novelhk Chapter 132 Full of Sincerity
Chapter 132 Full of Sincerity
Ye Beichen was extremely anxious and spurred his horse onward towards the northern desert. Along the way, the horse's hooves kicked up clouds of dust, as if trying to stir up the heavens and earth. Finally, he caught sight of the familiar outline of his homeland, and an indescribable excitement welled up in his heart.
As soon as Ye Beichen stepped into the house, he saw his father sitting upright in the main hall, his usually stern face appearing even more imposing. Ye Beichen dared not be negligent and quickly stepped forward to bow respectfully. Then, he took a deep breath and recounted to his father in detail the events that had occurred between him and Su Yuning.
The father listened quietly, sometimes nodding slightly, sometimes frowning in thought. When he heard that the two were in love, the father's tense lips gradually relaxed, revealing a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction.
After Ye Beichen finished explaining everything, his father remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Since that's the case, you must cherish this relationship." Ye Beichen repeatedly agreed, his eyes filled with determination and joy.
After a night's rest, at the crack of dawn the next morning, Ye Beichen, unable to contain his eagerness, rose early and headed towards the vast desert. At this time, the desert was swept by howling winds, with swirling yellow sand that stung his face like knives. However, none of this could deter Ye Beichen's advance.
He trudged through the sand dunes, searching for any trace of cacti. Time ticked by, the sun rose higher, scorching the earth, and sweat soaked through Ye Beichen's clothes, but he never gave up. Finally, his efforts paid off; in a sheltered sand hollow, he discovered a lush patch of cacti.
The cacti stood proudly in this barren land, like green guardians. Ye Beichen approached them cautiously, afraid of disturbing anything. He carefully selected the ripe fruit, gently plucking it and placing it in the cloth bag he carried with him. Then, he took a fancy to several cactus plants of excellent quality, deciding to take them back and plant them in his own yard so he could use them whenever he wanted.
After completing his harvesting task, Ye Beichen happily embarked on his journey home. As he passed through a quiet town, a commotion reached his ears. It turned out that the town was spreading rumors about a woman skilled in needlework and culinary arts who remained unmarried. A sudden thought struck Ye Beichen, and the old lord's expectant face instantly flashed into his mind.
Without a second thought, he hurriedly followed the direction from which the sound came. Soon, he found the woman of legend. She was graceful, with a face like a peach blossom, and her eyes and brows exuded a gentle and beautiful air; when she spoke to people, she was poised and confident, showing no sign of shyness.
Ye Beichen stepped forward, politely explained his purpose, and detailed the old lord's situation. The woman listened quietly, a slight blush rising to her cheeks, before shyly nodding, indicating her willingness to consider the matter. Seeing this, Ye Beichen breathed a sigh of relief and secretly prayed that everything would go smoothly.
Overjoyed, Ye Beichen carried the cactus and its fruit, hurrying back with light steps. Along the way, the adorable, delighted expression on Su Yuning's face as she savored the delicious food kept replaying in his mind, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips. At the same time, he imagined the old lord's excited and thrilled expression when he learned of this good news.
Finally, Ye Beichen returned to his tent. As soon as he entered, the old lord eagerly greeted him, asking his son with a face full of anticipation, "Beichen, did my fiancée receive the fruit? Has she considered agreeing to marry me?"
Looking at his anxious father, Ye Beichen revealed a half-smile on his face and deliberately kept him in suspense, saying, "Father, you'd better prepare yourself mentally, otherwise... hehe, I'm really worried you won't be able to handle it."
The old lord, however, chuckled and replied dismissively, "Oh dear, what could it be? I've weathered so many storms and turbulent waves in my life, what haven't I seen? Don't try to scare your father! Tell me!"
Seeing his father's confidence, Ye Beichen stopped delaying and replied directly, "She got married, and to someone else."
Before the words were even finished, the old lord, who had been all smiles, suddenly turned pale, as if struck by a bolt of lightning. His eyes widened as he stared at Ye Beichen in disbelief, muttering to himself, "Wh...what? How could this be? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" However, before he could recover from his shock, his body swayed involuntarily a few times, then everything went black, and he fell straight backward.
Fortunately, a doctor happened to be passing by the camp at that moment. Hearing the commotion, he rushed in to check on the situation. After some emergency treatment, they managed to revive the unconscious old lord. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable!
As the first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the window into the room, the old lord slowly awoke. He opened his eyes gradually, his vision clearing, and realized that it was already noon the next day.
Ye Beichen, who had been guarding him the whole time, was now fast asleep by the bedside, even emitting soft snores. Looking at his son's endearing appearance, the old lord's heart softened. He gently wiped away the remaining tears from the corners of his eyes, then carefully picked up his coat from the side and draped it gently over Ye Beichen's shoulders. After doing this, he cautiously stood up, careful not to wake his sleeping son, and tiptoed towards the door.
Stepping out of his room, the old lord stood in the corridor, gazing at the distant sky, pondering to himself: since his long-awaited marriage was now completely hopeless, rather than continuing to grieve over it, he should devote more energy and attention to caring for his son. With this thought, the old lord suddenly made a bold decision—he would personally cook a sumptuous breakfast for his son!
Without further ado, the old lord strode swiftly towards the kitchen, his movements quick yet composed. Upon entering, he expertly picked up a clean apron and neatly tied it around his waist. Then, he rolled up his sleeves and began to work methodically.
