Chapter 282: Yet Another Arrival
After finishing their meal, Mu Li readied the carriage, and the two set off in a frantic rush once more.
Helping Wen Yao clean up, Old Madam Luo said helplessly, “What on earth is your father busy with again? Aren’t all the new crops already planted now? I don’t see him paying much attention to matters here, running around outside all day long.”
Roughly guessing what Wen Xiuyi was busy with, Wen Yao smiled and said, “Grandma, my dad is doing something far more meaningful.”
“What thing?”
Wen Yao offered a mysterious smile. “You’ll find out in the future.”
Old Madam Luo gave her a fond glare, refraining from asking further. She stopped questioning her eldest son’s doings now—after all, it certainly wasn’t anything bad.
A couple of days later, Wen Nong drove his ox cart back after closing up his stall for the evening, but a few horses trailed behind the cart, with riders mounted on every one.
Keeping track of the hour, Lady Li knew her son was coming home the moment she heard the commotion outside. Preparing to step out and help him unload the cart, she froze the moment she reached the doorway and caught sight of the people outside. Immediately after, she let out a loud gasp, turned around, and sprinted right back into the house.
“Mother! Mother!…”
Those frantic shouts didn’t just bring Old Madam Luo hurrying out—even the rest of the Wen family rushed out as well. Seeing her acting so startled, everyone assumed something terrible had happened.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Old Madam Luo and Old Man Wen asked anxiously.
Lady Li pointed toward the main gate, her face a mix of pure joy and intense excitement: “Mother, Li Yi—no, the young master—the young master has arrived!”
Old Man Wen and Old Madam Luo were startled, quickly running toward the entrance. Arriving at the gate, they saw Li Yi and his men helping Wen Nong unload barrels and other items from the carriage.
Seeing this, Old Man Wen immediately kicked his two sons who were still standing there dazed: “What are you standing there for? Go help out right now!”
Only then did Wen Xiuzhu and Wen Xiuqing quickly run over to take over the work from Li Yi and the guards beside him.
“Y-young master?” Old Man Wen and Old Madam Luo prepared to pay their formal respects.
Li Yi, however, beat them to it, calling out: “Grandpa Wen, Grandma Luo.”
That simple address instantly dissolved the rigid barrier created by their difference in social status.
The child was still the same child, and his way of addressing them remained unchanged. If they acted distant, it would instead hurt the boy’s feelings.
Old Madam Luo walked up to Li Yi, pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his hands clean, and asked, “I heard Yao Yao say long ago that you were coming. Why didn’t you give us advance notice so we could go pick you up?”
Allowing Old Madam Luo to wipe his hands clean, Li Yi smiled and said, “My boat arrived this afternoon. I went over to Brother Wen Nong’s place to eat a meal, and thinking it was getting late anyway, I decided to wait for him to close up shop so we could travel back together. Grandma Luo, Grandpa Wen, how are your health and spirits? My father asked me to send his regards to you both.”
“Good, good, good! We’re all very well! Quick, step inside first, step inside! Ah my, you haven’t been to our new house yet, so hurry and head inside…” Old Madam Luo pulled Li Yi along as she walked inward, casting a glance at the retinue Li Yi had brought along this time—three burly young men around Xun Feng’s age, plus a…
Old Madam Luo’s gaze landed on a young child standing among the three adults, leaving her momentarily stunned.
The child looked around eight or nine years old, gazing curiously at Old Madam Luo and Li Yi, who was acting so close with her.
“This is…?” Old Madam Luo asked.
Li Yi beckoned to the child, who immediately ran over, leaning against Li Yi as he looked around at everything with curious eyes.
Li Yi introduced: “My aunt’s child, my cousin Guan Shengrui. Rui’er, greet our hosts.”
Guan Shengrui looked curiously at Old Madam Luo, unable to understand why his elder cousin wanted him to greet a country woman. But with a single sharp glare from Li Yi, the young brat immediately fell into line, offering a somewhat reluctant greeting: “Hello, Grandma Luo.” It seemed this was his first time using such an address, leaving Guan Shengrui feeling thoroughly unaccustomed to it.
Li Yi nodded with satisfaction.
However, Old Madam Luo and Old Man Wen were already completely dumbfounded.
Li Yi’s aunt—wasn’t that a Princess? This child was a Princess’s son!
Gazed at like this by them, Guan Shengrui seemed thoroughly unaccustomed to the attention. Just as he was about to bark a scolding, Li Yi pressed a hand onto his shoulder, looking down at him with deep, penetrating eyes: “You were the one who insisted on coming with me, so you must obey everything I say. Otherwise, I will send you straight back to the capital right now.”
His tone was calm, devoid of anger or joy, yet Guan Shengrui instantly behaved himself.
When Li Yi raised his head again, he met Old Madam Luo with that same warm, spring-breeze smile.
“Yao Yao didn’t tell me you had moved into a new house either; otherwise, I ought to have prepared a housewarming gift,” Li Yi remarked.
Her heart bursting with joy, Old Madam Luo smiled and said, “We’re all family, so there’s no need for such formalities. Head inside first! Nanny Du, quickly run next door to call Yao Yao and the others over.”
Nanny Du also ran off happily to the house next door.
Wen Yao was still in the kitchen cooking alongside Nanny Shi when she heard Nanny Du shouting from afar.
“Master, Miss, Eldest Young Master, Young Master! The young master has arrived! The young master has arrived!”
Tossing down the spatula in her hand, Wen Yao sprinted outside: “Nanny Du, who did you say came?”
“The young master has arrived! He just got here and was invited inside by the old mistress. She sent me to call you all!” Nanny Du reported happily.
Wen Yao was about to untie her apron when she remembered she still had food cooking in the pot, stopping herself immediately: “Nanny Du, go call my dad and eldest brother, then head to the foot of the mountain in the back to call Xun Feng and the others back. I’ll finish up the dishes here. Oh, right—ask Grandma where we’re eating today. If we’re eating over there, I’ll carry the dishes over.”
“Understood!” Nanny Du quickly ran to the study to find Wen Xiuyi and Wen Jun, and after informing them, she sprinted toward the foot of the mountain in the back to fetch the ones practicing martial arts.
Almost the instant Li Yi sat down, a large group of people came rushing over from next door.
Looking at this lively, fiery family, the smile on Li Yi’s face grew even wider as he greeted each person one by one.
Datou even rushed forward to wrap his arms tightly around Li Yi’s waist, yelling at the top of his lungs that he missed Brother Yi to death.
Such lively warmth served to make Guan Shengrui beside them look thoroughly out of place.
With Li Yi pulled aside by Wen Xiuyi to inquire about Prince Fu’s recent situation, Guan Shengrui was left even more neglected. Knowing none of these people and having no idea what to say to them, he could only sit off to the side, sulking in silence.
Suddenly, a small head poked over in front of him, large eyes looking at him with curiosity.
“Who are you? Did you come together with Brother Yi?” Looking at this extra little brother in the house, Datou was full of curiosity. The main reason was that everyone else was bustling about happily, while this boy sat here all alone, looking quite pitiable.
Surging with sympathy, Datou felt that it was up to him to save this lonely little brother.
Having someone suddenly show concern for him while he was left out, Guan Shengrui merely felt a surge of sourness in his heart. He hadn’t felt much earlier, but now he felt extraordinarily aggrieved. Twitching his lips, he turned his head away, unwilling to pay attention to Datou: “None of your business.”
“Oh.” Since that was the case, good boy Datou didn’t push it either, turning around to walk away without a moment’s hesitation.
Guan Shengrui: “…” Why did this guy walk away so fast? Couldn’t… couldn’t he just say a few more words?!
