Chapter 106: The Powerful Return

  Finally, after everyone had strolled around for a while, Zhao looked at his sister-in-law who was already drooping her eyelids and called out to everyone, "It's getting late, we should head back too."

  In this way, several children finally carried their heavy 'spoils of war' and prepared to head home.

  Before leaving, Zhao asked Xu Peifeng, "Peifeng, how did you come here? Do you want to go back with us together?"

  Xiao Yingyin waited for his response with a smile, but didn't know what to make of it. For the entire evening, Xu Peifeng was in a distracted state.

  "Peifeng! Peifeng!" He shouted twice before waking up the person who was lost in thought.

  "What?" Looking at everyone's puzzled gaze, Xu Peifeng scratched his head, looking bewildered.

  "Girl asked, are you going back with us or going back by yourself?" Ruihao repeated loudly.

  This time, Xu Peifeng really wanted to hurry up and see that person, but thinking of his own task, he shook his head and said, "Auntie, I'll go with you, it's not safe at night, let me drive."

  When he said this, Chen Tianfa and his wife naturally disagreed. How could they let others drive them away?

  But thinking back, there were several big girls sitting in the car too, so it's indeed a bit inconvenient for him to get on like this. The saying "men and women don't share the same seat after seven" isn't just talk.

  After a moment of contemplation, Zhao hesitantly compromised with a slightly apologetic tone, "Well, if that's the case, then we'll have to trouble you."

  Xu Peifeng slightly shook his head, indicating that Zhao didn't need to take it to heart.

  After everyone got on and sat down, Xu Peifeng pulled the reins of the horse, and the carriage gradually disappeared into the night.

  As soon as they got on the horse carriage, several children who had been making a ruckus all day were getting sleepy. Before long, the horse carriage started moving slowly and the little ones fell asleep in the carriage, lying east and west.

  Mr. Zhao put each of the children's heads down flat so that if the cart tipped they would not bump their heads.

  Chen Tianfa was also drowsy, and Zhao thought of the little servant who came to wear Wang Ziheng's clothes during the day. He quickly shook his body and asked in a low voice, "Dad, tomorrow Master Wang said let us go to Tianxiang Building, do you think we should go?"

  Chen Tianfa shook his slightly dizzy head and chuckled, "Let's go. How can we not go? Not to mention that we own half of the shares, but this is also something our family's Jiemei has come up with. We have to show some support!"

  Upon hearing Chen Tianfa's boastful tone, Zhao couldn't help but shake his head and say, "Alright, I know you're formidable, your teachings are effective. What more can be said?"

  "But," Zhao said, changing the subject, "this year our store has sold far fewer pickled eggs than before. If this continues..."

  As he said this, Chen Tianfa didn't have the joy of before, his tone slightly heavy. "What's the big deal? Although our shop's business isn't as good as it was in the past, but the workshop, the quantity hasn't decreased."

  Zhao listened and smiled slightly, "Does this make you proud again? That workshop isn't even ours, what are you so happy about?"

  "Kid, you're talking nonsense. We've got at least a 10% stake in this. You can't starve with that kind of share."

  At this point, Xi Mei, who was pretending to be asleep, turned over and put her head facing away from the two of them. Chen Tianfa and his wife thought she had woken up and immediately stopped talking.

  After a moment, she found that she had simply turned over and showed no signs of waking up. Zhao continued, "Fortunately, she didn't wake up, or else she would have asked again endlessly."

  Ci'ai stroked Xi Mei's soft hair and Zhao continued, "You said, the workshop business is not bad?"

  Chen Tianfa looked at his wife with a suspicious gaze, feeling somewhat displeased. "Can I still deceive you? Not to mention our town, but even people from nearby towns come to our workshop to buy pickled eggs."

  What he didn't say was that although many people bought them, the price of pickled eggs was far from being as profitable as it used to be. In these two years, I don't know if their craftsmanship has leaked out or if the skills have been passed on to others in Beijing, but many people can now make this thing.

  However, there are still some people who insist on buying eggs from their family.

  "Our family's silver is mostly paid back for buying the house, now we still have a hundred or so taels of silver left, but..." The rest of the sentence was not spoken by Zhao.

  Chen Tianfa also knew that if Rui Xuan continued to take the imperial examination, even more silver would be spent.

  "What's there to worry about? Don't we still have Tianxiang Building's income?" Chen Tianfa comforted Zhao.

  Sister Xi thought to herself, "As expected, the remaining money at home is indeed not much. This Wang family is really something, the pickled eggs are almost all made by our own hands, but in the end, the profit still goes into their pockets!"

  "Hey girl, I've completely forgotten. The reason why the Wang family is in charge is entirely because of their parents' long-standing efforts."

  After being troubled for half a day, Xi Mei let it go again. Never mind, fortunately this time's hot pot dinner she made the Wang family lose a lot.

  She couldn't help but feel secretly delighted, fortunately she didn't tell her parents, otherwise with their honest nature, they would definitely have to redivide the 'sphere of influence' again.

  It's really a loss for our family.

  The horse carriage jolted for a while before finally stopping in front of the Chen family's tavern.

  Chen Tianfa lifted the curtain and helped Zhao down, then turned to face Xu Peifeng with a smile. "It's getting late, Uncle Chen won't keep you any longer. Don't worry your big brother, come again tomorrow."

