Chapter 473: Ending

Now that the children had grown up with a promising future ahead of them, it was time for the adults to go on the trip that they had agreed to take.

When they set off on their trip, it was later than expected. The plans had been delayed by a few years.

Jiang Danhe was bringing out the carriage—he was going to fulfill his promise of taking Xiaoguo on a tour around the entire country.

Xiaoguo looked tenderly at the busy Jiang Danhe, her heart was melting at the sight of him. This mature man still looked so charming and handsome that her heart still fluttered for him.

Jiang Danhe sensed her gaze and turned to smile at her. Similarly, Xiaoguo was still very beautiful. Time had not left a mark on her face. In fact, she was even more beautiful than before.

The couple are so affectionate towards each other that there is no room for their three children to come in between them.

“Mother…”

The three sons called out to Xiaoguo in unison. Although they were not young anymore, they still loved to act cute in front of her.

Xiaoguo looked at the three of them lovingly. Just looking at one of them was impactful enough. And when they appeared together, it was really something else.

Tell me, how did she give birth to such good-looking children? All of them had attractive faces, sparkling eyes, perfect noses, and lips like rouge. They were tall, suave and charming, making it hard for anyone to measure up.

No wonder so many ladies kept pestering the three of them.

The three boys, each of them nearly 1.8 meters tall, were now teary-eyed, looking at her with such tenderness that it was making her heart ache.

“Quick, Zhuang Zhuang, Big Fatty and Second Fatty, come over and give Mother a hug!”

After so many years, Xiaoguo still liked to call them by their nicknames. No one else would dare to call them that. This was a privilege that was reserved for family members only.

As soon as Xiaoguo opened her arms, the three brothers eagerly surrounded her. If not for the fact that they were outside the house, they would have started whining to seek comfort from their mother.

Zhuang Zhuang was the oldest and the most clingy towards Xiaoguo. She thought that he would grow out of it, but now, he was still a ‘mummy’s boy’. The twins were just a teeny bit better than him.

They had never been separated from their parents for an extended period of time, therefore, they were very reluctant to see them go. However, they also knew that this was their mother’s wish. They loved their mother so much, so they naturally couldn’t bear to see her sad. It was unfortunate that they couldn’t get away at this moment, otherwise, they wouldn’t have let their parents go on a trip by themselves. They would have tagged along with them no matter what.

Xiaoguo rubbed their shoulders, which were too wide for her arms to wrap around them completely. She was feeling comforted and a little sad at the same time.

They had agreed to go on this trip together as a family, but who would have thought that the kids would grow up so quickly and become adults in the blink of an eye?

She still remembered the first time she saw Zhuang Zhuang. The little guy was dark and skinny. Now, she had to tiptoe in order to pat his head. And the twins. Back then, they were round as a ball. Now, they have grown to become as lean as their brother.

Over the years, she had put in a lot of effort to educate and train her three children. But this was truly unexpected. When the three brothers were out on their own, every one of them was independent and capable. However, in her presence, they immediately became clingy kids who were constantly competing for her attention.

She was happy and worried at the same time. The three boys were hanging around her every day. She wondered if she had the chance to see the third generation in her lifetime. She was hoping to meet with her daughters-in-law when she returned from her trip with Jiang Danhe. And hopefully even a grandchild or two.

“Alright, alright.” Jiang Danhe had long lost his patience. After putting away the bags, he knocked on the three brothers’ heads. They were still not done hugging his wife!

Looking at their father, who was still as strong as a mountain, their eyes were filled with admiration and reliance. No matter how capable the boys were, when they saw their parents, they still behaved like babies, constantly craving their parents’ love.

As Jiang Danhe grew older, his gaze had become more intense and matured. He looked at his three sons with pride. “Do your job well, be honest and reliable, and protect yourselves. Don’t put yourselves in danger, and don’t let us worry…”

Unknowingly, he had been rambling on for quite a while. Eventually, realization hit him and he smiled sheepishly. “Alright, I’ll stop nagging. I believe you know what to do. It’s not like your mother and I are leaving for good. We’ll be back when you start missing us.”

Then, he lowered his head gently and said to Xiaoguo, “It’s time for us to set off.”

Xiaoguo nodded reluctantly and turned to look at her three sons. They couldn’t bear to part with her, and it was just as hard for her to say goodbye to them.

Unknowingly, they have grown up, and more than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye…

“Where’s Li Shouji?”

Xiaoguo looked at the entrance of the mansion but there was no sign of the man.

Jiang Danhe shook his head. He didn’t know his whereabouts.

That’s right. Li Shouji was still a swinging bachelor and was still living with them.

