Qiu Yan likes to support herself. She usually cooks for herself, and her cooking skills have improved a lot compared to before.

As a result, Gu Xiaoran has gained even more weight than before.

Gu Qian followed closely behind and entered the kitchen with Qiu Yan. He took the tinder from her and started a fire.

"How is Master's wife doing these days?"

"Everything is fine, but Aunt Ye has just given birth to twins and is a little weak."

Upon hearing about the twins, Gu Qian was both surprised and delighted. "It's good that both mother and babies are safe."

Having spent many years fighting on the front lines, he understands the meaning of peace better than anyone.

After spending a brief moment with Qiu Yan, Gu Qian, thinking of his master and mistress, said without lingering, "Yan Yan, wait for me to come back for dinner."

Qiu Yan called out to him, "Where are you going?"

"Go back and visit your teacher's wife."

Seeing that it was getting late, Qiu Yan originally wanted Gu Qian to go tomorrow, but because Gu Qian insisted, she went with him.

A little while later, Qiu Xu finished school and saw his sister and Zhu Juan busy in the kitchen. He habitually went into the kitchen to see if he could help.

Shortly after, Qiu Ling'er returned as well.

Seeing that the kitchen had prepared a lot of food, her stomach rumbled instantly, and she hurriedly asked what auspicious day it was.

Upon hearing Gu Xiaoran say, "Father is here," she thought of her second uncle.

"Sister, why isn't Uncle back yet? He's on leave tomorrow and we were hoping to go home together."

Qiu Xu also had this question, and Qiu Yan explained, "Perhaps something delayed things."

Upon arriving in Lingnan Village, Gu Qian dismounted and headed straight for the Li family's courtyard.

In the Li family home, Li Zheng was preparing a meal in the kitchen.

Upon hearing the word "Master," he turned to look at Gu Qian and saw him coming again. He then silently added two more bowls of water to the pot.

Gu Qian placed the package on the table; it contained precious tonics such as bird's nest, snow lotus, lingzhi, and ginseng.

"You still have quite a lot of things you bought last time, so you don't need to buy any more."

"These are just a small token of my appreciation."

After Gu Qian finished speaking, he saw his teacher's wife again and found that she had become much gentler and was no longer cold towards him.

"Master's wife."

Mrs. Ye rocked the cradle and pointed to the small stool next to it, saying, "Sit down."

Gu Qian thanked his teacher's wife and looked at the cradle.

In the cradle, two adorable little junior brothers, their chubby little mouths blowing pink bubbles one after the other, melted Gu Qian's heart.

"They look a lot like Master."

"It does look very similar." Madam Ye smiled, then continued, "Gu Qian, I heard you went to Shangjin?"

Gu Qian bowed and sat down beside the cradle, nodding. "Master's wife, your disciple comes from Shangjin."

"Did she enter the palace? Did she see Shuer?" Ye's eyes softened as she spoke of her daughter.

Perhaps because she had just given birth, she was now missing her daughter more and more.

A soft cough came from inside the kitchen.

A cold wind blew into the room through the paper window, and Gu Qian felt a chill creep into his heart.

Gu Qian felt saddened when he noticed that his teacher's wife had a few more strands of white hair at her temples.

He lowered his eyes and quietly looked at his two junior brothers: "Junior sister is fine, master's wife doesn't need to worry."

Bai Yang and Qiu Yan quickly prepared a table full of food.

After Qiu Ling'er helped set out the bowls and chopsticks, she rubbed her belly and said, "Why isn't Brother Gu back yet? I'm so hungry."

Qiu Xu set out the last dining chair, thinking, "Perhaps my master invited me to stay for dinner."

Just as Qiu Yan and Zhu Juan were setting the dishes on the table, two uninvited guests arrived in the courtyard.

It was Du Changjun and Qiu Dazhi.

Qiu Dazhi didn't want to come, but he couldn't resist Du Changjun's persistent pleading.

Du Changjun sniffed, his eyes smiling, "Qiu Yan, what delicious food are you making? It smells so good."

Qiu Dazhi's expression was strange; Du Changjun kept holding onto his sleeve to prevent him from escaping.