and, with the youngsters, went up the mountain.Jia Xi and Jia An wanted to go too, but Li Laosi only took Jia Yi, who was strong and skilled.Jia An Jia Xi was very disheartened, but then Tao Hong Ying...This is not a little maid, it's plainly Jia An and Jia Xi.

"Brother, you're finally back! Grandma missed you yesterday! Are you on vacation now, can you go home" Jia Yin tugged at her two older brothers, chattering incessantly.

Jiā'ān and Jiāxǐ were also smiling broadly. After months apart, they couldn't wait to chat with their little sister for days on end.

The Marquis inquired simply about the trivial matters of the household and, upon hearing that Jia Yin had been properly dealt with, led the three children back to Suijin Beach.

The Li family is busy frying maltose fritters, fruit chips, and dried fruits today.

Wénjuān couldn't stand the smoke from the cooking, so she went to look for Wēn Fūrén and they worked together to stitch clothes for their children.

At the end of January after the new year, she was about to give birth.

The family had prepared quite a lot of children's clothing, and she herself kept stitching non-stop, hoping that the child wouldn't run out of clothes until they were three or four years old, but she still felt it wasn't enough.

She lost her mother at a young age, and now that she has a child, she wants to give all her love to her child!

Zhao Yuru spent most of the year in Los Angeles. She felt guilty for neglecting her family and hadn't been filial to her mother-in-law.

These days, after returning home, she has been busy all the time, and even when she has some free time, she still needs to accompany her mother-in-law in conversation.

At this moment, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, one kneading dough for Chinese crullers, the other deep-frying them with long chopsticks, worked in perfect harmony, smiles never leaving their faces.

The mischievous boys from the academy were famished. All morning, they'd been smelling the aroma in the air, their mouths watering as they studied.

Occasionally during breaks, they would gather together to speculate on what delicious dishes the Li family courtyard might be preparing.

Actually, their family life is also pretty good.

Especially in the past few days, the village divided gold from the big scale. Each household received at least over a hundred taels of silver.

Add a spoonful of vegetable oil and fry some delicious food. Even the most frugal person would be willing to spend money on this!

But they don't know if it's the food cooked in a different pot that's more fragrant, but the boys just crave the food at Li's house.

Finally, school was over, and they rushed to Li's door like a swarm of bees. They jostled each other, giggling and making a racket, but none dared to go up and peek through the crack in the door.

Still, Zhao Yuru estimated that the time was about right, so she came out to take a look and then quickly brought out a full plate of sesame twists.

Each mischievous boy received a stick.

It's also for the shy and honest girls who follow behind. Everyone gets a share.

Zhao Yuru got another plate and asked the mischievous boys to deliver it to Mr. Jiang and Kuli.

Before the mischievous boy returned with the plate, the Lord brought Jia Yin and Jia An (both of them) to the doorstep.

Zhao Yuru saw her son and nephew, but she was so happy that she shouted loudly to her mother-in-law.

Old Mrs. Li held onto her two grandsons, her heart melting with affection. She kept stuffing them with warm sesame twists and candied fruits.

Jia Xi and Jia An weren't shy about it, they ate on the doorstep while talking about what new skills they had learned during their time away.

Their excited expressions clearly showed that they enjoyed their assignment at the Foreign Affairs Office.

Li Lao Er was at home today, but Li Zhen Sheng and Li Lao Si went to the boat dock to unload cargo.

The lord sat with Li Lao'er, drinking tea and chatting idly.

The Lord then said, "This matter of the Hibiscus Cream has made the Emperor pay more attention to the south. To prevent trouble from barbarians, the Emperor intends to send people to investigate overseas."

"Jia Xi and Jia An are new faces, our family background is simple and we are loyal enough. Therefore, the Foreign Affairs Department might take Jia Xi and Jia An out this time. "

Although this investigation is being kept confidential and we have reliable personnel, there's always a risk that something could go wrong.