Just before setting off, two ordinary carriages appeared and blocked the path in front of them.

Xiaoyi stepped out of the carriage first, and Jiang Danhe sighed helplessly when he saw who it was. It seemed like they couldn’t avoid them no matter what!

Xiaoyi ran straight towards Xiaoguo. After so many years, his affection for her remained the same.

It was the same for Xiaoguo. She patted his head like she always did. Although Xiaoyi had become the emperor, he still comes over for dinner every other day, just like before.

“This is not fair. You guys are going on a trip without me.”

After stepping off the throne, Shao Zhan had completely let himself go, frequently visiting their place to eat or sleep over. He was no longer the steady and serious person he used to be. If anyone were to nag at him, he would say in response,”After being repressed for so long, can’t I relax a bit now?”

“You want to go with us too?!”

Jiang Danhe seemed rather calm. Xiaoguo, on the other hand, was shocked. “How could an emeritus like him be coming out so often? Shouldn’t he be stayingin the palace? And now he even wants to escape from the capital?!!”

“Let’s go together. At least you will have some company.”

As Shao Zhan spoke, he placed his bag in their carriage. As they had sneaked out of the palace, the two most revered people in the world did not bring any guards with them. However, it was unknown if there were any hidden guards around.

Jiang Danhe and Xiaoguo were not quite happy with the additional headcount. They would never feel bored in each other’s company!

However, the situation was quickly disrupted.

Xiaoguo looked helplessly at Li Shouji who had seated himself in the carriage and asked, “Are you coming too?!”

Of course!

II

Li Shouji replied with a smile. Although he was still single, he had adopted a son who had taken over his position. He had appeared so late because he was wrapping things up at work earlier.

“How can I miss out on such fun!” Li Shouji started urging her. “Sister-in-law, let’s go.”

No matter how unwilling they were, Xiaoguo and Jiang Danhe accepted their fate. They will just let them be. This wouldn’t disrupt their private time anyway.

Just as the carriage was about to drive off, Su Changsheng appeared and insisted on joining them. Like Li Shouji, he was an old bachelor who had never married. Somehow he had found out about them going on a trip, and he rushed over to join them. Being so well-traveled and knowledgeable, he would make a good traveling companion. Therefore, everyone tacitly agreed to let him go with them.

Only Jiang Danhe was unhappy. This was completely different from what he had imagined…

Just like that, the five of them waved goodbye to the reluctant children and set off in a two-horse carriage.

They first made a detour to Yonghai County and Peach Blossom Village to check on their friends and family.

A long time ago, Xiaoguo had given the shop to Shu Botong and Yu Ling. However, the two of them insisted on retaining the shop name, so it is still called “Xiaoguo’s shop”. Now, it has become an established name in the eyes of the villagers—a shop that everyone would enter when passing by.

Under their care, the number of cows had increased by almost tenfold. Seeing this, Jiang Danhe bought off some land in a mountainous area and set up a farm there.

Ruyi and Qin Anming had opened a chain of noodle shops with their daughter. Over the years, the business flourished and brought in a lot of money for them.

Ling Long and Fu’er found their better halves one after another and eventually got married. Xiaocui also found a good husband. Uncle Xu has grown old, but he still has sharp hearing and vision. His fingers on the abacus were still quick and agile. The calculations for the bills were always precise—never a penny more, and never a penny less.

Mrs Yang’s family was living a good life. Brother Yang had become the village chief, and Xiaohua was happily married. Xiaohu had also gotten himself a beautiful wife and was living a blissful life. Mrs Yang had become a grandmother for some time now.

The twins lived up to their names. They had left the family at a young age to embark on the path of learning. One of them studied medicine and the other studied literature. Now, they were both respected professionals in their respective fields.

Yang Jia and his wife, Xiao Zhu, were now managing the ranch, living there with their children. With their effective management, the animals under their care grew and flourished. In their spare time, they opened up the ranch, turning it into an attraction. That brought in a steady stream of visitors to come for sightseeing and leisure.

When they went to Yonghai County, there were five people in one carriage.

When they left, there were three carriages and seven people. Ruyi and Qin Anming had also joined them.

It couldn’t be helped. They had money and time on their hands. Their children had all grown up, and they had no third generation to take care of, so they could relax and enjoy life.

Just like that, the group set off in the most beautiful spring season.

In the next few years, the commoners of the entire Shao Nation came to know of a group of middle-aged people who, instead of taking care of their grandchildren at home, were traveling across the country in the simplest of clothes, eating their way through the nation and enjoying all it had to offer. They were spreading their laughter and joy throughout the land.

Their actions became a cause for discussion and envy.