CHAPTER 304: CHAPTER 304: NEWS OF ZHAO XIAOSHU

The Zhao Dajiang siblings reluctantly bid farewell to Meng Yao.

The two brothers seemed relatively calm, while Song Xiu’er and Zhao Xiaohua’s eyes were red.

This made Meng Yao somewhat sentimental too.

She simply lowered the curtain, not wanting to look at them.

"Are you seated properly?" Zhao Ting asked.

"Mm."

"Then let’s go." Zhao Ting raised the whip, "Giddyup."

The carriage moved further and further away, quickly disappearing from everyone’s sight.

"Sister-in-law, I miss Mom." Zhao Xiaohua sniffled.

"Me too." Song Xiu’er sniffled as well, their actions remarkably in sync.

"Why don’t we chase after Dad and Mom?" Zhao Xiaohua suggested.

"Zhao Xiaohua, that’s enough!" Zhao Dahe rolled his eyes at her, "Don’t you remember what Mom said? Stay in the Capital City, study medicine well, don’t cause trouble, and wait for her to come back! Besides, Mom has Dad with her, what are you trying to join in on?"

Zhao Xiaohua pouted, "Can’t I just say it? It’s not like I’m really going."

"Sister-in-law, the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother. With Mom not around, you’ve got to keep an eye on Xiaohua," Zhao Dahe said earnestly, "I’m usually busy with my studies and might not be able to look after her."

Song Xiu’er quickly agreed, "Alright, alright."

"If she doesn’t behave, tell me, I’ll deal with her," Zhao Dahe said.

Zhao Xiaohua was unconvinced; Mom also said to keep an eye on her second brother!

"You’re still not convinced, are you? Tell me, aren’t you the youngest?" Zhao Dahe snorted.

Being young means having the consciousness of being young.

"I’m not the youngest, Xiaoshu, he..." Zhao Xiaohua blurted out.

For a moment, the siblings fell silent.

Ever since Xiaoshu left, they had consciously avoided mentioning him.

As if not mentioning him would prevent sadness.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, I miss Xiaoshu," Zhao Xiaohua said sullenly, "Where is he now? Does he miss us too?"

"I don’t know if he does, but I know Xiaoshu wouldn’t be like you, crying."

That boy is strong.

"Second Brother, do you think Xiaoshu will come back to find us? Can he find us?" Zhao Xiaohua rarely quarreled with Zhao Dahe.

"Xiaoshu is smart; how could he not find us?"

But it was uncertain if he would come back.

"Alright, I have an appointment with Yun Ying, let’s go back quickly." Zhao Dahe urged, "Are you going to the Medical School today?"

"I’ve already talked to Sister Axing, I’m not going. I’ll go with Big Brother and Sister-in-law to Grandfather’s place," Zhao Xiaohua said.

She felt upset and wanted to visit her uncle.

"Then I’ll head back first," Zhao Dahe said.

Zhao Xiaohua followed Zhao Dajiang and Song Xiu’er onto the Duke Qi Mansion’s carriage.

After sending Song Xiu’er and Zhao Xiaohua back, Zhao Dajiang hurried off, as there was still work in the field that he needed to oversee.

"Is Big Brother that busy?" Zhao Xiaohua casually asked.

Song Xiu’er smiled, "You know your Big Brother best; he loves farming. Originally, we planned to stay in the Capital City for a few days and then return. But things changed, and he privately complained to me several times, fearing he wouldn’t adapt to life in the Capital. Now, it’s much better; he’s doing what he loves and doesn’t feel like he’s a burden being idle."

"What about you, Sister-in-law?" Zhao Xiaohua asked.

In the village, Sister-in-law would be more comfortable.

She could go out anytime, and everyone in the village knew her.

Or, she could easily follow Big Brother to the fields.

But things were different in the Capital. Big Brother still did what he loved, but Sister-in-law couldn’t follow.

Song Xiu’er smiled wryly, "Though I often feel out of place, Mom was right; people can’t always stay the same. Now that the environment has changed, we must work hard to adapt. With time, we’ll get used to it."

"Sister-in-law, you’re amazing," Zhao Xiaohua said sincerely.

Hearing this, Song Xiu’er was delighted, indicating her efforts hadn’t gone to waste.

——

When Zhao Dahe arrived at Taibai Building, Yun Ying was already there.

"Did your mom leave?"

Zhao Dahe nodded.

"Did your dad really resign and go with her?"

Although this matter wasn’t widely publicized, reputable families like theirs had their own sources.

When Yun Ying heard the news, he didn’t believe it.

Zhao Dahe nodded again.

"Your dad really is..." Yun Ying paused, "a man of genuine emotions."

"Although I don’t understand this kind of feeling, there’s one thing I’m sure of: my mom is worth the sacrifice from my dad," Zhao Dahe said.

Even if the sacrifice is quite significant.

Anyway, Zhao Dahe believed he wouldn’t give up his future for love in the future.

"I’m like you; I don’t understand."

He didn’t have anyone as emotionally driven as Zhao Dahe’s dad around him.

He saw people who would abandon everything for a better future.

"You didn’t call me just to verify my parents’ affair, did you? Yun Ying, since when did you become so down-to-earth?"

Yun Ying leisurely sipped his tea, "Just talking about some interesting things to relax."

So his dad’s impulsiveness became a topic for others to relax with.

"Didn’t you ask me to keep an eye on your brother’s whereabouts? Look at this." Yun Ying pushed a pile of letters to Zhao Dahe, "These came back from beyond the Great Wall."

Zhao Dahe quickly scanned the contents of the letters.

They mentioned that someone saw the person in the portrait in a nomadic tribe beyond the Great Wall.

The portrait was drawn by Zhao Dahe himself, and many copies were made.

"Is the information reliable?" Zhao Dahe suppressed the excitement in his heart.

They just mentioned Zhao Xiaoshu, and now, there was news.

"Reliable," Yun Ying confirmed.

"Thanks." Zhao Dahe stuffed the letters into his pocket, "I have things to do, I’ll head off first and contact you later."

He needed to inform his mom of this news.

Fortunately, they hadn’t been gone long; sending someone in haste might catch up with them.

Coincidentally, Le’an lay just outside the Great Wall.

The person was deliberately left by Zhao Ting for Zhao Dahe to command, Zhao Ting’s confidant.

Upon receiving Zhao Dahe’s orders, the man immediately left the city in pursuit.

Zhao Dahe sat at his desk, frowning.

He knew that Xiaoshu wasn’t his mom’s biological child; his mom didn’t hide it from him. Of course, among the siblings, only he knew.

He couldn’t understand how Xiaoshu got involved with the nomadic tribes beyond the Great Wall.

After all, his dad found him in the mountains of Shanghua Village.

As far as he knew, people from beyond the Great Wall, even if they entered the pass, wouldn’t stray too far from it.

Why were Xiaoshu’s biological parents near Shanghua Village? And how are they now?

Are they still alive?

Did they personally come looking for Xiaoshu?

——

After reading the letters, Meng Yao calmed herself and immediately began examining the frontier map that Zhao Ting had given her.

It not only marked the location of the Gelle tribe but also several nomadic tribes.

Although not fixed, with some luck, they should be able to find Xiaoshu.