Powerful Minister Buddha like Sweet wife

 

Chapter 85: Reunion

It was early April.Since the end of March, Liu Tangxi had been meticulously keeping track of the days, anticipating the arrival of Li shi and the others. She had already taken care of tidying up both the interior and exterior of the house. Additionally, she ensured that several Estate and some properties in the capital were also prepared, hoping to accommodate them based on their preferences for living arrangements.Though the family resided in a small courtyard, which felt somewhat crowded, it was still lively and full of warmth. Liu Tangxi wasn't overly particular about her living space; she could manage in a smaller house. However, if everyone preferred to stay together, she considered relocating to a larger residence in the near future.After ten days of waiting, the concierge finally arrived with the news that Li shi and the others had arrived.At that moment, Liu Tangxi was tending to the flowers in the small garden. Upon hearing the news, she hurried to greet them.The first to disembark were Wei Laosan and Li shi. After having been in the carriage for a prolonged period, both of them appeared somewhat weary and unsteady.Xiao Si quickly offered support to Wei Laosan.Liu Tangxi hastened a few steps to Li shi's side and offered her assistance.Li shi expressed her gratitude, looked up, and upon recognizing her daughter-in-law, a smile spread across her face. Liu Tangxi noticed Li shi's white hair and slightly fatigued expression, which brought tears to her eyes."Mother."Li shi had endured a long and jarring journey in the carriage, and now that she was on solid ground, it felt as though she were stepping on a cushioned surface.Upon seeing her daughter-in-law, who looked so elegantly attired, Li shi was both overjoyed and at a loss for words.Liu Tangxi, not dwelling on these sentiments, stepped back once Li shi was steady on her feet and bowed to both Li shi and Wei Laosan, saying, "Father, Mother, I am not a dutiful daughter-in-law. I regret not being by your side all this time."Li shi tried to help Liu Tangxi rise but hesitated, glancing at her own dirty, wrinkled hands, unsure of touching Liu Tangxi."What are you doing? Please, stand up," Li shi said, her discomfort palpable.Liu Tangxi complied and stood up.Wei Laosan, more composed than Li shi , smiled and remarked, "Third wife, you're too courteous. Even though you and the third son did not return home this year, you have frequently sent gifts and even arranged for us to be picked up."Before Liu Tangxi could respond, Fu Yao emerged from the carriage, jumped into her arms, and exclaimed, "Auntie, I've missed you so much. I'm so glad to finally see you."Liu Tangxi looked at Fu Yao, who had grown taller since their last meeting, stroked her hair, and said, "I've missed you too. You've grown so much."Li shi, seeing her granddaughter so affectionate towards her aunt, was somewhat anxious and promptly pulled her away."Fu Yao, you mustn't be so inconsiderate."Liu Tangxi frowned, sensing that Li shi might be overly cautious and resolved to ease the relationship as soon as possible.Just as Liu Tangxi was about to speak, she noticed Li shi's gaze fixed on her belly.The familiarity of Li shi's gaze reminded Liu Tangxi of past moments when Li shi had expressed concern for her well-being.Realizing Li shi's concern that she might be unwell from being jostled, Liu Tangxi cleared her throat, pulled Fu Yao close, and reassured her, "Mother, I'm fine."Soon, everyone disembarked from the carriage.Seeing that Wei Laosan and the others were preparing to unload their belongings, Liu Tangxi suggested, "Father, please have the carriage enter through the back door and unload the things when it reaches the mansion.""Certainly," Wei Laosan agreed.Liu Tangxi had initially considered asking Dongsheng to notify Wei Hanzhou, but decided against it. She reasoned that calling Wei Hanzhou would not only inconvenience him but also cause him unnecessary guilt.Thus, she chose not to summon Wei Hanzhou.Holding Shu Lan with her left hand and Fu Yao with her right, Liu Tangxi led them towards the mansion.As they entered, everyone's gaze wandered, their steps grew lighter, and their voices softened. Liu Tangxi attributed this to their fatigue and directed everyone straight to the main house.Upon entering, the immaculate and bright interior seemed almost foreign to them. They hesitated to step inside, wary of their soiled shoes.The seats at the front were naturally reserved for Wei Laosan and Li shi. They examined