Chen Lan spent two days at home packing and organizing, bundling up the quilts and wadding that would be essential for the cold in Jilin. She also packed the clothes the two infant babies could wear and stored them in the system warehouse.
Chen Lan let her mother-in-law give away the original owner's clothes. Her mother-in-law was puzzled but didn't ask why. Seeing that Cui Qiao and Chen Lan were about the same size, she gave all the clothes to Cui Qiao. Cui Qiao was immensely grateful.
Chen Lan couldn't help but ask her mother-in-law about the things hidden under the floorboards in the room. Her mother-in-law was shocked and casually asked if her father-in-law had told her. Chen Lan remained silent, and her mother-in-law took it as an affirmation. The mother-in-law then took out the items and handed them to Chen Lan, asking her to keep them for her father-in-law and ask him for them when needed. This almost confused Chen Lan to the point of dizziness.
Soon, the morning of the third day arrived. Today was the day to return to the imperial capital with her birth mother. Chen Lan woke up early. As soon as she dressed the two infant babies, Wen Rou Niang arrived. Together, mother and daughter took care of the babies' feeding, drinking, and changing, then placed them on the bed in the inner room. They asked the two younger brothers to watch over them. Chen Lan noticed the low spirits of her brothers and asked what was wrong.
Wen Rou Niang smiled and said, "Since your childbirth, we've been living in this house for almost three months. Don't just say they're reluctant, even I'm a little reluctant." Chen Lan stroked her two younger brothers' heads and said, "Don't be sad, we'll be able to see them again in the imperial capital very soon."
"Really? Eldest Sister, I really don't want to leave Ming Zhe and Xiao Shi Tou," asked Wen Kai, the elder of the two brothers, eagerly. Little brother Wen Qi nodded like a pecking chick in agreement, "I don't want to leave either!" Chen Lan playfully teased her two brothers, "How about this? Since you two are so reluctant, why don't you stay here and wait for them?"
Wen Kai and Wen Qi wailed, "No, Eldest Sister, we want to be with you and Mother." "Hush, keep your voices down. Don't wake them up, or we won't be able to get things done."
"Lan'er, hurry up. Don't mind these two brothers. Go pack in the inner room. The two carriages we ordered yesterday have already arrived at the doorstep." Chen Lan quickly returned to the bedroom and packed the pre-arranged bundles and the antique carved bed she slept on into the system warehouse.
After a bumpy journey, the three adults and four children finally arrived safely in front of the gate of a three-courtyard siheyuan. Wen Kai and Wen Qi, the two brothers, cheered, "We're home, we're finally home!"
Mama Liu dismissed the two coachmen, then carried the large bags and small parcels, leading everyone towards the house. As she walked, Mama Liu called out, "Hutou (Mama Liu's grandson), Yuzhen (Hutou's mother), open the door, we're back!"
"Coming, coming! That sounds like Mother's voice, it's Mother and them returning!" A cheerful voice came from inside the door. It was likely Mama Liu's eldest daughter-in-law, Hu Yuzhen.
Indeed, it was Hu Yuzhen. Hu Yuzhen opened the main gate with great excitement, took the items from Mama Liu's hands, and greeted everyone with surprise: "Madam, Mother, Eldest Young Miss, Eldest Young Master, Little Young Master..." She kept calling out names until I felt tired just listening! Everyone responded to her one by one.
Mama Liu quickly instructed her, "Yuzhen, hurry and prepare some food. Everyone ate this morning and is hungry now." Yuzhen hurriedly replied, "I'm going right away, it'll be ready in a moment!"
As everyone slumped tiredly on the sofas in the living room, they finally felt alive again. Although Gu'an County was only fifty kilometers from the imperial capital, the road was bad, full of potholes, and the carriages bumped violently. They traveled, stopping and starting, taking over six hours from their departure at seven in the morning. Fortunately, Chen Lan had prepared in advance, using diapers for the two infant babies, so all they had to do on the road was feed them. Otherwise, it would have been a huge hassle!
After everyone had eaten and the two infant babies had been fed, changed, and put to sleep, Wen Kai and Wen Qi were sent to rest. The adults sat on chairs in the living room and began to inquire about the events at home over the past few months.
Wen Rou Niang asked, "Yuzhen, are our shops still open?" Yuzhen replied, "Yes, they are open every day."
"Mother: Have any of the shopkeepers or clerks from the three shops resigned?" Yuzhen said, "Yes. After you went to Gu'an County, Father-in-law saw some things outside... so he didn't restock and has been selling off the inventory. Now, each of the three shops only has one shopkeeper and one clerk remaining."
"Mother: Then, can they handle the work?" Yuzhen said, "It's a bit busy. You see, Father-in-law, my uncle, and Hutou's father each help manage a shop every day."
"Mother: Fortunately, your family helped out so much these past few months. Thank you for your hard work!" Yuzhen said, "Lan'er has brought gifts for all of you. We'll distribute them after dinner when everyone is back."
"Yuzhen, are the rooms all clean?" Yuzhen replied, "Yes, Madam! I clean them every other day."
"Sigh! I'm old. Sitting in a carriage makes my back ache so much?" "Alright, everyone go and take a nap. We'll talk about things tonight."
"Lan'er, you should still stay in the room you had before you were married." "Understood, Mother!" Chen Lan replied.