CHAPTER 345: CHAPTER 342 FAMILIAR

The first family feast after the separation.

Several villages brought out all the eggs they’d saved up. Normally, they’d be reluctant, but now they are reunited and can eat to their heart’s content.

Children held freshly boiled eggs and handed them to the adults in the family.

The adults shoved them back, muttering, "Eat, today everyone can be full."

Holding the eggs in their palms, the children inhaled sharply from the heat but were loath to put them down.

Chen Zhongdong took a bite of the egg and thought of the adults and children in Dai State, each starving, yet still unwilling to eat the food meant for wounded soldiers.

Seeing Chen Zhongdong’s eyes turning red, Hei Dan leaned over and said, "Brother Zhongdong, what’s wrong?"

"Nothing," Chen Zhongdong said, "Thinking of how hard it is for the people of Dai State, and for the soldiers too. General Song is wounded like that, unconscious for several days, even when he woke up he couldn’t have eggs. Lord Chang finally managed to find a few, but General Song wanted to save them for Sister."

Chen Zhongdong regretted blurting out the truth quickly; he was merely sending some hot water inside the house and hadn’t secretly watched General Song peel the eggs for Sister.

After speaking, Chen Zhongdong slowly finished the egg, not knowing if Hu Zi and the others in Dai State could eat their fill now. Several villages suffered greatly, living in drafty houses, wondering how they would endure the winter.

The children gathered around Chen Zhongdong, listening attentively, but soon were diverted by a fragrant aroma that made them all turn their heads.

There they saw Sister holding freshly cooked rice cakes, and Hei Dan’s mouth watered instantly.

Xie Liangchen looked at Chen Zhongdong and said, "Alright, don’t think too much about it now, eat more to get your health back." The journey this time was hard for everyone, and they all needed to rest. She feared Chen Zhongdong was thinking too much and would even be reluctant to eat the rice.

The children were also captivated and secretly stuffed eggs into their belts, planning to slowly eat them later.

"Eggs shouldn’t be kept," Xie Liangchen advised, "If left too long, they’ll upset your stomach."

Everyone hurriedly obeyed, pulling out the eggs.

Xie Liangchen handed out rice cakes, and the children took a bite, their eyes brightening with delight.

This taste was unmistakable, it’s so good to have Sister back!

Chen Zigeng stood up and followed Xie Liangchen into the kitchen, helping to add firewood, bring out plates, and then placed the peeled eggs in front of Xie Liangchen.

"I’m peeling eggs for Sister too."

Hearing his brother’s crisp voice, Xie Liangchen remembered Song Xian saving eggs for her, and her cheeks blushed slightly.

Watching Sister’s expression, Chen Zigeng pondered if the General Brother had made progress. He wondered when Brother could move into Chen Family Village.

Chen Zigeng’s mind was anxious, but he couldn’t ask outright, dawdling for a while before saying, "I heard from Uncle that the Liao people almost attacked Dai State, but luckily General Brother arrived in time, and Brother Zhongdong just said Brother fainted. How is Brother now?"

Xie Liangchen nodded, "He was seriously hurt saving me, but now he’s fine."

Chen Zigeng fretted over Song Xian, but seeing his sister’s gentle expression when mentioning Brother, he couldn’t help but speak kindly of him, "General Brother is good to Chen Family Village, and good to Sister too."

Xie Liangchen’s heart fluttered, since expressing her feelings to Song Xian, whenever others mentioned him, she couldn’t help but think more, and a simple word from her brother made her feel unusual.

"Hurry and eat," Xie Liangchen said.

Chen Zigeng replied, "The soup is almost ready, I’ll eat with Sister."

Xie Liangchen looking at Brother’s head, she felt as though Brother’s earlier words had some hidden meaning, after being away for a while, she found Brother seemed smarter than before.

This meal went from dawn till dusk.

Old Mrs. Chen accompanied Xie Shao Yuan and Xie Liangchen to see Old Mrs. Song off to the village entrance.

