Fortunately, Xiao An had already understood some things, and when his mouth was covered, he stopped mentioning it, but his gaze towards Zhao Tingduo was wary.
The eldest brother went to his future sister-in-law's house to deliver gifts and hasn't come back. As the man of the family, he has to protect his second sister!
So wherever Song Liyun went, he followed with his little wooden stick, and even Abu's attempts to coax her were ineffective.
Feeling embarrassed and ashamed under Xiao Anqing's sharp gaze.
This brother-in-law is not easy to deal with!
He no longer had the desire to stay another night at Baolin Residence.
Since it was an urgent order, I could leave overnight and get to the Zhenbei Army camp sooner. I wonder what my elder brother wanted to see me about.
But recalling what Jiang Feng had said, her heart sank.
Song Liyun didn't rest either. First, she asked Yunniang to make some more portable dry food, while she prepared some other things herself.
I packed pears wrapped in cotton paper, several paper bags of dried meat, and dried biscuits made by Yunniang into the leather backpack. It was both thirst-quenching and filling.
Zhao Tingduo and Abu left overnight.
Song Liyun didn't have time for sentimental musings like a young girl; she needed to start preparing the merchandise for the trade fair in just a few days.
The "exhibition and sales fair" held by Tianxianglou in Qili County with the support of the county government has once again caused a great uproar.
Each shopkeeper was asking each other what this "exhibition" meant, and why only those related to food and beverages could participate.
Cloth shops, silk shops, and cosmetic shops also wanted to join in the fun.
The companies that were named early on were even more anxious and unsure of what to do.
A day later, the owner and cook of a small restaurant came out of Tianxiang Restaurant looking dazed. He said to Guan Laoliu, who was walking beside him, "Laoliu, pinch me quickly. Am I dreaming? Did Tianxiang Restaurant really teach us how to make barbecue skewers?"
Guan Laoliu was so excited that his face was red and his veins were bulging. When he heard Fan Shao tell him to pinch him, he slapped him across the face and said, "I'll wake you up!"
With a loud "smack," Fan Shao was sent spinning around in a circle, blood spurting from his nose, his head buzzing, but he chuckled and said, "Sixth Brother, that slap really hurt like hell, looks like it wasn't a dream!"
Guan Laoliu hopped around, clutching his wrist: "Ouch, that hurts so much! Fan Shao, your head is really made of iron."
"Damn it, Guan Laoliu, you blockhead! I told you to hit me, and you actually did!" Fan Shao finally came to his senses, feeling that half of his face was numb and painful. He was so angry that he started cursing at Guan Laoliu.
Ignoring the scolding Fan Shao gave him, Guan Laoliu, a middle-aged man, chuckled and ran off happily down the street!
Other people followed the two cooks out; their faces showed no joy, but rather furrowed brows, as if they had encountered a tremendous problem.
The restaurant is still doing well, but the customers are noticeably less sophisticated.
Many of them were drunkards dressed in coarse linen clothes. They would chip in to eat some cheap food and drink a half-price cup of wine, occupying a table for half a day without moving, which made the waiters at Jinxilou so anxious that they wanted to kick them out.
But these people are just idlers who usually loiter on the street. They have long legs, weak waists, bad tempers, and foul mouths. Jin Xilou doesn't want to mess with them.
The same was true of Zuichunlou and Heji Restaurant; there was even a group of little beggars waiting at the door for leftovers.
You can't chase them away, and you can't hit them!
Hecheng Garrison Command!
Zhao Tingduo had just finished her meal and was sitting in the spacious and bright flower hall having tea.
Several maids quietly served tea, soup, and pastries, then stood by.
His eyes, however, kept glancing at the third young master sitting in the hall.
They were all newcomers and had not yet met Zhao Tingduo. Seeing his handsome appearance and close relationship with the mistress, they assumed he was a relative of the household visiting, and perhaps they could serve him closely.
