asionally, she turned her head to see her granddaughter drooling and couldn't help but feel both exasperated and amused."Little girl, what are you craving again Your mother is a bit busy recently, she...Among the companions that Jia Ren had invited, two were nephews of the friends that Mr. Wen had brought to the valley that day. They were very well-mannered and had no airs about them.

The other three were from similar families to the Li family, but they were generous and diligent students.

And the student celebrating his birthday today was a little chubby boy. He was usually greedy for food and very cheerful and amiable. Even if he snuck a piece of jerky in the middle of the night, he would also slip some to Jia Ren. The two got along very well.

So, Jia Ren thought of asking his younger brother to cook and set up a birthday feast for him.

The little fat boy was overjoyed. He loved this dish and that one was also sweet. In the end, he kept pulling his honest family member asking where they learned the skills, wishing he could bring their chef home to learn the craft.

Everyone was well-fed and teasing the fat man, joking that he should be on guard against House Ren at noon when the fat man tried to steal his teachings.

At this time, Li Lao San brought a chilled melon over and smiled.

"Jiarren, these are cucumbers from our fields. Someone sent three over this afternoon. You cut one and have it with the little masters, and take the other two to give to the gentlemen in the courtyard tomorrow."

"Wow, our winter melon is ripe" Jia Ren was delighted. He quickly thanked his uncle and then invited his classmates to cut the winter melon together.

The students, curious, gathered around to take a look at this behemoth. Suddenly, the little fat boy shouted, “Aha, I know! My father mentioned the other day that he wanted to buy me a jade gourd as a birthday present, but couldn’t find one. Could this be it”

Li Laosan proudly puffed out his chest and said with a smile, "It's this one. When I presented it to the Emperor before, he named it the Jade Gourd."

The students went wild, "Is this a melon bestowed by the Emperor"

"This is so precious, wouldn't it be a shame to eat it"

"I heard this thing costs ten taels of silver each."

"No way, if I take a bite of this, it must cost dozens! That's too extravagant!"

Jiarren held the kitchen knife and didn't know how to start, so he asked his younger brother for help.

Jia Huan was quick, slicing it up in a few swipes.

Jiārén first took two pieces and offered them to his uncle and aunt, then invited his classmates to eat.

The students also bowed and thanked them, then began to eat.

"Wow, this is so delicious!" The chubby boy hugged the biggest winter melon, moved to tears, "Jia Ren, does your family still need a son I want to be your brother. I want to lie in the field and eat winter melons every meal!"

Everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter, "Be careful your dad hears you, he might beat you up!"

"Then let my father plant a few mu of land too, and I'll lie in our field and eat." The little fat boy remembered his old man's large palm like a fan, so he quickly changed his words, causing everyone to laugh.

Jia Huan seldom spoke up, but now he chimed in, "Someone from home said that anyone who wants to grow winter melon, our family will teach them. Next year, many people in the nearby villages are planning to follow suit and plant it."

Little Fatty was initially a joke, but unexpectedly, the Li family actually intended to spread it. He was so surprised that he even forgot to spit out his melon seeds.

"Your family is so generous, you're willing to give away such a treasure chest!"

The other classmates also nodded. Ten taels of silver for a watermelon It's not even worth mentioning, it doesn't require many varieties, just plant a few acres a year, and that's tens of thousands of taels of silver, easier than robbing someone. Yet, they were taught this way.

"Jia smiled and nodded, "What's said in the house is always right."

The little fat boy quickly gathered all the watermelon seeds, protecting them in front of him. "Don't fight me for them, these watermelon seeds are all mine!"

"No, mine, mine!"

"And me too, I want to!"

The students pretended to fight over it, causing a commotion, but they finally gave it to the chubby boy. They made an agreement to go to his house for winter melon next year, and that ended it.

The backyard of the small shop was bustling with activity, so lively it almost lifted the roof off because of all the students who came to visit.

Li Laosan and his wife sat under the eaves, fanning themselves, grinning as they watched the children play. They were thinking that when they went home, they would tell their mother all about it and make her happy too.

