mist once again blanketed the land. If it weren't for the blood staining the courtyard and the house, a stark reminder of last night’s danger, one might think it had all been a nightmare.Everyone was...The rumbling of horses' hooves, such a commotion, the Li family was all too familiar with it.

Almost everyone dropped what they were doing and ran out.

As expected, the hundred or so people ran closer. Leading the way on horseback were Li Laosi and Li Yong.

Although covered in dust and grime from their travels, they beamed with joy at the sight of their loved ones, revealing a row of pearly white teeth.

Before getting close, Li Lao Si jumped down and rushed to his mother's front, kneeling down, "Mother, the unfilial son is back!"

Lao Li's eyes turned red, she hugged her son up and down, seeing that he had only darkened and thinned, with no visible injuries, she felt relieved.

"You little punk, you actually came back! You've been gone for three or four months!"

"Hee hee, didn't I just come back!" Li Lao Si grinned like a child, showing off, "Mom, I've done something great, now I'm a general!"

Everyone was dumbfounded, not quite sure about the ranks in the army. Luckily, Li Yong stepped forward, bowing and explaining with a smile: "Auntie, a Great General commands five hundred soldiers. I'm a Lesser General, in charge of two or three hundred."

"Good, good! This is like getting promoted to general!"

Both Li Jia's family and the villagers were overjoyed and cheered excitedly.

Li Laosi and Li Yong tried to explain that the difference between a Duhutong and a General was just one level, but the crowd swarmed them toward the courtyard.

At this time, Huiniang also holding her belly, followed Wu Da's mother to the scene.

When couples reunite, they can't help but be choked with emotion.

Huiniang didn't feel bitter, just wronged in her heart. She was about to be eight months pregnant and had only seen her husband once.

Thankfully, her husband rushed back. If he hadn't come back soon, he would have missed the birth of their child!

Li Yong also knew he owed his wife, so he quickly helped her up. He didn't care about the people around him anymore, and tightly held his wife's hand.

Li Jia and the villagers held back, but those who returned with the soldiers burst into laughter.

It is evident that these are good friends who often get along well with Li Lao Si and Li Yong. Their laughter reminds everyone of this fact.

The village head rushed anxiously, "Quickly bring some people, go to the fields and pick a few more emerald gourds to quench everyone's thirst. Later, each household should cook extra meals to entertain our brothers with a simple dinner. Tonight, our brothers will stay in the Hot Springs Valley and soak in the hot springs to relax!"

Originally, it was forbidden to stay overnight in the valley, but tomorrow is Fu Niu's birthday. The Li family places great importance on this occasion, and everyone in the village is helping out with the preparations.

The village head had been working non-stop for half a year, so he made an agreement with Li Lao Er and decided to shut down the mountain valley operations for one day.

Unexpectedly, this arrangement came in handy today, providing these returning warriors with a place to wash away the dust of their campaign.

The soldiers were all happy and bowed gratefully.

The villagers immediately became busy. The women went home to cook, while the men ran to pick jade gourds and led their horses to graze and drink water.

The soldiers sat under the big tree by the door, enjoying the shade. Some had also started a few small fires, illuminating the surroundings.

Soon, the jade gourd was brought back. The village head personally took the knife and cut it slice by slice, his movements were skillful and swift.

A soldier stepped forward to chat, and upon learning that the village head and others were also veterans who had descended from the battlefield, having slain barbarians as well, he immediately felt a surge of respect.

Soon, each household had brought their dishes. The soldiers finished the emerald gourds and praised their sweetness just as they were handed bowls of rice.

Although the stewed chicken and meat didn't make it, a bowl of white rice topped with thick scallion scrambled eggs is still easy, simple, and nutritious.

The soldiers, having eaten their fill, then went in groups to the valley.

The vast valley was like a beautiful human paradise. Only their hundred or so people enjoyed the hot springs and scenery, which made the soldiers ecstatic, roaring with joy as they jumped into the pool, their laughter echoing through the mountains.

