Chapter 657 - Anger
"Hahaha, I was waiting for those words of yours!" Zhao Bufan laughed even more uproariously.
Auntie Zhao gave him a look and then smiled, "You clearly don't see yourself as an outsider. Do you know how much a jar of 'Jiannanchun' or 'Gujinggong' costs ah? They're a couple hundred taels a bottle. As an uncle, do you really feel okay taking advantage of Xiaocao's generosity?"
"Auntie Zhao, these words truly make us seem like outsiders then! As the younger generation, what's wrong with giving a few bottles of alcohol to my own uncle? Are you implying that the words you said before, when you stated that we were as close as a family, were just for politeness sake?" Yu Xiaocao cutely swayed back and forth with Auntie Zhao's hand in her own as she exclaimed in an adorable manner.
"Lass Xiaocao is right. We're not outsiders!" Zhao Bufan grinned until his eyes scrunched up into a small line.
Xiaocao chatted about household matters with Auntie Zhao while Old General Zhao happily enjoyed the tea in front of him. Zhao Bufan conversed idly with his martial brother Fang Zizhen.
As they talked, the topic of the conversation had turned to Zhao Han. Xiaocao asked out of concern, "Auntie Zhao, will Older Brother Han be spending the New Years at his garrison again? It's been so many years but he hasn't come back once to celebrate the New Years. Does he really need to work this hard ah?"
"But of course! Originally, I wanted him to go into the northwest with his grandfather and father, but he was as stubborn as a donkey then and insisted on advancing through the ranks through his own efforts. Last year, I used the excuse of feeling under the weather to trick him home. He only spent two days at home before he went back! It's as if the garrison wouldn't be able to survive if he wasn't there to oversee things." Auntie Zhao had a belly full of complaints whenever she talked about her only son. She also felt bad. The last time her son came back he was tanner and thinner...
When Uncle Zhao heard this, he remarked in disapproval, "Being a man means you need to advance your career and protect your home and country. The seas around our country haven't been very peaceful lately. Han'er is just doing his part in keeping the peace. Don't be an impediment to his duties ah!"
Zhao Bufan was quite pleased with his son's abilities and hard work. He had just reached the age of twenty but had already been promoted to the leader of a battalion, which was a sixth-ranked official's position. As someone in the military, how could one obtain merits and promotions without any battles to fight? For the next dozen or so years, the northwest would likely be very calm, with only a few skirmishes here and there. Serving in the navy was also a good choice as in recent years the Wokou pirates and other ruffians wouldn't be as bold as before in their attacks.
Auntie Zhao glared at him with suppressed anger and sighed, "People always say that it's important to first establish a family before pursuing a career. Lass Xiaocao is younger than him by four to five years, but she'll be getting married at the start of the new year. Yu Hang is younger than him by two years but is about to become a father. He, on the other hand, is already in his twenties but he's still alone by himself. He never comes home. Just when will someone like him come back to show me his wife ah?"
Zhao Bufan picked up his cup and drank a sip of tea, "Han'er is only around twenty-two to twenty-three, so why are you in such a hurry ah? His Highness, Imperial Prince Xu, is only older than Han'er by two years and he isn't married yet."
Zhu Junyang, who was at the side helping to take care of the guests, wanted to express his own feelings of indignation at this, 'Hmph! This prince is not like that foolish son of yours. He clearly knew the little lass from childhood yet he had no idea of his true feelings and let me take advantage instead...ahem ahem, in any case, this prince needs to thank him for being slow in the feelings department. Otherwise, how could I possibly be able to find such a perfect wife?'
