Xu Mingxuan immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed with a "bang".
He said urgently, "Mother, Mother-in-law, I've received an urgent mission and may not be home for a long time. You two must take good care of yourselves, look after Lan'er, help me manage this home, and take care of my comrades. You must wait for me to return."
After speaking, he kowtowed twice more with "bang bang".
At this moment, his mother and mother-in-law also sensed that something was not right.
The mother remembered the situation when her elder son left home, and it was so similar to this time. Tears streamed down her face, and she cried uncontrollably.
The dragon and phoenix twins, who were eating, saw their maternal grandmother crying and started crying loudly as well.
Chen Lan's eyes also welled up with tears. She hurried forward, hugged her mother tightly, and comforted the twins.
Xu Mingxuan stood up and walked to Uncle Fu, Uncle De, Xiang Dong, and Er Hu. He said in a low voice, "Uncle Fu, Uncle De, Xiang Dong, Er Hu, I'm entrusting the home to you. Help me take care of this home, my mother, my mother-in-law, Lan'er, and also Mama Cui and Mama Liu. And my comrades, I'm also entrusting them to your care."
He calmed his emotions and then solemnly instructed, "Xiang Dong, Er Hu, I have something to ask of you two. You must leave the valley and help me bring my dozens of comrades to live in our valley. Lan'er knows the specific addresses and names; the list is with her.
Xiang Dong, Er Hu, you must help me accomplish this no matter what."
Xiang Dong and Er Hu immediately stood at attention and replied in unison, "Yes, we guarantee to complete the mission!"
At this time, Xiang Xi, with Er Zhuang, had already changed their clothes and was waiting. As soon as they finished speaking, Er Zhuang eagerly said, "Political Commissar, can you help bring my parents and sister to the valley as well?"
Xu Mingxuan looked at Er Zhuang, saw his eyes full of anticipation, and nodded with a serious expression. "Yes, but you must promise me that you will return alive to support your parents in their old age. Can you promise me? If you can, go and leave your address and names."
Er Zhuang happily nodded repeatedly, his mouth stretched wide in a happy smile. He quickly saluted and replied, "Report, Political Commissar, I guarantee to complete the mission."
After speaking, he happily turned and walked towards Xiang Dong, leaving behind the specific address of his home and the names, ages, and characteristics of his parents.
Xu Mingxuan ignored him and walked up to the six comrades. He said loudly, "Listen up, everyone! Live well and wait for me to return! I'm entrusting the home to you. Guard this home and this valley well. Do you hear me?"
The soldiers and everyone else answered in unison in a loud voice, "We hear you! We guarantee to complete the mission!"
After speaking, Xu Mingxuan went forward and hugged them one by one. Then he looked up at everyone with great reluctance.
Finally, his gaze fell on Chen Lan, who was holding the twins and comforting her mother-in-law, who was still crying. He looked at them deeply, as if to imprint them in his heart.
Then his gaze became firm again. Without hesitation, he turned and walked towards the door.
Ming Wei, who had just come out of the kitchen holding a packet of steamed buns and two raincoats, rushed after him, shouting as she ran, "Big Brother, wait..."
Xu Mingxuan stopped, took the raincoats and steamed buns from Ming Wei, touched her head, and said in a hoarse voice, "You've grown into a young lady and are sensible now! Ming Wei, help me take care of Mother and my younger brother!"
Ming Wei nodded with a choked sob, her eyes red and gradually filling with tears. She hummed in response and then lowered her head without speaking.
Xu Mingxuan did not have time to comfort her. He patted her shoulder again.
He took out two of the hot steamed buns and handed them to Er Zhuang, saying in a low voice, "Er Zhuang, eat quickly."
He also took out two steamed buns and ate them quickly. He finished them in just a few bites.
He stuffed the remaining steamed buns into Er Zhuang's arms. He handed Er Zhuang another raincoat and quickly put one on himself.
He said in a low voice, "Let's go!"
Then, without any further hesitation or looking back, he walked away with his back straight and a brisk stride. Soon, their figures disappeared into the vast white snow.
Those who came out to see them off also had moist eyes. His mother-in-law was in tears. Mama Cui was crying uncontrollably.
Seeing how sad Mama Cui was, his mother-in-law stopped crying herself. She turned around and hurriedly comforted her, "Chun Mei, it's alright! Stop crying, be careful of your health. You've just recovered a bit. Don't get sick again. Don't worry! That brat has a strong life and will be fine."
Mama Cui glared with red, swollen eyes and asked choked with sobs, "Miss, how do you know?"
Upon hearing this, his mother-in-law quickly stopped Mama Cui from continuing and said anxiously, "Heaven forbid! Chun Mei, how can you call him that? Remember, you can never call him that again, do you hear me? You should call him Aunt or Mingzhe's mother. Do you hear me?"
Mama Cui stopped crying when her mother-in-law interrupted her.
She wiped the tears from her face and asked anxiously, "Mingzhe's mother, how do you know Mingxuan will be fine this time?"
His mother-in-law said mysteriously in a low voice, "Chun Mei, have you forgotten? When Mingxuan was three years old, the old Taoist who came to beg for alms, do you remember?"
Mama Cui thought for a moment, then suddenly exclaimed, and then said in a low voice, "Could he have been telling the truth? He said back then that Mingxuan wasn't our family's child and that he would have a noble person to help him and great fortune in the future. Could this be true?
But back then, he wanted to take the three-year-old Mingxuan with him. How could I bear it? So I chased him away. Didn't you also say back then that it was superstition and not to believe his nonsense?"
Mama Cui was quite taken aback by her mother-in-law's words. She touched her hair awkwardly and said in a low voice, "I was shortsighted at the time."
Then, with a mysterious air, she whispered, "Chun Mei, the more I think about it, the more it seems true. Look! Mingxuan is now a member of the state. This fulfills the saying that he is not our family's child, right?"
Mama Cui thought for a moment and nodded.
His mother-in-law then whispered to Mama Cui again, "He also said that Mingxuan would have a noble person to help him. Don't you think Xiao Lan is his noble person?"
Mama Cui thought for a moment and nodded again.
His mother-in-law immediately clapped her hands with joy and whispered, "See, it's all come true! That's why I say, Chun Mei, we should relax, stop crying, and not affect Mingxuan's luck. We should eat and drink as usual at home, take good care of ourselves! And wait for him to come back obediently."