Chapter 61: The Child

  (Recommendation, collection, a grass shouting in the middle.....)

  When they returned to the village, it was already late in the evening, and the sky had gradually darkened. However, as people saw the faint smoke rising from the distant village, they all felt a sense of relief from the bottom of their hearts at the peaceful and serene scene.

  Not even entering the village yet, someone in the distance had already shouted out, "Look, who's back, it's the kids who went out..."

  On a mound outside the village, Village Head Zhao Lao San ran down like a rabbit, jumping and hopping. Another figure was running towards the village while shouting excitedly.

  Old Zhao sprinted to the front of a group of people at an age-incongruous speed, his mouth agape like a dead fish as he panted heavily, scanning each face with an expression that seemed to want to etch everyone's features into his memory.

  Everyone's face showed a heartfelt smile, although it was less than half a year since they left, but the feeling of returning to their hometown again was complex and inexplicable. There was a sense of relief after surviving great difficulties, joy at returning home, eagerness to see loved ones soon, and more...

  Zhao Lao San's breathing slowed down, and he looked around the crowd with a changed expression from his initial excitement to a timid one. A slightly thin man rushed out of the crowd, shouting loudly: "Dad......" He fell to his knees, and tears streamed down his face as he shouted...

  "Lao Wu... where's Si Er? Where did your fourth brother go? Why can't I see him? And... are there other people too? Why have only so few of you come back?"

  。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。

  When people entered the village, there were many villagers crying and wailing in the crowd. Thirty-six people went out, but only twenty-five returned. It was inevitable that some families would be happy while others would grieve, and it was also destined to be a sleepless night for every household.

  He entered his own small courtyard, the courtyard was still as clean and tidy as before, only the house was locked, he had already learned from others that since he left, not long after, his third brother Zhang Shiwen took the whole family to the county town, declining the villagers' enthusiastic invitation, he still returned to his own courtyard.

  He cut off the door lock with a horizontal knife, pushed open the door and entered, casually swept it once, ate some food he brought with him, burned some water to drink, and lay down on the bed in his clothes. The fatigue surged up like a tide, the air here, the people here, seemed to give him a sense of security, and his nerves, which had not relaxed for several months, slowly relaxed too. Before he knew it, he had fallen fast asleep.

  This sleep was extremely sweet, until the second day when the sun rose high, and the noise in the village gradually increased. Zhao Shi slowly opened his eyes, and his gaze followed the gap in the window into the room. A bit of dust was illuminated by the sunlight, and it couldn't hide anywhere, dyeing everything with a few strands of gold. The voices from the villagers were faintly heard in his ears, but they made the house seem even more serene.

  Zhou Shi stood up, stretched his body and felt unusually full of energy. He thought carefully and it seemed that after arriving here, he had fewer nightmares when sleeping. However, in recent days due to mental tension, sleep was not very good and nightmares increased. But this night, he didn't have a single dream, no wonder his spirit was so good.

  Just thinking about the changes in these days, the gate of the courtyard creaked and someone had already walked in, "Is anyone there?"

  A clear and crisp voice entered the ear, and upon opening the door, a child came in, looking no more than ten years old. He was plump and white, with shiny black eyes that darted back and forth, giving off an air of cleverness. In his small white hand, he held a clay pot from which steam kept rising, and even from afar, one could smell the savory aroma of meat wafting out.

  Zhao Shi was stunned, because this child he really didn't recognize. In the village of more than 20 households and over a hundred people, according to Zhao Shi's memory, he could remember just by glancing at them, but this child had no impression in his mind.

  That child saw Zhao Shi, but unlike ordinary children, he didn't show any fear or shyness in front of a stranger. Instead, he calmly and politely bowed and said: "Zhao family's brother, my name is Zheng Cui Lin. Two months ago, I moved here with my father and we live in the new house in the middle of the village. My father said that previously, because we had just moved here and didn't have a place to stay, we bothered you for some time at your home. This time, hearing that brother is back, he ordered my sister to cook some meat soup as a small token of gratitude. Please accept it, Zhao family's brother..."

  A child stood there like a little adult, polite and articulate, clearly well-educated, but his eyes sparkled with childish curiosity, especially when he saw Zhao Shi's military uniform, his envy and admiration were palpable, it was really amusing.

  After finishing, he handed over the small hand, held the tile pot high, his body slightly bent, his mouth closed, and his face flushed red, showing that this posture, although looking humble and polite, was very hard for him.

  Zhao Shi was stunned for half a day, feeling extremely strange in his heart, and a mysterious idea popped up in his mind: how did a young master appear in the village?

  He hasn't moved for half a day, but that kid is getting tired, his arms and legs are trembling, staring straight at Zhao Shi, thinking to himself, could this Zhao brother be an idiot? But it doesn't seem like it, Zhang's stupid second son always has drool on his face when he comes out, but this brother looks neat and tidy, wearing a military uniform, must be a high-ranking officer, hmm, definitely intimidated by his own aura. Isn't that what Father always says, "A gentleman cultivates himself with virtue, nurturing a majestic aura"? Could it be that I've cultivated that kind of aura these past few days? Thinking this, he can't help but feel a little proud, the strength in his hands is getting smaller and smaller, finally putting down the vase, raising his small face high, putting his hands behind his back, his face full of self-satisfaction, looking even more ridiculous.

  Zhao Shi came back to his senses, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and a hint of amusement showed on his face. "Mm, I've taken the thing. You wait..."

  He turned back into the house, took out a silver ingot from his bag, and at this time he still didn't have any concept of the value of money. This ingot was probably more than ten taels. He turned around and walked out of the house, handing the silver to the child with one hand, "Here, go back and thank your father for me."

  That child was startled, and didn't care about his dignity anymore. Although his family was also considered wealthy, seeing the other party casually take out such a large piece of silver made him somewhat tongue-tied. He shook his small hands wildly and said repeatedly: "Father said that a gentleman loves wealth, but takes it in a proper way. I don't dare to accept this money, or else I'll be beaten to death by my father..." After finishing speaking, he turned around and ran away quickly, afraid that Zhao Shi would catch up with him and insist on giving him the money.

  Having arrived at the outer courtyard, I suddenly remembered that there was still something unsaid. "Brother drank the meat soup and put the jar over there, little brother will come later to take it."

  Zhao Shi gazed at the opponent running further and further away, thinking to himself, when did such a family move in, the child is already like this, what about the adults at home... As he thought of this, a classic image of an ancient Chinese scholar appeared in his mind.

  Just as he was about to turn around and go back into the house, a noisy footsteps sounded outside the yard, the gate creaked open, and Shang Yan Zu led the way with a gloomy face and had already walked in.