Chapter 1 The Beginning
The first horse-drawn sled carried Old Man Yun, Madam Gu, Little Xi Tian, and Yun Da Man.
The second sled was occupied by Zhao Gui Hua, Du Tie Shan, and Jin Xiao Lou.
Jin Xiao Lou had been in the Old Yun family’s home for a long time and had completely adapted to country life…
He sat at the very front of the horse-drawn sled, wearing the cotton-padded jacket made for him by Madam Gu, a dog-fur felt hat on his head, and he swung his whip to drive the sled, looking every bit like a country boy.
“Old woman, tie your scarf tighter around our daughter’s neck, or she’ll catch a chill!” Old Man Yun instructed.
When the horse-drawn sled ran, the cold wind would whistle and blow so hard one couldn’t open their eyes…
Madam Gu heard him and shot Old Man Yun a glare, “You old fool, don’t I know how to dote on our daughter?”
Her scarf and Old Man Yun’s scarf were both wrapped around Little Xi Tian’s neck. They might as well have brought the family’s cotton quilt to wrap their daughter up like a sticky rice dumpling, inside and out.
Little Xi Tian kicked her little legs and used her small hands to push away the scarf from her face, gasping for air, “Daddy, Mommy, don’t wrap me up anymore…”
If they kept wrapping her, she would truly become a little sticky rice dumpling.
Madam Gu heard her, exchanged a look with Old Man Yun, and they both chuckled.
Their daughter was so adorable, who did she take after?
As the two horse-drawn sleds were running on the snow, a sound of horse hooves suddenly came from behind…
A moment later, Xiao Jin Feng was seen riding a fine horse, chasing after them. Er Long Zi also followed on horseback, trotting along.
“Haha, Uncle Yun, Aunt Yun, what a coincidence! Are you heading to the county town?” Xiao Jin Feng rode up to strike up a conversation.
The whole family: “……”
Was this a coincidence?
Clearly, he had followed them himself!
Little Xi Tian rolled her eyes at him, huffily saying, “Young Master Xiao, do we need to inform you of our destination in advance?”
Hmph, no need to guess, Xiao Jin Feng was here to monitor them.
“Oh, Miss Yun, that’s not quite right!” Xiao Jin Feng pursed his lips and smiled, “I happen to be going to the county town to purchase some things. Since we’re going the same way, let’s travel together…”
This time, he wasn’t really here to monitor Little Xi Tian, but rather his curiosity was too great, and he wanted to see what that shop in the county town looked like.
And he might as well pick up that useless old doctor.
Old Man Yun patted his leg on the sled and casually tucked a stray strand of hair behind Madam Gu’s ear, “Then, Young Master Xiao, please do as you wish!”
He had been living in the Old Yun family’s home for so long. Although there was some distance between him and the entire family, Xiao Jin Feng had never done anything out of line. Therefore, Old Man Yun didn’t need to keep him at arm’s length as if he were a thief…
Xiao Jin Feng heard him and his smile deepened, “To be honest, today is my birthday. Since I’ve been troubling you all for so long, I’d like to host a banquet tonight. I hope you can grace us with your presence!”
Back in the palace, his mother had forbidden him from celebrating his birthday, saying that once he became Crown Prince or ascended the throne, he could celebrate every day…
But Xiao Jin Feng felt that life should be enjoyed in the moment, and happiness was the most important thing.
Once one reached a certain height, those so-called joys and aspirations no longer brought much surprise.
Now that he had finally broken free from his mother’s constraints, he wanted to throw himself a lively birthday banquet…
Madam Gu blinked her eyes, “Today is Young Master Xiao’s birthday?”
“Yes, Aunt Yun!” Xiao Jin Feng nodded with a smile, “I’m going to the county town this time to buy some wine, food, and cooked dishes, so we can have a happy meal tonight!”
Madam Gu nodded gently and looked down at Little Xi Tian, “Daughter, do you want to go?”
She knew her daughter didn’t particularly like this person. If she didn’t want to go, then she and the old man wouldn’t need to join the fun…
Little Xi Tian pursed her small lips, stared at Xiao Jin Feng for a moment, and then asked crisply, “Are there roasted pigeons?”
Roasted pigeon was just a pretext; whether she ate it or not was secondary.
Although Xiao Jin Feng was an opponent to that brat, he couldn’t completely displease him…
“Of course, there are! Miss Yun, however much you want to eat, I’ll buy!” Xiao Jin Feng said.
Little Xi Tian said, “Oh,” and nodded her little head, “Then alright!”
As they were talking, a dilapidated horse-drawn carriage passed them. The cold wind lifted the curtain, and Little Xi Tian seemed to see her second nephew…
That’s right, sitting in the carriage was Yun Jin He, returning from the county town.
Inside the carriage were several classmates from other villages. Thinking of reuniting with their families soon, every young man’s face was beaming with smiles.
“Jin He, did you bring any gifts for your little aunt this time when you came home?” a classmate suddenly asked.
at Jin Xiang Academy, Yun Jin He had already praised his little aunt to the heavens. Everyone in the academy knew her name…
Yun Jin He heard this, gently patted his bundle, and said with pride, “Even if I have to go without eating or drinking, I must buy a gift for my little aunt. You don’t need to worry about it!”
He had been frugal all semester, using his saved pocket money to buy his little aunt a bracelet.
The bracelet was strung with agate stones and pebbles of various shapes, colorful and exquisitely made, very suitable for a little girl to wear…
“Jin He, you’re always thinking about how to treat your little aunt well. Aren’t you afraid your little wife will get jealous? Hehe!” another classmate teased.
Yun Jin He: “……”
If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute.
Because Qin Yi Yi frequently wrote to him, the classmates at the academy had started saying he had a little wife and were waiting for him to come home every day. Kuaishuge.
“I, my kindness to my little aunt is different from Yi Yi’s. Don’t you spout nonsense!” Yun Jin He stammered in rebuttal.
“Alright, alright, we all understand!” The other classmates showed expressions of having seen through the world.
A quarter of an hour later, the carriage stopped outside the gate of the Old Yun family’s house…
Yun Jin He, carrying his bundle, rushed into the yard impatiently.
“Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Shanshan’s mother, Little Aunt, I’m back!” Yun Jin He shouted from the yard.
But after being excited for a long time, no one came out to greet him.
It was Chen Xiao Ran who lifted the curtain and poked her little head out, “Eh, it’s Jin He Ge Ge who’s back!”
This kid had terrible luck. The adults of the family had just left, and he had come home eagerly…
Yun Jin He was stunned for a moment, “Xiao Ran, why are you at my house? Where are Grandpa and Grandma? Where’s my Dad?”
“They went to the county town. Second Man Uncle was arrested by the soldiers!” Chen Xiao Ran replied very straightforwardly.
Yun Jin He heard this and was greatly alarmed, “Wh-what did you say?”
Why would his father be arrested by the soldiers when he was fine?
Jin Huai Hua heard the commotion and hurried out of the kitchen. Seeing Yun Jin He, she let out happy cries of “Ah ah!”…
At this moment, the entire Yun family had already arrived in the county town by horse-drawn sled. After circling the street, they entered the backyard of that small pavilion.