Chapter 232

Xu Ran went upstairs. As soon as Baozi and Qingshu saw him, they ran into the room and locked the door tightly.

Xu Ran wanted to laugh even more. He thought that he would find a chance to beat up Baozi. Qing Shu, who was originally such a nice and obedient child, had been spoiled by him.

Xu Ran went to Tangtang and Guoguo’s room to check. The two kids sat side by side on the bed, reading their own books.

Xu Ran walked over and took a look at their books. Guoguo was reading a military book while Tangtang was reading a history one. Both kids were very attentive.

When Xu Ran came in, Tangtang and Guoguo also saw him. They put down the book and Tangtang asked Xu Ran, “Dad, what are you doing here?”

Xu Ran thought for a while. He had nothing to do, but as Tangtang and Guoguo asked, he wanted to tell them about Liu Tong’s identity.

Xu Ran went to close the door, sat down and said to them, “You sit down too. I’ll tell you something important. Don’t be too surprised later.”

Tangtang and Guoguo nodded. “Got it, Dad.”

Xu Ran said, “Here is what I want to tell you. This matter concerns your Daddy. Daddy is not surnamed Liu, nor is he from Liu Village. His identity is the younger brother of Yanzhou King Yan. Just like you two, they are twins. However, they were separated for some reasons when they were young. I knew about this seven years ago. At that time, someone tried all means to take Daddy away, but I didn’t agree. At that time, since you were very little and Baozi was just born. I was worried. Today someone came again, I thought that no matter it was true or not, I should take you guys to take a look… ”

Xu Ran told Tangtang and Guoguo everything he knew, including his doubts and worries.

The two kids were 13 years old and Xu Ran felt that it was time for them to know about these things and had their own judgment.

After that, Xu Ran asked Tangtang, “Tangtang, in your opinion, should I go or not?”

Tangtang thought for a moment and said, “Dad, no matter what, we should make the trip. You also said that Uncle Gao Quan works for the old prince. He has lived in our house for so many years. If he really has an evil mind, then he should have revealed it in so many years. However, we didn’t find anything. Accordingly, Uncle Gao Quan wouldn’t harm us. Dad, you have said that King Yan and Daddy are twins, so they must be alike. As long as we see King Yan, we will know whether it is true.”

Xu Ran nodded. “Tangtang, what you said makes sense. It’s about what I thought.”

Then Xu Ran asked Guoguo, “Guoguo, what do you think?”

Guoguo said, “Dad, I also think we should go. Even if it’s not to help Daddy find his brother, we can also go and have a visit. After all, it’s not good to keep staying here. You and Daddy have never been to places too far away, and the three of us have not even been out of town. It’s good to broaden our horizon.”

Guoguo hesitated for a moment, then continued, “Besides, Dad, you know that I have wanted to be a general since childhood. Yanzhou is in the north, having a cold climate, and borders the Mo Luo Kingdom. There are wars all year round, which is a practicing opportunity for me.”

After Guoguo said this, Tangtang nodded. “Dad, we really should go out and see the world. We remember what you’ve been teaching us all the time. However, there are some things about which if we don’t see in person, will never truly know. Moreover, since our family doesn’t lack money now, it doesn’t matter even if we go out for a few years.”

Xu Ran smiled after hearing it. “It seems that instead of caring about that you might have a lord uncle, you are more interested in going out and take a look.”

Xu Ran stood up. “Actually, I also want to go out and take a look. In that case, I will talk with your Daddy tonight. No matter he accepts this brother or not, our family will be on a tour! Anyway, the plague is getting more and more out of control. It’s good to stay away from it.

Tangtang and Guoguo nodded and asked carefully, “Dad, what if Daddy can’t accept this?”

Xu Ran smiled and shook his head. “Since both of you can accept it. Why can’t you Daddy? Don’t underestimate your Daddy, who has survived the difficult seven years in the Xu Family.” After Xu Ran said it, he opened the door to leave.

“Dad, you’ve been so spoiling Daddy for the past few years. How can you still compare to the past?”

Guoguo’s voice was very small when he said this, but Xu Ran still heard it. He walked back and knocked on Guoguo’s head. “You have to believe that people will change in many ways, but their nature will not change. No matter what your Daddy is pampered by me, he will still be Liu Tong, the same person who have supported the whole family at the very beginning.”

Guoguo was shocked when he heard Xu Ran’s serious words and said, “Dad, I was wrong.”

Xu Ran said, “It’s good that you realize you are wrong. Don’t say something like this in the future.”

