Chapter 307

Guoguo’s shout drew everyone in the house out. The first one who heard him was Liu Tong. The moment he heard the name “Guoguo”, he stopped what he was doing and rushed to the door.

Guoguo shouted loudly, so everyone else also heard him. They ran out one after another.

When they reached the door, everyone saw Guoguo standing at the door with a horse. Seeing them, Guoguo smiled and said, “I’m back.”

Liu Tong was unable to hold himself back. He rushed over and took Guoguo in his arms with teary eyes. He held Guoguo tightly and called Guoguo’s name repeatedly.

It had been almost three years since they had last seen Guoguo. Guoguo was now an adult, and nearly as tall as Liu Tong.

Guoguo held his Daddy and patted him on the back gently. He didn’t cry, but was echoing with Liu Tong, and saying, “I’m back.”

That made Liu Tong realize that Guoguo was back for real.

Liu Tong was not the only one who was emotional and the others were no better. Guoguo saw his Dad, who seemed not to submit to anything, looking away and knew that his eyes must have turned red too.

While the remaining ones, Baozi and Tangtang, were not acting reservedly at all. They rushed to Guoguo’s sides and held him.

The other ones who rushed to Guoguo’s sides were the Zhuo family, who were muttering, “It’s great that you’re back.” They kept repeating these words.

Guoguo had imagined how happy his family would be when he came back, but he had never imagined that they would be happy and expectant like this. They had been waiting for him to come home for a long, long time.

They had been standing at the door for a while before Zhuo Yun said, “Let’s go inside the room first! Guoguo must be tired from traveling so far. Let him eat and have a rest first.”

“Okay, okay,” Liu Tong pulled Guoguo into the house while the others followed closely behind. At last, only Xu Ran was left alone, standing outside.

It had taken some time before Xu Ran came back to reality and found that he was left alone. He felt a little helpless, but there was a smile on his face. His son was finally back, and the family was reunited again.

Xu Ran glanced at the scenery outside and went into the house.

In the room, Liu Tong had been staying by Guoguo’s side and refused to move a step away from him. Even the meal was cooked by Qin Shuwen. Since he hadn’t seen his brother in a long time, Baozi, rarely, left Qingshu alone.

Back then, Xu Ran had told Baozi that his brother had been on an errand and wouldn’t be back in a while. However, Baozi had never imagined that this errand would cost his brother almost three years, while Baozi was not that naive and ignorant kid, who believed whatever Xu Ran said, anymore, so he could also guess why Guoguo had been missing for so long.

Therefore, Baozi had been pestering Guoguo for the reason of his disappearance back then.

Xu Ran happened to come in at this time. When he heard Baozi’s question, he also wanted to know why Guoguo had suddenly disappeared without any trace then.

As for what had happened at that time, besides Xu Ran and Baozi, everyone else also wanted to know about it. Among them, the most curious one was Tangtang.

Tangtang stared nervously at Guoguo, waiting for his answer.

When Guoguo saw everyone’s curious face, he couldn’t help but smile before saying slowly, “Actually, I also fell into that pit then. Tangtang, you must know that pit. It was in the middle of that wood. At first, we knew nothing about it, and I fell into it while running away. Then I fell into somewhere else. As for those barbarians, I didn’t know what happened to them. They seemed to have fallen down with me, but I didn’t see them. Down below was a river. I fell right into the river and that was how I survived. As to them, I didn’t know what happened to them thereafter.”

After listening to Guoguo’s words, Tangtang said, “Those 100 barbarians died in that pit. It was when their corpses had decayed that we found that out. Now that I heard what you said, it seems that there’s more to that pit.”

Guoguo nodded. “Exactly. Otherwise, there would have been more people falling into that river along with me once we fell down into that pit together.”

“Well then, Guoguo, where have you been for the past few years? Why have I failed to find you no matter how hard I’ve tried? I asked King Yan to search every inch of Yanzhou, and he even sent people to the boundary of those barbarians’ territory.”

Hearing Xu Ran’s question, Guoguo blushed awkwardly. If he wanted to answer this question, he naturally had to mention that he was already married. Now Shanwai Muya was nearly five months pregnant, but his family knew nothing about him at all.

