Chapter Ninety-Five: Family

Chapter 95: A Family

The night wind howled. Tangyuan peered out, but the thick curtain at the door blocked his view. Fearing someone might suddenly burst through, he quickly retreated behind Lin Qiuran.

Clinging to Lin Qiuran’s leg, he occasionally peeked out from behind her, only to swiftly duck back again.

Sun Shi rose to investigate. Lin Qiuran soothingly stroked Tangyuan’s head, then extended a hand. “Shall we go out and take a look?”

Tangyuan nodded, and Lin Qiuran led him outside.

The lanterns in the main courtyard cast a warm glow over the small yard. Lin Xia hurried over, settling beside Lin Qiuran, her eyes sparkling with an irrepressible smile.

Xiao Xun followed close behind Lin Xia. Even with her leading the way, his tall stature made him impossible to miss.

Lin Qiuran watched Xiao Xun stride towards her. He seemed even taller now, his youthful air replaced by the cold, battle-hardened aura of one who had endured many days of combat.

A sudden chill ran through Lin Qiuran. She recalled Xiao Xun’s first return, also in winter. After more than a year apart, he felt somewhat unfamiliar. Instinctively, Lin Qiuran took a step back.

Her mind raced, a kaleidoscope of memories flashing as she tried to reconcile the Xiao Xun before her with the man she remembered.

By the time she regained her composure, Xiao Xun stood before her. Lin Qiuran blinked. After a moment, he pulled her into a crushing embrace. His armor was icy-cold and rigid. She wasn’t tall enough to reach his shoulders, her ear pressing against his chest.

Through the armor, Lin Qiuran heard the steady thumping of his heartbeat. He was alive.

It was a bit chilly, but Lin Qiuran was dressed in thick cotton, so she wouldn’t freeze in such a short time.

Xiao Xun’s muffled voice reached her ears, each word clear and deliberate: “Qiu Ran, I kept my promise. I’ve returned alive.”

Lin Qiuran’s lips curved upward. She wanted to reach out and pat Xiao Xun’s head as she often did with Tangyuan, but he held her too tightly. “You… please let go first…”

Xiao Xun loosened his grip slightly but didn’t release her completely. Unaware of Sun Shi’s presence, he wrapped one arm around Lin Qiuran’s waist, his other hand against her back. Though he couldn’t see Lin Qiuran, his gaze met that of the small child on the ground.

Tangyuan craned his neck, tilting his head back to look up at Xiao Xun.

So this was his father. He was so tall, like a mountain.

Lin Qiuran’s face flushed. Sun Shi was there, Tangyuan was there, and the maids were there too. What would they think of such an embrace? She patted Xiao Xun, and this time, he finally released her.

Lin Qiuran looked up at him, then bent down to pull Tangyuan closer.

Tangyuan wasn’t easily swayed. He had his own ideas now, ate well, and was strong. If he didn’t want to do something, Lin Qiuran couldn’t force him.

Still a bit shy, Tangyuan hid behind Lin Qiuran. Xiao Xun said, “Don’t pull him. He probably doesn’t recognize me.”

He had left when Tangyuan was too young to walk. How could he possibly remember?

Xiao Xun thought the child was small and didn’t dare approach him. There would be plenty of time later; he would have his chances. He glanced at Sun Shi. “Mother, I’m back.”

Sun Shi’s face blossomed with joy. “It’s good that you’re back, it’s good that you’re back!”

She was happy Xiao Xun had returned, and even happier that he was unharmed. Moreover, he had marched in the second rank upon his return—quite an honor!

As Lin Qiuran shifted, Tangyuan moved with her, ensuring he remained hidden.

Lin Qiuran sighed helplessly. “Let’s go inside to talk.”

They had already eaten, but they had set aside some dishes for Xiao Xun. Stir-fried dishes could be quickly prepared fresh. She called out, and a maid went to prepare the meal.

Lin Qiuran held Tangyuan’s hand, and Xiao Xun also offered his hand. Tangyuan shook his head. He didn’t want to hold hands, but he didn’t want to make Xiao Xun sad either, so he decided not to hold Lin Qiuran’s hand either.

He skipped into the room.

He’d give his father some face. Even though he looked tall and a bit intimidating, he had hugged his mother.

In Tangyuan’s mind, since he was close to his mother and his father was close to his mother, he could be close to his father too.

Still, Tangyuan kept glancing at Xiao Xun as he walked, like a wary little animal. Xiao Xun couldn’t help but smile. He found the feeling rather wonderful.

On the street earlier, he had spotted Lin Qiuran and Tangyuan at a glance. Seeing Tangyuan filled him with both surprise and joy.

But now, afraid of scaring the child, he felt a connection but dared not approach.

Once inside, Lin Qiuran watched the father and son staring wide-eyed at each other and said to Xiao Xun, “Why don’t you go change your clothes first?”

