Chapter 359 Family Reunion

Chapter 359: Old Acquaintances Meet

An old donkey ambling toward the north of the city carried a bald old man. A big black dog sleeping under the jujube tree barked twice, and Er'hei walked out of the inn.

"Is the Jade Merchant here? I'm an old acquaintance of hers. Watch that dog—don’t let it jump up and bite me." Old Tu eyed the large black dog warily. The dog was huge, and he suspected it could kill his donkey with a single bite.

"The dog doesn’t bite people." Er'hei stepped forward to take the reins, leading the donkey toward the kitchen courtyard. "Come in and sit for a while. Our master's putting a child to sleep."

"At my age, these legs don't work like they used to," Old Tu said as he reached out. Once steady on his feet, he glanced at the tightly shut inn and asked, "No business at the inn?"

"It’s already May. Where would passing caravans come from? Summer's our slack season," Er'hei explained briefly. "What brings you to our master? Business?"

"No, no. We’re old acquaintances. I just came to chat. If she’s busy, never mind. Did your inn host many caravans this spring?"

Er'hei didn’t answer. He looked the old man up and down. An old acquaintance? He didn’t doubt his master knew this leathery old fellow, but he’d been at the inn for six or seven years and had never seen him before.

Hearing movement in the neighboring courtyard, Er'hei hurried over. "Master, a guest has arrived."

"Who is it?" Sui Yu asked.

Old Tu approached, smiling. "Jade Merchant! Still remember me?"

"This is the head of the civilian alley in the city," Sui Yu said to Er'hei before turning to greet him. "Uncle, it’s been years. You never visit without a purpose—what brings you here today?"

Old Tu laughed awkwardly. "Just out for a stroll, ended up in the north and thought I’d drop by."

Sui Yu pasted on a skeptical smile.

"Not many caravans came to Dunhuang this spring. How’s business here?" Old Tu got straight to the point.

"From February till now, we’ve hosted five caravans," Sui Yu said plainly. "Last winter, over sixty caravans came—almost every merchant group from both sides of the frontier pass gathered in Dunhuang. They all left when spring arrived. Where would new ones come from?"

"Seems normal. Our civilian alley hasn’t had a single caravan," Old Tu said. "Do you think this year’s autumn and winter caravans will be like last year’s? To be honest, I bought an acre of land nearby, planning to open a tavern. I heard you’ve opened a new warehouse—do you sell grape wine there?"

Sui Yu suppressed a scoff. Old Tu wasn’t young, yet he was still full of energy.

"Yes, we have grape wine. Want to buy some? I’ll sell you two jars."

"What’s the price?"

"Two hundred and thirty coins per jar. Crystal clear—top shelf stuff," Sui Yu said.

"What do you think about me opening a tavern here?" Old Tu trusted her judgment. Seeing business in the civilian alley decline, he planned to seek opportunities in the north, relying on Sui Yu’s inn. As long as her business thrived, he wouldn’t lose money.

"Well, it could go either way. You’ll have to weigh it yourself—after all, it’s your money and effort." Sui Yu avoided influencing others’ decisions. On the same street, some taverns prospered while others failed. Until it opened, who could predict?

Old Tu looked around and let slip, "Others are watching too—thinking of opening shops here but worried that in a few years, with more cotton planted, caravans might shift back to the city center. Then, if there aren’t enough merchants here, shops would sit empty. But I know you—you wouldn’t let your inn lose business. That’s why your warehouse will replace cotton trade to attract caravans."

Sui Yu was surprised he’d thought of this. She sighed, "Uncle, if you were twenty or thirty years younger, and we weren’t business partners, we’d probably be bitter competitors."

Old Tu laughed heartily this time. "Then I’d rather partner with the Jade Merchant to make money."

"If you open a cobbler's shop here, business won’t be bad. Caravans go through shoes like crazy—straw sandals, cloth shoes, leather boots, fur boots. A merchant buying ten pairs wouldn’t be too much." Sui Yu gave him a surefire tip.

