Chapter 31 Time flies, and we start our journey again

The vast grassland was covered with snow again. Although it was not winter yet, the snow started to fall in October, and Tana's children could already jog unsteadily.

Heavy snow covered the roads, preventing anyone from visiting Wen Yuhan's cenotaph. Tana carried her chubby son to Qiqi's cabin. Qiqi and the others' encounter with Tana was a matter of chance, but it also came with a lot of hardship.

Liang Sheng's hair has turned a lot whiter in the past year. Yanyan put a felt on Liang Sheng's stool, which made him warm and comfortable to sit on. Liang Sheng felt like he was special and refused to admit his age. He lectured Yanyan, "When did I become old enough to need a wool blanket to sit on?"

Although he complained, everyone knew that he was the one who was adding to the fun. Otherwise, no one would talk because everyone was busy with their work. Only a baby was babbling and laughing with Liang Sheng in words that could not be understood.

The entire table was filled with cooked mutton, beef, hot milk tea, steamed buns, and crispy naan.

Tana didn't want to forget and look for others, so he gave his child the name Wen Yuhan had on the grassland, also named Albugu. Albugu Geta has both his and Muronggele's characters, so three generations of the family are complete.

Since the late Ming Dynasty released the three people to the north, Qiqi has no longer been as willful and impulsive as a child. He practices sword skills every day and brings his body and talent to the extreme.

He never mentioned Wen Ranqi to anyone, and he would quietly regulate his breathing before falling asleep at night. He had become more mature than before, truly like a sensible adult, but he also spoke less.

It gives people the feeling that he is very close, yet very far away from them.

Qiqi buried all his worries deep in his heart. He couldn't let anyone worry about him anymore. Only by becoming stronger gradually could he make others feel at ease.

Who hasn't suffered similar hardships? Family members, lovers, and friends all have to leave and be missed. Tana, Liang Sheng, and Yanyan all understand this, but they need to digest it slowly by themselves, and no one else can help.

Tana raised her glass and poured the precious wine that she had prepared for Albu Valley's first birthday into the glass. The rich and refreshing flavor spread instantly.

Tana said, "Come on, I've made a big splash today, you can't not finish it."

The three of them raised their glasses at the same time, and the crisp clinking sound echoed in the small wooden house. Everyone raised their heads and drank it all in one gulp. Foreign wine was just strange. Liang Sheng poured another glass without hesitation and tasted it. He frowned and said, "It tastes good, the flavor is rich, and the expression is beautiful, but it's still not as good as our local private brew. It's not strong enough and not fragrant enough."

"Although this wine isn't strong enough, it's quite potent. I brought several jars with me. If you can't get drunk, I'll be impressed."

"Hahahaha, alright. It's a rare opportunity for me to drink with the patriarch, so I'll respectfully obey."

Qiqi actually brought in several jars from the entrance. These jars were not cheap and were also very rare.

Seeing Qiqi hesitate to speak, Tana's eyes told Qiqi that Liangsheng and Yanyan were so happy, "It's okay. Consider it a farewell gift for him."

It turned out that he didn't hide his thoughts at all, and everyone could see it.

Qiqi raised her glass and toasted Liangsheng, who accepted it tacitly. Yanyan looked at Qiqi worriedly. Qiqi always treated Yanyan as a relative like a sister. As long as he looked at Yanyan, he knew what Yanyan wanted to say.

"I've always decided to go south. This time, I don't want any of you to follow me. Godfather, Yanyan, and Great Clan Leader, if you hear that I'm dead, please help me take it to Yuemu Town and bury it behind the milk tea shop that my master and I used to run together. I don't want to live a comfortable life alone like this anymore. I can't let go of my master."

After a few drinks, everyone felt a little melancholy. Liang Sheng patted Qiqi on the shoulder like an old father and said earnestly, "Okay, we won't stop you. You and him must have a breakup eventually. Come on, let's toast this kid again. You're also a passionate lover."

