Yu Xiaolian placed two eggs in Sun Erji’s wife’s hand, "Do you know why I came to get you? How did I know you were coming this way? I ran into Manjiao, she was kidnapped by traffickers to Luocheng.
I went to the broker to buy a maid, and Manjiao recognized me, she’s at my house now.
So, what do you think? Isn’t this good news? Are you happy?"
The two eggs in Sun Erji’s wife’s hands fell, rolling away, as she grabbed Yu Xiaolian’s arm, repeatedly asking in disbelief, afraid that Yu Xiaolian was teasing her.
Yu Xiaolian said, "What’s there not to believe? It was Manjiao who told me, you were left in Bohai City, unable to enter the city or return home, that’s why I came.
Manjiao also told me about Fourth Grandpa wanting to sell Sister Manyu, so tell me, if I hadn’t seen her, how would I know about this?"
Only then did Sun Erji’s wife truly believe Yu Xiaolian.
"Wonderful, my Jia’er wasn’t lost. Lian’er, how can your Aunt thank you? You and your mother wanted to take us away together back then, saying it would be a drought disaster, but we didn’t believe, not a single one of us believed.
If we had believed you then, your Second Uncle wouldn’t have..." Sun Erji’s wife embraced Yu Xiaolian, weeping bitterly.
Yu Xiaolian felt her shoulder getting wet from Sun Erji’s wife’s tears, but she let her continue to hold her.
Until Sun Erji’s wife’s emotions calmed down, Yu Xiaolian said, "I’ll ask around about Second Uncle’s whereabouts, Aunt, don’t worry, Second Uncle will be fine."
As soon as Yu Xiaolian finished speaking, Sun Fourth Grandpa hastily said, "Child, don’t forget to also inquire about your Uncle Wulin."
Yu Xiaolian intended to comfort Sun Erji’s wife, not expecting Sun Fourth Grandpa to believe it. For those like them being drafted, it’s bearable if they were building fortifications in the rear, but if they were sent to the front lines, it would be a one-way trip.
Yu Xiaolian nodded in agreement with Sun Fourth Grandpa, "I’ll try my best..."
Sun Fourth Grandpa was already getting on in years, unable to withstand shocks, so Yu Xiaolian spoke some kind lies to comfort them.
Although Sun Fourth Grandpa called Yu Xiaolian’s grandmother ’sister-in-law,’ he was more than ten years older than Sun Old Lady.
Yu Xiaolian had heard from the Sun family that her grandfather had a previous wife, they were together for over ten years, but she didn’t have any children and died of illness.
The current Sun Old Lady was actually a second wife to Sun Old Grandpa, which is why Fourth-ranked Sun Fourth Grandpa already had several great-grandsons while the eldest grandson was only seven.
Sun Fourth Grandpa cursed, "Who knows when this war will end? Damn Great Meng Country, why do they love to stir trouble? If they weren’t causing trouble at the borders, would Prince Jin need to draft soldiers?"
While Sun Fourth Grandpa cursed the Meng Country, Sun Fourth Grandma cursed the heavens, "This damn heaven, doesn’t know how to have pity on us poor people.
The houses and fields saved by generations, just abandoned like that..."
Human joys and sorrows don’t seem to connect, while one side was sunk in depression, Sun Manzhi was still thinking about roasted sweet potatoes, "Lil... Brother Yu, the sweet potatoes are going to burn!"
"Eat, all you think about is eating!" Sun Erji’s wife scolded her son sternly.
This child seemed so mindless.
His father was drafted, his sister lost, yet all day he only thought about filling his belly. Sun Erji’s wife, in anger, slapped Sun Manzhi on the butt.
"Wah..." Sun Manzhi cried loudly with his mouth open.
Sun Fifth Grandpa yanked Sun Manzhi over, shielding him in his arms, "Why are you hitting the child? He’s only seven, what does he know?
If he doesn’t eat, what should he do? Can he go to war or catch traffickers?"
Turning in Sun Erji didn’t sit well with Sun Fifth Grandpa, his second son only left behind this single heir, he had to protect him well, it was his second son’s legacy.
"Zhi, stop crying, Grandpa is here, as long as Grandpa is here, he’ll protect you."
Sun Fifth Grandpa hugged Sun Manzhi, asking if he ate enough?
Sun Manzhi, eyes full of tears, peeked at his mother, didn’t speak, only shed tears silently.
Yu Xiaolian took the sweet potatoes and potatoes from the fire, picked a sweet potato, knocked off the ashes on the ground, and handed it to Sun Manzhi.
"Manzhi, the sweet potato’s ready, come here, I’ll peel it for you."
Sun Manzhi shook his head, "I was worried the sweet potatoes would burn, wasting food, I’m not hungry."
He wasn’t hungry, he had eaten buns at noon and rice soup, and at night he had two eggs.
Indeed, he ate two, his mother gave him her share of the egg as well.
Sun Manzhi broke free from Sun Fifth Grandpa’s embrace, holding the sweet potato Yu Xiaolian gave, and ran to his mother, "Mom, you eat this sweet potato!"
The sweet potato was hot; Sun Manzhi juggled it between both hands, Sun Erji’s wife turned her head to wipe a tear.
"Mom’s not hungry, go give it to your grandfather."
"It’s just a sweet potato, don’t pass it around, whoever wants it, just eat it, there are plenty on the carriage.
Second Aunt, you have the sweet potato, I’ll get another for Fifth Grandpa." Yu Xiaolian said, went over to get another for Sun Fifth Grandpa.
Sun Fifth Grandpa pushed the sweet potato to Sun Fourth Grandpa, "Fourth Brother, you eat." ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel⸺fire.net
Sun Fourth Grandpa waved his hand, "I’m not hungry, save it for breakfast tomorrow!"
How could they not be hungry?
They had only had two buns during lunch, and many hours had passed since then, while the women and children had eggs, they hadn’t eaten anything.
Though hungry, compared to the gnawing hunger of the past days, it was miles better, the hunger wasn’t so intense.
Yu Xiaolian broke the sweet potato in half, giving each half to Sun Fourth Grandpa and Sun Fifth Grandpa, "Fourth Grandpa, the sweet potato will become raw by morning, won’t taste good, eat it while it’s hot now.
Don’t pass it around, with me here, you won’t go hungry anymore.
Come on, everyone, come and eat, if it’s not enough, we’ll roast more."
Sun Fifth Grandpa, in a negotiating tone, said to Yu Xiaolian, "Child, don’t add more coal, the weather isn’t really cold yet, just warm up a bit, let’s put out the fire."
Everyone chimed in with Sun Fifth Grandpa, persuading Yu Xiaolian, "Yes, we aren’t cold now, don’t add more coal."
"Alright, I’ll use this ember to roast a few more sweet potatoes." Yu Xiaolian picked a few small sweet potatoes, placing them in the embers.
After keeping two roasted sweet potatoes for herself, Yu Xiaolian distributed the rest of the sweet potatoes and potatoes to those teenage kids.
These adolescents were at an age where they could eat a lot, and who knows whose stomach growled, as Yu Xiaolian glanced over, they all turned their heads, blushing.
Su Jingchen entered from the doorway, dressed in black, once again astonishing Yu Xiaolian.
It was the first time Yu Xiaolian saw Su Jingchen wearing black. Su Jingchen loved wearing crescent white so much that he never wore any other color.