Chapter 713: Meeting the Beloved Again

ngzi."Master, you should eat more and make up for your health. Before leaving, Fu Niu kept instructing me to see if you've lost weight. The little girl practically considers you her father. You shoul...r/>

After thinking for a moment, he said: "Jia Yi and Liu Yang stayed in Quanzhou. Uncle arranged a job for them."

"Specifically, I'm not too sure. When my uncle comes back, he'll definitely tell grandma."

Lao Li was peeling and eating a banana, not noticing her grandson's strange expression.

She nodded, putting the banana in her grandson's hand and smiling proudly, "Come, try this fruit called a banana."

“Lao Hei brought these back from Yunzhou Prefecture, they’re especially soft and sweet. Your sister grew them in the greenhouse, miraculously, they survived! Every time she can harvest a whole bunch!”

Actually, Quanzhou Prefecture also has this kind of bananas. Jiaren had eaten them before his trip this time.

I originally wanted to bring some back, but this stuff is fragile and doesn't store well. It turns black and spoils within five or six days if you don't keep it fresh.

To his surprise, after traveling thousands of miles to return home, he ended up eating it again.

He followed his grandmother's lead and praised her a few times, which certainly made the old woman even happier.

When it got dark, the old girls ate a bowl of simple meat-thin noodle soup and went to rest in the backyard.

The front yard instantly became a paradise for the boys. Since they had just finished their meal, they plunged right into the hot spring pool in the ear room, taking baths, splashing each other, and laughing so boisterously that it almost lifted the roof off.

Lu Cong and Jia Xu experienced the joy of soaking in a hot spring again!

As Maoge said, though the Li family wasn't a grand household, their food and lodging were first-rate.

They were really reluctant to say goodbye...

But the next morning, after breakfast, they still took Li's carriage back to the city.

Jia Xu wants to go home to see his parents and elders.

Lu Cong had a house in the city, and he planned to write more about his experiences in Quanzhou this time and send them back to his father to see. It could also be considered his "annual summary" for being away from home for so long...

Jia Ren wanted to see them off, but they both refused.

It's good for the Li family to reunite and spend some more time together.

Maoge'er and Ligger had been away for a long time, and seeing everything in the village was fresh again.

So, the two of them took their younger sister and older brother out to play.

At this time of year, the mountains are covered in snow, making it impossible to climb.

The only place you can move is the Onsen Valley.

Enjoying snow while soaking in hot springs is a refined pastime favored by many both inside and outside the city. So, after snowfall, the hot spring valley becomes overcrowded.

The village, fearing trouble, directly cut off all walk-ins and now only accommodates pre-booked guests each day.

This way, knowing the specific number of people and their genders makes it convenient to make arrangements and provide care.

Especially in the kitchen area, a new small clay pot stew has been introduced.

A clay pot sits atop a charcoal stove, filled with ingredients like small chicken mushrooms, pickled mustard greens and tofu, or shredded radish and meatball. As it simmers and steams, the aroma fills the air. Paired with a bowl of white rice, a plate of fatty and lean pork belly slices, and a dish of salted vegetables, this forms the most quintessential meal.

For just a few hundred coins, guests can enjoy a hot meal.

Although the Shatian Beach has high yields from planting gourds and fruits every year.

But here in the Hot Springs Valley, it's still the primary way for the village to stockpile grain, and the incoming silver, though small amounts at a time, adds up over time...

Homeen played with his younger siblings in the valley for more than half an hour, then carried his sister on his back and led his brothers home.

As they reached the village entrance, they saw a carriage parked at the doorstep from afar.

Several siblings walked past, without even asking, the car door opened, and a girl in a blue dress was about to get out.

Perhaps, she didn't expect anyone outside. She was startled and her footing went awry, causing her to stumble and fall down.

Jia Ren hurried forward two steps and extended his arm.

The girl, in a panic, grabbed his arm and finally managed to land safely on the ground.

Then, a young boy jumped out of the carriage and shouted, "Sister, are you alright Did you sprain your ankle"

The girl quickly shook her head, then took her younger brother to pay respects with Brother Ren and his sisters.

The girl was none other than Xing Wan'er.

