Chapter 450 - 444_1
Shopkeeper Liu had received a travel itinerary that was based on a letter sent from Jiang Ziqi when Lin Yue and the others had set out, calculated according to the time needed for the journey, without accounting for the two-day delay Lin Yue and her group would encounter due to the heavy rain. Dalang and his brothers had been anxiously waiting since hearing the news; they were counting the days for their parents’ return. Once they knew their parents were coming back, they asked for leave from their teacher and returned home to wait, but to their dismay, they waited in vain for two consecutive days, their hearts filled with anxiety.
"Erhu, didn’t they say our parents were supposed to arrive yesterday? Why haven’t they come back yet?"
"I don’t know. Maybe something delayed them. Let’s wait a bit longer. If they don’t come today, we’ll go to Jimin Hall and ask Shopkeeper Liu. He should have some news." Erhu, after all, was the most resourceful among the brothers and suggested the idea after some thought.
Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue didn’t reach home until late evening when the sky was nearly dark. It was too late to go into Jimin Hall because they were worried they wouldn’t make it back before the city gates closed, so they parted ways with Li Xun outside and headed directly home, while Li Xun went to Jimin Hall. On the way, Li Xun was also responsible for escorting some medicinal herbs to Jimin Hall, but Zhao Erhu had made plans to invite Li Xun over to his house after he was done with his duties, along with a few brothers who had returned with them on the road. Their interactions back and forth had developed friendships, and naturally, upon reaching Xin’an City, it was customary to host and entertain guests.
"Brother Li and all the brothers, please come together. It’s a rare visit to Xin’an City, and it wouldn’t be right not to sit at my house. I’ll have my wife prepare a good table of food for us to enjoy a hearty drink," Zhao Erhu warmly invited.
"Sure, after we’ve handed over matters to Shopkeeper Liu, we’ll come over. We are well aware of your sister-in-law’s culinary skills. Even if you hadn’t mentioned it, we would have come to visit," said Li Xun as he slapped Zhao Erhu’s shoulder with such force that had it been Lin Yue, she would’ve been knocked askew by the blow. But Zhao Erhu didn’t budge an inch, only smiling in response to Li Xun.
"Good, then I’ll be waiting for Brother Li to arrive."
When Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue got home, they thought they’d find an empty house as they had arranged for the servants and long-term workers to stay elsewhere, and Dalang and his brothers were at school while the youngest was left in the care of Zhao Dahuo’s family. So naturally, they didn’t expect anyone to be home. But when they approached their house, they saw the lights were on. Both Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue were surprised, wondering if burglars had sneaked in.
After dinner, Dalang and his brothers had returned to their rooms – some to read, others to practice their writing. Their parents had instructed them to study hard during their absence, and being sensible boys, they needed no urging to be diligent. Moreover, the events that occurred in their household before had matured the brothers early, making them realize that they needed to work hard in order to protect their family.
"Listen, there seem to be sounds outside. Could it be that our parents are back?" Ziqi, still young, had put his books aside after reading for a while and was lost in thought. He was more alert to external noises and, upon hearing something, immediately got up excitedly, not waiting for his brothers, he ran outside to see and indeed found Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue returning, giving a joyful shout.