"Let’s go back. It’s time to cook," Lu Gu said, finally tearing his gaze away from the street entrance.
Shen Yan knew what he was looking for. Second Brother had left in the eighth lunar month, and now it was already the eleventh month, three months had passed. Before leaving, he’d said he’d be back in three months at most, so he should return any day now.
Lu Gu had waited like this every day, even taking Lingjun to the town entrance under the pretense of running errands. Sometimes, he didn’t even bother with an excuse—he’d just stand there, staring down the official road. But half a month passed, and still, there was no sign of Shen Xuanqing or the caravan.
It was snowing again.
Lu Gu stood under the eaves. His complexion had been poor these past few days, and he hadn’t smiled much.
The snow had started late last night and still hadn’t stopped by now. The sky was gloomy, and the snowflakes were large, piling up into a thick layer on the ground.
Shen Yaoqing was sweeping the courtyard, clearing at least a passable path.
On the white snow, Guaizi left a trail of paw prints where he walked. Since they hadn’t gone autumn hunting this year and he often stayed in town, he had been eating bones and meat scraps from the butcher’s shop, growing even fleshier and thicker-furred than in previous years. He wasn’t afraid of the cold at all. As a hunting dog, he remained lean and nimble—dashing like the wind, swift and full of vigor.
Lu Gu watched the sky for a while but didn’t idle. He picked up a shovel to help clear the snow. After working for a bit, his body gradually warmed up.
Once the front yard was done, the snow was piled under the trees and in the vegetable plot. Just as he and Shen Yaoqing were about to head to the backyard, they heard the child inside calling for Amu.
Lingjun had grown older and rarely cried upon waking now. Sometimes, he would even get up on his own. Today, he must have felt cold and hadn’t left the bed.
"I’ll go." Shen Yan, who had been boiling water and heating breakfast in the kitchen, added firewood to the stove, clapped her hands clean, and headed inside.
Upon entering, she saw a small lump under the quilt. Smiling, she pretended not to notice and asked where their little Ling ger had gone. Little Lingjun, who had buried his head under the covers, couldn’t hold back for long and soon giggled.
Lu Gu was sweeping snow in the backyard when he saw the roundly bundled Lingjun run over and hug his legs. Only then did a smile appear on his face.
He set down the large broom, scooped up his little shuang'er, and kissed his chubby cheeks. "Auntie boiled an egg for you. You can peel it yourself later, alright?"
"Okay." Lingjun agreed, then noticed his eyelashes were wet and reached out a small hand to touch them.
Lu Gu’s eyes were covered by the tiny hand, and he blinked with a laugh.
His long lashes brushed against Lingjun’s palm, making the child giggle. After playing for a while, Shen Yaoqing, who had been shoveling snow, straightened up and said with a smile, "Come, let Uncle make a snow lion for you."
They had sold all the rabbits yesterday, leaving only five or six chickens and ducks. With the heavy snowfall making the streets hard to traverse, it wouldn’t matter if they went to the shop a little later. If anyone urgently needed to buy, the people from the nearby streets knew where they lived and would come knocking.
Lingjun played in the snow while watching his uncle build a small snow lion. Guaizi, seeing the child playing, also ran around in the snow, barking joyfully. The backyard was lively for a while.
Once the snow lion took rough shape - small and just for amusing the child, Shen Yaoqing didn’t bother with fine details. He still had to go to the shop.
"Ling ger, come peel your egg and eat." Shen Yan, sensing the two people might have something to discuss, called the child into the main hall. After playing for so long, his little hands were red from the cold.
In this weather, hens didn’t lay eggs well, making them precious. Lu Gu only ate one every few days, saving most for the child.
Half a month ago, thinking Shen Xuanqing should be returning soon, he had saved some eggs. Shen Xuanqing liked scrambled eggs, and after the hardships of the journey, he would need proper nourishment upon his return.
Shen Yaoqing leaned the shovel against the eaves. It wasn’t just Lu Gu, even he was starting to worry.
Before, when Luo Biao had gone north with the horse caravan, he’d returned within three months at most. Now, it had been three and a half months without any news.
When Shen Xuanqing left, he said he’d be back before winter to spend the season at home. Several snowfalls had come and gone, yet there was still no sign of him.
After a pause, Shen Yaoqing spoke. "Yang Xian mentioned that a cloth merchant he knows is heading to the prefectural city soon to restock. I was thinking of paying him to inquire there, maybe the caravan is delayed selling horses and won’t return until they’re done."
"That’s a good idea." Lu Gu nodded eagerly. He had only thought of watching at the town entrance, but the prefectural city had more people. Horse caravans often traveled between cities to sell horses, perhaps they were held up by that.
"Mm. I’ll stop by the cloth shop first. The butcher shop can wait." Knowing Lu Gu’s anxiety, Shen Yaoqing reassured him, "Don’t worry. Erqing will be fine."
"Mm." Lu Gu nodded firmly. A word of comfort eased his heart a little.
After breakfast, Shen Yaoqing left.
Before going, he met Lu Gu’s earnest gaze and smiled, saying a word to Shen Yan. Only after stepping outside did his expression darken, his heart heavy with worry.
Shen Xuanqing had always been steady. If he were delayed outside, he would’ve sent word to reassure them. If the caravan was selling horses in Yuqing Prefecture, that was their business, Shen Xuanqing would’ve returned on his own by now.
But these were just guesses. If he truly was delayed on the road, the cold and snow would make travel difficult.
As he walked, he tried to console himself. When traveling, unexpected delays were inevitable.
Paying someone to inquire was the quickest way. Yet even so, by the end of the eleventh month, there was still no news of Shen Xuanqing. In previous years, the horse caravan had traveled between Yuqing Prefecture and neighboring major cities, but this year, even the caravan hadn’t returned.
When Lu Gu learned that the Qiu family was also searching for Qiu Laoda and Qiu Laosan, he panicked completely.
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