"My nephew understands them best," Madam Liu's words brought the conversation to a complete halt.
Instantly, the room was filled only with the sounds of eating.
Madam Liu knew she had spoken out of turn, saying such things in this setting. But since the words were already out, she couldn't take them back and felt no regret.
Neither Meng Qisheng nor Meng Yuting harbored any resentment towards Madam Liu. Firstly, the Mei family was indeed that kind of people, so Madam Liu wasn't wrong. Secondly, at this point for the Meng family, Madam Liu's unwavering devotion to her second brother (second uncle) filled them with admiration.
Just then, Zheng Xiaoqi arrived with Meng Yulian. Upon seeing the pitiful state of her father, grandfather, uncle, and cousin, Meng Yulian couldn't help but weep.
"Yulian, don't cry. I'll go find the Lieutenant later and ask him to speak to those in front, to see if they can offer some assistance to grandfather and father."
"Changmin, are you serious?"
"Mother-in-law, I will do my best." Zheng Xiaoqi hadn't intended to get involved, but seeing his wife cry so sadly made him restless.
However, he wasn't familiar with the garrison troops ahead and could only appeal to Lieutenant Qi.
Lieutenant Qi then told them the potential destinations of the four Meng men: "Meng Yuting is young and strong, most likely to be conscripted into the army as an ordinary soldier. There's no escaping that."
"Meng Qinghong is old and doesn't seem to be in good health, so he'll most likely be assigned to the stables to feed horses or for sweeping."
"As for Meng Qisheng and Meng Qiming, they might also be conscripted into the army."
Upon hearing that her eldest grandson was to be conscripted as a soldier, Madam Li felt a pang of sorrow and couldn't help but curse that old scoundrel and her unpromising eldest son again.
Meng Yuting, however, took it in stride. "Grandmother, we are fortunate not to have been beheaded in the street. If one day I were to die on the battlefield, it would be my greatest honor."
Meng Yuting's words earned him a new level of respect from Qi Yuanshan.
"Yes, Mother. Your son also has pride. Just as Yuting said, if I die on the battlefield one day, it's more respectable than being executed in the autumn. Our family would have some dignity."
Meng Qiming's words brought fresh tears to Madam Liu and her children.
"Husband."
"Father."
Only Meng Qinghong remained silent, his gloomy eyes staring blankly at a point in space, lost in thought.
Having been married for over thirty years, Madam Li understood him well. Seeing that he wouldn't listen to reason, she stopped wasting her efforts on him.
Instead, she turned to admonish her two sons and eldest grandson, urging them to do their best in the army and try to preserve their lives.
"Remember this, as long as you are alive, there is hope. Our entire family is waiting here for you."
Meng Qisheng knew that once they reached the front-line barracks, they would have no say. Their only recourse would be to follow orders from above.
Seeing that it was getting late, Qi Yuanshan told the members of the main branches of the Meng family to return.
Though many were reluctant to part, they also knew that without Lieutenant Qi's extraordinary leniency today, their family would not have had such a convenient opportunity to meet.
Madam Liu led the children out. Seeing Meng Xiaohe holding Bao'er and looking towards them from outside, she hesitated and then said to Xiaohe, "Xiaohe, take Bao'er to the gate."
"Okay." Meng Xiaohe did not refuse. She had also heard her father and siblings talk about how those men, if they were sent to the battlefield, might…
Meng Yuting's eyes had been fixed on the gate when suddenly a figure approached. She was a young girl, not yet a teenager. He didn't look at her face but kept his eyes on the small boy in her arms.
Although Bao'er had changed, wearing coarse cloth clothes, he recognized him instantly.
It was strange, but when Bao'er saw him, his eyes lit up. Even though he was now wearing dirty prisoner's attire, his face bruised, his hair disheveled, looking utterly unkempt, Bao'er's eyes still shone brightly as he reached out his small arms and pointed at him, "Ah~" Bao'er vaguely remembered this person, but he forgot his name.
Meng Xiaohe quickly reminded Bao'er, "Bao'er, this is your father. Quickly say 'Dad'."
"Dad? Dad~."
"Hey." Looking at his son's bright, clear eyes, Meng Yuting, who hadn't cried when the guards beat him black and blue, couldn't help but burst into tears upon hearing Bao'er call him "Dad."
"Dad." Bao'er struggled to get down, and Meng Xiaohe couldn't hold him any longer, so she placed him on the ground.
Watching Bao'er stumble towards him, Meng Yuting's heart ached as if pricked by needles. He felt so ashamed that he wished he could dig a hole and bury himself, so his son wouldn't see him at his most pathetic.
"Dad." Bao'er finally reached his father and stretched out his small hand, wanting to wipe the tears from his father's face. But he was confused as to why there were more and more tears on his father's face, as if they would never stop.
Bao'er looked pleadingly at his paternal aunt, as if asking what he should do.
"Aunt Xiaohe, please take Bao'er back."
Meng Yuting's sudden words surprised Meng Xiaohe. "Are you talking to me?"
It wasn't surprising that Meng Xiaohe was shocked. Before the Duke's mansion had fallen, Meng Yuting had never spoken to her and her brother, let alone called her Aunt Xiaohe.
"Yes. Aunt Xiaohe, I was foolish before. In the future, I'll entrust Bao'er to your care. I thank you here."
After speaking, Meng Yuting knelt on both knees and kowtowed three times to Meng Xiaohe. "Dong, dong, dong."
The sound of the kowtow echoed particularly loudly in the dark night.
"Hey, get up quickly. I dare not accept your bow." Although Meng Xiaohe had become much bolder, she still felt uneasy seeing Meng Yuting kowtow to her.
"Aunt Xiaohe, this is what I should do. In the past, I was ignorant of etiquette. I hope Aunt Xiaohe will not hold it against me."
"Oh dear." Meng Xiaohe truly didn't know what to do and could only look to Madam Liu for help.
Madam Liu also knew that Bao'er had relied on Meng Xiaohe and the second uncle's family for the past few months. If he had depended on his own mother, Bao'er would probably be long gone.
So she said truthfully, "Xiaohe, you should accept Yuting's bow. Not to mention you are his aunt, but your care for Bao'er these past few months is something we have all witnessed. If it weren't for you, relying on his heartless mother, Bao'er would likely have been buried by the roadside long ago."
Hearing her second aunt's words, Meng Yuting's eyes turned red. He solemnly said to Meng Xiaohe again, "Aunt Xiaohe, I can never repay your kindness to our father and son in this life. I am willing to become a cow or a horse in the next life to repay you."
"Hey, I don't need you to repay me. Just get up quickly." After speaking, Meng Xiaohe called out to Bao'er, "Bao'er, it's time to go back. Quickly wave goodbye to your father."