I Am Immortal in Great Yu

Chapter 121: Chapter 55: An Ning

"So that’s how it is?!"

Hearing that something had happened to Uncle Man Tang, Fang Rui’s heart was heavy, and he let out a sigh.

It was one thing to hear about strangers, like Old Sun’s second son, but a neighbor he had known for many years like Uncle Man Tang... that was different.

Men aren’t made of wood and stone; how could he be unfeeling? He wasn’t made of iron, after all.

’In retrospect, the fall of Changshan City was always just a matter of time... but because of me, it happened much sooner, changing the fates of so many people...’

There was no doubt about that. The feedback from his Tribulation Points said it all.

’Did the flap of my butterfly wings indirectly save Uncle Changlin again? Counting the time with Lai Liliu, this makes twice now.’

Fang Rui wouldn’t go so far as to call it a virtuous act, but he still felt a quiet sense of satisfaction at being able to indirectly save some of his acquaintances.

"Oh, right, Brother Rui, your father came back last night... But he seemed to be in a hurry. He wasn’t here for long before he rushed off again... He asked me to pass on a message, said he left something for you in the usual spot..."

Uncle Changlin said, "I saw your door was open, so I came over to let you know... I won’t come in. My eldest is back, and there’s a pile of things at home waiting to be sorted out..."

"Hey, Uncle Changlin, wait!"

Fang Rui went back into the house and quickly reemerged with ten pounds of wheat bran, two pounds of Sorghum Flour, and half a pound of eggs. He insisted on giving them to the man, saying they were to help his eldest son regain his strength.

The last time he’d returned to a lit house, it was Uncle Changlin who had mustered the courage to come and check on things... This time, he’d passed on a message... Plus the other times he had shared information...

These were all debts of kindness.

And it was in Fang Rui’s nature to repay every kindness.

In the past, he had helped Uncle Zao Hua’s family several times just because they had spoken a single word in his family’s defense. Giving these things to Uncle Changlin was, by comparison, nothing at all.

Unable to refuse, Uncle Changlin had no choice but to accept, thanking him profusely once again.

...

After seeing Uncle Changlin off, Fang Rui went back inside and relayed his father’s message. Upon hearing it, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family seemed to remember something and hurried into the inner room.

"Well, Brother Fang, it looks like you’re all mostly settled in here, so we’ll be heading out now... Once I find out what’s happened to my uncle, I’ll come and impose on you again..."

Jiang Ping’an perceptively took his leave, departing with Sister-in-law Jiang, Niu Dun, and Xiaodouya.

「A short while later.」

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family came out holding a satchel. She opened it to reveal some pieces of broken silver and a letter.

The silver amounted to more than ten taels, but to the Fang Family now, it was a small sum.

What mattered was the letter!

"Brother Rui, here... You open it..." Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family’s hands were trembling.

She could barely read, and besides, Fang Rui was the head of the family. It was only natural that he should be the one to open it.

"Brother Rui, I’ll take Nannan to go check on the other room..." Third Lady said, trying to give them some privacy.

"Third Sister, what are you saying?!"

"That’s right, Third Sister. There’s no need. I told you, we consider you family."

After persuading Third Lady to stay, Fang Rui took the letter, his own heart stirring with emotion. One couldn’t truly understand the feeling that "a letter from home in wartime is worth a fortune" without experiencing it firsthand.

He opened the letter. It didn’t say much—only that his father was fine, had left on an urgent mission, and that they shouldn’t worry. He told Fang Rui to take good care of the family, and so on.

It didn’t specify the mission; perhaps his father didn’t know the details himself.

Fang Rui relayed the contents truthfully.

"What a mess this all is," Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family sighed.

She was, of course, happy that Fang Baicao was safe, but without seeing him in person, her happiness felt incomplete.

...

Throughout the morning, the Taiping Bandits patrolled the streets, suppressing lawlessness and punishing wrongdoers. The city finally began to settle down.

「By Noon.」

In Willow Alley, a few families dared to venture outside, gathering in twos and threes under the large willow tree to chat and exchange news.

However, there were far fewer people than before.

"It’s over... for now," Fang Rui said, pulling his gaze from the window to the courtyard.

Fang Ling and Nannan, the two little girls, were squatting side-by-side in a corner, bottoms in the air. One was poking an anthill with a stick while the other poured water on it, thoroughly tormenting its inhabitants.

In the kitchen, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady were cooking. Amidst the CLATTER of pots and pans, the fragrant aroma of food began to drift out and spread through the air.

The afternoon sun was gentle and warm, not scorching. The dark tiles on the eaves gleamed with points of white light, casting mottled, shimmering reflections on the earthen walls.

A breeze swept by, rustling through the grass and trees.

It was as if everything had returned to how it was before the Taiping Bandits besieged the city.

"Only after enduring such hardship... only after living through chaos, can one truly know the value of peace."

Fang Rui watched it all, his gaze softening.

’This is nice,’ he thought.

...

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