Xu Di and his siblings, "Our family has traveled to so many places, but in the end, we still have to come back here. This is our home."
Xu Di nodded, but Xu Bai looked at the entrance to the courtyard. The courtyard had clearly been thoroughly cleaned, and the ground was spotless. This courtyard had been around for many years, and every time Xu Bai returned to see it, it seemed to have become even more dilapidated.
Xu Bai leaned close to Chen Zhaoci and whispered, "Mother, aren't we going to buy a house to live in later?"
Chen Zhaoci looked at her youngest son and said with some sadness, "Yes, we will have to buy a house outside in the future, but your father and I got married here, and your brother and sister were born and grew up in this courtyard. This courtyard has been the place where our family grew up."
Xu Bai nodded and said, "That really is a very memorable occasion."
Xu Di laughed and said, "Alright, Mom, it's rare to see you in such an artistic mood. Hurry up and wash up, let's go eat, and we can have a proper talk after we eat."
Hot water had already been prepared in the room, and his personal luggage had been brought to the room. After a quick wash, Xu Bai took out a gift for the old lady from his luggage. It was a hundred-year-old ginseng, which Xu Bai had bought with his own money. After buying it, he put it in a carved mahogany box and kept it under his watchful eye all the way, afraid that it might be damaged.
Chen Zhaoci had already packed up the gifts he brought back for everyone in the mansion. Bai Wei and Bai Mi delivered the gifts to each person's courtyard according to the list. Chen Zhaoci personally took the gifts for the old lady to the old lady's courtyard and delivered them to her.
The meal was a lively affair. Afterward, the Marquis summoned Xu Zhi and Xu Di to his study, specifically to ask Xu Zhi about the pastry shop she owned.
After Xu Zhi gave a brief introduction to the shops she had opened in Liaodong, the Marquis asked her, "Did you bring people here to continue opening shops in the capital?"
Xu Zhi nodded and carefully explained her understanding of the chain model to the Marquis. The Marquis nodded and said, "In that case, do it well. If there is anything that requires your grandfather's help, just tell him."
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