On the carriage, Old Man Yun inquired in detail about the situation in Chujiang Village, and Yun Daman answered each question one by one…
"Dad, that little fatty, no, my elder brother, he's very prosperous. He's also a good person and knows how to do business. The family property that Madam Chu and Master Chu left him, my elder brother not only didn't squander it but also expanded the business. I heard that the inns and banks he opened have several branches in the capital. He's truly accomplished…" Yun Daman sighed.
If the family reunion were successful, then among them, Brother Jiang Village would be the most accomplished so far.
Hearing this, Old Man Yun shot Yun Daman a look, "Hurry up with your horse-drawn sled. Nothing is certain yet, and you're already calling him 'my elder brother.' If he turns out not to be my son, see if you don't get embarrassed. Hmph!~"
Upon hearing this, Little Xi Tian exchanged a glance with Old Man Sun, and they both chuckled softly…
Yun Daman twirled his whip, unconcerned, "Dad, when you meet Brother Jiang Village later, I guarantee you'll like him at first sight. He looks honest and sincere, and he's polite in dealing with people and matters. Anyway, being with him is very comfortable!~"
Little Xi Tian hummed in agreement, "Big Brother, this is called high emotional intelligence. He doesn't offend people with his words and actions, and he likes to act according to the other person's thoughts and stance, so it feels very comfortable…."
"Right, right, that's exactly what I mean, haha!" Yun Daman chuckled heartily and ruffled his sister's little head, "My sister expresses it the clearest!~"
Old Man Yun let out a sigh, feeling a little flustered, mixed with a trace of excitement and anticipation…
Approaching old age, he was unexpectedly gaining a son for free, and one who appeared out of nowhere. This left Old Man Yun somewhat at a loss.
After hearing this, Old Man Sun chimed in with a smile, "So, that Young Master Chu met good people. Otherwise, how could he have grown so big!~"
Let alone coming back to find his father, he probably would have frozen to death in the snowdrift that snowy night…
"Yes, Uncle Sun!" Yun Daman replied, sighing slightly, "As the saying goes, good people don't live long, and bad people live for a thousand years. Those old people were kind-hearted, but unfortunately, that incident happened. Alas, fate is unpredictable!~"
As he spoke, the horse-drawn sled slowly entered the county town and stopped in front of the small building…
Old Man Yun walked in absentmindedly. Er Man and San Man greeted him, but he didn't respond, sitting on a wooden crate and staring blankly.
"Sister, what's wrong with Dad?" Yun Er Man came over and asked.
After a few days, why did he become so withdrawn?
Little Xi Tian smiled and said, "Dad came to the county town this time specifically to see Young Master Chu…."
"Young Master Chu? Young Master Chu?" Yun Er Man was stunned for a moment, "Dad admits he has an illegitimate son outside?"
"Oh, Second Brother, what illegitimate son? Dad didn't know that Young Master Chu's mother was pregnant back then. If Young Master Chu is truly Dad's son, then he would be our elder brother from the same father but different mothers, our own elder brother…." Little Xi Tian explained.
Yun Er Man nodded slightly and glanced back at Da Man, feeling a surge of satisfaction.
Well, Da Man had bullied him a lot since childhood because he was his elder brother, and he dared not resist. Now that Da Man had an elder brother above him, he would have to let Jiang Village teach him a good lesson…
Old Man Sun returned to the flat house and brought some high-quality dried tobacco leaves to give to Old Man Yun, "You keep these to smoke. I've been coughing lately, so I quit smoking. These tobacco leaves are ones I grew myself before, and they taste great!~"
Old Man Yun came back to his senses, picked up the tobacco leaves, "With these things, I can pass the time. Next spring, I'll also clear a piece of land in the backyard and grow tobacco leaves myself to smoke…."
Most of the tobacco leaves sold in the county town were transported from the south and were too expensive. A pound would cost two to three hundred copper coins, and the taste was also unsatisfactory.
After a few casual conversations, they began to work. Soon, the sound of 'ding-ding-dang-dang' echoed from the small building. The major work was nearing completion, and the remaining small tasks were nothing more than setting up the ground cages, installing window lattices, and making tables, chairs, and benches…
As noon approached, Zhuang Er was about to instruct Little Li to go to the flat house to cook when the door to the first-floor hall was suddenly pushed open.
Everyone turned to look and saw Chu Jiang Village walking in with his hands tucked into his sleeves, smiling.
Old Ma and Er Ma followed behind, carrying two large food containers.
It seemed they were here to deliver food…
After parting ways that day, Chu Jiang Village pondered for a long time, always feeling that the Old Yun family living in Dashui Village had a subtle connection with him.
His biological father's surname was Yun, and his given name was Fu. Although there was no portrait and he didn't know what he looked like, among the families who fled famine from Feiyan Village to this place, there weren't many surnamed Yun, and even fewer named Yun Fu…
Therefore, Chu Jiang Village came today to ask the three Yun brothers what their father's name was and if they could introduce him.
If that wasn't possible, he could personally visit Dashui Village.
"Oh my, Young Master Chu is here! You came, you came, why did you buy so much food? Come in and sit!~" Yun Daman hurried to greet him.
Hearing this, Chu Jiang Village instructed Old Ma and Er Ma to hand over the food containers and said with a smile, "It's just some simple food. You work hard; how can you have the energy to work if you don't eat enough…."
After speaking, he glanced around the hall and suddenly saw a small, plump little girl sitting on a stool, nibbling on a piece of milk tofu, looking very cute.
"Who is this little girl?" Chu Jiang Village was a bit bewildered.
Although it was the first time he had seen her, this little girl gave him a natural sense of closeness, and he really wanted to go and dote on her…
Yun Daman said, "That's my sister, Xi Tian!~"
Little Xi Tian turned her head, put away the milk tofu, jumped off the stool, and ran over, "Hello, Brother Chu!"
Her sweet, milky voice reached Chu Jiang Village's ears, and he felt his heart melting…
Perhaps it was because he was over thirty and still unmarried and childless, but he melted completely upon seeing such a cute little thing.
"Oh, hello, hello, little girl, you too!~" Chu Jiang Village said with a smile, and quickly instructed Er Ma, "Go buy some pine nut candy for this little girl, and some other snacks and small toys too!"
Er Ma: "…"
Young Master, I've never seen you so attentive to anyone's child before.
"Thank you, Brother Chu, but no need!~" Little Xi Tian smiled and refused, then opened her small mouth, revealing a set of uneven teeth, "Xi Tian has already eaten candy, and my teeth hurt a lot, so I can't eat candy for now!"
This plump brother was indeed as approachable as Big Brother said.
Chu Jiang Village pursed his lips and smiled, "Then keep it for later. Er Ma, go buy it…."
Er Ma replied with an "oh" and trotted out.
Just then, Old Man Sun came down from upstairs, patting the sawdust off his clothes and muttering, "Ah, when people get old, they become useless. Doing a little work makes them pant and their backs and legs ache. Alas, I really don't accept getting old!~"
Hearing this, Chu Jiang Village looked up, and his expression suddenly changed in shock…