suddenly would indeed embarrass the old lady.But this season, fresh fruit is very affordable.Especially delivered to affluent places like Kyoto, many people would certainly buy it as a New Year's gift...Previously, I had requested from the Marquis and the Li family to have thirty personal soldiers stationed in Er Village, but most of them were unmarried.

This time, I successfully brought my wife and children back. There were only six families in total...

But with these six families, including the elderly and children, there are over twenty people in total, which immediately made Ercun more lively.

The rooms were already built, and today we just brought back all the wooden furniture.

The chairs and benches were placed, and the village elders had each contributed some baskets from home, piled in the courtyard. It already looked like a place where people lived.

The family members of the six personal soldiers moved in directly, sitting in the new house, all feeling that the new house was really unexpectedly good!

The remaining guards were also assigned to nearby barrack-style quarters, with ten men per unit. They were all spacious and bright.

Just as luck would have it, Tao Hongying and others couldn't find any available space in the village. They figured that there were a few spare rooms here at Pai Fang, so they moved their makeshift mooncake-making workshop over.

The entire upper part of the village was enveloped in a sweet fragrance. Village women went in and out, and mischievous boys also gathered here to play, which made Er Village more popular!

Xiaocui and Weidianniu moved to the village a while ago, so they naturally became "senior" figures in Ercun.

Xiaocui helped settle the women from each household and also introduced them to the general situation of the village and its surroundings.

When they heard that the village was baking two thousand mooncakes, all the new arrivals, men, women and children, were astonished. This gave them a more concrete understanding of the abundance of Suijintan.

The next morning, Xiaocui brought the women from each household to Li's courtyard to pay their respects.

Each family's women were racking their brains about what to give as a gift to the Li family. Xiaocui instructed them to bring some dried mushrooms or local specialty dried fruits.

They were a little uneasy, only feeling that the gift was too meager...

Coincidentally, Lao Tai Li, Tao Hongying, and Mrs. Wen were looking for materials to make some needlework for the unborn children.

I'm also showing off the fur at home, getting ready to modify it. It will be needed soon when the weather gets cold.

When the women entered, Old Lady Li was holding a piece of white fox fur, planning to make a cloak for her granddaughter.

Li Laotai wore only a simple cotton dress, her hair styled in a plain bun with a silver hairpin. She looked very humble, the only expensive-looking thing was the jade bracelet on her wrist.

Everyone was surprised, after all, she was a first-rank誥命夫人, almost indistinguishable from an ordinary wealthy household's old lady.

Let's look at General Tao Hongying's wife again, she is also in simple attire and hasn't worn too many accessories.

She was the companion sitting beside her, Mrs. Wen by name. She was dressed more elaborately, but still wore a gentle and kind smile, showing no trace of arrogance whatsoever.

You see, those women, back in their villages, were the daughters who worked as concubines for wealthy families. They looked down on people with their noses held high.

This Li family... seems really different!

Grandma Li called the women over to sit and chat, asking about their families and if they needed anything after settling down.

Finally, she entrusted them all to Xiao Cui's care, telling Xiao Cui to just speak up if anything happened.

All the men are following the Marquis on business. A stable home is a solid rear base, and we cannot hold them back.

The woman naturally agreed in unison.

As they were leaving, Lao Tai Li called for He Ma to bring out the meeting gift that had been prepared long ago. It was a piece of fine cotton fabric for each family member, enough for an adult to make a set of clothes or two sets of clothes for children.

Then, there was still a box of sweets, all brought back from the shops in town by Jia Yin earlier.

Jia Yin is changing her teeth, Li Laotai is afraid that her granddaughter will eat sweets and get cavities at this time, so she sent her out, out of sight, out of mind.

The women thanked him and then followed Xiaocui out of the village. It wasn't until they were outside the village gates that they dared to chatter amongst themselves.

"My second dog's father said that Old Mrs. Li was very kind, and I didn't believe it until now.

"

"Compared to Li Lao Madam, who is also getting older but so kind and approachable with her laughter and smiles, my mother-in-law... well, she's like scolding the heavens. Every single sentence feels unique in its harshness!"

A young woman in her twenties, quick-witted and talkative, made everyone laugh with her words.

Another woman in her forties grumbled, “How can that be the same Your mother-in-law favors your younger brother's family and treats yours like a thorn in her side. Of course, she scolds you every day!”

"Mrs. Li is truly blessed, her son and daughter-in-law are all filial and obedient. As long as she treats them fairly, their family life will surely be prosperous and harmonious!"

“Enough talk about it. From now on, we'll be freed from our hardships. Since the men are working under the Duke, let's all work hard. With the Li family backing us up, things will get better soon.” An elderly woman said.

She had been harshly treated by her in-laws before, and now as she spoke, her eyes were red.

Everyone felt sorry for her and patted her shoulders, offering words of comfort.

"But there was also a youngest daughter-in-law who spoke softly, "Didn't we hear that the Li family is the wealthiest They sell melons every year and make tens of thousands of taels. How come they only gave us a piece of cloth and a box of sweets as our meeting gift…"

Is this complaining that what the Li family gave is too little

Everyone frowned and instinctively took two steps back from the young daughter-in-law.

Xiaocui thought for a moment, then said: "Third Tiger's sister-in-law, when you moved here, what did your family give you, and what did your in-laws give you"

The daughter-in-law of the third tiger's sister was taken aback and hesitated before replying, “A married woman is like spilled water. Our family of origin naturally wouldn’t give anything. My husband’s family… gave two pairs of bowls and chopsticks.”

Xiao Cuier smiled and said nonchalantly, "The Li family isn't your home, nor is it your in-laws'. Giving you fabric and snacks is barely enough."

The young daughter-in-law's face was flushed red, she hurriedly waved her hand to explain, "No, I didn't, I just..."

Unfortunately, everyone could see that she was a bit arrogant and calculating in nature. She refused to engage much in conversation, just smiling politely and offering vague responses before quickly walking into their own courtyards.

The young daughter-in-law was a little wronged. Glancing at Xiaocui again, Xiaocui pointed to the courtyard where mooncakes were being baked temporarily, "I'll go busy for a while and talk later."

Hui Niang was in the courtyard, busy baking mooncakes with seven or eight women.

Actually, baking mooncakes isn't difficult. As long as you have the dough and fillings ready, wrap them up, press them with a mold, and they're ready to go in the oven.

But tending the fire is a meticulous task, not something everyone can master!

Hui Niang didn't trust others, fearing they would burn the entire batch and waste a lot of ingredients. So she stayed here almost from morning till night.

When the twins were being particularly mischievous, she would tie them to the doorframe with strips of cloth.

Xiaocui entered the courtyard and quickly changed Huiniang's clothes.

Hui Niang wiped away a bead of sweat and finally rescued her two children, playing with them for a while.

Hui Niang, being perceptive, noticed that Xiao Cui seemed distracted. She asked, "What's the matter You seem preoccupied after going out. Be careful watching the fire, don't ruin these mooncakes!"

Xiao Cui quickly regained her composure and whispered what had just happened, then sighed and said, "Sister-in-law, how can people be so different"

"My wife and I came to the village, we have a place to stay, enough food and clothes, and no beatings. It's like a dream! But they... after getting things from the old lady, still complain it's not enough. It's really..."

She wanted to curse a few times, but she was too kindhearted and couldn't bring herself to do it!ilk tea, it's not for you to drink, it has a big use!”A few days ago, Jiarren came back for dinner and said that during evening classes, he dozed off and almost knocked over his inkstone. He was scold...