Xiao Xun nodded and went into the room. When he emerged, Tangyuan’s eyes lit up.

The earlier version was the messy, disheveled father; now, he was the clean and tidy father.

Lin Qiuran said, “You should eat first. Father didn’t come back with you; he stayed in Yu’an. We have land there, and the Golden Tripod Restaurant is there too, so Father decided to stay in our hometown.”

Seeing Xiao Xun look puzzled, she explained, “The restaurant business grew, so we changed the name.”

Xiao Xun nodded and waited for the food to be served before he began eating.

Lin Qiuran thought Xiao Xun had lost some weight. Perhaps that was why he seemed taller, but he also stood straighter. Even sitting there, he gave off a different vibe than before.

Life away from home was undoubtedly hard. Even during times without battles, there were military rules and discipline. One couldn’t do as they pleased or eat whatever they wanted.

Lin Qiuran observed that while Xiao Xun didn’t exactly wolf down his food, he ate quickly and eagerly—a habit likely formed in the army.

Lin Qiuran sighed as she sat in the armchair. She looked down at Tangyuan in her arms, who was curiously staring at Xiao Xun.

After a few bites, Xiao Xun asked, “Does Tangyuan want to eat something too?”

Tangyuan shook his head. “Mother said when it’s time to eat, eat properly. When it’s not mealtime, don’t think about food. You’re eating now because you returned late. It can’t be helped.”

Xiao Xun understood and continued eating alone.

The home-cooked meal was delicious. Coupled with the fact that the family ran a restaurant, Xiao Xun felt the flavors were unparalleled, almost heavenly. Especially after not having eaten such food for over a year, it felt like he had never tasted anything so delicious.

The dishes prepared for Xiao Xun were light—steamed perch, cabbage stir-fried with lard, clear-braised pork ribs… Lin Qiuran had considered that he had just returned and shouldn’t eat anything too greasy.

Tangyuan watched intently, but not because he was hungry. He had already eaten his fill at dinner and had developed good habits. He simply thought his father was impressive for eating so much.

One bowl, two bowls, three bowls… four bowls! He could never eat that much!

For a young child, his father was someone to admire. Even eating a lot seemed like a remarkable feat.

Noticing Tangyuan’s intense stare, Lin Qiuran said, “Don’t stare at people while they’re eating. It’s not polite.”

Xiao Xun quickly interjected, “It’s fine.”

Tangyuan’s eyes brightened, but Lin Qiuran frowned. “Don’t interrupt when I’m disciplining him.”

Sun Shi, understanding the situation, added, “Otherwise, he’ll take advantage and stop listening to such reminders.”

Xiao Xun hummed in agreement. “I understand.”

Tangyuan’s expression dimmed, and this time, he stopped staring.

But Tangyuan thought, it's really nice that Dad listens to Mom too, so he wouldn't be the only one who gets scolded. It's great having Dad back.

Sun Shi smiled as she watched for a while and said, "You go ahead and eat. I'm tired too, so I’ll head back to sleep."

Sun Shi stood up and left, not wanting to interfere with the young couple’s business. She remembered that when Xiao Xun first returned, Lin Qiuran was pregnant. Later, after Tangyuan was born, she hadn’t heard any noise from next door.

Now that the family was reunited, with so many courtyards in the home, there would be plenty of room for more children.

Not knowing what Sun Shi was thinking, Lin Qiuran nodded and stood up to walk her out a few steps.

Sun Shi insisted Lin Qiuran go back, saying, "No need, it’s quite cold. You should head back."

Lin Qiuran added, "If there’s anything you’re not used to at night, please be sure to speak up. If you need anything..."

Sun Shi patted Lin Qiuran’s hand with a smile, "I know, you should go back now."

After Sun Shi left, the room seemed to become a little quieter. Xiao Xun took a long time finishing his meal, and Lin Qiuran didn’t rush him. Although she thought eating too much wasn’t good, Xiao Xun was so tall that too little food wouldn’t be enough for him. Besides, he ate everything, which set a good example for Tangyuan.

Then again, a grown man should know whether he’s full or not.

After he finished eating, the maid cleared away the dishes. Lin Qiuran noticed his hair was a bit messy and said, "It’s still early. How about a bath to relax?"

One of the rooms in the main courtyard’s side wing Lin Qiuran had converted into a bathroom for washing up. Although there was no running water, heating water was convenient, and there was no need to carry it back and forth, which was a big improvement from before.

Xiao Xun nodded. Compared to Lin Qiuran and their son, he was quite different. The mother and son seemed soft and fragrant, while he looked like he had just returned from escaping hardship.

Lin Qiuran breathed a sigh of relief. If Xiao Xun didn’t wash up, she certainly wouldn’t let him sleep on the heated kang. Fortunately, there was a bed in another room, and with so many courtyards in the house, there was plenty of space to sleep. But if he cleaned up, the kang was large enough for them to sleep together.

