FID – Chapter 993

Chapter 993: I Don’t Know How to Be Considerate, But I Can Make You Lie Flat on the Ground

None of the people who came to the Liu family were ordinary.

There were ghost doctors, imperial merchants, daughters of military families, princes, royal sons, and even the emperor himself. And now, even the Empress Dowager had started coming to their village.

Good heavens!

“What’s all the fuss about? Our village has a lucky child, and Xinghua Village is a blessed place. If more people come here, they can soak up some of the good fortune.” 

“That’s right. Come here, soak up some luck, and may life get better and better!”

The laughter and chatter under the tree continued, lively as ever.

The carriage had already arrived at the gate of the Liu family courtyard.

Before anyone could get down, Grandpa Liu called out, “Dalin! Go fetch a few jars of good wine from the cellar. Today, the old men are going to drink freely!”

“Father, what’s made you so happy? Are you really going to drink freely?” Liu Erlin inside the courtyard couldn’t believe it. 

Since focusing on health, their family’s rules had been strict: the girls could allow the men to drink a little, but never overindulge. It was a golden rule set by Grandpa Liu himself. And today he was acting out of the ordinary?

“Hmph! A friend has come from afar, so of course we must drink!” Grandpa Liu was delighted. He got out of the carriage and led Qin Xiao and the Empress Dowager into the courtyard.

Speaking of his friendship with General Qin, it all started with a game of chess.

At the time, he and General Qin battled back and forth for a long time, and in the end, Grandpa Liu lost by just one piece. From that moment on, he considered himself no longer a hopeless player and worthy to stand alongside General Qin. Their chess skills were evenly matched—and naturally, friends were made.

When they saw who had arrived, everyone in the house hurried to greet them. Liu Zhiqiu pressed close to Qin Xiao. “Elder Qin! I never expected you to come to Xinghua Village. What an unexpected guest! Stay for a while and give me a chance to learn a few more tricks from you, can you?”

“The duration of my stay must first follow the Empress Dowager’s instructions,” he replied, implying he could not decide for himself.

Liu Zhiqiu instantly understood and patted his chest, promising to complete any task. As long as he managed the Empress Dowager, it would be equivalent to managing General Qin himself.

After ushering them in and having them sit, Grandma Liu frowned and said, “The Grand Canal has only just thawed, hasn’t it? And you’ve already arrived today. Did you come all the way by carriage?”

“I couldn’t wait, so I came in advance,” said the Empress Dowager lightly. “It was just for a month. It’s no trouble at all.” Holding the two little ones in her arms, no hardship mattered.

“Only a month? Riding in a carriage isn’t tiring? And with such cold weather and bad roads…” Grandma Liu immediately began scolding. She herself had experienced long carriage journeys. “Even if you wanted to come, there was no need to be in such a rush. I can’t exactly run away, can I?”

“Nannan followed Feng Qingbai in such a hurry, and then dashed off to the northwest after sending a single message. The children were left here with no care. Poor Hongdou and Badou haven’t even reached their first birthday and haven’t seen their parents for days on end,” the Empress Dowager said angrily.

She wondered whether it was a blessing or a misfortune for her two grandchildren to have such parents.

After speaking, the Empress Dowager noticed an unusual silence around her and raised her head, a trace of puzzlement in her eyes. “Why is everyone so quiet?”

“Your Highness, were you just complaining?” Grandma Liu asked.

The Empress Dowager: “…”

“Oh, finally! You’re acting like a normal person. Joy, anger, sorrow, happiness: they’re all emotions. If you have emotions, let them out, and you’ll feel good. With a face as stiff as a painting all day long, what’s the point of that?”

“You’re the one who isn’t normal! Who’s face looks like a painting?”

“See? Now it’s much better. You’re unhappy, you throw a little tantrum. It’s lively, isn’t it?”

“……”

The Empress Dowager was so exasperated she had nothing left to say. Laughter filled the entire hall, and even Qin Xiao couldn’t help but curl the corners of his mouth.

