An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

"Knowing that you are all well, Xiaokang and his mother must be very happy and thinking of you well."

Jing Chunxi suddenly smiled, and his smile was very warm, like a ray of warm sunshine in winter, making people feel a little warm.

She picked up her chopsticks and said to them, "You'd better eat quickly. The food is getting cold."

There was a hint of gentle urging in the voice, as if to soothe the hearts that had experienced too many storms.

Fortunately, we prepared a small hot pot in winter and a charcoal basin in the house, otherwise the oil in the dishes would have solidified.

Jing Chunxi poured the chicken soup in front of Mrs. Tao and the little girl into the hot pot, and then scooped two more bowls of hot soup for them and scooped a large spoonful into his own bowl.

She did feel hungry. After doing something big, she suddenly had an appetite. Even her body seemed to respond to her mood and felt relieved for her.

Seeing Jing Chunxi take the lead in picking up the chopsticks, the others stopped talking and ate in silence. The chopsticks stirred gently in the bowl, making a subtle sound, but it made the room even quieter.

It's clear that their hearts are still heavy, lacking the joy of finding their loved ones. Perhaps the pain of the past is too deep to let go anytime soon; or perhaps the uncertainty of the future makes them afraid to smile easily.

After finishing the meal, Jing Chunxi slowly spoke: "In about ten days, we will also go to Jian'an County. I suggest you meet with Xiaokang."

Her voice was soft, yet it carried a seriousness that couldn't be ignored. She paused, then added, "Could you spare some time to visit the Tao Mansion? Xiaokang and I both find a pattern there a bit odd. I'm afraid it was left there intentionally by your grandfather. Perhaps you can discern something."

She tried to find some clues for them, some links that could connect the past and the future.

Mrs. Tao's eyes were a little dazed after hearing this. It was obvious that there was no pattern in her memory. Her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she was trying hard to recall but found nothing.

Cheng Rui and Cheng Zhi looked at each other but didn't answer immediately, as if they were still hesitant. Jing Chunxi added, "There's no rush. If you want to go, Ah Heng will find a way to notify Xiao Man, and then you can go to Chang'an Lane and wait."

She tried to ease their nerves and give them more time to think and prepare.

Jing Chunxi wasn't their relative, so they still had concerns. They hesitated to speak to him, perhaps because they hadn't found the right words yet, as if they hadn't yet recovered from the surprise of finding a relative. Jing Chunxi understood their hesitation. After all, after so many changes and separations, trust and acceptance took time.

"This is ten thousand taels of silver. The situation in the city will improve slightly if we go down, but there is no guarantee that the new official will not take action. You must be careful. I will tell Xiaokang as soon as I find you."

Jing Chunxi handed them a small box containing banknotes in denominations of twenty, fifty, and one hundred taels, for their convenience. She hoped the money would provide them with some security and less worry in the days ahead.

"No, Miss Jing, how can I take yours?" The box was placed in front of Mrs. Tao, which frightened her. She tried her best to refuse and refused to accept it. There was a hint of panic and uneasiness in her voice, as if accepting this help meant admitting her weakness.

Jing Chunxi had no choice but to hand it to Tao Chengrui again. Seeing that he was a little hesitant, Jing Chunxi said, "Xiaokang has also helped me and my family. If he were here, he would definitely give you more. If he knew that you didn't accept it, he would definitely be sad." She tried to impress them with Xiaokang's name and let them understand the weight of this intention.

Jing Chunxi stared into his eyes and said firmly, "Now is not the time to be polite. You need it, don't you?" There was an unquestionable firmness in her voice, as if telling them that this was what she had to do.

Seeing the two brothers' eyes flash, he knew that the last sentence touched them, so he stuffed the box directly into their hands.

Seeing that the atmosphere had eased a little, Jing Chunxi looked at Madam Tao and comforted her, "A married woman should not be punished for her crimes. Since you never leave your house in Xunyang City, Madam Tao, you might as well listen to me and move back to the Tao Mansion. We will need you to guard it after we leave." She tried to convince Madam Tao with reason, making her understand that this was the best choice.

No one said anything, and the room fell silent again. After thinking for a moment, Jing Chunxi said, "There are still a few servants in the mansion. They are already quite old, and they may also be looking forward to your return."

She tried to evoke their memories of the past and their longing for those who had been with them.

After hearing this, Mrs. Tao raised her head, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. Finally, she whispered, "Let's think about it."

There was a hint of helplessness and fatigue in their voices, as if all these decisions were too heavy and made them breathless.