"This is the third son, Lejia," Ancient Wen Heng said, seeing Gu Lejia still standing there in a daze. "Don’t you recognize him? This is your Uncle Mingqiu. Hurry and greet him."

"Uncle Mingqiu," Gu Lejia forced out with a look of resignation. In front of Ancient Wen Heng, he had no choice but to address this ’uncle’ who was younger than him.

"Where’d you run off to, you brat? Your mom’s been so down because of you kids, she can’t even get her spirits up. But it’s alright now, you’re finally back." Gu Mingqiu sized up his childhood playmate—and junior—and, seeing that he hadn’t suffered too much, finally felt a bit of relief.

"I bet you don’t know where your family is living now, right? Come on. I happen to be free, so I’ll take you back."

"Then we’ll have to trouble you, Mingqiu. I was just about to go see my father first." Ancient Wen Heng then turned his head to look at Lejia. "Do you want to go home first, or come with me to see your grandparents?"

Gu Mingqiu then realized his words had been out of line. "Silly me. Of course, you have to go see Uncle Dashishi and the others first. But don’t worry, I’ll go let them know for you. Yuan Jin will head over to Uncle Dashishi’s place too."

Ancient Wen Heng nodded his thanks. "Thanks for your trouble!"

The moment Ancient Wen Heng led his group into the village, villagers came flocking over out of curiosity, whether they were working in the fields or busy at home.

Ancient Wen Heng and Jin Qianqian handled the crowd with ease, but Gu Lejia was bombarded with one question after another.

Those whose family members had not yet returned asked for news of their loved ones.

Curious elders pressed him for details about what he had been through.

Song Xiuyang, who stuck close to his side, was also being sized up by a crowd of women.

As for the unfamiliar faces, Qing Mei and Qingzhu, they stood obediently behind the Jin Family. Once people heard they were maidservants, their curiosity was satisfied, and they moved on.

Li Cuicui, having heard the news, ran to her gate to find a large crowd already gathered. She quickly pushed her way through. "Seventh, you’re back!"

Ancient Wen Heng and Jin Qianqian quickly greeted her, each taking one of her arms to support her. "Mother, your son has returned."

"You must be tired from the journey. Hurry inside and get some rest. Everyone, you can all disperse now." Li Cuicui didn’t get it. ’Everyone knows Seventh, is all this enthusiasm really necessary?’

"Hey, Dashishi’s wife," Gu Datian suddenly called out to her. "You’ve got a grandson here too."

"Grandma," Gu Lejia suddenly burst into tears and knelt before Li Cuicui. "Your grandson is back."

Li Cuicui rubbed her eyes, crouching down to study his face for a moment. Then she pulled him to his feet, gripping his hand tightly. "You’re Lejia! Where did you run off to? Why have you only come back now?"

"It’s a wonderful thing that he’s been found. The two of you, grandmother and grandson, shouldn’t stand here crying," Gu Datian reminded them when he saw many others starting to wipe their eyes. "Dashishi must be getting anxious inside. You should hurry and take the boy in so he can see him."

Li Cuicui nodded apologetically to her fellow villagers. "I’ll invite everyone over for a get-together another day. For now, could you all head home?"

Everyone knew the family must have a lot to talk about, so no matter how curious they were, they knew it wasn’t right to keep crowding around. After offering a few words of concern, they left in twos and threes, discussing the events as they walked away.

"So you finally know your way back, do you?" The moment they stepped through the door, they were greeted by Gu Dashishi’s passive-aggressive voice.

Ancient Wen Heng’s expression didn’t change. He lifted the door curtain and walked in. "Father, we’re back."

"Grandfather, your grandson is back."

The rebuke on the tip of Gu Dashishi’s tongue instantly turned to surprise. "Lejia?"

"It is I, your grandson," Gu Lejia said, his eyes immediately filling with tears when he saw Gu Dashishi lying on the kang bed. "Grandfather, what happened to you?"

"Did you come back with your Seventh Uncle?"

Gu Lejia nodded, but Gu Dashishi’s expression immediately soured. "Didn’t he tell you I was injured? He simply has no respect for me, his own father."

Ancient Wen Heng: "..." ’So he’s starting to look for trouble.’

Jin Qianqian: "..." ’Is the show starting already?’

The couple exchanged a glance, then moved to support Li Cuicui on either side. "Mother, the letter was very brief. We’ve been worried this whole journey. About Father’s injury... what did the doctor say?"

Li Cuicui glanced at Gu Dashishi, who was glaring at her. "He just broke his leg at first. It’s been so long that the bone has already healed. But your father keeps insisting he had a stroke. There’s nothing we can do but let him have his way."

Recalling the old man’s past antics, Ancient Wen Heng asked calmly, "And what did the doctor say?" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"The doctor already said it’s all in his head. As long as he forces himself to stand up and take a few steps, he’ll get better as he readjusts." Li Cuicui pulled no punches, stating it even more bluntly, "It’s a mental block combined with a case of pure laziness. You don’t need to pay any attention to him."

"You old hag, you never have a good word to say about me.

Do you think I enjoy lying on this kang bed all day? Why won’t you believe me and instead trust those quack doctors?"

Li Cuicui retorted, "A quack doctor? Seventh had someone deliver Silver, and I specifically sent our eldest son to the county seat to hire a physician from an established practice. That old doctor has been treating patients his entire life, how could he possibly be wrong?"

Gu Dashishi squinted at Ancient Wen Heng. "I know you’re a big shot now. You’re a Scholar, after all. You’re not just going to watch your own father wither away here, are you? Hurry up and get the carriage. I want to go to the Prefecture City for treatment."

"..."

Forgotten off to the side, Gu Lejia and Song Xiuyang were taking in Gu Dashishi’s small courtyard. With its brand-new construction and the furniture arranged about, this living environment would be considered quite good, even in the Prefecture City.

"Lejia! My son! You’re finally back!" Xie Ruyi cried out as she burst through the door, followed by Gu Yuanjin and Gu Le Di.

Seeing Xie Ruyi, who looked like a madwoman, Song Xiuyang quietly took a few steps back. At the same time, she secretly sized up this mother-in-law she had never met before.

Her world-weary face was a mess, covered in tears and snot.

’And what in the world is she wearing? Never mind all the patches, it’s so grimy it’s practically shiny! How long has it been since those clothes were washed?’

"Mother!" Gu Lejia dropped to his knees before her with a THUD. "Your son is back. Why... why have you aged so much?"

Xie Ruyi reached out and smacked him hard a few times. "You brat, where did you run off to? Don’t you know your mother was nearly worried to death? And what about your big brother? Where is he?"

"Big Brother isn’t with me," Gu Lejia said, taking a deep breath. He had already answered this question so many times today. He was even starting to wonder, ’Am I really not as important as Big Brother?’

"How can you not be together? Didn’t you two go into the city at the same time?"

"How should I know?" Gu Lejia glanced at Gu Yuanjin, who was standing behind his mother. "Father, I’m back."

Gu Yuanjin walked over and pulled his son up from the ground. He patted him on the shoulder, looked him over carefully, then nodded happily. "As long as you’re back. It’s good that you’re back."

"Second Brother," Lejia said, greeting Le Di.