Chapter 269: Where Are the 2 Grandsons?

Taotao threw herself into her mother’s arms, sobbing. Supporting Fugui, Sanlang said, "Aunt, I think my brother-in-law needs to lie down. You should quickly clear a space for him."

Just then, the Old Madam came out from the doorway. She squinted at Taotao. "Is that Taotao?"

Taotao rushed forward again, hugging the Old Madam and crying, "Grandma, I thought I’d never see you again!"

Ms. Qian opened the door to the side room next to the Old Madam’s quarters. "Sanlang, help your brother-in-law in here to lie down."

Xing’er glanced over but said nothing. This was her room now. ’Looks like I’ll have to go back to sharing a bed with Grandma again,’ she thought.

Sanlang helped Fugui inside and onto the bed. Taotao went in to cover him with the quilt before coming back out.

Seeing Taotao emerge, Ms. Qian suddenly remembered something and grabbed her. "Oh, right! Where are my two grandsons?"

Taotao covered her face. "Mother, please don’t ask. They’re gone."

"Oh, good heavens!" Ms. Qian collapsed onto the ground, wailing and beating the earth. "My sweet grandsons! How can they be gone—"

Her two grandsons—one five, the other three—had inherited the best features of Taotao and her husband. They were beautiful little boys, sweet and well-behaved, and just incredibly lovable.

And just like that, they were gone.

Sanlang stood by for a moment before saying, "Aunt, please stop crying. There was nothing that could be done. Sister Tao’er had such a hard time getting home. You should boil some water so she can wash up. Just look at the state she’s in."

Still sobbing, Ms. Qian struggled to her feet. Wiping her tears, she went to the front courtyard to boil water.

Sanlang went home to park the mule cart, then headed to the fields to find Mrs. Chen and Gu Zhang. "Dad, Sister Tao’er found us. I just dropped them off at the house."

Gu Zhang asked in surprise, "They came all the way from our hometown?"

"Alright, alright. I understand. I’ll go over and see them after dinner."

That evening, after Gu Fei finished her work at the shop, she caught a ride home on Sanlang’s mule cart, rushing to make it back before the city gates closed.

She wanted to hear from Taotao about the situation back home.

She hadn’t even reached her own house, just arriving at the entrance to the village, when she saw Gu Zhang and Mrs. Chen walking toward her. They were carrying a piece of meat and a yellow paper package that looked like it contained brown sugar.

Following behind them was Gu Qing, carrying a basket of eggs.

Sanlang stopped the mule cart. "Well now, Mom and Dad are already here. I guess we don’t need to go home first."

Gu Fei jumped down from the cart. Mrs. Chen was overjoyed to see her. "Oh, my daughter’s back! Mom hasn’t seen you for days."

Grinning, Gu Fei ran over and took Mrs. Chen’s arm. "Mom, I missed you too."

The group entered the village together.

By this time, all the families had finished their dinner.

The village head was sitting at his doorway smoking a dry pipe. Seeing Gu Zhang, he quickly got up. "What brings you over today? Is something wrong?"

Gu Zhang held up the meat in his hand. "I heard Taotao arrived, so I’m bringing a few things to help them get their strength back. And I also wanted to ask about the situation back home."

The village head quickly put out his pipe. "I was just about to ask about that myself."

Aunt Liu came out of her house. "I’m coming too. I need to ask how my brothers and sister are doing."

Great-Aunt lived right next door. Hearing the voices outside, she and Great-Uncle came out as well.

And so, the crowd all went into the main house together.

Not a single lamp was lit inside the main house. Mrs. Chen stood at the doorway and called out, "Sister-in-law—"

Hearing her voice, Ms. Qian came out of a room. Her eyes lit up when she saw the meat in Gu Zhang’s hand. "Oh, Brother-in-law, you’re here! Quick, come in and have a seat."

"Husband!" she called into the house. "Your second brother is here! Hurry and light a lamp!"