Chapter 36 Should I help my grandparents or my parents?
Shen Lanxi wasn't idle either; the prisoners' arrangements were their own business and had nothing to do with them.
They also need to prepare things for their departure tomorrow.
Li's mother's son and daughter-in-law boiled water, while Li's mother, along with Chunxue and Qiushuang, prepared provisions for the next few days.
I heard from the young master that we won't be able to eat properly for the next few days, so please make some things that are easy to store and delicious.
The three of them discussed it and decided to make some pastries, rice crackers, dry biscuits, and dried meat!
Shen Lanxi helped them with the work, occasionally offering suggestions. The idea for dried biscuits came from her; it involved drying the prepared biscuits, and if you wanted a better flavor, you could add some sugar or salt, making it similar to eating dry bread slices.
Both sides were working diligently. After lunch, there was a break for a cup of tea. After arranging things with the yamen runners, Shen Congwen came looking for them.
After instructing her maid, Shen Lanxi went to lie down in her room beforehand.
"Master, the young master is resting in his room!"
Shen Congwen was deeply worried about his daughter's injury! His daughter was inside, so it wasn't convenient for him to go in!
"Is the young master's injury serious?"
Chunxue lowered her head: "It's nothing serious, I just need to rest in bed more!"
Upon hearing that he needed to rest in bed, Shen Congwen's heart clenched. His daughter must have instructed the maid to say this so he wouldn't worry!
"Master, should we go in and inform the young master?" Qiu Shuang asked.
Shen Congwen felt a deep sense of guilt when he thought about his daughter being injured and having to take care of his family.
"Don't disturb your young master's rest any longer. I'll come see her again next time!" Shen Congwen said and left.
To Shen Lanxi's surprise, it happened very quickly, incredibly quickly.
Shen Congwen came again before dinner.
If we don't let him say it, he probably won't give up!
"Father!"
Shen Lanxi opened the door and went out!
Shen Congwen glanced at his daughter; she still had the same makeup as before, and there was no sign of injury on her face. He felt a little relieved.
"I heard from Yuan Jing that you were injured, so I came to see you!"
Shen Lanxi gently led her father to sit down at the stone table in the courtyard.
"Father, is Mother feeling any better?"
Shen Congwen's eyes darkened as he thought of his wife: "Your mother's illness is emotional; given time, it will eventually get better!"
Shen Lanxi: "Father, I only suffered some minor injuries, I'll be fine in a few days!"
Shen Congwen: "I see. Then you should take good care of yourself and leave any tasks to the servants!"
Chunxue brought over the tea, and Shen Lanxi personally poured tea for her father.
"I will remember your love, Father!"
Shen Congwen clenched his fist, the words he was about to say were truly difficult to utter. But if he didn't say it then, he wouldn't be able to explain it to his parents, who were also his daughter's grandparents and certainly wouldn't want their closest relatives to suffer!
"Lanxi, your grandparents haven't been eating or sleeping well these past two days, and their health isn't what it used to be. Talk to the constables and ask them to eat with them too!"
Shen Lanxi continued drinking her tea, raising an eyebrow as she glanced at her father.
She had never realized that her father was such a filial person!
"Father, you are so good to our grandparents!"
Shen Congwen looked somewhat uncomfortable: "As children, it is our duty to be filial to our parents!"
Shen Lanxi nodded in agreement: "I will discuss with Liu Laohu and let Father and Mother eat with the constables!"
Shen Congwen was taken aback, his narrow eyes fixed on his daughter: "Lanxi, do you harbor resentment towards your grandparents?"
Shen Lanxi shook her head: "I am of lowly status and my voice carries little weight. Our Shen family is also very cautious right now. If I were to take any risks, I would prioritize my parents first, and then others. I am truly limited in my abilities!"
When Shen Congwen heard his daughter say that she would put her parents first, his heart softened, but then he frowned as he thought of the other meaning in her words.
"I'm fine now, you just need to help your grandparents first!"
Shen Lanxi's phoenix eyes turned cold: "Father is in good health, but what about Mother?"
As Shen Congyi thought of his wife, who was frail and still insisted on walking on her own, a wave of guilt suddenly washed over him!
“Father, I understand how you feel. You feel sorry for your parents, and I feel sorry for mine. If I could only risk asking Liu Laohu for help once, would you ask him to help my grandparents, or to help you and my mother?”
He can choose for himself!
"Lanxi, can't we at least let the rest of the Shen family members have something to eat?" Shen Congwen was puzzled. Liu Laohu was speaking to his daughter in a very friendly manner. Why couldn't he plead for the Shen family?
Looking at her father's troubled expression, Shen Lanxi said, "Liu Laohu gave the Shen family a chance before, promising preferential treatment to whoever was willing to contribute! Liu Laohu keeps his word and has now fulfilled his promise, giving preferential treatment to those who contribute!"
"Father, do you want Liu Laohu to break his promise? If everyone is treated the same, who will be willing to stand up next time we encounter bandits?"
Shen Congwen was deeply ashamed by what his daughter said.
"Lanxi, you get some rest. I'm going back now!"
Shen Lanxi looked at her father's back and said, "Father, I will talk to Liu Laohu and ask him to improve your and Mother's meals!"
Shen Congwen said in a low voice, "No need. You're right. I was narrow-minded. Let's do whatever Liu Laohu decides!"
Shen Lanxi stared intently at her father's departing figure with dark eyes. Had he already forgotten the hardships of his early exile after only a few days of good life?
Reforming the Shen family was more difficult than she had imagined!
Let these minor flaws gradually disappear on the long road of exile!
In the evening, Shen Yuanjing and his three siblings arrived.
"Big brother, we did a lot of work today. Chunxue and Qiushuang even taught us how to do horse stance!"
Looking at the four people covered in sweat, Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "Your families used to have tutors who taught you the Four Books and Five Classics, but not martial arts. Your physiques are already somewhat set, but it's not too late to start now. Don't be too hasty, or you'll injure your physiques!"
The three Yuan brothers nodded.
Shen Yuantang: "Big brother, can I learn with you?" She also wanted to become as good as the big sister!
"Yes, you can all learn!"
Shen Yuanjing finally asked the question that had been on his mind: "Big brother, who did you learn martial arts from? We've never seen you practice martial arts before."
Shen Lanxi avoided the main point and said, "I used to go to the palace often, so naturally I practiced there."
Shen Yuanjing wondered, could it be that the palace guards taught him?
"Chunxue, bring out the flower cakes you made today and share some with them!"
Shen Yuanjing waved his hand sheepishly, "I've already had dinner, I'm very full!"
Shen Lanxi: "This is a reward for your martial arts training. Take it back and enjoy it slowly!"
Shen Yuanjing used to dislike sweets the most, but now sweets have become a luxury, and he is embarrassed to take things from his older sister!
"Big sister, you're so kind! I haven't had any pastries in so long!" When Shen Yuantang saw Chunxue coming over with a basket, she couldn't wait to grab a piece and start eating. As she ate, she started to cry!
"I wish nothing had happened at home!"
Shen Lanxi patted her head to comfort her: "It will be alright!"
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