Chapter 163 - A Family Reunion

The father and daughter, whose hearts were hurt: “…”

In the end, Yu Wan still went to cook with a high fighting spirit. No matter what, her father liked her cooking!

1

The moment his daughter picked up the kitchen knife, Yu Shaoqing, who had not seen his wife for a long time and wanted to be intimate with her, rushed in. Those who did not know better would think that an enemy had come to the kitchen and he had gone to kill the enemy.

1

My father must be starving! Yu Wan thought with heartache.

“Ah Wan!” Yu Shaoqing took a deep breath and took the kitchen knife from Yu Wan. “I’ll cook. Go accompany your mother.”

“Huh?” Did she hear wrongly? Her father, who went into battle to kill the enemies, actually said that he would cook? Uncle cooked because he was a chef. He liked to study culinary skills, but he only cooked when she went over. Usually, it was Aunt who cooked.

“Dad, let me cook. You’ve worked hard on the journey,” Yu Wan said considerately. Her father was a hero who protected the country. Could she let a hero cook?

“No! Your mother and I didn’t give birth to you to be a chef. This kind of tiring work isn’t something a delicate little girl like you should do!” Yu Shaoqing, who was usually quiet, was going all out to take back the initiative in the kitchen.

Yu Wan looked at her father’s expression and saw that he was indeed not being polite with her. Besides, there was no need to be polite. She had already grown up and could help the family work. In the end, she gave the stove to her father.

Looking at her father’s busy figure in front of the stove, Yu Wan was touched. My father dotes on me so much!

At this moment, Yu Shaoqing, who was chopping vegetables and adding firewood, had a sentence floating in his mind. If I cherish my life, don’t let my daughter cook!

2

As they didn’t know that Yu Shaoqing would come back, they didn’t buy any groceries. On the way back to the village, they passed by a few vegetable markets. However, the father and daughter chatted and neither of them thought of this.

Fortunately, there were still fish, cured meat, and a few spring bamboo shoots, wild leeks, and the radishes that Aunt Bai had sent over yesterday.

Yu Shaoqing made a bowl of steamed fish, a pot of cured meat stewed with spring bamboo shoots, a plate of stir-fried leeks, and a plate of stir-fried radish shreds.

It was obvious that he had been a soldier before. The portion was very big!

Yu Wan thought to herself that her father’s hand was used to kill enemies, not to hold a kitchen knife. Even if it was really disgusting later, she had to give her father some face. After all, she was a filial daughter.

Little Bruiser went to call Uncle and his family. Yu Wan secretly tried a piece of cured meat left in the pot.

Damn it… Why was it so delicious?!

… .

Little Bruiser was very fast. After a while, he went to the old residence to call his uncle and the others over. When his aunt was putting away the clothes, she saw the villagers gathered by the ancient well from afar. She was wondering what had happened and if she should ask Yu Song to ask around. Coincidentally, Little Bruiser came to her door. When he said that Yu Shaoqing had returned, his aunt thought that Little Bruiser was teasing her.

When the family arrived at the Ding Family’s old residence and saw the tall and mighty warhorse tied to the door, they immediately believed it!

Uncle even threw away his walking stick and walked into the house excitedly. “Third Brother?”

Yu Shaoqing, who had just taken off his armor, walked out of the room. When he saw his brother, his eyes welled up with tears. He strode forward. “Big Brother!”

“Third Brother!”

“Big Brother!”

The two brothers held each other’s arms excitedly. Uncle hugged his brother and was choked with sobs. His third brother, who had gone to war on his behalf, had finally returned safely!

All these years, he had been worried day and night, afraid that the death that he should suffer would be suffered by his third brother in his place. The heavens had eyes, his third brother was back… he was really back!

“All these years… you… you… you’ve suffered…” Uncle cried.

A grown man was crying like a child, but no one in the room laughed at him. No one knew better than the Yu family what kind of suffering he had endured all these years. He would rather die than let anything happen to his brother.

Fortunately, Yu Shaoqing came back alive.

