Chapter 556: Gratitude and Guilt from Tao Hongying

o clean and refreshing ones. They also wiped their hands and faces two or three times.Lastly, they were each handed a glass of iced passion fruit honey drink.Cool and sweet, it slides from your mouth..."What Why didn't you say it sooner!" Old Madam Li became flustered and said angrily, "This is our lifesaver! I should have treated him better if I knew earlier! Is his home nearby When are you getting married"

Li Laosi, even though he was scolded, didn't get angry. He smiled and replied, "His house is a hundred miles away, and the wedding will be in three days. After we finish lunch, we'll leave and should arrive at his house just in time."

“So rushed” Old Lady Li immediately started calculating, “There’s still a large piece of crimson silk at home, but it can’t be used now. The bride’s family probably already finished sewing the wedding dress. Maybe we should prepare some more good fabrics, and jewelry, preferably a complete set…”

She kept saying and shouting for He MaMa to find her granddaughter, because there was no time to go into the city to buy things at this moment.

And the gifts previously sent by the Empress, most of them were distributed to the villagers, keeping some at home. These few days Wenjuan came over, and the good fine cotton cloth was all cut and prepared to make clothes and bedding for the children.

Now, in the storeroom, there are only a few pieces of expensive cloud brocade, which are not suitable for ordinary people like the Wei family to wear.

There are still many coarse fabrics, which can't be used as gifts either.

So, I could only ask for help from the fat girl.

Jia Yin is cooking congee in the kitchen, shrimp congee.

She thought that when her stepfather came back from the city, it would be just in time for dinner. It would be nutritious and delicious.

Suddenly hearing her grandmother calling her, Jia Yin walked into the room. As a result, her grandmother came up and stuffed a hundred taels of silver into her hands. She was startled and asked, "Grandma, why are you giving me silver"

“Of course, I bought it with you!” Grandma Li pulled her granddaughter and said the whole thing angrily and worriedly. At last, she scolded her son, “You say your father, such a big deal, only just told me. If it weren't for the Wei family's wedding, needing to give gifts, he would have kept it hidden until now.”

"I haven't had time to prepare anything at home. Here are a hundred taels for you. Please hurry and help grandma find some good materials in your box, and then get another set of jewelry."

Only then did Jia Yin realize what had happened. She couldn't possibly accept her grandmother's silver and resolutely pushed it back. Then, she ran to the backyard and quickly brought something over.

Jia Yin prepared four pieces of fine cotton cloth, all with bright colors: rose pink, light crimson, willow green, and silver red. They were perfect for making dresses for a newlywed woman.

And finally, there is a set of silver jewelry, including hairpins, bracelets, and earrings, everything.

This was a gift given by the Empress last time, and giving it to the new bride of the Wei family now would add even more splendor to the occasion.

... was not generous and refused to give the new daughter-in-law of the Wei family any gold or jewelery.

After all, in her heart, her father's life was worth more than all the treasures in the world.

But the Wei family was just an ordinary farming family, and Wei Erniu wasn't often home. Gold and jewels were too conspicuous, easily attracting unwanted attention.

This set of silver jewelry is exquisite and unique. The bride will surely love it...

Li Laotai and Tao Hongying and others looked, all very satisfied.

Li Laotai held her granddaughter, feeling both happy and sentimental. "Grandma will go into the city in a few days and take you to visit the embroidery shop and silver jewelry store. I'll make it up to you. Besides, our family storeroom needs to be restocked with some things, so we won't panic if something happens."

"My dear granddaughter Fu Niu'er, you've really grown up. You think so carefully about everything you do. Throughout the entire Tianwu, I doubt there's a young man who could compare to my granddaughter!"

Tao Hongying, afraid that her daughter would be proud and strut around, quickly chimed in: "Daughter, that was many years ago. It's too early to talk about it. Let's add some more things. Fabric and jewelry alone are too meager."

"Alright, the fabric is all fine cloth. It's affordable but not grand enough. Let's add two pieces of satin! Also, give another fifty taels from the family silver." Li Lao Tai made up her mind.

Tao Hongying immediately went to arrange it.

She took the silk from the family storeroom, but for the silver, she insisted on using the money she earned from making her private dishes.

Just thinking about her husband almost getting hurt, she felt an immense gratitude towards Wei Erniu. She even felt a vague sense of guilt towards Xiao Cuier, whom she had never met.

This is lucky, Wei Erniu saved Li Laosì and he's safe and sound.

