I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 213: People's Livelihoods Are Difficult
In the small house in the backyard, the father-in-law and daughter were at a loss as to what to do with the noodles that had been brought to them.

"Please enjoy your meal, gentlemen. There's more food in the kitchen if you're not full. Please help yourselves."

Dongmei took out her own Lao Gan Ma (a popular chili sauce) jar and handed it to her father-in-law's daughter, saying, "Mix this into your noodles, it'll make your rice more delicious!"

"Father!" Peach Blossom looked at her father-in-law and asked.

"I can't accept this," the old man said, but before he could finish his refusal, Dongmei ran to the kitchen, scooped out a large bowl of noodles and a large piece of braised meat, grabbed Wu Yier's glass bottle of Lao Gan Ma chili sauce, scooped out three whole spoonfuls, and then ate with satisfaction.

Wu Yier held the almost empty glass bottle, angry but unable to speak out.

"Eat up!" The old man's eyes were slightly red. "We've met some kind people."

Peach Blossom turned around and went to the bedside, picked up a noodle and fed it to her paralyzed mother.

The woman took a bite and felt that she had never eaten such delicious food before.

"Dad will feed you. You eat first, the noodles will get cold soon," the old man said, taking the bowl and chopsticks from his daughter and urging her to eat while feeding her.

Peach Blossom sat at the table with a missing corner and began to wolf down her food.

The woman looked at her daughter, and tears fell into the bowl.

"What kind of person is that guest?"

"He's handsome, polite, from a wealthy family, not picky about food or lodging, and kind to everyone. He even eats the same food as his maids and guards," the old man exclaimed. "I really don't know which family's daughter is so lucky to be with such a man."

The woman's eyes grew brighter as she listened. She raised her trembling hand and grabbed her husband's sleeve, silently saying, "Peach Blossom, Peach Blossom."

The old man understood his wife's meaning in an instant. He was stunned for a moment, then turned his head to look at his daughter, whose cheeks were bulging from eating.

This is the first time in my sixteen years of life that I've had a full meal.

If I could be with a good person, even as a concubine or a servant, it would be a hundred times better than following incompetent parents like them.

The woman said with difficulty, "You go out, I'll talk to Peach Blossom."

The old man, his hands trembling, called his daughter to feed him, then took his bowl outside and squatted down at the door to eat.

That night, Tang Zhao had just lain down when he heard footsteps coming from the wooden planks outside the door.

Wu Yi knocked on the window and climbed in. "Miss, there's something wrong with this shop. This afternoon, I heard crying coming from inside the shop. Just now, the shopkeeper's daughter was lingering outside your room."

"I suspect they are plotting something. Should we arrest them?"

"Let's see what they're up to first," Tang Zhao thought to himself, considering himself well-informed. This teahouse was full of old, sick, and weak people; it would be difficult for them to do anything illegal.

Wu Yier climbed out of the window and stood guard outside, ready to act at any moment.

Under the watchful eyes of more than twenty pairs of people, Peach Blossom walked step by step to the best room in the house, suddenly closed her eyes and pushed the door open forcefully.

Bang!

Tang Zhao felt helpless. Pretending to be asleep when it was so loud would be too fake, so he pretended to be startled awake and sat up. "What's wrong?"

Peach Blossom stood at the doorway, shivering all over, whether from the cold or something else. She took a step with her left foot, tripped over the threshold, and fell to the ground.

Tang Zhao sighed inwardly, put on his coat, got out of bed, and helped the person up. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

Peach Blossom lowered her head and suddenly hugged Tang Zhao tightly. "Young Master, please accept me!"

Wu Yi'er, standing outside the window, gasped.

“I can accept it,” Tang Zhao said, grasping Tao Hua’s hand as she untied her belt, “but this method is unnecessary.”

Peach Blossom, forcing back tears, asked, "Does Young Master dislike Peach Blossom?"

Her parents said that if she didn't become the young master's woman, he could abandon her at any time.

"It's not your problem, it's mine. When Peach Blossom hugged me just now, didn't you feel anything was wrong?"

Peach Blossom looked completely bewildered.

"That's insulting," Tang Zhao said angrily, puffing out her chest. "I'm a few years older than you, and I'm more developed than you."

Peach Blossom's gaze fell on Tang Zhao's chest, and remembering that it was indeed softer, she asked in surprise, "You, you're a woman?" Tang Zhao: "Mhm!"

Peach Blossom was extremely embarrassed and quickly apologized, "Sir, please forgive me, young lady, I, I..."

"Alright, alright, no need to say more. We'll be leaving tomorrow, so you should go back and pack your things."

The peach blossoms stood still.

"Hmm?" Tang Zhao turned around.

"Young lady, please have mercy and take my parents with you!" Peach Blossom kowtowed. "Our family will be your servants in our next life to repay your kindness!"

"Of course you should bring it. Do you want to separate your family of three?" Tang Zhao helped her up and saw that Tao Hua's forehead was red and swollen from the bump. He gave her a small bottle of medicine to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. "Go back and apply it. Sleep for a night, and the injury on your forehead will be better the next day."

"Thank you girl!"

"Outside, people call me Young Master."

"Oh, thank you so much, young master!" Peach Blossom ran back into the house happily. "Father, Mother!"

The old man and woman were both awake. Hearing their daughter's cries, they thought something bad had happened to her and quickly got up to check on her.

"Father, Mother!" Peach Blossom rushed over and recounted what had just happened. "Miss, oh no, Young Master told us to pack our things and come with us tomorrow!"

"Peach Blossom's mother, we've met some truly wonderful people!"

"Yes, he's such a good man!" The woman couldn't hold back her tears. "Peach Blossom's father, you and Peach Blossom should pack your things quickly, and you should leave tomorrow."

"mother!"

“Peach Blossom, your mother is bedridden and can’t move, so she can’t keep up with you.”

It was because of her that their family couldn't escape Qin Island in time. Now that the city gates are closed, they can't escape even if they want to.

“The benefactor is kind enough to take us along, we can’t be a burden to him,” the woman said, stroking her daughter’s hair. “As long as you and your father are doing well, your mother will be content.”

The next morning, as smoke rose from the chimneys, Wu Yi'er led his men to feed the horses, and the group prepared to leave after breakfast.

Tang Zhao was surprised, "What happened? Your eyes are swollen like walnuts? Are you reluctant to leave home?"

She can't take the teahouse with her!

Peach Blossom rushed forward and hugged Tang Zhao tightly around the waist, "Young Master, my parents aren't coming with us!"

"why?"

"Father must stay and take care of Mother!"

Why doesn't your mother leave?

"Mother can't move her legs!"

"Then we can just buy a carriage nearby," Tang Zhao said, not thinking it was a big deal.

Peach Blossom looked hopeful. "Is it okay?"

“Of course, it’s not a difficult thing,” Tang Zhao immediately summoned a guard and ordered him to buy a carriage right now.

The peach blossoms burst into laughter through their tears.

On the official road, a group of soldiers rode by. Seeing smoke rising from the chimneys in the distance, they quickened their pace.

"Boss, bring the food here immediately, the grandfathers are in a hurry to get on their way!"

Peach Blossom's father wiped away his tears and stepped forward, saying, "I'm sorry, sirs, our shop is closed. Please find another place to eat!"

"You old scoundrel!" The officer drew his sword. "We've had the smell of meat for ages, but you're talking about Guan Ye. You just don't want to give us any, do you?"

"How dare I say such a thing, sir?"

"Grandpa is giving you two choices today: either bring Grandpa your food, or Grandpa will cook you and eat you! You choose!"