CHAPTER 343: CHAPTER 340: GOING HOME

When the villagers from Zhenzhou Village moved forward, Song Xian did not follow but instructed Chang Yue and Chang Tong to protect them along the way.

After walking down the long official road, when Xie Shao Yuan looked back, he could still see Song Xian’s blurred figure.

Xie Shao Yuan sighed in his heart again, pretended nothing happened, quickened his steps, and distanced himself from Xie Liangchen.

Only then did Xie Liangchen turn around to look back.

Chen Zhongdong sneaked a glance at Sister and stammered, "Gu... Uncle, why... have you come... come here."

Xie Shao Yuan couldn’t help but frown. What’s going on? He remembers Zhong Dong didn’t stutter at first. When did he pick this up?

"It’s nothing," Xie Shao Yuan said, "Seeing you all are tired from scouting, I came to keep you company."

"Oh... oh... oh..." Chen Zhongdong replied.

How could one word be stuttered three times? Xie Shao Yuan couldn’t help but ask, "When did you start stuttering? Did you have it since childhood, or did you pick it up recently from someone?"

Chen Zhongdong didn’t know how to answer and, after contemplating for a moment, lied, "Picked it... up." In the village, there’s a big yellow dog, thin and wobbly, with a tail bald of fur, always barking endlessly, and it seemed a bit stuttered.

"Better fix it," Xie Shao Yuan advised, "You’ll need to start a family someday, can’t keep going on like this."

"Alright," Chen Zhongdong replied straightforwardly, "I’ll fix it." In fact, as long as he didn’t see Sister and General Song exchanging glances, he wouldn’t stutter.

Xie Shao Yuan was surprised, "Is it fixed already?"

Everyone was homesick. Despite the cold weather, their hearts were warm, hurriedly pressing forward every day, and when they saw the familiar mountains in front, everyone was filled with joy.

Someone waved at the mountain range first and said, "We’re back."

Soon after, everyone started shouting along.

Xie Liangchen stood with Xie Shao Yuan there, gazing into the distance, as if she could see Chen Family Village beyond the mountains.

Xie Shao Yuan felt a rush in his eyes; he was somewhat shy nearing his homeland and momentarily stopped, hearing Old Mrs. Chen’s past advice to him to take care of his wife and daughter.

But...

"Father," Xie Liangchen softly said, "Grandmother is waiting for us to return, let’s go!"

"Let’s go," Xie Shao Yuan responded, nodding. For years, he hadn’t had the face to return and face, and now looking at his daughter, thinking of the lost years, he suddenly felt relieved. He missed too much and shouldn’t keep going on idly anymore; he needs to be by their sides in the days to come.

Xie Liangchen said, "Father, I never told you about Second Uncle and the Xie Family clan..."

Xie Shao Yuan didn’t let Xie Liangchen continue, instead saying, "Once back in Zhenzhou, I’ll visit the clan and take back the assets, lands, and houses your grandfather left for me."

Xie Shao Yuan referred to what Xie Liangchen couldn’t take from the Xie Family.

Xie Shao Yuan continued, "Once we have those things, we’ll move to Chen Family Village, and when it gets warm, we’ll expand your grandmother’s yard or build two rooms next to it, so Zigeng can live with me."

Xie Liangchen nodded, feeling like everything was a dream.

Chen Yongsheng approached Xie Shao Yuan, "After crossing the mountain ahead, we’ll see the village; tonight we must stay in the village."

Chen Yongsheng then worried about Xie Shao Yuan’s health, "Brother-in-law, how’s your health? Can you manage?"

Xie Shao Yuan said, "This little distance is nothing, I also want to get home early."

Chen Yongsheng said, "Then let’s speed up."

...

Zhenzhou, Chen Family Village.

Old Mrs. Chen sat in the Song family’s carriage, chatting with Old Mrs. Song, while paying attention to the situation outside.

The Song Family’s House General sent word that Xie Shao Yuan and Xie Liangchen had returned with the villagers.

The journey had been safe without losses among the village people.

Old Mrs. Chen was a calm person, though hearing her son-in-law was alive, she hadn’t slept well for several days, baking pancakes on the bed daily.

Chen Zigeng couldn’t hear his grandmother’s gentle snores and also slept uneasily. At Mr. Dongli’s place, he didn’t dare to doze off, coming out from the teacher’s yard looking withered.

This wasn’t just from not sleeping well, he also missed Sister. Chen Zigeng knew Uncle’s return would make Sister happiest, but without Aunt’s news, did Aunt really pass away? Sister had to be particularly sad.

He wished he could be by Sister’s side, then he could comfort her. With this lesson learned, Chen Zigeng decided next time Sister went to the Eight States, he had to cling on to go along.

The Song Family’s House General brought news, and Chen Zigeng along with several village boys formed a team to greet them ten miles ahead.

The returning party bypassed the mountain, and all these boys saw them.

"They’re back, they’re back," Hei Dan shouted, "The first one up front must be my dad, the one beside him... that... should be Uncle."

Chen Zigeng patted Hei Dan’s head, "What are you talking about? That’s Fourth Uncle, the one behind Fourth Uncle is Uncle."

The two groups finally met.

Xie Shao Yuan saw several kids running over.

Chen Zigeng was at the forefront, his eyes particularly bright, and stood in front of Xie Shao Yuan calling out properly, "Uncle."

"Is this Zigeng?" Xie Shao Yuan asked.

Chen Zigeng nodded, "Yes."

It was the first meeting between Chen Zigeng and Xie Shao Yuan, but their connection had never ceased—thinking of and caring for each other—and seeing each other, they naturally felt close.

Xie Shao Yuan bent down, reached out, and hugged Chen Zigeng.

Chen Zigeng called out again, "Uncle," as his eyes turned slightly red. Over these years, Uncle had it hard; Grandmother and Sister too, and finally, people were hoped back.

Chen Zigeng said, "Uncle, once home everything will be fine."

Xie Shao Yuan responded, everyone welcomed him home in their own ways.

Chen Zigeng left Xie Shao Yuan’s embrace and rushed to hug Xie Liangchen, "Sister, we’ve all missed you."

After a brief reunion, everyone moved forward together.

Many in the village were waiting eagerly.

Chen Zigeng said, "Not long after you left, the National Guardian General sent food and grain, saying we contributed to the court’s military supplies to tide over the crisis; as long as there was food, it would be returned to everyone, so no one would go hungry."

"After the Song Family Army expelled Cai Rong’s men from Zhenzhou, we returned to the village. Mr. Dongli had us gather all the crops and herbs left in the fields. Food in the village was tight; Mr. Dongli then had everyone put all food together, and meals were communal, calculating precisely how long the food could last."

Overall, life at home was much better than those who went to the Eight States.

Chen Zigeng looked at Tian Chengyou beside him, "There’s no problem with the Tian Family; Sister Tian often visits Chen Family Village."

Tian Chengyou nodded. Their trip wasn’t in vain; all the boys under them gained knowledge, and except for losing weight, there was nothing else. Those who’ve seen the world would be able to handle things independently in the future.

Miao Zigui touched his head, wanting to ask Hei Dan a few questions but hesitant to speak freely because of Chen Yongsheng’s presence.

"There are so many people by the roadside," Chen Yongsheng’s voice rang out, "Is everyone out to greet us?"