Chapter 112: Xiao Yunjing Returns

Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Xiao Yunjing Returns

As for things like Xiaoli’s, she kept them to herself and quietly made a fortune; no one could do anything to her.

Honestly, if Gu Chang’an hadn’t watched Gu Qingli grow up, he wouldn’t have dared to accept her kindness.

It’s rare to find someone like Xiaoli in this world, someone not driven by profit. Not just rare—such people are practically nonexistent.

Gu Qingli merely smiled at Gu Chang’an’s words. She brought out these items purely so she could eat them openly, and incidentally, help solve the villagers’ problem of basic sustenance.

The two discussed matters related to planting before descending the mountain.

「In the afternoon,」

Gu Qingli went to the fields to check on the rice. The plants were beginning to head, so it was nearly time to apply more fertilizer.

On such a scorching day, carrying manure from home to fertilize twenty acres would be exhausting. Since she had spiritual spring water, Gu Qingli naturally used that. She squatted and placed her hand in the paddy field, and spiritual spring water flowed from her fingertips.

Soon after she began, the fish in the paddy water swam towards her. Gu Qingli’s eyes lit up. She pressed her lips together, fixed her gaze on a larger fish, and suddenly lunged for it.

SPLASH!

Water sprayed as she missed the fish, soaking her sleeves.

What a pity.

Gu Qingli stood up, shook her sleeves, and watched the fish that had long since darted away, shaking her head.

Wuqing is still more skillful; fish can never escape her grasp.

Oh well,

Gu Qingli thought with a glance,

no fish for dinner tonight.

She turned and started walking back.

Hm? Yunjing?

At the edge of the field, a tall figure stood, slender and elegant, watching her quietly.

Gu Qingli’s mouth twitched.

He must have seen me fail to catch that fish just now, yet he didn’t even offer to help!

Xiao Yunjing gave her a gentle smile and walked towards her. “Li’er,” his deep voice sounded.

As he drew near, Gu Qingli examined him closely. Her eyes filled with concern as she reached out to stroke his face. “You’re tanner and thinner.”

Xiao Yunjing’s dark eyes gazed at her tenderly, his thin lips curving slightly. “Is Li’er heartbroken for me?”

“You tease!” Gu Qingli pouted playfully. As she tried to withdraw her hand, Xiao Yunjing caught it, their fingers intertwining.

His large, calloused hand enveloped hers, so strong and warm.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were back?” Gu Qingli leaned against him, her voice tinged with a mix of longing and sweet reproach.

We’ve been writing every few days, but this fellow didn’t even mention he was returning! He must have planned a surprise. It would have been mortifying if I’d been badmouthing him just now!

“Does Li’er not want me back? Hmm~?” Xiao Yunjing’s lips curved as he leaned close, whispering in her ear, drawing out the “hmm” teasingly.

“Of course not.” Gu Qingli gave him a light tap, then pulled away from his embrace. “Let’s go back.”

Public displays of affection were frowned upon and could lead to gossip if seen. Gu Qingli frowned.

This feudal society is so infuriating! Even being close with your own husband invites criticism.

Nevertheless, they walked back hand in hand, inevitably drawing whispers from the villagers.

“How long are you planning to stay this time?” Gu Qingli asked, ignoring the onlookers as she strolled beside Xiao Yunjing.

Xiao Yunjing shot the villagers a single, sharp glance, and they promptly fell silent.

“We’ll be here longer this time. There’s a ceasefire because of the heat over there,” he replied.

“Oh, so Eldest Brother and Second Brother are back as well?”

“They are. Eldest Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law would have opinions if I were the only one always coming back alone.”

Gu Qingli smiled. “Mm-hmm.”

When they arrived home, Eldest Brother Xiao and Second Brother Xiao were indeed there, dressing the game they had hunted in the mountains.

“Eldest Brother, Second Brother,” Gu Qingli greeted them.

“Ah, Sister-in-law.” Eldest Brother Xiao nodded, then shot Xiao Yunjing a sidelong, teasing glance.

Xiao Yunjing pretended not to notice and led Gu Qingli into the house.

With all three brothers home, Gu Qingli personally cooked dinner. She stir-fried two meat dishes with green chilies, prepared two portions of stir-fried string beans from her mountain garden, two other vegetable dishes, and a large pot of stewed meat.

“Mm, that smells amazing!” Second Brother Xiao sniffed the air and exclaimed.

Everyone caught the fragrant aroma, and the three brothers practically salivated.

For the past six months on the battlefield, they often went without proper food, let alone a meal as fragrant and appetizing as this.

Right then, the three of them felt they could devour an entire cow.

During dinner, Xiao Yunjing looked at the dishes, some of which were new to him. “Li’er, are these vegetables from the seeds we bought last time?” he asked.

“Yes. Are they good?” Gu Qingli nodded.

“Delicious!”

“Then eat more if you like it.” Gu Qingli served him some more.

Ms. Yang and Ms. Wang were also serving their husbands, Eldest Brother Xiao and Second Brother Xiao.

The two men ate with gusto, not holding back at all.

The three boys couldn’t bear to watch their father and uncles devouring the food so fiercely, so they turned to help Ms. Jiang to some dishes instead.

Ms. Jiang’s eyes welled with tears as she watched her three grandsons finally able to eat a hot meal.

I wonder how their grandfather is doing…

Xiao Yunjing noticed Ms. Jiang from the corner of his eye and, without a word, placed a choice morsel on her plate before continuing to eat.

I’ll give Mother a surprise tomorrow,

Xiao Yunjing thought.

Since the three of us are back, there’s no reason Father wouldn’t be. The situation has shifted, so we’ll have to halt and re-strategize.

He glanced at his young wife serving him, his own eyes narrowing slightly.

She’s so radiant in this life.

After dinner, Ms. Jiang said to her three grandsons, “You three, come walk with Grandma in the courtyard.”

The three boys looked reluctantly at their father and uncles. They had hoped their father and Third Uncle would tell them stories about the outside world, but since their grandmother had called, they had to go.

“Your father and uncles just returned; let them rest,” Ms. Jiang told the three boys in the courtyard.

The two younger ones didn’t grasp their grandmother’s true meaning, but thirteen-year-old Xiao Han understood. “I know, Grandma. Don’t worry,” Xiao Han said.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yunjing gathered some clean clothes and led Gu Qingli to the hot spring pool.

It wasn’t as hot by the pool at night, making it ideal for a bath.

“Li’er.” Xiao Yunjing’s throat bobbed. With a swift movement, he pulled Gu Qingli into his embrace, his fervent lips pressing against hers.

He had longed for her day and night. Xiao Yunjing waved a hand dismissively, and a subtle rustle sounded in the darkness before silence returned.

Such an eyesore. Can’t they see I need to relieve this yearning?

Gu Qingli closed her eyes, relaxing and responding to his kiss.

This was her man; she had missed him dearly.

It’s said that heroes can hardly resist a beautiful woman; Gu Qingli had become Xiao Yunjing’s land of tenderness, his hero’s undoing.

「After a long while,」

Xiao Yunjing dressed Gu Qingli in clean clothes, placed a doting kiss on her lips, then gently picked up the sleeping Gu Qingli, grabbed their bundle of clothes, and leaped up the cliff face, vanishing in moments.

「The next day,」

the three sisters-in-law all woke late, not rising until nearly noon. They exchanged knowing, blushing smiles; there was no need for teasing remarks.

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