Hearing a familiar yet long-unheard voice coming from the black box in Lu Yuan’s hand, Song Chi’s chopsticks clattered onto the table.

Song Chi pointed at the black box in Lu Yuan’s hand in disbelief. "Th-This... is that my sister’s voice?"

"Little Brother? Can you hear me?"

Hearing his sister’s voice again, Song Chi quickly wiped the grease from his hands on his clothes. He took the phone from Lu Yuan with both hands and said cautiously, "Sis, it’s me. Can you hear me?"

After a few seconds of silence, a slightly choked-up voice came from the other end. "My dear brother, I’ve missed you so much."

Since Song Chi had been promoted to General and left, he hadn’t seen his sister, Song Meiqin, in a very long time. The two siblings were extremely close.

Song Meiqin’s life in Taiping City was spent with Lu Yuan, Zhao Qiao’Er, and Su Liyan. Every day was happy, and she never had to worry about food or clothing.

Still, Song Meiqin didn’t have any family with her in Taiping City, so it was only natural that she would worry about her brother fighting on the front lines.

Song Meiqin and Song Chi talked for a long time over the phone.

Lu Yuan looked at Song Chi, whose eyes were red-rimmed. Even an imposing General had a tender side.

’It reminds me of a saying,’ Lu Yuan thought. ’In the past, the carriages, horses, and mail were all slow. A lifetime was only long enough to love one person.’

It really was difficult for Song Chi and Song Meiqin to see each other.

Xiaoqian, looking completely bewildered, watched the black box in Song Chi’s hand warily. "That thing actually knows the Sound Transmission Skill!"

Su Liyan began to explain it to Xiaoqian in a low voice...

After Song Chi finished his call with Song Meiqin,

Lu Yuan said, "The matter in Dongchang City has come to a temporary close. How long will you be back in Taiping City to rest?"

Song Chi took a sip of wine. "I’m heading back this time since the border is peaceful now. Without a direct order from King Yan, I only brought a few hundred subordinates with me. I should be able to stay in Taiping City for a month or two."

"That’s great," Lu Yuan said. "We still have some things to handle here. Why don’t you relax and look around Dongchang City for a bit? After these next couple of days, we’ll set off for Taiping City."

When Xiaoqian heard that Lu Yuan and the others were leaving in two days, she looked at them with yearning eyes.

Su Liyan, like an older sister tending to a younger one, straightened Xiaoqian’s clothes and said, "Come with us."

Hearing this, Xiaoqian’s eyes lit up. "Okay, okay! Sister, I’d love to go to Taiping City with you!"

Two days was enough time for Lu Yuan to sort out the local administration.

Lu Yuan was busy with official duties from early in the morning until late at night. Aside from drinking some milk, he was so busy he only ate one meal a day.

Lu Yuan placed great trust in officials like Zuo Tongzhi, and all arrangements were properly made.

「Two mornings later」

Lu Yuan brought Su Liyan, Xiaoqian, and eight of his trusted men to Song Chi’s encampment.

Song Chi was in the middle of preparing his troops to break camp and head for Taiping City.

Song Chi had his men lead over several swift horses. He walked up to Lu Yuan and said, "Brother-in-law, these swift horses are for you all to ride."

Lu Yuan smiled. "Give these horses to my men. You can just ride one of my vehicles and come with us."

Song Chi asked, puzzled, "How can riding that be as comfortable as a horse? With a horse, you don’t even have to put in any effort."

Lu Yuan said, "Just entrust your troops to your second-in-command. Riding one of my vehicles is faster, anyway."

Song Chi had no choice but to do as he was told. He followed Lu Yuan to a commoner’s house outside the city to pick up a motorcycle.

Fortunately, Song Chi had learned how to ride a bicycle back in Taiping City, or else he would have found the motorcycle really difficult to handle.

Xiaoqian, on the other hand, was out of luck. She didn’t know how to ride a motorcycle.

So, Su Liyan had to pad the back seat of her motorcycle with lots of soft things and have Xiaoqian sit behind her.

And so, the trusted men who didn’t have motorcycles rode on horseback, doing their best to keep up.

Along the way, Song Chi couldn’t help but praise the machine several times.

"This thing is awesome! A motorcycle is so much faster than a horse."

It was Xiaoqian’s first time on a motorcycle, and she was still a little scared, tightly hugging the waist of her "big sister" Su Liyan.

Su Liyan could clearly feel Xiaoqian’s chest pressed against her back.

