Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Chapter 852: Chapter 331: Zhu Shun and Huang Tianxi, the 3rd Year Cold Yuan Banquet of Great Xia, and Xia Yuzong (Part 3)

Seeing his sister in such a state, Zhu Shun’s heart softened instantly. He let out a heavy sigh, lowered his tone, and said softly, ”Big brother can help you for a while, but you still have a long life ahead. I often travel, and who knows if one day I will meet the same fate as A Yong? If you don’t remarry, I’m afraid when I die, I won’t be able to close my eyes in peace.”

”Big brother, please don’t say that, I...”

Hearing these words, Zhu Mei burst into tears.

When their parents passed away, Zhu Mei was only six years old. She was basically raised single-handedly by her brother Zhu Shun. Having depended on each other for so many years, how could she not understand her brother’s feelings for her?

In the half year since her husband died, her big brother and sister-in-law would basically take turns bringing things to her house every few days. Despite her countless rejections, they continued to deliver without fail every few days.

Zhu Mei knew in her heart that Zhu Shun advised her to remarry because he genuinely cared for her well-being, but she just couldn’t get past her own inner barrier.

”Listen to me, find someone else...”

Seeing Zhu Mei’s expression soften, Zhu Shun thought he had persuaded her. He quickly tried to continue convincing her while the iron was hot, but before he could finish, Zhu Mei interrupted him again.

”Big brother, there’s no need to say more. I can listen to you on other matters, but not this one. I won’t remarry. From now on, I will focus on raising Tianxi to adulthood. I want to see him marry, have children, and smoothly inherit A Yong’s Ninth Rank Xuanling title. As for anything else, I won’t consider it. Life will definitely get better.”

”And what about the future life for you and your son? A Yong’s compensation and inheritance will naturally ensure your life is fine, but it’s not enough to support Tianxi’s cultivation. He has a high aptitude and is about to break through to the Earth-digging Realm, so his need for beast meat will be greater. Beast Essence Pills, refined salt, and the beast blood needed after reaching the Earth-digging Realm Limit will overwhelm you...”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Mei gritted her teeth and said, ”Big brother, it’s just as well that I was planning to tell you tonight. I have a basic strength of 20,000 catties and can enter the Hunting Team. I also want to join the Zhao Long Team.”

”You...”

Hearing Zhu Mei’s words, Zhu Shun was speechless with anger.

As Great Xia developed to the present day, the lifestyle of men working outside and women at home was basically established. Women mostly engaged in less dangerous jobs like gathering or mining when they went out. Although some women hunted, they were usually unmarried or their husbands were not capable.

Even those with titles, unless they had some skills, would solve the issue of forced labor for their family by hiring a few captives. How could they bear to let their wives go out and risk their lives with Cold Beasts?

”Ah... forget it. Big brother can’t persuade you. If you’re determined, I won’t say much more. We’ll see how you manage on your own in the future!”

Zhu Shun remained silent for a long time. In the end, he let out a heavy sigh and said no more.

He, as her older brother, knew his sister’s temperament well. Despite half a year of tireless persuasion, it ultimately had no effect.

In the future, he could only support from the sidelines. Fortunately, his nephew truly had good talent. As long as they followed the right steps, inheriting the title shouldn’t be a big problem.

”The Lord has already stipulated that if one is granted a title due to other merits, they must at least achieve one-third of the military achievements required for the corresponding title — slaying 166 enemies in battle. Tianxi has excellent qualifications. As long as he can join the battle, I would risk my life to help him inherit A Yong’s title!”

”Big brother...”

Upon hearing Zhu Shun’s solemn promise, Zhu Mei’s tears poured out, her heart evidently moved to the extreme.

”Tianxi is coming, wipe your face!”

Zhu Shun said nothing more either. Noticing that Huang Tianxi was already coming downstairs, he immediately reminded his sister to wipe her face, to avoid letting his nephew see that anything was amiss.

”Mom, I changed my clothes. Let’s go!”

Though Huang Tianxi was not yet nine years old, he was already 1.5 meters tall. Dressed in a bright yellow cotton robe with a dark blue beast fur jacket for warmth over it, he didn’t wear a hair-binding crown as he was not yet fifteen. His black hair was tied neatly behind him with thread, giving him a clean and tidy appearance. Knowing the importance of tonight’s banquet, he presented a rather solemn demeanor, matched by his sturdy frame, resembling an adult.

”Alright, let’s go together! Yuniang and the others are waiting for me on the first floor. Let’s find them first, then head to the Political Hall for the banquet.”

Huang Tianxi clearly noticed his mother Zhu Mei’s tear stains. He seemed to understand the reason and, recognizing that his mother tried to hide her face, sensibly pretended not to see it. He even deliberately changed the topic, asking Zhu Shun, ”Uncle, I heard that tonight at the Political Hall banquet, the Lord, Minister Xia Chuan, as well as the Directors of the Six Ministries, will all be present. Is that true?”

”Of course, as well as the ones you often mention — Lord Yu Wen, Lord Yuan, Mr. Qiu... they’ll all be there. You’ll see them all at once tonight.”

”That’s great, haha!”

Seeing the excitement on his nephew’s face, Zhu Shun shook his head slightly.

Now that the population of Xia City has surpassed 400,000, for children like Huang Tianxi, besides seeing the Lord Xia Hong, even the Directors of the Six Ministries are rarely seen, so it’s not surprising they react this way.

Zhu Shun quickly led the mother and son to the main building. But as soon as they entered the first floor of the main building, they were instantly stunned.

The first floor of the main building was packed with tables, teeming with a sea of people — rough estimates put the number at over 20,000 individuals.