the finely carved, clean chairs and hesitated to sit."Father, Mother, please, have a seat," Liu Tangxi urged.Wei Laosan and Li shi hesitated, suggesting they needed to change into cleaner clothes first."No, please, just sit down and relax for a while. Have some tea," Liu Tangxi insisted.After some reluctance, Wei Laosan and Li shi took their seats.Liu Tangxi then invited Wei Daniu and the others to sit also.Zhang shi, typically reserved, was even more subdued in this setting, remaining silent.Zhou shi, usually more talkative, was also quiet today.As a result, the room was filled with a peaceful silence, with Fu Yao, Shu Lan, and Zhong Xing being the most lively, eagerly exploring their surroundings.Soon, the maids brought in tea.Noticing the added restraint in Li shi and the others as they were served, Liu Tangxi waved to dismiss the servants from the room.Once the servants left, Liu Tangxi could see the relaxation in Li shi and the others' posture, which had previously been tense."Father and Mother, brothers and sisters-in-law, how was your journey?" Liu Tangxi inquired to break the silence.Li shi smiled and replied, "It was fine, quite good overall.""Did bosheng experience any motion sickness?"Since the house had limited chairs, the adults were seated while the children made do with benches.Upon hearing Liu Tangxi call him, Bo Sheng promptly stood from the bench."Auntie, thank you for your concern. I'm doing well," he responded.Observing Bo Sheng, who resembled Wei Hanzhou in his youth, Liu Tangxi smiled and said, "I haven't seen you in a year, and you've grown so much. Please, sit comfortably, no need to be so formal."Bo Sheng offered another respectful bow and then sat down."And what about Fu Yao and Shu Lan?" Liu Tangxi asked next."I'm fine, Auntie. The journey was quite enjoyable. It was my first time riding in a carriage, and it was so fast," Fu Yao replied cheerfully.Shu Lan, however, said, "While my sister enjoyed it, I felt a bit motion sick."Liu Tangxi smiled reassuringly. "That's alright. It will pass in a few days. I had motion sickness at first too."Shu Lan's eyes lit up with interest. "Really? Did Third Aunt also experience motion sickness?"Liu Tangxi nodded.Later, Liu Tangxi turned her attention back to Zhongxing and inquired, "Second Sister, how was Zhongxing's journey?"Noting Liu Tangxi's gaze, Zhou shi promptly responded, "Everything was fine. Just like his sister, he is doing very well, and I am quite pleased."After a brief conversation, Liu Tangxi observed that everyone appeared quite reserved and weary. She asked, "Father, are you feeling hungry?"Li shi replied, "We're not hungry; it's not long after lunch."Liu Tangxi pondered for a moment before suggesting, "Perhaps you could take a rest first, or maybe enjoy a stroll in the garden?"Wei Laosan considered the suggestion and agreed.Despite their fatigue, curiosity prevailed. They decided to explore the garden, particularly the small garden adjacent to it. There was a charming little pond with fish that fascinated the children.The garden, though modest in size, offered enough to explore. After a brief tour, Liu Tangxi guided them to the guest room for some rest.Before they settled, Liu Tangxi thought it would be refreshing for them to take a bath to relax after their travels. She instructed the maids show them on how to operate the showers, a novel experience for them.Everyone was amazed by the modern amenity. After bathing, Liu Tangxi had prepared additional clothes for their comfort. While she occasionally made clothes for Wei Hanzhou, she had bought all other garments, as she usually does.Upon seeing the fine fabric of the clothing, the guests hesitated to wear them. Wei Laosan and Li shi, being older and having endured a long carriage journey, soon fell asleep from exhaustion. Although Wei Daniu and the others were less tired, they still felt somewhat uncomfortable.The only ones unaffected by fatigue were Fuyao and Bosheng. After their showers and changing into fresh clothes, they were full of energy. Liu Tangxi took them to the small garden to paly.With Li shi and the others now present, Liu Tangxi felt a profound sense of fulfillment. Despite her previous busyness, she had felt somewhat isolated, as conversations were mostly limited to Yin shi. Growing up outside this dynasty, she had found it difficult to connect with the local ladies. Her own unusual experiences had led to much curiosity and often uncomfortable scrutiny from others."Auntie, this garden is so beautiful," Fuyao remarked, admiring the