While Chen Lan and her mother were enjoying wine and seafood, her mother-in-law rushed over.
Chen Lan quickly got up and invited her mother-in-law to sit down, offering her seafood and wine. Her mother-in-law politely refused, saying urgently, "Xiao Lan, you need to come with me immediately. Ming Xuan sent Er Zhuang back from the battlefield, saying he has something important to discuss with you. Er Zhuang is in the main kitchen now. I asked Sun Xiao Mei to get him some food, and I'll find you right away. Hurry and come with me to see."
Upon hearing that Xu Ming Xuan had sent someone back from the battlefield, Chen Lan guessed it must be something that required help from the people in the valley. She abandoned her seafood and hurried with her mother-in-law to the entrance of the main kitchen.
At the entrance of the main kitchen, they saw Sun Xiao Mei and Granny Sun waiting anxiously. At this moment, Chen Lan deeply understood the feelings of the mother and daughter. They must have been eager to know the specific situation of Captain Zheng on the battlefield!
Chen Lan quickly greeted the mother and daughter and was about to walk in when she saw Er Zhuang, who used to be sturdy and strong, now thin and sallow. He was sitting on a low stool by the kitchen stove, holding a large bowl in one hand, devouring a huge bowl of noodles with his head buried. He must have been starving, not even lifting his head to eat!
Beside him stood his mother, Granny Zhang. Granny Zhang stood next to Er Zhuang, patting his back and saying, "Eat slowly, eat slowly, don't rush!" while wiping away tears of concern.
Chen Lan stopped outside the main kitchen, not going in immediately. No matter how urgent the matter, they should wait until Er Zhuang finished his meal.
So, Chen Lan said to her mother-in-law, "Mother-in-law, please send someone to find the heads of each family and bring them here. If I'm not mistaken, Er Zhuang's return this time is about grain."
Her mother-in-law agreed repeatedly, "Alright! I'll go right away." Before she finished speaking, she had already run off.
Immediately after, Er Zhuang's somewhat hoarse voice could be heard from inside the kitchen: "Mom, please don't cry anymore. Aren't I still alive and well? Are you and Dad getting used to living in the valley? By the way! Mom! Where is Yan Zi? Why don't I see Dad and Yan Zi?" Sudans Xiaoshuo.com
Then Granny Zhang's sobbing reply followed: "We're used to it, why wouldn't we be? We eat enough every day, and the food is good. We're warm and well-clothed. You just happened to catch it today. Our valley is having a feast tonight to celebrate the harvest with pork stew. This year, our valley's crops have yielded a great harvest! Mom, Dad, and your sister have all felt like they've fallen into a nest of fortune since coming to the valley.
And your sister is still studying and learning to read at the study hall! You'll see her when school is out later. She's also grown taller and become more obedient and sensible in the past six months. A while ago, Yan Zi was still talking about you with me and your dad. I don't know how you're doing now? If she knew you were back today, she'd definitely be very happy."
Granny Zhang chattered on to Er Zhuang about the people and events in the valley. Er Zhuang listened attentively while eating, occasionally interjecting. The atmosphere of mother and son asking and answering each other in the main kitchen was warm and harmonious. Chen Lan couldn't bear to disturb their rare and brief time together and waited outside the main kitchen.
Until her mother-in-law said to Chen Lan, "Xiao Lan, most of the people have arrived. Only Teacher Zhou and Uncle De and Uncle Fu, who live farther away, haven't arrived yet. But they'll be here within fifteen minutes."
By this time, Er Zhuang had finished a large bowl of noodles. He walked out of the main kitchen holding Granny Zhang's hand. Chen Lan then called out, "Er Zhuang, welcome home."
Upon seeing Chen Lan, Er Zhuang immediately exclaimed excitedly, "Sister-in-law, I'm back! Sister-in-law, thank you and everyone for taking such good care of my parents and sister."
Chen Lan waved her hand, "We're all family, no need for such formalities. Er Zhuang, let's go! This place is too small, let's talk outside."
Saying that, she called out to everyone, "The mess hall is more spacious, let's all go to the mess hall and sit down to talk about important matters."
At this point, Teacher Zhou and the others, Uncle De and Uncle Fu, Xiang Dong, and Er Hu also arrived.
Just as Chen Lan had predicted, Er Zhuang's purpose in returning this time was indeed about grain. When asked about other matters, Er Zhuang refused to say anything, only stating that Xu Ming Xuan was well, Captain Zheng was also well, and everyone was well!
Sun Xiao Mei and Granny Sun finally heard the news of Captain Zheng's safety and were overjoyed, tears streaming down their faces. Granny Sun and Sun Xiao Mei kept clasping their hands together, murmuring, "Heaven bless us, heaven bless us!"
Although Chen Lan didn't believe in this, she didn't stop Granny Sun and her daughter from their actions. It was good for them to have spiritual sustenance and some comfort in their hearts.
There was no need for much deliberation; everyone unanimously agreed to keep a portion of the rations and send the rest away. Their reasoning was: "We live in the mountains, and we can fill our stomachs by foraging for mountain goods. It's not like those on the front lines who risk their lives every day, not knowing what tomorrow holds! No matter what, we can't let them starve!"
So, after a lively meal of pork stew to celebrate the harvest, they worked late into the night, processing grain around the clock. They processed the rice into polished rice, the corn kernels into cornmeal, and the wheat into flour. The potatoes were simply packed into bags.
Chen Lan asked everyone to bring out the rapeseed and the oil press from the warehouse, preparing to extract oil from all the rapeseed for them to take away.
Thus, the valley was lit up, and the sound of various machines echoed through the valley all night long. People took turns eating during the day and continued working.
The men stopped all their other work to process grain and extract oil, while the women packed the grain into bags.
After Er Zhuang reunited with his father and sister, the next morning, after eating the pork stew with white steamed buns specially prepared for him by Sun Xiao Mei, Er Zhuang set off with a large bag of buns and a full basket of supplies that Chen Lan had prepared overnight.
Chen Lan made an arrangement with Er Zhuang, asking Xu Ming Xuan to bring people to the valley where they had previously received supplies at ten o'clock the day after tomorrow to collect this batch of donated provisions.
Chen Lan, accompanied by Xiang Dong and Er Hu, set out to deliver these supplies. They departed before dawn. Just like last time, they hunted along the way as they headed towards the valley of the border defense camp. This time, they didn't hold back, hunting any prey they saw. By the time they reached the valley, it was not yet nine o'clock.
Chen Lan descended into the valley alone, with Xiang Dong and Er Hu keeping watch. As Chen Lan took out all the supplies from the system warehouse, she heard footsteps in the distance. She immediately climbed up the mountain and disappeared into the vast sea of trees with Xiang Dong and Er Hu.