The Second Sister of a Farmer's Family's Path to Imperial Destiny

"Mom!" Su Zeyuan shouted to a woman in the distance who was wearing a dark red jacket with peony pattern, a tea-white cape with flowers and flying birds, and a light blue printed skirt.

When Su Zeyuan walked to the woman, she smiled and looked at him lovingly, saying, "Yuan'er, are you happy in school? Does that poor kid still make you angry?"

"Of course, but mom, please don't tell dad about my homework..."

Guo Ruo was pushed to the side by the crowd, and the donkey cart did not dare to come in, for fear that Xier's classmates would laugh at A-di. After all, the last situation was also a reminder.

"Xi'er!" She kept her eyes on the entrance of the academy, and as soon as Guo Xi went out, she shouted, fearing that he would not be able to find her.

Guo Zhi also jumped up and waved her hands.

"Hey~ Why are there only you guys here? Where's my second sister?" Guo Xi looked at the two people who were dressed festively and asked puzzledly.

"Sister is out to do something. If it succeeds, maybe you can see the sisters often in the future~" Guo Zhi said.

"what's up?"

"I won't tell you." Guo Zhi deliberately turned her head to the other side and said with a smile.

"Big sister, what's the matter?"

Guo Xi looked at Guo Ruo, hoping that she could answer his questions.

After all, the village is a little far from the county town. During holidays, although I miss my family, I am reluctant to go home because it takes too long on the road. If I can see the sisters often, it will really relieve my worries.

Guo Ruo smiled without saying anything, just touched Guo Xi's head.

This made Guo Xi even more curious, and his steps became faster.

Guo Xin had already been sitting in the donkey cart, holding a hot water bottle in his hand, which was newly filled with hot water that he had requested from the carriage company. He would lift the window from time to time.

"You're finally back. Go home quickly. Tomorrow is the winter solstice and there's a lot of work to do at home!" Guo Xin poked his head out and said.

"Sister, I heard that you came to the county town to do some business today. If it works, can we meet often?"

"Yes, I plan to open a tavern here to make more money and be closer to you. I have heard that if the students in your academy want to eat something else during their break, they can come out, so that we can meet often."

"Really?" Guo Xi looked at Guo Xin with bright eyes. He often saw students living in this county returning home often. Even students who lived far away would often be visited by their families. He was extremely envious every time.

"Of course, and maybe Zhi'er will go to the capital to study. Opening a shop here will make it convenient for us to meet."

"Guo Zhi is also going to school!?"

"Yes……"

……

On the winter solstice, the weather was sunny, the sun was shining, the sky was clear, and there was no trace of snowflakes flying.

Although this year is a year of famine, the winter solstice is still a day of joy. A group of women gather at the village entrance early in the morning, busy preparing meals for the winter solstice. The more generous aunts will even agree to send each other some food in the evening to have fun together.

Guo Xin naturally did not join the women at the village entrance. The four of them were busy preparing meals at home.

"Guo Zhi! Are you at home?" Liu Sidi shouted.

When Guo Zhi heard the familiar voice, she was a little surprised. Why did he come to see her on the winter solstice today? Was there something wrong? After thinking about it, she walked out holding the rabbit in her hand.

"Here, what's wrong?"

Guo Zhi wore the clothes bought by Guo Xin today because it was a holiday. She was wearing a light pink jacket with diamond patterns and a dark blue pleated skirt. Her fair face was flushed due to the cold weather. She was holding a furry rabbit in her hands, looking quite cute like a young girl.

Liu Sidi looked at Guo Zhi in front of him, lost in thought for a moment, and stood there in a daze without saying a word.

Guo Zhi saw that Liu Sidi was staring at her. The blush on her face, which was originally due to the cold weather, turned red. She said, "I'm asking you, why don't you say anything?"

Liu Sidi came back to his senses and said, "Mother asked me to ask if you would like to have dinner with us. There are only our family members here today, no other relatives."

Guo Xin came out of the kitchen when she saw Guo Zhi hadn't come back yet. When she heard this, she said, "Tie Zhu, thank you so much to your mother. I was thinking that it wouldn't be lively enough at home with only the four of us. Then I'll go to your house at 3 p.m. and bring the dishes we prepared today."

When Liu Sidi heard that Guo Xin and the other three were going to his house and Guo Zhiding was there, he ran back in a daze.

Guo Xin looked at Guo Zhi who was still standing there, and made up his mind. He said, "Everyone has left, why are you still standing there? Go back quickly."

When I entered the town with Brother Liu before, I had vaguely heard that Guo Zhi and Liu Tiezhu had a very good relationship. At first, I thought it was just a brother-sister relationship of mutual support. Today it seems that this is not the case, but they are only ten years old, so it is still possible for them to cultivate feelings.

If we want to talk about marriage, it is absolutely not possible. After all, in this feudal dynasty, teenage girls can get married, and my sister must not fall into such a situation.

It’s not that I look down on Liu Tiezhu, I just don’t want my younger sister to get married so early.

……

"Xin'er, you're finally here." Auntie Liu Guo came forward warmly, took the bamboo baskets from Guo Xin and the others, and said, "I thought it would be a bit lonely for you little kids to stay in that room without your elders around, so I asked Tiezhu to invite you to our home to celebrate the festival together."

After that, she took out a few candies and handed them to the four people, saying, "This is what Auntie bought in town yesterday. Take it and eat it. It is the blessing of the elders to the younger generation."

Guo Xin and Guo Ruo brought their brothers and sisters-in-law to express their gratitude together.

After a while, the hot food was served on the table. Because there were so many people, men and women were seated at separate tables.

"This year is a famine and our life is not easy. Some time ago when I went to the county town, I heard people say that the harvest in the north is even worse than ours, and many people starved to death. The winter is also colder than here. If the government doesn't give us paper clothes, I'm afraid we won't be able to survive this winter." Aunt Liu Guo started the topic first.

"It shouldn't be unpaid, right? We common people are also the emperor's subjects. How can we not care about our subjects?" Guo Xin has been here for so long, and feels that except for some issues like public security and taxation, the government is quite good to the people.

Aunt Liu Guo lowered her voice and said, "That's because the officials above us are not that bad. I heard that the officials in places further north really don't care about the lives of the people. They only care about their own enjoyment. The data reported to the emperor are all fake. The emperor is far away and can't care about so many things. Naturally, the people died tragically."

Guo Xin felt a chill in his heart. If this was the case, what would the lives of the people matter?

Originally, the officials had to take the lives of the people into consideration because of their achievements, but now, because the emperor is far away, the officials even falsified their achievements. It is really like treating human lives as worthless, and the officials do not serve the people...