Chen Lan nodded, finding Xu Mingxuan's explanation reasonable, and didn't ask further. She then pointed to the toiletries and change of clothes, saying to Xu Mingxuan, "Brother Mingxuan, it looks like your clothes and pants are soaked from the snow. Have Er Zhuang take your two comrades into a room to wash up first! Tell them to change out of their wet clothes and put on clean ones after their bath. I'll have the girls wash them all tonight. We'll take apart the outer fabric of your padded jackets and trousers, then sew them onto new ones. That way, no one will be able to tell you've changed clothes."
Xu Mingxuan nodded and didn't object, feeling that Lan'er's arrangement was even more suitable.
Thus, the couple left the guest room and went their separate ways to act.
Xu Mingxuan said a few words to Er Zhuang, who then took Da Ye into a guest room to wash up. Er Zhuang was to teach Da Ye how to use the items in the room.
Since they had just finished eating, and had eaten so much after being hungry for so long, Xu Mingxuan was worried that the old leader would feel even more uncomfortable if he bathed now. So, he first took Qingsong to another guest room to bathe.
After all, they were men who had been trained in the army for many years, so they were fast. Not only did they eat fast, but they also bathed fast. In a short time, all four of them had finished bathing, coming out in new clothes steaming hot, without even wearing their outer padded jackets and trousers.
Xu Mingxuan told Er Zhuang to quickly arrange for Da Ye and Qingsong to go to bed and rest so they wouldn't catch a cold. He also instructed Jia Yao and Jia Xing to gather the dirty clothes they had changed out of and give them to the sisters to wash.
Then, he walked to the sofa, bent down, and looked at his old leader, saying, "Uncle, I'll take you to take a hot bath and change into clean clothes. You'll feel warmer. Don't worry, we're home now. You and Auntie will live with us. When things outside calm down, I'll come back to the valley to pick you and Auntie up."
At this moment, the old leader finally spoke. As soon as he opened his mouth, he coughed violently. After finally stopping, he said in a hoarse voice, "Mingxuan, why go through all this? An old man like me has lived long enough! Let me die! So many comrades sacrificed on the battlefield. I've lived all these years, and I've lived enough. Why bother implicating you and your family?"
Xu Mingxuan interrupted the old leader's words and enlightened him, "Uncle, please don't talk about implicating others. You and Auntie can live with your nephew with peace of mind. Don't worry, I've already arranged for follow-up matters. They won't be able to find us to discuss anything. You and Auntie can live peacefully in the valley. This valley is very hidden. If Commander Zheng Sanpao hadn't led me back that year, I, an old scout, wouldn't have been able to find this place. This place is surrounded by high mountains, and there's no proper way out. Without someone to lead the way, those people won't be able to find this place."
The old leader coughed again. After a while, he continued in a hoarse voice, "How is Sanpao now? I heard he injured his leg in a battle on the other side last time and retired to go home."
Xu Mingxuan said with a smile, "Uncle, it's not just Zheng Sanpao, but also Qi Shengli, Zhou Sixi, Chen Erlin, and Tie Zi, Zhao Tie, and their group who are all living in the valley now. If you want to see them, I'll tell my eldest son to have them all come over tomorrow to chat with you."
The old leader coughed violently again and said in a hoarse voice, "They are all here! That's great, I can see them again! Mingxuan, there's no rush to see them now. It's not too late to see them after my body recovers a few days later."
Xu Mingxuan immediately replied, "Uncle, please don't worry. Your illness will get better soon. My two younger brothers-in-law and my eldest son are all studying medicine. They just took your and Auntie's pulse and said your illness is not very serious. It's just a prolonged cold that has affected your lungs. But don't worry, it can definitely be cured. They are now decocting medicine for you and Auntie, and we can drink it after we finish bathing. Let me tell you, Uncle, there is also a divine doctor from the capital living in our valley. His medical skills are top-notch in the capital, and my two younger brothers-in-law and my eldest son are all his disciples."
Seeing the old leader nod, Xu Mingxuan continued, "However, Uncle, the four of us can't stay to chat with you. We've been out for five or six days, and we'll be heading back early tomorrow morning."
The old leader coughed and nodded. Xu Mingxuan picked up the old leader and shouted, "Jia He, help Dad move a wooden chair to the bathroom in the guest room."
Jia He happily replied, "Okay! Dad, I'll be right there."
The four daughters took the dirty clothes carried out by Jia Yao and Jia Xing and immediately started working. Chen Lan saw that the inner clothes they were wearing were too worn to look at and there was no need to wash them.
So she gave instructions, "Chun Ni, you four sisters put the things aside for now and don't worry about them. Quickly take apart the outer fabric of your father's padded jackets and trousers, wash and dry them, and then sew them onto the new padded jackets and trousers."
The four daughters nodded repeatedly and followed suit. Chen Lan turned around and saw her brothers Jia Yao and Jia Xing coming to help, so she instructed them, "Jia Yao and Jia Xing, go to the guest room and bring out the new padded jackets and trousers that I bought for your father."
The items were brought out quickly, and the brothers and sisters got busy. Jia Yao, Jia Xing, and Jia He were responsible for taking things apart, while Chun Ni, Chun Fang, Chun Hua, and Jia Hui were responsible for washing, drying, and sewing.
Chen Lan now needed to prepare supplies for those going hunting tomorrow, so she took the triplets upstairs first, cleaned them up, and then settled them down to sleep.
The three little ones were also very observant. Although they grumbled that their father hadn't hugged them when he returned, they knew that the adults at home were busy and didn't cause trouble. They were obedient and fell asleep in no time. Sudan Novel Network
Seeing that the three of them were asleep, Chen Lan began to get busy. Only Xu Mingxuan and the other three needed sleds, as all the children in the valley had them. She only needed to prepare some food and tents for staying out overnight.
So, she opened the system with her mind and started buying. She also placed another order in the system for some regular medicines to take with Xu Mingxuan and the others, as well as vacuum-packed cooked food and two thick quilts.