Zhulan held the hand warmer. “They shouldn’t have been delayed. It snowed near Lizhou.”

Zhulan had already inquired about this; she was worried someone might have fallen ill along the way.

Liu Ya came in happily and said, “Mistress, Dongzhi, who was guarding the city gate, came back to report that Second Master and his party have entered the city.”

Zhulan thought to herself, “People really can’t resist being nagged. Oh dear, I really miss Yu Shuang and Ming Rui.”

“Quickly, boil some water. Yes, make sure the fires in both courtyards burn brightly. And the kitchen, tell them to cook quickly.”

It was past lunchtime; Second Master and his party must not have eaten lunch yet.

Liu Ya remembered everything and hurriedly ran out to inform them. Although she knew Second Master and Third Master would arrive soon, the kang beds in both courtyards had been burning, but not brightly, and the rooms weren’t very warm. The fires in the two courtyards had to be lit first.

After Liu Ya left, Zhulan clapped her hands. The children would be hungry by the time the meal was ready. Cooking was too much trouble, so she told Xue Han’s eldest maid, Liu Li, “Go tell the kitchen to bring two pots over. No need to make soup; just clear broth will do. Cut up some meat and bring it over, and steam some egg custard for the children.”

Liu Li replied, “Understood.”

Zhulan then instructed Liujin again, “Go ask your father, Eryue, to take out some apples and raisins. Wash the apples and bring them over afterward.”

Liu Jin was overjoyed. She could see her younger brother. Although she wouldn’t see her grandparents, her brother’s arrival meant the family was reunited. “Yes!”

Zhulan smiled as she sat down after giving her instructions. The family was finally together, and they could have a lively and joyous New Year.

Li Shi was initially downcast because her younger siblings had arrived, but then she was happy to see her eldest son, whom she hadn’t seen for a year.

Xue Han was also happy. She liked having the whole family together; the house was too big now, and it felt rather lonely.

Zhulan didn’t send anyone to inform Zhou Shuren, because Zhou Shuren wasn’t at the yamen today. He and several officials, including Lord Chen, had gone to the pond. Before the pond water completely froze, the farmers who had contracted the ponds were busy catching fish. Zhou Shuren and the others watched the fishmongers buy the fish and collected the money from the pond contractors. Many ponds had been dug in Lizhou City, and the yamen was making a considerable amount of money from these contracts!

Zhulan estimated the time; it would take about 15 minutes to get home from the city gate, so she figured they were almost there.

A little while later, Zhulan heard voices and footsteps from inside the house. The Zhou family of four, the Chang family of two, Mingyun, and Rongchuan all entered the house shortly after.

Second Zhou knelt and kowtowed as soon as he entered. “Mother, your son failed to fulfill his filial duty before you, Father and Mother. Your son is unfilial.”

Zhulan was speechless.

She had been a step too slow; good heavens, a whole group of them were kneeling.

Boss Zhou stood behind her, looking up at the sky speechlessly. Should he kneel or not? “You should have told me before you knelt down! Look how well the second brother and Changlian are in sync! These two younger brothers are already trying to trick him as soon as they get back!” Boaa Zhou coughed. “Do they really think he’s the eldest brother they knew? Silly brothers!”

“Second brother, Changlian, get up quickly! Mother is worried about the children!”

Changyi was truly jealous of his eldest brother. When he saw his eldest brother at the door, he looked at him carefully several times before confirming it was him. This was not the eldest brother he remembered. Anyone who didn’t know better would think he was the master of some family. And then he saw the steward and servants standing behind his eldest brother. Hmm, jealousy!

Look at what his eldest brother said. If it were before, when he and Changlian were setting traps, his eldest brother would have reacted for a while. But now that he had said this, he couldn’t even show his filial piety with the children.

Second Zhou Changyi stood up with a smile, “Mother, I was just too excited to see you.”

Zhulan inwardly scoffed. What excitement? It wasn’t like they’d lost all communication. She and her family back home received letters almost every two weeks. Second Zhou was just seizing the opportunity to show off his filial piety. “Now that everyone’s home, I’m relieved. Mingyun, Yushuang, and Mingrui, come to Nai Nai’s side.”

Compared to her cunning sons, Zhu Lan preferred the children.

Zhao Shi tugged at her daughter’s clothes. Yushuang stepped forward, holding her younger brother’s hand. She truly missed Nai Nai. “Nai Nai.”

Mingrui hesitated a little. He had already forgotten what Nai Nai looked like. Blinking his eyes, he said, “Jiejie, this isn’t Nai Nai.”

Zhao Shi was anxious. “Mingrui, this is Nai Nai.”

