Chapter 856: A Gentleman Doesn't Speak in Secrets

tato to Cui's Madam's lips.Mrs. Cui sniffed the sweet potato, couldn't help but take a bite, and smiled with her eyes narrowed, "This year's sweet potatoes are really delicious."She dabbed Jia Yin's f...Jia Yin stood outside the crowd, also guessing most of it. At this moment, she walked in and took her grandmother's arm.

Tao Hongying turned her head and, seeing this, reached out to smooth her daughter's stray hair at the temples. She shielded her from the cold wind by stepping sideways.

Jia Yin didn't speak. If it were a matter of the village, she would naturally handle it.

But these people were soldiers of Ercun, and they also had to have their godfather step in.

Soon, the Lord came out of the courtyard wearing a dark cloak.

His eyes glanced over the elderly men, women, and children kneeling in front of the door, then he turned to Li Lao Tai and said, "Auntie, I've caused you trouble."

“What's the trouble,” Li Laotai shook her head, remembering her own belief in raising children alone after her husband’s death many years ago. She whispered, “Without a man, their lives will definitely be difficult in the future. If we can help them, we should.”

The Lord nodded, and then said to both families: "Zhao Tie Tou and Qi Da Lu died in battle, sacrificing themselves for the country is an honor.

In three days, the ten taels of condolence money from the imperial court will arrive. This Marquis will add another ten taels.

In addition, for the children of your two families, the Hou Mansion will provide each child with twenty catties of grain and five hundred wen per month.

"It's as if this marquis has raised them in place of their father, until they reached the age of fifteen."

Everyone was happy for both families. With twenty taels of silver as their foundation, a house in the village, and work at the workshop, the children would have food and money each month. Life after this would surely be good.

That's great!

"Indeed, the Lord's magnanimity is admirable."

Both families were naturally even more delighted, crying with increasing fervor.

The old woman and the elderly man dragged themselves forward, kneeling before the Marquis. They repeatedly kowtowed to him.

The village head worried about delaying the Lord's trip to attend to official business and quickly instructed the villagers to send both families back to Ercun.

After all, the ashes of two men are still not laid to rest. Even a simple funeral needs some preparation...

At this moment, Qi Dalu's wife suddenly asked, "Master Hou, if I take the child back to my parents' home... will the child's food and lodging be taken care of"

As soon as his voice fell, the courtyard gate fell silent.

The village head and Zhao Shu, along with others, all had grim faces. Being seasoned individuals, they understood the implication of the words despite others not catching on.

This woman isn't going back to her parents' home, she's preparing for a remarriage!

Now that the men who died in battle haven't even had time to be buried, how could she possibly have such a plan!

Mrs. Li also guessed as much. Afraid the lord wouldn't understand, she immediately took over, "Daughter-in-law, you can return to your maiden home on your own, but the child should stay in the village to study and grow up."

And besides, who could possibly travel thousands of miles to send them food and supplies if they left with you

"Madam, doesn't our village have a merchant caravan And Master also has a fleet of ships..." Qi Dalu's daughter-in-law was about to say more, but seeing Li Lao Ta's dark face, she swallowed her words shyly.

Li Lao Tai glanced at the two children of the Qi family, a boy about eight or nine years old and a girl about five or six. They were both at an age where they knew nothing.

Suddenly, he lost his father and now had such an unreliable mother...

She directly exposed Dali's daughter-in-law's thoughts and said coldly, "Dali's daughter-in-law, a discerning person doesn't speak in riddles. You are still young, and wanting to return to your natal home must be to remarry."

But you brought two children, and if you go to someone else's house, both of them will be disliked.

Perhaps, at that time, the silver their fathers risked their lives to earn would be given cheaply to outsiders. They would have to pay for the food and lodging of outsiders every month, while they themselves might go hungry and suffer cold, even being beaten and humiliated…

The eldest daughter-in-law's face was flushed with shame, and she hurriedly looked at the Marquis, wanting to say a few words in her defense.

But Old Mrs. Li waved her hand, "You don't need to look at the Duke, I'll make the decision on this. If you want to remarry, no one will stop you, and if you want to leave, you can leave anytime!"

"But the two children cannot go with you; they have provisions enough to live on until they are grown. As for their future, if they wish to find you when they are older, we will not stop them!"

At this point, everyone in the village understood.

Originally, they felt sympathy for the widow who had lost her husband, but immediately they turned to scorn.

"This is too cruel! He hasn't even been buried yet, and she's already thinking about remarrying!"

"Well, if you want to remarry, you should also consider the children!"

"Forget it, this woman is planning to take the men's life savings and still wants the children's food money!"

The daughter-in-law of Qi Dalu shrank her neck and waved her hands frantically, trying to say that it was all a misunderstanding.

But would anyone listen!

The lord's face was equally grim. He asked the two children of the Qi family, "If your mother remarries, will you go with her or stay at Suijintan"

The little boy from Qi's family pulled his sister's hand, wiped his tears, and shouted loudly: "Master Hou, when my father went on a campaign, he told me to study hard and learn skills in the future.

"Let me have my younger sister grow up and marry at Suijin Beach, saying that life here is better, and the people here are kind."

"My sister and I won't leave. We'll stay right here. When I grow up, I will repay the lord!"

"Well done!" Before the Lord could say another word, the villagers had already cheered and showered him with praise.

Yes, here nobody will bully you. You can grow up with food and drink, and you won't be afraid of being bullied by others.

"That's it, you follow your mother and marry into another family, which is like handing over your life to someone else!"

The Lord nodded, "As long as you don't want to leave, no one can take you away!"

The young boy and his sister knelt down and kowtowed. Qi Dalu's daughter-in-law glared at them fiercely, but she also lowered her head and dared not speak.

Upon seeing this, Jiayin spoke up, “Father-figure, the medicine is ready. Please hurry and leave. Don’t worry about home.”

"That's right," echoed Old Mrs. Li, "matters at home are all small things, and besides, we have everyone's help."

The Marquis only then mounted his horse, led by his personal soldiers, and rushed to the military camp at the docks.

There were over a thousand wounded soldiers waiting for the special medicine powder to be treated, and even more deceased soldier's ashes had yet to be laid to rest...

Having seen the Marquis walk far away, Zhao Qi and his family returned to Ercun.

Li Lao Tai then consulted with the village head and others, "We should keep a closer eye on Qi Jia's daughter-in-law recently. She probably already has another family in mind, otherwise she wouldn't be so anxious."

"Beware, she might steal the silver and harm two more children."

The village head nodded and sighed, "Those two children of Qi Jia are pitiful."

Jiayin was afraid the elderly would worry, so she said, “Grandma, Grandpa Village Head, you don’t have to worry. Let me tell you, the two children are actually very blessed. "

"If they hadn't come back to their hometown, they would have been like fish on a chopping board, completely at the mercy of their mother’s schemes.”

Everyone agreed and, after a few more casual remarks, they dispersed...

Soon, the spirit altars of Qi and Zhao families were set up, with spirit banners planted in front.

All the veterans and military dependents in Ercun felt deeply saddened and tried their best to help.

Even though they heard that Qidalu's daughter-in-law was not a good person, they didn't say anything about it in front of Qidalu.

The daughter-in-law on Qi Da Road didn't know if she felt guilty or just realized she was being wronged, her heart filled with grievance.

All in all, she cried with such heart-wrenching sobs that one would think they were the perfect couple…s.The old woman sat on one side sewing clothes for her grandsons, occasionally picking up a large fan to drive away mosquitoes for the children.In the scorching summer, cicadas chirp incessantly, and...