Xu Qingyan added, "Sister Yan, please find time to talk to Yin'er, and I'll talk to Zhao before I return to Beijing."

Qin sighed, "I've told Yin'er many times, but that child is very opinionated and just says they are siblings."

Xu Qingyan smiled and said, "It's not impossible for the relationship to develop from siblings to love. As long as Zhao Wu is willing to put in the effort, sincerity will eventually move mountains and rocks, and Yin'er will definitely agree."

The moonlight is like frost, the night wind is blowing gently, and all things in the world are silent.

Lying in bed, Xu Lanyin counted thousands of sheep but still couldn't fall asleep.

Today is May 20th. When they parted, Zhao Wu said he would take a day off to come visit her in Nanping County. Although she refused at the time and sincerely didn't want Zhao Wu to work too hard, she still couldn't help feeling disappointed.

She hadn't seen him for so long, and she missed him a little... No, not just a little, but a lot. She missed his sunny smile, his big dimples, his long legs stretched out when he was lazy, and his ears that she could pick up whenever she wanted.

He also emphasized that when he thought of him, he was thinking of his brother.

She thought of Xu Lanting again. She also thought of him constantly, as well as Min Jia, Xiao Xingxing, and even Min Hu. But it seemed that the time she spent thinking about them combined didn't even come close to thinking about Zhao Wudu. That naughty kid, all nice words, no real action.

Oh, by the way, Chai Jun said he would take Xiao Xingxing home, I wonder if he has taken her home yet. Thinking that the child would leave Ningzhou Prefecture without ever seeing her again, Xu Lanyin was filled with reluctance to let her go.

The next day, just after dawn, Xu Qingyan and Xu Lanzhou got up and practiced martial arts in the yard.

Xu Lanyin also woke up and stayed in bed, not wanting to get up.

Suddenly, Mrs. Lu's loud voice was heard, "Master, Madam, Miss, Mr. Zhao is back." The voice was particularly abrupt in the quiet early morning.

Then came Hanako's "woof woof" and the familiar sound of footsteps.

Xu Qingyan was surprised, "You came in right after the city gate opened. Do you live outside the city?"

Zhao Wu's voice said, "Yes, I arrived outside the city in the late night and stayed overnight at an inn near the city."

Xu Qingyan asked anxiously, "Why is it so urgent? What's the urgent matter?"

Zhao Wu smiled and said, "There's nothing urgent. I just miss... my aunt, Uncle Xu, my sister, Lan Zhou, and little Niuniu."

As soon as Xu Lanyin heard his voice, she quickly got up, put on her clothes, and walked out quickly.

The mist in the yard hadn't completely dissipated yet. In the morning light, the young man in black looked at her and smiled, his expression as if to say, "Is this unexpected? Are you surprised?" He looked a little disheveled, though, his clothes were dirty and his sleeves were torn.

Xu Lanyin's heart ached, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. She stepped over the threshold and down the stairs, not knowing what to say. She asked, "Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?"

Zhao Wu smiled and said, "I'm hungry. I didn't eat enough last night. I want to eat Aunt Xu's sesame oil mixed with salted shredded radish, Aunt Ding's cowpea porridge, my sister's pickled cucumbers, and the Zhangji fried dough sticks and Aunt Li's tofu pudding sold at the street corner."

Lu said repeatedly, "I will do it right away and buy it."

Xu Qingyan invited Zhao Wu into the house with satisfaction. Xu Lanyin asked the maid to fetch water from the well for Zhao Wu to wash.

Qin's eyes were filled with pity. She said, "This child, there are dark circles under his eyes. Didn't he get enough rest? Why is his sleeve torn?"

Zhao Wu laughed and said, "I left the city before the city gates closed the night before yesterday. I thought I'd travel half the night, rest at the post station for half the night, and then travel for the better part of the day the next morning. I should have been home by mid-afternoon yesterday. But while traveling at night, I encountered two robbers. They dared to rob me, and I beat them up. I tied them up and took them to the post station. Yesterday morning, I took them to the Xiping County government office. When I arrived outside Nanping County, it was already midnight, so I stayed outside the city for half the night."

Qin complained, "It's so dangerous to walk alone at night. Don't do that next time."

Xu Lanyin also said angrily, "I told you not to come, but you did. We will leave for the provincial capital in a few days."

Zhao Wu looked at Xu Lanyin and smiled, "I didn't want to wait, so I came."

Seeing these two people, Xu Qingyan and Qin's eyes were filled with joy.

Zhao Wu went to the west wing to take a cold shower, and breakfast was placed on the table.

The table was filled with food, some homemade and some bought on the street. Qin and Xu Lanyin also went to the kitchen to cook Zhao Wu's favorite dishes.

Everyone sat around a table and had dinner.

Qin kept putting his favorite food into Zhao Wu's bowl, and Xu Lanyin would also pick up a few pieces for him with his chopsticks. Zhao Wu ate contentedly, and from time to time he would glance at Xu Lanyin and smile foolishly.

Qin asked about the family affairs in the provincial capital again, as she was worried about Xu Lanting.

Zhao Wu said Xu Lanting still lived in Min Prefecture. Zhao Wu had visited him once after arriving in Ningzhou Prefecture. He was fine, but he missed his mother, sister, and brother. He had heard that his father had returned to his hometown, and he had been clamoring to come back, but was persuaded by the Min household. Zhao Xingxing still lived in Min Prefecture, and Chai Jun hadn't gone to pick him up yet...

After dinner, Xu Lanyin asked Zhao Wu to go to the west wing to rest.

Zhao Wu shook his head and said, "I only took one day off. I have to rush back at noon today. I will rest at the post station for half a night, and then travel for another half a day at night. I will go to the government office early tomorrow morning."

If it weren't for the need to let the horse rest and eat grass, he could have set out at night and rode at full speed to reach the provincial capital to go to the government office early the next morning.

Xu Lanyin said distressedly, "How can you travel like this? It's too tiring. Go back and tell Minhu that I forced you to stay for a day. He won't blame you."

Zhao Wu shook his head and said, "No, I wasted so much time before, how can I delay any longer?"

This child is obedient in some aspects, but very stubborn in others.

Xu Lanyin was about to say something when Xu Qingyan said, "A man's word is his bond. He's on the same page as the day he said it."

Xu Lanyin didn't know what to say.

Seeing Zhao Wubu looking at his daughter from time to time, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't, Qin smiled and said, "We are about to move to the provincial capital. Yin'er will help Wu'er sort out his things."

This hit the mark of Zhao Wu's heart. He stood up and said with a smile, "I'm sorry for the trouble."

Zhao Wu's things had already been packed. Qin Shi was probably creating an opportunity for her and Zhao Wu to be alone together. Xu Lanyin guessed Qin Shi's intentions and followed her obediently. She also wanted to talk to Zhao Wu more.

Xu Lanyue wanted to follow, but was stopped by Xu Qingyan. Only Huazi followed him to the west wing.

The two of them sat down at the table, Zhao Wu staring blankly at Xu Lanyin. He thought to himself, if only it were night, then he could take his sister to the rooftop to enjoy the night breeze...

Xu Lanyin glared at him and said, "You're really too honest. After catching those two robbers, why bother sending them to the government office? They didn't steal anything, and if they were sent to the government office, the most they'd get is a beating. You might as well beat them harder and tie them to a tree. They'd probably suffer worse than if they were sent to the government office. You don't need to delay so long. You can only stay at home for three hours, and then you have to rush to the provincial capital."