Chapter 120

Chapter 120

Ge Changbao raised his long spear and shouted, "Form up!"

Ten soldiers driving the carts behind rushed forward with their weapons in hand!

Bai Mao was stunned, instinctively feeling a bit panicked, but relying on the fact that he had more men than them, a head-on confrontation wasn't impossible.

"Brothers, grab your weapons!"

More than twenty bandits behind him rushed forward with sickles, shovels, cleavers, and wooden sticks in hand.

Ge Changbao, gritting his back teeth, raised his silver spear and said, "Kill them all!"

These bandits were no match for the soldiers. At the first encounter, they were beaten to the point of crying for their fathers and mothers. Some even had their heads chopped off on the spot, frightening the rest into dropping their armor and weapons to flee for their lives.

The soldiers were all battle-hardened veterans who had killed more people than there were pigs. Now, facing these bandits was like dealing with chicks. They didn't even need to use their full strength and in no time, most of the bandits were taken care of.

General Ge, with his spear, charged in and out three times, directly piercing through the fleeing bandit leader.

Once White Hair was dead, the rest had no will to resist and knelt on the ground, begging for mercy.

Ge Changbao put away his spear and first went to check on his husband and child in the cart.

Lu Miao, frightened, hugged his son and asked nervously, "Are those bandits gone?"

"The leader is dead. The rest will be sent to the local yamen soon," Ge Changbao replied.

"Are you hurt?"

"No, these small fry couldn't hurt me." Ge Changbao pinched his son's cheek. "Dandan, were you scared?"

Ge Dandan shook his head with his dark eyes wide open. "Dad, I want the stick." The 'stick' he referred to was the silver spear Ge Changbao had used earlier.

"Hahahaha, this one won't do. It's too dirty. When we get home, I'll get you a small one to play with."

"Okay!"

Ge Changbao got off the cart and said, "Liu Cong, Liu He, tie these men up and escort them to the nearby county yamen. If any of them try to escape or resist on the way, cut them down."

"Yes, sir!"

Twenty-six bandits were killed, and the remaining nineteen were searched and tied up with thick hemp ropes around their necks and hands, strung together in a line to head towards the nearby Qington County.

The remaining soldiers checked the dead bandits to ensure they were indeed dead, then moved them to the side of the road and covered them with grass to avoid scaring passing pedestrians, waiting for the yamen to send someone to collect the bodies.

Zhao Beichuan, seeing that he wasn't needed, returned to the cart. Lu Yao opened the door slightly and asked, "Did the bandits run away?"

"No, General Ge took them away."

"That's good. This time, thanks to him bringing some men, otherwise, with so many children in the cart, those bandits could have hurt them."

This incident was just a small interlude. Upon arriving at the next post station, everyone gathered to chat.

Lu Lin said, "These bandits were unlucky to run into us and were wiped out by my brother-in-law!"

Hu Chunrong patted her chest, still frightened. "It was too scary. I didn't dare to open the door, afraid it would scare mother and Taoz."

The little girl looked up and said, "Mom, I'm not scared."

Lu Lao hugged her granddaughter's cheek. "Our Taoz is amazing."

Seeing this, Ge Dandan also came to hug her. "Grandma, I'm not scared either. When I grow up, I'll be like Dad and fight the bad guys!"

"Oh my!" Everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter.

*

Four days later, the group finally arrived at Qiushui Town.

It had been six years since they left last time, and the changes in the town were significant upon returning.

Xiaonian pointed to a row of shops by the street and said, "Sister-in-law, look, these shops have been rebuilt!"

"Indeed!" Lu Yao also leaned out the window to look. Many of the familiar shops had changed owners, and many new houses had been built on previously empty land.

As they looked out, the pedestrians on the road also observed this line of carts.

"So grand! One of these big carts must be worth dozens of guan?"

"Dozens of guan for a cart? It would be at least a hundred guan!"

"My goodness, whose distinguished guests are these, coming to our town..."

The carts headed towards Xiasanli and stopped in front of a breakfast shop they used to run.

The shop had long since changed hands and was now called Hu Family Eatery, run by Hu Chunrong's younger brother, Hu Chunsheng.

The couple was busy when they suddenly saw so many carts stopped outside. Initially startled, they immediately thought, could it be that their sister and brother-in-law had returned from Prefecture City?!

Hu Chunsheng wiped his hands and walked towards the carts. Seeing Lu Lin in the distance, he widened his eyes. "Brother-in-law!"