Guoguo hesitated for a moment and told them everything that had happened in Shanwai Clan. If he didn’t tell them about it, he would feel guilty himself. After all, it was not that he had no love for Shanwai Muya.

After hearing what Guoguo said about what had happened in Shanwai Clan, the whole family was in a state of extreme shock, because none of them had expected that Guoguo should have been married…

The room fell silent, and no one said a word. Guoguo was shy while the others were astonished.

In the end, Tangtang taunted, “I’m your elder brother. How can you get married before me?” Tangtang broke the ice.

Guoguo replied bluntly, “Back then, you told me to give it a try and I would know about it. Now that I’ve tried, it feels great. So, you can also marry someone now. Look, even our little Baozi has someone he likes.”

Tangtang turned to look at Baozi, who was sitting on the other side of him, and then at Qingshu, who was sitting next to Baozi. Finally, he glanced at everyone and found that he was the only bachelor left. In the face of Guoguo’s taunt, he was speechless.

The atmosphere was livened up due to the conversation between the twins. Xu Ran asked Guoguo, “You said that the reason you were able to come back was because your spouse was pregnant, and that’s why you could leave. Are you planning to go back? Once you go back, are you going to have one more baby and leave them in Shanwai Clan while you two come back, or are you going to stay by your spouse’s side in that place your whole life?”

Guoguo heard Xu Ran’s question and a saying popped into his mind: What will be will be.

It was not that he had never thought about this issue before, but no matter how many times he thought about it, he could get no answer. He couldn’t leave his Dad and brothers alone, while naturally, he couldn’t leave his spouse and baby alone. No matter whose side he took, it wouldn’t work. He was in a dilemma now.

Guoguo shook his head. “I don’t know, Dad. No matter whose side I take, it’s not going to work, and I can’t figure out a perfect solution.”

It sure was a dilemma, but Xu Ran already got an answer after he heard what Guoguo said. He knew about his child’s personality. What’s more, Guoguo did love his spouse. It was not that his spouse didn’t want to go back with him, but he couldn’t.

Xu Ran sighed, “Unless the clan rule changes, there will be no way out. Now that you just came back, you can’t leave at once. Take some time off at home first! Your brother is going to take the imperial examination in the capital city next spring. If you are willing to take the provincial examination, you don’t have to go with him. If not, go to the capital city with your brother. When this matter is over, I will go to Shanwai Clan with you and have a look. You have to think of ways to take your family back. Alright, eat something and then go upstairs to rest. ”

After that, Xu Ran took Liu Tong away. Qin Shuwen served the dishes and let Guoguo have them. He told Guoguo to have a good meal and then left with Zhuo Yun.

In order not to bother his brother while he was having meal, Baozi took Qingshu away. Finally, only Tangtang, the sole bachelor, was left.

Guoguo picked up the bowl, looked at Tangtang, who was staring at him, and asked, “Brother, why aren’t you leaving? Don’t worry. Now that I’m back, I won’t disappear for no reason again.”

Tangtang spread out his hands and said helplessly, “Because no one takes me away!”

When Guoguo heard Tangtang’s words, he suddenly felt that his brother was a little pitiful. The other family members were all in pairs, while he also had someone to miss in his mind, but only his miserable brother had no idea who to miss.

Guoguo patted Tangtang on the shoulder seriously, “Brother, rest assured! It’s only a matter of time before you find someone you like.”

Tangtang slapped his hand away. “I’m not in a hurry at all. I’m just worried that no one will talk to me in the future.”

“Brother, don’t worry! After all, you are my brother. I will talk to you, even out of pity. Besides, you are leaving for the capital city to take the imperial examination soon. Since you cannot find the right person in the village, there must be one in the huge capital city. Maybe you will be back with someone else.”

Tangtang rolled his eyes. “What nonsense are you talking? I don’t want to get married so early. Otherwise, I will definitely have some scruples when I become a government officer in the future. You’d better mind your own business!” After that, Tangtang stood up and left.

Guoguo shrugged behind him, and then kept on having his meal.

But before long, Guoguo was suddenly hugged by someone. “Guoguo, it’s great that you’re back.”

Guoguo’s heart melted into water uncontrollably. He hugged the person behind him and whispered into his ear, “Brother, I’m back, so don’t blame yourself anymore.”

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