Chen Lan let out a sigh of relief as everyone stopped inquiring about Xiang Dong and Er Hu.
“Jia Hui, Jia Yao, don’t rush! Wait a moment, Mother will wash her hands and then hold you,” she called out.
With that, she hurried upstairs, washed her face and hands in the washroom, and changed out of her outer clothes. Dressed in clean attire, she descended the stairs to the living room, where everyone was waiting at the dining table for her.
Chen Lan stepped forward and took Jia Yao from Xiao Shan’s mother. Jia Hui, seeing this, immediately became restless in her mother’s arms, wriggling and reaching out towards Chen Lan. She cried, “Mother, Mother hold me.”
Chen Lan had no choice but to free one hand and take her from her mother’s embrace, saying, “Jia Hui, you can be held by Mother, but no fighting, do you hear me, Jia Hui, Jia Yao?”
The two little ones nodded their heads furiously, like chicks pecking at rice. Just then, Hu Yuzhen, Cui Qiao, and Zhao Xiaoyue brought the dishes to the table. The meal was still served at two separate tables, one for men and one for women.
Her mother-in-law happily said to Chen Lan, “Xiao Lan! Let me tell you, our valley has a great piece of news.”
Chen Lan asked curiously, “Mother-in-law, what great news is there in the valley today? I had no idea! You didn’t mention it when I left this morning!”
Her mother-in-law glanced at Zhao Xiaoyue’s belly. Zhao Xiaoyue’s face instantly turned crimson, and she shyly lowered her head, sitting beside Mother Cui. Mother Cui was also beaming with joy.
Chen Lan immediately understood and exclaimed happily, “Xiao Yue is pregnant, and Er Hu ge is going to be a father? Is that right? Mother-in-law, Mother Cui? Congratulations, Xiao Yue, on becoming a mother! Congratulations, Mother Cui, on becoming a grandmother! Congratulations, Uncle De, on becoming a grandfather!”
Her mother-in-law and Mother Cui nodded repeatedly with delight. Her mother-in-law happily said, “This is the first piece of good news since we arrived in the valley these past few months, so I asked everyone to gather here today to celebrate and have some drinks!
How time flies, that boy Er Hu is already a father. I originally wanted to surprise him today, but who knew he wouldn’t be back from the camp.
Well! Since they aren’t coming back, they’ll miss out. We’ve made quite a few good dishes today.
Alright! Enough talk, the food will get cold. Let’s pick up our chopsticks and start eating quickly.”
With that, she picked up her chopsticks and placed a chicken wing in front of Chen Lan. Seeing their mother-in-law start eating, everyone else joined in.
Her mother quickly took Jia Yao from Chen Lan’s arms and said, “Lan’er, put them in the playpen. They’ve both just been fed and are full. Let them play by themselves.”
Jia Yao, at this moment, patted his bulging little belly with his chubby little hands and said, “Full, full.”
Chen Lan handed two differently colored colorful balls to the siblings to play with. She then sat down, ready to eat.
Her mind preoccupied with the matter of the bandits, Chen Lan found the evening meal rather tasteless and distracted, with little appetite. She managed to eat only half a bowl of rice before she couldn’t eat any more.
Her mother, seeing this, asked with concern, “Lan’er, what’s wrong? Are you tired from climbing the mountain? Then go back to your room and take a hot bath. Don’t worry about the siblings; I’ll bring them up to you when they’re sleepy.”
Chen Lan, not wanting to worry her mother, went along with her suggestion and went upstairs. She took a hot bath, and although her body was tired and she longed to sleep, she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
Her mind kept replaying thoughts like, “Have Xu Mingxuan and the others reached the bandit den? Have they captured the bandits? Is anyone injured?” She mulled over these thoughts, becoming increasingly restless and unable to sleep.
By the time her mother and Mother Liu, each holding a sleeping baby, brought the twins upstairs, Chen Lan was still wide awake. Yawning, she took the two little ones and placed them in the middle of the bed, tucking them in.
Her mother instructed, “Lan’er, if you’re tired, go to sleep early. We’re going down now.” With that, she and Mother Liu turned and left the room, closing the door behind them.
Chen Lan endured a night of torment, unable to sleep, constantly waiting and hoping for their safe return that night, praying that nothing would happen. Tonight was destined to disappoint Chen Lan. There was no sign of activity outside the main gate. It wasn’t until close to dawn that Chen Lan finally drifted into a dazed sleep.
She was awakened in the morning by the little chubby hands of the twins. The two little ones, one on each side, were patting Chen Lan’s face with their small, ungentle hands.
She suddenly opened her eyes, looked at the twin siblings, and it took her a moment to realize where she was.
The siblings thought their mother was playing with them and patted her even more enthusiastically.
This jolted Chen Lan fully awake. She mentally opened the system and checked the system time. It was already nine in the morning, which explained why the two little ones were awake.
She quickly dressed the siblings. Just then, her mother pushed the door open and came in. The mother and daughter quickly washed the twins and then carried them downstairs for breakfast.
Because she hadn’t slept well the night before, Chen Lan lacked energy. Her mother and Mother Liu were feeding the twins their breakfast.
Chen Lan still had no appetite for breakfast. After quickly eating a bowl of congee, she said to her mother, “Mother, I’ll leave the siblings to you and Mother Liu. I didn’t sleep well last night! I’m going upstairs to catch up on sleep.”
With that, she turned and headed upstairs.
Mother Liu asked her mother in a hushed, secretive tone, “Xiao Lan, is there good news for her too?”
Her mother paused for a moment before understanding and replied, “No way! She just had her period a few days ago, it’s impossible?”
Mother Liu sounded slightly disappointed. “Xiao Yue has good news, and our Hu Tou is already over three years old. Xiang Dong has been home for almost a year now. It’s been so long, and Yuzhen still has no good news.”
Her mother consoled her, “Being father and son, mother and daughter, husband and wife all requires destiny. Don’t rush. Perhaps destiny hasn’t arrived yet. When destiny arrives, you’ll have two children in three years.”
Mother Liu said happily, “That would be wonderful! I couldn’t wish for anything more!”
Chen Lan slept until noon. She only woke up when her mother came upstairs to call her for lunch. Upon seeing her mother, she immediately asked, “Mother, have Xiang Dong ge and Er Hu ge returned yet?”
Her mother asked, puzzled, “Not yet. I guess their comrades at the camp won’t let them leave. What’s wrong? Lan’er, do you need to see them for something?”
Chen Lan quickly changed the subject and asked, “No, it’s nothing, I was just asking casually. By the way, Mother, did it rain outside today? I notice it’s a bit colder than yesterday.”
Her mother didn’t think much of it and replied, “It rained a little around 9:30 after breakfast, but it’s stopped now. However, it is colder than yesterday. Sudan Novels.”
“Alright! Stop dawdling and get up. Everyone is waiting for you, and the food will get cold soon!”