The young couple expressed interest, and the Cheng family head, egged on by Cheng Kaichun, was also eager. In the end, the group decided to head to Quezhou City!
Patriarch Jin, of course, was all for it. Hearing that money could buy comfort in the city, he immediately said, "Excellent! That sounds wonderful! I've had enough of this bumpy journey. All I lack now is food and shelter; I certainly don't lack wealth!"
He said that if they could enjoy themselves in the city, what did it matter if they spent some money?
Patriarch Cheng felt the same way.
He too was tired of this life and longed for the stability of the past.
Though the old fox didn't say it, the treasures in his vault were all hidden in his carriage. Not to mention how much there was, it was enough to set up another household. Thus, he wanted to probe the situation and, if suitable, settle down in Quezhou City to enjoy a good life.
Seeing that everyone was willing to go, Patriarch Cheng gave the order for them to set off for Quezhou City! They would go and see what the situation was like there!
The young couple had no objections, and naturally, no one else did.
However, Gao Dashan, unusually, spoke up, saying, "It costs money to enter the city, and we're all empty-handed. We don't have much food left either."
Cheng Hao was about to speak, but Patriarch Cheng, in a good mood, beat him to it: "Since you've traveled with us, you've shared life and death with us. My Cheng family is short of people now. If you're willing, you can enter the city with us, and I'll pay your entry fees!"
It wasn't entirely out of kindness. It was for his own benefit. His eldest son and daughter-in-law were teaching them skills, and it would be a shame to let such talented people go after they had just started learning. In this chaotic world, it was better to foster good relationships, and if anything happened, they could call on them for help.
Gao Dashan naturally expressed his gratitude and said he had no objections.
He was certainly willing to follow.
The people from Shan'ao Village had already recognized Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao as their masters. Having witnessed their abilities, they couldn't be driven away now.
Patriarch Cheng nodded, his face full of joy, feeling that a good life was beckoning him. He then urged everyone to rest quickly and then hurry on their way!
Everyone was naturally looking forward to it.
So they all agreed and went.
The next day, they announced their willingness to travel with Patriarch Xue and Patriarch Yu.
Patriarch Xue and Patriarch Yu were overjoyed and treated the Cheng family with great respect. This time, they didn't dare to harbor any designs on the Cheng family's wealth.
They only hoped to reach Quezhou City smoothly with the Cheng family's convoy.
Their two families also had many dependents.
The youngest child in the Yu family was still swaddled. The journey had been arduous, and the child's mother had nearly lost her life, but the child had been well cared for.
He had six or seven children, young and old.
Patriarch Yu had one wife and two concubines, and all the children were born to them.
Every day, there was noise and clamor.
Patriarch Yu was constantly troubled, caught in the middle.
Either the main wife would complain, or a concubine would hold the swaddled child and cry to complain, or the two concubines would fight over something to eat.
The Yu family's convoy was like a vegetable market, filled with trivial matters every day.
The Xue family's convoy was also interesting. Patriarch Xue had his two brothers and an elderly mother. His mother, despite her age, was quite troublesome. She had to be carried down from the carriage and carried some distance. Every day, she would order someone to do this or that.
If she didn't like her daughter-in-law, she would deliberately find fault, saying that she wanted her daughter-in-law to be filial. Therefore, she deliberately wanted to torment her three daughters-in-law. Patriarch Xue was the eldest, and he hadn't expected his mother to be so troublesome.
He was already troubled enough by being caught between his mother and his wife and concubines. Moreover, whenever his two sisters-in-law felt wronged, they would go to his younger brother to complain. If his younger brother was unhappy, he would come to him, the elder brother.
Patriarch Xue was driven to distraction by dealing with these domestic affairs every day.
Therefore, the two patriarchs envied the Cheng family's convoy immensely. The Cheng family had no troublesome elderly parents, no extra sister-in-law relationships to manage, no mother-in-law-daughter-in-law relationships, and even the main wife and concubines didn't quarrel.
This truly made the two of them envious. Occasionally, when they had free time, they would pester Patriarch Cheng for advice, wanting to know how he managed to keep his main wife and concubines so obedient, without any trouble, and even living in harmony!?
Patriarch Cheng would talk at length, weaving elaborate tales to deceive them.
In truth, he was indeed more meticulous than the average man, and having been with many women, he had some methods. However, the main reason he was so peaceful and content was his good luck in encountering women who weren't overly troublesome.
Madame Cheng disdained to openly quarrel with the two concubines. She felt she was the legitimate mistress, and the concubines were beneath her notice. Why would she bother arguing with them? Wouldn't that be beneath her dignity?
Therefore, no matter how dissatisfied she was, she endured it. She understood that a concubine was just a concubine. No matter how favored, she could never elevate her status to that of a wife. She was only slightly better than a servant. When needed, she still had to serve her, the mistress!
Thus, she naturally disdained to argue with them about anything. However, she would still act spoiled and seek favor with Patriarch Cheng. As long as she was happy, a little manipulation would make Patriarch Cheng dote on her. She was, after all, superior to those two concubines.
Madame Cheng had been hurt by Patriarch Cheng some time ago and now didn't care who he loved. In the end, it was all false affection and deceitful words.
Therefore, she would not argue with the concubines at all.
The two concubines had also been taught by an old governess, so they naturally dared not overstep their bounds. Instead, they remained obedient and always remembered their status.
So it was.
Patriarch Cheng was truly blessed with good fortune.
Therefore, the convoy was usually harmonious, and everyone got along well.
Patriarch Xue and Patriarch Yu were truly envious.
Since they had confirmed their decision to travel with the Cheng family, during rest stops along the way, they would come over to chat from time to time, and occasionally come here for a breather.
However, before they could even sit for long, they would be called back by people from their own convoy.
Trouble had broken out again.
Patriarch Cheng, looking at the chaotic scene, couldn't help but sigh.
Then he took a sip of tea to calm his nerves.
Xiao Wuzi and Xiao Liuzi, who happened to pass by, saw the scene from a distance, often accompanied by women's screams and tantrums.
The two children were so scared that they had to look at their devoted young master and young mistress to cleanse their eyes and rekindle their hope for marriage.
"So, it's like our young master and young mistress, just like ordinary people, with one wife and one husband, there aren't so many bothersome things!"
Xiao Wuzi lamented, carrying the water basin. Seeing that they had already started pulling each other's hair, he couldn't help but gasp, suddenly feeling a headache.
Xiao Liuzi also looked troubled, thinking it was too frightening.