"Hey!" Lu Lin waved and smiled at him.

Hu Chunsheng hurried over. Upon hearing her brother's voice, Hu Chunrong's eyes welled up with tears and she opened the door. "Chunsheng."

"Sister!"

Tears instantly flowed from both of them.

"Sister, why did it take you so long to come back? It's been many years..."

It was the little Peachie next to them who asked in confusion, "Mother, who is this?"

Hu Chunsheng wiped away his tears in surprise and looked at Lu Peachie, "This... this is my niece?"

"Yes." Hu Chunrong hugged her daughter and brought her over, "Peachie, call him Uncle."

Peachie sweetly called out, "Uncle."

"My good girl!" Hu Chunsheng took her into his arms and pinched her little nose.

The hesitant Stone behind also called out, "Uncle."

"Hey!" Hu Chunsheng patted Stone on the shoulder, "You've grown so much! Quickly come inside!"

Everyone parked the carriage by the side of the road, attracting many neighbors from nearby to come and watch the commotion.

Zhao Beichuan helped Lu Yao down from the carriage, and the two looked around at the short and shabby breakfast shop, feeling overwhelmed with emotions.

"As soon as I saw this place, I remembered our old days. Look, the table and the stove haven't been changed; we set them up!"

"Yes."

"It was really hard back then. We had to get up before dawn, especially in winter when our hands and feet would freeze until they were numb." Lu Yao joked, "If I asked you to do this work now, could you still manage?"

"I could, but definitely not with the same energy as before."

Hu Chunsheng invited everyone inside to sit down and have a bowl of tofu pudding. It was still the same recipe after all these years, and the taste hadn't changed a bit.

Drinking a bowl, the familiar taste brought back many emotions for Lu Yao. In the past, they would drink the leftover tofu pudding at home until he was sick of it.

Now tasting it again, he felt truly nostalgic.

Hu Chunsheng and his wife closed the shop and went home to call for Mother Hu.

As soon as Hu Chunrong saw her mother, the two embraced and couldn't help but cry again, which made everyone feel a little sour inside.

Old Mother Hu also teared up and wiped the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief, saying, "Old sister, you're still in good health?"

Mother Hu was short, dark, and thin with a head full of silver hair, but she was full of energy, "I'm good! When life is comfortable, how can the body not be good?"

The old ladies had endless things to talk about. Xiaonian was eager to visit the Liu family to see her sister Liu Yue, so Lu Yao accompanied her down the alley.

Arriving at the Liu residence, they knocked on the door, and after a short while, a half-grown boy opened the door, "Who are you looking for?"

Lu Yao said, "You're Liu Yuan, right?"

The boy nodded, looking at them confused. When Liu Yuan left, he was not even two years old, so he couldn't remember this neighbor.

"Is your mother and your sister Yue at home?"

"Yes." Liu Yuan called out, and shortly after, Second Sister-in-law Liu came out from the inner room. Seeing Lu Yao at the door, she was stunned.

"You... are you Lu Yao?!"

Lu Yao smiled, "Long time no see, Second Sister-in-law."

"Oh my little brother! Come in, come in!" Second Sister-in-law Liu quickly opened the door wide, seeing the gifts they were carrying, her smile grew even bigger.

"How do you have time to come back?"

"Old Mother Hu is feeling nostalgic, and it's been many years since we've been back, so we decided to come and take a look."

Entering the house, almost nothing had changed in the Liu family home. The two brothers' families still lived in the east and west rooms, and Uncle Liu had passed away a few years ago.

Xiaonian, thinking of Liu Yue, went to the east room first with her gifts. Lu Yao followed Second Sister-in-law Liu to the west room with a box of snacks.

"Please sit, let me get you some water! It's rare for you to come back; stay for a meal before you leave. I'll go kill the chicken."

Lu Yao quickly got up to stop her, "Don't bother. Old Mother Hu is eager to return to the village, so we'll leave soon."

Only then did Second Sister-in-law Liu sit down and looked Lu Yao up and down, "After all these years, how have you not changed at all?"

"No change?"

"With this figure and appearance, people would believe you're an unmarried young man if you were taken outside."

Lu Yao couldn't help but laugh, "Sister-in-law, don't tease me."

"Teasing? Look at your smooth face without a single wrinkle." She touched her own hair, "I've already grown white hairs."

