Chapter 246: Not Enough

Chapter 246: Homecoming

The return of the Qishu County Princess and Du Yunse to their hometown for a family visit was a grand event. The villagers of Du Family Village had received the news months in advance, and by the time the impressive caravan stopped at the village entrance, a large crowd had already gathered to welcome them.

Qiu Huanian lifted the carriage curtain and, together with Du Yunse, stepped out to face the throng. Nannies descended from the following carriages, dressing Gu Gu and Yang Yang in thick brocade capes.

At two years old, the children weighed over twenty pounds each—too heavy for Qiu Huanian to carry easily. Du Yunse had intended to carry one under each arm, but Gu Gu insisted on walking on his own. Left with no choice, Du Yunse picked up Yang Yang, who obediently stretched out his arms to be carried.

Qiu Huanian slowed his pace, allowing the little one, barely three feet tall, to walk ahead on his own. Gu Gu’s expression showed determination, his young face radiating seriousness.

Bao Ren and his wife, along with Bao Yi’s family, stood at the forefront of the crowd. Though Bao Yi now held the official rank of fifth-rank military officer, he still respectfully remained half a step behind his elder brother.

“The moment I woke up this morning, I heard magpies chirping outside the window. I told Yue'er it must mean Brother Hua and the others were arriving—and sure enough, before noon, we heard you were here!”

After exchanging greetings with Qiu Huanian and the others, Meng Fuyue immediately turned her attention to Yun Cheng and Meng Yuanling, who had stepped down from the following carriages, covering Xiao Agao with kisses.

Jiu Jiu and Cun Lan, childhood friends who hadn't seen each other in ages, locked eyes and instantly teared up, sneaking off hand in hand to whisper in private.

“Yun Se, Huanian, your new residence is fully completed. The window paper and major furnishings are all in place, and we’ve been heating the kang and braziers for days—it’s nice and warm and ready for you to move in.”

“Thank you, Uncle Bao Ren. We truly appreciate your efforts.”

“No need for such formalities among family. Without you, where would Du Family Village be today? Yue'er and Taohong filled your kitchen with all kinds of ingredients, though we weren’t sure about your current tastes, so we didn’t start cooking.”

Qiu Huanian chuckled. “Now that we’re back, we’re craving home-cooked meals. None of those fancy dishes—the simpler, the better.”

“See, I told you!” Ye Taohong gave Bao Yi a firm poke on the forehead. “Brother Hua would love our local dishes. We should’ve just gone with my plan.”

After greeting the welcoming villagers, Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse had their servants open a specially packed chest from one of the carriages, revealing an assortment of embroidered pouches. Each pouch contained a silver ingot, some engraved with “Wealth and Prosperity,” others with “Wisdom and Talent,” and still others with “Longevity and Blessings.”

Without needing explicit instructions, Xing Mi and Bai Quan oversaw the distribution of the pouches, ensuring every villager—young or old, male or female—received one.

“It’s rare for us all to gather like this, so I prepared small gifts. They’re nothing much, but I hope they bring good fortune for the New Year.”

The silver ingots Qiu Huanian had commissioned were generously weighted, each worth half a tael, and the embroidered pouches were no less valuable. Together, they amounted to a full tael—No one would take that lightly!

The recipients beamed with joy, their hearts warmed despite the winter chill. These were pouches gifted by Du Yunse and the Qishu County Princess—far more than mere silver. They would treasure them as heirlooms, proof to future generations that their ancestors had once rubbed shoulders with greatness.

As Qiu Huanian’s party made their way home, the villagers lingered, reluctant to part. Only after repeated reassurances did they finally disperse.

Meng Yuanling came over with a dimpled grin. “I bet some people looked ready to drop to their knees and worship you like a god if the crowd hadn’t been so packed. If the Qishu County Princess is that miraculous, can you bless me first?”

Qiu Huanian pinched his cheek. “I’ll bless you to eat extra bowls of New Year’s feast without stomachaches!”

Laughing, Meng Yuanling ran off. “I’m taking Agao and Yun Cheng home now—see you tomorrow!”

After traveling for over two weeks, everyone needed proper rest. Qiu Huanian accepted the keys from Bao Ren and unlocked the gates to their new residence.

The estate had doubled in size. The original courtyard had been renovated as the main compound, with sturdier beams, more intricate lattice windows, and painted decorations. The central hall and side wings had been expanded with additional chambers, meeting the five-room requirement permitted for officials’ residences.

