Chapter 260: To Eat Alone

Chapter 260

It had been over a year since the brothers had seen each other, I realized. Even little Jiang Sheng had grown taller, the fourth and fifth younger brothers had also shot up a bit, and the eldest had fully grown into his tall, slender frame. I wondered whether the third brother had grown any taller, or gotten thinner from his time in the northern borderlands.

Zheng Ruqian grew more excited the more he thought about it. He tidied his clothes several times and wiped the blood from himself, afraid to make his younger brothers worry.

But he waited and waited, and though the tremors grew clearer, nobody appeared.

Beside him, Wang Xiaosong grumbled, "With so many people, it would be fine if it were the army, but what if it were the Northern Nomads instead?"

Not just Zheng Ruqian, even Fifth Jiang was shocked enough to turn back to stare at him. The young woman curled up even tighter in fear.

Wang Xiaosong quickly covered his loose lips, "I was just rambling, just rambling!"

Fortunately, the team gradually grew clearer ahead of them, and the figure at the lead was extremely familiar. Otherwise, Zheng Ruqian would have chosen to turn and flee instead.

In the blink of an eye, the team came to a stop.

Fifth Jiang knelt on one knee, guiltily reporting in, "I apologize for arriving late. The entire village has been massacred, with only one young woman left alive."

"These Northern Nomads," Fang Heng gnashed in hatred. "Dispatch two additional soldiers to patrol each area, we must detect the enemy's movements at the first opportunity. We cannot let them continue to run amok unchecked."

"Yes, sir!" Fifth Jiang acknowledged the order. "Captain, my subordinate rescued two people on the way here."

Only then did Fang Heng turn to look at the two figures standing by the carriage.

One had a wrap around his neck and was covering his mouth, rendering him unrecognizable.

The other, dressed in tattered clothing, had a roguishly familiar grin. The square face seemed so familiar, brimming with righteous spirit, yet the thick brows and large eyes also contained a cunning glint. If this wasn't his second elder brother, then who was it?

The person on horseback was stunned speechless for a moment, thinking he must be in a dream.

Until Zheng Ruqian laughed out happily, "What's wrong, little brother? Can't recognize your second elder anymore?"

Only then did Fang Heng realize that his silly second elder brother had truly come to the borderlands. And at such a chaotic time, with only a single attendant at that, daring to venture deep into the borderlands' belly.

"Second elder brother," Fang Heng the third was both anxious and angry. "Do you have a death wish, daring to come to such a dangerous place?"

But when he dismounted and came face to face, all that was left was a fiercely tight embrace.

Thankfully, they had arrived just in time.

Fang Heng just smiled without replying. Beckoning them along to the center of the crowd, he waved his hand and called out, "Lads, we have preserved meat and sausages today!"

The previously weary soldiers instantly perked up, bellowing and whooping loudly.

"Excellent, I've been missing those sausages and preserved meat!"

"Captain is the best, to actually share these with us!"

"I wasn't here last time. I've got to eat more this time round."

Several brawny fellows came over and peeked into the carriage, swiftly offloading the few dozen jin worth of preserved meat and sausages that Jiang Sheng had prepared. They washed the goods briefly before dumping them into a huge cauldron to stew.

Zheng Ruqian was stunned speechless.

He would never have imagined that the stuff he brought all the way here for his younger brother would just get divvied up like this.

"Don't be angry, elder brother." Fang Heng turned back with an apologetic smile. "These lads stake their lives alongside me daily. I can't just eat alone."

"I, I..." Zheng Ruqian was lost for words.

Fortunately the soldiers had only taken the preserved meat and sausages without touching anything else. He hurriedly took out the sets of new clothes and shoes.

But unexpectedly Fang Heng bundled them up as he headed straight for a large tent, inside which laid dozens of injured soldiers and civilians who had lost limbs.

"Wear these padded jackets first, all of you." He distributed them to the frailest individuals. "Make do if they don't fit properly. Swap around if they're too large or small."

By the time Fang Heng left the tent, all that remained was himself.

He wouldn't let his elder brother have any of the food, nor any of the new clothes either. What exactly was this silly boy up to?

Zheng Ruqian refused to back down. Fuming, he brought out the carefully packed pastries that Jiang Sheng had made. High in oil and sugar, they were hard blocks that couldn't be considered tasty exactly, but were still better than nothing.

Surely he couldn't let these get divvied up too?

Seeing his elder brother's bulging eyes, Fang Heng helplessly accepted the packages. He fiercely bit into a date and sesame seed mooncake, seemingly reminiscing his distant loved ones as he ate.

Zheng Ruqian heaved in relief, but before he could even fully exhale Fang Heng had already torn open two packages and stuffed them into the hands of passing sentries. "Share these out in small pieces for everyone to try."

They were all people who had left their families for years. Who didn't miss their distant loved ones?

Zheng Ruqian completely deflated. Sitting back onto the driver's seat sullenly, he pointed at the remaining large bundles in the carriage and huffed, "Those are gifts from Jiang the third and fourth for their brothers. You'll split those up too, won't you? Just take them all then!"