First came the rice washing. The old lord carefully poured the glistening rice grains into the water, gently stirring them with his hands to carefully sift out any impurities and flawed grains. Next, he began to meticulously wash the vegetables; the tender green leaves appeared even more fresh and vibrant under the running water, as if they could be squeezed for water. When preparing the meat, he was even more focused, his cleaver flashing as he sliced the meat into evenly sized, perfectly thin slices.
The old lord performed each step with utmost care and meticulousness. His focused expression suggested he was undertaking a crucial mission concerning the life and death of his family, leaving no room for negligence.
Time passed by, and before we knew it, an enticing aroma filled the kitchen. This fragrance, like an invisible pair of hands, gently tugged at our heartstrings, making our mouths water.
Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Ye Beichen finally awoke slowly from his sweet sleep. He lazily rubbed his still slightly sleepy eyes, looking as adorable as a kitten that had just woken up. Then, he stretched comfortably, his bones seemingly making cheerful "crackling" sounds.
Upon regaining consciousness, Ye Beichen began looking around, trying to find his father. When his gaze fell upon the familiar coat beside the bed, a warm feeling welled up inside him. This coat carried his father's boundless love and care, making him feel incredibly at ease.
Just as Ye Beichen finished dressing and was about to get out of bed, he suddenly heard a series of light and hurried footsteps approaching. Immediately afterwards, the door was gently pushed open, and the old lord walked in with a smile on his face, steadily carrying plates of steaming hot delicacies.
The table, neither too big nor too small, was instantly filled with a variety of delicious dishes: golden, fragrant fried eggs, like a golden sun, radiated a captivating glow; stir-fried cactus with meat presented a unique color combination, with emerald green cactus slices intertwined with tender pink meat slices, a sight to behold; crispy, golden fried dough sticks were neatly arranged, like soldiers awaiting inspection; and pots of steaming white porridge, like the warm winter sun, brought boundless warmth and satisfaction.
The father and son sat facing each other and began to enjoy this warm breakfast. Ye Beichen picked up a fried egg and put it in his mouth. After chewing it carefully, he couldn't help but ask, "Father, are you really alright? You seemed to be in a bad mood yesterday."
Hearing his son's concerned words, the old lord was slightly taken aback at first, then chuckled and replied, "It's alright, it's alright, child. Let those unpleasant things go with the wind. Let's look forward and not mention them again."
Upon hearing this, Ye Beichen quickly nodded and replied, "Yes, I understand. As long as you are happy, Father, I am at ease." After saying this, the father and son smiled at each other and continued to enjoy this rare moment of peace.
In the bustling capital city, an exquisitely decorated carriage slowly pulled up in front of a small courtyard. Yang Yuxuan alighted from the carriage, followed by several servants carrying a cart full of precious gifts.
Yang Yuxuan took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and then walked towards the door.
Yang Yuxuan stood respectfully in the center of the living room, bowed deeply to his parents-in-law who were seated at the head of the table, and said, "I'm so sorry, Father-in-law and Mother-in-law. It's all my fault for upsetting you. Please forgive me. I brought some small gifts to apologize, and I hope you will accept them." As he spoke, he waved his hand, signaling the servants to present the gifts.
The father-in-law and mother-in-law exchanged a glance, and seeing Yang Yuxuan's sincere expression, their expressions softened slightly. The father-in-law, Old Zhou, in particular, remained silent for a moment before nodding slightly in agreement.
Overjoyed at receiving permission, Yang Yuxuan hurriedly asked, "Then... may I see Xi'er?"
Soon, Zhou Xi entered, accompanied by her younger brother and sister-in-law. When she saw Yang Yuxuan, a complex emotion flashed in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.
Yang Yuxuan was overjoyed, as if he had seen a long-lost relative, and tears welled up in his eyes. He quickly walked up to Zhou Xi, held her hand tightly, and said in a choked voice, "Wife, I've missed you so much these days! Come home with me, everything feels so cold and lonely without you."
However, Zhou Xi coldly withdrew her hand and said indifferently, "I'm fine here, why should I go back? Besides, I suppose your parents are already eager to find you a concubine?"
Hearing this, Yang Yuxuan quickly explained, "Wife, please don't say that. Your mother-in-law said that if we don't bring you home, I'm not allowed to step into the house again. You see how much your mother loves you." After saying this, he looked at Zhou Xi earnestly.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xi couldn't help but smirk, but quickly straightened her face and said in a serious tone, "Hmph, this only shows that your parents are reasonable and capable, but it doesn't mean that you are a good husband. What you did before really chilled my heart, and I won't forgive you so easily."
"I've already apologized to you so sincerely, isn't that enough to gain your forgiveness?" Yang Yuxuan frowned slightly, her tone revealing a hint of displeasure as she replied.
Hearing this, Zhou Xi didn't even raise her head, but simply said, "You should go back first. I want to stay here for a while." Her voice was calm and without any ripples, but it carried an undeniable determination.
However, Yang Yuxuan clearly had no intention of giving up. He crossed his arms and adopted an arrogant and unreasonable attitude, saying, "Hmph! I don't care. If you don't come with me, I'll just stay here and not leave. I'll stay with you for as long as you want."