After breakfast, Xu Zhi leaned against the wall and lay on the kang (a heated brick bed). Shi Liu couldn't sit still, so she went outside for a walk and came back with a look of surprise. She said to Xu Zhi, "Miss, I heard that you can see the sea not far outside Dengzhou City. Do you have time to go to the seaside?"
Xu Zhi calculated the time and said, "Sure, but I need to take a carriage; I really can't ride a horse anymore."
Shi Liu smiled and nodded, saying, "That's exactly right, miss. When would be a good time for us to go?"
Xu Zhi looked at her legs and said, "I'll go ask my brother later if he has anything else to do. If he doesn't, we can leave in the morning, find a place to buy some seafood at noon, cook it by the sea, and come back in the afternoon. What do you think?"
For a foodie, anything is fine as long as there's good food. Shi Liu nodded vigorously and changed the dressing on Xu Zhi's leg. When it was time to make amends, Xu Di rushed over from outside.
Xu Di's eyes were bloodshot, and there were some bluish stubbles on his chin. Xu Zhi thought he must not have slept all night.
Xu Zhi picked up the teapot on the table, poured a bowl of tea for Xu Di, and said, "Brother, have you made this plan?"
Xu Di picked up his teacup, drank it all in one gulp, and said, "Yes, it's all settled. Xiao Jiu, you don't need to worry about what happens next. Don't get involved in the Yun family's affairs either. I'll send someone over to help the Yun family get rid of that Shen Niangzi. You and Bo Yuan stay in Miaozhou and take good care of yourselves. As for Chu Huaigui, when it comes to things, he always pushes them onto others, and in the end, he's the one who gets the benefits."
Xu Zhi thought of Madam Chu, who rarely appeared in public, nodded, and said, "I understand, brother. Is there nothing else I need to do?"
Xu Di nodded and said, "I've made all the arrangements. The people who went to meet with the Yun family have already set off. From now on, the Yun family will no longer be held hostage by the Third Prince's people, so you can rest assured."
Xu Zhi sighed softly as she thought of the worried look on Madam Yun's face. She said, "When Madam Yun asked me for help, I immediately thought of my grandmother. My grandmother has worried herself sick over us, her children and grandchildren. I think that if our family were to encounter difficulties like the Yun family, my grandmother would definitely do the same as Madam Yun and swallow her pride to ask others for help."
Thinking of his aging elder in the capital, Xu Di felt a lump in his throat. As the old woman grew older, she slept more and more during the day. His mother said it was because of her declining energy. Xu Di was worried that one day the old woman would fall asleep and never wake up again.
Before leaving the capital, Xu Di mentioned this to Chen Zhaoci. After sighing, Chen Zhaoci told Xu Di that if it wasn't for anything else, but for the future of her children and grandchildren, the old woman had to grit her teeth and persevere. If she were to pass away now, all the family members who were serving as officials outside would have to return home to observe mourning, and those who were preparing to take the imperial examinations would have to stop. This was the most crucial time for the entire family, and the old woman really didn't want to hold her children back.
Xu Zhi listened with tears streaming down her face. Having lived two lives, Xu Zhi naturally knew how good the old man was. She was afraid that the old man would pass away at any time, and she also felt sorry for the old man who was holding on for the sake of the children.
Seeing Xu Zhi crying so sadly, Xu Di comforted her, saying, "Grandmother is already old. Birth, aging, sickness and death are the natural course of life. As her children, we should take good care of her while she is still alive. Otherwise, we will regret it when she is gone and we will have nowhere to show our filial piety."
Xu Zhi wiped away her tears and said, "I know. As soon as I arrived in Miaozhou, I sent someone back to the capital with Miaozhou's specialties, specifically to send back to my grandmother so she could taste them. In a few days, I will go back and spend some quality time with my grandmother."
Xu Di nodded. The old man was already over eighty years old; who knew when he would pass away? He should spend as much time with him as possible.
Xu Zhi remembered what Shi Liu had mentioned about going to the seaside. After telling Xu Di, Xu Di arranged for someone to take them there. A stove and pot were also placed on the carriage so that if they encountered any returning fishing boats, they could buy some and cook them directly.
After enjoying a seafood feast by the sea, Xu Zhi returned home, and Xu Di was already arranging for her to be sent back to Miaozhou.
From Dengzhou to Miaozhou, it would take about three days by carriage along the post road. Xu Di couldn't bear to let Xu Zhi ride back on horseback by herself, so he found a carriage, prepared two cartloads of things, and planned to let Xu Zhi set off early the next morning.
Xu Di was very busy, not only with the affairs of the government office, but also with the fruit tree seedlings that Xu Di had planted last year, which were all more mature than usual. After the transformation of the saline-alkali land by the sea, the planted fruit tree seedlings had all survived. Xu Di had told Xu Zhi that in two more years, they would be able to eat apples from Dengzhou.
After finishing his work at the government office, Xu Di, the garrison commander of Dengzhou, was still in charge of training. When Xu Zhi took Shiliu to the seaside, they saw many barracks with blue bricks and black tiles built there. Xu Di said that many locals in Dengzhou were now signing up for the army, not only because they could eat and dress well after joining the Dengzhou army, but also because Xu Di was now vigorously promoting the concept of protecting the country and letting the people know who was standing in front of them and who was giving them a peaceful life. The relationship between the army and the people was gradually improving.
Xu Zhi always thought that her brother was the most amazing person, and that no matter where he went, he could always do his best in whatever he did.
Xu Di came over to keep Xu Zhi company for dinner, and the two siblings chatted while eating.
Thinking about what he had discovered over the years, Xu Di said to Xu Zhi, "You should be more discreet about the Third Prince's affairs in the future. I sent people to Jiangnan to inquire a couple of years ago. The Third Prince really went to any lengths to amass wealth. He even bribed Jiang Zhaoming, the salt commissioner of Jiangnan. You should know that Jiang Zhaoming is the person the current emperor trusts the most."
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