“Big Brother, your leg…” Yu Shaoqing frowned as he looked at Uncle’s trembling right leg.

Uncle avoided the main point and said, “I fell down. I’m almost recovered! It’s fine!” Afraid that Yu Shaoqing would ask further, he quickly turned around. “Ah Xiang!”

Aunt wiped her tears and walked forward.

Yu Shaoqing looked at his sister-in-law who was walking towards him. It was said that his elder sister-in-law was like a mother. In his heart, he respected her very much. “Sister-in-law!”

“Aye!” Aunt choked and nodded.

Yu Feng and Yu Song followed their parents into the house. The two of them looked at the man in front of them in a daze. When Yu Shaoqing left, Yu Feng was only fourteen and Yu Song was twelve. They were both at an age where they could remember things, but the Third Uncle in their memories seemed to be a little different from the Third Uncle in front of them.

Third Uncle had the aura of… a big shot.

These were the two nephews who had once followed him around. After not seeing them for many years, they felt a little unfamiliar. However, Yu Shaoqing’s love for them did not change at all. A gentle smile subconsciously appeared in Yu Shaoqing’s eyes. “It’s Little Feng and Little Song, right? You’ve grown so tall.”

They were even taller than their biological father.

Uncle glared at his sons and said, “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and address him!”

Yu Feng: “Third Uncle!”

Yu Song: “Third… Third Uncle!”

Yu Shaoqing rubbed Yu Song’s head. “Are you still peeping at little girls bathing?”

“Ah!” Yu Song’s face turned red!

Yu Wan widened her eyes and looked over. Her innocent second brother still had the dark history of peeping at girls bathing?

That was when Yu Song was young. He was with a group of children who had yet to grow up. When they heard that there was a woman bathing by the stream, they didn’t know who was the one who led the way. In a fit of heat, they ran to peek. Yu Song didn’t want to be isolated, so he followed. In the end, the one bathing was Wang Mazi, blinding them!

This matter could be big or small. After Yu Shaoqing found out, he blocked a few of them at the village entrance and gave them a fierce beating. The few of them were beaten up until they doubted their lives. They even secretly said that Yu Shaoqing had a crush on Wang Mazi.

1

When they grew up, they realized that Third Uncle was doing this for their own good. However, at that time, Third Uncle had already joined the army.

With this commotion, the atmosphere in the room became much more relaxed.

After that, Little Bruiser held his sister’s hand and walked over. “This is Sister Zhenzhen!”

“Zhenzhen, call him Third Uncle,” Aunt said.

Little Zhenzhen obediently called him “Third Uncle”.

Yu Shaoqing smiled. “Good girl.”

Aunt went to the old residence to bring over the prepared dishes. The family sat down to eat.

“Mother left two years ago…” Uncle said sadly. “Before she left, she was worried about you and kept saying your name. I said that you were coming back soon and would definitely come back…”

The saddest thing in life was that one’s child wants to fulfill their duty but their parents are no longer around. Yu Shaoqing had always known that he was not their biological son, but the two elders treated him like their own. After a battle, he did not even see his mother for the last time.

Yu Shaoqing’s eyes were slightly moist. “I’ll visit Mom’s grave tomorrow.”

Aunt sniffed her sour nose. “Third Brother finally came back. Say something happy.”

“Alright, let’s drink!” Uncle opened the wine jar.

Uncle was drinking Chinese medicine, so it was not suitable for him to drink. However, he was happy today, so he drank a few glasses.

Yu Shaoqing thought of something and said, “How’s the child from the Zhao family? I remember that he likes to study very much. Did he do well?”

This was naturally referring to Zhao Heng. Ever since Yu Wan and Zhao Heng fell out, the Yu family had not thought of such a person for a long time. When they heard Yu Shaoqing mention him, they were stunned.

How were they going to ask him? Ah Wan was engaged to the Zhao family’s brat and had broken off the engagement.

Everyone turned to look at Yu Wan.

Yu Wan lowered her head and ate.

It was still Little Bruiser who spoke without thinking. “I heard from Stone that their family moved away! They didn’t want to return my sister’s money, so they secretly moved out in the middle of the night while the entire village was asleep!”

