Chapter 921: The Returned Son

ter the morning court session, almost no one was left at the Imperial Censor's Office in the afternoon. From high officials to low-ranking clerks, everyone was collectively slacking off. 。Mr. Wen was...In Li's grand courtyard, the approaching dusk made it even more lively than usual.

Aunt Liu went to Liu Yang's courtyard during the day. After returning, she chased after her youngest son, taking the twins, Xingxing, and Yueyaer to play. Then she kept thanking Old Madam Li incessantly.

"Auntie, you haven't gone to see it yet! The courtyard is really beautifully renovated, neat and tidy, even the wooden furniture and fixtures are all ready."

"This time, it truly caused the master a great expense! The inside and outside of the courtyard were all tidied up, I'm afraid it cost two to three hundred taels of silver!"

Old Mrs. Li glared at her with a playful frown and said, "After so many years, although our families don't share the same surname, we've been like one family for ages. Zhen Sheng is acting as your uncle, repairing a courtyard for his nephew on his wedding day, is that something worth talking about for this long!"

Besides, Liu Yang and Jia Yi will both be settling down here from now on. They're our family's support, so we should make sure they have a good home. That way, we can rest assured.

Auntie Liu nodded repeatedly, her heart filled with both warmth and joy.

"My aunt said that now that Liu Yang has a house and a wife here, I don't have to worry about him anymore. I just hope he becomes successful and helps the family more."

"From now on, I'll keep Xiao Er by my side. Whether it's studying or doing business, as long as we can support each other in our old age and be filial to our parents, that's all that matters."

Zhao Yuru brought Wenjuan into the room and, hearing this, laughed and said, “Liu's sister-in-law is right to think this way. With so many children, it's impossible to want them all around you all the time.”

"Look at these two I gave birth to. Jiaxi has always been a mischievous child since he was young, and once he grew up, he disappeared like a shadow. Luckily Jiahuan got married early and gave me a grandson."

Having said that, she pulled Wenjuan down to sit with her and added, "This time out delayed things. Otherwise, who knows, maybe by the end of the year, I could have another granddaughter."

Everyone laughed, causing Wenjuan's face to flush red.

Just at that moment, Li Zhensheng returned from outside with Jiayì and Liu Yang, along with Maogēr.

Li LaoTai was very happy and called her son over to speak.

Business is booming in Quanzhou, and Li Zhensheng is quite busy lately as he's arranging his nephew's marriage. It's unusual for him to be home before dark, but here he is.

"Big boss, are things outside almost settled"

"That's about it, Mother, don't worry any more. Just wait for the new daughter-in-law to enter the house!" Li Zhensheng said with a smile, his expression filled with a strange kind of joy that looked rather odd.

Old Mrs. Li couldn't help but pat her son's arm and chide, "This child, what are you smiling about Did you pick up silver outside"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yang, Jia Yi, and Mao'er all burst into laughter.

Zhao Yuru was observant. She noticed their gazes kept drifting towards the door, so she looked over as well.

At the doorway stood a lanky young man in coarse gray cloth robes and a wide-brimmed hat that concealed half his face. He looked vaguely familiar.

"Big brother, is this the manager of the shop"

Zhao Yu-ru was curious, so she asked a question. Before Li Zhen-sheng could reply, the young man raised his head, revealing a bronze complexion and a mouthful of white teeth...

"Xi...Xi Ge'er!" Zhao Yuru cried out in surprise, rushing forward to hug the young man and bursting into tears.

Li Lao and others were startled, not knowing what had happened.

Until that young man removed his hat, revealing a face both familiar and strange to everyone, the room erupted in chaos.

“Xi Ge’er, it’s Xi Ge’er!” Li Laotai rushed over and hugged Jia Xi’s other arm, tears welling up like a spring, “You little wretch, you still know to come back! You almost scared your old granny to death. Finally, you’re back, you’re back!”

Tao Hongying brought people to the kitchen to arrange the meals. Hearing a commotion in the room, she ran in with a cleaver still in her hand.

