Speaking of dinner, Mu Shuangshuang was indeed hungry.
"Mom, make a bit more meat, I’m craving it hard!" Mu Shuangshuang said.
"Okay! Your dad went to Da Lang’s in the morning and got three pounds of meat, I’ll make it all for you!" Yu Si Niang said.
Mu Shuangshuang was startled and quickly said, "That’s too much, I can’t eat that much! If there’s five-flavor pork, make red-braised pork; it’ll go well with rice! By the way, mom, are Xiao Han and Yuanbao at home?"
When Mu Shuangshuang left Dahuo Village, it was already late.
By now, school should have finished early.
But it’s not impossible for those little ones to be running around everywhere.
"They’re home, hurry and go inside, Xiao Han and Yuanbao haven’t seen you in a long time!" Yu Si Niang said.
Mu Shuangshuang entered the house and just as she reached the main room, she saw Xiao Han holding a book and reading, with Yuanbao beside him playing with Little Zhi.
She originally wanted to surprise the three little ones, but just as she stepped into the main room.
Three pairs of eyes fell on her simultaneously.
Yuanbao was the first to react, he screamed and said, "Sister Shuangshuang..."
Xiao Han put down the book in his hand and looked at her eagerly.
"I’m back! However, I didn’t bring anything!" Mu Shuangshuang said.
Usually when she returned, she’d bring some snacks or something.
This time, she left in such a hurry, and it wasn’t for leisure, so no snacks were prepared.
"We don’t want food, it’s enough that Sister Shuangshuang is back!" Yuanbao said.
"That’s why I dote on you!" Mu Shuangshuang reached out her hand and patted Yuanbao’s head.
"Of course, who else could I be!" Yuanbao said proudly, looking up at Mu Shuangshuang.
Little Zhi also came over, hugging Mu Shuangshuang’s leg, "Sister, I’ve missed you. Yuanbao even said, we should go to the county to see you!"
"To see me?" Mu Shuangshuang frowned.
Yuanbao quickly tugged on Little Zhi’s shirt and said to her, "Don’t say anything!"
Little Zhi also realized she had said something wrong, covering her mouth.
"Sister, I didn’t say anything!"
"I heard, you’re planning to come to the county to see me, secretly?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.
Yuanbao looked a bit deflated, "Secretly! Second Brother has been out for half a year, and Sister Shuangshuang has been away for so long, we really miss you! So..."
"So you’re planning to sneak over? Do you know where I am in the county? Do you know how to get there?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.
Yuanbao nodded, "I know! No, Little Zhi knows!"
Mu Shuangshuang’s eyes fell on Little Zhi, "Little Zhi, you know how to get to the county?"
"I know! When we came back, I asked dad and mom, and I also know where you’re staying!"
The two little ones talked about their plans, oblivious to anyone else.
Xiao Han was both angry and anxious.
Angry that Yuanbao and Little Zhi were foolish, saying everything when asked.
Anxious, afraid his sister would be angry.
But he was overthinking.
After listening to the two little ones, Mu Shuangshuang wasn’t angry, she laughed instead.
"You’re quite bold! Going to the county isn’t impossible!" Mu Shuangshuang said.
"Sister Shuangshuang, will you take us?" Yuanbao asked curiously.
"Yes! You should have a two or three-day break at the end of the month, I’ll take you to the county!" Mu Shuangshuang said.
Yuanbao’s eyes lit up, nodding repeatedly.
Then he lowered his head again, looking deflated.
"What’s wrong, why aren’t you happy now?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.
"Oh! It would be great if Second Brother were here! We could all go out together, it’s boring with just us!" Yuanbao said.
Listening to this, Mu Shuangshuang felt a pang in her heart.
She’s been back for so long, and Fengzi hasn’t sent a single letter.
No one has said how he is doing, either.
It feels like losing touch altogether.
And with all the things she’s handling now, otherwise, she’d go with the people from Zhenyuan Escort Agency to see how he is doing.
"Sister Shuangshuang..." Yuanbao said seeing Mu Shuangshuang’s prolonged silence.
"What?"
"What happened to you? Why did you suddenly stop talking?" Yuanbao asked.
"Nothing! Even if your Second Brother isn’t here, we can still go!" Mu Shuangshuang comforted Yuanbao. "Yeah! But I just feel it’s more fun with Second Brother!"
Being kids, they don’t realize it when nothing’s said, but once mentioned, the longing for their Second Brother becomes even stronger.
In just a short while, Yuanbao’s eyes turned red.
Little Zhi, standing nearby, also pouted at Yuanbao’s words, looking like she was about to cry.
"Don’t, don’t be like this, based on the days, your Brother Yuan Feng will be back soon!" Mu Shuangshuang said.
"Really? But why hasn’t Second Brother sent any news?" Yuanbao asked, puzzled.
"He’s out marching and fighting, probably has no time! Trust me, within a few months, he’ll be back!" Mu Shuangshuang said.
"Okay!" Yuanbao believed Mu Shuangshuang and wiped his tears away.
He stopped crying, and so did Little Zhi.
Xiao Han didn’t say much the whole time, but his attention was on this side.
Once the little ones were comforted, Mu Shuangshuang felt better.
She thought Fengzi would eventually return, and if she waited longer, she would meet him.
...
...
At night, lying in bed, Mu Shuangshuang couldn’t sleep for the first time.
Unable to sleep, her mind was filled with thoughts about when Fengzi would return.
Even after closing her eyes for a long time, she didn’t feel like resting.
So she got up.
The weather in March was the most comfortable.
Standing at the doorway, the night breeze blew on her face, cool and refreshing.
After April and May, the weather would start to heat up.
Even at night, it wouldn’t be as comfortable.
After a while of enjoying the breeze outside, Mu Shuangshuang planned to get some sleep.
Suddenly, she noticed a dark figure jumping down from the courtyard wall.
Mu Shuangshuang frowned and immediately called out, "Who’s there! Sneaking into my house, what for?"
The figure froze, not moving for a long time.
Tonight, the moonlight was bright, and Mu Shuangshuang slowly approached the figure under its glow.
When she got close, the person still didn’t move.
Just as Mu Shuangshuang was about to act, the figure walked right up to her.
The closer she got, the more familiar the figure seemed.
Suddenly, Mu Shuangshuang’s eyes widened.
She said, "Fengzi...is that you?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the figure opened his arms and pulled her into an embrace.
The familiar scent, the familiar feel, and the familiar chest...
Mu Shuangshuang finally believed that the figure was indeed Lu Yuanfeng.
Just as she was about to speak, the person above her said, "Don’t say anything, just let me hold you like this, for a while...!"
Lu Yuanfeng had been rushing tirelessly, wearing out two horses on the road.
To return early, he traveled day and night without rest.
At dusk, he came from the county, darkening the way to the village.
He checked Old Mu Family’s house, and no one was inside.
He realized that they must have moved to a new house.
So he acted as a gentleman thief, climbing over the wall into Shuangshuang’s house.
"Fengzi...you finally returned!"