Chapter 11: Going Home

Translator: Henyee Translations  Editor: Henyee Translations

Gradually, Su Jinyue went deeper into the mountain forest. The surrounding trees became denser and were so tall they reached the clouds. Many trees bore unknown wild fruits, and some of the wild fruits appeared very attractive and delicious.

“Cape gooseberries.” Seeing a tree in front of her, which was full of small golden wild fruits, Su Jinyue rushed forward in surprise. In her past life, the food she loved eating the most was cape gooseberries. Not only was it edible, but it also has medicinal value. Shea fruit jam contained a lot of vitamin C, which could treat anemia, clear internal heat, detoxify, relieve coughing and dissolve phlegm.

Not only that, cape gooseberries also contained a variety of vitamins needed by the human body, of which, vitamin B, had the highest content. However, cape gooseberries were bitter and cold in nature, so people with weak health and pregnant women were not allowed to consume them.

When she arrived at the tree, Su Jinyue put down the basket on her back and climbed up the tree. When she was a child, she often climbed up trees with her friends to catch cicadas and break off willow branches to make straw hats. Needless to say, the height of this tree was not an issue for her.

After climbing up the tree, Su Jinyue plucked a cape gooseberry, peeled off the outer layer of skin that resembled dry leaves, and popped it into her mouth. “It’s so sweet! I shall pluck some and bring them back for Teacher to try.”

While eating, Su Jinyue plucked the cape gooseberries and threw it down under the tree. Under the tree was a thick layer of dried up branches and withered leaves, so the fruit would not be crushed from the throw.

After plucking for some time, Su Jinyue stopped and slowly climbed down the tree. She had not forgotten her main purpose of going up the mountain today.

Su Jinyue placed the cape gooseberries that were scattered on the ground into the bamboo basket. Then, she carried the bamboo basket on her back and continued to trek deeper into the mountain forest.

The people standing on the platform came and went. The crowd that was waiting eagerly, looked into the distance from time to time with anxiety and anticipation in their eyes.

“Woo~” A loud whistle blared as a train in the distance quickly approached the platform.

Zhan Yihan stood up, picked up his luggage and went along with the flow of the alighting crowd, towards the carriage door. It had been more than three years since he left home. He really missed his family and Jinyue. I wonder if her wound has healed?

When the train pulled into the station, it slowly came to a halt. As soon as the doors opened, everyone who was alighting from the train rushed out.

Zhan Yihan was practically pushed out of the train. The previous time, he had informed his family that he was coming back, but had failed to return because of an urgent mission. Hence, he did not notify his family this time around, so as not to disappoint them again.

Gazing up at the sky, Su Jinyue sighed. She then followed the tracks that she had made and walked in the direction where she had come from. After a long day of searching, she still did not obtain anything. It looked like she would have to go to another mountain tomorrow to take a look.

Suddenly, there was a rustle from the bush in front. Su Jinyue stopped and looked at it nervously. Could it be a beast?

She clutched the small medicinal shovel in her hand tightly. Calm down, maybe it’s just a bunny. Don’t scare yourself.

A black figure emerged from the bushes.

“Wild boar!” When Su Jinyue saw that it was a wild boar, she quickly spun on her heels and fled. She definitely did not have the ability to deal with wild boars.

The wild boar did not have the intention of letting Su Jinyue go and followed Su Jinyue in hot pursuit.

Panic stricken, Su Jinyue fled down any path she could without heeding which she chose. Right now, she could no longer tell which direction she was in. The sky was going to turn dark soon. Even if she really managed to get rid of the wild boar chasing her, the depths of this mountain forest were still full of perils.

“Ah!” Su Jinyue stumbled over a rock. She staggered and her body leaned forward. It’s over! Am I going to die again right after I was just reborn?

Su Jinyue could feel that there happened to be a slope at the place she fell down at. Her body kept rolling downwards, and finally, she felt a piercing pain before slipping into darkness.

Zhan Yihan opened the courtyard door and walked into the home that he had left for a long time.

In the courtyard, four or five chickens were sauntering around leisurely, occasionally bending their heads to peck at the chaff on the ground.

A little black dog that was squatting at the door of the main hall, immediately became on guard when he saw Zhan Yihan. Usually, it would have barked by now, but the person approaching had an aura that terrified him.

“Dad! Mum! I’m back!” Zhan Yihan called out as he walked towards the main hall. Although he often corresponded with his family through letters, he had not seen them in more than three years. In the first two years, he had been cultivating in his Sect. Last year, his teacher acceded to an important person’s request and assigned him to be that person’s bodyguard. At times, that person would send Zhan Yihan and his subordinates on some challenging missions.

Frenzied footsteps came from the house and it was not long before he saw Wang Meizhen and Zhan Dafeng running out excitedly.

When Wang Meizhen saw that it was really Zhan Yihan, her eyes immediately reddened and she stepped forward to hold Zhan Yihan’s hand, as she said in a quivering voice, “Yihan, you’re finally back. I missed you so, so much.” After receiving his letter the previous time, she had been so happy for several days and told everyone in the village about the news that he was coming back. However, it ended in disappointment.

“Don’t cry, Mum. Aren’t I back now.” Zhan Yihan felt a small lump in his throat.

Examining Zhan Yihan carefully, Wang Meizhen’s face was filled with relief as she said, “You grew taller and became more muscular. You look more like a man now.” Compared to the time when he left home, Yihan had changed a lot; especially his presence, which emitted a sense of oppression that was invisible to the naked eye. Sure enough, it was beneficial for him to leave home and make his way in the world.

“How many days are you back for this time?” Zhan Dafeng asked.

“Ten days,” Zhan Yihan said. The duration of his vacation this time was half a month, but it took five days in total to travel back and forth.

“Let’s head into the house to talk.” Wang Meizhen took Zhan Yihan’s hand and walked into the house. She was overjoyed to have her son back home.

The three of them walked into the house and sat down on their chairs.

“Where are Yifeng and the rest?” Zhan Yihan asked. It was already evening now. Even if they were working in the fields, it should be about time for them to come back.

“Yifeng went to his girlfriend’s house to help them with farm work. Both Yilin and Yiping are living in school and won’t be back till Saturday,” Wang Meizhen said. As Yihan sent them money every month, their family’s conditions were considered relatively good in the village.

“Yifeng has a girlfriend?” Zhan Yihan was a little surprised. At the time when he left, Yifeng had just graduated from high school. He did not expect that he would have a girlfriend in the blink of an eye.

“He’s already twenty-one, that’s not young anymore. In another year, it’s about time for them to get married. You are not young anymore either, when do you plan to find a wife? You’re the oldest in the family,” Wang Meizhen said. The person she worried about the most was Yihan. Now that he was back, she might as well help him take care of it and settle a partner for him.

“I’m not in a hurry,” Zhan Yihan replied to her. However, Su Jinyue’s figure flashed across his mind. He would go and visit her later. Will she be happy to see me?

Wang Meizhen rolled her eyes at Zhan Yihan in annoyance and said, “You are already twenty-three years old yet you’re still not in a hurry?! Mum will take charge of this matter. I promise to find you a wife that is to your liking.” If Yihan finds a wife, she would be able to rest assured.

“Mum, don’t worry. I have my own plans.” Zhan Yihan opened his luggage and took out a few packs of candies and a pack of cut tobacco from it. “Mum, this is the candy I bought for you. Dad, this pack of cut tobacco is for you.” He would make his own decisions regarding his marriage. He did not want to find someone, just to merely live their lives together.