Chapter 376: Chapter 16: Coming Home (Part 1) (Second Update)
Susu didn’t know when Hong Sheng could come back; perhaps he wouldn’t even be able to return home and would head straight to the battlefield.
So, when Hong Sheng suddenly appeared at the doorstep with over twenty trusted aides on the afternoon of the third day of the third month, the entire Duke Mansion was filled with delightful surprise.
Those aides didn’t know it was Susu’s birthday today, and from afar they were surprised; even Hong Sheng hadn’t expected Susu to celebrate her birthday like this.
In that instant, everyone had the same thought, "This feels like celebrating an eightieth birthday!"
Ruan Sixth Son, Seventh Son, Eighth Son, and Sixth Son had completely given up on dealing with their peculiar sister. Could it be that she was overly influenced by the extravagant Song Family?
They all cast sympathetic glances at Hong Sheng: it must be hard for you!
Hong Sheng sighed helplessly but felt a bit of joy. Even though they are brothers, they still don’t understand the beauty of Susu!
However, when he turned and saw Brother Lin deep in thought, Hong Sheng: ...
(Mini-theater:
Hong Sheng: May I ask, what should one do with a super intelligent and mischievous nephew?
A jokester from the 21st century: Call Wukong and subdue the demon!
Hong Sheng: Get lost!)
Fortunately, apart from the Ruan family mix-ins, the people in this group were all Hong Sheng’s trusted aides, and those considered trusted naturally had skills, especially Leng Xiao, who became a trusted aide through his intellect.
"Boss Hong, I truly feel that for you to marry the sister-in-law, you must be a reincarnated good person from ten lifetimes past!"
Before other people could react, the Ruan family brothers nodded in agreement, almost shaking hands with Leng Xiao in camaraderie: Comrade, you finally found your organization!
Hong Sheng didn’t mind these words; he was even quite pleased, "Thank my ten lifetimes!"
Ling coolly smiled, "You’d better thank the current Emperor!"
In that sneer, Hong Sheng instantly felt like he was just a foolish human!
He really had to thank the current Emperor for being able to marry Susu.
If the current Emperor hadn’t confiscated the Duke Li’s Mansion and stripped their title, Susu wouldn’t have hidden her identity and become a maid at the Song Family, and he might not have met Susu, let alone married her.
But for him, it was truly the accumulation of ten lifetimes of merit; for the Ruan Family, it must have been bad luck for eight generations.
At this moment, he was both happy and not happy.
Ruan Yu secretly kicked his nephew, signaling not to go too far. Ling snorted lightly, saying no more.
Hong Sheng wiped the sweat from his brow in secret, casting a grateful glance at his brother-in-law.
Ruan Yu smiled meaningfully, also signaling with his eyes: No need to thank, there will be a time for you to repay.
Hong Sheng: Can I pretend not to understand brother-in-law’s eyes?
Ruan Yu: You can try!
...
Hong Sheng strode into the courtyard, waved his hand at the servants greeting him with surprise, and jogged towards the inner courtyard.
The accompanying people all knew he hadn’t returned home for a long time, so they didn’t tease him. Instead, they sensibly didn’t act as third wheels.
Fortunately, Steward Zhao Youshen was reliable, and these people didn’t consider themselves outsiders. They directly set up two or three tables in the outer courtyard, with chicken, duck, fish, and all kinds of delicacies, feasting like locusts.
With so many good dishes and no wine, it was a bit of a shame. Zhao Youshen brought out two small jars from his own home.
Yang Xiaoshan saw this and shouted, "Old Zhao, you know we can’t drink, and you’ve brought this to tease me?"
Zhao Yousheng laughed, "Mr. Yang, you’ve misunderstood me. This is fruit wine favored by our madam, which has the flavor of wine but not the aftereffects. Though it’s just a pastime, it’s not common, and I only have these two jars left."
Hearing this, Yang Xiaoshan quickly took it, saying, "Old Zhao, you’re the best!" while giving Zhao Youshen a hearty slap, almost knocking him under the table.
Before thinking of doing it again, Zhao Youshen repeatedly begged for mercy, "Gentlemen, enjoy your meal and drinks. I’ll go to the kitchen and see about adding a few more dishes for you."
After Zhao Youshen hurried away, Yang Xiaoshan laughed, "That old chap is quite cunning!"
Li Si laughed, "Yang Xiaoshan, you’re the ungrateful one. The man kindly offers you wine, and you call him cunning."
Yang Xiaoshan gave Li Si a look as if he had no common sense, "You’ve eaten so much good stuff from the sister-in-law! Who is the sister-in-law?
If she knew we were here, it’s not just this fruit wine; she’d let us squander even rose scent gifted from the palace!
That old chap Zhao Youshen knows sister-in-law’s nature, so he brought out what he received from her to please us. If she knows, she’ll probably reward him with four or eight more jars!"
The other rough men at the table, who hadn’t thought this far, finally realized, with one saying, "That old chap is indeed cunning. We hadn’t noticed it before. Should we tell sister-in-law? Let her be cautious."
Yang Xiaoshan almost spat out his fruit wine upon hearing this.
"Are you stupid? Do you know who Zhao Youshen is? He’s sister-in-law’s chamberlain, do you know what that means? That means life and death are in sister-in-law’s hands!
Alas, why am I even talking to you big oafs? Go, go, go, eat your food, talking to you is pointless!"
The few who were scorned gave a sidelong glance at the thoroughly rough Yang Xiaoshan outside: it’s the pot calling the kettle black, not seeing oneself!
Listening to these soldiers chatter, the Ruan family brothers exchanged glances. They felt proud of Susu’s position in these people’s hearts and comforted by her ability to handle subordinates.
Even without them around, she was unlikely to suffer loss!
By this time, Hong Sheng had entered the inner courtyard.
Susu was holding her son, reviewing the birthday gifts sent by various families, reading them to him one by one.
She would then analyze the financial strength behind these gift-givers and their attitude toward the Hong family.
These were all skills the Old Madam at Shun’an Earl Mansion personally taught Susu, and she was now teaching them to her son bit by bit.
"Mother, and what about the gifts from these people?"
Susu looked in the direction her son was pointing on the gift list, recognizing them as sent by the returning villagers of Heiyuan Town, via Er Gouzi.
They were just homemade vegetables and fruits, which deeply touched Susu, "For this, my teachings don’t apply, you need to slowly understand for yourself!"
Forgot to mention, that Er Gouzi, whose real name was Liu Dongyuan, was finally recruited by Susu to join the Hong Mansion guards.
According to the town chief, this young man was strong, had been on the battlefield, and killed Tartars. His brain was damaged by a childhood fever, but he wasn’t stupid, just slow to respond.
But he was a filial son. The family’s few acres were already sold for his mother’s medical treatment and medicine.
Unfortunately, his mother didn’t survive, passing away when he was twelve, following his father.
Luckily, the Heiyuan Town chief, a distant uncle, occasionally took care of him, ensuring he didn’t starve.
If he ever got the chance to kill a Tartar, he could sell the head and military merits for silver money.
Despite being tall and muscular, he was actually only fifteen years old.
Susu saw he wasn’t really dumb, and a slow response didn’t worry her. Since Liu Dongyuan was honest and decent-looking, Susu had an idea; Linlang wasn’t young anymore!
