"Who's here?" The old man's first reaction was that there was an outsider visiting, because Manager Min and Banxian from the city had both come, and Yongning and Yongfeng had also arrived home long ago last night.
Tai Jizu and others were also confused because they really didn't tell anyone.
Even Master Tai San only found out after entering the yard that today was the day to celebrate his old brother's birthday.
But despite their doubts, the three Tai Jizu brothers still went out to meet them, and then they found He Xiong and Yong'an, who were exhausted, and they were accompanied by seven or eight soldiers!
"Yong'an!" Tai Jizu was overjoyed. Although he didn't know how to express his love like many fathers, his expectations and love for his eldest son were definitely the highest among all his children.
He is the eldest son, and his eldest son is the eldest grandson, shouldering the heavy responsibility of carrying on the family line and bringing honor to the family.
Ever since his son went to the border army, he has been thinking about him almost every day. He didn't expect that on such a day, his son would come back!
Tai Yongan jumped off the horse and saw his father's red eyes and a sore nose, "Dad, I'm back!"
"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!" Tai Jizu patted his son's shoulder vigorously and went to greet He Xiong.
"Brother He, it's been a while since we last met. Come in and sit down!"
Tai Jizong and Tai Jiye also greeted them warmly and kept leading everyone into the yard.
He Shan also rushed over with his men to help manage the horses and chatted and laughed with the soldiers he was familiar with.
Tai Jiye hurried into the house to report the news, and then suggested, "Dad, make more food and let the soldiers brought by Brother He eat with He Shan and the others."
"Okay, you take care of the arrangements." Grandpa Tai was also happy that his eldest grandson came back, but he also had to greet He Xiong, so he couldn't take care of so many other things.
Yang Lihua and Liu Dongniang hurried out and told Erya to go to the village to find women for help, and bring the food and rice and flour from home to the row house to prepare the meal.
When the third aunt next door heard the noise, she was the first to lend a hand and took over the task.
"Step-grandfather's wife, just mind your own business and leave these things to us. Isn't it just to make sure these brothers who have come from afar have a full meal? It's easy, just wait and see. If even one of our brothers doesn't have enough to eat, you can always come to us to settle the score!"
Yang Lihua quickly responded, "Okay, I'll trouble you to help me arrange it. These young men all served with Yong'an in the border army. They've come a long way, so we shouldn't treat them unfairly. Just take care of it. If there's anything missing, just ask Erya to come back and get it. I see that they're going to stay tonight, and we'll put them up in the row house."
"Okay, I got it. Don't worry!" Third Aunt waved her hand and took Tiedan's mother and others to the row of houses.
Yang Lihua opened the warehouse and asked someone to deliver five jars of wine before hurried back to the house.
In the room, He Xiong had already exchanged greetings with everyone and was sitting down to eat and drink.
"Why did you rush here today? Is there something going on at the border?" The old man has been retired for many years, but he still can't change his habit of thinking about the border.
He Xiong laughed heartily and replied, "No, uncle, don't worry, everything is fine at the border. The general heard that you were celebrating your birthday today, so he asked me to bring Yong'an back to show you your eldest grandson and also bring you a birthday gift."
After saying that, he took off the cloth bag on his back, and when he untied it, he found a sheathed saber, sharp and gleaming.
Mr. Tai was extremely surprised. He looked through the book carefully and couldn't put it down.
"Oh, oh, it's a pity for a cripple like me to use such a good knife!"
Tai Yongan's eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "Grandpa, you don't have it at home, why don't you lend it to me..."
Before he could finish his words, his father slapped him on the back of the head.
"You little brat, you didn't have a knife in the barracks? Why did you come back to steal it? You're so ignorant!"
Tai Yongan shrank his neck and gave a rare childish giggle, "I just... there are knives in the barracks, so I don't need any. I just like them!"
Everyone laughed, especially the younger brothers. They had thought their eldest brother had grown up to be a majestic hero, but they didn't expect him to still be the same.
Tai Yongan blushed and quickly took out his own gift.
"Grandpa, I hunted a fox while I was out on patrol, and I just happened to bring you this fox pelt. Make it into a hat for the winter!"
"Good, good, my eldest grandson has made great progress!" The old man smiled from ear to ear.
When Tai Yonglu, Tai Yongyue and Chen Ruiyang saw it, they hurried to join in the fun and took out their gifts - new pipes.
The brass pipe is inlaid with a piece of white jade and engraved with the words "longevity and health", which is very appropriate.
The old man held it in his hand and touched it again and again.
Tai Yongning used various writing methods to put together a picture of a hundred years of longevity, had it framed, and presented it to the old man with both hands.
Zhuzhu tried hard to pull the leg of her grandfather's trousers, climbed into his arms, and cried in a baby voice, "Grandpa, Zhuzhu bought you a gift and hid it. Grandpa will go find it!"
The old man was at a loss whether to laugh or cry when he heard this. He was not blind. The shop in the city had delivered the rocking chair yesterday and it had been placed under the eaves, covered with two straw curtains.
He almost tripped as he walked by, so there was no need to look for it specifically.
Unfortunately, only the fat girl thought she was hiding it very secretly...
"Okay, grandpa will eat first. When you're full, I'll take you to find it!" The old man carefully poked his precious granddaughter with his beard. He really felt that this was the ultimate happiness in life.
Tai Jizu and his wife gave the old man a new set of clothes, while Tai Jizong and Liu Dongniang gave him a pair of wicker boxes for the old man to use to store small items.
Tai Jiye bought his father a snuff bottle and placed it in a navy blue purse. Lately, the old man has been worried about the corn in the fields. At night, he's either out on patrol or lying on the kang, unable to sleep. Dark circles have formed under his eyes.
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