"Dacheng, you are the pride of Yiwu. When you go to the Zhejiang Army, you must lead the men of Yiwu to win glory for Yiwu."
"Erdan, you must listen to the adults. If the adults tell you to go east, you dare not go west. If the adults tell you to beat the dog, you dare not chase the chicken..."
"Hei Niu, my son, you have a lot of strength. If you kill a few more Japanese pirates, I will build you a big house and marry you a big and fertile stepmother..."
The next morning, all 1,200 recruits arrived at the venue on time, ready to set off for the Zhejiang Army’s headquarters - Taohuaji Parade Ground. Their parents, relatives, and aunts and uncles all came to see them off, and earnestly taught them to behave well and not to bring discredit to Yiwu.
But, what's the matter with building a big house and marrying a stepmother? ! Zhu Pingan shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Lord Zhu, have a safe journey." County Magistrate Zhao stood at the city gate and bowed to see him off.
"Thanks to Magistrate Zhao for his good words." Zhu Ping'an returned the greeting with a bow, then waved his right hand to the crowd and ordered, "Let's go."
"Let's go. Everybody, pay attention to the line, don't talk to each other, don't look around, just run." Liu Dadao and other Zhejiang Army veterans temporarily acted as instructors for the recruits, and while training along the way, they rushed to the Taohuaji training ground.
When Zhu Ping'an led 1,200 new recruits of the Zhejiang Army to the Taohuaji parade ground, Li Shu and his party arrived in Yangzhou on a ship.
Li Shu, with her belly bulging, slowly stepped down from the boat with the help of Qin'er. After stepping on the solid ground, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief with her delicate hands and couldn't help but retching a few times. Li Shu had actually already gotten over the morning sickness reaction, but the boat ride and the ups and downs of the waves still made her feel sick again.
"Miss, please eat a sour plum to relieve your stress." Qin'er opened an exquisite food box, pinched out a sour plum and handed it to Li Shu.
Li Shu held a sour plum in her cherry lips; the sweet and sour taste gradually suppressed her morning sickness.
"Miss, we have been traveling a little too fast these past two days. We are fine, but how can you bear it with your big belly? We are close to Yingtian now, so let's not rush. Let's rest in Yangzhou for two days before continuing."
Qin'er couldn't bear to see the young lady suffering so much with a big belly, so she hurriedly persuaded Li Shu to rest in Yangzhou for two days.
"I guess the two little guys are anxious to see Brother Zhu. It won't be too late to settle them down and rest when we get there."
Li Shu smiled slightly, stroked her pregnant belly with her slender hands, and said in a soft voice, rejecting Qin'er's suggestion.
"I think it's the young lady who wants to meet her husband." Qin'er has a special relationship with Li Shu, so she said jokingly.
"You little rascal, you're so bold that you even dare to make fun of me." Li Shu couldn't help but blush and said coquettishly. She bent a finger of her little hand and gently tapped Qin'er on the forehead.
"Ouch..." Qin'er pretended to be in pain, making Li Shu giggle.
"Miss, to be honest, even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about the two young masters. The two young masters have been traveling hard these past two days, and their bodies are too precious to bear it, so Miss is vomiting. For the sake of the two young masters, Miss, let's rest in Yangzhou for two days before continuing on our journey."
Qin Er persuaded her seriously. In order to convince Li Shu, Qin Er brought up her two unborn sons and Zhu Ping'an, "Also, Miss. I'm sure your husband won't want you to travel so hard. If he knew how hard it was for you to travel, I don't know how distressed he would be."
Qin'er's words touched Li Shu. Li Shu stretched out her slender hands and gently stroked her belly, feeling the baby's movements.
Gulu, Gulu...
The baby's fetal movements were somewhat frequent, and according to Uncle Zhang's teachings, this was a sign that the baby was feeling uncomfortable.
Just as Qin'er said, it was indeed because of the hard work of rushing on the road these past two days that the baby felt uncomfortable.
Li Shu, Li Shu, you have endured for so many months, and these two days are the only difference. You must not rush to see Brother Zhu and let the baby get hurt. That would be a loss of the greater for the smaller. You are bringing the baby to reunite with Brother Zhu and give him a surprise, but you cannot bring him fear and regret.
Thinking of this, Li Shu nodded and said, "Okay, let's rest in Yangzhou for two days before continuing on our journey."
"Miss, you are wise." Qin'er smiled and gave a compliment at the right time.
With the money to pave the way, soon an elegant restaurant was booked just to entertain Li Shu and her group.
The No. 1 room in the restaurant was cleaned up. Qin'er helped Li Shu sit on the bed, half leaning against it with a pillow stuffed behind her back. A little girl brought in a basin of hot water of suitable temperature, sprinkled rose petals on it, and soaked Li Shu's feet to relieve her fatigue.
Qin'er sat on the edge of the bed and gently massaged Li Shu's calves. Because she was pregnant with twins, Li Shu's calves were a little swollen.
Li Shu soaked her feet in hot water and massaged them with her hands. Immediately, most of the fatigue caused by the journey was gone. Li Shu squinted her eyes comfortably, "Mm, comfortable..."
"Miss, the two little princes are so lucky to be born into the womb of a mother who loves them so much."
Qin'er massaged gently while speaking in a low voice.
"Hehe, I think instead of saying they are blessed, it's better to say that I am blessed to have two precious sons at once." Li Shu giggled, her eyes curved into crescents, full of happiness.
Qin Er thought of the eunuch she met the day before yesterday, and continued with Li Shu's words, "Young lady is blessed, and the two little princes are even more blessed. The eunuch she met the day before yesterday specially announced the good news to young lady that not only was the son-in-law promoted to the fourth-rank deputy envoy, but the emperor's grace was so great that he also favored the little princes with the title of centurion. Tsk tsk, the two little princes haven't been born yet, but they are already centurions, how lucky they are."
"It's not two, it's one. The emperor's decree can only favor one of the hundred households." Li Shu corrected with a smile.
"Oh, the emperor is so stingy..." Qin'er pouted and muttered when she heard that.
"What do you know, little girl? You're so stingy. A civil official's son being promoted to a military position is a high-level commendation, and there aren't many civil officials who receive this honor. Although the number of civil officials' sons being promoted to military positions in this dynasty is a little higher than in previous years, those who receive this honor are all cabinet ministers and governors-general. There are only a handful of people like Brother Zhu."
Li Shu smiled and shook her head.
"My son-in-law is really amazing. Hehe, now my son-in-law can protect a young master. When my son-in-law makes more contributions, he will definitely protect another young master. By then, the two young masters will be equal and both will be officials..."
Qin Er said confidently.
"Hehe, do you think it's easy to make achievements? You can do it just by saying it..." Li Shu couldn't help but covering her mouth and chuckling.
"It's not easy for others, but it's easy for my uncle. He's very capable." Qin'er was full of confidence in Zhu Ping'an.