Dong Da spoke with a touch of tears, making both Xiao Yuan and Xiao Jin feel sowhat uncomfortable.
Xiao Yuan rarely softened his voice: "Don’t feel too upset, maybe your sister-in-law is still alive. After all, we didn’t find the bodies at that ti, maybe soone saved them."
Xiao Da sat down and drank another cup: "If she were really alive, she should have co back by now. It’s been almost two years, and both she and the child are nowhere to be found..."
Xiao Yuan didn’t quite know how to comfort him.
Dong Da waved his hand: "Don’t mind , I’m just being a drunkard."|
He patted Xiao Jin’s shoulder: "Fourth Brother, don’t take your blessings for granted. Fourth Sister-in-law is by your side, you can see her every day, and have soone to talk to when you co ho; how delightful is that? If one day you really upset Fourth Sister-in-law and she leaves you, you won’t find a place to cry."
Xiao Jin smiled wryly: "Alright, I haven’t done anything too wrong, how co it’s all my fault? Forget it, as a man, should I really bicker with her? She dislikes my taking a concubine, then I won’t take any more in the future. I’ll try to please her more..."
The three of them drank for quite a while and eventually had a bit too much, so Xiao Yuan asked the waiter to call soone from the Marquis Zhenan Mansion to pick them up.
Anning was about to rest when Chun Xing ca to tell Anning that Xiao Yuan was drunk and needed soone from ho to pick him up. Anning said irritably, "No idea how much they drank outside, but when they see good wine they’ll guzzle it just like that, not caring about anything."
As she spoke, she called Xiao Rong and Xiao Hui over: "Your father and Fourth Uncle got drunk outside, you two go pick them up."
Xiao Rong called for a carriage, and Xiao Hui took so hangover pills and hurried to the tavern.
By the ti Xiao Rong and Xiao Hui arrived, Xiao Yuanzheng was already leading Xiao Jin and Dong Da downstairs.
With arms around each other like brothers, Xiao Jin and Dong Da ca down, Dong Da waving his hand as he walked: "I’m telling you, I can still drink. I’m not drunk. I can drink several more pounds of wine. Fourth Brother, let’s drink again soti. Anyone who doesn’t drink is a bastard."
Xiao Jin’s voice was sowhat hoarse: "Alright, anyone who doesn’t drink is a bastard. Damn it, why are won so troubleso? If I didn’t get married, I’d save myself a lot of hassle."
Dong Da laughed foolishly: "Not getting married wouldn’t work, us n can’t do without won..."
Xiao Yuan ca downstairs and told the guards Xiao Rong brought, "Help Mr. Four and Mr. Dong onto the carriage."
A few guards went over and helped the two into the carriage, while Xiao Yuan got into a carriage at the front, Xiao Hui following him, and Xiao Rong went into the carriage with Xiao Jin.
Once in the carriage, Xiao Hui asked Xiao Yuan, "Dad, how much did you drink?"
Xiao Yuan laughed and rubbed his forehead: "Not much. Your Fourth Uncle drank more, I barely drank a few cups."
"You definitely drank a lot, you reek of alcohol."
Xiao Hui wrinkled her nose: "Mother will surely scold you later."
As she muttered, she handed Xiao Yuan a hangover pill.
Xiao Yuan took it and swallowed it: "The sll on is from Dong Da. That kid cried and wailed after getting drunk, saying he missed his wife."
Speaking of it, Xiao Hui couldn’t help but interject: "It’s been nearly two years since Mrs. Dong went missing, and neither she nor the children have been seen alive or dead. If they’re dead, we haven’t seen the bodies. If they’re alive, they should have returned by now. Dad, what’s really going on here?"
"Not dead."
Xiao Yuan replied, half-closing his eyes.
Xiao Hui was stunned: "Why wouldn’t she return if she’s not dead?"
"She just doesn’t want to co back."
Leaning against the carriage wall, Xiao Yuan’s lips curled into a sardonic smile: "Dong Da longs for her, but she has never considered Dong Da. Given her noble background, she looks down on Dong Da, a commoner, naturally, once she left, she never wanted to return."
Xiao Hui did not press on.
She sensed there were underlying matters, but if she continued asking, Xiao Yuan probably wouldn’t tell her.
"Dad, have sothing to eat."
Xiao Hui took out two pieces of osmanthus cake from the carriage and handed them to Xiao Yuan: "After drinking, it’s nice to eat sothing sweet."
Xiao Yuan ate two pieces of osmanthus cakes, and Xiao Hui poured a cup of warm water for him: "Dad, drink so water."