Huddled together against the wind, they felt a little warmer.

When Lu Yuan led the group into the Zhao Mansion in Taiping City, a servant who had just been wiping the Mansion Gate waved his rag and rushed into the courtyard.

The servant shouted excitedly, "Master Nephew is back! The Young Madam is back!"

Inside the Zhao Mansion, hearing the servant’s shouts,

Su Liyan’s mother and Song Meiqin came out to greet them.

The Zhao Mansion had felt much emptier these past days while Lu Yuan was away.

Ever since Lu Yuan left, Su Liyan’s mother had spent her days doting on her little granddaughter, looking after the child.

Song Meiqin couldn’t even be bothered to put on makeup. When she had nothing to do, she would change into a set of practical work clothes and wander around the factory.

Zhao Qiao’Er was the busiest of all, breastfeeding the two children every day.

Huanhuan was a bit easier; he was small and didn’t eat much.

Bengbeng, on the other hand, despite being a little baby girl, had a voracious appetite. If you tried to stop her from nursing, she would kick her little legs in protest.

Lu Yuan, who had entered the mansion a step ahead of the others, was the first to speak. "Mother, Aunt Song."

Su Liyan went forward, took her mother’s hand, and stroked it. "Mother, you must have worked hard during the days we were away."

"Not at all," said Su Liyan’s mother. "Here in the Zhao Mansion, there are servants to take care of everything. I’m living a much more comfortable life than back in our old home in Changliu Village."

Su Liyan’s mother was very content with her current life. Besides watching the children, she didn’t have to cook her own meals or even wash diapers.

In an ordinary family, wouldn’t most grandparents have to look after their grandchildren *and* cook for their son and daughter-in-law when they come home from work?

So, Su Liyan’s mother wasn’t wrong. Her friends back in Changliu Village were all busy at home, watching the kids and managing their households. It wasn’t easy at all.

Song Meiqin, who was behind Su Liyan’s mother, threw herself directly into Lu Yuan’s arms. Hugging him tightly, she stood on her tiptoes and planted several kisses on him, saying playfully, "Little Nephew, your aunt missed you to death!"

MWAH MWAH MWAH... SMOOCH SMOOCH SMOOCH...

After saying just that one sentence, Song Meiqin gave him several more kisses before finally letting go.

Still in Lu Yuan’s arms, Song Meiqin wiped the saliva she’d left on her nephew’s face with her hand, then greeted the others.

Only then did Song Meiqin notice the strapping man standing behind the group was her own brother, Song Chi.

Song Meiqin pulled away from Lu Yuan’s embrace, walked over to Song Chi, and caressed his face. "My dear brother. You’re tanner and thinner, but you look much stronger."

Song Chi chuckled. "Sis, long time no see. I thought you would have seen me first."

Her brother’s words made Song Meiqin realize how brazen she had just been.

’So many people are watching,’ she thought. ’For me to just hug and kiss him like that... it was truly undignified.’

Song Meiqin lowered her head in embarrassment, stepped on Song Chi’s foot, and whispered, "Alright, that’s enough out of you."

These two siblings were the type to miss each other when they were apart, but bicker and act distant when they were together.

Xiaoqian watched everyone, all with their own families, and felt a pang of envy.

’If only my parents were still alive,’ Xiaoqian thought. ’Then I could also feel the warmth of a family.’

Zhao Qiao’Er was the last one to run out. Buttoning up her top, she swayed her hips and said, "You all couldn’t wait for me! The two kids are still inside. Good thing there’s a Maid to look after them."

Lu Yuan went up to meet her and swept the heavy Zhao Qiao’Er into his arms.

Zhao Qiao’Er was a tall woman, standing at six-foot-two, yet Lu Yuan lifted her up.

Lu Yuan spun her around in his arms.

Lifted high in the air, Zhao Qiao’Er praised him, "My dear sweetheart, you’re so strong!"

His mouth muffled, Lu Yuan sputtered, "Aunt Zhao, we haven’t seen each other for days, and you’re already crushing me so hard I can’t breathe."

Hearing this, Zhao Qiao’Er kicked her feet. "Then put me down! We can’t have my sweetheart suffocating."

After setting Zhao Qiao’Er down steadily, Lu Yuan laughed mischievously. "What’s wrong, Aunt Zhao? Not even going to let me have a kiss?"

Aunt Zhao folded her arms. "So that’s how it is. My dear nephew is complaining that his aunt’s are too big."

Everyone present burst out laughing.