Unfortunately, Old Tu had no shoemaking skills. After some more small talk, he mounted his donkey and left.

As he rode, he pondered: He couldn’t make shoes, but he could hire someone or buy them from the civilian alley. That required far less investment than selling wine.

"Wake up, old man! Pay attention—the donkey's about to walk you right into the wheat!" Kid called out.

Old Tu snapped out of his daze, cursing and smacking the old donkey's head, but the animal still tried to snatch a bite of wheatgrass despite the beating.

Xiao Zai jumped off his camel to help shoo the donkey away, scolding, "Old man, why aren’t you watching the road while riding? Farmers work hard planting wheat, barely finding time to go home for a hot meal. If I hadn’t been here, your donkey would’ve trampled the seedlings, and you wouldn’t have been able to pull it out. The owner of this field would’ve lost several bushels of wheat this year."

Old Tu recognized him and said, "You look just like your mother."

"Don’t try to sweet-talk me," Xiao Zai snapped impatiently. "What’s your name? Where do you live? I’ll tell the landowner so he can demand compensation from you."

Old Tu grew nervous and fumbled around before pulling out a handful of coins. "Here, take these and give them to the landowner on my behalf. Is this enough?"

Xiao Zai counted carefully—thirty-seven coppers, enough to buy a few big steamed buns. He waved dismissively. "Get going."

"The whole family’s a handful," Old Tu muttered under his breath before cursing at the donkey and leaving.

Xiao Zai mounted his camel and headed back, spotting his Ma standing under the jujube tree from afar, two large black dogs wagging their tails at her feet.

"Ma, I’m back."

"I saw. What were you talking to Old Tu about on the road?"

"His donkey went into the wheat field to graze, so I made him pay up." Xiao Zai dismounted and handed her the coins. "Have Er'hei watch for him—when the landowner comes by, give these to him. I’ll be waiting at the city gate for Dad and Uncle, so I won’t be home much and probably won’t run into the landowner. Ma, is Xiao Hua still asleep?"

"Yes. She played with *Golden Wheat* for a long time today and stayed up late. She’ll probably wake up in another half an hour," Sui Yu replied.

Xiao Zai washed his hands, then ran inside to wake his sister, so she wouldn’t sleep till sundown and end up keeping their Ma awake all night.

Two days later, Old Tu hired laborers to build a house in the northern part of the city.

Almost overnight, merchants in the city heard the news, and those who had bought land in the north also began hiring workers to dig foundations and construct houses.

Song Congzu approached Sui Yu and said, "Aunt Sui, before my mother left the pass last year, she left word for me to help Lvya'er build a house. She also mentioned she’d already arranged for craftsmen—the same ones who built your warehouse last year. Where do they live?"

"They’re garrison troops from the military colony. Your Uncle Zhao was the one who arranged for them. Just wait—when he returns, I’ll have him pass the word. He’ll get things done faster than you going door to door."

Song Congzu thanked her and asked casually, "Sui Liang should be back soon, right?"

"I expect he’ll return with his brother-in-law. Not many trade caravans have come from inside the pass this year, so he should’ve been back by now. Since he hasn’t returned yet, he’s probably been strong-armed into helping his brother-in-law." Sui Yu knew Sui Liang’s temperament well. When he left Dunhuang, he’d mentioned finding a local in Wuwei County to manage the shop so he could return and help her with the kids. Since there’d been no word, it was likely Zhao Xiping had snagged him on the way back.

As expected, three days later, Zhao Xiping and Sui Liang entered the city through the eastern gate.

Zhao Xiaozai had spent every afternoon at the city gate for half the day. That noon, he overslept for once, only to wake up and find his father and uncle already in the courtyard.

"Am I still dreaming?" Xiao Zai blinked in confusion before lunging forward, leaping into his father’s arms with a kick of his legs.

Zhao Xiping caught him steadily but before he could speak, he felt a cold wetness on his weather-beaten arm—his child’s tears sliding down.

