The next morning, Du Tieshan and Jin Huaihua were preparing breakfast in the kitchen. The rest of the family had also gotten up and washed up. The hot water in the large pot was quickly used up.
As usual, Xiao Xitian went to the cowshed for a walk to check on the cows' health. Jin Xiaolou followed behind with a pail, milking them.
"Huh? Xiaolou Gege, have you noticed anything missing?" Xiao Xitian asked curiously, her large eyes scanning the cowshed and the stable.
Jin Xiaolou looked up. "Xitian Meimei, our white horse and carriage are gone..."
"That's right!" Xiao Xitian nodded slightly. "Who would have taken the carriage out so early in the morning?"
"Perhaps Young Master Yao and Young Master Sun took it. They've been wanting to go fishing at Gougou Lake since early this morning!" Jin Xiaolou said.
Xiao Xitian didn't think so, because when she woke up this morning, she hadn't seen Sister Murong and Sister Fang'er.
They slept in Xiao Xitian's room, and at this time every day, Sister Fang'er wasn't even awake yet. But today, she was surprisingly early.
In the kitchen, Du Tieshan made sauerkraut stew with frozen tofu and stir-fried eggs with scallions. She took out some salted mustard greens, shredded them, and sprinkled them with chili oil, scallions, garlic, salt, and soy sauce. It was the perfect accompaniment to millet congee.
Jin Huaihua prepared the staple foods: steamed buns, red bean buns, and millet congee. The leftover sticky bean buns from last night were also heated up.
With so many guests at home now, the amount of food for one breakfast was equivalent to three meals for an ordinary family.
Not to mention the half-grown boys like Jin Shan, Jin He, Xiaolou, Yao Jinsheng, and Sun Tianxiu, who were in their growing years. They could eat three or four red bean buns in one meal and still not be full.
"Huaihua, how are you getting along with Young Master Xiao?" Du Tieshan asked with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Jin Huaihua's cheeks instantly turned red. "N-nothing much, he, he's a good person!"
"Oh, look at your blushing face, hahaha!" Du Tieshan playfully flicked Jin Huaihua's nose and leaned closer. "Huaihua, if you ask me, besides Sweet Baby, you have the best fortune in our family. Don't mind that Young Master Xiao is usually boisterous; he's actually not a bad person at all. And I heard from Father and Mother that Young Master Xiao has an unusual background!"
Jin Huaihua: "..."
Second Sister-in-law, please stop teasing me.
"Huaihua, I have a feeling you'll have a good life in the future. You're diligent and kind. If you don't find a good match, it would be too unfair of heaven, wouldn't it?"
Jin Huaihua didn't reply. She stepped forward, lifted the pot lid, and a burst of steam rose. The white red bean buns and steamed buns were already cooked.
"W-when do you plan to have a child with Second Brother Man?" Jin Huaihua murmured.
Du Tieshan: "???"
Why did this turn to me?
In fact, both Er Man and she were not very old. They were young and strong, and there would be no difficulty in having children.
But that brat Er Man didn't mention it either. Du Tieshan was a woman and couldn't be the one to push for a child, so it was awkward.
"What child? Don't I have Little Bao and Jin Shan!" Du Tieshan twitched her mouth.
Jin Huaihua heard this and put the lid back on the pot. She reached out and tugged Du Tieshan. "Second Sister-in-law, Little Bao and Jin Shan are not your children. They were born to Er Man Ge and Liu Cuirong. You're so young now, you should hurry and have your own baby. That way, you'll have someone to take care of you when you're old..."
For Jin Shan and Little Bao, you are at best a stepmother, with no blood relation.
Her words struck a chord with Du Tieshan. She turned back to the stove, scooped out the sauerkraut stew with frozen tofu, and muttered, "He doesn't want one, what can I do?"
Jin Huaihua: "..."
At the breakfast table, Madam Gu scanned everyone and asked curiously, "Where did Miss Fang'er and Miss Murong go? Why aren't they coming to eat?"
"Big Aunt!" Jin Xiaolou put down his chopsticks and said helplessly, "The carriage was taken by someone, and I can't even deliver milk to the county town..."
"What did you say? The carriage is gone?" Old Man Yun's eyes widened, and he quickly looked at everyone. "Did we get robbed? Why would he, he steal our carriage?"
Damn it, the family only had two horses. The date-red horse was pulling the sleigh and had been taken to the county town by Brother Da Man and the other two. The other white horse belonged to Shanshan, and now it was 'lost'.
Yao Jinsheng thought a horse wasn't worth much, just a means of transport that could carry and haul. He comforted Old Man Yun, "Uncle Yun, don't worry. After we finish eating, I'll go with you to the county town to report it!"
Ever since he came to the Yun family, he had been bored to death. It was a good opportunity to go out and stroll.
Just then, Xiao Xitian walked in with a letter and called out crisply, "Sister Fang'er and Sister Murong have left!"
"Left?"
Everyone was surprised. In this icy weather, where could the two sisters have gone?
What if they encountered mountain bandits or robbers?
"Yes, they have indeed left. Daddy, Mommy, look, this is the letter Sister Fang'er left behind, and she also took the carriage..." Xiao Xitian said, handing the letter over.
Old Man Yun quickly unfolded the letter and scanned it, saying incredulously, "Oh my, what is this? Even if they wanted to leave, they should have told us! This, this..."
"Perhaps they had some unspeakable difficulties!" Madam Gu casually took the letter and read it carefully.
The general content of the letter was that the sisters missed their homeland and, with the New Year approaching, they planned to return to the Chen Kingdom to worship their ancestors and burn paper for their families.
Although the Chen Kingdom had been occupied by Yan, the land, streets, houses, and even the imperial palace were still preserved.
Zhao Guihua lowered her head and scooped at the millet congee, secretly smiling to herself. It was good that they left; it was better not to see them.
On the other hand, Yun Jinhe was full of worry and had no appetite for food. "Chen Kingdom is so chaotic now, and there are Yan soldiers everywhere. Aren't they walking into a trap by going back now?"
Miss Murong was such a smart person; she should know the risks.
But why would she do such a foolish thing?
"Jin He, what are you yelling about?" Zhao Guihua glared at Jin He and said impatiently, "The two sisters are not part of our family. If they leave, they leave. Look how anxious you are, anyone would think your wife ran away!"
Yun Jinhe: "..."
From the first day he returned home, he had noticed that his mother disliked Miss Murong. He thought they just didn't know each other well and didn't like to interact. But as time went on, he realized that his mother was clearly making things difficult for Miss Murong on purpose.
Xiao Xitian blinked her big eyes and looked back and forth between her eldest nephew and sister-in-law. Just as she was about to voice her thoughts, a loud "bang" suddenly rang out, startling everyone.