Let's be clear, each of us has our own bottom line. As they drank and ate, the gloom they had just felt was quickly drowned out by joy. After Qiqi's night was over, he would go south alone to find someone and put an end to his worries.

Ever since Yunshi was by his side, the gloom in Wen Ranqi's heart slowly dissipated. Although he still complained about losing the chance to go back and felt distressed and sad, he no longer had thoughts of suicide. Every time he fell asleep with Yunshi in his arms at night, it was as if he knew that he still had hope, as if someone on the other end of Yunshi kept telling him that he still had a way to go back and that someone would come to find him.

Wen Shi believed the mysterious man and returned the marble to Wen Ranqi. Wen Ranqi wasn't looking for death, and she wasn't distraught or mad. He also asked Wan Ming to release Qiqi. Counting the days, spring was almost here. He and Wen Ranqi had been living in peace for almost a year.

Wan Ming grabbed the pork belly that Wen Ranqi had just roasted, and ate it proudly in front of Wen Ranqi, saying, "Well, it's roasted well, and it tastes good wrapped in leaves too."

Wen Ranqi said with disdain, "Oh, don't you even look at who taught me this method? How can it not be delicious if I make it?"

Wan Ming said with the meat in his mouth, "Wow, that's great, that's enough."

Wen Shi's mouth curled up. He hadn't laughed from the bottom of his heart for a long time. The last time was when Wen Ranqi bought two large, thin-skinned soup dumplings and teased him on purpose. Seeing him burn his mouth after eating it, he laughed so hard that he fell over.

In the past year, Wen Ranqi, based on what he encountered and learned, also helped Wen Shi and the people in Biezhuang experience many unknown fun and delicious foods.

Of course, Wen Ranqi only had theories, and left all the actions to professionals and chefs. But having theories was a good thing, whether it was planting, training, cooking, or all kinds of fun that only he knew about, it brought unprecedented experiences to the people in the entire village, and even developed to Xue Ye City.

Everyone said it came from another village, but no one knew who invented it.

Wen Ranqi asked someone to bring a small square table, put four chairs on it, and bring out a wooden box. When he opened it, he found that it was full of neatly arranged small rectangular blocks cut from white granite. Different numbers were engraved on the back, and they were colored with black ink and cinnabar, with all kinds of colors.

Wen Ranqi wiped the oil off his hands and said, "It's still early after dinner, why don't we play a few games? I don't believe I can't beat you!" Wen Ranqi pointed at Wen Shi. It was obviously he who brought this game, but he had never beaten Wen Shi. He always lost all his money.

Wen Shi said, "Okay, today, I will fight for three hundred rounds."

Wan Ming followed suit and said, "Okay, Great Patriarch, don't blame me. I'm going to beat you a few times too."

After eating the barbecue, it was afternoon and the sun was shining brightly. The three of them sat in the yard, and there was a cook. The four of them sat at the table. To be fair, they prepared ten taels of silver and two copper coins. No one could cheat. The maids and servants retreated, and the private "open and secret fighting" at the table began.

Qiqi said goodbye to Liangsheng and Yanyan early in the morning, took his godmother, water and silver and left Mandar City. He looked at Mandar City from afar with Fengyin Sword on his back, and resolutely headed south.

On the thick snow, behind Qiqi's horse hoof prints, a pair of men's footprints appeared in the snow. He was standing outside a tent outside the city of Mandar, wearing a felt hat and a thick cotton-padded jacket. Compared with ordinary people of the Fire Tribe, he had deep and three-dimensional facial features, a tall and strong body, and his words and deeds were also very different.

A man walked out of the tent with similar words and deeds, but he could not cross his arms like that man because his shoulder had been cut off by a knife and he could never lift it up again.

The man standing nearby also looked at the direction Qiqi was heading south and said, "Are you so sure he can bring Ah Qi to find you?"

The man said, "Of course. Don't you want to see a miracle? This time it will be foolproof."