“Brother-in-law, I want to ride the big horse!”
Xiao’e pointed excitedly at the warhorse.
“Alright, let’s ride the big horse.”
Jin Feng smiled, lifting Xiao’e onto the saddle.
Xiao’e gripped the saddle tightly with both hands, beaming with excitement.
“Slow down, don’t fall off.”
Jin Feng cautioned before turning to Guan Xiaorou.
“Xiaorou, your man’s looking at you, go on!”
Third Aunt chuckled, giving Guan Xiaorou a nudge.
Guan Xiaorou had countless words she wanted to say to Jin Feng, but with Third Aunt’s teasing, she forgot them all in her shyness.
Blushing, she walked to Jin Feng’s side, clutching her hem and whispering, “Husband, you’re back.”
Before she could finish, tears streamed down her face.
“Yes, I’m back.”
Jin Feng reached out to wipe the tears from her eyes. He wanted to hug her, but seeing her face flush as if it might bleed, he let the thought go.
Knowing Guan Xiaorou was shy, Jin Feng changed the subject, greeting the surrounding villagers.
Many villagers still had fires burning at home, and after watching the excitement, they dispersed.
Zhong Wu glanced at Guan Xiaorou and said with a smile, “Sir, we’ll head back. If you need anything, send someone to find me.”
Qing Huai had rented Xie Guang’s courtyard, which hadn’t yet expired, so Zhong Wu and his men were staying there.
“Alright, come to the house for dinner later.”
Jin Feng said with a smile.
“Sir, you and your wife haven’t seen each other in so long, we won’t intrude.”
Zhong Wu winked at Jin Feng and rode off.
“This guy…”
Jin Feng shook his head with a smile, leading the horse with his left hand and taking Guan Xiaorou’s hand with his right.
Guan Xiaorou instinctively pulled back but couldn’t break free, so she let Jin Feng hold her hand.
To her surprise, Jin Feng wasn’t content with just holding it; he tickled her palm with his fingers.
Guan Xiaorou shot him a shy glare, subtly pointing behind them.
Only then did Jin Feng notice Tang Dongdong following.
“I’ll check if Runniang’s finished cooking.”
Tang Dongdong’s face reddened, and she fled.
Her mind couldn’t help but recall living in the east room with Xiao’e, hearing noises in the middle of the night, and the private talks she’d had with Guan Xiaorou while sharing a room…
“Tang Dongdong, what are you thinking?”
Scolding herself, she ran faster.
As she ran, a smile crept onto her lips.
Before Jin Feng left, Tang Dongdong thought she could manage the weaving workshop, eager to prove herself like a child to her parents.
But when Jin Feng was gone, and the workshop’s burdens fell on her shoulders, she realised she was wrong.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t handle the workshop, but without Jin Feng, she lacked confidence, feeling as empty as Guan Xiaorou.
Now, with Jin Feng standing before her, that sense of loss vanished.
Even if Jin Feng did nothing but laze at home, Tang Dongdong felt secure.
Back home, the day-shift women had left early, tactfully eating at their own homes to give Jin Feng’s family space.
The night shift hadn’t arrived, and the courtyard was quiet.
Voices came from the kitchen, Runniang and Tang Dongdong talking.
“Brother Feng, you’re finally back.”
Runniang, hearing hoofbeats, ran out of the kitchen, smiling, “Go wash your hands. The noodles are almost ready. You eat first. Brother Liang sent two pheasants yesterday; I’ll stew them for you tomorrow.”
“Dumplings when you leave, noodles when you return. Looks like I’m in for a treat.”
Jin Feng lifted Xiao’e off the horse, smiling.
Runniang was a good cook, especially her hand-rolled noodles, which Jin Feng loved.
“We’re having wheat porridge today, no noodles.”
Tang Dongdong teased Runniang, “When we heard you were back, she started kneading dough.”
“That’s hard work, Runniang.”
Jin Feng smiled, pulling a hairpin from the saddlebag and handing it to Runniang, “Here, I took this from a Dangxiang leader. It’s for you.”
After the Qingshui Valley battle, while collecting spoils, Jin Feng found hairpins and necklaces in a Dangxiang leader’s chest, likely looted. He took a few.
The leader was high-ranking, so the hairpin, made of bright silver with a small gem on top, was clearly valuable.
No woman dislikes pretty jewellery. When Jin Feng took out the hairpin, Guan Xiaorou’s eyes were drawn to it.
Hearing it was for Runniang, her gaze dimmed.
But she said nothing.
“Brother Feng, I can’t take it.”
Runniang waved her hands, stepping back, “Give it to Sister Xiaorou.”
“Xiaorou has hers. This one’s for you.”
Jin Feng placed the hairpin on the kitchen windowsill, “Take it, don’t lose it.”
“Runniang, if he says it’s for you, take it. Don’t make him lose face.”
Guan Xiaorou smiled, picking up the hairpin and placing it in Runniang’s hair, “It looks great.”
“Runniang, don’t talk, come stir the pot. The noodles are getting soggy.”
Tang Dongdong called from the kitchen, playing along.
“Coming!”
Runniang hurried back.
“Brother-in-law, I want one too.”
Xiao’e held out her hand.
“Of course, you get one.”
Jin Feng took two identical hairpins from the saddlebag, pinning one on Xiao’e and handing the other to Guan Xiaorou, “This is for Dongdong.”
Tang Dongdong accepted it with a grin, no hesitation.
Runniang, feeling nervous, relaxed seeing Tang Dongdong accept a gift.
In her ten-odd years, this was her first gift, and so valuable.
Her heart swelled with joy, but her eyes grew moist.
Those who’ve known darkness cherish light more.
After being chosen by Xie Guang, her life was filled with darkness.
On their wedding day, Xie Guang beat her, stole her few possessions, and left her starving in a dark room.
Her family rejected her return, leaving her utterly alone.
Until Jin Feng took her in, her heart found peace.
Here, Runniang truly felt the warmth of home.
At that moment, she decided, as long as Jin Feng and Guan Xiaorou didn’t drive her away, she’d stay and cook for them forever.
Runniang and Tang Dongdong got gifts, so naturally, Guan Xiaorou, the legitimate wife, wasn’t left out.
Jin Feng handed the entire saddlebag to her.
“Xiaorou, these are all yours.”
The bag held five or six more hairpins, gems, necklaces, and more, heavy with treasure.
Guan Xiaorou, feeling a bit down, forgot her disappointment upon seeing the bag’s contents and hurriedly carried it to the inner room.
