Oh no! Seven kids at the start, all yellow and skinny.

Chapter 341 The Xiao Family's Fourth Branch

Yunyi nodded: "Then what does Second Master want?"

“I’d like you to visit her if you return to Beijing.” Zhou Jingyu hesitated for a moment. “I know this request is a bit…”

"Okay." Yunyi nodded. She figured she would have to go back this year no matter what. "As long as you can wait."

"As long as you're alive, there's hope, isn't there?"

Yunyi nodded: "Seventh Master is here, he's in the house. Go and talk to him, I'll go make something to eat." Then she went into the kitchen.

Meanwhile, back in Black City, the fourth branch of the Xiao family has been here for about half a year, and they are slowly getting used to their life in exile. Of course, they have no choice but to adapt, since circumstances are beyond their control.

"Father, Mother." Second daughter-in-law Guan Xiaoxia walked in carrying a ceramic jar. "This is today's water and food." Behind her followed eldest daughter-in-law Tian Yuzhi, carrying a sack.

Black City is located in the northwest, a region that is inherently short of water. Therefore, resources in Black City are limited, especially for exiled prisoners, whose rations and water are distributed on a regular basis.

After all, even though they were prisoners, they could still work here, and the imperial court wouldn't let them starve to death.

But we won't let them have it easy either.

"When will this end?" Fourth Madam Xiao Mo sighed. In the past, although they were born out of wedlock, they lived a life of luxury. Unexpectedly, they fell into misfortune and ended up not having enough to eat.

Although she knew it wasn't the eldest son's fault, if it weren't for him, they would still be living a good life in Jiangnan.

"Have you seen anyone from the main house?" Xiao Taishun asked. He had done two days of forced labor a few days ago and couldn't get up afterward.

"I haven't seen them. I haven't seen anyone from over there these past few days." Guan Xiaoxia shook her head and carefully placed the pottery jar on the table.

Tian Yuzhi placed the dark bag on the table, then lowered her head and turned to go to the kitchen.

"Mom, I'll light the fire for you." Ten-year-old Xiao Pingting came out from the corner and followed Tian Yuzhi to the kitchen.

"What do you mean no one's here?" Xiao Taishun didn't know if he was anxious or what, but he suddenly sat up.

“I didn’t see anyone from over there. I went to the place they used to live, but other people are living there now.” Guan Xiaoxia’s eyes flashed. “Dad, could it be that Uncle has found a way to leave?”

"That would be outrageous! We were exiled here because of them, and now that they have a way to leave, they don't even call us?" Xiao Moshi was quite agitated.

"Don't talk nonsense." Xiao Taishun glared at his wife. "We still don't know what's going on. When the second son comes back, let him go and find out."

Although Xiao Mo was unconvinced, she didn't say anything more.

In the evening, the two sons returned. They were both assigned to work at the quarry, and after a long day, they were so exhausted that their bones ached.

However, in the evenings, all they had was a bowl of wild vegetable porridge and a dark cornbread.

I'm not eating well, I have no energy, and I still have to work tomorrow.

Xiao Taishun wasn't that hungry because he had been lying down all day. After he finished eating, he called his two sons over and said, "Tomorrow, you two go out and find out... find out about the situation at the master's house."

Xiao Mufeng and Xiao Mufan exchanged a glance and then nodded.

However, the news brought back the next day made the family feel even more complicated, because there was no news and they had no idea where the other three families had gone.

Of course, they couldn't hear anything deeper.

“They’re either dead or gone,” Xiao Taishun said hesitantly.

“They couldn’t be dead. There are more than a dozen people. Even if they were dead, there should be some news. But there’s nothing. That can only mean they left Black City.” Madam Xiao Mo said, “Master, we are all members of the Xiao family. How can they just abandon us?” As she spoke, she began to wipe away her tears. “If it weren’t for the accident involving the eldest son, would we be like this? They are so heartless.”

Everyone fell silent, clearly agreeing to some extent with this statement.

Tian Yuzhi opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end she lowered her head, only holding her daughter in her arms, her eyes filled with lifelessness.

"I'll go to the government office tomorrow and ask," Xiao Taishun finally decided.

As night fell, Tian Yuzhi's sobbing could be heard from the room next door.

"What's there to cry about?" Xiao Mufeng's impatient voice rang out. "Anyway, you're already impure, so what's wrong with going again tomorrow? I don't want to lift any more stones."

Tian Yuzhi continued to cry.

"Why are you crying?" Xiao Mufeng became even more impatient. "I will remember your kindness from now on. If I die from exhaustion in the quarry, your life will be even more difficult. Anyway, I won't look down on you."

"I do not……"

"You've gone too far!"

Then came the sound of whipping, and the even more restrained sobs of a woman.

……

The house here was originally simple. The two brothers' room was originally a side room separated by yellow mud, which was not soundproof at all. Therefore, Xiao Mufan and his wife next door could hear everything clearly.

Guan Xiaoxia trembled in fright.

Xiao Mufan hugged her tightly: "Don't be afraid, I will never abandon you."

Guan Xiaoxia could only hold her man tightly, but thinking about what happened on the road to exile, she couldn't help but tremble. When would this end?

In the dormitory area behind Xiajiazhuang, because her father-in-law went to the Western Regions with her third great-grandfather, Guo Yajing brought Er Ya and San Ya over to sleep with her mother-in-law.

The two little girls were already asleep, but the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were still talking.

“Mother, I wonder how Yuzhi is doing.” Guo Yajing sighed. “Before we left Black City, I went to see her. She didn’t seem very energetic. I went to see her again later and gave her some food, but I don’t think she and Pingting can eat anything.”

“Sigh.” Li Mengrui also sighed, “Yes, the people from the fourth branch of the family…” She paused for a moment, “Only Yuzhi is somewhat honest.”

"How about I go ask Yunyi and see if she can think of a solution..."

“Our family is already a burden enough,” Li Mengrui shook her head. “Don’t add to her troubles.”

Guo Yajing fell silent. Indeed, it was already a huge risk to bring all three of them out of Black City. "Then I'll go and see them when I have time. No matter what, I knew Yuzhi before we got married, and Pingting is a good girl too. I'll help her if I can."

"Okay, but you should also say hello to Yunyi. It's getting late, go back to sleep."

"Okay, I'll go tomorrow. Mom, why are you pushing me out?"

"I have two granddaughters, that's enough for me. You should go back to sleep." Li Mengrui said, closing the door. She couldn't leave her son alone in the room.