Guoguo nodded. “I know Dad, I won’t say it again.”

Xu Ran didn’t say anything else and went downstairs.

……

In the evening, after dinner, when everyone was chatting and took no notice of them. Xu Ran and his family, plus Gao Quan, went back to their room, about to have a meeting.

Everyone knew what they were going to say, except Liu Tong, who was a little nervous and asked as soon as he entered the room, “Ran, what are you doing? Do you want to announce something?”

Xu Ran sat down with Liu Tong and said with a serious tone, “Tongtong, I am going to say something that has to do with you. Don’t be too surprised when you hear it.”

Liu Tong nodded. After so many years, even Baozi was seven years old. What else could he be surprised about?

Xu Ran took a deep breath and said, “Tongtong, have you ever doubted about your own background? About whether you might not be the biological son of your Dad.”

Liu Tong was stunned and said, “Ran, why would you ask such a question? Of course, I won’t doubt it.”

Xu Ran said, “What I want to say is related to your background. Your Dad is not your real Dad. You have a twin brother who looks the same as you. He is King Yan. Tongtong, can you understand what I said?”

Liu Tong was confused when he heard this. “Ran, why is there such a thing? That is King Yan. How could he be my brother? Then why is my Dad not my biological Dad? What is going on?”

Liu Tong shot out the questions one by one. At this, Xu Ran, remaining calm, pulled over his hand and comforted him by saying softly, “I have known about this for many years, but as the kids were too little at the time, I didn’t want our peaceful life to be disturbed, so I never told you. Let me tell you the whole story. You and King Yan are twin brothers, but you have been separated since childhood. King Yan went to Yanzhou with the old lord while you were stranded in LIu Village under some protection. Tongtong, haven’t you mentioned that your Daddy’s kung fu is similar with that of Gao Quan? It was because they both work for the old lord.”

“What’s more, don’t you think something was strange about your Dad? How could he, a peasant, be able to hunt, read and to practice kung fu? Tongtong, you should think clearly about what happened when you were young. Is it so? I didn’t lie to you and I wouldn’t lie to you. Seven years ago, King Yan’s men found us and wanted to take you away, but I rejected them. Our lives have been good and peaceful all these years, so they never came to disturb us, but this time it’s different.”

Liu Tong still didn’t believe it. He didn’t say anything and only listened to Xu Ran.

Xu Ran continued, “This plague is very serious. King Yan’s subordinates said that if we don’t go to Yanzhou, King Yan will come over personally. Tongtong, if there is no decree, how can King Yan leave his territory? If it is discovered, it will be a felony. I have discussed it with Tangtang and Guoguo. No matter it is true or not, we will go to Yanzhou, just considering it a traveling experience.”

Liu Tong still didn’t say anything and Xu Ran couldn’t continue, so the room was quiet for a while.

“Second Master, what Xu Ran said is true. You are indeed King Yan’s younger brother because you look very similar to the deceased old lord. I’ve been with old lord for over ten years. I won’t make the mistake.” Gao Quan suddenly said.

Liu Tong looked at Gao Quan, “Are you telling the truth? You already knew about it? Why are you hiding it from me?”

Liu Tong was still a little agitated. After all, it was such a big thing. His Dad was no longer his real Dad all of a sudden! It had been thirty years. Whoever in his shoes would be agitated.

Xu Ran said softly, “Tongtong, only Gao Quan and I knew it a few years ago, Tangtang and Guoguo only found it out today. How can we tell you under the situation at that time? We won’t tell you during the rest of the years when our lives were very peaceful. Besides, since the people from King Yan didn’t appear, we naturally won’t say it. Now that we’re at this point, we can’t tell you even if we don’t want to. Tongtong, I am clear what kind of people you are. You just cannot absorb it for now”

Xu Ran was right. He really couldn’t absorb it immediately, but he knew that Xu Ran had made the case.

Liu Tong thought for a moment and said, “Ran, let me think about it first. I’ll just wait until I figure it out. If I really want to go to Yanzhou, I’ll go too. Just as you have said, to travel around.”

Since Liu Tong had said so, Xu Ran couldn’t say anything else. Liu Tong needed to absorb the matter by himself, but Xu Ran knew that it wouldn’t take too long. Liu Tong was still the same Liu Tong as he said to Guoguo.

Before Tangtang andn Guoguo could say a word, he followed Xu Ran out. Xu Ran said, “You go downstairs first. It’s not good if all our family don’t show up. I have something to say to Gao Quan.”

Tangtang and Guoguo nodded and quickly went downstairs.