The next day, Xu Ran gathered everyone after breakfast. He told them about the plague and they might go out to find Liu Tong’s brother.

Everyone except those in the know expressed surprise at that Liu Tong had a twin brother.

Liu Tong said that he did not know it either. It was a friend of Xu Ran’s who said that he had met someone who looked exactly like him. And his Ge’er lost a little brother when he was young, they had been looking for him for many years.

Since the plague was serious now, they couldn’t do anything, so it was just right for them to go out and look for his brother. Moreover, the two children were big enough to go out and see the world.

This was all Xu Ran said but he didn’t say that Liu Tong’s brother might be King Yan. He was afraid that if he told them, they would be scared. What was more, he was not sure if it was true.It would be too bad if it wasn’t true.

The others understood what Xu Ran said. They knew that staying in this small village all the time was boring. It was because they had no other places to go and there were too many people in their family, otherwise they would leave, too.

After saying that, Xu Ran quietly found Zhuo Yun and Zhuo Yun also guessed Xu Ran’s intention. Zhuo Yun said, “I know that you mean well, but I can’t leave. Although my family is few, this is my home. More importantly, Shu Wen’s family is here, so he definitely doesn’t want to separate from them.”

Xu Ran agreed, “I have thought about it, but I still want to ask you. I don’t know when to come back after we leave and it’s dangerous here now. I think we can take care of each other if we go together.”

Lowering his head, Zhuo Yun said, “Actually, I don’t want you to leave either. If you are all gone I’ll feel like missing something. With fewer people here, it will not be as lively as before. But be assured that I’ll look after the fruit trees and the fields for you while you are away. I promise you that they’ll be the same when you come back.”

Xu Ran said, “You needn’t stay here very often and you just help me sell the things. I will arrange other things to Wu Mei and the others. You can use the money from selling the fruit to hire someone to help when it comes time to start growing crops. The contents in the house will still be sold to Mr. Chen and let Lin Hua take some if he comes. I just remember that I should write a letter to Lin Hua and I need you to send the letter for me.”

Zhuo Yun nodded and said, “No problem, don’t worry! I will do everything you told me. But you’d better come back soon, no matter what, this is still your home, and even the fallen leaf will always return to its roots.”

Xu Ran knew what Zhuo Yun meant. His father used to live here and of course he belonged here. But Xu Ran felt that apart from these friends, the fruit trees he grew and the field he planted, he didn’t have any longing for this place. At least, his father wasn’t the reason for him to miss the place.

Although it was quite a good place.

Seeing that Zhuo Yun had known this and things were arranged almost, Xu Ran went to Wu Mei’s house with Liu Tong.

It was not raining, but the road was muddy, so Wu Mei and the others didn’t go out to work. Seeing Xu Ran and Liu Tong coming together, Wu Mei laughed at them and said, “Oh, it’s been a long time since I saw the two of you come to my house together.”

Looking at each other, Xu Ran and Liu Tong found that this was indeed the case. Liu Tong hadn’t been out much since he was pregnant with Baozi. The people here were all like that. Except for dinner, they never came together.

Xu Ran replied with a smile, “Do you still expect us to come if we have business to trouble you with as soon as we arrive?”

Wu Mei answered, “If you come to my house with nothing to do, I should wonder why you’re here. Tell me! Why are you here today?”

While speaking, Wu Mei brought two stools out of the house for them to sit on.

Sitting down with Liu Tong, Xu Ran simmered for a moment and then said, ” Wu Mei, we’re going out.”

“Go out? So what? You have been out before.” After saying that, Wu Mei also felt that there was something wrong. After all, Xu Ran and the others used directly to tell him what they were going to do and for how many days, but this time, they just said they would leave.

Wu Mei asked quickly, “Xu Ran, where are you going and for how long? ”

Xu Ran replied, “This time,I’ll take the whole family away, to the north. I don’t know when we will be back, maybe one year, maybe three or five years, or even longer.”

Wu Mei became not calm when he heard Xu Ran’s words and asked, “Why are you going to the north? I’ve heard that it’s very cold. You aren’t familiar with that region and you’ll suffer a lot in the future. The plague here will soon go away, and then we can live as before, wouldn’t that be good?”

Xu Ran sighed, indicating that he didn’t want to leave home, either. Then he touched Liu Tong to explain to him.

So Liu Tong told Wu Mei the reason that Xu Ran had said to Zhuo Yun and the others.