Zhao Tingduo frowned slightly; he was used to this kind of gaze, but also somewhat annoyed by it.
Fortunately, not long after, an old woman in an indigo jacket came over with a smile: "Third Young Master, our Master is back. Please go to the study in the front yard."
Zhao Tingduo knew that her eldest brother had returned home, so she got up and followed the nanny to the front yard.
In the study, Zhao Tinglei had changed into casual clothes and was sitting at his desk, staring blankly at a stack of papers.
"Big brother!" Zhao Tingduo called out as she entered the room.
Zhao Tinglei then came to his senses and his eyes lit up when he saw his third brother: "Third brother has grown stronger again. Come, no need for formalities, come and talk to your elder brother!"
Zhao Tingduo sat down on the cushion in front of him: "Brother, did someone send me a message? Is it something urgent?"
"Hey! You still haven't changed your hasty nature. It's been almost a year since we last met, and the first thing you say when we meet is this."
What time did you arrive in Hecheng today? Have you seen your sister-in-law? Have you eaten yet? How is your mother's health?
At this moment, Zhao Tinglei was no longer the cold-blooded general in the military camp, but a loving older brother who cared deeply for his younger brother, talking about everyday matters and concerns.
Zhao Tingduo smiled sheepishly, no longer asking why she had been summoned, and joined in the small talk.
"I arrived this afternoon and have already met my sister-in-law and nephews and nieces. My sister-in-law told me that my brother is planning to send Linghuan and Lingyue back to Beijing, leaving only Hongjie behind?"
My eldest brother, Zhao Tinglei, is a commander of the Zhenbei Army and currently serves as the garrison commander of Hecheng. He has been in Yunzhou for over ten years, married, and has children, including legitimate sons and daughters, as well as illegitimate sons and daughters.
Linghuan and Lingyue are the legitimate daughter and son, while Hongjie, who was born out of wedlock, is the son of a concubine. He is now thirteen years old and is being taught archery and horsemanship by his elder brother.
When his children were mentioned, Zhao Tinglei's smile faded: "The Crown Prince has asked Father to deploy troops to garrison Weicheng. I will stay in Hecheng. My stepmother is getting old, so I need your sister-in-law to take the children back to the capital to fulfill her filial duties."
Zhao Tingduo didn't seem to understand the meaning behind Zhao Tinglei's words.
He recalled seeing his sister-in-law, Madam He, with her eyes red and swollen from crying earlier, and his eyebrows furrowed immediately: "Doesn't the Marquis's mansion in the capital have my second brother and sister-in-law by my side? Why is my sister-in-law being asked to go back again, and with the child?"
"In such a large manor, what can my sister-in-law possibly do? If they need someone to serve tea and water, they should just buy a few more maids and servants."
The "stepmother" Zhao Tinglei mentioned was not the mother of the two brothers, but the mother of the second brother, the heir of the Marquis of Zhenbei. It was illogical for a concubine's eldest daughter-in-law, who had been away from home for many years, to return to the capital to fulfill her filial duties.
Zhao Tinglei waved his hand, clearly not wanting to continue discussing this issue.
Serving one's mother-in-law is a daughter-in-law's duty of filial piety. Not serving her closely over the years has already violated the natural order of things.
Moreover, after his wife left, the garrison commander's residence still had three concubines.
But Zhao Tingduo still wouldn't let go of this issue, and said through gritted teeth, "My sister-in-law is gone, the family is no longer a family, and the husband and wife are separated by vast distances."
The Di people did not have concubines, nor did they have any reason to forcibly separate husbands and wives.
Although she knew that the status of Wu Chao's wives and concubines was different, Zhao Tingduo still did not understand or accept it.
Looking at his seemingly naive and innocent third brother, Zhao Tinglei sighed, "Do you really not understand? It's not Mother who wants your eldest sister-in-law to return to the capital; it's the Crown Prince and Father's decision."
"Why does the Crown Prince want to separate you as husband and wife?"
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