Their family had prepared a New Year's gift for the Li family. Taking advantage of the relatively good weather today, she brought her younger brother over to visit.

To her surprise, she saw Jiarren the moment she got out of the car.

Remembering the unspoken agreements about their engagement, she was momentarily embarrassed and lost her composure, making a fool of herself again...

Xing Wan'er's face flushed crimson, she wished she could find a hole in the ground to crawl into.

In her daily life, she was always well-behaved and graceful, never making any mistakes.

But in front of Jia Ren, he made mistake after mistake...

Li Ge'er and Mao Ge'er had also heard about this Xingjia girl. Seeing her standing with the eldest brother, both blushing and politely exchanging pleasantries, they couldn't help but wink at each other and make funny faces, laughing uncontrollably.

Similarly, Xing Ning was sizing up Jia Ren, her future brother-in-law, with a look of scrutiny.

He really wanted to find fault, proving that Jiarren wasn't good enough for his sister, so she wouldn't have to get married!

Unfortunately, after much deliberation, he felt a bit disheartened.

Jia Ren stood tall and handsome, with a clear gaze and refined manners...

Such a young master, paired with his elder sister, is actually... barely acceptable.

Jia Yin had long jumped off her brother's back. Seeing the pink little hearts floating between Sister Wan and her brother, she really couldn't bear to disturb them.

But this is the doorstep, you can't block it all the time.

She ran over, took Wan'er's hand, and said with a smile: "Sister Wan'er, why are you here only now I missed you!"

"Last time, you promised to give me the handkerchief. Did you forget I'm so sad!"

"No, no." Wan'er quickly replied, straightening Jia Yin's askew cloak, and smiling, "Of course I remember. These past few days, I've embroidered four handkerchiefs for you. I'll give them to you in a bit."

"That's great, that's great!" Jia Yin was overjoyed, her face beaming with a smile as she pulled Wan'er inside, shouting loudly: "Grandma, Sister Wan'er is here!"

Li Ge'er and Mao Ge'er also pulled Xing Ning to the side, asking him what snacks he liked and what toys he preferred, trying their best to win over this little nephew for their older brother!

When Li Laotai heard the noise, she came out of the house. Seeing her eldest grandson and Wan'er come in together from outside, she was overjoyed. She quickly greeted them to come in and warm themselves up.

Although Zhao Yuru had never met Wan'er, she knew that everyone in the family liked her as their future granddaughter-in-law.

Then, she also quit her job and helped her mother-in-law entertain guests.

Wan'er led her younger brother to pay respects to the elders, being graceful and composed as she went from one person to another, presenting each with a New Year's gift prepared by their family.

Finally, she took out her sewing kit.

Besides a set of clothes and shoes prepared for Zhang Shenyi, Old Li also received a plain jacket.

Although the fabric is not expensive silk, it is made of the softest and most comfortable fine cotton. The stitching is fine and even, embroidered with floral patterns, and it fits especially well.

Li Laotai couldn't stop smiling, praising incessantly, “Wan’er is truly skilled. Just right, Wenjuan just sewed me a sable fur hat for me. We can dress up together during the New Year.”

"Haha, I am the most pampered old lady in our village."

Wen Juan sat on one side with her stomach propped up, listening to her grandmother like the future sister-in-law, but she didn't forget about her. This made her feel really warm and happy inside.

Zhao Yuru also smiled and said, "That's right, mother. From now on, I can be lazy. These children are truly one better than the other in their dexterity!"

"Oh my, that won't do!" Old Mrs. Li pulled her daughter-in-law's hand and said, "While they are sewing clothes, you can make shoes! The shoes you make are the most comfortable!"

Zhao Yuru sighed, putting on a pained expression and saying, "Oh, it's so hard to take a break! My mother-in-law is just too shrewd."

"Hmph, you only know now, too late!" Old Mrs. Li said proudly, pinching her waist, "You've been in the family for so many years, about to hold your grandchild, and now you want to run away What a shame!"

Everyone burst into laughter, and the room was filled with merriment for a moment.atus and immediately changed her mind and agreed to Uncle's arrangement" 。I know, she wants to go back and use her uncle, hoping that I would really... marry into the Li family. Being a wife in the Li...