After hearing this, Wu Mei was too surprised to close his mouth, then he asked,  “Liu Tong! You aren’t your father’s biological son. No wonder your uncle treated you like that after your father died and he even sold you for money!”

It seemed that there was nothing to do with this. Xu Ran thought to himself, even if Liu Tong was his father’s biological son, his uncle would also sell him, just like him, who was the biological son, but his father still treated him like that! It was obviously that biological was not the reason, but the matter of the person!

However, if Wu Mei thought that way, Xu Ran did not intend to explain. It was easier for him to believe the misunderstanding.

Thinking about that it was more important for Liu Tong to find his brother, Wu Mei couldn’t persuade them not to leave.

Wu Mei said, “But do you have to go north? Is your brother over there? If you’re not sure, you can look for the town nearby first ,it’s better than going so far.”

Liu Tong replied, ” The person we are looking for is over there. Ran’s friend said that he had seen him in the north. We just happen to be able to take the kids out to take a look. The children have grown up and it’s time for them to go out and see the world.”

Although Wu Mei felt reluctant to part with them, they were not his family after all, and Liu Tong had good reasons, so he couldn’t say anything more.

She only said, “Then you can go without worry. I can look after your home and I’ll find someone to plant the field for you. I guarantee that when you come back, everything will be the same as before. You needn’t worry about food and clothing.”

Xu Ran said, taking up the subject, “We’re here just to ask you for help. I’ve asked Zhuo Yun to take care of the orchards and strawberry fields. He will still live in my house in the future, just like now. When the fruit trees are ripe, please come over and sell the fruit for me. As so many years of planting the orchard, I feel it a pity to give it up.”

Wu Mei sighed, “That’s true. We all watched these trees grow little by little. How could you have encountered such a thing? You’ve just had a better life and can live in peace, unexpectedly, you have another brother. Liu Tong, you’ve really got a tough life. Xu Ran, without me watching you, you can’t bully Liu Tong outside, otherwise I’m gonna have to deal with you when you come back in the future.”

Xu Ran laughed at him for being so protective. Compared to Liu Tong, he was the person who was more easily bullied. However, Wu Mei had always stood up for Liu Tong. Xu Ran believed that if he really bullied Liu Tong, he wouldn’t let him go.

At the same time, he felt moved. After all, there was someone who would wholeheartedly protect you.

Xu Ran suddenly wanted to thank Wu Mei. Thinking about this, he said, ” Wu Mei, thank you. You’ve helped us when we were at the most difficult time. Later, when we lived better, you never changed. So I really thank you for so many years.”

After Xu Ran finished his words, Wu Mei’s eyes suddenly turned red, “Why are you saying this? You’re leaving now and do you want me to cry?” After saying this, he actually began to cry.

Liu Tong hurried to comfort him and gave Xu Ran a look as well. Touching his nose innocently, Xu Ran really wanted to thank Wu Mei, but he didn’t expect to make Wu Mei cry.

Xu Ran spread out his hands to show that he really didn’t bully him.

Just then, Xu An came back from outside. Seeing Wu Mei crying in Liu Tong’s arms, he put down the things in his hand and rushed over, “What’s wrong? What’s wrong with Meimei? ”

Shaking his head to him, Xu Ran pointed at himself.

But Xu An didn’t understand what was going on and he kept asking why.

Being annoyed by his question, Wu Mei didn’t cry anymore. He got up from Liu Tong’s arms and wiped his eyes randomly, shouted angrily,  “Why do you keep asking why I can’t cry for nothing?”

She was going to be crazy! Xu Ran looked at Xu An sympathetically.

He completely forgot that Wu Mei was venting his anger to Xu An, while he was the one who made him cry.

When Wu Mei finished losing his temper with Xu An, Xu An also knew that Xu Ran was leaving. Instead of persuading him like Wu Mei, he only said, “We’ll take care of your house,everything you have will be kept for you.”

The only sentence of his was enough.

Xu Ran had never been so moved at this moment and it was between friends.

He wanted to say thank you to Xu An, but considering what Wu Mei looked like just now, he didn’t say anything. He just patted his shoulder and said,” I’ll thank you when we come back.”

Xu An also patted Xu Ran’s shoulder and said with a smile, “You’re welcome. It’s just a small matter with our relationship. You’ve taken care of us well all these years but we’ve never said thank you.”

Xu Ran didn’t say anything. Suddenly, he felt a little reluctant to leave. No matter what kind of love it was, people would concern it all the time.