After returning from the bloody battlefield, what better place for them to relax their tense nerves!

Li Laosì went around the valley, seeing his brothers playing themselves crazy, so he didn't care. He gave a few instructions and then went home.

The whole family was waiting for him to eat. The food wasn't particularly sumptuous, but it was full of the taste of home.

Li Laosi ate until he was full, and finally let out a burp before putting down his chopsticks.

After dinner, the family gathered together to chat.

Li Laosi hugged his daughter, kissed her again and again, and finally pinched her little cheek and smiled, "Fu Niu, have you gotten plumper again"

The people at home couldn't help but laugh, "Don't say that like that, this girl hates it when people say she's fat. Last time, she even said she wanted to lose weight, but she changed her mind after just skipping one meal."

As expected, Funiu held onto her father's neck and protested, "I'm still young, I'll lose weight when I grow up! I want to sew pouches, write characters, I don't have the energy if I'm not full!"

"Alright, alright, we must eat our fill!" Li Lao Si held his daughter, beaming with joy, reverting back to his doting father persona. "What's wrong with being a bit plump At least when outsiders see us, they know our family isn't short on rice!"

Having said that, he pulled out a jeweled dagger from his bosom.

The dagger was small, only the length of a woman's palm. It was inlaid with colorful gemstones and looked very luxurious, with a strong air of nouveau riche extravagance.

Such a pity! This is a precious gem, it could be turned into several sets of jewelry!

Li Laosi saw his daughter's eyes sparkling, even happier, he shoved the dagger into her hands, "This is a war trophy I snatched from the barbarians, it's your birthday present, alright"

"Good, good! Thank you, Father. Father is the best!"

Jia Yin hugged the dagger tightly and kissed her father's face several times.

Li Laosi's heart was as sweet as honey, but he said, "Funiu is a grown woman now, she can't act like this anymore."

Lao Li defended her granddaughter, saying, "You're her father, even if she's eighty years old, she's still your daughter. Besides, a child of four virtual years, what do you expect her to understand!"

Jiayin saw her old father being ignored and feeling embarrassed, so she giggled and ran to hug her grandmother, showing off to her.

Before the old woman could offer some praise, Jiaxi, Ji'an and Maoge couldn't contain themselves anymore. Their eyes filled with envy as they squeezed forward, wanting to get a glimpse of the novelty.

Li Laosi quickly said: "Don't worry, I also brought you supplies. There are bows and arrows, daggers, and horse-spears. It's just that the carriage carrying war booty is slow, so we rode back fast."

"Really" The little guys were overjoyed and swarmed him, grabbing his arm and begging him to tell them about the battlefield.

Although Old Madam Li knew the Marquis must have returned to Kyoto first, she was still worried and eagerly asked, "Fourth son, will the Marquis be back tomorrow"

"Yes, the Marquis said he would definitely be back, but we have to wait until after court," Li Lao Si replied.

Only then did Li Laotai feel relieved, listening to her son recount tales of the battlefield.

Of course, Li Lao Si couldn't say it was dangerous and difficult. He only talked about the joy and excitement of winning battles.

The children listened with eager anticipation, especially Jia An and Jia Xi, who wished they could immediately grab their swords and head to the battlefield.

Jia Yin twirled the dagger in her hand, conflicted inside. Should she go back to the inner room tonight and live with her parents

Logically, she should give her long-absent parents a quiet world for two, but she couldn't help but wonder if there were any scars on her father's body.

As a result, before she could even hesitate, the old woman began to shoo them away. "Alright, all of you go to sleep. We can talk later. It's not like we need to discuss everything tonight. We have guests coming tomorrow."

As she spoke, she picked up Jiayin, pulled Cat Brother and Li Brother, and went into the east room.s and said he would go buy meat. When he came back, he didn't bring any meat, just claimed he had gotten rich. Since then, he has disappeared every few days."I thought he was lazy and didn't want othe...