Zhulan smiled at the little guy. “Why isn’t it Nai Nai?”

Mingrui sniffed and couldn’t help but sneeze. Zhao Shi quickly wiped his nose with a handkerchief.

Mingrui felt reassured, then tilted his head and said, “Nai Nai is too young. Nai Nai should be like Li Nai Nai!”

Zhao Shi, hearing this, let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly explained, “The Li Nai Nai Mingrui mentioned is Dasao’s mother.”

Dasao’s mother really did look old. In just a year, she seemed to have aged several more years. Even though the Li family’s life had improved somewhat, Li Shenzi still had many worries, so she aged quickly.

Zhulan picked up Mingrui. The little guy had caught a chill and was sniffling. Zhao Shi was a clean person, and the child’s face was clean. Zhulan said to Liuya, who was standing outside, “Go and fetch a doctor.”

Liuya replied, “Yes.”

Zhulan then said to Mingrui, “I am Nai Nai. Your Li Nai Nai is much older than Grandma, so she looks older. Nai Nai is young and looks younger.”

Zhulan felt a pang of sadness as she spoke. She wasn’t even forty yet, and she was already forty by the traditional Chinese age reckoning!

Sometimes blood ties don’t lie. Even if the child’s heart wasn’t the original, the bloodline was real. Mingrui sat quietly in Zhulan’s arms.

The little guy tilted his head, thinking it made a lot of sense. Besides, his father was calling her mother, so she must be his Nai Nai. “Nai Nai.”

Zhulan responded, putting Mingrui down again. She hadn’t held a child in a long time, and the little guy was so heavy that it made her legs uncomfortable. Zhulan looked at Yu Shuang. She hadn’t seen her for over a year, and the six-year-old girl had grown up beautifully. It was better to keep this girl hidden away. She held Yu Shuang’s little hand, which was ice-cold. “Quickly take Mingrui to the kang to warm up for a while. Come down and eat after the pot is ready.”

Yu Shuang was very obedient. She knew that her Nai Nai wanted to talk to her parents, so she obediently pulled Mingrui and sat down on the kang with her gū gu.

Zhulan added, “Don’t eat too many apples and raisins. You can’t eat too many apples on an empty stomach, or your stomach will feel uncomfortable.”

Xue Han said, “Mother, I’ll watch over them.”

Zhulan was relieved this time and didn’t intend to pay attention to her second son and Chang Lian. She waved to Ming Yun, having not seen her eldest grandson for over a year. He had grown quite a bit. “Living at the academy is not as good as at home. Look how thin you and Rong Chuan have become.”

Ming Yun was still only eight years old, and his eyes were red. “Nai Nai, we’ve just grown taller, so we haven’t gained weight.”

Zhulan touched her eldest grandson’s hand; it was thin. This child was the eldest sūnzi, and Zhou Shuren had high hopes for Ming Yun. The little boy was carrying a heavy burden. She tried her best to hold back her tears. Tears welled up in her eyes, and it pained her to see him like this. “We’re home. Nai Nai will make sure you get some nourishment from now on.”

Mingyun nodded heavily. “Yes.”

Seeing her mother-in-law release her son, Li Shi waved to him. When her eldest son came over, tears streamed down her face. “Let me take a good look at you.”

Mingyun, his eyes red, held back his tears. He remembered that he was the eldest sūnzi. The journey had been arduous, but he hadn’t uttered a sound. “Mother.”

Zhulan then pulled Rong Chuan aside and examined him closely. The boy was thirteen years old, barely keeping up with his peers in height, but his body was still weak. “You need to take good care of yourself too.”

Rong Chuan grinned. “Yes.”

This was his home. He was home. His heart, which had been adrift, finally settled.

Zhulan told Rong Chuan to warm up by the brazier before looking at the two brothers, Second Zhou and Chang Lian. The two brothers stood obediently, and Zhao Shi and Dong Shi didn’t dare to make a move.

Zhulan remained silent, and they stood there. They hadn’t seen each other for over a year, and Second Zhou had been in charge of the household for just over a year; it was best to calm down first. Second Zhou kept his head down. He had imagined all sorts of scenarios for seeing his mother, but he hadn’t expected her to ignore them. Glancing at his son and daughter sitting on the kang eating apples, he felt a little more at ease and stood obediently, not daring to move.

Yu Shuang and Ming Rui wanted to speak, but Xue Han held the two little ones down, shaking their heads. Their mother was scolding their second and third brothers; children shouldn’t cause trouble.

Yu Shuang, being a clever child, looked away and calmed her younger brother.

(End of Chapter)

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