Old Mrs. Song held Old Mrs. Chen’s hand and said, "I’ll come again in the next couple of days, so don’t find me bothersome." Today was Chen Family Village’s reunion day, and she didn’t want to take over as host, but would choose another day to visit formally.

Old Mrs. Chen nodded, "How could I?" She felt Old Mrs. Song’s words were particularly solemn today.

When the Song Family’s carriage drove off, Old Mrs. Chen let Xie Shao Yuan help her back to the courtyard. Upon receiving news that Xie Shao Yuan was alive, Old Mrs. Chen had asked people in the village to help build a new room next to the main house, complete with a heated kang inside.

Old Mrs. Chen said, "From now on, you and Zigeng can live here."

Xie Shao Yuan had been thinking about doing these things on the way, but didn’t expect the old lady had everything prepared, displaying a smile with mixed emotions.

Chen Zigeng came over and hugged Xie Shao Yuan, "From now on, I’ll sleep with Uncle."

"Alright," Xie Shao Yuan lifted Chen Zigeng onto the kang, "You’re responsible for making the bed from now on."

Xie Shao Yuan said as he patted Chen Zigeng’s backside, "You’re so big now you won’t wet the bed, right? If you do, tell Uncle so we aren’t left without bedding to use."

Xie Liangchen couldn’t hold back and laughed out loud.

Tian Huizhen and her father hadn’t left yet, so Xie Liangchen and Chen Zigeng invited the two into the courtyard for a chat.

Tian Huizhen was curious about events in Dai State, "I heard that battle was thrilling and everyone got injured."

Xie Liangchen nodded.

Tian Huizhen said, "General Song charged into the battle with injuries, not to mention the people around him."

Xie Liangchen said, "General Cheng was the same, an arrow passed close to his ear, and his shoulder was cut."

Tian Huizhen exclaimed, "And now? Is he alright?"

Xie Liangchen didn’t expect Tian Huizhen’s reaction to be so intense, "The wound is long but fortunately not too deep, so it won’t affect the muscles and bones."

"That’s good," Tian Huizhen replied, finding Xie Liangchen staring fixedly at her.

Tian Huizhen asked nervously, "What is it?"

Xie Liangchen said, "Do you know General Cheng?"

Tian Huizhen pursed her lips, "Met a few times, didn’t really talk."

Xie Liangchen probed, "And talked? When was that?"

"When you went to Xingzhou," Tian Huizhen’s gaze slightly evasive, "There was a misunderstanding, I mistook him for a small thief and almost hit him with a whip."

Xie Liangchen said, "And then?"

Tian Huizhen said, "Nothing more, that’s all."

Saying all that, Tian Huizhen became somewhat restless, and upon hearing Tian Chengyou rise to say goodbye, Tian Huizhen also hastily said, "You all rest well, I’ll come back when I have time."

Xie Liangchen was not eager to pry into the matter; she hadn’t told Tian Huizhen about her relationship with Song Xian yet.

After the Tian family left, Chen Yongsheng was assisted by Hei Dan to stagger home, several people in the village drank a lot today in celebration.

Especially Chen Yongsheng, today was his happiest as the village chief because there was an additional person at the family feast, one he thought he would never see again.

With the courtyard left to three generations of the family, Xie Shao Yuan began to share his experiences from the past years with Old Mrs. Chen and what’s happening in the eight states.

Before he said much, the door was knocked.

Chen Zigeng went to open it, observing Chen Yongsheng walked into the room with a face filled with anger.

Seeing Old Mrs. Chen and Xie Shao Yuan, Chen Yongsheng spoke up, "Aunt, brother-in-law, what do you make of this? That Miao Zigui, every day sticks around me, ’Uncle’ ’Uncle’ he calls nonstop, massages my shoulders, applies medicine, treating me so well, turns out he’s thinking about my family’s Yu’yu."

Xie Shao Yuan clucked, such a familiar feeling.