Free Web NovelChapter 357: Chapter 142: A Glorious Homecoming
Back in the carriage, De’an said, "So that was Wang Jun and Wang Xiao’s sister. Sis, how do you know her?"
Chen Wanqing explained, and De’an nodded along. "I figured as much."
He then asked mischievously, "Sis, that young lady sitting by the carriage window just now—do you know her?"
Chen Wanqing glanced at her younger brother. "How would I know her?"
She warned De’an, "It’s rude to stare. You were already being impolite just now, and here you are asking about a young lady. What are you up to?"
De’an let out a laugh. "What could I be up to? Nothing! I just thought she looked a bit familiar, so I asked. That’s all."
To ease the awkwardness, he changed the subject, nudging Zhao Jing with his elbow. "Wang Jun and Wang Xiao said they’d see us off at the Ten-mile Pavilion today. I wonder if they’ve gone there yet."
"They must have gone already."
"Hehe, we’ve seen all three of the siblings this morning. I wonder what kind of luck that is."
Zhao Jing ignored him, instead slipping his hand behind Chen Wanqing’s waist and discreetly starting to massage it.
Chen Wanqing’s body tensed at first, then slowly relaxed.
She shot Zhao Jing a gentle, reproachful glance. ’He knew Father and De’an were right here, yet he still had to be so brazen.’ She had bitten her lip to keep from crying out, so hard that the inside was broken, and her whole body was terribly sore. If they weren’t heading home today, she would have stayed in bed all day to recover.
Zhao Jing saw the reproach in her eyes, coughed lightly, and offered her a placating smile.
The movements of his hand grew even gentler, his only aim to ease her discomfort. freёwebnovel.com
Chen Wanqing took a deep breath and turned her face away.
’She knew this would happen.’
’Jing was always like this: quick to apologize, but never to change his ways.’
’But she could never bring herself to be harsh with him, never had the heart to punish him. That indulgence only made him more audacious, and in the end, she was the one who suffered.’
...
The journey from Qingshui County to the Prefecture had taken Zhao Jing’s group a little over six days. On the way back, since they weren’t in a hurry, the trip took a full eight days.
Fortunately, their status allowed them to use the official roads, and at night, they could lodge at the posthouses. Otherwise, had they been forced to take the smaller side roads, there was no telling when they would have finally made it home.
When Zhao Jing and the others had first left Qingshui County, it had been the beginning of the third month—a time when the grass grew long and orioles took flight. The mornings and evenings still carried a chill.
Now, after their long journey, they had returned to Qingshui County in the middle of the fifth month, and the air already carried the heat of summer.
Upon entering Qingshui County, they first returned to their house in the county seat to rest.
Surprisingly, Xu Su Ying was not home. Stranger still, Yao’an was.
When Yao’an saw them, he was so overjoyed he didn’t know what to do with himself.
He made a great show of formally greeting Zhao Jing and De’an, addressing each of them in turn as "Master Scholar."
Chen De’an and Zhao Jing played along with him. One said, "You may rise."
The other said, "Ah, Yao’an, allow me to test your knowledge."
No one, adult or child, enjoys being tested on their studies. Even though Yao’an was a good student, he’d just gotten a rare day off. Who would want to be pulled aside and quizzed by their older brother?
Yao’an scurried away in a flash, darting over to Zhao Jing. He circled him twice, staring as if he were some rare spectacle.
Zhao Jing teased him, "I’ve only been gone two months. You don’t recognize me anymore?"
Yao’an’s words were as sweet as honey. "How could I not recognize you! You’re my brother-in-law! The brother-in-law who achieved the Lesser Triple-First! When the news reached the county seat, my tutor heard you were my brother-in-law, and he started to look at me with new respect!"
He kept calling him "Brother-in-law" over and over. "My tutor even wants to come and visit you! When are you free?"
Then he said, "Brother-in-law, pat my head so I can absorb some of your scholarly aura."
Zhao Jing, Chen Wanqing, and Chen Song all laughed, amused. Only De’an looked disgruntled. "I’ve got this little brother for nothing," he grumbled.
"He wasn’t born for you. Move aside."
Chen Song pulled his son close, doting on him endlessly. Even though Yao’an was seven years old, Chen Song lifted him up to ride on his shoulders. The two were so affectionate, it was as if they hadn’t seen each other for a year or more.
"Seeing this makes me even more convinced I was adopted."
"I’d sooner have brought home a stray dog than you! Day in and day out, what do you do besides make me angry!"
Xu Su Ying had appeared at the front gate at some point.
When she first heard that her husband, children, and son-in-law were all back, she had been overcome with excitement, even forgetting to grab the meat she had just purchased.
But as soon as she reached the gate, she heard what her unfilial son was saying. A wave of anger washed over her, and she instantly recalled every stupid thing he had done since childhood and all the frustration he had caused her. In that moment, any warm feelings she might have had for this particular son completely vanished.
