CHAPTER 1317: CHAPTER 1317: IT’S DEFINITELY OUR MOTHER!

As the group moved out of Shiqiao Town, surrounded by a crowd, Song Chongjin asked the people seeing him off to return.

The town chief and the scholars were unwilling to listen, wishing they could personally escort him to Qilidun to fully express their intention of forming a close friendship.

Thus, they insisted on sending him on and on.

Wang Yongzhu, sitting in the carriage, looked at the town chief and the scholars’ reluctance to part, their expressions of deep attachment, and could hardly bear to watch.

One would think they were sending an official back home, not knowing it looked like lovers parting forever.

These people probably wouldn’t feel this reluctant even if sending their parents back home.

Just as Song Chongjin couldn’t control his expression, finally he saw someone coming from the opposite side — a rider and a carriage coming from afar.

Song Chongjin, with sharp eyes, recognized the carriage quite well, and upon seeing the driver, it was none other than Wang Yongping!

He immediately clasped his hands and said, "Dear elders, someone from my family has come to greet me, please return, everyone!"

As he spoke, the carriage arrived in front of them.

The carriage stopped steadily, Wang Yongping dropped the whip, jumped off, and rushed forward, "Brother-in-law! It really is you!"

Song Chongjin was still on horseback at this moment and, with Wang Yongping rushing and pulling, nearly fell off the horse.

The personal soldiers and town chief and scholars on the side broke into a cold sweat.

Fortunately, Song Chongjin was skilled, stabilized his balance, and flipped off the horse, only to be hugged by Wang Yongping, who vigorously slapped his back, "We were really hoping for your return!"

The slaps on Song Chongjin’s back echoed loudly; if his physique were slightly poorer, he might have died on the spot.

The guards beside, scared out of their wits, were yelling internally: this is our Master Heir-Apparent, not your family’s big drum!

Not caring too much, two personal soldiers stepped forward, mistakenly grabbed Wang Yongping’s arm, and with a force, pushed him aside.

Uttering, "Presumptuous!"

Wang Yongping staggered back a couple of steps, a bit stunned.

It was Wang Yonggui, who jumped off the carriage, that saw this, realizing that these people protecting his brother-in-law, pushing away their family’s Laosi, were not to be trifled with.

He hurriedly stepped forward with a smile, "This lord, we are Lord Song’s brothers-in-law, this is our Laosi, he has a good relationship with Lord Song, hasn’t seen him for a long time, hence a bit presumptuous—"

Song Chongjin’s expression darkened, glancing at the personal soldier coldly, "Stand down! This is my brother-in-law; we are always so!"

The two personal soldiers looked at each other, then at Song Chongjin’s cold face, clasped their hands, and said to Wang Yongping, "Our apologies earlier, Uncle, please don’t mind!"

Wang Yongping, bewildered, waved his hand, "No problem, no problem—"

The town chief and scholars, seeing that his family’s brother-in-law came to greet him, knew that Song Chongjin, upon seeing his relatives at that moment, probably didn’t have the heart to pay attention to them anymore.

So they all bid farewell and left.

When the town chief and the others left, Wang Yongping, still trembling with fear, approached cautiously, not daring to get too close, "Brother-in-law, you really became a scholar? Became a county magistrate?"

Song Chongjin’s expression softened somewhat and he nodded.

Only then did the Lizheng and several clan leaders dare to come forward to pay respects, and were going to kneel on the spot.

Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang heard the commotion in front, also got off the carriage and stepped forward to meet them.

When the three Wang brothers saw Old Granny Zhang, their eyes reddened instantly, calling out "Mother", and kneeling with a thud on the mountain road, then banged their heads against the ground a few times.

Old Granny Zhang said that these sons were all ungrateful, but when she really saw them, seeing all of them becoming presentable, she couldn’t help but feel comforted.

She nodded, "Alright, all get up!"

Then Wang Yongzhu stepped up to greet his elder brothers.

The three brothers saw Wang Yongzhu, after half a year of not seeing her, becoming increasingly beautiful and didn’t dare to look too long.