If Wei Erniu were injured or died, Xiao Cui's life would be over...

Li Laotai understood her daughter-in-law's intentions, so she didn't fight back.

Not only that, Tao Hongying led her daughter into the kitchen, for the first time requesting her daughter to "support" more good dishes and ingredients. She planned to cook several tables of wine and dishes to thank the guests.

Jia Yin also felt the same way. She didn't even dare to think about what would happen to her father if anything happened to him, and how their family would manage afterwards.

Then, all kinds of fresh vegetables and fruits, baskets of eggs, and the previously stored seafood were all moved out from the space. Even the rabbit family started to "lose weight" in large quantities.

Grandma He, Shui Ling, Shui Yun, and Dong Mei all came to help, but it was still a bit stretched thin.

Fortunately, Mrs. Hui and Liu's wife, along with several women from the village who were concerned about the Li family having so many soldiers to feed, came to visit. They directly joined the ranks of the cooks.

Wei Erniu and his brothers came down from the mountain, each one's mouth was sour, and then they found such a plentiful lunch, they really regretted their intestines turning green.

Lao Li saw them frowning and gritting their teeth, unable to smile. She quickly went to the storeroom and brought out a pile of wild walnuts.

This was still picked last autumn, our family life is good, and the children don't miss this little snack, so it's kept until now.

At this moment, Old Lady Li took a small hammer and stood beside the grinding stone. With each swing, she smashed the wild walnuts. The soldiers grabbed them and chewed on the walnut kernels.

Li Laotai chuckled and instructed, "Chew slowly, chew thoroughly, don't rush. Your teeth will regain their strength soon. Next time you see sour fruit, don't be greedy!"

The soldiers all blushed and laughed, scratching their heads one by one, each looking more sheepish than the last.

They had been away from home for many years, long past the age of being mischievous boys, but when they saw fruit on the mountain just now, they couldn't help themselves and ate several. Now their teeth were aching...

When the last dish was served, the soldiers were delighted to find that they could feel their teeth again. They rushed to the table, ready to feast.

At this time, the Marquis and Li Yong finally came back.

Everyone was overjoyed and went out to greet him together.

When the villagers heard the news, they rushed over and greeted him warmly.

"The Marquis is back, The Marquis is back!"

"How long will the Lord be home this time He should take a good few months to rest, after all that fighting!"

The Lord smiled and nodded to the villagers, exchanging a few brief pleasantries. As he turned to enter the courtyard, he spotted Jia Yin hiding behind Granny Li, only her round little face visible.

He bent down and reached out, shouting, "Funiu'er, what's wrong Don't you recognize your godfather"

Jia Yin hesitated for a moment, then ran over to Dada, taking her godfather's hand and calling out with a smile, "Godfather!"

The Lord was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.

Jia Yin quickly covered her mouth, but everyone else had seen it and couldn't help but laugh.

Jia Yin blushed and tried to run away, but the Marquis scooped her up and put her on his shoulder. "Don't be afraid, Fu Niuer is a big girl now, losing teeth is a good thing!"

The Marquis comforted the chubby girl, but his upturned lips remained pressed down.

The villagers chatted for a few moments before going back, but the village head, Liu Biaotou, Huiniang, Wudai and Liuaozi all stayed behind for dinner.

The other women who were helping refused to stay, so Tao Hongying served each of them a bowl of food.

After all, I've delayed their lunch. Let me go back and cook some porridge and heat up some steamed buns. This dish is enough for the whole family to eat.

Soon, everyone sat down bustlingly.

The Lord chatted with Old Madam Li for a while before letting Jia Yin follow Old Madam Li into the house to eat.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, a wide expanse of shade fell before the west wing. Three tables stood ready there, the domain of men alone.

The liquor that the Li family had prepared was good, but today, no one drank much of it.

Li Yong remembered his wife and children. After eating and drinking enough, he hugged his child and went to them.

Li Lao Si and Wei Er Niu, along with a few others, still had to hurry to Wei's house, so they didn't dare to drink much.

The lord rarely drank even on a normal day.

Only the village head and Liu Biao, accompanied by Li Laoer, drank a few bowls.

Today was a grand assembly, and when Lao Er Li saw the Marquis in the court, he was quite surprised.

When the morning court ended, he returned with them...there's plenty of work at home. You can help me tidy up the vegetable garden then."Xiaocui'er giggled, "Auntie, I know how to pickle salted vegetables! The villagers all say my pickled vegetables are...