At first sight of Xi Ge'er, she threw down her kitchen knife and rushed over, asking frantically, "Xi Ge'er, where is An Ge'er Why hasn't An Ge'er come back!"

Everyone fell silent after hearing that.

More than a dozen pairs of eyes stared nervously at Jiaxi, fearing he would announce some terrible news. Their hearts were pounding in their chests!

Luckily, Jiaxi didn't delay for a moment. He opened his mouth and said: "An Ge’er is safe and sound. When he found out we were waiting for news from him at sea, he immediately returned!"

"Oh, thank goodness! Angelo is back too, oh, everyone's back!" Tao Hongying's legs went weak and she collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

As a mother, who wouldn't miss her son

For nearly three years, she has never stopped thinking about her son. But because she is afraid of upsetting the old woman, she can't show even a hint of emotion. She can only wipe away tears in private.

Now that she finally knew her son was safe and sound, she couldn't hold back any longer and cried out all her heartache.

Zhao Yuru understood her feelings too well. She wanted to offer some comfort, but in the end, the two sisters-in-law embraced each other and wept together.

Grandma Chang and Xia Qing, who came from Suijin Beach, knew what was going on, but the servants bought locally in the front yard didn't understand.

Hearing the commotion in the backyard, everyone dropped what they were doing and rushed to find out what was happening.

Still, the cat, with its eyes red from crying, rushed out to comfort him and had the door closed.

Finally, he arranged for Zheng Qi to lead the guards at the Second Gate's Willow Flower Gate before he felt relieved.

For a while, only their own family remained in the backyard.

Jiǎxǐ was pulled by Lǎotāi to sit beside her and told about their experiences after leaving home.

Sailing, it sounds like just two words, but in reality, it encompasses so much danger.

Even with meticulous preparation, it's impossible to avoid all unforeseen circumstances.

Jia Xi and Jia An, along with 300 personnel from the Foreign Affairs Department, embarked on three large ships to sail the seas. Their mission was a covert investigation of neighboring countries' military strength.

But unexpectedly, after a month at sea, they encountered a storm. Of the three ships, only one remained, running aground on the coast of a small country.

They spent six months repairing their ship in a small country before continuing their journey. They passed through seven or eight countries before finally returning home to Quanzhou.

They were worried that over time, information would be cut off, and something might happen to Tianwu. So, Jia'an had the fleet stop at an island hundreds of miles away, and Jiaxi went back first to investigate.

Only when he heard that everything was as usual in Tianwu did he find his way back home, to the shop where he coincidentally met his uncle…

As time turns, what passes is not only time, but also the inevitable growth.

The mischievous and playful little boy who used to run around has, after the baptism of a long voyage, grown taller, thinner, and darker. He is also more mature and steady now.

Jia Xi was surrounded by family, chatting animatedly about the wonders of the sea or the customs and people of foreign lands, often causing laughter among the family members.

Grandmother Li felt sorry for her grandson and kept urging everyone to start eating.

Soon, the dishes were served. Jiaxi immediately transformed into a glutton, eating and drinking voraciously, wishing he had eight hands to help him.

He mumbled with his mouth full, "Mmm, finally got to eat home-cooked food again! Angelo and I were starving outside, we dreamed about drooling!"

"Slowly, slowly eat! You're home now, you can eat as much as you want from now on!" Grandma Li kept serving her grandson dishes.

Tao Hongying and Zhao Yuru were also busy ladling soup and serving food.

As for Li Zhensheng and Jia Yi, Liu Yang, and Cat Brother, they could only look after themselves…

After eating, Li Zhensheng told the old woman, "Mother, I'll take the children to the study to look at the nautical charts. Let's figure out where An Geer and the others are, then we can send someone to pick them up. Don't worry.""What we can do is study hard and change our fate. But this doesn't mean we should forget our roots or look down on our origins and our family!"A lamb, when it is young, knows to kneel at its mother's...