Song Dingxiang [Completed]

C63. Tragic Experience.

Chapter 63

Zhou Yinuo's eyes sparkled with amusement as he pinched Song Dingxiang's soft cheek, his thumb tracing the delicate curve of her jawline. She was so endearing, so utterly adorable, and his heart swelled with a warmth that was both comforting and exhilarating.

Song Dingxiang's face flushed a deep shade of pink as she swatted at his hand, her eyes downcast. She stood up, her movements graceful and fluid, and walked towards the kitchen. "I'll go see what's on the menu today," she said, her voice soft and a bit breathless. "Are you staying here tonight, or do you have to leave after dinner?"

Zhou Yinuo sighed, "I have to return to the Ministry of War after dinner. After all, I'm on leave and in the capital, so I have no choice. It will be better when I return home."

Song Dingxiang breathed a sigh of relief, gave Zhou Yinuo a blank look, and went to the kitchen of the inn.

Zhou Yinuo watched her disappear, sniffing the lingering fragrance on his fingertips, felt a surge of warmth and a pang of guilt. He was a man of a certain age, yet he couldn't seem to curb his restless desires. He was ashamed of himself for allowing such thoughts to linger, especially when he was finally reunited with his wife.

He thought back to the years they had spent apart, the countless nights he had dreamt of her. Now that she was finally within his reach, he couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency, a fear that their time together would be fleeting. He wanted to savor every moment, to make up for all the lost time.

Finally seeing his wife, it's really good.

The Song family members rested for an hour before getting up one after another, and they were all extremely delighted to see Zhou Yinuo sitting in the hall. Especially Fang shi, who held Zhou Yinuo's hand, continuously saying good words, and then tears couldn't stop flowing.

Her eldest daughter didn't marry well and left with her child, and if her second daughter didn't marry well too, her heart would be broken. Luckily, Zhou Yinuo came back, with all his arms and legs, nothing missing.

During the meal, Fang shi wanted to put all the delicious food in Zhou Yinuo's bowl, "You've grown taller, and you've gotten darker. Eat more meat, you look thinner."

Song Dingxiang said, "Where is he thin? Clearly he looks stronger than before."

"You don't understand, this is false fat. He fights outside all day, how can he eat any good food? Looks like he's strong, but inside he's hollow." Fang shi felt sorry for her half-son and kept saying, "Eat more, when you return home, we can take care of you properly. Luckily you came back now, if you came back when there had been a severe drought in the family these past two years, there wouldn't have been anything good to eat."

Zhou Yinuo knew about the drought in the north, when Fang shi mentioned it, he said, "I was very worried at the time, but couldn't inquire through letters. Later, I received a secret letter from General Zhong, who briefly mentioned it, and knew that you were okay, so I felt relieved. Have you been okay during the drought these past two years? Everything alright?"

Fang shi said, "Nothing, what could happen? It's just that we slaughtered all the pigs in the house, but this year we raised a few more. During the severe drought, wolves and wild boars came down from the mountains, but they didn't come to our village, they went to other villages causing trouble. Some even became bandits, a few families at the entrance of our village were robbed, their houses were burnt, and some people were killed. How could they be so heartless? Hmm..."

Zhou Yinuo said, "Mother, don't worry, I have already applied to the Emperor to be stationed in the North in the future, and the Emperor has agreed. I will build a house and settle down in our village, I promise that such things will not happen again."