Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

After much deliberation, Madam Shen finally decided to write a letter to her eldest son to discuss the matter.

As they were talking, they turned around and saw Gao Shi and Zhang Haoran getting off the sampan. Xia Yu quickly waved to them to indicate that she was there.

Gao said something to her son, leaving him there to watch the luggage being carried down, while she walked towards Xia Yu.

During their time on the ship, Gao often came to chat with Xia Yu, and in just a few days, the two became quite familiar with each other. They spoke much more casually, and Gao no longer addressed her as "Xiangjun" as she had when they first boarded the ship, but instead called her by her childhood nickname, just like when they first met.

As Madam Gao approached, Xia Yu pulled her aside and introduced them to Mr. and Mrs. Shen. After the two sides exchanged greetings, Madam Gao then spoke to Xia Yu...

"Xiaxia, let's go back to Liujiazhuang first. I'll take Hao'er to pay New Year's greetings to them."

"Grandma Gao, according to seniority, I should be the one paying New Year's greetings, how can it be the other way around!" Xia Yu hurriedly declined.

"Hey, what are you saying? If that's the case, then you're a village head, and I'd have to kowtow to you! Besides, didn't the Emperor have Hao'er learn Maozi language from you? So you're practically his teacher, and it's perfectly acceptable to visit your teacher for the New Year."

Upon hearing Xia Yu's refusal, Gao quickly explained her reasons for insisting on visiting Xia Yu to offer New Year's greetings, which seemed to make sense.

"You two can chat slowly. We came back in such a hurry that our families don't even know yet. We need to get back quickly. The house still needs to be tidied up properly."

Madam Gao glanced at the sun in the sky and bid farewell to the group. Just as Madam Gao turned to leave, Madam Shen suddenly asked...

"How will Madam Zhang's luggage be taken back? Is there a horse-drawn carriage or oxcart?"

"Not yet, but I just checked, there's a carriage company at the dock, I'll go over and hire two carriages later," Gao said casually.

Hearing this, Madam Shen smiled and said, "There's no need for such trouble. I brought plenty of carriages; just take a few to send Madam Zhang back."

"Madam Shen probably doesn't know, but these children have quite a lot of luggage. I doubt your carriage will be enough!" Madam Gao said with a smile, politely declining Madam Shen's offer.

In fact, what Madam Gao said was true; the carriages that Madam Shen brought were really not enough. They were unaware of the Emperor's rewards for Xia Yu and the gifts for Grand Tutor Li, and the group had also bought quite a few things along the way when they traveled north with the delegation.

Upon hearing Gao's words, Madam Shen looked at Grand Tutor Li with some doubt, asking with her eyes.

"Oh, His Majesty has bestowed many gifts upon the children, and there are also things they bought along the way while traveling with the delegation. Indeed, there is much more luggage than when we set off," Grand Tutor Li explained to Madam Shen, stroking his beard.

"If that's the case, it seems we'll have to rent a few more cars," Mrs. Shen said with a smile.

So, at Gao's insistence, she went to the carriage shop with a servant from the Shen family.

When Zhang Youtie and Liu arrived at the dock in their carriage, all the luggage had already been loaded onto the vehicle, and they were preparing to head back.

Liu Shi didn't bother to let Zhang Youtie help her up and jumped off the carriage, startling Xia Yu and Chang Yun, who were afraid she had twisted her ankle.

Xia Yu was fine at first, but when she saw her parents, tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

"Father, Mother, I miss you so much!"

"Father and Mother, we miss you too. Are you doing well out there? Are you cold? Hungry? Has anyone bullied you?" Just like Madam Shen before, Madam Liu looked the two children up and down and began to ask the questions she had been worried about at home.

"Mother, my brother and I are doing well outside. Grandpa Li tells outsiders that I'm his goddaughter, so no one dares to bully us. Uncle Shen also takes good care of my brother and me," Xia Yu said to Liu Shi.

Upon hearing their daughter's words, Madam Liu and Zhang Youtie quickly bowed to Grand Tutor Li.

"Grand Tutor, I am deeply grateful for your care and assistance to my daughter along the way."

"Get up, get up! I've said it before, I treat my children like my own grandchildren. Isn't it only natural to take care of my grandchildren? Besides, the two children are smart and quick-witted. Xiaxia, in particular, helped me a lot this time. Even the Emperor personally commended her and bestowed upon her the title of Lady Wenfu. I suppose you don't know that yet?"

Li Taifu's words stunned the couple; they really didn't know about this.

"Heng'er's letter just returned from the capital. Before I could tell you about this happy news, I received a report from my servants that they had arrived at the dock. In my haste, I forgot to tell you," Madam Shen explained with a smile, looking at the two stunned people.

Several seconds passed before the couple finally processed the joyous news. They quickly straightened their clothes, then knelt facing the direction of the capital and kowtowed three times devoutly.

"Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"

After they got up, Xia Yu took advantage of the time while Zhang Youtie was talking to Li Taifu and Master Shen to quietly ask Liu Shi...

"Mother, how did you and Father know what Emperor Xie said?"

Looking around to make sure no one was paying attention to the two of them, Liu whispered to her daughter...

"That's what the script says."

Xia Yu stared wide-eyed at her mother. "This is acceptable?"

As evening approached, Grand Tutor Li and Zhang Youtie declined Master Shen's invitation, and then Grand Tutor Li declined Zhang Youtie's invitation as well. So, each person, with their own carriage loaded with luggage, parted ways at the fork in the road.

Watching the Grand Tutor leave with only two old servants, Xia Yu felt a pang of unease. During her trip to the capital, she had learned some things about the Grand Tutor's family. It turned out that all of the Grand Tutor's children and relatives were gone; now he was all alone in the world.

"Father, Mother, I want to recognize Grand Tutor Li as my godfather and take care of him in his old age until his death," Xia Yu suddenly said to Zhang Youtie and Liu Shi in the carriage.

"Huh? Why?" Zhang Youtie didn't expect his daughter to say that.

"Father, Mother, I heard some stories about Grandpa Li's family in the capital," Xia Yu said after a moment of silence.

"Grandpa Li's family members were all killed in the power struggle for the throne. Now he is all alone with a few old servants."

Behind that simple sentence lay a wound that Li Taifu could never heal in his entire life. Xia Yu didn't say anything more, because continuing would involve the current emperor.

Hearing their daughter's answer, not only were Zhang Youtie and his wife stunned, but Changyun was also dumbfounded. How come he had never heard of these things? He had also thought about this question: why was there only one teacher? But no matter how he thought about it, he never imagined that the real answer would be so tragic.

After a brief silence, Xia Yu saw her parents nod heavily.

“Okay, I agree. Let’s bring him to our home for the New Year, so he won’t feel lonely all alone.”