Due to the low living standards in ancient times, most people started growing white hair at around thirty-five, and by forty, they were considered to be entering old age.

Lu Yao was twenty-eight years old. If following the ancient norm of marrying at sixteen or seventeen, he would soon be reaching grandfather status.

However, living in Prefecture City with good living conditions, balanced nutrition, and no heavy labor, he naturally looked younger and healthier than others.

"Has Da Chuan come back?"

"Yes."

"Did he bring the child back?"

Lu Yao thought he was talking about Xiaodou, "Xiaodou didn't come back; he's preparing for the autumn examination."

Hearing this, Second Sister-in-law Liu exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my, is Xiaodou that capable!"

Lu Yao smiled and nodded, "The child is smart and has some talent in studying, so we let him focus on his studies."

"You and Da Chuan... still don't have children?"

"No."

"Didn't you go to the medical clinic to have a look?"

"I previously had a doctor check my pulse. He said that because I was severely ill in my childhood, my constitution is weak. Perhaps this is affecting me."

Liu Ersao quickly grabbed his hand to comfort him, "Maybe the fate hasn't arrived yet. Just wait a little longer, and perhaps it will happen."

Lu Yao smiled faintly and nodded.

The two then chatted about the town's affairs. Liu Ersao was no longer helping at the breakfast stall. She found Hu Chunsheng's wife to be too troublesome and now worked as a servant for a wealthy family in town, going there for fifteen days a month and earning two hundred wen.

Next door, Xiaonian and Liu Yue were also chatting. Liu Yue was already betrothed and would marry in the autumn. Recently, she had been at home, embroidering her wedding dress with her mother.

The two girls, excited to see each other, held hands and shook them for a long time.

Liu Yue gently touched Xiaonian's nose with her finger and said, "I thought you had forgotten me."

"How could I?"

They looked at each other, and six years had turned them into graceful young women.

Xiaonian hurriedly took out a box from her package and handed it to her, "I might not be able to come back when you marry. I'm giving you this in advance, and you're not allowed to refuse."

"What is it?" Liu Yue curiously opened it to see a pair of silver hairpins, a pair of earrings, and a pair of silver bracelets engraved with 'hundred blessings.'

"No, no, this is too valuable!" Just the bracelets were worth several strings of coins; she couldn't accept them.

"If you don't take it, I'll be angry."

"It's too expensive..."

"It's not expensive. I bought it with my own private money." Nowadays, Xiaonian helps at a tavern, and her sister-in-law gives her several hundred taels of silver as pocket money each year. This set of jewelry was chosen for its simple style to avoid Liu Yue refusing the expensive ones.

Unable to decline further, Liu Yue took out a red silk veil with a double lotus embroidery from her cabinet and gave it to Xiaonian, "I don't have anything presentable, so please take this veil. It's of better quality and can be used when you marry in the future."

Xiaonian happily accepted it, and the two, as they did in their childhood, hid in Liu Yue's room to share some girl talk.

After half an hour, Xiaonian heard Lu Yao calling her outside.

Liu Yue held her hand reluctantly, "I don't know when we'll meet again."

Xiaonian couldn't help but shed tears, "Moon, when I have time in the future, I'll come back to visit you."

Liu Yue hugged her tightly for a long while before letting go. The two girls bid farewell with tears.

*

They didn't linger in town for long, meeting a few old neighbors before returning to Lujia Village.

Wang Youtian took Lu Yun back to Willow Village first.

Five large horse carriages lined up to enter the village, startling the villagers working in the fields, who dropped their tools and ran after the carriages.

When the carriages stopped at Lu's house and Lu's mother was assisted down by her son, the neighbors were surprised to find that it was indeed the old lady of the Lu family!

The old neighbors all crowded around, "Old sister, you're back!"

"The water and soil of the prefecture city have been nourishing. You haven't changed over the years!"

"You must have made a fortune in the city. Look at the fabric you're wearing; we've never seen anything like it!"

Lu Laotai laughed heartily and asked Hu Chunrong to hand out a box of candies to the neighbors.

Everyone rushed to grab the candies, which were brought from the prefecture city and couldn't be bought elsewhere!

Lu Lin opened the gate. During their absence, the house had been entrusted to the care of his second uncle's family, but it had still deteriorated quite a bit from being uninhabited.

A large section of the thatched roof had rotted, and the windows had warped from rain, making it impossible to close them tightly, allowing water to seep in, and the mats on the kang had grown mold.