  Zhao helped several sleepy children get off the bus, and finally looked at Xi Mei who was really asleep inside. Just as she was about to wake her up, Chen Tian stopped her.

  "Don't call her anymore, little girl is making a big fuss today, let her sleep, I'll carry her back to the house."

  Hmph, no wonder the youngest daughter is always spoiled. If Ruihao dared to cling to his father's back like that and be carried home, Chen Tianfa would have given him a good slap on the ear.

  "Quickly go back, looking at the sky it's going to snow again."

  After the Chen family disappeared from his sight, Xu Peifeng turned back to his residence, casually led a fine horse out of the stable, mounted it and galloped towards the desolate outskirts.

  I remember a few days ago, Mr. Gu heard about the war in the front and said that Dongyan country won a great victory over Beicang, all thanks to the command of a general named Xuan Yuan, they were able to win completely.

  Others may not know, but these two brothers are clear in their hearts. If it's not the young master himself, who else could it be?

  However, the news I received said that Master Xiao was injured. Then why did I just see them at the night market?

  Although it has been almost five years since they last met, Xu Peifeng firmly believes that he will not mistake the person. The cold and bloodthirsty aura emanating from him is unmistakably his master!

  At this thought, his blood seemed to burn with fury. Disregarding the biting cold wind blowing straight at him, Xu Peifeng whipped the horse with all his might. The horse, in pain, ran even faster into the night.

  Finally. In the house that Gu Ge had prepared in the past few days, there was already a warm glow of lamp light, suppressing the excitement in his heart. Xu Peifeng stepped forward and lightly knocked on the door.

  After a moment, faint footsteps could be heard from inside. If one didn't listen carefully, they wouldn't have been able to hear it at all. After the footsteps stopped, a low voice came: "Who is it?"

  That's right, it was them. Xu Peifeng heard the familiar voice inside and his eyes suddenly turned red. His brother had really returned from the battlefield!

  "Brother Gu, it's me, I'm Xiao Feng!" Don't get me wrong. This Brother Gu is not the Gu Zhi who has deep feelings for the kitchen, but rather Gu Zhi's older brother, Gu Ren, who has been watching him grow up since he was a child!

  Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Xu Peifeng heard a puzzled voice inside: "Is it Xiao Feng? Xu Peifeng?"

  Xu Peifeng, who was standing outside the door, suppressed the tears that were about to overflow from his eyes and nodded fiercely. After a moment, he realized that the person inside couldn't see him, so he hastily and anxiously said: "It's me! It's me!"

  At last, the deep brown gate creaked open and a big man stepped out of the doorway, looking at the people outside who had already been covered with a layer of fluttering snowflakes.

  "Good kid! I knew it was you!" Without another word, the two of them stepped forward and gave each other a hearty hug.

  "Big brother, how did you guys come back?" Asked Xu Peifeng hastily as his emotions calmed down a bit.

  In the snowflakes, Da Han let out a deep sigh and said: "This is a long story, come on, let's go in first and talk slowly later."

  Patting Xu Peifeng, who was now about his own height, Da Han changed the subject, "By the way, how have you been doing these few years?"

  The words had barely fallen when they heard the sound of the door opening. The two turned their heads to look and found that it was actually the young master they had just been discussing.

  He saw his face calm, thin lips lightly opened: "Is it Brother Xu?"

  Upon hearing the master's words, Xu Peifeng was shocked and said: "Yes, it's me." Although the person in front of him was younger than himself, but no matter from which aspect to speak, the other party's momentum could throw himself ten million eight thousand miles away.

  Especially when he said "big brother" from his mouth, he suddenly became excited and didn't know where to put his hands and feet.

  In Xuan Yuan's heart, he had never looked down on anyone because of their humble identity, except for his enemies.

  Looking at these trusted followers who had been fleeing with him since his youth, he was undoubtedly grateful, but his innate coldness made him unable to express it.

  Pushing the stiff Xu Peifeng, Gu Ren said: "Go, Master has been waiting for you for a while."

  She followed him into the house step by step, and outside, the snow fell even harder...

  "Xi Mei, wake up!" Xi He urged, pushing her gently in the morning as they lay together under the same quilt.

  Dazed and confused, I opened my eyes to see a shadow in front of me. Perplexed, I asked: "Third sister, why are you in my bed?"

  Upon hearing this, Xihe's body stiffened for a moment as she was putting on her clothes, before gritting her teeth and saying: "Me enter your bed? Open your eyes wide and take a good look, whose bed is this anyway!"

  Taking a closer look, it wasn't hers after all. Hurriedly trying to make amends, she asked, "Third sister, how did I end up in your bed?"

  Xi He glared at her, quickly putting on her clothes, and said irritably: "How would I know? You were sleeping soundly last night, then you suddenly crawled into my bed and wrapped your arms and legs around me. How was I supposed to know what kind of crazy thing you were doing?"

  Look at Xi Mei still silly and stunned, Xi He urged, "Hurry up, have you forgotten what day it is today?"

  Xī Jiě still looked dazed, Xǐ Hé reminded her, "Didn't we agree yesterday that today Tiān Xiāng Lóu would launch your hot pot? How could you forget?"

  One word woke up Xi Mei, who was still in a daze. Oh no, oh no, she had really forgotten that today was the first day and also the day her hard work would be revealed to the world. She couldn't possibly miss it!

  Well, I followed Xiaosan's rhythm and started putting on clothes in a flurry...