ng and Li Laoer and others stood at the door, seeing off the mule cart as it drove away. Li Zhensheng then said, "Laoer, you've worked hard at home these past few days. I'm going into town to take car...Li Lao Si replied, "The lord holds military power, so when he marries, he can only marry a woman from a small family. It's best to avoid any entanglement with various factions."

"The Jiangning Hou Mansion is the matrilineal family of the empress. This girl is simply the best, and the Marquis cannot marry her. Not to mention that the Marquis has no intention of marrying a wife. The barbarians from the north of the river could attack at any time..."

Perhaps he didn't want his wife and daughter to worry, so he quickly changed the subject halfway through, "Let's hurry on our way. Maybe we can catch up with the academy's lunchtime break. It's been a long time since I've seen Jia Ren and the others, I wonder if they've grown taller"

"Then let's go quickly, I'll also help my three sisters-in-law. You don't know, every meal hundreds of students come pouring in, it's really like we need eight hands each just to keep up!" Tao Hongying laughed and responded, stepping aside to shield her daughter from the somewhat harsh sun.

The little fox was left in the compartment, jumping up and down anxiously. Finally, it squeezed out through a small window at the front and ended up squatting on Lao Si's shoulder, finally calming down....

The bell signaling the midday break at the academy was also a battle cry for the cafeteria.

Zhao Yuru led everyone to quickly arrange the prepared dishes on the long table, following the set menu's fixed dishes and quickly setting it up.

Today's main course is braised pork. The brown meat pieces are stewed until soft and tender, shiny, and fragrant. A spoonful of it served on a plate, with an extra spoonful of gravy poured over the rice.

And add one more sweet and sour refreshing cold dish, it would be the most loved meal set for all the students in the academy.

Wu Sanniang was at the side of the small gate, just having seen off several women carrying food boxes.

She turned to Zhao Yuru and said, "Third Madam, we need to simmer more braised pork. We should add a few more catties of meat. These people came just by smelling the aroma; they finished half the pot in one go. If we buy more, the students won't have enough."

Zhao Yuru smiled and said, "That's easy. Next time, remember to remind me a few words."

The wives under Da Zhu's wife were busy, and they also laughed along: "These gentlemen's families are becoming lazier and lazier these days. They come over to pick some vegetables and don't even bother to cook."

"It's hot weather, nobody wants to put in that effort. When the weather gets colder in a few days, I guess there will be fewer people coming."

Zhao Yuru replied, raising her head to see Li Laosi and Tao Hongying, as well as Jia Yin, coming in from outside.

She cried out in surprise, “Fourth brother is back!”

When everyone heard the sound, they all turned to look and were overjoyed. They rushed forward to greet him.

Unfortunately, they hadn't spoken a few words when the students arrived, so everyone rushed to get busy.

Li Laosì couldn't help out, so he took his daughter for a stroll in the yard. As a result, Li Laosan came back from the field picking vegetables. When the brothers met, they patted each other on the shoulders heavily, both overjoyed.

At this moment, Jiarren also brought Li Ge'er and Mao Ge'er.

Li Laosi patted this one, hugged that one, delighted that his nephews had all grown up.

Maoge learned to ride a horse this morning, but he accidentally twisted his ankle. It didn't hurt at first, but when he saw his Uncle Three and Uncle Four, he started to cry dramatically and whined at them.

Li Laosan anxiously asked his younger brother about Jiangbei's affairs, so he sought help from his niece.

Chia-Yin took her youngest brother to have a meal alone next door.

Jia Ren brought some gifts and cooked a few meals for them, accompanying the two uncles and listening to the commotion.

When the school bell rang, Jiaren and Liguo hurriedly took their reluctant meow-meow along to the academy.

Zhao Yurú and Tao Hóngyíng were also busy finishing up, they could finally catch their breath.

Tao Hongying saw that the cat's meal was still one-third left, and she tapped her daughter's head and said reproachfully, "Did you secretly give your brother some random things to eat again Otherwise, how could he have so much leftover"

Jia Yin giggled and hugged her mother's arm, refusing to admit it, "No way, Mother, you're wronging me."