"If you can't afford it at home, tell me as soon as possible. I'll find a way to take the two boys out."

Li Lao Er's heart sank. He couldn't help but feel a bit bitter, and it was hard to laugh.

Jialei stayed in the Hailan army to fight against the Japanese pirates. Although his mother supported him, she seemed a little less cheerful these days, with obvious dark circles under her eyes.

At last, Jiaxi and Jian came back. Their mother was just happy for a moment before the two boys left again to go on an expedition.

The distant foreign land is far from Tianwu, and it is said that even with a ship, it would take a month to get there.

At sea, the winds and clouds are unpredictable, dangers lurk everywhere.

If anything were to happen, it would be a truly helpless situation. Calling out to heaven wouldn't help, and calling out to earth wouldn't do any good either.

Deep down, he wanted to shake his head immediately, not letting his nephews go on an adventure.

But the Foreign Affairs Department has been nurturing both children for a long time, and it is unlikely to give up easily.

Moreover...

Even separated by a door and half a courtyard, he could hear the laughter of his two nephews.

Needless to say, these are two restless souls. Even if they are kept at home, they would not be happy...

"Lord, let's let the old lady have a good year first. We can talk about this after the New Year."

"Alright," the Marquis nodded, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reopens on the 13th of January. If we're departing, the earliest we can arrange it would be the 14th."

In a few moments, Li Laotai was already chuckling as she carried the dish into the house.

No matter how much Li Lao'er and the Marquis swagger outside, in Old Madam Li's eyes they are still children.

Children are all greedy eaters, how could you not let them eat something new and delicious that's just out of the pot!

Then, Mr. Wen returned from the city and as soon as he entered Li's courtyard, he saw Li Lao Er and the Marquis, each holding a twist of floss and biting into it with gusto.

Beside her sat a kindly old lady named Li...

He instinctively turned to leave, but was discovered by the sharp-eyed Jia Yin, who smiled and pulled him into the house.

In a short while, the team who loved to munch on sesame snacks, gained another member.

The next day, the Marquis had business to attend to and had to return to the dockside military camp. He couldn't accompany Jiayin into the palace.

A father and daughter rode out in a carriage from Suijintan.

Along the roadside, the Chen family and their group were still waving pickaxes and shovels, struggling against the frozen ground of winter.

In just a short time, the once wealthy Chen family patriarchs have become destitute, worse than even beggars.

This is still Li Jia's magnanimity, allowing Chen's family to send thick coats and bedding!

Otherwise, they'll be crying their eyes out, turning as pale as a purple eggplant!

The Chen family still wanted to give food, but the Li family firmly drove them away.

The Li family did not want these people to die of cold, causing them to commit murder, but they also did not want them to live too comfortably, losing their initial purpose of atonement.

Moreover, outside the thatched hut where the Chen family settled, two large stoves were built.

In the morning and evening, one person would have a bowl of sorghum rice porridge to fill their stomach.

At noon, the glutinous rice porridge made from sorghum will also have some vegetables like cabbage and radish added to it. A sprinkle of salt is added for flavor.

During their flight, these dishes were the most precious life-saving food for all the young and old in the new village.

But now, in the eyes of the Chen family, it has become a tool that torments them!

Having grown accustomed to delicacies from mountains and seas, plump fish and meat, suddenly switching to a daily diet of sorghum rice porridge is like falling from heaven to hell!

But what they were thinking was outside the consideration of the villagers in the new village.

To go to their door and cause trouble, and still let them live, is already an act of mercy!

Jia Yin leaned against the window and took a few glances at the Chen family. Turning around, she saw her stepfather looking at her with concern, so she smiled sweetly and coaxed him.

"Don't worry, father-in-law, your daughter is now a feared demoness. No one dares to provoke me! They're afraid of being captured and forced to dig trenches!"ing Ye Gongzi to burst into laughter uncontrollably...It's not necessary to mention how peaceful and harmonious the Li family is. Let's just say that in the courtyard of Wang Family in Southern City,...