Heshun Prefecture is not far from Luzhou Prefecture. After being away from home for more than half a year, Lu Qiqi was already eager to return.
Throughout the journey, she didn't know how many times she lifted the curtain of the car window and peeked out.
Seeing her so restless, Shijiu teased, "Your family won't run away."
At this rate, the Shadow Guards are driving the carriage so fast the wheels are about to roll into a square hole.
Upon arriving at the territory of Heshun Prefecture, unlike the snow-covered border town, there was no snow here, and even the trees were still lush and green.
It was still a bit chilly, otherwise Lu Qiqi wouldn't have repeatedly leaned out of the carriage to look at the road ahead.
Hearing Nineteen's teasing, she sat back down and even glared at Nineteen in annoyance.
Having been away from home for more than half a year, Lu Qiqi felt as if the separation had just happened not long ago, and that she had only gone out for a trip, thinking that she would soon be reunited with her family.
With great excitement, the carriage finally entered the territory of Luzhou Prefecture.
It was already evening when we entered the city gate. The carriage traveled along the street, and the pedestrians hurried home.
They soon arrived at the house in Qingshui Town.
The carriage slowly came to a stop at the gate of the mansion, and Lu Qiqi stepped off the carriage first.
By then, the Shadow Guards had already knocked on the gates of the mansion.
Before long, sounds could be heard coming from inside the courtyard.
Who is it?
You could tell from the voice that a woman was opening the door, but her voice sounded somewhat unfamiliar.
Suddenly, Lu Qiqi remembered the two rough-working women she had bought for her family before leaving Luzhou Prefecture.
The courtyard gate opened, and sure enough, it was Granny Wang.
Granny Wang opened the door and saw a group of men in black with knives at their waists standing outside. Having lived half her life, she had never seen such a sight before, and she slipped and fell to the ground.
He yelled, "Ouch!"
As the number of pedestrians on the street gradually decreased, the commotion outside the courtyard quickly attracted the attention of the boys playing in the yard.
Led by Thursday, the three boys ran to the door.
At this moment, the Shadow Guards had already helped Granny Wang up.
When Granny Wang saw Lu Qiqi, a look of surprise appeared on her face. By the time she realized what was happening, she had already stood up straight.
She exclaimed with delight, "The master is back!"
Although Lu Qiqi left Luzhou Prefecture not long after she was bought back, if she couldn't recognize what her master looked like, then she would have lived in vain.
Upon hearing this, the three boys ran as fast as cheetahs, sprinting towards the courtyard gate.
"Sister Lu!"
On Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, whenever they saw Lu Qiqi, they would pounce on her like hungry tigers.
The commotion outside the courtyard grew louder and louder, and the Shadow Guards began to move things into the house.
Nineteen, carrying two wolf cubs, followed not far behind Lu Qiqi, watching the three boys circling around her.
Lu Qiqi was overjoyed by the sudden enthusiasm and said, "Let's go back first. I brought you all gifts."
So, surrounded by the three boys, she went home.
The boys were making a lot of noise. Just as Granny Sun and Madam Lu had put the dishes on the table, they heard the commotion outside.
As Mrs. Lu walked out of the hall, she shouted loudly, "Children, come back quickly, dinner is ready!"
When she stepped outside, she saw people she hadn't seen in a long time. Thinking she was seeing things, she even rubbed her eyes.
"Auntie!"
But as the long-lost voice rang out, she snapped out of her daze and realized that she wasn't seeing things.
She slapped her thigh and ran happily towards Lu Qiqi, exclaiming joyfully, "Qiqi is home! Everyone come quick, Qiqi is back!"
Lu rushed towards Lu Qiqi. For the first time, she felt that these boys were in the way. Her hands moved faster than her mouth. She grabbed Friday and Saturday by the back of their necks and pushed them aside, squeezing herself in front of Lu Qiqi.
She looked Lu Qiqi up and down. "Girl, you're finally back. Have you recovered from the plague? Have you lost weight?"
"Quickly, let your aunt take a look."
Lu Qiqi was spun around twice by her shoulder, afraid of being spun a third time, so she quickly grabbed her hand and said, "Auntie, I'm not sick, I'm fine. I'm eating and sleeping well, and I've even gained a few pounds."
When Madam Lu confirmed that the person had returned safely and unharmed, her smile widened. "It's good that you've gained weight; a plump and healthy body is good for childbirth."
My aunt specifically asked a matchmaker to find you a good son-in-law to come and live with us.
Just as Lu Qiqi was about to explain that she already had someone she loved, her waist was suddenly encircled by a pair of hands.
She didn't even need to guess to know who it was.
“Sister,” Lu Yao hugged her tighter, then looked up at Lu Qiqi, “You’re finally back! Yao missed you so much!”
Lu Qiqi naturally wrapped her arms around Lu Yao's waist, and when she looked down, she saw that Lu Yao's eyes were red and beginning to fill with tears.
Seeing this, she quickly comforted her, "Sister misses Ayao too."
The letters A-Yao wrote to her sister were all read by her sister, but she was too busy to reply.
She then added, "Sister also knows that Ayao has been practicing calligraphy diligently, and her handwriting is becoming more and more beautiful."
These words struck a nerve with Lu Yao. She shyly released the person in her arms, lowered her head, and muttered softly, "My sister always teases me."
Even so, the way the corners of her mouth turned up betrayed that she liked Lu Qiqi's praise.
The two sisters chatted for a while, and as it grew darker, Madam Lu said, "Don't stand there anymore. Seventh Sister is going home today, and I'll go cook two more dishes. You two go back to your rooms and rest."
After saying that, she called out to Li Shi again, "Little sister, Seventh Girl likes your cooking, let's go to the kitchen together."
Li stood aside, unable to speak. When she heard her sister-in-law call her, she responded and followed her to the kitchen.
With less work to do in the fields during winter, the veterans in the veterans' village help look after the houses.
Apart from Liu Tong and his apprentice who stayed overnight at the noodle shop, everyone else gathered at the house to prepare for the New Year.
When it comes to Lu Qiqi returning home, besides Lu Yao, the happiest person is Lu Dahai.
His worried expression vanished, and today he drank a pot of wine with Li Qingshan, a smile never fading from his lips.
Lu Qiqi hadn't had such a lively meal with her family in a long time. After several days of travel, she ate even more heartily than she had in Tianxin Village, constantly stuffing the table full of dishes into her mouth.
Startled, Lu Yao secretly prepared hawthorn cakes to help Lu Qiqi digest her food at night.
Nineteen had never seen such a scene before. He put down his two wolf cubs and joined the group of people showing off their food, only then realizing why Lu Qiqi was so eager to return home.
This food is so delicious!
Who could not love it!
Finally, Lu Qiqi put down her chopsticks.
Then she saw a small hand offering her hawthorn cake.
She took a bite with her little hand; the hawthorn cake was soft and chewy, with a perfect balance of sweet and sour.
Amidst the lively atmosphere of the dinner table, she leaned close to the ear of the person next to her and whispered, "Thank you, Ayao. The hawthorn cake was delicious, and my sister really liked it."
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