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Li Zhoule placed the freshly cooked pork belly into the bowls of her three younger brothers and her husband, watching them happily devour the meat with a smile. However, when she turned to her husband, she found him staring blankly at his bowl. She gently asked, "Why aren't you eating? What are you thinking about?"
Wen Zixia looked over at Li Zhoule, collecting his thoughts before saying, "I was reminded of this time last year. Back then, we didn't have meat to eat, not even wild vegetables. Ziyu and Zi Jue and I were almost starving."
Li Zhoule understood Wen Zixia's feelings and sighed, "It's not just you; Li Yishu and I felt the same way. I remember being sick back then, thinking I wouldn't make it through. Thankfully, Li Yishu brought a bowl of mixed soup to my bedside. I still remember the taste of the chicken in that bowl; it was the best I've ever had. Even now that we can eat chicken, that flavor can't compare to the memory."
Li Yishu swallowed the meat in her mouth and looked up. "I remember that too. We had nothing left at home, and my sister was sick. I didn't know what to do. It was Sister Han who sent us food and helped me take care of my sister."
"Sister Han helped us so much," Li Yishu said as she put down her bowl and started counting on her fingers. "First, she brought us food, then clothes, and then a lighter, soap, seeds... She not only ensured our family didn't have to worry about food and clothing but also helped everyone in the village and even the whole town from going hungry."
Wen Zixue stared blankly with wide eyes. "Who is Sister Han?"
Wen Ziyu scooped a piece of radish into Wen Zixue's bowl. "Sister Han is Brother Li's future wife and the one who sent you winter clothes."
"Oh~~~" Wen Zixue grinned widely. "The winter clothes are so warm!"
Wen Zixia chuckled as he ruffled his younger brother's hair, adding a slice of ham sausage to his bowl before serving a piece to his wife. Li Zhoule smiled tenderly at Wen Zixia as she picked up a piece of fatty intestine to eat. However, for some reason, while she usually enjoyed the taste of fatty intestine, today it smelled unbearable to her, making her feel nauseous.
"Sis, what's wrong?" Li Yishu exclaimed.
Wen Zixia worriedly supported Li Zhoule. "Where do you feel unwell? Do you need to rest?"
Wen Ziyu jumped off his chair and grabbed his coat before running outside. "I'll go find Uncle Guangdan."
Before long, Uncle Guangdan was brought back by Wen Ziyu to the Wen Family home. Although Uncle Guangdan's medical skills were not as good as those of the doctors in the county pharmacy, he could still check simple ailments by feeling pulses. Under the intense gaze of the brothers, he nervously checked Li Zhoule's pulse and then smiled, congratulating Wen Zixia: "Don't be nervous; get ready to be a father in eight months!"
The surprise came so suddenly that Wen Zixia was stunned, and Li Zhoule was equally taken aback. Aside from the two involved, the other three jumped up in joy.
"I'm going to be an uncle!"
"I'm going to be an aunt!"
"I'm no longer the youngest in the family!"
Uncle Guangdan watched the family's reaction with a cheerful smile. This kind of response was perfectly normal; he witnessed it several times a year. Just like before, similar situations had occurred with the Miao Family.
Wen Zixia and Li Zhoule finally regained their composure. Wen Zixia quickly thanked Uncle Guangdan and invited him to join them at the table for hot pot. Uncle Guangdan swallowed hard, showing no signs of refusal as he took a seat at the table—though he could now eat his fill without going hungry, opportunities to enjoy meat were still rare. Unlike the Wen Family, who could indulge in meat every couple of days. Oh, is this pink thing also meat? It tastes quite good and is easy to chew, perfect for older folks like him. He wondered if he could ask the Wen Family for some later.
………………
Hanno tightened his scarf, preventing the cold wind from seeping into his clothes. Indeed, this was the coldest winter in years; it had barely just turned winter, and already it felt so frigid. Hanno held a shopping list in his hand, following what Mom Han had written for a big grocery run. Due to the cold weather, Han Dad and Mom Han had stopped their morning exercises; they only ventured out for a walk during the warmest part of the afternoon to get some fresh air. The task of grocery shopping had fallen entirely on Hanno's shoulders.
A mother and daughter walked ahead of him. The daughter looked about five or six years old, bundled up in thick clothing, resembling a round ball—adorable, just like the Doraemon balloon she was holding onto. The girl was animatedly chatting with her mother when she accidentally let go of the string holding her balloon, which floated away into the sky.
"Wow..." The girl burst into tears.
In an instant, Hanno sprang into action—diminishing at least ninety-nine percent of his strength—leaping to an adult's height and swiftly grabbing the balloon before it could drift too far away. He bent down and handed it back to the girl: "Hold on tight this time; don’t let go again."
The girl eagerly accepted the balloon with sparkling eyes and exclaimed, "Big sister, you're amazing!"
Tears still lingered on her cheeks, but the girl was already smiling like a blooming flower, making Hanno's heart exclaim how adorable she was!
