After staying for one night, Zhou Jiang still took Zhou Xiao and Zhou Ying away, however, it wasn’t a permanent farewell because the New Year was approaching. They needed to go back for the ancestral rituals and to pay respects at their mother’s grave, so their return was unavoidable. But after the New Year, Zhou Jiang would be stationed at the Northern Frontier, and by then he would bring the children back again.
Moreover, now that the children had been found, Zhou Jiang was finally in the right frame of mind to deal with his elder brother and sister-in-law’s family. He couldn’t just let things end there.
Everyone, though reluctant to part, knew that such a separation was inevitable.
"Mengmeng, wait for me," Zhou Xiao said, holding Sanni’s hand. "I will come back soon."
Sanni nodded, "Okay, I’ll wait for you."
Zhou Xiao smiled, reassured, then she went to Zhou Jiang’s side.
And Zhou Ying was also saying her goodbyes to the younger ones, "Sister Mimi, don’t forget about me... Lanlan, I’ll come back..." Finally, she pulled on Xiaofeng’s hand, "Brother Xiaofeng..."
"Here, this is for you." Xiaofeng placed a small stone in Zhou Ying’s hand. "Remember to come back soon..."
Zhou Ying immediately smiled, then took off her small purse and placed it in Xiaofeng’s hand. They had found several pretty stones by the riverbank while playing, and later Xiaofeng had drawn on them, so each of the four little ones wore one.
Now hers was exchanged with Brother Xiaofeng’s.
Yang Ruxin felt helpless and glanced at Zhou Jiang, "General Zhou, you better leave quickly. If you let them keep saying goodbye like this, I reckon you won’t be able to depart tomorrow..." Why did it feel like another pair of childhood sweethearts was emerging?
Zhou Jiang was also helpless. If possible, he really didn’t want to separate the children because, although they had only stayed one night and had two meals, he had grown fond of the atmosphere in this household. He could see how happy the children were here, yet he had to take them back for a visit.
Watching several steeds galloping away, the atmosphere in the small building turned somewhat gloomy.
"Don’t you think it’s much quieter at home without the two kids?" Xun Hui glanced at the Feng Family on the opposite side. "I really miss those kids..."
"Yes," the Feng Family nodded in agreement. "They are two good children."
"How could relatives do such things?" Xun Hui sighed once more.
"What does being relatives have to do with it?" the Feng Family sighed deeply. "Some relatives are worse than beasts." Looking at Xun Hui, "Xun sister, you have experienced this deeply yourself, haven’t you?"
Xun Hui’s face changed for a moment, then she also nodded, "You’re right, some relatives..." She paused and sighed, "Let’s not talk about it." When her stepmother had sold her, her father just stood by, not saying a word—that was a relative. Later, when she went to the Yang Family, they never hesitated to hit her, and they too were relatives.
The Feng Family patted Xun Hui’s shoulder, "Exactly, let’s not talk about it anymore. Our children are doing well now; let’s leave the regretting to them..."
In the town’s Pancake Fruit Shop.
Since it was almost noon, the place was quite bustling with people coming in to eat.
"Welcome!" As soon as someone entered, Jiu Family’s cheerful voice would say, "What would you like to eat... Oh, my! Young mistress, why are you here at this time?" This was Yang Ruxin’s directive; whenever someone entered the shop, the staff were required to greet them in this manner,