flowers.Bosheng added, "I've never seen such flowers before."Liu Tangxi smiled and replied, " Third Aunt hasn't seen them either. I only discovered them after arriving in the capital. If you're interested, Third Aunt can tell you more about them."Fuyao, with a curious look, asked, "Auntie, didn't they say you were originally from a high-ranking official's family? Why haven't you seen these flowers before?"Liu Tangxi touched her hair thoughtfully and said, "Well, Auntie only remembers coming to Weijia Village. I don't recall much before that."Fuyao's eyes lit up with realization. "So, Auntie doesn't remember the past but still remembers me?"Liu Tangxi nodded, "Yes."Hearing this, Fuyao beamed with happiness.The three of them spent some time planting flowers in the garden and identifying various plants before returning to the main yard.Upon learning from the maid that Wei Laosan and the others were asleep, Liu Tangxi glanced at the sky and asked, "Are you tired?"Fuyao replied, "Not at all."BoSheng shook his head as well."Would you like to explore the capital with your Third Aunt?" Liu Tangxi offered."Absolutely!" Fuyao and Bosheng responded excitedly.Since the children had been cooped up in the carriage for over ten days, Liu Tangxi chose not to use the carriage herself today and instead took them to a side street.Though Fuyao and the others had glimpsed the capital's splendor from the carriage, they had only seen it fleetingly. Now, they could experience it more intimately.Liu Tangxi bought them various treats, and they indulged in an array of delicious foods along the way.As the day neared its end, Liu Tangxi purchased meat and vegetables and headed home with Fuyao. Once they arrived, Liu Tangxi went to the kitchen to begin cooking.Bo Sheng decided to read in his room, while Fuyao followed Liu Tangxi to the kitchen. Given the number of people, Liu Tangxi had purchased a few ready-made dishes, such as lotus leaf chicken and roast duck, along with pig ears and braised chicken feet.In addition, she planned to prepare braised fish, boiled pork slices, steamed pork, and braised pork knuckles. For vegetarian dishes, she had hibiscus tofu, hot and sour potato shreds, braised beans, garlic eggplant, and a few cold salads.Cooking was an enjoyable task for Liu Tangxi. With four stoves in the kitchen—one for soup and the other three for cooking—she needed only to oversee the process, as the staff prepared the ingredients and tended the fires.Fuyao watched Liu Tangxi, admiring her efficiency and cleanliness. Remembering the delightful meals she had prepared before, Fuyao's stomach growled, as she had scarcely had meat during their journey and recent frugality.The vegetables cooked quickly, and several pots of meat were still stewing. Liu Tangxi noticed Fuyao's eager expression and, as she was about to handle the lotus leaf chicken and roast duck, she saw Fuyao swallowing eagerly.Liu Tangxi promptly tore off a piece of chicken and handed it to Fuyao. This was a gesture she had often made in the past. Whenever Fuyao and Shulan were present, she would discreetly give them pieces of meat, despite not lacking in provisions. It was simply her way of ensuring the children were well-fed.Seeing Fuyao's delighted reaction, Liu Tangxi felt reassured. She believed that it was important for girls to be well-nourished and not overly tempted by meat, lest they be easily persuaded later on. Thus, she eventually gave Fuyao both chicken legs but reminded her softly, "Don't eat too much; there are other delicious dishes in the pot."Fuyao nodded in agreement while savoring the chicken.Coincidentally, Shulan arrived just as Liu Tangxi finished speaking. Fuyao handed her another drumstick, and the two sisters happily shared their treat.Upon hearing that Wei Laosan and the others were awake, Liu Tangxi asked Momo Cheng to arrange for a doctor. Having experienced the discomfort of the journey from Weijia Village to the capital herself, Liu Tangxi was concerned about any potential discomfort for the elderly and the young.At this moment, Wei Lao San and Li Shi were conversing in their room.Li Shi, touching the fabric of the clothes Liu Tangxi had prepared, asked hesitantly, "How much did this material cost? Is it too expensive?"After a brief nap, Wei Lao San felt more alert and sensible. Observing the clothes before him, he remarked, "It's evident that even the servants are well-dressed, not to mention our daughter-in-law."Li Shi nodded in agreement. "Indeed, especially Momo Cheng. She doesn't resemble a servant at all but rather an