Chapter 751 - 753: Returning Home
Chapter 751: Chapter 753: Returning Home
Gu Yuanjin arrived at the city gate and found it bustling with activity. A long escort team was parked outside the gate, resting and reorganizing.
"It’s already this hour, and there’s still an escort team heading this way." Gu Yuanjin squinted but couldn’t clearly see the team’s banner. He turned to ask his long-term follower, "Which escort agency is this? It’s the Lunar New Year, yet they’re still out here."
The long-term follower had better eyesight than him. "Eldest Master, it’s the escort team under Seventh Madam."
"Seventh Madam’s people are always quite diligent. Chief Steward Hu must have been delayed because of these matters." Gu Yuanjin stared fixedly for a few moments, then instructed the driver to carefully bypass them and enter the city.
They traveled all the way to the Gu Mansion. Seeing several horse carriages parked at the entrance, Gu Yuanjin knew they had guests.
As soon as the carriage came to a steady stop, the gatekeeper alertly ran over to help Gu Yuanjin down.
"Eldest Master, what brings you here?"
"I happened to be coming into the city, so I dropped by to take a look. Is Chief Steward Hu still busy?"
"We have guests today, so Chief Steward Hu is currently entertaining them.
"Eldest Master, please head inside. I just sent someone to notify Chief Steward Hu."
Gu Yuanjin had just stepped through the main gate when he suddenly froze in place.
He blinked his eyes hard. It wasn’t until the other person called out, "Father," that his heart trembled violently.
"Le Tian??" Gu Yuanjin looked at the familiar face, somewhat in disbelief.
"Father," Gu Letian took a few quick steps and ran up to Gu Yuanjin. He truly hadn’t expected this. He had only just arrived and met Aunt Seven’s steward, planning to have him lead the way home, yet this surprise came so suddenly. His own father appeared right before his eyes.
Gu Yuanjin rubbed his eyes vigorously. Once he confirmed again that the young man in front of him was his eldest son, he suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace and cried out, "Where have you been running off to all these years? The family has been going crazy looking for you!"
Gu Letian hugged his father back, trying his best to hold back his tears. "I’ve finally found my way home..."
The father and son let go of each other at the same time. Having confirmed the person in front of them, they gazed at each other in sheer excitement.
Seeing them staring at each other in the front courtyard, Hu Dong could only give a polite reminder. "AHEM. The wind out here is a bit chilly. How about we head to the side hall to rest first?"
When he first saw Gu Letian, Hu Dong didn’t recognize him. If it hadn’t been for Madam’s handwritten letter, he would have been quite suspicious.
Over the years, they had also helped search for Young Master Le Tian, and they had encountered many imposters along the way.
"No need. Since the child has returned, we should go back to see the elders." Gu Yuanjin held Gu Letian’s hand tightly. He wanted to share this monumental good news with the family as soon as possible, and he wanted to make the old lady at home happy.
With this, their large family was finally complete. This Lunar New Year would definitely be an exceptionally comforting one.
Hu Dong could understand his thoughts. "Then let’s head back to the village together. I happen to have prepared some New Year goods here. I should have sent them over earlier, but I’ve been busy these past few days. I’ll go pay an early New Year visit to the old madam and the old master."
"Alright, let’s go back together." Gu Yuanjin was now incredibly anxious to return home, and he immediately led the way out.
Gu Letian quickly followed. He was currently full of curiosity about his new home, along with an urgent desire to see his family.
Hu Dong trailed behind them, but Gu Yuanjin and his son were already far ahead of him, disappearing from sight in an instant.
Hu Dong smiled and shook his head, hurriedly instructing the driver to follow, bringing along the several carriages that Gu Letian had returned with.
Li Cuicui and the others were preparing tonight’s New Year’s Eve dinner together, sitting in the courtyard, basking in the sun, and chatting and laughing.
"The weather this year is actually quite nice. It looks like we’ll have a dry and pleasant New Year." Xie Ruyi stood to the side holding her grandson. Afraid the child would cause trouble, she was coaxing him with a toy.
"That’s true. Compared to the misty drizzle from the past two days, this kind of weather is much more comfortable," Hong Daya said, also holding her own Lebao. "When everyone goes out for New Year visits tomorrow, they won’t come back covered in muddy water." Since she had brought a servant woman with her today to help with the chores, she only needed to take good care of her precious daughter.
"You two shouldn’t always hold the children in your arms," Li Cuicui said while snapping string beans. "The boys in our family from the past were never pampered like this. Peasant children still need to run and jump around; that’s the only way they’ll grow up sturdy.
"They’re about the same age anyway. Put them on the ground and let them play!"
"Mother, my Yunrui is still young. There are so many things in this courtyard. If he trips and bumps into something, my heart will ache for him." Xie Ruyi patted Gu Yunrui’s back. "Besides, I don’t have much to do right now. Keeping the child by my side will let the rest of you work in peace."
"My Lebao just fell down yesterday," Hong Daya said with pursed lips. "She scraped her hands until they bled. I feel more at ease keeping an eye on her like this."
Li Cuicui glanced at the toddlers in their arms but ultimately said nothing. She turned to Old Fourth’s wife and said, "Old Fourth and his brothers took some people to fish in the river up ahead, and I wonder how they’re doing. I hope they don’t catch a chill from the cold wind by the river without even catching any fish."
The old lady felt that her sons were causing a bit of a fuss during the Lunar New Year. Even though the family clearly didn’t lack such minor things, they still insisted on joining the villagers in the excitement.
"Mother, let’s just leave them be," Liu Liu said, not worried at all. When Gu Yuanshui and the others left, they were all wrapped up in cloaks and had people accompanying them, so they wouldn’t freeze at all. "Besides, with skilled fishers like Liang Xiaojun, Liu Heizi, and the others, they just went over to help out and reap some small benefits from behind. They won’t come back empty-handed."
"That’s right. It’s the Lunar New Year, and we’re just aiming for an auspicious sign—may there be surplus and fish every year. Let them have some fun too. These are the only few days in the whole year they get to relax." Wang Caiyue had lived a comfortable life this past year, so she had also learned to speak pleasantly, finally shedding some of her harsh words.
"Mother, look who’s here!" Gu Yuanjin’s voice carried over from a distance before he even arrived.
"What was Eldest Son just shouting about?" Li Cuicui pricked up her ears. "Did he say someone came?"
"Yes, he did. Yuan Jin really is making a fuss out of nothing. To be back this quickly, he must have bumped into Manager Hu on the road." Li Xiaohua didn’t even raise her head. "There’s truly no suspense at all, yet he insists on causing such a huge commotion."
"That doesn’t sound right. When has Yuan Jin ever been this excited?" After all, the one who shared his bed knew him best. Xie Ruyi carried her grandson and prepared to greet him, wanting to see who could make Gu Yuanjin act so out of character.
Standing at the doorway, the face that abruptly appeared before her eyes made Xie Ruyi’s grip loosen. Fortunately, the servant woman beside her reacted quickly, swiftly catching Gu Yunrui before he could drop to the ground.
At this moment, how could Xie Ruyi still remember to worry about her eldest grandson? She suddenly rushed out the door, followed by a loud wail, "My son, you’ve finally returned!"
It was this very wail that caused the women chatting and laughing in the courtyard to instantly freeze the expressions on their faces.
With Xie Ruyi making such a fuss, who exactly had arrived?