After listening to Liu Rumei's thoughts, Zheng Ke nodded slightly.
"Indeed, Miss, your plan is very clever. Entrusting the supervision to others, I believe the Vermilion Bird Gang will absolutely not let these people escape."
After praising Liu Rumei, Zheng Ke changed the subject, "Miss, please make arrangements. We should return to the capital as soon as possible."
"No, Uncle Zheng, I told you yesterday that I will not go back."
Zheng Ke looked bewildered.
"Miss, Sun Jian's matter is settled. Do you have any remaining concerns in Qingniu County?"
Liu Rumei smiled and shook her head. "No, Uncle Zheng. Qingniu Mountain is the Crown Prince's concern, and therefore it is mine. As long as the Grand Tutor remains, I will not leave Qingniu Mountain."
Zheng Ke sighed deeply again. "Miss, why must you be so stubborn?"
Liu Rumei looked at Zheng Ke and said earnestly again, "Uncle Zheng, everyone has their own aspirations. Please relay to my father, King, that Rumei's resolve is firm. If my father insists on going against the Crown Prince, and if we are forced to confront each other one day, do not blame Rumei for disregarding filial piety."
Zheng Ke stamped his feet anxiously. "Miss, what are you saying? Since childhood, the Prince has treated you like a pearl in his palm, how could you..."
Liu Rumei did not continue this line of conversation. Instead, she cupped her hands and said, "Uncle Zheng, I have one more request. Could you please go and bring Liu Tie to the capital so he can receive treatment there?"
"Alright, I will go now." Zheng Ke shook his head helplessly and then signaled for his men to follow him away.
After Zheng Ke had left, Liu Rumei called Liu Ce over and asked him to first greet Chen Xiaobei and Yang Zhi, find a suitable place for detention as soon as possible, and then transfer the Cangying Mountain group over after dark.
At this moment, Chen Xiaobei was busy fishing in the river.
Yang Zhi was right. After they stopped using the drugs, the fish in the river had returned to their normal state. In less than half an hour, they had caught a large fish over a foot long. They hadn't caught a fish in many days, so the appearance of this fish made Chen Qiao'er very excited.
Since they could actually catch fish, Chen Xiaobei pondered for a moment. He decided to go all out. He ran home, brought out all the fishing nets that Chen Xintian had sent, and cast them all into the river.
With five or six fishing nets in the river, Chen Xiaobei was kept busy. Just as he finished with one net where fish had been caught, another net started to move.
Before noon, Chen Xiaobei had caught seven large fish, each over a foot long, and countless smaller fish, all of which he released into the pond.
As it was nearing noon, Cui Hongyu arrived to call him home for lunch.
"Husband, it's time to go home and eat. It's already past noon."
Chen Xiaobei was still enjoying himself. He pointed to the fishing nets in the river. "No rush, no rush. The fish are plentiful today."
As he was speaking, a reed shook violently. Chen Xiaobei rushed over and quickly lifted the fishing net.
The scene before him made him both amused and speechless.
There were no fish.
The net was empty, not a single fish. However, hanging beneath the net was something large.
Yes, it was a turtle the size of a washbasin, biting onto the piece of bone and meat that served as bait through the net.
Seeing this, Cui Hongyu quickly exclaimed, "Husband, hurry and pull it up."
Chen Xiaobei snapped back to attention and quickly dragged the fishing net ashore, throwing it onto the bank.
The large turtle landed on its back, its limbs flailing in the air.
Chen Xiaobei couldn't help but exclaim, "What a big old turtle!"
This was his first time seeing such a creature since transmigrating to the Great Cang Kingdom.
In his previous life, he had kept turtles for a while, raising them from the size of a matchbox to the size of his palm, which took seven or eight years.
Cui Hongyu and Chen Qiao'er also gathered around with excitement, marveling at the sight.
The turtle, on its back, struggled to flip over. But its body was too large and its legs too short for it to manage.
"Husband, this turtle must be at least a few hundred years old."
So long? They say a thousand-year-old turtle lives for ten thousand years. It seems the saying is true.
"Is that so? If that's the case, it will surely fetch a good price in the county town." Chen Xiaobei became excited.
Cui Hongyu shook her head. "Husband, something this old is likely to have gained sentience. We shouldn't harm it."
"If sister-in-law cannot harm it, then let's keep the turtle at home. I will feed it," Chen Qiao'er tentatively asked.
Chen Xiaobei looked at Chen Qiao'er, seeing the joy in her eyes as she looked at the turtle. It seemed she genuinely liked it.
Cui Hongyu also smiled in agreement. "Yes, that's what I meant. Let's keep it at home, feed it well, and it will protect our whole family."
Although he didn't entirely agree with Cui Hongyu's reasoning, keeping the turtle at home would satisfy Cui Hongyu and make Chen Qiao'er happy. It was a win-win situation, a profitable deal.
"Alright, then we'll keep it at home. Come, let's go home and eat."
Chen Xiaobei waded into the river to retrieve all the fishing nets, while Cui Hongyu placed the turtle in a wooden bucket and carried it.
Chen Qiao'er skipped ahead of them, humming an unknown children's song, looking exceptionally excited.
Seeing this scene, Chen Xiaobei sighed inwardly. Chen Qiao'er was a gift from heaven, and he must cherish her. When it came time for her to marry, he would have to be discerning and find her a good family.
As they entered the courtyard, the aroma of stewed fish filled the air.
Cui Hongyu explained a little nervously, "Husband, I stewed a fish over a foot long. Is that a bit excessive?"
Chen Xiaobei couldn't help but laugh. "What's there to be afraid of? When we eat, we should eat big. You and Qiao'er both need to replenish your nutrition."
His words were loaded with meaning, and Cui Hongyu's face instantly turned red. "Husband, you're teasing me again."
Chen Xiaobei knew that Cui Hongyu understood his intention immediately.
This was interesting. If she could understand his innuendo, life would surely be filled with much joy in the future.
The three of them ate lunch with even more merriment. Cui Hongyu looked at Chen Qiao'er, then at Chen Xiaobei. A sense of happiness welled up within her. She felt truly blessed to have met Chen Xiaobei here.
Seeing Cui Hongyu lost in thought, Chen Xiaobei smiled and asked, "Hongyu, what's wrong?"
Cui Hongyu's face flushed slightly, and she quickly concealed her emotions. "Oh, I, I'm fine. I'm done eating." With that, she somewhat flustered picked up Chen Qiao'er's bowl. "Sister-in-law will get you another bowl of soup."
Chen Xiaobei ate until he was full.
Finally, he poured the leftover fish bones for the little wolf.
Yes, the fish bones should be given to the wolf, not the dog. If a dog eats them, the hard fish bones could easily pierce its intestines and cause harm. But wolves were different; their stomachs were like iron, and they could eat anything.
After lunch, leaning against the large locust tree and taking a nap was such a pleasant life.