Back when he had marched with troops, visiting villages and peasant courtyards, it had never felt like this. Perhaps it was a difference of mindset, but this courtyard felt unusually comfortable.

Sitting here, seeing the peach trees at the corner of the courtyard sprout fresh green shoots, hearing the occasional bark from a neighbor’s dog, smelling the drifting aroma of someone’s cooking, one couldn’t help but relax, feeling a quiet peace in the heart.

Clouds rolled and unrolled in the sky, and beside him lay the quiet of a simple life. No wonder Feng Qingbai said Xinghua Village was a pure land.

“These two kids—once they see you, they cling to you, forgetting who’s been taking care of them these past days,” Grandma Liu complained, watching the little ones reach out their tiny paws to touch fingers with the Empress Dowager, a hint of jealousy in her tone.

“Everyone says grandchildren are especially close to grandparents. I am their Imperial Grandmother, one generation removed from Badou and Hongdou,” the Empress Dowager said, her eyebrows lifting slightly. “You’re the great-grandmother, two generations removed.”

“…” This old lady must have come here just to argue with her. And now she was talking about generations? She wasn’t even a few years older than her!

Her hair wasn’t even as white!

“I’m going to cook!” Grandma Liu huffed and stormed off.

The Empress Dowager snorted softly, turning a smiling face toward the two little ones.

At the corners of her eyes and brows lingered a trace of pride.

Qin Xiao watched quietly from the side. She was indeed lively and expressive.

When dinner was served, Grandpa Liu grabbed Elder Jiu to join Wei Lan in a drinking match with Qin Xiao.

They drank until their faces were flushed red.

“Today, we’ll start with ourselves. Tomorrow, when the old man takes you around the village, all the men of Xinghua Village can drink. You won’t find any weaker than those coming from your barracks!”

Qin Xiao smiled. “Then I’ll follow Brother Liu and drink my way through the entire village.”

“Hahaha, agreed!”

Elder Jiu squinted his eyes, watching the clearly tipsy grandpa shake his head with a sigh. With that tolerance, how could he drink his way through the whole village? The first one to collapse would be him.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Liu Dalin and Liu Erlin didn’t hold back either. They politely toasted Qin Xiao several times, and each time drained a few bowls of strong wine in delight.

Liu Zhiqiu, who wasn’t good with alcohol, clicked his tongue regretfully. “If only Big Brother were here. He may not win anywhere else, but in a drinking contest, he would certainly defeat them all.”

Normally, the women wouldn’t allow them to drink much, so their grandparents set the example. At family meals, each person got just a small bowl to share.

Even Elder Jiu, the old wine expert, couldn’t drink more than a jar a day.

“You still couldn’t beat Big Brother in a drinking contest,” the soft, delicate voice at her side immediately rebutted. “Big Brother would find a way to make you drink more.”

“Little White Lotus, which side are you on?”

Little White Lotus answered seriously, “I have to show you the facts, so you won’t recklessly put yourself at a disadvantage.”

“…Good wife, truly considerate.”

Wei Lan took a sip of strong wine, the alcohol on his breath, and leaned close to Wei Hong. “Wife, see that? When will you ever be considerate like that?”

“I don’t know how to be considerate, but I can slap you flat on the ground. Want to try?”

“Honestly, I just like your temperament, cold and proud!” Wei Lan retracted into his usual groove.

Grandma Liu and the other women at the table were laughing so hard they could barely breathe, clutching their stomachs as they ate.

The Empress Dowager tried to hold back her laughter, but couldn’t. “Laughing at the dinner table, spitting out bits of food—what sort of manners are these! Can anyone even eat like this? Stop laughing!”

Grandma Liu slapped her thigh, doubled over with laughter, but still pointed at the Empress Dowager. “Your face is all red. You obviously want to laugh but are holding it in! What kind of manners is that? Oh my goodness! Hahaha!”