One early morning, Gong Ziyi left a letter and left Huai'an.
And Huo Xi returned to the capital.
"You're back. Mom and your father are both worried!" Yang rushed over to welcome him.
"How's the journey going?" Qin Huaiyu also followed Yang with a big belly, speaking with concern.
Huo Xi smiled and nodded: "It's okay. Auntie, you should be more careful."
"It's okay. The pregnancy is going well. The doctor said you should move more, so I came over every day to talk to your mother. I also found some women with birth experience in the alley to chat with. I walked around and moved every day."
Qin Huaiyu touched her bulging belly with a happy face.
"Sister, sister, hug. An An misses her sister." An An pulled at the hem of Huo Xi's clothes and reached out for her to hug.
"An'an misses sister? Sister misses An'an very much too." Huo Xi leaned over and picked him up.
As soon as little An'an came into her arms, he hugged her neck and lay on her neck. He was so well-behaved and cute that people couldn't help but love him.
Yang patted his little butt: "Your sister just came back and she is tired."
"It's okay, Mom, you're not tired."
Upon hearing this, An An turned her head and raised her chin towards Yang, snorted, and then lay back on Huo Xi's shoulder.
Qin Huaiyu looked at him tenderly. It would be nice to have a son as well-behaved and lively as An An. But the doctor said it might be a girl. But a daughter is not bad, and the father said he likes her.
Mrs. Yang called for An An to come down: "Don't worry about your sister, come down and stay with your aunt. Maybe your aunt will see you more and give birth to a younger brother to play with you."
"It's my sister!" An An argued loudly, she didn't want a younger brother.
"You kid." Mrs. Yang bared her teeth at him, and An An snorted dissatisfiedly at Mrs. Yang. She was a sister, and he wanted a sister.
"Mom, my younger brothers and sisters are all fine. My uncle and aunt are in their right years." Huo Xi was afraid that Mrs. Yang would have any objections to Qin Huaiyu. Qin Huaiyu didn't have a mother-in-law, and this sister was the same as her mother-in-law.
"It's good to bloom first and then bear fruit, just like you and Nian'er An'an. Aren't I afraid that your uncle would sneak out to sea?" She hoped that she would have a son first. Yang held Qin Huaiyu's arm, fearing that one
It was a good idea and he threw her.
"Sister, Yang Fu likes his daughter."
Yang laughed when he heard this: "When he was a child, he followed Xi'er around like a follower. He also said that Xi'er had too many ideas. It would be better if she was younger. He was probably looking forward to raising a daughter since he was a child.
.”
Everyone laughs.
"Where's my dad?"
"I delivered the goods back to Zhuangzi two days ago. I will be back today."
Huo Xi nodded.
It wasn't until the family sat down that Yang and Tai Huaiyu learned what happened in Huai'an. They were silent for a while and sighed together.
"Xi'er, don't be sad. We have so many good men in the capital, why should we look for them far away? Don't worry, my mother will let the word out tomorrow. I'm afraid the threshold will be broken for those who come to our house to ask for marriage."
Mrs. Yang was very angry. Her daughter was so good, but the Gong family was blind. They still looked down on her daughter. She looked down on them!
That young master of the Gong family is also useless, huh, I won’t let him come to our house for dinner next time.
Qin Huaiyu comforted her and said, "Xi'er, wealthy families have always valued family status. If you can't do it, then you can't do it. If you forcefully marry a daughter-in-law who is not liked by her mother-in-law, life will be difficult in the future. Look at my sister, now she is going back to her parents' home.
That family didn't even send a servant or a car. They gave my sister a bad look every day, and the mother-in-law kept stuffing people into my brother-in-law's room. If it weren't for my two nephews, my sister would be.
I can’t hold it up.”
Yang also sighed: "Yes, Xi'er, I think it's best to find a household with a simple population, few layers of mother-in-law, and a couple living behind closed doors. Like your uncle and aunt.
This way, my mother feels very good."
Qin Huaiyu couldn't help but nod.
Her husband's family was not as good as the family her sister married into, but her husband-in-law only focused on her and lived with her. She didn't know how lucky she was to be able to marry into the Yang family.
Living a comfortable life, I can still take care of my grandfather and younger brother, and now I can also support my sister and two nephews. No matter how high the family background, it is in vain to live an uncomfortable life.
"Don't be sad, Xi'er. My aunt will help your mother choose a good son-in-law for you, a family better than the Gong family."
"Yes, your aunt is right. Mom will let the news out later."
Huo Xi hurriedly said: "Mom, let me take a moment. I don't want to go out too early."
Seeing that Huo Xi's mood was waning, Yang and Qin Huaiyu had no choice but to stop talking. For fear that she would be shocked, they only comforted her with good words and told her about the good things that happened during this period to make her happy.
Ningxiu heard about this from Xia He and hurriedly ran to her: "Girl, don't be sad. That Gong family is not worthy of you. How can a girl with a noble status be worthy of a merchant family?"
"I am just a small merchant now."
"No, girl!" Ningxiu retorted, "Girl's status is rich and her maternal grandfather's family is also an aristocratic family. The girl will have a good future."
Seeing her concern, Huo Xi was moved and smiled at her: "Well, I will weigh it. How is the preparation of the weaving workshop?"
"The place has been sorted out, and the loom has been ordered, but it has not yet been delivered. We are now looking for weavers, and we have already found about ten people. They have all been tried out. Do you want to take a look, girl?"
Huo Xi shook his head, "Since I have given you full responsibility, I will let it go. If we can bring more silk to the ship we are heading to the east and west, we can also sell it for more money."
"Yes. I understand. I will do my best to make the weaving work well."
Huo Xi nodded with satisfaction. She did not doubt Ningxiu's loyalty. This family was all available.
At night, Huo Nian pestered Huo Xi, insisting that his sister tell him stories.
After Huo Xi told him the story, she turned to look at him: "Nian'er, you are almost nine years old."
Huo Nian nodded: "Well, Nian'er will be nine years old next month. Sister, what gift will you give Nian'er this year?"
Huo Xi scratched his nose and said, "I'm just thinking about the gift." The two siblings made a fuss and put him to sleep. Huo Xi looked at him quietly. Nian'er was already nine years old.
The next day, Huo Xi packed Huo Nian's clothes in person and sent him and Mu Jie to school.
He turned around and called Huo Erhuai and Yang into the house, and ordered Grandma Ma to guard outside the house. Huo Xi helped him and his wife sit down at the top.
"What's going on? Do you have something to say to your parents?"
Huo Erhuai had heard from Mr. Yang last night about Xi'er going to Huai'an. He couldn't help but feel distressed after hearing this. He tossed and turned and didn't sleep much all night. It was because of the low status of his husband and wife that Xi'er was despised by others.
The couple lamented continuously during the night. They were angry with Gong's family, and they were also angry with themselves and felt sorry for their daughter. They didn't sleep much all night.
Seeing Xi'er in such a posture early in the morning, I just thought she had something to say.
Unexpectedly, Huo Xi waited for them to sit down and knelt down in front of them.
"What's going on? Let's talk slowly and discuss it carefully..." The couple was a little frightened and got up in panic to help them.
Huo Xi shook his head, stopped their movements, knelt down on the ground, kowtowed to the couple three times, and looked up again with tears streaming down his face.