Tian's family indeed had other requirements for Xia Xiuzai. Although she temporarily accepted the thirty taels of silver, she wanted Xia Xiuzai to continue thinking of ways to raise more silver. At the same time, she also wanted Xia Xiuzai to accompany her on a trip to Kao Shan Tun.

  "I just got back, and didn't even go to Kao Shan Tun to pay respects during the Dragon Boat Festival." Xia Xiuren said to Old Master Xia. And Tian Shi, in order to wait for Xia Xiuren and the money he had with him, also didn't go to Kao Shan Tun. Tian Shi sent a message to Kao Shan Tun saying that after Xia Xiuren returned, the two of them would go together to pay respects.

  The Tian family wouldn't say anything else, they knew Xia Xiuzai was doing it for the money.

  Now, in any case, Xia Xiuzai managed to scrape together thirty taels. Even a mosquito is still flesh and blood, they wanted to take these thirty taels over to the Tian family. Then, Mrs. Tian's intention was for Xia Xiuzai to go with her to thoroughly explain things to Old Man Tian and Old Lady Tian.

  Happy holidays! My son wants to visit his father-in-law's house, and Old Man Xia won't stop him. But he is worried about Xia Xiuzai.

  "You're a softie, especially when it comes to your old folks at home. Once they start asking you and pressing you, who knows what you'll agree to!"

  Mr. Xia's concern is by no means unnecessary.

  As for the matter of Big Brother, Uncle Xia San couldn't help but have many thoughts in his heart, but it wasn't good to say them out loud. He just said one sentence: "Thirty taels of silver is not a small amount either. Our family and Eldest Sister-in-law's family are not wealthy households, we must consider our own circumstances."

  This is said very tactfully and also very realistically.

  "Your three younger brothers all understand this principle. But you..." Old Man Xia was quite disappointed with Xia Xiucan.

  In fact, Xia Xiuzai understood this principle very well. If it were a matter of his own family, he would have done the same thing. But when it came to the Tian family and their affairs, he lost all sense of principle. Whatever the Tians said, he couldn't bring himself to refuse them.

  Thirty taels of silver, this matter, in Old Man Xia's opinion, is a very good start. If this matter is settled, later on, the eldest son and his family will be able to slowly extricate themselves from the bottomless pit that is the Tian family, and their descendants' lives will gradually improve. But if this matter is not handled properly, then in the future, the eldest son and his family will still be stuck in the same old situation.

  Mr. Xia attached great importance to this matter, and he couldn't help but worry that Xia Xiucun would change his mind again when he arrived at the Tian's house. Mr. Xia furrowed his brow in thought, and then his gaze fell on Xia Zhi.

  Xia Zhi didn't want to go to Kao Shan Tun, but Old Man Xia's gaze was too intense, she thought pretending not to see him wouldn't work either. However, Xia Zhi still remained silent.

  Xia Lao Ye Zi didn't blame Xia Zhi, he thought Xia Zhi was scared by the Tian family wanting to marry her off to Tian Da Bao. He wanted Xia Zhi to go to Kao Shan Tun Er and also help Xia Xiu Cai resist the Tian family, this was indeed a difficult task for Xia Zhi.

  Except for Xia Zhi, no one else can accomplish this task again.

  "Sixteen, I know this is a burden for you. But... Ah..." Old Master Xia sighed. Such a big matter still needs to be resolved by a young girl, his heart felt uncomfortable.

  Mr. Xia had made it clear, and Xia Zhi couldn't pretend not to understand anymore. She thought for a moment and nodded. Going to Kao Shan Tun was not only to help Xia Xiuciai but also for her own sake.

  They can't fill the bottomless pit of the Tian family anymore, otherwise it would be a bleak future.

  "Grandpa, I'll go with my dad, but let's make one thing clear: my dad has to listen to me." Xia Zhi first asked Grandfather Xia for the Shangfang treasure sword.

  "This is the way." As soon as Old Man Xia heard that Xia Zhi agreed to go, he immediately became invigorated. At this time, no matter what Xia Zhi asked for, he was willing to agree. So, Old Man Xia instructed Xia Xiucan: "Once you arrive at Kao Shan Tun, listen to everything the Sixteenth says."

  "Oh." Xia Xiuzai responded with a single word.

  Old Man Xia was dissatisfied with his attitude, and he frowned at Xia Xiucan again: "Sixteen represents me. If you don't listen to Sixteen and mess up this matter, then from now on, you don't have to recognize me as your father either. At that time, you can do whatever you want, and I won't be anxious about it."

  Mr. Xia's attitude was so solemn, and his words were extremely severe, that Xia Xiu knew her father was not joking, he was very serious. Xia Xiu hurriedly responded with respect again, promising Mr. Xia that she would listen to Xia Zhi at the time.

  "You're right to listen to sixteen. You're not a match for those people." Old Master Xia said with a bitter tone, then he warned Xia Xiuzai, "You'd better take good care of sixteen for me. If you let the Lao Tian family bully sixteen, I'll have no end of trouble with you when I get back."

  "No, no." Xia Xiuren said repeatedly, belatedly realizing that his position in Old Man Xia's heart seemed to have changed, and now Xia Zhi was ahead of him.

  The little tree beside listened and immediately came over: "I'll go with my sister, I won't let anyone bully my sister."

  Xiao Hei Yu also refused to show weakness, he said he would follow Xia Zhi too.

  Old Man Xia called Xia Zhi over and instructed her, "Xia Shi, this time it's all up to you. If things go well, you'll be the family's great benefactor. Your father and brothers will thank you for the rest of their lives. I'll thank you too."

  "All I can say is: I'll try my best."

