While Qianqian was overjoyed, she noticed that her sister-in-law hadn't come out, so she quickly called out to her.

"Hey, Qianqian, Xiaolei, dinner's ready."

Wei Yuyan let out a breath. She'd eat first; she couldn't afford to be angry with her stomach.

"I'll go get the rice."

Xiao Lei seemed to sense that the atmosphere between his sister-in-law and brother was a bit awkward, and fearing that his sister-in-law wouldn't serve his brother rice, he quickly ran to the kitchen.

Today, Wei Yuyan cooked carrot and egg stir-fry, spicy potato slices, and Chinese cabbage.

Fortunately, Wei Yuyan usually likes to cook a lot of food, otherwise there probably wouldn't be enough to eat today.

Wu Chen was somewhat surprised to see that the food on the table looked pretty good.

In his memory, the family's meals were still limited to corn porridge and steamed corn bread.

Even during holidays, we couldn't eat white rice; at most, we could eat sweet potato rice.

It seems that what Sister Xiuhua said was true; she not only improved her life by earning money on her own, but also built a new house.

"Big brother, have some vegetables..."

Qianqian put a piece of egg into Wu Chen's bowl, breaking Wu Chen's reverie.

"You eat too."

Wu Chen picked up a piece of food for Qianqian and Xiaolei, and then picked up an egg to put in Wei Yuyan's bowl.

"I'm full, you guys eat more."

Wei Yuyan immediately stood up, took her rice bowl, and went to the kitchen. Once there, she finished the last two mouthfuls of rice in the bowl and went back to her room.

Wu Chen's hand remained awkwardly suspended in mid-air.

"Thank you, sir."

Leng Feng couldn't bear to see Wu Chen holding his chopsticks like that, so he stretched out his bowl.

"Brother, sister-in-law might..."

Xiao Lei wanted to explain on behalf of his sister-in-law, but he didn't know how to say it.

"It's alright, it's my fault, I... haven't come back to see you for two years."

Wu Chen pursed his lips, lowered his head to eat, and seemed a little downcast.

After finishing his meal, Xiao Lei was clearing the dishes to wash them when Leng Feng beat him to it.

"Xiao Lei, let him go wash up and talk to his older brother."

Wu Chen smiled as he looked at Xiao Lei, who had grown much taller than when he left.

"Brother, where have you been these past two years? Did you go to fight in the war? Was it very dangerous?"

Xiao Lei was very curious about his brother's deeds outside.

"Big brother, you're not leaving again, are you?"

Qianqian snuggled into her older brother's arms. She had grown up in his arms since she was little, and she felt that his embrace was the warmest place in her world.

"My elder brother has been on the battlefield for the past two years. It is indeed very dangerous on the battlefield, so my elder brother injured his leg and it is still not healed."

However, I don't think my older brother will leave again. From now on, he'll stay at home, okay?

Wu Chen patted his younger brother and sister's heads. Before returning, he thought he had saved enough money to give his younger brother, sister and Yu Yan a good life.

But now he actually regrets his decision to leave his hometown. They must have had a very difficult two years.

"Great, that's wonderful."

Qianqian happily hugged her older brother's arm.

"I heard your sister-in-law opened a steamed bun shop, is that true?"

Wu Chen asked again.

"Yes, actually my sister-in-law only started earning money this year. Last year, we ate corn porridge and cornbread all year round."

Xiao Lei spoke the truth.

"You need capital to open a steamed bun shop, right?"

Wu Chen was curious.

"Yes, at first, my sister-in-law went up the mountain to dig up medicinal herbs. With the money she made, we were able to eat meat."

Later, my sister-in-law sprained her ankle and rested at home for a month. She stopped digging for medicinal herbs and started selling steamed buns.

Originally, I just sold things at a stall, but after making some money, I rented a shop.

Xiao Lei recounted in detail how his sister-in-law made money.

"You sprained your ankle, did you call a doctor?"

When Wu Chen heard about the sprained ankle, his heart skipped a beat. After a month of rest, it must be quite serious.

"We called a doctor and got some medicine. By the way, brother, you should know that our old house collapsed."

Xiao Lei scratched his head. His older brother must know something, since he was able to find his way here.

"Well, actually, my older brother sent someone to visit you two months ago."

The house collapsed, and we couldn't find you.

Wu Chen felt a mix of emotions. At the time, he was injured and unable to move while lying in bed.

Just then, a colleague was coming to his hometown on business, so he asked him to bring back a letter and a banknote.

After waiting for half a month, my colleague said that the house had collapsed and no one had been found.

Fortunately, I found out that everyone was alright. Although I know they are okay, I still can't help but feel worried.

He rushed back before his leg injury had healed, and along the way, Leng Feng didn't dare to go too fast, lest his wound reopen.

"Really? That's such a pity."

Xiao Lei didn't expect his older brother's letter to arrive so at such an inopportune time; just as the house collapsed, he asked someone to deliver it.

"Big brother, my sister and I should go to school now, or we might be late."

Xiao Lei glanced at the sky; it was getting late, and it was getting dark early now.

To allow the children to finish school earlier, the teacher shortened their lunch break.

"Are you and your sister both in school?"

Wu Chen was shocked that his younger siblings had all gone to school, and that Yu Yan was so kind to them.

"Yes, I went there in August this year."

Xiao Lei nodded.

"Let's go, second brother, it'll be too late if we wait."

Qianqian also got up. Although she was reluctant to leave her older brother's embrace, she still had to go to school.

"Don't worry, Brother Lengfeng will take you there, and he'll pick you up after school."

Wu Chen also stood up, went into the courtyard, and told Leng Feng to take them there.

"Wow, a horse-drawn carriage! This is my first time riding one."

Qianqian was extremely excited.

Xiao Lei was secretly thrilled, but he didn't show it on his face.

After the three of them left, Wu Chen didn't know whether to stand or sit in the courtyard.

They slowly approached the door of Wei Yuyan's room, which was ajar.

Wu Chen actually had a lot to say to Wei Yuyan, but he didn't know where to begin.

"Grandpa, what are you doing? The doctor said you shouldn't stand like that all the time, but you never listen."

Before long, the cold wind returned, and seeing Wu Chen standing motionless at the door, it began to earnestly persuade him again.

This was completely different from what I had imagined. I thought that since the master had returned, the madam would be very happy, treat him to good food and drink, and take good care of him.

But I never expected that my enthusiasm would be met with indifference.

"Tell me, what would it take to make her happy?"

Wu Chen looked at Leng Feng.

"How would I know? I'm not married. But I saw it on the street..."

Those rich young men buy jewelry and clothes for those women, and those women are so happy. Maybe even the madam will like it.

Leng Feng helped Wu Chen sit down and answered the question seriously.

"Oh right, we brought a lot of gifts, bring them here quickly, how could I forget about that."

Wu Chen suddenly remembered that he had bought a lot of gifts on the way and left them in the carriage.

"yes".

Leng Feng ran to the carriage and carried all the gifts onto the table.

Yes, tea, pastries, fabrics, and jewelry.