Chapter 474 - 450: Reunion

Back at home, the two boys were there, as expected, and they were immediately pulled into a huge embrace.

A crowd of curious villagers had also gathered around, asking one question after another.

The most common question was whether or not the two of them were seeing anyone.

Yun Chenxi stuck to the same story he’d given at the entrance to the village.

All the aspiring matchmakers in the crowd, who had been itching to get involved, instantly dropped the idea.

"Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, Uncle..."

Staring at their family, so close after so long, the two brothers’ eyes began to well up.

They hadn’t seen them in so long and had missed them terribly.

The large family then went inside, and the onlookers, taking the hint, discreetly left.

Shen Yunlian patted her two sons on their shoulders, torn between pride and the urge to cry.

"How many days can you stay this time?"

When she heard they could only stay for three days and had to spend the rest of their leave on the train ride back...

Shen Yunlian was instantly disappointed.

’This leave is far too short.’

’A day would go by in the blink of an eye.’

"Jiaojiao, you’ve gotten so beautiful. It’s your birthday tomorrow, is there anything you want?"

Yun Jiao said, "I’m already happy enough just having you two back."

Shen Yunlian finally asked the question she was most eager to ask: "Are you two both in relationships?"

Her eyes lit up.

’They’re both young men in their mid-twenties. It’s really time they found someone.’

"We’re not,"

the two said in unison.

The Yun family’s eyes went wide. "Then why did you tell everyone you were in relationships?"

Yun Chenxi rubbed his nose. "That was just a ploy. We were worried everyone would be too eager to introduce us to people."

Shen Yunlian smacked Yun Chenxi. "Are you stupid? What about your reputation? Do you ever want to find someone?"

Yun Chenxi quickly said, "But we only have a few days here. If we spent all that time listening to them try and set us up, we wouldn’t have any time left to spend with you!"

Shen Yunlian: ... ’My son has a point. I can’t argue with that.’

"Fine, I’ll let it slide this time. But you two are grown now. You really should start thinking about settling down."

Yun Chenxi nodded again and again. "Don’t worry, Mom. My brother and I know what we’re doing. If we meet someone we really click with, we’ll definitely pursue it."

The family chatted and laughed together, and then it was time to start making dinner.

Yun Chendong and Yun Chenxi helped with the cleaning. Even when told to take a break and not to bother, the two of them stayed busy helping out with chores around the house.

Joining the army hadn’t made them forget their chores; if anything, they had become even more diligent.

That afternoon, after lunch, they only rested for an hour before getting up. They even folded their bedding into perfect, crisp squares, just like blocks of tofu.

Yun Jiao went to take a look and even asked them to teach her how.

But it required a lot of practice and a specific technique; she tried several times but couldn’t get it right.

The brothers couldn’t sit still, and with time being so short, they decided to ride their bikes to visit Grandma Shen’s family.

"We’ve eaten so many of Grandma Shen’s persimmon cakes, but we haven’t seen them in so long."

Yun Jiao raised her hand. "I want to go too!"

Yun Xiaoqi, Yun Xiao Ba, and Yun Xiaojiu all said they wanted to go as well.

They all had their own bicycles, so there was no worry about not having enough.

Their family was large and owned many bicycles—they even had a room specially cleared out just to store them.

"Alright, let’s go. We’ll all go together," said Yun Chenxi.

Yun Jiao didn’t ride her own bike. Instead, Yun Chenxi lifted her up and sat her on his.

"I’ll give you a ride."

Yun Chendong, a step too slow: ...

The group rode to Shen Family Village. It was the time for tilling the soil in preparation for the busy farming season, so Grandma Shen and her family weren’t home.

But as they passed by the surrounding fields, the people of Shen Family Village naturally spotted them.

"Those two tall lads... aren’t they Shen Daniu’s eldest maternal grandsons?"

"Yeah, I think they are."

"Quick, go take a look! Didn’t those two brothers join the army? Are they back?"

"Grandpa! Grandma!"

When no one was home, the simplest method in the village was to stand on high ground and holler.

Everyone’s voice had a unique quality, so anyone familiar with them could tell who was shouting for whom.

Yun Jiao and Yun Xiaojiu started hollering at the top of their lungs.

Up on the mountain, Grandpa Shen and his family heard the shouts and immediately stopped what they were doing.

"Does that sound like our Jiaojiao and Xiaojiu?"

They waited a moment and heard it again. Grandma Shen clapped her hands.

"No doubt about it. Voices that sweet have to belong to our Jiaojiao and Xiaojiu."

"Hurry, Shen Nian, shout back! They’ll make themselves hoarse yelling like that."

’Their grandchildren’s voices were precious.’

’Especially her grandson, who sang opera.’

Shen Nian quickly shouted a response.

Yun Jiao heard him.

"There we go. Grandpa, Grandma, and the others will be back soon."

The group sat down in the courtyard and started munching on some cookies.

They had brought them from home.

It was just a shame there wasn’t much fruit available at the moment, otherwise they would have brought some over.

The nearby neighbors arrived before Grandma Shen and her family did.

Some, carrying woven baskets and shouldering hoes, seemed to "coincidentally" pass by, craning their necks to look into the courtyard.

"Jiaojiao, you’re here! And you two, are you Yunlian’s eldest and second sons?"

Yun Chendong and Yun Chenxi nodded.

Yun Chenxi was more of a talker, with a sweeter tongue. He’d even ask people he didn’t know how he should address them.

Yun Chendong was the quiet, reserved type, but he was still polite and followed his brother’s lead in greeting everyone.

And so, the crowd at the gate grew larger and larger.

The situation was no different from what had happened back in Bailong Village.

The most popular topic of conversation was still trying to set the two brothers up.

And Yun Chenxi managed to fob them off with the same excuse as before.

You had to hand it to him; he really had the foresight.

Otherwise, they would’ve been driven mad by all the matchmaking talk.

When Grandma Shen and her family returned, they were genuinely overjoyed to see their two eldest grandsons.

"It’s so good you’re back, so good you’re back!"

After sending the nosy neighbors on their way, both Grandma Shen and their aunt insisted on making them a delicious meal.

"There’s no need, Grandma. We just ate a little while ago."

Yun Jiao said, "Grandpa, Grandma, you have to come to my birthday tomorrow. The whole family is going to my island to celebrate. I’ll have a surprise for you all!"

"We’ll be there, of course we’ll be there."

The Shen family agreed in unison.

Since they would all be seeing each other tomorrow, Yun Jiao and the others didn’t stay for long. They soon got on their bikes and headed to town.

They went around inviting everyone they were close with. Whether they could come or not, Yun Jiao felt it was proper to ask.

After completing their big loop, they spent some time wandering through town. Yun Chendong and Yun Chenxi treated their younger brothers and sisters, buying them plenty of gifts, then picked up a few more things to bring home.

By the time they got home, the sky was already growing dark.

Their family had already prepared a lavish dinner.

Eating the familiar dishes of home, every single bite tasted better than the most exquisite cuisine.

The next day, no one in the family went out to sea. Everyone got up early to tidy the house and then make breakfast.

Around eleven o’clock, guests began to arrive at Yun Jiao’s house one after another.

They had rented two sheet-metal boats, which had been washed clean.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to buy a small motorboat or the like, but those were too difficult to purchase.

Besides, it would be too flashy at the moment.

’They’ll buy one in a couple of years.’

Once everyone had gathered, they all carried the prepared dishes and set off for the island.