Being a girl, Xiao Hui was naturally attentive and considerate, yet in the other carriage, Xiao Rong wasn’t as ticulous.
He rely handed one hangover pill each to Xiao Jin and Dong Da, and didn’t bother with offering pastries or warm water.
Sitting in the carriage, he glared at Xiao Jin and Dong Da: "With such a limited capacity for wine, why drink so much? Think it’s funny? In the end, who’s the one suffering?"
The entire way back, Xiao Rong nagged, making Xiao Jin’s head ache.
Once the carriage reached the Marquis Zhenan Mansion, Xiao Jin hurriedly jumped down: "I’m heading back quickly."
Dong Da also wanted to leave, but Xiao Yuan said: "Don’t go back yet. Your ho is dreary and empty, there’s no one there for you. Stay here with and head back tomorrow."
What could Dong Da say?
He didn’t dare insist on leaving, and obediently stayed to be chided by Xiao Yuan again.
Xiao Hui stood beside Xiao Yuan with a smile, watching Dong Da.
Dong Da scratched his head and laughed bashfully.
Xiao Yuan returned to his room, and Anning had already prepared hot water for him. After a bath, he erged with his hair still damp.
Anning beckoned him to sit beside her and used a towel to dry his hair: "Was it Lao Si who drank with you?"
Xiao Yuan responded with an "Mm": "His sister-in-law was unhappy with him, so he drank with us."
"That’s still okay. If the Fourth Son’s wife really had a temper, he’d be kicked to the curb."
Anning’s movents were so gentle that Xiao Yuan was starting to feel sleepy.
"Should we try to find Dong Da’s wife?"
Anning brought up Dong Da’s situation again: "Dong Da can’t go on like this. Always alone without anyone to care for or be cared by. We should help him find an answer. If that woman really doesn’t co back, we should help Dong Da find a good match..."
Anning was in mid-conversation when she heard Xiao Hui’s voice: "Mom, can I co in?"
"Co in."
Anning put down the towel, grabbed a cloth tie, and tied up Xiao Yuan’s hair.
Xiao Hui walked into the room at that mont.
She went to Anning: "Mom, I have sothing to ask you."
Xiao Yuan rose and said: "I’m going to the study to handle so affairs."
After Xiao Yuan left, Xiao Hui sat next to Anning and asked softly: "Mom, what’s the matter with Mrs. Dong?"
Anning thought it over and didn’t hide it from Xiao Hui: "That woman ca from a prestigious noble family, but she fell on hard tis. Thinking she couldn’t go back, she married Dong Da, who was a bandit at the ti, to survive. Later, so people from Ms. Chen’s family ca to Southern Yi, perhaps bumping into Ms. Chen on the street. Gradually, they helped her get in touch with the Chen family. Ms. Chen ntioned she knew about her family and wanted to visit them. Dong Da specially sent people to protect her to the Chen family. But halfway there, both she and the children disappeared, claiming to have been attacked by bandits. In reality, it was arranged by the Chen family, making it look like Ms. Chen and the children were killed, while secretly bringing them back."
Furrowing her brows as she listened, Xiao Hui asked: "Why would they do that?"
Anning smiled: "It was probably Ms. Chen’s request. Afraid that we might rebel and implicate her, she wanted to return to her family. Her family likely saw it as an opportunity, keeping the people to see how things played out. If we really failed, Dong Da already told everyone Ms. Chen was dead, which wouldn’t implicate the Chen family. But if we succeeded? In the future, Dong Da would be a great hero, rewarded with titles and ranks. Then, they could send Ms. Chen and the children back to ensure a strong alliance."
Listening, Xiao Hui felt stifled: "How could they do that? Ms. Chen is truly... truly... such a woman’s thoughts are plentiful, she’s ruthless. She wouldn’t appreciate General Dong."
Anning looked at Xiao Hui, a bit surprised.
Two years ago, Xiao Hui referred to Dong Da as Uncle Dong, yet for the past year, Xiao Hui never used that title, always calling him General Dong. Did this girl harbor so thoughts?
Thinking about this, Anning tentatively said: "I was just discussing with your father that the matter with the Chen family needs resolving. We can’t let them keep maximizing on Dong Da’s hopes perpetually; this issue must be addressed. Whatever their intentions, if Ms. Chen truly dislikes it, let her and Dong Da divorce. In the future, they can marry others, entirely unrelated to each other, and Dong Da could find another good match. I even ntioned with your father we’ll look for soone better for him, soone who’s superior to Ms. Chen."
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