Li Xia solemnly entrusted, Li Wenshan nodded heavily.

  "When Mr. Qin has figured out where to start, you go find Gu Liu and ask him to introduce a shopkeeper to you. Fifth Brother, remember that when dealing with the Gu family in the future, speak clearly and explicitly state what you want, just this one thing, so that the favor is limited."

  "Alas, we're now afraid of owing others a favor. In the past, who would have thought that anyone would care about us?" Li Wenshan suddenly sighed.

  Li Xia looked up at him, stunned for a moment, then lowered her head.

  Big Brother's words reminded her that she had been too calculating and had viewed people with a utilitarian mindset. Now, and perhaps in the future, there would no longer be a place worth having human relationships in this old city.

  Just like when they were in Hangzhou, outside the city, He Ge, the owner of Xiangji Silver Building, helped them. At that time, they had already fallen into a deep valley, and He Qing's help was only due to his inability to bear their suffering, not because he wanted to gain any merit or virtue.

  Li Xia opened her mouth, but the words that came to her lips were swallowed back down. Forget it, she thought, it's better not to say anything. Even if Gu Jia wasn't being kind out of obligation, just wanting to lend a hand, she didn't want Fifth Brother and their family to owe them such a huge favor just because they weren't rich enough.

  The next morning, Li Xia woke up after a good night's sleep. Li Dong had gotten up early and was already excited until midnight before falling asleep, but got up early with an unusually good spirit.

  On the eve of the Lantern Festival, one should wear white. Li Dong chose a wide-sleeved skirt with silver thread embroidery of plum blossoms and branches on a pale blue and white background, which was given by his elder brother's wife, a small silver-white jacket, and an outer garment made of silver-white brocade satin with silk cotton lining and a fighting sleeve.

  Li Xia also had a set, but Mrs. Xue thought Li Xia's outfit was too plain, so she picked out a pale pink jacket to go with the silver-white cloak and got into the large carriage brought by Cheng Ying along with Li Dong.

  Compared with riding a horse at full gallop, taking a carriage is much slower. After having lunch in Lin'an, it was already late afternoon when the carriage finally arrived at the foot of Hangzhou City.

  They went very far away, outside the city was already crowded with people and horses, everywhere were people. Cheng Ying led everyone, bypassing the crowd from afar, heading towards Yongjin Gate.

  The Golden Gate is closed today, and no idlers are allowed to enter or exit. This place is reserved for official entry and exit, maintenance and inspection of various places. The notice was posted before the New Year's Day, and now there are checkpoints set up far away, with lanterns hung high, prohibiting idlers from approaching.

  Cheng Ying handed over his waist card and led Li Wenshan and a large cart with four people, including Li Dong, into the checkpoint.

  Arriving at the Golden Gate, they were stopped again by Guan Jun's army. Cheng Ying dismounted first and then gestured for Li Wenshan to do the same. He personally walked up to the carriage, lifted the curtain, and a general came over to inspect them politely but carefully. After saying "please forgive us", he waved his hand and let them pass.

  The carriage didn't go far before it entered a small courtyard. An old woman came forward and lifted the curtain, Su Ye got out of the carriage first, carrying Li Wenlan down, Li Dong also got out of the carriage, then carried Li Xia down, standing beside the carriage, carefully looking around.

  Li Wenshan dismounted outside the second gate, took a few quick steps forward, stretched out his hand to pull Li Xia, and gestured to Li Dong who was holding onto Li Wenlan, "This way."

  Cheng Ying led the way, walking along the winding path up to a small hill that wasn't very high. On top of the hill, in a cozy pavilion, lights were shining brightly and the fragrance of incense wafted through the air from afar.

  Inside the warm pavilion, it was very quiet. The King of Qin and Jin Xian were seated across from each other, playing a game of Go. Gu Liu sat beside the chess table, solving a long, green jade ring puzzle. Lu Yi stood by the open window, narrowing his eyes as he gazed out at the distant riverbank where a group of people were busily making final preparations for the firework display.

  "General, Fifth Master has arrived." Cheng Ying hastened her pace and reached the entrance of the warm pavilion first, looking at Lu Yi with a slightly louder voice.

  Lu Yi hastily turned around and walked a few steps forward. At a glance, he saw Li Dong standing behind Li Wenshan, almost as tall as Li Wenshan, and was suddenly taken aback.

  Li Xia pulled Li Wenshan's hand, looking up at Lu Yi with a stunned expression, and immediately felt a pang in her heart, tightly grasping Li Wenshan's hand.

  This foolish fifth brother! He must have said younger brother or sister, but he didn't even ask and brought his older sister instead. His sister is already a big girl.

  Alas! This wu ge (brother), as usual, occasionally does foolish things!

  "Your sister is so big now!" Gu Liu almost came out with Lu Yi at the same time, and as soon as he saw Li Dong, he didn't have Lu Yi's adaptability and mind, and blurted it out.

  Li Dong had already seen the situation in the warm pavilion, and when she heard Gu Liu's sentence, her face immediately turned white. This was not a place where she should stay, others hadn't invited her.

  "Wu Lang had two younger sisters, one was six years old and the other fourteen. Not so big, you say how old should they be?" Lu Yi immediately turned around, "It's cold outside, come in quickly, the fireworks are about to start."

  Li Xia broke free from Li Wenshan's grasp, turned around and took a step back, grabbed Li Dong and pulled her in.

  It's all here now, and it can only be seen to the end with a hard scalp. Turning around and leaving is just making everyone extremely embarrassed and losing face.

  Li Dong was almost dragged into the warm pavilion by Li Xia, under the bright candlelight, the thin layer of tense sweat on the tip of Li Dong's nose was crystal clear.

  Li Wenshan also came to his senses, and suddenly felt embarrassed with his hands tied up, not knowing what to do. The whole room was full of young people, Ah Xia was only six years old, but Dong Jie was already fourteen, what kind of situation was this?

  "Is this your elder sister?" Jin Zheyen walked over, took two or three steps back, smiled all over his face, and casually saluted Li Dong with a bow, "We often hear Li Wu praise his sister, saying she's the best in the world. It seems it's not an exaggeration. Liu Niangzi, please forgive me, we've been listening to him bragging nonstop every day, this time he was forced to bring both of his sisters over."

  "We've been reckless for a while, and we're suddenly being presumptuous. Please forgive us, Six Lady, for Li Wu's sake."

  "It's a penalty, then go back and penalize Li Wu." The King of Qin added immediately afterwards.

  Gu Liu also reacted and followed with a smile: "Sixth sister, it's all Li Wu's fault."

  "Listening to Li Wu talk about his sister all day, I always feel that Dong Jie and A Xia are just like my own sister." Lu Yi quietly steered the conversation in another direction.

  "It's really true." King Qin laughed first, beckoning to A Xia, "A Xia, the candy that brother sent you, have you eaten too much of it? Dong Jie is here, if you speak nonsense, Dong Jie will immediately expose you."

  "Axiao ate a lot! She ate several more, I told her she didn't listen, I didn't eat much." Li Wenlan immediately jumped out to report.

  Gu Liu burst out laughing and patted Li Wenlan's head, "You must not have robbed Xia before. Today there are many sweets, I'll let you have a few more."

  A few people chatted and laughed, dispelling a lot of the intense awkwardness and embarrassment that had enveloped Li Dong from head to toe, although they were still nervous, but mostly shy and less embarrassed.

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