His chest tightened, his throat constricting until he couldn’t speak.

"Dad, I missed you every day. Why didn’t you send word by caravan?" Xiao Zai sniffled, wiping his tears.

"You’re crying?" Sui Liang teased, stepping in. "Now I’m hurt—you didn’t cry when I came back last year."

Xiao Zai choked back a sob, wiping his tears on his uncle’s hand. "Just wait, Uncle. I’ll even the score."

"I don’t want them—these tears aren’t for me," Sui Liang retorted, wiping the tears back onto him. "Aren’t you embarrassed? You’ll be eleven in half a year, yet you’re still crying in your dad’s arms."

"Dad’s never been away from me before. I missed him." As he spoke, tears spilled over. "I haven’t seen him in two months, and he didn’t even send a letter—Wah—"

He couldn’t stay mad. Back when he’d led a trade caravan to Chang'an, he’d heard Xiao Zai had bawled his eyes out back then.

He eyed his brother-in-law like he was watching a show, eager to see if this hardheaded guy would still be stubborn.

"I was too busy, trying to finish work quickly so I could come home sooner. I didn’t have time to send word with the merchant caravans," Zhao Xiping explained gently. "I was overseeing work in the fields day in and day out, leaving before dawn and not returning until after dark. I had no clue if any caravans came through town."

"You could’ve sent a Messenger," the kid retorted. "You just didn’t think about us."

"That's downright unfair! Who else would I think about if not you?" Zhao Xiping was ready to call heaven as his witness. "Ask your uncle—he was helping me too. Ask him if I was so busy I barely had time to eat."

Sui Liang's eyebrows danced but stayed silent.

Zhao Xiping shot a pleading glance at Sui Yu.

Sui Yu crossed her arms, enjoying the drama, and chimed in, "Our little one was sick with missing you. He barely ate or slept, going on about his heartless father."

Zhao Xiping: "...My fault."

A baby started wailing inside, and both Sui Yu and Sui Liang hurried in. She picked up the little girl who had just woken and soothed her, "Don’t cry, don’t cry. Look who’s back—it’s your uncle!"

Sui Liang bent down and fished out a handmade flower from his robe. "Uncle gives Xiao Hua a flower. I made it myself."

Sui Yu let out an amazed 'Wow', taking the flower and placing it in Xiao Hua’s tiny hand. Seeing the tears stop, she carried the child outside.

Zhao Xiping had just managed to calm his elder son when his little daughter emerged, still teary-eyed. Nervously wringing his hands, he whispered, "Look how big you've gotten! Does she recognize people? Can I hold her?"

Sui Yu tentatively passed the child to him. Zhao Xiping carefully cradled her, one hand supporting her neck, the other her back. Xiao Hua fixed him with her big, dark eyes, while he gazed at her with deep affection.

"You don’t remember me. I’ve been gone for two months. Your mother worked hard to raise you—were you good? Did you give her trouble?" he murmured. "You look plump, but your mother’s gotten thinner."

Xiao Hua’s lips trembled, and tears welled up instantly. She let out a full-blown wail, flailing her chubby little arms toward her mother.

Sui Yu didn’t take her back, and Zhao Xiping didn’t let go either. He patted his daughter’s back gently, whispering comforts.

The kid joined in, "Little sister, don’t cry. This is our dad!"

But Xiao Hua couldn’t understand. She kept crying, and eventually, Zhao Xiping had no choice but to return her to her mother.

"Probably hungry," Sui Yu said, carrying her inside to nurse.

Yet even after feeding, when Zhao Xiping reached out again, the little girl still refused him. But when Sui Liang reached for her, she went to him willingly.

Zhao Xiping stood by, digging out all the little trinkets he'd bought to coax her. He spent half the day working his charm, even sitting the kid on his lap to show her he wasn’t a bad person—after all, her brother trusted him.

By evening, Xiao Hua finally let him hold her.

"Can’t even joke about it," Zhao Xiping sighed with a smile. "What a little firecracker."