No wonder they hadn’t seen the Zhao family for so many days. They didn’t even see them on the night the bandits attacked the village. So they had slipped away?

Even if you make it sound better than singing, my big brother will definitely pay you back! Isn’t it just three hundred taels? You think that my big brother can’t pay?

Pfft! Wasn’t he just unable to pay it back?

Yu Song snorted. “I thought he had a backbone.”

In order to avoid the debt of three hundred taels, he actually fled overnight.

Originally, they had agreed that if they could not repay the money within three months, they would be expelled from Lotus Flower Village. Now, they had not even lasted three months before they got lost.

“Tsk, shameless!” Aunt scolded.

“Shameless!” Little Zhenzhen mimicked.

Aunt choked and covered her daughter’s mouth. “Ahem, be good. You can’t say that.”

Yu Shaoqing looked at his daughter, who was engrossed in eating, and then at his wife, who was silent. He thought to himself that a lot had happened in the years he had been gone…

There were some things that couldn’t be said in front of the children. The matter with Zhao Heng was temporarily forgotten. Uncle talked about the family’s business and praised Yu Wan for being capable. He also talked about the earthquake a few days ago. The villagers didn’t have any land and were all working in the Yu family’s workshop. He also talked about Old Mr. Bao and the bandits, Widow Liu and Wang Mazi…

By the time the meal was over, it was already late at night. Little Bruiser and Little Zhenzhen had fallen asleep in their mother’s arms. Uncle and Yu Shaoqing were flushed from the alcohol.

“Third Brother, I… I’m telling you… I…”

Dong!

He fell asleep with his head on the table.

“Tsk!” Aunt looked at her man in disdain, then looked at Third Brother, who was also drunk and unconscious, and said to Madam Jiang, “Sister-in-law, help Third Brother in.”

“Help? No, I still want to drink!” Uncle snorted and leaned on the table again, continuing to sleep.

Aunt gave her two sons a look, and Yu Feng squatted down. Yu Song helped put his father on his brother’s back and sent his father back to the old residence with him.

Aunt stayed behind to help Yu Wan clean up the dishes and house before carrying her sleeping daughter back.

Madam Jiang helped the drunk Yu Shaoqing onto the bed and was about to get up. The unconscious Yu Shaoqing suddenly pulled her back and she lay on her side beside him.

Yu Shaoqing opened his eyes. There was no hint of drunkenness in his eyes as he looked at his wife whom he had been thinking about day and night. His hot palm caressed her soft waist, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. He said in a low and hoarse voice, “Ah Shu, I miss you.”

Madam Jiang shyly drew small circles on his chest with her little finger.

Yu Shaoqing’s heart skipped a beat. He really wanted to take her immediately, but Yu Shaoqing warned himself not to be too hasty. They hadn’t seen each other for so long, so he had to say some gentle words to Ah Shu first. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be a little too much to do this and that right from the start?

“Ah Shu…” Before he could finish speaking, Madam Jiang stripped him clean!

3

Yu Shaoqing, who had stripped clean: “…”

Yu Shaoqing, who was being treated like this and that: “…”

… .

Even a cow was rare in the village, but Yu Wan’s family had a tall and mighty horse.

“It’s a warhorse!” Little Bruiser patted his chest and showed off to his friends. “I rode on it yesterday! It ran very fast!”

“Wow!”

His friends all looked envious.

Everyone in the village who had been captured had replied, but there was no news of Little Bruiser’s father. Therefore, the entire village thought that Little Bruiser no longer had a father. But now, they were really envious of Little Bruiser.

“Bruiser, your father is amazing!” said Stone.

“Of course!” Little Bruiser puffed up his chest.

“Can you let us sit on your father’s horse?” Doggie, who was a year younger than Little Bruiser, asked.

“That… that won’t do!” Little Bruiser stammered.

“Petty!” Doggie pouted.

The friendship of children was always like this. One second, they were brothers, and the next second, they were fighting with each other. The little guys were arguing at the top of their lungs. At this time, Wu San found Lotus Flower Village.

