FID – Chapter 675

Chapter 675: Your grandparents could make you shed a layer of skin

Liu Muqiu directly spat at the young boy, “Did you sneak out again?”

Last time, he had snuck out, and he had come walking through the snowy fields to Xinghua Village.

Seeing his sister’s displeased expression, Li Junyao quickly explained, “No, this time I informed Grandmother before leaving. She even arranged a carriage for me.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Muqiu’s expression softened a little.

“Muqiu, stop scolding that kid. He’s here and can still chat with us old folks. The kid’s clever,” Grandma Liu sighed, “Otherwise, once your big brother and sister-in-law leave, the house will be lonely.”

Zhixia and Yuzheng had to return to Yunzhou due to the government affairs they couldn’t leave behind. Once they left, her little great-grandson would have to follow as well.

Ah, just thinking about it made her feel uneasy.

“Grandma, is Brother and Sister-in-law going back to Yunzhou?” Liu Yusheng asked.

“They have to go back. Your brother is the governor, and the government office can’t do without him. They’ve been squeezing out time from these past few days as leave.”

During the meal, Liu Zhixia also mentioned returning to the government office.

However, before they could depart, Wei Hong received a letter from the capital.

The letter ordered Liu Zhixia to immediately head to the capital.

As for the government affairs, they would be temporarily handled by the magistrate.

Hearing this news, Liu Yusheng furrowed her brows, and her thoughts involuntarily became heavy.

Feng Qingbai was preparing to set off for Beicang.

The sudden recall of her brother to the capital must be an arrangement made after his departure from the capital. With him assisting Feng Mohan from the sidelines, it would ensure that Feng Mohan would not be left without support and fall victim to the scheming of the prime minister and his faction.

The situation was becoming very tense.

For Feng Qingbai and Feng Mohan, it could be said that they faced both internal and external threats.

After dinner, Liu Zhixia began packing. Since he was heading to the capital, and Xiao Maodou was still young and the weather was cold, Fu Yuzheng would temporarily stay at home with the child. This was the only thing that could bring comfort to the elders of the Liu family.

As for Liu Zhixia and Axiu, in their eyes, the places they were heading to were like dragon’s dens and tiger’s lairs, and the coming days were likely to be fraught with danger.

Liu Zhiqiu personally drove them to the prefecture capital, then from there, they took a detour to the capital.

The river was frozen, and the passenger boats couldn’t be used. Liu Zhixia would have to endure a month of travel on the road.

Before parting, Liu Zhiqiu grabbed Liu Zhixia, hugged him tightly, and spoke with a muffled voice, “Brother, be careful. Come back safely, and I’ll get back at you for bullying me.”

Liu Zhixia’s trembled, and he reached out to mess up Liu Zhiqiu’s neatly tied hair, turning it into a messy bun. “Talk with some conscience. When have I ever bullied you?”

“…” Liu Zhiqiu hadn’t expected his big brother to be so thick-skinned, even denying things he had done.

Forget it, seeing that his big brother’s journey was dangerous, he didn’t want to argue.

Liu Zhiqiu clicked his tongue, then asked cautiously, “Brother, why don’t I go with you?”

“What are you going to do? Eat, drink, and have fun?”

“I know martial arts! At least if an assassin comes after you, I can help block the attack. Otherwise, with your fragile body, if someone comes at you with a knife, you’d be easy prey. I wonder if Feng Qingbai will arrange bodyguards for you… He should, right? If he doesn’t, when he gets back, I’ll make him pay big time!”

Liu Zhixia smacked the young man’s head hard before turning to leave.

If this weren’t his younger brother, he would’ve kicked him straight into the river.

Could he even speak properly? It was the New Year—couldn’t he say something more auspicious?

“Brother, I’ll be waiting for you to come back! If you don’t, I’ll beat up Xiao Maodou every day!” someone shouted from behind.

Liu Zhixia sneered, “Go ahead and try. Grandpa and Grandma will make you shed a layer of skin.”

