Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 708 - 0661: Want to Keep Guoguo (3)

She lowered her eyes in thought, were Madam Baili and Baili Rui’s parents enemies?

Baili Ju was afraid of his wife. Unable to withstand her pinches and scolding, he picked up the wine pot, grabbed a cup, and went to offer Baili Huang a drink.

Baili Huang raised his teacup and stood up with an apologetic smile, "Brother, I haven’t been able to drink lately, let’s use tea instead of wine."

Baili Ju’s face darkened, "Second Brother, where’s your courage? It’s just one cup of wine, what are you afraid of? You can refuse others’ wine, but you must drink this one. It’s a wine I offer for you and your wife to ward off all troubles from now on."

Second Madam Baili worried about her husband’s health, furrowing her brows.

Baili Huang smiled faintly, "Alright, thank you, Brother."

He took the wine cup and drank it all in one go.

Baili Ju laughed and patted his shoulder, "Good on you, Second Brother!"

But as Baili Ju turned to return to his seat, Baili Huang secretly spat the wine into his sleeve.

Second Madam Baili hadn’t seen him spit the wine and whispered to him, "Husband, you shouldn’t drink, how could you..."

Baili Huang pulled her hand over, letting her feel his sleeve.

Second Madam Baili paused, wet?

Baili Huang smiled slightly at her, "Don’t worry."

Second Madam Baili inwardly sighed with relief, the tension on her face finally dissipating.

Baili Huang only made one exception by "drinking," and all the other members of the Baili family were turned away by Old Madam Baili.

The entire New Year’s feast went joyously, except for Madam Baili, whose face did not look pleased.

The banquet ended after the first hour of the night had passed.

The servants and maids led their respective masters back.

Zhou Zhaodi also came with a small lantern to lead Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu back to their guest room.

Their accommodations were closer to Second Madam Baili’s courtyard, and conveniently along the way.

The adults walked together, talking, while Baili Rui held Guoguo’s hand, walking amidst the group.

As they reached the fork in the road, the two waved and said their goodbyes.

"Guoguo, I’ll come find you to play tomorrow morning."

"Alright, Brother Rui."

Baili Rui’s two-year-old sister Baili Xin also waved at Guoguo with a cheerful smile, "Play tomorrow."

Second Madam Baili really liked Guoguo.

Seeing her son and daughter also liking Guoguo, she took Guoguo’s hand and smiled at Li Yuzhu, "Li San Niang, I want to take Guoguo home. I’ll return her to you tomorrow morning. What do you think?"

"I’m willing, Aunt." Before Li Yuzhu could respond, Guoguo answered first.

This child, she spoke first, leaving no room for others to speak. Li Yuzhu was amused but somewhat exasperated, "Alright, if Aunt agrees, but you mustn’t be naughty, naughtiness won’t make you likable."

"I’m not naughty, I’m very obedient," Guoguo replied cheerfully.

Praising herself came easily; Li Yuzhu struggled to suppress a smile, twitching her mouth.

She reminded Guoguo to behave and nodded slightly to Second Madam Baili, "If she’s naughty, send someone to inform me immediately, and I’ll come to take her home."

"Even if she’s naughty, I still like her," Second Madam Baili smiled.

She held Guoguo’s hand in her left, and her son Baili Rui in her right hand, entering her own courtyard.

Her daughter Baili Xin was carried by the nanny.

Baili Huang waved at Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu, and his family went home.

Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu went back to their guest room with Zhou Zhaodi.

With the lively and talkative Guoguo in Second Madam Baili’s courtyard, it became quite lively.

Although she was only two and a half years old, the things she said and did were more mature than five-year-old Baili Rui.

She stayed close, following Baili Rui, warning him of mistakes he might make.

When Baili Rui stood by a flower rack, playing by leaning against it, Guoguo would gasp and pull him away.

Just after the two ran off, the flower rack collapsed, and the flower pot fell down.

Guoguo even informed Baili Rui about places in the courtyard he must absolutely avoid, where snow covered what could be a pit underneath.

Baili Rui, not believing her, went with a stick to find the pit, and indeed, at the corner of the courtyard, he found a pit about two feet deep.

