“Sister, now that the kids have finished their exams, why not let them come to our place to play? The countryside is more fun than the city at this time. It’s rare for the children to have the opportunity to play outside, so let them relax a bit. After they have their fun, maybe the acceptance letters will have arrived,” Zhang Lan proposed.

Ge Yun was eager for the children to spend time with the Wang family, believing that being close to them would influence the kids positively. After returning to the city, she learned that her son had spent some time hanging around the streets. Thanks to Wang Zhenhe’s help, her child had been spared from potentially heading down a troubled path. Ge Yun felt grateful that her daughter, Yang Nuo, had always been a good child, despite the challenges they faced. She appreciated the kindness they had received.

“Sure, once you all head back, I’ll let the kids go with you to experience life in the countryside and understand the hard work involved in farming. Zhao Ru, when you return home, help the kids pack their bags. It’s rare for them to have the chance to play, and I feel sorry for them. This time, let them enjoy themselves,” Ge Yun suggested.

Zhao Ru agreed, having already been informed by Cong Wei about certain family matters. Despite their own hardships, the family had been sustained by the aid they received.

The gathering was filled with joy and laughter, with the atmosphere more important than the meal itself. Zhang Lan and Wang Zhenhe had brought seafood and delicacies from their homes. These treats were precious, even if one had the means to buy them, they were not always readily available.

As the children enjoyed the seafood, their faces lighting up with joy, the youngest boy, Yang Jian, made a request. “Mom, let’s have Uncle and them over for dinner more often so we can eat delicious food every day,” he suggested.

His comment brought smiles to the adults at the table. “Yang Jian, aren’t you worried that Uncle will come and eat all the good food at your house?” they teased.

Yang Jian, with his innocent eyes, replied, “No, when Uncle comes, we’ll have delicious food. And even if he eats it all, he’ll bring more next time.”

The adults found solace in the fact that the children held Wang Zhenhe in such high regard, recognizing the extent of his help and kindness towards their family.

The next morning, Zhang Lan and her family left, with Yang Nuo and Cong Tao taking their younger siblings to play at their friends’ place. Geng Lianhua was left behind, but Wang Zhenhe had made arrangements with the elders to look after her. Wang Qian promised her grandmother that she would come back in a couple of days to deliver goods.

Returning home with a group of children, even the villagers found it strange to see so many kids with Zhang Lan’s family. However, once they learned that they were friends’ children visiting, everyone took it in stride.

Under Mingyuan’s guidance, the children from both families, the Congs and the Yangs, enjoyed exploring the mountains and rivers every day, an experience rarely seen in the city.

Playing with Mingyuan, Cong Tao and Yang Nuo understood why they couldn’t defeat him before. Witnessing Mingyuan’s daily exercises, they couldn’t help but admire his dedication.

“Bro, now I understand why you were so good at fighting. You work out every day, no wonder,” Cong Tao remarked, eyeing his own physique and feeling slightly dissatisfied. “Yang Nuo, when we get back, let’s ask Uncle to teach us. We shouldn’t be at a disadvantage in fights. Look at Mingyuan; his arms are much stronger than mine.”

Cong Tao envied Mingyuan’s physique, admiring his toned muscles compared to his and Yang Nuo’s.

Yang Nuo gave his friend a sly glance. “Come on, with that lazy attitude, you can hardly carry the weight of your own body, let alone focus on training. If you’re serious about it, let’s ask my dad to teach us when we get back. We couldn’t train before because we were struggling to even feed ourselves. But we should definitely learn from Mingyuan in the future.”

“Hey, look, we brought back grass for the pig, and I even caught a praying mantis!” Yang Jian excitedly ran over to show his older brother his achievements from helping his sister.

Yang Nuo gently patted his younger brother’s head, “Yes, our little brother is very capable. Later, I’ll take you to catch fish. You and Cong Fei mustn’t be naughty.”

Wide-eyed, Yang Jian nodded, “Brother, we won’t be naughty. Mom said if we misbehave, we won’t be allowed to come and play again. I’m going to find my sister to play.”

The little one ran to Wang Qian and asked, “Sister Qian Qian, can I go pick mulberries to eat?”

In the backyard of the Wang family’s house, there was a mulberry tree that had grown into a large tree, laden with red and purple mulberries. Normally, Mingyuan would pick them because of the large silkworms often found on the tree, which made Wang Qian and her sister nervous.

“Sure, but aren’t you afraid of bugs? There are big insects up there. Even I don’t dare to go up and pick,” Wang Qian warned.

Eight-year-old Yang Jian shook his head earnestly, “I’m not afraid of silkworms. When we were hungry before, my big brother used to go to the nearby mountain to collect silkworm cocoons and cook them for us. They were delicious.”

Wang Qian found this amusing since silkworm cocoons were pupae, not the same as the insects crawling on the tree. She instructed him to call his older brothers over to help pick the mulberries from the higher branches, reminding him to get the purple ones as they were sweeter than the red ones.

