After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 1017 Another Good News
The news that Zhuang Shitong and his family had arrived in the capital made everyone in the Hai family very happy.

If there had not been any delay, Zhuang Shitong should have returned to the capital long ago, and perhaps he could have gone with the Hai family. Although it was three months late, at least they arrived in the capital before the New Year. Ma had been anxious about her grandson's marriage for a long time, and now she could finally put her mind at ease.

She rushed from the main courtyard to the front courtyard, asking Cao Gengyun for details about the Zhuang family's arrival in Beijing, so that she could determine when it would be convenient for her to visit and discuss the marriage of her grandson Haijiao and Zhuang Minyi as soon as possible. Now that Haitang and Jin Jiashu's engagement has been finalized, if her brother Haijiao cannot get married soon, how can he determine the date for his sister's wedding?
Cao Gengyun told Ma that the Zhuang family should have entered the city at the last minute before the city gate closed before dark yesterday, so they stayed in an inn not far from the city gate at night. The old county magistrate Geng Zehuai and his daughter Geng, the mother of Geng Tianyou, who were traveling with Zhuang Shitong, both caught a cold on the road. In addition, everyone was exhausted from the long journey, so Zhuang Shitong planned to let the two families rest in the inn for a few days, ask the doctor to prescribe medicine, and contact relatives and friends in Beijing when the patients got better. If Cao Gengyun had not happened to visit an old friend who lived nearby today and happened to meet Geng Tianyou going out to get medicine, it might have taken ten days or half a month to know that the Zhuang family had entered Beijing.

Ma looked worried after hearing this: "What should we do? Old Geng is old, and his daughter has always been weak. She actually got sick on the road. It's inconvenient to see a doctor or take medicine. I don't know how long it will take. I hope she won't get sick. And Minyi's father is not a strong man. Traveling two thousand miles in the middle of winter is hard even for a good man, let alone a patient. Uh, the master and I have to go and take a look."

Cao Gengyun said, "Tianyou met me today, and I guess Lao Zhuang also knows that we will go to look for them. We are all so familiar with each other, and we are relatives, so there is no need to follow those conventional etiquettes, such as sending invitations. It is still early now, if you are worried, just leave now, and maybe you can get home before dark."

Xie Wenzai nodded and said, "That's good. They just arrived in the capital and have a lot of things to do. If we go over and help them, it will also help Zhuang Shitong to have less worries."

Haitang turned to look at her grandmother Ma: "Hasn't grandma already rented a house for the Zhuang family? She also hired a couple to look after the house and do odd jobs, but they just couldn't wait for the Zhuang family to come to Beijing. Now that they are here, why not invite them to the house directly, so that they don't have to stay in the inn with all the noise and no peace."

Ma clasped her hands and said, "It's been so long, I almost forgot about it, luckily Tangtang reminded me. Yes, I have asked someone to rent a house for his family, and I have paid three months' rent in advance. The location is not far from our home. If we bring the Zhuang family over directly, it will be convenient for us to visit or take care of them." Thinking of this, she suggested to Xie Wenzai and others, "I will send a letter to the master right away. Now it's almost the New Year, and the work that should be done in the Ministry of Revenue has been almost done. The master just mentioned the other day that he is very idle in the office now and has nothing to do all day. In this case, let him take leave and come back, and we will go to pick up the Zhuang family together."

Xie Wenzai, Cao, and Lu all agreed, and they immediately went back to their room to change into their outer clothes. Cao Gengyun also helped find someone to harness the carriage, ready to go out.

Ma turned around and instructed Haitang: "You know where the house our family rented for the Zhuang family is. Send someone to notify the couple who are looking after the house and ask them to cook soup and heat the kang to prepare for the host family to move in. You stay at home and take care of dinner and other matters. We don't know when grandma will be back, so the house is left to you."

Haitang agreed solemnly: "Don't worry, grandma, I will do it."

Ma smiled and touched her granddaughter's face, saying lovingly, "Grandma knows that you miss your sister from the Zhuang family, and you want to go visit her with Grandpa and Grandma. But you are married now, so it's better not to go out too much. I will take your second aunt with me, and also bring your Aunt Cui, so you don't have to worry about no one to help you when you get into trouble."

Haitang had been prepared for this and had no objection. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will take good care of the family. Second Aunt will go with you, and I will take care of Little Stone. But my brother is still working in the palace, should we send someone to deliver a message to him? When the Zhuang family comes to Beijing, he, the son-in-law, must show up." Ma hesitated for a moment before saying, "He has responsibilities to fulfill and is in the palace, so it is inconvenient to send a message, so don't call him. Wait for him to come home, then tell him what happened, and ask him to wait directly at the house we rented, and not to go to the inn, so that he doesn't get lost."

Haitang responded.

Jin Jiashu suddenly interrupted and said, "Grandma Hai, if you are worried that your family members may not be able to send a message to the palace, please inform Brother Hai. I can help."

Ma glanced at him and said, "No, it's not a big deal. The Zhuang family is not unreasonable and will understand Baoshun's responsibilities. But you, Xiaojin, said you would come to ask the teachers for advice on your homework, but you just chatted with us. How long have you been chatting? At least half an hour, right? If people outside knew about this, I don't know what they would say! You can see that we are really busy right now, so you should go back earlier. There is a long way to go, just wait until you get married!"

Jin Jiashu's face turned red, and Haitang was laughing secretly beside him. After being glared at by her grandmother Ma, she said softly to the former, "Brother Jin, why don't you go back first? Come back after you finish your homework. Grandpa Zhuang also taught you knowledge. He has already arrived in the capital. If he sees you, he might ask questions. You should also go back and make preparations, so as not to be embarrassed when you don't know anything."

Jin Jiashu smiled and said, "That's not necessary. I've done well in my studies and have never given up. Even if Teacher Zhuang asks me, I can answer them." However, given the current situation at the Hai family, it was really not easy for him to stay any longer. He had to linger for a while, waiting until Xie Wenzai and Lu Bainian changed their clothes and came out, and Cao Gengyun returned to the front yard to meet everyone. Then he solemnly said goodbye to all the teachers and elders, and left the Hai family reluctantly.

As soon as Jin Jiashu left, everyone in the Hai family followed him out. Haitang sent someone to deliver a letter to her grandfather, Hai Xiya, who would go directly to the inn after asking for leave, and would not have to go home for a transfer.

With so many people leaving the Hai family, it was quiet for a while. Little Stone went out to play with new friends and hasn't come back yet. Haitang first sent someone to the yard rented by the Zhuang family to pass on the message, and then went to the kitchen to arrange dinner. When she came out, she saw that it was still early and there was nothing to do, so she planned to go back to her own yard first.

After walking a few steps, there was a sound at the gate. Haitang heard the doorman greeting her brother Haijiao, and was extremely surprised. She turned around and greeted him: "Brother, why are you back at this time? Did you hear the news? Did Brother Jin send you a letter?"

"Xiao Jin? I haven't seen him. What news are you talking about?" Haijiao was stunned, but before Haitang could answer, he told her another good news, "The old property of the Qiao family has been returned. It was the property of the two branches of the Qiao family that was confiscated one after another, including my grandfather's share. Cousin Qiao said that the eldest branch only has my mother as a descendant, so he plans to give the eldest branch's share to my brother and me."