“……”

Lifting the curtain of the carriage, Liu Zhixia looked at the dejected figure standing a short distance away and sighed helplessly. “Take care of the family while I’m gone. When I come back, I’ll let you scam me once.”

“Really?” The young man’s eyes instantly lit up, his spirits lifted, and he grinned from ear to ear.

Dropping the curtain, Liu Zhixia chuckled and muttered under his breath, “Idiot.”

Watching the carriage disappear from sight, the smile on Liu Zhiqiu’s face gradually faded, replaced by a deep heaviness.

He was starting to regret it—regret seeking a carefree life, only to find himself useless when it truly mattered.

That thought alone made the grown man’s eyes redden.

Spitting on the ground, he turned and climbed onto the carriage. “Hyah!”

When he got back, he’d start learning internal power from Aunt Hong. He couldn’t keep being useless.

In times of peace, he could enjoy his freedom.

But in times of crisis, he had to be able to protect his family, too.

He couldn’t let his older brother shoulder everything alone.

By the time he returned home, the atmosphere was just as heavy.

Liu Zhiqiu wiped his face, put on a bright grin, and squatted beside the cradle, teasing Xiao Maodou, who was staring up at him while sucking on his tiny fists.

“Xiao Maodou, your dad has gone off to battle, slashing enemies left and right. Did you see the guardian deity pasted on our courtyard gate? Your dad looks just like that—one moment with a red face, the next with a black one. Super fierce.

And guess what? Your dad said that when he comes back, I get to scam him once. I’m going to get him for a huge sum. If he can’t pay it back… well, then, father’s debts are repaid by the son…”

The back of his head was immediately smacked. “Xiao Maodou is just a little baby, and you’re already talking about his father’s debts? You’ve got some nerve!”

“Grandpa, go easy! It’s the New Year—what if you hit me so hard I become dumb…”

“You’re already dumb enough!”

From the other side, the old lady shot him a disdainful glare and stepped forward to pick up Maodou, carrying him away lest the little one be corrupted by a fool.

The elders gathered around the fire pit all turned on Liu Zhiqiu at once, launching into a collective scolding.

Unknowingly, the heavy atmosphere in the hall dissipated.

Liu Yusheng propped her chin on her hands, a soft smile appearing on her lips.

With her second brother at home, the elders would never stay down for too long.

Once the elders retired for their midday rest, she left the main hall and returned to her own room, staring blankly ahead without the mood to refine medicine.

She knew nothing about the situation in the capital. The letters Feng Qingbai sent never mentioned a thing.

Clearly, he didn’t want her to worry.

But how could she not worry?

Her thoughts were entirely occupied with that place.

“Nannan, what are you thinking about?” Two heads poked in through the half-open window.

It was Liu Muqiu and Fu Yuzheng.

Seeing the two of them, Liu Yusheng blinked, then suddenly burst into laughter. “What? Were you worried I’d do something foolish?”

Pushing the door open, Fu Yuzheng clicked her tongue at her. “Look at you, still able to laugh. We worried for nothing. Should we just leave now?”

Liu Yusheng quickly pulled out chairs for them and surrendered. “No, no, I can’t let your kindness go to waste. If you really left, then Grandma and my mother would be the next ones barging in.”

Fu Yuzheng and Liu Muqiu both covered their mouths, laughing. After all, they were sent here under orders to comfort the little girl.

“I heard from your eldest brother that the envoy delegation is set to depart in February. If you really can’t put your mind at ease, why don’t you take a trip to the capital? Say your goodbyes—it might give you some peace of mind,” Fu Yuzheng suggested.

She understood Nannan’s feelings best, just as she herself constantly worried about Zhixia.

Nannan’s feelings for Feng Qingbai were even deeper—never less, only more.

Liu Yusheng fell silent for a moment, then gently shook her head. “I won’t go. If I do, I’m afraid Feng Qingbai won’t even be able to leave in peace.”

Instead, he’d have to turn back and comfort her, which would only add to his burden.

Looking out the window, she knew that once her eldest brother arrived in the capital, it would be the day Feng Qingbai departed.