Qi He was unaware that his father had decided to reclaim the family fortune that rightfully belonged to him.
Qi Yuanshan: It was his son's, and he already felt indebted to his son. Not only had his second brother's family taken his son's inheritance, but they had also deprived his son of food. How could he swallow this injustice?
He had to get it back for his son, no matter who stood in his way.
Qi Yuanshan doted on his son, showering him with kisses. However, he glanced at the yamen runners and Meng clan members waiting behind him and reluctantly let go of his son, who had grown to be as tall as his chest.
Seeing his father about to walk towards Jiang Tou'er and the others, Qi He reached out and stopped him.
Qi Yuanshan: ...?
"Dad, I have something to tell you," Qi He said, before Qi Yuanshan could speak, and recounted the situation of Grandpa Meng's family to his father. He then added, "Dad, could you arrange for Grandpa Meng's family's household registration to be near us? That way, I can see Grandpa Meng and them every day."
Hearing his son speak of Meng Qingping's family's care for him during their journey, Qi Yuanshan smiled and nodded thankfully to Meng Qingping's family.
Meng Qingping: Absolutely not. Young Qi has done as much for their grandson and them as they have for him.
Before he could speak, Qi He briefly recounted the stories of his other young friends to his father as well.
Qi Yuanshan listened patiently to his son and then burst into laughter.
Qi He was bewildered by his father's laughter and, filled with suspicion, asked, "Dad, what are you laughing at?"
"I'm laughing at fate," Qi Yuanshan said, after he finished laughing. He then explained the order he had received from the General a few days prior.
"These Meng clan members are quite renowned," Qi Yuanshan actually wanted to say "infamous," but thinking of that Second Master Meng and his son's little friends, he quickly changed his words.
"Dad, what do you mean?" Qi He guessed something from his father's expression.
"All the garrisons refused to take them in."
Qi Yuanshan's voice was not low, and many in the Meng clan heard him. Their faces flushed red, and they lowered their heads, not daring to meet anyone's gaze.
"Why?"
"They feared they would be a burden. I heard that these Meng clan members are accustomed to being masters in the capital, that they are wicked and the most difficult to manage." Qi Yuanshan thought of the evaluations of the Meng clan by his comrades, and it was truly hard to describe, words failing him.
Qi He recalled the behavior of the Meng clan members when he first met them and also felt overwhelmed.
"Later, the General was at his wit's end and called me over. He said since your son came with them, the Meng clan members would be assigned to your garrison." Qi Yuanshan glanced at his son and complained, "He didn't even give me a chance to argue before dumping all these unwanted troublemakers on me."
Qi Yuanshan: The General's excuse was that these Meng clan members came with his son, as if there was something wrong with his son.
Qi Yuanshan felt deeply unsettled, but the Meng clan members felt the opposite. They were so happy they almost cried out with joy.
Some even murmured, "Amitabha, Amitabha, may heaven protect us."
Meng Qishan's family was even happier than his second uncle's family, as they wouldn't be separated from his second uncle's family.
As for Meng Yutang, his palms were sweaty with anxiety. Heaven had been kind to him; as long as he wasn't separated from Brother Qi and the others, those people wouldn't dare to bully him easily.
Jiang Tou'er also privately rejoiced for them. After all, they had shared a journey. Although some among the Meng clan were scoundrels, there were also those who had done no wrong.
With Qi He around, and given Qi He's understanding of them, Captain Qi would surely look after those people, making their lives much easier.
As for those with ulterior motives, those who always tried to pull some stunts, he believed in Captain Qi's formidable martial prowess. If those people harbored any ill intentions, Captain Qi would surely defeat them and suppress them with full force, giving them no chance to rise again.
Qi Yuanshan was unaware of their thoughts. Seeing their joyful expressions, he couldn't help but wonder if the sweltering heat during the journey had cooked their brains.
He then thought about his son traveling with them and worried if his son might be the same.
Considering this possibility, the father's heart grew even heavier. He quickly examined his son from head to toe, repeatedly confirming that there was nothing amiss with him before he felt relieved.
Qi He: ...?
Meng Qingping (Jiang Tou'er): That is a father's love for his son.
After Qi Yuanshan finished his thorough inspection and was truly at ease, Jiang Tou'er, with great tact, stepped forward to hand over the official documents and the list of prisoners.
Qi Yuanshan read the documents and then had two of his subordinates use the roster to identify the individuals. When he learned that not a single one of the exiled Meng clan members was missing, his eyes widened with disbelief.
Every year, several groups of exiles were sent to Liaodong. For a group to arrive with no casualties, like the Meng clan members, this was unprecedented.
Qi Yuanshan looked at Jiang Tou'er and his group, his expression shifting from astonishment to admiration.
After the handover with Jiang Tou'er was complete, Qi Yuanshan formally thanked Jiang Tou'er.
"I thank you, Jiang Tou'er, for safely bringing my son to Liaodong."
"Captain Qi, this is simply fate between young Master Qi and us. There is no need for thanks." Jiang Tou'er, being tactful, did not accept Qi Yuanshan's bow.
He held deep respect for the soldiers guarding the border. For such a small matter, he felt he had not handled it perfectly and harbored a trace of guilt. "We endured hardships on the road, and young Master Qi even starved with us. We are truly sorry to young Master Qi."
"Grandpa Jiang, you mustn't say that. Many places along the way were so dry they were smoking. I wasn't the only one without food or water; you were starving too."
Qi He was understanding. He knew that even if they went hungry on the road, it wasn't Grandpa Jiang's fault.
"Good boy, it was worth it for us father and son to reconnect."
Speaking of starvation, Jiang Tou'er's face immediately fell into a bitter expression. He then deliberately glanced at Fu Xin Ci, grumbling reluctantly.
"When we came, throughout the journey, Miss Fu would find some food for us every now and then to satisfy our cravings. On the way back, without Miss Fu finding food, our old lives will be miserable."
Jiang Tou'er spoke with great animation and no exaggeration. This made Qi Yuanshan look around at everyone, wanting to know who this "Miss Fu" Jiang Tou'er was referring to.
Father and son were of one mind. Qi He stepped forward, took Fu Mei Mei's sleeve, and introduced her to his father. "Dad, this is Mei Mei Fu."
Qi Yuanshan looked at the young girl, who was not even as old as his son. Her small face was tanned by the sun, not much fairer than Qi He's.
To be pulled forward by his son like this, and yet showing no fear even when facing him, a rough soldier who had lived on the edge, he couldn't help but exclaim, "What a good girl."