Xu stood by the door, holding onto the doorframe, and did not go to greet him. She looked at her husband, Chen Yunfan, from a distance, checking if he was injured or if he had lost weight.
Jiang Wei knew that her second aunt was embarrassed to go forward and ask about her second uncle's well-being in front of so many younger relatives.
Jiang Wei smiled knowingly and stepped forward to bow to Chen Yunfan, "Greetings, Second Uncle. You must have had a long journey. Was your trip smooth? Were you warmly dressed and well-fed?"
Madam Xu stood by the door, straining her ears to listen, wanting to know if her husband was doing well these days.
Chen Yunfan looked Jiang Wei up and down, then laughed heartily, "Good...good...good...Second Uncle has been doing very well on the journey, eating well, dressing warmly, and sleeping well."
After saying that, he glanced at the door and gave a friendly smile.
Xu knew he was talking to her, and seeing him smile at her, she blushed and lowered her head, feeling embarrassed.
Although they are an old married couple, they are often separated and rarely see each other, and they still retain some of the shyness of newlyweds.
Madam Xu saw that apart from looking a little tired, he was otherwise fine.
She quietly retreated to the kitchen to check on the food, hoping her husband could taste the flavors of home.
When Xu entered, Yu was busy in the kitchen.
Madam Yu had arranged everything perfectly. Knowing that Chen Yunfan had arrived, she came to the kitchen to serve the dishes.
The maids were carrying various dishes and serving them to the table.
When Madam Yu saw Madam Xu enter, she said irritably, "What, are you afraid I'll eat first? Or are you worried I won't feed my second brother well enough? You come and keep an eye on me!"
"Sister-in-law!" Madam Xu scolded her playfully.
"What are you doing here? Your second brother is back. You should go and check on him. It's not easy for him doing business away from home."
Yu was so direct that Xu felt embarrassed.
She blushed slightly as she helped her.
"Second Uncle." After Jiang Wei and Chen Yunfan had finished exchanging pleasantries, Chen Shiyu called out.
Chen Yunfan also sized up Chen Shiyu. He had been away on business for almost half a year and, although he had kept in touch with his family, he hadn't seen them for a long time.
"Shiyu has grown up a bit, but he's still well-behaved and hasn't upset his older brother and sister-in-law, has he? How's his schoolwork going?" Chen Yunfan asked him with concern.
Chen Shiyu's face fell. This was not concern but rather reopening old wounds. "Second Uncle, I came out to greet you out of kindness, but your words are meant to hurt me."
Chen Yunfan put his hand on Chen Shiyu's shoulder, "Your second uncle is only asking you because he cares about you."
"You care about me, yet you say such hurtful things. You know perfectly well that I don't like studying and want to go out and do business like you, but you just won't agree. Besides, traveling ten thousand miles is not as good as reading ten thousand books," Chen Shiyu said with great dissatisfaction.
“How can that be the same!” Chen Yunfan gestured for them to go inside and said, “Over the years, your second uncle has been traveling for business. Whenever I pass by a place with stunning scenery, I can only sigh, ‘Wow... how beautiful!’ and that’s all I can say. But those scholars can write a whole bunch of poems.”
“But I just don’t like studying,” Chen Shiyu said, pulling Mingzhao along. “This is my aunt’s son, Mingzhao’s cousin.”
Mingzhao's determination to go to school was further strengthened by following them.
Chen Yunfan's gaze swept up and down Mingzhao, then he nodded. "You're a good kid. Your maternal grandfather wrote to me saying you're still alive. You have no idea how happy I am. Your second uncle brought you a gift to mark our meeting. I'll give it to you once we find it."
Mingzhao bowed and clasped his hands in greeting, his smile pure and innocent. "Thank you, Second Uncle. Second Aunt has already given it to me."
“What my second aunt gave me was given by my second aunt, and what my second uncle gave me was given by my second uncle,” Chen Yunfan said. This child has suffered, and he wants to give him more love.
Chen Yan sat in the armchair, looking towards the door.
They're moving way too slowly, even slower than this old man. But how could it take them so long to walk from the doorway?
Finally, after he had drunk a cup of tea, Chen Yunfan came out and came into his sight.
Upon seeing his father, Chen Yunfan quickly walked a few steps and knelt down before Chen Yan to pay his respects.
"Your son is unfilial and has caused his father worry."
A mother worries when her son travels a thousand miles, and the same is true for a father.
Although the world is relatively stable, there are still worries about natural disasters and man-made calamities. Now, seeing him safe and sound in front of me is a relief.
"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back." Chen Yan nodded.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the father and son...
Chen Yunfan then told them about all the strange and interesting things he had encountered during the past six months.
Chen Shiyu listened with great interest, and his longing for the outside world grew even stronger.
Jiang Wei felt as if she had entered a new world; these were interesting things she would never have known in her entire life living in the deep courtyard of the mansion.
She had this thought after she came back, but she also had some concerns. Now she is truly beginning to yearn for the outside world.
She wanted to wait until her younger brother was older and able to live on his own.
She went outside to take a look, and thinking about it, it seemed like things weren't so bad.
A woman doesn't necessarily have to get married in her life. Why should she lock herself in a small world and die because of one person?
The outside world is so vast, why can't women go and see it?
Anyway, she has shops in Kyoto, so she can learn business from her maternal grandfather and uncles.
In a few years, she will go out to do business and see the vast world.
After making up her mind, Jiang Wei took in the things that were popular in the capital city in the past two or three years.
Back then, Song Fangfang would constantly ask her to buy this and that, and she bought her all sorts of clothes, jewelry, and accessories.
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