Now that his nephew has firmly established himself at the academy, there's no need for the family to worry too much.

The following day at noon, after lunch, Jia Ren brought Jia Huan. Each of them held a chilled melon and entered the study.

Gǒu Rèng'er wanted to help, but he was too small and didn't have much strength. A winter melon weighed twenty jin, which he couldn't carry at all.

Jia Ren first went to the courtyard of the headmaster, but unfortunately he didn't get to see the headmaster and couldn't go in. He only gave the watermelon to the old servant guarding the courtyard.

The old servant's eyes widened in surprise, and he scrutinized Jia Ren carefully.

A few days ago, the abbot's disciple specially sent one over, it is said to be very precious.

But at this moment, an ordinary student actually brought a watermelon to show respect, which surprised him too much.

He specifically asked for Jiaren's name before stopping.

Jiaren didn't think much of it, and he took his younger brother to the master's courtyard again.

Mr. Peng, a knowledgeable and humorous middle-aged man, is in charge of teaching Jia Ren's class. He is very kind to Jia Ren because he knows Mr. Tong.

Mr. Peng, of course, was delighted to have the melon, and he chatted with Jiaoren for a few more moments.

Jiahuan felt uncomfortable inside the house, so he waited in the yard.

In the corner of the yard, there was a pond filled with koi fish. They swam around happily. He couldn't help but walk over to take a look, making gestures with his hands.

A young girl watched from afar for a while, then walked up and asked, "What are you doing Practicing martial arts"

"Jiahuan jumped in fright and turned his head to see a pretty little girl. His face flushed, and he quickly said, "I don't know martial arts, I'm a cook! Seeing these fish, I can't help but think about how to cut them and marinate them so they taste better..."

The girl was taken aback for a moment, then giggled. Her face flushed even redder with happiness.

Jia Ren said goodbye to Mr. and went out, not seeing his younger brother, so he opened his mouth and shouted a few times.

Jiahuan hurriedly turned out from the corner of the courtyard, "Brother, I'm here."

"Why is your face so red Did you get sunburned" Jia Ren touched his younger brother's head and pulled him outside. "Go home and wash your face, and take a good rest for a while."

"Understood, big brother." Jiāhuān responded, following his older brother out of the courtyard, then couldn't help but steal a glance towards the corner of the yard...

Although summer forests are much more dangerous than winter ones, with the shade of trees and no scorching sun, they offer extreme coolness.

Li Laosi and Yéshan, accompanied by Jia Yi and Liuyang, as well as twenty personal soldiers appointed by Ye Gongzi, had been in the mountains for eight or nine days.

Without the elderly or weak, and with no excess baggage, their pace was swift.

Li Lao Si roasted a rabbit in one hand and swatted at mosquitoes with the other, saying to everyone:

We'll be at the valley tomorrow noon. It's only two mountain ridges from the official road outside. When we get there, we can clean up and rest for a bit before going out to see what's happening. If we could catch a couple of barbarians, it would be even better to ask them about their situation.

Yashima and his men all nodded. They had originally thought that Lao Si Li and the two half-sized children would be a burden.

To their surprise, the three of them thrived in the mountains. They were as comfortable and familiar with the forest as they were with their own homes.

As expected, one should never underestimate anyone.

Everyone took turns keeping watch throughout the night, and finally when dawn broke, they immediately set off.

At the beginning, Li's family and the villagers' winter valley was not on the central line between mountains north and south, but slightly to the east. Logically speaking, it shouldn't be easily discovered.

Besides, it was very close to the official road. People who went into the mountains usually did so to escape being hunted by barbarians, so they would definitely stay far away from here.

So, Lao Si Li wasn't too worried about the valley being discovered.

But when they finally arrived, they were all stunned by the scene before them.

Three chapters, six thousand words, here you go!explicable illness!" Let me know if you need anything else translated!The Empress Dowager has already fainted, and the Shou Kang Palace has been surrounded."The Emperor is concerned for your safety an...