Yesterday, Yu Shaoqing had left in a hurry and didn’t bring his luggage. He had come to give Old Yu a box containing the gifts Yu Shaoqing had bought for his family. Because he didn’t know that he had a son, he didn’t bring Little Bruiser’s gift. This made Little Bruiser furious!

Little Bruiser stomped his feet with his hands on his hips. “Do you still want me to call you Dad?!”

Yu Wan pinched his little ear. “Little Zhenzhen doesn’t have one either. You were born too late, so Dad doesn’t know.”

Little Bruiser cried sadly. “Why did you give birth to me so late…”

Yu Shaoqing was at a loss. “Dad will go to the Capital to buy two for you!”

… .

Wu San did not expect that Old Yu would have a son after he returned six years later. The little fellow looked quite similar to Old Yu. Wu San wanted to laugh when he saw the serious Old Yu coaxing the child. Old Yu, Old Yu, you had this day too!

Wu San was Yu Shaoqing’s sworn brother. Yu Wan received him warmly, and Madam Jiang also came out to greet him. However, the usually sickly Madam Jiang looked very rosy today, and her face was full of satisfaction.

“Brother Wu.” Madam Jiang greeted him gently.

Wu San was instantly stunned. His sister-in-law was actually such a fairy-like beauty. It was no wonder that Old Yu did not like the princess of Xiongnu. Ten of the number one beauties of the grassland added together could not compare to his sister-in-law.

With a beautiful wife, who could catch his eye?

In the past, he had thought that it was his sister-in-law’s fortune to be able to marry such a good man like Old Yu. Now, it looked like it was clearly Old Yu’s fortune!

Wu San learned from Madam Jiang that the meatballs, pickled vegetables, and pancakes sent to the border were made by his niece. He immediately felt deep veneration for her!

“Little niece, the things you brought really saved our brothers’ lives!”

A meatball could make a pot of thick soup, a slice of pickled vegetables could satisfy the salt of a group of people, and a pancake could not be finished in more than ten days… It was simply more than military food.

1

“Uncle Wu is too polite. Actually, there are still some at home. I just made them this morning. If Uncle Wu likes them, I’ll go get them for you now.” Yu Wan happily went to the kitchen.

But when she brought out the newly fried meatballs, newly made pickled vegetables, and pancakes, Wu San had already disappeared.

… .

Yu Shaoqing was not lying. After the battle ended, the strong men who had been captured returned one after another. Yu Shaoqing was the first, and the second was Hunter’s brother.

“Aiya, Cui Hua! Isn’t that your eldest brother?” Aunt Bai, who was washing clothes by the well, patted Cui Hua’s shoulder.

Cui Hua looked up. “Big… Big Brother? Stone’s father! Big Brother is back—”

Hunter’s brother had an ear cut off by the enemy. Hunter and his brother hugged their heads and cried at the village entrance.

Not long after, the son of the Li family also returned. He was not injured, but his hair was bald.

After that, some returned.

“They’re all back…” Aunt Zhang started to get nervous.” Why isn’t Erniu back yet? ”

“Mother!” Erniu’s voice suddenly sounded not far away.

Aunt Zhang shivered and dropped the stick that was used to hit her clothes. “Erniu—Erniu—” She cried as she ran towards her son.

Erniu was the most healthy one. He was assigned to the kitchen and was only responsible for cooking. He basically did not go to the battlefield.

“Erniu—” Aunt Zhang cried until she was out of breath.

“Mother! Don’t cry… I’m back…” Erniu’s tears also fell.

How could someone who didn’t experience the pain of leaving understand?

“Quick, your father and wife are waiting in the house!” Aunt Zhang pulled her son’s hand and wiped her tears. She said to Aunt Bai, “Sister Bai, help me keep an eye on them. I’ll be back soon.”

“Go!” Aunt Bai smiled.

Sun Dazhuang, Wang Mazi’s neighbor, had also returned. He was disfigured, had a broken finger, and was crippled. His conditions were that he could have been discharged from the army long ago, but he insisted on staying in Prefecture You and finished the war.

