Old General Qin thought Guaizai had come from Hezhou, but then he realized that could not be right. It had not yet been ten days since he was severely injured. When he asked, Guaizai said he had come from Shangyang.
"Our Guaizai is so thoughtful." Old General Qin touched him. "When Grandpa’s injury is better, I’ll play with you."
Zhang Quan waited nearby. Seeing that it was getting late, although he did not want to break the harmonious atmosphere, he still said, "Young Master."
"Hm?"
"We should go back…" Before Zhang Quan could finish, Meng Ruqing rushed to the bedside and scooped Guaizai into his arms.
Qin Hengxuan said nothing, but Meng Ruqing’s movement made his heart feel as if it had been cut by a knife, as painful as being stabbed.
Meng Ruqing had been under immense pressure lately, and on top of that he was worried about Old General Qin's health. Moreover, so many had died or been wounded this time. Over at the wounded soldiers' camp, almost every day someone was carried out. They died miserably, their bodies completely wrapped in gauze with pus seeping through. It was the dead of winter, yet they stank. More than a dozen tents had once been full of wounded soldiers, but now... more than half stood empty.
Here there were only Physician Jiang and three apprentices. Even if they spun around without rest, they could not save everyone.
So they could only save those with lighter wounds first. Those too badly injured lay in the tents for only a few days before leaving one after another.
Corpses were carried out one after another. Every time Meng Ruqing saw it, his heart ached a little more. He knew war had always been like this, that casualties were unavoidable, and that those who survived had to look past it. The logic was sound, but as long as one's heart wasn't made of iron, no one could remain unmoved when facing such things directly.
Qin Hengxuan saw that Meng Ruqing's condition was not right and advised him to go back and rest for a few days, but Meng Ruqing wouldn't leave. There was too much to do. If he left, Qin Hengxuan alone probably couldn't manage. So he forced himself to endure for several more days, and his spirit was already starting to fray. Otherwise, he would never normally behave like this.
"Go back so soon? Didn’t you just arrive?" Old Madam Qin glanced at Meng Ruqing and said to Zhang Quan, "Can’t you stay a few more days?"
"No!" Guaizai said. "We're going to pick up my little brothers. Guaizai brought little brothers too. Pretty Uncle, Handsome Grandpa, and Grandma, do you want to come with Guaizai to pick up my little brothers? Guaizai's little brothers are very cute!"
This morning, Gungun and Dandan had not yet gotten up. Guaizai truly missed Meng Ruqing, so he first rode over with Zhang Quan. But this was an important border defense area, and ordinary people naturally could not enter without permission. Fang Zichen’s own token had been taken away by him. When Guaizai tried to enter the camp, he was stopped. The soldiers did not recognize the Ultraman token, which made Guaizai very dejected. He felt that these uncles were really too lacking in judgment.
Zhang Quan showed his token and was dealing with the soldiers’ questions when Guaizai got off the horse first and ran inside. This was a vital military area; how could he be allowed to run in recklessly? Several soldiers went after him. Qin Yi heard the commotion and came over. He recognized Guaizai at a glance, and only then was Guaizai able to run wild all over the military camp.
Qin Yi had originally wanted someone to take him over, but Guaizai said there was no need. He could find the way himself. After gaining experience following Fang Zichen in suppressing bandits, he knew the bandit leader lived in the biggest house, so Pretty Uncle definitely also lived in the biggest tent.
He also did not let anyone announce his arrival, saying he wanted to give Pretty Uncle and Handsome Grandpa a surprise.
It was already noon now. His little brothers must be awake.
Gungun and Dandan had not seen Zhao Ger and Fang Zichen for several days, so they were especially clingy with him. Sometimes they even made a fuss about wanting to go back and find Daddy and Father. If they woke up and still did not see him, they would probably cry.
Guaizai grew anxious. Meng Ruqing said he would go with him. Old Madam Qin smiled. "Your little brothers are very cute? Then Grandma has to go see."
"Okay!" Guaizai held Meng Ruqing with one hand and Old Madam Qin with the other. "Guaizai brought you gifts."
Old Madam Qin played along and asked with feigned curiosity, "What is it?"
"Guaizai can’t say now. If Guaizai says it, there won't be any surprise." Guaizai turned his head and instructed Old General Qin, who was just about to call Qin Hengxuan to help him go along too, "Grandpa, don’t move. Be good. When Guaizai comes back, Guaizai will cook noodles for you."
Old General Qin: "…"
The four went outside. Just then, a young soldier came over and said two horse carriages had arrived outside, along with guards…
"They're Guaizai's little brothers. So fast." Guaizai was in a hurry, his tone both worried and a little smug as he said, "They must miss Guaizai too much. Little brothers are really too clingy. Pretty Uncle, Handsome Grandpa, let's hurry."
At this moment, Gungun and Dandan were sitting in the carriage, sniffling while gnawing on steamed buns.
"Grandpa Tang, is Brother really inside?" Gungun took a big bite of the bun with an ao-wu sound. After hearing Uncle Tang say yes, he said, "Then why hasn’t Brother come out? Gungun misses Brother and has no appetite at all."
Uncle Tang: "…"
Third Young Master, you have already finished two buns, and most of the third bun has been bitten off by you in two bites. Saying this now seems a little late!
Dandan also nodded. "Dandan also has no appetite. Grandpa Tang, give Dandan another one."
Uncle Tang: "…"
Uncle Tang sighed worriedly and handed over the last bun.
He knew these two children would make a fuss if they could not see Guaizai. A bagful of buns probably would not last long. Just now they had hurried as fast as they could, and before the buns were finished, they had finally arrived, but they could not get in.
The buns had already been demolished. Uncle Tang was growing anxious. If Guaizai didn't come out soon, once Gungun and Dandan finished their buns, they'd probably start dropping golden beans again.
Guaizai came out and saw the carriage. He immediately let go of Meng Ruqing’s hand and shouted toward the carriage, "Gungun, Dandan."
Gungun jolted. "It’s Brother." It was cold outside, so he only lifted the carriage curtain and stuck out his little head. Then his eyes lit up. "Brother."
Guaizai rushed toward the carriage. Qin Hengxuan and the others were a few steps behind.
Old Madam Qin smiled. "Aiyo, this child’s little face is really round. He looks like Zhao Ger."
"Indeed, he looks like Zhao Ger," Zhong Momo agreed.
Old Madam Qin said, "He really looks quite cute…" Before she finished speaking, her pupils suddenly contracted, and then she froze entirely.
Zhong Momo: "Old Madam, what's wrong? Ah!!! This… this…"
Meng Ruqing and Qin Hengxuan heard Zhong Momo's cry of alarm, withdrew their gazes, and saw that Old Madam Qin was not quite right. They hurriedly gathered around.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Qin Hengxuan was extremely anxious, and urgently called a soldier nearby to go fetch Physician Jiang.
Old Madam Qin clutched her chest with one hand, looking as if she had seen a ghost. Her whole body was trembling, her face full of shock, astonishment, and disbelief. With a trembling hand, she pointed at the carriage: "He… he…"
At some point, Dandan had also poked his head out, his face chubby, as if two steamed buns had been stuck onto it: "Brother."
The two little ones saw Guaizai and immediately scrambled down from the carriage. Uncle Tang tried to hold them back, but neither would let him.
The moment Dandan got off the carriage, he clutched his little butt and said he urgently needed to pee, wanting to let his little bird out to see the world. Guaizai took him off to the side to pee.
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