Chapter 306

When they learned the news, the two of them jumped excitedly. Guoguo had never lost his composure like this before. He picked up Shanwai Muya and spun around on the spot.

However, Guoguo calmed down before long. He knew that he still couldn’t go back now. The baby was in the womb, and usually there would be only one. If he wanted to leave, he had to leave alone, but could Shanwai Muya agree? Guoguo didn’t know the answer, nor did he dare to ask.

Guoguo had been troubled by this issue all day long. For several days, he had been spiritless, or in a daze from time to time. At first, Shanwai Muya assumed that Guoguo was unhappy about the baby, but he dismissed this suggestion soon because it was impossible. After all, Guoguo had been as anxious as him.

Shanwai Muya thought it over and figured out why Guoguo had this abnormal behavior. It was nothing but the matter of going home.

They had been married for two years. Besides, feelings were not something Shanwai Muya could control, and now all his attention was given to Guoguo. Shanwai Muya couldn’t stand seeing Guoguo torturing himself like this, so he made a decision on his own.

Shanwai Muya went to the patriarch’s house. “Patriarch, I have something to tell you.”

Seeing Shanwai Muya in a rush, the patriarch couldn’t help but scold him, “You’re pregnant. Why are you still running so fast like a child?”

Shanwai Muya said, “Patriarch, I will be careful. I won’t run like this again. I have something important to tell you.”

The patriarch glanced at him, as if he was an ignorant child. “Do tell! What do you want to say?”

“Patriarch, please allow Xu Mu to leave Shanwai Clan and go home! We are expecting a baby now.”

The patriarch stared at Shanwai Muya in disbelief. “What are you talking about? I doubt there is anyone who will push his husband away like you.”

Shanwai Muya shook his head. “It’s not that I want to push him away, but he has to go back. He has to return to tell his Dad and Daddy that he’s still alive. He has waited for this baby for a long time, and his Dad and Daddy have waited for him for a long time too. If I have it my own way, I can’t bear to have him leave me at all. It’d be best if he could stay with me in Shanwai Clan for the rest of his life.”

The patriarch listened to Shanwai Muya and stared at him with regret and resentment. “Well, you chose this man yourself back then, yet now you’re pushing him away. Don’t you know what the world is like outside? Will he come back once he leaves? Are you aware that as long as I agree to it, you may have to live the rest of your life with the child alone?”

Shanwai Muya shook his head. “I’m aware of that, but I can’t stand seeing him worrying so much. He shouldn’t have been worrying. Besides, there’s not much I can do for him. His biggest wish right now is to go home and see his Dad and Daddy, so even if he never comes back, I’m fine with it.”

After that, Shanwai Muya’s eyes turned red. He couldn’t bear it. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing such a great man forever. He couldn’t bear the thought of the man, who he loved so much, leaving him like this.

He couldn’t bear the thought of his baby losing its Dad since birth.

“Well, why must you do this? Now that you’re expecting a baby, you’ll be expecting the second one in one year or two. Can’t you leave with him when you give birth to the second baby?”

Shanwai Muya shook his head. “Patriarch, that won’t work. It’ll take too long. He has been waiting for two years, and I can’t let him wait for another two years. He’ll be anxious.”

Hearing Shanwai Muya’s words, the patriarch got so angry that he cried out, “If he leaves now, aren’t you going to be anxious? Are you going to be waiting for him here your whole life?”

Shanwai Muya answered, “Patriarch, I don’t want that life either, but I have no other choice. I can’t violate the clan rules.”

The patriarch sighed, “It’s true that the clan rules can’t be violated, but the rules are not hard-and-fast. The last patriarch told me that as long as we could find a suitable place to live in, we could go out. Do you think the other people of the clan don’t want to go out? It’s just that our people don’t know how to communicate with people of other clans, so we don’t dare to go out. What a shame! How hard it is to find a perfect place for us to live in!”

To Shanwai Muya, the patriarch’s words seemed to rekindle hopes, but actually not. As for hopes, it was because when the people of Shanwai Clan left this place in the future, Shanwai Muya would be able to go to Guoguo with the baby. However, the problem was where to find such place, and when he could find such place. What Shanwai Muya lacked now was time, because Guoguo couldn’t afford to wait.

Shanwai Muya sighed and compromised, “Patriarch, please promise me. I’ve already thought it through. Guoguo may come back after he visits home. I’ll wait for him.”

When the patriarch heard Shanwai Muya’s words, he didn’t even know what to say. He waved his hand weakly. “Alright, alright, I promise you. You can go back and tell him the news! Just remember not to come to me to cry when you miss him in the future.”

Shanwai Muya rubbed his eyes. “Thank you, patriarch. I won’t come to you to cry. I will definitely cry secretly, and no one will know.”

When Shanwai Muya finished his words, he turned around and left, for fear that the patriarch would go back on his word.

The patriarch let out a sigh after Shanwai Muya left, feeling helpless.

Shanwai Muya walked home happily. Guoguo was chopping firewood in the yard. He had been doing such chores for two years and was now quite skilled at it.

Shanwai Muya pounced on him from behind and held him, “Guoguo, Guoguo, let me tell you some good news.”

Guoguo put down the axe in his hands, turned around and took Shanwai Muya in his arms. “What makes you so happy? Don’t run so recklessly like this again. Remember that you’re not alone now.”

Shanwai Muya pouted. “Don’t worry! I won’t anymore. I will take good care of myself. I’m just so happy, and that’s why I behave like this. Don’t be mad at me.”