esteemed matron, adorned with more jewelry than many of the affluent women in town."She looked at the clothes in her hands with concern. "But we're not affluent ourselves. Perhaps we should avoid wearing such luxurious garments."Wei Lao San contemplated for a moment before responding, "Let's go ahead and wear them. These clothes were chosen specifically by our daughter-in-law, and we mustn't disgrace her efforts."Li Shi, though startled, consented with a nod. "Alright, we'll wear these today. Once we find a suitable place to move to, we'll revert to our usual attire.""Very well."Madam Cheng soon returned with a doctor.Wei Lao San and the others were taken aback. Their modest means usually made hiring a doctor a rare and expensive affair. They were touched yet somewhat troubled by the cost involved.After the doctor had taken their pulses, he noted that while most were in good health, Shu Lan and Zhong Xing needed some medication, and Li Shi's condition required attention as well.Li Shi, feeling that the expenditure was unnecessary, initially resisted taking the medicine, claiming that she felt fine.Liu Tangxi was in the midst of persuading her when Wei Hanzhou arrived.With Wei Hanzhou's presence, Liu Tangxi felt assured and refrained from further persuasion. She instructed the doctor to fetch the prescribed medicines and proceeded to the kitchen to prepare the meal.Zhang shi and Zhou shi accompanied her to the kitchen also.Zhou shi remarked in astonishment, "What a spacious kitchen, with so many stoves."Her eyes than widened at the sight of the prepared food. Although Zhang shi said nothing, her astonished expression and audible swallowing revealed her surprise.Liu Tangxi quickly intervened when they offered to help. "You've just arrived, so please, don't worry about helping. The food is ready; just enjoy."Zhang shi, observing the well-coordinated staff, nodded and stepped aside. "Understood."The meal was soon served. Li Shi surveyed the spread and asked, "How much did it cost to prepare all these dishes?"Liu Tangxi smiled warmly. "Mother, it's not overly expensive. Since you've just arrived in the capital and had a long journey, you deserve a hearty and nutritious meal."Li Shi was about to respond when Wei Lao San interjected, "Let's eat. As our daughter-in-law, her status is different now. We mustn't demean ourselves in front of the servants. If we believe she's overspending, we should discuss it privately, not in their presence."With Wei Lao San's statement, everyone took their seats.Liu Tangxi, aware that they might not be accustomed to being served, along with her and Wei Hanzhou's unfamiliarity with such arrangements, chose to let them be.Initially, the adults ate slowly and with some reservation, while the children ate more rapidly. However, as time passed, even the adults began to indulge, having gone without rich food for several months.Liu Tangxi, observing the joy of everyone eating heartily, felt a pang of warmth and contentment. It was the first time in a year that the entire family was reunited.Noticing that Liu Tangxi had not eaten much despite observing others, Wei Hanzhou picked up his chopsticks and offered her a piece of fish. "Lady, please have some fish."Liu Tangxi, touched by the gesture, smiled at him, accepted the fish, and ate it from her bowl.Wei Hanzhou, reflecting on the rare instances Liu Tangxi's attention had been solely on him, felt a wave of nostalgia. It was reminiscent of the times in Weijia Village, when she seldom focused on him, as if he were an outsider.After finishing the fish, Liu Tangxi picked up her chopsticks and selected a piece of steamed pork, a dish that Wei Hanzhou particularly enjoyed. She often cooked it for him, though she herself wasn't fond of it and rarely ate it.Seeing her attentiveness, Wei Hanzhou felt comforted and hopeful, thinking that perhaps Liu Tangxi was finally acknowledging him. He paused his eating, waiting for Liu Tangxi to join him.However, she soon turned her attention to Fu Yao, sitting to her left, and placed the piece of pork in her bowl. "Try this. Your third uncle likes it very much."Fu Yao, noting Wei Hanzhou's less-than-pleased expression, chuckled and eagerly sampled the pork. "It's delicious, Auntie. Everything you make is wonderful."Pleased by Fu Yao's enjoyment, Liu Tangxi gently patted her head. "If you like it, I'll make it for you again in the future."Fu Yao, beaming, responded enthusiastically, "Yes, Auntie."She then stole a glance at Wei Hanzhou, feeling a newfound confidence in her interactions with him.