  "Do your best, that's all." Old Master Xia nodded, and the matter was settled. As for whether the Tian family would agree to take Xia Zhi to Kao Shan Tun, no one had considered this issue.

  Old Lady Xia on the other side has finished collecting everything with her daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Little Shu, Xiao Xialin, and Lao Yue have all come into the house, chatting and laughing.

  Xia Lao Ye Zi was delighted and asked Xia Lao Tai Tai to bring out all the pastries that Xia Zhi had brought back from the city, then he began to distribute them among his grandsons and granddaughters.

  Now that summer has arrived, pastries can't be kept for long. This time, Summer brought back a lot of pastries again, and Old Man Xia wouldn't eat alone. In fact, whenever there's something delicious on Old Man Xia's side, he always thinks of the children at home. During holidays and festivals, when people give him pastries as a sign of respect, he would divide some among his grandsons and granddaughters.

  Today, everyone gets extra portions.

  "There are still sixteen zongzi to bring back, let's divide them among the two families." After finishing his own share, Old Man Xia patted each of his grandchildren on the head and said to Old Lady Xia.

  Old Lady Xia smiled and nodded in agreement, then brought over the basket containing zongzi.

  Xia San Shu and Xia San Shu blocked Xia Lao Tai, not letting her distribute the zongzi. "The 16th will bring some back to pay respects to you two elders. Just keep them for you two elders to eat slowly. These zongzi can be kept for several days. Our family hasn't eaten white rice zongzi in years."

  "It doesn't matter if you eat a little more or less of this stuff," Old Man Xia said, "You kids eating it makes your mother and me happy."

  Mrs. Xia still divided the zongzi, but it was Xia Zhi's idea. Xia San Shu's family got eight, Xia Zhi's family got ten, and the remaining ten were enough for Mr. and Mrs. Xia and Xiao Hei to eat for two meals.

  Everyone was chatting and laughing in the backyard for a while, watching the sky gradually darken. Old Master Xia was worried that his children and grandchildren would be tired from taking the carriage back from the city, so he let everyone go back to rest early.

  Xia Xiuzai returned to the front yard as soon as he heard Xia Lao's words. Xia Zhiluo fell behind, and La Yue told Xia Sanbo and Xia Sanbi that she also wanted to go to the front yard with Xia Zhiluo tonight because Sun Lan'er was going to accompany him.

  Anyway, Xia Zhi occupies the west house in the front yard alone, and there's nothing inconvenient about it.

  Xia San Shu and Xia San Shu both nodded, and also reminded Lai Yue to be sensible, diligent, and not to cause trouble for Xia Zhi. Lai Yue agreed, and happily held the big red banana leaf and followed Xia Zhi to the front yard.

  Xiao Hei Yu Er didn't come to accompany Xia Zhi, he was kept by Old Master Xia and Old Madam Xia. The old couple missed their youngest son dearly. Just as everyone hadn't dispersed yet, Old Madam Xia was already reluctant to let go of her youngest son.

  Back to the front yard, Xia Zhi first went to the east house to take a look. Tian Shi was talking to Xia Xiucan, discussing the matter of going to Kaishan Village. Because Xia Zhi had to be brought along, Xia Xiucan said that since they were already celebrating the festival, they might as well bring all the children over to see their grandparents. Tian Shi didn't suspect anything and readily agreed.

  The two of them discussed something else, and Xia Zhi stopped listening. She came out of the east house and ran into Xia Qiao in the main hall, where she stood still and talked to him.

  "Big brother, what did you have for dinner with mom? Did you eat the dishes that our grandma asked Xiaolin to send over?"

  Tian's family didn't have the mood to cook dinner, so they just ate millet porridge with scallions and dipped in soy sauce. During this time, Tian couldn't help but say many things to Xia Qiao, roughly meaning that Old Man Xia and other members of the Xia family were ruthless and heartless, and that their suffering was all because of this.

  As for the dishes sent by Old Lady Xia, Tian Shi was not planning to accept them, but Xia Qiao took charge and accepted them. However, Tian Shi did not even touch a single dish with her chopsticks.

  "I've eaten a little less than half, and there's still more than half left. I think it won't spoil if we leave it overnight, and tomorrow morning, we can all eat together." Xia Qiao said to Xia Zhi.

  Xia Zhi also felt a little heartache for Xia Qiao. He was just that kind of temperament, always thinking of others. "Big brother, we've already eaten in the backyard. Those dishes, you eat them instead, don't leave them until tomorrow morning. It's hot now, and they'll go bad if left out."

  "I'm full." Xiaqiao also worried that the dishes would go bad, but still said, "Otherwise, I'll give it to you and Xiaoshu to eat later."

  Lao Yue walked into the west house with Xia Zhi and smiled at him saying: "Big Bridge brother is quite good at enjoying life."

  "Daqiao Ge is very considerate of others," Xia Zhi said.

  Although she has been away from home for these days, Xi Wu's house is still tidy and clean, obviously someone sweeps the floor every day. Xia Qiao follows in to tell Xia Zhi that it was Sun Lan'er who swept the floor for her.

  Every day, she comes over to clean your house, sweeping everything spotless. These days, she thinks you're coming back, so she sweeps even more carefully. When the sun is good, she even airs out your bedding for you. Oh, and just now, she came by again and tidied up another round.

  "No wonder." Xia Zhi looked around the room and thought that Tian Shi wouldn't have been so thoughtful for her. Even if Xia Qiao could think of it, he probably couldn't do it so meticulously.

  "Orchid is ten times better than you." Xia Qiao said another sentence.

  "That's it." Xia Zhi revealed a slightly triumphant smile.

  "What was I saying?" Sun Lan'er walked in from outside with a smile.

  (。)