Chapter 985: Chapter 962: Honor Amidst Chaos 30
In the evening, Anning sent the children to bed, let her hair down, changed into pajamas, and lay down on the bed.
Xiao Yuan also lay down, wearing pajamas of the same color as Anningâs.
Anning asked Xiao Yuan, "What was that act you pulled with Yinâer today?"
Xiao Yuan stroked Anningâs long hair while saying, "The Eldest probably wants to have the old couple come over to our place, so I beat them to it."
Anning frowned.
She was unwilling to have the old man and the Old Madam come to live with them.
If the old man and Old Madam treated their family well in general, Anning wouldnât mind being filial to the two elders.
But those two really donât treat the third branch well, and they have loads of issues.
Old Madam favors the eldest branch, the old man favors the second branch. If these two come over, theyâll bring a lot of trouble, and theyâd definitely be thinking about how to take things from the third branch to support the eldest and second branches.
Anning didnât care about losing a few belongings; what he cared about was them becoming the eyes and ears of the eldest and second branches, spying on the third branchâs every move.
She and Xiao Yuan had too many things to do, and if those two were watching them, it would create many inconveniences.
Xiao Yuan felt the same way.
He patted Anningâs back, "Donât worry, Iâm here. I wonât let them come over."
After discussing the elderâs matters, Xiao Yuan brought up another issue.
"Tomorrow, go and tell the Fourth Family to stay put at home these days and to keep their children under control."
"Alright." Anning agreed with a smile.
Xiao Yuan sighed, "This winter might not be peaceful."
Anning pointed further south, "Is there pirate trouble?"
Xiao Yuan nodded, "Yes, I assume the sea pirates are coming ashore."
Southern Yi is quite close to the seaside, so sea pirates often come ashore to burn, kill, and loot. Jingtian Village is slightly safer since itâs not directly by the sea, but several nearby villages and towns often suffer.
"We still have too few hands."
Xiao Yuan sighed again; he wanted to seize the opportunity to make a name for himself and gain the qualification to lead soldiers, but itâs hard for him to do this alone.
Anning thought for a while, "How about we adopt a few godsons and goddaughters?"
Both Anning and Xiao Yuan had done the adoption thing several times before. They had even widely recruited apprentices, so they were experienced in raising children.
Xiao Yuan pondered for a moment, "Thatâs the only way."
Early the next morning, Xiao Yuan went out, and Anning knew he was going to the county to find connections.
Anning went to the fourth branch, telling the Hui Family to keep the children in check for the next few days and prevent them from running around outside, also keeping her own five children at home.
The Hui Family now listened closely to Anning, and she would definitely keep the children in check as instructed by Anning.
Xiao Yuan was out for the entire day, and upon returning at night, he shared news with Anning: "County Magistrate Yu is about to recruit soldiers; he must be aware of the pirates coming ashore. You prepare some Silver, Iâll deliver it to the county government tomorrow."
Anning nodded and promptly prepared 300 taels of Silver for Xiao Yuan.
The next day, Xiao Yuan went to the government office again and returned with a document. The document granted him permission to recruit village soldiers.
The Southern Yi area is a place where various ethnic groups coexist, and with so many people from different ethnicities, disputes are naturally frequent. Many rich families maintain numerous house servants and village soldiers, mainly to ensure their own safety.
And Xiao Yuan exchanged 300 taels of Silver for a respectable status.
He took the document and went to see the village chief, explaining that his family had few people and he wanted to adopt some godsons and goddaughters, asking the village chief to help find some children who were fatherless and motherless and couldnât make a living.
After discussing the matter with the village chief, Xiao Yuan then called Xiao Ling to talk.
Xiao Ling was seventeen this year, not young anymore. He should have been looking for a bride, but after family matters delayed him, now in Southern Yi with no clear return to the capital, he had to seek a bride in Southern Yi.
Xiao Yuan asked Xiao Ling to come over to discuss this.
Xiao Ling came over, thinking something was wrong, sweating profusely, "Third brother, what happened?"
Xiao Yuan pointed to the chair beside him, "Sit."
After sitting down, Xiao Ling examined Xiao Yuan, "Third brother, whatâs going on?"
Xiao Yuan laughed, "Nothingâs wrong, just wanted to ask you what kind of bride youâd like, so your Third Sister-in-law and Fourth Sister-in-law can help you look."
Xiao Lingâs face instantly turned red, "I... I have no preference, just... whatever you and Third Sister-in-law decide on, it must be good."
This showed Xiao Ling regarded Xiao Yuan as his guardian.
Understandably so, his concubine mother died early, and he couldnât rely on his biological father, so he had to count on Xiao Yuan and Anning.
Just then, Anning came over with tea and pastries, hearing this and laughed, "You need to give us a goal, whether you want someone beautiful, gentle, lively, or capable..."
Xiao Ling knew his situation, now being a commoner, he naturally had no chance of marrying an officialâs daughter, so he said, "Just a girl from the village is fine, as long as sheâs kind and capable, someone who can help me build a household."
This wasnât difficult.
Xiao Ling was handsome, with a decent brick-roofed house, and when he moved into the new home, Xiao Yuan gave him some Silver. He also had land; just by farming well, he wouldnât lack food or drink. Marrying a village girl was sure to yield a good match.
Xiao Yuan glanced at Anning, who nodded.
Xiao Yuan spoke with Xiao Ling for a while before Xiao Jin arrived.
Xiao Yuan then told Xiao Jin, "Go get some Copper Coin, weâre going to the Eldestâs place."
Xiao Jin paused, "Why go to the eldest branch?"
Xiao Yuan laughed, "To take father and mother some elderly care money."
Xiao Jin immediately understood.
He went home to fetch a string of Copper Coin; Xiao Yuan also took a string of Copper Coin, and the two brothers carried them as they walked half the village to reach the eldest branch.
They naturally encountered people along the way, and some asked them what they were doing.
Xiao Yuan replied, "I wanted to bring my parents over to live with me, but they insist on living with my elder brother, so I thought of delivering some money to them to prevent my elder brother from complaining over time."
Xiao Jin shook his head and sighed wryly, "We have no other choice; while coming, our parents gave all their money to our elder brother. I donât mind the money; I just wanted to bring them over to live with me and Third Brother for a while to show some filial piety, but they donât want to. We canât upset our elders."
The brothers discussed as they walked, and by the time they reached the eldest branch, most people knew the old man intended to live with the eldest family for life, relying on them for elderly care, with the third and fourth sons fearful heâd be wronged, they specially went to deliver money to the eldest.
Xiao Jue was about to suggest to the old man that he stay with the third and fourth branches for a while since there were several brothers to rotate elderly care. But before he spoke, Xiao Yuan and Xiao Jin sent money over.
Going out, Xiao Jue found many villagers knew the Old Man Xiao and Old Madam only wanted to live with the Eldest.
The villagers said it was fitting, as the eldest branch generally provided elderly care.
Xiao Jueâs face turned dark.
How could he get the elders to move now?
Was he supposed to care for those two elders forever?
Mrs. Zhao was quite angry too.
When Xiao Yuan and Xiao Jin came over, they were met with hostility and did not get a warm reception.
Xiao Yuan and Xiao Jin didnât stay long, delivering the money and leaving.
Leaving the eldest branch, some asked what was going on, and Xiao Yuan said, "Luckily we sent the money over; my elder sister-in-law was having a fit at home. Had we delayed by two days, my elder sister-in-law might have cast aside the parents."
These words, upon hearing them, almost infuriated Mrs. Zhao.