Chapter 227
The sound of rain pattered outside as the two embraced and slept. Shen Xuanqing held the person in his arms, feeling utterly at peace.
He had explained things simply to Lu Gu, but in truth, escaping through the mountains had been a life-or-death struggle. Because he was the fastest runner in their group, he had risked his life to save Cui Rongwei when they were being hunted, nearly losing his own in the process.
Later, when helping with the mission, he did so partly out of hatred for those ruthless people who slaughtered even passing merchant caravans without mercy, and partly out of fear—fear that they would target his family. So he thought he might as well contribute as much as he could.
If not for this, Cui Rongwei wouldn’t have kept him around. That dragon-patterned jade pendant had truly been earned with his life.
Originally, he hadn’t wanted to tell Lu Gu any of this to avoid worrying him, but in his haste to return, he’d forgotten to hide the pendant.
Their family was small and ordinary, living only in Jixing Town—what major affairs would they ever have that required seeking out officials or Cui Rongwei?
Yuncheng wasn’t far from the northern frontier, and there was a military camp stationed nearby. He and Luo Biao, along with a few others, had hidden there with Cui Rongwei, witnessing and learning many things, even picking up some skills.
When Cui Rongwei asked him to stay, he had actually been tempted. Any man with even a bit of ambition would yearn for the words "achieving glory and success."
Cui Rongwei was a good official—when they first met in the mountains, he had urged them to flee while he and his two subordinates drew the pursuers away. That was why Shen Xuanqing had saved him.
But the capital was simply too far from home. Moreover, in the past six months, though he hadn’t seen much bloodshed, there had been several close calls. Even a high-ranking official like Cui Rongwei had nearly been killed. The struggles between factions were turbulent, and someone like him, with no backing or connections, would have to tread carefully in such a place. How could it compare to the comfort and ease of staying home?
So even when Cui Rongwei offered to move his entire family to the capital, he still refused.
Their family were just farmers, with barely any literacy among them. If they went to the capital, they’d live in constant fear.
He had ambition, but that ambition was simply to improve his family’s life—to let their children study in the future. He didn’t seek great wealth or nobility, just a peaceful life.
The wind blew fiercely and the rain fell heavily. Hearing the storm outside, Lu Gu didn't stay awake until midnight like he used to.
Lingjun must have been dreaming, whimpering softly a couple of times. Lu Gu turned over and patted the child sleeping on the inner side of the bed.
To Shen Xuanqing, every movement of his family was enough to put his heart at ease. He slept the soundest he had in six months.
The next morning, Lu Gu woke up later than usual. The shop wouldn’t open today, they had to wait for Shen Yaoqing to bring the mule cart from home before they could sell anything.
Because Shen Xuanqing had returned, the two of them hadn’t slept well these past six months. Even after waking up, they didn’t get out of bed right away.
In contrast, Lingjun was the first to wake up. After opening his eyes, he sat up in a daze, only gradually remembering yesterday’s events when he noticed the big adult now sharing the bed.
Lu Gu was woken by the child climbing over him. Shen Xuanqing, too, woke up the same way.
Lingjun crawled onto his father’s chest but, feeling shy, didn’t speak. Shen Xuanqing, however, pulled him into a tight embrace.
Since Lu Gu often played with him like this, Lingjun immediately burst into giggles.
"Our Ling ger can even dress himself now, so impressive!" Lu Gu praised happily, seeing the child had already worn his outer garment, though not properly fastened.
Shen Xuanqing echoed the praise, and Lingjun visibly brightened even more.
Shen Yan had already gotten up and was boiling water in the large kitchen pot. A few days ago, Lu Gu had bought a fire starter, which was much more convenient than flint.
Knowing Shen Xuanqing was exhausted, she moved quietly. Hearing the child’s laughter and the adults wake up, she called from the yard, "Brother Guzi, the sky’s clear now. What do you want for breakfast? Should I make something, or should we buy some buns or a bowl of wontons?"
Back in their hometown, breakfast was usually just reheated steamed buns, maybe with an egg or pickles—just enough to fill their stomachs. But since moving to town, with its many breakfast stalls selling all sorts of things, they occasionally treated themselves.
"We’re out of eggs, but there are two duck eggs left. If we’re eating at home, I’ll boil them now," she added.
"Wait, I’ll go buy buns and bring them back to eat at home. It’s cold outside," Lu Gu called as he sat up.
It had rained last night. Though the town’s roads were mostly paved with bluestone, there were muddy patches, making them slippery. Adults could manage, but children were unsteady on their feet and loved to run around. It was better to eat at home, then head back afterward.
He reached for the clothes draped over the bedpost and dressed, then turned to Shen Xuanqing. "Brother might already be on his way with the mule cart. Let’s just eat something ready-made from outside. That way, we can intercept him on the road and save him the extra trip."
"Got it," Shen Xuanqing replied absently, busy playing with Lingjun.
He kissed his little shuang'er’s cheeks a few times. His stubble, hastily shaved the night before in Shichuan Town, had already grown back rough, making Lingjun squirm and push his face away.
Remembering how his little shuang'er had cried as a baby when pricked by his stubble—being a delicate and timid shuang’er, not as tough as a little boy—he didn’t push his luck. On his first day back, he didn’t want to make the child cry, so he stopped when Lingjun resisted.
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