"You need to eat more and exercise more in the future; then you'll be as amazing as your sister," Hanno said with a smile as she ruffled the girl's hair. She straightened up to accept the thanks from the girl's mother and waved goodbye to them. She had to hurry to gather all the supplies and take them home before going to find Elder Brother Li. She had an idea on how to showcase the so-called "Miracle."
"What idea?" Elder Brother Li asked eagerly.
Hanno grinned, "Let Consort X fly over from the sky and then land right in front of the Emperor and all the officials. Isn't that a Miracle?"
Elder Brother Li understood immediately, "A Hot Air Balloon?"
"Yes! What do you think of this plan?" Hanno asked.
Elder Brother Li nodded, "It's feasible, but Consort X won't be able to operate the Hot Air Balloon. How can we make it stop in front of the Emperor?"
Hanno replied, "Aren't you able to? You've been with her for a while now; who knows, maybe the Emperor will even treat you like a deity!"
Elder Brother Li said, "What if they surround me and won’t let me leave?"
Hanno exclaimed, "Silly! Just don’t get off the Hot Air Balloon. Once you're above the palace, you can lower Consort X down with a rope and then steer the Hot Air Balloon away immediately!"
Elder Brother Li responded, "...a rope? That sounds a bit L-like."
Hanno shot him a glance, "Then you can learn from the Dragon Lady and use white silk instead. It would definitely look ethereal."
"Elder Brother Li," said, "You should prepare some ropes for me. Just the cheapest plastic ones from modern times. People from ancient times won't recognize the material and will surely think it's a treasure."
"Plastic ropes..." Hanno's expression mirrored that of Elder Brother Li earlier, "That's even better!"
After hanging up the video call, both sides began their preparations. Hanno searched online for manufacturers selling Hot Air Balloons and contacted one using the phone number listed on the website. As soon as the manufacturer heard there was business, they warmly welcomed Hanno. Hanno made specific requests: the balloon on top should be painted with cloud patterns, and the basket below should also be shaped like a cloud. The ropes connecting the two should be made of silver chains or transparent sturdy ropes, ensuring that from a distance, no one could see the connection between the balloon and the basket. To accommodate these requests, Hanno increased the price he was willing to pay fivefold, and the manufacturer eagerly accepted the order.
Meanwhile, Elder Brother Li gathered Yue Yunfei and Geng Shi'an along with two others to discuss his plan with Hanno. However, no one was focused on the plan; they were all captivated by Elder Brother Li's mention of the Hot Air Balloon.
"People can actually fly up there?" Yue Yunfei exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"People can't fly; it's the Hot Air Balloon that can fly and take people up," Elder Brother Li explained.
"What does a Hot Air Balloon look like? How can it carry people?" asked Mo Yan, the Princess.
Geng Shi'an answered, "A Hot Air Balloon is probably just a larger version of a Sky Lantern. Since Sky Lanterns can lift small objects into the air, it's not too surprising that a Hot Air Balloon can carry people."
Elder Brother Li gave Geng Shi'an a thumbs-up. "Exactly! The principle behind making a Hot Air Balloon is similar to that of a Sky Lantern."
Qi Xueru asked worriedly, "Is a Hot Air Balloon safe? What if it falls while in mid-air?"
Elder Brother Li reassured her, "Don't worry; it's very safe. The Hot Air Balloon was made by my fiancée's expert; it's absolutely secure."
"Safe, huh?" Yue Yunfei's eyes twinkled mischievously as he chuckled, "Since safety is guaranteed, can we take a ride too?"
Mo Yan, the Princess, listened with sparkling eyes. "Great! I want to go up and play too."
Geng Shi'an and Qi Xueru, though silent, both gazed at Elder Brother Li with dark, expectant eyes.
Elder Brother Li found it hard to refuse and said, "After Consort X's matter is settled, I'll have my fiancée send a Hot Air Balloon over. Then I'll take you all for a ride."
Yue Yunfei asked in confusion, "Isn't there already a Hot Air Balloon? Why do we need another one?"
Mo Yan, the Princess, slapped Yue Yunfei on the back of the head. "You fool! After Consort X's matter is over, the previous Hot Air Balloon will be registered with the Emperor. How can we use it then?"
Yue Yunfei pouted, covering his head. "It's just words! Why hit me again? And if the previous Hot Air Balloon is registered with the Emperor, won't the new one also be noticed?"
"That's true!" The others rubbed their chins in thought.
Elder Brother Li pondered for a moment and said, "I could have someone make a black Hot Air Balloon. If we go up at night, we won't be seen."
"That's a good idea!" Mo Yan, the Princess, and Yue Yunfei cheered happily. Qi Xueru also showed an excited smile, her dimples adding a playful touch to her otherwise dignified face.
Geng Shi'an asked worriedly, "Flying at night? Is it safe?"
"Don't worry; nothing will happen," Elder Brother Li reassured his friend while secretly thinking about asking Hanno to find a way to get him a night vision device.
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