"Humph, that Meow Brother was still licking his lips when he left. You think I didn't see" Tao Hongying didn't know about outsiders, but she knew exactly what her daughter had on her mind.

Li Lao Si quickly picked up his nephew's leftover rice and ate it in three bites. "Alright, I'm done. I didn't waste any food, so stop hitting your daughter."

Having said that, he picked up his daughter and said, "Come on, let's go to the vegetable garden with your uncle."

Li Laosan rubbed his niece's hair and said, "Uncle Li planted mushrooms for you. The ripe ones have turned yellow already. You haven't come over these past few days, so Uncle Li would have picked a few baskets to send back to you anyway. Come on, let's sit in the field and eat some. Just pick whatever you want!"

As they spoke, the two brothers walked away carrying the little girl.

Tao Hongying stared, a mixture of amusement and exasperation on her face as she confided in her sister-in-law. "You see, Third Sister-in-law, out of the whole family, I'm the only bad one!"

Zhao Yuru smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners, and replied, "Fu Niao'er is so clever! She knows that her mother disciplines her for her own good. Come on, come on, let's go eat. We can talk slowly."

Because Lao Si Li rarely came over, Jia Ren took both of his younger brothers off work for the night and stayed at the small courtyard.

After the meal, the whole family gathered together.

After the courtyard gate closed, Jia Yin pulled her father up from the well, hauling a bucket brimming with water. Floating in that water was a jade gourd, so large it weighed over twenty jin.

Li Ge'er and Mao Ge'er immediately cheered and clapped their hands.

The jade cucumbers at home are very popular, almost selling out as soon as they're harvested. They even only ate them a couple of times themselves.

Afterwards, Lo An had some watermelon from somewhere else, and Lao San Li bought some too, but it was far inferior to their own.

...Thus, everyone was proud that their homegrown melons were the best, but they also felt a sense of regret that they wouldn't be able to eat any this year.

...

What a pleasant surprise to have such a delicious treat today!

Soon, the jade melon was cut open.

Li Ge'er and Mao Ge'er were busy offering a piece to each uncle and aunt before taking their own, bringing it to their mouths.

They took a big bite, it was sweet, refreshing, and juicy. They were so happy that they even closed their eyes.

Tao Hongying and Zhao Yuru laughed non-stop when they met. After eating a piece, they said it was too cold and then gave the rest to the children to satisfy their cravings.

The little cat has eaten so much its belly is round and it's running all over the yard chasing the little fox, it's really making a racket.

Zhao Yuru sighed, "Jiaxi and Ji'an went south, Wenjuan returned to Suijintan, this house suddenly became so quiet, it really feels strange."

"Why don't you stay a few more days It would be lively at home, otherwise it'll just be the two of us in the evening. I'd miss home even more."

Tao Hongying, however, said, “We also want to stay for a few more days, but tomorrow is the Zhongyuan Festival, and mother wants us to buy incense, candles, and paper money on the way home.”

“Besides, the wounded soldiers brought back by Lord Hou this time need to be placed at the gate tower, building a two-village complex. A noodle factory also needs to be built. In short, both the family and the village are very busy. It’s already difficult to come out for a walk today, let alone stay for a few more days!”

Zhao Yuru, curious, asked, "Did Ercun also build row houses Didn't some young men in the village want to get married and need to move out"

Tao Hongying nodded, and listened intently as her sister-in-law recounted everything in detail.

In the end, they couldn't help but bring up the Marquis, and this led to a discussion about today's events at the silver shop.

Li Lao San and Li Lao Si originally set out with their nephews to talk about going on a campaign, but who could resist the allure of gossip In the end, they too leaned in to listen...way.Xiaoban, half-human and half-monster, wanted to spread the word, but this was the Northern Expeditionary Army's territory. Coming and going wasn't so easy...Without mentioning the pier, just sayin...