Yang Nuo and Cong Tao were dragged by their younger brothers to pick mulberries. While Cong Fei and Yang Jian sat on the tree branches, plucking the dark purple fruits and eating them eagerly. Their lips soon turned a dark purple hue from the berries.

After finishing their potato peeling tasks, Wang Qian and Xiao Mei went to the backyard and were surprised to see the two boys in their current state. Wang Qian called out to them, “Yang Jian, Cong Fei, don’t eat too many mulberries; it’s bad for your teeth. Save some room for lunch; we’ll have potato pancakes. Come down for now, and you can eat after your brothers finish picking the mulberries.”

Xiao Mei and Wang Qian stood under the tree, ensuring the boys safely descended. Going up a tree was easy, but coming down could be tricky and potentially lead to falls.

After safely helping the two boys down, Wang Qian turned around and noticed a flash of military green coming from the east. Suppressing her excitement, she carefully observed until she confirmed her suspicions. Overjoyed, she sprinted towards the east when she saw his brother’s figure approaching.

Mingcheng, seeing Her sister, dressed in a floral dress made by their mother, looked like a beautiful butterfly flying towards him. Yelled “Sis, I’ve missed you so much.”

Mingcheng appeared taller than when he left, his complexion slightly darker. Dressed in military attire, he exuded an air of authority and sophistication. Wang Qian couldn’t help but admire him, noting how the uniform accentuated his maturity and competence. The boyishness he had when he left was nowhere to be seen now.

Since Mingcheng started school, their home had become less lively. Having lived with him for many years, Wang Qian had come to see this young man as her own brother, so she missed him greatly after he left for school.

Mingcheng set down his travel bag, examining his sister. “Little sis, you’re getting more beautiful. Let me see if our Qian Qian has grown taller.”

Mingcheng nodded approvingly, “Indeed, she’s grown quite a bit taller. Qian Qian, has anyone been bothering you at school? I’m back now, and I’ll deal with anyone who dares to bully you.”

Wang Qian held Mingcheng’s hand, smiling mischievously. “Big brother, you know, my little brother, big sister, and I are not easy to bully. You should know that when I was young, I once wielded a kitchen knife. No one dares to mess with us. I’ll give them a good beating.”

However, reminiscing about Yang Nuo and the past, she couldn’t help but chuckle. “Brother, we did get into a fight once, but that person has become our friend. They are visiting our house right now.”

As they walked, Wang Qian recounted the past incidents to her brother, even Mingcheng found it amusing. “Ha, you guys are something else. You’re really something. If anyone dares to bully you again, Big Brother won’t hold back. By the way, why did you help those two? I’m sure it’s not just out of sympathy, right?”

Mingcheng gave Wang Qian a knowing look. He was well aware of his little sister’s character. Since childhood, she had never been one to back down, and even the elders in the family had been brought in by her. He sensed that she had a hidden agenda behind her actions.

Chuckling, Mingcheng touched Wang Qian’s braided hair. “Little sister, are Mom and Dad out working?”

Wang Qian nodded, “Yes, they went to work. If they knew you were back, they’d be overjoyed.”

Seeing Wang Qian running off, Yang Nuo and Cong Tao, still up in the mulberry tree, thought something had happened and quickly went to inform Wang Xuan. Soon, all the children in the house were running towards the east.

Mingcheng spotted his younger sister and brother leading a group of children towards him. “Brother? Oh, big brother is back,” Mingyuan exclaimed, rushing over quickly.

As the others heard that the eldest son of the Wang family had returned, they observed closely. Yang Nuo and Cong Tao often heard Wang Xuan mention her older brother. Mingcheng was almost like a god-like figure in their minds, having achieved such high ranks and getting into a military academy after resuming his studies. They couldn’t help but wonder if they could ever reach that level themselves.

Mingcheng embraced his younger brother, examining him and then wrapped an arm around Mingyuan’s neck. “Not bad, little bro, you’re getting stronger, taller than me when I left. Just a bit skinny, probably due to growing taller.”

Wang Xuan rushed over to take Mingcheng’s travel bag, excitedly saying, “Brother, I’m going to find Dad up the mountain. They’ve been anxious these past few days.”

With Wang Xuan also preparing for the college entrance exams, Mingcheng inquired, “Sis, how are things going? Everything okay? I’m looking forward to meeting you in the capital. We can explore around, and we’ll visit grandpa’s place to enjoy some free meals.”

Wang Xuan, confident this time, replied honestly, “Brother, things should be fine. Meeting up is just a matter of time. I’m eagerly waiting for the acceptance letter.”

Seeing his sister growing more confident, Mingcheng felt genuinely happy. He appreciated her care and support during the two years they spent studying together. Looking forward to the taste of home-cooked meals, Mingcheng felt a strong sense of longing for the flavors of home.