Chen Li nodded and walked out, closing the study door casually. Without looking at the man in the yard, she went back to her room to wash up.
Someone had already prepared hot water in the room. I took a comfortable bath, wrung my hair dry, and then went to bed to practice martial arts.
The next afternoon, Shen Qi'an was going back to the academy. Before leaving, he said that he would not come back to celebrate the New Year this year.
The family was sitting in the hall chatting, and Shen Qi'an talked about his plans for this year: "Dad, Mom, the teacher plans to take me and a few students from the courtyard to study abroad, so we won't be back for the New Year this year."
After hearing this, Shen Changshan and Lin Cuicui were not very worried about their son. He knew martial arts, and if they gave him some money, he could take care of himself.
"The teacher also said that this study trip will last for three months, and I can only take three taels of silver with me. I will return next year to prepare for the Tongsheng exam."
"Old Four, have you made up your mind?"
"Well, we were planning on taking the test last year, but the situation was unstable, so my father and I suggested we not take it."
Lin Cuicui thought for a moment and nodded, "Three taels of silver is more than enough. The purpose of studying abroad is to experience life. The fact that the teacher chose you proves that he has high hopes for you."
"I know, mother."
"Have you packed your clothes?"
"Mom, I've packed everything. Apart from the clothes I'm wearing, I've also brought two ordinary cotton-padded jackets. For everything else, gather at the academy and prepare them together."
After listening to this, Shen Changshan nodded and said, "Be vigilant when you go out and protect yourself."
"Yeah, I understand."
Looking at the carriage going away, Lin Cuicui's eyes were a little red. The third brother was not at home, and the fourth brother had not come back either.
Shen Changshan put his arm around his wife's shoulders and said, "The children are growing up, and we have to get used to them leaving us."
"good."
Chen Li had long been accustomed to the increasingly clingy relationship between her parents.
Besides, now that Dad is here, I guess Mom doesn’t need my comfort anymore, so I’d better not disturb them here.
With such clingy feelings, I guess if it were a few years earlier, I might be able to give birth to a little brother or sister.
Xu Taohua returned to the room with her son and found her husband in a daze again. She put her son down, patted his head, and told him to go play aside.
"Husband, what's wrong?"
Shen Jingyuan shook his head and said nothing.
Xu Taohua stood behind him and massaged his shoulders. "Husband, you've been so quiet for quite some time. Can you tell me why?"
Shen Jingyuan pursed his lips, reached out and held his wife’s hand, and pulled her to sit on the chair next to him.
"Madam, I'm fine. I'm just happy for my third and fourth brothers because they found something they love to do."
Xu Taohua was stunned. She looked at her husband's face and asked tentatively, "What does my husband like to do?"
A look of confusion flashed across Shen Jingyuan's face. Before the family split, he didn't think so much. At that time, having enough food and clothing was a problem.
Now, his third and fourth brothers are not around. As the eldest son, he has to stay with his parents and fulfill his filial duties. He has never thought about what he can do.
Seeing the confused look on her husband's face, Xu Taohua's face flashed with a trace of heartache.
"What does my husband like to do?"
"I like to wield swords and guns."
Xu Taohua nodded and tried to guide him, "Then why don't you think about what you can do?"
What can he do?
He used to dream of joining the army, but now he has elderly parents and young children to support, so it is no longer appropriate.
He shook his head. "Let's not talk about this anymore."
Xu Taohua smiled gently and said "OK" softly.
But the next day, she still took Shen Mochi to Chen Li's yard. When she got there, Pei Yu was playing chess with Chen Li.
She stood at the door of the study, holding the eager Shen Mochi by the hand, preventing him from going in.
"Ali, did I disturb you?"
Chen Li looked up and said, "No, it's windy outside, sister-in-law will bring Achi in first."
"good."
After getting permission, Shen Mochi threw himself directly into Chen Li's arms and kissed her on the face. Pei Yu on the opposite side frowned secretly when he saw this scene, but Chen Li's attention was not on him at the moment.
Chen Li stuffed a toy into her nephew's pocket, put him aside, and poured a cup of tea for her sister-in-law before asking, "Sister-in-law, what do you want to see me about?"
Xu Taohua glanced at Pei Yu, thought about it and decided that this was nothing outsiders shouldn't hear, so she just told him directly.
"It's your eldest brother. He's been distracted lately. I asked him yesterday, but he wouldn't tell me."
"I guess he saw his third and fourth brothers figure out what they wanted to do in the future, and then he became confused because of this."
Chen Li nodded. She had noticed it these past two days and had been planning to ask about it, but Pei Yu held her back. Unexpectedly, her sister-in-law came first.
"Sister-in-law, what does my brother like to do?"
"He, you know your eldest brother doesn't have any talent for studying. He only has strength. He likes nothing more than wielding swords and guns."
As the aunt and sister-in-law were talking, they saw the little guy next to them was about to make trouble again, so Pei Yu directly picked him up and took him to the other side of the study to play.
Chen Li and Xu Taohua saw it, but didn't say anything. They were in the room anyway, and Pei Yu would not do anything to the children.
"Sister-in-law, did brother tell you what he wanted to do?"
"No, that's why I came to ask you."
Chen Li tapped her fingers on the table, which was her usual little action when she was thinking about something.
The eldest brother must have thought about joining the army, but he never said it out loud. He must have been worried that his third and fourth brothers were not around, and now he has elderly parents and young children to take care of, so he simply didn't say it.
But the eldest brother is going to join the army now. Chen Li's eyes turned and saw Pei Yu whispering with A Chi on the side. Isn't there a ready-made person?
"Sister-in-law, let me think about it first. I'll come to you another day."
"Okay, there's no rush for this."
"Um."
The aunt and nephew talked for a while, and then Xu Taohua took Shen Mochi back. Before leaving, Shen Mochi held Pei Yu's hand reluctantly.
The two continued playing Go, and Chen Li teased him: "I didn't expect you to be so popular with kids."
Pei Yu smiled and said, "Your eldest nephew is very cute."
"That's it."
Pei Yu had just listened to their conversation word for word, and he had some thoughts in his mind.
He didn't mind Ali's family background, but there were many people in the capital, and those who claimed to be from wealthy families loved to talk about other people's background the most.
He was not afraid, but he was worried that Chen Li would back off after hearing too many rumors, which was not acceptable.
He had also seen Shen Jingyuan's strength. He was a good soldier. In time, he would be able to become a general with his strength.
If nothing unexpected happens to Shen Qi'an, he will take the exam next year. By then, the family will have one civil official and one military official. Although their official positions are not very high, they have promising futures. With his support behind them, I believe they will be very sensible.
"Ali, if your brother wants to join the army, I have a way."
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