Second Madam Baili suddenly remembered this was the pit she had someone dig at the beginning of the year for planting a plum tree.

But the plum tree was unexpectedly stepped on by a servant, and she found the broken branches unsightly and didn’t proceed with it. The pit had remained empty, later forgotten when she visited her sister who married far away in Zhen An Prefecture.

Recently, it had been snowing heavily, covering the pit with thick snow, making it hard to notice.

If someone accidentally stepped on it, at the very least, they’d twist an ankle.

How did Guoguo know there was a pit about two feet deep?

Second Madam Baili was curious and asked Guoguo.

Guoguo blinked, "Guessed."

Guessed? Second Madam Baili was even more surprised, could one guess that?

The children played for a while, and Second Madam Baili instructed the maids to bathe them.

The three children giggled and played together, refusing to sleep apart.

Second Madam Baili helplessly arranged for the three children to sleep on one kang.

Together they were not yet ten years old, ignorant of boy-girl distinctions.

Three small quilts, three small pillows, three small figures, lined up in a row.

Guoguo slept in the middle, with Baili Xin on the left, and Baili Rui on the right.

The children got into bed, and their chatter continued until the second watch before quieting.

In the adjoining room’s large bedroom, Second Madam Baili and Baili Huang had not yet slept.

The couple reunited after being apart for days, and each night was filled with endless conversations.

They spoke of matters at home, affairs at the government office, their children.

At this moment, they talked about Guoguo.

Second Madam Baili praised Guoguo’s beauty and sensibility.

Baili Huang recalling Guoguo calling him "Uncle Chang," and laughed, "This child truly has affinity with us. Upon seeing me, she calls me ’Uncle Chang.’ When I asked why, she said because I am tall."

Second Madam Baili, thinking of Guoguo and Baili Rui’s friendship, turned over and looked at her husband with a smile, "I have a thought, not sure what husband thinks?"

Baili Huang and his wife had known each other since childhood. Though not childhood sweethearts, as both were natives of Liangzhou City, they were couples who knew each other well from youth.

Second Madam Baili hoped her son would find a girl he knew from childhood.

"Wife, speak freely," Baili Huang said, hugging his wife with a smile.

"Why don’t we keep Guoguo at home, what do you think?" If the two children always get along well, it will be easy in the future. If not, we can send Guoguo away before she comes of age, and nobody will suffer, Second Madam Baili thought.

Baili Huang paused, "She has parents, relatives all in Zhen An Prefecture, with such a request, Li San Niang might not be willing."

Second Madam Baili sighed, "That’s why I’m discussing with husband. How can we keep Guoguo? Li San Niang sent Xiao Rui back, and our health is almost recovered. They’ll soon return and take Guoguo, and Xiao Rui will surely be sad."

Baili Huang also realized his son especially liked Guoguo, separating them would certainly upset him. But keeping someone’s daughter thousands of miles away in the Northern Land, how could the Li Family bear it?

Baili Huang couldn’t figure out a good solution and felt troubled.

He rubbed his forehead, "Tomorrow, I’ll inquire with Li San Niang and Brother Mu to see their thoughts. After all, Guoguo is their niece, and though we may have ideas, we can’t force if they aren’t willing."

Second Madam Baili nodded, "Alright, we’ll ask together tomorrow."

.

On the kang in the side room, slept the nanny watching over the three children.

Tired from holding Baili Xin all day, the nanny fell asleep quickly after settling the children down.

Baili Xin and Baili Rui slept quietly, only Guoguo kept her eyes open, looking out the window.

As night fell, the north wind blew fiercely.

Periods of branch-breaking sounds could be heard.

Thinking to herself, a smile quietly curved at Guoguo’s lips.

She yawned gracefully and closed her eyes.

Just as she was about to sleep, Guoguo heard some sound coming from the outer room.

She blinked, thought for a moment, then quietly slipped off the kang.

The floor was cold, and Guoguo fumbled to put on her leopard-skin cloak, slipped on her deerskin shoes, and quietly opened the door.

In the outer room, a figure was busy at the stove.

Guoguo recognized her as one of Second Madam Baili’s maids, known to everyone as Qiao Lan.