Chapter 327: Return
“General Pei is back!”
Pei Family Village was in an uproar. Everyone rushed forward eagerly, waving their hands and shouting: “General Pei! General Pei!”
General Pei, wearing soft armor, rode in high-spiritedly on horseback. After entering the village, she dismounted the warhorse and slowed her steps to greet one familiar face after another.
From leading troops on the campaign last year, to the great battle with the Xiongnu, and then subduing Liaoxi, she had been leading troops away for nearly a year. At this moment, stepping onto the soil of Pei Family Village, a surging sense of bloodline connection and flesh-and-blood unity welled up in her body.
This was the foundation of the Pei Clan. No matter how far the Pei Family Army expanded or how much territory they gained, Pei Family Village was her root.
In the cheering crowd were her aunt and aunts, her cousin-in-laws, her cousin brothers and cousin sisters, and the milky-voiced little nephews and nieces. And her husband Shi Yan.
Shi Yan was very low-key in such settings, not even grabbing the frontmost spot. He stood in the crowd, grinning at her.
Pei Qinghe relaxed her brows and eyes, her gaze sparkling with laughter, and entered the house surrounded by the crowd.
Pei Yan habitually stuck closely to Pei Qinghe and squeezed into the house. Yang Huai was left behind again.
Yang Huai twitched the corner of his mouth and turned to Shi Yan: “The general has been away for a year; the aunt and aunts must have things to say to her. I’ll head back to settle in first.”
Shi Yan nodded with a smile.
When Yang Huai previously came to Pei Family Village, he stayed in the guest quarters. Now that he had married into the Pei family, he naturally shared a room with Pei Yan. Pei Yan’s house was basically empty year-round, so Yang Huai had quite a bit of busy cleaning and tidying to do upon returning.
By the time Pei Yan returned, the house was spotless, and fresh red bedding had been laid out.
Pei Yan sulked, looking at Yang Huai disapprovingly as usual: “It’s all because of you; now I have to sleep separately from Cousin Sister Qinghe.”
Yang Huai refused to take the full blame and reminded Pei Yan: “The general is also married and has to live with Steward Shi. Even without me, you couldn’t keep living with the general.”
Pei Yan pulled a long face and continued to sulk.
The feeling hadn’t been so strong in Liaoxi. But back in Pei Family Village, that sense of being forced apart came rushing in.
Yang Huai knew Pei Yan’s temper and didn’t provoke her. Only when dinnertime came did he sidle up: “There’s a welcome banquet tonight; the kitchen must have prepared good food. Want to go line up early?”
Of course!
Pei Yan, always the most eager for meals, immediately perked up: “Let’s go line up now!” She grabbed Yang Huai’s hand casually and excitedly left the house.
Yang Huai’s mouth curved into a grin.
They hadn’t gone far when they ran into Pei Qinghe and Shi Yan.
The two weren’t holding hands or too close, yet they shared an intimacy that others couldn’t easily join.
As soon as Pei Yan saw Pei Qinghe, she tossed her husband to the back of her mind, let go of his hand, and ran over with thudding steps, incidentally shoving Shi Yan aside. She firmly claimed the spot closest to Pei Qinghe.
Shi Yan good-naturedly smiled, slowed his steps a bit more, and walked shoulder-to-shoulder with the sulky Yang Huai.
Yang Huai muttered slightly dissatisfied: “This husband of hers is so dispensable in her eyes.”
Shi Yan chuckled softly: “She’s been following her Cousin Sister Qinghe since childhood; they’ve been inseparable for over a decade. How long have you been around?”
“I’ve been with the Pei Family Army for almost five years, and I still can’t compete with her.”
Everything has a first-come-first-served order. Their sisterly bond was deep; as their husbands, they needed to be broad-minded.
Shi Yan’s composure and magnanimity made Yang Huai feel a bit ashamed of himself, so he shut his mouth and said nothing.
“Aunt Yan!”
Little Yu’er and Little Doggy popped out from nowhere, along with Xiao Wan’er and the Pei Wang siblings, all running over and tightly surrounding Pei Qinghe.
Pei Qinghe smiled warmly in response, patiently stroking their heads and listening to their excited chatter.
Pei Yan was overbearing, not even yielding to the little nephew; when Little Doggy got too close, she directly picked him up and moved him away.
Little Doggy cried out angrily: “Aunt Yan is so mean! She won’t let me get close to Aunt!”
Pei Yan smugly waved her solid fist: “That’s right, I’m the big bully. If you have the guts, come to the training ground and practice martial arts with me.”
Pei Qinghe was amused and exasperated, giving Pei Yan a glare: “Don’t bully the kids.”
Pei Yan grinned cheekily, making faces at Little Doggy from behind, nearly making him cry from anger.
Everyone burst into laughter.
Little Doggy, still upset, ran to his mother to complain. Mao Hongling was helpless, chuckling as she coaxed her son: “Don’t make trouble with your Aunt Yan.”
Little Doggy sniffled, then pouted and looked toward Meng Bing.
Meng Bing pulled a few candies from his sleeve and stuffed them into Little Doggy’s hand. Little Doggy instantly forgot his earlier grievance, happily holding the candies to share with Little Yu’er and the others. A moment later, he ran back crying to complain: “Aunt Yan stole my candy.”
Meng Bing chuckled. This Pei Yan was like a tiger on the battlefield, ferociously unmatched. But her everyday behavior… well, that was another story.
Mao Hongling was both annoyed and amused, coaxing her son with a few gentle words.
Pei Qinghe couldn’t stand it anymore and laughingly glared at Pei Yan: “How can you bully Little Doggy right after getting back?”
Pei Yan grinned, insincerely promising: “Just teasing him to relieve boredom; don’t be mad. I won’t bully him anymore, okay!”
Sure enough, Little Doggy ran over again soon, stubbornly continuing to spar wits with Pei Yan. Pei Yan looked innocent, spreading her hands toward Pei Qinghe.
Pei Qinghe pulled Little Doggy into her arms. Little Doggy was smug beyond measure, proudly holding his head high like a feisty little rooster. Pei Yan’s teeth itched and her hands itched even more; seizing a moment, she suddenly reached out, pulled Little Doggy to her side, and tickled him. Little Doggy refused to admit defeat, yelling: “Sister Little Yu’er, Sister Xiao Wan’er, Brother Xiao Wang’er, all come help me!”
The kids had grown up together with deep affection. They shared joys and sorrows. Knowing they couldn’t beat the big bully Aunt Yan, they still bravely rushed over.
Everyone laughed while lining up.
With Pei Yan around, it was always this lively and fun.
Pei Qinghe laughed too. Only in Pei Family Village could she feel this relaxed, harmonious joy. Here, she didn’t need to stay tense all the time or maintain the general’s dignity; she could laugh when she was happy.
Pei Qinghe laughed heartily, and Shi Yan smiled along.
Yang Huai was grinning too. As long as Pei Yan wasn’t bullying him, he enjoyed the spectacle.
The entire Pei Family Village was immersed in the joy of the general’s return.
……
After dinner, Pei Qinghe patrolled around Pei Family Village to aid digestion.
When she returned to the house, her considerate husband had already prepared a large wooden bucket of hot water. Pei Qinghe was travel-worn and dusty, indeed needing a hot bath.
Shi Yan came over solemnly: “I’ll serve the general in changing clothes.”
Pei Qinghe laughed and spat at him.
Shi Yan was as thick-skinned as a city wall, insisting on serving her.
The large wooden bucket was big enough for two people.
The hot water sloshed, spilling over the bucket’s edge and splashing onto the floor.
