On the Difficulties of Escape in Ancient Times

Chapter 420 Returning to Mother’s Home 2
"That's a great thing." Xiao Xiao thought of the Jiang family's old housekeeper's good martial arts, and immediately agreed: "Anyway, we are close, so you can send them off early and pick them up late. You can also take the opportunity to see your eldest sister and nephew, how great."

"It can also allow my younger brother and nephew to develop a relationship from an early age. When they grow up, they will be almost like real brothers."

Liu was originally very tempted, and after hearing her little daughter's words, she also felt that it made sense: "I think it's a good idea too, but now your grandparents spend more time taking care of Dabao, I'm worried that they won't be used to it."

"Your grandmother often talks about the time when we fled, saying that at that time, all the grandchildren were together. Now you are all married, and Dalang and his family are busy."

"Thank goodness your brother is here, otherwise it would be even more deserted."

Xiao Xiao laughed when she heard this: "It's easy for you to want a lively life. It's even easier to have more children. It just so happens that I took over the charity hall and was worried that no one would help me."

After hearing this, Liu looked at her belly first: "You are pregnant now, the child is more important."

Xiao Xiao had already thought of a solution: "Don't worry, Mom, I'm in good health, and Mr. Jiang also asked me to walk more."

"The old man said that the reason why those noble ladies have difficulty giving birth is because they don't move enough."

Xiao Xiao was actually also afraid. Hundreds of years later, with the advent of high-tech painless caesarean sections, would there still be cases of difficult births?
The danger for pregnant women is greater now, but unfortunately she doesn't know any medical skills, so all she can do is listen to Mr. Jiang's advice.

I also want to do something meaningful to improve my character.

Liu was really worried about her daughter, so she agreed immediately: "Then you can call me anytime, and I will definitely go."

"Just leave the family affairs to the Lin sisters."

She hoped that her daughter would do the talking and she would do the doing.

Xiao Xiao happily agreed, and when her grandparents came back, she told them the story in the same eager-to-seek-for-talent manner, and finally offered them money as an inducement: "No matter who goes, I will give them ten taels of silver a month."

Now when Boss Xiao goes there, he doesn't make a wasted trip. He brings some rice and flour over there.

Because there is little arable land in Mingzhou, rice and flour are very popular.

When they brought back seafood from Mingzhou, most of it was sold in their own business, and a small part was directly supplied to Xiao Xiao's seafood restaurant.

The competition in business is not that fierce nowadays, and Boss Xiao has made a lot of money, and even helped his younger brother to succeed.

The two brothers gave their parents twenty taels of silver every month. The major expenses of the family were paid by Liu. In fact, the forty taels of silver were just for the old couple to buy some clothes and food for themselves, enough for them to be rich.

Unfortunately, the old man is used to living a simple life and is reluctant to spend money.

But Xiao Xiao felt that her grandparents were reluctant to spend money because they were old and could not earn any money, which made them feel disappointed.

When they find that they can earn money, they will no longer feel that they are close to death and are just useless old people.

Liu is now in charge of the family's money. Thinking that she already has over ten thousand in savings, she doesn't mind: "We are all family, how can I ask for your money?"

Mrs. Xiao's originally surprised smile instantly turned into a forced smile.

She really wanted to make money.

Although my sons are filial and give me a lot every month, my four grandsons are not married yet and my granddaughters are about to have children. I have to give them meeting gifts and birthday gifts when the time comes, right?

Although the sons will prepare gifts, they also want to have their own thoughts.

To put it bluntly, I just want to have money so that I can have confidence.

They really want a lot of money.

Xiao Xiao did not allow for rejection and said, "That won't work. I have to pay for it if I invite someone else. Besides, it's not as safe as having your own people in charge." Her granddaughter's words made sense. Old Lady Xiao slapped her thigh in joy and said, "Of course I will. Family members don't have any intention of leaving. I have to go and take charge of it for you."

It’s just taking care of children, she is good at that.

The Empress Dowager's decree to the Gu family first used flowery words to praise the Gu family for their contributions in managing the charity hall over the years, and then said that the Gu family had experience and was ready to let them work together to run the academy and complete the handover of the charity hall within ten days.

Even though this was an imperial decree, the people in the Gu Mansion dared not refuse it.

After the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict left, Lord Gu frowned and said to his wife, "Handle the handover properly and don't let anyone find any mistakes."

Mr. Gu is the Minister of Rites. Although he is a fourth-rank official, he has less work to do, good treatment, and lots of extra income.

After the couple returned to their room, they were both as anxious as ants on a hot pot. Mrs. Gu was very anxious at the moment: "I have wanted to go to see the Queen for a long time, but you insisted on putting me off. Now it's over, right? It's too late to regret it, right?"

Don’t think that charity halls have no benefits, it’s just that others haven’t thought of it yet.

There are three charity halls in the provincial capital. Every year, the ladies donate tens of thousands of kilograms of grain, rice and flour, which are all used to exchange old rice for new rice.

Another part of the rice and flour was secretly taken away, and even the old rice was not replaced.

For this reason, they now have two grain stores.

In addition, they also have a ready-made clothing shop, and the embroiderers there are all young girls who are selected from charity organizations and are talented in embroidery.

There is also a brothel that operates without any capital investment. It goes without saying where the girls inside come from.

In order to conceal their tracks and to have a good reputation, there was originally only one charity hall in the city, but now there are three.

As for the other two families, they provided the money and the houses.

Originally, he wanted to make a fortune and create a mountain of gold and silver for his children and grandchildren, but who knew that with just one imperial decree, all the wealth and prosperity would be gone.

How could they be happy about this?

Lord Gu was also annoyed: "You are confused. We are already on the side of the Crown Prince. If we try to flatter the Queen, we will lose our lives."

He is a man, and he is about to reach the age of knowing his destiny. He thinks more and sees further: "It's stupid, so what if she is the queen? The harem is not allowed to interfere in politics. When the prince takes the throne, the queen will become the honored empress dowager."

"Then we will have plenty of chances to turn the tables."

Madam Gu became even more unhappy after hearing this: "The eldest prince is not even the crown prince yet, and the emperor has just ascended the throne?"

Who knows if I will already be lying in a coffin when the prince ascends the throne.

"What's the point of saying this now?" Lord Gu stared at her and said unhappily, "Do you dare to disobey my order?"

Mrs. Gu certainly didn't dare to do that, so she asked in a low voice, "The other two charity halls are run by us, and the houses and foundations are ours, should we keep them or give them to her?"

The imperial decree only said that the eldest lady of the Minister of War's house would take over the charity hall.

But there was no mention of taking over several charity halls.

Mrs. Gu thought that since she had no fish, it would be a good idea to keep some small shrimps so that her two most profitable shops would not be in a state of shortage.

Lord Gu was not so noble as to be at odds with money, so he turned around with his hands behind his back and said, "I'll go out and get some information first."