Seeing this, Lu Laotai sighed regretfully, "This mat was bought when your father was still alive. What a pity."

Ge Changbao quickly had his men enter the house to clean everything, washing what needed to be washed, so as not to upset the old lady.

This was his first time in Lujia Village, and he had never met his father-in-law, planning to take his son to pay respects and burn incense for the old man tomorrow.

Soon after, Lu Guangxing learned of their return and came with his son and grandson to greet them.

When old friends met, the contradictions of youth were long forgotten, leaving only nostalgia.

Lu Guangxing had two sons and two daughters, all married.

His two sons had four or five grandsons, who were now as old as Shitou and Jinzi and were somewhat shy upon meeting.

Lu Laotai gave them candies, and they all held the candies, calling her "Grandma."

"Ah, good children."

Lu Guangxing's wife had passed away a few years ago, and now he lived with his eldest son's family, still in good health.

"These past few years when you weren't home, every New Year, I invited my elder brother and nephew to spend the New Year at my house. You can't leave them outside just because you're gone. There's still his younger brother in Lujia Village."

"Yes, yes..." Lu's mother couldn't help but wipe her tears with her handkerchief again.

Lu Yao gently patted her back to comfort her, having just returned, afraid that the old lady might get too emotional and harm her health by crying.

He asked Xiao Chun to boil a pot of water in the kitchen and brew the tea brought from the prefecture city for everyone. They sat in the house, chatting.

At noon, Zhao Beichuan bought a pig, and before he could do anything, a few soldiers swiftly slaughtered the pig.

Lu Lin and Ge Changbao removed the pot from the kitchen and set up another stove in the yard. The kang in the old house hadn't been used for a long time and was blocked, so they would need to clear out the kang holes in the afternoon before it could be used.

*

Meanwhile, Wang Youtian hurriedly drove his carriage towards Willow Village.

As soon as he arrived at the door, he shouted, "Dad, Mom, we're back!"

Inside the house, the old lady Wang was mending an old mattress on the kang. Startled by the sound of her third son's voice, she thought she had misheard. Putting down her needle and thread, she got off the kang to take a look, only to find that it was indeed her third son who had returned.

Excitedly, she patted her thigh. "Youtian, you're finally back!"

Wang Youtian parked the carriage in the yard and ran towards his mother, hugging her tightly as tears streamed down his face.

Lu Yun also got off the carriage, helping Jinzi down.

Hurrying to push her son away, the old lady exclaimed, "JinJin, my precious grandson has grown so much!"

Before she could react, another smaller "Jinzi" got off the carriage.

"Call her Grandma," Lu Yun prompted.

Yinzhi softly called, "Grandma."

The old lady picked up the second son, kissing his cheek as her heart melted. "This is Yinzhi, isn't it? He looks just like Jinzi when he was little!"

From the next room, Wang Ersao, with her large belly, walked out, her face beaming with delight. "Youtian and Lu Yun are back!"

Lu Yun didn't have much affection for this sister-in-law and only nodded perfunctorily.

Wang Ersao didn't mind the cold reception and hurried over, examining the large carriage.

"You must have made a fortune in Prefecture City. This carriage must be worth a lot of silver!"

Wang Youtian coughed, "The carriage isn't ours. We rented it from the Chaobiao Agency."

Wang Ersao was about to peek inside the carriage when the old lady scolded her, "You're pregnant, go inside and stay away from the carriage. Don't startle the horses and get hurt!"

Wang Ersao pouted and turned to go inside.

Only then did Lu Yun take down two packages from the carriage and followed everyone to the old lady's room.

The house hadn't changed much since they left. Wang Youtian went to the kitchen and scooped a ladle of cold water, drinking it down. "Mom, where's Dad?"

"He went to check on someone's mule. He'll be back soon."

Holding Yinzhi in her arms, the old lady couldn't stop fussing over him. "There are eggs in the cupboard. Quickly boil some for the children and Lu Yun. You must be tired after such a long journey."

"It wasn't bad. We came back with my parents, chatting and laughing along the way, so it didn't feel tiring."

"How is your in-law's health?"

"He's doing well, but he's getting older and not as strong as before."

The old lady patted his hand. "Two years ago, when you wrote to us saying Yinzhi was born, your father and I wanted to go visit, but it was too far, so we gave up."

Lu Yun said, "Mom, this time when we go back, you and Dad should come with us to Prefecture City."