Tangyuan usually went to sleep early, but today he dawdled, insisting on waiting for Xiao Xun to return. He kept moving his bedding around on the kang, first saying he wanted to sleep between them, then saying, "We’re not that familiar yet. Mom should sleep next to Dad. I’m afraid I might roll over in my sleep."

Tangyuan kept shifting his bedding on the kang until Xiao Xun returned from his bath.

Lin Qiuran said, "Tangyuan is already washed up. I'm going to wash up. Keep an eye on him for a while."

It was cold in winter, and Lin Qiuran didn’t want Tangyuan going outside unnecessarily after washing up, as the cold wind could easily make him catch a chill.

As soon as Lin Qiuran left, Xiao Xun and Tangyuan were left staring at each other again. Four candles lit the room brightly, and the cabinets, tables, and chairs were neatly arranged. The kang even had a carved wooden kang cabinet, which looked quite elegant.

The room had everything, and there was even a luohan bed like the one in the Anyang Marquis’s residence, with soft cushions on it. The small bag Xiao Xun had brought back looked out of place sitting on the table.

After a moment of silence, Tangyuan quickly dug under the covers, leaving only his eyes visible. He stared curiously at Xiao Xun and asked, "Are you really my dad?"

Xiao Xun’s gaze was gentle. "Yes, I am your dad."

Tangyuan asked again, "The genuine article?"

Xiao Xun nodded again. Tangyuan shifted upward, revealing his nose. Pointing to it, he said, "Mom says my nose looks like yours. We do look alike."

Xiao Xun’s eyes softened. "Yes, it does."

As Xiao Xun listened to Tangyuan chatter about this and that, now revealing his nose and face, now covering them again, his heart felt like it was being wrapped and kneaded by the northwestern wind and sand.

Tangyuan secretly reached out a hand to grab Xiao Xun’s, but just as Xiao Xun was about to hold it, Tangyuan pulled his hand back.

Xiao Xun glanced at his own hand, which had chilblains and scars and didn’t look very good. He smiled but didn’t mind it.

Lin Qiuran had raised Tangyuan well, and he didn’t want to scare the child.

But Tangyuan pulled his hand under the covers, placed it on his stomach for a moment, then grabbed Xiao Xun’s hand again. "Is it warm? Mom said the red spots on your hand are chilblains, caused by the cold. You need to keep warm."

Tangyuan loved building snowmen and having snowball fights, so Lin Qiuran had told him this partly to warn him, but it was true that chilblains could be painful and itchy.

Tangyuan, still under the covers, sat up and blew on Xiao Xun’s hand. Looking up at him, he said, "Your hand is so hard and big! Does it itch and hurt?"

Xiao Xun felt a twinge of emotion. He was about to say no, but Tangyuan added, "If it doesn’t hurt, then I can have more snowball fights… This looks like agate. It’s actually quite pretty."

Xiao Xun quickly nodded. "Yes, it hurts enough to make my hand fall off."

Tangyuan turned pale with fright and immediately blew on Xiao Xun’s hand again. "Blowing on it will make it stop hurting."

Xiao Xun couldn’t help but laugh. "For a child, this kind of pain might make their hand fall off, but Dad’s a grown-up. It’s nothing serious. Just a small thing. Don't tell your mother—"

Before he could finish, Lin Qiuran’s voice chimed in, "Don’t tell what?"

Xiao Xun tucked his hand under the covers and was about to say it was nothing when Tangyuan spoke up, "Mom, Dad has chilblains on his hand and told me not to tell you."

Xiao Xun was surprised. He hadn’t expected Tangyuan to give him away so quickly. He said, "It’s not serious. It’s nothing."

Lin Qiuran, still damp from her bath, with wet strands of hair on her forehead, said, "Let me see."

Xiao Xun knew hiding his hand would only make it more suspicious. He tried to sound casual, "It’s really nothing."

Tangyuan looked at the two of them and crawled out from under the covers. "Dad, just let Mom see. If I can see it, why can’t Mom?"

After all, whenever he had opposed Lin Qiuran growing up, it never ended well for him. Hesitating like this would only put off the inevitable. Better to just show her from the start.

Xiao Xun smiled stiffly. This kid really knew how to talk, his mouth going a mile a minute.

Resigned, Xiao Xun stretched out his hand while insisting it was nothing. His skin wasn’t particularly tanned, but there were several red, swollen spots and scars on his hand.

The northwest was cold, and after years spent there handling spears and swords, chilblains were unavoidable. These minor injuries were nothing to Xiao Xun.

Lin Qiuran leaned closer. Xiao Xun’s breath hitched, and he instinctively pulled his hand back as if burned. Lin Qiuran grabbed his hand firmly. "Don’t move."