Even now, with the move, Ji Jinyu wasn’t confident she could outrun the natural disaster, let alone before the escape—she needed to make thorough preparations.
But she had to try. Since she had managed to lead most of her family to safety in her previous life, then with experience and time on her side this time, she could certainly do it again!
“I’ll say it again: those who don’t want to leave can stay.”
Of course, Ji Jinyu’s words were directed solely at Ji Yingcai and his wife.
No matter where Ji Jinyu went, she would definitely take her parents, her young son and daughter, her eldest daughter-in-law, and her two granddaughters.
Ji Yingcai might have sensed his mother’s targeting, so after Ji Jinyu finished speaking, he was the first to raise his hand and say to his mother, “Wherever Mother goes, we’ll go!”
Ji Jinyu felt a bit disappointed. She eyed her second son suspiciously—could it be that he had also been reborn?
Otherwise, why would he suddenly cling to her like a stubborn burr?
Ji Shan exchanged a glance with his wife, sighed, and said, “Your mother and I will, of course, go with you.”
“Us too!” the twins said in unison.
“Nian’an and I as well.”
Ji Jinyu looked at her family, who had reached a consensus, and finally fixed her gaze on Ji Yingcai.
Noticing his mother’s stare, Ji Yingcai immediately stepped forward and said, “Mother, whatever you need, just give the order! I’ll make sure it’s done!”
With Dou Yingliang gone, he was now the eldest son of the family!
Ji Jinyu looked at her inexplicably enthusiastic second son and said, “Go to Old Liu at the carriage shop and order three carriages—two for passengers and one for luggage.”
“They must be sturdy, waterproof, spacious enough to carry plenty, and durable for long journeys.”
Upon hearing his mother’s instructions, Ji Yingcai smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll pick the best for our family. As for the animals, should we buy mules or horses?”
Before Ji Jinyu could reply, Ji Yingcai added, “Mother, I think mules are a good choice. They’re cheaper than horses, have strong endurance, can carry heavy loads, and are gentle. They’re well-suited for long journeys.”
“Good.”
“But the carriage compartments we need might have to be custom-made. Even with rush work, it’ll take at least a week or so.” However, his mother had said they would depart in three days, meaning there were only two days left to make the compartments.
“You can pay extra. I want to see them by tomorrow night.”
After a moment of thought, Ji Yingcai said to his mother, “Alright, I’ll handle this.”
Ji Yingcai knew very well that because he and his elder brother had previously urged their mother to head north, it had created a rift between him and his mother. Now, he had to do more to regain her trust.
But…
Ji Yingcai looked at the money box on the ground and said, “Mother, the money…”
Ji Jinyu picked up the box from the floor, took out a hundred taels, and handed it to Ji Yingcai, warning him, “The exterior should be plain, but the interior must be comfortable. Don’t try to pass off inferior goods as quality ones.”
Ji Yingcai smiled as he took the silver notes and said to Ji Jinyu, “I’d never cheat my own family! You can trust me to handle this!”
In this regard, Ji Jinyu did trust Ji Yingcai. He had his own selfish motives, but he knew what was important.
Back then, if it hadn’t been for the two mule carts he bought, they wouldn’t have been able to escape so quickly.
“Go on.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
With his task assigned, Ji Yingcai finally felt the weight lift from his heart. Then, with light steps, he left the house.
Ji Jinyu watched her second son’s retreating figure with a myriad of thoughts, but time was pressing, and there wasn’t much room for idle contemplation.
She glanced at Fang Yourong and immediately said, “Huilan, Second Daughter-in-law, you two go prepare the meal.”
Yu Huilan had always been obedient to her mother-in-law. As soon as Ji Jinyu finished speaking, she set down the child in her arms and stood up.
Although Fang Yourong was dissatisfied, she thought about how her mother-in-law had been acting like a madwoman today and obediently put down her daughter.
After Yu Huilan and Fang Yourong left the main hall, Ji Jinyu looked at her two little granddaughters, her stern demeanor fading away, replaced by a sudden gentleness.
“An’an, Shushu, come to Grandma.”
Ji Nian’an was now three and a half years old, and Ji Nianshu was two and a half. The two little ones toddled over to their grandmother on their short legs and were promptly scooped onto her lap.
In her previous life, neither of these little ones had survived to reach the capital.
After gathering the two little ones into her arms, Ji Nian’an patted her grandmother’s hand like a little adult and said, “Grandma, don’t be sad. Mother and I are both here with you.”
Ji Nianshu also nodded her little head.
Unlike Ji Nian’an, who had loved talking since she was young, even though Ji Nianshu was now two and a half, she refused to utter a single word unless absolutely forced.
Because Ji Nianshu spoke late and disliked talking, Fang Yourong felt she had lost face and often secretly disciplined Ji Nianshu.
If Ji Jinyu hadn’t accidentally discovered the bruises and pinch marks on her little granddaughter’s arms and legs, she would never have known that Fang Yourong, as a mother, could be so harsh on her own daughter.
After scolding Ji Yingcai and Fang Yourong severely, Ji Jinyu took Ji Nianshu into her own room to raise her, and only then did Ji Nianshu become a little more cheerful.
Fang Yourong never expected her mother-in-law to care so much about a mere girl, so she didn’t dare do anything to Ji Nianshu afterward—after all, her mother-in-law was terrifying when angry.
Although Ji Nianshu was young, she wasn’t foolish. She knew her mother didn’t like her, and in this household, only her grandmother could protect her small self. So she always stayed close to her grandmother and never found her fierce grandmother scary.
If she hadn’t run slowly today, she wouldn’t have been caught and held by her mother.
“I’ll stay with Grandma too.”
Ji Jinyu patted the heads of her two little granddaughters and smiled, saying, “Good.”
After speaking, she turned to her father and said, “Father, sell both of the family shops during this time and buy more grain. The price of grain will surely skyrocket later.”
If she remembered correctly, their family had already stockpiled quite a bit of grain.
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle these matters properly.”
Since Ji Shan had decided to follow his daughter’s advice and leave, he wouldn’t dawdle. “I’ll go find a familiar broker now and put our house up for sale as well.”
The more money they could get, the better.
Ji Jinyu trusted her father completely. When she looked at her mother, Wang Sijin immediately said, “You can rest assured about my side too. I’ll take care of packing the household belongings with A-Jun.”
After her grandmother finished speaking, Ji Yingjun nodded and assured her mother, “Mother, don’t worry. I’ll help Grandma.”
“Good.” Ji Jinyu looked at her youngest son. “A-Ming.”
“I am here.”
Ji Yingming approached his mother’s side.
“Write a formal complaint for me. I want to accuse Dou Shichang, the Director of the Ministry of War, of abandoning his wife to marry another, of forming cliques for personal gain, of…” Although Ji Jinyu had studied for a few years at her mother’s request, her knowledge was still limited compared to that of a true scholar.
She looked directly at her young son and said, “In any case, list all the charges you can write. I want to see what fate awaits a corrupt official like him, who lacks virtue and violates the Laws of the Great Zhou!”