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The cart slowed down as it reached the front of a house.
Compared to the houses in town, this residence was not inferior at all. It was also a spacious house with green brick walls and large tiles. From the outside, it seemed quite substantial.
Shen Dalang and his companions knew that Fang Chun’s family had some wealth, so they weren’t too surprised to see such a large house.
Shen Dalang, who was driving the cart, called out, “Brother Fang, we’ve arrived at your home.”
“Alright!”
Fang Chun jumped off the cart, and Shen Erlang and the others also disembarked to see him off.
Fang Chun bowed to Shen Dalang and the others and said, “Thank you all for accompanying me back. How about coming in for a drink?”
Shen Dalang looked up at the moonlit sky and replied, “No, it’s already late today. If we stay any longer, we might not find our way back.”
Fang Chun could only say, “Alright then. Be safe on your way back, and next time, I’ll invite all of you to my house for tea.”
Creak!
The gate swung open, and a boy who appeared to be only five or six years old rushed out, followed by a young girl in a goose-yellow dress and a married couple.
The young boy, Fang Heng, exclaimed, “Brother, you’re finally back!”
“Just now, Sister said she heard noises outside, and as soon as she heard them, she knew you were back. So, Sister and I came to greet you.”
The young girl, Fang Nian, softly called, “Elder brother.”
Then, seeing Shen Dalang and the others standing with Fang Chun, she smiled and gave a slight bow.
Shen Dalang and the others quickly returned the gesture.
Fang Chun introduced them, saying, “These are my parents, and this is my younger sister, Fang Nian, and my younger brother, Fang Heng.
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Fang Chun smiled and continued, “I told my father about them; both the Shen brothers and the Zhang brothers are very talented.”
Fang’s father laughed heartily and said, “So, it’s these young brothers. Since you’ve arrived at our doorstep, please come in for a rest.”
Shen Dalang and the others tried to decline again, saying that it was too late today, and they would visit another day.
Upon learning that Shen Dalang and the others lived not far away in Longxian Village, Fang’s father didn’t insist any further. He said he would visit Shen Rong and the others another day to seek advice on how to educate so many talented children.
“Well then, Uncle Fang, Brother Fang, we’ll take our leave,” Shen Erlang said.
Shen Dalang and the others boarded the cart once again, with Shen Dalang sitting at the front of the cart to bid farewell to the Fang family.
Fang Nian, who was standing in front, tried to move back a couple of steps to clear the way for the cart. However, she inadvertently stepped on a stone, slipped, and was about to fall forward.
This fall would have put her in danger of being trampled by the oxen.
Shen Dalang quickly halted the oxen, and with a swift movement, he leaped forward, grabbing Fang Nian’s arm to pull her back up.
“Miss Fang, be careful,” he cautioned.
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Shen Dalang entrusted Fang Nian to her frightened mother and whispered a reminder to be cautious.
Fang Nian thanked him, saying, “Thank you so much. I was really scared just now.”
“No problem.”
Shen Dalang climbed back onto the cart’s front seat and urged the oxen back onto the road.
At the end of the road, nothing could be seen anymore. Fang Heng held onto Fang Nian, who was still gazing into the distance, and said, “Sister, snap out of it. They’ve all gone far. Let’s go home.”
As Fang Nian came to her senses and realized that no one had noticed her earlier lapse of composure, she sighed in relief, nodded, and followed her brother back home.
On the cart, Shen Sanlang teased, “Big brother, you moved so quickly just now, a true hero saving a beauty~”
Shen Dalang focused on driving and replied, “What hero saving a beauty? I just lent a helping hand.”
When Shen Dalang and the others returned home, it was already dark, and Shen Yu’an had also returned home.
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“Sanlang, come here for a moment,” Shen Yu’an called to Shen Sanlang.
Shen Sanlang quickly ran over to Shen Yu’an and asked, “Sister, what is it?”
“I’ve already talked to Fei Xi today about you following him for a while. However, if you choose to work with him, you must follow his arrangements. If you complain or say you’re tired even once, I’ll bring you back home directly. You also can’t come back on your own. Have you thought it through?” Shen Yu’an explained.
Shen Sanlang hastily replied, “I’ve thought it through, Sister. So when should I go find Fei Xi?”
“Tomorrow. Just pack a few changes of clothes today,” Shen Yu’an instructed.
After hearing that Sanlang would be leaving tomorrow, the Shen family members immediately began helping him prepare. Shen Yu’an’s voice echoed from inside the house, “Just pack a few sets of clothes. He’s not going out for leisure; there’s no need to take so much stuff.”
Zhao Shi packed efficiently, including some silver coins and food that could be stored in a bag.
Shen Sanlang happily said, “Mother, you all don’t need to fuss too much. Go back to sleep.”
“You, boy, you’d better be careful. I don’t want you to go out standing tall and come back lying down,” Zhao Shi warned affectionately.
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Zhao Shi scolded and scolded, but she couldn’t help but sob, deeply worried about Sanlang facing unknown dangers outside.
“Oh dear, Mother, don’t worry. Sister said that among us brothers, my martial arts skills are the best. Instead of thinking about all these unnecessary things, you should imagine how you’ll brag to the village women when your son, me, returns as a general next time,” Shen Sanlang comforted her.
Zhao Shi looked at Sanlang mockingly and said, “You cheeky boy! Look at how full of yourself you are, talking about becoming a general. I’ll be relieved if you come back without any injuries!”
Sanlang protested, “Mother, how can you not believe in your son?”
“Alright, go to sleep quickly. You might be leaving tomorrow, and I’ll make you a special meal in the morning,” Zhao Shi said, then left the room with Shen Ming, who had come with her.
Outside the room, Zhao Shi patted Shen Ming on the shoulder and asked, “Do you think our son will really become a general?”
Shen Ming glanced at her and said, “Didn’t you just doubt it earlier?”
Inside the room, after Zhao Shi and Shen Ming left, Sanlang muttered to Shen Silang, “You see, Mother is so strange. I’m leaving tomorrow, and she’s scolding me.”
“She even said she’d make me a special meal tomorrow. Isn’t that something people usually say to the terminally ill?” Sanlang continued, puzzled.
“Hey, do you think I can become a general?” he asked.
Shen Silang rolled his eyes at Sanlang and turned away. “Just don’t come back crying, and that will be enough. We don’t want Sister to have to come and fetch you, embarrassing us.”
“Hey, you!”
Annoyed, Sanlang lunged at his brother, and the two of them ended up playfully wrestling.
The next day, Zhao Shi indeed prepared a table full of Sanlang’s favorite dishes, fulfilling her promise to him.
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