The winter snow, like notes slowly easing in pace, gradually calms. Though there remains a lingering coldness, the arrival of early spring begins.
The withered willow bursts forth with new buds, and the apricot flowers bloom into buds. Even the mostly deserted villages now have new vitality, which is the sound of newborns crying.
In these tis, the poorer families are more inclined to have children. Even if destruction cos again and again, as long as there are a dozen years to heal and nurture, the land will soon be bustling with human life again.
However, for impoverished families, having a boy is considered a gain, while having a girl is mostly unwelco.
Certainly, the Great Yin does have female officials, but which girl from a common family can afford to study or beco an official? Without glorifying the ancestors, continuing the family line, or having the strength to farm, what use is a girl?
Thus, when the Li family cavalry went around the countryside, they found several abandoned babies, all of whom were girls. They were without swaddling clothes, rely wrapped in simple, torn burlap, left in the cold wind. So were already beyond saving, but so still had a faint breath.
The Li family cavalry followed orders, wrapping the abandoned babies in cotton cloth, and handed them over to the accompanying wet nurses.
These wet nurses were won from Xiongshan County who had lost their husbands and children. Thanks to the Li family’s care, they managed to survive. Therefore...when the Li family proposed this idea of "taking in abandoned babies," these won willingly took on the duties of wet nurses.
This also ant that they beca part of the Li family.
They also gained new children.
Won who had lost their children and abandoned children are, in this chaotic world, a matching pair capable of mutual consolation.
These children will, in the future, beco mbers of the Li family.
If one doesn’t plan for a hundred years, they cannot plan for a mont.
Although the Li family grew strong in Xiongshan County, they didn’t actually have many family mbers.
Yet, in Li Xuan’s view of the future, it is an era that requires strong individuals.
Compared to relationships among nobles, marriages, the strength of the family itself is more important than ever.
After witnessing the monkey demon that could easily topple Xiongshan County, after seeing the Taishui demon that nearly destroyed Hundred Flowers Mansion, and the Red Cloud Demon Fiend that brought a plague with a casual bite, he knew...the world was becoming unfamiliar.
The era of primarily relying on military force, power, and relationships might gradually shift toward individuality, power, and strength.
This may still take ti, but it might completely arrive soday soon.
Therefore, the Li family needs more people nad Li, and loyal mbers to the family.
And education needs to start from childhood.
Abandoned babies may not necessarily be bad.
...
...
Yanzi Dock.
Peach Blossom Waterside Pavilion.
In the afternoon, a white-clad gentleman reads a book.
The reason he doesn’t practice martial arts is that he has no martial arts left to practice.
He gazes at the river water, watching the fishing boats docking in the distance.
A burly man of about thirty, jumps ashore from a fishing boat in the afternoon.
This man is lean yet strong, with bronze-colored skin, dressed in a tough shirt, completely unfazed by the spring chill. Around his waist are a pair of piercing Ei daggers, evidently skilled in water-based techniques.
At this mont, the man skillfully ties a thick cable, then stretches out his large hand to take a bucket from the ship’s mate, eagerly running toward Li Xuan as if presenting a treasure, shouting: "Young Master, Young Master, look here."
Li Xuan puts down the book, looks.
Inside are two peculiar fish, slightly red in shape, with three soft whiskers each. One weighs about three to four pounds, and the other about four to five pounds, both considered large fish.
The man says: "These are three-whiskered cod, tasty ones."
Li Xuan recognizes the man because he has been reading here frequently, and has beco familiar with so skilled fishern on these boats. The man before him is nad Zhang Fanyang, originally an official responsible for canal transport in the shipping aid, known for his steady nature.
But after the shipping aid leaned towards "fishing," Zhang Fanyang volunteered to lead the fishing boats, proving himself to be one who "sees potential, proactively explores business, and actively aligns with new bosses."
Li Xuan laughs: "Old Zhang, where were they caught?"
Zhang Fanyang quickly replies: "Young Master, no no no, don’t call Old Zhang, that burdens , just call Xiaozhang."
Li Xuan dismisses this, pats his shoulder, points to the fish in the bucket, laughs: "Hey, Old Zhang, tell more."
Zhang Fanyang glances at people in the distance, hearing the young master warmly call him Old Zhang, feels quite proud, even more enthusiastic as he introduces: "Young Master, these are sea fish. Likely because of the previous floods, seawater backflow brought sea goods into the river."
"Seawater backflow...an interesting flood indeed."
Li Xuan reflects.
Normal floods tend to originate upstream, but this ti it was the seawater swelling and then backflowing into the river, quite unusual.
He thinks again and adds, "I heard that the tsunami also brought a Headless Buddha statue ashore, any accounts on that?"
Zhang Fanyang says: "Ah, there seems to be so story about it.
I heard it from rchant caravans outside.
Due to the mansion’s grain shortage, we all rely on buying, leading to more contact with the trade association.
People from the trade association say that that Headless Buddha statue is quite miraculous, still by the sea with people burning incense.
Though missing a head seems odd, it’s indeed effective, praying for peace, health, even children."
A little maid in purple clothing, busy burning incense for the young master, sticks her head out to ask: "Also praying for children?"
Zhang Fanyang laughs bashfully: "Rose girl, well...it’s just hearsay.
The tricks for praying for children at monk temples, Old Zhang also knows.
Seeing through without revealing, but essentially just closing the doors, drugging, and monks sowing seeds.
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