Since Jiao Jiao was confirmed to be in Dashui Village, Si Ya Ke Dun was determined to bring that little girl home, no matter what method she used.
As for Yan Er, she would send people to search for her slowly after returning to the grasslands.
"Understood, Ke Dun adult!~" Ren Du La responded and turned to leave.
The next morning, at the Old Yun family in Dashui Village...
Old Man Yun finished washing his face and came out with the washbasin to pour water. He habitually called out, "Xiao Lou, come wash your face first. The water in the pot is nice and hot!~"
He called for a long time but received no answer. Old Man Yun then remembered that Jin Xiao Lou had already left and gone home.
Xiao Xi Tian heard the commotion and walked out of the room with her short legs.
Seeing her father standing at the door in a daze, with a slightly melancholic expression, she walked up to comfort him, "Daddy, Brother Xiao Lou said that after he settles down back in his country, he will come to visit you again..."
"This, this I know!~" Old Man Yun snapped back to reality and sighed, "I'm just worried something might happen to him on the way. Xiao Ying and Xiao Jun are so unreliable. What if they lose Xiao Lou?"
Alas, if only I had called Si Man back to escort Xiao Lou home...
I don't know what Young Master Xiao was in such a hurry for. He didn't discuss it with anyone beforehand and just sent Xiao Lou away.
"That won't happen, Daddy~!" Xiao Xi Tian said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "Brother Xiao Ying and Brother Xiao Jun, while they may seem carefree, they are quite reliable when it comes to important matters..."
Even Xiao Xi Tian didn't quite believe her own words.
After Magistrate Chen finished building the windmills in Dashui Village, he led a group of craftsmen to the next village, aiming to complete all the windmills before the Dragon Boat Festival.
There were too many miscellaneous matters at the shop. After celebrating Xiao Xi Tian becoming a County Princess, Zhao Gui Hua returned to the county town to busy herself.
Da Man and Er Man stayed at home to help their father with planting, watering, and weeding. Du Tie Shan, while recuperating, helped Huai Hua with household chores and cooking, waiting for the autumn to give birth.
Xiao Zhu Zi had grown a lot after the New Year. When Gui Hua was away, he was left in the care of Du Tie Shan and Madam Gu.
Yun Xiao Bao still practiced martial arts with his spear and staff every day, aspiring to become a great martial artist. Madam Gu, seeing his intelligence, thought of sending him to a primary school class soon. The Old Yun family could not have an illiterate member.
Old Man Sun was still the same. When he had free time, he would go next door to play a game of chess with Xiao Jin Feng, or carry a water bucket and take Yun Xiao Bao and Gao Jing De fishing at Gou Gou Lake.
Furthermore, in a few days, Xiao Jin Feng was to marry Jin Huai Hua. The large house next door was now bustling with people coming and going, red silk streamers hung in the courtyard, and even the doors were adorned with "xi" characters (喜 - joy/double happiness).
As Huai Hua was to become a bride, Madam Gu had also taken out her deed of sale and returned it to Huai Hua. From now on, she was no longer a servant of the Yun family.
But Huai Hua was a loyal and righteous girl. Even after leaving the Yun family, she would not forget the kindness Madam Gu had shown her.
Xiao Jin Heng was still the same. Every day, he would either stay in his study or drag Xiao Xi Tian to chat, sometimes for the entire day.
Life seemed to have returned to the past, ordinary and filled with playful bickering. But looking back carefully, the Yun family was no longer the same Yun family that had fled here in desperation.
"I'm going to the fields to weed, why are you following me?" Old Man Yun pushed Han Chi Jiao away and reprimanded, "If you have that much energy, you might as well help Young Master Xiao wipe the tables or stoke the fire. He's getting married in a few days, and you're not helping with anything. You're just waiting to eat what's prepared. I'll have to charge you for living expenses from now on..."
Han Chi Jiao pouted upon hearing this, dismissively saying, "Uncle Yun, why are you so stingy? My family has countless cattle and sheep on the hills, we're not short of living expenses. I just want to go and work with you today, to experience farm life!~"
Because they were accustomed to herding and cutting grass on the northern frontier, Han Chi Jiao had never farmed before and was very curious.
Old Man Yun snorted and cast a sideways glance at Han Chi Jiao, "If I tire Your Royal Highness, I won't be able to explain it to your parents. Move aside, don't block the way!~"
Seeing this, Han Chi Jiao was not about to give up. Regardless of whether Old Man Yun was willing, she trotted along after him.
Unexpectedly, as they reached the main entrance, a carriage slowly drove up.
When Han Chi Jiao saw the driver, her beautiful eyes widened, and she took two steps back, too shocked to speak, "Ren, Commander Ren?"
Indeed, it was Ren Du La driving the carriage, and inside sat Si Ya Ke Dun and Han Chi Er Kehan.
It seemed Magistrate Chen had not misjudged them that day. Abu and mother had indeed found their way to Dashui Village.
Han Chi Jiao's heart pounded. The thought of being taken back to the grasslands made her feel incredibly dejected.
Old Man Yun, carrying his hoe, silently watched the old couple get out of the carriage. He then discreetly glanced at Han Chi Jiao, saying nothing.
Si Ya Ke Dun, carrying several boxes of pastries and two jars of wine, greeted Old Man Yun with a smile, "Good day, sir!~"
Old Man Yun's mouth twitched, "Good, good..."
Immediately, Si Ya Ke Dun turned to Han Chi Jiao with a stern expression and reprimanded angrily, "You've been playing wild outside, and you don't even say a word when you see your parents?"
Han Chi Er also puffed out his chest, coughed lightly, and kept winking at Han Chi Jiao.
Silly daughter, quickly pay your respects to your mother. If she gets angry, she'll skin you alive.
In fact, as soon as the old couple got out of the carriage and saw that Jiao Jiao was fine, their worried hearts were put at ease.
Perhaps Han Chi Jiao had lived in the countryside for too long, her entire being exuding a rustic charm and simple demeanor, showing no trace of a barbarian princess. This was what made Si Ya Ke Dun angry.
Han Chi Jiao trembled with fear, quickly finished the remaining half skewer of candied hawthorn, wiped her hands, and stepped forward to respectfully bow to her parents, "Chi Jiao pays respects to Aba, pays respects to Ema..."
The commotion here also attracted Xiao Xin Ling and Xiao Xi Tian and the others.
The moment Xiao Xi Tian saw Han Chi Er, she paused.
Was this Han Chi Er, the leader of the barbarians who roamed the northern frontier and commanded great power?
He looked no different from an ordinary old man from the countryside.
Xiao Jin Heng stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, his deep eyes fixed on Han Chi Er, like a fearsome god of death, ready to charge forward and tear Han Chi Er to shreds at any moment.
Han Chi Er seemed to sense the strange gaze and craned his neck to look, only to see a small boy staring at him menacingly.
"Do I, do I have a grudge against him?" Han Chi Er scratched his head and muttered to himself.
Coincidentally, Xiao Xi Tian overheard this. She blinked her big eyes at Han Chi Er, thinking to herself that the family was about to become lively again.