Beyond the main compound, the original garden and newly acquired land now housed three smaller, square courtyards. The old pear tree had been preserved, and a pavilion had been built beside it. Cold-resistant plants had been transplanted to form a modest garden.

After Bao Ren’s guided tour, Qiu Huanian expressed his satisfaction and gratitude once more.

Meng Fuyue returned home to tend to her granddaughter Xiao Agao, while Ye Taohong showed the cooks from Tianjin the kitchen’s layout and ingredients. Soon, the servants had arranged bedding, charcoal, and other essentials, and the kitchen had prepared a meal.

“This is sorghum porridge—perfect for winter. In summer, we eat chilled sorghum rice, boiled and then cooled in water before serving with side dishes and sauce.”

Qiu Huanian ladled an extra spoonful for each of his two cousins. “You’ve never tried this—give it a taste. I used to love it.”

The meal on the table was simple: a big pot of sorghum congee, a hearty bowl of scrambled egg relish, a large plate of bean sprouts, a dish of shredded scallions, and a plate of paper-thin cured pork.

Such homestyle food couldn’t compare in any way to the delicacies of the capital or Tianjin, yet everyone seated there ate with great joy. Chun Sheng wolfed down three bowls of congee, and Qiu Huanian absentmindedly downed a large bowl as well.

Swallowing the familiar flavors, he watched the steam rising from his bowl, spaced out as if transported back years ago, to the days when he was still in the village.

After the meal, Du Yunse headed to the study in the side room to continue his studies. To pass the imperial exams and change his family’s fate, he never rested, even in the bitterest winter, always rising earlier and sleeping later than Qiu Huanian. Qiu Huanian prepared Sorghum Candy and popcorn in the kitchen, then carried the freshly made treats to knock lightly on the study door, bringing snacks to his hardworking little dragon man...

"Brother Hua."

Qiu Huanian snapped back to the present. Du Yunse’s face was now close to his, more mature than the scholar he remembered, his polished demeanor and charm even more striking from years in high office.

"Let’s all rest after the meal. Tomorrow, we’ll pay respects at the graves on the back hill."

Qiu Huanian nodded dumbly. Du Yunse gave a wry smile and brushed away a stray crumb from Qiu Huanian’s cheek with his thumb.

The main courtyard housed Qiu Huanian’s family of six. Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng still stayed in the east and west wing rooms, while the remaining three small courtyards were temporarily occupied by the Mu siblings, Wen Huiyang alone, and Mei Wangshu, who shared with Wei Li and Qingmei.

The imperial guards escorting them had brought their own tents, but Qiu Huanian couldn’t bear to leave them camping in the freezing cold for the New Year. After a word with Bao Yi, he arranged for some of the guards to rest at a nearby military camp, rotating shifts.

With everything settled and the children asleep, Qiu Huanian shucked off his coat, shoes, and socks, flopping onto the heated brick bed (a traditional Chinese kang, footnote: a raised platform filled with bricks that retain heat). He rolled into the soft cotton bedding.

Du Yunse approached, catching his fair, delicate feet and tucking them under the quilt.

"It’s bone-chilling cold in the northeast, Brother Hua. Be careful not to catch a chill."

Qiu Huanian lay sprawled on the overstuffed buckwheat pillow, eyes heavy with sleep, yawning slowly. "Come up and keep me warm. If you know it’s cold, shouldn’t you be warming your lord’s bed, hmm?"

Du Yunse gave a wry smile, freshened up, and climbed onto the heated brick bed, dragging Qiu Huanian close beneath the quilt.

Outside, the cold was biting, but inside, warmth enveloped them. The freshly heated kang radiated steady warmth through the felt and bedding, the temperature under the covers rising gradually, warming him to the core.

Qiu Huanian nuzzled lightly against Du Yunse’s chest, half-lidded eyes drowsy as he murmured, "This is so nice."

"Hmm?"

"We’ve spent six years together, and now we’re back where we started..."

"Six years isn’t enough."

"Then how long? Sixty years?"

"Not enough."

Qiu Huanian laughed, his voice muffled under the quilt. "Any longer and we’ll be ancient relics. Fine, fine—how about six hundred years?"

Du Yunse crushed him closer and kissed his forehead.

"Nothing is enough. I don’t just want one lifetime—I want every lifetime."

"Brother Hua, I want to be wherever you are, in every life, to meet you and love you."

Qiu Huanian lifted his head from the quilt, gaping at him. "You’re too greedy."

...But so am I.