It was Wang Yongping who laughed foolishly, "Sister went out for half a year, looks even better!"

Old Granny Zhang’s just relaxed brows immediately furrowed, "What nonsense are you spouting? Your sister has always looked good! And does it take you as a brother to say whether your sister looks good or not? You’re such a fool without a filter in your mouth—"

The three brothers originally saw their dear mother, suddenly dressed in sparkling clothes, wearing a golden hairpin with a massive gemstone, looked exceedingly valuable.

Especially this past half year, Old Granny Zhang’s skin has become fairer, living a pampered life in the Gu Family, and being pulled by the Lady of the Gu Family to drink all kinds of nourishing and beauty-enhancing soups, using wrinkle-removing and whitening remedies every day.

Now, Old Granny Zhang looks several years younger than last year.

At first glance, she looked like a noble old lady from the city.

For a moment, the three brothers almost couldn’t recognize her: is this really their mother?

At this moment, hearing Old Granny Zhang open her mouth to scold, in that familiar tone, the hearts they had lifted instantly sank back into their stomachs, realizing this familiar scolding was indeed their mother!

Finally relieved, they saw someone emerging from behind Wang Yongzhu.

With a cheerful smile, he approached, "Dad! Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle!"

Then waved his hand at the Jinhoo behind Wang Yongfu, "Jinhoo, why are you standing there dumbly? I’m your second brother—"

Jinhoo first stared dumbly at Jinhoo for half a day, seeing Jinhoo waving at him, his tears suddenly flowed, crying while launching himself like a small cannonball towards Jinhoo, hugging him tightly, "Second brother! Second brother, you’re back—"

Only then did Wang Yongfu come to himself, trembling with his hand, wanting to say something, but couldn’t manage words, his eyes already red.

Wang Yonggui and Wang Yongping were also both surprised and delighted, "You good-for-nothing boy, you finally came back! You don’t know how much your dad worried after you left!"

Jinhoo, hugging Jinhoo, patted his back, trying to get Jinhoo to let go; Jinhoo fiercely shook his head, hugging Jinhoo tightly, "I won’t let go! Wherever you go, I will follow!"

Jinhoo’s eyes also reddened, looked at Wang Yongfu, "Dad, I’ve returned!"

All of Wang Yongfu’s thousand words ultimately boiled down to one sentence, trembling, "It’s good that you’ve returned!"

It was Lizheng who saw standing here like this was improper, stepped forward to persuade with a few words, "Such a rare good occasion, Lord Song returns in glory, Jinhoo returned too! This is a good day for family reunion! Presumably, Lord Song and his group are also tired, standing here is not right, why don’t we return and speak well?"

Only then did Wang Yongfu wipe his eyes, nodding repeatedly, "Good good good —"

So everyone mounted their horses if they were riding, or got in the carriage if they were riding.

Jinhoo wouldn’t leave Jinhoo’s side however it was, so Jinhoo simply took him, getting in the carriage together.

In the carriage, Lord Du, who hadn’t felt comfortable alighting earlier, just glanced at Jinhoo.

Jinhoo introduced with a smile, "Young Master Du, this is my brother, Jinhoo."

Then turned his head and pushed Jinhoo, "Jinhoo, this is Young Master Du, the grandson of our aunt’s master’s teacher, staying for some time at our house."

Jinhoo, growing up, had never seen such an elegant and gentle peer like Lord Du, watching him sitting there looked inexplicably nice.

For a moment, unsure where to place his hands and feet, he bowed his head, saying, "Young Master Du."

Lord Du nodded, his mind now was still pondering over Wang Yongzhu’s words, rather messy inside, and thus he didn’t have the mind for small talk.

After nodding and indicating, he again gazed out the carriage window, lost in thought.

Jinhoo sat stiffly inside the carriage for half a day, seeing Lord Du never changed his posture, couldn’t hold back, quietly asked in Jinhoo’s ear, "Is Young Master Du’s buttocks stuck to the bench? He hasn’t moved for half a day!"