“Son—”

“Dazhuang—”

Sun Dazhuang’s mother and wife cried together.

It was good to be able to reunite, Shuanzi thought enviously. As long as his brother could come back, even if he lost an arm or a leg, he would support him for the rest of his life!

“Rascal, what are you doing?”

Shuanzi, who was squatting on the ground, was suddenly kicked in the butt. He fell to the ground and fell flat on his face.

Shuanzi was now the little inspector in charge of thirty horse bandits. Who would dare to touch him?!

Shuanzi turned his head coldly!

“What? You’re still unconvinced?” The army ruffian kicked Shuanzi again. He didn’t use much strength, but he kicked Shuanzi to the ground again.

Shuanzi looked at him blankly. “Big… Big Brother?” Was the dark and strong man in front of him really that fair and clean big brother who was even thinner than a little girl?

“Don’t you recognize me?” Shuanzi’s brother asked roguishly.

“Big Brother, it’s really you!” Shuanzi got up and jumped onto his big brother.

After six years of sandstorms, the weakest pretty boy in the village had grown into an indomitable man.

“Get down!”

“No! If you have the ability, hit me!”

Shuanzi hung firmly on his brother’s body and shamelessly clung to him all the way.

“The weakest has returned. My Dunzi will definitely return too!” Aunt Bai continued to wash her clothes.

“Aunt Bai, you’ve washed this basin of clothes three times. I’ll help you dry it.” Yu Wan’s voice softly sounded in Aunt Bai’s ears.

“Ah…” Aunt Bai came back to her senses and looked at her tattered clothes. “I… I didn’t wash it clean. I’ll wash it again.”

“Who does Bai Xiaodun belong to?” A guard riding a horse suddenly came to the village entrance.

Aunt Bai put down her clothes and ran over anxiously. She could not hide her excitement as she said, “My family! I’m Dunzi’s mother! Sir, is my Dunzi coming back?”

The guard dismounted and solemnly saluted Aunt Bai.

Aunt Bai was stunned.

The guard turned around and took a bag from the saddle. After opening it, he handed it to Aunt Bai with both hands. “Bai Xiaodun sacrificed himself heroically in the battle of Prefecture You and was conferred the rank of first-class soldier. My condolences.”

Aunt Bai felt like a bolt from the blue!

She took the bag with trembling hands. Because she was shaking too much, the pension spilled all over the ground. However, she did not even look at it. She only picked up the iron plate with her son’s name engraved on it and started crying bitterly.

… .

Yan Manor

The army was victorious, and Yan Congming naturally returned home. Ever since the Yan Family was imprisoned many years ago and the man was exiled to the army, he had not stepped foot into the General Manor for many years.

Looking at the towering plaque of the General Manor, he felt an indescribable mix of emotions.

“Daddy!”

“Honey!”

Yan Ruyu and Mrs. Yan went out to welcome him.

Yan Congming looked at his daughter who was as beautiful as a flower, then at his aged wife. He avoided his wife’s hand and cleared his throat. “Let’s all enter the residence.”

Mrs. Yan’s hand stiffened.

Yan Ruyu smiled and said, “Daddy has made a great contribution this time. Yu’er congratulate you on your triumphant return and congratulations on defeating the enemy.”

Yan Congming sighed. “I’m not the one who repelled the enemy.”

Yan Ruyu smiled. “Daddy is too humble. Everyone knows that Grand Marshal Xiao was able to successfully defeat the Xiongnu because someone sent important military information to him. This person is the true hero who protected the 100,000 citizens of Prefecture You. The people are saying that His Majesty wants to reward him handsomely. Could it be that… he’s not you?”

“It wasn’t me,” Yan Congming said bitterly.

“Who is that?!” Yan Ruyu frowned and asked. Could it be the father of that village girl? No… definitely not! How could a country bumpkin make such a contribution?

Yan Congming waved his hand and said, “… You don’t know him. He’s a centurion called Yu Shaoqing.”