Guoguo rubbed Shanwai Muya’s head. “Well! Alright, I’m not mad. Tell me, what makes you so happy?”

Shanwai Muya heard his words and started to smile again. “I just went to the patriarch. He has agreed to let you go home. Don’t you think it’s good news?”

Seeing Shanwai Muya’s expectant face, Guoguo was stunned and asked, “Am I leaving alone?”

Shanwai Muya stroked his underbelly. “Yeah! We only have one baby now. I can’t go with you.”

Guoguo rubbed Shanwai Muya’s nose bridge. “You’re happy that I’m leaving?”

Shanwai Muya shook his head immediately. “I’m not happy. I don’t want you to leave at all, but I can’t see you worried either. You’ve been absent-minded these days, and I’ve seen that. I know you want to go home. Don’t worry. I’ll wait here until you return.”

Guoguo held him tighter, as if he wanted to rub him into his heart. “Muya, thank you.”

Touched, Shanwai Muya just let Guoguo hug him like this without moving or saying a word.

The next day, Guoguo was chopping firewood. On the third day, he was still chopping firewood. He had been chopping firewood for several days in a row. He also carried water and filled up all the water vats at home. He asked others to take care of all the flocks and herds belonged to them, and told Shanwai Muya all the do’s and don’ts, whether important or trivial.

All this showed that Guoguo was preparing for his departure. When he had told Guoguo the news, Shanwai Muya was happy, but seeing Guoguo doing chores these days, he could no longer be happy. The Dad of the baby in his womb was about to leave them.

On the first day of April, Guoguo finally said that he was leaving. Shanwai Muya had never felt that the days passed by so rapidly. He had watched Guoguo being so busy these days, and thought that it would take some time before he left. However, it didn’t occur to him that Guoguo was actually leaving so soon.

The weather in April was pleasant. Everything came back to life. It was neither cold nor hot, and perfect for traveling. It was also one of the reasons why Guoguo chose to leave at this point of time.

However, when Guoguo said he was leaving, Shanwai Muya didn’t stop him. He went to the patriarch and told him about it. He also asked the patriarch to arrange for someone to lead the way for Guoguo, and then packed up a large bag of food for him to eat on the road.

Guoguo said to Shanwai Muya, “Muya, I’m not sure when I’ll be back exactly. It’ll take me a few months from here to Xu Village. If my Dad and the others are still in Yanzhou, then it’ll take me less time, so you have to take good care of yourself, OK?”

Shanwai Muya nodded. “I see. I’ll take good care of myself. I’ll wait for you to come back.”

Somehow, Guoguo added suddenly, “What if I don’t come back?”

Shanwai Muya burst out laughing, “If you don’t come back in one day, I’ll wait for you for one day; if you don’t come back in one year, I’ll wait for you for one year; if you don’t come back forever, I will wait for you forever. It’s because of your existence that I find the scenery of this gorge beautiful.”

Hearing this, Guoguo said nothing, turned around and left.

The patriarch followed closely behind Guoguo. He stared at these two from the younger generation, speechless.

Shanwai Muya waved at Guoguo’s back, but Guoguo didn’t look back. Therefore, Shanwai Muya had no idea that the eyes of the man, who was not afraid of confronting the fierce barbarians, had turned red because of his words.

When the patriarch and the others sent Guoguo to the entrance of the village, the patriarch advised him again and went back with his people. Then Guoguo rode towards Yanzhou.

When seeing the bustling Yanzhou, Guoguo felt as if it was another life to him.

Guoguo went back to his home in Yanzhou. The door was closed. He didn’t know if anyone was living in it, so he rushed to Red Mansion.

When he arrived at Red Mansion, Guoguo saw Gao Quan, who was doing accounts on the counter, and called out, “Uncle Gao.”

Gao Quan looked up and saw Guoguo. He asked in astonishment, “You are Guoguo? Are you OK?”

Guoguo smiled and nodded. “Uncle Gao, I’m Guoguo. I’m fine, and I’m back. Are my Dad and Daddy here?”

Gao Quan shook his head. “Finally, you are back. Your Dad and Daddy have already gone back to Xu Village. Come on in and eat something first. Then go to King Yan’s Mansion and ask him to send a message to your Dad and Daddy. After that, you may go back.”

Guoguo nodded. “Okay. I’m hungry now.”

When Guoguo entered the door, Gao Quan called Shao Yu to come out at once. He also asked someone to prepare food. When they went into the room upstairs, Guoguo asked Gao Quan about what had happened in the past two years. Since he had been living in Shanwai Clan, he had known nothing.

Gao Quan told Guoguo everything, and then asked Guoguo about the situation back then. Guoguo also told him everything, including his getting married and his baby.

After having a good meal in Red Mansion, Guoguo went to King Yan’s Mansion with Gao Quan. Needless to say, Guoguo was naturally well treated in King Yan’s Mansion.

Guoguo didn’t ask King Yan to write a letter to his family. He only said that he would go back to see them in person, in case his family rejoiced too soon. After all, it was a long journey from Yanzhou to Xu Village, and who knew what would happen on the road?

Knowing that Guoguo was eager to go home, King Yan did not ask him to stay. He only sent someone to escort him home. Guoguo did not refuse. The journey was so long and it wouldn’t hurt if someone could take care of him.

This journey had lasted from April to July. Finally, Guoguo arrived at Xu Village. Watching the scene that was almost same with the one in his memory, Guoguo showed a big smile instantly.

Guoguo rode to his house. He shouted at the shut door, “Dad, Daddy, brother, Baozi, it’s Guoguo. I’m back.”

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